TikTok, the popular social media app for making short musical videos, has popularized viral dance challenges like the 'Renegade' and has even spawned bona fide celebrities like 15-year-old influencer Charli D'Amelio. Now, 26-year-old truck driver Joshua Collins is hoping to utilize the user base to support his run for Congress.
"TikTok has been the place where my message resonates most," Collins, a self-proclaimed socialist, told Cheddar.
He's been able to amass 50,000 followers and more than one million likes with a variety of videos both about his campaign and other interests.
In campaign videos, he talks about policies he supports, complete with hashtags like "#anarchy," and "#eattherich." He supports presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, has featured videos of himself at Sanders' rallies, and is vocally opposed to former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's candidacy.
The candidate also is a supporter of LGBTQ issues, and said for young people on TikTok, "trans issues are really popular."
Collins, who describes himself as "really far-left" politically says he uses the app to give his take on issues he believes aren't being talked about enough and has compared the Iraq war to President Trump's Iran escalation last month. He also uses the platform to support agendas like the Green New Deal and Medicare-for-All.
Jeff Softley, direct to consumer president at Experian, joins Cheddar News to discuss what it means to be credit invisible, how big of an issue this is in the U.S., and what resources are out there to bridge this gap.
Sēkr, a mobile app that aims to improve and digitize the outdoor travel experience, announced this week that it raised a $2.25 million seed round. In the Sēkr app, users can get access to more than 50,000 campsites throughout the U.S. including the nation's largest database of free campsites. The company is saying it is on a mission to make every step of the planning experience for outdoor travel easier, safer, and more social. Breanne Acio, co-founder and CEO of Sēkr, and Jess Shisler, co-founder and COO, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
In a 5-4 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed for a controversial new version of the Alabama congressional map to remain in place. The lower court had previously ordered that the state must redraw that congressional map because it violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the political power of Black voters. Redistricting expert Yurij Rudensky joins Cheddar News to weigh in.
The Winter Olympics are in full swing and athletes from around the globe are showcasing their elite skills at a wide variety of events. There's a lot of excitement but also a lot of pressure for these athletes. Former NFL defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion Dominique Easley joined Cheddar News to weigh in.
American freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf joins Cheddar News to talk about taking home the silver medal in the Women's Moguls Final at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
This episode of ChedHER is all about helping women thrive in their careers and rise up in the ranks. Guests include female leaders from across industries including sports, advertising, and so much more.
Sonja Stills, Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, joins ChedHER to discuss her experience being the first female leader in this role, and how she plans on carrying on the legacy of the MEAC.
