The American Conservative

On October 7, 2002, Pat Buchanan, Scott McConnell, and Taki Theodoracopulos launched a magazine that refused to follow the neoconservative crowd. The American Conservative arrived in Washington, D.C., just as the debate over invading Iraq was heating up. While many conservative voices cheered for intervention, this new publication took a hard line against the war before it began. Ralph Nader later noted that their reporting offered some of the sharpest critiques of the conflict available at the time.

Scott McConnell serves as the publisher and editor-in-chief, steering the ship under the umbrella of the American Ideas Institute. The outlet champions a philosophy blending non-interventionist foreign policy with skepticism of government overreach. It distinguishes itself from mainstream rivals like National Review by rejecting free-market orthodoxy in favor of trade realism and economic populism. This unique stance often puts the magazine at odds with the establishment wing of the Republican Party.

Beyond policy analysis, the brand has proven its ability to shape cultural narratives. A 2016 interview with JD Vance helped propel his book Hillbilly Elegy into the national conversation. Today, the bimonthly print edition runs alongside a daily newsletter and a weekly podcast hosted by the editorial team. Recent coverage continues to track high-stakes geopolitical events, including detailed reporting on the Iran-U.S. conflict and domestic political upsets like the loss of Adam Vindman in a Florida Senate primary. [edit]