Piker has been hailed as "the left's answer to Joe Rogan," a charismatic Gen Z streamer who broadcasts nearly every waking hour and who has 4.5 million viewers across Twitch and YouTube. Piker has been a fierce critic of American foreign policy, but previously acknowledged that his comments about 9/11 were inappropriate. Still, the effort to tie those comments to Mamdani, who in June became the first Muslim major party nominee for mayor, brought a ferocious response from his campaign.
As I warned you before, evil never dies. This is the story of the f*cking week the notion that so many people have deep-held resentment for the f*cking president that they're actively fantasizing about his untimely demise at the young age of 79, Piker said. His comment came a few hours after photos and video emerged of Trump heading out to play some golf with his granddaughter, Kai Trump.
Piker's nearly two-hour interaction with CBP agents has drawn criticism, sparking debate among fans who believe he should have exercised his right to remain silent. His experience raises concerns about the implications of engaging with law enforcement.
It is an instructive moment. Countries that behave like this towards political commentators and dissenting voices who are their own citizens are either nakedly authoritarian, or well on the way.
