Goldberg warns Trump’s entertainer mindset traps conservative media and politicians
Jonah Goldberg argues that Donald Trump’s focus on entertaining his base has turned many conservative commentators into caricatures and misled politicians to chase a vocal minority.
Jonah Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, contends that President Donald Trump’s greatest weakness is his entertainer approach, which encourages conservative media to echo audience desires instead of offering analysis. He observes that many once-respectable commentators shifted toward populist, MAGA-friendly messaging as their listeners demanded it, turning them into performers. Goldberg extends the critique to politicians, citing examples such as Kari Lake, who mistook fervent but limited support for a winning coalition.
He highlights a host at one outlet, whose 2.7 million nightly viewers represent a fraction of the electorate, yet Trump may view that audience as representative. The piece warns that social-media platforms intensify this dynamic by feeding politicians a distorted sense of public opinion.
Why it matters
It shows how media and politicians can be misled by catering to a vocal minority, shaping public discourse and policy.
In this story
