Ms. Rachel Expands Children's Media Empire While Donating Thousands to Progressive Candidates
Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, has built a multimillion-dollar children's entertainment brand spanning YouTube, Netflix, books, and toys, while federal records show she has donated over $22,000 to Democratic and progressive candidates since 2024.
Rachel Accurso, the former preschool teacher whose sing-along videos have made her a household name among parents of toddlers, has quietly built one of the most commercially significant children's media brands in the United States — and, according to federal records, has simultaneously become a significant donor to Democratic and progressive political candidates.
Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, has donated roughly $22,500 to various Democratic and progressive candidates since 2024, federal records show. Her political giving has coincided with the expansion of her toddler-focused brand into Netflix, Penguin Random House, and the toy aisles of Target and Amazon.
Accurso launched her YouTube channel in 2019 after struggling to find media resources for her son, who had a speech delay as a toddler. Her channel surged in popularity, leading to the creation of «Songs for Littles,» a recurring series in which she performs a mix of classic and original children's songs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She now has more than 21 million YouTube subscribers.
Her rise has made her one of the most commercially significant figures in American children's media. She has secured deals with Netflix, Penguin Random House Books, and Spin Master Toys. Earlier this year, Spin Master debuted a line of toys in collaboration with Accurso, placing her brand on the shelves of big-box stores such as Target and Amazon.
James Zahn, editor-in-chief of «The Toy Book,» told Fox News Digital that Accurso has become a fixture alongside other big preschool brands like Sesame Street, Bluey, or Cocomelon. «For families that have 'littles,' as she would say, she's a part of daily life at this point,» he said.
Zahn noted that in the years leading up to the announcement of her toy deal with Spin Master, there was a bidding war among toy and game makers. «So toy and game makers knew that she was a personality with a ton of reach that was worth talking to,» he said. He recalled seeing Accurso at Toy Fair New York taking meetings, and the industry question became: who is going to get the Ms. Rachel toys?
Her reach has also spread into mainstream and print media. She landed a partnership with Netflix in 2025 and with Penguin Random House in 2024. Zahn said the Netflix deal brings her show to kids who may not otherwise have access to it, since not every family allows their kids to operate on YouTube.
David Kleeman, senior vice president of global trends for Dubit, told Fox News Digital that today's children want to be part of the media they consume. «They want to play with it. They want to act it out. They want to wear the clothing,» he said. Kleeman emphasized the need for the individual behind the brand to maintain a level of trust with parents.
However, Accurso's public politics have made her children's education brand synonymous with hot-button political issues, including the Israel-Hamas war and tensions surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She has drawn scrutiny for her positions on racial issues and various Trump administration immigration policies.
In 2024, the day after then-President Joe Biden dropped out of the election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Accurso donated $250 to the Harris Victory Fund, according to federal records. She has also made headlines for urging «every wealthy white celebrity» to match Macklemore's donation to Palestinian causes, and for claiming that celebrities silent on Gaza would «probably» speak if the children «were white.»
Her activism has sparked pushback from some parents and advocacy groups. Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice warned parents about Ms. Rachel's political activism, saying she is «not Mr. Rogers.» Karol Markowicz, a columnist, wrote that Ms. Rachel said, «I am political,» and parents should take her at her word.
Despite the political controversy, Accurso's brand continues to expand. Her multi-pronged licensing approach marks a significant shift in children's entertainment, in which influencers reign in spaces traditionally reserved for mainstream media. As her persona reaches into every aspect of a child's life — from the shows they watch to the toys they play with — the debate over the separation of children's entertainment and political activism is likely to continue.
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