Follow the money.
None of these outfits survive by marketing to the public at large, or even conservatives in general. They are paid for by a few wealthy patrons, and therefore serve their interests.
Follow this back to their patrons, and their patrons opinions, and you will understand them perfectly.
It was always so with all these think tanks and little magazines. The difference back then was the substansive interests in the conservative/Republican coalition were aligned, but aren’t so now.
The money people are used to politicians who can be bought, or at least with whom money buys access. Trump, who does not need their money, frightens them.