Hold onto your hats, folks -- trouble is brewing at one of conservatism’s most storied institutions. The Heritage Foundation, long a bastion of traditional values, is reeling from the resignations of two heavyweight trustees over a scandal involving Tucker Carlson and some seriously questionable company. This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a full-blown detour.

The crux of the matter is this: two trustees, Abby Spencer Moffat and Shane McCullar, stepped down on Tuesday, citing Heritage’s shaky response to antisemitism and its troubling ties to a controversial Carlson interview with Nick Fuentes, a figure notorious for extremist views, as Newsmax reports.

Let’s rewind to the spark that lit this fire. Heritage President Kevin Roberts doubled down on defending Carlson, a self-described “close friend,” after the interview with Fuentes drew ire from Jewish and conservative leaders alike. Instead of dousing the flames, Roberts fanned them by slamming critics as a “venomous coalition” out to cancel his buddy.

Roberts’ Defense Sparks Internal Revolt

Roberts later issued an apology for his remarks, but it was as vague as a politician’s promise. He refused to directly criticize Carlson, leaving many at Heritage scratching their heads -- or packing their bags. This half-measure didn’t sit well with the board or scholars who value clarity over camaraderie.

The fallout was swift and brutal. High-profile names like Princeton’s Robert P. George, former Trump adviser Stephen Moore, and legal scholar Chris DeMuth have already walked away, signaling a deeper rift. If Heritage is a ship, it’s taking on water fast.

Abby Spencer Moffat, a board member since 1992 and head of a foundation that donated $25 million to Heritage in 2023, didn’t mince words about her exit. “When an institution hesitates to confront harmful ideas and allows lapses in judgment to stand, it forfeits the moral authority on which its influence depends,” Moffat said. That’s a polite way of saying Heritage dropped the ball -- and the moral high ground.

Trustees Slam Heritage’s Moral Drift

Shane McCullar, a business heavyweight with stints at McDonald’s and Rubbermaid, was equally blunt in his departure. He argued that no think tank can claim credibility while tiptoeing around hatred or giving a megaphone to those who peddle it. His resignation letter was a gut punch to Heritage’s leadership.

Adding fuel to the fire, Heritage has shelled out nearly $1 million to sponsor Carlson’s podcasts. That’s a hefty price tag for content that Morton Klein of the Zionist Organization of America called out as brimming with hostility toward Israel. Sponsoring controversy isn’t exactly the conservative brand Heritage built its name on.

Klein didn’t hold back, pointing out that Roberts’ silence on Carlson’s actions has tarnished Heritage’s reputation. The Zionist Organization of America even pulled out of Heritage’s antisemitism task force over the debacle. When allies like that walk away, you know the damage is deep.

Leadership Crisis Threatens Heritage’s Future

Moffat and McCullar aren’t just random names on a roster; they’re pillars of the conservative establishment. Moffat called her resignation a tough call, pointing to a drift from Heritage’s core principles, while McCullar couldn’t reconcile his values with the foundation’s waffling. Their exits aren’t just personal -- they’re a warning siren.

A Heritage spokesperson tried to spin the narrative, expressing gratitude for Moffat and McCullar’s service while promising to keep pushing conservative policies. Nice try, but platitudes won’t patch a sinking ship. The question remains: can Heritage steer back to its mission?

Insider whispers suggest Roberts’ refusal to step aside is dragging Heritage deeper into the muck. Some believe his loyalty to Carlson is clouding judgment at a time when the think tank needs a steady hand. Stubbornness might be a virtue in some fights, but not when it alienates your base.

Can Heritage Recover Its Credibility?

The resignations aren’t just a loss of talent; they’re a loss of trust. When long-standing trustees and scholars jump ship, it’s a signal that Heritage’s leadership is out of touch with its own roots. This isn’t about “woke” overreach -- it’s about standing firm on basic decency.

Heritage has long been a guiding light for conservative policy, but this controversy threatens to dim that shine. The think tank’s flirtation with divisive figures and reluctance to unequivocally reject harmful rhetoric could cost it more than a few board members. It risks losing the very audience it claims to serve.

So, where does Heritage go from here? The path forward requires more than vague apologies or PR spin -- it demands a return to principles over personalities. If leadership can’t see that, they might as well hand the keys to the progressive agenda they so often rail against.