The real New Republic purge happened in 1974. Goodbye articles on Ralph Nader and consumer auto safety, hello articles supporting Contra attacks on the elected left-wing Nicaraguan government etc.
This magazine has fallen to 50,000 paid subscribers. The New Republic had become a sinecure for self-important blowhards with no name recognition, and Hughes is clearing the decks. I mean, people like Michael Moore write for The Nation, Mother Jones broke the Romney 47% comments, what has the New Republic been known for in past decades other than Stephen Glass scandals or Bell Curve black/white genetic intelligence articles?
Hughes is reversing a decline which began 40 years ago. These bloviating fossils are not good for much other than biting the hand which fed their sinecures, and getting their sour grapes into rival publications.