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David Pakman

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For the internet entrepreneur and venture capitalist, see David B. Pakman.

David Pakman
Pakman in 2019
Born
David Pakman

(1984-02-02) 2 February 1984 (age 42)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
EducationUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst (BS)
Bentley University (MBA)
OccupationsPolitical media personality and media entrepreneur
Years active2005–present
YouTube information
Channel
GenresNews
Political commentary
Subscribers3.56 million
Views3.57 billion
Last updated: 23 April 2026
Websitedavidpakman.com

David Pakman (born 2 February 1984) is an American-Argentine political commentator, media entrepreneur and author. He is the host and founder of The David Pakman Show, a progressive[1][2] political news and commentary program distributed across radio, television, podcast platforms and digital media, accumulating over 3.4 million YouTube subscribers and 3.3 billion views.[3] His work focuses on politics of the United States, democratic institutions, media ecosystems, and political extremism.[4]

Early life and education

David Pakman was born into an Argentine Jewish family in Buenos Aires, Argentina,[5] and immigrated to the United States at the age of five.[2][6] His father is a psychiatrist and his mother is a teacher.[7] He has two siblings; a brother, and a sister.[7] He grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts, and became a United States citizen at the age of sixteen.[8]

Education

Pakman graduated from Northampton High School.[5] He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he studied economics and communications.[5] It was while as a junior at UMass-Amherst that he began hosting his first radio program on local station WXOJ-LP.[9] He also earned an MBA degree from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts.[10][6]

Career

The David Pakman Show

The David Pakman Show launched in August 2005 as a local radio program on WXOJ-LP (Valley Free Radio) in Northampton, Massachusetts, under the title Midweek Politics with David Pakman.[11] Pakman began the show at age 21 while still an undergraduate student.[6]

Development and distribution

The program expanded into national syndication, at one point airing on more than 100 radio stations across the United States,[12] and later broadened its distribution to national television via Free Speech TV on DirecTV and Dish Network, as well as podcast platforms and direct subscription channels.[13][9] The show focuses on political commentary, news analysis, and interviews with politicians, journalists, intellectuals and public figures across the political spectrum, as well as media criticism and analysis of democratic institutions, disinformation systems and structural incentives shaping contemporary political media.[9] The program subsequently expanded its distribution to television and digital platforms, where full episodes and clips are published online.[12]

The David Pakman Show is distributed across radio, television, and digital platforms, including YouTube. Episodes are also released online and made available as a podcast. The program has been carried on networks such as Free Speech TV and through radio syndication, in addition to its online distribution.[14]

Media appearances and commentary

Pakman has appeared as a guest speaker and commentator on Fox News, CNN,[15] and HLN, including Nancy Grace [16] and Dr. Drew on Call.[17] He has appeared twice on The Joe Rogan Experience,[18][19] and on the Lex Fridman Podcast.[20][21] He also appeared as a guest on Piers Morgan Uncensored,[22] twice on Democracy Now,[23] and PBD Podcast.[24] In March 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared on The David Pakman Show to discuss Stephen Miller's role in the Trump administration.[25] The interview drew a direct response from the White House Communications Director.[26] His commentary has been cited or featured in Mother Jones,[27] the Boston Herald,[28] The New York Times,[29] The Daily Beast,[26] and Wired.[30][31][32]

Writing and publications

Pakman is the author of several non-fiction books spanning children's literature and political commentary.[33] He children’s series focused on critical thinking, science literacy and civic engagement respectively; they included:

  • Think Like a Detective: A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking (2003)
  • Think Like a Scientist: A Kid's Guide to Scientific Thinking (2003)
  • Think Like a Voter: A Kid's Guide to Shaping Our Country’s Future (2004)

In 2025, Pakman released his first adult nonfiction book; the New York Times Bestseller The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created A Post-Truth America published by Beacon Press.[34] The book gave an examination the role of media incentives, disinformation ecosystems, and the mechanisms driving radicalization in contemporary American politics.

In August 2025, a Wired article reported that Pakman was among several influencers included in communications about the Chorus Creator Incubator Program, a creator funding initiative funded by the Sixteen Thirty Fund—which Wired described as a "powerful liberal dark money group"—aimed at building "new infrastructure to fund independent progressive voices online at scale." Pakman did not respond to Wired's request for comment.[35]

Recognition

The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford identified Pakman in its 2024 Digital News Report as prominent alternative political voices commanding significant audience attention on YouTube in the United States who built substantial independent audiences outside traditional broadcast infrastructure.[36]

Bibliography

  • Think Like a Detective: A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking (2023)[37]
  • Think Like a Scientist: A Kid's Guide to Scientific Thinking (2023)[38]
  • Think Like a Voter: A Kid's Guide to Shaping Our Country's Future (2024)[39]
  • The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America (2025)[40]
  • Pay Attention: How the Algorithms and Media Wars Are Suppressing Truth and Rewiring Your Brain (2026)[41]

Personal life

Pakman has a partner and two daughters.[42][2] He has stated he is secular and does not believe in God, but would not rule out the possibility.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Here's what makes progressive media work for people". MS NOW. 19 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d Zeitlin, Alan (21 July 2023). "Is this Jewish podcaster the progressive answer to Ben Shapiro?". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  3. ^ "David Pakman Show". YouTube. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  4. ^ "David Pakman Show". Radio Active Media. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "Q & A with David Pakman". Southern New English Jewish Ledger. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  6. ^ a b c Burch, Sean (13 December 2019). "How Political Pundit David Pakman Built a Thriving YouTube Channel". The Wrap. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b Polan, Judy (8 April 2010). "Q & A with David Pakman: Radio host becomes host of midweek politics". Connecticut Jewish Ledger. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  8. ^ "YouTuber David Pakman Claims He Has Been Warned Not to Leave the USA If He Wants to Return". UNILAD. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  9. ^ a b c "True Talk Radio: The David Pakman Show". Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  10. ^ Pakman, David (31 March 2016). "About". davidpakman.com. David Pakman. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Midweek Politics with David Pakman Launches Nationally on Free Speech TV Network". CSRWire. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  12. ^ a b O'Brien, George (25 April 2011). "David Pakman, 27". Business West. ProQuest 868033984. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  13. ^ "David Pakman Host & Executive Producer, The David Pakman Show". HuffPost.
  14. ^ O'Brien, George (25 April 2011). "David Pakman, 27". BusinessWest. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020.
  15. ^ "White supremacist suspect in Jewish Center shooting faces hate crime charges – Erin Burnett OutFront – - CNN.com Blogs". outfront.blogs.cnn.com. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  16. ^ "YouTube – David Pakman on Nancy Grace's HLN Show: KS Shooting Suspect Glenn Miller Interview". YouTube. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  17. ^ "David Pakman on HLN Dr. Drew on Call: KS Shooting Suspect Glenn Miller – YouTube". YouTube. 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  18. ^ "David Pakman on JRE #1311". joerogan.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  19. ^ "David Pakman on JRE #1479". joerogan.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Lex Fridman Podcast". Lex Fridman. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  21. ^ David Pakman on Hunter Biden's laptop | Lex Fridman Podcast Clips, 13 May 2023, retrieved 20 May 2023
  22. ^ Piers Morgan Uncensored (6 June 2024). "This Is Stalinism!" David Pakman vs Benny Johnson on Trump. Retrieved 16 July 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ "Democracy Now featuring David Pakman". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  24. ^ "David Pakman Goes Calmly Where Others Dare Not. Has He Bridged The Toxic Divide?". NBC News. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  25. ^ "Gavin Newsom - The David Pakman Show". Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Trump Goon Loses It at Newsom for Being Mean to Stephen Miller". The Daily Beast. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  27. ^ "LISTEN: Alleged Kansas Gunman Frazier Glenn Miller Discusses the Tea Party, Obama, and Ron Paul | Mother Jones". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  28. ^ "KC rampage suspect told UMass grad: 'I hate all Jews' | Boston Herald". bostonherald.com. 15 April 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  29. ^ Hess, Amanda (17 April 2017). "How YouTube's Shifting Algorithms Hurt Independent Media". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  30. ^ Alba, Davey. "Want a Better Web? Here's an Idea: Pay for It – WIRED". Wired. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Group Launches #Openzilla Campaign to Combat Intolerance of 'Faith Driven Views'". Vice. 8 April 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  32. ^ Burrows, Peter (5 April 2014). "OK, Cupid, Where's the Line? Mozilla CEO's Exit Over Gay Rights Shows Split in Valley – Bloomberg". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  33. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - April 13, 2025". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  34. ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  35. ^ Lorenz, Taylor (28 August 2025). "A Dark Money Group Is Secretly Funding High-Profile Democratic Influencers". Wired. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  36. ^ "What do we know about the rise of alternative voices and news influencers in social and video networks?". Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  37. ^ Pakman, David (8 July 2023). "Think Like a Detective: A Kid's Guide to Critical Thinking". Amazon. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  38. ^ Pakman, David. Think Like a Scientist: A Kid's Guide to Scientific Thinking.
  39. ^ Pakman, David. Think Like a Voter: A Kid's Guide to Shaping Our Country's Future. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  40. ^ Pakman, David (25 March 2025). The Echo Machine: How Right-Wing Extremism Created a Post-Truth America. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0807016534.
  41. ^ "Pay Attention: How The Algorithms And Media Wars Are Suppressing Truth And Rewiring Your Brain Book By David Pakman". Indigo. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  42. ^ "David Pakman: A Progressive Pulse of YouTube Politics". Humans of YouTube. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
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