Bulwark Takes

Making Sense of MAGA’s Freak Show: Carrie Prejean, Candace Owens, Clavicular

11 snips
Feb 15, 2026
Will Sommer, reporter who tracks the online extreme right and writes the False Flag newsletter, walks through the current cast of MAGA personalities. He maps out Candace Owens' conspiracies and Turning Point drama. He outlines how conspiracism spreads online, why the movement lacks gatekeeping, monetary incentives fueling sensationalism, and the weird looks-maxing subcultures like clavicular.
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ANECDOTE

Turning Point Conference Blowup

  • At Turning Point's conference Ben Shapiro publicly condemned Candace Owens' claims and called the audience "nuts."
  • Sommer recounts the conference drama and staff firings tied to Kirk conspiracy questions.
INSIGHT

Platform Incentives Fuel Extremism

  • The internet and Trump's promotion of conspiracies normalize fringe ideas and help them spread rapidly.
  • Sommer argues platforms reward creators financially, incentivizing more extreme content.
INSIGHT

Antisemitism Gains Respectability

  • Anti-Semitism is resurfacing within right-wing circles and getting insufficient pushback from mainstream conservatives.
  • The Carrie Prejean episode shows fringe figures gain status by sitting alongside respected conservatives.
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