TIME Magazine Named Me One of the 100 Top Creators. It Also Named Far-Right Conservatives.
While millionaire conservatives dominate with unlimited resources and algorithmic advantages, I'm fighting to keep historical truth accessible to everyone. But I need your support to compete.
Today, Time Magazine named me for their inaugural "100 Most Influential Creators of 2025" list. In that article, they even specifically mention and link to this Substack newsletter, History Can’t Hide. As someone who's spent years fighting historical erasure and challenging my followers to question what they think they know about America, this recognition should feel like pure victory
Instead, it feels like a wake-up call.
Who Else Made Time's List
Time also honored some of the biggest names in conservative media, people whose influence comes from very different sources than mine.
Joe Rogan made the list despite using the N-word over 20 times across different podcast episodes and comparing a Black neighborhood to "Planet of the Apes," racking up a $100 million Spotify deal along the way. He endorsed Trump to his 11 million monthly listeners just days before the election.
Theo Von earned recognition while defending Morgan Wallen's use of racial slurs and building a comedy brand around racial stereotypes disguised as "Southern humor." Trump appeared on Von's podcast during the campaign, giving the former president access to his 22.3 million followers.
CJ Pearson got honored for organizing MAGA's digital youth movement as national co-chair of the Republican National Committee's Youth Advisory Council. He's the mastermind behind events like the "Power 30 Awards", lavish parties celebrating conservative influencers who "played pivotal roles in reshaping the narrative of the 2024 election." Pearson has systematically built Gen Z pro-Trump online spaces, recently throwing an "all-white" party in D.C. after claiming New York Magazine was racist for cropping him out of a cover story. Critics call him a "con artist" who uses political crises for self-promotion.
All three endorsed Trump in 2024 and used their massive platforms to mobilize young voters for his campaign.
Time Magazine's History of Controversial Choices
In 1938, Time named Adolf Hitler "Man of the Year," calling him "the greatest threatening force that the democratic, freedom-loving world faces today." Joseph Stalin received the honor twice (1939 and 1942). Ayatollah Khomeini made the list in 1979.
Time's defense has always been that they're recognizing influence, not endorsing behavior. But when you put educators fighting historical erasure on the same list as people profiting from hate, you're sending a message about what kind of influence gets rewarded in America.
The Data Shows Conservative Advantage
The scary part, though, is that the entire digital ecosystem is rigged in their favor.
A new Media Matters report reveals the staggering scope of conservative media dominance online. Nine of the top ten online shows are right-leaning, with a total following of more than 197 million subscribers across platforms. Right-leaning online shows have amassed nearly 481 million followers, almost five times more than the 104 million followers for left-leaning shows.
On YouTube alone, right-wing channels have racked up 65 billion views compared to 31.5 billion for left-leaning content. Joe Rogan leads with 39.9 million total followers, followed by Ben Shapiro (25 million), Russell Brand, Jordan Peterson, and Theo Von (22.3-25 million each). The only left-leaning show above 20 million? Trevor Noah at 21.2 million.
Furthermore, 72% of online shows that self-identify as "non-political" are actually right-leaning. These supposedly neutral comedy and lifestyle podcasts reach 117.5 million followers, making up 20% of all ideological online content and masquerading as entertainment while advancing conservative narratives.
Conservative Funding vs. Grassroots Support
Earlier this year, I documented how a woman who hurled racial slurs at a five-year-old Black child raised over $500,000 in three days from supporters who saw her racism as worthy of reward. The counter-fundraiser for the child she targeted raised around $140,000, less than a third.
While I'm asking readers for $5 monthly subscriptions to keep historical education free and accessible, my competition has $100 million Spotify deals, corporate sponsorships worth millions, and algorithmic systems designed to amplify their content.
What Time's Recognition Actually Means
However, Time Magazine just validated something crucial. Progressive intellectuals are making a comeback. They put my voice alongside the biggest names on the internet.
But recognition without resources is just noise.
Right now, less than 4% of my 27,000+ newsletter subscribers are paid supporters. That means the work Time Magazine just recognized as among the most influential on the internet remains incredibly vulnerable while conservative networks mobilize millions to fund their version of "history."
This Is Our Moment
We're at a crossroads. Time Magazine just proved that progressive historical education can compete with millionaire hate merchants for cultural influence. The question is: will we match their commitment with ours?
Here's what becomes possible with your support:
At 5% paid subscribers: I can investigate and expose the money trails behind conservative influencer networks, showing exactly how hate gets funded while truth struggles.
At 10% paid subscribers: I can leverage this Time recognition into real impact, publishing daily content that connects past injustices to present movements while the momentum is hot.
At 20% paid subscribers: We build the definitive platform for progressive historical education, proving that grassroots funding can compete with billionaire backing when enough people contribute.
All for the cost of a coffee once a month.
The Stakes Are Clear
Conservative influencers understand that controlling historical narrative means controlling the future. That's why they invest millions, why algorithms favor them, why they can raise hundreds of thousands in days.
They have their millions and their algorithms. Do we have our movement?
Time Magazine named me one of the 100 most important people on the internet. Now I need you to help me prove they were right.
For one-time donations: Venmo (TheGenZHistorian) or Cashapp ($kahlilgreene00).
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Congratulations on the recognition! It's well deserved.
Your honor is well-deserved, and I'm happy you were recognized. (That Time chose to include the others you mentioned is inexplicable and embarrassing.) You are bringing knowledge and facts into the universe, which is incredibly important in this time where too many people are trying to erase history. Keep shining your bright light on the truth.