The crack-up at the Heritage Foundation is a warning sign for MAGA world

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Heritage Foundation, once a pillar of conservative policy and discipline, is facing internal divisions under its current president, Kevin Roberts
• Roberts’ controversial defense of a Tucker Carlson interview has ignited discontent among staff, with many former and current employees criticizing his shift toward aligning the think tank with the MAGA movement
|• This reflects broader fractures within the conservative establishment ahead of the 2024 election

🔭 The context: Since its founding, the Heritage Foundation has been a key institution in shaping conservative thought, providing policy recommendations to Republican presidents
• However, under Roberts' leadership, the think tank’s focus has shifted towards more direct support for Trump’s political agenda, leading to a breakdown of the unified approach that once defined its operations
• This change comes as divisions deepen within the conservative movement

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The internal turmoil at the Heritage Foundation is a microcosm of the broader divisions within the American conservative movement
• As factions within the GOP shift in response to Trump’s influence, the disruption at Heritage could have implications for how conservative policy is crafted and how the movement organizes itself heading into the 2024 elections
• This shift could also influence policy priorities on issues like climate change, energy, and international relations, depending on the direction the MAGA wing takes

⏭️ What's next: As the 2024 election approaches, these divisions may continue to shape the Republican Party’s policy agenda
• The Heritage Foundation’s future role in shaping conservative thought will depend on whether Roberts can maintain his influence or if other factions within the think tank assert control
• The outcome of this internal struggle will provide insight into the larger battle for the direction of the GOP

💬 One quote: “The group’s operating principle is now more of a ‘one man’ policy, with Roberts moving aggressively to align the think tank with the Make America Great Again movement.” — Former Heritage Foundation staffer.

📈 One stat: Since Kevin Roberts took over as president in 2021, the Heritage Foundation has seen increasing internal divisions, with many staffers criticizing the shift towards a MAGA-aligned policy approach.

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