Project Liberal

Former Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver joins hosts Max Marty and Tyler Harris for a candid look at where the liberty movement goes after the bruising 2024 cycle. Oliver reflects on running as a third-party contender in the most chaotic U.S. election in living memory, the internal battles that nearly broke the Libertarian Party, and why he refuses to run again unless the party rediscovers its classical-liberal roots. The conversation ranges from foreign-policy realism to the practicalities of resisting an increasingly illiberal political climate—and why long-term institutional reform matters as much as winning the next news cycle.Topics Discussed* Lessons from 2024: ballot-access hurdles, the RFK Jr. fundraising fiasco, and how MAGA populism crashed the Libertarian gate* “Principles before polls”: why Oliver argues that character and core values beat 100-point policy checklists* Reclaiming liberalism inside a two-party duopoly—and the limits of “vote-harder” activism* Ukraine, Gaza, and strategic restraint: when does aid deter aggression and when does it prolong war?* Free speech, due process, and mass-deportation plans: diagnosing the new authoritarian threat at home* Practical resistance: local organizing, legal defense funds, and funding institutions that defend immigrants and civil liberties* Long-game reforms—proportional representation, party primaries, and why the next constitutional settlement will shape liberty for decadesLinks & Resources* Chase Oliver website – https://votechaseoliver.com* Chase on X (Twitter) – @ChaseForLiberty* Project Liberal – https://www.projectliberal.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit projectliberal.substack.com

In this episode of the Project Liberal podcast, Max Marty and Tyler Harris engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Virginia Postrel. Virginia introduces her framework of dynamism versus stasis—a perspective that transcends traditional left-right political divides—and explores how this lens remains relevant for understanding today's political landscape. As the "OG of the Progress and Abundance movement," Virginia offers unique insights into how innovation, decentralized knowledge, and bottom-up experimentation drive human flourishing. Topics Discussed: * The core thesis of "The Future and Its Enemies" and how it anticipated today's political realignments* How the YIMBY housing movement represents successful dynamism in action* The connections between progress studies, abundance agendas, and different political coalitions* Why progress was glamorous in the early 20th century and how it might regain that appeal* The importance of making progress tangible in everyday life rather than just elite discourse* How to build dynamic coalitions across political divides despite rising populism and reactionary politics* The role of decentralized knowledge in fields from textiles to housing policy You can find more from Virginia at: * Virginia's Substack: * Virginia's Website: https://vpostrel.com* Virginia's Book "The Future and Its Enemies": https://a.co/d/6ZtKqZC* Virginia's Book "The Fabric of Civilization": https://a.co/d/9ANJ3zr And learn more about Project Liberal at: https://projectliberal.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit projectliberal.substack.com

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/

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.

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

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

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 valuesAndrew 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/

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.

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

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.

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/

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

We sat down with Dylan Burns, a Journalist focused on covering the war in Ukraine, to debunk a series of myths and false narratives that are circulating around the war in Ukraine.

We sat down with Shikha Dalmia, the Founder of the Unpopulist Magazine and the President of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism, to explore what's causing the rise of authoritarianism across the globe and discuss the best strategy to fight back against it.

We sat down with Alex Nowrasteh, an American analyst of immigration policy currently working at the Cato Institute to get to the truth around many of the questions Americans have about immigration.

We sit down with Daniel Di Martino to discuss his experience as a Venezuelan immigrant, what the right gets wrong about immigration, and Christian Nationalism. We're a nonpartisan PAC dedicated to restoring, promoting, and advancing liberal values in American politics. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

Austin Peterson Joins the show

We sit down with Mr. Beat to discuss what's going on in American politics. Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

We sat down with Jacob Rich, a PhD student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a policy analyst at Reason Foundation, to discuss the causes and solutions to America's Fentanyl Crisis.

We sat down with Jeremy Horpedahl, an economist and Associate Professor at the UCA College of Business and the Director of the Arkansas Center for Research in Economics, to talk about reasons to be optimistic about the future and why we think things are way better than most people actually think. Follow Jeremy: https://twitter.com/jmhorp Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

We have a thought provoking discussion with Michael Cannon, Director Of Health Policy Studies At The Cato Institute, about his new book "Recovery" that outlines a roadmap to fixing America's broken healthcare system.

We sat down with Warren Rhea: a corporate attorney, political commentator, streamer, and self-described "Neoliberal." We discussed classical liberalism versus neoliberalism, the rise of "doomer" politics, and how liberalism can provide an optimistic, yet realistic, political vision for America. Follow Warren: https://twitter.com/EverydayWarren

We sat down with Martin van Staden, the Head of Policy at the Free Market Foundation (FMF), a South Africa-based organization founded to promote and foster an open society, the rule of law, personal liberty, and economic and press freedom. We discussed recent viral clips from the far-left South African party calling to "kill all Boers (whites)", race relations in South Africa, how they relate back to the situation in the USA, and the conditions that can lead South Africa to prosperity. Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism. Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

We sat down with Christopher Barnard, the Vice President of External Affairs – and incoming president – at the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) to discuss market-based and limited government solutions to climate change in an effort to answer the question, "Can the free market solve climate change?"

We sat down with Jacob Rich, a PhD student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a policy analyst at Reason Foundation, to delve into the world of vaccine myths. This episode sheds light on the importance of reliable sources and critical thinking in understanding vaccines.