Hasan Piker, also known as HasanAbi, is one of the most prominent leftist political commentators on the streaming platform Twitch, with more than 2.7 million followers, many of them rabid consumers of his streams.
Throw in his 1.4 million YouTube subscribers, and you can see how Piker has increasingly become a household name in progressive spaces. His sizable audience is likely why he was recently given access to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August, which generally attracts as a who’s who of corporate media outlets. Piker is unique in the punditry space as his unabashedly leftist approach and online ubiquity have earned him a massive following among younger voters who are increasingly mistrustful of mainstream media.
The 33-year-old Piker is a native of New Jersey and was raised in Turkey before returning to the U.S. for his education. Exposed to political discussions within his family, his interest in politics took root at a young age. His time at Rutgers University, where he majored in political science and communication, further shaped his political consciousness. After graduating, Piker joined The Young Turks (TYT), a progressive online news and commentary network founded by his uncle, Cenk Uygur.
At TYT, Piker served as a producer and eventually became an on-camera commentator, giving him a taste of the potential opportunities offered in streaming as opposed to mainstream outlets. His work on TYT’s show The Breakdown, where he discussed political issues in a digestible format aimed at younger viewers, further paved the wave for his eventual rise as an independent commentator. However, it was his shift to Twitch in 2019 that propelled him to superstardom online and positioned him as one of the most influential voices of his generation.
Twitch, known primarily as a platform for gamers, wasn’t typically associated with political discourse. However, Piker saw potential in its interactive nature, which allowed real-time engagement with viewers. By mixing gaming content with political discussions, Piker attracted a large and dedicated following, quickly becoming one of the platform’s most popular streamers. His move to Twitch coincided with the rapid rise of the Amazon-operated platform, which in recent years has seen its metrics precipitously increase across the board.
What sets Piker apart from other political commentators is his ability to engage with his audience in a casual and entertaining way—ideal for Twitch. His streams, often lasting several hours, feature a mix of serious political discussions, reactions to news, debates, and gaming. Piker’s humor, charisma, and unfiltered style resonate, particularly with younger viewers who might feel alienated by more traditional political commentary or simply just don’t engage with traditional media environments.
“I’m literally always online,” Piker told Intelligencer a few years ago for a piece likening him to the AOC of the streaming world. “I’m consuming media nonstop.”
Piker’s commentary centers on leftist ideologies, including democratic socialism, wealth inequality, healthcare reform, and labor rights. He is vocal about his support for progressive politicians, such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and he often critiques both the Democratic and Republican parties for failing to address systemic issues such as economic inequality and climate change.
Piker’s success can also be explained by his ability to explain complex political and economic issues in a way that feels relatable and understandable. His audience, largely composed of millennials and Gen Z viewers, is drawn to his authentic and unapologetic style. Unlike traditional news outlets that often present political analysis in a dry or formal manner, Piker’s streams are dynamic and interactive. He constantly engages with followers and commenters and isn’t afraid to let loose on other commentators when invited on their shows.
In many ways, Piker is the avatar of the political shift in media consumption occurring among younger voters. This shift coincides with growing disillusionment among young people toward the political establishment who feel the current political system does not serve their interests, particularly when it comes to issues like climate change, student debt, and healthcare. Piker speaks directly to these frustrations, offering a progressive vision that challenges the status quo and encourages political activism.
Image Sources
- mo1567, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Changes were made.
- YouTube photo via @HasanAbi. Changes were made.
Image Description: A photo of Hasan Piker sitting at a conference alongside his YouTube avatar, which his him screaming with red lasers coming out of his eyes.
Rashed Mian
