Far Right Stars Are Bemoaning the Chaos They Created
6/24/202623 min
Top voices on the far right are currently facing the consequences of their own actions. Ben Shapiro is complaining about the rise of a podcaster he made a star; Joe Rogan is upset about the spread of conspiracy theories; and Christopher Rufo is complaining about bigotry in the Republican party. This week, Micah talks to Vox Senior Correspondent Zack Beauchamp about what he calls the 'hot dog men' of the right, and what the phenomenon signals about the future of the Republican party.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMicah Loewinger· Host0:00
[gentle music] Hey, you're listening to the On the Media Midweek Podcast. I'm Micah Loewinger. In advance of the midterms this fall, the man who once spoke nightly to the MAGA establishment on the movement's favorite TV channel says he's done with the GOP.
Tucker Carlson· Soundbite0:14
I would not support the Republican Party. There's no chance I would support the Republican Party. Not gonna support the Democratic Party. I don't know what I'm gonna do.
Micah Loewinger· Host0:21
This is Tucker Carlson speaking on a right-wing podcast last week, citing frustrations over Donald Trump's handling of the economy, his war in Iran, and support of Israel.
Tucker Carlson· Soundbite0:32
You know, how could you support, how could I or any American voter support a political party that's not loyal to the United States, that puts the interest of a foreign country above those of its own citizens?
Micah Loewinger· Host0:42
Carlson's apparent pivot echoes the move by white supremacist podcaster Nick Fuentes, who has also disavowed the administration for similar reasons. But their turn away from the president and the party is just one form of growing discontent in the right-wing podcast circuit. In a recent piece titled The MAGA Stars Freaked Out by Their Own Movement, Vox senior correspondent Zach Beauchamp described a crop of conservative personalities who now fear that their base has grown too bigoted and too conspiratorial. According to Beauchamp, their disgust with MAGA's transgressions is ironic because they helped create the party as it is today. Zach, welcome back to OTM.
Zach Beauchamp· Guest1:25
Hey, hey, I'm always happy to be back.
Micah Loewinger· Host1:27
So you have a thesis