To the Moon
The Artemis moon mission provides a vision of a joyous, hopeful liberal future—one built on international cooperation, not war and hatred.
The Right Wants You Stupid
The eternal quest to preserve the “pleasing illusions” that hold society and its authorities together.
Trump's Trade Con (Neon Liberalism #69, with Joey Politano)
On April 2, 2025, Donald Trump announced "Liberation Day" tariffs which, according to him, would fix the trade deficit and bring American manufacturing roaring back. One year on, Samantha and economic analyst Joey Politano dig into what actually happened. Manufacturing is down, the deficit is barely changed, fake
The Security Leviathan
The American path in state-building is heavily skewed towards security and control.
How to Divide Large Numbers in Your Head
We need to get our minds around our millions, billions, and trillions.
After a Dark Week, Americans Should Turn to Jimmy Carter’s Malaise Speech
Carter was panned at the time, and long after, but has been vindicated.
Trump Surrenders to Iran
Donald Trump started and now has lost a humiliating, illegal, and stupid war with Iran.
"No Quarter, No Mercy": Understanding Pete Hegseth (Half the Answer #77, with Greg Sargent)
A bloodthirsty, homicidal maniac is in charge of our nation's military for some reason, and he just can't stop saying stuff that confirms that he deeply believes that extreme violence is awesome and God likes it a lot. Trent and Caitlin ask Greg Sargent of the
The Next Democratic Candidate for President Should Run as a China Hawk
Let’s flip the race to the bottom and reconstruct this country.
The Moral Arc of the Universe Bends Toward Finding Out
Chaos has a nasty habit of rebounding homewards.
Governing by Algorithm: What Smart Cities Are Teaching Us About Power in Liberal Democracies
The current automation of governance is an evolution in the longstanding tension between democratic responsiveness and technocratic executive power.
The Editor’s Chat #12
Note: If you support us on Patreon you can find the episode on that platform. The Editors' Chat is a monthly, freewheeling discussion among the editors of Liberal Currents on a variety of topics from current events to ancient history, social science, and more. It will be live streamed