Fake news. Doom scrolling. Confirmation bias. We get it – it’s hard to wade through the endless noise online and on social media to find a source of information that can help us make sense of so much happening in the world. And through whose lens are we learning the information from anyway?
Who and where we get news from plays a big role in how our views are shaped. And heck, with so much overwhelming and bleak news filling our feeds every day, what if we want a light-hearted or comedic take on the news to help us digest it in a way that makes sense to us?! And serve it up through a feminist lens, plz!
Enter viral news content creator, Nikita Redkar – a comedic force and viral sensation known for her groundbreaking approach to news content, dismantling stereotypes and championing new-age feminism with sharp wit and relatable humor.
@nikitadumptruck Project 2025 explained #politics #news #project2025 #trump ♬ original sound – 💗 Bimbo University 💗
Growing viral fame on TikTok, Nikita Redkar is taking on the world by storm with her infectious humor and knack for breaking down the news. “For the girls,” or anyone simply craving a simplified scoop on what’s happening in the world, Nikita’s knack for creating content that makes one feel like they are out for coffee with a close friend, gained quick acknowledgement from a growing fan base. Soon after landing on everyone’s feeds, staying informed suddenly felt less demanding and more like a comical hangout with a good friend. Read up on how Buzzfeed praised her breakdowns here.
From news newbie, all the way to seasoned veterans looking for a fresh take, Nikita is the BFF you never knew you needed. And we had the chance to go “behind the scenes” with Nikita, learning more about her passion for comedy, news, and creating content that is accessible as well as informative.
You have been described as “The BFF you never knew you needed” on socials. What does it mean to you that so many people find you relatable and engaging to watch?
Wait, that’s so nice to say! I’m flattered, and I also love talking to people like they’ve been my bestie for many years, and there’s no formality between us. That’s always been my approach to telling the news. I also think so much of geopolitics as high school drama for loser trust fund kids who grew up to be terrifying men with too much power.
The stock market is made up, and money is literally paper with some guy on it. The world is SO unserious, yet somehow, these things dictate how we live. I hope my lightness allows us to see how ridiculous this all really is and that all that should matter is human beings looking out for one another.
Creating content today can be a difficult task – how do you stand out and find your niche?
It’s a combination of being yourself and seeing what people respond to! Like, yes, authenticity matters, but it’s a metrics game. Being yourself alone doesn’t guarantee engagement. You have to remember that on TikTok, people make a decision in half a second whether they want to watch your video or scroll past it, so in that half second, I know I have to 1) have a strong hook and 2) be instantly recognizable.
Now, on to the authenticity bit; there is something that you do or think right now that is going to be fascinating to everyone; the trick is figuring out what that is. And unfortunately, that means trying and failing till you find it! I was on TikTok for a year before I found my niche in telling the news like gossip and current events/politics, which I was always interested in. But there are a lot of other things I am interested in that didn’t quite connect with others in the way I wanted, at least not in the way I was telling it.
News can be so overwhelming and depressing right now. Can you tell us more about the decision to use humor and wit to deliver your take on serious topics?
My comedy days taught me to always punch up, making fun of those in power. With a serious news topic, it’s always easy to find the “villain” – 99.9% of the time, it’s capitalism. So, as long as I’m making fun of power structures, it adds much-needed relief and optimism to serious news topics. That being said, there are just some news stories that are so heavy that nothing funny can be said about them.
I always think of Jon Stewart’s 2012 monologue about the Sandy Hook shooting, how he delivered it with complete seriousness, and how – if someone who usually jokes about everything didn’t joke about this – deeply painful it must be. Some things just can’t be lighthearted and flirty. However, many can!
Which topics do you feel drawn to the most these days, and which news stories or current events have compelled you to share your views?
Right now, I’m really drawn to historical parallels of what we see today and how a similar thing happened in the past. You’re absolutely correct in that the news is super overwhelming right now, so what gives me comfort is looking to the past for answers.
Something I think about a lot is how our ancestors and elders dealt with a generation-defining political event in their youth – Gen X with the AIDS crisis, Boomers getting randomly drafted into the Vietnam war, the Silent Gen with WW2 – and how did that shape them? Many didn’t get through, sadly, but the world is still standing today, and it’s our job to honor their memory by keeping this ship chugging along – and not giving into nihilism.
What does feminism mean to you, and what is missing from our current discourse that you are hoping to share through your content?
Mostly that you don’t have to change who you are to be smart and know things! Femininity is often associated with childishness and stupidity, and masculinity is associated with professionalism and intellect. You see that in work environments, proximity to male-ness is what gets you ahead. This is fine for some people, and I don’t want to yuck their yum – side note, I love that phrase – but I always felt I was shrinking myself to appear smart. I hope that when people see me, they can think, ” oh, I can know what a 401K is and how to apply cut crease eyeshadow! Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.
We love the way you take on the difficult conversations without fear. How do you prepare for potential backlash or negative reactions? Do you even worry about those?
I always worry about that; it’s a very real fear! One of my least favorite things about the internet and our culture at large is how people will immediately assume the worst of you for a slip-up. You should be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them without fearing alienation! I’m very lucky to have built an audience that knows me and what I stand for so that even if I make a mistake, they kindly let me know and back me up when people unfamiliar with my voice come at me.
Every creator from a minority background will have at least one moment in their career where they’ll receive a ton of backlash. I’ve seen it for all my heroes and been through it myself. Because people are already against you for who you are, making a mistake will give certain people an excuse to exercise their hatred behind the shield of morality. Bad news, it’s inevitable. Good news: You have an army of creators who’ve suffered the same fate and will stand by your side.
There is a lot of confusion right now regarding social media censorship, AI, deep fakes, and the way technology can take over our lives without us even knowing. What do you want readers and followers to feel empowered by and be aware of when they use their social platforms?
I think a lot about a tweet where someone said they never realized how much soul art contained until AI started doing it. Humans experience love, sorrow, and fear, and that’s evident in what we create. AI will never know the pain of being in a one-sided four-year situationship and finding out he cheated on you through a podcast episode you had on in your car! Sorry! Also, that’s not personal experience! (It is.)
Why is humor important during dark times? And how can humor be a path of enlightenment through serious topics?
The essence of all humor is not being alone. Humans are a communal species; we think we go through everything alone, but we don’t! That has always been what has drawn me to humor, the camaraderie of it all. It’s a path of enlightenment because – and I feel like Buddha saying this – but humor allows us to comprehend experiences that aren’t our own.
Whether it is sexism, abortion bans, racism, protests, social media hot takes, or world history, can you tell us about your focus on creating content “for the girls”?
I started saying “for the girls” because I speak in my videos how I speak to my friends at brunch. I’m not using any jargon or trying to be professional! The “the” is an important distinction because girls is an all-encompassing term for all my friends. I also am so drawn to the Bimbo movement – not because of its perceived anti-intellectualism – but because it is CHOOSING to be anti-intellectual about certain things. Women spend so much of their life adhering to the rules, listening to the opinions people have of us, that sometimes it’s best to just block that out and be a dumb, happy b*.
For someone who is discovering your videos for the first time, what do you hope they will keep coming back for, and what do you hope they will love the most about your perspective?
There’s a sense online that you should already know about a certain subject being discussed right now, and I hope to give people the tools they need to be informed in a way that’s fun to listen to and not intimidating. My videos are always a jumping-off point for people wanting to learn more about a particular subject, so I hope they come to me when they want to learn something new and not be made to feel stupid, or they should already know this by now!
Also, I hope they find out that you don’t have to change who you are or have any barriers to entry when it comes to just learning about things! The world is fascinating and it should not be gate-kept!
Want to stay informed about the latest news and not get overwhelmed by confusing information? Follow Nikita Redkar on TikTok @nikitadumptruck and IG @nikitadumptruck.
