TL;DR
A WIRED report says the second Trump administration treats political actions as content: government accounts broadcast enforcement videos on X, online conspiracies are informing policy choices, and prominent right-wing creators have taken on formal roles in government. The piece frames the administration as unusually enmeshed with social platforms and influencer culture.
What happened
According to a WIRED article by Vittoria Elliott published January 13, 2026, the second Trump administration has brought the logic of social media into official practice. Federal accounts such as the Department of Homeland Security have been posting footage of immigration enforcement on X, amplifying operational moments as shareable content. The report links a broader trend in which conspiracy-minded narratives circulating online are finding purchase in policymaking, while high-profile conservative podcasters and social-media personalities have moved into senior government positions. The article characterizes the administration’s approach as highly oriented toward platformed visibility — treating political decisions and actions as material for distribution and engagement across social networks. The coverage situates these developments at the intersection of technology, political power, and culture.
Why it matters
- When government actions are packaged for social platforms, public communication priorities can shift from policy detail to viral traction.
- The infusion of conspiratorial narratives into decision-making raises concerns about evidence-based governance and institutional norms.
- Appointments of prominent online creators to official roles blur lines between media influence and formal policymaking.
- Widespread use of platform-native formats by federal agencies affects transparency, public perception, and media ecosystems.
Key facts
- The story was reported by Vittoria Elliott for WIRED and published on January 13, 2026.
- WIRED frames the second Trump administration as unusually oriented toward social media and online content.
- The Department of Homeland Security has been sharing videos of immigration raids on X, per the article.
- The report says online conspiracy theories are shaping some policy directions in the administration.
- High-profile right-wing podcasters and social-media influencers have taken on high-level government roles, according to the piece.
- WIRED places these developments in the context of platforms, politics, and power.
- Topics associated with the story include Donald Trump, Twitter/X, social media, politics, government, and Elon Musk.
What to watch next
- How federal agencies continue to use platform-native media (short videos, posts) to present enforcement actions — not confirmed in the source
- Whether the influence of online conspiracy networks leads to identifiable changes in specific policy outcomes or lawmaking — not confirmed in the source
- The degree to which appointments of media personalities to government posts affect internal decision processes and public communications — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Clicktatorship: A term used in the article to describe a political style that treats governance and public actions primarily as content designed for online attention and engagement.
- Conspiracy theory: An explanation of events that attributes outcomes to secretive, often unfounded plots by powerful actors rather than established evidence.
- X (formerly Twitter): A major social platform used for short-form posts, now referenced in the report as a venue where government accounts publish video and messaging.
- Influencer: A person with a sizable online following who creates content and can shape opinions or behavior among their audience.
Reader FAQ
Does the article say the government is posting immigration raid videos on social media?
Yes. The WIRED piece reports that the Department of Homeland Security has been sharing footage of immigration enforcement on X.
Are specific policies named as directly dictated by conspiracy theories?
The article states conspiracy narratives are informing policy, but it does not list specific laws or policy texts in the provided excerpt.
Which podcasters or influencers have formal government roles?
Not confirmed in the source.
Who wrote the report and when was it published?
The story was written by Vittoria Elliott and published by WIRED on January 13, 2026.
VITTORIA ELLIOTT POLITICS JAN 13, 2026 1:59 PM Everything Is Content for the ‘Clicktatorship’ For the second Trump administration, the world of online conspiracies is shaping real-world policies like never…
Sources
- Everything Is Content for the ‘Clicktatorship’
- Misinformation Fears Mount Over Second Trump Term
- Trump Leads a 'Machinery' of Misinformation in Second Term
- In Trump 2.0, MAGA-aligned influencers and media …
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