Jubilee Is Making America Debate Again: How YouTube Hit ‘Surrounded’ Landed Pete Buttigieg and Ben Shapiro — and Why Its CEO Wants to Get In On the 2028 Election

As a long-time supporter of independent media and open dialogue, I am genuinely impressed by the work Jubilee Media is doing with their hit YouTube series “Surrounded.” Having spent countless hours watching debates on traditional news channels, I can attest to the fact that they often feel overly scripted or biased. But the raw, unfiltered discussions in “Surrounded” are a breath of fresh air.


Last week, Pete Buttigieg found himself in a Michigan studio with 25 undecided voters who took turns discussing their views on his stance towards Kamala Harris’ and Donald Trump’s policies. When the discussions reached an apparent end, those seated on the edges would signal concerns.

The event wasn’t a town hall meeting or a discussion on cable news channels such as CNN, Fox, or MSNBC. Instead, it was featured in the sixth episode of the popular YouTube series “Surrounded,” produced by Jubilee Media – an independent production company based in Los Angeles that’s also known for creating social experiments like “Middle Ground” and “Swipe or Swap.” The episode wasn’t broadcast on television.

The series titled “Can a Woke Teen Face Off Against 20 Trump Backers?” and “Can 25 College Liberals Outsmart a Single Conservative?,” has gained immense popularity since its release in September, amassing over 50 million views on YouTube and flooding social media timelines. You may have witnessed debates between liberal internet personality Destiny outsmarting MAGA hat wearers or, depending on your online preferences, conservative commentator Charlie Kirk refuting leftist students. The fourth installment, featuring conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, attracted 5.1 million viewers within its first day – approximately equal to the usual viewership of “Saturday Night Live.

Jubilee Is Making America Debate Again: How YouTube Hit ‘Surrounded’ Landed Pete Buttigieg and Ben Shapiro — and Why Its CEO Wants to Get In On the 2028 Election

The purpose of the show titled “Surrounded,” which lasts for two hours and is verified by Straight Arrow News, is to foster meaningful conversations. Although these discussions often escalate into arguments, Jubilee Television produces shows like “Surrounded” in an effort to stimulate understanding and forge emotional bonds among people, as expressed by its founder and CEO, Jason Y. Lee. With a diverse lineup of programs delving into politics, interpersonal relationships, and stereotypes, Jubilee Television strives to establish itself as the equivalent of Disney in empathy.

Lee explains that discourse can demonstrate its potential, being both unproductive at times yet fruitful and compassionate in others.

Since its launch in 2010, Jubilee’s shows have accumulated over 4 billion views. What’s more, this company has expanded into a vast media and production empire that operates independently from the traditional Hollywood studio system. Now, it aspires to influence the upcoming era of political debate in America.

Jubilee Is Making America Debate Again: How YouTube Hit ‘Surrounded’ Landed Pete Buttigieg and Ben Shapiro — and Why Its CEO Wants to Get In On the 2028 Election

Following the 2016 election, Jubilee’s focus in programming transitioned towards politics, leading Lee to feel disheartened by the intense political polarization in America. He perceived that young people were yearning for content that was complex and stimulating, but not the type typically offered by positive digital media platforms like SoulPancake or Upworthy. Instead, he thought, “There’s a significant opportunity here for us to make a real impact.” This is what he expressed.

Jubilee’s shows often delve into controversial topics, such as “Middle Ground,” a dialogue series focused on finding common ground between diverse groups like trans and cis individuals, Democrats and Republicans, and Israelis and Palestinians. Despite this, Lee emphasizes the importance of maintaining objectivity within the company and ensuring a multifaceted team of producers and editors. It’s worth noting that while Lee was once an intern on Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, he does not openly share his current political leanings.

“We try our best to be as unbiased as possible when it comes to the political sphere,” Lee says.

Lee thinks that the future of political discussions will be primarily on YouTube rather than conventional media. In the run-up to the election, he claims, Jubilee had extensive talks with both presidential candidates regarding the possibility of either Trump or Harris hosting a show called “Surrounded” on YouTube.

Lee proposes that by the upcoming election, there should be a presidential debate hosted on YouTube. He argues that his platform, Jubilee, is the ideal venue for this event, as debates on traditional news networks often face criticisms regarding format and bias. Instead, Jubilee can present the debate in its most unfiltered form, minimizing any potential influence or manipulation from the platform itself.

The strategy encompasses all of Jubilee’s content, not merely their political videos. As Lee puts it, “In traditional media, you can sense the presence of producers.” “You can feel the invisible strings, what they are trying to achieve. I believe there’s a preference to avoid that.

As a passionate cinephile, I’ve found myself in a unique position with Jubilee’s content garnering interest from established media giants. However, navigating the obstacles that come with Hollywood isn’t something I find appealing or beneficial at this juncture.

He notes that we can produce a tremendous amount of content at remarkable speeds, unlike the conventional TV system where it could take years to get a project approved. The true potential lies in the digital realm; it’s not something insignificant or secondary.

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2024-11-05 01:17