The $100M Free Press (Conspirituality podcast)

The Free Press founder, Bari Weiss, recently hosted Peter Thiel on her podcast. While The FP markets itself as as a return to independent and non-partisan real journalism, Julian and Derek point out that's not the case at all—especially when the organization's $15M in funding comes from rightwing and libertarian VCs. Will Weiss factcheck Thiel's misinformation in real-time, as a "non-partisan" outlet should?

Interview: 

https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/brief-the-100m-free-press

It Wasn’t JUST Boos. The Crowd Also DID THIS to Trump Tonight

While everybody is talking about Donald Trump getting booed tonight at the Libertarian National Convention, there’s A LOT more that went on behind the scenes — as well as other key moments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHCeRP2OETM

Donald Trump booed at Libertarian convention

"And if you vote for me on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht." The room, where many had been waving "Free Ross" signs, erupted in roars and whistles of approval. Ulbricht was the founder of Silk Road, an online marketplace for the sale of heroin, cocaine, LSD and other illegal drugs, who in 2015 was sentenced to life in prison… 

 The ex-president received further acclaim for pledging to sign an executive order banning federal agencies from censoring free speech, introduce record tax cuts, oppose the Green New Deal and drill for oil and gas, secure the future of crypto and bitcoin currencies and defend religious liberty and gun rights.  

Still, not everyone was won over. When Trump said, "I want your support and again, you can either nominate us and put us in the position or give us your vote," a chorus of boos rose again. 

 Afterwards one delegate, who gave his name only as Joe, said: "He's full of shit."…

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/26/no-wannabe-dictators-donald-trump-booed-at-libertarian-convention

Trump Gets MERCILESSLY BOOED at Speech

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump getting booed at the Libertarian Convention in Washington DC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gkY1k-Fz0

Libertarian convention crowd appears hostile to Trump ahead speech

Vivek Ramaswamy was booed when he mentioned Trump, while a convention-goer who called for "Donald Trump to go f--- himself" was met with widespread applause...

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/libertarian-convention-crowd-appears-hostile-trump-ahead-speech-rcna154029

The Origins Of The Extremist 'Boogaloo' Movement (On Point)

Libertarian extremists known as the boogaloo bois are now linked with at least two murders. We look at the origins of the movement.
Interview:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/07/10/the-origins-of-the-extremist-boogaloo-movement

The John Birch Society is still influencing American politics, 60 years after its founding - The Conversation US

It planted the seeds of the tea party and the Trump administration. ....
https://theconversation.com/the-john-birch-society-is-still-influencing-american-politics-60-years-after-its-founding-107925

The revealing Medicare-for-all fact-check debate roiling the internet, explained - Vox

Sen. Bernie Sanders and the left vs. the libertarians at Mercatus is the shape of things to come. ....
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/23/17769130/medicare-for-all-costs-bernie-sanders-mercatus-study

The Libertarian Party Now Has a Secular Caucus Led by an Atheist State Rep. – Friendly Atheist

Earlier this month, during the Libertarian Party’s national convention, a Secular Caucus was formed, led by New Hampshire State Rep. Brandon Phinney — one of only a handful of openly non-theistic state officials in the country.....

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2018/07/23/the-libertarian-party-now-has-a-secular-caucus-led-by-an-atheist-state-rep/

Disruption games: why are libertarians lining up with autocrats to undermine democracy? | Technology | The Guardian

In the era of digital politics, an odd alliance has sprung up: anti-state campaigners and Moscow-backed nationalists are combining to disrupt liberal institutions....
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/19/trump-russia-fake-news-libertarians-autocrats-democracy?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+USA+-+Collections+2017&utm_term=253186&subid=22113254&CMP=GT_US_collection

The Insidious Libertarian-to-Alt-Right Pipeline -- The Daily Beast

Libertarianism has an alt-right problem. Many prominent leaders of the alt-right have, at some point, identified as libertarian. I am curious as to… why? ....
http://www.thedailybeast.com/the-insidious-libertarian-to-alt-right-pipeline

Lee Fang On How A Little-Known U.S. Libertarian Think Tank Is Remaking Latin American Politics - YouTube

A new investigation published by The Intercept exposes how a libertarian think tank called the Atlas Network is remaking Latin American politics with the help of powerful conservative institutions and funders in the United States, some of whom you may recognize, such as the Koch brothers. The Intercept reports the Atlas Network is behind dozens of prominent groups that have supported right-wing forces in the anti-government movement in Venezuela, as well as those who ousted Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff....
Interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDFW3OWUbEI&t=855s

The Reclusive Hedge-Fund Tycoon Behind the Trump Presidency

Last month, when President Donald Trump toured a Boeing aircraft plant in North Charleston, South Carolina, he saw a familiar face in the crowd that greeted him: Patrick Caddell, a former Democratic political operative and pollster who, for forty-five years, has been prodding insurgent Presidential candidates to attack the Washington establishment. Caddell, who lives in Charleston, is perhaps best known for helping Jimmy Carter win the 1976 Presidential race. He is also remembered for having collaborated with his friend Warren Beatty on the 1998 satire “Bulworth.” In that film, a kamikaze candidate abandons the usual talking points and excoriates both the major political parties and the media; voters love his unconventionality, and he becomes improbably popular. If the plot sounds familiar, there’s a reason: in recent years, Caddell has offered political advice to Trump. He has not worked directly for the President, but at least as far back as 2013 he has been a contractor for one of Trump’s biggest financial backers: Robert Mercer, a reclusive Long Island hedge-fund manager, who has become a major force behind the Trump Presidency....
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/03/27/the-reclusive-hedge-fund-tycoon-behind-the-trump-presidency

Kochs Bankroll Movement to Rewrite the Constitution | Alternet

Austerity advocates claim that they need only to convince five of seven targeted states to get on board.
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/kochs-bankroll-movement-rewrite-constitution

Aside from a Few Issues, Gary Johnson Is as Rabidly Right-Wing as You Could Possibly Imagine

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is the Republican we've been waiting for, including those die-hard Sanders supporters, right? Not exactly. The former governor of New Mexico has some hard-right views, which have largely gone unnoticed due to the media's fascination with his recent gaffes. Here are just a few of them....
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/sorry-liberals-gary-johnson-just-says-no

Libertarian Candidate Gary Johnson Says Some Truly Crazy Stuff

Why are young people flocking to Gary Johnson's presidential campaign? Perhaps it's his plan to combat global warming, or his tongue-in-cheek debate strategy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMR2B5GsaNY

Paul Krugman Reveals What Libertarian Gary Johnson Really Stands For—and It's Terrifying

Paul Krugman asks in his Monday's column how many of Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson's young supporters have actually read Johnson's platform. Right off the bat he clarifies that it only makes sense to cast a vote for him if you believe "it makes no difference at all whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump moves into the White House — because one of them will." And, "Second, you have to believe that America will be better off in the long run if we eliminate environmental regulation, abolish the income tax, do away with public schools, and dismantle Social Security and Medicare — which is what the Libertarian platform calls for."...
http://www.alternet.org/economy/paul-krugman-reveals-what-libertarian-gary-johnson-really-stands-and-its-terrifying

Gary Johnson 'Glad No One Got Hurt' In Weekend Terror Attacks During Which Many People Were Hurt

Interview:
https://youtu.be/qBsUSlF99j4

Gary Johnson On What It Means To Be A Libertarian In 2016 (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

It’s a big year for third party candidates in America’s presidential contest. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and the Green Party’s Jill Stein are still at the margins, but some of those margins are large. Johnson is polling at 9 or 10 percent. He’s with us today. We’ll talk about his Libertarian view of the world and the race, and look at Donald Trump’s comments on gun owners and Hillary Clinton. This hour On Point, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson. — Tom Ashbrook
Interview: 
http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2016/08/10/gary-johnson-on-what-it-means-to-be-a-libertarian

Libertarian Party is no alternative for disaffected Dems

Given the unpopularity of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and GOP nominee Donald Trump, the Libertarian Party is being touted as an alternative to voters from both parties. Some even suggest that Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee, could pull voters away from Clinton and Trump in equal numbers.

Now I understand why disaffected Republicans would find the Libertarian message appealing, although many in that party will have to look the other way on issues like abortion, national defense and recreational drug use.

I am puzzled, though, by the suggestion that Democrats should also consider the Libertarian alternative. Granted, many of them will agree on the issues I just listed. But the Libertarian Party's central policy positions conjure up a worldview that is profoundly at odds with the core values of the Democratic Party....
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/292169-libertarian-party-is-no-alternative-for-disaffected