Influencer Impact

Ryan and Nicole talk through our 2027 Creator Legislative Advocacy Playbook. Download it it here. https://studio.peoplefirst.cc/playbooks/2027-creator-legislative-advocacy Watch the video of this conversation here: https://people1st.substack.com/p/2027-creator-legislative-advocacy  

Do toxic political posts actually drive engagement? Ryan Davis sits down with Dr. Elliot Motte to discuss his new paper, Insult Politics in the Age of Social Media. Analyzing more than 3 million tweets from 729 members of Congress, Motte found that toxic tweets received 16.8% more likes than non-toxic posts from the same politician. But that engagement boost is strongest among politicians who only occasionally post toxic content. The downside? Toxicity may energize supporters, but it also deepens political polarization without persuading opponents. Links: Influencer Impact: Strategy Edition Substack: https://people1st.substack.com/ RSVP to the webinar: https://events.peoplefirst.cc/ Download the legislative playbook: https://studio.peoplefirst.cc/playbooks/2027-creator-legislative-advocacy Substack Live: https://open.substack.com/live-stream/427999 Dr. Elliot Motte: https://elliot-motte.github.io/ Read the study: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Elliot-Motte/Elliot-Motte.github.io/master/files/03_Insult_Politics/MOTTE_JMP_Insult_Politics.pdf

Ryan recently sat down with Martin J. Riedl, one of the authors of the new study "Antecedents of Disclosure: What Transparency Measures Social Media Users in the United States Want From Paid Political Influencers," published in Social Media + Society. The study looked at what online Americans expect from creators engaged in paid political partnerships. For us at People First, who care about and value transparency, the findings aligned with the strategy we've used since our 2019 founding: transparency is good politics. Not being transparent degrades trust in your candidate, can lead to unnecessary bad press, and can get your creators fined. (It's no longer a story if your campaign is using paid creators; it's a story if you're trying to hide it.) LINKS & RESOURCES Read the Study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20563051261480944 People First on Transparency: https://people1st.substack.com/i/198615935/paying-creators-isnt-the-problem-hiding-it-is California Influencer Coverage: https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/05/california-governor-race-influencers/ California Political Influencer Law: https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/social-media-politics-law/ Watch the Creator Rally: https://events.peoplefirst.cc/ Download the EOY Fundraising Playbook: https://studio.peoplefirst.cc/eoy-fundraising-playbook Subscribe to Influencer Impact: Strategy Edition on Substack: https://people1st.substack.com/

Influencer marketing has earned its place in the campaign toolbox, but its greatest opportunity might be in strengthening paid media. Nicole Dunger and Ryan Long sit down with Zachary Adams of VDX to explore why the lines between television and creator marketing are disappearing, and how campaigns can get more value from creator-led content. They also break down what successful cross-channel strategies look like in today's political landscape. https://people1st.substack.com/ https://www.vdx.tv/  

This month on Influencer Impact, Nicole sat down with Tiffany Rivers, VP of Emerging Media + Influencer Marketing at Media Cause, to talk about where the influencer industry is headed. From navigating constant change to building programs that create lasting impact, Tiffany shared what teams need to know in today's digital climate. Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlrivers/ Digital Strategy Summit: https://www.centerfordigitalstrategy.com/digital-strategy-summit  

In this episode of Influencer Impact, Ryan sits down with Sarah Stein Lubrano to unpack her recent book, Don't Talk About Politics: Changing 21st Century Minds, and what the science actually says about persuasion. The conversation moves past the usual "change minds with facts" framing and into what actually works: identity, trust, and social context. They get into how that shows up in real communications work, especially for campaigns and organizations trying to reach fragmented audiences. Creators come into the picture as people already embedded in communities, showing up as authentic voices rather than institutional messengers. Sarah brings a deep, lived perspective, with a background in feminist and mutual aid organizing, teaching in prisons, and academic training with a PhD from the University of Oxford and a Master's from the University of Cambridge. Her work extends through the Sense and Solidarity Initiative and the Future Narratives Lab, and she's previously served as Head of Content at The School of Life. Follow her on Instagram, Substack, and Bluesky. https://bookshop.org/p/books/don-t-talk-about-politics-how-to-change-21st-century-minds-sarah-stein-lubrano/e74488cba3ff517f https://www.instagram.com/sarahsteinlubrano/ https://sarahsteinlubrano.substack.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social

This episodes special guest is Clare O'Donoghue Velikić, Founder & Director of ODV Digital, a consultancy that works with progressive campaigns across Europe. Clare joins us to talk about the EU's new Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising (TTPA) regulations and what they mean for progressive political organizations. We dig into how campaigns can adapt their digital strategies, and explore practical ways both organic and paid programs can continue reaching voters while staying compliant with the new rules. Clare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-o-donoghue-velikic/ ODV Digital: https://odvdigital.com/ People First: https://peoplefirst.cc/

In this special crossover episode of Influencer Impact and Oops! I'm an Influencer, we're joined by digital strategist and influencer Gabriella Zutrau. With a background in community organizing and political digital strategy, she breaks down what this next election cycle will look like online — and why creators and internet professionals matter more than ever. We discuss the shifting media landscape and why paid ads alone aren't enough. In 2024, Democrats outspent the GOP on paid media and still lost, while the right has spent years building powerful organic social ecosystems rooted in creator trust and community. That's why Gabriella and other digital strategists are calling for 15% of campaign paid media budgets to be shifted into organic social, creator engagement, and new media infrastructure. If you are interested in this click the link below and add your name to the list! https://bit.ly/theinternetpeople

People First's Ryan Davis, Nicole Dunger, & Ryan Long talk about their 2026 influencer election guide and 9 trends shaping digital strategy. Watch the live video: https://people1st.substack.com/p/live-with-team-people-first 2026 Election Guide: Activating Influencers in Politics & Advocacy: https://people1st.substack.com/p/2026-election-guide-activating-influencers 9 Trends Driving Digital Strategy in 2026: https://monthindigital.substack.com/p/9-trends-driving-digital-strategy

Nicole's conversation with Randi Weingarten gets right to the heart of why teachers are on the frontlines of the fight for democracy. Randi breaks down the real pressures educators are facing and why her book Why Fascists Fear Teachers is both a warning and a call to action.