Ed Morrissey, managing editor of HotAir.com, joined Chicago’s Morning Answer to discuss journalist Michael Shellenberger’s argument that Donald Trump represents the first nationalist president of a “Fourth American Republic.” The conversation examined what this new era of politics means for America’s identity, global influence, and internal divisions.
Morrissey said Shellenberger’s timeline of 80-year political cycles may be less important than the underlying transformation in global politics. “We’re in a very different situation than we were during the Cold War,” he said. “This is a post-imperial period where the world is trying to decide whether we still have nation-states with borders or whether we’re headed toward a technocratic global government.”
He argued that the rise of nationalism in the U.S. and abroad is a natural reaction to the failures of globalism and the suspicion of centralized, unaccountable power. “Most people want government to be accountable and close to them — that’s the beauty of the American model,” Morrissey said. “Marxism is the only system that could sustain global governance, but it would require the oppression of people around the planet. Nationalism is easier to sell — and frankly, it’s a better product.”
Morrissey said the MAGA movement has successfully addressed border security and crime but will need to move toward reducing the size and scope of government if it is to endure. “At some point, you have to deal with debt and entitlements,” he said. “You can’t just fire bureaucrats and spend the money somewhere else. MAGA needs to focus on subsidiarity — getting government out of things it should never have been in.”
The discussion also touched on America’s role in an uncertain world order, where Morrissey said nationalism offers the clearest path forward. “It allows people to start at home,” he said. “You can structure your own government to meet the needs of your citizens without worrying about being dictated to by people 5,000 miles away.”
Proft and Morrissey also discussed the political implications of upcoming state elections and the limits of Republican success in blue states like New Jersey and Virginia. Morrissey cautioned against reading too much into results in traditionally Democratic areas. “If Republicans don’t win in Virginia or New Jersey, it’s because they’re blue states,” he said. “The bigger point is making people live with the consequences of their policy choices. You can’t rescue voters from themselves by supporting corrupt politicians like Andrew Cuomo.”
On immigration enforcement, Morrissey defended the Trump administration’s aggressive stance. “A nation-state must defend its borders to remain viable,” he said. “If voters don’t like how ICE operates, then change the law — but we’re not going to do that because we’re not insane. This is what it looks like to correct decades of neglect.”
Morrissey concluded that nationalism will continue to define the next phase of American politics because it restores accountability and self-determination. “The traditional nation-state model will win out,” he said. “It’s the one that actually works.”