Liberal Currents
@liberalcurrents.com
A community of mere liberals. Discussing, defending, and applying the many varieties of liberalism. liberalcurrents.com
Reposted by Liberal Currents
My newest piece for Liberal Currents, and a paean to public health. It needs to be the tip of the spear against fascism and it’s a natural leader in the fight for a better world.
Thanks to @gregggonsalves.bsky.social for talking to me as I worked on this.
Thanks to @gregggonsalves.bsky.social for talking to me as I worked on this.
“Understanding the Covid-19 pandemic as a catalyst for right-wing backlash is misleading because it’s too passive” www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health
The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:51 PM
My newest piece for Liberal Currents, and a paean to public health. It needs to be the tip of the spear against fascism and it’s a natural leader in the fight for a better world.
Thanks to @gregggonsalves.bsky.social for talking to me as I worked on this.
Thanks to @gregggonsalves.bsky.social for talking to me as I worked on this.
“Understanding the Covid-19 pandemic as a catalyst for right-wing backlash is misleading because it’s too passive” www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health
The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“Understanding the Covid-19 pandemic as a catalyst for right-wing backlash is misleading because it’s too passive” www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
"We don’t need a mass movement. We just need enough people who are willing to step up, change the narrative, and help to create the opposition party we so desperately need." (from March) www.liberalcurrents.com/its-time-for...
It's Time for a Democratic Tea Party
Enough is enough. We need leaders capable of resisting the rising tide of fascism.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 AM
"We don’t need a mass movement. We just need enough people who are willing to step up, change the narrative, and help to create the opposition party we so desperately need." (from March) www.liberalcurrents.com/its-time-for...
"The idea of a desert-based conception of meritocracy is so deeply ingrained, even hardened egalitarians like Ronald Dworkin struggle to entirely give it up." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-utopiani...
The Utopianism of the Meritocrats
The psychological and historical appeal of meritocracy is inversely proportional to its tenability.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:41 PM
"The idea of a desert-based conception of meritocracy is so deeply ingrained, even hardened egalitarians like Ronald Dworkin struggle to entirely give it up." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-utopiani...
Half the Answer #47: Caitlin and Trent check in with Daniel Harper of the "I Don't Speak German" podcast. They discuss the controversial interview between Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, the role it seems to be playing in the far right, and various reactions (the good and the goofy).
Half the Answer #47: The Tucker Carlson–Nick Fuentes Interview Episode
Caitlin and Trent check in with Daniel Harper of the "I Don't Speak German" podcast, taking another moment to peek under the rock and discover that the creepy crawlies are making friends with each oth...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Half the Answer #47: Caitlin and Trent check in with Daniel Harper of the "I Don't Speak German" podcast. They discuss the controversial interview between Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, the role it seems to be playing in the far right, and various reactions (the good and the goofy).
"The far right in America sees women as a national—as well as natural—resource, a means of reversing the mass tide of migration that they think has taken their country from them." www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Women Should Make Babies, Not Vote: Why Some on the Far Right Want to Repeal the 19th Amendment
The far right takes losses at the ballot box as evidence that women do not deserve their rights.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
"The far right in America sees women as a national—as well as natural—resource, a means of reversing the mass tide of migration that they think has taken their country from them." www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
"It's not enough to have a mass movement that takes to the streets and brings the fight to the enemy. All of us have seen such movements explode and then flame out in our lifetimes. Success against Trump will require genuine tactical acumen and strategic clarity."
Fight On Everything
"This dictatorship has been asserted but not yet consolidated. We must therefore 'fight on everything,'" according to Rob Tracinski's "Dictator From Day One."
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:56 AM
"It's not enough to have a mass movement that takes to the streets and brings the fight to the enemy. All of us have seen such movements explode and then flame out in our lifetimes. Success against Trump will require genuine tactical acumen and strategic clarity."
Sometime this weekend, take a break from your marathon HOI4 sesh to watch or listen to @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com talk about the game's relationship with real-world politics. www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #51: The Meme Politics of "Hearts of Iron"
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 realit...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Sometime this weekend, take a break from your marathon HOI4 sesh to watch or listen to @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com talk about the game's relationship with real-world politics. www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
"SCOTUS, the Originalism Trap, and the Civil Rights Act": @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social and @trentrichardnelson.bsky.social with @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social, on our Half the Answer podcast www.liberalcurrents.com/half-the-ans...
Half the Answer #46: SCOTUS, the Originalism Trap, and the Civil Rights Act
Caitlin and Trent check in with attorney and legal scholar Madiba K. Dennie about the Supreme Court and the originalist reading of the US Constitution—and why the originalist reading is a trap.
Half ...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
"SCOTUS, the Originalism Trap, and the Civil Rights Act": @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social and @trentrichardnelson.bsky.social with @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social, on our Half the Answer podcast www.liberalcurrents.com/half-the-ans...
"We’re no longer in the usual realm of Republicans whitewashing or downplaying the darkness in our history... This administration has upgraded the earlier model, showing through word and action that it believes the shameful sides of America’s past were, in fact, good—even examples to follow today."
The Pro-Massacre, Pro-Segregation, Pro-Eugenics Administration
The Trump administration is seeking to rewind the clock on an entire century of legal—and moral—progress.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"We’re no longer in the usual realm of Republicans whitewashing or downplaying the darkness in our history... This administration has upgraded the earlier model, showing through word and action that it believes the shameful sides of America’s past were, in fact, good—even examples to follow today."
Reposted by Liberal Currents
Called it, 15 months ago, for @liberalcurrents.com, to which you should lend your support. www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm... www.liberalcurrents.com/mass-deporta...
![["Mass Deportation: If You Do It," Liberal Currents, July 30, 2024]
Anyway, after you yank them away from their jobs, they won't be able to pay for anything they need and want, so you'll have to.
But you won't want to pay very much, so you'll throw them into hot warehouses, or onto parking lots under some tents.
And soon they'll be hungry. Tired. Dirty. Gross. Sick. Out of touch.
Considering how much you were already being told to hate them, how Trump was already dehumanizing them while they were freely living their lives, how right will he seem after he's sealed them inside these godforsaken pens?](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6er2qgkfqqdnbewf4m4c642g/bafkreiawoyzihidjvfssllbg3ub4zaie4pg7pbcn5op7qg7vsvtoutuk2u@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Called it, 15 months ago, for @liberalcurrents.com, to which you should lend your support. www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm... www.liberalcurrents.com/mass-deporta...
Neon Liberalism #51: Join host Samantha Hancox-Li as she explores the concept of "meme politics," which pervades the current Trump II administration. In reality, society is an obscure, complicated, recalcitrant system. Meme politics asks: what if it wasn't? www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #51: The Meme Politics of "Hearts of Iron"
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 realit...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Neon Liberalism #51: Join host Samantha Hancox-Li as she explores the concept of "meme politics," which pervades the current Trump II administration. In reality, society is an obscure, complicated, recalcitrant system. Meme politics asks: what if it wasn't? www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
"The notion of empathy as a weakening influence in modern life is rampant on the right today." www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Women Should Make Babies, Not Vote: Why Some on the Far Right Want to Repeal the 19th Amendment
The far right takes losses at the ballot box as evidence that women do not deserve their rights.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
"The notion of empathy as a weakening influence in modern life is rampant on the right today." www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
"Tracinski urges us to take a step back and get back to our philosophical roots—to 'think like the Founders,' and see Trump II not as a series of outrages but a single coherent picture." www.liberalcurrents.com/fight-on-eve...
Fight On Everything
"This dictatorship has been asserted but not yet consolidated. We must therefore 'fight on everything,'" according to Rob Tracinski's "Dictator From Day One."
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:09 PM
"Tracinski urges us to take a step back and get back to our philosophical roots—to 'think like the Founders,' and see Trump II not as a series of outrages but a single coherent picture." www.liberalcurrents.com/fight-on-eve...
"How did we get here? Everyone knows the answer: In 2024, Musk spent a negligible fraction of his vast fortune, now some $455 billion, to effectively buy a government position." www.liberalcurrents.com/billionaires...
Billionaires Are Hoarding Power, Not Money
Billionaire money has become a source of wildly distorted political power that allows a few men with extremist views to wreak havoc on the rest of us.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"How did we get here? Everyone knows the answer: In 2024, Musk spent a negligible fraction of his vast fortune, now some $455 billion, to effectively buy a government position." www.liberalcurrents.com/billionaires...
“Trump’s leadership rests on a foundation of charismatic attachment, something that by its nature is tied to him personally.” www.liberalcurrents.com/americas-pat...
America's Paths to Personalism
The three primary risk vectors of the second Trump administration.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
“Trump’s leadership rests on a foundation of charismatic attachment, something that by its nature is tied to him personally.” www.liberalcurrents.com/americas-pat...
Reposted by Liberal Currents
Good review of my book.
“We have exited normal politics. We are no longer here to have a debate about the importance of the top marginal tax rate. We are here to save our republic.” www.liberalcurrents.com/fight-on-eve...
Fight On Everything
"This dictatorship has been asserted but not yet consolidated. We must therefore 'fight on everything,'" according to Rob Tracinski's "Dictator From Day One."
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Good review of my book.
“We have exited normal politics. We are no longer here to have a debate about the importance of the top marginal tax rate. We are here to save our republic.” www.liberalcurrents.com/fight-on-eve...
Fight On Everything
"This dictatorship has been asserted but not yet consolidated. We must therefore 'fight on everything,'" according to Rob Tracinski's "Dictator From Day One."
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:03 AM
“We have exited normal politics. We are no longer here to have a debate about the importance of the top marginal tax rate. We are here to save our republic.” www.liberalcurrents.com/fight-on-eve...
Reposted by Liberal Currents
Miles' piece here is both legal and personal. Mostly I read it with shame and anger at the cruelty transgender people are being put through.
Infuriatingly, SCOTUS 6 to 3 today has upheld the administration's equal protection violation.
@milesew.bsky.social
Infuriatingly, SCOTUS 6 to 3 today has upheld the administration's equal protection violation.
@milesew.bsky.social
“Even without these worst-case scenarios, simple passport revocation could temporarily or permanently prevent transgender people from leaving the country if, and when, life here becomes untenable.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-politics...
The Politics of Passports
The broad powers of the president to limit the freedom of movement of Americans.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Miles' piece here is both legal and personal. Mostly I read it with shame and anger at the cruelty transgender people are being put through.
Infuriatingly, SCOTUS 6 to 3 today has upheld the administration's equal protection violation.
@milesew.bsky.social
Infuriatingly, SCOTUS 6 to 3 today has upheld the administration's equal protection violation.
@milesew.bsky.social
“Even without these worst-case scenarios, simple passport revocation could temporarily or permanently prevent transgender people from leaving the country if, and when, life here becomes untenable.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-politics...
The Politics of Passports
The broad powers of the president to limit the freedom of movement of Americans.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 PM
“Even without these worst-case scenarios, simple passport revocation could temporarily or permanently prevent transgender people from leaving the country if, and when, life here becomes untenable.” www.liberalcurrents.com/the-politics...
Reposted by Liberal Currents
The front page of the New York Times is asking if women belong the workplace and @aselrod.bsky.social and @liberalcurrents.com, come through with this.
Incredible timing.
Incredible timing.
Some on the far right want to repeal the 19th amendment. Many more share a coercive, patriarchal view of women.
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Women Should Make Babies, Not Vote: Why Some on the Far Right Want to Repeal the 19th Amendment
The far right takes losses at the ballot box as evidence that women do not deserve their rights.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The front page of the New York Times is asking if women belong the workplace and @aselrod.bsky.social and @liberalcurrents.com, come through with this.
Incredible timing.
Incredible timing.
Half the Answer #46: Caitlin and Trent check in with attorney and legal scholar Madiba K. Dennie about the Supreme Court and the originalist reading of the US Constitution—and why the originalist reading is a trap. www.liberalcurrents.com/half-the-ans...
Half the Answer #46: SCOTUS, the Originalism Trap, and the Civil Rights Act
Caitlin and Trent check in with attorney and legal scholar Madiba K. Dennie about the Supreme Court and the originalist reading of the US Constitution—and why the originalist reading is a trap.
Half ...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Half the Answer #46: Caitlin and Trent check in with attorney and legal scholar Madiba K. Dennie about the Supreme Court and the originalist reading of the US Constitution—and why the originalist reading is a trap. www.liberalcurrents.com/half-the-ans...
Reposted by Liberal Currents
Some on the far right want to repeal the 19th amendment. Many more share a coercive, patriarchal view of women.
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Women Should Make Babies, Not Vote: Why Some on the Far Right Want to Repeal the 19th Amendment
The far right takes losses at the ballot box as evidence that women do not deserve their rights.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Some on the far right want to repeal the 19th amendment. Many more share a coercive, patriarchal view of women.
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
I wrote about this and how the far right sees subjugating women as key to building the sort of electorate they need to win. @liberalcurrents.com
www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
“The idea that women shouldn’t vote has existed on the crank right for a long time. But increasingly, it’s made its way into more mainstream MAGA conversations” www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Women Should Make Babies, Not Vote: Why Some on the Far Right Want to Repeal the 19th Amendment
The far right takes losses at the ballot box as evidence that women do not deserve their rights.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“The idea that women shouldn’t vote has existed on the crank right for a long time. But increasingly, it’s made its way into more mainstream MAGA conversations” www.liberalcurrents.com/women-should...
Reposted by Liberal Currents
Stolen from the other place:
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Stolen from the other place: