The MAGA movement was once an insurgency within the Republican Party. Now, it is the party. But more than just a political takeover; this shift is the result of the consolidation of a movement defined by hostility toward its opponents and a vision of America based on a largely imagined past. Its intellectual and political leaders have a clear, authoritarian blueprint for reshaping the country.

In this episode, The UnPopulist's senior editor Berny Belvedere is joined by journalist Jason Wilson, who recently covered the fifth National Conservatism conference for The Guardian.

Through the lens of the conference, they map the entire MAGA ecosystem—from committed Trump loyalists to the ideologues pushing Christian Nationalism and other anti-democratic visions.

A transcript of today’s podcast appears below. It has been edited for flow and clarity.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2025

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