Debra Lea was a few blocks away from the Washington Hilton when she heard that the suspected gunman was dead. She didn’t think twice before posting the information on X, with a selfie she’d taken earlier in the day. “Shooter at WH correspondence [sic] dinner,” the 25-year-old conservative influencer and political commentator wrote in her post, including a red siren emoji to indicate breaking news. “The shooter is dead. Thank you secret service.” In the selfie, she was making a kissy face. The backlash was immediate. Lea inadvertently became the face of the capital’s influencer takeover, a new-media shift that…
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