Spencer Critchley
@scritchley.bsky.social
Author of Patriots of Two Nations, media commentator, host of Dastardly Cleverness in the Service of Good podcast, composer/producer. https://spencercritchley.com
The new podcast episode / Liberal Backbone chapter is up.
How to Lose in One Word
The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 12
spencercritchley.substack.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The new podcast episode / Liberal Backbone chapter is up.
My new song is live today: “Outside in the Rain” by The Desert Mothers. linktr.ee/desertmothers
July 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
My new song is live today: “Outside in the Rain” by The Desert Mothers. linktr.ee/desertmothers
My latest, up now at Substack and elsewhere. I’ll be talking about it at 2pm PT/5pm ET on WCPT Radio Chicago with Joan Esposito. Streams live and also appears on Joan’s podcast starting this evening.
June 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM
My latest, up now at Substack and elsewhere. I’ll be talking about it at 2pm PT/5pm ET on WCPT Radio Chicago with Joan Esposito. Streams live and also appears on Joan’s podcast starting this evening.
The new podcast episode/chapter is up.
The Iron Cage: The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 10
It's the alienation, stupid.
open.substack.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The new podcast episode/chapter is up.
The latest chapter of The Liberal Backbone is out now on the Dastardly Cleverness podcast, on YouTube, and at this Substack link: open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
April 23, 2025 at 2:47 AM
The latest chapter of The Liberal Backbone is out now on the Dastardly Cleverness podcast, on YouTube, and at this Substack link: open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
CEOs: “This is the Trump recession… Without faith that the government knows what is doing, it is impossible for businesses to thrive… He has surrounded himself with an incompetent cadre of yes men and women.”
April 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
CEOs: “This is the Trump recession… Without faith that the government knows what is doing, it is impossible for businesses to thrive… He has surrounded himself with an incompetent cadre of yes men and women.”
Reposted by Spencer Critchley
Trump’s Commerce Secretary just said seniors shouldn’t “call and complain” if they stop getting their Social Security checks: “A fraudster always makes the loudest noise screaming and complaining.”
March 21, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Trump’s Commerce Secretary just said seniors shouldn’t “call and complain” if they stop getting their Social Security checks: “A fraudster always makes the loudest noise screaming and complaining.”
“Of all the potential causes of liberal confusion, few are more confusing than this: being reasonable has become controversial.”
Defending Enlightenment: The Liberal Backbone, Chapter 8
How did reason become controversial?
open.substack.com
March 20, 2025 at 1:30 AM
“Of all the potential causes of liberal confusion, few are more confusing than this: being reasonable has become controversial.”
They’re not shrinking the government, they’re destroying it: the Dark Enlightenment in the White House. Full interview: Joan Esposito podcast, Mar 3, 2025, starting at 1:41:43. Apple Podcasts link: youtu.be/Qg7yO1xiZnc?...
Clip: The "Neo-Reactionary" Attack on Democracy: Joan Esposito Show, March 3, 2025
YouTube video by Dastardly Cleverness
youtu.be
March 4, 2025 at 11:35 PM
They’re not shrinking the government, they’re destroying it: the Dark Enlightenment in the White House. Full interview: Joan Esposito podcast, Mar 3, 2025, starting at 1:41:43. Apple Podcasts link: youtu.be/Qg7yO1xiZnc?...
Trump: From Leader of the Free World to Junior Bad Guy. Full interview here: open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
March 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Trump: From Leader of the Free World to Junior Bad Guy. Full interview here: open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
“Trump thinks that Putin is his friend. But in fact, Putin thinks Trump is an easy mark.” — former Trump admin National Security Advisor John Bolton to @nicollewallace.bsky.social today.
March 1, 2025 at 12:53 AM
“Trump thinks that Putin is his friend. But in fact, Putin thinks Trump is an easy mark.” — former Trump admin National Security Advisor John Bolton to @nicollewallace.bsky.social today.
While Trump lied yet again about Russian election interference today, Marco Rubio sat feet away, silent as usual in his shame and dishonor. Rubio, in a statement as acting chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020: “We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling.”
February 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
While Trump lied yet again about Russian election interference today, Marco Rubio sat feet away, silent as usual in his shame and dishonor. Rubio, in a statement as acting chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee in 2020: “We found irrefutable evidence of Russian meddling.”
What’s the way forward for Democrats? I really enjoyed being interviewed by Bob Gatty — great questions and the all-important great follow-ups too.
What do liberals really stand for, and how can they reclaim their voice? Are Democrats too rational compared to Republicans? What do you think? youtu.be/7Zpp2tbxUD4?...
Spencer Critchley: What's a Liberal?
YouTube video by The Lean to the Left Podcast
youtu.be
February 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
What’s the way forward for Democrats? I really enjoyed being interviewed by Bob Gatty — great questions and the all-important great follow-ups too.
The truth about USAID “fraud.”
On GPS: In defense of USAID | CNN
Fareed takes up some of the Trump administration’s claims about USAID and debunks them, one by one.
www.cnn.com
February 24, 2025 at 3:36 AM
The truth about USAID “fraud.”
The new chapter of my book-in-progress The Liberal Backbone is up: find it at Substack or on the Dastardly Cleverness podcast or YouTube channel. open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
February 19, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The new chapter of my book-in-progress The Liberal Backbone is up: find it at Substack or on the Dastardly Cleverness podcast or YouTube channel. open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
Trump's frequent betrayal of allies isn't just immoral, it's suicidally stupid. I shared some thoughts with India's NDTV network: x.com/NDTVWORLD/st...
x.com
x.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Trump's frequent betrayal of allies isn't just immoral, it's suicidally stupid. I shared some thoughts with India's NDTV network: x.com/NDTVWORLD/st...
Trump stops hiding his hostility to Christian values — you know, the ones Jesus actually taught.
Attacks on Catholics, Lutherans suggest new Trump approach on religion
Allies of the president are leveling attacks on religious groups, including Catholics and Lutherans, and questioning their efforts to help migrants.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 10, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Trump stops hiding his hostility to Christian values — you know, the ones Jesus actually taught.
To pretend that Trump might not be a race-baiting demagogue requires us to pretend to be stupid — an important goal for a dictator. Some thoughts from a debate on an India’s NDTV about images of Indian deportees in shackles. youtu.be/jpXLwDqrBHs?...
NDTV India: "The Last Word," Feb 7, 2025
YouTube video by Dastardly Cleverness
youtu.be
February 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
To pretend that Trump might not be a race-baiting demagogue requires us to pretend to be stupid — an important goal for a dictator. Some thoughts from a debate on an India’s NDTV about images of Indian deportees in shackles. youtu.be/jpXLwDqrBHs?...
Of Course Donald Trump Didn’t Enjoy Hearing a Truly Christian Message - The Atlantic www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Of Course Donald Trump Didn’t Enjoy Hearing a Truly Christian Message
Exhortations for mercy are never easy for the powerful to accept.
www.theatlantic.com
January 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Of Course Donald Trump Didn’t Enjoy Hearing a Truly Christian Message - The Atlantic www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
“The response from Republicans has been strikingly muted. And some are even giving Trump a nod of approval, a remarkable episode that shows how Trump gradually lures his party to vouch for the previously unthinkable.”
Analysis | The GOP’s stunning response to Trump pardoning those who assaulted police
Trump has worn his party down, and few events crystallize it like the GOP’s muted — and, in some cases, positive — response.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2025 at 6:40 AM
“The response from Republicans has been strikingly muted. And some are even giving Trump a nod of approval, a remarkable episode that shows how Trump gradually lures his party to vouch for the previously unthinkable.”
At first I thought people might possibly be overreacting in accusing AfD fan Elon Musk of actually making Nazi salutes. But then I saw them.
Two observations on the latest events in Elon Nazi Salute discourse. I bumped in to a few of what I’ll call civilians today, people who aren’t that plugged into politics and don’t spend any time on political social media. Each mentioned the salute thing and were upset/surprised by it. Comments …
January 22, 2025 at 6:34 AM
At first I thought people might possibly be overreacting in accusing AfD fan Elon Musk of actually making Nazi salutes. But then I saw them.
Anand Giridharadas, echoing the equally brilliant Pogo: “The truth that was harder to accept was staring at us all along: This man was not alien to us, a foreign invader. He was us.” open.substack.com/pub/anandwri...
The inauguration of us
Trump isn't who we are, we used to tell ourselves. But he is. Can we change?
open.substack.com
January 22, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Anand Giridharadas, echoing the equally brilliant Pogo: “The truth that was harder to accept was staring at us all along: This man was not alien to us, a foreign invader. He was us.” open.substack.com/pub/anandwri...
New at Substack: open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
January 16, 2025 at 1:52 AM
New at Substack: open.substack.com/pub/spencerc...
Reposted by Spencer Critchley
Brilliant cartoonist Ann Telnaes is quitting the Washington Post because the paper killed her cartoon about billionaires in tech and media kowtowing to Trump. Sadly, the Jeff Bezos-owned Post proved her point.
Support the media truth-tellers. Reject the media cowards.
Support the media truth-tellers. Reject the media cowards.
Why I'm quitting the Washington Post
Democracy can't function without a free press
anntelnaes.substack.com
January 4, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Brilliant cartoonist Ann Telnaes is quitting the Washington Post because the paper killed her cartoon about billionaires in tech and media kowtowing to Trump. Sadly, the Jeff Bezos-owned Post proved her point.
Support the media truth-tellers. Reject the media cowards.
Support the media truth-tellers. Reject the media cowards.