The hottest Conservatism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Ben Shapiro: Criticism Isn’t Censorship

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2109 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Calling public figures 'cowardly' or 'unhinged' is not censorship but part of the normal give-and-take of political debate.
  2. The critique of Tucker Carlson centers on his Russia trip, praise of Moscow institutions, and his decision to platform Nick Fuentes, which indicate he has drifted from traditional conservatism.
  3. The issue with Megyn Kelly arose from her defense or mischaracterization of Candace Owens' remarks about Erika Kirk, showing the criticism targets specific actions and associations rather than a single issue like Israel.

Political Backflow From Europe

Astral Codex Ten • 26154 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. European political stories and policy problems often spill into American debates even when they don't fit, like blaming U.S. young people for pension issues that are mostly European in origin.
  2. Immigration looks different in Europe and the U.S.: some European countries show higher welfare use and crime among immigrants, but in America immigrants on average use less welfare and commit fewer crimes than native-born people.
  3. Both political sides sometimes ignore these differences, letting European anecdotes shape U.S. opinion; it's better to admit what's true about Europe and then refocus arguments on American data and context.

They need to make you hate some group

Noahpinion • 28235 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The political right is pushing a racial-collectivist view that judges whole ethnic or immigrant groups by the condition of their home countries to justify immigration restrictions and win power.
  2. When progressives emphasize group identity and race-conscious policies, it can weaken the public appeal of treating people as individuals and hand the right an opening to demand group-based judgments.
  3. Evidence shows immigrants usually adapt and often succeed in America because of selection and U.S. institutions, so the idea that migrants simply recreate the problems of their homelands here is false.

Thoughts on Elite Versus Populist Libertarianism

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 4998 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Libertarianism splits into two tribes: elite libertarians who are idea-driven, socially liberal, and pro-democracy, and populist libertarians who seek mass support through culture-war, conspiratorial, and sometimes authoritarian tactics.
  2. Many people wear libertarianism as a form of vice signaling rather than from a sober understanding of economics, which lets grifters, conspiracy theorists, and hardline cultural agitators dominate the movement.
  3. Being part of the conservative coalition once helped libertarians advance pro-market policies, but the recent populist takeover has broken that bargain, so lasting success now requires persuading intellectual elites and idea-focused audiences.

The Problem with "White Culture"

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 4169 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Calling something "white culture" is possible, but in the American context it usually functions as an exclusionary, unhealthy identity tied to power and grievance.
  2. Claims that white culture is being erased often confuse demographic decline with cultural disappearance; whites still hold cultural and institutional dominance, so the threat claim is largely paranoid.
  3. Saying "white" instead of "Western" tends to make race more central and usually signals an identitarian, grievance-driven politics that contradicts the democratic values its supporters claim to defend.
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The Christian Conservatives Who Don’t Want Prayer Time in Schools

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 384 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Conservatism
  1. Most Texas school boards have rejected creating official prayer periods during the school day, even though they were required to vote on the question.
  2. Some conservative Christians say personal faith should stay private and not be turned into a formal part of the school schedule.
  3. Religious practices still happen informally in communities—like student-led prayers at football games—even when boards decline to add prayer time to the school day.

Maybe It’s Bad That Recent Progressive Ideas On Race Are So Compatible With White Nationalism

Singal-Minded • 1464 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The phrase "white culture" is often used but rarely defined clearly, so people struggle to explain what it actually means.
  2. Widely circulated progressive frameworks that list "white supremacy culture" traits treat common behaviors as part of a coherent white identity, and many organizations have adopted those lists.
  3. That adoption can backfire because it makes the idea of a coherent white identity seem real and gives critics an easy way to accuse progressives of validating the same categories white nationalists use.

Hillary Clinton Wrote a Hit Piece on Me. Here’s My Response.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2745 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Conservatism
  1. A high-profile critique accused conservative influencers and policies of promoting a 'war on empathy,' tying that stance to harmful incidents and a perceived lack of compassion in policy.
  2. Those criticized insist this is a mischaracterization and say they do not view empathy as a sin, rejecting the claim that they oppose compassion.
  3. The clash highlights a deeper debate about how religious morality should shape public life and policy, with competing views on the role of compassion and responsibility in politics.

2026 Predictions

Freddie deBoer • 4733 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. People will insist they’re exhausted by politics and practice a kind of “healthy detachment,” while actually spending more time obsessing over politics than about work, love, or virtue.
  2. Political media will pivot from analysis to emotional soothing, openly validating readers’ anger and prioritizing feeling over explanation, even as that shift remains deeply cynical.
  3. A cultural trend will declare ideology dead but replace it with repackaged ideological projects billed as pragmatism or new brands, and old ideas will resurface under fresh marketing and names.

The White Women as Race Traitor

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 4047 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The ICE surge into Minnesota is driven more by tribal anger and symbolic posturing than by rational immigration policy or effectiveness.
  2. Conservative commentators have responded by attacking and psychoanalyzing protesting white women, using sexist labels to dismiss their dissent.
  3. Modern right-wing politics prize loyalty, aggression, and friend-enemy thinking over legal norms and careful policy, which makes the movement unified but also risky and possibly self-destructive if a more competent leader harnesses it.

The Unbearable Stupidity of Nick Shirley

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 4535 implied HN points • 09 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. A 23-year-old influencer’s viral confrontational videos are being praised as investigative journalism even though his methods were sloppy and produced unreliable evidence that led to harassment of targeted daycares.
  2. The right-wing influencer ecosystem often works backwards—starting from a belief and then hunting for so-called "receipts"—which prioritizes identity-based narratives over careful evidence and proper reporting.
  3. Conservative media frequently rewards low intellectual standards and nativist claims, elevating amateurs instead of rigorous journalists and making thoughtful, policy-focused debate harder.

No I will not take the high road

Disaffected Newsletter • 3816 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Some people want outspoken others to stay quiet, but those who speak the truth shouldn't feel pressured to do so. It's okay to point out uncomfortable truths.
  2. Many believe that focusing on policies is more important than discussing someone's personal life, but that view can ignore important realities. Voters might care more about the messiness of real life than some think.
  3. People who ask others to stay quiet might not support those who speak up when they see injustice. It's important to recognize those who are truly supportive versus those who just want to avoid confrontation.

JD Vance Is the White Kendi

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 6022 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. He turns lower-class white grievances into an identity-politics playbook, using zero-sum and conspiratorial narratives that cast elites or foreigners as the root cause of most problems.
  2. He routinely blames immigrants, corporations, and experts for economic and social ills while downplaying personal responsibility and market explanations.
  3. If that style spreads, it could remake conservatism into a postliberal, grievance-driven movement that abandons free markets, individual agency, and traditional conservative principles.

Ben Shapiro: Only Cowards Tolerate Conspiracy Theorists

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 4743 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Conservatives should publicly reject and denounce influencers who spread conspiracy theories and vague insinuations instead of tolerating them.
  2. Beating distortions and false claims requires responding with honesty, clarity, and factual argument rather than matching or amplifying vague accusations.
  3. The future of the country depends on a conservative movement that remains committed to core principles—freedom, free markets, and limited government—and prioritizes truth.

Hate thy Neighbor as Thyself

Thinking about... • 667 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Some political actors co-opt religious language to demand absolute loyalty to a leader and to justify hatred of others, reversing compassion into cruelty.
  2. Social media and meme culture amplify and reward performative cruelty and self-hatred, turning nastiness into online status and influence.
  3. That rhetoric has dangerous real-world effects: protectors and victims get slandered or blamed, violence is celebrated, and wealthy backers can help spread those false narratives.

Hail and Farewell

Bulwark+ • 23585 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. President Biden faced challenges but won't be indicted for classified documents.
  2. Trump's disqualification under the 14th Amendment case didn't go well.
  3. The author reflects on his time at The Bulwark and the importance of independent conservative voices.

Black Americans Are Not Hyphenated Citizens

Journal of Free Black Thought • 97 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Black Americans are Americans first, and calling them "African American" creates a hyphenated identity that separates them from their national birthright.
  2. Emphasizing global racial identity and identity politics has weakened family, faith, and personal responsibility, contributing to persistent social problems like poverty, failing schools, and crime.
  3. Reclaiming a shared American identity and recommitting to family, faith, and civic responsibility is the path to stronger communities and lasting progress.

New Book, Founding Member Perks, and Hegelian Dialectics with Myself

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 3340 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. A forthcoming book called Kakistocracy offers a cross-national theory of populism, arguing it has harmful effects in Western democracies while explaining why it rises and what consequences it produces.
  2. The piece explains a break with MAGA-era conservatism, claiming modern right-wing populism rewards grifters, conspiracy, and nativism and undermines serious conservative intellectual life.
  3. To fund continued independent writing, the creator is seeking more Founding Members at a raised $500 tier, promising perks like direct Signal access, a group chat, occasional meals, and extra personal articles.

Patrick Deneen's Work Is Unempirical Drivel

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 5071 implied HN points • 14 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Postliberal thinkers often avoid discussing concrete policies and focus on abstract ideas instead. This can make it hard to pinpoint their actual positions on important issues.
  2. Patrick Deneen, a prominent postliberal figure, tends to rely on emotional appeals and broad claims without providing solid evidence or engaging in real debates about policy.
  3. The rise of postliberalism signifies a decline in healthy intellectual discourse on the right, as it often prioritizes vague narratives over fact-based discussions and critical thinking.

A Power Grab by the Court

The Status Kuo • 11910 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The Supreme Court case challenges the 'Chevron Doctrine' and could potentially shift regulatory power to judges.
  2. Conservative justices on the Supreme Court seem ready to overturn the established 'Chevron Doctrine' that's been in place for 40 years.
  3. Overruling the 'Chevron Doctrine' could lead to judicial activism, with impact on regulatory powers and potential legal chaos.

Moms for Liberty activists starting taxpayer-funded charter school

Popular Information • 10082 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Moms for Liberty activists are starting a taxpayer-funded charter school with close ties to a right-wing curriculum
  2. The charter school avoids state oversight, raising concerns about accountability and quality of education
  3. Erskine College sponsoring multiple charter schools, including the Moms for Liberty founded academy, for financial support

Political Psychology Links, 2/17/2026

In My Tribe • 136 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Conservatives should aim to cultivate a positive, hopeful intellectual vision as their central task. But people often take a perverse pleasure in hating and conflict, which makes combative, pessimistic narratives more popular than constructive ones.
  2. The rise of social justice or 'woke' ideas is tied to mass higher education and changing social values that see human nature as malleable, making large-scale social transformation and activism morally urgent. Those beliefs also operate as a status strategy, turning approved speech and identities into assets supported by media, education, and institutional networks, while simple economic explanations for the phenomenon look weaker.
  3. Behavior genetics shows most heritable psychological variation comes from many small-effect genes under purifying selection and mutation-selection balance. As a result, many individual differences are likely neutral or slightly maladaptive rather than being direct adaptive traits.

From Plato to NATO to MAGA: Marco Rubio’s Myths & the Real "Western Alliance"

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 192 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The idea of a continuous "West" stretching from Plato to NATO is mostly a post‑WWII political invention, and mythmaking can inspire good aims but also hide inconvenient truths or enable authoritarian projects.
  2. Cold War actions like the Marshall Plan were not primarily about creating markets for American goods; economic arguments were secondary to strategic, security, and ideological goals aimed at containing the Soviet Union.
  3. The American "city upon a hill" story emphasizes breaking with the Old World, and the U.S. played a decisive rescuing and restructuring role in Europe after WWII, though Britain and other European actors also had important agency in shaping that outcome.

The Brands Propping Up Right Wing YouTube

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 2328 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Right-wing brands spend a lot of money on YouTube influencers, which helps those influencers grow and succeed. This creates a strong support system for conservative content creators.
  2. YouTube's recommendation system often favors content that creates strong emotional reactions, which disproportionately helps right-wing creators get more views and engagement.
  3. There's a lack of financial support for left-wing influencers compared to their right-wing counterparts, making it harder for them to build a successful platform.

Defining Normalcy Down

Bulwark+ • 6446 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The concept of 'defining normalcy down' involves lowering standards for acceptable behavior over time.
  2. Political figures can redefine 'normal' to fit their narrative or agenda, even in the face of concerning actions.
  3. The dilemma of 'anti-anti-Trumpers' lies in their struggle to balance opposition to Trump with their concerns about the left, leading to conflicting stances.

The Death of British Conservatism

Striking 13 • 3833 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The Conservative party in Britain is facing potential annihilation with its support dropping drastically in polls.
  2. Populist conservatism has replaced traditional conservatism in the UK, leading to a significant ideological shift.
  3. There is a call for true conservatives to regain control and fight for the core values within the Conservative party to prevent complete ideological loss.

New Zealand Just Woke Up Worse

Webworm with David Farrier • 10672 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Conservatism
  1. New Zealand is experiencing a fundamental shift in politics with the election of a deeply fundamentalist Christian prime minister.
  2. The new prime minister's party has been associated with policies that are unfavorable towards poor people.
  3. The election results show a significant vote share for the party led by the new prime minister.

In which Marco Rubio receives a standing ovation from the Eurotards for his speech attacking mass migration, "the climate cult" and liberal universalism

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 178 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Marco Rubio attacked mass migration, what he called the “climate cult,” and liberal universalism, and his speech at the Munich Security Conference drew a standing ovation.
  2. His remarks indicate that nationalist and right-populist critiques of migration, climate policy, and liberal norms are finding sympathy among some European elites.
  3. That applause signals shifting transatlantic dynamics, where alliances and domestic leaders may face harder choices about migration, climate policy, and the limits of liberal universalism.

Conservatism 101

In My Tribe • 880 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Conservatism centers on skepticism about perfect solutions, stressing human imperfection, trade-offs, and the danger that power corrupts.
  2. Conservatives value longstanding institutions and distrust abstract, top-down theories because social life is complex and reforms can have unintended consequences.
  3. Many contemporary conservatives distrust major institutions and disagree about what should be preserved, so the movement lacks a clear consensus on what to conserve.

Classic Takes: How I Murdered The Weekly Standard!

Emerald Robinson’s The Right Way • 5535 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The author's essay on 'The Collapse of the Never Trumpers' led to significant consequences in conservative media.
  2. The essay sparked a public war among conservative intellectuals and contributed to the downfall of the Weekly Standard and the expulsion of key figures like Jonah Goldberg.
  3. The author's actions and writings challenged the traditional conservative narrative and had a notable impact on media personalities and institutions.

If I Taught Conservative Thought

In My Tribe • 850 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Conservative thinkers often support liberal causes for reasons that align with their values, showing that conservatism can adapt to changing times.
  2. A strong reading list can help people appreciate conservative ideas, and exploring these works might lead to more respect for conservative views.
  3. Engaging with diverse perspectives, especially in today's polarized climate, is important for fostering understanding and dialogue.

Vance Wants Open Borders in the MAGA Coalition

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 579 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. He argues the MAGA movement should stay broad and avoid purity tests, saying denouncing or deplatforming fellow conservatives is counterproductive.
  2. That view aligns him with the side that tolerates controversial influencers and conspiratorial figures to keep the coalition large and inclusive.
  3. Other conservatives push the opposite approach, wanting to police the movement and exclude conspiracy theorists, antisemites, and bad-faith actors to defend truth and credibility.

Why Democrats won't build their own Joe Rogan

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 10689 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The right has built a strong network of influencers who promote their message, but the left lacks similar support and reach in media.
  2. Conservative content creators often receive substantial funding and institutional backing, allowing them to grow rapidly and gain credibility.
  3. The Democratic Party seems uninterested in fostering a progressive media ecosystem, making it hard for left-leaning influencers to compete.

The Great Creator Reset

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 7106 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The shutdown of TikTok could lead to many creators losing their platforms overnight. This has a much larger impact than when Vine shut down a few years ago.
  2. TikTok has been a key space for progressive voices and activism. Its ban might shift the online conversation more towards conservative viewpoints, as many progressive creators will struggle to find similar support elsewhere.
  3. With TikTok gone, right-wing creators are likely to gain more visibility and influence on other platforms. This change could permanently alter the digital landscape and how people engage with different ideas.

Conservatism’s Path Not Taken

Persuasion • 2731 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Conservatism has two main competing ideologies: Fusionism and National Conservatism.
  2. National Conservatives risk bureaucratic tyranny and extremism, while Fusionists have economic successes but cause societal divisions.
  3. Humanist Conservatism offers a moderate, inclusive, and community-focused alternative to the existing conservative schools.

Bari Weiss: Against the Vandals

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 5318 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship aims to create a hopeful vision for the future and preserve the foundations of civilization. This shows a collective desire to bring about positive change in society.
  2. Recent political leaders like Javier Milei in Argentina and Giorgia Meloni in Italy have shown that strong leadership can lead to significant change, challenging the idea that decline is inevitable.
  3. Attending and participating in gatherings like ARC can feel energizing and affirming, especially when surrounded by like-minded individuals who care about important issues.

Breaking Biden: episode 178

Disaffected Newsletter • 439 implied HN points • 30 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism
  1. Biden had a really tough time in the recent debate, and it was so bad that it might make you cry or laugh.
  2. Mike Harlow, a former leftist turned conservative, shares his experience of transitioning in New York City and discusses reactions from others in the LGBTQ+ community.
  3. The show also covers various topics, including interesting cultural discussions and funny moments related to politics.