What does it mean to build an independent media platform, and what responsibilities come with it? Recorded before a live audience in New York City, Chenjerai talks with political commentator and streamer Hasan Piker about his path from The Young Turks to Twitch, playing Fortnite while discussing Israel and Palestine, and why telling the truth requires more than claiming neutrality.

They also discuss holding Zohran Mamdani accountable, why movements must remain bigger than their leaders, and why Palestinian journalists’ reporting is so often ignored until Western outlets catch up.

📣 DON’T JUST LISTEN - PASS IT ON

If you know someone who would appreciate this conversation, send it to them. Seriously, text them right now. Send a screen shot. Forward it in an email. Drop it in the group chat.

🚨 HELP US BUILD FULLY INDEPENDENT MEDIA!

Unruly Subjects is growing. In the last 30 days, 34 new members have joined our Patreon community. To every one of you: THANK YOU!

🎯 OUR GOAL: 100 paid subscribers by December 1st. We’re almost halfway there. We need 52 more listeners to step up and support us financially so that we can build something sustainable.

We’re doing this work from the muscle, and if we want to keep making the show, expand our coverage, and bring you more conversations like this one, we need more of our listeners to pitch in.

🙏 If you value worker-owned, independent journalism, join our Patreon community for as little as $5/month. Help us build listener-backed media at unrulysubjectspodcast.com.

Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch at unrulysubjects@gmail.com.

Unruly Subjects is also now on YouTube! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnrulySubjects

Production Help From Aowen Cao

Unruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome Productions

Further reading & sources from this episode:

Hasan on Twitch
Watch Hasan’s livestream, where he combines news, political commentary, and gaming.

“The Battle for the Bros” by Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker
A profile of Hasan and the debate over reaching young men through online media.

“More Truth,” Scene on Radio
Reported by Lewis Raven Wallace, with John Biewen and Chenjerai Kumanyika, this episode explores journalism, objectivity, and democracy.

Trailer for Naza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBRLEEaueo

Trailer for Palestine ‘36
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1PWKE_9YtU

Support the show