R.R.Reno - Why The Postwar Consensus Was WRONG & How It Lead To The Rise Of Trump

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May 20, 2025

R.R. Reno, a theologian and editor of First Things, dives into the postwar consensus and its role in the rise of populism. He argues that the fear of nationalism and moral conviction has left Western society spiritually hollow. By contrasting 'hard' and 'soft' religion, Reno highlights the growing appeal of structured faith amidst chaos. He critiques modern ideologies and emphasizes the need for strong values to reclaim meaning in a fractured culture. The discussion navigates the complexities of identity, the decline of civic trust, and calls for a hopeful reawakening.

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INSIGHT

Rise of Anti-Nationalism

Postwar anti-nationalism became dominant as nationalism was villainized in universities and culture.
Open society consensus gained momentum as older generations lacked capacity to defend traditional loves.

INSIGHT

Western Civilizational Malaise

Western disintegration is a historic trauma causing cultural and personal malaise like mental health crises.
The big sin today is 'heartlessness' or dispiritedness, not pride, leading to loss of meaning and purpose.

INSIGHT

Woke as Surrogate Religion

Woke ideology and environmentalism substitute for true religion, reflecting human need for gods.
Iconoclasm destroys idols but also destroys beauty and passion needed for the human heart.

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Theologian and First Things editor R.R. Reno joins The Winston Marshall Show for a sweeping intellectual conversation on nationalism, identity, and the postwar consensus that still haunts the West.

Reno argues that the true crisis isn’t a conspiracy—but a consensus forged after WWII: a fear of nationalism, religion, and moral conviction, shaped by the horrors of Auschwitz and Hiroshima. He calls this the age of “weak gods”—a culture hollowed out by relativism, therapeutic liberalism, and meaning without truth.

From Karl Popper and the Open Society to the cult of DEI and the rise of populist rebellion, Reno makes the case that Western civilization is suffering from a kind of civilizational PTSD—and that only the return of “strong gods” like loyalty, love, and faith can offer redemption.

All this—postwar ideology, the collapse of civic trust, mass migration, shared mythos, and the spiritual malaise of modern life…

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

1:49 Populism and Its Global Phenomenon

4:32 The Return of Strong Gods

21:58 Karl Popper's "The Open Society and Its Enemies"

28:29 The Impact of Post-War Consensus on Education

47:33 The Return of Strong Gods and the Role of Love

1:09:32 The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Society

1:14:37 The Impact of Popper's Ideas on Conservatism

1:18:31 Loyalty and Fanaticism in Sports and Society

1:21:15 Nationalism vs. Patriotism

1:23:15 Censorship and the Never Again Mentality

1:27:54 The Death Throes of the Open Society Consensus

1:33:41 The Role of Strong Gods in Non-Western Countries

1:37:32 The Paradox of Western Ideologies

1:38:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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