What A Day
Episode: Conservatism’s Biggest Conference Was Missing Its Star
Host: Jane Coaston
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "What A Day," hosted by Jane Coaston, unpacks the lackluster state of the 2026 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)—for the first time in over a decade, completely absent of Donald Trump and any Trump family members. Jane is joined by Washington political reporter Ben Jacobs for a deep dive into how CPAC has changed, the surprising dominance of Iranian exile groups at this year’s event, MAGA’s internal malaise, and how the movement seems increasingly adrift amid Trump’s waning influence and ongoing national crises. The second half of the episode pivots to quick hits on the Iran war, congressional dysfunction, and some lighter tabloid antics targeting lawmakers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. CPAC’s History and Transformation

[02:52 – 04:19]

• Ben Jacobs details how CPAC evolved from a battleground for conservative ideas in the 1970s (Reagan vs. Ford) to a trade show for donors, candidates, and young grassroots activists, especially Ron/Rand Paul supporters in the 2010s.
• In the Trump era, CPAC morphed into “a one-stop, one-band shop for Trump. This is MAGA all the way. It's not really a place where things are debated. This is just pure MAGA.”
• Previously, CPAC represented a broad swath of the conservative movement; now, it’s much more insular and orthodoxy-driven.

2. The 2026 CPAC: Missing Stars and Missing Energy

[04:19 – 05:46]

• For the first time, Trump and his family were totally absent, as were key party figures like VP J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• CPAC is described as a brand in decline, having lost relevance and energy: “This is a vestigial brand of something that used to mean something much bigger in American politics...the juice has slowly dried out. And once you lost Trump, that made it official.” – Ben Jacobs (04:33)
• Instead, the event is “trading on nostalgia and name brand as opposed to having any juice” with speakers like former UK prime minister Liz Truss filling the program.

3. Surprising Focus: Iran and International Populism

[05:51 – 08:45]

• This year’s CPAC was dominated by discussion of the Iran war and attacks on Iranian governance—an unusual fixation for a previously America-centric event.
• “Iran, the military conflict in Iran...was not something that was debating conflict. And even the people who were against our involvement...were sort of guarded about it” (Ben Jacobs, 05:51).
• Notably, exiled Iranian figure Reza Pahlavi was a star attraction: “This was as much lion and sun as stars and stripes.” – Ben Jacobs (06:43)
• Jane observes the irony of an “America First” conference being overtaken by “people who are talking a lot about reclaiming a throne that hasn’t been claimed since 1979” (07:05).
• Ben describes a CPAC with a “distinctly international populist vibe,” reminiscent of Steve Bannon’s dreams of a global right-wing movement.

4. Attendee Sentiment: Buyer’s Remorse and Future of MAGA

[08:45 – 10:47]

• “There was a little bit concern [about the Iran war]...but this is such a pro Trump crowd,” with loyalty overriding policy misgivings (Ben Jacobs, 08:57).
• CPAC is likened to a “fan convention for Trump” (Jane Coaston, 09:29).
• The CPAC presidential straw poll was won by VP J.D. Vance (who didn’t attend), with Rubio second. Jacobs says there’s little future-facing debate: “They’re not doing that this time around [exploring post-Trump options]...Trump’s there. Trump’s their guy. He’s back. And why look that far ahead?” (09:56–10:47).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recounts a bizarre Trump anecdote (01:26):

  “He got a place mat and he turned it on its back and then he took a Sharpie and he drew a perfect map of the Mideast. And then he put the troop strength of every country on every border on that map. And it just, it challenged a lot of the assumptions that I had been told about him.”

• Ben Jacobs on CPAC’s decline (04:33):

  “TP USA drank CPAC's milkshake… This is a vestigial brand of something that used to mean something much bigger in American politics. Not quite there anymore.”

• Jane Coaston’s summary of the event’s odd transformation (07:05):

  “It's pretty wild that you have an event...so focused on America first, and then it kind of seems to be taken over by people who are talking a lot about reclaiming a throne that hasn't been claimed since 1979.”

• On Trump's enduring hold over CPAC attendees (09:12):

  “They may have sort of qualms like, I don't know about ground troops, I don't want this. But they're trusting in Trump. They're seeing that there's a master plan...[they] made it through the Access Hollywood tapes. They're making it through some airstrikes in the Middle East.” – Ben Jacobs

Additional Segments

5. Iran War Updates & Political Dysfunction

[15:13 – 17:33]

• Trump administration officials continue to promise a swift end to the drawn-out Iran conflict, but estimates keep shifting ("4 to 6 weeks"; [16:10]).
• Trump is threatening escalatory military action, including attacks on Iranian infrastructure—raising concerns about potential war crimes (16:36).
• Ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, with delayed pay for TSA workers, and no resolution in sight due to congressional recess ([17:33]).

6. Lighter News: Lawmakers & Tabloid Culture

[18:21 – 19:52]

• TMZ is soliciting and publishing “vacation paparazzi” shots of Congress members during the shutdown. Lindsey Graham spotted at Disney World; CA Rep. Robert Garcia defending a Vegas lunch on social media with playful banter.
• Jane quips: “This is a reminder that what happens in Vegas absolutely does not stay in Vegas.”

7. Noteworthy Oddities

• JD Vance’s take on aliens (21:07):

  “Well, look, I think that celestial beings who fly around, who do weird things to people...every great world religion, including Christianity, the one I believe in, has understood that there are weird things out there.” – Caroline Levitt quoting JD Vance

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening/CPAC Introduction: 00:04–02:07
• Ben Jacobs Joins—History of CPAC: 02:52–04:19
• CPAC’s Decline and 2026 Mood: 04:19–05:46
• Focus on Iran and Internationalist Shift: 05:51–08:45
• Trump Loyalty, Straw Poll, and No Vision for GOP Future: 08:45–10:47
• White House Press Briefing on Iran War: 15:31–16:10
• Shutdown and TSA Backpay: 17:00–17:33
• TMZ Taunts Lawmakers on Vacation: 18:21–19:52
• JD Vance, Aliens, and Political Weirdness: 21:07–21:33

Episode Tone and Takeaways

Jane Coaston leads with wry humor and a skeptical eye, poking fun at the strangeness of contemporary right-wing politics while maintaining a focus on substance—“Unlike CPAC, we are a Malaise free podcast.” The episode’s analysis underscores a sense of exhaustion and drift within MAGA’s post-Trump bubble, both in the microcosm of CPAC and the broader Republican movement now struggling to define itself amid new crises and international entanglements.

Best For:

• Listeners seeking a brisk, irreverent, but smart guide through the latest news and conservative political drama.
• Anyone curious about the state of right-wing activism and the post-Trump evolution (or stagnation) of the conservative movement.

Hosts/Guests:

• Jane Coaston (Host)
• Ben Jacobs (Political Reporter, Guest)
• Matt Berg (Crooked Washington Correspondent)
• Additional brief audio from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Caroline Levitt, and other officials.