Podcast Summary

Podcast: Rebel News Podcast

Episode: What's going on with the civil war inside the Republican Party?

Date: November 29, 2025

Host: Ezra Levant

Guest: Joel Pollack

Episode Overview

This episode of The Ezra Levant Show dives into the current turmoil within the Republican Party and the right-wing media sphere, focusing particularly on the surprising shifts in public personas like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens. Host Ezra Levant brings on Joel Pollack, a long-time conservative commentator (formerly of Breitbart, now with the upcoming California Post), to dissect the causes and implications of this "civil war" on the American right, including the rise of conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism, and intra-party conflicts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Setting the Stage

• Ezra Levant expresses confusion and disappointment over Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, citing their recent rhetoric as a dramatic shift from what they formerly stood for. Ezra notes a “pendulum shift” among right-wing pundits and questions whether these trends are driven by “madness” or calculated strategy.
  • (00:00–03:53)

Joel Pollack’s New Venture

• Joel Pollack introduces the California Post, a new, scrappy, right-of-center newspaper modeled after the New York Post, aiming to fill the media void in California.
  • Joel Pollack: "There is no right of center publication in California and there's no publication that covers the state as a whole." (04:19)

The State of the Online Right

• Ezra posits that the likes of Carlson and Owens have veered toward demoralization and contrarianism, even platforming extremists like Nick Fuentes.

• Joel Pollack responds with two main factors:

  1. Cancel Culture’s Impact: The Biden administration’s cancel culture has made audiences crave marginalized, even extreme, voices, creating an ecosystem that rewards contrarian or sensational content.
  2. Business Model Incentives: Online content creators are financially incentivized to be provocative; speculation about foreign money (e.g., Qatari funding) adds another layer of complexity.
  • Joel Pollack: "You have to say outrageous things to draw eyes, to draw ears, to draw clicks, and where there are investors...who are able to push the coverage in a particular direction." (09:16)

• Fake Bots & International Influence: Some anti-Israel and anti-Trump accounts online are operated from outside the U.S., distorting the perception of domestic consensus.

  • Joel Pollack: "Some...accounts on the so-called right are run by people in Bangladesh and in Poland and in Egypt and in East Asia..." (07:31)

Republican Party & Right-Wing Media Dynamics

• Ezra Levant discusses "boredom" on the right: Suggests that, with policy victories under Trump, some right-wing pundits may seek new conflicts or controversies to stay relevant.
• Pollack agrees—with a caveat: The business of opposition media drives clicks and subscriptions. Even under a favorable administration, media figures may adopt conspiratorial or anti-establishment stances to maintain attention.
  • Notable Quote: "Conspiracy theories are a form of opposition that is particularly potent in the social media world and the podcasting world." (13:50)

The Heritage Foundation Crisis & Right-Wing Fragmentation

• The Heritage Foundation’s internal conflict is cited as an example: After defending Carlson’s decision to host Nick Fuentes, Heritage lost key staff and sparked open conflict about the boundaries of acceptable conservatism.

  • Joel Pollack: "This is one of the most conservative, well respected, renowned think tanks, and they are destroying their brand..." (15:33)

• Anti-Semitism as a Movement Splitter: The rising tolerance for anti-Semitic voices and conspiracy theories threatens to divide the MAGA and wider conservative movements, according to Pollack.

The Role of Demoralization & Media Responsibility

• Ezra compares Carlson’s current approach to a KGB "demoralization" strategy, making Americans confused about right and wrong, and undermining national confidence.

  • Ezra Levant: "I feel like Tucker...when he wants to undermine morale in America, my God, he can do it. I mean, he is undermining all the pinnings. Like he's even undermining the narrative of World War II... That's the only way it makes sense for this guy to Change his views 180 degrees." (18:11)

• Pollack suggests this might have always been present in Carlson’s approach, referencing past coverage during the Black Lives Matter riots and emphasizing the danger of self-serving media narratives.

  • Joel Pollack: "I feel like there could be some element of selfishness involved...I do think that the door needs to be open for him to return." (20:10)

Generational & Cultural Challenges

• Ezra and Joel discuss how online anti-Semitic content is starting to infect young Canadian pundits, with fears that the political landscape is shifting in dangerous ways.

• Pollack contextualizes anti-Semitism historically and culturally: Both Christianity and Islam have complex relationships with Judaism in their foundational texts, and Western literature often reinforces these views.

  • Joel Pollack: "There are these resonances in Western literature and in Judeo Christian dialogues that are unflattering to Jews." (22:34)

• Israel as a Positive Model: Pollack points out Israeli society's resilience, family orientation, and military service as admirable and worthy of study by the right in the West.

  • Joel Pollack: "If you're on the right and you share these values, why not learn from Israel instead of disparaging it..." (25:45)

Final Reflections: North America vs. Europe

• Ezra expresses pessimism regarding Europe and Canada, noting demographic changes and the erosion of Judeo-Christian dialogue.

  • Ezra Levant: "I think that moment has passed in the uk Ireland is so lopsided, it's becoming Islamified all the time. And in Canada we're not far behind." (27:35)

• Pollack closes on a note of gratitude: Gives thanks for the opportunity and for Trump’s leadership, particularly regarding migration and U.S.–Israel relations.

  • Joel Pollack: "I'm just very grateful for you and for the rebel and for the opportunity to talk to you...and also grateful for President Donald Trump because I do think he has started to set some boundaries..." (28:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the online right and foreign influence:

  "Some of the most vociferously anti Israel and sometimes anti Trump accounts on the so called right are run by people in Bangladesh and in Poland and in Egypt..."
  — Joel Pollack (07:31)

• On the media business model:

  "You have to say outrageous things to draw eyes, to draw ears, to draw clicks, and where there are investors...who are able to push the coverage in a particular direction."
  — Joel Pollack (09:16)

• On conspiracy theories and anti-Semitism:

  "Conspiracy theories are a form of opposition that is particularly potent in the social media world and the podcasting world. And look, there's no older or deeper conspiracy theory than conspiracy theories about Jews and about Israel."
  — Joel Pollack (13:50)

• On Tucker Carlson’s recent trajectory:

  "I feel like Tucker...when he wants to undermine morale in America, my God, he can do it. I mean, he is undermining all the pinnings. Like he's even undermining the narrative of World War II..."
  — Ezra Levant (18:11)

• On anti-Semitism's roots:

  "There are these resonances in Western literature and in Judeo Christian dialogues that are unflattering to Jews."
  — Joel Pollack (22:34)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–03:53: Ezra introduces the topic and Joel Pollack.
• 04:19–05:46: Discussion of the California Post and California’s media landscape.
• 06:00–10:30: Analysis of why the online right has shifted, including business models and foreign influence.
• 12:17–17:44: The role of opposition media and the impact on the Republican Party, including the Heritage Foundation crisis.
• 18:11–21:07: Demoralization, conspiracy theories, and Tucker Carlson’s motivations.
• 22:14–26:30: Cultural antecedents of anti-Semitism, Israel as a societal model, engaging against hateful narratives.
• 27:05–29:44: Differences between America and Europe; closing thoughts and gratitude.

Final Takeaways

• The Republican Party and the broader right are experiencing significant internal strife, exacerbated by social media dynamics, sensationalism-for-profit, and outside influence.
• The rise of anti-Semitic rhetoric and the mainstreaming of fringe figures poses a risk of permanent division within the conservative movement.
• Both host and guest emphasize the need for visible, principled stands against bigotry and for unity on core values—but recognize growing challenges, especially outside the U.S.
• The episode concludes on a note of guarded optimism and thankfulness for leadership and dialogue in difficult times.