EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Alarming Influence of Nick Fuentes: Insights From a Former Extremist and Ex–Neo-Nazi Leader

By Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT (VINnews)

The recent Tucker Carlson interview with Nick Fuentes jolted millions of viewers and dangerously blurred the line between mainstream conservatism and extremist ideology. By giving Fuentes—a radical figure with a long history of racist, antisemitic, and authoritarian views—a massive national platform, the interview helped normalize ideas that sit far outside America’s moral and democratic framework. 

To understand why this is so alarming, I spoke with Jeff Schoep, a former extremist and the longtime leader of America’s largest neo-Nazi organization. His insights make clear that what may appear to some as “just another controversial voice” is in fact a gateway to deeper radicalization, especially among vulnerable young men.

Why Fuentes’ Rise Should Concern Every American

In the aftermath of the Carlson–Fuentes conversation, many were left questioning how someone with Fuentes’ worldview is gaining so much traction—and what his growing influence says about the psychological and spiritual health of America’s youth. That is why my recent interview with Jeff Schoep felt so urgent. Schoep has devoted years to de-radicalization work, and he understands extremist movements from the inside. His analysis isn’t a partisan take; it’s a sober warning born from lived experience, personal responsibility, and deep reflection.

When I sat down with Jeff, what struck me immediately was the seriousness with which he views the Fuentes phenomenon. He didn’t describe Fuentes as merely another internet provocateur. He described him as a destabilizing force who weaponizes grievance and intentionally pushes young men toward ideological extremity. Jeff put it plainly: “If you affiliate with someone like Nick Fuentes, you will damage your entire movement.” And he’s right. Fuentes does not represent conservative values; he represents a radical fringe that undermines them.

Reciprocal Radicalization: The Extremist Feedback Loop

Jeff also introduced a concept that resonated deeply with my clinical work and worldview: reciprocal radicalization. Extremists on the far left and far right feed and justify each other. When Fuentes intensifies his rhetoric, it fuels escalation on the far-left fringe, which then drives the cycle further. The result is a shrinking center, a collapse of dialogue, and the rise of fear-driven politics. This dynamic mirrors the psychological breakdown Viktor Frankl warned about—the erosion of meaning, responsibility, and inner freedom.

Why Young Men Are Vulnerable to Fuentes’ Message

Throughout the interview, Jeff explained why Fuentes has such a strong pull on young men: isolation, loneliness, the collapse of community, digital tribalism, and a deep hunger for belonging. These are the same emotional vulnerabilities I see in therapy rooms every week. When young people lack grounding, guidance, and purpose, extremist ideologies become attractive not because of their content, but because they offer the illusion of identity and significance.

Hope and Transformation: A Path Out of Extremism

Yet amid these warnings, Jeff offered something profoundly hopeful: the reminder that people can change. He is living proof. His transformation underscores a central truth I see echoed in Frankl’s work—no individual is beyond redemption. De-radicalization does not happen through shaming or silencing; it happens through relational dialogue. Calm, grounded, respectful conversation. Challenging harmful ideas while preserving a person’s dignity. That is how Jeff walked away from extremism, and it is how others can too.

This interview is more than commentary on Nick Fuentes. It is a roadmap for understanding—and countering—the emotional mechanisms behind extremism. It shows that while hate can spread quickly, so can healing. And it reminds us that the antidotes to radicalization are the same timeless virtues that sustain a healthy society: empathy, responsibility, connection, and the belief that every human being can choose a better path.

About Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT

Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT, is a New York–based psychotherapist, author, and host of The Viktor Frankl Podcast, a rapidly growing platform exploring psychology, culture, faith, and current events through the lens of Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy. He is the author of five books, including Viktor Frankl and the Psychology of the Soul, and is the founder of the Torah Psychology School of Coaching and Counseling. His work focuses on helping individuals find meaning, build emotional resilience, and navigate complex social and political dynamics with clarity and compassion.