From Hungary to the Pope, the Right’s Very Bad Week
4/18/202636 min
Despite Vice President JD Vance’s best efforts, Hungary ousted the illiberal authoritarian Viktor Orban this week. As the columnist David French argues, Orbanism was “intellectual Trumpism,” and the prime minister’s defeat could signal trouble for the MAGA movement in the United States. In this episode, French discusses what Orban’s demise means for Trump with the columnist Michelle Goldberg, who just got back from Hungary, and the national politics writer Michelle Cottle.
Thoughts? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com.
This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur and Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Alison Bruzek and Kaari Pitkin. Mixing by Daniel Ramirez. Video editing by Julian Hackney. The postproduction manager is Mike Puretz. Original music by Pat McCusker and Sonia Herrero. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. The director of Opinion Video is Jonah M. Kessel. The deputy director of Opinion Shows is Alison Bruzek. The director of Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
I gave my brother a New York Times subscription.
David French· Guest0:03
We exchange articles.
Michelle Goldberg· Guest0:05
And so having read the same article, we can discuss it.
Speaker 00:07
She sent me a year-long subscription so I have access to all the games. The New York Times contributes to our quality time together.
David French· Guest0:14
It enriches our relationship.
Speaker 00:16
It was such a, a cool and thoughtful gift. We're reading the same stuff, we're making the same food, we're on the same page.
Speaker 30:24
Learn more about giving a New York Times subscription as a gift at nytimes.com/gift. [upbeat music] This is The Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times Opinion. You've heard the news, here's what to make of it.
Michelle Cottle· Host0:40
[upbeat music] I'm Michelle Cottle. I cover national politics for New York Times Opinion, and this week I am here with two of my fantastic colleagues, columnist David French and the other Michelle, Michelle [laughs] Goldberg. Guys, thanks for being here.
David French· Guest1:03
Michelle, Michelle, [laughs] great to be with y'all.
Michelle Goldberg· Guest1:06
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Michelle Cottle· Host1:08
We're gonna test David's ability to pivot between the Michelles today. Today, we're gonna talk about the defeat of a MAGA favorite, Viktor Orbán, in Hungary, and we gotta talk about the pope. So there's a lot to cover. Let's get into it. First up, the Hungarian election, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz Party