- Is the Most Powerful Conservative in America Losing His Edge? Erick Erickson built his career on stoking populist rage. But now the man who steers the Tea Party says conservative anger has grown toxic and self-defeating. http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/12/is-the-most-powerful-conservative-in-america-losing-his-edge/383503/ 43 comments politics