In Minneapolis, where immigration and politics collided last week after Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer, a vast army of right-wing influencers descended upon the city, flooding social media with pro-ICE narratives that quickly spread like wildfire online. Their presence on the ground in Minneapolis came just days after news and videos about the shooting broke out, and it's been a wild ride ever since.
The influx of these right-wing content creators has significantly muddied the conversation around Renee Good's killing and its aftermath in Minneapolis. They have produced an overwhelming amount of content that paints protesters as lawless, demonstrations as riots, and anti-ICE activists as extremists or criminals. To make matters worse, they have amplified these narratives on social media platforms like YouTube, X, Threads, and TikTok to reach a wider audience.
According to data from Magnitude Media, which tracks the spread of right, neutral, and left-leaning posts and videos online, the sheer volume of pro-ICE content produced by these influencers has outpaced that of its left-leaning counterparts. In contrast, left-leaning content has garnered significantly more engagement on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky.
However, the dynamics at play here are complex and multifaceted. Many right-wing content creators have been active in Minnesota for some time, investigating alleged fraud cases before Renee Good's death and boosting the Trump administration's defense of ICE's tactics. Others have descended upon Minneapolis recently, riding alongside ICE agents, documenting confrontations with protesters, and producing content that paints anti-ICE activists as extremists or criminals.
The right-wing apparatus has several advantages over its left-leaning counterparts in this regard. Individually, many right-wing content creators have the financial resources and ideological motivations to produce high-quality content from the ground up. They also have access to powerful donors who support their work, which gives them an unfair advantage when it comes to funding.
Structurally, however, the situation is even more complex. Many social media platforms favor right-leaning content over left-leaning content, with algorithms that prioritize content from larger accounts and creators with a proven track record of engagement. Furthermore, the Trump administration has encouraged ICE agents to function as content producers or have dedicated funds for partnerships with pro-ICE creators.
As a result, right-wing influencers like Nick Sortor, Eric Daugherty, and others have been able to churn out an overwhelming amount of content that dominates the conversation online. According to Magnitude Media's tracking data, their content has garnered more views than left-leaning content on immigration or ICE-related topics.
However, this phenomenon is not without its challenges for the left. Many independent creators and activists face significant financial and network asymmetry when it comes to competing with right-wing content creators like Sortor, Daugherty, and others. Funding for coverage and reach on social media platforms like YouTube, X, Threads, and TikTok is simply not comparable on the left.
As Ryan Broderick, founder of Garbage Media, noted, "The right is just way better funded." Many independent creators and activists have to rely on partnerships with other organizations or individuals to produce content, which can be a limiting factor when it comes to reach and visibility.
Broderick also pointed out that the left's social media presence lacks the same level of brazenness and willingness to take raw video footage from street scenes and edit it in a way that makes protesters look crazy. This can lead to their content being overshadowed by right-wing influencers who are more skilled at producing sensationalized content.
Ultimately, this phenomenon reflects a broader challenge for liberals and activists in America. Until the anti-Trump coalition is able to muster the resources and agents to compete with the right's own apparatus, debates and discussions will continue to be clouded by right-wing slop and propaganda.
The influx of these right-wing content creators has significantly muddied the conversation around Renee Good's killing and its aftermath in Minneapolis. They have produced an overwhelming amount of content that paints protesters as lawless, demonstrations as riots, and anti-ICE activists as extremists or criminals. To make matters worse, they have amplified these narratives on social media platforms like YouTube, X, Threads, and TikTok to reach a wider audience.
According to data from Magnitude Media, which tracks the spread of right, neutral, and left-leaning posts and videos online, the sheer volume of pro-ICE content produced by these influencers has outpaced that of its left-leaning counterparts. In contrast, left-leaning content has garnered significantly more engagement on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky.
However, the dynamics at play here are complex and multifaceted. Many right-wing content creators have been active in Minnesota for some time, investigating alleged fraud cases before Renee Good's death and boosting the Trump administration's defense of ICE's tactics. Others have descended upon Minneapolis recently, riding alongside ICE agents, documenting confrontations with protesters, and producing content that paints anti-ICE activists as extremists or criminals.
The right-wing apparatus has several advantages over its left-leaning counterparts in this regard. Individually, many right-wing content creators have the financial resources and ideological motivations to produce high-quality content from the ground up. They also have access to powerful donors who support their work, which gives them an unfair advantage when it comes to funding.
Structurally, however, the situation is even more complex. Many social media platforms favor right-leaning content over left-leaning content, with algorithms that prioritize content from larger accounts and creators with a proven track record of engagement. Furthermore, the Trump administration has encouraged ICE agents to function as content producers or have dedicated funds for partnerships with pro-ICE creators.
As a result, right-wing influencers like Nick Sortor, Eric Daugherty, and others have been able to churn out an overwhelming amount of content that dominates the conversation online. According to Magnitude Media's tracking data, their content has garnered more views than left-leaning content on immigration or ICE-related topics.
However, this phenomenon is not without its challenges for the left. Many independent creators and activists face significant financial and network asymmetry when it comes to competing with right-wing content creators like Sortor, Daugherty, and others. Funding for coverage and reach on social media platforms like YouTube, X, Threads, and TikTok is simply not comparable on the left.
As Ryan Broderick, founder of Garbage Media, noted, "The right is just way better funded." Many independent creators and activists have to rely on partnerships with other organizations or individuals to produce content, which can be a limiting factor when it comes to reach and visibility.
Broderick also pointed out that the left's social media presence lacks the same level of brazenness and willingness to take raw video footage from street scenes and edit it in a way that makes protesters look crazy. This can lead to their content being overshadowed by right-wing influencers who are more skilled at producing sensationalized content.
Ultimately, this phenomenon reflects a broader challenge for liberals and activists in America. Until the anti-Trump coalition is able to muster the resources and agents to compete with the right's own apparatus, debates and discussions will continue to be clouded by right-wing slop and propaganda.
I'm so done with how social media platforms are being manipulated by these right-wing influencers! 
They're basically creating this alternate reality where protesters are lawless and anti-ICE activists are extremists 
. And it's getting worse because they have more funding and resources to produce high-quality content that dominates the conversation online 
.
. And it's not just about funding – it's also about having the skills and resources to produce content that resonates with people on social media 
.
. It's like, the system itself is stacked against us 
. We need to find a way to level the playing field and challenge these right-wing influencers in a meaningful way 
.
.
. They're basically creating a echo chamber that amplifies their own narratives and suppresses dissenting voices 
. Meanwhile, independent creators on the left are getting squeezed out by lack of funding and resources 
. Until we have more equitable platforms and more critical thinkers weighing in, I fear we'll never get to a true discussion about immigration reform 
. I mean, it's not like the right-wing influencers are just "sharing their opinions" or anything... they're basically buying up all the real estate on these platforms with their endless streams of pro-ICE propaganda. And don't even get me started on how easy it is for them to game the system with all those "donors" and whatnot 
. Meanwhile, we're stuck trying to compete with that sweet, sweet funding 
.
. I mean, can't we just have a civil discussion without one side having to bring their A-game (and then some)?
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing... it's crazy how quickly a narrative can go from being about a tragic event like Renee Good's death to being hijacked by pro-ICE influencers on social media. 
The stats on Magnitude Media's data are pretty striking, but what really gets me is the disparity in funding and resources between right-wing and left-wing content creators. 
