Politics in the Influencer Age: One of Brazil's largest influencers (16m Instagram followers, millions for each YT video) -- a gentleman calling himself "Felca" -- started young as a video game streamer, but then became a hero to social justice activists, and a beloved figure among young Brazilians, by championing causes of mental health, bullying, online exploitation of children, influencers promoting gambling, etc. He disappeared from the internet for much of the year, but then announced a few days ago that he would return with a video published at midnight last night. Lula supporters, still desperate to find some way to reverse the results of the first round, all celebrated wildly, certain that Felca would produce a video endorsing Lula (even though he never suggested this) and that a Felca endorsement would swing the votes of millions and push Lula over the line for this Sunday's run-off vote. Instead, Felca posted a highly emotional, hour-long video about the childhood traumas he suffered and still suffers from due to bullying, severe anxiety and related mental health crises. But it had nothing to do with Lula or the election. It's hard to overstate the intensity and magnitude of hate he's now receiving from other large influences supporting Lula, and the left generally. They are mocking his mental health struggles, warning that they will ensure his anxiety will be worse than ever, acting as if he is one of the most evil people to exist, with some even encouraging his suicide. Lots of lessons here for other countries, none more relevant than the now-incomparable political power of vapid online Instagram influencers.

Mesmo conhecendo tão bem a esquerda brasileira e sabendo o quanto ela é suja, estou surpreso ao ver como estão atacando Felca ainda, de forma agressiva e raivosa, por ter feito um vídeo sobre os problemas de saúde mental e o bullying que ele e muitas outras pessoas sofreram, tudo porque ele não incluiu uma declaração de apoio a Lula. Nojento. Os menos abertamente perversos alegam que estão apenas incomodados com o “timing” do vídeo. É por isso que ele publicou o vídeo hoje.