Paul Crider
@paulcrider.liberalcurrents.com
Liberal in the Smith-Douglass-Mill-Anderson vein. Writer and editor for Liberal Currents. https://bsky.app/profile/liberalcurrents.com
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Inheritance of Equals: A Case for Liberal Socialism
Things literally cannot go on as they have before the present democratic crisis—things have been broken and will have to be put back together somehow. Ideas that were unthinkable even a decade ago may...
www.liberalcurrents.com
There is no better time than now—with fascists at the gates across the world and wreaking carnage in the halls of American power—for a liberal-socialist alliance. And a big part of that is bringing liberal socialism into consciousness.
Been thinking about this essay for a while ...🧵
Been thinking about this essay for a while ...🧵
I'm fascinated by this topic, because 1) it's a real problem if humanity isn't replacing itself, but 2) too many people are only interested in this because of misogyny, 3) some causes are unalloyed goods (fewer teen pregnancies), and 4) all *direct* policy solutions are illiberal, oppressive.
it frankly is kind of taboo to discuss these questions on the left, but this piece also doesn't get into the actual most promising policy ideas (limiting smartphone and social media use to the greatest possible extent) www.npr.org/2026/01/12/n...
As birthrates tumble, some progressives say the left needs to offer ideas and solutions
The US and other countries face aging, shrinking populations. Conservatives have shaped debate over the issue. Some liberals say it's time for progressives to weigh in.
www.npr.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:06 PM
I'm fascinated by this topic, because 1) it's a real problem if humanity isn't replacing itself, but 2) too many people are only interested in this because of misogyny, 3) some causes are unalloyed goods (fewer teen pregnancies), and 4) all *direct* policy solutions are illiberal, oppressive.
Reposted by Paul Crider
something is deeply wrong with the legacy media that the Pentagon is out here acquiring an industrial strength kiddie porn manufacturer and it’s not the key detail
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the integration of Elon Musk's xAI platform, Grok, into military networks as part of a new "AI acceleration strategy" during a visit to SpaceX.
January 13, 2026 at 6:42 AM
something is deeply wrong with the legacy media that the Pentagon is out here acquiring an industrial strength kiddie porn manufacturer and it’s not the key detail
Reposted by Paul Crider
But @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social & @trentrichardnelson.bsky.social had more questions beyond why the media was acting weird about Venezuela & the other illegal and outrageous things the President is doing; how does the world deal with a rogue U.S. doing what it likes? We asked @mcopelov.bsky.social
Half the Answer #58: Caitlin and Trent speak with Mark Copelovitch, a political science professor from University of Wisconsin–Madison. They discuss the problem of a world power going rogue, the lack of viable responses for countries like Venezuela and Denmark, and the costs to international trust.
Half the Answer #58: The U.S. in Venezuela: The International Community and the Donroe Doctrine
Caitlin and Trent speak with Mark Copelovitch, a political science professor from University of Wisconsin–Madison. They discuss the problem of a world power going rogue, the lack of viable responses f...
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:10 PM
But @caitlinmoriah.bsky.social & @trentrichardnelson.bsky.social had more questions beyond why the media was acting weird about Venezuela & the other illegal and outrageous things the President is doing; how does the world deal with a rogue U.S. doing what it likes? We asked @mcopelov.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul Crider
People were worried at the start of Trump’s second term that there would be informants to turn people into the American Gestapo.
So it’s interesting that everyone is informing on the Gestapo instead.
So it’s interesting that everyone is informing on the Gestapo instead.
Video of federal agents getting run out of Lyn Lake this afternoon. Agents drop a gas can at the end and someone kicks it back at them.
January 13, 2026 at 3:32 AM
People were worried at the start of Trump’s second term that there would be informants to turn people into the American Gestapo.
So it’s interesting that everyone is informing on the Gestapo instead.
So it’s interesting that everyone is informing on the Gestapo instead.
To @liccardo.house.gov,
I believe immigration is a human right; even if you don't agree with that, we can treat immigration violations as civil infractions. ICE is less than a quarter century old. It is not radical to ditch this human rights catastrophe. Will you commit to abolishing ICE?
I believe immigration is a human right; even if you don't agree with that, we can treat immigration violations as civil infractions. ICE is less than a quarter century old. It is not radical to ditch this human rights catastrophe. Will you commit to abolishing ICE?
lol "Mike Johnson is the most spineless House Speaker in history."
Crowd source! Sam Liccardo town hall this evening. What should I ask/comment if I get the chance?
January 13, 2026 at 3:15 AM
To @liccardo.house.gov,
I believe immigration is a human right; even if you don't agree with that, we can treat immigration violations as civil infractions. ICE is less than a quarter century old. It is not radical to ditch this human rights catastrophe. Will you commit to abolishing ICE?
I believe immigration is a human right; even if you don't agree with that, we can treat immigration violations as civil infractions. ICE is less than a quarter century old. It is not radical to ditch this human rights catastrophe. Will you commit to abolishing ICE?
Another way to say this is that the creation of ICE was curiously coincident with the onset of America's Century of Humiliation, beginning with the quagmires in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continuing through the Great Recession and into the Trump's reign of destruction and degradation.
semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
January 13, 2026 at 3:10 AM
Another way to say this is that the creation of ICE was curiously coincident with the onset of America's Century of Humiliation, beginning with the quagmires in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continuing through the Great Recession and into the Trump's reign of destruction and degradation.
Reposted by Paul Crider
that’s how you thread the affordability + ICE needle
AOC: I want everybody to understand that the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for this. You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face.
January 13, 2026 at 1:21 AM
that’s how you thread the affordability + ICE needle
100% 🙏
i hope all the people resisting ICE on the ground know how fucking inspiring they are. minneapolis right now, and chicago and LA and charlotte and DC and portland before them, you’re setting the blueprint for the future battles sure to come. thank you.
January 13, 2026 at 3:02 AM
100% 🙏
Reposted by Paul Crider
30% is as low of a number as you’ll ever see on an issue this politicized in the Trump era
"Do you think the ICE agent should face criminal charges for shooting the woman in Minneapolis?"
All:
Yes: 53%
No: 30%
Yes Among:
Democrats: 90%
Independents: 54%
Republicans: 14%
YouGov / Jan 11, 2026
All:
Yes: 53%
No: 30%
Yes Among:
Democrats: 90%
Independents: 54%
Republicans: 14%
YouGov / Jan 11, 2026
January 13, 2026 at 2:57 AM
30% is as low of a number as you’ll ever see on an issue this politicized in the Trump era
lol "Mike Johnson is the most spineless House Speaker in history."
Crowd source! Sam Liccardo town hall this evening. What should I ask/comment if I get the chance?
January 13, 2026 at 2:57 AM
lol "Mike Johnson is the most spineless House Speaker in history."
Reposted by Paul Crider
I remember when they made the Department of Homeland Security. It is younger than me. Myself and my friends were all like “that sounds like a Nazi name”
I know Americans have the collective memory of a goldfish, but I feel like if we chose to, we could emphasize that ICE and DHS are less than a quarter century old. They are not deep-rooted American institutions. It was the *creation* of ICE that was radical and, we now know, dangerous.
January 13, 2026 at 2:16 AM
I remember when they made the Department of Homeland Security. It is younger than me. Myself and my friends were all like “that sounds like a Nazi name”
The Democratic base is pretty monolithic in their anger at ICE. And a majority of Independents have an unfavorable view of ICE. Democratic lawmakers need to get where their base is.
January 13, 2026 at 12:41 AM
The Democratic base is pretty monolithic in their anger at ICE. And a majority of Independents have an unfavorable view of ICE. Democratic lawmakers need to get where their base is.
Reposted by Paul Crider
Crowd source! Sam Liccardo town hall this evening. What should I ask/comment if I get the chance?
January 12, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Crowd source! Sam Liccardo town hall this evening. What should I ask/comment if I get the chance?
Reposted by Paul Crider
one battle after another failed to account that the revolution would be led by mild mannered minnesotans, republican central bankers, and phd students at libertarian universities
January 12, 2026 at 11:37 PM
one battle after another failed to account that the revolution would be led by mild mannered minnesotans, republican central bankers, and phd students at libertarian universities
Crowd source! Sam Liccardo town hall this evening. What should I ask/comment if I get the chance?
January 12, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Crowd source! Sam Liccardo town hall this evening. What should I ask/comment if I get the chance?
The Liberal Currents Discord is pretty lit, tbh. Only Discord I've ever been able to stay interested in.
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-The Opposition Report
-The Editors Chat
Please email writers @ liberalcurrents dot com if you'd like to be one of these five. First five in get it.
January 12, 2026 at 7:38 PM
The Liberal Currents Discord is pretty lit, tbh. Only Discord I've ever been able to stay interested in.
Reposted by Paul Crider
I think that’s useful! Police power is pretty good at convincing people it always existed, but anything that gets people out of that trap, that let’s them see ICE as something that was deliberately made and so could be unmade? That’s pretty essential.
January 12, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I think that’s useful! Police power is pretty good at convincing people it always existed, but anything that gets people out of that trap, that let’s them see ICE as something that was deliberately made and so could be unmade? That’s pretty essential.
Anyone else remember @juliancastrotx.bsky.social proposing decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings? Even if we don't want to go all the way and recognize the human right of freedom of movement, we can treat immigration violations as civil violations, with administrative penalties.
I know Americans have the collective memory of a goldfish, but I feel like if we chose to, we could emphasize that ICE and DHS are less than a quarter century old. They are not deep-rooted American institutions. It was the *creation* of ICE that was radical and, we now know, dangerous.
January 12, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Anyone else remember @juliancastrotx.bsky.social proposing decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings? Even if we don't want to go all the way and recognize the human right of freedom of movement, we can treat immigration violations as civil violations, with administrative penalties.
Reposted by Paul Crider
we’re in the vet’s office waiting room and they just called for Agamemnon. we all looked at the Great Dane but it turns out Agamemnon is an orange kitten in a backpack that makes him look like an astronaut cheese puff
January 11, 2026 at 5:27 PM
we’re in the vet’s office waiting room and they just called for Agamemnon. we all looked at the Great Dane but it turns out Agamemnon is an orange kitten in a backpack that makes him look like an astronaut cheese puff
Reposted by Paul Crider
anyway as i have said many times — and literally just wrote on saturday — i think we should abolish ICE as well as unravel DHS and i welcome elected officials who embrace both outright but i am also aware that any senate majority will contain moderate and conservative democrats who need an on-ramp.
January 12, 2026 at 5:23 PM
anyway as i have said many times — and literally just wrote on saturday — i think we should abolish ICE as well as unravel DHS and i welcome elected officials who embrace both outright but i am also aware that any senate majority will contain moderate and conservative democrats who need an on-ramp.
Reposted by Paul Crider
On 1/21/2029 ICE should be declared a criminal organization by Congress and abolished by statute. We did the same with the SS and SA after WW2.
All of its actions since 1/20/2025 should be presumed unlawful by courts. And testimony by its agents should also be presumed false by judges and juries.
All of its actions since 1/20/2025 should be presumed unlawful by courts. And testimony by its agents should also be presumed false by judges and juries.
January 12, 2026 at 5:26 PM
On 1/21/2029 ICE should be declared a criminal organization by Congress and abolished by statute. We did the same with the SS and SA after WW2.
All of its actions since 1/20/2025 should be presumed unlawful by courts. And testimony by its agents should also be presumed false by judges and juries.
All of its actions since 1/20/2025 should be presumed unlawful by courts. And testimony by its agents should also be presumed false by judges and juries.
Reposted by Paul Crider
Anything less than abolishing ICE is unacceptable. I don't want to hear people talk about training these motherfuckers or throwing more money at them. The entire institution needs to be permanently disbanded. Do not let politicians sell you on anything less.
January 12, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Anything less than abolishing ICE is unacceptable. I don't want to hear people talk about training these motherfuckers or throwing more money at them. The entire institution needs to be permanently disbanded. Do not let politicians sell you on anything less.
Clearly DHS needs reform and Greg Bovino needs training.
In response to a quote tweet of DHS that says “you guys killed an American citizen,” Greg Bovino replies: “Triggered much?”
January 12, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Clearly DHS needs reform and Greg Bovino needs training.
I know Americans have the collective memory of a goldfish, but I feel like if we chose to, we could emphasize that ICE and DHS are less than a quarter century old. They are not deep-rooted American institutions. It was the *creation* of ICE that was radical and, we now know, dangerous.
January 12, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I know Americans have the collective memory of a goldfish, but I feel like if we chose to, we could emphasize that ICE and DHS are less than a quarter century old. They are not deep-rooted American institutions. It was the *creation* of ICE that was radical and, we now know, dangerous.