By Matt Underwood ‘It’s revolting’: More Young Republican chat members out of jobs as condemnation intensifies is a headline that unfortunately, doesn’t surprise anyone anymore. The core of this story is about the fallout from a POLITICO report that exposed a private Telegram chat among Young Republican members. This chat wasn’t just filled with political banter; it was a cesspool of racist slurs, hateful tropes, and even “jokingly” celebrating Adolf Hitler. The key point here is that it’s seemingly always the same story repeating.
The immediate consequence of the report was the loss of jobs for some of the chat members. Peter Giunta, who was the chair of the New York State Young Republicans when the chat was active, is no longer employed. Joseph Maligno, the former general counsel for the group, has also lost his job. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the report detailed the vile content of the chat. This is where the focus should be. I’m guessing there are even more chats out there, and the sheer brazenness of it is truly shocking.
The most revealing thing about this situation, and the most frustrating, is the reaction of some prominent Republicans. Specifically, the Vice President, J.D. Vance. Instead of condemning the behavior, he whatabout-ism-ed by comparing the chat to something else he felt was “worse”. He essentially minimized the severity of the racist language, the homophobic slurs, and the celebration of Hitler, by pointing to the perceived transgressions of a Democratic candidate. It’s a classic deflection tactic, and it highlights a disturbing trend: the normalization of hate and intolerance within certain corners of the Republican party.
What makes this all even more disheartening is that it’s happening within an organization aimed at people 18 to 40. You would think there would be a little more awareness. And yet, the chat included dehumanizing language. The use of racial slurs, offensive stereotypes targeting various minority groups, and the casual embrace of Hitler is an indication of the pervasive nature of these views. The normalization of this kind of discourse is dangerous.
The fact that some members are losing their jobs is a consequence, it really should have been enough to make everyone see the bigger picture. The problem goes beyond individual instances of hate speech. The article shows this. It is about the broader culture that allows this kind of behavior to flourish. The fact that a significant portion of the population is still so shocked at this is somewhat astonishing.
The narrative is further solidified by the revelation that these people were in the group chat. The responses they gave, and what was said, confirms the pervasive nature of these views. It isn’t just a case of a few bad apples; it reflects a deep-seated problem within the Young Republican community. The behavior is not an outlier.
The story’s impact isn’t confined to New York and Washington, where there were immediate repercussions, and it highlights the broader national debate about the role of race and hate in American politics. What we’re seeing is a clash between the values of tolerance and inclusivity, and a resurgent wave of bigotry.
The firing of these chat members is, in a way, a small victory. Yet, it’s a victory that underscores the depth of the problem. The fact that there is actual accountability speaks volumes about the severity of the situation, but it also underlines the need for real systemic change. This is not about “pearl-clutching” or political gamesmanship. It’s about confronting the rot at the core of a movement. It is the normalization of hateful views. Until this is addressed, we’re only going to see more stories like this. And, sadly, that’s exactly what everyone expects.