The Vegan Report Thank You, Trump?! With Liam Gray | Ep. 78
Jun 17, 2025
Liam Gray, founder of the Wilberforce Institute, discusses the surprising animal welfare advances under the Trump administration. He clarifies misconceptions about conservatives in the animal protection movement and highlights bipartisan successes in reducing government-funded animal testing. Liam advocates for collaboration beyond political lines, emphasizing the detrimental effects of tribalism. He also touches on the importance of reaching out to faith communities and critiquing anti-capitalist narratives while exploring market-based solutions for animal welfare.
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Reframe Animal Harm As Waste
- White Coat Waste reframed animal experiments as taxpayer waste and cruelty to win conservative allies.
- Framing animal issues in fiscal and practical terms unlocked major policy shifts under the Trump administration.
Conservative Allies Drove Exposure
- Liam describes how White Coat Waste worked with conservative politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace to expose cruel and absurd government experiments.
- These alliances produced high-profile congressional pressure and public attention that moved policy.
Tribalism Blocks Progress
- Tribal political identities block pragmatic cooperation on animal issues despite shared values across the spectrum.
- Ryan and Liam argue that partisan coding prevents effective outreach and slows progress for animals.
