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Time To Say Goodbye

The Coddling of the Far Right. A Conversation with David Austin Walsh

·1 hr 3 min·5 clips
Historian David Austin Walsh argues the far right was never purged from mainstream conservatism, contrary to liberal nostalgia.
The episode begins with casual banter about summer plans and Maine tourism before introducing guest David Austin Walsh, a postdoc at Yale's Program for the Study of Anti-Semitism. Walsh's book examines the relationship between the mainstream conservative movement and the far right from the New Deal to the end of the 20th century. He challenges nostalgic views of figures like William F. Buckley, arguing the far right was never purged. Walsh positions his work as a third way in the fascism debate, emphasizing a domestic fascist tradition in American politics. The hosts ask about the impact of Trump and post-January 6th debates. Walsh discusses how conservative media has changed, with lower barriers to entry allowing figures like Steve Sailer to thrive despite being canceled from establishment outlets. The conversation turns to a Trump campaign ad referencing 'Reich,' with Walsh noting the far right is now hegemonic within conservatism. They explore crackpot figures like Bronze Age Pervert and the role of social media in radicalization. The discussion shifts to anti-Semitism, with Walsh tracing its historical roots in right-wing conspiratorial thinking and how tropes about outside agitators persist. He notes how some anti-Semitic narratives have been transferred to Muslims in contemporary discourse. The hosts and guest analyze specific examples, such as Eric Adams' comments on campus protests and George Soros conspiracy theories. The episode concludes with reflections on the book's contributions and thanks.

As heard by us

A sharp historical conversation on how far-right ideas have circulated around conservative politics.

Time To Say Goodbye follows the flirtation between young GOP staffers and far-right imagery by setting it inside a longer political record. With David, the episode moves from Ron Paul's newsletters in the late 1970s to Pat Buchanan's 1990 claim about Treblinka, then toward…

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Why you'd press play

For a history of the American right that makes today's GOP flirtations with the far-right margins feel less mysterious.

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