Culture Wars, Food Production, and the Shift in Republican Voter Priorities

On October 4, 2023, Kim Monson examines the seismic shift in Republican voter priorities with Tristan Justice of The Federalist analyzing how culture war issues now outrank economic concerns, while sixth-generation farmer Trent Loos warns that Colorado’s pending wolf reintroduction threatens both livestock and the nation’s food supply. The broadcast also features Longmont City Council candidate Gary Hodges challenging wasteful RTD spending and mortgage expert Lorne Levy explaining reverse mortgage options for retirees. Republican Voters Shift Priorities to Culture War Issues Start listening at 27:50 – Hour 1 Tristan Justice, Western correspondent for The Federalist and author of Social Justice Redo, discusses a revealing survey from the conservative nonprofit American Compass. The survey of approximately 1,000 Republican midterm voters found that cultural issues now overwhelmingly top the priority list for conservative voters, representing a fundamental departure from the party’s traditional focus on taxes, deregulation, and globalization. Justice argues that Republican consultants have lost touch with where the country stands on issues like transgenderism in schools and parental rights. He points to Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 victory in Virginia as proof that running on culture issues and parental rights can win elections, even in blue states. The Federalist correspondent notes that polling shows social conservatism at an all-time high since 2012, suggesting the cultural pendulum is swinging back toward the right. The discussion turns to Colorado politics, where Justice criticizes the consultant class for advising candidates to stay moderate on cultural issues. He argues this strategy backfired spectacularly in 2022, when the Republican Senate candidate alienated the base by attacking Trump just before mail-in ballots went out. Justice also addresses abortion politics, arguing Republicans should go on offense rather than defense after the Dobbs decision, noting that Democrats have shifted to supporting unrestricted abortion up until birth while most Americans support reasonable restrictions. “Culture issues were overwhelmingly the top priority for conservative Republican voters. And so it represents a remarkable shift from where we were even just 10 years ago when the Republican Party still prioritized things like taxes, deregulation, globalization.” – Tristan Justice, Western Correspondent, The Federalist Wolf Reintroduction Threatens Colorado Ranching and Food Security Start listening at 71:07 – Hour 2 Trent Loos, a sixth-generation farmer and rancher, returns to discuss the imminent reintroduction of gray wolves to Colorado, scheduled to occur within 30 days of the broadcast. Loos draws parallels to California’s chicken cage requirements, arguing both represent attacks on food production disguised as animal welfare measures. He explains that wolves create constant stress for cattle, which compromises their immune systems and reduces food production efficiency. The rancher notes that Montana ranchers dealing with wolves report the problem extends far beyond direct kills. The constant state of fear keeps cattle from gaining weight and reproducing effectively. Loos connects this to a broader anti-human agenda, pointing out that the wolf ballot initiative passed because urban voters in Denver and Boulder imposed it on rural communities west of the Continental Divide who will bear the actual consequences. Loos expands the discussion to include...