Zero Hour with James Poulos

Ep 96 | 'The Circus' Creator: 'I Got to Pull Back the Curtain' on Charlie Kirk | Mark McKinnon

May 4, 2025·52 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Mark McKinnon, political strategist to George W. Bush and John McCain, joins James Poulos to discuss how he went from politics to creating Showtime’s "The Circus." They break down the new era of politics, media, and digital manipulation being seen in AI-driven campaigns. Gen Z’s main form of activism is via TikTok, leading to increased disinformation, personalization, and storytelling that have been reshaping American democracy and leading to a rise of conservative Gen Z support. After a new wave of Trump populism, Hollywood has steadily been collapsing, while the mainstream media continues to lose touch with reality, leaving a vacuum in how Americans consume information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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