Analysis: Nunes’ decision to exit Congress for Trump’s social media venture signals where power lies in the conservative movement

By David Callahan 2 years ago

As the senior Republican on the Household Approaches and Suggests Committee, Devin Nunes was future in line to turn out to be its chairman should the Republicans acquire again the Dwelling in 2022. Which is to say that Nunes would have ascended to what is widely regarded to be the most potent chairmanship in the Home of Associates.

And all he had to do was continue to be in Congress.

But Nunes resolved to discard the opportunity. In its place, he declared that he had joined Donald Trump’s social media undertaking, Truth of the matter Social, as its CEO. Nunes explained he was “humbled and honored” to have been entrusted with the task.

The final decision by Nunes states a ton about exactly where power in the conservative movement rests — or, at minimum, where Nunes thinks it rests. It really is not crafting intricate legislation on taxes in Congress. No, Nunes’ go signals that he thinks that the power lies in the professional-Trump media.

And Nunes is not incorrect. I’ve long pointed out that the major personalities in appropriate-wing media — people today like Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and so quite a few some others — have considerably a lot more impact in excess of the condition of the GOP than lawmakers, which include potent figures these kinds of as Mitch McConnell.

Lawmakers don’t established the narratives inside of the GOP as considerably as they respond to their voters performing on those people narratives. The people today responsible for placing the narratives are the media propagandists that significantly of the conservative base trusts and turns to for its information and data.

Nunes has indicated for some time that he has comprehended this, turning into a frequent commentator on Fox News above the decades. His shift to jump ship on Monday reveals he is now thoroughly dedicated down this path…

Crimson flags

It truly is also not like Trump’s enterprise is greatly thriving. Indeed, Trump says he has secured a $1 billion investment. But Fact Social is still a fledging organization that has — in its brief time in the general public arena — set up some significant purple flags.

For a single, it has skipped its self-imposed deadline to place out a item. When it was very first introduced, the internet site was quickly qualified efficiently by hackers. And on Monday, it was discovered in public filings that the SPAC taking it community is less than investigation by the SEC and FINRA.

In other terms, Nunes just isn’t even exiting Congress for a confident guess on a proper-wing system like Fox News. That would make his transfer even all the additional extraordinary…

Significant picture

Over at Axios, Sara Fischer and Dan Primack posted a should-examine tale Monday morning about how the appropriate is making its personal eco chamber. “Conservatives are aggressively creating their own applications, telephones, cryptocurrencies and publishing properties in an endeavor to circumvent what they see as an ever more liberal web and media ecosystem,” the duo astutely described…

FOR THE History

— Casey Newton: “Devin Nunes, who sued Twitter since someone pretending to be his cow designed enjoyable of him there, will now be operating some sort of Trump social system. Enthusiastic to go through the group guidelines…” (Twitter)
— Dick Tofel’s reference to Nunes’ many lawsuits towards news shops and writers: “Searching ahead to observing the evolution of Devin Nunes’ views on the guidelines of libel now that he is going to presumably be a publisher…” (Twitter)
— Tim Miller’s acquire: “Growing up each tale I was informed about politics addressed the W&M chairmanship as if it had been the top of electricity and influence. Nunes is getting a pass on it to operate Friendster for bigots. Congress’ decrease in miniature…” (Twitter)
— Timothy L. O’Brien: “Who just gave Trump $1 billion? Let us observed out…” (Bloomberg)

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