Project Liberal – Details, episodes & analysis

Former Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver joins hosts Max Marty and Tyler Harris for a candid look at where the liberty movement goes after the bruising 2024 cycle. Oliver reflects on running as a third-party contender in the most chaotic U.S. election in living memory, the internal battles that nearly broke the Libertarian Party, and why he refuses to run again unless the party rediscovers its classical-liberal roots. The conversation ranges from foreign-policy realism to the practicalities of resisting an increasingly illiberal political climate—and why long-term institutional reform matters as much as winning the next news cycle.

Topics Discussed

* Lessons from 2024: ballot-access hurdles, the RFK Jr. fundraising fiasco, and how MAGA populism crashed the Libertarian gate

* “Principles before polls”: why Oliver argues that character and core values beat 100-point policy checklists

* Reclaiming liberalism inside a two-party duopoly—and the limits of “vote-harder” activism

* Ukraine, Gaza, and strategic restraint: when does aid deter aggression and when does it prolong war?

* Free speech, due process, and mass-deportation plans: diagnosing the new authoritarian threat at home

* Practical resistance: local organizing, legal defense funds, and funding institutions that defend immigrants and civil liberties

* Long-game reforms—proportional representation, party primaries, and why the next constitutional settlement will shape liberty for decades

Links & Resources

* Chase Oliver website – https://votechaseoliver.com

* Chase on X (Twitter) – @ChaseForLiberty

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

In this episode of the Project Liberal podcast, Max Marty and Tyler Harris engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Virginia Postrel. Virginia introduces her framework of dynamism versus stasis—a perspective that transcends traditional left-right political divides—and explores how this lens remains relevant for understanding today's political landscape. As the "OG of the Progress and Abundance movement," Virginia offers unique insights into how innovation, decentralized knowledge, and bottom-up experimentation drive human flourishing. Topics Discussed:

* The core thesis of "The Future and Its Enemies" and how it anticipated today's political realignments

* How the YIMBY housing movement represents successful dynamism in action

* The connections between progress studies, abundance agendas, and different political coalitions

* Why progress was glamorous in the early 20th century and how it might regain that appeal

* The importance of making progress tangible in everyday life rather than just elite discourse

* How to build dynamic coalitions across political divides despite rising populism and reactionary politics

* The role of decentralized knowledge in fields from textiles to housing policy

You can find more from Virginia at:

* Virginia's Substack:

* Virginia's Website: https://vpostrel.com

* Virginia's Book "The Future and Its Enemies": https://a.co/d/6ZtKqZC

* Virginia's Book "The Fabric of Civilization": https://a.co/d/9ANJ3zr

And learn more about Project Liberal at: https://projectliberal.org

Join us for a discussion with Steven Bonnell, also known as Destiny, streamer and commentator, as we explore the challenges of battling the rise of MAGA extremism. Topics covered include:

• What’s the difference between liberalism and leftism in today’s political climate?
• Where do advocates for socialism go wrong, and what transformational ideas do liberals offer?
• How deep does Russian influence go in right-wing media, and what role does it play in MAGA narratives?
• How should liberals counter MAGA and pull people away from political extremes?
• What will the political landscape look like post-Trump?

Join Project Liberal founder Joshua Eakle and steering committee member Micah Erfan of Project Liberal for a deep dive into the ideological and political battles shaping America’s future.

Follow Destiny at https://www.destiny.gg/

We’re exploring how zoning, regulations, and NIMBYism have impacted America’s cities in this episode featuring M. Nolan Gray, Senior Director at California YIMBY and author of Arbitrary Lines. Topics covered include:

• Why are housing costs skyrocketing across the country?
• How have zoning laws broken American cities, and what reforms could fix them?
• How should the YIMBY movement engage with communities resistant to new development?
• What are the best policy solutions for addressing the housing affordability crisis?
• How has YIMBYism gained traction within the Democratic Party?

Join Project Liberal founder Joshua Eakle and steering committee member Shawn Huckabay as they engage in a timely conversation with Nolan Gray on the future of housing policy.

Follow Nolan at https://x.com/mnolangray

We sat down with Dylan Burns, a Journalist focused on covering the war in Ukraine, to debunk a series of myths and false narratives that are circulating around the war in Ukraine.

We sat down with Shikha Dalmia, the Founder of the Unpopulist Magazine and the President of the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism, to explore what's causing the rise of authoritarianism across the globe and discuss the best strategy to fight back against it.

We sat down with Alex Nowrasteh, an American analyst of immigration policy currently working at the Cato Institute to get to the truth around many of the questions Americans have about immigration.

We sit down with Daniel Di Martino to discuss his experience as a Venezuelan immigrant, what the right gets wrong about immigration, and Christian Nationalism.  We’re a nonpartisan PAC dedicated to restoring, promoting, and advancing liberal values in American politics.  Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/

Austin Peterson Joins the show

We sit down with Mr. Beat to discuss what's going on in American politics.

 Project Liberal is on a mission to resurrect true liberalism.   Learn more: https://projectliberal.org/