Neon Liberalism

Join Samantha and guest Ned Resnikoff as they discuss why Americans are so cynical about politics—and how a movement that began with the goal of returning control to the people has spiraled into the opposite outcome. Along the way they talk Robert Moses, "citizen voice" politics, how free markets and functional governments support each other—and why we have neither of them in America today.

Join Samantha and guest Will Stancil as they talk the vexed question of whether politics is driven by merely material conditions, ask why tyrants are obsessed with their own popularity, and assess why the Democratic budget standoff fizzled while Chris Van Hollen's trip to El Salvador broke through—and shifted public opinion on Trump's immigration policies.Link to Stancil's essay, referenced in the podcast: https://www.offmessage.net/p/kilmar-abrego-garcia-public-opinion

Join Samantha and guest Professor Anna Law as they talk about the exploding constitutional crisis over Donald Trump's deportation program, exemplified by the removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Along the way they address the importance of due process, the Fugitive Slave Crisis and the origins of birthright citizenship, and the meaning of American citizenship in the twenty-first century.References:"The Present Crisis and the End of the Long '90s": https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-present-crisis-and-the-end-of-the-long-90s/Professor Law's website: https://www.annaolaw.com/Corrigendum: Professor Law adds, "I made a factual error. The 100 mile zone is only along the nation’s land borders not the airports. BUT, as this CNN article states, 'Two-thirds of the US lives inside this so-called 100-mile border zone, which includes several entire states, including Florida, Michigan, Maine and Hawaii, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.'" https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/us/border-zone-immigration-checks/index.html

Content warning: rape, pedophilia, and historical atrocities. Join Samantha and guest Alan Elrod as they talk about the role of rape in conservative ideology, biopolitics as the Rosetta Stone of authoritarian reaction, and the pornographic fantasies that pervade the new right. Alan is the president and CEO of the Pulaski Institution, as well as a contributing editor at Liberal Currents.Links to essays on the subject from Alan and Samantha:https://www.liberalcurrents.com/guys-win-andrew-tate-rape-politics-and-the-authoritarian-right/https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-new-gender-synthesis/

David Vatz, founder of Pro-Housing Pittsburgh, discusses the pressing housing crisis and its impact on younger generations. He uncovers the historical roots of zoning laws that fueled segregation and housing scarcity. Vatz emphasizes the need for liberal-driven reforms to promote more abundant and affordable housing. He also shares insights on grassroots activism, illustrating how community engagement can drive meaningful policy changes. With a hopeful outlook, he encourages listeners to join the local movement for housing improvement.

Samantha and guest Jamelle Bouie talk the present crisis, the many ages of the American Constitution, and how we might set about rebuilding what MAGA is breaking.

In a fascinating discussion, Bret Devereaux, an ancient and military historian, explores the fall of the Roman Republic and the curious admiration Elon Musk seems to hold for the dictator Sulla. They contrast Sulla's violent rise to power with modern-day governance, dissecting how historical figures shape today’s political landscapes. Devereaux highlights Sulla's reforms, critiquing their long-term effects on stability, and emphasizes the legacies of legitimacy in governance as crucial lessons for contemporary leaders.

Samantha and fellow Liberal Currents editor Paul Crider talk to Matt McManus, author of The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, about a forgotten political tradition, the intellectual fallout of the Russian Revolution, and what this all means for how we think about the contemporary dangers of oligarchy and reaction.

Samantha and fellow Liberal Currents editors Caitlin Green and Trent Nelson talk the crisis of misinformation, taking responsibility for your own beliefs in the social media age, and their new podcast, Half the Answer.

Samantha and Professor Phillips O'Brien have a wide-ranging talk, including Trump's abandonment of Ukraine, the failures of "realism" as a theory of international politics, and the shape of the future in a Europe without American leadership.