Explaining the right: Why Republicans are praising a dead squirrel

Like most Americans, you probably have never heard of Peanut, the now-deceased squirrel with an Instagram account.

But one of the most powerful people in the United States, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, gave a shout out to the animal—also known as P’Nut and PNUT—during a speech before the highly influential Federalist Society on Thursday night.

“I’m speaking of Peanut the squirrel,” Gorsuch said, during a section of his remarks discussing purported government overreach.

“Raise your glass for Peanut the squirrel, and ask yourself: Can we do better?” he asked, rallying the lawyers at the conservative summit.

What is this all about, and how is this squirrel a prime example of the destructively influential role conservative media plays in steering the national conversation?