The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg Intellectuals of the New Right | Interview: Laura Field
Dec 29, 2025
Laura Field, a political theorist and author of 'Furious Minds,' dives into the intellectual currents behind the New Right. She discusses her academic background with Leo Strauss and how it laid the groundwork for her insights on Trumpism. The conversation covers the classification of the New Right into groups like Claremont and NatCons. Laura explores the appeal of extremist rhetoric and the reaction to civic education decline. They debate the messy interplay of ideas and ambition in radical movements, while also critiquing post-liberalism's desire for consensus.
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Book Frames Trumpism's Intellectual Origins
- Laura K. Field frames her book as an explainer of the intellectuals behind Trumpism from 2016–2024.
- She aims to show both the appeal and the radicalism of that intellectual superstructure.
Personal Straussian Intellectual Path
- Laura K. Field recounts falling for Straussian political philosophy during undergrad in Edmonton.
- She later pursued a PhD and became disenchanted but remained fascinated by the pedagogy and texts.
Strauss's Pedagogy, Not A Political Playbook
- Leo Strauss popularized close reading of classical texts and esoteric pedagogy, not a modern political program.
- Straussianism trained generations to ask big political questions, which later influenced varied political projects.