Citizen McCain with Meghan McCain
Citizen McCain with Meghan McCain

The Republican Identity Crisis | Noah Rothman on the New Right, Socialism & 2028

August 4, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Republican Identity Crisis | Noah Rothman on the New Right, Socialism & 2028

The photo looked like a still from a cult-horror show: Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, and a handful of others gathered at what Meghan McCain called "Patricia Sunset Cocktails" — a reference to the hypnotized characters in the summer hit Widow's Bay. Their caption read "America First and we mean it," and their message was that mainstream Republicans and MAGA had abandoned the true America First principles. But when Meghan McCain asked National Review senior writer Noah Rothman what these figures actually believe in common, the answer was surprisingly narrow: they all agree Israel is bad. Beyond that, Rothman noted, "Thomas Massie is a down the line libertarian. Tucker Carlson is much more statist. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a black box." The coalition, he argued, has no shared positive vision — just a shared enemy.

The Democratic Party's Socialist Evolution

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

  • 1 The Republican Identity Crisis | Noah Rothman on the New Right, Socialism & 2028
  • 2 Main Outline
  • 3 (01:04) **Opening & Housekeeping** - Meghan McCain and Miranda introduce the show, discuss summer break plans, and share their obsession with the show "Widow's Bay"
  • 4 (04:04) **Ariana Grande's Health Controversy** - The hosts discuss the public reaction to Ariana Grande's new music video and her apparent physical decline
  • 5 (14:36) **Introducing Noah Rothman** - Meghan welcomes Noah Rothman, senior writer at National Review and author of "Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence in America"
  • 6 (15:23) **Maine's Democratic Candidate Chaos** - The panel examines the bizarre Democratic Senate primary in Maine after the collapse of the original candidate
  • 7 (18:50) **The Socialist Takeover of the Democratic Party** - Rothman analyzes the growing influence of democratic socialists and the DSA within the Democratic Party

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Is the Republican Party changing into something entirely new?

Meghan McCain and Miranda Wilkins react to the growing ideological battle inside the GOP, from the rise of post-liberal conservatism to the influence of figures like Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and J.D. Vance. As both political parties wrestle with identity, the conversation explores where conservatism is headed and what it could mean for 2028.

Senior National Review writer and bestselling author Noah Rothman joins the show to discuss his new book Blood and Progress, the resurgence of democratic socialism, the Democratic Socialists of America, political violence, and why both parties are facing profound internal divisions. He also weighs in on the future of the Republican coalition, Trump's approval ratings, and the growing influence of post-liberal politics.

Plus:

  • Concern grows over Ariana Grande's health after her latest music video
  • The latest twists in Maine's Senate race
  • The Democratic Socialists of America and the future of the Democratic Party
  • Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and the "America First" coalition
  • Trump's approval ratings and what they could mean for Republicans in 2028
  • Audience questions on Mitch McConnell, political violence, and the future of both parties
  • Meghan and Miranda's latest obsession, Widow's Bay

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Citizen McCain with Meghan McCain

More from this podcast

Citizen McCain with Meghan McCain →