In recent months a set of YouTube channels has been pumping out simplified, sensational political videos that reached large audiences. Many of the on-camera hosts are paid spokespeople and the scripts are often generated or assisted by AI tools. One interconnected network amassed more than 45 million views and over 90,000 comments on YouTube, with additional millions of impressions across platforms such as TikTok.
What the videos look like
The videos are typically short, straight-to-camera monologues: a single presenter reads a script, often using repetitive phrases, dramatic background music, and negative angles about Democratic politicians. Examples from reporting include:
- A presenter identified as “William” in a blue short-sleeved shirt read a script in August about New York City’s mayor; that video quickly exceeded 474,000 views.
- A bearded host calling himself “Omar” published a June report about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez set to ominous music and received more than 250,000 views.
To casual viewers the clips can appear to be independent political-news creators, but forensic reporting found many of the presenters were actors or paid spokespeople reading formulaic scripts that appear to be AI-generated or AI-assisted.
Who appears to be behind this?
Semafor’s reporting and researchers at Riddance AI traced coordination across channels to growth-hacking operations promoted by Caleb Chan, who has been associated with Casgains and Virelox. Chan posted in 2025 that Virelox operated more than 106 YouTube accounts and aimed to launch 300; in one August post he claimed the operation released “2,500 organic videos every week.”
Chan described a model of “ghost creators”: clients hire the service to spin up channels using popular formats on YouTube and TikTok, pay on-camera presenters to deliver scripted videos, and rely heavily on AI and systems to create many accounts rapidly. Job postings and casting calls tied to Virelox and Casgains advertised quick turnaround, high-volume work and offered payments in the low tens of dollars per video (one posting mentioned $26 per video).
Methods and patterns
Riddance AI identified a set of roughly a dozen channels that published nearly identical videos using the same formula repeatedly: similar opening anecdotes, explicit dates, repeated music (a b-minor motif), and recurring phrases. Many of the video titles followed a pattern: the name of a Democratic politician followed by an all-caps verb signaling a negative economic story, scandal, or supposed corruption. While the underlying events often referenced real reporting, the titles and claims were frequently exaggerated or false.
Scripts across channels reused the exact same lines. For example, seven accounts repeated “here’s the part that should stop you cold,” five said something was “not a rounding error,” and several channels opened videos with “Hey, everyone, today we need to talk about” and closed with “I’ll see you in the next one.” Topics recur across channels, with multiple accounts posting about the same supposed stories such as “the most expensive home ever sold in the United States.”
Who are the on-screen people?
Riddance and Semafor found evidence that many of the on-screen figures were paid freelancers or actors. The person behind “Omar” matched a video creator named Kareem M. Maize, who lists spokesperson work on Fiverr. The actor appearing on William Reports News was identified as Frank George, who posts commercials and product videos. Both men acknowledged being paid to make the videos; one said the work came through a broker he named as “Casgains.”
Some personas moved between channels: accounts swapped names or rebranded, and the same actor could appear under different show titles. Internal dashboards linked to Casgains show channels such as William Reports News, Julian News Report, Omar Reacts, Victoria Foster, Julian Talks Canada, Omar Talks Canada and Jordan Talks labeled as “anti-Dem.”
Company statements and takedowns
Caleb Chan told Semafor by email that Virelox Media is an independent digital media publisher that does not produce content for political campaigns, PACs or paid political sponsors and does not use deepfakes, synthetic anchors or spam bots. He said Virelox employed a team of more than 50 scriptwriters, editors, researchers and hosts. After Semafor’s inquiry, links were removed from Chan’s company website and the site was later taken offline, though a LinkedIn page remained available for some time.
YouTube removed several channels after Semafor’s earlier reporting on related AI-assisted videos that spread false claims about company closures and factory shutdowns. Semafor’s follow-up reporting, and Riddance AI’s tracking, focused on channels that replaced obvious AI avatars with real people while still repeating AI-aided scripts.
Why this matters
The case illustrates how cheaply produced, algorithm-optimized political content can achieve wide reach. A relatively small operation achieved viewership that outpaced many established news organizations on YouTube by exploiting repetitive formats, audience analytics and the platform’s reward signals. Brandon Richards, spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom, warned that “algorithms are rewarding lies and bad actors are taking advantage,” noting that bots and accessible AI make it easier to push anger-inducing false narratives.
Researchers say the audience interacting with these channels appears largely real: Riddance reported that viewers were predominantly American (about 85% for one channel), male (about 80%), and older (about 80% over the age of 55). That demographic profile helps explain why the content found traction.
Outlook
The tactics are new in their combination of AI, gig-economy talent and growth-hacking, but the underlying goal—monetizing political polarization and attention—has precedents. As US midterm and future elections approach, the easy availability of AI tools and freelance production could allow better-funded campaigns or outside actors to professionalize similar techniques at larger scale. The episode offers a glimpse of how inexpensive technology and coordinated posting can amplify misleading or simplified political narratives across major social platforms.
