Reading Hannah Arendt with Roger Berkowitz

Unpacking Trump's Revolution with Roger Berkowitz | Bonus Episode

Sep 5, 2025
The discussion dives into the revolutionary nature of Trumpism, suggesting it's not merely conservative but an attack on the liberal bureaucratic order. Berkowitz connects Trump's movement to Stalinist and Maoist principles, emphasizing violence and rule-breaking as tactics without clear objectives. He outlines the diverse coalition supporting Trump—ranging from religious factions to anti-bureaucratic elites. The conversation raises critical questions about democracy, political trust, and the evolving class struggle against liberal elitism.
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INSIGHT

Trumpism As A Revolution

  • Roger Berkowitz argues Trump's movement is revolutionary rather than conservative or isolationist.
  • It seeks to dismantle a liberal, bureaucratic, intellectual order rather than preserve traditional institutions.
ANECDOTE

Buckley’s Cultural Revolution

  • Berkowitz recounts William Buckley's role in shaping conservative cultural warfare through the National Review.
  • He links Buckley's style and anti-bureaucratic stance to the roots of Trump's movement.
INSIGHT

Means Become The Message

  • Berkowitz cites Hannah Arendt to show a pivotal inversion: means become the doctrine, not the ends.
  • Trumpian politics valorize breaking rules and power as ends in themselves, not as means to a new legitimate order.
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