Exactly which populists on the right desire this?
He may be thinking of the 1930s or the 1950s when it was assumed that there was one American type that people had to assimilate to. That view wasn't just held by populists back then. In recent decades many conservatives of all varieties have held up the 1950s as something positive in contrast to the chaos of the 1960s and 1970s, but there was a growing understanding that there was no one American type or way of life that all Americans were going to conform to. I think deep down that's what we realize today, but if those who want to be critical are going to see conformity and homogenization in everything their opponents say.
Also, Birzer may be coming from a more localistic "small is beautiful" anti-Walmart tradition. I don't think he understands that many of the Trump supporters he is criticizing have similar views, and many of those he would have voted for in previous years don't. Right now, the drive for compulsive conformity is coming from the corporations, the Democrats, and the left, so caricaturing right populists seems counterproductive if you are opposed to big government, big business, big tech, and social control over individuals, families and communities.
It looks like Walmart is losing -- to Amazon. Is that better? I suppose we are going to have to learn to live with and deal with Amazon, as we did with Walmart and Sears.
We could make certain symbols, such as the American Flag, inviolate. We could make certain aspects of our history unquestioned, e.g. Washington was perfect except for his wooden teeth and Columbus was a Saint. This of course would have to be enforced by law and would go against the American tradition of taking the piss out of everything.
Everyone with half a brain knew that Liberace was gay and yet he had a fabulous career. So even in the 50's we were willing to look the other way so long as a person was a productive member of society.
How many Romans truly believed in Jupiter and Juno, and yet I believe that anyone who publicly acknowledged disbelief or who blasphemed either would receive a harsh punishment.
Even if it sounds silly, maybe we should make flag burning (and the wearing of flag-themed underwear) crimes punishable by public whipping or the pillory. Anyone who denounces Washington, Lincoln, or Columbus is exiled to Antarctica... or Detroit.
There was a cherry tree that Washington cut down. The pilgrims had a lovely dinner with the Indians (Note: referring to them as 'Native Americans' would be a misdemeanor). Columbus sailed the ocean blue and brought civilization to an uncivilized continent. Lincoln freed the slaves and never said any of those nasty things liberals accused him of.