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The Ezra Klein Show · August 11, 2026 · 1h 13m

Ross Douthat: The Exit Interview

Ross Douthat
Show Notes

Ezra Klein interviews Ross Douthat as he departs The New York Times after 17 years to become a correspondent on 60 Minutes. They discuss Douthat's unique role as a conservative voice explaining the right to liberal audiences, tracing his path from early-2000s blogger to columnist. The conversation explores how blogging transformed journalism, the religious realignment of the Republican Party from evangelicals to Catholics and pagans, and what Douthat has learned about persuasion. They also touch on his plans to investigate the UFO story with the resources of 60 Minutes.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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How Blogging Changed Journalism
Douthat and Klein discussed how the rise of blogging in the early 2000s transformed journalism.
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The GOP’s Religious Transformation
They explored how the Republican Party shifted from an evangelical Christian base to one increasingly influenced by Catholics and pagan ideologies.
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Lessons in Persuasion from Writing for Liberal Audiences
Douthat shared what a career of explaining conservative ideas to liberal readers taught him about persuasion.
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Douthat’s UFO Ambitions at 60 Minutes
With his move to 60 Minutes, Douthat hinted at taking on the UFO story with the show’s investigative muscle.
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Discussing Louise Perry and a New Sexual Revolution
Klein and Douthat talked about Douthat’s recent interview with Louise Perry about the case for a new sexual revolution.
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References

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Grand New Party — Ross Douthat (2008) — Douthat’s book on Republican reform
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Speak, Memory — Vladimir Nabokov (1951) — Recommended by Ross Douthat
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De Gaulle — Julian Jackson (2018) — Recommended by Ross Douthat
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Treasure Island — Robert Louis Stevenson (1883) — Recommended by Ross Douthat

Misc

✧Ezra mentioned he has 20-year-old Bloggingheads.tv clips of early debates with Douthat from their blogging days.
✧They discussed the recently released papal encyclical Magnifica Humanitas by Pope Leo XIV.
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