Under the Desk News: TIME100 Creators 2025
More than half of Americans get at least some of their news from social media, according to Pew Research. So it's no surprise that V Spehar—better known online as Under the Desk News—has become a trusted source for an audience of 4.5 million across TikTok and Instagram. The 42-year-old, who identifies as non-binary, went viral for their first-ever segment: during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. capitol, they shared a short TikTok video addressed to then-Vice President Mike Pence while lying under a desk—as if in a tornado drill. These days, while they typically address viewers from the comfort of a chair, they continue to break down the issues of the day in short-form, digestible clips—from the political impact of the 2025 New York City mayoral election to the latest developments in reproductive rights. They also co-host the Betches podcast American Fever Dream, diving deeper into issues shaping politics and pop culture. Spehar has landed high-profile collaborations with notable figures, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and last year interviewed then-Vice President Kamala Harris about bodily autonomy for the podcast. In October, they diversified their reach by launching on Substack, where they've amassed more than 150,000 subscribers.
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