Bob Murphy Show Ep. 534 Dan McCarthy on the Death of Libertarianism
6 snips
Oct 6, 2026 
Dan McCarthy, editor of Modern Age and a commentator on conservatism and political philosophy, discusses his provocative essay on libertarianism’s decline. They explore why the label is losing appeal, populism’s rise, libertarian contradictions, free trade and tariffs, open borders, the missing common good, religion’s role in political hope, and whether libertarians need a more positive vision.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Libertarianism Lost Its Momentum
- Libertarianism has lost political and intellectual momentum despite public dissatisfaction with government.
- Daniel McCarthy points to socialism’s resurgence, right-wing populism, and the absence of figures matching Friedman, Hayek, or Rothbard’s influence.
Why Some Libertarians Abandoned The Label
- Bob Murphy stopped publicly identifying as libertarian after seeing libertarians defend controversial cultural material he found indefensible.
- Daniel McCarthy says other longtime libertarians have similarly abandoned the label, suggesting the stigma is broader than personal branding.
Libertarianism Became A Victim Of Success
- Libertarians are sidelined on inflation, wars, and government failure even though these issues fit their traditional critiques.
- McCarthy argues free-market liberalism’s apparent success has made people less enthusiastic without making them more confident in government.