Brad speaks with Matthew Sheffield, the editor and publisher of the new media outlet Flux. They discuss his article, "Republicans are banking on a fusion of Trump autocracy and McConnell nihilism, but will it work for them?"

One of the arguments Sheffield makes is that the GOP has given up on policy and has become the party of outrage and resentment. Their only play is belligerence via Fox News and other outlets.

He then argues that it's been hard to ramp up this outrage machine during the Biden presidency because Biden is a boring grandpa who is as old or older than most Trump voters; a president who largely stays out of view; and one on whom they can't use racist and xenophobic tacts like they do with other politicians.

Finally, he argues that the GOP and the White Christian fundamentalists who anchor it are losing power and numbers, but becoming more violent. Leading to the question of our time: Can our democracy survive the autocracy and nihilism they are turning to in order to remain at the top of the political and social hierarchies?

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