National Review Labels Tucker Carlson Leading Purveyor of Antisemitic Ideas

William F. Buckley Jr. played a foundational role in shaping modern American conservatism, blending aristocratic elitism with populist appeal to unify disparate right-wing factions, a legacy that deeply influences today's MAGA movement. Sam Tanenhaus's biography reveals the paradox of Buckley as both a charming individual and promoter of reactionary, racist, and homophobic politics, including his family's secret funding of segregationist groups. This duality mirrors the contradictions in contemporary conservatism, where Trumpism's obsessive culture war against 'wokeness' has become self-destructive, transforming the Republican Party into a vehicle of grievance and scapegoating. Meanwhile, Trump’s anti-woke crusade exploits vague cultural enemies to energize its base but risks dragging the movement into a cultural and political dead end. Additionally, right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson have been criticized for promoting antisemitic ideas, reflecting the extreme and divisive rhetoric that has become prevalent in conservative media. These dynamics collectively illustrate how the theatrical and often toxic strategies initiated by Buckley have evolved into the current fractious and authoritarian tendencies within American conservatism under President Trump.