

Angela McArdle: What Role Did the Libertarian Party Play in Freeing Ross Ulbricht?
Jan 22, 2025
Angela McArdle, the National Chair of the Libertarian Party, discusses the party's pivotal role in advocating for Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, who served 11 years for a double life sentence. She highlights Ulbricht's libertarian ideals and the decade-long Free Ross movement, led by his mother. The conversation dives into the strategic negotiations with Trump for Ulbricht’s pardon and the complexities of aligning with mainstream politics. McArdle emphasizes the significance of this case for libertarian values and future political strategies.
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Why Free Ross?
- Freeing Ross Ulbricht was a top priority for libertarians in discussions with Trump.
- This aimed to achieve tangible freedom, garner support from communities like Bitcoin, and offer an easy political win for Trump.
Libertarian Significance
- Ulbricht's case embodies key libertarian concerns like free markets, lawfare, and the drug war.
- McArdle compares his situation to tech platforms, highlighting the inconsistency in holding individuals accountable for user actions.
Meeting with Trump
- Angela McArdle met with Trump and his team, including Rick Grinnell and Cash Patel, to discuss libertarian priorities.
- She prioritized freeing Ross Ulbricht and mentioned Julian Assange, receiving a "maybe" for the latter.