Bots, Grifters, and Rage: How Extremists Are Hijacking Conservatism | Karys Rhea - Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

Episode Overview

Title: Bots, Grifters, and Rage: How Extremists Are Hijacking Conservatism
Host: Congressman Dan Crenshaw
Guest: Karys Rhea — political commentator, author, former Epoch Times and Newsmax journalist
Date: January 15, 2026

This episode explores how extremist movements and online manipulation are infiltrating and fracturing the conservative movement in America. Dan Crenshaw and Karys Rhea discuss the rise of the “woke right,” the role of social media bots and grifter personalities, the ecosystem of outrage incentivized online, and the vital importance of gatekeeping conservative principles. They highlight the dangers of conspiratorial and identitarian thinking, address figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, and reflect on the vital need for renewed critical thinking and civic engagement.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Defining the “Woke Right”

Both speakers discuss the emergence of a “woke right” — a faction on the political right that mirrors many tactics and emotional frameworks of the far left.
Dan Crenshaw (02:04):

“The woke right and the woke left...they wear different colored jerseys...but they think the same.”
Shared traits between woke right and woke left:
- Emotional reasoning over logic
- Single-variable analysis: simple answers to complex problems
- Us vs. them mentality rather than focusing on principles or policies
- Paranoia about betrayal within their own ranks
- Identity politics and victimhood mentality
Karys Rhea (03:47):

"They're essentially organizing political and cultural life on an intersectional hierarchy where certain people are oppressed and entitled, and others are oppressors... That’s antithetical to conservativism, which is about individualism and liberties."

2. Identitarianism and the Groypers

Discussion about “right-wing identitarianism” (not traditional conservatism) and its infiltration of the MAGA movement.
Reflection on the Charlie Kirk incident and the harassment by “groypers”—young men pushing hard-right, often antisemitic views.
Dan Crenshaw (07:02):

“...They went after me a lot. They went after Ben Shapiro a lot. They went after Charlie Kirk a lot. And then they kind of died off until recently, because of good old Tucker.”
The guest describes how the reemergence and legitimization of these extremists was aided by figures like Tucker Carlson and the opening of X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk:
- Banned voices migrated from fringe sites (Gab, 4chan) to X
- Algorithm and monetization mechanisms privilege outrage content (08:11–08:58)

3. Bots, Social Media Manipulation, and Outrage Incentives

Widespread use of bots and paid engagement manipulates perceptions of popularity online, often amplifying extremist voices and rage-bait content.
Nick Fuentes’s social media following is suspected to rely heavily on bot farms in Pakistan and Nigeria (12:10–12:28).
Even with certain controls, automated and semi-automated “bot” activity continues, complicating the information ecosystem.
Karys Rhea (11:34):

"Bots, obviously, is one of the biggest problems we face... It's one of the most challenging."
Dan Crenshaw (12:28):

"...There's a way to pay those kind of bot farms... It's good that it's being exposed."

4. Gatekeeping vs. Cancel Culture in Conservatism

Urgent need to clarify the difference between healthy gatekeeping (defining boundaries of a movement) and destructive cancel culture.
Gatekeeping is about principle, not punishment over disagreement on mainstream positions.
Karys Rhea (13:21):

“Conservatives have principles. We're not going to let people in...”
Critique of conservative figures failing to perform real gatekeeping, and the dangers of letting people with fundamentally different values claim the conservative mantle (i.e., Tucker Carlson’s foreign policy positions).

5. Modern Grifters and the Monetization of Outrage

Growth of media personalities who “grift” — capitalizing on outrage, controversy, and division for attention and monetary gain
Many of these leaders (Tucker, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes) are described as potentially not believing their own radicalism, but fanning flames for profit.
Dan Crenshaw (26:07):

"People like [Candace] and Tucker... know from a business perspective that they can corner a certain market. And that 5% you talked about. Yeah, it's not nothing."
Karys Rhea (31:27):

“Well, it's the grift. The grift is real. There's a lot of temptation to become a grifter... when you're in the podcast to Stan space.”

6. Radicalization, Populism, and Loss of Critical Thinking

Recognizing the convergence of radical right and radical left tactics (the “horseshoe theory,” where both extremes resemble each other)
The greatest threat: loss of critical thinking, susceptibility to populism and conspiratorial thinking
- Many leaders and followers display reactionary, emotion-based populism rather than reasoned debate
- Former leftists now leading far-right movements without any true change in mindset (Candace Owens as a given example)
Dan Crenshaw (30:49):

“The greatest threat is our own country not being able to think critically... Critical thinking is antithetical to what we talked about on the Woke Left and Woke Right.”

7. The Need for Renewed Conservative Principles and Civic Engagement

Conservatives must revisit and actively define what values and principles distinguish them from both the woke left and radicalized right factions
Discussions behind the scenes and publicly are needed to clarify “What is a conservative?”
Traditionally, conservatism is about defending Western civilization’s founding principles, not just being anti-left.
Dan Crenshaw (24:20):

“A basic defense of Western civilization. People, sometimes they'll ask, well, the conservatives, what are you trying to conserve?... The founding principles.”
Karys Rhea (23:35):

“We need to start having discussions...what are our values? What does it mean?... What do we believe in?”

8. Debunking Conspiratorial Thinking & The Use of ‘Establishment’ Rhetoric

Critique of over-simplistic narratives about the “establishment” and shadowy cabals
Emphasis on the reality of bureaucratic bias, not grand conspiracy
Dan Crenshaw (35:00): [Thought experiment about “anti-establishment” candidates]

“If there's an establishment that's all powerful, then how the hell is that guy winning?”
Both agree: there are institutional biases and entrenched interests, but the cartoonish vision of a small all-powerful cabal is dangerous, fuels antisemitism, and distracts from real problems.
Karys Rhea (36:03):

“It's not the organized conspiracy that people think it is... it's a bunch of people who live in bureaucracy with bias.”

9. Responsibility, Accountability, and the Information Tsunami

Social media and online information overload have made genuine accountability and personal responsibility difficult.
Calls for a return to personal civic duty, honesty, and responsible speech in public discourse.
Community Notes on X (formerly Twitter) is cited as a positive step toward correction—though insufficient alone.
Karys Rhea (28:30):

“We are not designed... to process so much information... there's so much information in the ecosystem. So people can kind of get away from... saying whatever they want.”

Notable Quotes by Timestamps

On emotional reasoning and simplicity (02:04–02:38, Dan Crenshaw):

“They want simple answers for complex problems... single variable analysis... us versus them mentality.”
On victimhood culture (03:47, Karys Rhea):

“They're essentially organizing political and cultural life on an intersectional hierarchy in which certain people are oppressed and thus the most entitled...”
On the effect of bots (11:34, Karys Rhea):

“Bots, obviously, is one of the biggest problems we face, and I think it's one of the most challenging problems.”
On the need for gatekeeping (13:21, Karys Rhea):

“Conservatives have principles. We're not going to let people in.”
On distinguishing gatekeeping from cancel culture (14:21, Dan Crenshaw):

“But gatekeeping is a very different thing... It's like, OK, so what if somebody is for 99% of what Democrats are for, but they say they were Republican? We just let them in?”
On Tucker Carlson and shifting labels (15:47–16:06, Karys Rhea):

"He's like a post constitutional guy... Don't gaslight us into making us call you something that we... don't see."
On the culture war's impacts on youth (20:09, Karys Rhea):

“Almost all of them are telling me anecdotally that they are seeing this stuff in their churches... particularly the young.”
On the need for foundational principles (24:20, Dan Crenshaw):

“A basic defense of Western civilization... the founding principles.”
On the grift ecosystem (31:27, Karys Rhea):

“The grift is real. There's a lot of temptation to become a grifter... in the podcast to Stan space.”
On critical thinking as democracy’s shield (30:49, Dan Crenshaw):

“The greatest threat is our own country not being able to think critically... Critical thinking is antithetical to what we talked about on the Woke Left and Woke Right.”
On conservatism’s red lines (23:35, Karys Rhea):

“At the end of the day, we have to assert our red lines... What does it mean?... What do we believe in?”

Important Timestamps

02:04–03:47: Defining the “woke right” and its characteristics
05:05–07:02: Groypers, Charlie Kirk, and identitarian infiltration
07:07–08:58: How Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk aided reemergence of extremists
10:03–12:40: The power and mechanics of bots and manipulated engagement
13:21–15:49: Gatekeeping versus cancel culture; Tucker Carlson's ideological shift
16:25–18:43: How alt-right figures infiltrated MAGA and the movement's transformation post-Israel crisis
20:09–21:12: Impact of these shifts in real-world communities, especially youth
23:35–24:20: The urgent need for renewed conservative gatekeeping and principles
30:49–31:55: The loss of critical thinking and the dangers of grifting
34:05–36:03: Establishment rhetoric and dangers of metaphysical conspiracy theories

Tone and Style

The episode is conversational but passionate and urgent. Both Crenshaw and Rhea are measured, articulate, and analytical while mixing personal anecdotes, humor, and stark warnings. The tone is direct but avoids hyperbole, emphasizing the seriousness of the issues facing the conservative movement while calling for honesty, critical thinking, and renewed civic duty.

Final Takeaways

The American right is facing an infiltration by extremism, fueled by social media rage, bots, and figures who profit from polarization and victimhood narratives.
Renewed gatekeeping—distinguishing genuine conservative principles from imposters and reactionaries—is urgently needed.
Conservative leaders and citizens alike must rediscover and defend their philosophical roots, resist conspiratorial and simplistic thinking, and strive for critical, nuanced engagement both online and in real-world communities.
The greatest threat is not foreign powers but the American public’s decreasing ability to discern, debate, and think critically.

Listen for:

The psychological and strategic analysis of how both “woke” extremes operate
The practical impacts of outrage culture on youth and political institutions
Calls for a redefinition and reaffirmation of core conservative values
Insight into the dangerous monetization of rage and manipulation online

Episode Recommendation:
This timely conversation is essential listening for anyone concerned about the future of American conservatism, the perils of digital manipulation, and the restoration of principled political life.

Episode Overview

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Defining the “Woke Right”

Both speakers discuss the emergence of a “woke right” — a faction on the political right that mirrors many tactics and emotional frameworks of the far left.
Dan Crenshaw (02:04):

“The woke right and the woke left...they wear different colored jerseys...but they think the same.”
Shared traits between woke right and woke left:
- Emotional reasoning over logic
- Single-variable analysis: simple answers to complex problems
- Us vs. them mentality rather than focusing on principles or policies
- Paranoia about betrayal within their own ranks
- Identity politics and victimhood mentality
Karys Rhea (03:47):

"They're essentially organizing political and cultural life on an intersectional hierarchy where certain people are oppressed and entitled, and others are oppressors... That’s antithetical to conservativism, which is about individualism and liberties."

2. Identitarianism and the Groypers

Discussion about “right-wing identitarianism” (not traditional conservatism) and its infiltration of the MAGA movement.
Reflection on the Charlie Kirk incident and the harassment by “groypers”—young men pushing hard-right, often antisemitic views.
Dan Crenshaw (07:02):

“...They went after me a lot. They went after Ben Shapiro a lot. They went after Charlie Kirk a lot. And then they kind of died off until recently, because of good old Tucker.”
The guest describes how the reemergence and legitimization of these extremists was aided by figures like Tucker Carlson and the opening of X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk:
- Banned voices migrated from fringe sites (Gab, 4chan) to X
- Algorithm and monetization mechanisms privilege outrage content (08:11–08:58)

3. Bots, Social Media Manipulation, and Outrage Incentives

Widespread use of bots and paid engagement manipulates perceptions of popularity online, often amplifying extremist voices and rage-bait content.
Nick Fuentes’s social media following is suspected to rely heavily on bot farms in Pakistan and Nigeria (12:10–12:28).
Even with certain controls, automated and semi-automated “bot” activity continues, complicating the information ecosystem.
Karys Rhea (11:34):

"Bots, obviously, is one of the biggest problems we face... It's one of the most challenging."
Dan Crenshaw (12:28):

"...There's a way to pay those kind of bot farms... It's good that it's being exposed."

4. Gatekeeping vs. Cancel Culture in Conservatism

Urgent need to clarify the difference between healthy gatekeeping (defining boundaries of a movement) and destructive cancel culture.
Gatekeeping is about principle, not punishment over disagreement on mainstream positions.
Karys Rhea (13:21):

“Conservatives have principles. We're not going to let people in...”
Critique of conservative figures failing to perform real gatekeeping, and the dangers of letting people with fundamentally different values claim the conservative mantle (i.e., Tucker Carlson’s foreign policy positions).

5. Modern Grifters and the Monetization of Outrage

Growth of media personalities who “grift” — capitalizing on outrage, controversy, and division for attention and monetary gain
Many of these leaders (Tucker, Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes) are described as potentially not believing their own radicalism, but fanning flames for profit.
Dan Crenshaw (26:07):

"People like [Candace] and Tucker... know from a business perspective that they can corner a certain market. And that 5% you talked about. Yeah, it's not nothing."
Karys Rhea (31:27):

“Well, it's the grift. The grift is real. There's a lot of temptation to become a grifter... when you're in the podcast to Stan space.”

6. Radicalization, Populism, and Loss of Critical Thinking

Recognizing the convergence of radical right and radical left tactics (the “horseshoe theory,” where both extremes resemble each other)
The greatest threat: loss of critical thinking, susceptibility to populism and conspiratorial thinking
- Many leaders and followers display reactionary, emotion-based populism rather than reasoned debate
- Former leftists now leading far-right movements without any true change in mindset (Candace Owens as a given example)
Dan Crenshaw (30:49):

“The greatest threat is our own country not being able to think critically... Critical thinking is antithetical to what we talked about on the Woke Left and Woke Right.”

7. The Need for Renewed Conservative Principles and Civic Engagement

Conservatives must revisit and actively define what values and principles distinguish them from both the woke left and radicalized right factions
Discussions behind the scenes and publicly are needed to clarify “What is a conservative?”
Traditionally, conservatism is about defending Western civilization’s founding principles, not just being anti-left.
Dan Crenshaw (24:20):

“A basic defense of Western civilization. People, sometimes they'll ask, well, the conservatives, what are you trying to conserve?... The founding principles.”
Karys Rhea (23:35):

“We need to start having discussions...what are our values? What does it mean?... What do we believe in?”

8. Debunking Conspiratorial Thinking & The Use of ‘Establishment’ Rhetoric

Critique of over-simplistic narratives about the “establishment” and shadowy cabals
Emphasis on the reality of bureaucratic bias, not grand conspiracy
Dan Crenshaw (35:00): [Thought experiment about “anti-establishment” candidates]

“If there's an establishment that's all powerful, then how the hell is that guy winning?”
Both agree: there are institutional biases and entrenched interests, but the cartoonish vision of a small all-powerful cabal is dangerous, fuels antisemitism, and distracts from real problems.
Karys Rhea (36:03):

“It's not the organized conspiracy that people think it is... it's a bunch of people who live in bureaucracy with bias.”

9. Responsibility, Accountability, and the Information Tsunami

Social media and online information overload have made genuine accountability and personal responsibility difficult.
Calls for a return to personal civic duty, honesty, and responsible speech in public discourse.
Community Notes on X (formerly Twitter) is cited as a positive step toward correction—though insufficient alone.
Karys Rhea (28:30):

“We are not designed... to process so much information... there's so much information in the ecosystem. So people can kind of get away from... saying whatever they want.”

Notable Quotes by Timestamps

On emotional reasoning and simplicity (02:04–02:38, Dan Crenshaw):

“They want simple answers for complex problems... single variable analysis... us versus them mentality.”
On victimhood culture (03:47, Karys Rhea):

“They're essentially organizing political and cultural life on an intersectional hierarchy in which certain people are oppressed and thus the most entitled...”
On the effect of bots (11:34, Karys Rhea):

“Bots, obviously, is one of the biggest problems we face, and I think it's one of the most challenging problems.”
On the need for gatekeeping (13:21, Karys Rhea):

“Conservatives have principles. We're not going to let people in.”
On distinguishing gatekeeping from cancel culture (14:21, Dan Crenshaw):

“But gatekeeping is a very different thing... It's like, OK, so what if somebody is for 99% of what Democrats are for, but they say they were Republican? We just let them in?”
On Tucker Carlson and shifting labels (15:47–16:06, Karys Rhea):

"He's like a post constitutional guy... Don't gaslight us into making us call you something that we... don't see."
On the culture war's impacts on youth (20:09, Karys Rhea):

“Almost all of them are telling me anecdotally that they are seeing this stuff in their churches... particularly the young.”
On the need for foundational principles (24:20, Dan Crenshaw):

“A basic defense of Western civilization... the founding principles.”
On the grift ecosystem (31:27, Karys Rhea):

“The grift is real. There's a lot of temptation to become a grifter... in the podcast to Stan space.”
On critical thinking as democracy’s shield (30:49, Dan Crenshaw):

“The greatest threat is our own country not being able to think critically... Critical thinking is antithetical to what we talked about on the Woke Left and Woke Right.”
On conservatism’s red lines (23:35, Karys Rhea):

“At the end of the day, we have to assert our red lines... What does it mean?... What do we believe in?”

Important Timestamps

02:04–03:47: Defining the “woke right” and its characteristics
05:05–07:02: Groypers, Charlie Kirk, and identitarian infiltration
07:07–08:58: How Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk aided reemergence of extremists
10:03–12:40: The power and mechanics of bots and manipulated engagement
13:21–15:49: Gatekeeping versus cancel culture; Tucker Carlson's ideological shift
16:25–18:43: How alt-right figures infiltrated MAGA and the movement's transformation post-Israel crisis
20:09–21:12: Impact of these shifts in real-world communities, especially youth
23:35–24:20: The urgent need for renewed conservative gatekeeping and principles
30:49–31:55: The loss of critical thinking and the dangers of grifting
34:05–36:03: Establishment rhetoric and dangers of metaphysical conspiracy theories

Tone and Style

Final Takeaways

The American right is facing an infiltration by extremism, fueled by social media rage, bots, and figures who profit from polarization and victimhood narratives.
Renewed gatekeeping—distinguishing genuine conservative principles from imposters and reactionaries—is urgently needed.
Conservative leaders and citizens alike must rediscover and defend their philosophical roots, resist conspiratorial and simplistic thinking, and strive for critical, nuanced engagement both online and in real-world communities.
The greatest threat is not foreign powers but the American public’s decreasing ability to discern, debate, and think critically.

Listen for:

The psychological and strategic analysis of how both “woke” extremes operate
The practical impacts of outrage culture on youth and political institutions
Calls for a redefinition and reaffirmation of core conservative values
Insight into the dangerous monetization of rage and manipulation online

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Summary

Episode Overview

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Defining the “Woke Right”

2. Identitarianism and the Groypers

3. Bots, Social Media Manipulation, and Outrage Incentives

4. Gatekeeping vs. Cancel Culture in Conservatism

5. Modern Grifters and the Monetization of Outrage

6. Radicalization, Populism, and Loss of Critical Thinking

7. The Need for Renewed Conservative Principles and Civic Engagement

8. Debunking Conspiratorial Thinking & The Use of ‘Establishment’ Rhetoric

9. Responsibility, Accountability, and the Information Tsunami

Notable Quotes by Timestamps

Important Timestamps

Tone and Style

Final Takeaways

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Themes and Discussion Points

1. Defining the “Woke Right”

2. Identitarianism and the Groypers

3. Bots, Social Media Manipulation, and Outrage Incentives

4. Gatekeeping vs. Cancel Culture in Conservatism

5. Modern Grifters and the Monetization of Outrage

6. Radicalization, Populism, and Loss of Critical Thinking

7. The Need for Renewed Conservative Principles and Civic Engagement

8. Debunking Conspiratorial Thinking & The Use of ‘Establishment’ Rhetoric

9. Responsibility, Accountability, and the Information Tsunami

Notable Quotes by Timestamps

Important Timestamps

Tone and Style

Final Takeaways