Beyond Clout: The Progressive Bench You Should Be Following
A Better Media Ecosystem Starts With Expertise
In an ideal world, raising money to build a media organization centered on expertise would not be difficult.
You would assemble a newsroom the way scientists assemble research teams — bringing together people who actually understand the subjects they’re writing about. Climate scientists writing about climate. Labor historians writing about labor. Epidemiologists explaining public health.
Instead, the modern media economy rewards something else entirely: attention.
Money flows into sprawling far-right propaganda networks that treat misinformation like an industrial product. At the same time, much of the institutional money on the center-left is poured into corporate outlets designed to smooth over uncomfortable truths about political power rather than confront them.
The result is a media landscape that often elevates the loudest voices instead of the most informed ones.
That problem has bothered me for a long time.
If we were building a better system from scratch, assembling a team of trusted voices would not begin with the question “Who already has the largest following?” It would begin with a different question entirely:
Who actually knows what they’re talking about?
During the last six years, while writing articles for Mesoscale News, running for Congress, and reporting daily on COVID-19, I began compiling lists of experts I trust across a wide range of subjects — people whose work consistently demonstrates real knowledge, intellectual honesty, and a commitment to the public good.
Eventually that process turned into something more formal.
I built a model to identify credible progressive voices across multiple fields — combining signals like follower reach, cross-platform influence, citation frequency in media, engagement patterns, and collaboration networks such as podcasts, livestreams, and joint projects.
Some of the people the model surfaced have millions of followers. Others have only a few thousand. Most of them fall somewhere in between.
What matters is not the size of their audience.
What matters is that they know their field.
Originally, I built this system with a specific idea in mind: assembling what I half-jokingly called a “dream team” of writers, analysts, scientists, and organizers who could form the foundation of a new kind of media project.
A newsroom built around expertise rather than clicks.
But reality intrudes. Projects like that require funding, infrastructure, and people willing to leave stable careers — and most of the people on this list already have demanding jobs, research positions, teaching roles, or their own publications.
So instead of keeping the list private, I decided to share it.
Because the truth is simple:
No single person can cover everything.
Anyone who claims they can should immediately make you skeptical.
Even with my own background in data science, geography, and environmental analysis, there are subjects I deliberately avoid writing about because I don’t believe I have the depth of knowledge necessary to do them justice.
Journalism should not be an exercise in pretending expertise.
It should be an exercise in finding the people who have it.
The individuals included in this list are people with real subject-matter qualifications — degrees, professional experience, research backgrounds — combined with the ability to communicate clearly to the public. Importantly, they do not always agree with one another.
That diversity of perspective matters. A healthy information ecosystem depends on informed disagreement.
While I personally know or am casually familiar with many of these voices, my model also surfaced several experts I had not encountered before. Each one was vetted before inclusion.
I’m working on creating a file you can download with he full dataset as a CSV file, which includes:
• An Influence Score combining audience size, engagement, cross-platform reach, and media citations
• Collaboration network data mapping shared podcasts, livestream appearances, and cross-promotion relationships
• Subject-area tags so you can easily find experts in the fields that matter most to you
Think of it as a map of voices worth paying attention to.
A small attempt to push back against an information ecosystem that too often rewards spectacle over knowledge.
And if you find work like this valuable — research, analysis, and tools designed to strengthen independent journalism — consider supporting it by becoming a paid subscriber to Mesoscale News.
Independent outlets survive only because readers decide they’re worth sustaining.
Your subscription helps fund the reporting, data analysis, and investigative work that goes into projects like this — and makes it possible to keep building resources that connect people with the expertise they deserve.
If you believe journalism should be grounded in evidence, transparency, and real knowledge, your support helps make that possible.
Here are the model results:
Climate & Disaster Science
Rebekah Jones (of course)
X: @GeoRebekah
Website: mesoscalenews.com
Rebekah Jones is an environmental scientist and data journalist known for building the original Florida COVID-19 dashboard and later becoming a whistleblower over the state’s pandemic data reporting. She founded Mesoscale News, an independent outlet focused on climate science, disaster reporting, and environmental policy.
Her work blends scientific modeling with investigative journalism, particularly on hurricanes, climate change, and environmental risk. With a large social media following and a reputation for technical analysis translated into accessible public reporting, Jones operates at the intersection of science communication and investigative media.
Michael E. Mann
X: @MichaelEMann
Website: michaelmann.net
Michael Mann is one of the world’s most prominent climate scientists and the creator of the famous “hockey stick” global temperature reconstruction. His research helped establish the modern scientific consensus around anthropogenic climate change.
Beyond academia, Mann has become a major public communicator on climate science and misinformation. His writing, media appearances, and social media presence frequently shape public debates about climate policy and climate denial.
Katharine Hayhoe
X: @KHayhoe
Website: katharinehayhoe.com
Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and the chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy. She is widely recognized as one of the most effective climate communicators in the world, known for translating complex climate science into language accessible to broad audiences.
Hayhoe frequently appears in media and public forums explaining climate risks, solutions, and the importance of communication across political divides. Her ability to reach audiences outside traditional environmental circles has made her an influential voice in global climate discourse.
Peter Kalmus
X: @ClimateHuman
Website: peterkalmus.net
Peter Kalmus is a NASA climate scientist known for his outspoken advocacy about the urgency of the climate crisis. His writing and social media commentary emphasize the moral dimensions of climate change and the need for rapid systemic transformation.
Kalmus has become a prominent figure within climate activism, particularly among younger environmental movements. His work bridges scientific research and grassroots climate organizing, often emphasizing the emotional and ethical stakes of climate policy.
Daniel Swain
X: @Weather_West
Website: weatherwest.com
Daniel Swain is a climate scientist specializing in extreme weather and climate variability, particularly in the western United States. He runs the widely read Weather West blog, where he provides detailed technical explanations of atmospheric patterns and climate events.
Swain is frequently cited by journalists covering heat waves, droughts, and extreme storms. His work has become a key bridge between academic climate research and real-time public understanding of climate-driven disasters.
Leah Stokes
X: @leahstokes
Website: leahstokes.com
Leah Stokes is a political scientist focused on climate and energy policy, particularly the political economy of decarbonization. Her work analyzes how governments, utilities, and corporations shape the energy transition.
Stokes has become a prominent public voice explaining climate legislation and regulatory politics. Her social media presence often translates complex policy debates into accessible explanations for journalists and the public.
Bill McKibben
X: @billmckibben
Substack: Bill McKibben
Website: billmckibben.com
Bill McKibben is one of the most influential climate writers and activists of the past four decades. He is the founder of 350.org, one of the world’s largest climate activist organizations.
McKibben’s writing helped frame climate change as a central political issue. His commentary frequently connects environmental science with moral, economic, and social arguments about climate responsibility.
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
X: @ayanaeliza
Website: ayanaelizabeth.com
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist and climate policy expert known for promoting practical climate solutions. She co-founded the think tank Urban Ocean Lab and has been widely recognized for her work on ocean conservation and climate justice.
Johnson’s public communication emphasizes optimism and pragmatic climate action. Her ability to connect science, policy, and storytelling has made her a highly influential voice in climate discourse.
Kate Aronoff
X: @KateAronoff
Website: katearonoff.com
Kate Aronoff is a journalist and author covering climate politics and the fossil fuel industry. Her reporting often examines the intersection of climate policy, labor, and corporate power.
Aronoff’s work has appeared in major outlets and has helped shape left-leaning discourse about the Green New Deal and energy transition politics. She is known for connecting environmental issues to broader questions of political economy.
Mary Annaïse Heglar
Instagram: @Mary.Heglar
Website: maryannaiseheglar.com
Mary Annaïse Heglar is a climate writer whose work focuses on environmental justice and the cultural dimensions of climate change. Her writing often explores how race, power, and inequality intersect with environmental policy.
Heglar has become a prominent voice in climate storytelling, helping expand climate discourse beyond technical science into broader questions of justice and social transformation.
Immigration & Migration
Austin Kocher
X: @ackocher
Substack: Austin Kocher
Website: immigrationlab.org
Austin Kocher is a researcher focused on immigration detention and enforcement systems in the United States. As director of the Immigration Lab, he uses public data to analyze deportation policies and immigration detention practices.
Kocher’s work is widely cited by journalists covering immigration enforcement. His social media threads frequently translate academic research into accessible explanations about how immigration systems actually operate.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick
X: @ReichlinMelnick
Website: americanimmigrationcouncil.org
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick is a leading immigration policy analyst at the American Immigration Council. He is widely known for fact-checking political claims about immigration law and border policy.
His social media presence often provides real-time explanations of asylum law, deportation policy, and immigration court procedures. He has become one of the most trusted public explainers of U.S. immigration law.
Dara Lind
X: @DLind
Website: propublica.org
Dara Lind is an investigative journalist specializing in immigration policy and border enforcement. She previously worked at Vox and now reports for ProPublica.
Lind is known for deeply researched explanatory journalism that breaks down complicated immigration policies and their real-world impacts. Her reporting frequently shapes national media coverage of immigration issues.
Economics & Inequality
Stephanie Kelton
X: @StephanieKelton
Website: stephaniekelton.com
Stephanie Kelton is a macroeconomist best known as the leading public advocate of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). She previously served as chief economist for the U.S. Senate Budget Committee and advised Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential campaign. Her book The Deficit Myth became a bestseller and helped popularize new ways of thinking about government spending, deficits, and fiscal policy.
Kelton has built a large public audience by translating complex economic debates into accessible explanations about public investment, taxation, and economic inequality. Her commentary often challenges mainstream economic narratives about government debt and emphasizes how fiscal policy can be used to address unemployment, climate change, and infrastructure needs.
Thomas Piketty
X: @PikettyWIL
Website: piketty.pse.ens.fr
Thomas Piketty is one of the most influential economists studying global wealth inequality. His book Capital in the Twenty-First Century transformed public debate about economic inequality by documenting how wealth concentration grows when the return on capital exceeds economic growth.
Piketty’s research has reshaped discussions about taxation, inheritance, and the role of public institutions in redistributing wealth. His work is frequently cited by policymakers, journalists, and academics examining the political consequences of inequality and the future of global capitalism.
Isabella Weber
X: @IsabellaMWeber
Website: www.isabellaweber.com
Isabella Weber is a political economist known for her work on inflation, industrial policy, and global supply chains. During the inflation crisis of the early 2020s, she became a prominent public voice advocating targeted price controls and strategic government intervention in markets.
Her research bridges economic history and contemporary policy debates. Weber frequently engages in public discourse about inflation, energy markets, and industrial policy, helping journalists and policymakers understand how economic structures influence price stability and inequality.
Ann Pettifor
Instagram: @AnnPettifor47
Substack: Ann Pettifor
Website: primeeconomics.org
Ann Pettifor is a British economist known for her work on global finance, debt, and macroeconomic reform. She was one of the leaders of the Jubilee 2000 campaign that successfully pushed for debt relief for developing countries.
Pettifor’s work focuses on reforming financial systems to support economic stability and climate action. She has become a prominent voice advocating for large-scale public investment and stronger regulation of global financial markets.
Gabriel Zucman
X: @gabriel_zucman
Substack: Gabriel Zucman
Website: gabriel-zucman.eu
Gabriel Zucman is an economist whose research focuses on tax avoidance, wealth measurement, and offshore financial systems. His work has revealed how trillions of dollars in wealth are hidden in tax havens, reshaping debates about global tax policy.
Zucman’s research has influenced proposals for wealth taxes and international tax cooperation. His work is widely cited in journalism covering corporate tax avoidance and economic inequality.
Mariana Mazzucato
X: @MazzucatoM
Website: marianamazzucato.com
Mariana Mazzucato is an economist known for her theory of the “entrepreneurial state,” which argues that governments play a crucial role in driving technological innovation. Her research highlights how public investment has historically supported breakthroughs in areas such as biotechnology, renewable energy, and computing.
Mazzucato’s work has been influential in shaping industrial policy debates across Europe and the United States. She frequently advises governments and international institutions on economic development strategies.
Branko Milanovic
X: @BrankoMilan
Substack: Branko Milanovic
Branko Milanovic is an economist specializing in global inequality and the distribution of income across countries. His work has helped illuminate how globalization has affected different regions and classes of people.
Milanovic’s research provides long-term historical perspectives on inequality and capitalism. His analyses are frequently used by journalists and policymakers examining global economic trends.
Public Health & Epidemiology
Eric Topol
X: @EricTopol
Substack: Eric Topol
Eric Topol is a physician-scientist and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. He became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic for his rapid analysis of emerging research and public health data.
Topol’s work focuses on biomedical innovation, digital health technologies, and the future of medicine. His social media presence often translates complex medical research into accessible explanations for clinicians, journalists, and the public.
Gregg Gonsalves
Bluesky: @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Gregg Gonsalves is an epidemiologist and public health advocate at Yale University. Before entering academia, he was a prominent HIV/AIDS activist and organizer.
His work focuses on infectious disease policy, global health equity, and pandemic preparedness. Gonsalves frequently engages in public debates about health policy, often emphasizing the importance of evidence-based decision-making and social justice in healthcare.
Katelyn Jetelina
X: @drkatyjetelina
Substack: Katelyn Jetelina
Website: yourlocalepidemiologist.com
Katelyn Jetelina is an epidemiologist known for the widely read newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist. Her work focuses on translating complex epidemiological research into clear explanations for public audiences.
Jetelina built a large following during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing accessible breakdowns of vaccine data, transmission trends, and public health interventions. Her work emphasizes transparency and science communication.
Abraar Karan
X: @AbraarKaran
Abraar Karan is an infectious disease physician at Harvard Medical School and a public health researcher focused on global health systems. He became a widely followed voice during the COVID-19 pandemic for his clear explanations of epidemiology and health policy.
Karan frequently critiques structural failures in public health systems and advocates for stronger global disease surveillance and prevention strategies.
Abdul El-Sayed
X: @AbdulElSayed
Website: abdulelsayed.com
Campaign: https://abdulforsenate.com/
Abdul El-Sayed is a physician, public health expert, and former Detroit health commissioner. He gained national attention during his campaign for governor of Michigan and has since become a prominent commentator on health equity and healthcare reform.
El-Sayed frequently writes and speaks about the social determinants of health and the relationship between economic inequality and public health outcomes.
Technology, AI & Digital Rights
Timnit Gebru
X: @timnitGebru
Bluesky: @timnitgebru.bsky.social
Website: dair-institute.org
Timnit Gebru is one of the most influential researchers in the field of artificial intelligence ethics. She is the co-founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) and previously worked at Google, where her work on algorithmic bias and ethical AI gained global attention.
Gebru’s research focuses on how machine learning systems can reproduce structural discrimination and social inequality. She has become a prominent public voice advocating for stronger oversight of AI development and the democratization of technology governance.
Meredith Whittaker
X: @mer__edith
Bluesky: @meredithmeredith.bsky.social
Website: signal.org
Meredith Whittaker is the president of the Signal Foundation, the nonprofit behind the encrypted messaging platform Signal. She previously worked as a researcher at Google and was one of the leaders of employee protests over the company’s involvement in military AI projects.
Her work focuses on surveillance technology, artificial intelligence governance, and digital privacy. Whittaker is widely regarded as one of the most influential advocates for privacy-preserving technologies and stronger regulation of the tech industry.
Ruha Benjamin
X: @ruha9
Website: ruhabenjamin.com
Ruha Benjamin is a sociologist at Princeton University whose research examines the intersection of race, technology, and social inequality. Her work explores how algorithms and data systems can reinforce historical patterns of discrimination.
Benjamin’s books and lectures have helped shape global conversations about ethical technology development. She frequently speaks about the need to design technology systems that promote justice rather than reproduce structural inequities.
Safiya Noble
Instagram: safiya.noble.phd
Website: safiyanoble.com
Safiya Noble is an information scientist known for her influential book Algorithms of Oppression, which examines how search engines can reinforce racist and sexist stereotypes. Her work focuses on how digital platforms shape access to knowledge and information.
Noble’s research has played an important role in discussions about technology accountability, platform regulation, and the power of algorithmic systems. She frequently appears in media discussions about digital inequality and online information systems.
Cathy O’Neil
X: @mathbabedotorg
Website: mathbabe.org
Cathy O’Neil is a mathematician and data scientist known for her book Weapons of Math Destruction, which explores how algorithmic decision-making systems can cause harm in areas such as finance, criminal justice, and education.
O’Neil has become a major public voice advocating for transparency and accountability in data science. Her work highlights how seemingly neutral mathematical models can reinforce social and economic inequality.
Evan Greer
Bluesky: @evangreer.bsky.social
Website: fightforthefuture.org
Evan Greer is a digital rights activist and the director of Fight for the Future, an advocacy organization focused on internet freedom and privacy rights. The group has played a major role in campaigns against mass surveillance and internet censorship.
Greer’s work connects technology policy with grassroots activism. They frequently mobilize large online communities to influence debates about digital rights, surveillance technology, and internet governance.
Cory Doctorow
X: @doctorow
Website: pluralistic.net
Cory Doctorow is a writer, activist, and technology critic known for his work on platform monopolies and digital rights. Through his widely read newsletter Pluralistic, he analyzes how corporate power shapes the modern internet.
Doctorow has become one of the most prominent critics of the concentration of power in the tech industry. His writing frequently explores how regulatory changes could reshape digital markets and protect users from exploitative platforms.
Law
Marc Elias
X: @marceelias
Website: democracydocket.com
Marc Elias is one of the most prominent election lawyers in the United States and the founder of Democracy Docket, a legal news platform focused on voting rights and election law. He has led numerous high-profile lawsuits challenging voter suppression laws and defending access to the ballot.
Elias has become a central figure in legal battles over election administration and voting rights. Through both litigation and media commentary, he plays a major role in shaping public understanding of election law.
Jameel Jaffer
X: @JameelJaffer
Bluesky: @jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Website: knightcolumbia.org
Jameel Jaffer is the executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. His work focuses on free speech, surveillance law, and civil liberties in the digital age.
Jaffer has been involved in numerous legal battles over government surveillance and the rights of journalists. His research and legal advocacy frequently address how constitutional protections apply in the era of digital communication.
Chase Strangio
Instagram: @chasestrangio
Substack: Chase Strangio
Chase Strangio is a civil rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who focuses on LGBTQ rights and constitutional law. He has played a key role in several landmark legal cases involving transgender rights.
Strangio’s legal advocacy and public commentary have made him a prominent figure in debates about civil rights and constitutional protections. He frequently speaks about the intersection of law, identity, and social justice.
Zephyr Teachout
X: @ZephyrTeachout
Substack: Zephyr Teachout
Instagram: @zephyrteachout
Zephyr Teachout is a legal scholar known for her work on corruption, antitrust law, and democratic institutions. She teaches law at Fordham University and previously ran for governor of New York on an anti-corruption platform.
Teachout’s scholarship focuses on how concentrated economic power can undermine democratic governance. She frequently writes about antitrust enforcement and political corruption.
Aziz Rana
Website: https://www.azizrana.com/
Aziz Rana is a constitutional law scholar at Cornell University whose work examines the relationship between American constitutional development, empire, and democratic governance.
Rana’s writing often situates legal debates within broader historical and political contexts. His research is widely discussed among scholars and journalists analyzing the evolution of American democracy.
Alec Karakatsanis
X: @equalityAlec
Substack: Alec’s Copaganda Newsletter
Website: civilrightscorps.org
Alec Karakatsanis is a civil rights lawyer and founder of Civil Rights Corps, an organization focused on challenging systemic injustices in the criminal legal system. His work often focuses on issues such as cash bail, policing practices, and prosecutorial power.
Karakatsanis has become a prominent critic of the U.S. criminal justice system. His writing and legal advocacy highlight how economic inequality and institutional practices shape incarceration and policing outcomes.
Democracy, Authoritarianism & Fascism Studies
Jason Stanley
Website: jasonstanley.org
Jason Stanley is a philosopher known for his research on propaganda, political language, and fascism. His book How Fascism Works examines the rhetorical strategies used by authoritarian movements.
Stanley frequently engages in public debates about the erosion of democratic norms. His work explores how language, media, and ideology can shape political power.
Corey Robin
Website: coreyrobin.com
Corey Robin is a political theorist known for his work on conservatism and authoritarian politics. His book The Reactionary Mind analyzes the intellectual traditions behind modern conservative movements.
Robin’s writing frequently connects political theory with contemporary political developments. He has become a prominent voice in progressive discussions about ideology and democratic institutions.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
X: @KeeangaYamahtta
Website: keeangataylor.com
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor is a historian and author whose work focuses on race, inequality, and political movements in the United States. Her research connects civil rights history with contemporary debates about housing and democracy.
Taylor’s writing often examines how structural inequality influences democratic institutions. She is widely regarded as one of the leading public intellectuals on race and political economy.
Civil Rights
Mariame Kaba
X: @prisonculture
Website: mariamekaba.com
Mariame Kaba is an organizer, educator, and writer whose work focuses on prison abolition, community safety, and restorative justice. She has spent decades working with grassroots organizations focused on ending mass incarceration and building alternatives to policing.
Kaba has become one of the most influential voices in the prison abolition movement. Through her writing, workshops, and social media presence, she has helped popularize conversations about transformative justice and alternatives to the current criminal legal system.
Bryan Stevenson
Website: eji.org
Bryan Stevenson is the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization dedicated to challenging racial injustice and mass incarceration. He is widely known for his book Just Mercy and his work defending people facing wrongful convictions and unfair sentencing.
Stevenson’s advocacy focuses on the intersection of race, poverty, and the criminal justice system. His work has influenced national discussions about criminal justice reform and the historical legacy of racial discrimination in the United States.
Ben Crump
X: @AttorneyCrump
Website: bencrump.com
Ben Crump is a civil rights attorney known for representing families in high-profile cases involving police violence and racial injustice. His legal work has placed him at the center of national conversations about policing and accountability.
Crump frequently appears in media coverage of civil rights cases and has built a strong public platform advocating for police reform and racial justice. His legal advocacy often connects individual cases to broader systemic issues.
Derecka Purnell
X: @DereckaPurnell
Website: dereckapurnell.com
Derecka Purnell is a civil rights lawyer, writer, and organizer whose work focuses on abolitionist approaches to justice and public safety. Her writing often explores how communities can build systems of safety outside traditional policing structures.
Purnell’s work has appeared in major publications and academic forums. She has become a prominent voice in conversations about criminal justice reform, policing, and community-led safety initiatives.
Andrea Ritchie
X: @dreanyc123
Bluesky: @dreanyc123.bsky.social
Website: andreajritchie.com
Andrea Ritchie is a human rights lawyer and organizer whose work focuses on police violence, gender justice, and the rights of marginalized communities. She has written extensively about how policing intersects with race, gender, and sexuality.
Ritchie’s research and advocacy have helped bring attention to overlooked forms of state violence, particularly against women and LGBTQ people. Her work connects legal analysis with grassroots organizing and community advocacy.
Sherrilyn Ifill
Instagram: @sherrilynifill
Substack: Sherrilyn Ifill
Sherrilyn Ifill is a civil rights lawyer and former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. During her tenure, she led numerous legal efforts challenging voter suppression laws and defending civil rights protections.
Ifill has become a widely respected public voice on constitutional rights, democracy, and racial justice. She frequently appears in public forums discussing the role of law in protecting democratic institutions.
Disinformation & Extremism Research
Jim Stewartson
X: @jimstewartson
Substack: Jim Stewartson
Website: mind-war.com
Jim Stewartson is a researcher focused on online extremism, conspiracy movements, and digital propaganda networks. Through his MindWar project, he documents how disinformation spreads across social media platforms.
Stewartson’s investigations frequently map connections between extremist groups, misinformation campaigns, and coordinated online harassment. His work is widely followed by journalists and researchers studying digital radicalization.
Joan Donovan
X: @BostonJoan
Website: joandonovan.org
Joan Donovan is a sociologist who studies media manipulation, propaganda networks, and online disinformation campaigns. She previously directed the Technology and Social Change Research Project at Harvard University.
Donovan’s research has helped journalists understand how extremist movements and political actors exploit social media platforms to spread misinformation. Her work bridges academic research and investigative journalism.
Danah Boyd
X: @zephoria
Substack: danah boyd
Website: danah.org
Danah Boyd is a technology researcher known for studying social media networks, online culture, and digital communities. Her work explores how information flows across social platforms and how these systems influence public discourse.
Boyd’s research frequently addresses issues such as youth culture online, algorithmic influence, and the political consequences of social media ecosystems.
Social Media & Internet Culture Analysis
Taylor Lorenz
X: @TaylorLorenz
Substack: User Mag
Website: taylorlorenz.com
Taylor Lorenz is a journalist specializing in internet culture, social media platforms, and the creator economy. She has reported extensively on how online communities shape political and cultural discourse.
Lorenz’s reporting often focuses on emerging digital movements, influencers, and online subcultures. Her work has helped mainstream media understand how internet communities influence politics and culture.
Ryan Broderick
X: @broderick
Website: garbage.day
Ryan Broderick is a writer and media analyst known for his newsletter Garbage Day, which covers internet culture, online misinformation, and digital media trends.
Broderick’s work often analyzes how memes, online communities, and algorithmic platforms shape political narratives. His writing is widely followed by journalists and researchers studying digital media.
Casey Newton
X: @CaseyNewton
Website: platformer.news
Casey Newton is a technology journalist who runs the newsletter Platformer, focused on social media platforms and the political power of technology companies.
Newton’s reporting often examines how moderation policies, platform design, and corporate incentives shape public discourse. His work frequently influences debates about platform governance and digital regulation.
Critical Thinkers & Public Intellectuals
Ta-Nehisi Coates
X: @tanehisicoates
Website: tanehisicoates.com
Ta-Nehisi Coates is one of the most influential contemporary writers on race, democracy, and American history. His essays—particularly “The Case for Reparations” in The Atlantic—reshaped mainstream debate about historical justice and structural inequality in the United States. His writing blends historical analysis with literary storytelling to explore how institutions and power shape national identity.
In recent years Coates has increasingly written about international politics and colonialism, including the moral and political dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His work often examines how historical narratives and collective memory shape modern political systems, making him a central voice in progressive intellectual discourse.
Naomi Klein
X: @NaomiAKlein
Website: naomiklein.org
Naomi Klein is a geogrpaher, journalist and author known for her sweeping critiques of neoliberal capitalism and corporate globalization. Her books—including No Logo, The Shock Doctrine, and This Changes Everything—have influenced global progressive movements and academic debates about capitalism and climate change.
Klein frequently writes about how crises—from economic collapses to natural disasters—are used to expand corporate power and privatization. She has also been outspoken in criticizing Israeli policy toward Palestinians and situating the conflict within broader discussions about colonialism, nationalism, and global justice.
Angela Davis
X: @AngelaDavis
Website: angeladavis.org
Angela Davis is a philosopher, activist, and scholar whose work on prisons, abolition, and racial justice has shaped progressive political thought for decades. Emerging as a major intellectual figure during the civil rights era, she has continued to influence social movements and academic debates about liberation and justice.
Davis has been a long-time supporter of Palestinian rights and has drawn parallels between struggles against racism, colonialism, and incarceration systems globally. Her work connects historical analysis with contemporary activism, making her one of the most respected voices in international progressive movements.
Robin D. G. Kelley
X: @RobinDGKelley
Website: robindgkelley.com
Robin D. G. Kelley is a historian whose work focuses on African American history, radical political movements, and global struggles for liberation. His scholarship explores the intellectual traditions of Black radicalism and how social movements imagine alternative futures.
Kelley frequently connects historical movements for racial justice with contemporary political struggles around the world. His writing and lectures have helped shape progressive academic and activist conversations about solidarity, internationalism, and structural inequality.
Entertainment & Culture Commentary
Hasan Piker
X: @hasanthehun
Website: hasanabi.com
Hasan Piker is one of the most prominent political streamers in the world, combining entertainment, commentary, and political analysis across platforms such as Twitch and YouTube.
Piker’s streams frequently cover breaking political news, international affairs, and media narratives. His large audience—particularly among younger viewers—makes him a powerful distribution hub for political information and commentary.
Mark Ruffalo
X: @MarkRuffalo
Substack: Mark Ruffalo
Website: thesolutionsproject.org
Mark Ruffalo is an Academy Award–nominated actor best known for films such as Spotlight, The Avengers, and Foxcatcher. Beyond his acting career, Ruffalo has become one of the most politically outspoken figures in Hollywood, particularly on issues such as climate change, economic inequality, and human rights.
Ruffalo co-founded the clean-energy nonprofit The Solutions Project, which promotes renewable energy and climate justice initiatives.
Francesca Fiorentini
X: @franifio
Website: franifio.com
Francesca Fiorentini is a comedian, writer, and political commentator known for blending satire with progressive political analysis. She hosts political programs and podcasts that cover current events and media narratives.
Her work frequently uses humor to explain complex political issues. Fiorentini’s commentary reaches large audiences through digital video and podcast platforms.
Boots Riley
X: @BootsRiley
Website: bootsriley.com
Boots Riley is a filmmaker, musician, and political commentator known for the film Sorry to Bother You and his work with the hip-hop group The Coup.
Riley frequently comments on labor politics, race, and capitalism. His work connects political commentary with cultural production and artistic expression.
Kimberly Nicole Foster
X: @KimberlyNFoster
Website: forharriet.com
Kimberly Nicole Foster is a cultural critic and media creator known for founding For Harriet, a platform focused on Black feminism, culture, and politics.
Her commentary frequently explores how culture, media, and politics intersect. Foster’s work has built a strong following among audiences interested in progressive cultural criticism.
Matt Bernstein
X: @mattxiv
Website: mattxiv.com
Matt Bernstein is a political content creator known for producing viral social media commentary on politics, media narratives, and internet culture.
His content frequently translates complex political issues into short-form explanations designed for social media platforms. Bernstein’s work reaches large audiences through visual storytelling and digital commentary.
Breaking News & Investigative Journalists
Ken Klippenstein
X: @kenklippenstein
Substack: Ken Klippenstein
Website: kenklippenstein.com
Ken Klippenstein is an investigative journalist known for publishing national security leaks, internal government documents, and law-enforcement communications. His reporting frequently reveals how intelligence agencies, federal law enforcement, and political actors operate behind the scenes.
Klippenstein built a large online audience through rapid publication of scoops that other media outlets later amplify. His work sits at the intersection of investigative journalism, civil liberties reporting, and real-time digital distribution.
Jeremy Scahill
X: @jeremyscahill
Substack: Jeremy Scahill
Website: dropsitenews.com
Jeremy Scahill is an investigative journalist specializing in U.S. war policy, intelligence agencies, and covert military operations. He previously worked for The Intercept and helped build its national security reporting before co-founding Drop Site News.
Scahill’s reporting has exposed drone warfare programs, secret military operations, and the global expansion of U.S. counterterrorism policy. His work frequently shapes international debates about surveillance, war powers, and accountability.
Ryan Grim
X: @ryangrim
Substack: Ryan Grim
Website: dropsitenews.com
Ryan Grim is an investigative political journalist known for breaking stories about Congress, lobbying networks, and foreign policy debates inside Washington. He previously served as Washington bureau chief for The Intercept.
Grim’s reporting often focuses on how political decisions are made behind closed doors, connecting legislative maneuvering with broader geopolitical events. His online analysis frequently circulates widely among journalists and policy analysts.
Akela Lacy
X: @akela_lacy
Website: theintercept.com
Akela Lacy is an investigative journalist whose reporting focuses on U.S. politics, social movements, and government accountability. Her work often examines the political strategies of lawmakers and the influence of advocacy groups.
Lacy’s reporting frequently connects grassroots activism with national political decision-making. She is widely read among audiences following progressive political movements and institutional power.
Murtaza Hussain
X: @MazMHussain
Substack: Murtaza Hussain
Website: dropsitenews.com
Murtaza Hussain is a journalist specializing in foreign policy, civil liberties, and international conflict. His reporting frequently explores the consequences of U.S. military interventions and intelligence operations abroad.
Hussain’s work often combines investigative reporting with geopolitical analysis. His commentary frequently circulates among journalists and policy experts examining global conflict and diplomacy.
Labor & Worker Organizing
Chris Smalls
X: @Shut_downAmazon
Website: amazonlaborunion.org
Chris Smalls is the founder and president of the Amazon Labor Union, which successfully organized workers at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island in 2022. The victory marked one of the most significant labor breakthroughs in the modern U.S. logistics industry.
Smalls has since become a national figure in labor organizing. His activism focuses on unionizing technology and logistics workers while building broader momentum for worker-led organizing campaigns.
Kim Kelly
X: @GrimKim
Substack: Kim Kelly
Website: www.kim-kelly.com/
Kim Kelly is a labor journalist known for reporting on worker organizing, strikes, and labor conditions across the United States. Her work frequently centers workers whose stories are overlooked in mainstream coverage.
Kelly’s reporting often connects labor struggles with broader issues of economic justice and workplace safety. She has become a respected voice among labor organizers and progressive media outlets.
Thank you, Rebekah. This list is exhaustive. I try to keep up...but the faster I go.... I know a few names very well, and many not at all. I will fix that.
Thank you for this list; already shared forward. Affirms many of the people I follow and gives me more to look up.