Episodes
Monday Aug 25, 2014
Monday Aug 25, 2014
Black gun groups in Texas are open carrying to protest against police violence. The Huey P. Newton Gun Club conducted an open carry march through South Dallas with their shotguns and AR-15s, walking through a restaurant as police officers calmly ate their lunch nearby. "The recent murders of unarmed black, brown, and whites across the United States of America has eradicated trust in the police," the club's website reads. Are the gun club members using the right tactics to call attention to the problems of the militarization and heavy-handed tactics of the police?
The Freedom Report podcast today takes on the issue of violence and culture, examining recent tragic events in Ferguson, Missouri with the reactions of protesters along with a historical anecdote from the Black Panther Party's history. Is this recent open carry march in Texas the start of a trend of black people standing up for themselves and expressing their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Also, putting aside the issue of institutional racism, which we can debate later; do blacks suffer from a low self-image? What does a little experiment on schoolchildren in 1968 tell us about how racism and self esteem affect our self image and ability to perform tasks to the best of our ability? Can this protest by the Huey P. Newton Gun Club be a positive example of how to assert?
All that and more on the Freedom Report podcast!
Thursday Aug 21, 2014
Do Libertarians Have More Credibility After Ferguson? (PODCAST)
Thursday Aug 21, 2014
Thursday Aug 21, 2014
Writer for the Huffington Post Robin Koerner joins the Freedom Report podcast to discuss Ferguson and the rise of the warrior cop. Have the events in Missouri given the American people an up close and personal look at the jackboot tactics of our domestic police forces? Koerner breaks down the politics of the situation as they unfold.
Koerner also analyzes the racial politics of the situation. Do libertarians and conservatives have a "white boy" problem? How can we discuss the issues of racial politics if white people's opinions matter less?
All that and more on the Freedom Report podcast!
Friday Aug 15, 2014
Friday Aug 15, 2014
The Washington Post reported this morning that the events in Ferguson, Missouri have been an opportunity for libertarians to make their voices heard. Citing Senator Rand Paul's worries about the militarization of police, the Post wrote that, "the changing reaction on the right is clear evidence of a rising and more vocal libertarian wing within the Republican Party."
Events in Ferguson have grown calmer since it was announced that the government would turn over police action to the Highway Patrol, and would begin respecting civil liberties.
From LibertyViral:
Gone were the SWAT trucks and snipers. Gone were the riot shields and militaristic outfits. Gone was the hostility. And guess what? Gone was the violence.
Yesterday the Missouri Highway Patrol was given responsibility over the area. Patrol Capt. Ronald S. Johnson, who is a Ferguson native, marched in front of the crowd and set clear priorities for the marchers which respected their civil liberties. Governor Jay Nixon had vowed to take a different approach to the event, which has spurred national interest after police were caught tear gassing and arresting reporters.
“When I see a young lady cry because of fear of this uniform, that’s a problem.” Johnson said. “We’ve got to solve that.”
Johnson vowed not to blockade the street, and even went so far as to set up a staging center for the media. The officers were careful to ensure that residents had the right to assemble and the police were told to take off their gas masks while working crowd control.
And while the positive impact of the change in policy is making great strides toward reducing violence, is it possible that the politics are informing the policy? What I mean is: Could the change in conservative rhetoric to a more libertarian tone be, in part, what is emboldening officials to behave in a more libertarian way?
The Freedom Report podcast takes a look at how the "libertarian moment" is impacting policing strategies, and how the increasingly vocal strain of limited government Republicans are influencing their fellow partisans, as well as the nation as a whole.
Thursday Aug 07, 2014
Thursday Aug 07, 2014
The New York Times produced an incredible pages-long article dissecting the rise of libertarian politics in America. The piece bolsters the idea that American's viewpoints on issues such as surveillance, gay marriage and economics are coming into alignment with libertarian ideals.
But as the movement prepares for its greatest challenges in 2016 with the potential candidacy of Rand Paul, will it come together in solidarity? Or, will it tear itself apart rather than allow an "impure" candidate to bear their standard?
All that and more on the Freedom Report Podcast!
Tuesday Aug 05, 2014
Tuesday Aug 05, 2014
Insurgent Republican Arturo Alas joins the Freedom Report podcast to discuss his campaign for liberty in California's 32nd district. As an entrepreneur and a staunch believer in free markets, Alas campaigned heavily to keep the famous Sriracha factory in business, despite attacks from big government regulators who were trying to force the factory out of town.
Alas is seeking to replace Democratic Rep. Grace Napolitano, and his platform is one of limited government with an emphasis on the "Big L," that's liberty! Alas answers questions regarding the funding of the state of Israel, the threat of Ebola, and the immigration crisis on the southern border in this very special episode of the Freedom Report podcast!
Monday Aug 04, 2014
Is It Time For Libertarian Christians And Atheists To Forge A New Alliance?
Monday Aug 04, 2014
Monday Aug 04, 2014
The first annual meeting of Christians for Liberty took place last week in Austin, Texas. The gathering was put together by Norman Horn, who argues that government has replaced God in modern society. With the rise of the new atheist movement, and it's influence within modern libertarianism, is it time for libertarian Christians and atheists to forge a new alliance?
One of the speakers at the conference, Jason Rink, said: “One of the issues that we have when trying to enter this discussion is understanding that many people are unaware of the kind of allegiance and the way that they look to the state as a replacement for God … [Government] seeks to embody and replace some of the characteristics of God and take them on for themselves."
The Freedom Report podcast today takes on the issue of how the expansion of government welfare has come at the expense of private religious charities. Should welfare really be considered "charity" if it's taken from taxpayers by force? Also, with atheism on the rise, will secularist libertarians need to soften their approach to Christian libertarians if they want to expand the big tent and attract more people to the philosophy of freedom?
All that and more on the Freedom Report podcast!