The single most informative text one can read to understand how Joshua Hawley uses populism as a vehicle for white nationalism is his book on Theodore Roosevelt.

I encourage you take a glimpse via this 2008 review of the book. https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/progressive-conservative/

Just a few points worth highlighting:

Joshua Hawley does think of himself as a political descendant of Theodore Roosevelt. He's built his career to mimic that of his idol.

2/

That's why understanding Roosevelt's philosophies are key to understanding Hawley--especially the insertion of Darwinian evolutionary theory into public policy.

It's what causes people like Hawley to genuinely believe that only the fittest--like him--survive and that's okay.

3/

Another aspect of Roosevelt's philosophy is that it was informed by other philosophies of the time--namely the superiority of Aryan race.

Much of Roosevelt's policies that focused on expansionism and completing manifest destiny is deeply rooted in white supremacy.

4/

Hawley doesn't do the work to dig into the implications of these policies--which he refers to as righteousness throughout the book.

He doesn't address the obvious underpinning and subsequent ramifications of a philosophy that suggests one race is superior to others.

5/

Roosevelt's philosophy was quite different from that of our founding fathers. He was focused less on individual rights and more focused on male superiority + national greatness for a legitimate government forged through struggle, rather than deliberation and choice.

6/

It's important to see that Hawley frames Roosevelt as a conservative--even though he wasn't one.

This is what Hawley does in his own political life. His special blend of populism and nationalism is his twenty-first century version of Roosevelt's philosophy.

7/

Moreover Joshua Hawley did not do the academic work one would do if the goal of this publication was to significantly contribute to academia.

It wasn't.

Joshua's goal was to lay the ground work for an early justification of Hawleyism.

We'd be wise to take him seriously.

8/8

BONUS TWEET:

Hawley builds on Roosevelt's use of populism + manifest destiny by combining it with rhetoric on expanding the Kingdom of God via government as a veil behind which he hides his white supremacist + autocratic nature. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/philosophicalfragments/2012/10/26/christian-vision-for-kingdom-politics/

EXTRA BONUS TWEET:

If you've ever wondered why Joshua hates the idea of critical race theory so much it's because all of his bullshit would be laid bare for what it actually is--and students everywhere would be able to decode his veiled language and dog whistles.

Just like with Section 230 his opposition to critical race theory is defensive. It's meant to specifically protect him and his brand of racist divisive politics as he works toward becoming an American autocrat.

His guiding principle is self-promotion and power.

Nothing else.