Neon Liberalism

Samantha is joined by Elizabeth Wilkins, president of the Roosevelt Institute, to discuss the economic debate that's roiling the Democratic Party--whether to lean in to Republican slopulism about tax cuts, or to embrace broad social programs funded by a broad tax base. Along the way, they discuss the legacy of Bidenomics, the nuts and bolts of tax policy, the glaring problem of inequality--and ultimately, the question of what it means to all be in this together.Read Wilkins' essay on the subject here: https://rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/beyond-who-pays-more-how-taxes-form-the-foundation-of-our-economy-and-democracy/

Measuring the Vibecession (with Matt Darling) Samantha is joined by Matt Darling to discuss the state of the economy. Macroeconomic indicators are good, but the vibes are rancid. People feel like America is not on the right track. The divergence between the vibes and the macro is the vibecession--and it can be measured empirically. But what's causing it? Economic precarity that isn't properly measured? Phones and social media and doomscrolling? The revolt of the upper middle class against Bidenomics? Join us as we discuss what we know, what we don't, and why being right about the economy isn't as easy as it looks.Note: early in the discussion, I say "Biden" when I ought to have said "Kamala." Apologies.

Samantha interviews Bethany Andres-Beck, running in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts' 6th Congressional District. They talk about the spiritual crisis in the Democratic Party, the need to fix what's broken in America, and how they intend to fight for working people across a range of issues. "I have no patience for people who dodge responsibility for their power. You have power whether you use it or not," Beth explains--and now it's time for Democrats to take and exercise power. Check out their website at https://bethfordemocracy.com/

Why did JD Vance personally campaign for the former Hungarian prime minister, Victor Orban? Why did his comprehensive defeat by a former member of his own party, Peter Magyar, garner such attention from the American press? Because, according to Greg Sargent, Orban has for the last sixteen years served as the vanguard of the authoritarian internationale, leading and organizing would-be autocrats across the West. How did he lose, and what does that mean for the American struggle against authoritarianism? Greg Sargent, staff writer at the New Republic and host of their Daily Blast podcast, and author of https://newrepublic.com/article/209001/trump-orban-hungary-defeat-humiliation-beginning

On April 2, 2025, Donald Trump announced "Liberation Day" tariffs which, according to him, would fix the trade deficit and bring American manufacturing roaring back. One year on, Samantha and economic analyst Joey Politano dig in to what actually happened. Manufacturing is down, the deficit is barely changed, fake "deals" have been signed--and, according to Joey, the heads of many of America's largest and most influential corporations have exposed themselves to criminal liability for bribes, corruption, and insider trading. Join us as we explain the tariff chaos, why it didn't cause an economic apocalypse, and what is really going on behind the scenes.

Last month, Donald Trump started a war—or perhaps a special military operation—with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Join Samantha and military historian Bret Devereaux as they discuss the "uncomfortable frontier arrangement" that previously existed with Iran, why Donald Trump blew it up, and what—maybe—the future holds (spoiler: a mess).

According to all current polling, Graham Platner will be Maine's next senator--despite a Nazi tattoo, a history of "controversial" social media posts, and an almost-total lack of political experience. To try and understand what this tells us about the direction of the Democratic Party, Chance Phillips recently traveled to Maine to speak with Platner's supporters. Chance and Samantha Hancox-Li discuss his findings on this episode of Neon Liberalism. Democratic elites may want moderation and conciliation--but the Democratic base has different opinions. You can read Chance's full essay here: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/platners-supporters-in-their-own-words/

Samantha Hancox-Li and guest David Lay Williams, author of The Greatest of All Plagues, discuss the nature of extreme wealth inequality in America and across history, from Plato to Occupy Wall Street. Williams argues that extreme wealth warps the soul, leading to "pleonexia"--a restless desire for more and more that will never be fulfilled. Reducing wealth inequality is therefore not about redistribution or envy, but rather self-protection against overweening power.

Samantha and returning guest Jamelle Bouie take a step back and assess the overall arc of the Trump Administration. Bouie argues that Trump's theory of the case when he came into office was fundamentally based on speed: move fast, break things, and present American society with strongman rule as a fait accompli. But instead of producing compliance and popularity, Trump's authoritarian policies have produced increasing backlash from numerous sectors of society. Now we see a presidency adrift, out of ideas and trapped in its own echo chamber. What comes next?

Samantha Hancox-Li and guest Ryan C. Smith, author and economic historian, discuss the possibility of publicly-owned electric utilities in America. Smith argues that there is a strong case for public power. Electricity distribution is a "natural monopoly," and existing private companies—like Pacific Gas and Electric—are often inefficient and incompetent. Meanwhile, Nebraska and other states already include some publicly-owned power companies, which provide affordable and reliable electricity. Is it time to switch to a new model of power?

Samantha and essayist John Banks discuss what steps Canada is taking to fight back against Trump's aggression. Mark Carney's "variable geometry" Davos speech, the dilemmas facing middle powers, and the future of liberal internationalism are covered. In Banks' view, the Republican Party has adopted the ideology of a continental "civilization-state," and as long as they remain a political force in America, Canadian-American relations will never again be quite so friendly.

Samantha and guest Professor Xavier Márquez talk the nature of non-democratic politics, and why the concept of "personalism" is the key to understanding the dynamics and dysfunctions of the second Trump administration. Along the way they discuss the difference between totalitarianism and authoritarianism, the ongoing importance of elections to non-democratic regimes, and how authoritarian regimes can nevertheless fail.

Samantha interviews Professor Omar Wasow, challenging him to reflect on the first year of the second Trump administration. What forms of resistance have worked? What forms have been less successful? Why is the regime trying to "recreate 2020," and why are they failing? Professor Wasow tells a story about why nonviolence, adaptation, and creativity are essential building blocks for retaking power.

Samantha and guest Will Stancil talk the murder of Renée Good and the Trump administration's larger assault on Minneapolis. Will is on the front lines of monitoring ICE in Minneapolis, working with his neighborhood rapid reaction group, and remains a vital commentator and activist in this disturbing time. Will recounts witnessing ICE abductions, confronting ICE agents, and the personal experience of living in a city under siege. He also talks the larger questions of how resistance has been organized, why this isn't 2020 all over again, why this isn't about immigration, but terror—and how we can beat them.

Join Samantha and Giselle Donnelly, foreign policy analyst and American Enterprise Institute alumna, as they discuss the recent attack on Venezuela. Does this reflect a considered strategy? Or multiple factions "working towards the sleepy Führer"? Can we make predictions about future American foreign policy, or is it all just chaos?

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

As we stand on the brink of a new Cold War, it's time to look back at the first Cold War and try to understand why America won—and, more importantly, why the USSR lost. Samantha and guest Yakov Feygin, author of *Building a Ruin*, talk about the fundamental story of Soviet economic success, stagnation, and ultimate implosion. What does this have to teach us about China today? How can party states create economies that are simultaneously world-beating and profoundly dysfunctional?Feygin's book is available at https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9780674240995

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.

Join Samantha and guest Becky Chao, Director of Policy and Research at the Economic Security Project, as they talk about the never-ending conflict between YIMBYs and anti-YIMBYs—and how we can get beyond it. Broken markets and broken incomes both shape American dysfunction. What can we do about it?https://economicsecurityproject.org/resource/affordability/

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.

Join Samantha Hancox-Li and guest Alex Zakaras, author of Freedom for All, as they discuss the idea of liberalism as a radical political project, the differences (if any) between liberalism and (market) socialism, and the "playbook" for radical liberals in the age of Trump II.Freedom for All: https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9780300281767

Join host Samantha Hancox-Li and guest Adam Gurri, founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal Currents, as they discuss the crisis—the malaise—that has befallen the Western world, the historical roots of the problem, and perhaps most importantly: what we can do to revitalize liberalism for the 21st century.

Are you sad? Lonely? Can't get a girlfriend? The reactionary right promises a total philosophy of life—not just a politics, but a comprehensive way of living (and explaining why it's all the libs' fault). Can liberalism speak to the same anxieties? Host Samantha Hancox-Li argues that it can, but to understand why, we need to return to the roots of liberalism in the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and ultimately the ideas of freedom, reason, and responsibility.

If you remember anything from high school civics, it's the phrases "separation of powers" and "checks and balances." That separation and those checks are under the greatest attack we've seen in our lifetimes. But why does that matter? How does it affect the character of society? Join Samantha Hancox-Li and guest Robert Black, constitutional scholar and author of "The Evening Constitutional," as we dig into the origins of the concept of limited government, the essential paradox of how limitations on sovereign power are even possible, and what that means for resistance in our fraught era.Robert's newsletter: https://eveningconstitutional.net/

Samantha and Lucian Staiano-Daniels, author of "The War People," discuss the connection between liberalism and toleration and the dark history of religious civil war. How did the European Wars of Religion give birth to our concept of toleration? And is this history enough reason today to embrace toleration? Can religious civil wars be won—or is there a deeper reason to want to live in a diverse and pluralist society?

Samantha and fellow Liberal Currents editor Jason Briggeman discuss the economics of liberal democracy, starting from the basic question "why are all the rich countries liberal democracies?" Did liberal democracy cause the Industrial Revolution? What is the role of imperialism in the modern economy? And perhaps most importantly: what does this have to do with the philosophical foundations of liberalism?

Join host Samantha Hancox-Li for a discussion of the difference between liberalism as an assumed default and liberalism as an active project. Even as the progressive base—and Americans generally—grow increasingly outraged at Trump II's attacks on our Constitution, elite liberals in media and journalism wring their hands and debate how much we should concede to the right. The end of history left them with a hollow conception of liberalism—as a mere referee between the right and the left—not as an active force fighting for itself. How can we regain that energy going forward? Listen and find out.

There's a lot of gender happening these days—and feminism, the political movement that ought to be at the forefront of responding to the MAGA backlash, is in its wilderness years. Join Samantha and guest Jude Doyle, author of the forthcoming book DILF, for a wide-ranging conversation about the history of the third wave, the meaning of patriarchy, and why a renewed focus on bodily autonomy and self-determination for all people needs to be the focus of feminism going forward.DILF book link: https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9781685892159

Join Samantha and guest Alan Elrod, president and CEO of the Pulaski Institution, as they talk about how the spectacle of deliberate cruelty—troops on the streets, deportations of firefighters, the public performance of vileness—is not an accident or a distraction, but is a core part of the Trumpian project to remake American culture. Creating the mass basis for an authoritarian movement has always involved generating a certain "enthusiasm" for the project beyond direct command and control.

Join Samantha and guest Maia Mindel as they talk about Trump's latest attack on the Federal Reserve, give some historical context for central bank independence, and struggle with the difficult question of how to balance technocratic expertise with democratic accountability. Plus some cats.

Join Samantha and guest Dara Lind, Senior Fellow at the American Immigration Council and former immigration reporter for Vox and ProPublica, as they talk the state of Trump's mass deportation program, the question of its constitutionality, and the bigger question of how immigration in America became such a nightmare—and what we can do about it.

The future of the world order is more uncertain than it has been since the fall of the Soviet Union—which is to say, up for grabs. Join Samantha and guest Joe Stieb, assistant professor at UNC Chapel Hill and historian of American foreign policy, as they discuss how the world order has changed since 1989, the decay of liberal internationalism in favor of American unilateralism, and the alarming growth of what Stieb calls the "authoritarian internationale."

People find us hard to categorize: are we emphatic liberals? Radical leftists? Crypto-libertarian infiltrators? Join Samantha and Liberal Currents editor-in-chief Adam Gurri as they discuss what it means to be a home for mere liberalism, the foundational principles of the liberal project, and how to be a liberal who means it in our time of crisis.

Join Samantha and guest Talia Lavin, author of Culture Warlords and Wild Faith, as they discuss Donald Trump's connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the broader problem of child sexual abuse among Republicans, and how this connects with their vision of a family and a nation dominated by authoritarian, unaccountable fathers. As they say on the internet: pedocon theory is a theory like gravity is a theory.

In recent years, a number of prominent right-wingers have moved left dramatically. In particular, a surprising number of libertarians have abandoned their "fusionist" association with the Republican Party, and become more closely affiliated with the progressive movement. How did this happen? What was fusionism and why did it break down? And, most importantly, what—if anything—can libertarians and progressives learn from each other? Join Samantha and guest Aaron Ross Powell, host of Reimagining Liberty and former Cato Institute scholar, as they discuss all this and more.

Join Samantha and author Robert Jackson Bennett as they discuss the power of fiction to shape politics, from 20th-century detective fiction to modern-day QAnon. Along the way they discuss the fiscal-military state, the meaning of liberal society, and why it matters that conservatives have fun engaging with conservative narratives.

Andrew Breitbart argued long ago that "politics is downstream of culture." Is that true? Is there such a thing as liberal culture? Has Trump II revealed its apparent dominance to be hollow? Or is the death of liberalism overwrought? Join Samantha and guest Alex Lefebvre, author of Liberalism As a Way of Life, as they discuss these issues and more.

According to Vice President Vance, America is not an idea: America is a nation. A people. And there are some here who don't belong. Join Samantha and guest Guillaume Attia as they discuss the contrast between America as a nation and America as an idea, the philosophical foundations of liberal politics, and the long—and messy—arc of American history. You can also read Guillaume's essay on these subjects, "The Fixed Theme of American History": https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-fixed-theme-of-american-history/

Since the end of the Cold War, it's been easy to see nuclear competition as a thing of the past. As the dust settles over Iran—as Russia rattles the nuclear saber in Ukraine—it's increasingly clear that the question of nuclear weapons has been re-opened. Join Samantha and guest Matthew Downhour as they talk the fundamentals of nuclear strategy, how "red lines" are not natural but socially constructed—and how Trump's reckless actions have degraded the social order that has kept the world from nuclear war since 1949.

The reactionary right is in ascendance in the Trump administration. It's easy to dismiss them as a cabal of incoherent fools scrambling for Trump's ear. But there is a deeper philosophy animating their political project: one based on a longing for an imagined aristocratic past, a craving for hierarchy and certainty, and simultaneously a deeply ambivalent relation to modernity. Samantha is joined by political theorist Professor Matt McManus for a discussion of his recent essay, "The Far Right Canon."https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-far-right-canon/#/portal/signup

Are Trump's tariffs a personal madness, or a response to deeper dysfunctions in the world trade system? Yes. Join Samantha and guest Steven Randy Waldman as we talk about why global trade has become so imbalanced, what kinds of dysfunctions that creates, and why a tax on the flow of capital rather than goods is a policy to work towards. The takeaway: it's still John Maynard Keynes' world, we're just living in it. As promised, the book whose name Samantha blanked on in the episode: Robert Allen's *Global Economic History* https://www.amazon.com/Global-Economic-History-Short-Introduction/dp/0199596654

Amidst escalating ICE raids, lawless deportations, and the horror of CECOT, immigration has moved to the center of American politics. Join Samantha and guest Adam Gurri, editor-in-chief of Liberal Currents, as we talk about the ground truth: policing immigrants requires restricting the freedoms of citizens. Authoritarianism for the out-group inevitably trends towards authoritarianism for the in-group. Chandran Kukathas was right all along.Read Adam's essay on the subject here: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-totalitarian-logic-of-immigration-controls/

Join Samantha and guest Talia Bhatt as they discuss the state of feminism under Trump II, the enduring relevance of radical feminist ideas, and the uses and abuses of intersectionality in contemporary leftist thought.

Join Samantha and guest Kevin J. Elliott as we talk about the history of democracy as a form of government, why it has no longer has any competitors, and how the structure of our democracy has nevertheless become a site of political contestation. Elliott also swings for the fences and offers some deep reforms we need to restore fairness and competition to our system—a fascinating conversation!

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