The Jimmy Dore Show Episode: Dem Influencers EXPOSED As Paid Shills For The Party! Date: September 1, 2025
Episode Overview
Guest host Misty Winston leads the Jimmy Dore Show in a scathing, irreverent, and humor-laced exposé on the recent revelations that high-profile Democratic influencers have been secretly funded by dark money sources to push party-aligned messaging online. Joined by Kurt, the duo dissect the Wired investigation into hush-hush contracts, discuss the ethical ramifications, and mock the absurd state of influencer and party dynamics. The episode pivots briefly into corporate takeovers of US utilities, then returns for a piercing critique of media narrative control—ending on a controversial dissection of Israeli leadership rhetoric.
Main Segments & Discussion Points
[00:54] Democratic Influencers Caught as Secretly Paid Shills
- The Story: An article exposed that prominent Democratic influencers have been receiving up to $8,000/month through a secretive program run by a group called Chorus, funded by liberal dark money powerhouse the 1630 Fund.
- The Catch: The contract demands influencers keep the payments secret and get pre-approval for political content, restricting their independence.
- Participant Quotes: Influencer group chats showed nervousness over exposure, jokes about unionizing, and hesitancy about the contract's terms.
- “Should we send a joint email… or are we just going to send things separately and hope they change everything for everyone?” — (Lorenzo, influencer, [02:00])
- “We’re a union just by saying so.” — (Eliza Orland, [02:00])
- Platform Reach: Over 90 influencers with at least 13 million collective followers were approached.
Guest Host Commentary
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Misty highlights that the Democratic Party’s influencer machine is mimicking strategies the GOP has leveraged for years, but the Democrats’ approach is more clumsy and secretive.
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Contrasts the new revelations with Obama’s past digital prowess, lamenting the Democrats’ current inability to handle online culture and media.
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Ridicules the influencers involved—listing names like Olivia Julianna, Barrett Adair, David Pakman, Lee McGowan (“Politics Girl”), and more—mocking their brands and the millennial/Gen Z influencer culture.
- “A Regina George liberal? I think that’s the Mean Girls reference, right? …Maybe she’s a shitlib.” — Misty, [08:38]
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Particular scorn for David Pakman, called “David APAC man” by Glenn Greenwald, for his centrist and, allegedly, Zionist stances.
[12:35] How the Shady Influencer Contracts Work
- Contract Stipulations:
- Cannot disclose payments or even membership in the program without explicit permission.
- Not allowed to use funds to support or oppose a political candidate unless Chorus pre-approves ([13:11]).
- Creators must remove/correct any content Chorus objects to.
- Ethics Experts Speak:
- “If the contract… says you can’t disclose it, then it’s pretty simple. You can’t take the money.” — Don Heider, applied ethics professor, [14:53]
- The Dark Money Flow:
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1630 Fund channels massive amounts to these operations ($141 million in 2018; $400 million in 2020 [15:37]).
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Chorus is a “project of the 1630 Fund” with ties to Good Influence, an influencer marketing agency co-founded by Brian Tyler Cohen.
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“There are some real advantages to housing this program in a nonprofit… it avoids a lot of the public disclosure or public disclaimers, you know, ‘paid for by blah blah blah.’” — Graham Wilson, Chorus lawyer ([14:31])
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Commentary: Media Manipulation and Cognitive Dissonance
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Misty and Kurt blast the idea that this is “independent media,” calling it what it is: undisclosed political advertising.
- “There’s no such thing as funded by a political group, independent media—no, that’s, you know, like a chick with dicks. I’ll accept that before I’ll accept that.” — Kurt, [23:20]
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They argue that because many young people aspire to be influencers themselves, they’re not fooled by the manufactured authenticity of these efforts.
- “The kids are smarter than their dumb parents on this one issue. They don’t want to get real jobs and they hope to get influencer jobs one day… so they know how the business works already.” — Kurt, [18:07]
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Connection to past online culture wars (e.g., Gamergate) as the forerunner to these astroturf manipulation campaigns.
[22:04] David Pakman’s Response & The “Independent Media” Farce
- Pakman releases a video defending the influencer payment arrangement, framing it as needed “support for creators.”
- “The right has won even arguably presidential elections because they’re organized with regard to online and independent media. We’ve been so behind. This kind of support for creators is exactly what I’ve been advocating for.” — David Pakman, [23:44]
- Misty and Kurt eviscerate this argument:
- “Independent means you’re not being funded by a party… If they’re independent, you’re not funding them, you morons.” — Kurt, [23:00]
- “He’s trying to justify taking money to be a paid propagandist. Without disclosing that.” — Misty, [23:56]
- “Declare when you do a paid political ad. That’s the bare minimum standard.” — Misty, [25:42]
[31:04] Influencer Culture & Partisan Media Ecosystems
- Discussion extends to how both left and right have corrupted the idea of “independent” content—Democrats simply do it worse.
- Direct parallel to right-wing influencer networks, e.g., Daily Wire's big contracts (#Jordan Peterson), plus examples of right wing dark money operations.
- Mockery of influencer aspirations in general:
- “If you set out to be an influencer, it’s already… it’s garbage.” — Kurt, [32:13]
- Lament the rise of new “mainstream media” on the internet—still top-down, corporate, and corrupt, just on new platforms.
- MSNBC’s rebrand to “Ms. Now” is ridiculed:
- “It sounds like a maxi pad. Or a multiple sclerosis thing.” — Misty/Kurt, [30:07]
- MSNBC’s rebrand to “Ms. Now” is ridiculed:
[34:05] “Private Equity is Coming for Public Utilities”
[Timestamps: 34:05–48:32]
- Amidst the influencer story, Jimmy Dore returns to break down another “corporate corruption” topic: BlackRock and Blackstone buying up US utility companies.
- “If you think government screws up everything, try privatizing your power. See how well that works.” — Jimmy, [35:13]
- Recalls the California 2000–2001 energy crisis following privatization: 800% price increases, rolling blackouts, company bankruptcies.
- Explains how private equity seeks quick profits, not public good; donors and advocacy groups are bought off to support takeovers.
- “There’s not a scenario in the world where a private equity firm takes over the delivery of your power and your rates go down and you get better service. That is not going to happen.” — Jimmy, [47:02]
- Notes how the “revolving door” further corrupts oversight—regulators become utility lobbyists and vice versa.
- Concludes with a warning that the US is becoming a “banana republic,” and there’s little hope either major party will stop these corporate consolidations.
[51:46] Israel, Media Messaging, and Official Propaganda
- Glenn Greenwald’s reporting is cited to reveal the double-speaking nature of Israeli officials: one message in Hebrew (revenge, genocide), another sanitized for Western consumption.
- Plays a translation of an Israeli politician calling for “vengeance” and the total destruction of Hamas:
- “I believe in the value of revenge… I want you to avenge the blood of my murdered loved ones.” — Israeli official, [51:46]
- Jimmy reacts: “These people are just using God to justify the worst evil you could possibly think of.” ([53:47])
- Plays a translation of an Israeli politician calling for “vengeance” and the total destruction of Hamas:
- Notes how Israeli and Western media present the same events (e.g., hospital bombings) in totally different terms, with one for local/Nationalist consumption and one for Western PR.
- “Zionism requires non-stop lying. Because if you told people what you actually thought… the world would not be on your side.” — Jimmy, [60:15]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “There’s no such thing as funded by a political group, independent media. No, that’s, you know, like a chick with dicks. I’ll accept that before I’ll accept that.” — Kurt, [23:20]
- “Declare when you do a paid political ad. That’s the bare minimum standard that anybody should be requiring of anybody in independent media.” — Misty, [25:42]
- “If you set out to be an influencer, it’s already… it’s garbage.” — Kurt, [32:13]
- “If you think government doesn’t work, try privatizing your power. See how well that works.” — Jimmy, [35:13]
- “Zionism requires non-stop lying. Because if you told people what you actually thought… the world would not be on your side.” — Jimmy, [60:15]
Key Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:54 — Misty introduces the dark money influencer revelations
- 02:12–12:24 — Explaining the secret contracts and naming names
- 13:11 — Dissecting contractual restrictions
- 14:53 — Ethics expert denounces the scheme
- 18:07 — Kurt on why young people see through “influencer” grift
- 22:04 — David Pakman’s defense, slammed as dishonest
- 23:20 — “Independent media” farce, as critiqued by Kurt/Misty
- 34:05–48:32 — Jimmy Dore on BlackRock, Blackstone & utilities privatization
- 51:46–60:15 — Israeli official’s candid remarks, “dual messaging” exposed
- 60:15-end — Final thoughts on propaganda, media, and institutional corruption
Tone & Style
- Sarcastic, profanity-laced, often darkly humorous.
- Deep skepticism of both Democratic and Republican party establishments.
- Pop-culture references, off-the-cuff mockery of influencer personalities.
- Commitment to transparency, calling for open disclosure in media and politics.
Summary
For listeners new to the Jimmy Dore Show or this breaking story: This episode offers a blistering, unsparing look at the cozy, shadowy relationship between political parties and “independent” digital influencers—mainly, that independence is just a front, and the money flows secretly and distorts real debate. Jimmy’s crew exposes the mechanics and ethical failures of this system, while drawing larger connections to privatization, Wall Street, and the broader capture of public discourse. The episode’s throughline: “Question every narrative, demand transparency, and recognize corporate and political manipulation—wherever it hides.”