The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table How Dangerous are Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson?
Jan 29, 2026
Jesse Arm, vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute and writer for major outlets, joins to discuss polling and focus-group work. They explore Gen Z Republicans' reactions to Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson. Conversations cover whether these figures are politically dangerous, strategies to counter extremism, and how AI and social media shape youth attitudes.
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Fuentes And Carlson Viewed As Entertainment
- Jesse Arm found Gen Z Republicans often view figures like Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson as entertainers rather than serious political leaders.
- Many Zoomers encountered these figures passively and sometimes dismissed their extremity as humor or performance.
A New, Contradictory GOP Cohort
- Arm's polling shows a new entrant cohort in the GOP is younger, more diverse, and more conspiratorial than core conservatives.
- This group is simultaneously more liberal on many social and economic issues yet attracted to conspiratorial media figures.
Cruel Medical Waiting Room Moment
- Dan Natterman told a personal story about agonizing medical waiting during a prenatal genetic test for his child.
- The doctor prolonged the technical explanation before finally saying the son was fine, which Dan called cruel.