Jan 16, 2019

Streams of Phoenix's "Lisztomania" triple after AOC dancing video

Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

Phoenix's 2009 song "Lisztomania" saw its on-demand streaming numbers jump 192%, Billboard reports, after its inclusion in a 2010 video featuring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) dancing while in college that resurfaced online earlier this month as a smear attempt by an anonymous right-leaning Twitter account.

Why it matters: The stats only underscore the unbelievable media power of the 29-year-old House freshman. The video, meant to garner negative press on the eve of her swearing-in, backfired as an opposition play and took on new life as a meme, nearly tripling the consumption of a song approaching its 10th anniversary.

Go deeper: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has more Twitter power than media, establishment

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David Nather

Bernie's historic Jewish fight

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Sen. Bernie Sanders would be the first Jewish presidential nominee of a major American political party — but that history-making possibility is being overshadowed by his conflicts with America's Jewish leaders and Israel's leadership.

The big picture: That's partly because we're all focusing on the implications of Democrats nominating a self-described democratic socialist. It's also because a candidate's religion no longer seems to matter as much to voters or the media, making the potential milestone of a Jewish nominee more of a non-event.

Go deeper2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Eileen Drage O'Reilly

Coronavirus "infodemic" threatens world's health institutions

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak is being matched, or even outrun, by the spread on social media of both unintentional misinformation about it and vociferous campaigns of malicious disinformation, experts tell Axios.

Why it matters: The tide of bad information is undermining trust in governments, global health organizations, nonprofits and scientists — the very institutions that many believe are needed to organize a global response to what may be turning into a pandemic.

Go deeper2 hours ago - Health

Caitlin Owens

America's addiction treatment misses the mark

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Addiction treatment in the U.S. is critically necessary yet deeply flawed.

The big picture: Drug overdoses kill tens of thousands of Americans a year, but treatment is often inaccessible. The industry is also riddled with subpar care and, in some cases, fraud.

Go deeper3 hours ago - Health