# The Right's Meme Candidate Problem

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/restoring-order-6837574/the-right-s-meme-candidate-problem
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/restoring-order-6837574/the-right-s-meme-candidate-problem.md
Podcast: [Restoring Order](https://stenobird.com/podcast/restoring-order-6837574)
Published: 2026-02-24T23:59:44+00:00
Episode link: https://www.patrickcasey.com/p/the-rights-meme-candidate-problem
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/189054967/44bf2901972e061dacb896063627663b.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/restoring-order-6837574/episodes/the-right-s-meme-candidate-problem
Duration seconds: 2590

## Resource

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.patrickcasey.com On this episode of Restoring Order, I discuss right-wing meme candidates, arguing that they do not present a viable path forward for the right. I start with James Fishback, who’s running for governor of Florida. I examine Fishback’s positions on several key issues, including H-1Bs and Israel—positions that, curiously, changed after he decided to run for office. I also take a look at some of the sexual misconduct allegations against Fishback. Is there any substance to them? In the second half of the show (available to subscribers), I talk about Fishback's professional and financial issues. Unbeknownst to many, he received a large judgment after his former employer successfully sued him. I then take a quick look at the polling to see what chance, if any, Fishback has of winning. Switching gears, I discuss Casey Putsch, who is "running" for governor of Ohio. I put running in quotations because I couldn't find much evidence of anything resembling a campaign, let alone a single poll mentioning his name. Toward the end of the show, I take a trip down memory lane by reminiscing on Patrick Little and Paul Nehlen, two notorious meme candidates from 2018. I argue that, while these guys were clearly more insane, that at least made it harder to take them seriously. I conclude by outlining how someone could hypothetically run a doomed campaign that nevertheless has a positive impact on the right. What would that look like? Tune in to find out.

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## Transcript

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