Pod Save America pulls Hasan Piker criticism clip, reposts extended version after outcry

Former Biden staffer Michael LaRosa reported that Crooked Media’s Pod Save America erased a portion of an episode where hosts Chris Hayes and Alex Wagner warned about the dangers of Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s alliance with far-left streamer Hasan Piker. The clip vanished from X before 9 a.m. ET, drawing rebuke from listeners such as gun-control activist Shannon Watts. Several hours later the podcast posted a longer version that added further context.

In the original segment, Hayes described Piker as a liability whose incendiary statements—including praise for dictators and dismissal of Hamas atrocities—could harm the party in a general election. The incident underscores the Democratic Party’s dilemma over courting online influencers while managing extremist rhetoric. Crooked Media has not responded, and one outlet covered the development.