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CV NEWS FEED // In a 180-degree turn from the liberal culture the United States experienced in the 2010s, conservatives appear to be winning the “culture war” across the country, according to a New York Times op-ed.
Columnist and political analyst Thomas B. Edsall wrote that a large shift from the left to the right occurred thanks to an “aggressive and opportunistic conservative movement” that learned how to use media to spread a clear message explaining their views on society.
Edsall pointed to Elon Musk’s acquisition of X in 2022 and President Donald Trump’s creation of Truth Social, as well as conservative podcasters that consistently rank high on the popularity list.
“While a major element of the conservative drive to set the cultural agenda is to control the medium — the websites, podcasts, messaging systems — another goal is to discredit and push back against liberal initiatives and claims,” Edsall wrote, noting that right-wing activists, especially Chris Rufo, have been key in pushing against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and other “woke” policies.
In the cultural battle, Edsall wrote, the right has been on the offensive and the left on the defensive. Citing his interviews with numerous political experts, he added that the Democrats’ failure to perform well in recent years is largely due to their focus on a highly specific progressive agenda that does not resonate with the average American.
“Among the most damaging developments for the left include the failure of elite universities, bastions of liberalism, to deal with antisemitic protests during Israel’s attacks on Gaza; the current exodus of reporters, editors and subscribers at The Washington Post, a mainstay of liberal journalism; the discrediting of academia’s commitment to free speech as a result of the disclosure of their cancellation of controversial speakers,” Edson wrote.
He also added the general lack of conservative professors and the push for DEI policies at universities to the list.
Edsall’s full analysis is available here.
