A Populist Influencer Is Running for Congress, and Actually Understands YouTube

Journalist and influencer Kat Abughazaleh announced she’s running for Congress in a YouTube video. In a video that looked more like a livestream than an announcement of a bid for office, Abughazaleh promised to run a transparent campaign, fight for affordable groceries, and stand up to authoritarians. Abughazaleh is running in Illinois’ 9th district, which covers the north side of Chicago and some of its suburbs. She’ll attempt to unseat Democratic incumbent and party stalwart Jan Schakowsky, who is 81 and has held her seat since 1999. “I say it’s time to drop the excuses and grow a fucking spine,” Abughazaleh said in her announcement video. “We need a vision that’s bigger than what we’ve been told is possible. There is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be able to afford housing, groceries, and healthcare with some money leftover. Families should have free childcare. Social security should be expanded, and our inalienable rights shouldn’t be dependent on who’s in power. That means s ... Read full article.