The Spectacle of the G.O.P.’s Shrinking Tent
About this episode
Political historian Nicole Hemmer traces the Republican Party's transformation from the Reagan era to Trumpism, beginning with Liz Cheney's removal for refusing to embrace the lie about the 2020 election. They discuss how party loyalty shifted from ideology to personal loyalty to Donald Trump and to partisan identity itself, and how American institutions create minoritarian incentives that reward that shift. The conversation covers the history of 'RINO' purges, the rise of conservative media, and a feedback loop among voters, right-wing media, and politicians — with media increasingly following the base rather than leading it. They examine anti-democratic risks in election administration, the legacy of January 6, and continuities with the Bush era, while also discussing how mainstream media's conflict incentives amplify extremists and why federal voting-rights reform is necessary.