Inside the Mises Caucus Takeover of the Libertarian Party

Supporters say they want to "make the Libertarian Party libertarian again." Critics say they’re shitposting edgelords who will destroy the LP from within.Show more

Full text, links, and credits: https://reason.com/video/2022/06/15/inside-the-mises-caucus-takeover-of-the-libertarian-party/
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The Libertarian Party (L.P.) is under new management, tweeted Angela McArdle, shortly after she became the National Committee's new chair at its 2022 annual convention in Reno, Nevada, which was attended by more than 1,000 delegates from around the country.

"We're obviously at a crossroads right now," McArdle said during a debate for the chair position. "I hate to sound like a scumbag politician…but we are going to move heaven and earth to make this [party] functional and not embarrassing for you. We are going to change the country."

McArdle, who won her election with about 70 percent of the vote, is part of the Mises Caucus, which swept all the national leadership roles and is now in complete control of the nation's third-largest political party.

Mises Caucus supporters say they want to "make the Libertarian Party libertarian again," that it should no longer be concerned about offending progressives or Beltway types and shouldn't be afraid to reach out to the coalition that elected former President Donald Trump. McArdle says that the party faceplanted during the pandemic by failing to take a strong stance against lockdowns and vaccine mandates and that its messaging is far too tame and conventional to counter the power of the authoritarian state.

"If something like a lockdown or a vaccine mandate happens [again], we won't whiff the ball and humiliate ourselves and alienate everyone out there," she said in her acceptance speech.

Critics say they're shitposting edgelords who make controversial statements just to attract attention and that they have no interest in running viable candidates for office.

Produced by Nick Gillespie and Zach Weissmueller; edited by Danielle Thompson; additional graphics by Regan Taylor; camera by James Marsh; sound editing by John Osterhoudt.

Photos: Keiko Hiromi/AFLO/Newscom; Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Paul Hennessy/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press/Newscom; Jeremy Hogan/Polaris/Newscom; Albin Lohr-Jones; John Lamparski/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Brian Cahn/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom; Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; tedeytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Ludwig von Mises Institute, via Wikimedia Commons; LvMI, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Stefani Reynolds/CNP / Polaris/Newscom.

Music: "Abstract Emotion" by Stefano Mastronardi via Artlist / "Bang the Drums" by Rhythm Scott via Artlist / "Born Tough" by Falconer via Artlist / Coriolis" by REW via Artlist / "Counting the Money" by Ian Post via Artlist / "Deep Blue" by Stefano Mastronardi via Artlist / "Galaxy" by Sunny Fruit via Artlist / "Glass" by Claudio Laucci via Artlist / "Hajimari" by Searching for Light via Artlist / "Pistol" by Phototaxis via Artlist / "Poetic Sushi" by Amparo via Artlist / "River Runs Deep" by SLPSTRM via Artlist / "Roar" by Peter Spacey via Artlist / "Slow Down" by REPINA via Artlist / "Vendetta" by AlexGrohl via Artlist / "Voyager" by Vis Major via Artlist / "Yes I Am" by Zach Sorgen, The Wildcardz via Artlist