Podcast Summary: The Opinions –

Episode: He’s Openly Antisemitic. Young Male Conservatives in Florida Love Him.
Host: The New York Times Opinion (Dan Waken)
Guest: Michelle Goldberg
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the rise of James Fishback—a 31-year-old Republican gubernatorial candidate in Florida—whose blend of hard-right nationalism, anti-immigration rhetoric, and openly antisemitic narratives have made him a sensation among young male conservatives in the state. Host Dan Waken interviews columnist Michelle Goldberg, who recently profiled Fishback and explores not just his controversial ideology but more importantly the movement and demographic shifts he represents among younger Republicans.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. James Fishback: Who He Is and Why He Matters

• Fishback’s background: A perennial outsider in conservative politics, previously known for launching an “anti-woke” high school debate league and right-leaning financial products, both ending in scandal.
• Shift towards extremism: Recently embraced radical nationalist, racist, and antisemitic positions reminiscent of internet influencer Nick Fuentes, captivating segments of Florida’s young right.
  • “It’s this combination of, you know, extreme nationalism... He’s extremely anti-immigrant, although he is the son of an immigrant himself. But I think what really sets him apart is this insistent focus on Israel and this kind of wink, wink attitude towards antisemitism.” — Michelle Goldberg [01:45]
• Fishback’s crowds respond most energetically when he denounces Israel, suggesting that anti-Israel sentiment—possibly shading into antisemitism—is at the heart of his appeal.

2. Tension Between Anti-Israel Sentiment and Antisemitism

• Goldberg distinguishes between legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy and antisemitic tropes.
  • “I don’t think you have to be an anti-Semite to look askance at the role of Israel in American foreign policy right now. I mean, James Fishback at some moments is openly antisemitic in ways that have absolutely nothing to do with Israel.” — Michelle Goldberg [03:59]
• Explains far-right conspiracy theories, such as the term “goy slop,” a derogatory phrase implying Jews serve unhealthy food to undermine non-Jews:
  • “James Fishback is very happy to indulge in [the ‘goy slop’ conspiracy], has nothing to do with Israel.” — Michelle Goldberg [06:39]

3. Why Focus on Fishback Despite Polling Low?

• Fishback polls only 5-6% statewide, but leads among Republicans under 35.
• The true story: He reveals where the Republican party’s youngest base is moving, especially regarding acceptance of racist and antisemitic ideas.
  • “I was sort of less interested in writing about, about where I think the Republican Party is today than where it’s going.” — Michelle Goldberg [08:04]

4. Normalization and Spread of Antisemitism

• There is a real danger of political normalization:
  • “If in 20 or 30 years a real antisemitic party contends for power in the United States, this is a glimpse of where it’s starting.” — Michelle Goldberg [09:17]
• Goldberg draws distinctions between antisemitism on the right and the left, seeing the former as more dangerous, organized, and normalized within party discourse.
  • “We have a president who kind of regularly engages in antisemitic tropes, even though he’s extremely pro-Israel... he regularly traffics in conspiracy theories in sort of like antisemitic adjacent conspiracy theories about the globalists who are running the world.” — Michelle Goldberg [10:00]

5. The Antisemitism/Anti-Zionism Conflation

• Influence of legal and institutional definitions (like IHRA) that often conflate anti-Zionism and antisemitism:
  • “This definition of antisemitism holds that many, many criticisms of Israel... are a form of antisemitism. This has been written into law in many places, including Florida.” — Michelle Goldberg [14:34]
• Reaction among young conservatives: Rebellion against speech codes around Israel and antisemitism is fueling further radicalization and conspiratorial thinking.

6. Activism, Disaffection, and Economic Despair

• Young right-wingers (and some leftists) drawn to Fishback by a sense of generational crisis—cost of living, lack of opportunity, and frustration with mainstream politics.
  • “[Fishback] is talking about real crises and giving people someone to blame.” — Michelle Goldberg [17:31]
• Political engagement crossing party lines: Some young people previously active in Black Lives Matter are now showing up for Fishback.

7. Media and the MAGA Influencer Ecosystem

• Rifts among right-wing influencers over Israel and antisemitism, highlighted by the aftermath of the (fictional) murder of Charlie Kirk.
• Conspiracy theories about “Zionist plots” gaining traction, even within large organizations like Turning Point and among the audience of major figures like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson.
  • “Candace Owens... this has become the center of her cosmology. And when I would talk to people at these events, the boys usually listen to Nick Fuentes and the girls usually listen to Candace Owens.” — Michelle Goldberg [22:47]

8. Youth Identity and Openness About Racism/Antisemitism

• Striking polling data: 31% of Republicans under 50 self-identify their own views as racist; 25% as antisemitic.
  • “That probably understates the real number of those views. Right. That’s only people who are self-identified and even a lot of people at the events... would also deny up and down that they’re anti-Semites.” — Michelle Goldberg [25:56]

9. Case Study: A Typical Fishback Supporter

• Profile of Lacey Gayu: A young social worker who has bounced between progressive causes and alt-right populism, drawn to Fishback’s stance on affordability and his aggressive anti-AIPAC message.
  • “The last time I came out for something, it was for Black Lives Matter. And that really struck me...she’s a registered Democrat who told me she was thinking of changing her registration so that she could vote for Fishback in the primary.” — Michelle Goldberg [26:33]

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On movement, not just the man:
  “To me, James Fishback as a person is almost less interesting than the movement around him.” — Michelle Goldberg [01:45]

• On normalization:
  “Of course the next generation is going to wonder, okay, but why are these taboos the only ones that we’re supposed to respect?” — Michelle Goldberg [11:55]

• On institutional reactions:
  “It’s not only that it doesn’t work, it’s that it’s really counterproductive because all it does is create this sort of like gnostic glamour around anti-Israel speech in which it seems to be this secret, forbidden knowledge and like the unspoken key to everything that’s happening in your life.” — Michelle Goldberg [31:13]

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Fishback’s profile & appeal: [01:45]–[06:39]
• Anti-Israel sentiment vs. antisemitism: crowds and rhetoric: [06:39]–[08:04]
• Fishback’s polling and why cover him: [08:04]–[09:00]
• Normalization of antisemitism & generational fear: [09:00]–[10:00]
• Right vs. left antisemitism: [12:17]–[14:22]
• Conflation of anti-Zionism/antisemitism & free speech: [14:34]–[17:15]
• Economic/psychological drivers for young supporters: [17:31]–[19:04]
• Impact of Iran war; Trump, Rubio, conspiracism: [19:35]–[22:29]
• Influencer sphere’s rifts; Charlie Kirk & conspiracies: [22:47]–[25:24]
• Polling on racism/antisemitism self-ID among young Republicans: [25:43]
• Fishback supporter Lacey’s profile & swing phenomena: [26:33]–[29:02]

Concluding Reflections & Potential Antidotes

• Goldberg remains pessimistic about current strategies to contain this radicalization, noting that speech codes and sanctions backfire by making bigotry seem subversive and attractive to the disaffected.
• She calls instead for a renewed positive vision of inclusive, multiracial democracy and populism, led by charismatic figures able to channel young people’s frustration toward constructive social change:
  • “Instead of putting all that into a rubric of, like, white nationalism, are able to weave all that into a narrative of inclusive multiracial democracy and populism, I think, are the way forward in terms of sort of reaching this generation.” — Michelle Goldberg [29:02]
• The episode closes with a sober warning: as economic pressures and online radicalization persist, the seeds planted today among the young right threaten to grow into far more dangerous forms of political antisemitism in the years ahead.

For listeners seeking to understand the cross-currents of bigotry, populism, and disaffection coursing through young conservative politics in Florida and America, this episode is a clear-eyed, sometimes chilling examination of where things stand—and where they may be heading.