Intellectual Conservative Group Hosted Dinner with Alex Jones

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), a longstanding conservative educational organization for college students, arranged a dinner this spring featuring Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones, an event ISI President Johnny Burtka called unforgettable.

A recent report from The Dispatchs John McCormack and Michael Warren details how ISI, under Burtkas leadership, selected eight students to attend an exclusive retreat and dinner with Carlson at his residence in southern Florida. These students were chosen due to the exceptional performance of their campus newspapers, which are part of ISIs Collegiate Network, a collection of conservative student publications across the U.S.

Following a Journalism 101 session at the Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota, the students traveled by shuttle for 90 minutes to Carlsons Gasparilla Island home, where he shared career guidance. Burtka shared a photo on Twitter featuring Carlson, former Collegiate Network Executive Director Dan McCarthy, The American Conservative editor Curt Mills, and himself, calling the evening a memorable experience for the students.

Notably absent from the photo was Alex Jones, who attended the dinner and appeared on Carlsons podcast the following day, April 9. The connection between ISI, Carlson, and Jones has drawn attention due to recent controversies at The Heritage Foundation and Carlsons friendly interview with white nationalist leader Nick Fuentes.

Chris Long, a former ISI president, expressed disbelief at the presence of Jones at the event. Additionally, Burtka reportedly barred conservative writer Kevin Williamson from ISI gatherings over ideological disagreements and promoted Curtis Yarvin, a political thinker openly sympathetic to authoritarian ideas and not opposed to white nationalism.

Following internal disputes, Chris Long and former ISI board chairman Thomas Lynch resigned after an unsuccessful attempt to remove Burtka from his position.

Author: Logan Reeves