Democrats Want Their Own Joe Rogan—But They Already Have Hasan Piker
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Well, here we are again. Democrats and the mainstream media, after the catastrophic loss of Kamala Harris, have already begun the age-old ritual of blaming everyone but themselves. The excuses are flying fast and loose: progressives cost her the election! She was “too far left!” No, wait, she wasn’t left enough! It’s like watching a political game of Twister where the Democrats keep contorting themselves into new—and old—and ever-more nonsensical shapes, desperately trying to avoid the obvious: maybe, just maybe, they need to rethink a few things about their approach as moving to the “center” isn’t working.
One of the most persistent refrains from political commentators and establishment Dems alike is that the Democrats need their own Joe Rogan. The idea is that if the left just had someone with the broad appeal, anti-establishment cachet, and massive podcast audience of Rogan, maybe they could capture the hearts and minds of the elusive young male voter who has been steadily radicalized online.
And hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day: The young male vote is, indeed, a problem. From the “red-pilling” of so many of them on Reddit and YouTube, to their steady slide into alt-right extremism, it’s no wonder the Democrats are scratching their heads. But here’s the thing: they already have their answer to Joe Rogan. They just refuse to acknowledge him. The problem isn’t that there’s a lack of a progressive voice with mass appeal—it’s that they’re too busy refusing to work with the very voice that could help them.
That voice? Hasan Piker.
Hasan Piker, or HasanAbi as he’s known on Twitch, is the closest thing the left has to a Joe Rogan. He’s been an unfiltered and unapologetic voice for progressive politics, and his influence in the online political space is undeniable. With millions of followers across YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms, Hasan is arguably the largest political content creator on the left. Amassing 300+ thousand live viewers during election night—more than doubling the views of mainstream media channels like CNN online. But unlike Joe Rogan, who’s beloved by the mainstream for his unbridled bro-ish charm, Hasan Piker isn’t afraid to take aim at both sides of the political spectrum, and—here’s the kicker—he doesn’t owe a damn thing to the Democratic Party.
And therein lies the problem.
Democrats have become so enamored with the idea of an obedient left-wing figure—someone who will dutifully carry their water—that they’ve overlooked the fact that Hasan Piker doesn’t play that game. He’s not here to be a cheerleader for the Democratic establishment. He’s not here to apologize for the party’s many shortcomings or to offer excuses when things go south—and when he doesn’t they kick him out of the DNC. What he’s offering is something far more valuable: an ideological critique from the left, one that cuts through the establishment nonsense and gets to the root of what’s really broken in American politics.
The Democrats don’t want to hear from a guy like Hasan because he doesn’t simply parrot the party lines. He critiques them. And that’s exactly what they need right now.
The Youth Vote Problem
Let’s talk about that young male voter problem for a second. In 2016, there was already a growing sense that young people—particularly young men—were drifting away from the Democratic Party. By 2020, those concerns had only grown more pronounced. A lot of this drift was chalked up to the rise of far-right figures like Tim Pool, Ben Shapiro, and Steven Chrowder online, but it wasn’t just the radicalization of these voters that should have alarmed the Democrats—it was the fact that these young men were becoming increasingly disengaged from the mainstream liberalism altogether.
So what did the Democrats do? They pushed for a “return to normalcy” under Joe Biden, ignoring the fact that many young voters felt utterly alienated by a political system that seemed more concerned with maintaining power than addressing the issues that mattered to them. The Democrats’ solution? Whip out the “more moderate” option and hope that young people would fall in line, dutifully voting for a candidate who, frankly, didn’t excite them.
But here’s the thing: young people don’t want moderate. They want bold, unapologetic change. They want someone who will take a hard stance on issues like climate change, economic inequality, America’s role in foreign atrocities, and the general dysfunction of American politics. Enter Hasan Piker.
Hasan has built a massive following, with a sizable amount of young men, precisely because he doesn’t just pander to them—he challenges them. He talks about the political system with the same critical eye that they’ve developed through years of watching YouTube, browsing Reddit, and questioning the mainstream narratives. And his message isn’t just about rejecting the right; it’s about rejecting the system as a whole. This is why his content resonates with so many young people—it’s real, it’s raw, and it isn’t afraid to tell them things they might not want to hear.
Hasan Piker: The Left’s Unfiltered Truth
The reason why the Democrats need Hasan Piker isn’t just because he has a massive audience, though that’s certainly a perk. It’s because he offers something that mainstream liberals desperately need right now: an unfiltered, unapologetic, and fiercely progressive voice that is completely unafraid to speak truth to power. His critique of both parties resonates with a generation that’s grown disillusioned with the same tired political games.
But more importantly, Hasan isn’t afraid to criticize the very people who should be his allies—the Democrats themselves. While Joe Rogan plays the part of a moderate everyman who’s just asking questions (and occasionally getting a bit too comfortable with his far-right guests), Hasan Piker has no problem pointing out the hypocrisy and failures of the Democratic establishment. From corporate donations to the perpetuation of the military-industrial complex, Hasan isn’t afraid to call out the Democrats on their own shortcomings. And that’s exactly why the establishment doesn’t want him.
Democrats like the idea of progressive ideals. They like the sound of “free healthcare” and “living wages” when it’s in a slogan. But when it comes to pushing through policies that actually challenge the status quo—the status quo that Democrats have benefited from for decades—they balk. Sometimes, they even push out candidates who threaten to disrupt that system. Hasan doesn’t shy away from pointing that out. He’s not going to toe the line just because he should be on Team Democrat; he’s going to fight for what’s right, even if it means ruffling some feathers in his own camp.
The Coalition They Need
If the Democrats want to build a real coalition for the future, they need to stop treating progressives like a fringe group that can be ignored until it’s election season. They need to realize that people like Hasan Piker aren’t just “online radicals”—they’re part of a broader movement and a reflection of a new generation of voters who are fed up with the same old politics. These voters want leaders who speak truthfully about the issues that matter to them—whether it’s economic inequality, climate change, healthcare, or racial justice—not just politicians who make empty promises when it's convenient.
Instead of spending time trying to manufacture their own centrist figure—someone who plays to the middle ground, checks all the moderate boxes, and holds hands with Republicans—Democrats should be embracing the progressive wing of their own party. This includes not only the voices of online influencers like Piker but also leaders like Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others who have consistently pushed for bold, transformative policies. These are the voices that resonate with young voters, who are increasingly skeptical of the establishment and want to see real change.
Progressives are not just a side faction; they are the future of the party, and Democrats need to listen to them, not just tolerate them. The party’s success isn’t going to come from trying to recreate a moderate figure who can win over swing voters, because guess what they don’t really exist. It will come from engaging with, and amplifying, the progressive critique—the kind of critique that challenges the status quo and isn’t afraid to take risks in the fight for a better future. That’s how they’ll engage with young voters and build a lasting political movement, and most importantly win.
So, to the Democrats still wringing their hands about Kamala’s loss and the state of the party—take a long look at people like Bernie, AOC, Tlaib, Omar, and even Hasan Piker. They may not fit the traditional mold, but they represent the change the party desperately needs. If you’re ready to listen and build a real coalition for the future, this is where you start.