We Can’t Trust Experts Who Don’t Understand Reality
Last week, David French’s “unbiased and informed, conservative” publication, The Dispatch, added “Jessica” Riedl to its writing staff, a move that amazed even veteran David French detractors. The shock and awe of Jessica’s addition can be attributable to the fact that it is not actually Jessica, but Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at The Manhattan Institute. Reidl’s profile at Manhattan Institute has adopted the anachronism of his new status: “Reidl has published nearly 600 studies and articles since 2001…” For a premier “conservative” think tank, “Jessica” has always existed.
A self-proclaimed fiscal conservative, Riedl has been a frequent editorialist and commentator, appearing on conservative programs, economic roundtables, and think tanks. While previously known for his analysis and advocacy for fiscal responsibility, his personal life has taken center stage. While he announced his transition from Brian to “Jessica” in February—he knew he was transgender since he was four years old and has “female brain biology”–The Dispatch’s announcement has caused him to be defined by his particular form of mental and moral illness.
Blessing of Liberty Strikes Again
David French is no stranger to offending basic conservative sensibilities whilst still claiming the conservative label. But his affirmation of Riedl’s new “identity” (and preferred pronouns) marks a significant descent into moral absurdity. Since French’s infamous “drag queen story hour is a blessing of liberty” comments in 2019, his name has become synonymous with faux-conservatism, most notably in his endorsement of what seems like every outrageous policy and practice that Democrats can conjure up.
Riedl’s public display of sexual anarchy comes on the heels of the recent revelations concerning Glenn Greenwald’s deviant lifestyle. Though constantly platformed by conservative talking heads, Greenwald’s appalling sexual acts exposed an ever-growing rift between authentic, traditional conservatives committed to a virtuous, Christian understanding of the world and those who merely “aren’t at home” with the left anymore. A similar discourse was instigated when Dave Rubin was publicly congratulated for his decision to have two children with his homosexual “partner” via surrogacy. The disaffected anti-woke coalition was always thin and fleeting. Pretending that the “intellectual dark web” was reliably aligned with Christian and conservative interests was a mistake, and continues to be a problem.
In the days since The Dispatch congratulated Riedl on his hiring, he’s complained about being a target of “angry fake Christians,” lashed out over a supposed mountain of “death threats” he’s received, and finally announced his taking a break from his X account due to the direction of hate over “daring to be LGBT.”
“Just an Economist”
When first “coming out,” Riedl attempted to make a lengthy argument for transgender ideology, but as the anger poured in following his joining The Dispatch, he quickly chose to focus on the fact that he’s “just an economist” who “writes about federal spending.” In other words, his personal life should be completely left alone, and he should be judged merely by the merits of his views on national debt, spending, and budgetary matters.
Like Greenwald, Riedl likely realized that his deviations are moving quickly into the realm of unacceptability among many Americans, especially Americans on the Right. The best that he can do to maintain the legitimacy of his career is to try to redirect to his professional accomplishments and expertise.
Riedl is now in a situation where everything in his life is overshadowed by abandoning his God-given role as a husband—and father—to engage in a revolting role play. He will continue to plead that he ought to be taken seriously as an economist, but this will be an impossible task. After all, if a man rejects the nature of his own body, how can his assessment of economics (human behavior) not be deluded? Only with great difficulty and strenuous compartmentalization of his life could Riedl accomplish this. His performative announcement of his transition indicates that this maneuver is not within him. Were it otherwise, we would never know that Brian had become Jessica.
“Fiscal Conservative” Fatigue
Riedl’s appointment to The Dispatch comes at a time when the Republican party is wrestling with its more libertarian wing which is attempting to resolve itself over the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Riedl, predictably, is rabidly against the bill, calling it the “antithesis” of “fiscal responsibility.” Whether his analysis is correct or not, it’s hard not to notice the handwringing of libertarians, former progressives, and self-described “principle-over-party conservatives” over monetary issues while the same remain either silent and apathetic on civilization-ending issues like the destruction of the family and mass immigration.
Despite the pleas from the likes of The Dispatch, the prominence of the “merely fiscal conservative” may be coming to an end, as it’s profoundly difficult for sensible Americans to be lectured on the preeminence of fiscal responsibility from a man wearing a TJ Maxx dress and heels. It is hard to “trust the experts” when everyone knows she/they are lying about basic reality. There’s a growing understanding that conservatism, if it does not conserve the most basic of institutions, is an exercise in futility, whether amid high or low GDP. And if there is any individual who deserves a trophy for selling out his values to the Spirit of the Age in the name of vague, meaningless platitudes and “fiscal responsibility,” it is David French.
The Necessity of Ridicule
For anyone who has been the victim of a viral social media post or a sudden rise to prominence, it’s easy to be sympathetic to Riedl’s uneasiness at suddenly receiving a torrent of scorn and ridicule. However, it shouldn’t be lost that outrage against a man in rebellion against nature and nature’s God is an encouraging development. For too long, conservatives have been instructed to accept every shade of the LGBT rainbow into the fold because “they have good takes on the economy, foreign policy, and free speech.” Or because they “love freedom” or are “sensible centrists.”
If the ridicule directed at Riedl is a sign of a move towards prioritizing the basics of Christian civilization, and Christianity’s affirmation of nature, then it is a profoundly positive development. Furthermore, based on a plain, biblical understanding of sin, righteousness, and judgment, even those who may need to “work on their tone” are showing more love to Riedl than David French. At least they are affirming reality whilst French is placating sinful, self-destructive delusion.
If there is a particular lesson in the Riedl-French saga, it is that virtue is integral to the Right’s project. Within a Christian framework, there is an endless supply of grace for those who are repentant, but this does not at all mean that gross indecency should be tolerated in our ranks or even considered legitimately adjacent in any way.
Christian conservatives ought to make the distinction between themselves and a “mere economist” indulging in sexual insanity as clear as possible. We ought to disgrace such deviancy to the point that those who practice are either unwilling to admit their unnatural behaviors or are unwilling to be associated with us.
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