V Spehar’s journey from food advocacy to becoming one of TikTok’s most trusted LGBTQ+ news voices is remarkable. On January 6, marking the fourth anniversary of their channelUnder the Desk News, Spehar, 42, spoke with The Advocate to discuss their platform’s impact, new media challenges, and journalism’s future in a rapidly evolving landscape. As their platform enters its fifth year, they remain a steadfast advocate for meeting audiences where they are—even if that means reinventing what journalism looks like.
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Spehar’s journey into digital journalism began in chaos on January 6, 2021. As supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, Spehar was on a Zoom call discussing food policy. Watching the events unfold, they made a TikTok video explaining the 25th Amendment from under a desk. “It was a safe space for me and for the audience,” they recalled. “That sense of calm resonated with people.”
From then on, Spehar continued to inform the audience of important news stories.
“At that time, I was just your friend V Spehar who’s really smart about this particular stuff,” Spehar said.
Over the years, Spehar’s platform has grown to over 3.2 million TikTok followers and more than 600,000 on Instagram. Their approach—presenting news in a relatable, conversational tone—has made Under The Desk News a trusted source for many, particularly younger audiences who may not engage with traditional media.
Before they became a trusted voice on TikTok, Spehar, who identifies as nonbinary, worked with the James Beard Foundation, focusing on culinary advocacy and policy. They worked on combatting food waste and championed programs supporting woman-owned restaurants and small food businesses. Spehar also contributed to policy initiatives related to the Farm Bill and collaborated with organizations to provide resources to struggling culinary entrepreneurs, they told The Advocate. Their experience in this space helped hone the advocacy and communication skills that would later define their approach to journalism.
Changing how news is delivered
Spehar says TikTok bridges gaps between traditional journalism and new media, offering digestible insights into complex topics for audiences often left behind by legacy media outlets.
However, Spehar’s success has not come without challenges. In a Saturday NPR interview, they discussed the skepticism they face from legacy media. Introduced on the program as a “newsfluencer,” Spehar pushed back against the term, emphasizing their professional background, which includes roles at the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post. “I don’t know what that word means,” Spehar told The Advocate.
@underthedesknewsNPR does some fantastic work, but they really biffed this one - they also cut anytime I mentioned my professional credentials to keep this “newsfluencer” thing going. I’m a @MediaWise ambassador for crying out loud 😂 Mozilla Rise25, Webby special achievement winner, GLAAD nominated digital journalist who had a ding dang billboard in Times Square once for excellence in my podcast programming - I worked at LATimes, WashPo, and did field work for NBC - when do I get to be a “journalist”? 😂 #news #media #tradmedia #npr #misinformation
Spehar described their experience on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday as both disheartening and a learning experience. During the interview, they felt their words were misrepresented. “They chopped the sentences I said to not be the answers I gave,” Spehar explained. “I think that’s gravely disingenuous and lazy.”
Spehar accused NPR of selectively cutting their answers to fit a preconceived narrative in a video posted online after the segment aired. “Yes, I said those words, but not in the way they were presented,” Spehar said. “It felt like they were trying to discredit the work I’ve done over the past four years.”
Despite their frustrations, they acknowledged NPR’s overall contributions to journalism. “I think NPR does fantastic work,” they said. “But this time, they got it very wrong.”
Spehar had pointed explicitly to the segment where they discussed having a “shtick” on TikTok, which they felt was reduced to sounding trite rather than thoughtful.
“One thing about TikTok is you’ve got to have a shtick,” Spehar said in the segment that aired before being cut off. In the transcript of the response, they had continued, “Mine was doing news from under the desk as opposed to at the desk. It was a little bit more visually interesting. We’re living in very absurd times, so doing something silly felt like the right thing to do during a difficult story.”
Spehar noted that the bias they felt exhibited in the interview reflects a broader misunderstanding of digital creators.
“There’s this idea that social media journalists are less credible, but that’s simply not true,” they said. “Every day, I have to earn the trust of my audience, just like any other journalist.”
The NPR segment also delved into the tension between influencers and traditional journalists, particularly at major events like theDemocratic andRepublican National Conventions last summer. While influencers were criticized for allegedly receiving preferential treatment at the DNC, Spehar clarified that their access was carefully managed.
“There’s this misconception that everyone who makes content is the same,” Spehar told The Advocate. “But the public understands the difference between someone giving their opinion online and someone like me, who is providing vetted, contextualized news.”
NPR defended its editorial practices. In response to questions about the segment, an NPR spokesperson responded to The Advocate in a statement. “We stand by our journalism,” the spokesperson wrote. “V Spehar’s voice was not speeded up. The entire piece was edited down for time on the air, and additional answers from both guests were also transcribed for a digital piece. Some exchanges and answers were shortened or not included in the final story. The edited interview did not alter the substance of any of V Spehar’s answers.”
NPR, however, maintained that “because of time constraints, we never include every single Q&A, but are careful to reflect the substance of the conversation.”
The outlet's statement continued: “[Host] Eric Deggans’ questions were reasonable, fair, and respectfully addressed journalism ethics and access to newsmakers.”
Additionally, NPR stressed its respect for social media as a platform for journalism. “NPR values social media, produces original journalism for social media, and we have very talented digital journalists on our staff. Our goal is to provide impartial fact-based information and meet our listeners where they are,” the spokesperson wrote.
A fight against the TikTok ban
Spehar and Under the Desk News not only have to defend against critics of this new form of journalism but also a critical challenge to the account's operation as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on a potential TikTok ban on Friday.
The law, set to take effect just one day before Trump’s inauguration, requires ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to sell the app or face a nationwide ban. While the federal government argues that the app poses national security risks due to its foreign ownership, Spehar counters that political narratives and a cultural bias against TikTok are overshadowing the real story.
“This isn’t just about TikTok,” Spehar told The Advocate. “It’s about the government setting a precedent that platforms can be shut down without evidence or due process.”
Spehar pointed to the troubling legal journey of the case, highlighting that lower courts upheld the ban without requiring the government to provide evidence accessible to TikTok’s lawyers. “The case relied on secret evidence—documents that weren’t even shared during discovery,” they said. “And the court ruled, ‘We don’t even need to see the evidence because Congress says so.’ That kind of deference to government say-so over a trial or hard proof is terrifying.”
For Spehar, the issue transcends TikTok and raises alarms for the broader media landscape. “If this ban is upheld, it sets the stage for the government to label any platform or entity as a ’national security threat’ without justification,” they warned. “This is a constitutional crisis. The government’s say-so cannot exceed the need for evidence or trials. If this precedent is upheld, it’s a threat to the First Amendment and journalism at large.”
The stakes of the TikTok ban go beyond Spehar’s channel. The app, with its 170 million U.S. users, has become a hub for creators, marginalized voices, and alternative journalism.
“Losing TikTok isn’t just losing an app; it’s losing a platform that amplifies voices traditional media often ignores,” Spehar said. “It’s a place where queer people, women, and people of color hold the most power right now.”
Looking ahead
As Spehar navigates an uncertain future for TikTok and social media, they remain committed to adapting.
“I’ve always said I’ll go back to cooking if I have to,” they partially joked. But their focus remains on the bigger picture: fostering a more inclusive, accessible media landscape.
“Coming into Trump 2.0, I have a lot of concerns,” they admitted. “Will my marriage be overturned? Will my Guatemalan nephew be pulled out of school? There’s so much at stake. But whatever happens, I’ll keep doing the work—whether it’s on TikTok or somewhere else.”
