In this Substack Live, David Pakman talks with Aaron Parnas about how independent media is reshaping politics and the pressures that come with it. They kick off with the “publish or perish” reality of algorithmic platforms (yes, even recording from airplane bathrooms), then zoom out to 2026 and 2028, where they expect creators to host debates, shape narratives, and force campaigns to engage on non-legacy terms. Both stress that the best partnerships are authentic and unscripted, not PR exercises, and they critique legacy outlets that still default to soft, access-driven interviews.
The conversation widens to parties and personalities: a “big tent” Democratic future featuring newcomers like Mamdani then moving into the GOP’s cracks over tariffs, culture-war media, and who inherits Trumpism. Parnas floats Marco Rubio, not J.D. Vance, as a plausible 2028 Republican nominee, with Tucker Carlson as a wild card, and the two analyze how re-platforming figures like Nick Fuentes continues to mainstream extremism. They also take aim at “debate-bro” rage bait that rewards heat over substance, and close on a core thesis: Trump didn’t invent bigotry so much as normalize acting on it—one more reason creators have to use their reach responsibly.
For more updates from The David Pakman Show, including our daily newsletter, subscribe to our Substack today!
