Bulwark Takes LIVE: JVL & Heather Cox Richardson SHRED the GOP’s Fake “Conservatism”
Sep 18, 2025
Heather Cox Richardson, a Boston College history professor and political analyst, joins JVL to dissect the transformation of conservatism in America. They explore the evolution from post-New Deal conservatism to today's MAGA movement, highlighting its authoritarian shift and impact on democratic institutions. The conversation touches on the roles of race and sexism in polarization and environment for change while discussing potential pathways to restore democratic norms amidst a fragmented media landscape. Historical insights paired with contemporary analysis create a thought-provoking dialogue.
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Lost In Maine Before GPS
- Heather shares getting lost in Maine following local directions referencing a tractor and a person in a white cape.
- She uses the story to illustrate the relief GPS later provided.
Conservatism As Stability Preserver
- Burke argued government should promote stability rather than impose ideology on people.
- Heather Cox Richardson says true conservatism values institutions that preserve social stability and evolve based on what works.
Movement Conservatism Versus Post‑New Deal Order
- Movement conservatives sought to roll back New Deal reforms and shrink government involvement in welfare and regulation.
- Richardson calls that faction a radical attempt to dismantle the post-New Deal conservative settlement.
