The Rachman Review Splits in the Maga movement
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Dec 4, 2025 
Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest and historian of the American right, delves into the fractures within the MAGA movement. He examines the fallout from Tucker Carlson’s controversial interviews and how extremist figures like Nick Fuentes are reshaping conservative politics. Heilbrunn also highlights a growing skepticism toward Israel among younger Republicans and discusses the political risks Trump faces regarding the Epstein files. He touches on the implications of these splits for the GOP's future and its ideological battles.
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Provocation Drives Audience And Narrative
- Tucker Carlson uses provocative guests to drive large audiences and push alternative narratives.
- Jacob Heilbrunn argues this strategy blends ratings motives with a broader America-first foreign-policy critique.
Heritage Rebuilt Around America First
- The Heritage Foundation reshaped under Kevin Roberts to align with Trump's America First agenda.
- Heilbrunn says Roberts purged Reagan-era internationalists and replaced them with Trump-aligned figures.
Explicit Extremism Breaks Plausible Deniability
- Nick Fuentes's explicit admiration of the Third Reich makes him toxic across mainstream conservatives.
- Heilbrunn notes Fuentes's comments (e.g., calling Holocaust victims 'cookies') preclude neutral framing.