The article posits that the right-wing's intellectual elite operates within two interconnected bubbles. The first is the perceived dominance of liberal viewpoints in academia, journalism, and other elite fields. The second is a reaction to this, creating self-contained conservative spaces where groupthink and negative caricatures of the left are common. This results in a distorted view of America, fueling a sense of victimhood and justification for authoritarian measures.
This distorted view, exemplified in the works of influential figures like Patrick Deneen and Chris Rufo, isn't just theoretical. Individuals from this bubble now hold key positions within the Trump administration. Their worldview is shaping policy in various sectors, resulting in actions like culture wars within the Pentagon, internal inquiries into State Department staff deemed politically disloyal, and a push to undermine elite universities.
The article concludes that this right-wing intellectual bubble, once a fringe phenomenon, now significantly shapes policy and has had a tangible impact on American politics and institutions.