Barstool Sports has established itself as a platform characterized by a right-wing, bro-centric culture, a reputation that has caused some to shy away from it. Nonetheless, the platform is also recognized for nurturing prominent figures in sports media, a development that founder and CEO Dave Portnoy has proudly cultivated. Portnoy’s outspoken support for Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 election is well-known, as is the controversy he generated by interviewing Trump before the 2020 election.
While Barstool may not appeal to everyone, its influence is unmistakable. This was evident to Tommy Vietor, a former spokesperson for President Barack Obama and co-host of the podcast Pod Save America, who unexpectedly shifted his stance after years of distancing himself from the outlet. In a recent interview on Barstool’s KFC Radio, Vietor engaged in a two-hour discussion with Kevin Clancy (KFC Barstool) and John Feitelberg, promoting it by stating they examined “the Democratic Party’s (many) failures in the 2024 election and how Dems can recover and earn back support from the young men we lost to Trump.”
Went to @barstoolsports HQ to talk with @FeitsBarstool & @KFCBarstool about the Democratic Party’s (many) failures in the 2024 election and how Dems can recover and earn back support from the young men we lost to Trump. Appreciate these guys spending time with a politics dork. https://t.co/ZUT4fKON9k
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) February 4, 2025
In response to his post about Barstool, Vietor made a significant admission: “Democrats (myself included) made a big mistake by refusing to engage with @barstoolsports,” he stated. “The staff and audience have a wide range of views, and regardless, the only way to persuade people who disagree with you is to talk with them. Hope more Dems go on their shows.”
Democrats (myself included) made a big mistake by refusing to engage with @barstoolsports. The staff and audience have a wide range of views, and regardless, the only way to persuade people who disagree with you is to talk with them. Hope more Dems go on their shows.
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) February 4, 2025
However, it’s important to note that Portnoy revealed he had been offered the chance to interview Kamala Harris weeks before the election but declined due to concerns about not being able to fact-check her statements in real-time. “They reached out, which who knows if they actually researched it,” Portnoy explained. “She asked to do BFFs, JackMac and [Pardon My Take]. PMT said no, I said no on behalf of BFFs.”
Vietor’s comments highlight a broader issue facing the Democratic Party as it grapples with its repeated defeat by Trump over the past eight years. The Republican Party has notably surpassed the Democrats in engaging various key demographics, particularly young men, as Vietor mentioned. For better or worse, Barstool’s vast, dedicated following embodies a segment of potential voters that Vietor recognized his party had previously overlooked before the 2024 election.
