I honestly believe that he knows he is full of shit and arguing in bad faith, but he knows it keeps him in the money. He is entirely too clever to beleive everything he says.
Iono, he's said some insanely stupid stuff that only embarrasses him and doesn't help him politically. Have you seen his writing before he became famous? Ridiculous stuff. I think he just has an unchecked ego hopelessly warped by his sycophant backers.
Basically exactly what the previous commenter said, dunning-kruger effect over and over and over.
IMO he speaks too well and articulates his points too well in interviews for me to beleive its always ego and stupidity all the time. How many of his twitter followers are people who follow him just so they can call him an idiot? How many people watch him in interviews because they are hoping he rams his foot in his mouth and looks like an idiot? Even the "WAP" thing which made him look like a complete twit meant that he was trending on Twitter for like a week.
Enragement drives engagement, and he is an infuriating tool, but also someone who is making a career out of being one.
I'm not saying he doesnt belive some of it, or even most of it. But I have very little doubt that sometimes he is hamming it up just to get the clicks and stay relevant.
By the standards of right wing talking heads. I dislike the man immensely and I hear the bullshit and debate club tactics but he is a pretty capable speaker, especially when playing to audiences who want to believe what he has to say.
I think the man is a fucking weasel, but I dont think he is a dumb weasel.