Stephanie Slade Advocates Return to Fusionism in Republican Party

Author Stephanie Slade is advocating for a return to fusionism, a political synthesis of classical liberal traditions and Judeo-Christian moral values, to counter the current trajectory of the Republican Party. In a discussion with John Guida, Slade argues that the second administration of Donald Trump has abandoned these principles in favor of will-to-power politics, which she describes as using state power to reward allies and punish enemies.

Slade identifies Vice President JD Vance as a proponent of anti-fusionist ideas. She notes that Donald Trump's approval ratings have reached new lows, with some conservative voters expressing betrayal over his foreign policy and the failure to reduce the cost of living.

This ideological shift is further illustrated by the influence of the Dissident Right and populist intellectuals. Yoram Hazony previously declared an independence day from traditional conservative principles at a National Conservatism conference, while the Heritage Foundation has seen an exodus of scholars and donors following the organization's defense of Tucker Carlson. Slade contends that Americans are increasingly seeking a conservative model that prioritizes limited government and individual liberty over a politics-as-war approach.