MAGA Loyalty

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‘Trump Bucks' Promise Wealth for MAGA Loyalty. Some Lose Thousands

The products are advertised online as a kind of golden ticket that will help propel Trump’s 2024 bid and make the “real patriots” who support him rich when cashed in

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/trump-bucks-promise-wealth-for-maga-loyalty-some-lose-thousands/3574666/?

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Team Trump Fine With Pissing Off MAGA to Compete With Biden

On a pair of high-profile occasions, Trump got crosswise with his MAGA base. It’s not accidental.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/team-trump-fine-with-pissing-off-maga-to-compete-with-biden?

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? MAGA summit

Photo: Trump for President Reveling in a break from the tawdry tedium of his Manhattan trial, former President Trump spoke for 90 minutes yesterday to 400 Republican donors in the Grand Ballroom of his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. The RNC Spring Meeting guests enjoyed a "gourmet lunch" and Trump got a "raucous standing ovation" as he entered, according to an extensive readout from his campaign. ? Why it matters: The fundraiser doubled as an audition for contenders to be Trump's VP nominee — and showcased Republican politicians who are either MAGA-proud or want to be seen as team players. RNC co-chair Lara Trump, the former president's daughter-in-law, presented him with a framed plaque for hitting No. 1 last year on Billboard's Digital Song Sales for "Justice for All" — a recording by the J6 Prison Choir (men jailed for the Capitol attack) that he has played at rallies. The recording is part of Trump's effort to embrace the Capitol riot. The pre-program speakers were Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Trump primary opponent; and Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas — both Black members of Congress who have been mentioned as Trump VP possibilities. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made remarks. RNC Chair Michael Whatley also was called onstage. Also onstage: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Sen. Mike Lee (Utah), Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), Sen. J.D. Vance (Ohio), North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Rep. Jim Banks (Ind.), Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and Rep. Michael Waltz (Fla.). Two GOP nominees for U.S. Senate were onstage: Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania and Bernie Moreno of Ohio.

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Scenes From a MAGA Meltdown: Inside the “America First” Movement’s War Over Democracy

Standing in a cafe decorated with tiny American flags and antique cabinets as big as bodyguards, Peter Meijer paused as he considered what to say to the man in the “Stand for God” shirt who had just called for his bodily harm.

https://www.propublica.org/article/michigan-republicans-maga-meltdown-democracy-elections?

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Behind the Curtain: MAGA's jail plan

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

If former President Trump wins in November, top supporters will push him to investigate, prosecute — and even try to imprison — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), who won Trump's conviction in the hush-money case, Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei write. "Of course [Bragg] should be — and will be — jailed," Steve Bannon, one of the top voices of the MAGA movement, told us — saying for the record what many Trump supporters are privately plotting. Why it matters: This column has reported extensively about all the norms Trump plans to shatter if returned to the White House. Nowhere would that be truer than at the Justice Department, which Trump wants to make his fief and retribution arm. Bannon told us Bragg could be targeted using the 14th Amendment (equal protection) and Fourth Amendment (outlawing unreasonable searches and seizures by the government) "plus scores of other" laws. Another Trump insider pointed to a federal civil rights statute, "Conspiracy Against Rights." How much more aggressive would a second Trump term would be? Bannon pointed to "the evolution of any war — the Revolution," the Civil War, and World Wars I and II: "They only get nastier over time." Asked about the signature cry of "lock her up" from Trump rallies in 2016, the former president said this weekend on "Fox & Friends Weekend": "I could have done it. But I felt it would have been a terrible thing. And then this happened to me. And, so I may feel differently about it." Reality check: Bragg, who's prosecuting Bannon in a separate case scheduled to go to trial in September, is a state official who operates independently of the Justice Department and the federal courts. ?️ The big picture: With Trump's conviction, "lawfare" — political warfare involving the courts — is one of the top issues animating the Trump faithful. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Monday told Fox News he wants to "defund the lawfare activities" of state and federal prosecutors leading "politically sensitive investigations," including Bragg, special counsel Jack Smith and Fulton County (Ga.) District Attorney Fani Willis.

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MAGA's new kingmaker

Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr. has become a behind-the-scenes power broker in GOP politics — a guy whose endorsements are coveted as much as anyone except his father's, Axios' Sophia Cai reports. Why it matters: Don Jr., 46 — and friends including Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), 39 — are the next-generation Republicans who are most eager, and best-positioned, to carry on the former president's MAGA legacy. Don Jr. is like his father in some ways: He enjoys campaigning and trash-talking on social media. And he's an authentic outdoorsman, making him a favorite on rural radio. "With the exception of his dad, I'm not sure I've seen anyone who has a stronger natural connection to our base," Vance said. Between the lines: Don Jr. has developed a multi-platform messaging network to build his brand. His "Triggered" podcast on Rumble is popular with MAGA enthusiasts and will expand beyond its current twice-a-week schedule, Axios has learned. He uses Twitter/X to hammer his father's critics — rants that have drawn ridicule from Democrats. He tries to make people laugh on Instagram, reaching a conservative but not overtly political audience of hunters and gun owners. Don Jr.'s focus this year has been on getting more MAGA-aligned candidates to the Senate. He says he's attracted to candidates with good stage presence who like to fight. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), a Senate nominee who's a friend of Don's, told Axios: "I see President Trump as the leader of the party. But I see Don Jr. as building the next generation."

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Missouri’s Attorney General Isn’t MAGA Enough for Leonard Leo 

Conservative megadonor Leonard Leo is funneling millions of dollars into the primary race for Missouri’s attorney general. His anointed candidate is Will Scharf, a personal attorney to Donald Trump who represented the former president in the immunity case decided Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

https://theintercept.com/2024/07/02/leonard-leo-missouri-attorney-general/?

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? MAGA's media meltdown

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Conservative media is facing a rare moment of introspection, rocked by a series of scandals that have drawn new scrutiny to the right's favorite influencers, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Why it matters: The battle for MAGA's future is unfolding not just at the ballot box, but online — where traditionally pro-Trump forces are suddenly feuding over antisemitism, revisionist history and Russian disinformation. At the center of the firestorm is Tucker Carlson, who has drawn sustained backlash for hosting a guest on his podcast who called Winston Churchill "the chief villain" of World War II. Elon Musk promoted the interview with Darryl Cooper, who Carlson suggested was "the best and most honest popular historian" in the U.S. — then backtracked after X users accused Cooper of Nazi apologia. ? Zoom in: Carlson's mainstream relevance has waned since he was stripped of the top-rated show in cable news, but his influence on Trump's "America First" movement remains unrivaled. In the midst of the Carlson outrage, the Justice Department revealed an indictment accusing Russia of a scheme to pay right-wing influencers to unwittingly spread propaganda ahead of the election. Pro-Trump content creators Tim Pool, Benny Johnson and Dave Rubin — staples of X's daily right-wing discourse — were among those who DOJ says were deceived by a Tennessee-based company covertly funded by Moscow. Keep reading.

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“Put Them in Trauma”: Inside a Key MAGA Leader’s Plans for a New Trump Agenda

A key ally to former President Donald Trump detailed plans to deploy the military in response to domestic unrest, defund the Environmental Protection Agency and put career civil servants “in trauma” in a series of previously unreported speeches that provide a sweeping vision for a second Trump term.

https://www.propublica.org/article/video-donald-trump-russ-vought-center-renewing-america-maga?

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MAGA world's hyper-confidence

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Former President Trump's surrogates, allies and foot soldiers appear supremely confident he'll win next week, projecting an air of inevitability inconsistent with what polls portray as a coin flip, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. "We've never had data that looks this good," a longtime member of Trump's inner circle told Axios. Why it matters: Trump could win, potentially in a landslide. So could Vice President Harris. Yet the MAGA universe largely refuses to entertain the latter outcome — priming Trump's base for mass distrust, disbelief and denial of a second straight election loss. ?️ The big picture: Like most partisan media, the pro-Trump echo chamber self-selects news, polls and predictions that point to a decisive victory for the former president on Nov. 5. Conservative media routinely downplay Trump's vulnerabilities — such as his racist rhetoric and his former chief of staff suggesting he's a "fascist" — while amplifying Harris' gaffes and bad polls. Pro-Trump X accounts with huge followings have triumphantly declared at various points during the campaign — most recently after Trump's McDonald's photo op and his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast — that the election is "over." Some MAGA influencers exploit gullible followers by citing anonymous "DC insiders" or "White House officials" who allegedly say Harris' internal polling has collapsed — racking up thousands of reposts. Between the lines: All of this — paired with the already rampant MAGA belief that Democrats "rig" elections — is setting the stage for a wholesale rejection of a potential Harris victory by Trump supporters. "[T]here is a real danger when media echo chambers falsely and knowingly tell half the country that their candidate is going to win," conservative writer Matt Lewis warned Monday. At Trump's triumphant rally at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sunday, guest speaker Tucker Carlson captured the sort of conspiratorial thinking fostered by this bubble of hyper-confidence. "Ten days from now ... It's going to be pretty hard to look at us and say, 'You know what? Kamala Harris, she got 85 million votes because she's just so impressive,'" Carlson said mockingly. Pastor Paula White prays over former President Trump during the National Faith Summit yesterday in Powder Springs, Ga. Photo: Brynn Anderson/AP ? Zoom in: Trump himself has falsely claimed that the only way he could lose the 2024 election is if Democrats "cheat," ignoring polls that show a margin-of-error race in all seven battleground states. "She's actually imploding, if you take a look, because look, I'm not supposed to say it, but we are leading by so much," Trump declared in Las Vegas last week. Behind the scenes: Internal polls "have Trump doing well in all seven swing states. He's up, but still within the margin of error. They are right to project confidence for that reason," a source involved in the Trump campaign told Axios' Alex Thompson. "However, arrogance is how mistakes are made — such as the stupid f**king rally [on Sunday]," the source added, referring to the Madison Square Garden event. ? What to watch: There are signs the Trump campaign truly believes the former president is dominating the race — or at least wants the public to believe that in the final days before the election. Trump will campaign in New Mexico on Thursday and Salem, Va., on Saturday, venturing into Democratic-leaning territories where most forecasts don't think he has a chance. Andrew Solender contributed reporting.

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MAGA world erupts over Andrew Tate release

Andrew Tate (left) and Tristan Tate (obscured) arrive at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday. Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images President Trump's online base is splintering over the administration's handling of two major news stories related to sex trafficking, which converged this week in dramatic fashion, Axios' Zachary Basu reports. Why it matters: The online MAGA universe is diverse, powerful, and extremely volatile. With a mix of ultra Trump loyalists and conservative ideologues, infighting is inevitable — and often explosive. ? What's happening: On Fox News on Wednesday night, Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to declassify and release secret documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex trafficker whose client list implicated global elites. On Thursday, the Justice Department released 200 pages of documents mostly consisting of recycled Epstein flight logs and contact information that had long been in the public domain. The online reaction was furious: Prominent Trump supporters accused Bondi and the influencers of staging a PR stunt and failing to release any new information. Zoom in: As the chaos over the Epstein files was unfurling, Romania suddenly lifted travel restrictions on Andrew and Tristan Tate, a pair of far-right influencers who were awaiting trial on human trafficking charges. The British-American Tate brothers — self-proclaimed misogynists who support Trump and have a massive global audience of young men — have also been accused of rape and tax evasion in the U.K. The Financial Times reported that Trump officials had pressured Romanian authorities to lift the travel ban. Trump himself denied any knowledge of the case Thursday. ? The Tate brothers' landing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where they proclaimed their innocence, set the stage for another intra-MAGA feud between mainstream conservatives and hardline provocateurs. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the Tate brothers were not welcome in his state, and that his attorney general would investigate whether any of their alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction. ? Between the lines: Backlash against Trump is brewing among segments of his base that are not traditionally political — but have an intense interest in the Tate and Epstein sagas. "If I'm gonna be fair these questions needs to be asked today. Why is the release of the Epstein list always a shit show?" tweeted Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. "What's the point of booting out illegals and criminals while somehow becoming a safe haven for the Tate brothers?"

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? Out today: Inside MAGA media

Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Getty Images

In an Axios AM Executive Briefing special report out later today, we give you a behind-the-scenes tour of the interconnected MAGA media ecosystem, which is bigger, broader and more influential than most outsiders realize. Why it matters: Political, business and marketing leaders who don't fully understand this reality can miss how public policies and cultural (and business) perceptions are being formed — or forced — in this new era. The report — for paid Executive Briefing subscribers — results from months of research and conversations by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Tal Axelrod, who joined Axios after covering the MAGAverse on the campaign trail. ? Inside the report: President Trump's MAGA media army is much better positioned to influence politics, culture and public perceptions than mainstream TV networks or newspapers. Individual MAGA stars command large, loyal audiences who aren't just news consumers — they're partisans ready to be activated. ? We interviewed dozens of people — including Charlie Kirk, Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson and top White House officials — to illuminate the depth and breadth of MAGA. Your subscription includes a 3,500-word report; a Zoom briefing by Jim, Mike and a special MAGA expert guest; and three months of briefings on related topics.

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? MAGA push to pardon Derek Chauvin

Prominent supporters of President Trump — led by podcaster Ben Shapiro — are fueling a major push to pardon Derek Chauvin, the white former Minnesota police officer convicted of killing George Floyd in 2020, writes Tal Axelrod, Axios' MAGA media expert.

• Why it matters: Pardoning Chauvin would keep with MAGA's own-the-libs and anti-social justice mentality.

The big picture: A Trump pardon would only affect Chauvin's federal case, where he pleaded guilty, and not the state case.

• The state conviction carries a longer sentence (22.5 years) than the federal case, meaning he would still be in prison even if the president acts.

?️ Zoom in: Shapiro, whose podcast episodes often break the Top 10 on Apple, launched the campaign early this month with a petition to convince Trump to issue the pardon. Shapiro has long dismissed the existence of systemic racism.

• Earlier this month, Trump said he hadn't heard of the push to pardon Chauvin. Shapiro's petition has passed 50,000 signatures. He's launching a five-part docuseries, "The Case for Derek Chauvin," on his show tomorrow.
• Shapiro claims Chauvin was unjustly convicted and that Floyd's death was caused by underlying health issues and drug use.

Reality check: A medical examiner who performed Floyd's autopsy testified in the 2021 murder trial that Floyd died due to loss or deprivation of oxygen caused by the neck restraint placed on him by the police.

? Elon Musk posted that Shapiro's pardon push is "something to think about." Charlie Kirk hosted Shapiro on his podcast in a show of support for the effort.

• Shapiro tells Axios: "f you actually do want to get a pardon for somebody, then typically you have to build a groundswell of support for that to become a political reality,"

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MAGA anoints Vance

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Just eight months after President Trump picked JD Vance to be his vice president, Vance is already positioned to be MAGA's heir apparent for 2028, Axios' Alex Thompson and Marc Caputo write. "I think it's inevitable at this point that Vance will be the [GOP] nominee in 2028," Sen. Jim Banks (R-Indiana), a close Trump ally, tells Axios. "He's the future of the America First movement and he's already proven himself." Why it matters: Many of Trump's longest-serving aides and most fervent supporters now see the vice president as the vehicle to lock in Trump's worldview for at least the next decade. In their view, Trump broke the old Republican Party — and Vance can finish building the new one. Vance has won over Trump's base with combative public performances, by savvily managing relationships with Trump's team, and by showing unwavering fealty to Trump's vision. Vance's dressing down of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was criticized on both sides of the Atlantic and even by some Republicans. But picking the fight drew cheers from the Trump faithful. Vance's pugilistic speech at the Munich Security Conference offended many European leaders — but enthralled Republicans back home who liked the tough talk. A person close to Donald Trump Jr. — who has been a key Vance validator going back to Vance's 2022 Senate race in Ohio — told Axios the president's son is "over the moon with JD's performance so far, and feels completely vindicated for spending his political capital last summer pushing his dad to pick Vance as vice president." Vance has also impressed financial moguls in Trump's orbit. ?️ At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, Vance easily won a straw poll of potential 2028 GOP nominees with 61%. Steve Bannon — an official in Trump's first White House, who now presides over the powerful "War Room" podcast — came in a distant second with 12%. Jim McLaughlin, the pollster who conducted the survey, said Vance won because he's "viewed as the closest thing to Donald Trump." ? Vance also has enjoyed a boost from the growing MAGA media sphere of podcasts and influencers. Matt Boyle, Washington bureau chief for Trump-friendly Breitbart News, said that when it comes to 2028, "Vance is clearly the far, runaway frontrunner, and no one else can hold a candle to him right now." "He's also been very smart about developing strong relationships with a lot of the MAGA America First OG's, and with Congress in passing President Trump's agenda and confirming the president's Cabinet," Boyle added. MAGA media star Jack Posobiec, who has many ties with Trump administration figures and traveled with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine, regularly refers to Vance as "48" — the 48th president. Vance, 40, is a digital native — and, in some ways, a more natural online fit than his boss. ? Reality check: Even some Vance boosters concede he doesn't have the showmanship that made Trump a reality TV star and political phenomenon. Some Democratic strategists scoff at the idea that Vance — who'd been in the Senate for just 18 months when Trump picked him for VP — could be a successful national candidate. ? The intrigue: The early enthusiasm for Vance has put a target on his back. Some in Vance's orbit are keeping an eye on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former Trump rival. DeSantis now has a good relationship with Trump — which some have interpreted as an effort by the president to keep potential Vance rivals around, so the vice president doesn't get too comfortable. "This president will never be a lame duck and he won't be treated like one," said one Trump adviser. "So if I had to guess, DeSantis acts as a little bit of a buffer." ? The big picture: Some Trump aides and allies see the Yale Law-educated Vance as the brainy version of MAGA. While Trump is a blunt-force object, they see Vance as a writerly intellectual who will personally compose his 20-paragraph posts on X. But they hope his wonkiness will foster wider validation of Trump's worldview.

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⚖️ MAGA media pushes for judicial showdown

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Top MAGA-world figures are leaning into a fight with the judicial system over the constitutionality of President Trump's deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members, Axios MAGA media expert Tal Axelrod writes. Why it matters: A federal district judge ruled that flights carrying the migrants to El Salvador had to be turned around — an order the White House says had "no lawful basis." MAGA podcasters have been adamant that the judge was in the wrong, indicating an appetite among Trump's base to lean into what could turn into a major showdown with the judicial branch. ?️ "I think there ought to be a much broader swath of impeachments" of federal judges, Steve Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast. "We have to fight fire with fire. ... They want to slow the Trump administration's flood-the-zone." Jack Posobiec said on his own show: "Immigration under national security concerns is obviously an area where number one, the judiciary, and particularly these district judges, have gone completely overboard." Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show," said on the podcast: "Essentially, it puts the Democrats in a place where they have to say: 'Well, we're defending criminal gang members.'"

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? MAGA media muscles up

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

MAGA media is seizing on its new influence in Washington — staffing up, enjoying unprecedented access to power, and making market splashes, Axios' Tal Axelrod and Sara Fischer report. Why it matters: Corporate America has typically shunned right-wing media. But expanded exposure to Washington's powerbrokers is helping MAGA outlets and personalities establish themselves as key media players. These outlets are landing bigger advertising deals and distribution contracts, and developing stronger talent networks. And investors are taking notice. ? The backstory: "Conservatives were exiled from the establishment, legacy media platforms where most Americans used to get their news," Andrew Kolvet, a top adviser for Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA, tells Axios. "This forced entrepreneurial creators out into the media wilderness to hone their skills and either sink or swim based on talent. ... Real talent rose to the top and built massive, durable audiences of increasing size and influence." ? Zoom in: Fox Corp.'s acquisition in February of Red Seat Ventures, the production company that manages shows from Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson, served as an early market signal of the commercial power of pro-Trump voices with digital platforms. Kelly — the fastest-growing right-wing podcaster in the fourth quarter of last year, per The Righting — announced in March that she'll launch her own podcast network, MK Media. ? Fox News, which has a straight-news daytime operation and more overtly conservative programming in primetime, raked in 160+ new advertisers between November 2024 and April 2025, according to iSpot data provided to Axios. A Fox spokesperson said there have been 200 new advertisers since the election. The Daily Wire's valuation tops $1 billion, Axios reported in December. Rumble and Newsmax are each publicly trading at values exceeding $2 billion, despite earning just $30 million and $171 million in revenue last year. Truth Social's parent company is currently valued at more than $5 billion on the public market, despite earning $3.6 million in 2024. ? Reality check: Because most MAGA-affiliated outlets are privately held startups, data on their financial growth is scant. ? Zoom out: Beyond the cash flow, these outlets are experiencing unprecedented access to the White House, which reinforces the image they seek as media heavy-hitters. Reporters and podcasters like The National Pulse's Raheem Kassam, The Daily Wire's Mary Margaret Olohan and Jack Posobiec have been invited on foreign trips with Cabinet officials.

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DeSantis' "made-for-TV" fall

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Christian Monterrosa/AFP and Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Not that long ago, Ron DeSantis looked like the future of MAGA, the iron-fisted ruler of Florida politics who was set up for a White House run, Axios' Marc Caputo writes. Now the Republican governor faces potential political obscurity — unable to control legislators in his own party, who are calling for a federal investigation of his wife's charity. Why it matters: Nothing exemplifies DeSantis' striking loss of mojo in Tallahassee like the scandal surrounding Hope Florida, the state-backed charity of First Lady Casey DeSantis, who's been eyeing a bid to succeed her husband as governor. The charity received $10 million in secret settlement money from a Medicaid provider just days before the charity sent that same amount to two political groups favored by the DeSantises. House Republicans and independent observers allege that the arrangement amounted to an illegal siphoning of Medicaid funds. The governor has denied wrongdoing and accused fellow Republicans of a "bogus" political smear. ? The big picture: The high-level Republican drama, dysfunction, name-calling and accusations in Tallahassee are likely to reverberate in next year's state elections. Polling suggests the scandal has hurt Casey DeSantis, who's been weighing a 2026 campaign to follow her term-limited husband as governor. Hope Florida was supposed to be central to her political platform. Zoom in: Ron DeSantis' stumble began with his failed presidential primary bid against President Trump last year. DeSantis' vindictive and pugilistic style of politics left him further isolated in the Florida Capitol. "Be careful how you treat people on the way up because you may encounter the same people on the way down," said Curt Anderson, veteran consultant and top adviser to DeSantis' predecessor, Rick Scott, who's now a U.S. senator and has had a strained relationship with the governor. "You see falls in politics, but not like this," Anderson said. "It's stark. It's fast. It's a made-for-TV movie. Let's not forget: He was ahead of Trump in polling in 2022 and would've run against [President Biden or Vice President Harris] and won." ? "There was a time when every Republican in the nation wanted to have a beer with Ron DeSantis," said one Republican who still likes him. "The problem is that the governor didn't act like he wanted to have a beer with them, and it showed." Keep reading.

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? MAGA's pope picks

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Top MAGA voices fixated on the Vatican and the possibility of a conservative pope are hoping the conclave will help reawaken a global right-wing religious and political realignment, Axios MAGA media expert Tal Axelrod writes. Why it matters: The papal succession — happening far beyond America's shores — touches the heart of the MAGA movement's push to prevent what it views as the destruction of "Western civilization." "People are tired of the mamby-pamby, light, shallow, substance-less Christian faith," Jack Posobiec, one of the most prominent Catholic MAGA voices, said yesterday. Zoom in: Conservatives have repeated a small handful of names they'd prefer to succeed the progressive Pope Francis, though the guarded process is incredibly difficult to predict or influence. Raymond Burke, an American cardinal and a prominent voice in the church's conservative wing who has clashed with Francis. Péter Erdő, a Hungarian cardinal who won over conservatives when he closed church doors in his home country to migrants a decade ago, warning that "we would become human smugglers if we took in refugees." Gerhard Müller, a German, has said he wants the next pope to be "strong on doctrine." Robert Sarah, a Guinean cardinal, is a vocal Francis antagonist one of the first names offered by many traditionalists.

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MAGA's fight for "Western civilization"

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The MAGA movement is no longer just fighting for President Trump. His most fervent loyalists are now engaged in what they see as a battle for "Western civilization" — a rallying cry for the modern right, reports Tal Axelrod, Axios' expert on MAGA media. Why it matters: The conservative ecosystem that has developed around Trump — and is touted daily in MAGA media — is key to understanding what's behind many of his policies. ?️ The big picture: For MAGA loyalists taking this long view, "Preserving Western Civilization" is the new "Make America Great Again." They proclaim America as a Judeo-Christian country that's the successor to the great European civilizations of Greece, Rome and the United Kingdom. They see a modern "Western civilization" as one that prizes freedom, the rule of law as they interpret it, meritocracy and the nuclear family. It's a movement wrapped in nostalgia. That's why Trump's Make America Great Again slogan resonated: To many in the modern right, society was at its zenith in the 1950s — and the liberalism of the 1960s and '70s drove the decline of their ideal society. ? Zoom in: The guideposts of the Western civilization movement run through MAGA media in ways large and small. Podcasters Steve Bannon and Jack Posobiec recite dates on their shows with "the year of our Lord" and "Anno Domini." Social media posts lament the growing South Asian population in the United Kingdom. The growing pro-natalism movement encourages conservatives to have large families. Articles in far-right media tout marriage and children, and even advice for women on ways to be more "marriageable." In recent years, conservative activists have blasted college English departments for adding courses that focus on racially diverse writers, instead of staying focused on Shakespeare and Chaucer. The movement sees today's DEI initiatives, expanded LGBTQ rights, fluid gender roles and illegal immigration as signs of a society run amok. Preserving Western values was a theme of Vice President Vance's major speech in Munich in February, when he decried censorship and mass immigration. Zoom out: Critics say the Western civilization movement looks regressive and racist. Trump policy attacks on asylum-seeking immigrants, and programs benefiting historically marginalized communities, help reinforce that image. The period of U.S. history the movement heralds included subjugation of women, segregation, and discrimination against nonwhites, those in the LGBTQ community and many others.

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MAGA doesn’t want you to think

Why are right-wingers so scared of ideas?

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/12/maga-doesnt-want-you-to-think/?

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⚖️ MAGA faithful's DOJ frustration

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photos: Andrew Harnik and Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The MAGA masses are growing disillusioned with Justice Department officials who are failing to deliver damning information on a laundry list of hot-button issues — especially Jeffrey Epstein's suicide, Axios MAGA media expert Tal Axelrod writes. Why it matters: The movement's back-against-the-wall mentality is kicking up fresh suspicions that nefarious government actors are out to stall President Trump's agenda. ? Zoom in: Drumbeat calls for repercussions are not going anywhere — and the administration will likely have to answer to the base until some handcuffs click. Kash Patel and Dan Bongino — the FBI's No. 1 and No. 2 officials — insisted in a Fox News interview Sunday that Epstein killed himself, contradicting a conspiracy theory that he was killed to protect high-profile clients. They were flooded with responses of disbelief: "WHO has bought the both of you?" one X user asked. Keep reading.

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? MAGA media's safe space

Some of the harshest critics of the "one big, beautiful bill" are still welcome guests on MAGA media. Why it matters: Hosts like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk have commiserated with hardliners like Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) about their debt and deficit worries while pushing for a way to get to "yes." But the same courtesy is not extended to blue-state moderates advocating for increases in the SALT deduction. "The SALT folks need to take a win, they need to take a middle ground," Andrew Kolvet, the executive producer and guest host of "The Charlie Kirk Show," said yesterday. "Make no mistake," posted Rogan O'Handley, who runs the popular DC Draino X account. "The SALT RINOs want all of us to pay their blue state taxes. Insane." Zoom in: "From the MAGA base's view, they don't like it when somebody goes fully against Trump," said a source close to Trump's orbit. ? "But there's a lot longer leash if the view is your criticism is coming from a place of wanting to make the bill more MAGA or more conservative, versus if the view is you're opposing the bill because it's too MAGA or too conservative." "The more members defend President Trump's agenda, the more negotiating leeway they would earn," said Mark Bednar, a former aide to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. — Tal Axelrod

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? MAGA jumps on AI jobs bloodbath

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

MAGA fears are mounting that a jobs apocalypse could destabilize the movement's economic foundation, Axios MAGA media expert Tal Axelrod writes. Why it matters: MAGA leaders are championing American dominance in AI — while sounding the alarm over its potential to wipe out millions of jobs for young and working-class Americans. ? Zoom in: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's dire warning to Axios in the column by Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen that led AM yesterday — AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs — instantly riled the MAGA media ecosystem. "We have to get ahead of this," Steve Bannon warned on his "War Room" podcast. "Or we're going to have mass unemployment, particularly among entry-level people under 30." Bannon's "cold open" was an 8-min. replay of Jim's discussion about the column on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." Charlie Kirk, one of the most powerful MAGA podcasters, said on his show: "What you are going to see is one of the most dramatic job displacements, and it's going to be a top issue in the 2028 campaign." Kirk later expanded on his reaction to Amodei's warning with a lengthy post on X, linking to the column and arguing that college-educated Democrats are the voters most likely to face a "gigantic economic earthquake." Keep reading.

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MAGA invasion

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

MAGA media heavyweights are intervening in elections around the world, increasingly obsessed with exporting President Trump's brand of right-wing populism beyond America's borders. Why it matters: What began as a nationalist reaction to America's perceived decline has evolved into a global ideological crusade, Axios' Tal Axelrod reports. ⚡ Now at the apex of its domestic power, MAGA is rallying behind candidates who share its views on immigration, globalism and the fight for "Western Civilization." "We believe the fight for freedom and conservative values doesn't stop at America's borders," Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) chair Matt Schlapp told Axios. MAGA-aligned candidates have been competitive in a spate of recent elections, emboldening pro-Trump influencers to engage more actively in foreign politics. ?? Poland: Conservative presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki is headed to a runoff against liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski today, in a race MAGA media is treating as a bellwether for Europe's political right. CPAC just held its first-ever event in Poland, where Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took the extraordinary step of endorsing Nawrocki and denouncing Trzaskowski as "an absolute train wreck." ?? Romania: MAGA leaders — including Vice President Vance — excoriated Romanian authorities for annulling the results of December's election and banning the leading far-right candidate over allegations of Russian interference. In last week's re-run, MAGA podcasters like Jack Posobiec and Steve Bannon rallied behind pro-Trump candidate George Simion, who even described himself as running "on the MAGA ticket." ?? UK: The insurgent Reform Party, led by arch-Brexiteer and Bannon friend Nigel Farage, is leading in British polls less than a year after the center-left Labour Party won a landslide election. ?? Germany: Vance, Elon Musk and scores of pro-Trump influencers have championed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which had its best-ever showing in elections earlier this year. ?? Ireland: Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has teased a longshot bid for the Irish presidency on an anti-immigration platform. McGregor was hosted by Trump at the White House on St. Patrick's Day, and appeared on Tucker Carlson's podcast in April. ?? South Korea: Bannon recorded a segment of his show Tuesday boosting the conservative candidate in South Korea's June 3 snap presidential election. Some MAGA figures have spread the theory that former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — impeached and removed after declaring martial law — was ousted in a China-backed coup. ? MAGA's foreign focus isn't entirely new: Trump supporters have long idolized populist strongmen like Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. But the movement is no longer just cheering on incumbents: It's actively trying to shape new political outcomes. "The good news is that after 10 long years, the institutional MAGA movement realizes the power in having friends overseas," said Raheem Kassam, former Farage adviser and current editor of The National Pulse. Read on.

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? MAGA's Israel fight

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above Netanya, Israel, today. Photo: Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images Some Hill Republicans view the past 24 hours as a battle lost for MAGA's isolationist camp. Why it matters: GOP Hill leaders united in support of Israel's targeted attack on Iran — in spite of MAGA media's monthslong warnings against such strikes. Major MAGA figures from Tucker Carlson to Charlie Kirk to Jack Posobiec tried for months to rally the Trump base against the U.S. backing direct attacks on Iran. Non-interventionism is a core pillar of the "America First" movement — arguably as important to the MAGA base as immigration and trade. But elected Republicans' public support of Israel's action indicates the more traditional national security hawks still have some ground to stand on, for now. Israeli officials told Axios' Barak Ravid that despite the administration's official distancing from the strikes, the U.S. had given Israel the green light. "The United States Senate stands ready to work with President Trump and with our allies in Israel to restore peace in the region and, first and foremost, to defend the American people from Iranian aggression," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a statement. "Israel decided it needed to take action to defend itself. They were clearly within their right to do so," House Speaker Mike Johnson said. Zoom in: Top GOP staffers told us the limits of the MAGA isolationists' influence — particularly with lawmakers — are clear. One chief of staff described the online personalities as "in a bubble," arguing they have almost no real influence on Capitol Hill. Another said they felt that when it comes to Israel, most Republicans are not all that in line with voices like Carlson. What to watch: Some Republicans are taking it a step further than approval of Israeli actions, encouraging more direct U.S. involvement while not yet advocating for troops on the ground. "Again, I applaud President Trump for urging Iran back to the negotiating table," Sen Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) posted on X today. "However, if Iran refuses this offer, I strongly believe it is in America's national security interest to go all-in to help Israel finish the job." "President Donald J. Trump does not bluff. If the Iranians attack Americans— there will be hell to pay," Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a close Trump ally, posted. Zoom out: Among Hill Democrats, the strikes are deepening the divide between those who steadfastly support Israel and those who are critical of the government's leadership. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said today that the U.S. commitment to Israel's defense must be "ironclad." But Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said, "Israel's alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran is a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence." The bottom line: "They should be Israel first. But we have to be America first," Steve Bannon said on his "War Room" podcast today. "[W]e cannot be inexorably dragged into a war on the Eurasian land mass or in the Middle East or in Eastern Europe." — Stef Kight, Stephen Neukam and Tal Axelrod