U.S. Vice President JD Vance has waded into streaming drama. During a podcast appearance now making rounds online, Vance directly referenced Hasan Piker and the ongoing controversy over an electronic training collar used on his dog.
The relevant clip shows Vance explicitly naming the Twitch political commentator and discussing K-911, also known as Dogtober 7th, or Collargate. He argues that how someone treats animals reveals their character more broadly.
“If you cause suffering in innocent animals, you’re probably the kind of person that doesn’t care about suffering in people as well,” Vance said, according to listeners who shared the segment. The full exchange appears at approximately 6:30 in a YouTube podcast recording.
The remarks mark a rare moment where a sitting vice president has commented on a Twitch-related controversy by name. Vance used the example to make a wider point about empathy and moral character.
Collargate controversy centers on clips from Hasan’s streams where his dog Kaya appears wearing an electronic collar. Critics claim the device was used to deliver shocks. Hasan has pushed back on this characterization, previously describing the collar’s functions in terms of tone and vibration modes rather than static correction.
Vance’s background includes strong online fluency, which likely informs his awareness of streaming controversies. He’s demonstrated comfort with internet culture throughout his political career.
The comment comes amid a broader pattern of streaming figures entering mainstream political discourse. Hasan has been referenced multiple times during the New York City mayoral race, and now the nation’s second-highest official is discussing his pet training methods on a podcast.
@hasandpiker Cuomo mentioned me during the NYC debate to attack Zohran Mamdani #hasanabi #zohranmamdani #cuomo w/ guest @Gianmarco Soresi ♬ original sound – hasanabi
This shows how internet-native controversies can become talking points for senior U.S. officials. What started as drama within the streaming community has become material for vice presidential commentary.
