Being “Dangerously Reasonable” is a radical act

Mallen Baker uses the term “dangerously reasonable” to describe himself.

What could this mean?

Gemini interprets the phrase like this:

The phrase “dangerously reasonable” is Mallen Baker’s way of signaling that his content is an intentional antidote to the “culture war” style of modern political commentary.

It’s a bit of a cheeky paradox. In a digital landscape fueled by outrage and clickbait, he argues that being calm, nuanced, and fact-based is actually a “dangerous” or radical act.

Here is the thinking behind that branding:

1. The Threat to “Tribalism”

Baker believes that most political discourse today is tribal—you are expected to agree with everything your “side” says and hate everything the “other” side says.

By being reasonable (listening to both sides, checking data, and admitting when a point is valid regardless of who said it), he becomes dangerous to those tribal narratives.

If you are “reasonable,” you might find common ground with an “enemy,” which is often seen as a betrayal in polarized politics.

2. Rejecting Emotional Narratives

In media, “truth” is often wrapped in high-octane emotion or “doomism” to get views. Baker’s approach suggests:

• Reason is a tool to strip away the panic (especially in climate or COVID-19 discussions).
• It is “dangerous” because it deflates the influence of activists and politicians who rely on fear or hyperbole to maintain power.

3. The “Third Way” Intellectualism

The term suggests that he isn’t interested in being “polite” for the sake of it, but rather being rigorous.

It implies that he will follow the logic of a situation wherever it leads, even if the conclusion is unpopular or “off-message” for both the Left and the Right.

It frames objectivity as an act of defiance.

4. A Marketing Hook

On a practical level, it’s a clever bit of branding. It tells a potential viewer: “I’m not going to scream at you, and I’m not going to lie to you, but I might tell you things that challenge your comfortable assumptions.”

The Core Philosophy: Baker often cites the idea that if you can’t state your opponent’s argument in a way they would agree with, you don’t actually understand the issue. Being “dangerously reasonable” is the practice of doing exactly that.

Mallen Baker is generally perceived as a non-partisan and independent commentator. He describes his approach as “dangerously reasonable,” focusing on a fact-based, non-ideological analysis.

 While he has a background in party politics, he currently positions himself as a “floating voter” who avoids tribalism. Here is a breakdown of how his commentary and stance are typically viewed:

Political Stance and Objectivity

Independent/Centrist: Baker characterizes himself as independent and “non-ideological.” He resigned from party politics in 2002 (having previously been involved with the Green Party and Liberal Democrats) and has since remained a floating voter.

Anti-Tribalism: A core part of his brand is criticizing the “tribalism” in modern politics where one side views the other as “evil” or “deluded.”

Campaigning and Advocacy

Democracy and Accountability: Baker often focuses on issues of accountability and institutional integrity. For example, he has produced content analyzing the impartiality of the BBC and how democratic institutions handle crises.

Anti-Corruption/CSR: While not a “democracy campaigner” in the sense of a professional activist for a specific NGO, he is a long-time campaigner for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He spent over 20 years working with businesses to encourage them to be socially and environmentally responsible while remaining successful.

Climate Commentary: He is well-known for his nuanced take on climate change. While he acknowledges the reality of climate science, he often critiques the “doom-laden” rhetoric of groups like Extinction Rebellion, advocating for a more “rational” and “skill-based” approach to the transition.

You can follow Mallen Baker on Youtube 

There is a little bit of background on Wikipedia 

Old website – The Mallen Baker Show (not maintained)