In a recent opinion article by William Bennett and Rob Noel published on Fox News, the authors emphasize the cultural and moral decline in America, particularly as illustrated by Hollywood's latest film, "One Battle After Another." This film, which depicts border agents and conservatives in a negative light while romanticizing violent progressives, has been awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture. The authors claim this accolade from Hollywood signifies a broader societal narrative that undermines conservative values and portrays conservatism as morally objectionable, thereby alienating a significant portion of the American populace.

The article references a Pew survey indicating that over half of Americans perceive their fellow citizens as morally deteriorating, with Democrats expressing greater concerns than Republicans. This divisive perception is seen as a direct result of a left-leaning cultural elite that has succeeded in framing traditional values as oppressive. This perspective is also exacerbated by educational institutions that promote moral relativism and tensions around identity politics, further polarizing the national conversation on moral values.

Bennett and Noel argue that this trend demands urgent action from conservative leaders and thinkers. They suggest that conservatives must actively contest these narratives in media and education to reclaim the discourse surrounding morality and societal values, advocating for a concerted effort to reaffirm traditional values in the face of what they perceive as a growing moral crisis within the country.