Ep. 33: Liberals' Obsession with the Phantom Reasonable Republican

The unlikely rise of Trump in the past three years has created a chasm in the Republican party: those who embrace the President’s wild, unorthodox, nativist style and those who––with much posturing and self congratulation––reject his brand of conservatism. The latter group, generally called “NeverTrump” Republicans occupies a special, protected status in Serious Centrist media––despite representing only 5% of the American population. 

Major outlets like The Washington Post, The Atlantic and the New York Times employ roughly 20 #NeverTrump conservatives between them; there is no greater affirmative action policy in U.S. media than for anti-Trump conservatives. So long as they reject Trump, #NeverTrump pundits can get away with the most odious points of view – anti-Arab racism, climate change denial, literally suggesting women be hanged en masse for having abortions. 

What accounts for this? Where does the institutional obsession with finding a Reasonable Republican come from and why is there such a widespread denial that Donald Trump does, in fact, actually and accurately represent the GOP as it exists today?

We are joined by Slate's Osita Nwanevu. 

The Guest

Osita Nwanevu is a staff writer at Slate.

Show Notes

It’s Time to Stop Yammering About Liberal Bias

Osita Nwanevu | March 28, 2018 | Slate

What CPAC Was Really About

Osita Nwanevu | February 25, 2018 | Slate

Three Reasons Bret Stephens Should Not Be a NYT Columnist—and the Real Reason He Is One

Jim Naureckas | May 2, 2017 | FAIR

Leak: How NYT Editor James Bennet Justifies The Op-Ed Page To His Colleagues

Ashley Feinberg | February 27, 2018 | The Huffington Post

The Worst Parts of New York Times Opinion Editor James Bennet's Leaked Q&A With Staffers

Clio Chang | February 27, 2018 | Splinter News

NYT’s 100 Day Apologism Shows Danger of ‘Both Sides’ Reporting

Adam Johnson | May 3, 2017 | FAIR

At NYT, Climate Denial and Racism Don’t Make You Fringe — but Single-Payer Does

Adam Johnson | April 20, 2017 | FAIR

The Atlantic’s Gigantic Stumble

Adele M. Stan | March 28, 2018 | The American Prospect

For NYT, Making the Democrats Safe for the Oligarchy Is Literally Job One

Jim Naureckas | October 28, 2017 | FAIR

Republicans Are Coming Home To Trump

Perry Bacon Jr. and Dhrumil Mehta | February 16, 2018 | FiveThirtyEight

Why Are Progressives Cheering Cable News’ Parade of Hawks and Liars? 

Jeff Cohen | March 26, 2018 | FAIR

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Transcript

The full transcript for this episode can be found here.