President Donald Trump’s political supporters have long been described as cult-like, from their willingness to change their ideology based on Trump’s whims to their reflexive distrust of established experts. In light of the Republican leader’s politically devastating losses in the 2026 midterm elections, these same true believers are now angry at every voter who did not stand by their man, at least according to a recent in-depth study.
“Last week we assembled a focus group of Republicans who voted for President Trump in both 2020 and 2024, and who, except for some local elections, voted straight-ticket Republican in this year’s midterms,” wrote polling expert Sarah Longwell in The Bulwark on Sunday.
“In my conversation with these voters, one thing became abundantly clear in their cacophony of cope: They were not blaming Trump,” Longwell added. “Instead, they were blaming the GOP candidates on the ticket for being terrible. They were blaming social media for pushing Trump Derangement Syndrome. And they were blaming their fellow Americans, who they insisted were just too brainwashed and emotional to just hold their noses and vote for the terrible candidates that Republicans offered them.”
I really don’t think this is a fair characterization at all. Do you have any specific examples of things they’ve been talking about recently which you can cite to back up these assertions? Because I’ve been listening to the Bulwark a lot lately, and I just don’t hear from them what you’re describing.
Sure, there’s plenty that I disagree with them on— and I’m definitely not gonna argue about the established facts of their collective past, but, still, I don’t think your characterization of their present is quite fair.
Look, I’m not trying to have an argument or be confrontational. I simply disagree.
Here is The Bulwark joking about how Kamala Harris is aligned with all their horrendous ideas that lost Dems the election.
Here is Longwell in particular ranking politicians as The Bulwark crew seems to agree with her generally about how Mamdani would be a bad mayor and that Conservatives would be preferable.
Here is the Bulwark crew bragging about how Kamala Harris aligns with all their really good ideas and it will totally win her the presidency.
Bill Kristol was a huge cheerleader for the War in the middle east and has vociferously defended his stance.
I have seen nothing that would indicate Sarah Longwell is not the same neocon who got her start working for one of the biggest corpo lobbyists. She was pro drunk driving.
These people are not to be trusted. They are ideologically committed to moving the country in a neoliberal direction, despite all the polling data and midterm results clearly showing the people want to move in a more progressive direction. When they claim to be apolitical and just referencing data and logic, they are fucking lying.
Fucking thank you. I didn’t even know who she was when I heard her on The Weekly Show last Wednesday, but there were so many red flags. Really disappointed that Jon seemed to fall for it.
OK. You make a very good argument.
Perhaps it’s time for me to reassess these people.
FWIW, I listen to these people as a counterpoint to gain perspective, but perhaps I’ve let my own perspective of them slip a bit. Maybe it’s time to recalibrate.
I appreciate the dialogue. Thank you.
Edit: also, fuck Bill Krystol. Those are dirty hands that cannot be washed clean.