Neon Liberalism

Will Stancil, an activist and on-the-ground monitor of ICE activity in Minneapolis, shares his harrowing experiences witnessing ICE abductions and confrontations. He highlights the deep-seated terror tactics employed by ICE, aiming to provoke unrest and normalize militarized policing. Discussing the evolution of community resistance, Will praises decentralized rapid-response networks and stresses the importance of organizing and documentation. He also draws historical parallels to past oppression, advocating for political accountability and the need to expose ICE's true nature.

Giselle Donnelly, a foreign policy analyst and former AEI fellow, dives into the chaos surrounding the recent US raid on Venezuela. She unpacks the implications of Maduro's potential capture and the future of Venezuelan stability, challenging the notion that it could lead to democracy. The conversation touches on Trump's motivations, contrasting imperialistic ambitions with erratic policy execution. They explore the risks of special operations and the symbolic versus strategic interests driving American actions, emphasizing the need for a renewed liberal strategy.

Take a step back and recall where you were on election night 2024. Recall the way the future looked in January 2025 at Trump's inauguration. In this episode, Samantha and Adam Gurri, editor-in-chief of Liberal Currents, evaluate the long game against Trump—and argue that the Trump revolution is stalling out, even as he flails his way through imperial misadventure in Venezuela.Read Adam's essay We Are Going To Win: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/we-are-going-to-winSupport the Reconstruction Papers: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-liberal-currents-startup-fund

Yakov Feygin, a historian and author of *Building a Ruin*, dives deep into Soviet economic history, revealing why the USSR's initial successes turned into stagnation and eventual collapse. He explains how the Soviet system uniquely blended market elements with a repressive state that struggled to manage its complexities. With poignant comparisons to China's current model, they discuss how both systems grapple with macroeconomic balance and the perils of focusing on military production. Feygin's insights shed light on the lessons we can draw from the Soviet experience today.

Join Samantha and guest Joe Stieb, assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill, as they talk about Donald Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy. This strange document treats the European Union as our enemy, Russia as an afterthought, and obsesses over the dangers of "DEI." Stieb argues that this reflects a fundamental belief that American strength is founded on White Christian nationalism, at home and abroad, and a fundamental break from previous Republican foreign policy. What does this mean for the future of the world order as we know it? Help us take Liberal Currents to the next level: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-liberal-currents-startup-fundAnd read Stieb's piece in Liberal Currents here: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/sovereignty-for-me-none-for-thee/

Has culture stagnated in the 21st century? Do the last twenty-five years feel like a blur? What can politics learn from the inherent dynamics of cultural change? And is Donald Trump the greatest kitsch artist of our time? Join Samantha Hancox-Li and guest W. David Marx, author of the just-released *Blank Space*, as they talk all of this and more.And if you like what we're doing here at Liberal Currents, consider supporting our fundraiser so we can continue our mission of reinvigorating liberal culture and politics: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-liberal-currents-startup-fund*Blank Space*: https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9780593833995

Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of The State and the Soldier, as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking point. National Guard units are deployed in the streets; DHS rappels from Black Hawks onto civilian homes. Why does George Washington still matter—and why was Samuel Huntington wrong about everything?Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on November 20, before some new details of the Venezuelan strikes had become public.

Becky Chao, Director of Policy and Research at the Economic Security Project, dives into the affordability crisis plaguing America. She discusses broken markets and incomes as key drivers of economic insecurity. Becky reflects on decades of policy failures and how gatekeeping and corporate consolidation have raised costs. The conversation explores the need for a balance between increasing supply and protecting tenants, as well as the impact of AI and hidden fees on consumer prices. With a focus on nuanced solutions, Becky advocates for combined reforms to address complex affordability issues.

Join Samantha and guest Laura Field, author of the new book *Furious Minds*, as they discuss how ideas have driven history, from John Maynard Keynes to Abraham Lincoln to Project 2025. How did highly online right-wing weirdos become "the brain trust and influencer arm" of the Republican Party? What sects and factions are operating beneath the surface? And how do they marry grandiose philosophy, gutter racism, and relentless posting to rise to power?*Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right*: https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9780691255262

Join host Samantha Hancox-Li as she explores the concept of "meme politics," which pervades the current Trump II administration, through the historical grand strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. In reality, society is an obscure, complicated, recalcitrant system. Meme politics asks: what if it wasn't? What if everything was simple, direct, and easy? By understanding this popular historical simulation game, we can better understand why the reactionary right approaches policy in such an ineffective way. Plus, you get to watch Samantha conquer China by 1938.