Shawn Ryan says photographed proximity to political power can ‘capture’ influencers

What was said

"When they had all these people show up and they're holding up the binders and [ __ ] you know, they did not understand that the minute that happened, they were captured."

Shawn Ryan, speaking on The Diary Of A CEO, argues that political actors can reduce an influencer’s perceived independence by bringing them into public, photographed proximity to an administration. He cites images he associates with an early “Epstein files” binder moment and says that, in his view, once people are seen participating, they can appear aligned with a “tribe” and become constrained by that perception. Ryan says he typically declines invitations to places such as the White House and other high-profile events for that reason.