Various right-wing media figures dismissed Politico’s reporting that leaders of Young Republican groups around the country used variations of the N-word, made jokes about gassing political opponents, and described rape as “epic” in a group Telegram chat. Right-wing figures claimed people were overreacting to edgy jokes made by young people (even though the participants reportedly ranged in age from 24-35), dismissed the chat as full of nobodies, and attacked conservatives who criticized the comments.