Once you reject pluralism and tolerance as core values and embrace a vision of America that is rooted in blood and soil ethno-nationalism, it is hard to really keep anti-Semites and conspiracy cranks out your coalition. Not every nationalist is an anti-Semite, but anti-Semites are drawn to those types of movements and will easily grab a seat at the table.
Kirk's challenge, and now Shapiro's challenge, is that they really couldn't give a clear reason why racism and xenophobia are good but anti-Semitism needs to be out of bounds. It would be better if they had adopted a more consistent and principled stand (rejecting all forms of division and hatred based on race, nationality, religion, etc.) so that they could draw a clearer contrast between their ideology and Nick Fuentes.
But they won't (or can't) do that, so they are stuck trying to convince young conservatives that there's a huge difference between the two that most people cannot detect.
Because there is no clear logic this also leads conspiracy brained people to believe, rather than a special respected minority, this minority controls everything. If you make any request of them, of course you are trying to dominate and control them (see covid discourse.) So in a polarized age it actually heightens the division. It is always interesting seeing Jewish and female conservatives trying to plead a special exemption from sexism and white supremacy.
Yes and I think in general people would be better off if they reflected more on this type of thing (that is, if you have to ask for an exemption from a rule that you yourself created, reflect on whether the rule itself is even a good idea to begin with).
If you don't like to be denigrated because of your race, gender, religion, nationality, etc. it's safe to assume that other people don't like it either. Haitian immigrants probably didn't like it when Trump and JD Vance accused them of killing and eating their neighbors' pets in Ohio, for example.
Am Jewish, part of my family is super conservative and part of it is not. It is CRAZY pointing out to them every time that if X policy were enacted about Jews they’d be flipping shit but they’re fine with it happening to other people, and it’s always “totally different” to them.
And some of it seems to go along with a genuine misunderstanding of our own history. Had to explain to them that it was not legal for Jews to come to the US during the first two years of WWII, and how that changed. They’re obsessed with the idea that our family came here “the right way” with zero insight into how the concept of legal immigration is shaped, and by whom.
Another puff piece that subtly glorifies Kirk and omits any mention of collusion between Israeli and U.S. politics.
Anti-semitism on the right is a huge and growing problem, and at the same time, Charlie and Erika Kirk’s actions and politics surrounding Israel deserve actual scrutiny and analysis.
The downvoting might be because people don’t know the author and just see the Jewish surname and assume it’s a stereotype. But, Yair Rosenberg could be considered a Zionist, although a measured thoughtful one.
Edit- read through this piece of his and decide: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/anti-semitic-attacks-only-make-zionism-more-appealing/683055/
Edit 2: I don't want to even wade into the "is anti-Zionism anti-semitic" minefield. I'm personally horrified at the anti-semitism that is becoming popular again, but I'm also horrified at Israel's politics and the many political controversies between the American and Israeli governments.
> Ace of Spades, a pseudonymous pugilist who once won the Conservative Political Action Conference’s Blogger of the Year award, wrote. “I did not sign up for this bullshit. I will not become a Nazi to ‘own the libs.’”
It's statements like this that really lead me to wonder what exactly these pundits thought they were signing up for, especially Ben Shapiro. There is a long and illustrious history of antisemitism in American conservatism (and, indeed, most conservative movements). Why did these people think they would be immune?
What do you think of the claim that Charlie Kirk was holding together the Republican coalition? Isn’t that Trump’s role? I think the real issue is that the outrage over his his death created an opportunity for growth of audience and platform for many ambitious politicians and pundits at once, and so they butted heads.
Kirk is emblematic of an older, more outwardly respectable conservatism, while conservative media and platforms grow more and more extreme. So they can take his death as ‘we should continue Kirk’s legacy’ or ‘Kirk was too soft on those degenerates and look what they did to him.’ Guess which one resonates more.
Kirk was a mouthpiece and a key recruiter in their alt-right pipeline. Which is why i knew who he was before the shooting, he was a POS who tried debating college freshmen and posting only the clips of a "gotcha" he got on some 18 year old.
I can't remember the whole story but he was basically scouted by a party member and recruited and funded by Koch bros money. We are seeing the danger of an organized propaganda machine, TPUSA was just another arm of it.
once again The Atlantic is carrying water for the right wing. This coalition was never held together by anything more than what's still holding it together: extreme right-wing money and the so-far completely fulfilled promise of violence towards political enemies domestically
A rehash of the problems from the Old Right of the 1930-40s. William Buckley was given credit for purging the Birchers and other anti-semites, but that didn't kill the virus. It just went into hibernation.
While Buckley marginalized the anti-semites, anti-black racism remained a feature of the right throughout. It was the engine of the Buckley/Reagan era, fueling the Southern Strategy and keeping the coalition alive. Now, fringe elements that deal in overt racism that were lying dormant are back in the driver’s seat.
Boy does the beginning of that article give me hope that the Right is on its way to fracturing itself to death, much the same way that the Left continues to identity-politics-divide itself into powerlessness.
Korrocks | 7 hours ago
Once you reject pluralism and tolerance as core values and embrace a vision of America that is rooted in blood and soil ethno-nationalism, it is hard to really keep anti-Semites and conspiracy cranks out your coalition. Not every nationalist is an anti-Semite, but anti-Semites are drawn to those types of movements and will easily grab a seat at the table.
Kirk's challenge, and now Shapiro's challenge, is that they really couldn't give a clear reason why racism and xenophobia are good but anti-Semitism needs to be out of bounds. It would be better if they had adopted a more consistent and principled stand (rejecting all forms of division and hatred based on race, nationality, religion, etc.) so that they could draw a clearer contrast between their ideology and Nick Fuentes.
But they won't (or can't) do that, so they are stuck trying to convince young conservatives that there's a huge difference between the two that most people cannot detect.
Lysmerry | 7 hours ago
Because there is no clear logic this also leads conspiracy brained people to believe, rather than a special respected minority, this minority controls everything. If you make any request of them, of course you are trying to dominate and control them (see covid discourse.) So in a polarized age it actually heightens the division. It is always interesting seeing Jewish and female conservatives trying to plead a special exemption from sexism and white supremacy.
Korrocks | 7 hours ago
Yes and I think in general people would be better off if they reflected more on this type of thing (that is, if you have to ask for an exemption from a rule that you yourself created, reflect on whether the rule itself is even a good idea to begin with).
If you don't like to be denigrated because of your race, gender, religion, nationality, etc. it's safe to assume that other people don't like it either. Haitian immigrants probably didn't like it when Trump and JD Vance accused them of killing and eating their neighbors' pets in Ohio, for example.
tourmalineforest | 5 hours ago
Am Jewish, part of my family is super conservative and part of it is not. It is CRAZY pointing out to them every time that if X policy were enacted about Jews they’d be flipping shit but they’re fine with it happening to other people, and it’s always “totally different” to them.
And some of it seems to go along with a genuine misunderstanding of our own history. Had to explain to them that it was not legal for Jews to come to the US during the first two years of WWII, and how that changed. They’re obsessed with the idea that our family came here “the right way” with zero insight into how the concept of legal immigration is shaped, and by whom.
petertompolicy | 7 hours ago
Oh no!
Why can't the racists only be racist against the group I don't like?!
I'm not sure why this needs to be an article.
MenstrualColander | 5 hours ago
But if they reject all forms of division and hatred they are no longer Republicans and conservatives.
GlitteringFlame888 | 7 hours ago
Fuck the Atlantic for trying to continually rehab this person’s legacy
ActiveRule6158 | 4 hours ago
yeah for real, it's wild how often they try to give platform to these people who spread so much nonsense no cap
alwaysclimbinghigher | 7 hours ago
Another puff piece that subtly glorifies Kirk and omits any mention of collusion between Israeli and U.S. politics.
Anti-semitism on the right is a huge and growing problem, and at the same time, Charlie and Erika Kirk’s actions and politics surrounding Israel deserve actual scrutiny and analysis.
Due-Average2727 | 6 hours ago
yeah the piece totally dances around those issues. it’s frustrating how much they gloss over the real stuff
lateralus1082 | 6 hours ago
Gee, I wonder why…Yair Rosenberg
alwaysclimbinghigher | 4 hours ago
The downvoting might be because people don’t know the author and just see the Jewish surname and assume it’s a stereotype. But, Yair Rosenberg could be considered a Zionist, although a measured thoughtful one.
Edit- read through this piece of his and decide: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/06/anti-semitic-attacks-only-make-zionism-more-appealing/683055/
Edit 2: I don't want to even wade into the "is anti-Zionism anti-semitic" minefield. I'm personally horrified at the anti-semitism that is becoming popular again, but I'm also horrified at Israel's politics and the many political controversies between the American and Israeli governments.
Quouar | 5 hours ago
> Ace of Spades, a pseudonymous pugilist who once won the Conservative Political Action Conference’s Blogger of the Year award, wrote. “I did not sign up for this bullshit. I will not become a Nazi to ‘own the libs.’”
It's statements like this that really lead me to wonder what exactly these pundits thought they were signing up for, especially Ben Shapiro. There is a long and illustrious history of antisemitism in American conservatism (and, indeed, most conservative movements). Why did these people think they would be immune?
Bright_Ices | 3 hours ago
Because they are very special boys. And occasionally really super special girls who can please be excused for having the wrong gender.
Lysmerry | 7 hours ago
What do you think of the claim that Charlie Kirk was holding together the Republican coalition? Isn’t that Trump’s role? I think the real issue is that the outrage over his his death created an opportunity for growth of audience and platform for many ambitious politicians and pundits at once, and so they butted heads.
Kirk is emblematic of an older, more outwardly respectable conservatism, while conservative media and platforms grow more and more extreme. So they can take his death as ‘we should continue Kirk’s legacy’ or ‘Kirk was too soft on those degenerates and look what they did to him.’ Guess which one resonates more.
rockytop24 | 6 hours ago
Kirk was a mouthpiece and a key recruiter in their alt-right pipeline. Which is why i knew who he was before the shooting, he was a POS who tried debating college freshmen and posting only the clips of a "gotcha" he got on some 18 year old.
I can't remember the whole story but he was basically scouted by a party member and recruited and funded by Koch bros money. We are seeing the danger of an organized propaganda machine, TPUSA was just another arm of it.
latswipe | 7 hours ago
once again The Atlantic is carrying water for the right wing. This coalition was never held together by anything more than what's still holding it together: extreme right-wing money and the so-far completely fulfilled promise of violence towards political enemies domestically
moodplasma | 3 hours ago
A rehash of the problems from the Old Right of the 1930-40s. William Buckley was given credit for purging the Birchers and other anti-semites, but that didn't kill the virus. It just went into hibernation.
While Buckley marginalized the anti-semites, anti-black racism remained a feature of the right throughout. It was the engine of the Buckley/Reagan era, fueling the Southern Strategy and keeping the coalition alive. Now, fringe elements that deal in overt racism that were lying dormant are back in the driver’s seat.
alex2374 | 8 hours ago
Excellent.
skitheweest | 6 hours ago
Boy does the beginning of that article give me hope that the Right is on its way to fracturing itself to death, much the same way that the Left continues to identity-politics-divide itself into powerlessness.
Awkward_Tick0 | 2 hours ago
This reads like wishful thinking