A far-right media figure at Davos admitted it was "more fun when we were in opposition." Being welcomed by the "globalist" establishment undermines their core narrative of being outsiders fighting a corrupt system, making their content less compelling.
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Podcast host Ben Smith posits that there was an asymmetry in media consumption, with conservatives closely following left-leaning outlets like Gawker. This gave them deep insights into their ideological opponents, while many on the left remained unaware of the right's media ecosystem.
A fringe element of the political right is beginning to mirror the 'woke left' by adopting similar tactics. This includes a focus on identity-based victimhood narratives and a preference for destroying and deplatforming opponents rather than engaging them in genuine debate.
The appeal of a populist leader lies in their rejection of traditional political norms. When the electorate feels betrayed by the established "political class," they gravitate toward figures whose rhetoric is a deliberate and stark contrast, signaling they are an outsider.
Attempts to shut down controversial voices often fail. Instead of disappearing, suppressed ideas can fester and become more extreme, attracting an audience drawn to their defiance and ultimately strengthening their movement.
The World Economic Forum, once a bastion of thoughtful globalism, is shifting. Its attendees are becoming more aligned with Trump's transactional, oil-focused worldview, prioritizing personal prosperity and "getting in on the hustle" over upholding international law.
The annual Davos gathering, a long-standing symbol of global cooperation, now confronts its own potential obsolescence. The rise of populist and nationalist movements worldwide directly challenges the forum's core principle of globalism, forcing it to adapt or risk becoming an irrelevant relic.
Events like Davos are no longer just for legacy media. A proliferation of 'houses' sponsored by countries and companies need constant programming, creating opportunities for podcasts and other niche media to get a stage and interview high-profile guests who are all interviewing each other.
Following the disastrous optics of the Charlottesville rally, the far-right engaged in an internal "optics debate." They concluded that overt European pagan and National Socialist aesthetics were alienating and strategically shifted to a more palatable American populist image to advance their goals.
The notion that identitarianism is exclusive to the left ("woke") is outdated. A powerful, mirrored version has solidified on the right ("Groypers"), indicating that identity-based politics has become a central, and polarizing, framework across the entire political spectrum.
The greatest threat to MAGA's cohesion isn't external opposition but internal conflict. Key media figures like Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens are publicly "beefing," signaling a fracturing of the movement from within that could mark the beginning of its end.