Jeremy Boreing On Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes

In this podcast episode, Jeremy Boreing discusses a wide range of topics central to the contemporary conservative movement, new media, and the culture wars within the right-wing. Topics include the internal conflicts on the right, hiring decisions and controversies surrounding figures like Candace Owens, the political projects of personalities such as Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, the spiritual and religious influences at play, the challenges posed by social media and technology, and his own creative work on the Pen Dragon Cycle.

The Right-Wing Civil War and Media Landscape

Jeremy Boreing paints a vivid picture of the ongoing civil war within the American right, an infighting exacerbated by the unique circumstances of a one-term former president, Donald Trump, whose inability to run in a consecutive term stymies traditional political power consolidation. This void sparks competition for influence, money, and vision among right-wing factions and media figures. Boreing emphasizes the rapid proliferation of right-of-center voices across new media platforms, many jockeying for dominance, often incentivized both by financial gain and power, which leads to a fractious and sometimes destructive environment.

He recalls the early days of the Daily Wire as pioneers in exploiting new media—especially social media and video podcasting—to create a conservative alternative to mainstream liberal-dominated media. However, he laments conservatives' typical reluctance to adopt emerging technologies swiftly, which has cost them cultural ground, citing social media and AI as current examples of missed or underutilized opportunities.

Candace Owens and Audience Capture

Boreing candidly identifies hiring Candace Owens as possibly the biggest mistake of his professional career. Despite initially believing in her talent and positive potential—such as her effective stance during the Black Lives Matter protests—he describes her as a force that can either powerfully illuminate issues or cause substantial damage if misdirected. He argues that Owens ultimately embraces audience capture as a virtue, expressing what her audience wants to hear rather than abiding by consistent convictions. Her recent willingness to unleash damaging rhetoric, including plans for exposés on the widow of Charlie Kirk, exemplifies a shift towards cynicism and harm.

Comparing her rhetorical tactics to the destructive impulse seen in violent left-wing groups like Antifa, Boreing suggests that Owens and similar media personalities engage in a rhetorical tearing down of foundational Western narratives and symbols, paralleling physical attacks on statues and monuments.

Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and the New Political Project

Boreing differentiates the political projects of figures like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes from what he labels the "grift industrial complex." He sees Carlson and Fuentes as key players in an emergent coalition combining left-wing economic populism—emphasizing redistribution, protectionism, and economic defense of the "ordinary man"—with right-wing social conservatism, particularly around identity and traditional values. This movement aims to forge a new American majority, one that departs from the postwar order toward a post-liberal, more authoritarian vision with reduced human freedoms.

While expressing disagreement with this vision, Boreing acknowledges its coherence and political seriousness in contrast to the purely self-serving or entertainment-driven motivations of others on the right. He further discusses JD Vance's ambiguous role within this evolving landscape, highlighting loyalty and political pragmatism as possible reasons for his closeness to Carlson, while acknowledging that Vance's political allegiance remains uncertain.

Charisma, Mental Instability, and Media Influence

A substantial part of the conversation explores the link between charisma and mental instability, particularly in public figures and entertainers. Boreing uses an analogy from aerodynamics to describe charisma as analogous to dynamic instability: it allows a public figure to be unpredictable and compelling, which can be both an asset and a risk. He contrasts charismatic entertainers against steady, logically consistent political voices, emphasizing the difficulties in navigating truth, influence, and audience expectations in this space.

This dynamic also relates to the broader issue of audience susceptibility, where the allure of charisma often obscures accuracy or consistency. Boreing notes that this is not limited to the right-wing but interacts distinctively due to conservatives' historical exclusion from major popular culture and a pervasive "bunker mentality" that fosters paranoia and conspiracy thinking.

Religion, Tribalism, and the Spiritual Dimension

The discussion delves into the religious and spiritual dimensions motivating and shaping parts of the new right. Boreing highlights the use—and misuse—of Christian language by figures like Nick Fuentes, who co-opt "Christ as king" as a tribal and exclusionary rallying cry, particularly targeting Jewish communities. Boreing condemns this as an improper manipulation of religion for political gain and a misrepresentation of gospel teachings.

He also outlines a growing appeal of traditionalist Catholicism among conservative young white men as a reaction to the perceived failures of evangelical Protestantism and liberalism more broadly. This movement seeks structure, ritual, and tribal affiliation but risks entangling with anti-Semitic histories and modern conspiracies. Boreing stresses this religious involvement is more instrumental and tribal than genuinely theological or consistent with Christian doctrine.

Social Media, Technology, and Cultural Impact

Identifying social media as the defining technological and cultural challenge of the present era, Boreing underscores its profound negative impacts, particularly on children and civic life. He warns that society has largely overlooked the damage caused by smartphones and the ubiquitous presence of social media in daily life, with political and cultural dysfunction directly fueled by these platforms.

The rise of digital pornography is cited as a parallel example where personal responsibility meets systemic lack of regulation, noting that many children have extensive access to content far beyond what prior generations could have imagined. Boreing advocates for renewed cultural and possibly regulatory guardrails around technology usage, especially for minors, to mitigate harms.

He stresses the urgency of grappling with social media's effects before turning full attention to newer concerns like artificial intelligence, arguing the cultural ecosystem around social media remains dangerously ill-understood and poorly managed.

The Vision for Conservatism and Cultural Creation

Boreing articulates a vision for conservatism that embraces both preserving valuable aspects of the past and boldly building a better future. He rejects the notion of mere preservation for its own sake and urges conservatives to be active creators, engaging in cultural production and political innovation rather than futile resistance to change.

He relates this philosophy to his work on the Pen Dragon Cycle, a substantial creative project retelling Arthurian myth with Christian themes. Boreing views such artistic endeavors as integral to shaping intellectual and cultural life, offering a hopeful rejection of nihilism and nihilistic tendencies prevalent in other media like Game of Thrones.

The Future of Politics and Social Cohesion

Finally, Boreing reflects on America's political trajectory, acknowledging real grievances articulated by both populist right-wing and left-wing critiques but emphasizing the enduring problem of human nature—original sin—as the root cause of societal dysfunction rather than any single political ideology. He defends liberalism as fundamentally compatible with freedom and the gospel while arguing that the erosion of cultural institutions and family structures has unchanneled liberalism, allowing it to falter.

He warns against embracing illiberal or authoritarian alternatives, even those framed as virtues, pointing out their historical and spiritual futility. Instead, the challenge is to rebuild virtue, strengthen intermediary institutions like family and culture, and channel liberty toward flourishing rather than destruction.