Firewall with Bradley Tusk The Gen Z State of Mind: "We're Just Trying to Survive"
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Feb 5, 2026 Rachel Janfaza, founder of The Up and Up and former CNN youth vote writer, explains her 'two Gen Zs' theory. She discusses how COVID split Gen Z, their economic anxiety and survival mindset, volatility in political loyalties, and widespread AI use plus calls for regulation. Short, sharp takes on crypto, local trust, and the pressure to adopt AI at work and school.
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Two Distinct Gen Z Cohorts
- Rachel Janfaza identifies two Gen Z cohorts split by pandemic timing and socialization differences.
- The younger cohort is more anti-establishment and shaped by extended isolation and heavy social media use.
Colorado Campus Visits Revealed Differences
- Janfaza recounts visiting a Colorado high school and college and seeing starkly different COVID-era reactions.
- The high schoolers were more divided over masks and religion while college students felt different.
Build Trust Through Local Solutions
- Focus on local government and tangible problem-solving to restore young people's faith in politics.
- Prioritize consensus and solutions over national culture wars to engage Gen Z voters.