Gen Z is done with both political parties | America, Actually
It’s clear that the youngest generation of voters isn’t the same as the ones that came before. So, what’s up with the kids?
Gen Z researcher Rachel Janfaza joins Vox’s Astead Herndon to discuss how young voters are prioritizing economic survival, confronting their anxieties related to AI-job displacement, and searching for pragmatic, transparent leaders who address their everyday challenges.
00:00 Astead’s love-hate relationship with Gen Z
05:04 The theory of two Gen Z’s
06:19 How the pandemic broke Gen Z
09:48 Growing up with a phone in one hand
16:15 Rejection of the algorithm
17:56 The drivers of economic anxiety
22:08 AI and the future of work
25:25 The gender divide, explained
31:43 Hope for a post-Trump politics
32:51 Takeaways
Sources and further reading:
The Up and Up: https://www.theupandup.us/
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@mememinister.mp4
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
uh um stop generalizing an entire generation of more than a billion people with an umbrella term called "Gen Z". try to do more research in the factions being born within politics of the upcoming generation and the people of it
@navinvent
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
As a man, i feel online we get yelled at constantly online. . Im not gonna argue, if its deserved or not, but it can be grating and dissassociating.
@flipinchicago
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
VOX is owned by the Murdoch family.
@danwylie-sears1134
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
When someone says they don't care what party, they just want to vote for a ra*ist who's also a ra*ist, they're lying about their lack of party preference. Likewise if they don't care what party, and just want to vote for a candidate who'll cut the deficit, support reproductive freedom, appoint people who are competent and well-qualified, regard trans people as people, and so on. Either way, they know which party they're talking about. It doesn't matter whether they call themselves partisan. Their votes count the same if they do or if they don't.
@nosuchperson284
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
This makes me a bit more hopeful about the youth of America. Maybe they are learning to be natural skeptics and demanding lots of evidence before believing in someone or something.
@kendi1417
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
They didn't mention race once.
Why don't they get a white person to do this if w-washing is so central to their politics?
@efeceefe
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
Because they quite LITERALLY do not understand anything
@lucasfrank8843
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
I hate getting this guy and his white politics constantly in my feed.
@Jviotr
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
That kid just saying “America First” makes me cry
So many Gen Z men lying about their politics to get laid.
@cowmath77
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
That’s okay; Gen Z can’t read or recognize social norms.
@tylerhackner9731
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
As a Gen Z 1.0 who came of age during peak woke 1.0 (2020) i definitely felt this
Those directly after me I could tell saw things differently
@dacresni
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
The media wouldn't be having this trust issue if they hadn't closed their smaller bureaus. Look at the Gary Indiana disaster.
@the_saad_salman
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
6:03 nitpick, but 22 is is undershooting it by a few years. Those who had their first year of college interrupted by the pandemic are 24/25 at this moment. This happens to be the same cohort that had ChatGPT launch during their final year of college, creating two large events that divide the Gen Z’s above 24 and those below.
@smellyolive583
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
This lady definitely has an agenda to push, as a member of Gen Z 2.0 I don’t think any of us were conscious enough to have super strong opinions on Covid policy.
@Lumberjack_king
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
We are starting to wake up and see the system as it 8s doesn't serve us
@kailenharris5825
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
leave it to millennials to tell us what gen z’s politics are
@tooshikii
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
Very informative and the analysis all makes sense with what I’ve observed as Gen Z behaviors while the logics behind was completely different from mine. Thank you
@PresidentNelson
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
Astead Herndon, great interview but you gotta work on cutting folks off. Rewatch a question or two you'll see what I'm sayin. Great interview again though, looking forward to more.
@NofOne2318
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
It feels like you're shouting at me. Try a conversational tone.
@cixzejy
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
I think the biggest thing missed here is the personalization of politics. With GenZ eating meat or being a woman who works is suddenly a very political thing.
@kahner93
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
Bring on @Destiny
@jacobartis9853
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
This guy is chronically online and doesnt seem to understand anything about our generation
@printingtimeandspace
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
As soon as you are born, you are a guinea pig you didn't sign up for.
@msmntz
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
I have never seen DJT address the country through any of its crisis’s to provide a message of support and unity. Failed at Charlie Kirk shooting, failed with the Texan floods disasters, failed during the hurricanes and storms (Garry Indiana etc). We all know how Eric feels unloved and unwanted
@fankthestank1000
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
I love that we’re talking about this, but why not learn about people in Gen Z directly? It would be awesome to see a segment, maybe you could do it over Zoom, where people are able to call in on a live session 🙂
@stlsensimilla
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
There was a right answer in 2016, 2020 and 2024, even if you hated the questions.
@Rivka-m2v
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
The pursuit of health, education, freedom, and sustainable peace is legitimate in any generation, place, or era. ..
@vanmingus
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
i feel heard lol
@EarthlingOnYoutube
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
The concept of “us and them” is a LIE! There is, and will only ever be just, US. We are humans, NOT nations, NOT religions, NOT political parties, WE ARE HUMANS!
@lostyank
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
Spoiled brats want Starbucks Socialism. Doesn't work.
@Underoverrated
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
Gen Z want an economy that works for everyone, the right is too far gone, and moderates are democrats in name only.
@daikucoffee5316
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
If you want to be appreciated make yourself rare.
@greenblaze9189
August 30, 2026 at 12:00 am
really love janfaza's work