Acton Line Stephanie Slade Is Chronicling the New Right
Dec 3, 2025
Stephanie Slade, senior editor at Reason magazine and a fellow at the Acton Institute, delves into the complexities of the New Right. She explores who constitutes this movement and contrasts it with traditional conservatism. The discussion highlights the New Right's confrontational rhetoric and its pursuit of state power. Slade also examines religious currents within the movement and the cultural grievances of its supporters, urging a return to foundational principles to effectively engage with modern conservatism.
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New Right's Break With Fusionism
- The New Right rejects fusionist conservatism and favors wielding state power as a tool against perceived enemies.
- This marks a major departure from the American tradition of limited government and persuasion through ideas.
'Long March' Grievance And Its Limits
- The New Right argues conservatives failed to stop the left's long march into institutions like universities and media.
- Slade agrees some critique is valid but warns the threat is often exaggerated to justify extreme measures.
Shared Sense Of Cultural Siege
- Many Trump voters share a near-universal sense that Christianity and traditional values are under cultural attack.
- Slade notes real legal pressures existed, but courts and alternatives often protected religious freedom.
