Democratic Socialist-backed gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong is expected to appear in an upcoming livestream with one of the internet’s most controversial political personalities: left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.
With millions of followers across Twitch, YouTube, and social media, Piker has become one of the most influential voices among young progressives. A former host at The Young Turks, Piker now spends hours each day livestreaming political commentary, promoting socialist candidates and progressive causes to an audience that numbers in the millions.
But Piker’s rise has been accompanied by a long list of inflammatory comments and controversies that have repeatedly drawn national attention.
Here are five of his most controversial moments.
1. “America deserved 9/11.”
Piker’s most infamous remark came during a 2019 livestream when he declared that “America deserved 9/11” while criticizing U.S. foreign policy.
The comments sparked bipartisan outrage and earned him a one-week suspension from Twitch. Piker later said his wording was inappropriate but continued to defend the broader point he was attempting to make about American foreign policy.
Piker’s comments have resurfaced in recent political debates following last week’s Democratic primary victory of New York Democratic Socialist Aber Kawas, a candidate backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Kawas faced intense scrutiny over previously resurfaced comments in which she described 9/11 as the act of “a couple of people” while arguing that the attacks should be understood within a broader history of American foreign policy, capitalism, racism, and Islamophobia.
Hong celebrated the victories of Kawas and other DSA-backed candidates in New York on her X account, saying that Wisconsin is next.
2. “Kill Them…Let The Streets Soak In Red Capitalist Blood”
Piker has repeatedly advocated for political violence against both Republicans and capitalists in general. In one video while talking about landlords in Berkley, Piker encouraged his followers to “Kill them. Kill those motherf***ers and let the streets soak in their f***ing red capitalist blood.”
In February 2025, Piker was suspended by Twitch after saying that if Republicans truly cared about Medicare fraud, they “would kill Rick Scott,” referring to the Florida senator’s tenure as CEO of Columbia/HCA.
Later that year, Piker also drew criticism for expressing sympathy toward Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. During multiple livestreams, Piker discussed Mangione favorably and argued many Americans viewed him as a product of widespread frustration with the healthcare system, prompting critics to accuse him of normalizing or justifying political violence.
3. “I’d vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.”
Piker has repeatedly generated headlines for his rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Among his most controversial remarks was saying he would “vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.” Piker later argued the statement was part of a broader political argument about the conflict rather than an endorsement of terrorism, but it has continued to generate criticism from across the political spectrum.
4. Comments about the October 7 terrorist attacks
Piker also faced backlash over comments made during discussions of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
During one livestream, Piker argued that whether reports of rape committed during the attacks were ultimately confirmed “doesn’t change the dynamic for me,” a remark critics said minimized the atrocities committed that day.
5. The shock collar controversy
Outside of politics, Piker found himself at the center of another viral controversy after viewers saw him repeatedly activate his dog’s electronic training collar during a livestream.
The clips spread widely online, with critics accusing him of mistreating the animal. Piker claimed that the collar was a vibration collar, not a shock collar, and argued that the dog yelped at the exact moment he pressed the button because she caught her dewclaw on the bed.
Why It Matters
Hong has built her campaign around Democratic Socialist politics, previously calling for abolishing the police, abolishing prisons, ending cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, and dramatically reshaping Wisconsin’s criminal justice system.
Her appearance with Piker places her alongside one of the country’s most influential socialist media figures—a personality whose online reach rivals many cable news networks but whose career has become equally defined by inflammatory rhetoric and controversy.
Beyond his online audience, Piker has become an influential voice within the Democratic Socialist movement, using his platform to elevate progressive and DSA-backed candidates challenging more establishment Democrats. As Democratic Socialist candidates gain traction in races across the country, Piker has increasingly become a key amplifier for the movement’s rising stars.
Hong’s appearance comes as that national momentum has begun reaching Wisconsin. While many of her Democratic primary opponents have struggled to break through beyond state politics, Hong has attracted attention from prominent figures in the national Democratic Socialist movement, giving her a platform that extends well beyond Wisconsin.
In addition to hosting Hong on his livestream, Piker has also indicated he may travel to Wisconsin to campaign on her behalf later this election cycle.
