Opinion Today: An interview with Steve Bannon on America’s right

Ross Douthat's interviews help parse the complicated divisions in the ascendant Republican Party.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 31, 2025 By Annie-Rose Strasser Executive Producer, Opinion Audio The Republican Party may be dominant, but it's also fractious. Reading the lines between the various groups that make up America's right can feel mind-bending. There's the new contingent of the tech right. There's the populist wing that originally drove President Trump to power. There are the social conservatives, the isolationists, the hawks, the old-school Wall Streeters. Political divisions have never in my lifetime felt more inscrutable. Understanding them is crucial to understanding our political moment, and the string of news out of Trump's Washington. Enter the columnist Ross Douthat. On the podcast "Matter of Opinion," Douthat is conducting a series of conversations this winter that set out to define and understand these various contingents — what they want, what influence they have, and where you can already see their fingerprints. Two weeks ago, he spoke with the venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, a former "normie Democrat" turned vocal member of the tech right. Andreessen walks through the series of events that degraded Silicon Valley's faith in the Democratic Party, driving it into Trump's orbit. It's an eye-opening listen — find it on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. This week, Douthat flipped the coin and interviewed someone who defines himself in opposition to the tech right: Steve Bannon, who represents the nationalist populist wing, and who helped fuel Trump's ascendance in 2016. Bannon is no longer in the White House, but, as Douthat says in the episode, many of the executive orders we've seen from the new administration are clearly tied to the anti-establishment, populist aims of Bannon's cohort. You can listen to him outline where he thinks his contingent has influence — and what's at the heart of its opposition to big tech — on Apple, Spotify or YouTube. One striking thing is the throughline between these two interviews, and no doubt a theme that will continue to emerge in future conversations: While the guests may not agree on every policy, they remain certain of Trump's singular "greatness." Watch or listen here: Matter of Opinion Steve Bannon on 'Broligarchs' vs. Populism The fight for Donald Trump's ear. 1 HR 10 MIN LISTEN Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Lydia Polgreen Something Extraordinary Is Happening All Over the World Migration is central to our politics and our world, but nobody really understands it. By Lydia Polgreen More From Opinion Michelle Goldberg Under Trump, a Wink and a Nod at Anti-Abortion Violence By undermining the FACE Act, Trump gives anti-abortion activists tacit permission to break laws. By Michelle Goldberg David Brooks The Six Principles of Stupidity I define stupidity as ignoring the question: What would happen next? By that definition, the Trump administration has produced volleys of it. By David Brooks Frank Bruni When Did Brains Fall So Far Out of Fashion? Blunt language and brute force are the currencies of the MAGA moment. By Frank Bruni Guest Essay The L.A. Fires Taught Me How to Accept Help Losing my home in the L.A. fires has forced me to learn to accept help from others. By Meghan Daum Guest Essay The Democratic Party Is in a Ditch. There Is a Way Out. The party needs to seize the opportunity to present fresh vision and leadership. By Doug Sosnik Guest Essay Trump Wants a Trade Deal, Not a Trade War. He May Get One. The president prides himself on doing what others deem impossible or inadvisable. By Wendy S. Cutler letters Trump's Reversal of a Federal Funding Freeze Readers discuss the harms it would have caused and view it as a sign of incompetence. Also: D.E.I. at NASA; dementia cases; against deportations. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018