The world of the arts is one in which creativity and original thinking should be valued above all else. But in fact, it's one of the industries that most enforces conformity and obedience. Matt Kibbe is joined by Clifton Duncan, a classically trained theater and television actor who found this out to his cost. When he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, he found his thriving career suddenly grinding to a halt, as managers, agents, and casting directors shunned him for failing to toe the party line. Duncan talks about the culture of the New York theater scene, the inability of free thinkers to speak out, and his new documentary, "Follow the Science," which exposes the muddled thinking, or lack thereof, behind the uniformity of opinion surrounding COVID lockdown policies.

Ep 223 | When Artists Aren't Allowed to Think | Guest: Clifton Duncan

Kibbe on Liberty is a weekly podcast with libertarian author and economist, Matt Kibbe. Kibbe believes that honest conversations, driven by intellectual curiosity and mutual respect, can ignite a new revolution of free thinking and a willingness to question the official narrative. That means talking, and listening, to a wide variety of people outside the echo chamber of officially sanctioned experts. 
Kibbe on Liberty's guests include politicians, economists, musicians, comedians, writers, radio personalities, activists, journalists, and even magicians—with topics of conversation ranging from current affairs to obscure philosophy, from craft beer to the Grateful Dead. Cold one in hand, settle in for the next brain-stimulating hour of Kibbe on Liberty.
As the president of Free the People, Kibbe has decades of experience in the libertarian political sphere. He is the author of three books, including Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff, a #2 NY Times Best Seller. Kibbe is a fanatical DeadHead, drinker of great whisky, and collector of obscure books on Austrian economics.

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There was a time when the Democratic Party marketed itself as a home for the anti-war Left, with protesters routinely showing up at Republican events to condemn American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, with the election of Barack Obama, those voices fell silent, and since then, both major political parties have demanded more wars, more drone strikes, and more military spending. Tulsi Gabbard, author of “For Love of Country: Leave the Democrat Party Behind,” rose to national prominence as a veteran and presidential candidate bold enough to stand up to the war machine, and for her efforts she was demonized as a traitor and a Russian asset. In this conversation with Matt Kibbe, Gabbard explains why she parted ways with her old party and what Americans can do to take back their power over the political elite who are supposed to work for them.

You can order Tulsi Gabbard's new book here: https://www.tulsigabbard.com

EP 281 | Both Republicans and Democrats Love War | Guest: Tulsi Gabbard

In the debate about cancel culture, it’s become cliché to claim that the powers that be won’t permit certain types of entertainment anymore. Matt Kibbe and Matt Battaglia challenge this conception in a conversation with comics writer Joseph Keatinge, co-founder and chief creative officer at Vast Vision Publishing. Keatinge talks about the freedom and flexibility that comes from cutting loose the corporate bureaucracy and taking control of your own art. Through independent publishing, creators don’t have to answer to moral guardians or timid HR departments. This means that they can focus on telling compelling stories, not checking boxes or enforcing quotas.

Ep 280 | Independent Creators Can’t Be Stopped | Guests: Joseph Keatinge & Matt Battaglia

At the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, Matt Kibbe sits down with Maine state Senator Eric Brakey, who talks about his legislative accomplishments and his transition into the role of executive director of the Free State Project. Brakey explains that state governments are in the best position to be leaders on building mainstream support for new and seemingly radical ideas. Just as Democrat-led states have shifted the Overton window on certain progressive policies, states like New Hampshire and Maine are positioned to demonstrate that liberty-oriented laws can not only pass but can work to improve the lives of American citizens.

Ep 279 | States Are Laboratories of Liberty | Guest: Eric Brakey

At this year’s New Hampshire Liberty Forum, Matt Kibbe sat down with Derek Proulx, the New Hampshire state chair of Bring Our Troops Home, to talk about his involvement in the Defend the Guard movement. Defend the Guard is an initiative to prevent the federal government from misusing the National Guard for military adventurism abroad without a proper declaration of war by Congress, as the Constitution requires. As a former member of the National Guard, Proulx and his fellow veterans have a unique and valuable perspective on military involvement, which could teach a lot to war-hungry politicians who have lived lives sheltered from military conflict.

Ep 278 | Bring Our Troops Home | Guest: Derek Proulx

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s job is in trouble, as many Republicans in Congress are dissatisfied with his lack of leadership and willingness to cozy up to the Democratic opposition. Matt Kibbe is joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, who explains why he’s calling for the speaker to be replaced and outlines what he calls “the three betrayals of Mike Johnson.” First, Johnson abandoned the regular order budgeting process in favor of a massive omnibus bill. Second, he reauthorized warrantless surveillance of Americans by the FISA courts, and third, he is ushering through a military spending package that would send American taxpayer dollars to fund the wars in Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine. To top it all off, Democratic leaders in the House are openly admitting that they want to keep Johnson in power, which speaks volumes about how firm his conservative bona fides really are.

Ep 223 | When Artists Aren't Allowed to Think | Guest: Clifton Duncan

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