Unspun

Influencers, Politics, and the New Information Economy

April 14, 2026·25 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

In this episode of UnSpun, I look at the growing power of influencers in politics and public life. From streamers and commentators to legacy journalists turned creators, the media landscape has changed fast. Who gets trusted? Who gets heard? And what does it mean when more people get their news from personalities instead of institutions?I explore how influencers shape political knowledge, why they are so effective, how platform incentives affect what gets said, and what YOU can do to evaluate information more carefully.Topics include:Trump’s appearances on influencer platformsPew Research on news influencersParasocial relationships and authenticityWhy legacy media trust keeps slippingHow to make your feed more reliableStay sharp, truth seekers.Here's the episode on Uses and Gratifications.Find Dr. Sturg on SubstackFind Dr. Sturg on BlueSkyBe smarter with Dr. Sturg's book that teaches you how to detect fake news. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Unspun and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.