news-engine

Since Trump’s ascension in 2016, liberals and progressives have been searching for someone who could speak to the country’s disaffected male youths, who abandoned the Democratic Party in shocking numbers. Pundits looked for this mythical figure in Midwest city halls, on Maine oyster farms and in sardonic TikTok feeds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Turns out, he’s right there on Netflix’s Top 10. Comedian Stavros Halkias has seemingly been everywhere recently. He appeared in the Anthony Bourdain biopic “Tony,” he plays Shane Gillis’ foil in “Tires,” he’s been the focus of multiple magazine profiles, and he’s a regular on the late-night and podcast circuit. On Tuesday, his charm offensive culminated with the debut of his second Netflix special, “Uncle Stav.” Even amid his increased popularity, Halkias hasn’t tried to hide his political identity, which is somewhere between Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani. In a recent New York Times podcast interview, Halkias called Trump a “full-blown fascist” and accused Immigration and Customs Enforcement of “murdering people.” But, unsurprisingly for someone who got his start on the “Cumtown” podcast, Halkias speaks in a tone more appropriate for a hot-boxed Toyota Corolla than a primary debate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Halkias has a way of articulating liberal ideology in the crassest ways imaginable. On an episode of his podcast in 2024, he brainstormed running for office on a message of “If you wanna be pro-busting, you gotta be pro-choice! If you want to nut in a woman, you gotta be pro-choice!” On “Uncle Stav,” Halkias jokes that Luigi Mangione brought America closer to universal healthcare than ever before. “For two weeks after that, no insurance company was denying s—t,” he said on “Uncle Stav.” When he’s righteously angry, Halkias ditches the jokes and speaks in a vicious tone that Democrats too often shy away from. Advertisement Article continues below this ad “Anyone who joins ICE is a piece of s—t. I mean, there’s no way around that,” he said on his podcast last year. “And what they’re f—king doing now where they’re like, ‘Hey, salaries start at $50,000 and we’re forgiving debt’ for joining ICE. It’s like, do that for f—king teachers, you f—king pieces of s—t, and society will be better.” And in a textbook example from the special, the comedian voices his displeasure at J.K. Rowling’s transphobic comments by calling her a “dumb bitch.” Yet Halkias’ appeal crosses political lines. He may not agree with them, but Halkias speaks the same language as Joe Rogan and his disciples who wield outsize influence over young adult men. Democratic politicians like Gavin Newsom and Pete Buttigieg have made a show of debating podcasters from the so-called manosphere to court their listeners. But these appearances feel forced and stunty. Halkias genuinely belongs in these spaces, managing to discuss emotional intelligence with the likes of Andrew Shulz. In a testament to his strengths as a communicator, Halkias can just as easily chat with queer comedians Caleb Hearon and Matteo Lane as he can conservative darlings Theo Von or Gillis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad BECOME A FRIEND. GET OUR AD-FREE APP. The majority of Halkias’ recent special is not political, but that’s part of what makes him a strong messenger in his unscripted appearances. He spends ample time talking about struggles with his weight (“I love treats so much, I might not be at my daughter’s wedding,” he jokes); his Greek immigrant family (“When your little brother starts a beautiful family, it really makes you understand what a piece of s—t you are,” he admits); and self-destructive tendencies (“Of course, I have not done the research when it comes to these drugs. That’s not how I do drugs,” he says). Halkias isn’t a perfect political messenger. His rough language could give genuine bigots more confidence to voice their opinions. His special isn’t perfect either. For example, an unnecessary crowd work gimmick accomplishes nothing but to distract from the comedy. The comic has no plans to get more involved in political organizing. He’s even said he wants to talk about politics less in his comedy. But with the midterms less than two months away, perhaps a man who brags about “eating a pint of ice cream over three hours between diarrhea breaks” is just what this country needs. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Local Culture | Food | Crime Read our stories ad-free on the new SFGATE app.