Identity Politics in Conservative Media

The fourth episode of the Podcast “The United States of Anxiety” talks about conservative media. One aspect of conservative media the reporters of the podcast bring up is very relevant in today’s political climate: Identity Politics. The important question here is whether the right wing conservative media’s manipulation of identity politics is actually interested in the truth. 

Throughout the episode several instances that serve to illustrate the conservative media’s relationship with identity politics were reported on. They show that the conservative media seems to be obsessed with the alleged identity politics of the liberals. However, upon further examining various conservative media outlets, the reporters conclude that they appear to be creating their own aggrieved identity group: Conservative, straight, white, male Republicans. As far as their allegations of the liberal’s utilization of identity politics goes, they don’t exhibit a lot of interest in the truth. They say “everything is about race with these people” but don’t care to investigate instances they claim are evidence for this. Rather, they buy into unsubstantiated conspiracy theories that President Obama wants to start race riots.

The truth value concerning their identity politics is not important to them either. The idea of their discriminated identity group relies almost entirely on an emotional response. Its fundament lies in the fear of many American citizens. By suggesting to them that their country is being taken from them, that they’re becoming irrelevant, they create an atmosphere of concern, fear and anger. In this atmosphere the truth becomes insignificant.

In conclusion, the members of the right wing media exhibit a manipulation of identity politics that hardly demonstrates their interest in the truth. They rely instead on the emotional response of their audience.