The man behind the curtain: How Hasan Piker became a political kingmaker - opinion

Opinion piece arguing that left-wing streamer Hasan Piker has become a political kingmaker, using his large following to influence Democratic candidates. The author criticizes Piker's controversial statements, including his preference for Hamas over Israel and his comments on 9/11, and warns of his growing influence over young male voters, exemplified by the recent primary win of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.

In this opinion piece, Cookie Schwaeber-Issan argues that Hasan Piker, a 35-year-old American-born son of Turkish parents, has become a political kingmaker. Piker, known for his left-wing politics and large online following, demands strict allegiance to Democratic Socialist principles, including open borders, universal healthcare, no foreign wars, and support for the Free Palestine movement. The author criticizes Piker's controversial statements, such as saying America deserved 9/11, calling Hamas 'a thousand times better than Israel,' and calling for the killing of American landlords. Despite these comments, Piker has a steady stream of 10 million followers, mostly young men aged 18-29. The author highlights Piker's influence in the recent primary win of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, who spent time with Piker before the election. The piece warns of Piker's growing influence and the potential threat he poses to American democracy, framing his ideology as a combination of socialism and Islam that seeks to replace freedom and democracy.