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
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The End of Libertarian Fusionism | Aaron Ross Powell
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
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"It's Time to Play Dirty" | Rachel Bitecofer
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
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Chase Oliver - The Long Game for Freedom
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
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The OG of Progress: Virginia Postrel
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
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