How Aaron Parnas built a massive Gen Z news audience
The Excerpt
USA TODAY
4.1 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 10 March 2026
⏱️ 12 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Independent reporter Aaron Parnas has built one of the fastest-growing news audiences on social media, with millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram. Known for breaking down politics in a casual, direct style, Parnas has become a trusted source for many Gen Z viewers who aren’t watching traditional TV news. Parnas joins USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jay Stahl to discuss how he built that audience, why younger Americans are turning to creators for news and what the shift means for the future of journalism
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | From lawyer to TikTok star, Aaron Carnus's career path has been anything but typical. |
| 0:10.4 | He was already attending college at 14. |
| 0:13.4 | By 18, he was in law school. |
| 0:16.0 | Parnas is now an independent reporter with the most popular news substack and nearly 8 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. |
| 0:23.9 | With a variation of his signature tagline, we have some news right now. |
| 0:29.3 | He's also managed to do something that the mainstream media has truly struggled with, |
| 0:35.1 | getting Gen Z invested in politics and current affairs. |
| 0:40.1 | So what's his secret? |
| 0:46.5 | Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt. |
| 0:50.5 | I'm USA Today Senior Reporter Jay Stahl. |
| 0:53.2 | Today is Tuesday, March 10th, 2026. |
| 0:58.3 | Here to talk about politics and his personal rise, I'm joined by Aaron Parnas right now. |
| 1:04.4 | Thanks so much for joining me, Aaron. |
| 1:06.4 | I'm super excited. |
| 1:08.0 | So one of the things I wanted to ask you that we've discussed before is why do you think so many people trust you? |
| 1:14.8 | I mean, I think I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong. |
| 1:17.5 | I think that's number one. |
| 1:18.6 | I think number two is the way you see me online is the way you see me in real life. |
| 1:25.0 | The authenticity factor is really there. |
| 1:29.4 | And then I think number three is that it's it's a relatable kind of way of presenting information and presenting information from my bed, |
| 1:37.5 | from an airport bathroom, from the couch and a snuggy, as a matter where I am, what I look like, |
| 1:43.4 | what I sound like, I'm just giving you news |
... |
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