In 2017, US Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) offered a stark explanation for Donald Trump's rise. Massie, a Tea Party libertarian, wondered why his supporters backed an un-libertarian candidate like Trump. "They weren't voting for libertarian ideas — they were voting for the craziest son of a bitch in the race," Massie said. "And Donald Trump won best in class." Last month, Trump endorsed Massie's challenger in Kentucky, and the libertarian lost a seat he held for nearly 14 years.
Massie's Concession and Lack of Self-Reflection
Massie conceded but never acknowledged his own role in the GOP's radicalization. His vocal support for Trump and boundary-pushing Tea Party politics helped turn the Republican Party into the political chaos agent he once criticized. Massie exemplifies a growing trend: influential Trump allies who alarm about the right's direction but refuse to see their own contributions.
Examples of "Hot Dog Men" in the Right's Top Ranks
Joe Rogan, who promotes conspiratorial mistrust, now denounces conspiracy theories about Trump assassination attempts. Ben Shapiro battles Candace Owens, calling her an antisemitic crank, while barely acknowledging his role in her rise. Trump himself battles Epstein rumors he helped stoke. This mirrors a sketch from I Think You Should Leave, where a man in a hot dog suit says, "We're all trying to find the guy who did this."
Shapiro's Feud with Owens
Shapiro's feud with Candace Owens began when she worked at the Daily Wire and criticized Israel. After Owens made antisemitic comments in 2024, the Daily Wire fired her. Shapiro now attacks her regularly, but rarely mentions hiring her despite her earlier conspiracies, such as claiming Bill Gates conducted secret medical experiments on African children. Shapiro blames the liberal media for Owens's prominence, saying they "love a right that is crazy."
Chris Rufo and Joe Kent
Chris Rufo, a leading activist on cultural issues, criticized Joe Kent for resigning from a counterterrorism post with an antisemitic letter. Yet Rufo campaigned for Kent when he ran for Congress in 2022, despite Kent's association with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and a neo-Nazi. Rufo now describes Kent as only recently entering "nutty" territory, ignoring his long record of extremism.
Rogan's Conspiracy Concerns
Rogan fretted about conspiracy theories regarding the Trump assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, calling them "out of their fucking mind." Yet he also considered a counter-conspiracy about "MK Ultra" brainwashing. Rogan blames TikTok for spreading speculation, saying it "rots people's brains," while ignoring his own role in mainstreaming conspiracy theories.
Other Figures Sounding Alarms
Mark Levin complains about podcasters profiting from being "crazier" than competitors. Rod Dreher, who promoted a racist anti-immigration novel, expresses concern about rising bigotry. Dinesh D'Souza, known for spreading racially tinged conspiracies, warns that right-wing racism may cause minority desertions from the GOP.
The Right's Escalation Ladder
The right's oppositional culture feeds a hunger for transgression, pushing figures to adopt increasingly radical stances. As Charlie Sykes, a conservative talk radio host, puts it: "It's like drugs. Pot used to be enough, but now I need the purest meth." This dynamic leads from critiquing affirmative action to claiming Blacks have low IQs, and eventually to accusing opponents of pedophilia or Jewish conspiracy.
Can the Hot Dog Men Stop the Radicalization?
Probably not, says Pedro Gonzalez, a former MAGA commentator. "When your movement revolves around taboo-breaking, but then you decide some boundaries are worth respecting, it's a joke. It's going to collapse." Others like Richard Hanania note that Shapiro's efforts are limited: "This is an audience problem." The hot dog men appear to be losing influence over a machine they thought they could control.
Uncertain Future for the GOP
The fractious conservative movement is held together by Trump, but his ability to enforce consensus is waning. His handpicked candidate in Iowa lost to a MAHA insurgent. Historian David Austin Walsh says, "They're trying to jockey for position in a post-Trump world." Three scenarios emerge: a return to quasi-normalcy with figures like Marco Rubio, endless factional warfare, or chaos with no unifying leader. Sykes concludes, "It won't go back to normal until it's no longer held hostage by the loudest, craziest, most extreme voices."
