The Ralph Douthat meme is a satirical crossover featuring the character Ralph Wiggum from The Simpsons personifying New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. Often used to mock traditionalist or overly intellectualized political and religious arguments, the meme highlights the perceived absurdity of high-brow punditry by placing sophisticated takes in the mouth of a childlike character. It gained significant traction in political Twitter and Reddit circles as a method to critique the pundit class, blending pop culture nostalgia with contemporary cultural commentary. The format is ideal for presenting complex societal theories as simplistic, nonsensical, or unintentionally funny observations.