Benny Johnson on Massie's Primary Loss: Is MAGA Over-extended?
Conservative here.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/5-dzg66PqYg
So, Benny Johnson gives a thoroughly MAGA take on Massie's loss. But not the only kind of MAGA take. I'm MAGA, and I think differently here, and there are reasons to think that Benny's take is bad for MAGA.
// Massie loses primary challenge
I just saw a very strident Benny Johnson giving a MAGA take on Massie's primary loss that has me concerned. Much of what Benny says is true enough, but some of what he says can sow the seeds of MAGA's downfall if pursued too much:
>It was always going to happen. You weren't living in reality because you haven't been doing this long enough. You don't understand the laws of gravity around here. And so your over-emotional takes and your humiliating crash outs have been embarrassing for you. And all of us who've been doing this, me for nearly two decades, understood what was about to happen to Thomas Massie. Because ultimately, politics is a war zone.
Benny is not wrong, and yet he's not entirely right, either. There's no upside for MAGA in telling people with differing opinions that "they aren't living in reality" for not seeing the Massie loss coming. I'm personally ambivalent: I think Massie was one of the best Representatives in the entire House, but fell into an unwholesome IDS that ultimately is troubling.
But Benny, you don't broaden the base by telling people they have to think like you or else. Because people will take the "or else" almost every time. I'm MAGA and after watching this "think like me or else!" screed, even I don't want to vote for THAT kind of MAGA. Conservatives, rethink your strategy, please! Don't become the thing you hated in Leftists!
>Politics is not about your niche boutique issues. It's about a team sport. In war, you pick a side and you fight with that side. If you don't fight with that side, if you fight against your side, you'll get left in the dirt, in the mud. That's what happens in war. You'll be put in the trench. And that's what just happened to Thomas Massie. Why? Because Thomas Massie represents a Trump plus 40 district. I mean, do you understand that it's one of the most pro-Trump districts in America? Thomas Massie should vote for every single piece of legislation that Trump puts forward because that's what his constituents demanded. That's what they want in Kentucky for. Thomas Massie didn't do that.
Every representative has to balance voting in line with his values with voting in line with his constituency's values. There are no easy or absolute answers, and I believe the Representatives have some degree of discretion. They generally ought to vote for the values of their constituency, yet they should also be able to vote according to their conscience, too. It's a balancing act.
I think Massie forgot he was a Representative, and I think he voted his own personal values more than he voted his constituency's values. Again, its a minor criticism, and not a disqualifying one; if you elected me to represent my district, I'm not sure I would have done a better job!
>He voted with Democrats one out of every four votes and he pissed off the likes of Stephen Miller, who's the architect of Trump policy and MAGA policy. He pissed off Donald Trump. He pissed off JD Vance. He pissed off everybody. And how do you think that's going to work out for him? They're going to go straight to the voters and say, this guy is screwing us over. And more importantly, that's going to infuriate the Republican leadership in the House who need to depend on those style districts in order to give bend in the joints to Republicans that represent Republican plus one districts or Kamala plus one districts.
This is true. Massie forgot he was a team player in a team sport. Having said that, I want my MAGA friends to listen: if you have to start twisting arms to get support, you should realize that your initiative isn't wanted. I want my conservative agenda to win, but I want it to win organically. I want to win hearts and minds voluntarily, in the marketplace of ideas, using kindness and persuasion, not by bullying them. Its not a crime to vote with the opposing party at times. I can't overstate how badly this more aggressive approach is going to turn out for MAGA in a future election. Bullying often works in the short term, but it almost always trends negatively for longer-term political success! If you have to twist arms, you don't have a consensus or a caucus!
>And there are Republicans who represent Kamala districts, that Kamala won. Those guys need security on certain votes. And with a guy like Thomas Massie, you take one safe Republican vote off the board, you change the map on everything. It could have really destroyed President Trump's entire agenda, and it nearly did. And so Thomas Massey got what he deserved in the war zone of politics. …
Benny, if you have to say this, it's because you don't have the votes to pass the initiative you want to pass. Rather than forcing it on people, you should back off; Trump won elections because he and his agenda was persuasive, and in contrast with the arm-twisting leftist agenda; start twisting arms as leftists do, and people will say: "Why vote MAGA to escape arm-twisting from the left if the right is just going to do the same arm-twisting?!"
>Thomas Massie did this to himself. I know you're probably sucking on that copium right now, but this is the reality of politics. I'm sorry that I had to be the one to break it to you. Thomas Massie got what he deserved. And now he can go on his little speaking tour at, you know, at every weed shop in America. Whatever. There you go.
So, I agree that Massie was a bit hubristic, and his IDS was his downfall. Having said that, he's an exceptional Congressman, and I look forward to him regrouping and participating on the national stage in the future! There is no need to be so hostile to such an excellent Congressman!
>MAGA, by the way, ain't dead. It's stronger than ever. President Trump just proved that. The basic lesson here is simple. Don't betray your voters. That's it. Bill Cassidy, same lesson. Indiana senators, same lesson. Thomas Massie, same lesson. Bush dynasty, Cheney dynasty, Pence dynasty, Romney dynasty, McCain dynasty, all the same lesson. Stop betraying your voters. The voters want America first. They want President Trump. They want MAGA, and that's what they're going to get.
I shudder when I hear these words. The first rule of politics is: "If you have to proclaim your virtue to your audience, you don't have it."
If MAGA people have to crow about being strong, that's a sure sign that there is weakness. I'm not making predictions, politics is a strange business, but this is one of the most concerning public responses. Benny, you said much in your analysis that I like and agree with, but you said some things that make me wince and cringe.
Democrats in the 60s and 70s didn't generally act like this. They started playing a long game. Sure, there was a militant wing in the left, but for the most part, Democrats said, "if we can get people to sing our songs, then we will win their hearts."
I want the same for conservatives in 2026: if we conservatives can get people to sing our songs, we won't need to do "arm-twisting" politics. So folks, I invite you to sing my good wholesome songs with me:
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home.
What do you think? Is Benny right?