We Are Libertarians

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool became the perfect case study in how the Trump administration operates: rushed decisions, ignored experts, a no-bid contract, a failed blue liner, algae blooms, and then arrests without charges. Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Rhinehold break down the full timeline of the pool's history, from its 1923 completion and Obama-era $34 million structural rebuild to the 2026 polyurea coating job that fell apart within weeks.

The conversation covers the narcissistic personality traits that define Trump's decision-making pattern, why bureaucracy exists as a check on executive power, and how the vandalism narrative surrounding the pool follows the same playbook used across every major controversy of his administration. The hosts also examine the no-bid contractor with a criminal history, the claim that a 350-foot razor cut caused the damage, and why the motorcade driving over fresh coating is a more plausible explanation than a coordinated sabotage effort.

Beyond the pool, the episode covers competitive yoga, Indiana limestone in Washington monuments, the Greg Ballard Secretary of State petition fight in Indiana, Tucker Carlson's credibility shift, and what the rise of data centers means for Midwestern communities.

Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Rhinehold host the We Are Libertarians podcast, available at wearelibertarians.com.

0:00 Introduction and Show Catchup

3:45 Competitive Yoga and Harry's Morning Routine

8:30 Trump's Narcissism and the Reflecting Pool Preview

12:30 The DSM Nine Traits of Narcissistic Personality

18:30 Reflecting Pool Full History and Timeline

38:00 Matthew Visits the Studio

40:30 Obama's $34 Million Structural Rebuild

46:00 The Blue Liner, the Motorcade, and the Algae Bloom

51:00 The No-Bid Contractor and His Criminal History

53:30 Bureaucracy as a Check on Executive Power

56:30 Biden Era Failures and Mitch McConnell's Role

58:30 Tucker Carlson, MTG, and Candace Owens

1:07:30 Harry's Free Will Test for Trump Supporters

1:09:30 Death of Stalin and CCP Comparisons

1:12:30 Data Centers and Midwestern Communities

1:13:30 Final Thoughts and Indiana Ballot Access Fight

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Chris Spangle, Harry and Reinhold talk about when news breaks fast, like the U.S. bombing Iran, forcing them to toss their planned topics and react in real time. From there, they talk about news fatigue and attention whiplash, including how major developments can disappear from the public conversation and how hard it is to verify what is real online. They compare national coverage to alternative sources, argue that trust is shifting toward local outlets and in-person relationships, and share why many people feel overwhelmed trying to fact-check everything.

The middle of the show turns to technology, including surveillance tools, license plate readers and the broader feeling of living inside a modern panopticon. They debate AI from two angles, one seeing a disorienting shift in online life, the other arguing hype and limits, then connect it to the flood of low-quality content and what it is doing to creativity and culture.

In the final stretch, they walk through Iran and the nuclear deal basics, the long-running push for regime change, and how alliances and credibility shape U.S. influence abroad. They close with a sharp argument about war powers, constitutional limits and whether courts and Congress can still function as guardrails, followed by a practical reminder to build real community close to home.

0:00 Cold open and what the episode is about

1:15 Milestones, behind-the-scenes talk, and why they record the way they do

5:05 The day’s big breaking-news pivot

10:20 Information overload, attention whiplash, and tuning out

12:40 Trust, verification, and why people don’t believe what they see

17:35 The future of life online and why it feels disorienting

22:05 Privacy, surveillance, and how tracking is changing everyday life

26:15 AI anxiety vs AI reality and what people get wrong

29:20 The internet’s content quality problem and “AI slop”

31:30 Creativity, culture, and why modern media feels derivative

38:25 Where AI actually helps and the copyright debate

39:50 Middle East context and how big-power politics shapes events

46:50 Diplomacy vs hard power and the nuclear-enrichment conversation

56:20 Trade, alliances, and U.S. credibility abroad

1:01:05 Executive power, constitutional limits, and accountability

1:02:30 Courts, enforcement, and institutional stress tests

1:08:20 What happens next: economy, community, and staying grounded

1:26:10 Closing thoughts and sign-off

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Chris, Harry, and Rhinehold discuss the coming snowpocolypse and what motivates people to buy 8 gallons of milk as a response. While shooting the show, news breaks about a second killing by ICE in Minneapolis.

⁠⁠https://youtu.be/4fXijck0ELQ⁠⁠

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Chris Spangle is joined by Harry Price and Rhinehold for the final We Are Libertarians roundtable of 2025, recorded on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year’s. They trade Festivus-style grievances, talk life and workload, and debate Indianapolis development, public transit, and downtown design, including “no turn on red” frustrations and light rail. The conversation moves into NPR and PBS funding cuts, NOAA and weather data, and why abrupt cuts can create gaps before private solutions adapt. They also dig into “too big to fail,” stadium subsidies, wealth inequality, immigration and tariffs, and worries about an AI hype cycle that could pop. Along the way: John Bolton’s book as a Christmas gift, local versus federal power, and why history keeps repeating.

00:00 Intro & Holiday Banter

03:00 Year-End Reflections & Schedules

08:00 Jokes, Grievances & Festivus Vibes

13:00 Life Updates & Podcasting Behind the Scenes

20:00 Indianapolis Neighborhoods & Housing Market

28:00 City Development, Gentrification, and Sports Strategy

34:00 Public Projects, Taxpayer Money & Convention Economy

43:00 Transit, Traffic, and Urban Design Debates

52:00 Public Transportation & Challenges for the Poor

01:02:00 Funding Cuts, Private Solutions & PBS/NPR

01:10:00 Speculation, Tech Giants & Too Big to Fail

01:18:00 Renewable Energy, Land Use, & NIMBYism

01:24:00 American Preferences, Libertarian Values & Wealth Gaps

01:33:00 Final Thoughts, Historical Parallels & Farewell

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Chris Spangle and Matt Wittlief reunite to bring back History of Modern Politics after a long hiatus. In this episode, they explain why the show is returning, how seasons two and three are already underway, and what listeners can expect as they continue tracing political thought from the Roman Republic to the American founding. Chris and Matt share behind-the-scenes updates on research, writing, episode structure, and how their work connects ancient history to today’s political shifts. They also discuss season one, the path ahead through the Middle Ages and the Glorious Revolution, and their plans to cover the first American political systems in future seasons.

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Join Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Rhinehold for an unfiltered conversation exploring everything from tech “enshittification” and the work-from-home debate to the dangers of centralized government power. The trio examines how political and cultural tension mirror the post-COVID era, why Gen Z’s values echo past generations, and what the “success sequence” reveals about personal responsibility. Chris closes with a passionate critique of executive overreach, historic preservation, and America’s fading respect for the rule of law.

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Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Reinhold reunite for a new episode of We Are Libertarians. The hosts reintroduce themselves and reflect on the history of the show before diving into today’s big issues. They discuss the speed of the news cycle, public trust in media, right- and left-wing biases, and why local journalism still matters. The conversation also explores libertarian principles, cultural debates, Christian nationalism, and the role of free speech in a divided society. Tune in for sharp analysis, humor, and spirited discussion as three different libertarian perspectives come together to debate politics and culture.

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I was honored to (and surprised) to be asked as a guest on Jacob Winograd's show The LCI Green Room over at the Libertarian Christian Institute to talk about the “Grill Pill”—a mindset that’s all about stepping back from the chaos of national politics to focus on what really matters: faith, family, community, and yes, sometimes literally grilling. He and I unpack the emotional toll of constant political engagement, why many of us are disillusioned with activism, and how to reorder our lives around what God has actually called us to. We talk about libertarianism, Christian cultural engagement, and the dangers of making politics an idol. This one’s honest, raw, and full of hard-won wisdom. Hope it helps you recalibrate.

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We start out the show with a couple of personal announcements about my family and career, and then Harry Price, Rhinehold and I deal with the fact that it's hard to be a principled libertarian. First, there are some good things the government does at a local level. Secondly, the libertarian ideology is barely popular with libertarians. So I ask them, "what's the point?" Harry gives me a good answer. 

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It is finally over! Donald Trump won the presidency in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history. Why did Trump win, and why did Kamala Harris lose? We look at 2024's fear-based political messaging from both sides and the mental health crisis it caused, the economic frustrations across America, and the disillusionment of younger generations. We also look at the Libertarian Party's fifth-place finish and why, and we touch on the role of local community engagement in political change. 

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