In following politics for over 51 years living in middle Tennessee, I have frequently come across many self-described “common sense conservatives”. The ones bemused by how liberals have lost their ways, and don’t understand the “real world”.

Now I am bemused by many of the same “adults in the room” who have descended into magical thinking, and embrace every conspiracy suggested to them by the media they consume. Obama born in Kenya being a prime example. They are also urged to distrust mainstream media, for extra measure.

To the thoughtful non-MAGA Republicans who are beginning to recognize the gap between what they were asked to believe, and objective reality, the way out is to question the transparency of the media outlets they have chosen to follow and trust blindly.

Here is a litmus test for those Republicans willing to confront contradictions, instead of papering them over. How many of them know the reason Fox News was sued and then settled for $787 million in April 2023? If regular viewers of that outlet have never heard of this, they should question are they being given the whole picture. They should also wonder why claims of 2020 election steal only refer to States like Georgia and Michigan where one candidate won, but never mention States like Ohio and Indiana where a different candidate won.

Their way out is to stop relying on pre-packaged slogans. Just as liberals once short-circuited debate by invoking Politically Correct filter, the conservatives have adopted “Woke” as the catch-all to stick to the absurd by saying the alternative is even worse. That is a short cut to “I don’t want to think through”.

Seeing conspiracies everywhere is a very Third World thing. Trust me. I came from one. It corrodes society from within, because embracing a warm comforting lie is easier than facing cold reality. False beliefs build-up, and opponents start living in parallel worlds. One country, two nations. Not good. Selfthinking Republicans can start a change by voting for change. That will give them the space to later reclaim their Grand Party of Old.

Zak Mohyuddin

Manchester