Neon Liberalism

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.

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.

Explore how the reactionary right offers a total philosophy of life that liberals need to counter. Delve into the roots of liberalism from the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution. Discover how experimentation and reason shape modern thought and political frameworks. Learn about Nietzsche’s insights on freedom and responsibility, and how Enlightenment values can foster personal virtues. Samantha urges liberals to address societal anxieties authentically while reclaiming the narrative around democracy and individual rights.