The 2016 Presidential race is now less than one year away, and one of the places where it is heating up is on YouTube. As the Democratic and Republican candidates increase their respective digital video outputs, they are looking for novel ways to connect with young voters. Bernie Sanders has come up with one of the most interesting ideas: He has teamed up with rapper Killer Mike for a web series that discusses various policy matters.
The series is set in a barbershop in Killer Mike’s hometown of Atlanta. Across six episodes, Sanders and the Run The Jewels rapper hit on a wide range of topics, from the senator’s democratic socialist philosophy to his economic plans to his stance on health care. Killer Mike, who introduced Sanders at a recent rally in Atlanta, tends to see eye-to-eye with the Vermont senator on most issues, and they share multiple appreciatory (and just a little awkward) fist-bumps over the course of the series.
At the same time, Killer Mike isn’t afraid to challenge Sanders when their viewpoints diverge. The best example comes in the last episode, when Killer Mike’s love of guns clashes with the senator’s firearms policy:
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Most importantly, the tone between the two men is always cordial and respectful, and that’s what makes this series one of the best political interviews you’ll find on YouTube. It’s not the only Bernie Sanders video out there, but it’s a perfect example of how a politician should use digital media, and given Killer Mike’s cred in the hip-hop community, it will connect Sanders to the young voters he hopes to reach.
