CIS, Wyoming, and the Demise of Intellectuals (Agustín Valladolid in Vozpópuli)

The intellectual critique in Spain seems to have abdicated its analytical function, replaced by the political spectacle and an accommodation of dominant currents, leaving a void often filled by entertainment.

## The barren landscape of criticism

There has been a growing observation regarding a certain apathy within the Spanish intellectual sphere, a kind of surrender to the complexity of modern times. A disconnect is perceived between the task traditionally assigned to thinkers and current reality, where profound analysis and rigorous criticism seem to have given way to a more complacent discourse. The idea that an intellectual must confront the difficulties of their era, rather than trinc trends or accommodating currents, appears to have diluted.
In Spain, this trend manifests in a landscape where ignorance often runs rampant, and diagnostic proposals are left halfway through, without daring to formulate predictions or solutions.

This situation is particularly noticeable among those who self-identify as left-wing intellectuals. They seem to have renounced their fundamental critical role, limiting themselves to debating tactical issues, such as candidate selection, without questioning the foundations of the populist politics being practiced. The antiestéticar of losing privileges or favors from those in power appears to be a determining factor in this surrender. It is expected that the political adversary offers arguments, but the analysis of fundamental issues affecting the functioning of the State and democratic principles is avoided.

## The CIS and the political spectacle

The **CIS**, an institution that once enjoyed considerable respect for its rigor and neutrality in measuring Spanish public opinion, appears to have mutated. Under the direction of the **Sánchez-Tezanos** tandem, it has transformed into a tool of suggestion, oriented toward favoring the governing party. Its ultimate goal seems to be discrediting political alternation as a mechanism for regeneration. This shift is worrying, as such an institution should be an objective thermometer of society, not a loudspeaker for particular interests.

The political spectacle has gained ground, and with it, superficiality. Entertainment programs, hosted by media figures, often occupy the space that should be dedicated to deep analysis and debate. Personalities like **Wyoming**, while respectable as communicators, do not always possess the necessary knowledge to rigorously question political figures. The interviews focus on collateral aspects, such as hobbies or the psychology of power, avoiding the questions that truly matter regarding public management and national problems. This creates a charade, serving as instruments for politicians who evade scrutiny.

## Intellectuals of yesterday and today

Comparing contemporary Spanish intellectualism with past eras, where figures such as **Unamuno**, **Baroja**, **Azorín**, **Ortega y Gasset**, the **Machado**, **Ayala** or **Zambrano** set the course of thought, is disheartening. While it is true that valuable thinkers still exist, such as **David Uclés**, most seem to have opted for indifference or silence. A void has been created that, in many cases, is filled by politics disguised as entertainment. There are no **Ortegas** or **Ayalas**; there are only **Wyomings**.

This trend does not affect the left alone. The lack of profound criticism and accommodation to circumstances are ills that seem widespread. The phrase attributed to **Spiro Agnew**, that "an intellectual is a person who doesn't know how to park the bicycle," acquires particular resonance in this context. It suggests a disconnection from practical reality and a certain inability to navigate the real world, something that could apply to those who, from the comfort of their superficial analyses, fail to address the country's real problems.