The up-and-coming comedian Andrew Schulz recently hosted former President Donald Trump for a wide-ranging interview on Schulz’s popular YouTube podcast Flagrant. The conversation featured wild jokes about Trump’s son Barron and abortion but also more serious moments that indicate it wasn’t exactly a softball, such as when Trump claimed he was “basically a truthful person” and Schulz laughed in his face and when Schulz challenged Trump’s pessimistic take on America.

It was a smash hit for Schulz’s podcast but not necessarily an unambiguously positive experience for Trump’s campaign. The Kamala HQ social media account even clipped from the podcast, sharing a segment it considered unflattering for Trump. 

None of this context mattered to the irate “woke” mob that targeted Schulz for daring to “platform” Trump. (As if the most famous person in the world lacks a “platform.”) 

But it wasn’t just angry people on the internet. As Schulz revealed on his podcast, the venue the comedian was set to film a special in, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, suddenly canceled his event just hours after he released the Trump interview, saying that “leadership” decided it wasn’t in line with their “values.” The venue now claims this wasn’t related to the Trump interview. Color me skeptical.

If the venue really did cancel the event just because Schulz dared talk to Trump, that would be wildly close-minded and intolerant, especially considering that the Brooklyn Academy of Music has a whole exhibit planned for November about the importance of artistic freedom that specifically laments the censorship of controversial art. But it would be just another example of a disturbing trend of backlash toward independent comedians and entertainers who dare “platform” the “wrong” people. 

Spotify employees and artists revolted and tried to get comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan censored. Left-wing activists tried to boycott HBO host Bill Maher. Activists have tried to pressure advertisers to defund X because of owner Elon Musk allowing more opinions to proliferate on the platform. 

You get the idea. It’s all part of a sad, desperate death rattle protesting against the democratization of mass media. Liberals and progressives have long controlled establishment media outlets such as the New York Times and CNN. When those institutions collectively controlled a huge portion of the information ecosystem, they were able to exert ideological pressure and agenda-setting power they no longer wield. 

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In the new age of democratized mass media, independent podcasts reach far bigger audiences than a typical CNN broadcast. That’s why Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump are focusing on new media appearances and popular podcasts in the final few weeks before Election Day. 

From the perspective of consumers, the shift in media is a good thing, as they’ll have access to more perspectives and more coverage that’s tailored to their interests. But from the perspective of bitter progressives, it’s a cataclysmic shift that’s stripping them of the gatekeeping powers they’ve long weaponized, so expect more backlash until they finally realize that this Pandora’s box is never going to be closed. 

Brad Polumbo is an independent journalist and host of the Brad vs Everyone podcast.