Phil Lind Initiative: Hasan Piker

Wielding sharp political insight and a characteristically irreverent sense of humor, Hasan Piker is redefining what political commentary looks like in the digital age. A journalist and wildly-popular content creator on the streaming platform Twitch, Piker has become an authoritative voice for millennials and Gen Z. His live-streaming broadcasts reach over 30,000 people daily, where he dissects breaking news, debates policy, and connects with a politically-engaged online community in real time. His work has been featured in The New York Times, GQ, NPR, Vanity Fair, and WIRED, and he’s been recognized by Rolling Stone and TIME in their lists of top influential creators.

Born in New Jersey and raised in Istanbul, Piker’s desire to question authority and argue against an unjust status quo was shaped by his experiences growing up in an increasingly authoritarian Turkey. Blending entertainment and activism, his viral “Among Us” stream with Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar famously drew over 700,000 viewers ahead of the 2020 election. He has also worked with organizations such as Muslims for Progressive Values, March for Our Lives, and Black Lives Matter. Piker and his online followers represent a new kind of participatory media power born of the digital era.

Presented by UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs in partnership with the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.