I have never once heard people use this word

  • zifnab25 [he/him, any]
    ·
    4 years ago

    I believe it was paired with "wingnut" - a neologism of "right wing nutso" - from the liberal side.

    It looks like moonbat may have gained popularity thanks to George Monbiot, in the UK, being an outspoken liberal. So I imagine it just trickled across the pound and caught on among American conservatives because they thought it sounded pithy.