Radical liberal and former Cato Institute scholar Aaron Ross Powell joins hosts Joshua Eakle and Max Marty at the Watergate Hotel for an in-person conversation about the collapse of libertarian-conservative fusionism and what comes next for defenders of liberal democracy. Powell, who founded libertarianism.org and hosted the Free Thoughts podcast for nearly a decade, explains why he abandoned the libertarian label as it became associated with illiberal populism.

The discussion explores how the libertarian movement fractured between cosmopolitan liberals seeking equal dignity for all and those using "liberty" rhetoric to defend traditional hierarchies. As President Trump's authoritarian populism tests American institutions, the conversation turns to whether radical liberals should pursue a new strategic alliance with the center-left — not as junior partners, but as principled advocates for the values of openness, pluralism, and individual autonomy.

Topics Discussed:

* The distinction between radical liberalism and libertarianism, and how the libertarian brand became toxic

* How fusionism trapped libertarians in a conservative coalition that ultimately betrayed liberal values

* The two libertarianisms revealed by Trump: cosmopolitan egalitarians versus hierarchy defenders

* Why tech libertarians shifted rightward after experiencing "woke" criticism in Silicon Valley

* The credibility radical liberals now have warning about concentrated state power after Trump's rise

* Building a pro-democracy coalition that welcomes liberal conservatives without demanding ideological purity

* The realignment from left-right to open-closed society, and where radical liberals fit

* Why opposing authoritarian populism requires strange bedfellows and a commitment to shared liberal values

Links & Resources:

* Aaron Ross Powell's website – https://www.aaronrosspowell.com

* Reimagining Liberty podcast – https://pod.link/1614436300

* Project Liberal – https://www.projectliberal.org

* Become a Project Liberal member – https://projectliberal.org/member

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