Venezuela, Greenland, Minnesota: The Monarchical Theory That Explains Everything

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Jan 12, 2026

Explore the concept of neo-royalism, a framework that explains the chaotic and cruel actions of the Trump administration. Discover how loyalty to a sovereign leader replaces democracy, with political and economic elites enforcing this hierarchy. The discussion links Christian nationalism to a desire for a pre-democratic world, while illustrating how power networks benefit from extracting resources. Witness how the regime justifies cruelty and dismantles institutions that limit authority. Delve into the unsettling rhetoric surrounding leadership that demands a singular savior.

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INSIGHT

Neo-Royalism Reframes Trumpism

Neo-royalism reframes Trumpism as loyalty to a sovereign rather than democratic governance.
Brad Onishi links this to a deeper push to replace liberal democracy with hierarchical monarchy-like rule.

INSIGHT

Extraction Over Public Good

Neo-royalism aims to extract financial and cultural tributes rather than advance public welfare.
Onishi says the regime prizes renaming institutions and routing resources to the sovereign's clique.

INSIGHT

Sovereignty Seen As Submission

Neo-royalism rejects Westphalian legal sovereignty and treats other states as potential vassals.
Onishi explains Trump's behavior toward allies reflects seeking personal deals and submission rather than legal recognition.

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In this episode of Straight White American, Jesus, Brad Onishi kicks off 2026 by unpacking a new framework that helps make sense of the escalating cruelty, chaos, and seemingly self-destructive moves of the Trump administration—from ICE violence in Minnesota to threats against Greenland and Venezuela. Drawing on a recent paper by scholars Stacey Goddard and Abraham Newman, Brad introduces “neo-royalism”: a vision of power that rejects democracy in favor of loyalty to a sovereign, enforced by political, economic, and military elites. This theory, Brad argues, clarifies Trumpism as a project of extraction, hierarchy, and domination rather than governance, and mirrors the core argument of his forthcoming book, American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords Are Turning America into a Monarchy.

Brad shows how neo-royalism operates both abroad—through tariffs, territorial threats, and deal-making with other strongmen—and at home, where protection, funding, and even basic rights are treated as rewards for loyalty to the king. He connects this logic to Christian nationalism’s shift from nostalgia for the 1950s to a far older vision rooted in monarchy, divine right, and exclusion, where cruelty is justified and institutions are dismantled because they limit absolute power. The episode closes with updates on the show’s expanded 2026 plans, including new long-form Sunday interviews and the launch of Reign of Error with Sarah Posner, plus an invitation to subscribers to dive deeper into how neo-royalism, Christian nationalism, and authoritarian politics are reshaping the American experiment.

Goddard and Newman, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-organization/article/further-back-to-the-future-neoroyalism-the-trump-administration-and-the-emerging-international-system/ABB12906CA345BBCA5049B544363D391

Reign of Error: https://redcircle.com/shows/fbed712f-0027-40af-a33b-fd9de05efc5chttps://redcircle.com/shows/fbed712f-0027-40af-a33b-fd9de05efc5c

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