It was chilling to hear this directly from Kara-Murza. For me, the most valuable talk amongst many at this conference.

Really glad I decided to come to the Liberalism for the 21st Century conference in DC. Met a lot of people I consider intellectual luminaries. Got to talk linguistics with Steven Pinker, met Renee DiResta, Bill Kristol, Vladimir Kara-Murza, people from FIRE, etc. Watergate Hotel is really cool too!

Libcon was pretty good. Got to meet a lot of cool people and attend a bunch of insightful panels that stimulated conversations about what liberalism needs to do going forward. Thanks to @theunpopulist.net and @ismapolicy.bsky.social for putting g this on. Hopefully in an unoccupied city next year!

“The only way a populist can be fought is by telling a true story better.” I’m at the Liberalism in the 21st Century conference listening to Suketu Mehta extol the critical virtues of storytelling. “God speaks to us in stories, not in studies.”

One of my favorite moments from #LibCon2025 was Russian dissident @vkaramurza.bsky.social's powerful dinner keynote address. Here it is in @theunpopulist.net in its entirety. Please read and share widely.

Putin tried twice to poison @vkaramurza.bsky.social. Threw him in prison, releasing him last year only in a prisoner swap. Yet this man, a genuine hero, stood unbowed at LibCon2025 and warned of the dangers of appeasing tyrants.Please listen @theunpopulist.net www.theunpopulist.net/p/appeasing-...

Text of Vladimir Kara-Murza's terrific speech at #LibCon2025, including introduction by Institute of Humane Studies president Emily Chamlee-Wright, and video:

That’s a wrap for LibCon2025. It was lovely to meet some of you there for the first time. Good time with good people. We will be putting out content from the event in the coming months—so look for that soon. For now, don’t forget to read (and share) @shikhadalmia.bsky.social’s brilliant opener.

Chandra Kukathas: "The more vigorously you want to control immigration, the more vigorously you have to control your own citizens." #LibCon2025

LibCon2025 rolls on: Persuasion’s Yascha Mounk, Poland master political operative @alexandersikorski.bsky.social, Bosnia and Herzegovina MP Sabina Cudic, and the always excellent writer and commentator @leonkrauze.bsky.social

Sabina Ćudić, MP in Bosnia & Herzegovina, on how anti-populist liberal democratic parties can win: you have to deliver. #LibCon2025

Good point from @alexandersikorski.bsky.social on the absolute (and often ignored) importance of not just achieving goals in gov't, but *communicating* what you're doing on a daily basis (he references @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's style of campaigning as well). #libcon2025

"This peculiar notion in America, that somehow this threat to liberalism and to democracy, this authoritarian threat, has only happened here and hasn't happened elsewhere. And the truth is that it has indeed happened elsewhere. Latin American History proves it." - @leonkrauze.bsky.social

Please follow the team: @shikhadalmia.bsky.social @bernybelvedere.bsky.social @landryayres.bsky.social @ismapolicy.bsky.social

The address is well worth reading in its entirety. In a world of Indian immigrants like Bhattacharya, Sivaram Krishnan & Dhillon toiling for the Trump regime, I for one am glad to see, read & support the moral clarity of @shikhadalmia.bsky.social

Panel on immigration with @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social, Chandran Kukathas, and David Goodhart. #LibCon2025

Dan Drezner on how ironic it is that MAGA is non-interventionist when it comes to authoritarian nations (Russia, China) yet *deeply* interested in the domestic politics of democracies like Brazil, Germany, etc. #LibCon2025

At #LibCon2025 sovereignty panel, @dandrezner.bsky.social says the current admin talks about not pressing other countries on internal human rights when it’s an autocracy like China, but when it’s a democracy like Brazil, Germany or even the U.K. they’re willing to “intervene like nobody’s business.”

#LibCon2025 panel on sovereignty kicks off. Moderator Nayyera Haq (Syracuse) said she had to go through two law enforcement checkpoints to get to today’s event at the Watergate, though “only one of them” was conducted by masked unidentified operators.

At #LibCon2025: @dandrezner.bsky.social and @jenmittelstadt.bsky.social

"The debate about immigration is not about a conflict between citizens or natives and outsiders. It's really a debate or a conflict between people within a society." - Chandran Kukathas at #LibCon2025

PREACH IT BROTHER

“Authoritarian consolidation is Trump’s true Operation Warp Speed. After 250 years as a constitutional republic, America has stunningly shown that it had no exceptional institutional immunity to the authoritarian virus.”

"So I actually like the deep state. I think that any functioning political system has to have a civil service that meets these basic Weberian requirements of being non-partisan, expert, professional, and the like." - ‪‪‪@frankfukuyama.bsky.social‬ at #LibCon2025

Dinner Keynote at #LibCon2025 by @vkaramurza.bsky.social

Libs for the deep state. 😈

This was a fun conversation, about Trump's second term as an effort to roll back the legal and cultural changes of the civil rights movement. Look for it on a future episode of The UnPopulist's Zooming In podcast.

Live podcast taping at #LibCon2025 with these legends: @aaronrosspowell.com, @radleybalko.bsky.social, @sykescharlie.bsky.social

Its anti-professionalism may not be one of fascism’s greatest crimes, but it is one if its most pernicious.

What is the pro democracy alignment to counter the illiberalism realignment of the GOP? Excellent question and conversation.

Lovely speech yesterday by @shikhadalmia.bsky.social to open #LibCon2025. Reflecting on the personal and political relationship of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln—the potentially productive clash of pragmatism and radicalism—does seem especially apposite.

Liberals Need Moral Clarity, Not Moral Purity, in Their Struggle Against Authoritarianism www.theunpopulist.net/p/liberals-n...

Day 2 of #LibCon2025 begins! Follow along for clips and highlights.

"In the last six months, we've seen... ferocious and sustained attacks on habeas corpus, the universities, journalists, immigrants, everything that has made America great." - Suketu Mehta at#LibCon2025

Incredible opening address at #LibCon2025 by @shikhadalmia.bsky.social So proud to be able to work with her and do my little part to help carry out this vision.

Shikha Dalmia is 🔥🔥🔥 in her opening remarks! #LibCon2025

Looking forward to the start of @ismapolicy.bsky.social’s annual conference today!

#LibCon2025 is officially underway! Follow along here for highlights and updates.

Today is the day. #LibCon2025 is here.

We've designed a panel for LibCon2025—featuring @swordsjew.bsky.social, @willsommer.bsky.social, @swin24.bsky.social, and @tinanguyen.bsky.social—that will tackle the various subcultures of the neo-right. Register: form.jotform.com/251499093035...

At the upcoming @ismapolicy.bsky.social conference, Russian opposition leader @vkaramurza.bsky.social will deliver the dinner keynote. You don’t want to miss this: form.jotform.com/251499093035...

Our LibCon2025 event is shaping up nicely. You won't want to miss our upcoming panel on the philosophical roots of illiberal movements. It features @zackbeauchamp.bsky.social, @lkatfield.bsky.social, @tomgpalmer.bsky.social, and Damon Linker. Register here: form.jotform.com/251499093035...

@ismapolicy.bsky.social's LibCon2025 is coming up quick. Be sure to register before it's too late!

Liberalism for the 21st Century, @ismapolicy.bsky.social's upcoming conference, is bringing together first-rate thinkers such as @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social, @lkatfield.bsky.social, @tinanguyen.bsky.social, @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com, and many more! Register: form.jotform.com/251499093035...

This panel on taking stock of U.S. democracy at @ismapolicy.bsky.social's upcoming LibCon2025—which features @frankfukuyama.bsky.social, @ruthmarcus.bsky.social, @jacklgoldsmith.bsky.social, @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org—is going to be 🔥🔥 Register here: form.jotform.com/251499093035...

LibCon2025, convened by @ismapolicy.bsky.social, is only two and a half weeks away. Register to hear from the following fantastic speakers—including @swordsjew.bsky.social, @dkthomp.bsky.social, @saffron.bsky.social—and many others as well! Go here: form.jotform.com/251499093035...

The fight for democracy requires us to build in-person connections. That's why we're excited to partner with @theunpopulist.net @ismapolicy.bsky.social for the Liberalism in the 21st Century Conference. Join us in Washington, DC—August 14-15.

LibCon2025—the biggest and most important conclave of liberals held within living memory—is just around the corner. Don't miss this.

In the 21st century, it is facing new ideological challenges—many of them aggressively authoritarian strains of populist nationalism—united around a shared rejection of liberalism. Enter: @ismapolicy.bsky.social's Liberalism for the 21st Century conference.