Summary
Overview
A live recording of Terminally Online at CrookedCon featuring the Crooked Media team playing a blind ranking game of the most online politicians of 2025, followed by an informal 2028 presidential straw poll with the audience. The hosts debate which politicians are most chronically online based on their social media behavior, posting frequency, and ability to engage in internet discourse.
Blind Rankings Game: America's Most Online Politicians
The hosts play a competitive blind ranking game to identify the five most online politicians heading into 2025. They debate the criteria for being 'terminally online,' weighing factors like posting frequency, ability to reply to critics, and whether politicians personally post versus relying on staff. The discussion reveals insights about how different politicians engage with social media and internet culture, from Trump's isolated posting on Truth Social to JD Vance's aggressive reply-guy energy.
- The game requires consensus ranking of five politicians from most to least online, with participants not knowing who's coming next
- Donald Trump ranked at #3, with points deducted for only posting on Truth Social and never replying to anyone
- Nancy Mace ranked #2 for her obsessive posting about the Charleston Airport incident and main character energy
- JD Vance unanimously ranked #1 as America's top reply guy and most online politician
- Zoran Mamdani placed at #4 for running the best digital campaign but being too well-adjusted to be truly online
- Gavin Newsom ranked #5, with debate over whether his viral content comes from staff rather than personal posting
" I don't think Trump can be the most online politician if all you're doing is posting without replying to anyone. There's been no Trump replies. "
" If you're the Vice President of the United States and you call Jon Favreau a dipshit on a social media platform, you're automatically number one. "
" Nancy Mace as a person kind of seems to capture the essence of the personality disorder of the internet. If the internet had a personality disorder, it would be the same thing that whatever Nancy Mace is walking around with. "
The Charleston Airport Incident: Nancy Mace's Online Meltdown
The discussion dives deep into Nancy Mace's bizarre confrontation with police at Charleston Airport and her subsequent social media spiral. After berating airport security staff over a mix-up with her police escort, Mace posted extensively about the incident, drawing bipartisan condemnation from South Carolina politicians including Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham. The incident exemplifies the 'Streisand effect' as her attempt to defend herself only amplified criticism.
- Mace had a confrontation with Charleston Airport police over a delayed or confused escort arrangement
- She posted a video criticizing the police, invoking Tim Scott's name and suggesting he gets better treatment
- Tim Scott issued a statement essentially telling her off, noting he's always respectful to police officers
- Both Republican and Democratic South Carolina politicians issued bipartisan statements supporting the airport staff
- Mace has posted about the incident hundreds of times, demonstrating obsessive online behavior
" This conversation has the meta energy of like, well, we're laughing about it, but this feels uncomfortable. She's going through it. "
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