Straussianism's Shadow: How Elite Thought Fuels the MAGA Right

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right" by Laura K. Field - This book is the main subject of the episode, exploring the intellectual scaffolding for Trumpism and the MAGA movement from the ivory tower and think tanks.
• "Why Liberalism Failed" by Patrick Deneen (2018) - This book is discussed as a signal event in the development of post-liberalism, arguing against the tenets of liberalism.
• "Regime Change" by Patrick Deneen - This book is mentioned as a follow-up to "Why Liberalism Failed," further detailing Deneen's political philosophy.
• "Common Good Constitutionalism" by Adrian Vermeule - This book is described as a roadmap to a jurisprudence that is ambitious in its moral aims and seeks to legislate morality, rejecting originalism.
• "The Age of Entitlement" by Christopher Caldwell - This book is referenced in the context of the Claremont Institute's views on immigration and civil rights, suggesting that things "got way too out of hand" after the 1960s.
• "Ravelstein" by Saul Bellow - This novel is mentioned as capturing the aspect of Allan Bloom as a great teacher, relevant to the discussion of the influence of teachers in the Straussian tradition.
• "The Republic" by Plato - This classic philosophical text is mentioned as a foundational work that drew the hosts and their guest into political theory.
• "Ideas Have Consequences" by Richard Weaver - This book is brought up as a more extreme version of the Straussian idea that historicism leads to relativism and the decline of Western civilization.

People Mentioned

• Laura K. Field (Author of "Furious Minds") - The episode's guest, a political theorist who was educated by Strausians and is now a scholar in residence at American University, a senior advisor for the Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington, and a non-resident fellow with the Brookings Institution.
• Leo Strauss - A political philosopher whose approach to the history of political thought is discussed as the starting point for understanding the MAGA new right, particularly his concerns about civilizational collapse and modernity.
• Michael Anton - Author of the "Flight 93 Election" essay, described as a key intellectual figure in the early Trump movement and a central figure in the guest's book.
• Harry Jaffa - A former Strauss student, known for writing the lines "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice and moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue" for Barry Goldwater's speech, and representing a particular strain of Straussian thought.
• Patrick Deneen (Political theorist, author of "Why Liberalism Failed") - Discussed as a prominent figure in post-liberalism, advocating for a religiously inspired conception of the common good.
• Adrian Vermeule - A legal scholar and political theorist, discussed as a key figure in post-liberalism and integralism, advocating for a constitutional philosophy that replaces originalism with a "common good constitutionalism."
• Robbie George (Political theorist, Princeton University) - Mentioned as a figure in the natural law jurisprudential movement and as having recently resigned from the Heritage Foundation board.
• Hadley Arkes (Political theorist, Amherst College) - Discussed as a theorist of the anti-abortion movement and an early critic of originalism from a natural law perspective.
• Jack Posobiec - Described as a pizzagate conspiracy theorist who later became a "respectable conservative" in the MAGA movement, retweeted by Patrick Deneen.
• John Eastman (Attorney, associated with Claremont Institute) - Identified as the main legal theorist behind the alternative electors scheme and the idea that Vice President Pence could reject electoral votes after the 2020 election.
• Ryan P. Williams (President of the Claremont Institute) - Co-author of "The Fight Is Now" editorial, reflecting Claremont's institutional position on the 2020 election.
• Arthur Milikh (Executive Director of the Center for the American Way of Life in Washington D.C.) - Co-author of "The Fight Is Now" editorial.
• Matthew Peterson (Vice President of Education at the Claremont Institute) - Co-author of "The Fight Is Now" editorial.
• James Poulos (Conservative essayist) - Co-author of "The Fight Is Now" editorial.
• Charles Kesler (Editor of the Claremont Review of Books) - Mentioned as a central figure at the Claremont Institute, navigating the institution's various factions.
• Rush Limbaugh - Mentioned as a prominent conservative radio host who praised Michael Anton's "Flight 93 Election" essay.
• Leon Craig (Professor, University of Alberta) - One of Laura Field's former professors, described as a Strausian and an amazing teacher of the great books.
• Heidi Studer (Professor, University of Alberta) - One of Laura Field's former professors, described as a Strausian and an amazing teacher of the great books.
• Paul Wolfowitz - Mentioned in the context of the Iraq War, as someone whose phone number conservative associates possessed.
• Allan Bloom - Referenced as a great teacher, whose influence is captured in Saul Bellow's novel "Ravelstein."
• Sohrab Ahmari - A figure in the post-liberal movement, mentioned for his essay "Against David French-ism" and for his engagement with current events.
• Curtis Yarvin - An "edgelord" figure mentioned for his radical views, suggesting Trump is not radical enough.
• Pat Buchanan - Described as the main political figurehead for paleo-conservatism, known for his isolationist and limited government views.
• Sam Francis - A paleo-conservative figure associated with anti-Semitism and white supremacy, mentioned in the context of the "paleo waters" of conservatism.
• Paul Gottfried - A paleo-conservative figure associated with anti-Semitism and white supremacy, mentioned as a leader of the H.L. Mencken conference.
• Darren Beattie - Mentioned as having been caught at Paul Gottfried's H.L. Mencken conference.
• Larry Arnn (President of Hillsdale College) - Former president of the Claremont Institute, connecting Claremont to Hillsdale and mentoring figures like Charlie Kirk.
• J.D. Vance - Mentioned as a political figure admired by the Claremont Institute, suggesting a shift in conservative thought away from "declarationism."
• Pope Benedict XVI (Josef Ratzinger) - Mentioned in the context of Rod Dreher's "Benedict Option" and as a figure whose authority Adrian Vermeule would follow.
• Kevin Roberts (President of the Heritage Foundation) - Discussed for his defense of Tucker Carlson's interview with Nick Fuentes, leading to controversy and resignations from the Heritage board.
• Nick Fuentes - Described as an "out and out white nationalist anti-Semite" whose interview with Tucker Carlson caused controversy at the Heritage Foundation.
• Candace Owens - Mentioned for her controversial statements, suggesting a broader pattern of problematic rhetoric on the right.
• Father Richard John Neuhaus - Mentioned as the founder of First Things, who separated from the Rockford Institute due to its anti-Semitism.
• Will Arbery (Playwright) - Mentioned as the playwright of "Heroes of the Fourth Turning," whose parents taught at Wyoming Catholic College when Kevin Roberts was president.
• Matthew Taylor - Mentioned as the source of the phrase "the fringe becoming the rug," which Laura Field borrowed to describe the shift in conservative politics.

Organizations & Institutions

• Rhodes College - One of the institutions where Laura Field taught.
• Georgetown University - One of the institutions where Laura Field taught.
• American University - Where Laura Field is currently a scholar in residence.
• Illiberalism Studies Program at George Washington University - Where Laura Field is a senior advisor.
• Brookings Institution - Where Laura Field is a non-resident fellow.
• Niskanen Center - Where some listeners may have read Laura Field's work. Laura Field also wrote a five-piece series for them criticizing Patrick Deneen's "Why Liberalism Failed."
• The Bulwark - Where some listeners may have read Laura Field's work.
• The New Republic - Where some listeners may have read Laura Field's work.
• Claremont Institute - A conservative think tank and publisher, frequently discussed as a key intellectual force behind Trumpism and the MAGA movement.
• George Washington University - Institution where Laura Field is a senior advisor for the Illiberalism Studies Program.
• University of Alberta - Where Laura Field did her undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science, studying with Strausian professors.
• University of Texas - Where Laura Field completed her doctorate.
• Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) - An organization that co-sponsored a conference attended by Laura Field, indicating its connection to figures discussed in her book.
• Hillsdale College - Mentioned as having a strong connection to the Claremont Institute, with its president, Larry Arnn, having previously been president of Claremont.
• Madison Program (Princeton University) - Associated with Robbie George, mentioned in the context of natural law jurisprudence.
• Heritage Foundation - A conservative think tank, discussed in the context of Kevin Roberts' defense of Tucker Carlson's interview with Nick Fuentes and Robbie George's resignation from its board.
• First Things - A conservative journal, founded by Father Richard John Neuhaus after he left the Rockford Institute due to anti-Semitism.
• Rockford Institute - An organization that sponsored a religious newsletter, which Father Richard John Neuhaus left due to its paleo-conservative and anti-Semitic leanings, leading to the founding of First Things.
• Wyoming Catholic College - Where Kevin Roberts was president before moving to the Texas Public Policy Institute and then Heritage.
• Texas Public Policy Institute - A conservative think tank in Texas, where Kevin Roberts served as president before joining the Heritage Foundation.

Websites & Online Resources

• Patreon.com/KnowYourEnemy - The podcast's Patreon page, offering bonus episodes and a digital subscription to Dissent magazine.
• Mcmansion Hell - Kate Wagner's popular blog, mentioned in the context of a bonus episode about architecture and Trump's ballrooms.
• The American Mind - An online publication of the Claremont Institute, mentioned for publishing the "The Fight Is Now" editorial.
• Josiah's website - Adrian Vermeule's website, where he publishes more explicit and radical views than in his academic writing.
• VDARE - A website where Pat Buchanan has written, known for its anti-immigrant and white nationalist content.

Other Resources

• "Flight 93 Election" (Essay) by Michael Anton - A pivotal essay published in 2016, providing an intellectual defense of Trumpism and arguing for radical action.