Are we losing the plot?
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For the past two and a half months, America has entered a once unthinkable simultaneous descent into political extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. Some in my audience may find this statement perplexing for a myriad of reasons so some recounting of history is in order.
From about 2015 and the rise of Trump, the American Left had started escalating extreme narratives on a whole series of issues including but not limited to, immigration, gender policy and ideology, race affairs, foreign, and youth affairs. On the surface, one could attribute most of this rhetoric as a response to Trump and some of his illy-worded comments during his 2016 campaign, and there is merit here. However, the real reason is obscure at best. It is also important to know that the Left’s most powerful weapon, the Universities and Academia, were being infiltrated by terrorist organizations by as early as 1993 (October 8th, US v. HLF CR-240-G). In addition to this, various Leftist politicians like Rashida Talib (D-MI) have adopted an overtly extremist ideology. Notice I used the term ‘Leftist’, not Democrat, this is important. In the past 10 years, the Democrats have splintered, it is unclear as to what led to this splintering. Some say the Trump 2016 presidential victory, but it's more likely that this was a gradual process. Whatever the cause, Leftists now exist alongside their more moderate Democrat cousins so it’s important to pin down the ideology of Leftism, yet this proves overwhelmingly difficult. Many leftist organizations may say they espouse one thing and in reality support other things, so it's actually helpful to look into the actions of those that call themselves ‘Leftist’, and not what they say. The newly elected New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is an interesting case study, if anything he represents one of a myriad of permutations of a Leftist. Mamdani’s father, Mamhood Mamdani, was a professor at Columbia University, had routinely called for the destruction of the State of Israel, and was an active supporter of BDS initiatives and pro-palestinian encampents(Canary Mission). Zohran Mamdani had followed in his father’s footsteps and co-founded a cell of Students for Justice in Palestine(SJP) at Bowdoin College in 2013(NY Post) and has routinely openly supported Hamas, justified the October 7th Attacks, and spread hatred against Israel and law enforcement(Canary Mission). It is also important to note that Zohran is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Modern Communist Party of America; high profile members include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(AOC) and Rashida Tlaib. Based on this, one could deduct that the Leftist Ideology is a hot mix of all sorts of interesting beliefs including but not limited to neo-Marxism, antisemitism, antizionism/pro-palestinianism, LGBT issues, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and multiculturalism. What’s interesting to note is that all these issues have NO COMMON GROUND. For example, one cannot logically be for a multicultural society and back up LGBT issues while supporting antisemetic policies, and pro-palestinain terrorism. Anyone trying to research this with a sound mind could find themselves confused, it is dizzying how confusing the extreme left is. That’s the descent of the Left, now I must recount the descent of the Right.
Compared to the Left, the descent of the American Right is relatively recent and much easier to pin down accurately. There are three major dates one must keep in mind when discussing the splintering of the American Right, January 6th 2021, October 7th 2023, and September 10th 2025.
In November of 2020, it became clear that Trump had lost his 2021 bid for the US Presidency. Disgruntled, Trump started making a myriad of false claims, claiming voter fraud, and missing ballots to name a few. Trump made an address, on January 6th, in a rally in front of the White House with potentially problematic language. In essence, Trump initially was urging for a gathering at the Capitol, protesting the election result. Having a sitting president contest the election results of a presidential election and calling for a protest was unprecedented at the time, most republicans in power were confused and frankly furious. After the rally, a crowd had started to gather at the Capitol, and extremists had taken Trump’s address to be a call for violence. These extremists started inciting a riot and began storming the Capitol. In the process, vandalising the building and infiltrating into the House chambers, forcing a pause in election proceedings. At the same time, these extremists were calling for the death of then-Vice President Mike Pence. Trump did not help things by sending tweets criticizing Pence for ‘inaction’. Then-Vice President Pence stood firm on his stance and along with his congressional colleagues, hastily certified the 2020 Election results hours after the rioters were dispersed and arrested. Please note, dear reader, that if you wish to research any of what had happened on January 6th, some of the news articles published at the time were unclear, and biased at best and at worst, downright doctored. So please use primary sources when possible.
Jan 6th 2021 will be the first major splintering of the American Right, the resulting factions can be best described by the actions taken by various players during the entire commotion. Mike Pence and a plurality of congressional Republicans would inadvertently become a faction of what one could call Constitutional Conservatives. Mike Pence, despite pressure, criticism, and death threats, performed his Constitutional Duty in certifying the election results regardless of what they were. Pence knew what the Constitution demanded of him, and he did it to the best of his ability. The extremists that incited the riots were a mixed bag of Neo-Nazis, Nationalist extremists, Isolationists, White Supremacists and Neo-Confederates. It is clear that most of these groups represent the most fringe and extreme of the American Right, and their actions speak for themselves. The last group to discuss, are everybody else, those that weren’t constitutional conservatives or extremists, a vast number of the right. Most conservatives were, well, just that, conservatives. Disgruntled at the election results, had varying opinions on Trump’s handling of the results and got on with their lives after the election certification. It is important to note that a vast majority of Constitutional Conservatives will rejoin the mainstream moderate conservative faction of the Republican Party. It is also important to note that a decent number of Constitutional Conservatives were Bush-era Neo-Conservatives. In summary, the American Right within 2 years of January 6th 2021, split into three factions, Constitutional Conservatives, Extreme Isolationist Nationalists, and Disgruntled Conservatives, with Constitutional Conservatives and Disgruntled Conservatives regrouping to form a Moderate Bloc within the American Right. It is important to note that anchoring figures like Charlie Kirk were key in this regrouping and rebuilding a base for Trump’s 2024 Campaign.
October 7th 2023, would mark a horrid day for Israel and Jews around the world. It marked the beginning of the worst explosion of antisemitism globally since the Holocaust. Campuses across the country became rally grounds for terrorism, no different to the old Nazi rally grounds of Nuremberg. What’s important to note was the near-instant splintering of the American Right on the issue of supporting Israel. On one side are Moderate Conservatives, who support Israel and American assistance and observation of the current conflict. On the other side, are the Isolationists, who, for a myriad of reasons, believe since the current conflict is an American issue, we need to be ‘America First’ and not do a thing about it. On the surface, this is absurd, Israel is the birthplace of the Judeo-Christian values that conservatives celebrate and hold dear. In addition, it's the only major democracy in the Middle East, a major technological, military, and intelligence partner of the United States, and much more. All of these traits offer a net positive to the United States, economically, technologically, and militarily, shouldn’t all conservatives be happy about this? There are a series of reasons as to why the Moderates and the Isolationists take the stances they take. For the Moderates, support for Israel means a support for American national security and counterterrorism, technological progress, and a safeguarding of Judeo-Christian Values. As a side-note, most Moderate Conservatives on university campuses who support Israel(Yes we exist!), do so for much more personal reasons. For the Isolationists, it is important to note that antisemitism is often central to their reasons to be against Israel. Some have duped themselves into believing antisemitic conspiracy theories, thinking that Jews already ‘control America’ (spoiler, NOT TRUE). Some believe that America should think for itself and only itself, and that given that this Oct 7th War is not an American issue, America should ignore this. This is actually dangerous for a series of reasons, including but not limited to the fact that America’s position on the Global Stage could be threatened and that non-participation emboldens terrorist organizations to attack America and her Allies. The last major reason is a genuine desire for America to focus on itself before intervening in global issues, it is important to note that folks that espouse this desire may not actually be antisemitic, especially since they also complain about the Ukraine Conflict and other conflicts America embroiled itself in, whereas those who espouse the previous two opinions are thoroughly antisemitic. In summary, Oct 7th 2023, caused a splintering of the American Right that resulted into two groups, Moderate Conservatives and a group of Isolationists. It is important to note that the Isolationists will find weird friends with their Neo-Nazi, extreme nationalist friends from January 6th 2021. It is also important to note that the Moderate Conservatives of 2023 are not a monolith, they were still a mixed bag of Constitutional Conservatives, Moderate Conservatives, and Neo-Conservatives. It will take one more tragedy, one much closer to home, to crystallise this bloc.
On September 10th 2025, Charlie Kirk arrived at Utah Valley University to kick off his America Comeback Tour. Within minutes of the event starting, a shot rang out from the rooftop of a campus building, Charlie Kirk would die of his wounds within an hour of being shot. Charlie Kirk was survived by his wife, Erika Kirk, his two children, and the organization that is now his legacy, Turning Point USA (TPUSA). Charlie Kirk’s death sent shockwaves throughout the American Right and especially the youth. Charlie Kirk had an immeasurable impact and presence on conservative youth in America. Kirk was also an anchoring force in the American Right, modeling to many that one could stay strong in their values and engage with the opposition. Kirk’s debating manner, presence with the youth, and impact on general politics, is not something we’ll see in a while. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, there was a genuine unity amongst Moderate Conservatives, especially up till the memorial service held in Arizona by TPUSA in honor of Kirk. However, not long after this painfully beautiful moment of unity and grief, the power vacuum left behind by Charlie Kirk’s assaination, began attracting extremists like steel to a magnet. Most notably, raging antisemite Nick Fuentes has seemed to have gained massive traction in wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, which doesn’t bode well for the American Right. Fuentes more or less has been taking what most conservatives hold dear, then perverting them into unrecognizable extremist views. At least that is what he has been doing recently. Before Charlie Kirk’s death, Fuentes routinely criticized Kirk for being too moderate and had involved himself in various white-supremisist organizations. It is important to note that Fuentes is not the only extremist that has gained popularity, but definitely the most notable. In the wake of Kirk’s death, it is likely that a few of Kirk’s former followers, being traumatized and enraged, may have been attracted to Fuentes’s version of extreme conservatism. Especially after years of the extreme left calling Moderate Conservatives as extremists, racists, and a whole series of other slurs, and with the identity of Charlie Kirk’s killer being an ardent leftist Tyler Robinson, some believe that the time for conversation had long passed and bought into Fuentes’s extremism. In the meantime, Erika Kirk, TPUSA, had grown exponentially in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death. With some sources stating that as many as 38,000 TPUSA chapters had applied for endorsement in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death (Fox News). To sum up, extremists left within the mainstream conservative bloc splintered off to join their extremist nationalist friends on the fringes of the American Right. The Moderate Conservatives, spearheaded by TPUSA, ended up growing in huge numbers, with Charlie Kirk’s ideology of debating with principle having inspired many dormant actors, with Kirk’s assaination lighting a spark within these people to rightfully stand up and speak up, this is one facet of what has become known as the ‘Charlie Kirk Effect’.
What can we make up of this? One thing is clear. The descent we’re seeing on both sides of the political spectrum in the United States is not new, but has been brewing for some time. Although I had only covered a time frame from 2015-2025, it is important to note that the last time the United States political scene plummeted into chaos and extremism in such a rapid fashion was the time period between the Compromise of 1850 and the rise of popular sovereignty, and the American Civil War, a period between 1850-1861. Only eleven years. So one could argue I am being a bit generous for using a ten year timeframe. However, the real question some readers may be asking is how we move forward from this. The thing is, it is too early to figure out as to what is the best course of action, however there are some good guesses, and I personally have a few. The Moderate Conservatives have suffered a great loss through the assassination of Charlie Kirk, however the many, many people Kirk inspired give Moderate Conservatives a fighting chance at survival, unlike other power vacuums of the past two centuries. Could this rise in extremism be curbed? It's plausible. However we must learn from the mistakes of our history should we want to ensure this extremism doesn’t reach criticality. It’ll take moderates from both sides of the aisle to set aside their differences and form a united bloc to deter extremist actors. With all this mess going on, how does one determine a moderate versus an extremist. There are several, but they all boil down to this. If one believes is the only side that is correct, then there lies an extremist. If one understands that their side has faults when the opposition points it out, and takes it as a learning opportunity, they’re most likely a moderate. Most importantly of all, watch for the actions of those and familiarize yourself with geopolitical history. For actions speak much louder than words. One can talk like a moderate but if they act like an extremist and incite violence, they’re still an extremist. One can also talk like an extremist but if, when it counts, they set up a table and are willing to have a civil discussion, they are almost certainly a moderate.
From about 2015 and the rise of Trump, the American Left had started escalating extreme narratives on a whole series of issues including but not limited to, immigration, gender policy and ideology, race affairs, foreign, and youth affairs. On the surface, one could attribute most of this rhetoric as a response to Trump and some of his illy-worded comments during his 2016 campaign, and there is merit here. However, the real reason is obscure at best. It is also important to know that the Left’s most powerful weapon, the Universities and Academia, were being infiltrated by terrorist organizations by as early as 1993 (October 8th, US v. HLF CR-240-G). In addition to this, various Leftist politicians like Rashida Talib (D-MI) have adopted an overtly extremist ideology. Notice I used the term ‘Leftist’, not Democrat, this is important. In the past 10 years, the Democrats have splintered, it is unclear as to what led to this splintering. Some say the Trump 2016 presidential victory, but it's more likely that this was a gradual process. Whatever the cause, Leftists now exist alongside their more moderate Democrat cousins so it’s important to pin down the ideology of Leftism, yet this proves overwhelmingly difficult. Many leftist organizations may say they espouse one thing and in reality support other things, so it's actually helpful to look into the actions of those that call themselves ‘Leftist’, and not what they say. The newly elected New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is an interesting case study, if anything he represents one of a myriad of permutations of a Leftist. Mamdani’s father, Mamhood Mamdani, was a professor at Columbia University, had routinely called for the destruction of the State of Israel, and was an active supporter of BDS initiatives and pro-palestinian encampents(Canary Mission). Zohran Mamdani had followed in his father’s footsteps and co-founded a cell of Students for Justice in Palestine(SJP) at Bowdoin College in 2013(NY Post) and has routinely openly supported Hamas, justified the October 7th Attacks, and spread hatred against Israel and law enforcement(Canary Mission). It is also important to note that Zohran is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Modern Communist Party of America; high profile members include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(AOC) and Rashida Tlaib. Based on this, one could deduct that the Leftist Ideology is a hot mix of all sorts of interesting beliefs including but not limited to neo-Marxism, antisemitism, antizionism/pro-palestinianism, LGBT issues, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and multiculturalism. What’s interesting to note is that all these issues have NO COMMON GROUND. For example, one cannot logically be for a multicultural society and back up LGBT issues while supporting antisemetic policies, and pro-palestinain terrorism. Anyone trying to research this with a sound mind could find themselves confused, it is dizzying how confusing the extreme left is. That’s the descent of the Left, now I must recount the descent of the Right.
Compared to the Left, the descent of the American Right is relatively recent and much easier to pin down accurately. There are three major dates one must keep in mind when discussing the splintering of the American Right, January 6th 2021, October 7th 2023, and September 10th 2025.
In November of 2020, it became clear that Trump had lost his 2021 bid for the US Presidency. Disgruntled, Trump started making a myriad of false claims, claiming voter fraud, and missing ballots to name a few. Trump made an address, on January 6th, in a rally in front of the White House with potentially problematic language. In essence, Trump initially was urging for a gathering at the Capitol, protesting the election result. Having a sitting president contest the election results of a presidential election and calling for a protest was unprecedented at the time, most republicans in power were confused and frankly furious. After the rally, a crowd had started to gather at the Capitol, and extremists had taken Trump’s address to be a call for violence. These extremists started inciting a riot and began storming the Capitol. In the process, vandalising the building and infiltrating into the House chambers, forcing a pause in election proceedings. At the same time, these extremists were calling for the death of then-Vice President Mike Pence. Trump did not help things by sending tweets criticizing Pence for ‘inaction’. Then-Vice President Pence stood firm on his stance and along with his congressional colleagues, hastily certified the 2020 Election results hours after the rioters were dispersed and arrested. Please note, dear reader, that if you wish to research any of what had happened on January 6th, some of the news articles published at the time were unclear, and biased at best and at worst, downright doctored. So please use primary sources when possible.
Jan 6th 2021 will be the first major splintering of the American Right, the resulting factions can be best described by the actions taken by various players during the entire commotion. Mike Pence and a plurality of congressional Republicans would inadvertently become a faction of what one could call Constitutional Conservatives. Mike Pence, despite pressure, criticism, and death threats, performed his Constitutional Duty in certifying the election results regardless of what they were. Pence knew what the Constitution demanded of him, and he did it to the best of his ability. The extremists that incited the riots were a mixed bag of Neo-Nazis, Nationalist extremists, Isolationists, White Supremacists and Neo-Confederates. It is clear that most of these groups represent the most fringe and extreme of the American Right, and their actions speak for themselves. The last group to discuss, are everybody else, those that weren’t constitutional conservatives or extremists, a vast number of the right. Most conservatives were, well, just that, conservatives. Disgruntled at the election results, had varying opinions on Trump’s handling of the results and got on with their lives after the election certification. It is important to note that a vast majority of Constitutional Conservatives will rejoin the mainstream moderate conservative faction of the Republican Party. It is also important to note that a decent number of Constitutional Conservatives were Bush-era Neo-Conservatives. In summary, the American Right within 2 years of January 6th 2021, split into three factions, Constitutional Conservatives, Extreme Isolationist Nationalists, and Disgruntled Conservatives, with Constitutional Conservatives and Disgruntled Conservatives regrouping to form a Moderate Bloc within the American Right. It is important to note that anchoring figures like Charlie Kirk were key in this regrouping and rebuilding a base for Trump’s 2024 Campaign.
October 7th 2023, would mark a horrid day for Israel and Jews around the world. It marked the beginning of the worst explosion of antisemitism globally since the Holocaust. Campuses across the country became rally grounds for terrorism, no different to the old Nazi rally grounds of Nuremberg. What’s important to note was the near-instant splintering of the American Right on the issue of supporting Israel. On one side are Moderate Conservatives, who support Israel and American assistance and observation of the current conflict. On the other side, are the Isolationists, who, for a myriad of reasons, believe since the current conflict is an American issue, we need to be ‘America First’ and not do a thing about it. On the surface, this is absurd, Israel is the birthplace of the Judeo-Christian values that conservatives celebrate and hold dear. In addition, it's the only major democracy in the Middle East, a major technological, military, and intelligence partner of the United States, and much more. All of these traits offer a net positive to the United States, economically, technologically, and militarily, shouldn’t all conservatives be happy about this? There are a series of reasons as to why the Moderates and the Isolationists take the stances they take. For the Moderates, support for Israel means a support for American national security and counterterrorism, technological progress, and a safeguarding of Judeo-Christian Values. As a side-note, most Moderate Conservatives on university campuses who support Israel(Yes we exist!), do so for much more personal reasons. For the Isolationists, it is important to note that antisemitism is often central to their reasons to be against Israel. Some have duped themselves into believing antisemitic conspiracy theories, thinking that Jews already ‘control America’ (spoiler, NOT TRUE). Some believe that America should think for itself and only itself, and that given that this Oct 7th War is not an American issue, America should ignore this. This is actually dangerous for a series of reasons, including but not limited to the fact that America’s position on the Global Stage could be threatened and that non-participation emboldens terrorist organizations to attack America and her Allies. The last major reason is a genuine desire for America to focus on itself before intervening in global issues, it is important to note that folks that espouse this desire may not actually be antisemitic, especially since they also complain about the Ukraine Conflict and other conflicts America embroiled itself in, whereas those who espouse the previous two opinions are thoroughly antisemitic. In summary, Oct 7th 2023, caused a splintering of the American Right that resulted into two groups, Moderate Conservatives and a group of Isolationists. It is important to note that the Isolationists will find weird friends with their Neo-Nazi, extreme nationalist friends from January 6th 2021. It is also important to note that the Moderate Conservatives of 2023 are not a monolith, they were still a mixed bag of Constitutional Conservatives, Moderate Conservatives, and Neo-Conservatives. It will take one more tragedy, one much closer to home, to crystallise this bloc.
On September 10th 2025, Charlie Kirk arrived at Utah Valley University to kick off his America Comeback Tour. Within minutes of the event starting, a shot rang out from the rooftop of a campus building, Charlie Kirk would die of his wounds within an hour of being shot. Charlie Kirk was survived by his wife, Erika Kirk, his two children, and the organization that is now his legacy, Turning Point USA (TPUSA). Charlie Kirk’s death sent shockwaves throughout the American Right and especially the youth. Charlie Kirk had an immeasurable impact and presence on conservative youth in America. Kirk was also an anchoring force in the American Right, modeling to many that one could stay strong in their values and engage with the opposition. Kirk’s debating manner, presence with the youth, and impact on general politics, is not something we’ll see in a while. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, there was a genuine unity amongst Moderate Conservatives, especially up till the memorial service held in Arizona by TPUSA in honor of Kirk. However, not long after this painfully beautiful moment of unity and grief, the power vacuum left behind by Charlie Kirk’s assaination, began attracting extremists like steel to a magnet. Most notably, raging antisemite Nick Fuentes has seemed to have gained massive traction in wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, which doesn’t bode well for the American Right. Fuentes more or less has been taking what most conservatives hold dear, then perverting them into unrecognizable extremist views. At least that is what he has been doing recently. Before Charlie Kirk’s death, Fuentes routinely criticized Kirk for being too moderate and had involved himself in various white-supremisist organizations. It is important to note that Fuentes is not the only extremist that has gained popularity, but definitely the most notable. In the wake of Kirk’s death, it is likely that a few of Kirk’s former followers, being traumatized and enraged, may have been attracted to Fuentes’s version of extreme conservatism. Especially after years of the extreme left calling Moderate Conservatives as extremists, racists, and a whole series of other slurs, and with the identity of Charlie Kirk’s killer being an ardent leftist Tyler Robinson, some believe that the time for conversation had long passed and bought into Fuentes’s extremism. In the meantime, Erika Kirk, TPUSA, had grown exponentially in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death. With some sources stating that as many as 38,000 TPUSA chapters had applied for endorsement in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death (Fox News). To sum up, extremists left within the mainstream conservative bloc splintered off to join their extremist nationalist friends on the fringes of the American Right. The Moderate Conservatives, spearheaded by TPUSA, ended up growing in huge numbers, with Charlie Kirk’s ideology of debating with principle having inspired many dormant actors, with Kirk’s assaination lighting a spark within these people to rightfully stand up and speak up, this is one facet of what has become known as the ‘Charlie Kirk Effect’.
What can we make up of this? One thing is clear. The descent we’re seeing on both sides of the political spectrum in the United States is not new, but has been brewing for some time. Although I had only covered a time frame from 2015-2025, it is important to note that the last time the United States political scene plummeted into chaos and extremism in such a rapid fashion was the time period between the Compromise of 1850 and the rise of popular sovereignty, and the American Civil War, a period between 1850-1861. Only eleven years. So one could argue I am being a bit generous for using a ten year timeframe. However, the real question some readers may be asking is how we move forward from this. The thing is, it is too early to figure out as to what is the best course of action, however there are some good guesses, and I personally have a few. The Moderate Conservatives have suffered a great loss through the assassination of Charlie Kirk, however the many, many people Kirk inspired give Moderate Conservatives a fighting chance at survival, unlike other power vacuums of the past two centuries. Could this rise in extremism be curbed? It's plausible. However we must learn from the mistakes of our history should we want to ensure this extremism doesn’t reach criticality. It’ll take moderates from both sides of the aisle to set aside their differences and form a united bloc to deter extremist actors. With all this mess going on, how does one determine a moderate versus an extremist. There are several, but they all boil down to this. If one believes is the only side that is correct, then there lies an extremist. If one understands that their side has faults when the opposition points it out, and takes it as a learning opportunity, they’re most likely a moderate. Most importantly of all, watch for the actions of those and familiarize yourself with geopolitical history. For actions speak much louder than words. One can talk like a moderate but if they act like an extremist and incite violence, they’re still an extremist. One can also talk like an extremist but if, when it counts, they set up a table and are willing to have a civil discussion, they are almost certainly a moderate.
E. L.
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