The Telos Press Podcast Episode 76: Debating Postliberalism with Adrian Pabst, Michael Lind, and John Milbank
Nov 26, 2025
Michael Lind, a writer on political history, and theologian John Milbank engage in a riveting discussion on postliberalism. Lind critiques the blending of libertarianism and traditional conservatism in the Trump era, while Milbank analyzes the cultural shifts in the left. They delve into the Puritan roots of political moralism, the role of evangelical influences in right-wing movements, and the challenges of developing Burkean conservatism in the U.S. Their exchange offers profound insights into contemporary political currents and the future of nationalism.
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Libertarian-Oligarch Fusion On The Right
- Michael Lind argues the current US right blends libertarian oligarchy with paleoconservative nativism rather than genuine post-liberalism.
- This coalition yields deregulation, plutocratic influence, and cultural authoritarianism rather than communitarian reform.
US Political DNA Resists Burkean Pluralism
- John Milbank and Michael Lind trace US political culture to 18th-century Whig fundamentals that privilege individualism and racial myths.
- They argue this limits Burkean conservatism and makes post-liberal pluralism unusual in the US.
National Libertarianism Emerges
- Lind describes a synthesis: deregulation at home combined with tariffs and immigration restriction abroad benefits some working-class sectors.
- He calls it "national libertarianism" or libertarianism in one country, a durable GOP synthesis.
