For decades, the conservative legal movement mastered one move: translate raw power into "neutral principles." "Religious liberty." "Colorblind equality." "Reverse discrimination." It let institutions win cases, place judges, and keep plausible deniability while outcomes entrenched racial hierarchy.
Now Heritage has detonated its own legitimacy.
In late 2025, Heritage saw a mass exodus: legal/econ/data teams walking out, senior Meese Center figures leaving for Pence's Advancing American Freedom, board members resigning, the antisemitism task force collapsing, and prominent conservative legal figures distancing themselves. The trigger was Kevin Roberts defending Tucker Carlson hosting Nick Fuentes, using "globalist" language critics flagged as antisemitic tropes, followed by what insiders described as a non-apology.
Legitimacy is the one resource this pipeline can't manufacture. You can fundraise, message, litigate, and meme. But you can't force judges, scholars, and elite legal networks to keep lending you credibility once you've become radioactive.
No attack from the left required: the pipeline is losing its respectability supply chain, and starting to eat itself.
Link pack:
- Josh Blackman resignation letter (Reason): https://reason.com/volokh/2025/12/21/my-resignation-from-the-heritage-foundation/
- National Review on resignations: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/exclusive-more-staffing-resignations-at-heritage-foundation-amid-continued-frustrations-with-organizations-leadership/
- Second Reconstruction framing: #1288677