GD Politics Podcast Summary: "Do Politicians Need To Go Viral To Win?"

Released on August 11, 2025

Hosts:

• Galen Druke – Host of GD Politics
• Adam Oleksik – Linguist and author of "I'll Go Speak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language", known online as Etymology Nerd

Overview: In this insightful episode of GD Politics, Galen Druke engages in a deep conversation with linguist Adam Oleksik to explore the profound impact of social media algorithms on language, culture, and political communication. The discussion delves into the concept of "algospeak," the viral nature of political messaging, and the intricate ways language evolves in the digital age.

1. The Rise of Algospeak

Galen Druke opens the discussion by highlighting the chaotic state of American politics, describing it as "vibe check after vibe check" with rampant gaslighting and rage farming. He introduces the topic of how the internet, particularly social media algorithms, shape our language and, consequently, our culture and politics.

[00:45] Galen Druke: "Everyone's either gaslighting, rage farming, or displaying NPC behavior. American politics is just vibe check after vibe check."

Adam Oleksik explains that algorithms act as a new infrastructure influencing language by determining which words and ideas gain prominence. He cites the example of the word "unalive," which emerged as a euphemism for suicide due to platform restrictions.

[02:22] Adam Oleksik: "All language is political."

2. Algospeak: Virality vs. Censorship

The conversation pivots to whether algospeak is primarily seeking virality or acting as a form of censorship. Oleksik argues that it's a combination of both, driven by platforms' need to capture attention for monetization purposes.

[03:45] Adam Oleksik: "They're trying to get your attention so that they can sell you as many products as possible and commodify your data."

He emphasizes that creators, in turn, adapt their language to align with platform metrics like retention and engagement, leading to the evolution of language that favors attention-grabbing terms.

3. Evolution and Spread of Online Language

Examples of Algospeak:

Galen prompts Adam to provide examples of words that have gained popularity online, whether meaningful or nonsensical.

[05:02] Galen Druke: "What are some other words that have become popularized online that either mean something or nothing?"

Adam Oleksik lists various instances, including:

• Riz – Meaning charisma
• Skibidi – A nonsensical term popularized through memes
• Segs – Short for sex
• Sigma – Initially an incel term, now used by middle schoolers to describe a strong, independent individual

[05:26] Adam Oleksik: "There's segs for sex, there's all kinds of emoji substitutions... words that mean nothing, like sigma as an interjection."

4. The Incel Influence on Mainstream Language

A significant portion of the episode examines how language from niche communities, particularly the incel (involuntary celibate) community, permeates mainstream discourse.

Spread Mechanism:

Adam explains that the incel community, originating from platforms like 4chan, is highly productive in creating new slang. These terms often seep into broader internet culture through platforms like TikTok, sometimes stripped of their original negative connotations.

[09:55] Adam Oleksik: "Incels developed the idea of black pilled, which is you're in the incel community."

Examples of Incel-Derived Terms:

• Black pilled – Acceptance of incel ideology
• Maxing – Optimizing or maximizing something, e.g., "burrito pilled"
• Chad – An alpha male figure

[11:02] Adam Oleksik: "You have to start with the fact that the incel community is highly productive in coming up with new words."

5. Impact on Political Communication

The dialogue shifts to the intersection of language evolution and political success, pondering whether going viral is essential for politicians today.

Virality as a Tool:

Adam posits that, much like how Kennedy's photogenic presence aided his 1960 campaign, today's politicians benefit from being memeable and having viral potential.

[20:26] Adam Oleksik: "These candidates that are better at being memeable are perhaps more successful in the algorithmic era."

Case Study – Zoran Mandani:

They discuss Zoran Mandani's successful campaign, attributing his viral success to a message of radical inclusivity that spread effortlessly without triggering exclusionary perceptions.

[21:44] Adam Oleksik: "He gave this radically inclusive vibe. That was the only people who were being excluded were the billionaires."

6. Shifts in Communication Styles

Simplistic and Sensational Communication:

Adam highlights that algorithms favor sensationalism and extreme ideas as they are more likely to capture attention and go viral, often at the expense of nuanced, centrist views.

[16:13] Adam Oleksik: "Rage bait, clickbait, extremism. Extreme ideas are always going to go more viral than non-extreme ideas."

Packaging Political Messages:

The discussion touches on how political messages are increasingly woven into cultural content, making them more palatable and less overtly political, thereby enhancing their viral potential.

[25:06] Adam Oleksik: "You have politics packaged within culture."

7. Linguistics of Political Language

Dog Whistles and Ingroup Language:

Galen and Adam explore how politicians use language to both include and exclude, employing dog whistles that resonate with specific groups while maintaining broader appeal.

[27:53] Galen Druke: "How do politicians manage that? Be generous with language and bring people in. But also at the same time they're like using different accents and sort of particular ways of speech to appeal to smaller groups."

Code-Switching and Authenticity:

Adam explains that code-switching—altering one's language or accent based on the audience—is a natural and essential aspect of communication, not inherently insincere.

[30:07] Adam Oleksik: "Code switching is completely normal. You're going to talk differently to your grandma than you do to your friends."

8. Conclusion and Advice for Aspiring Politicians

In wrapping up, Galen asks Adam for advice on leveraging language and communication styles to marshal attention effectively.

Navigating Algorithmic Challenges:

Adam cautions that while extremism may gain traction due to algorithmic preferences, successful messaging requires understanding context and preparing for diverse and unexpected audiences.

[32:29] Galen Druke: "What is your advice to me in terms of how to marshal attention through the language that I use and my style of communication on the Internet?"

[33:22] Adam Oleksik: "You need to be prepared for unexpected audiences to come across that video."

Final Thoughts:

The episode underscores the intricate relationship between language, social media algorithms, and political success, highlighting the necessity for politicians to adapt their communication strategies in an increasingly digital and algorithm-driven landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Galen Druke [00:45]: "Everyone's either gaslighting, rage farming, or displaying NPC behavior."
• Adam Oleksik [02:22]: "All language is political."
• Adam Oleksik [03:45]: "They're trying to get your attention so that they can sell you as many products as possible and commodify your data."
• Adam Oleksik [05:26]: "There's segs for sex, there's all kinds of emoji substitutions... words that mean nothing, like sigma as an interjection."
• Adam Oleksik [09:55]: "Incels developed the idea of black pilled, which is you're in the incel community."
• Adam Oleksik [16:13]: "Rage bait, clickbait, extremism. Extreme ideas are always going to go more viral than non-extreme ideas."
• Adam Oleksik [30:07]: "Code switching is completely normal. You're going to talk differently to your grandma than you do to your friends."

Key Takeaways:

1. Algorithms as Language Shapers: Social media algorithms significantly influence the evolution of language by promoting attention-grabbing and often sensational terms.
2. Algospeak's Dual Role: It serves both as a mechanism for achieving virality and as a form of implicit censorship, shaping how ideas are communicated and spread.
3. Niche to Mainstream: Language originating from isolated online communities, such as incels, can rapidly infiltrate mainstream usage through memes and viral content.
4. Political Success through Virality: In the digital age, a politician's ability to go viral and appear memeable can be as crucial as traditional campaigning strategies.
5. Cultural Packaging of Politics: Effective political messaging often involves embedding political ideas within cultural content to enhance relatability and acceptance.
6. Adaptive Communication: Successful politicians and creators must adeptly code-switch and package their messages to resonate with diverse and unexpected audiences online.

This episode of GD Politics offers a compelling exploration of the symbiotic relationship between language, social media algorithms, and political dynamics, providing valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of political communication.