"Some people seem driven more by what they oppose, reject and hate than by what they promote, affirm and revere. Their political commitments, personal identities and emotional lives appear to be structured more by opposition, resentment and hostility than by a positive set of ideals or aspirations. Tucker Carlson, a prominent Right-wing television host and former Fox News anchor, has no shortage of enemies."
"On his shows, he has condemned gender-neutral pronouns, immigrants, the removal of Confederate statues, mainstream media, the FBI and CIA, globalism, paper straws, big tech, foreign aid, school curricula, feminism, gingerbread people, modern art - and the list goes on. Each item is presented as an existential threat or a sign of cultural decay."
"a moment of triumph. He had reclaimed the presidency, consolidated power within the Republican Party, and issued a vast range of executive orders. But the mood wasn't celebratory. It was combative. Trump spent most of his time attacking his predecessor Joe Biden, repeating false claims about the 2020 election, denouncing the press, and warning of threats posed by immigrants, 'radical Left lunatics' and corrupt elites."
Some people organize political commitments, identities and emotions around opposition, resentment and hostility rather than positive ideals or aspirations. Media figures mobilize audiences by repeatedly naming threats and adversaries, treating cultural changes and institutions as existential dangers. Tucker Carlson condemned a long list of targets — from gender-neutral pronouns and immigrants to modern art — and presented victories as reasons to remain aggrieved. In April 2025 Donald Trump marked the 100th day of his second term with combative attacks on Joe Biden, false claims about the 2020 election, denunciations of the press, and warnings about immigrants, 'radical Left lunatics' and corrupt elites. The dynamic is noted beyond the United States.
Read at Aeon
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