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Quillette Podcast

The Scourge of the ‘Woke Right’

Mar 28, 2025
Join Andrew Doyle, an Irish-English satirist and author famed for his character Titania McGrath, as he dives into the rise of the 'woke right' and the chilling authoritarian vibes surfacing among conservatives. The discussion highlights the struggle for civil liberties in today's polarized landscape, critiques the disconnect between identity politics and working-class issues, and examines how both sides of the spectrum grapple with zealotry. Internet memes and their political symbolism also make an intriguing appearance in this thought-provoking conversation.
35:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast highlights how both left and right factions have developed authoritarian tendencies, undermining civil liberties across the political spectrum.
  • It stresses the urgent need to move beyond traditional political labels to address the current polarization centered around identity politics and group loyalty.

Deep dives

The Nature of Wokeness and Reactionary Ideologies

Wokeness is described as a form of anti-liberalism, existing across the political spectrum, not solely on the left. Both left and right factions exhibit authoritarian tendencies that impose their values on society, each veering into a mindset intolerant of dissent. This has led many, including those who consider themselves classical liberals, to feel trapped between these warring ideologies. The necessity to reassess traditional frameworks for political assessment is highlighted, suggesting a shift towards viewing issues as conflicts between liberty and authoritarianism instead.

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