534 | Jon Askonas: The Rise of the Tech Right - Smartphones, Porn, DOGE vs. USAID, and the New Trump Coalition
Feb 4, 2025
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Jon Askonas, a Senior Fellow at FAI and Assistant Professor, dives into the evolving intersection of the right and technology. Highlights include the impact of smartphones on the youth and how emerging tech like AI and AR is redefining conservative values. The discussion shifts to age verification in pornography and how social conservatism is adjusting its strategies. As a new conservative coalition forms, Askonas explores its implications for U.S. politics, especially in light of the MAGA movement and the tech right's influence on future elections.
The episode explores the dynamic relationships among different factions of the American right, emphasizing their impact on Trump's political future and coalition-building.
Parental choice regarding children's smartphone access is challenged by social pressures, indicating a need for public policy solutions that support healthy tech engagement.
The anticipated shift from smartphones to advanced technologies like AR and VR necessitates forward-thinking policies that align with family values and societal benefits.
Deep dives
The State of the American Right and Technology
The episode discusses the evolving relationship between the American right and the tech industry, particularly highlighting the different factions within the right, such as the MAGA wing, traditional social conservatives, and the tech right represented by figures like Elon Musk. This coalition's dynamics will be crucial in determining the success of Trump's second presidency and the future of political alignment for upcoming elections. The conversation acknowledges the challenges of uniting these factions under a coherent agenda, particularly as technology continues to evolve rapidly. Understanding how these factions interact will be key to navigating the complexities of American politics in the 21st century.
Parenting and Technology: A Collective Action Problem
The discussion highlights the emerging consensus among conservatives regarding the implications of unrestricted internet access for teenagers, particularly related to smartphones in schools. The speakers emphasize that parental choice is limited by social pressures, creating a collective action problem where the interests of parents and children do not align. They propose that public policy interventions could help mitigate these issues by regulating access to technology that negatively impacts children's development. Solutions such as age restrictions, alongside a re-evaluation of the technology landscape, are seen as essential for fostering a healthy environment for future generations.
Trends in Technology and Future Interactions
The conversation addresses the rapid evolution away from smartphones as the primary mode of internet access, anticipating a shift towards more advanced technologies such as AR, VR, and smart wearables in the near future. Experts suggest that this transition will change how children and adults interact with technology, providing more user-friendly and less intrusive options. The speakers emphasize the importance of forward-thinking policies that do not merely react to current trends but instead anticipate future developments. Embracing these innovations while maintaining core family values is seen as a key to fostering technological advancements that benefit society.
The Bipartisan Recognition of Technology's Impact
There is a growing bipartisan acknowledgment of the challenges posed by current technological advances, especially for children and families. The discussion references Jonathan Haidt's book, which argues that technology has detrimental effects on youth mental health, generating debates across political lines. While traditional conservative positions often come off as reactionary, the speakers argue it's crucial for conservatives to develop coherent viewpoints that can guide future technology engagement. By embracing thoughtful and principled technology policies, conservatism can evolve and respond constructively to these challenges.
Tensions Within the New Fusionist Coalition
The episode discusses the emerging fusionist coalition of the new right, which includes technologists, social conservatives, and health activists, highlighting the inherent tensions among these groups. This is exemplified by differing attitudes towards lab-grown meat and other technological innovations that clash with traditional conservative values. The speakers express the need for clear boundaries within this coalition to articulate what technologies can serve the interests of families and communities effectively. By navigating these complex ideological divides, the coalition can work towards a cohesive political strategy that reflects the diverse perspectives within the modern American right.
Jon Askonas, FAI Senior Fellow & Assistant Professor, joins The Realignment. Jon and Marshall discuss the right's new technology agenda, the relationship between the family and technology, President Trump's MAGA, MAHA, Tech Right, and conservative coalition, DOGE vs. USAID, and the impact of Silicon Valley's rightward turn on the conservative movement.
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