Republican exceptionalism is collapsing

The conservative party’s governing narrative — patriotic exceptionalism, cultural continuity, and a positive story of flourishing — has eroded, leaving an inward‑looking coalition of appeasers, libertarians, and cultural contractors who no longer provide a coherent motivating story. Without a restored narrative, the party risks fragmentation as voters stop treating it as an effective vehicle for cultural or policy aims. — If a major party loses its core story, it can trigger realignment, voter alienation, and a widening legitimacy gap that reshapes elections and policymaking.