I left this year’s TribFest deeply disappointed. I appreciate The Texas Tribune’s efforts in organizing the festival, but the keynote event with Marjorie Taylor Greene fell short in several critical ways. Greene has a track record as a toxic, inflammatory politician—one whose past behavior, like shouting from the Capitol floor like howling monkeys, is hard to look past. Yet the audience treated her with far more respect than she deserved, effectively normalizing her past actions. Worse, the moderator treated the session as a casual chat rather than pressing her with the tough, accountable questions asked of other speakers, like James Talarico.
The only real pushback came from an audience member who asked if she took responsibility for instigating some of the most divisive politics in modern American history. Her response boiled down to boasting that she was the “only one who apologized,” rather than offering a simple, sincere, “Yes, I am sorry.” It is impossible to give her a pass for her tenure in Congress, and I won’t.
Beyond the frustration, Greene’s comments were revealing:
The Fallout: She detailed the severe death threats made against her family and mentioned asking Trump to tone down his rhetoric, only to be met with total inaction from him and the party. While no one should face violence, it remains difficult to feel sympathy when her own rhetoric contributed to the dangerous political climate that ultimately turned on her.
The “Both Sides” Cop-Out: She leaned heavily on the tired claim that “people are disappointed in both parties.” It’s an easy retreat for MAGA figures when facing political headwinds, ignoring the fact that her faction drove much of the chaos.
The Epstein Files: She described her discussions with Trump regarding the Epstein files, noting how he personally stifled efforts to investigate or hear survivors. While she deserves basic credit for speaking out, standing against child abuse is the bare minimum for any human being, not an act of heroism.
Calling MAGA a Cult: Greene claimed MAGA is a cult that will collapse once Trump is gone—a movement she admitted to being a part of. While she continues to advocate for “America First” policies and the release of January 6th rioters, she openly called MAGA supporters hypocrites and liars.
Where is MTG going now? Who cares? Maybe she should join with Lauren Boebert and start the “Reach Around” Party.
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