TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is under scrutiny for its impact on American society. A recent Media Intelligence Group report highlights concerns regarding the platform's association with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its influence on Americans.

• The MIG report underlines a predominantly negative sentiment among Americans toward TikTok and its alignment with China.
• The data suggests many Americans believe the platform may be fostering the spread of woke ideologies they call the “woke mind virus.”
• Some believe leftist propaganda, particularly among younger generations, is shaping views on important issues like abortion, Ukraine, China, and Israel.
• Americans are growing increasingly apprehensive about TikTok's potential to influence political views, shaping public opinion that contradicts Western and American values.

Overall sentiment toward China in the last two weeks has hovered in the mid to low 40% range.

What Americans are Saying

MIG data reveals that Americans have multiple concerns about TikTok and China influence.

TikTok Concerns

• There are overall concerns about TikTok being controlled by a Chinese company and potentially being influenced by the CCP.
• Belief that TikTok’s ubiquity was intentional in the CCP’s strategic economic and ideological competition with America.
• There is a general sentiment that 'woke' culture and leftist ideologies are being spread and propagated by TikTok.
• Belief that Gen Z are particularly at risk of influence by social platforms like TikTok.
• Some express concern that TikTok could be playing a role in shaping perceptions specifically in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• Concerns about the CCP's potential to economically and financially ruin the West.
• Fears of further infiltration, influence, and the propagation of ideologies that are seen as detrimental to American values.

Bipartisan Agreement About TikTok Propaganda

In recent comments, former president Obama expressed concerns that TikTok influencers were shaping perceptions about the Israel conflict saying, “The problem with the social media and trying — TikTok activism, and trying to debate this on that — is you can’t speak the truth.”

• Republicans seem to agree with the sentiment that TikTok activism is largely negative.
• But while Democrats and Republicans agree that misinformation and propaganda are an issue, they disagree about which narratives and ideologies are untrue.
• The data suggestions many Americans believe Democrats are not consistent in their foreign policy, particularly with regards to Ukraine and Israel.
• Those on the right are quite negative toward Democrats, accusing them of hypocrisy, spreading the "woke mind virus," and being responsible for societal problems.
• Left-leaning Americans, however, say Republicans are spreading oppression by supporting Israel in an ethnic cleansing operation and killing many civilians.

In the last two weeks, online sentiment toward Israel was low, dipping below 40% on most days with a low of 37%. Some commenters express concern that online ideological influence is a key driver of overall sentiment toward Israel.

Possible Congressional Investigations

• Concerns about TikTok's role in shaping public perceptions have been highlighted by the ongoing discussions of international conflicts, especially Israel and Hamas.
• This negative perception of TikTok, in connection with the CCP, has raised calls for congressional investigations.
• The potential for congressional investigations would likely intensify apprehensions and may significantly affect the platform's reputation and public perception.

Overall Media Influence

In addition to negative views of social platforms like TikTok, there are also negative sentiments toward media in general, including news and online platforms.

Pro-Palestine Activists

• Many pro-Palestine activists feel the wider media, outside of TikTok, is not accurately portraying the Israel situation, but instead favoring Israel.
• Activists involved in online discussions regarding the #freepalestine movement accuse the media of failing to report on what they believe to be atrocities and war crimes.
• They also suggest that the media is suppressing the voices of Palestinians and their supporters.
• Many are critical of the US government, accusing it of complicity due to its financial aid to Israel.

Conservative Censorship Complaints

• On the right, there is frustration with perceived bias in mainstream media coverage that unfairly vilifies Israel.
• There is a sense of dissatisfaction with the media, with some people accusing it of being a mouthpiece for leftist political ideologies.
• Many conservatives argue that big tech platforms and media organizations censor right-leaning ideologies.
• There is a perceived lack of coverage on issues like the origins Covid-19 and the role of the CCP in global affairs.

A common thread in the discussion on both sides is the notion of 'the other side' controlling the narrative.

A new report from Media Intelligence Group, which employs state-of-the-art artificial intelligence to monitor and database the support and sentiment of candidates, adds to growing evidence of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potency in a general presidential election. 

• Analyzing online discussions of Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and RFK Jr, MIG’s report averaged positive and negative comments to determine support for all three candidates and found that RFK Jr. secured 23% support across 7 states (Nevada, Iowa, Texas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas).

Recall that… 

• When Kennedy was still running in the Democratic primary, Kennedy found sanctuary in Republican media. Eager to compound Biden's cratering popularity amongst Democrats, Republicans amplified Kennedy's message. They even selected the Democrat scion as a witness to testify before the House subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, which garnered 2 million views on YouTube. 

Shifting gears.. 

• Kennedy declared on October 9th that he was dropping his bid for Democratic presidential nominee, and would run as an Independent. Republicans quickly pounced, with Trump spokesman Steven Cheung telling CNN, “The fact is that RFK has a disturbing background steeped in radical, liberal positions.” 

Indicators and Warnings… 

• Last month, polling from USA Today/Suffolk showed Kennedy earning 13% of the vote in a three way match up between him, Biden, and Trump. 
• In a troubling sign for the Trump campaign, voters that said they would otherwise support the Republican nominee backed Kennedy 2 to 1 over those that said they would vote for the Democratic nominee without the option of Kennedy as a third party candidate. 
• Adding to growing Republican fears of a spoiler candidate, campaign finance records show that former Trump donors are giving to Kennedy at a higher rate than Democrat donors are. 

Zooming in… 

• The 2024 election already shows signs of being as razor-thin as the previous presidential election, making Kennedy poised to potentially be the most impactful third-party candidate since Ross Perot. 
• MIG’s report finds that Kennedy garners nearly 30% support in Nevada, where Biden beat Trump by just 3% in 2020.

• While Florida has been considered less and less of a battleground state since Republicans’ double digit victories in the 2022 midterms, Trump won Florida by just 3.36% in 2020. MIG’s report shows Kennedy securing 29% support amongst Florida voters who will likely already be primed to resonate with Kennedy’s criticisms of pandemic overreach after re-electing Ron DeSantis as Governor by a 19 point margin in 2022. 

Yes, but.. 

• Kennedy has also shown prowess in cutting into the Democratic voter base as well, with Quinnipiac’s latest poll finding Kennedy securing 38% support amongst 18-34 year olds, while Biden secured 32% amongst Gen Z and Millennials. 
• In the same poll, Kennedy and Biden have razor thin margins amongst Hispanics, with Kennedy garnering 33% of the vote to Biden’s 36%. Biden has a wider share of support with black voters, but Kennedy showed strength here too with 24% support to Biden’s 61%. 

Though Kennedy faces steep obstacles to breaking through America’s polarized two-party system, mounting evidence of a close 2024 election and Kennedy’s growing popularity with disillusioned independents makes writing off Kennedy's impact foolish.

A growing rift has emerged among Democrats over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, according to a new Media Intelligence Report.

• Overall online sentiment toward Israel and Hamas has been split over the past week at 38% and 36% respectively.
• However, among Democrats, sentiment has been more evenly divided between Israel and Hamas
• at 45% each.
• These sentiment indicators highlight growing ideological differences between factions in the Democrat party.

The Dividing Line for Dems

• The MIG report identified a generational divide, with younger Democrats generally more critical of Israel than older members who emphasize Israel's security needs.
• Moderate Democrats urged a balanced approach, condemning Hamas while addressing Gaza's humanitarian plight.
• Some old-school Democrats decry what they see as a shocking increase in antisemitism among college students and far-left Democrats.
• These divisions are causing a rare crack in the normally unified Democrat front.

What Democrats Are Saying

Historically, Democrats tend to move in lockstep, coalescing around a common principle or ideology that drives progressive policy. That is not the case when it comes to Israel.

Support for Israel Among Democrats

• Some Democrats defend Israel's military actions as necessary self-defense against Hamas. They argue that Israel is responding to aggression and criticize Hamas for using civilians as human shields.
• Among these Democrats, there is support for Biden’s $14.5 billion in military aid for Israel, without humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
• Many view Hamas’ actions on October 7 as a “vile atrocity” that requires immediate response.
• Overall, many older and more moderate Democrats seem to be inclined to support Israel compared to younger, extremely progressive Democrats.
• Many in the Jewish community argue that pro-Palestine protestors misunderstand the threat from Hamas and overly simplify the complex history.

Pro-Palestine Democrats

• In contrast, many younger Democrats accuse Israel of war crimes and "genocide" in Gaza. The far left celebrated the terror attack, refused to condemn it, or suggested Israel bears responsibility.
• They call for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and an immediate ceasefire.
• Recent pro-Palestine protests in Washington DC, suggest a growing sentiment in support of Palestine.
• These individuals argue that Palestinians are being disproportionately targeted and suffer more casualties compared to Israeli civilians.
• Protestors demand the Biden administration take a firmer pro-Palestine stance.
• Some demand steps be taken to hold Israeli leadership accountable for alleged atrocities. Many protesters also express support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Other Takeaways

• Overall, there seems to be a division over what constitutes antisemitism. Some say criticism of Israel equates antisemitism.
• Others argue that animosity towards Israel is growing, worsening antisemitism.
• Meanwhile, others argue criticism is not inherently antisemitic.
• In sum, the discourse reveals deep divisions not only between different political and ideological groups, but also within them.

Former President Donald Trump holds a slim lead over President Joe Biden in a recent Media Intelligence Group report. This data lines up with recent Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Biden’s approval rating at a low of 39% since April.

• MIG data is consistent with surveys by The New York Times, Yahoo Finance and others showing Trump edging out Biden by a few percentage points in head-to-head matchups.
• The former president appears to have an advantage among key demographics including independents, rural voters and working-class whites.

30-Day Sentiment Averages

In the last 30 days, MIG data shows Trump gaining higher support averages than Biden.

 In addition, Trump is gaining noticeably higher sentiments in Nevada, Iowa, Texas, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Ohio, and Florida. 

What Voters Are Saying

Recent Reuters/Ipsos polling reveals Biden hitting a very low approval rating of 39% at the beginning of November. Diving deeper, MIG data shows some of the reasons voters are unhappy with Biden.

 Voter Negativity Toward Biden

• Criticism of Biden, accusing him of supporting genocide, aiding Hamas, and mismanaging the Israel situation.
• Biden receives negativity from both sides regarding Ukraine. Some say he has deceivedthe
• American people and over-funded Ukraine, while others lament that he has not done enough. Critics also blame Biden for high inflation, rising interest rates, and increasing gas prices.
• Backlash for high national debt and accusations Biden is negatively impacting the housing market and food prices.
• Displeasure overall for “Bidenomics.”
• There is still severe dissatisfaction with Biden’s perceived mishandling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
• Many voters argue that the Biden administration has actively encouraged illegal immigration and
• compromised border security.
• There are also concerns about Biden family corruption and calls for the Justice Department to act and investigate.

 Criticisms of Trump

• Despite a slim lead in support sentiment, MIG data shows voters are also divided on Trump with some asserting he will likely not be able to win against Biden.
• There are still many concerns over Trump’s indictments and possible legal ramifications prior to the election.
• Many voters express positivity towards the Trump economy, but he also receives criticism for contributing to the national debt.
• In recent weeks, some of Trump’s comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict have caused negativity.
• Many voters still feel Trump has such bad character that he should not be permitted to serve as president again.
• There are expressions that the MAGA movement and Trump himself are racist bigots.

The Outlook for Both Candidates

• Overall, support numbers for Biden and Trump have shown Trump with a lead for the last 30 days.
• Voters give Trump higher marks on core issues like the economy, immigration and national security.
• Though both are significantly unpopular with certain groups, Biden suffersadditional doubts about his age and mental fitness; Trump maintains staunch support from his Republican base. Trump still faces considerable legal vulnerabilities that could still dampen his standing.
• Biden retains a slightly more favorable image among moderates and is less divisive among Democrats.

The public opinion of the movie "Sound of Freedom" is positive with many expressing how the movie opened their eyes to the reality of human trafficking. Sentiment toward the movie has remained consistently between 45-50% positive.

While the movie has generated some negative engagement, the negative comments are generally directed at elected officials for ignoring human trafficking and discuss the harmful consequences of it. This could help explain the sentiment score of 50.

The comments about the movie itself are overwhelmingly in support of it, with one person saying that it is a "major motion picture masterpiece" that everyone should see. Several comments mention that they recommend watching the movie and that it is a touching and powerful story about human trafficking.

Many individuals lauded the film as a blockbuster hit and praised its success at the box office despite being shelved by Disney five years ago. The sentiment towards Sound of Freedom was also contrasted with disapproval towards “Woke Hollywood” and big-budget movies.

Influenceable Campaign

Influenceable’s marketing campaign for Sound of Freedom showed significant success, causing a massive increase in the number of people talking about the movie online in a positive light.

Audience Breakdown

Right Leaning Audience Report:

• Supporters of "Sound of Freedom" are passionate about its message on child sex trafficking.
• They believe the film sheds light on the issue and resonates with audiences.
• Many are concerned about the reality of child sex trafficking and emphasize the importance of awareness.
• Supporters criticize mainstream media for alleged corruption and downplaying the issue.
• Some supporters reference religious beliefs, seeing the movie as aligning with their faith.
• Many criticize of Hollywood, questioning the motives of some involved in the film.
• Supporters also celebrate the movie's financial success as a testament to its compelling story.

Left Leaning Audience Report:

• Democratic Party supporters have mixed feelings about "Sound of Freedom."
• Some are highly critical, viewing it as perpetuating right-wing conspiracy theories.
• Some question the film's connection to actual trafficking, given its conservative ties.
• Others see it as a call to action in combating child trafficking, despite opposition from Hollywood.
• Some express Frustration with conservative figures involved in the film, doubting their credibility.
• Others express curiosity about the film's accuracy and portrayal of indigenous peoples.
• Divided views on the film within Democratic Party supporters.

Political Preferences: Sound of Freedom Audience

Timeline Summary

There were several public events that may have impacted reception and sentiment for Sound of Freedom. They include:

• July 3 – Influenceable launched a promo campaign for Sound of Freedom
• July 3 – Jordan Peterson interviews Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard
• July 4 – The movie is released
• July 19 – President Trump watched a screening of the movie, gaining media coverage
• July 25 – Kevin McCarthy also attended a screening of the movie
• August 4 – News came out that one of the funders for the movie was arrested
• August 14 – The movie’s director Alejandro Monteverde apologized to the media
• August 15 – Jordan Peterson tweeted at Disney about Sound of Freedom

None of these events seemed to impact public sentiment in any significant way. However, the number of people talking about the movie saw dips and spikes throughout the events. While conversation has trended slowly downward, the further from its release, events like Trump viewing and Peterson’s tweet showed small spikes.

Impact Events

Peterson Interviews Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard

• On July 3rd, Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard gave an exclusive interview to Jordan Peterson on his YouTube channel.
• While Sound of Freedom generated online discussion near 3,000 a day several other days in July, the day of Peterson's interview with Caviezel was the day with the highest level of online discussions in July at 2,940.
• This led to discussion levels above 2,500 for much of mid July before later sinking around 2,500 daily online discussions for the remainder of the Month.
• Sentiment for Sound of Freedom following the podcast stayed in the mid to high 40% range, which remained the case for the rest of July.
• The podcast frequently touched on religious themes, which is why the bulk of internet discussions involving sound of freedom frequently involved the power of faith in the face of the evils of the world, like human trafficking and government corruption.

Pay it Forward and Ticket Sales

• Coverage of Sound of Freedom’s usage of Pay it Forward to propel ticket sales occurred in major media outlets around late July and early August.
• A gradual downward trend in online discussions involving Sound of Freedom began in mid-July, so it's unlikely this was linked to this coverage.
• This is especially unlikely given Sound of Freedom’s consistent sentiment in late July through August in the mid 40s. Sentiment actually climbed each day after this coverage to 48% sentiment on August 11th.
• Since August 11th, sentiment has stayed above 45% every day.

QAnon Allegations

• During July, several media outlets began characterizing Sound of Freedom as a QAnon-linked film.
• The first major outlet to make this allegation was the Guardian on July 6th. For the next four days online discussions about Sound of Freedom consistently grew from around 2,600 on July 6th to nearly 3,000 by July 10th.
• While there was a small dip in sentiment from 52% on July 6th to 46% on July 8th, sentiment remained healthy and began to reverse course, climbing back to 48% shortly on July 9th.
• While the Guardian and other new outlets framing of the issue caused significant debate online surrounding QAnon and Sound of Freedom, many users denied the connection or pointed out the movie covers topics that are very real despite overlap with issues QAnon theorists discuss.

Trump Screening

• On July 19 Trump attended a screen of Sound of Freedom, causing a spike of around 200 talking about the movie online.
• The public reaction to Trump showing the Sound of Freedom film was largely positive.
• Many people praised the film for raising awareness about the issue of human trafficking and commended its real-life hero, Tim Ballard.
• The public reaction to Trump showing the Sound of Freedom film appears to be mixed and heavily influenced by political biases.
• Some expressed frustration with the mainstream media for minimizing the issue and labeling it a conspiracy theory. The film’s success at the box office was seen as proof that there is a demand for this kind of content, despite attempts by pedophiles and human traffickers to stop it from being seen.
• However, some individuals on the left dismiss Sound of Freedom as a “right-wing child sex trafficking fantasy” and question its validity.
• There were also some criticisms of the film, with some questioning whether it was problematic or giving undue credit to certain individuals.
• Overall, sentiment towards Trump showing the Sound of Freedom film was largely positive, with many people applauding his support for this important cause.
• Despite some negative press coverage, sentiment remained strong, moving from 47% to 48%.
• Overall, sentiment towards Trump showing the Sound of Freedom film is divided among different groups with different beliefs about its purpose and effectiveness in addressing issues related to child trafficking.

Marta Arrested

• Sentiment scores and engagement were not noticeably affected following Fabian Marta’s arrest, one of the thousands of contributing fundraisers for Sound of Freedom.
• Some were critical of the film, accusing it of being a dangerous tool for inciting violence against Democrats and destabilizing American democracy. They highlight its funding by sex traffickers and accused sexual predators as evidence for their claims.
• For much of July and August sentiment rested in the high 40% range.
• When news broke on August 4th, online discussions jumped by around two hundred, and sentiment did drop from 46% to 41%.
• However, this quickly corrected as the next 7 days sentiment moved back into the 45- 48% range.

Monteverde Apology

• Alejandro Gómez Monteverde's August 14 comments about the film do not appear to be present in online discussions.
• Some claim that Monteverde is not making any money from the film because the production company spent its ad budget on buying seats in theaters that are not filled.
• These claims have been refuted by others who point out that Sound of Freedom made more money than Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible.
• People talking about the film jumped by nearly 200 and sentiment minimally dropped from 48% to 47%. By August 18, it was back to 47.9%, scraping close to 48%. Meanwhile, people talking about the film slowly dropped backdown.

Public Comments

• Such sweet words from President Trump for Jim Caviezel, Tim Ballard, and Eduardo Verastegui for the movie Sound of Freedom. Glad to see this movie doing so well and helping many people in all walks of life learn about the horrible child sex trafficking "trade." #SaveTheChildren BREAKING: President Trump congratulates Jim Caviezel, Eduardo Verastegui, and Tim Ballard for making Sound of Freedom
• Why is the msm and hollywood so against the #SoundOfFreedom movie? Well, I guess they like child-trafficking. Prove me wrong. Any other possibilities? The media continues to minimize the issue of human trafficking and label it a “QAnon conspiracy” Meanwhile #SOFMovie passed $100 million in box office sales Why is the mainstream media agains raising awareness about the millions of kids trapped in sex slavery?
• Tim Ballard rocks ! Thanks for shining the light ❣ #godschildrenarenotforsa #SoundofFreedomMovie Tim Ballard Addresses The Allegations of Chipping Kids, Is A Trafficker, & a Mason “It will never cease to amaze me how far these Godless leftists media will go to run interference for human traffickers. I saw a post that seems to be trending in certain places saying that ai…
• Thank you Chris. #mgrwomen #soundoffreedom Gangs are actively engaged in human trafficking as a primary means to make money, & the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods is no different. Anyone who directs or participates in this criminal activity will be held accountable.
• We should all be this angry & DO SOMETHING. RIGHTEOUS ANGER. #GodsChildrenAreNotforSale #SoundOfFreedom #SavetheChildren GO WATCH SOUND OF FREEDOM - SAVE THE CHILDREN - JUSTICE IS COMING - SPREAD THE WORD
• As stated at the end of the movie, #soundoffreedommovie human trafficking is a 150 billion dollar-a-year criminal enterprise. It has eclipsed the illegal arms trade & is roughly a third of the size of the drug trade. Why is no one talking about #childtrafficking here in Ireland? #NBA #NFL #MLB #MMA #UFC #SoundOfFreedom #Mexico #Canada #Russia #Brazil #Australia #Hollywood #Hollyweird #NewYork #LosAngeles #California #Texas #Utah #Florida #Colombia #Arizona #Colorado #USA #UK #Hawaii #Serbia
• JUST IN: A federal appeals court has ruled that Washington, D.C. 'selectively enforced' their laws depending on who was breaking them. I've said it before, I'll say it again: America operates under a Selective Justice System. City authorities in Washington D.C. treated pro-life… Meanwhile, DEMOCRAT PEDOPHILES are roaming free! #EpsteinClientList #EpsteinIsland #SoundOfFreedom #PedoPete
• The scope of Justice Thomas’ undisclosed receipt of luxury vacations from billionaires takes your breath away. As does this Court’s arrogant disregard of the public. Every other federal court has an enforceable code of ethics — SCOTUS needs the same.
• Agreed. Multiple top Republicans involved in sex crime scandals. Their church supporters running pedophile rings that "religious freedom" shields from justice. The Sound of Freedom funders arrested fir child trafficking. On and on. The right is the party of sex abuse. To b clear, pedophile pervert Matt Gaetz shouldn’t be talking about the possibility of him being US Attorney General nor should he be in Congress, his creepy ass should be arrested and in prison for child sexual trafficking. This is the America MAGA wants and it’s fucking gross.
• Silly rabbit, it's only human trafficking when brown people steal Christian children! (Sarcasm aside, I'm pretty sure that's the subtext of the phrase "God's children" in the SOUND OF FREEDOM movie). the Masts are evangelicals who claim their are saving the baby. The AP headline doesn’t do this case justice; it is human trafficking
• GO WATCH SOUND OF FREEDOM - SAVE THE CHILDREN - JUSTICE IS COMING - SPREAD THE WORD
• Thank you Chris. #mgrwomen #soundoffreedom Gangs are actively engaged in human trafficking as a primary means to make money, & the Inglewood Family Gangster Bloods is no different. Anyone who directs or participates in this criminal activity will be held accountable.