JONAH GOLDBERG: Politicians can’t just ‘give the people what they want’

In a recent commentary for the Las Vegas Review‑Journal, columnist Jonah Goldberg argues that many politicians and journalists focus on narrow, highly engaged segments of the electorate rather than the broader public.

Goldberg says journalists must be prepared to disappoint their biggest fans, noting, "You have to be willing to disappoint your biggest fans." He cites former columnist Patrick Buchanan as an example, recalling how Buchanan "listened too much to the people who said, ‘Go Pat, go!’ and too little to friends who said, ‘I think that’s taking it too far.’"

The piece warns that politicians can become trapped by their most fervent supporters. Goldberg points to historical figures such as William Jennings Bryan, George Wallace, Norman Thomas and more recent names like Sarah Palin, Bernie Sanders, Kari Lake and Ron Paul. He recalls a Lake campaign event where she asked, "We don’t have any McCain Republicans in here, do we? All right, get the hell out."

Goldberg also highlights the influence of media audiences, noting that Fox News host Jesse Watters averages about 2.7 million viewers per night, meaning roughly 346 million Americans aren’t watching. He cautions that politicians may treat Watters’ audience as representative of the nation.

By conflating intensity of support with overall popularity, Goldberg says leaders risk overlooking the wider electorate—a concern he says is especially relevant as local and national campaigns shape public policy.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal