Repackaged socialism & the politics of resentment | Justin Amash | The Reason Interview

Just 15 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. But why is it broken and how do we fix it? Those are just two of the questions that Reason's Nick Gillespie asked Justin Amash, the former five-term congressman from Michigan who is currently exploring a Senate run.
Elected as part of the Tea Party wave in 2010, Amash helped create the House Freedom Caucus but became an increasingly lonely, principled voice for limiting the size, scope, and spending of the federal government. After voting to impeach Donald Trump, he resigned from the GOP, became an independent, and then joined the Libertarian Party in 2020, making him the only Libertarian to serve in Congress.
They talked about the 2024 presidential election and the country's political and cultural polarization that seems to be growing with every passing day. And about how his parents' experiences as a Christian refugee from Palestine and an immigrant from Syria inform his views on foreign policy, entrepreneurship, and American exceptionalism.
This Q&A took place on the final day of LibertyCon, the annual event for Students for Liberty that took place recently in Washington, D.C.
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Video Editors: Isaac Reese & Adam Czarnecki
Photo Credits: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Newscom; BONNIE CASH/UPI/Newscom

[@Rickpa]

The world needs more Justin Amash!

[@ShellshockDM187]

I agree

[@VeniVidiVid]

If I were in Michigan, I’d vote for him. And if he ever runs or president, he’d probably be my first choice.

[@bogeybichon7000]

Hopefully this well-spoken, well-reasoned guy gains political influence for many years.

[@DuffyLONER64]

Man, Justin Amash would make an amazing president. I wish he was running this election cycle!! (Chase Oliver is great, too, but Justin is definitely the OG great).

[@jpreale]

Always great to hear Justin. KMW reminds us that politicians will always let you down, and I know this is prudent wisdom. But I also know that I haven’t seen this guy betray his principles yet, so I’m willing to risk getting my heart absolutely fucking broken and say I’m in his corner.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

There is no other option. To get something done among people who disagree - you have either politics or war.

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

Standing up to the leader is fine as long as you are not giving a small minority enough power to run everything. Have your say, make your point, publicly if you need to then compromise.

[@whateverwhatever5715]

My favorite member of Congress and im a Democrat

[@brianlambrecht6301]

Fantastic interview at a fantastic event.

[@Vorpal_Wit]

Once again Matt demonstrates why "Bringing Up Iggy Pop" should always be the center-square on your Reason Bingo-card.

[@markchild1621]

It's a topic that Henry Rollins and Ted Nugent could bond over! What bridges can't be built?!?!

[@TRyan3]

ty

[@CAndrewK]

Justin is the most consistent libertarian alive (yes, including Ron Paul)

[@TumultuousTitan]

Massie is pretty good too.

[@marcusdavenport1590]

Amash is trash... I didn't forget when he knowingly lied about Trump during the impeachment sham He's dishonest.... why is he on Reason? He's Hillary Clinton 2.0 Ron Paul would have NEVER done that...

[@marcusdavenport1590]

@@TumultuousTitan to put Amash on the same level as Ron Paul is an insult. I didn't forget when Amash knowingly lied about Trump during the impeachment sham If he's willing to lie to help Democrats when they need it... imagine what he'll do to a small group of Libertarians. He's Hillary Clinton 2.0

[@noname-xo1bt]

Gasp! You better throw some salt over your shoulder for that brazen slant against Ron Paul.

[@erikjlee1]

Amash is one incredible dude. I hope he wins his senate seat and ignites a new wave of Libertenariasm in the US. The Mises crowd was one big step backwards - they are far too idealistic.

[@Khorne_of_the_Hill]

How so?

[@josheakle]

Great interview!

[@jtwilliams8895]

Justin is one of the very best examples of what a modern congressman should be. I’ll vote for him

[@Traderbear]

The ability to coordinate with congressional leadership isn’t new in the slightest.

[@mariubuegeler333]

Very well gentlemen I’m sure his parents are very proud of him

[@marcusdavenport1590]

Amash is trash... I didn't forget when he knowingly lied about Trump during the impeachment sham He's dishonest.... why is he on Reason? He's Hillary Clinton 2.0 Ron Paul would have NEVER done that...

[@Mark_Proton]

Not sure I understand his point fully, but I really like his approach. Definitely encourages me to further investigate.

[@The_Infinite_Squirrel]

A reasonable congressman? I'm shocked and impressed.

[@marcusdavenport1590]

Amash is trash... I didn't forget when he knowingly lied about Trump during the impeachment sham He's dishonest.... why is he on Reason? He's Hillary Clinton 2.0

[@mariubuegeler333]

I hope he comes back to work in senate or higher positions in the government

[@marcusdavenport1590]

Amash is trash... I didn't forget when he knowingly lied about Trump during the impeachment sham He's dishonest.... why is he on Reason? He's Hillary Clinton 2.0

[@MacTheSeraph]

@@marcusdavenport1590Give it a rest already. You’ve posted this garbage as a reply to almost every comment on this video. No one cares but you.

[@josephsloop8865]

"Making him (Amash) the only libertarian to serve in Congress". Uh, no. That would be Ron Paul, who was for abolishing much more of government bureaucracies and dissolving its unconstitutional power than Amash was.

[@BenjaminWirtz]

When he says he wouldn't introduce impeachment legislation unless it has some level of support behind it, that statement seems to fly in the face of what he had just said about being the lone vote on a number of issues.

[@hdp756]

I like him. But I’m disappointed he went back to the Republican party 😒

[@TRyan3]

Down in Front!

[@marcusdavenport1590]

Amash is trash... I didn't forget when he knowingly lied about Trump during the impeachment sham He's dishonest.... why is he on Reason? He's Hillary Clinton 2.0 Ron Paul would have NEVER done that...

[@MacTheSeraph]

@@marcusdavenport1590Womp Womp.

[@IAmInterested-cc4hr]

Not sure he had an opinion at any point

[@THATMOFODIRT]

Lost me when he voted to impeach Trump.

[@mikecook7334]

I almost forgot why I left libertarianism. Amash has reminded me…

[@rayF4rio]

If he voted to impeach Trump in 2019, he's just not that smart. I sure hope he's learned more since then.

[@SirPhilosopher]

He would definitely help MAGA. I hope he gets to the senate.

[@Orson2u]

Nope. He hates MAGA. He hates Trump.

[@sumdood6784]

He's blinded by his TDS.

[@josephwiese1114]

He may voice some good policies, but he's a fool to alow himself to be influenced to impeach Trump. He's got poor discernment abilities.

[@societyofrobots]

"voted to impeach Trump" hard pass

[@dannysullivan3951]

Libertarianism, another word for conservative Utopianism. No more useful than utopian socialism.

[@DymaxionDon]

This clown is not a Libertarian and needs to leave our party alone.

[@VeniVidiVid]

Why is he not a Libertarian?

[@Justin_Beaver564]

He's a libertarian leaning conservative. Wish he was pro choice on abortion but besides that still one of the best politicians around.

[@VeniVidiVid]

@@Justin_Beaver564 I’d agree. Also, pro-life versus pro-choice isn’t really a libertarian thing. It all hinges on whether you think a legal person begins at birth, or before then. If you think a legal person begins at birth, then you’re likely pro-choice. If you think a legal person begins any time before birth, then you’re likely pro-life. You can still defend a person‘s liberty, once you determine when they become a legally protected person.

[@Justin_Beaver564]

@@VeniVidiVid I think that's fair.

[@DymaxionDon]

He was in office for a decent length of time. How many Libertarian oriented bills did he at least introduce? He spoke well but when big serious votes came around he seemed to like Nacy Pelosi a lot. Barrack Obama is good but Donald Trump is bad. At least the people of Michigan figured out he was a con artist and he ran for the hills. @@VeniVidiVid