Why the digital age makes politics weirder

Ross Douthat explores how the internet has fostered personalized radicalism and performative politics at the expense of institutional and traditional norms.

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personalized political identities, leading to what he calls “bespoke radicalisms.” He discusses the decline of traditional political engagement—like coalition-building and institutional participation—in favor of performative, fandom-style politics driven by social media. The conversation touches on how this shift affects legislative institutions, diminishes local political priorities, and changes what voters expect from their representatives. Using examples like Nancy Mace, Douthat reflects on the broader consequences of politics becoming a spectacle rather than a vehicle for governance.

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