

When the Right Went Woke
42 snips Mar 27, 2025
Thomas Chatterton Williams, a staff writer at The Atlantic and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, dives into the complexities of modern political identity and the rise of illiberalism on the right. He discusses the irony of wokeness morphing within conservative spaces and the psychological impacts of supporting controversial figures. With the upcoming book, "Summer of Our Discontent," he reflects on generational values, societal fragmentation, and the pressing need for discourse amidst today's political extremes.
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Cancel Culture Across the Spectrum
- America has a cancel culture problem from both the left and the right.
- They manifest differently, but the underlying human tribalism is the same.
The Shrinking Center
- Few consistently call out illiberalism within their own political tribe.
- Many who decried restrictions on speech readily use those tactics when convenient.
Gen X and Identity Politics
- Jonah Goldberg describes how Gen Xers in the 90s used their youth as an identity politics category for career advancement.
- They claimed to understand the youth and leveraged boomer anxieties about demographics.