This American Life 877: The Making Of
20 snips
Dec 21, 2025 
Zoe Chase and Suzanne Gabber are on the ground in Portland, exploring the surreal intersection of protest, streaming, and media dynamics. They detail how a single block became a chaotic spectacle with right-wing influencers searching for Antifa. Insights into streamers' motivations reveal a blend of profit and passion, showcasing the tension between authenticity and performance. They challenge the narrative of Antifa leadership and probe the relationship between live streaming and escalating confrontations, ultimately debunking the myth of a war zone in Portland.
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A Manufactured Portland War Narrative
- Right-wing streamers crafted and amplified a cinematic story of Portland as a war zone centered on one block outside an ICE facility.
- That narrative powered federal attention and policy moves far beyond the reality on the ground.
Protest As Reality-Show Content
- Zoe Chase and Suzanne Gabber found the protest block full of right-wing streamers treating the scene like a reality-show set.
- Streamers formed circles, provoked confrontations, and streamed the resulting spectacle to thousands.
Streaming Incentivizes Confrontation
- Live streaming monetizes conflict and incentivizes escalation because audiences reward intensity and confrontation.
- Police responded to heightened tension by increasing enforcement, often due to streamer-driven volatility.