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Radical Liberalism—With Alex Zakaras

Danny and Derek welcome to the show Alex Zakaras, professor of political science at the University of Vermont, to talk about the history and future of radical liberalism. 

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

May 6, 2026

Hundreds of thousands protest as part of the No Kings Rallies on March 28, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Adam Bettcher / Getty Images)

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Radical Liberalism w/ Alex Zakaras I American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek welcome to the show Alex Zakaras, professor of political science at the University of Vermont, to talk about the history and future of radical liberalism. They discuss liberalism’s relationship to republicanism, the American liberal tradition, equal freedom, defensive liberalism after 2016, neoliberalism, Cold War liberalism, socialism, racial hierarchy, labor power, democratic crisis, and whether liberalism can still offer a politics of freedom and equality.

Be sure to grab a copy of Alex’s bookFreedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be.

Don't miss our livestream this Wednesday, May 6, at 8 pm ET on ⁠our YouTube channel⁠.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

FDanny and Derek welcome to the show Alex Zakaras, professor of political science at the University of Vermont, to talk about the history and future of radical liberalism. They discuss liberalism’s relationship to republicanism, the American liberal tradition, equal freedom, defensive liberalism after 2016, neoliberalism, Cold War liberalism, socialism, racial hierarchy, labor power, democratic crisis, and whether liberalism can still offer a politics of freedom and equality.

Be sure to grab a copy of Alex’s bookFreedom for All: What a Liberal Society Could Be.

Don’t miss our livestream this Wednesday, May 6, at 8 pm ET on ⁠our YouTube channel⁠.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Human Prehistory and How Societies Rise and Fall w/ Patrick Wyman / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Historian Patrick Wyman returns to the show to talk about the deep history of human societies and how they can inform the current moment. They explore new ways of studying prehistory, the origins of agriculture, climate adaptation, the Clovis people, the long Neolithic, early farming societies, states and security, the Bronze Age collapse, and more.

Listen to Patrick’sPast Livespodcast. 

And grab a copy of his new bookLost Worlds: How Humans Tried, Failed, Succeeded, and Built Our World.

Don’t forget the AP livestream, this Wednesday at 8pm ET on ⁠our YouTube channel⁠.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel BessnerTwitterDaniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.


Derek DavisonDerek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.


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