The woke elites’ worst nightmare is becoming reality as a new wave of conservative thinkers, armed with populist fervor and ideological clarity, are finally pushing back against decades of leftist cultural dominance.
At a Glance
- Young conservative leaders like Rachel Bovard are spearheading a movement that merges cultural and economic populism into a powerful new political force
- National Conservatism conferences have become energizing rallying points for conservatives fed up with corporate elites and Big Tech censorship
- Prominent Republicans including Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Marco Rubio are adopting increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric about threats to traditional American values
- The movement represents a significant philosophical shift from Reagan-era conservatism toward using state power to actively counter leftist cultural dominance
- This rising movement combines culture war and class war into a unified agenda targeting both corporate and cultural elites
The Conservative Awakening
For decades, conservatives played by an outdated rulebook while progressives seized every cultural institution from Hollywood to academia to corporate America. But a new brand of conservatives has emerged – they’ve been “mugged by reality” and they’re done playing nice. At National Conservatism conferences across America, this awakening is palpable as speakers like Rachel Bovard, policy director at the Conservative Partnership Institute, articulate what many Americans have felt but couldn’t express: the progressive left doesn’t just disagree with us – they want to destroy our way of life.
“Woke elites—increasingly the mainstream left of this country—do not want what we want. What they want is to destroy us. Not only will they use every power at their disposal to achieve their goal, but they’ve already been doing it for years by dominating every cultural, intellectual, and political institution.” – Rachel Bovard
What’s remarkable is how this movement is bringing together three distinct conservative groups: older intellectual conservatives radicalized by the left’s excesses, mid-career politicians adapting to the populist moment, and young conservatives who’ve grown up swimming against a tide of progressive culture. The Information Age has transformed the American right, with many conservatives now viewing cultural production as dominated by corporate and media elites who actively suppress traditional values while promoting radical social experiments.
Fighting Fire With Fire
Perhaps the most significant shift in conservative thinking is the growing willingness to use state power to counter leftist cultural dominance. For generations, conservatives championed limited government in all spheres. Now, many are questioning whether that approach has simply ceded control to hostile cultural forces. The new national conservatives look to figures like Viktor Orbán in Hungary, who has used government authority to promote traditional values and limit progressive influence in education and media.
This represents a profound philosophical debate within conservatism about whether to preserve classical liberal values or acknowledge that those values alone cannot defend against an aggressive progressive agenda. Some speakers, like political theorist Yoram Hazony, argue for embracing Christian cultural identity as America’s foundation, while others focus more on economic populism and breaking the power of corporate elites who enforce woke orthodoxy on the public.
Senators like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Marco Rubio have embraced increasingly apocalyptic rhetoric, framing the current political moment as an existential battle for America’s soul. While some mainstream conservatives find this language alarming, it resonates deeply with voters who feel their way of life is under sustained attack from progressive institutions. The new conservative movement seeks to merge culture and class wars, challenging both corporate and cultural elites while advocating for economic policies that benefit American workers.
The Cultural Backlash
The cultural shift is perhaps most evident in how ordinary Americans are responding to progressive overreach. While the left controls most formal cultural institutions, alternative platforms and voices have emerged, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. From podcasters like Joe Rogan to a growing ecosystem of conservative media, Americans are finding ways to consume content that doesn’t lecture them about their supposed moral failings or demand adherence to constantly evolving progressive orthodoxies.
“What has happened to public discourse about race has radicalized me.” – Glenn Loury
The more aggressively progressive elites push their agenda, the more they create exactly the kind of conservative backlash they claim to fear. Parents who never considered themselves political activists are showing up at school board meetings. Workers are questioning corporate diversity training sessions. Ordinary citizens are growing tired of being told they’re backward or bigoted for holding the same values that were mainstream just a decade ago. This is the real story behind the rise of conservative ideas – not some dark descent into extremism, but millions of Americans finally saying “enough” to an elite that has nothing but contempt for them.
