Building a Liberal Coalition Against Authoritarianism

Conservative intellectual and Bulwark editor-at-large Bill Kristol joins hosts Josh Eakle and Max Marty to discuss his evolution from Republican insider to principled opponent of authoritarianism. Former chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle and architect of neoconservative foreign policy, Kristol reflects on how the party he helped shape for decades succumbed to populist demagoguery — and why he didn’t see it coming. The conversation explores whether the Reagan-Bush conservative movement was actually an historical aberration, masking deeper nativist currents that Trump successfully unleashed. Kristol argues that decent people across the political spectrum must band together against authoritarianism, just as classical liberals and social democrats united against fascism and communism in the 20th century. Topics Discussed: * The journey from supporting Sarah Palin to becoming a Never Trumper — and why January 6th was the point of no return * How the Tea Party movement evolved from fiscal conservatism to proto-MAGA populism * Why immigration became the sleeper issue that reshaped Republican politics, even among affluent cruise-goers * The three-legged stool’s collapse: how social conservatives, foreign policy hawks, and business elites all capitulated to Trump * America First’s dark historical echoes and the return of 1920s-30s nativist isolationism * Why ex-Republicans have unique credibility in warning about authoritarianism — the “Whittaker Chambers effect” • How Trump inadvertently pushed Democrats toward free trade and internationalism * What Democrats can do to welcome center-right refugees without overthinking coalition politics Links & Resources: * The Bulwark* Defending Democracy Together – https://www.defendingdemocracytogethe...* Project Liberal – https://www.projectliberal.org* Become a Project Liberal member – https://projectliberal.org/member Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

Radical liberal and former Cato Institute scholar Aaron Ross Powell joins hosts Joshua Eakle and Max Marty at the Watergate Hotel for an in-person conversation about the collapse of libertarian-conservative fusionism and what comes next for defenders of liberal democracy. Powell, who founded libertarianism.org and hosted the Free Thoughts podcast for nearly a decade, explains why he abandoned the libertarian label as it became associated with illiberal populism.The discussion explores how the libertarian movement fractured between cosmopolitan liberals seeking equal dignity for all and those using "liberty" rhetoric to defend traditional hierarchies. As President Trump's authoritarian populism tests American institutions, the conversation turns to whether radical liberals should pursue a new strategic alliance with the center-left — not as junior partners, but as principled advocates for the values of openness, pluralism, and individual autonomy.Topics Discussed:* The distinction between radical liberalism and libertarianism, and how the libertarian brand became toxic* How fusionism trapped libertarians in a conservative coalition that ultimately betrayed liberal values * The two libertarianisms revealed by Trump: cosmopolitan egalitarians versus hierarchy defenders * Why tech libertarians shifted rightward after experiencing "woke" criticism in Silicon Valley * The credibility radical liberals now have warning about concentrated state power after Trump's rise * Building a pro-democracy coalition that welcomes liberal conservatives without demanding ideological purity * The realignment from left-right to open-closed society, and where radical liberals fit* Why opposing authoritarian populism requires strange bedfellows and a commitment to shared liberal valuesLinks & Resources: * Aaron Ross Powell's website – https://www.aaronrosspowell.com* Reimagining Liberty podcast – https://pod.link/1614436300 * Project Liberal – https://www.projectliberal.org* Become a Project Liberal member – https://projectliberal.org/member Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

Political analyst and messaging strategist Rachel Bitecofer joins hosts Max Marty and Josh Eakle for a provocative discussion about why Democrats keep losing the messaging war—and what it will take to fight back against authoritarian threats. Rachel is the Author of "Hit Them Where It Hurts," arguing that Democrats' preference for positive campaigning and policy wonkery is a luxury the country can no longer afford. The conversation explores the psychology of voter behavior, the asymmetry in campaign tactics between parties, and whether Democrats must embrace fear-based messaging to save democracy itself. Max pushes back on the "race to the bottom" concern while Bitecofer insists the house is already on fire—and worrying about furniture arrangements can wait. Topics Discussed: * Why party identification explains 90% of vote choice—and how Rachel believes Republicans weaponize this through negative branding * Loss aversion psychology: Why fear motivates voters more than hope or policy promises * The 2024 postmortem: How $1 billion in positive Democratic ads failed while Trump's "she's for they/them" attacks succeeded * Is appealing to voter's virtue a trap * Historical parallels to 1930s Europe and why humans are psychologically wired to deny threats until it's too late Links & Resources: * Rachel Bitecofer's on Substack "The Cycle" –https://substack.com/@thecycle? * "Hit Them Where It Hurts" by Rachel Bitecofer – https://a.co/d/0ri9Pni * Project Liberal – https://www.projectliberal.org * Become a Project Liberal member and help us make more content like this – https://projectliberal.org/member Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

Former Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver joins hosts Max Marty and Tyler Harris for a candid look at where the liberty movement goes after the bruising 2024 cycle. Oliver reflects on running as a third-party contender in the most chaotic U.S. election in living memory, the internal battles that nearly broke the Libertarian Party, and why he refuses to run again unless the party rediscovers its classical-liberal roots. The conversation ranges from foreign-policy realism to the practicalities of resisting an increasingly illiberal political climate—and why long-term institutional reform matters as much as winning the next news cycle.Topics Discussed* Lessons from 2024: ballot-access hurdles, the RFK Jr. fundraising fiasco, and how MAGA populism crashed the Libertarian gate* “Principles before polls”: why Oliver argues that character and core values beat 100-point policy checklists* Reclaiming liberalism inside a two-party duopoly—and the limits of “vote-harder” activism* Ukraine, Gaza, and strategic restraint: when does aid deter aggression and when does it prolong war?* Free speech, due process, and mass-deportation plans: diagnosing the new authoritarian threat at home* Practical resistance: local organizing, legal defense funds, and funding institutions that defend immigrants and civil liberties* Long-game reforms—proportional representation, party primaries, and why the next constitutional settlement will shape liberty for decadesLinks & Resources* Chase Oliver website – https://votechaseoliver.com* Chase on X (Twitter) – @ChaseForLiberty* Project Liberal – https://www.projectliberal.org Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Project Liberal podcast, Max Marty and Tyler Harris engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Virginia Postrel. Virginia introduces her framework of dynamism versus stasis—a perspective that transcends traditional left-right political divides—and explores how this lens remains relevant for understanding today's political landscape. As the "OG of the Progress and Abundance movement," Virginia offers unique insights into how innovation, decentralized knowledge, and bottom-up experimentation drive human flourishing. Topics Discussed: * The core thesis of "The Future and Its Enemies" and how it anticipated today's political realignments* How the YIMBY housing movement represents successful dynamism in action* The connections between progress studies, abundance agendas, and different political coalitions* Why progress was glamorous in the early 20th century and how it might regain that appeal* The importance of making progress tangible in everyday life rather than just elite discourse* How to build dynamic coalitions across political divides despite rising populism and reactionary politics* The role of decentralized knowledge in fields from textiles to housing policy You can find more from Virginia at: * Virginia's Substack: * Virginia's Website: https://vpostrel.com* Virginia's Book "The Future and Its Enemies": https://a.co/d/6ZtKqZC* Virginia's Book "The Fabric of Civilization": https://a.co/d/9ANJ3zr And learn more about Project Liberal at: https://projectliberal.org Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Project Liberal podcast, hosts Max Marty and Tyler Harris engage in an illuminating conversation with Andy Craig, Fellow at the Institute for Humane Studies. Following his recent piece in The Unpopulist, Andy makes a compelling case for a more strident, unapologetic liberalism in response to America's current illiberal trajectory. The discussion explores how liberalism has historically been a radical force for change—from early democracy movements to civil rights—and how it must reclaim this bold reformist tradition to counter rising authoritarianism.  Topics Discussed:   Why liberalism needs to move beyond a stale defense of the status quo and reclaim its radical reformist tradition   How both centrist establishment Democrats and the progressive left wing have failed to offer compelling liberal alternatives   The housing crisis and immigration reform as potential rallying points for a revitalized liberalism   The breakdown of democratic norms and the normalization of political violence in American politics   The importance of reclaiming free speech as a core liberal value Electoral reform and the case for proportional representation to improve American democracy   The strategic necessity of thinking long-term about liberal institutional reforms  The conversation delves into how liberalism finds itself in an oppositional space against an increasingly illiberal administration, and why Democrats need to emphasize the constitutional crisis at hand rather than engaging in politics as usual. Andy argues that a radical liberal alternative—distinct from both centrism and democratic socialism—offers the most viable path forward for those committed to defending constitutional democracy and individual liberty.   A Liberalism Without Fear or Apology: https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/a-liberalism-without-apology-or-fear Follow Andy Craig: https://theunpopulist.net/author/andy-craig  Learn more about the Institute for Humane Studies: https://theihs.org/  Project Liberal: https://projectliberal.org/ Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

Brad Polumbo recently debated Tim Pool on free trade—since Tim acted emotionally unhinged and unable to cope with reality, we thought it would be wise to invite Brad on the show to have the conversation he deserved.  We discussed the topic "is free trade good for Americans?" with Max Marty playing the role of an emotionally stable, good-faith Tim Pool. Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

With so many on the far left acquiescing to Trumpism, Micah Erfan and Joshua Eakle invited Kyle Kulinski of Secular Talk on the show to discuss the new anti-Trump coalition, how to keep various factions working alongside each other, and what some on the far left are getting wrong in their approach.   Follow Kyle: https://x.com/KyleKulinski   Subscribe to Micah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MicahErfan  Learn More About Project Liberal: http://www.projectliberal.org Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Project Liberal, co-hosts Joshua Eakle and Shawn Huckabay sit down with Armin Navabi, founder of Atheist Republic and an outspoken advocate for secularism, religious freedom, and liberalism. Together, they explore Armin’s fascinating personal journey from his upbringing in Iran to becoming one of the world’s most prominent atheist activists. Along the way, the conversation unpacks the intersection of secularism and liberalism, the evolution of the New Atheist movement, and the challenges of defending liberal values in a polarized world.  Topics Discussed:  Armin’s personal journey to secularism and his efforts to build Atheist Republic  The New Atheist movement’s evolution and its relationship with liberalism  How secularism fosters freedom and challenges authoritarian systems  The role of skepticism and humanism in shaping liberalism  Liberalism as an adaptive, antifragile system in the face of populist challenges  The importance of defending liberalism globally, from Europe to Iran  The interplay of religion, culture, and liberal values in shaping society  Armin Navabi shares powerful insights on the resilience of liberalism, the necessity of skepticism, and the universal desire for freedom. This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion on the forces shaping modern society and why liberalism remains a vital framework for progress.  Links:   Atheist Republic: https://www.atheistrepublic.com/Armin Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AtheistRepublic Project Liberal : Join Here Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Max Marty and Joshua Eakle engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Andrew Heaton, political satirist, podcaster, and author of the new book “Tribalism is Dumb.” They delve into the evolutionary roots of tribalism, its impact on modern politics, and how our innate groupishness shapes societal dynamics. Andrew shares insights from his book, exploring why tribalism has intensified and what we can do to mitigate its negative effects.Topics Discussed:   The evolutionary psychology behind tribalism and zero-sum thinking   How modern society exacerbates or mitigates tribal tendencies   The role of sports, religion, and community in channeling tribalism   Dunbar’s number and its implications for social cohesion   The limitations of the traditional left-right political spectrum   Cognitive biases, groupthink, and overcoming motivated reasoning   How to reduce political polarization and foster liberal valuesAndrew Heaton brings a unique blend of humor and insight to the complex topic of tribalism, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our political landscape. Don’t miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and provides practical solutions for a more open and free society.Links:   Andrew's Book: Tribalism is Dumb https://a.co/d/1XRoo8H   Andrew's Podcast: The Political Orphanage https://mightyheaton.com/the-political-orphanage  And as always, you can find more of Josh and Max at https://projectliberal.org/ Get full access to Project Liberal at projectliberal.substack.com/subscribe