Matt Van Swol: Rage-Baiting Through the Algorithmic Apocalypse

From Landscapes to Landmines
Matt Van Swol is a man who once stood behind a camera, not a megaphone. A failed nuclear scientist turned landscape photographer, he parlayed outdoor aesthetics and a clean-cut image into a brief stint as a brand darling. He worked with Apple, United, Hyatt. His content appeared tranquil:drone shots, mountaintops, mindfulness in motion.But that version of Matt Van Swol is dead.What emerged in its place is a manic digital arsonist, hurling rhetorical Molotov cocktails into the feed. The man now behind @matt_vanswol (he forgot the password to @mattvanswol and can't log into his own account) isn’t chasing beauty, he’s chasing cheap engagement. And he’s doing it the fastest way possible: outrage.A Descent Into Rage Theater
Van Swol's transformation from brand-friendly creator to frothing digital street brawler wasn't gradual, it was surgical. He made the hard piv ot into political rage bait. From calm captions about the Sierra Nevadas to screaming tweets telling U.S. Senators to "shut the fuck up."His post to Sen. Elizabeth Warren reads like a tantrum from the algorithmic underworld:“DOGE has done more for the government than you ever have… You bitch and moan… Shut the fuck up.”There’s no policy argument. No satire. Just heat. Just bile. Just clicks.Anin another, targeted at Rep. Pramila Jayapal:“I’m literally watching ILLEGAL CRIMINALS take over Los Angeles… SIT THE FUCK DOWN.”Van Swol doesn’t just disagree with elected officials, he screams at them. He hurls digital chairs from across the internet. His rhetorical style is pure WWE: aggressive, cartoonish, and calculated to rile.“Do You Think Drivers Should Run Over Protesters?”
Then there was the tweet that may have cemented him as unfit for any brand ecosystem:“Do you think drivers have the right to run over protestors who are illegally blocking roadways and attacking their cars?”He framed the question as a poll with one option being “Yes, absolutely!” And he's doing it claiming to be a born-again Christian.The attached image? A real-life protester being struck by a vehicle in Los Angeles.That’s not edgy commentary. That’s reckless incitement. And it draws a straight line between “content creator” and “dangerous propagandist.”Kicked Off Popular Pays
Not long after, Popular Pays, a major influencer collaboration platform, permanently suspended his account.“Matt Van Swol [...] is no longer active on our platform. His account was suspended after our SafeCollab system flagged content and articles indicating he was not a fit for brand collaborations.”Translation: His presence had become radioactive.This wasn’t a minor deplatforming. Popular Pays connects major brands to social media creators. Getting removed isn’t easy. But Van Swol’s rhetoric, laced with profanity, veiled endorsements of violence, and conspiracy-laced tirades, made him unsalvageable.And it proves something critics long suspected: Matt Van Swol isn’t folksy or authentic. He’s deliberate.The Swatter and the Swindler
Some sympathy emerged when Van Swol became the target of a “swatting” attack. Someone called a fake emergency that led to armed officers storming his home. In interviews afterward, he spun the moment as proof that “the media” and “the system” were out to silence him. But this incident, while frightening, didn’t result from neutral journalism.It came from a public figure who regularly pushes followers to believe they’re under siege, that violence is warranted, and that institutions can’t be trusted. That’s not advocacy. That’s radicalization for retweets.Parodied Because It's True
The satirical site erinderham.org, a parody hub about Van Swol and his wife, doesn’t have to stretch far to make him look unhinged. One post mocks him as a “MAGA grifter who couldn’t grift right,” pointing out that even his hurricane relief fundraising campaigns in North Carolina raised red flags: plenty of money, no transparent outcomes.Other satire portrays him pacing his basement, yelling about “doing something” while guzzling energy drinks and quoting the Bible, newly born-again and fully algorithm-washed. It’s parody, yes, but disturbingly close to his own tweets."We Are the Media Now"
Matt's rhetoric isn’t just loud. It’s cultish.In one post, he declares:“We are the media now and I KNOW you are lying.”This populist war cry, fueled by anti-government paranoia and social media tribalism, is a signal. And a negative signal at that. Van Swol isn’t just trying to be heard. He’s trying to replace journalists, lawmakers, and institutions with himself.He’s not asking people to think. He’s telling them to trust only his outrage.The Playbook: Profit from the Inferno
Matt Van Swol's model is clear:Post enraging, emotionally raw content.Harvest engagement from far-right audiences who feel alienated or paranoid.Monetize the attention through brand collabs (before he was removed), affiliate deals, donation drives, or influence-building for future political ventures.But the jig is up.He’s been dropped. Flagged. Parodied. And slowly corralled into the same pile as the rest of the failed political clout chasers: people who traded credibility for virality and wound up with neither.Conclusion: A Warning, Not a Voice
Matt Van Swol is no longer a creator. He’s a cautionary tale. His posts are digital landmines designed to explode, not enlighten.His downfall didn’t come from “the deep state,” “liberals,” or “cancel culture.” It came from Matt Van Swol, a man who mistook rage for leadership, made a poll about running over protesters for political engagement, and tweeted obsenities at senators and governors.He isn’t a thinker. He’s a rager. And now, rightfully, a deplatformed one.

Disclaimer: This is a parody. All statements and events depicted in this interview are fictionalized and satirical in nature. Allegations referenced are for illustrative purposes only. No actual confessions, statements, or interviews occurred.All photos are the property and/or copyright of their respective owners and/or photographers.