Extremism Dooms Both Left and Right in US Politics

Analyst argues that moderates are being ruled by fringe elements on both sides of the political spectrum

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A political analyst argues that the United States is a nation of moderates, but is being ruled by a fringe of extremists on both the left and right ends of the political spectrum. The analyst contends that hard-core progressivism has damaged many of the positive liberal policies and initiatives that were previously built up in places like Portland, Oregon.

Why it matters

This analysis suggests that the growing influence of political extremism, on both sides, is undermining the ability of moderates to shape policy and governance in the US. It raises concerns about the long-term impacts of ideological polarization on the country's political and social fabric.

The details

The analyst argues that the extremists rule because they are more organized and motivated than the moderate majority. They are able to dominate the political discourse and drive the agenda, even though they do not represent the views of most Americans. As an example, the analyst points to how "hard core progressivism has destroyed what old school Oregon liberals built – farmers markets, parks, walkable communities, transit, and all the good kind of Portlandia-era liberal lifestyle stuff."

  • The analysis was published on February 9, 2026.

The players

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The takeaway

This analysis suggests that the growing influence of political extremism on both the left and right in the US is undermining the ability of moderates to shape policy and governance. It raises concerns about the long-term impacts of ideological polarization on the country's political and social fabric.