Want to win an election? Try a thirst trap.
Vox · Published on October 16, 2026
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Description
In the run-up to the midterms, the Democrats are employing a novel strategy to capture voter attention: thirst traps. From videos of Abdul El-Sayed pumping iron to Senator John Ossoff and his “Atticus Finch cosplay,” candidates are getting a boost from fan cams posted across social media. Grace Panetta of The 19th says a lot of these videos, many of which are fan-made, are a way that Democrats are trying to gain back the ground they lost on the internet during the election in 2024. You can listen to her full interview on Vox’s Today, Explained podcast wherever you get your episodes. Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsAjO Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com. Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@voxdotcom Check out our articles: https://www.vox.com/ Listen to our podcasts: https://www.vox.com/podcasts
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