Media Matters

03/14/2025

• Media Matters compiled a list of 418 popular online shows — podcasts, streams, and other long-form audio and video content regularly posted online — that were active during 2024, assessed ideological alignment, and found 320 online shows with an ideological bent (191 right-leaning and 129 left-leaning) that covered news and politics and/or hosted related guests.

  Nine of the 10 online shows from our study with the largest total following across platforms were right-leaning, accounting for at least 197 million total followers and subscribers. These are the online shows of:

  • Joe Rogan: 39.9 million
  • Ben Shapiro: 25 million
  • Jordan Peterson: 23 million
  • Russell Brand: 22.5 million
  • Theo Von: 22.3 million
  • Charlie Kirk: 18.6 million
  • Nelk Boys’ Full Send Podcast: 16.7 million
  • Candace Owens: 15 million
  • Dr. Phil: 14.2 million

  The only left-leaning show among the top 10 was What Now? with Trevor Noah, with over 21.1 million total followers and subscribers.

  Of these most-followed right-leaning online shows, only 4 are categorized on Apple Podcasts as news and politics, while Rogan, Von, and Full Send are characterized as comedy, Peterson as education, and Dr. Phil as society and culture.

  While these podcasts often host celebrity guests like Timothée Chalamet, MrBeast, and Luke Bryan, these 5 right-leaning comedy, education, and society and culture shows have also had dozens of episodes featuring right-wing media figures and politicians since October 1, 2024.

  Guests on these shows have included Trump, Vance, the New York Post’s Miranda Devine, The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh, right-wing figures Tucker Carlsonand Dave Smith, Trump picks Tom Homan, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Monica Crowley, UFC CEO and Trump ally Dana White, and far-right constitutionalsheriffs.

  Additionally, 65 right-leaning online shows had followings larger than 1 million, but only 21 left-leaning online shows boast comparable followings.