The Tom Woods Show Ep. 2718 Robert Barnes on the Mistakes of the Israel Lobby, and Whether MAGA Can Be Put Back Together
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Dec 18, 2025 Join constitutional lawyer Robert Barnes as he unpacks the pitfalls of the Israel Lobby and its impact on MAGA's cohesion. He delves into Trump's initial year, expressing frustration at political decisions that alienated core supporters. Barnes highlights shifting U.S. public opinion on Israel and critiques recent foreign policy decisions that contradict MAGA's promises. He also offers insights on the evolving dynamics of younger voters in the coalition and shares thoughts on how Trump can regain momentum ahead of the midterms.
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Unique 2024 Coalition Needed Delivery
- Robert Barnes argues Trump's 2024 coalition combined OG MAGA with younger, diverse, and libertarian voters creating a fragile realigning coalition.
- That coalition required policy follow-through, not just marketing, to hold together once in power.
Donors Replaced Voters As Priority
- Barnes says the administration shifted in May toward donor-driven choices that undermined MAGA priorities like auditing the Fed and deconstructing the administrative state.
- That reversal burned bridges with libertarian and antiwar wings without adding replacement voters.
Israel Lobby Shifted Administration Hiring
- Barnes describes an internal purge where pro-Israel donors and influencers pushed out MAGA-aligned skeptics across the administration.
- That action helped fracture the MAGA coalition by making Israel-first priorities dominant over the coalition deal.