Jonah Goldberg on the 'Woke Right' and Rising Illiberalism in US Politics

The Rise of the 'Woke Right'

• 🎯 The term 'woke right' describes an ideological shift on the American right, characterized by internal fights and the platforming of controversial figures.
• 💡 This phenomenon was highlighted by Tucker Carlson's interview with Nick Fuentes, a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi, racist, and misogynist.
• 🗣️ The core debate on the right has become whether individuals like neo-Nazis and racists should be accepted within the broader conservative movement.

Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes

• 📺 Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, has increasingly platformed individuals with anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Semitic views.
• 🎤 His interview with Nick Fuentes, who openly associates with 'Team Hitler,' is cited as a prime example of this trend.
• 💥 This interview sparked significant controversy and debate within conservative institutions.

JD Vance's Stance and Political Strategy

• 🤝 JD Vance is seen as indebted to Tucker Carlson, who reportedly lobbied for his vice-presidential selection.
• 🧠 Vance appears to believe that alienated young men, popular with figures like Fuentes and Carlson, form a core constituency for the Republican party.
• ⚠️ Vance's silence on the Fuentes controversy, despite Fuentes's racist attacks on Vance's wife, is noted, while he defends other Republicans who make controversial jokes.

Anti-Israel Sentiment and Anti-Semitism

• 🌍 There is a growing anti-Israel sentiment on both the left and the right in the US, though it is more prevalent among Democrats.
• 🧐 Tucker Carlson is described as having a classical isolationist foreign policy view, but the discussion questions whether his actions also cross into anti-Semitism.
• ✡️ Goldberg argues that Carlson's platforming of Nazis and use of coded language, such as the 'hummus' comment at Charlie Kirk's eulogy, indicates he is playing with both anti-Israel sentiment and anti-Semitism.

The Threat of Illiberalism

• ⚖️ Both the 'woke right' and the 'woke left' are characterized as illiberal, prioritizing team power over foundational notions of individual liberty and state protections.
• 🎭 While their specific grievances may differ, their techniques and goals can be remarkably similar, posing an equal threat to Western civilization.
• 🌐 The trend towards illiberalism is also observed in the British online right, suggesting a broader international concern.