Who is Hasan Piker?
Quick answer
Hasan Piker (35), known online as HasanAbi, is a Turkish-American Twitch streamer and left-wing political commentator. One of the most-watched political streamers in the US, he discusses news, politics and pop culture live for hours each day. He’s the nephew of Cenk Uygur, co-founder of The Young Turks.
Key facts
- Born
- July 25, 1991, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Known as
- HasanAbi (“abi” means “big brother” in Turkish)
- Platforms
- Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, X
- Politics
- Democratic socialist
Background
Piker was born in New Jersey and spent much of his childhood in Istanbul, Turkey, before returning to the US for university. He studied communications and political science at Rutgers University. He then worked at The Young Turks, the online news network co-founded by his uncle, as a host and producer, and started streaming on Twitch in 2018.
Why he’s well known
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audience size | Around 3 million Twitch followers and millions of monthly viewers |
| Political interviews | Hosted politicians, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during a 2020 voting drive |
| Style | Long live streams reacting to news, videos and social media with his chat |
| Young male audience | Seen as reaching voters many politicians struggle to connect with |
Controversies and the 2026 debate
Piker is divisive. Supporters see him as an effective progressive voice who brings young people into politics. Critics point to remarks about US foreign policy, Israel and other conflicts that they consider extreme or offensive. He has been suspended from Twitch several times, including in 2026. In 2026, his campaigning for some progressive candidates sparked debate among Democrats about whether to embrace or distance themselves from him.
Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur
Uygur is his maternal uncle. The two have publicly disagreed at times, and Piker has built an audience largely independent of The Young Turks.
For other online personalities and public figures explained, see who Nicki Minaj is. New to streaming platforms? Here’s how to start a blog, a classic way to build an audience.
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