83-year-old Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is set to engage in a political discussion with two of Twitch’s popular personalities, Pokimane and Valkyrae, as the 2024 presidential race heats up. The purpose of this discussion is to advocate for Vice President Kamala Harris and touch on various topics such as minimum wage and climate change, aiming to connect with younger voters online.
Sanders emphasized the importance of Democrats engaging with young Americans through online platforms, given the successful infiltration of the extreme right into these spaces. He believes that addressing issues that concern young people is crucial for the Democratic Party to maintain their support. The live interview is scheduled to stream at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be co-hosted by Pokimane and Valkyrae, who collectively have over 20 million Twitch followers. Viewers will have the opportunity to ask questions to the democratic socialist senator known for his unwavering commitment to economic equality.
While Sanders established his own Twitch channel in 2019 during his Democratic nomination campaign, he has made rare appearances on the platform since then. Pokimane, on the other hand, has previously hosted political figures like New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a stream that garnered over 430,000 concurrent viewers. The event is organized by the political action committee Progressive Victory, raising questions about how scripted the discussion will be and whether Sanders will adhere to campaign-approved messaging or delve into internet culture and streamer drama.
Despite his reputation for focusing on economic issues such as increasing the minimum wage and combating childhood poverty, Sanders has been vocal about criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza within the Harris-Walz campaign. Twitch itself has been embroiled in controversies surrounding hate speech standards regarding discussions about Israel’s war in Gaza and the tragic loss of Palestinian lives. Prominent streamers have faced consequences for inappropriate comments, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to sensitive topics on the platform.
As Sanders prepares to engage in this unique political discussion on Twitch, the focus remains on how effectively he can connect with a younger audience through the platform. The intersection of politics and online culture presents an opportunity for meaningful dialogue and engagement, shedding light on important issues facing society today. Whether Sanders will adapt to the online environment or maintain his traditional stance on key economic issues remains to be seen, but the event is sure to draw attention and spark discussions among viewers.