Chaya Raichik, the face behind the infamous "Libs of TikTok" account, isn’t just some random troll who got lucky with a few viral posts. She’s a potent figure in modern conservative circles, one who’s managed to weaponize outrage culture in ways that not only fuel the GOP’s political strategy but also degrade America’s social fabric. Her work might seem, at first glance, like harmless shitposting. But it’s not. Her influence on Trump, the GOP, and the nation as a whole has been profound, divisive, and dangerous. Let’s unpack this mess.

First off, let’s talk about her impact on Donald Trump. Trump’s whole shtick revolves around stirring chaos, feeding into cultural divides, and mobilizing his base through grievance politics. Raichik’s content on Libs of TikTok is tailor-made for this. By cherry-picking the most extreme, cringe-inducing, or out-of-context clips of liberals, Raichik crafts a narrative that the left is not just wrong but unhinged, predatory, and fundamentally dangerous.

These clips don’t just feed into Trump’s rhetoric—they amplify it. When Trump goes on one of his tirades about how "radical leftists" are destroying the country, he’s often echoing themes that accounts like Raichik’s push into the mainstream. Her content is essentially a factory for manufacturing moral panic. The thing is, moral panic is Trump’s bread and butter.

During his rallies and Truth Social rants, Trump often leans into the narratives of cultural decline—drag queens reading to kids, schools indoctrinating children with “CRT bullshit,” and the general idea that America is losing its way. Raichik’s posts provide the imagery to go along with those rants, giving his base the "proof" they need to stay pissed off.

If Trump’s relationship with Raichik’s content is symbiotic, the GOP’s is downright parasitic. The modern Republican Party has moved from being the “fiscal responsibility” crew to the “what-the-hell-did-they-just-say?” outrage machine. The GOP’s survival hinges on keeping its base perpetually furious, and Libs of TikTok is a firehose of material to stoke that anger.

Look at how Raichik’s posts are directly cited or referenced by conservative lawmakers and pundits. Texas Representative Bryan Slaton, for example, tweeted in support of legislation targeting drag performances after Raichik highlighted clips of drag queens performing in public spaces. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ team has leaned heavily on similar content in their crusades against LGBTQ+ rights and education policies. The GOP uses Raichik’s content as a way to justify their increasingly authoritarian laws—anti-trans healthcare bans, book bans, and even Don’t Say Gay bills.

This isn’t some accidental alignment. Raichik’s platform has essentially become a pipeline. She digs up (or outright fabricates) instances of supposed left-wing excess, feeds them to her followers, and then watches as GOP legislators cite those posts to craft their policy arguments. It’s a self-sustaining loop of bullshit.

Then there’s Elon Musk, the billionaire who bought Twitter and turned it into a playground for outrage peddlers like Raichik. Musk’s influence over her is undeniable—he frequently engages with her content, retweeting and amplifying her posts to his massive audience. By doing so, he legitimizes her platform and gives her a megaphone far larger than she’d have on her own.

Musk’s support doesn’t just stop at boosting her visibility. He’s used her content as ammunition in his own culture war battles. For example, Musk has repeatedly targeted Wikipedia and mainstream news outlets, accusing them of bias or misinformation. Raichik’s posts provide him with the kind of sensationalized fodder he needs to make his case. When she shares a clip of an educator discussing gender identity, Musk uses it as an opportunity to rail against the "woke mind virus" infecting institutions like Wikipedia, the media, or academia.

This symbiotic relationship benefits them both. Raichik gets the amplification of one of the most influential figures on social media, while Musk gets a steady stream of outrage content to further his narrative about the supposed decline of Western culture. It’s a toxic cycle that feeds into the broader polarization of public discourse.

Now let’s zoom out and look at the bigger picture: America as a whole. Raichik’s influence isn’t just bad for liberals or the left—it’s bad for everyone. Here’s why:

Raichik’s entire brand is about creating an "us vs. them" narrative. Her followers are fed a constant diet of "look how insane the other side is," which only deepens existing political and cultural divides. The thing is, this kind of division doesn’t just stay online. It spills into real life—into family arguments, workplace conflicts, and even acts of violence.

This is where shit gets real. Raichik’s posts don’t just rile people up; they’ve directly led to harassment campaigns against teachers, healthcare workers, and private citizens. LGBTQ+ individuals and allies featured on her account often find themselves bombarded with threats, doxxed, and even physically attacked.

Take, for example, the Boston Children’s Hospital situation. After Raichik shared misleading claims about the hospital’s gender-affirming care program, the institution faced a barrage of threats, forcing it to beef up security. This isn’t free speech—it’s stochastic terrorism. She’s throwing the match and walking away while the fire burns.

By focusing on the most extreme examples of left-wing behavior, Raichik’s account gives conservatives a straw man to punch. This dumbing down of discourse makes it impossible to have good-faith debates about real issues. Instead of discussing policy solutions, we’re stuck arguing over whether drag queens are secretly plotting to take over kindergarten classrooms. Spoiler alert: they’re not.

The big takeaway here is that Raichik’s work doesn’t exist in a vacuum. She’s not just some internet troll. She’s part of a larger ecosystem that’s fundamentally reshaping American politics—and not in a good way. Her content amplifies Trump’s culture war bullshit, provides fuel for GOP legislative fuckery, and deepens the divides that make America feel like it’s coming apart at the seams.

Elon Musk’s involvement only makes it worse. By using his platform to boost Raichik and attacking credible sources of information like Wikipedia or mainstream news outlets, Musk is undermining the very foundations of a shared reality. This isn’t about free speech; it’s about chaos. And chaos, as we’ve seen, is a breeding ground for authoritarianism and societal collapse.

So, how the hell do we deal with this? First, we need to stop feeding the beast. Every time Raichik’s posts get shared—even to call her out—it boosts her visibility. If you must engage, focus on debunking her claims without giving her more clicks.

Second, we need to demand more accountability from social media platforms. Raichik’s brand of targeted harassment shouldn’t have a home on Twitter, Instagram, or anywhere else. And finally, we need to support organizations and individuals who are fighting back—whether it’s through legal action, education, or activism.

Chaya Raichik isn’t just an online shit-stirrer. She’s a key player in a broader effort to weaponize fear and division in American politics. Her impact on Trump, the GOP, and the nation as a whole is undeniable, and it’s overwhelmingly negative. With Elon Musk’s amplification and his attacks on credible institutions, her influence has only grown more toxic. If we want to heal the divides in this country, we need to call out people like Raichik for what they are: agents of chaos, profiteers of outrage, and enemies of progress.