As you could probably tell from my last article about her, I have pretty bipolar thoughts when it comes to Jennifer Welch – the more skeletal half of the I’ve Had It podcast crew.
On one hand, it’s hard for me – a fledgling, small-time hobby blogger from Oklahoma – to not admire and appreciate the great job she’s done fattening her wallet on her way to becoming an A-list social-media-influencer type for the Trump-obsessed political left.
I say this in all seriousness – I bow down to her on that!
It takes a lot of hard work, time, and vanity to become a famous influencer in the short-form video world, and she deserves a shitload of credit and praise for everything she’s accomplished.
Seriously, just three years ago, Jennifer was a failed Bravo! reality star wasting away in Oklahoma with her man-bun husband, decorating the homes of the local aristocracy, forced to watch her younger, prettier former underling – Alex Bennett – make it big on the podcast scene.
Now, just a couple of Sonic iced-tea runs later, she – along with Toots – has become a favorite online tool and voice of the political left, commanding a massive fan base of doom-scrollers, cable-news viewers, and foreign bot accounts all ready to like, spread, and amplify her direct, outspoken, “Click me! Click me!” content.
As a result of this newfound fame and influence, Jennifer is now getting the inquisitive star treatment from flagship left-leaning media outlets like NPR, The Guardian, and the Grey Lady herself – The New York Times.
Once again – and I mean this in all sincerity – I really admire and appreciate what Jennifer’s been able to accomplish in such a short time! She really is proof that if you’re a wealthy, articulate, well-connected interior decorator with a foul mouth and a big ego, literally anything is possible!
And I guess that’s where the other hand of this bipolar equation comes into play.
Although I appreciate what Jennifer has been able to accomplish, agree with some of her political views, and wish her the best of luck when she eventually runs for political office, I personally can’t stand the lady!
Llike, how does anyone not find her annoying?
Whenever I hear her and Toots speak, I feel like I’m listening to older women day-drunk at Flips arguing about whatever topic they heard on The View that morning. Is it colorful? Sure. Can it be funny at times? Yes. Does it get old after 60 seconds and make you want to pull your cankles out? Uh huh.
Seriously, she’s like the Dave Matthews of social-media influencers. Can someone invent an app that blocks her app – and face – from taking up my whole screen? When I’m doom-scrolling through my reels on X or Instagram, I want to watch videos of high-school fights, airplane crashes, and girls swinging golf clubs… not a wealthy interior decorator from Oklahoma lecturing me about Gaza!
Okay, that was a bit intense. As I said, I can be a bit bipolar on this topic.
If I’m being honest – and I usually try to be – I think my distaste for Jennifer comes down to three key reasons:
1. My first exposure to Jennifer was on Sweet Home Oklahoma.
Before you were listening to her podcast, liking her social-media videos, or attending her live shows, I was stuck in my living room watching and writing about her failed Bravo reality show Sweet Home Oklahoma – literally one of the worst shows I’ve ever had to watch.
Well, except for that time I snuck on it:
You know how they say the first impression is the last impression? Well, my first impression of Jennifer was on that show, and because I had to witness and document that very first unsuccessful attempt at fame, it’s hard for me to watch this second one without rolling my eyes.
I’ll admit, I kind of like Jennifer’s in-your-face interview style and how she’ll occasionally do what people like Chuck Todd couldn’t – and actually challenge politicians. But we live in a cultural idiocracy, and the reality-ification of media and politics is a big reason why. Even though I agree with her on some stuff, she is a symptom – and product – of it.
2. I’m envious and jealous of her success.
Uhm… how could I not be?! I’ve been making fun of politicians in the written form for nearly 20 years now, and the only thing I have to show for it is an OCCC Hall of Fame trophy that’s sitting on a shelf in my mom’s basement! Meanwhile, Jennifer is writing books, going on CNN and The View, and getting interviewed in your favorite affluent liberal's media outlets.
Now that Jennifer has a popular podcast, is on cable news, and has been in The Times, you have to wonder what’s next in her rise to the top of the social-media-sphere.
Will she get her own pots, pans, and TV show like Ree Drummond, or will she capitalize on her popularity and enter the political arena? As our president shows, reality-TV stars who seek attention, publicity, and say crazy, wildly inappropriate things on social media can achieve a lot of success in this world, so she'd be foolish not to run for something. If so, we'll be here to jealously cover it.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
