The National Democratic Party This year, convention organizers really rolled out the blue carpet for influencers. Today on the show, WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly joins us from Chicago to talk about the Democrats’ strategy of favoring creators over journalists, and whether that will help them win votes. Plus, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the influencer after-parties.
Leah Feiger is on @Leah FeigerMakena Kelly is on @Kelly MakenaWrite to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here.
Mentioned this week:
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is officially the convention of influencers By Makena Kelly
A visual guide to the influencers who will shape the 2024 election By Makena Kelly
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Transcription
Note: This is an automated transcript, which may contain errors.
Leah Feiger: This is WIRED Politics Lab, a show about how technology is changing politics. I’m Leah Feiger, senior politics editor at WIRED. Today on the show, the 2024 Democratic National Convention is winding down. Earlier this week, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama united Democrats around their new candidate.
Joe Biden (archived audio): Are you ready to vote for freedom?
Audience: Yeah!
Joe Biden (archived audio): Are you ready to vote for democracy and for the United States?
Audience: Yeah!
Joe Biden (archive audio)) And tonight, Kamala Harris will close out the event. But unlike previous conventions, each night has also featured influencers, including content creator and abortion rights activist Deja Foxx.
Deja Foxx (archive audio): People my age are making important decisions about our lives and we deserve a president who has our backs.
Leah Feiger: And Carlos Eduardo Espina, TikToker and immigrant rights activist.
Carlos Eduardo Espina (Archival audio): To be pro-immigrant is to be pro-America.
Leah Feiger: Another 200 content creators will be attending and posting, all invited by the DNC, to connect with young voters and hope to help Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump. Joining me from Chicago to talk about what’s happening at the DNC is WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly. Hey, Makena, how’s it going?
Makena Kelly: I’m a little tired, but it’s the third day here at the convention and a lot has happened. A lot of things.
Leah Feiger: Okay. In addition to all the DNC events during the day, you also go to all the parties at night. What are they like?
Makena Kelly: Yeah, I was out until 2:00 last night. The last thing I had on the agenda was from 10:00 to 2:00 a.m. and it was a party called Hotties for Harris, and it was set up, it wasn’t…
