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Celebrity gossip and pop culture-focused social media accounts like Pop Base and Pop Crave have grown into news behemoths, regularly posting about politics and government to their massive audiences. These quasi-news outlets are filling a vacuum as trust in traditional media and institutions drops, and political strategists are increasingly pitching stories to them to reach new audiences. The features of these accounts, including constant exposure, quick reactions, and relentless audience expansion, make them powerful platforms for shaping political perceptions ahead of upcoming elections.
Why it matters
As trust in major institutions like the media and government continues to decline, these pop culture-oriented news accounts are becoming increasingly influential in how political narratives are communicated and consumed, especially among younger and more casual news viewers. Their massive reach and blend of entertainment and hard news content allow political operatives to slip messaging into feeds where users aren’t expecting it, dramatically expanding their potential audience.
The details
Accounts like Pop Base and Pop Crave, which have 2.9 million followers each, are known for their prolific posting, speed in breaking news, and expansive reach. Pop Base alone posted nearly 50 times on a single day, with posts ranging from updates on singer Ariana Grande to news about the war in Iran and the firing of a former attorney general. These accounts are able to slip political content into feeds where users are primarily seeking entertainment, making them powerful platforms for shaping perceptions. According to an analysis, Pop Base is the largest ‘neutral’ account on the platform, with 79 million engagements so far in 2026.
- In 2024, Pop Crave broke news of a second assassination attempt against former President Trump faster than traditional news outlets.
- In 2026, 57% of platform users say they get their news from the social media platform, making accounts like Pop Base and Pop Crave highly influential.
The players
Pop Base
A celebrity gossip and pop culture-focused social media account with 2.9 million followers that has grown into a news behemoth, regularly posting about politics and government.
Pop Crave
Another celebrity news aggregator account with 2.9 million followers that, along with Pop Base, wields significant influence within the news ecosystem of the platform.
Monica Venzke
A House communications director at American Bridge 21st Century, who has pitched stories to both Pop Base and Pop Crave.
Nate Silver
A statistician and political analyst who conducted an analysis showing that Pop Base is the largest ‘neutral’ account on the platform, with 79 million engagements so far in 2026.
What they’re saying
“I think that any operative Democrat or Republican is lying to you if they think that they’re not going to get the most bang for their buck’ for their time and effort by being featured in these accounts.”
— Monica Venzke, House communications director at American Bridge 21st Century
“You’re getting people on Pop Crave that would never in their lives click a New York Times link. People who follow Pop Crave are looking for Zendaya, Rob Pattinson reviews, and then they see something a Democratic operative sent them. That’s a huge win!”
— Monica Venzke, House communications director at American Bridge 21st Century
What’s next
As the midterms and 2028 presidential election draw closer, spaces like Pop Base and Pop Crave are likely to play an even greater role in shaping perceptions about candidates and their political parties. For many campaigns, it’s no longer a question of whether to engage with these accounts, but how.
The takeaway
The rise of celebrity-focused gossip and pop culture accounts as influential political news sources highlights the shifting media landscape and the growing importance of non-traditional platforms in shaping political narratives. This trend underscores the need for political operatives to adapt their strategies to reach audiences who have become increasingly disengaged from traditional media and government institutions.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source nationaltoday.com ’
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