Under the Influence with Jo Piazza How the Right Won the Attention Economy
Mar 17, 2026
Emily Amick, writer on social media and political persuasion, explains how conservatives built an influencer machine. She traces coordinated campaigns that shift views via wellness, mommy blogs, and pop culture accounts. Discussion covers anti-birth-control messaging, the GOP money advantage, and why progressives often preach to the choir. Practical calls to support and sustain progressive media are highlighted.
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Right Built Influencer Political Infrastructure
- The right built the influencer economy as durable political infrastructure rather than episodic ad buys.
- They cultivated podcasts, mommy bloggers, wellness creators and pop-culture accounts over decades to shape culture and persuasion.
Influencer Campaign Targeting Birth Control
- Conservatives are running targeted influencer campaigns to shift attitudes on contraception and fertility.
- Emily saw coordinated posts linking birth control to infertility and IVF needs, aimed at moving the Overton window and challenging Griswold precedent.
Algorithms Can Shift Political Persuasion
- High exposure to algorithmic political feeds can shift users more conservative over time.
- Emily cites a Nature study finding extended exposure to algorithmic feeds like X moved users toward conservatism, validating these infrastructure efforts.
