Noah Smith: I Owe Libertarians an Apology

Noah Smith, an economic commentator and Substack writer, once dismissed libertarianism as a relic of the past. But in a political climate increasingly defined by populist protectionism and authoritarian rhetoric, he's reconsidering. "There are worse monsters than the market," Smith recently wrote.

With Reason's Zach Weissmueller and Liz Wolfe, Smith explores the evolution of his thinking—from criticizing "thin libertarianism" focused solely on state coercion, to advocating for a more expansive, "thick" conception of liberty that accounts for institutional and corporate constraints as well. He also discusses how libertarians might shape political discourse despite being exiled from both major parties.

Sources Referenced

"I owe the libertarians an apology," by Noah Smith Just Asking Questions with Derek Thompson: Democrats Must Change Just Asking Questions with Michael Beckley: China is Dangerously Weak Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on tariffs

Chapters

00:00 Reflecting on libertarianism and Donald Trump's rise 06:00 Revisiting financial regulation and the housing crisis 11:00 Thin vs. thick libertarianism 17:00 Censorship, coercion, and the role of private platforms 29:00 Tariffs, trade, and the antineoliberal left 37:00 The shifting power dynamics in the Democratic and Republican parties 45:00 Political homelessness and the libertarian intellectual wilderness 54:00 Industrial policy, mRNA vaccines, and the role of government 1:01:00 China, manufacturing, and national security 1:10:00 Argentina, Javier Milei, and libertarian governance in practice Producer: John Osterhoudt

The post Noah Smith: I Owe Libertarians an Apology appeared first on Reason.com.