Commonwealth Classical Liberal Podcast

Ways the CLPVA differs from Democrats: championing abundance, free speech and immigration! This week, Brian, Chris and Andy focus on the differentiation of the Classical Liberal Party of Virginia (CLPVA) from the traditional Democratic and Republican parties. Andy outlines the plan to discuss how the CLPVA differs from both parties over the next two episodes. Brian opened with a discussion on abundance and housing. Chris focused on...

RESISTANCE WORKS! Fighting back against the Trump - Miller assault on the Constitution. Brian and Andy address recent news and threats to the U.S. Constitution and Republic, focusing on comments from President Trump and Stephen Miller regarding habeas corpus and lavish foreign gifts, both flying in the face of the U.S. Constitution. They emphasize the importance of upholding Constitutional norms and the rule of law, closing with a ...

Virginia’s Lt. Governor’s race: A MAGA, An Independent, and six Democrats walk into an election… Brian, Chris and Andy discussed the Virginia Lieutenant Governor's field, and the introduction of ranked choice voting in Charlottesville, with Brian expressing pessimism about its potential impact due to the single-party dominance in these areas. Chris, on the other hand, was more optimistic about the possibility of real choice and mor...

Trump’s terrible polls and terrible assault on the Bill of Rights. Brian, Chris and Andy discuss immigration actions, judicial arrests, President Trump’s continued assault on the Constitution, violating at least five Bill of Rights amendments. They also discussed the President's historically low approval rating, the Justice Department memo on the Alien Enemies Act (which allows for warrantless home searches without judicial rev...

Debate: If we’re anti-MAGA in Virginia, do we have to vote Spanberger? Virginia’s gubernatorial election: Making history, making choices. Focusing on Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Sears, and discussing the potential implications of the race as a referendum on President Trump. Brian, Chris and Andy debated the merits of supporting major party candidates versus seeking alternatives, with Andy expressing his intention to vote for Spa...

Episode 61: Bullshit & Buffoonery: Trump, Tariffs & Torture Camps. Brian, Chris and Andy discussed President Trump's "Liberation Day" tariff plan (no-plan-at-all), his nonsensical rhetoric about foreign nations "looting, pillaging, raping, and plundering” America and how it doesn’t match the reality of Americans’ high living standards and quality of life. They also spoke on inaccuracies about American man...

Trump Unconstitutionally Seeks to Defund Libraries + Tech, Tariffs & Trans Visibility. Brian, Chris, and Andy discussed the ongoing (often unconstitutional) antics coming out of Washington, DC, and their impact on Virginia, including a recent executive order targeting libraries. They expressed concern about the erosion of congressional authority and the potential for commercial entities to limit access to information. They also...

Episode 59: Closing the Department of Education; Governors & Cannabis Reform in Virginia. “What fresh hell is coming over here?” This week, Brian, Chris and Andy covered several key topics, including the potential closure of the Department of Education, education reform, and marijuana legalization in Virginia. They explored some of the implications of President Trump's Executive Order to close the Department of Education, w...

Episode 58: Mahmoud Khalil, the First Amendment, and Transgender Liberty. “Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely above all liberties.” Brian, Chris, and Andy discussed the ongoing chaos around President Trump's aggressive actions, particularly focusing on Mahmoud Khalil's detention and the implications for free speech. They highlighted the lack of clear legal basis for Khalil's arrest and detention,...

Episode 57: The “Bloviating Nonsense” of Trump’s Big Speech; Europe’s Assault on Privacy & Encryption. Brian, Chris and Andy discussed the “bloviating nonsense” of President Trump's speech before a joint session of Congress and the Classic Liberal Party of Virginia’s response. As MAGA continues an assault on the transgender community and broader LGBT+ community, our allies, free trade, immigrants and others, the CLPVA contr...

Episode 56: The DOGE Wrecking Ball slams into Virginia, shaking up the Governor’s race. Brian, Chris and Andy discussed the Trump / DOGE reduction of the Federal workforce and how that is impacting Virginia and its large federal workforce and economy, questioning the effectiveness of the “wrecking ball” approach and arguing for more thoughtful and deliberate action to reduce the size and role of the Federal government. That led to ...

Episode 55: The Kingly Executive, Ukraine, Climate Change and Paper Straws. This episode asked if America is destined for despotism and looked at the expansion of executive power under President Trump, and more broadly explored the current political climate, with some focus on Ukraine and recent United States actions. Then the group discussed the real threat of climate change and the importance of addressing it in a reasonable and ...

Episode 54: Reckless driving, the Great Congressional Capitulation and a little hope? This week the podcast went from Valentine's Day to slightly more serious matters like a monarchial presidency, a spineless, useless Congress and the potential fall of democracy. Brian, Chris and Andy expressed concern over the consolidation of power in the executive branch and the failure of the two-party system. The guys debated about some of...

Episode 53: Trade not Tariffs; Transparency not Technocracy.  This week, Brian, Chris, and Andy discussed the barrage absurdity coming from the Trump administration, particularly regarding trade wars, tariffs, and the very questionably legal activities of Dictator-Wanna-Be Elon Musk. They expressed concern over the lack of transparency, accountability, and Congresses impotence, and emphasized the importance of free trade and the ne...

Episode 52: Trump Executive Orders: Digital Currency and Declassifying Documents, and a 3rd Term?! This week, Brian, Chris and Andy took a look at two new Trump Executive Orders – one on digital currency and another on the release of classified documents relating to JFK, RFK and MLK. They explored the implications of these issues on democracy, privacy, and national security, while also debating some of the possible motivations behi...

Episode 51: Lobbying Day in Richmond & a flurry of Trump EOs: Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, and the Death Penalty. This week, the team discussed the recent lobbying day in Richmond – with a focus on ballot access and housing, and then they took a look at a few of President Trump's new executive orders, their implications of and the potential for future presidents to abuse their powers. Focusing on birthright citizensh...

Episode 50: Being Liberal, Opposing Authoritarianism and MAGA’s Illiberal War Rhetoric. This week, Brian and Andy welcomed special guest Tyler Harris, Executive Director at Project Liberal. The podcast started with a discussion on the concept of liberalism, its significance in American politics, it's stark contrast with authoritarianism and its distinction from other political ideas. Considering liberalism, the guys discussed the p...

Episode 49: “A Renaissance of Liberalism.” MAGA’s meltdown. Celebrating immigration, peaceful protest and banjos! Starting out the new year with special guest Schuyler Windham, Chair of the Nebraska Liberal Party, the Commonwealth Classical Liberal Podcast discussed the internal divisions within the Republican party regarding immigration and visa policies, confusion among Democrats, and discussed Liberal Party USA as the pro-immigr...

Episode 48: 2024 ends with a couple wins and a couple losses – from cutting red tape to sinking the Press Act. The team met for the last podcast of 2024, discussing a couple of wins and more frustration with Virginia’s Governor Youngkin. On a positive note, Virginia Senator Mark Warner helped bring some wins by reducing health care reporting requirements. In another win, President Biden announced clemency for nearly 1,500 Americans...