Campaign Trend Podcast From Swifties to Socialists: How Fan Culture Is Remaking Political Campaigns
Dec 3, 2025
Makena Kelly, a senior writer at Wired, explores the fusion of online fandom culture and politics, highlighting how young voters are reshaping campaigns. She discusses the rise of fan cams and remixing as tools for engagement, particularly in Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral campaign. Kelly emphasizes the importance of authenticity and creator relationships, arguing that real connections can mobilize communities. She also advocates for leveraging social media strategically to empower young voices and convert online enthusiasm into real-world activism.
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Fandom Is Participatory Culture
- Online fandom is a participatory culture centered on a "fan object" like a person or work.
- Fans produce edits, live streams, and remixes to signal membership and shape culture.
Younger Voters Bring Creative Habits
- Younger voters bring creative, remixing skills into politics rather than passive consumption.
- That participatory habit influences how they support and promote candidates online.
Mamdan i Showed Up Authentically
- Zoran Mamdani's campaign avoided gimmicks and showed him in a suit, focusing on policy in creator spaces.
- He appeared authentically with creators rather than performing viral trends for clout.
