Paul Crider
@paulcrider.liberalcurrents.com
Liberal in the Smith-Douglass-Mill-Anderson vein. Writer and editor for Liberal Currents. https://bsky.app/profile/liberalcurrents.com
Pinned
What does open borders mean? It means the individual has presumptive freedom of movement. You can cross borders without suspicion or harassment. If you choose, there is a clear, easy path to citizenship. That's it. Open borders treats everyone like a potential fellow citizen, like a human being. /🧵
Reposted by Paul Crider
Libertarians have long been sounding the alarm about centralized power, executive power, & the national security state. Current abuses vividly illustrate the importance of our critiques.
Yet many libertarians dropped the ball when it came to the specific threat Trump posed.
Both things are true.
Yet many libertarians dropped the ball when it came to the specific threat Trump posed.
Both things are true.
February 10, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Libertarians have long been sounding the alarm about centralized power, executive power, & the national security state. Current abuses vividly illustrate the importance of our critiques.
Yet many libertarians dropped the ball when it came to the specific threat Trump posed.
Both things are true.
Yet many libertarians dropped the ball when it came to the specific threat Trump posed.
Both things are true.
Reposted by Paul Crider
Excuse me #heritagefoundation if family is so important- why does the admin you support deport people- and speak out against LGBTQIA peeps and anyone who think is different?
It’s not about families or children. It’s about control. And building white hetero normative families. At least be truthful
It’s not about families or children. It’s about control. And building white hetero normative families. At least be truthful
It was alway going to come to this.
The Heritage Foundation has released an update to Project 2025. An 86-page "Saving the Family" which mentions porn 109 times, and blames it for undermining the family and, by extension, birth rates and the health of nation.
The Heritage Foundation has released an update to Project 2025. An 86-page "Saving the Family" which mentions porn 109 times, and blames it for undermining the family and, by extension, birth rates and the health of nation.
Saving America by Saving the Family: A Foundation for the Next 250 Years
www.heritage.org
February 9, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Excuse me #heritagefoundation if family is so important- why does the admin you support deport people- and speak out against LGBTQIA peeps and anyone who think is different?
It’s not about families or children. It’s about control. And building white hetero normative families. At least be truthful
It’s not about families or children. It’s about control. And building white hetero normative families. At least be truthful
Tfw everything hinges on whether a "migrant caravan" appears in late summer.
February 9, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Tfw everything hinges on whether a "migrant caravan" appears in late summer.
Reposted by Paul Crider
Amazon prime, but for human beings.
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Amazon prime, but for human beings.
Reposted by Paul Crider
President Trump and his supporters are attacking American Olympians for even the slightest criticism of the administration—like freestyle skier Hunter Hess's calm explanation, “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” trib.al/XR9InBz
MAGA Goes to War With U.S. Olympians
President Trump has unleashed his supporters on the Olympic athletes brave enough to speak up about politics.
trib.al
February 9, 2026 at 8:48 PM
President Trump and his supporters are attacking American Olympians for even the slightest criticism of the administration—like freestyle skier Hunter Hess's calm explanation, “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.” trib.al/XR9InBz
Reposted by Paul Crider
I'd argue that is largely because they want to believe their bullshit anyway and that most of their contact with the rest of the world is through professional orgs and conservative news media that insulates them from ever facing the real world as it exists www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
The Supreme Court Lives in Fox News' America
A Court that does not share a common factual world with the people it governs is untethered from democratic reality.
www.liberalcurrents.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:47 PM
I'd argue that is largely because they want to believe their bullshit anyway and that most of their contact with the rest of the world is through professional orgs and conservative news media that insulates them from ever facing the real world as it exists www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
Singing @polphilpod.bsky.social's song.
You can understand a lot about American politics when you internalize - in your daily decision, coverage, literally anything - that a lot of things only go one way. As many Trump supporters - including ones who got dem info or addresses from Trump’s online posts - as possible can hurt or try…
February 9, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Singing @polphilpod.bsky.social's song.
Reposted by Paul Crider
This is gender.
Living in this country, it’s just a reality that the left and liberals are expected to do more and uphold more. I don’t know how you can come away with any other conclusion than that when you flip the script on the above premise.
February 9, 2026 at 7:59 PM
This is gender.
I'm just a liberal squish, but I think America should not have concentration camps.
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
ICE to begin detaining immigrants inside Social Circle warehouse in April
Homeland Security plans to build warehouse detention facilities in other cities being met with opposition.
www.ajc.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:17 PM
I'm just a liberal squish, but I think America should not have concentration camps.
Reposted by Paul Crider
I don't have a publicist, therefore I am the publicist. New website for my forthcoming book. Please especially check out the Author Q&A at the end of the page (Why did i write the book? Who's it for?. Journos, pod-casters, museums can find my contact info & how to obtain a bound review copy. 1/
Book - Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship — Anna O. Law
www.annaolaw.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:02 PM
I don't have a publicist, therefore I am the publicist. New website for my forthcoming book. Please especially check out the Author Q&A at the end of the page (Why did i write the book? Who's it for?. Journos, pod-casters, museums can find my contact info & how to obtain a bound review copy. 1/
Reposted by Paul Crider
I am trying to get some work done today, but, boy, they just won't stop rewriting history!
February 9, 2026 at 6:07 PM
I am trying to get some work done today, but, boy, they just won't stop rewriting history!
Thread. This is clearly my obsession for the day.
As for "libertarians" writ large, my guesstimate would be: about a third went full MAGA, about half stuck to fence-sitting both-sides-ism (see that in the vote totals above), and only the minority remainder were ever strongly anti-Trump. Most of whom are now disaffected from libertarian orgs.
February 9, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Thread. This is clearly my obsession for the day.
Reposted by Paul Crider
A “March for Billionaires” took place in San Francisco this weekend. Yes—an organized rally in defense of the ultrarich.
At a time of rising housing, health and child care costs, the billionaires who pay less in effective taxes than working families do not need more advocacy.
At a time of rising housing, health and child care costs, the billionaires who pay less in effective taxes than working families do not need more advocacy.
Yes, there really was a 'March for Billionaires' rally in San Francisco
The march drew only about a dozen participants, but organizer Derik Kauffman said it was meant to be a sincere protest against a potential new tax on the state's wealthiest residents.
www.latimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:53 PM
A “March for Billionaires” took place in San Francisco this weekend. Yes—an organized rally in defense of the ultrarich.
At a time of rising housing, health and child care costs, the billionaires who pay less in effective taxes than working families do not need more advocacy.
At a time of rising housing, health and child care costs, the billionaires who pay less in effective taxes than working families do not need more advocacy.
Reposted by Paul Crider
Yep. Many of us who weren't sufficiently Trump-curious had to find other places to work.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
Yes, some libertarians *did* try to warn you about Trump. But you canceled them for it.
February 9, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Yep. Many of us who weren't sufficiently Trump-curious had to find other places to work.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
The libertarian movement had one job, and it failed, and now it wants credit for success.
Reposted by Paul Crider
“Frederick Douglass didn’t say there were two sides to slavery” — and Ida B. Wells didn’t “interview the lyncher”
Chuck Modiano has a message for today’s journalists
bit.ly/chuckandawkword
Chuck Modiano has a message for today’s journalists
bit.ly/chuckandawkword
February 9, 2026 at 4:35 PM
“Frederick Douglass didn’t say there were two sides to slavery” — and Ida B. Wells didn’t “interview the lyncher”
Chuck Modiano has a message for today’s journalists
bit.ly/chuckandawkword
Chuck Modiano has a message for today’s journalists
bit.ly/chuckandawkword
Reposted by Paul Crider
This is an interesting thread because that little wrong-sounding note, *so* many people brush over those, in all kinds of decision-making, and there’s no obvious correlation with intelligence. Doesn’t immediately compute, ignore. And then you’re bought in to whatever grift/horror it is.
What actually happened was that Jennifer was also invited, but when we talked about her participation, we were told "she could go shopping with the other wives." The deep-rooted sexism of the whole enterprise couldn't remain hidden. Jennifer was repulsed, I felt likewise, and we said no.
February 9, 2026 at 5:26 PM
This is an interesting thread because that little wrong-sounding note, *so* many people brush over those, in all kinds of decision-making, and there’s no obvious correlation with intelligence. Doesn’t immediately compute, ignore. And then you’re bought in to whatever grift/horror it is.
Reposted by Paul Crider
While everyone’s on the topic of libertarians who got in bed with MAGA authoritarianism, here’s what I wrote about it, including the history of how we got here, way back in 2022. The years since have, I believe, made my worries look, if anything, understated. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3m2fgwdmc7c2a
How the Right Distorted Libertarianism - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
Once rooted in liberalism, libertarianism's detour through the conservative movement has blunted its radical edge and commitment to principle.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
While everyone’s on the topic of libertarians who got in bed with MAGA authoritarianism, here’s what I wrote about it, including the history of how we got here, way back in 2022. The years since have, I believe, made my worries look, if anything, understated. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3m2fgwdmc7c2a
Reposted by Paul Crider
very strange to read a piece whose premise seems to be “i think you are too stupid to go look at the magazine i run and the writers i employ and see if i am telling the truth”
February 9, 2026 at 3:49 PM
very strange to read a piece whose premise seems to be “i think you are too stupid to go look at the magazine i run and the writers i employ and see if i am telling the truth”
Anyway, I say all this because I was a libertarian for a good decade. Even though I'm far from a libertarian now, I still think there's some wisdom in Hayek, Deirdre McCloskey, and (in a very different way) Rand. I still believe there's room for classical liberals within the big antimaga tent.
It is Make Fun of Libertarians Day today. But there are also (a few) good libertarians, who really did see the threat of Trump. Follow
@janetbufton.ca
@anthonylfisher.bsky.social
@aaronrosspowell.com
@anarchakelly.bsky.social
@nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
@normative.bsky.social
@janetbufton.ca
@anthonylfisher.bsky.social
@aaronrosspowell.com
@anarchakelly.bsky.social
@nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
@normative.bsky.social
Yes, some of us did, but the libertarians at Reason were not prominent among them, except for the one who got fired for it.
February 9, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Anyway, I say all this because I was a libertarian for a good decade. Even though I'm far from a libertarian now, I still think there's some wisdom in Hayek, Deirdre McCloskey, and (in a very different way) Rand. I still believe there's room for classical liberals within the big antimaga tent.
Reposted by Paul Crider
Enjoying the replies informing me of the conservative legal movement like I don't do this for a living. I'm fully aware that John Roberts and co. are not good-hearted rubes fooled by Fox, but the conservative media ecosystem also allows them to feel like the good guys while they destroy the country
The problem with the Supreme Court supermajority is not just one of ideology or politics, but of epistemology. The world as they understand it bears little resemblance to reality www.liberalcurrents.com/the-supreme-...
The Supreme Court Lives in Fox News' America
A Court that does not share a common factual world with the people it governs is untethered from democratic reality.
www.liberalcurrents.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Enjoying the replies informing me of the conservative legal movement like I don't do this for a living. I'm fully aware that John Roberts and co. are not good-hearted rubes fooled by Fox, but the conservative media ecosystem also allows them to feel like the good guys while they destroy the country
🧵
Hey, my name is in the Epstein files! I've told the story before, but should probably re-up.
TLDR: never met the guy, never took (or asked for) any money from him, never visited the island. I was invited to the island, and said no.
It's not that hard to just say no.
TLDR: never met the guy, never took (or asked for) any money from him, never visited the island. I was invited to the island, and said no.
It's not that hard to just say no.
February 9, 2026 at 4:31 PM
🧵
Reposted by Paul Crider
This is torture. The US is torturing children. Children whose words and whose art contain infinitely more humanity than the people keeping them detained.
5/ “I have already spent more than 60 days waking up eating the same repetitive meals…going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems like the water is what makes people sick here…”
From 12-year-old Ender, detained 60+ days
From 12-year-old Ender, detained 60+ days
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
This is torture. The US is torturing children. Children whose words and whose art contain infinitely more humanity than the people keeping them detained.
Reposted by Paul Crider
In case you were wondering whether @shikhadalmia.bsky.social was exaggerating about these people, this is a real quote someone really said
October 23, 2024 at 9:46 PM
In case you were wondering whether @shikhadalmia.bsky.social was exaggerating about these people, this is a real quote someone really said
Okay maybe you're a pRiNcIpLeD nOnVoTeR like the Editor of @reason.com. You really do think both sides are bad. This *could* give you added credibility if, on the advent of Trump, you came out and said *this* time is different and you *will* vote against fascism. Some libertarians did this!
Her argument for non-voting is silly, too. "You won't make a difference." Ok, sure, I probably won't. But you're the head of a magazine reaching thousands of people. Thousands of people not voting is likely to make a difference! So you shouldn't advocate for non-voting, even if you practice it!
February 9, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Okay maybe you're a pRiNcIpLeD nOnVoTeR like the Editor of @reason.com. You really do think both sides are bad. This *could* give you added credibility if, on the advent of Trump, you came out and said *this* time is different and you *will* vote against fascism. Some libertarians did this!
It is Make Fun of Libertarians Day today. But there are also (a few) good libertarians, who really did see the threat of Trump. Follow
@janetbufton.ca
@anthonylfisher.bsky.social
@aaronrosspowell.com
@anarchakelly.bsky.social
@nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
@normative.bsky.social
@janetbufton.ca
@anthonylfisher.bsky.social
@aaronrosspowell.com
@anarchakelly.bsky.social
@nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
@normative.bsky.social
Yes, some of us did, but the libertarians at Reason were not prominent among them, except for the one who got fired for it.
February 9, 2026 at 4:13 PM
It is Make Fun of Libertarians Day today. But there are also (a few) good libertarians, who really did see the threat of Trump. Follow
@janetbufton.ca
@anthonylfisher.bsky.social
@aaronrosspowell.com
@anarchakelly.bsky.social
@nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
@normative.bsky.social
@janetbufton.ca
@anthonylfisher.bsky.social
@aaronrosspowell.com
@anarchakelly.bsky.social
@nathanpgoodman.bsky.social
@jacobgrier.bsky.social
@normative.bsky.social