[Fido969]

Establishment Republican live on a bubble, and talk mostly to their donor, schmoozing funds, and doing a few backroom deals. Their staff gives them some red meat to throw out once and a while, and they parrot it verbatim, often not even understanding what it is about

So, when a reporter gives them a gotcha question, they are caught flat-footed, and resort to politician mode, and seize an opportunity to virtue signal, because they think it is a safe thing to do.

A few politicians, like Kari, actually understand the issues, and can respond intelligently. Plus, they are used to thinking on their feet, and don't get trapped by the sleazy media

[PapaBear3625]

Establishment Republican live on a bubble, and talk mostly to their donor, schmoozing funds, and doing a few backroom deals.

You hit upon the essence. Establishment Republicans are not working for us. They are working for their donors, whose interests may be very different from the objectives of the Republican base.

If you are a wealthy globalist wanting to influence Congress, you do not try backing a Democrat to run in a heavily Republican district. Instead you back a RINO squish to run as a "Republican", but who will never oppose the Democrats on anything important.