The Woke Right, Chrislam, and the Soul of MAGA with Karys Rhea

In this episode of *Don't Know Much About*, Naya Lekht sits down with political commentator and writer Karys Rhea to examine one of the most alarming developments in contemporary American politics: the emergence of the "Woke Right." Long before it became a topic of mainstream conservative concern, Rhea was tracking the identitarian, conspiratorial, and antisemitic currents quietly taking root within parts of the America First movement — and sounding the alarm. This conversation is essential listening for anyone trying to understand where the conservative movement is headed, and what's at stake if it loses its way. **About the Guest** Karys Rhea is an American political commentator, writer, and former producer for The Epoch Times and Newsmax. A writing fellow with the Middle East Forum and a Rising Leader at the Global Liberty Institute, she has become a prominent voice on Israel, antisemitism, and the ideological currents reshaping American politics. She is completing a book on right-wing identitarianism and the emerging "Chrislam" alliance, forthcoming from Wicked Son Publishing in 2026. **What We Cover** - What the "Woke Right" actually is — and why James Lindsay's term only scratches the surface - How the Kanye West fiasco of 2022 was an early warning sign that conservatives largely ignored - The role of America's enemies in amplifying real fractures within the MAGA movement - Why a loud, vocal minority doesn't need to be a majority to shift culture and policy - What "Chrislam" means — and why the growing Christian-Islamist alliance over shared hatred of Israel is one of the most disturbing developments on the right - The danger of conspiratorialism as a gateway to antisemitism and anti-Western ideology - Tucker Carlson's ideological evolution — and what it actually reveals about his political project - Why censorship and deplatforming are the wrong tools for fighting this battle - How right-wing identitarianism mirrors the same grievance-based logic of the left it claims to oppose - The difference between the "October 8th Jew" and Jews who never substituted their Judaism for their politics **Links & Resources** - Follow Karys Rhea on X: @rheakarys - *Woke Right* (forthcoming, Wicked Son Publishing, 2026) - Middle East Forum: meforum.org - Global Liberty Institute: globallibertyinstitute.org Clarifying the complex. Step into my classroom.