The Resurgence of American Tribalism

JD Vance's New Right and Curtis Yarvin's Dark Enlightenment: A Conversation About the Future of Conservatism

OnPoint with Tom Ashbrook

April 5, 2025

The rise of JD Vance's "New Right" and Curtis Yarvin's "Dark Enlightenment" has left many wondering: what does the future of conservatism look like? On this episode of OnPoint, Tom Ashbrook sits down with Vance and Yarvin to explore their visions for a new era of American politics.

JD Vance, author of the bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," has become a leading voice of the "New Right" – a movement that seeks to rebrand conservatism for the 21st century. Vance argues that the traditional right has lost its way, and that a new approach is needed to connect with working-class Americans and address the pressing issues of our time.

Curtis Yarvin, a philosopher and blogger, has been dubbed the "Dark Enlightenment" thinker. His work explores the idea that the Enlightenment values that underpin modern Western society are no longer relevant, and that a new, darker form of enlightenment is needed to navigate the challenges of the 21st century.

In this conversation, Vance and Yarvin discuss the future of conservatism, the role of identity politics, and the importance of building a new coalition of voters. They also explore the tensions between their two approaches, and how they see the "New Right" and "Dark Enlightenment" influencing the broader political landscape.

Vance argues that the "New Right" is not just a rebranding of traditional conservatism, but a fundamental shift in the way we think about politics. "We need to stop talking about the economy in terms of GDP and start talking about it in terms of human experience," he says. "We need to start thinking about what it means to be a decent human being, and how we can build a society that reflects those values."

Yarvin, on the other hand, sees the "Dark Enlightenment" as a way to cut through the noise of modern politics and get to the heart of the issues. "The Enlightenment values that we've been living with for the past few centuries are no longer relevant," he says. "We need to start thinking about what it means to be human in a world where those values are no longer relevant."

Throughout the conversation, Vance and Yarvin engage in a lively debate about the future of conservatism, and the role that their ideas might play in shaping that future. They also reflect on the challenges of building a new coalition of voters, and the importance of building bridges between different communities.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of American politics, and the role that the "New Right" and "Dark Enlightenment" might play in shaping that future.