As part of her wider project to increase the number of so-called liberty-minded candidates (regardless of their Party affiliation), Party Chair Angela McArdle brought then former President Trump to the 2024 National Convention (where he was rightfully booed off stage). Additionally she has actively diminished the National Party’s support for our duly-elected Presidential candidate, Chase Oliver, tied us to a morally (and legally) dubious funds sharing scheme with Robert Kennedy JR., and ended the year by pressuring the various State Party affiliates into formally supporting a collection of nominee suggestions for Trump’s incoming cabinet, which tacitly gave him the support he so coveted. These measures have been highly controversial, questionably motivated and now, we can say without any doubt, they were a failure. We have diminished in terms of credibility, financial stability and, most importantly, our membership size. However, this is not just an instance of one bad apple, but a complete reinterpretation of “libertarian” into “minor-league Republicans”. From the canopy to the root we are rotting away. Unless we do a complete about face from our current direction, we will not survive.
Starting at the top, McArdle has repeatedly argued for and used her authority to ally Libertarians with the lesser of two evils, through Donald Trump’s campaign (now America’s first felon President). She made the case that while he certainly wasn’t perfect, Trump’s policies were more Libertarian than Harris’ and if we worked with him we would see some benefits, specifically in the form of cabinet appointments, policy changes and the pardoning of Ross Ubricht. While one might argue how Trump, in any way resembles a libertarian, the fact is that this goes against one of our oldest mottos: “if you vote for the lesser of two evils, you are guaranteed to get evil.”
Trump’s cabinet nominees are a who's who of hard-right ideologues (some of whom are facing potential sex trafficking allegations), sycophants and personal friends. Not one of them can be said to be even tangentially liberty-minded. Tulsi Gabbard, who was nominated to head National Intelligence, has shifted her views and now supports FISA and wireless surveillance. Robert Kennedy JR wants to ban a host of various additives and vaccines, denying individuals from making choices for themselves. One might argue that while we were obviously going to dislike some, all that matters is we get a few, right? Afterall, McArdle and her allies within the various States broke from our norms to support several “liberty-minded candidates”, even when it meant to undermine our own Party selected candidates. It’s all ok if we get those appointments. So, what of those other suggested members?
McArdle and co. were hell-bent on getting Republican Thomas Massie selected to the Department of Agriculture. This in itself was controversial, as most State Affiliates have in their charter a commitment to only support Big L Libertarians. Who did Trump actually pick? Brooke Rollins, a former member of the Rick Perry administration (the Texas Governor who signed off on the execution of over 270 criminals and famously compared homosexuality to alcoholism). As for Spike Cohen, the outspoken Libertarian and our 2020 VP candidate (who was arguably the only one most State Affiliates could have backed without violating their own Bylaws), he was suggested as the head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Did McArdle and her fellows secure an actual Libertarian’s ascendancy? Nope! Scott Turner was nominated. He used to play in the NFL and was the former Chair of the pro-Trump think tank America’s First Policy Institute (which was interestingly founded by Brooke Rollins). This group supports policies like “resumed construction of the Keystone pipeline [which will undoubtedly require the continued use of Eminent Domain, which they have never rejected, on any level], imposing supervised ultrasound requirements and mandatory waiting periods before abortions…[and] imposing tariffs on imports”. As for our Party’s last suggestion, Dr. Irene Mavrakakis, M.D., Trump decided RFK JR, a self-described ‘brain worm’ victim and supporter of Big Government telling you what you can and can eat, would be the right choice for liberty. So of the three nominees McArdle and co. strong armed State Affiliates into backing, none were picked.
Many Libertarians have been very vocal about their opposition to this decision. There are many reasons for this, such as a desire to maintain ideological purity, not wanting to support Trump in any way, Party allegiance, hatred of the Republican Party, etc. McArdle and her supporters instead insisted that this is the only way to get us into a position of power. Regardless of who is right, the reality is this: WE WERE PLAYED. Trump had no intention whatsoever to support any Libertarians (and given his difficulties with the House, it seems like he wouldn’t have been able to fast-track them). Instead, McArdle and co. sold our collective soul for some saucy photos with the President Elect. The damage this has done to our reputation is still being felt, but it will surely make it even more difficult to attract new members (especially the younger ones we are so desperately in need of if we want to last another 10 years). What’s more is we can no longer say that these disagreements are just another example of Libertarians fighting Libertarians, as it seems that McArdle’s funding scheme with the Kennedy campaign has begun to make waves in the media, and not the good kind. A Boston Globe report by Tal Kopan (12-11-2024) has uncovered the agreement and highlighted that not only did it not favor us…at all, but it might even be a bit criminal.
To be fair to the other side of this discussion, it is quite understandable to see why they may have been swayed to show their support for McArdle’s plan. The Mises Caucus, which came into power around 2021-2022 did so because we were stuck in a rut. Like all Third Parties we weren’t seeing the progress we wanted. Stories of elected Libertarians are woefully few, while reports about our imploding world are many. They offered a new strategy and were attached to various groups, politicians and celebrities. Hindsight shows us that it was a mistake, as our membership numbers and finances are in a state of freefall and the current strategy of the Mises fellows seems to be to just vote Republican (especially for the really problematic ones), but that is besides the point. It makes sense why so many went that direction, But what many said then and continue to shout now is this: “We are nothing without our principles!” Since our founding we have been the answer to the duopoly. We rejected the left-right false dichotomy and we claimed to ascribe to “live free or die”. Hell, many of our members were infuriated that some of us chose to respect stay-at-home orders during the Pandemic. But yet, here we are willingly ignoring our principles for the promise of political crumbs!?! We are nothing without our Principles. We offer nothing if we do not hold true to our ideals, and yes, that doesn’t always result in the fastest, or most effective means to achieve our goals, but it is the right way.
It’s also important to note that, to the credit of the 2nd Trump Administration that Ross Ulbricht was pardoned from his life sentences, and there is certainly an argument to be made that McArdle was instrumental in that, but it is neither certain, nor does it speak to any change in Trump’s M.O. President Trump has, and always will be a businessman. One who has never shied away from quid pro quo; however, you are fooling yourself if you think he is turning a new leaf (and ignoring his first week back as POTUS). Likewise, and not to speak ill of Ulbricht, or to diminish this victory, but the release of one wrongfully convicted political prisoner does not excuse, or give any political figure carte blanche to then ride roughshod over the U.S. Constitution (as he has been doing since his ascendency).
That all said, one might also fire back and say this is all moot as McArdle is already being investigated, which is true, to an extent. In October of 2024 Caryn Ann Harlos filed a lawsuit with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia that claims McArdle has violated her fiduciary responsibilities to the Libertarian Party. Nicholas Sarwark has called for an investigation against her for embezzlement, and as of the 25th of January, 2025 the LP Board has voted to begin an investigation. Only time, and a jury will tell how that wind will blow, but for long-time Libertarians, how did we get here? We were the Party of Principle. We were the Party that argued that rules ought to be followed (so long as they are in alignment with the N.A.P., of course), and we were the ones loudly shouting, at every instance of even the slightest political and/ or governmental instance of corruption “throw the book at ‘em!” Now, our highest official is facing serious charges, we are buddying up with the Party of Trump, G.W. Bush and Nixon. All of our metrics, to put it gently, show us circling the drain.
Everyone has targets for their airborne excrement, and this assessment does not claim to be exhaustive. For starters there’s the ominous group bearing the initials M.C. (though obviously not all). Their organization effectively seized the reins of power after the Pandemic, which means that our recent woes and controversies are at least partially their responsibility (McArdle was sponsored by Mises, of which she is also a Board member). Examples are the collapse in membership across the country, the numerous disaffiliations from LP National, public legal struggles to wrestle control over State Affiliates, the creation of whole new Parties made up of dissatisfied former Libertarians, and a massive decline in revenue (see above). Even our own Party is crumbling due to mismanagement and bad messaging (our dues paying membership is down to 2016 levels)! Likewise many have spoken about a so-called “Libertarian Infiltration” (which is also sometimes connected to the aforementioned initials), but that isn’t entirely fair. The fact is WE ARE TO BLAME. We forgot our principles and we forgot our mission. We’re here to spread liberty and the N.A.P., not to wed ourselves to political extremists and big-government suits. We are a Party that has historically been the loudest voice in support of individual rights, regardless of who that individual was or what they looked like, a commitment to a LITERAL reading of the Constitution, rather than an ‘interpretive’ one. We were the Party that, while ragtag and certainly ‘quirky’ honestly cared about nothing more than doing the right thing IN THE RIGHT WAY, but we allowed our frustration and the sweet nothings of D-list celebrities (and let’s be honest, failed comedians) to throw away the only thing that Uncle Sam couldn’t tax away; our DIGNITY and PRINCIPLES.
So, with all that said, I ask the honest, principled and good members of the NJLP, those that fight for liberty; not as a fad or because some dipstick on X talked about so and so on their podcast (as if podcasts are special anymore) to elect Board members that are gold-bleeding lifers. To vote for people who always profess and PRACTICE principled Libertarianism and, most importantly, to turn away from those wanna-be red-painted L.I.N.O.S. who, whether intentionally or by mere misunderstanding, are destroying the Liberty movement, one broken promise after another. We have no other home people. We have no future in EITHER of the duopoly ships. It’s Libertarian or Bust!
Author's Note: The bulk of this editorial was drafted before January 27th, 2025, when Angela McArdle resigned her position as Chair of the Libertarian Party. Her statement on X was, “'I’m taking on a new opportunity soon that will make it impossible for me to stay on as Chair, so I am resigning.” Note that this was after both the Harlos lawsuit and the LNC investigation occurred (sources below). Whether her stated reasoning is genuine or a deflection conjecture and moot. Regardless it does not change that her agenda and her allies continue to lead the Party towards disaster. Therefore, it has been decided to leave the draft intact. Further, the original version of this article featured 19 citations that could not be reproduced in this format. Sadly, time restraints make converting them an impossibility. If readers have a desire to access the unabridged version with the citations, please contact the administrator.