Consider This from NPR - For the first time, the DNC welcomes influencers to the stage

Episode Date: August 21, 2024

Olivia Julianna, 21, is one of more than 200 digital content creators who has been given media credentials to the Democratic National Convention this week.She has over a million followers across TikTok, Instagram and other accounts, in an age where more young people are learning the news through social media.But she never imagined that her "very working-class" upbringing would lead her not only to the DNC — but in front of it.We hear from the Texas native ahead of her speech to the convention.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at [e-mail] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Democratic National Convention this week has seen some heavyweight speakers and some viral moments. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. There was, of course, President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Who's going to tell him that the job he's currently seeking might just be one of those black jobs? And there was a young woman named Deja Fox from Tucson, Arizona. That's where I was born and raised by a single mom. I was a free lunch kid raised in public housing, and I got my health care at Planned Parenthood. She's one of more than 200 content creators that the DNC has credentialed this year. For reference, the Republican National Convention credentialed more than 70 online personalities.

Fox has tens of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram. She worked on the first Kamala Harris presidential bid. Because of policies that lift people up, I walked through the gates of my dream school as a first-generation college student. People my age are making big decisions about our lives, and we deserve a president who has our back. This year is the first time the DNC has given credentials to digital content creators or influencers, people with big followings on social media platforms who don't necessarily worry about journalistic balance the same way traditional news outlets do. The Democratic Party describes this access as leveling the

playing field between content creators and traditional media. Deja Fox told NPR she sees it as a signal to young people that the future of politics and political figures will look different with Gen Z. Consider this. Research shows that more Americans are learning about politics through social media. We'll look at how the DNC has embraced that through the eyes of one young activist. From NPR, I'm Ari Shapiro. It's Consider This from NPR. This week, content creators have had opportunities to address the crowd each night of the Democratic National Convention.

And ahead of her big night, we spent time with one of them. Hi, I'm Olivia Juliana from the internet. Hi, I'm Olivia Juliana. I'm an activist and content creator from Houston, Texas. If there's a hierarchy of political content creators, 21-year-old Olivia Juliana is right up near the top. What is going on with Michael Pristone and the Supreme Court? Is abortion access protected? It's very complicated, and I understand that, so I'm going to explain it to you. Come with me to day one of the Texas Democrat State Convention in El Paso, Texas.

Well, today this childless cat and dog lady met with our next president. She has more than a million followers across all the platforms combined. When Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz mocked her appearance two years ago, she used her response to raise more than $2 million for a fund that supports abortion access. But even as her profile and her follower counts grew, she never imagined that she would be speaking at the Democratic National Convention. I might even cry just even talking about this.

I didn't think somebody who grew up like me could get here. When you say like me, what do you mean? I grew up very working class. I grew up living in class. I grew up living in trailer houses and farmhouses. And, you know, even once I started doing content, I didn't have enough money to go straight into a four-year university. I went to community college. We met up with her in a lounge that the DNC set aside for creators. And even as people kept coming

up to say how excited they were to meet her, she was starstruck too. And then it's people who I'm like, oh my gosh, I've never met you. I'm a huge fan. I saw Philip DeFranco at a party last night and I about threw up from excitement. I have to confess, I do not know who that is.

That's okay. Philip DeFranco is a YouTuber who I've been watching since I was 12 years old. Oh my God, wait. Hold on. Sorry. Suddenly, a few guys walk in and they all scream. It's her crew from Houston.

These are like all my favorite people. Hi. We all make content. And you're all content creators? We're all content creators. We literally met through TikTok. Okay, so how would you describe the difference between what you do and what you do? I do it better.

I'm just kidding. As we try to talk, someone pops their head into the creator space and shouts, Olivia. Our interview is interrupted because a staffer wants to make an introduction. Oh, why? What is happening? I know, I know, I got you. Meeting Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House. They shake hands, exchange a few words, pose for a photo. Olivia feels like this was fate. This is funny, I'm literally wearing this outfit because if you'll find there is an old picture of Nancy Pelosi speaking at a political event in this hot pink suit.

And I've matched my suits each major night to a woman in political history suit and this is my Nancy Pelosi suit. When we find a quieter place to sit down, Olivia catches her breath and I go in with the hard-hitting questions. So here comes like the moment of truth. What's the caption going to be? See, now I have the photo. I must go find the photo of her in the pink suit,

the iconic pink suit. That inspired you to wear this pink suit. Oh, and boom, you pulled it up in a heartbeat. Of course, it's bookmarked. The inspiration photo is from 1992, a decade before Olivia was born. She posts, and we continue the conversation. As a creator, do you think of yourself more as a journalist, a cheerleader, an arm of the campaign? Tell me how you think of your role. Yeah, I think every creator is differently. But for me, I very much am. I'm not going to pretend like I'm unbiased because I'm not, you know, I am a creator, but I'm also an activist. My number one goal is to persuade people to get involved in politics, to help them understand how the government works.

When Biden passed the torch to Harris and endorsed her, how did you see the content that people in your political content creation ecosystem were making, how did you see it shift? Everyone looked significantly less stressed, for one. But two, I think it went from a, it shifted from a place of pragmatism to a place of excitement. She's now met Vice President Harris several times, but the first time really stands out to her. You know, I could barely whisper. I was so nervous to meet her. And that is not like me at all. And she says she told Harris that the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan allowed her to afford community college. I told her I'm going to be the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college because of this policy.

And, you know, to be to be a kid who kind of, you know, breaks those generational issues, that's one thing. But to have the vice president of the United States tell you that she's proud of you and that you need to prioritize your education is a whole other level of mama, I made it. Next week, Olivia Juliana plans to return to college, doing courses online so she can continue her work as a creator. And in November, this 21-year-old will vote for president for the first time ever, a few months after her speech here at the Democratic National Convention. This episode was produced by Mia Venkat, Kira Wakim, and Mark Rivers with additional reporting from Elena Moore. It was edited by Ashley Brown and Patrick Jaron-Watananen.

Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. And you can now enjoy the Consider This newsletter. We still help you break down a major story of the day, but you also get to know our producers and hosts and some moments of joy from the All Things Considered team. You can sign up at npr.org slash consider this newsletter. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.