Neon Liberalism

Chance Phillips, a PhD student in economics and journalist who traveled to Maine, reports on Graham Platner's surprising surge. He shares voters' views on Platner's past controversies and how supporters frame his growth. Conversation covers why media fixates on scandal, the base-versus-elite split in Democrats, and whether outsider populism mimics past insurgencies.

David Lay Williams, DePaul political scientist and author, explores how extreme wealth warps souls across history from Plato to today. He traces pleonexia, the insatiable desire for more, and links inequality to diminished empathy, oligarchic power, and political influence. The conversation ranges from classical philosophy to Musk-era influence, cooperatives, and debates over remedies and reform.

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?

Ryan C. Smith, economic historian and author on energy policy, makes the case for public ownership of electric utilities. He contrasts private utility failures like PG&E with successful municipal and cooperative models. Topics include natural monopoly economics, wildfire-linked negligence, transmission vs generation, battery storage’s disruptive role, and how to design accountable public power institutions.

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.

Omar Wasow, scholar of protest movements who studies civil rights-era tactics, reflects on a year of resistance. He discusses nonviolence, tactical adaptation, and creative repertoires like strikes and boycotts. He explains how spectacle, media frames, and citizen journalism shape public opinion. He explores movement organization, coalition-building, and why disciplined nonviolent action can persuade broader audiences.

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