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Know Your Enemy

The Inconclusive Mr. Buckley [Teaser]

May 5, 2024
Matt Sitman, along with a group of former guests, discusses the PBS documentary on William F. Buckley Jr. They question the portrayal of Buckley, the conservative movement, and its relation to Trump. The conversation delves into the challenges of understanding historical figures in modern contexts.
02:33

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Understanding Buckley's potential reaction to Trump requires a nuanced approach balancing past principles with present judgment.
  • Critiquing conservative responses to Trump reveals a tension between political principles and self-interest within the movement.

Deep dives

Variety of Opinions on Predicting Buckley's Response to Trump

The podcast delves into the complexity of predicting how William F. Buckley Jr. would have reacted to Trump. Some argue that his past body of work, consisting of books and TV appearances, holds the key to understanding his possible stance. However, others challenge this notion, highlighting that reacting to specific cases like Trump requires judgment rather than relying solely on overarching principles. The discussion reveals differing viewpoints on whether Buckley's supposed principles would have aligned with or opposed Trump's actions.

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