FRACTURE
We have been unwillingly living alongside MAGA and their bullshit for the better part of a decade now, during which the death cult has rarely shown any signs of significant or prolonged internal division. There have been blips, to be sure, but nothing significant enough that the "fall in line or be exiled" dogma of the Republican Party couldn't shake off within a few news cycles. Anyone who detracted from or questioned Trump was labeled a RINO, primaried, or financially pressured in one way or another.
What will it take for this to break? There are plenty of factors dividing conservatives today, namely the war in Iran and its economic cost, along with the Trumpstien files cover-up. I had thought for a moment that Thomas Massie would be crowned the anti-Trump ringleader; however, he was dethroned and relegated to far-right Twitter just as fast as Marjore Taylor-Green. Trump has a record-low approval rating and is increasingly incapable of acting on behalf of his base. Watch his interviews and speeches, and you will see the only thing he gets excited about is the fucking ballroom or arch project. He gets as giddy as Hegseth talking about checking dudes for testosterone, or as Vance in an Art Van.
Enter Tucker Carlson, heir to the Swanson steak empire and frat-boy conservative Jesus. Until recently, Tucker had been the foremost voice against DEI and other right-wing culture war issues. His Tucker Carlson Tonight Fox show ruled primetime by a large margin, and its target audience included Trump and members of his administration, who all but had to tune in each night. Carlson had the entire right wing, from extremists to centrists, taking notes and cues from a man who publicly and privately predicted that Trump would destroy our political system if given the chance.
Tucker’s hot-cold relationship with Trump is nothing new. In the early days of his presidency, the pedo-in-chief would often call Carlson to discus talking points, staffing, or policy. At the time, Tucker kept his distance by simply taking the calls and essentially saying ‘Oh wow, that’s interesting,’ as the relationship never really sat well with him. But for the most part, Tucker agreed with Trump’s positions on immigration, foreign affairs, and economics.
That all changed following Carlson’s firing from Fox News. While not publicly confirmed, it has been widely speculated that he was let go at least in part because of his association with the Dominion lawsuit settlement. His transition to the right-wing echo chamber of Twitter has seemingly coincided with his gradual separation from Trump and his die-hard followers, resulting in a MAGA civil war just in time for midterms.
Since the Pedo-King started his dumb war, Tucker, along with other notable America First talking heads, has used the conflict to draw attention to and criticize the U.S - Israel alliance. Why are we spending billions of taxpayer dollars on behalf of Israel? Why are we funding a genocide in Gaza? What benefit do we gain by serving Benjamin Netanyahu’s interests abroad? These questions are sound; however, Tucker’s focus and attention also create space for darker conspiratorial attacks. Racist tropes, stereotypes, and antisemitic sentiment are cornerstones of the far-right, a key demographic of Carlson’s audience. The division over Israel is amplifying the divide between pro-Israel neocons and America First diehards. Just look at how far Ben Shapiro has fallen from favor.
Earlier this year, Tucker stated he would not support Republicans in the midterms and that he wants to build a new political party (bold strategy!) due to Trump’s abandonment of the middle class and American interests at home. MAGA faithful have since called this treason, publicly disavowing the former Fox News host in an attempt to silence him. Carlson is doubling down.
I do not believe Tucker Carlson will succeed in creating a new political party. The idea has been tried in the past, and always falls short; the deck is too heavily stacked, nobody is willing to finance it, and the leaders are often wooed away by one side or the other. Carlson knows this, as does anyone with the means to support his efforts.
What he is doing, rather, is creating an ideological space for those on the right who want or need to distance themselves from Trump while retaining as much of the America First cachet they can. There will be a world without the orange bitch, one way or another, and those who have enabled, supported, and defended the administration will need to answer for its failures. Failure to deliver on Epstein, Iran, corruption, crypto, or any of the hundreds of abuses of power across the executive branch is going to have names attached to it. Tucker’s actions reveal his understanding that conservatives will need a playbook to navigate the post-Trump world. By addressing this inevitability now, he is providing the foundation for that movement, conveniently placing himself at its forefront.
I expect many republicans in office to drift towards Tucker in the coming weeks and months, and certainly by the 2028 general election. The war in Iran isn’t going anywhere soon, and its economic effects will continue to put pressure on the MAGA base, as well as those who publicly support Trump. Every week, Trump’s support continues to decline, while gas prices, injuries, and the death toll rise. Throw in some violent lettuce and more ICE killings as well– even Fox News sees the inevitable. I expect couch fucker JD Vance to have a real hard time staying on his boss’s good side while simultaneously courting the 2028 Republican nomination. Good luck, bud!
Divisions and infighting are not isolated to the right. Democrats today are facing some internal division over the success of progressives on the left. Zohran, AOC, Bernie, Abdul Al-Sayed, among others either in office or trending towards primary victories, are putting pressure on the establishment to change things up. With tensions and pressures on each side mounting as we get closer to elections, it is worth remembering what the left actually is fighting for: universal healthcare, taxes on billionaires and corporations, improving education, and strengthening public institutions. No conservative, libertarian, or MAGA Republican actually gives a shit about any of that; they are simply trying to better position themselves against the Trump diehards, knowing the writing is on the wall.
Do I agree that we should hold Bibi Netanyahu accountable for Gaza, that the Trump-Epstein files were covered up, or that China is a massive threat? Of course. These are commonly shared positions across the political spectrum and should be at the forefront of any debate. But just because we can agree does not mean we will accept the “own the libs” MAGA dipshits’ sudden pivot away from their cankle king. They are the fucking reason we are here in the first place. Their attempted distancing does not make them any less hypocritical, disingenuous, or selfish.
There is no ideology, principle, or value system tethering this administration. It is pure corruption, and the federal government exists only to serve the interests of Donald Trump, his business, and the personal interests of those close to him. Do not let those in your orbit who supported Trump convince themselves that the space Tucker, or any MAGA detractors, attempt to place themselves in is any different from what we have today. The only way out of this mess, is to vote out anyone, republican or democrat, who has appeased the madman’s agenda. Bring me a blue reckoning.
-Edited by E. Sullivan
