The Moynihan Report Joshua Citarella on Gen Z, Political Memes, and Right Wing Counterculture | The Moynihan Report
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May 16, 2025 In this discussion, Joshua Citarella, an artist and host of the Doom Scroll Podcast, dives into the political dynamics of Gen Z and their engagement with radical memes. He highlights the shift towards right-wing counterculture and critiques the Democratic Party's strategies amidst evolving youth identities. The conversation also tackles the impact of neoliberalism on social structures and the complexities surrounding free speech on campuses. Citarella emphasizes the need for new frameworks to address the challenges posed by digital platforms and changing economic ideologies.
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Teen Radical Meme Debates
- Teenagers aged 12 to 17 engaged deeply with radical memes across political spectrums.
- A 12-year-old anarcho-capitalist debating a 13-year-old neoconservative illustrates this intense early politicization.
Gen Z Sensed Political Shift Early
- Gen Z noticed the failure of neoliberal permanence well before experts did.
- The 2016-2020 period expanded the Overton window left and right, signaling upheaval in global politics.
Media Is Progressive Neoliberal
- Progressive neoliberalism dominates media and elites, not the left as traditionally framed.
- This disconnect partly drives young people's countercultural attraction to right-wing ideologies online.
