In this episode of the Project Liberal podcast, hosts Max Marty and Tyler Harris engage in an illuminating conversation with Andy Craig, Fellow at the Institute for Humane Studies. Following his recent piece in The Unpopulist, Andy makes a compelling case for a more strident, unapologetic liberalism in response to America's current illiberal trajectory. The discussion explores how liberalism has historically been a radical force for change—from early democracy movements to civil rights—and how it must reclaim this bold reformist tradition to counter rising authoritarianism.  

Topics Discussed:  

 * Why liberalism needs to move beyond a stale defense of the status quo and reclaim its radical reformist tradition  
 * How both centrist establishment Democrats and the progressive left wing have failed to offer compelling liberal alternatives  
 * The housing crisis and immigration reform as potential rallying points for a revitalized liberalism  
 * The breakdown of democratic norms and the normalization of political violence in American politics  
 * The importance of reclaiming free speech as a core liberal value Electoral reform and the case for proportional representation to improve American democracy  
 * The strategic necessity of thinking long-term about liberal institutional reforms  

The conversation delves into how liberalism finds itself in an oppositional space against an increasingly illiberal administration, and why Democrats need to emphasize the constitutional crisis at hand rather than engaging in politics as usual. Andy argues that a radical liberal alternative—distinct from both centrism and democratic socialism—offers the most viable path forward for those committed to defending constitutional democracy and individual liberty.  

 * A Liberalism Without Fear or Apology: https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/a-liberalism-without-apology-or-fear
 * Follow Andy Craig: https://theunpopulist.net/author/andy-craig 
 * Learn more about the Institute for Humane Studies: https://theihs.org/ 
 * Project Liberal: https://projectliberal.org/

The Radical Liberal Response | Andy Craig

Brad Polumbo recently debated Tim Pool on free trade—since Tim acted emotionally unhinged and unable to cope with reality, we thought it would be wise to invite Brad on the show to have the conversation he deserved.  We discussed the topic "is free trade good for Americans?" with Max Marty playing the role of an emotionally stable, good-faith Tim Pool.

Is Free Trade Good For Americans | Brad Polumbo

With so many on the far left acquiescing to Trumpism, Micah Erfan and Joshua Eakle invited Kyle Kulinski of Secular Talk on the show to discuss the new anti-Trump coalition, how to keep various factions working alongside each other, and what some on the far left are getting wrong in their approach.  

 * Follow Kyle: https://x.com/KyleKulinski  
 * Subscribe to Micah's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MicahErfan 
 * Learn More About Project Liberal: http://www.projectliberal.org

The Liberal + Leftist Alliance | Kyle Kulinski

In this episode of Project Liberal, co-hosts Joshua Eakle and Shawn Huckabay sit down with Armin Navabi, founder of Atheist Republic and an outspoken advocate for secularism, religious freedom, and liberalism. Together, they explore Armin’s fascinating personal journey from his upbringing in Iran to becoming one of the world’s most prominent atheist activists. Along the way, the conversation unpacks the intersection of secularism and liberalism, the evolution of the New Atheist movement, and the challenges of defending liberal values in a polarized world.  

Topics Discussed: 

 * Armin’s personal journey to secularism and his efforts to build Atheist Republic 
 * The New Atheist movement’s evolution and its relationship with liberalism 
 * How secularism fosters freedom and challenges authoritarian systems 
 * The role of skepticism and humanism in shaping liberalism 
 * Liberalism as an adaptive, antifragile system in the face of populist challenges 
 * The importance of defending liberalism globally, from Europe to Iran 
 * The interplay of religion, culture, and liberal values in shaping society  

Armin Navabi shares powerful insights on the resilience of liberalism, the necessity of skepticism, and the universal desire for freedom. This episode offers a thought-provoking discussion on the forces shaping modern society and why liberalism remains a vital framework for progress.  

Links:  

 * Atheist Republic: https://www.atheistrepublic.com/Armin
 * Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AtheistRepublic
 * Project Liberal : Join Here [https://projectliberal.org/]

Liberalism as an Anti-Fragile System | Armin Navabi

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Max Marty and Joshua Eakle engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Andrew Heaton, political satirist, podcaster, and author of the new book “Tribalism is Dumb.” They delve into the evolutionary roots of tribalism, its impact on modern politics, and how our innate groupishness shapes societal dynamics. Andrew shares insights from his book, exploring why tribalism has intensified and what we can do to mitigate its negative effects.

Topics Discussed:  

 * The evolutionary psychology behind tribalism and zero-sum thinking  
 * How modern society exacerbates or mitigates tribal tendencies  
 * The role of sports, religion, and community in channeling tribalism  
 * Dunbar’s number and its implications for social cohesion  
 * The limitations of the traditional left-right political spectrum  
 * Cognitive biases, groupthink, and overcoming motivated reasoning  
 * How to reduce political polarization and foster liberal values

Andrew Heaton brings a unique blend of humor and insight to the complex topic of tribalism, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the forces shaping our political landscape. Don’t miss this engaging discussion that challenges conventional wisdom and provides practical solutions for a more open and free society.

Links:  

 * Andrew's Book: Tribalism is Dumb https://a.co/d/1XRoo8H  
 * Andrew's Podcast: The Political Orphanage https://mightyheaton.com/the-political-orphanage  

And as always, you can find more of Josh and Max at https://projectliberal.org/

Tribalism is Dumb | Andrew Heaton

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Joshua Eakle and Max Marty discuss the rise of the “New Right” and Silicon Valley’s growing influence with Mike Brock, former CEO of TBD and member of Block's leadership team. Mike sheds light on the ideological shifts happening in tech and politics, from Curtis Yarvin’s “Dark Enlightenment” to the role of property rights and his theory on how it leads libertarians to slip into authoritarian ideologies.

Libertarianism, Authoritarianism, and the New Right | Mike Brock

In this episode, Project Liberal’s Joshua Eakle and Max Marty sit down with Dr. Pekka Kallioniemi, founder of Vatnik Soup and an expert on Russian disinformation. Dr. Kallioniemi, known for his work in social media and online information operations, explores the intricacies of disinformation and its impact on America's political system.  Topics Discussed:

 * The differences between misinformation and disinformation.
 * Russian tactics, narratives, and how they differ from other nations.
 * The scope of Russian influence in the United States
 * What we can do to combat misinformation

The Russian Disinformation Tsunami | Dr. Pekka Kallioniemi

On this episode we're joined by Shoshana Weissman. Shoshana is the Digital Director of the R Street  Institute. She also works on occupational licensing reform, social media regulatory policy, Section 230 and other issues, and has written for various publications, including The Wall Street Journal and USA Today.  

Topics include: 

- The Importance of Section 230: why it’s crucial for free speech online. 

- The State of Social Media: the changes at X/Twitter since Elon Musk’s takeover. 

- AI Regulation and Ethical Concerns: the rapid advancements in AI, the call for development pauses, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-generated content and intellectual property. 

- Occupational Licensing Reform: how excessive licensing requirements hinder innovation and entrepreneurship, and discusses liberal alternatives to traditional licensing.

The Future of Online Speech | Shoshana Weissman

Join us for a discussion with Steven Bonnell, also known as Destiny, streamer and commentator, as we explore the challenges of battling the rise of MAGA extremism. Topics covered include:

 * What’s the difference between liberalism and leftism in today’s political climate?
 * Where do advocates for socialism go wrong, and what transformational ideas do liberals offer?
 * How deep does Russian influence go in right-wing media, and what role does it play in MAGA narratives?
 * How should liberals counter MAGA and pull people away from political extremes?
 * What will the political landscape look like post-Trump?

Join Project Liberal founder Joshua Eakle and steering committee member Micah Erfan of Project Liberal for a deep dive into the ideological and political battles shaping America’s future.

Follow Destiny at https://www.destiny.gg/

Liberals vs MAGA | Steven Bonnell aka Destiny

We’re exploring how zoning, regulations, and NIMBYism have impacted America’s cities in this episode featuring M. Nolan Gray, Senior Director at California YIMBY and author of Arbitrary Lines. Topics covered include:

 * Why are housing costs skyrocketing across the country?
 * How have zoning laws broken American cities, and what reforms could fix them?
 * How should the YIMBY movement engage with communities resistant to new development?
 * What are the best policy solutions for addressing the housing affordability crisis?
 * How has YIMBYism gained traction within the Democratic Party?

Join Project Liberal founder Joshua Eakle and steering committee member Shawn Huckabay as they engage in a timely conversation with Nolan Gray on the future of housing policy.

Follow Nolan at https://x.com/mnolangray

How NIMBYism Broke the American City | Nolan Gray

Jonathan Casey (@projectliberal) · Zencastr

Jonathan Casey (@projectliberal)

We advocate for the cause of a free and open society.

https://projectliberal.org/

Project Liberal

We advocate for the cause of a free and open society.https://projectliberal.org/