How POLITICAL COMMENTARY changed since the 90s
A look at the history of American political commentary from 1993 to 2025. It’s become more partisan, intellectual, and celebrity-driven. And what else?
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@JJMcCullough
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Charlie Kirk’s assassination yesterday, and especially the often heavily politicized reactions to it, marks a particularly grim end to this era of political commentary.
Charlie was undeniably one of the most important and influential pundits of the 2010s and ‘20s; certainly the most important his generation has produced to date. Even if his death is revealed to have not been politically-motivated, it was very obviously motivated by his fame and notoriety as one of America’s highest-profile celebrity figures, which is itself revealing.
Much like Glenn Beck’s bestselling book, Charlie Kirk’s assassination reflects the cultural change this video describes, wherein the once niche profession of political commentator now produces some of America’s most trusted and despised public individuals. In a similar sense, his murder doesn’t really have an antecedent in American history because people like Charlie Kirk didn’t really previously exist in American history.
I don’t like to prematurely over-read the consequences of events that are still so fresh, but in addition to the obvious tragedy of this young man’s murder, it is a terrible and profoundly un-American injustice for anyone, whatever their views, to be killed in the midst of freely speaking their mind.
@joesantora158
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
How is it possible to not love Sam Hyde and Nick Fuentes. Just two delightful and hilarious boys having a chat. What’s not to like?
@firststripes2465
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
the recent history here is good, but there is a LOT more substantial history to political commentary/punditry in the USA. Lippman, Buckley, Vidal, the mclaughlin group. it didn't just grow from nothing there's a long tradition
@LotsaTippingPoints
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I don't know how long that they have been called pundits and I also don't know whether anything more than being both opinionated and inclined to talk too much is required to become a pundit. What I do know is that there is a long history – perhaps since the days of radio – of masses of sheepish people hanging on every word of some of them; most of the "pundit" type give ignoramuses a bad name. And before radio, probably since the printing press was invented, there were similar types who wrote, published and distributed "texts" of their opinions and conspiracy theories and slanders, etc. Perhaps someone with a million plus subscribers might do a deep dive into the long term history of such BS spouting trolls and their – assumably negative – impacts on society and politics. Edit: In another video from some time back, you describe yourself as an "opinion journalist" – so are YOU a pundit? And furthermore, is the internet evolving to allow "good" punditry to proliferate? By good, I mean non-conservative, somewhat less inclined to BS, more inclined towards facts, or at least mixing more facts in with opinions.
@4everRetro
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Political discourse has gotten worse. Strict ideological standards have made meaningful conversation impossible.
@JP27
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
JJ I often think about in the history stacks reading the old newspapers before the mass age of TV and its fairness doctrine influenced approach changed what we think of with the word journalism. It appears, perhaps, that we are returning to our roots. With AI and Carney’s hate filled bills, we will see how long that’s lasts. 😢
@KatarzynaWiśniewska-r5v
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
fyyy
@Geek37664
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
The screaming matches are likely due to CNN’s crossfire. I remember seeing Pat Buchanan screaming at his opponents.
@NjlampGaming
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I may be biased as a 2002 baby, but I'm having a hard time resonating with your lesser/greater 30 definition. ~1993 is when mosaic and netscape came out… The 'less exciting' era contains the entire history of mainstream world-wide web and digital consumer technology? And the rapid development of AI? There are a lot of things that we had 'more' of before the internet, but excitement is a hard sell for me. In my opinion, excitement is one of the LAST things my generation missed out on
@adamstefan7619
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Social media also made political commentary worse
@coveredinthorns7185
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I disagree, 90s to 2020s was huge change over the 60s to 90s, internet is such a game changer I don't know why people downplay that along with third world countries rising to be super powers like China.
@albertchurchill4845
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
People were told to follow their passion. They did. The internet made it scalable and monetized.
@albertchurchill4845
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Olbermann is delusional.
@SiverFangBlackWing
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
2:11 I would use the word you use later in the video, commenter, or reporter. That's what they do, comment or report the news rather than investigate it like a journalist. It should also be said that some definitely are journalists; as some will actually go out and investigate, do interviews, and track down sources.
@johnyiannacopoulos639
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Candice Owens was right about the man thing though 😂 came out in court
@robertmoulds160
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Bill O'Reilly is right Canada is the land of pinheads.
@tr13ky13
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
THIS IS SO BORING NO BRAIN ROT
@silaswarren8418
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
5:52 my goat mentioned
@sjoerdglaser2794
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I really like your takes because you are one of the few people who sprinkle in media analysis with their political analysis.
@Spiffvee
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I feel like political commentary has risen as a engaging and entertaining medium. But has come so at the risk of detrimental harm to the importance of improving humanity and creating a healthy chamber of discussion between people because of the lack of trust and partianship.
@Auditioneere
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I feel like liberal commentary is unpopular because it's boring. It's not radical to think gay people should be allowed to marry or that women should be treated like people. While on the other side it is radical to think this way so it's more interesting to hear someone talk about something that is controversial..
@daisymae3717
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
Thats crazy that this only started in the 90s. I was born in 95 so I guess I was born into this. I feel like the 2012 and 2016 elections were probably the point of no return for politics being so extreme and toxic. I pray that I can see the return of boring polite political discussions.
@thatspyguy839
June 6, 2026 at 7:36 pm
I feel like I’ve seen you have that wallpaper on your laptop/monitor before but I never noticed the Big Mac. lol nice touch and very JJ.
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