Kyle Tharp
@kylewilsontharp.bsky.social
Writer & researcher | Author of Chaotic Era, a new newsletter about politics, media, and online influence | 15x ultramarathoner | Subscribe: www.chaoticera.news
🤳 500+ creator collabs since 2023
🎙️ 26 podcast appearances last year
🏀 Sitdowns with golf, basketball vloggers
📧 A creator-only private Substack & SMS program
Here's a look at how Josh Shapiro's team prioritizes social media creator engagement:
www.chaoticera.news/p/josh-shapi...
🎙️ 26 podcast appearances last year
🏀 Sitdowns with golf, basketball vloggers
📧 A creator-only private Substack & SMS program
Here's a look at how Josh Shapiro's team prioritizes social media creator engagement:
www.chaoticera.news/p/josh-shapi...
Josh Shapiro, Influencer Governor
The Democratic rising star and potential 2028 candidate has given digital creators white-glove outreach for years. It’s paying off.
www.chaoticera.news
February 18, 2026 at 1:18 PM
🤳 500+ creator collabs since 2023
🎙️ 26 podcast appearances last year
🏀 Sitdowns with golf, basketball vloggers
📧 A creator-only private Substack & SMS program
Here's a look at how Josh Shapiro's team prioritizes social media creator engagement:
www.chaoticera.news/p/josh-shapi...
🎙️ 26 podcast appearances last year
🏀 Sitdowns with golf, basketball vloggers
📧 A creator-only private Substack & SMS program
Here's a look at how Josh Shapiro's team prioritizes social media creator engagement:
www.chaoticera.news/p/josh-shapi...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
New: The Trump arrest of @donlemonofficial.bsky.social has backfired, giving biggest boost of his online career. In two weeks, he's gained 300k on Instagram, 140k on YouTube, 73% on Substack and started selling arrest-themed merch. "They elevated me," he said in interview wapo.st/3OfiGxz
Trump officials condemned Don Lemon. He’s bigger than ever after arrest.
The administration’s attacks on Lemon and independent journalists have boosted their online attention and revenue.
wapo.st
February 14, 2026 at 12:48 PM
New: The Trump arrest of @donlemonofficial.bsky.social has backfired, giving biggest boost of his online career. In two weeks, he's gained 300k on Instagram, 140k on YouTube, 73% on Substack and started selling arrest-themed merch. "They elevated me," he said in interview wapo.st/3OfiGxz
This week I blew past 1️⃣5️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ subscribers to Chaotic Era.
Thanks to all of you for reading, clicking, sharing, and dropping it in your group chats, I'm just getting started.
Thanks to all of you for reading, clicking, sharing, and dropping it in your group chats, I'm just getting started.
February 11, 2026 at 7:57 PM
This week I blew past 1️⃣5️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ subscribers to Chaotic Era.
Thanks to all of you for reading, clicking, sharing, and dropping it in your group chats, I'm just getting started.
Thanks to all of you for reading, clicking, sharing, and dropping it in your group chats, I'm just getting started.
New: Behind the viral launch videos and attention-grabbing headlines of Graham Platner, Dan Osborn, Abdul el-Sayed, and Nathan Sage sits Fight Agency, a group of strategists betting that this is a moment in which they can reshape their party’s future.
www.chaoticera.news/p/can-populi...
www.chaoticera.news/p/can-populi...
Can populist candidates save the Democratic Party?
A Q&A with Tommy McDonald of Fight Agency on a growing slate of anti-establishment populist candidates running in the midterms.
www.chaoticera.news
February 10, 2026 at 12:53 PM
New: Behind the viral launch videos and attention-grabbing headlines of Graham Platner, Dan Osborn, Abdul el-Sayed, and Nathan Sage sits Fight Agency, a group of strategists betting that this is a moment in which they can reshape their party’s future.
www.chaoticera.news/p/can-populi...
www.chaoticera.news/p/can-populi...
“The account has just been sitting dormant…the boom and bust of (political campaigns) standing these accounts up during the election cycle, putting all the work into building audience, and then just leaving—that process has to be reevaluated.”
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
Behind the scenes of the @KamalaHQ rebrand
Democrats are rebranding the viral account as “Headquarters” and will use it to blast out original progressive political content ahead of the midterms
www.chaoticera.news
February 5, 2026 at 3:33 PM
“The account has just been sitting dormant…the boom and bust of (political campaigns) standing these accounts up during the election cycle, putting all the work into building audience, and then just leaving—that process has to be reevaluated.”
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
This is a great plan you genuinely love to see it.
🚨 NEW: I spoke to the team behind "Headquarters," a new project that will rebrand Kamala Harris' viral social media accounts in order to promote progressive content ahead of the midterms.
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
Behind the scenes of the @KamalaHQ rebrand
Democrats are rebranding the viral account as “Headquarters” and will use it to blast out original progressive political content ahead of the midterms
www.chaoticera.news
February 5, 2026 at 2:15 PM
This is a great plan you genuinely love to see it.
🚨 NEW: I spoke to the team behind "Headquarters," a new project that will rebrand Kamala Harris' viral social media accounts in order to promote progressive content ahead of the midterms.
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
Behind the scenes of the @KamalaHQ rebrand
Democrats are rebranding the viral account as “Headquarters” and will use it to blast out original progressive political content ahead of the midterms
www.chaoticera.news
February 5, 2026 at 2:14 PM
🚨 NEW: I spoke to the team behind "Headquarters," a new project that will rebrand Kamala Harris' viral social media accounts in order to promote progressive content ahead of the midterms.
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
www.chaoticera.news/p/behind-the...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
New: People actually watch Don Lemon! And they call themselves "Lemon Heads." 🍋
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
The rise of the "Lemon Head"
How the former CNN anchor assembled an independent media brand that now sits at the center of his feud with the Trump administration
www.chaoticera.news
February 3, 2026 at 1:50 PM
New: People actually watch Don Lemon! And they call themselves "Lemon Heads." 🍋
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
New: People actually watch Don Lemon! And they call themselves "Lemon Heads." 🍋
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
The rise of the "Lemon Head"
How the former CNN anchor assembled an independent media brand that now sits at the center of his feud with the Trump administration
www.chaoticera.news
February 3, 2026 at 1:50 PM
New: People actually watch Don Lemon! And they call themselves "Lemon Heads." 🍋
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
www.chaoticera.news/p/the-rise-o...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
Basically the entire MAGA media ecosystem is encouraging Trump to take over Greenland, and some of the biggest are cheerleading the end of NATO.
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Top conservative influencers cheer Greenland takeover
As Trump considers blowing up the post-WWII order, right-wing voices online are his biggest cheerleaders, citing “manifest destiny.”
www.chaoticera.news
January 20, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Basically the entire MAGA media ecosystem is encouraging Trump to take over Greenland, and some of the biggest are cheerleading the end of NATO.
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Basically the entire MAGA media ecosystem is encouraging Trump to take over Greenland, and some of the biggest are cheerleading the end of NATO.
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Top conservative influencers cheer Greenland takeover
As Trump considers blowing up the post-WWII order, right-wing voices online are his biggest cheerleaders, citing “manifest destiny.”
www.chaoticera.news
January 20, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Basically the entire MAGA media ecosystem is encouraging Trump to take over Greenland, and some of the biggest are cheerleading the end of NATO.
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
Here's a quick roundup:
www.chaoticera.news/p/top-conser...
👀 @captmarkkelly.bsky.social has seen a surge in growth for his social media accounts as Pete Hegseth investigates him in an act of political retribution.
Over 1.1 million new followers added since November 👇
Over 1.1 million new followers added since November 👇
January 14, 2026 at 2:58 PM
👀 @captmarkkelly.bsky.social has seen a surge in growth for his social media accounts as Pete Hegseth investigates him in an act of political retribution.
Over 1.1 million new followers added since November 👇
Over 1.1 million new followers added since November 👇
As Democrats try to make sense of a powerful right-wing media ecosystem, some progressives have turned to a creative solution: a book club to listen to conservative podcasts and YouTube shows 👇
www.chaoticera.news/p/meet-liber...
www.chaoticera.news/p/meet-liber...
Meet liberals’ right-wing media listening club
Hundreds of progressives have been gathering twice monthly for “Unfortunately Not A Sound Bath,” a virtual club to better understand right-wing media dynamics
www.chaoticera.news
January 14, 2026 at 1:47 PM
As Democrats try to make sense of a powerful right-wing media ecosystem, some progressives have turned to a creative solution: a book club to listen to conservative podcasts and YouTube shows 👇
www.chaoticera.news/p/meet-liber...
www.chaoticera.news/p/meet-liber...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
Outstanding data, a lot of dem aligned operatives are in complete denial about this stuff and how effective it is
NEW: In 2024, right-wing donors gave over $260 million in tax-deductible contributions to nonprofit conservative media outlets.
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
January 7, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Outstanding data, a lot of dem aligned operatives are in complete denial about this stuff and how effective it is
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
Just imagine if rather than flushing a billion dollars down the toilet every four years on ineffectual TV ads in Pennsylvania, Democratic donors put that money into creating a durable information infrastructure the way Republicans have
NEW: In 2024, right-wing donors gave over $260 million in tax-deductible contributions to nonprofit conservative media outlets.
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
January 7, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Just imagine if rather than flushing a billion dollars down the toilet every four years on ineffectual TV ads in Pennsylvania, Democratic donors put that money into creating a durable information infrastructure the way Republicans have
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
From @kylewilsontharp.bsky.social:
New IRS filings made available in December show that during the 2024 calendar year, the nonprofit affiliates of 18 conservative media organizations received $260.2 million in contributions from major donors and foundations.
www.chaoticera.news/p/nonprofit-...
New IRS filings made available in December show that during the 2024 calendar year, the nonprofit affiliates of 18 conservative media organizations received $260.2 million in contributions from major donors and foundations.
www.chaoticera.news/p/nonprofit-...
Nonprofit funding flooded right-wing media in 2024
New data shows more than $260 million in 501(c)(3) charitable contributions flowed to conservative media projects in 2024.
www.chaoticera.news
January 6, 2026 at 2:32 PM
From @kylewilsontharp.bsky.social:
New IRS filings made available in December show that during the 2024 calendar year, the nonprofit affiliates of 18 conservative media organizations received $260.2 million in contributions from major donors and foundations.
www.chaoticera.news/p/nonprofit-...
New IRS filings made available in December show that during the 2024 calendar year, the nonprofit affiliates of 18 conservative media organizations received $260.2 million in contributions from major donors and foundations.
www.chaoticera.news/p/nonprofit-...
NEW: In 2024, right-wing donors gave over $260 million in tax-deductible contributions to nonprofit conservative media outlets.
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
January 6, 2026 at 2:36 PM
NEW: In 2024, right-wing donors gave over $260 million in tax-deductible contributions to nonprofit conservative media outlets.
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
Recipients included orgs running "pink slime" sites and fake news pages on Facebook.
Link to report in reply below 👇
The most-viewed right-leaning personality on YouTube this year wasn’t Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, or Candace Owens; it was a guy named Zack Hoyt.
More insights in my year-end YouTube roundup
www.chaoticera.news/p/new-data-t...
More insights in my year-end YouTube roundup
www.chaoticera.news/p/new-data-t...
New data: The biggest political YouTube channels of 2025
From Megyn Kelly to Meidas Touch, these are the channels where more Americans than ever watched political content on YouTube.
www.chaoticera.news
December 29, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The most-viewed right-leaning personality on YouTube this year wasn’t Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, or Candace Owens; it was a guy named Zack Hoyt.
More insights in my year-end YouTube roundup
www.chaoticera.news/p/new-data-t...
More insights in my year-end YouTube roundup
www.chaoticera.news/p/new-data-t...
Both parties’ electoral coalitions consume their news and information in 1,000 different places and have to be reached in 1,000 different ways.
Read my end-of-year interview with @theguardian.com on this ~chaotic~ political era:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Read my end-of-year interview with @theguardian.com on this ~chaotic~ political era:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
December 29, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Both parties’ electoral coalitions consume their news and information in 1,000 different places and have to be reached in 1,000 different ways.
Read my end-of-year interview with @theguardian.com on this ~chaotic~ political era:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Read my end-of-year interview with @theguardian.com on this ~chaotic~ political era:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
‘There’s a whole new bench of progressive creators’: how Democrats can catch up in the online space
‘There’s a whole new bench of progressive creators’: how Democrats can catch up in the online space
Kyle Tharp of the Chaotic Era newsletter talks podcasts, influencers and rage bait – and the Republican formula
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:24 PM
‘There’s a whole new bench of progressive creators’: how Democrats can catch up in the online space
❗️ To close out the year, I spoke with @theguardian.com on how the changing information ecosystem online is impacting our politics, and what it means for Democrats. 👇
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘There’s a whole new bench of progressive creators’: how Democrats can catch up in the online space
Kyle Tharp of the Chaotic Era newsletter talks podcasts, influencers and rage bait – and the Republican formula
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
❗️ To close out the year, I spoke with @theguardian.com on how the changing information ecosystem online is impacting our politics, and what it means for Democrats. 👇
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
I understood the moral disgust Americans, including MAGA, have with Epstein class because of these conversations.
Some go on podcasts to make their case.
I go on also to learn and listen.
Some go on podcasts to make their case.
I go on also to learn and listen.
💡 NEW: 21 leading Democrats who are widely mentioned as possible 2028 presidential contenders sat down for more than 430 podcast interviews in 2025, according to @jesselehrich.bsky.social, who has listened to almost all of them...
December 16, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I understood the moral disgust Americans, including MAGA, have with Epstein class because of these conversations.
Some go on podcasts to make their case.
I go on also to learn and listen.
Some go on podcasts to make their case.
I go on also to learn and listen.
ICYMI: Right-wing “dark money ATM” Donors Trust gave over $26 million to media efforts in 2024 👀
December 16, 2025 at 2:48 PM
ICYMI: Right-wing “dark money ATM” Donors Trust gave over $26 million to media efforts in 2024 👀
💡 NEW: 21 leading Democrats who are widely mentioned as possible 2028 presidential contenders sat down for more than 430 podcast interviews in 2025, according to @jesselehrich.bsky.social, who has listened to almost all of them...
December 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
💡 NEW: 21 leading Democrats who are widely mentioned as possible 2028 presidential contenders sat down for more than 430 podcast interviews in 2025, according to @jesselehrich.bsky.social, who has listened to almost all of them...
Reposted by Kyle Tharp
1/ One read 📖
Friend of The Citizens @kylewilsontharp.bsky.social has a terrific look back at the year that was online. What broke through? What broke the internet?
Dig in here: www.chaoticera.news/p/the-bigges...
Friend of The Citizens @kylewilsontharp.bsky.social has a terrific look back at the year that was online. What broke through? What broke the internet?
Dig in here: www.chaoticera.news/p/the-bigges...
The biggest online political moments of 2025
2025 has been an especially chaotic year in American politics. New data shows the topics that actually broke through online.
www.chaoticera.news
December 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
1/ One read 📖
Friend of The Citizens @kylewilsontharp.bsky.social has a terrific look back at the year that was online. What broke through? What broke the internet?
Dig in here: www.chaoticera.news/p/the-bigges...
Friend of The Citizens @kylewilsontharp.bsky.social has a terrific look back at the year that was online. What broke through? What broke the internet?
Dig in here: www.chaoticera.news/p/the-bigges...