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Paramount’s Interest in Katie Miller’s Podcast Sparks Online Backlash Amid Low Viewership
Paramount’s reported consideration of acquiring Katie Miller’s podcast has drawn widespread skepticism, particularly after critics highlighted the show’s modest audience numbers.
Katie Miller, wife of Stephen Miller, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy under Donald Trump, launched the “Katie Miller Pod” nine months ago with the stated goal of creating a digital space for conservative women. The podcast features weekly YouTube videos, including interviews with notable political figures.
Despite this, the show has struggled to gain significant traction. Recent episodes have garnered relatively low view counts-for example, a discussion titled “FCC Chair Brendan Carr DESTROYS Wokeness In Legacy Media & Disney” has fewer than 5,000 views, while another featuring Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has just over 9,000 views.
The news that Paramount is exploring a potential distribution deal with Miller’s podcast as part of its broader expansion into the podcasting realm was first reported by Axios. The announcement was met with criticism on social media.
Journalist Mehdi Hasan dismissed the move as a “grift,” while political commentator Ron Filipkowski mocked the notion of Paramount signing deals with creators whose episodes often attract under 30,000 views. Other commenters expressed frustration over what they described as “mob-style tactics” enriching unqualified individuals.
However, the podcast does have its supporters. Rapper Nicki Minaj, who has appeared on the show, praised Miller as “a VERY rare breed.” Additionally, popular conservative social media account Libs of TikTok gave their endorsement with the simple declaration, “Katie rocks.”
Notably, some episodes featuring high-profile guests have achieved more substantial viewership. The debut episode with JD Vance and an appearance by billionaire Elon Musk both amassed close to a million views on YouTube, demonstrating potential for growth.
Paramount’s podcast ambitions extend beyond Miller’s show. Axios reports that the company is also in talks with other podcast platforms, including Paragon Collective-home to comedians Whitney Cummings and DL Hughley-and Jubilee Media. While Paramount currently produces podcasts, the company’s new strategy is expected to place greater emphasis on video content, signaling an evolving approach to the medium.
As Paramount pursues expansion in this competitive sector, the future of the “Katie Miller Pod” and similar projects remains a topic of debate among audiences and industry observers alike.