Mises
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Director: Todd Phillips
Writer: Alex Conn
Cast: Lucas Hedges, Bo Burnham, Ian McKellen, Kevin Pollak, Allison Janney, Annasophia Robb, Jenna Fischer, Brian Austin Green, Ali Fazal, Corey Stoll, Stephen Root
Plot: The film opens to a title card Chapter 1. Foundings
Back to 2020 Norristown Pennsylvania, Michael Heise (Lucas Hedges) is still a nerdy guy who’s living with his mom and who’s obsessed with Jordan Peterson and Murray Rothbard and YouTube we see him on his laptop. We see the videos he is watching and there are very anti lockdown and anti vaccine . It is Covid time in 2020 and Michael is writing a blog and he starts his voice over and he is furious that the Libertarian Party is caring more about abortion and LGBTQ rights than “literal totalitarianism. He rants about the broader libertarian movement not embracing the Ron Paul revolution and small L libertarians and focus on running on a local level. We see that Michael’s Blog For Liberty has 10 views one of whom is Michael’s mom.
Michael’s mom takes him to a group meeting which focuses on social skills and Michael believes most of the other autistic kids have no purpose and no meaning. He says this in voice over. Michael says to gain meaning he needs to start something. Michael discusses his plans to start a Ron Paul like movement the other kids are more interested in trains.
Michael Heise is watching Jordan Peterson do one of his Bible lectures. The next moment we see Michael pray and discuss how this movement will bring out God’s will.
His mother Sarah Heise (Allison Janney) comes home and asks if he’s doing well. He struggles to say anything. Sarah says he should go outside and talk to people not just be on the computer.
Michael goes to the local bar and brings his book from Ludwig Mises and tries to talk to women and fails including one where he tries to talk to an unassuming woman about the Federal Reserve. He gets really drunk. He goes home ashamed.
Michael looks up to his Ron Paul poster. Tom Woods by chance reads one of Michael’s blogs and emails Michael saying he will plug it on air. Michael is then interviewed by all the podcasts. This causes Michael’s blog to be read more and causes Michael to do something about it and start a caucus of his own?!. Even Ron Paul reads and recommends Michael’s blog which makes Michael cry.
Michael does a zoom call with prominent supporters of the Mises Caucus. Tom Woods (Kevin Pollak), Ron Paul (Ian McKellen), Dave Smith (Bo Burnham) and they start discussing the strategy of the Mises Caucus. The strategy is to focus on local and presidential. Get good candidates in the city council, Sherriff and school board to fight the woke ism and to fight against the big government and nullify it. Tom Woods advocates to campaign to get the Libertarian Party to end the abortion plank. It alienates too many libertarians. Michael decides to name the group The caucus after the greatest economist next to Murray Rothbard, Ludwig Von Mises.
Michael and Dave stress the end to the COVID regime. The end to vaccine mandates and to become a threat to get commitments to never again do a lockdown. Michael says the party has been too weak on this issue and the biggest threat to liberty in the modern age.
At a Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania meeting with Tom Woods and Dave Smith in attendance to support. Michael successfully convinces the party to abandon their abortion rights plank in their platform and to include a section about Covid being against vaccine mandates and mask mandates.
A group of pro choice feminists go up to Michael and say this is why girls don’t fuck you. You just don’t respect women. Tom Woods calls her a dirty feminist defending Michael.
Tom buys Michael and Dave drinks and they act like 19 year old guys laughing at the hate reacts from “the wokies”
Chapter 2 Libertarian Party Convention 2022
It is the Libertarian Party Convention in 2022 held in Reno Nevada and Tom Woods on his radio show is discussing the insurgent Mises Caucus. Woods calls the movement a return to sanity after the wokies tried to take the Libertarian Party.
There are also many figures calling out the outrageous humor of the Mises Caucus some calling it sexist or racist including former Congressman and Libertarian political figure Justin Amash. Justin Amash criticizes the Mises Caucus for their often inflammatory rhteroric. Tom Woods tells Michael to tell the volunteers to tone down the rhetoric this is an important few days.
Michael gets a call from his mom saying she’s proud of him no matter what happens. Michael says thanks.
Michael Heise gives a speech to the volunteers who run the social media to give it a break at least for just a week for the convention to happen and for us to win control so no inflammatory tweets.
We see the volunteers who are all stoned but all nod except Jeremy Kaufman (Doug Benson) who’s the owner of the Libertarian Party of NH a state that’s party quickly adapted to the Mises Caucus. Jeremy says the edgy humor has helped the Mises caucus gain an audience. Michael says even if you think that’s just edgy humor we have people in the libertarian party who are serious who might allow us to run the goddamn party. Michael begs Jeremy to please be rational and understand what the caucus’s potential. Michael says just ask yourself what would Ron Paul do? At the convention he meets a girl named Emily (Annasophia Robb) who’s a libertarian activist. Michael is incredibly attracted and asks her out on a date awkwardly and to his surprise actually accepts the date. The song Sex and Candy by The Marcy Playground plays on the soundtrack.
He goes on the date and they actually have a decent chemistry. They both discuss how Ron Paul inspired them a lot. Michael says that he’s found a lot of community in the liberty movement. Emily agrees and smiles at Michael in a genuine way.
The film cuts to Michael in his Reno hotel room masturbating. But then he gets a text from Emily saying last night was fun ❤️.
Michael also meets his hero Ron Paul and he says he’s always admired him as a politician and his commitment to liberty and Ron says he admires how he’s brought young people back to libertarianism. We can’t let the Libertarian Party be the party of oldies like me. Michael says agreed Mr Paul and Ron Paul signs an autograph for Michael.
Michael goes to see Angela McArdle (Jenna Fischer) the candidate running for chair who’s supported by the Mises Caucus. Angela asks Michael if he asked the social media team to tone down the rhetoric. Michael says yes m’am. Angela says wow so formal and Michael responds by saying it’s just the traditionalist in me. Angela says I like traditionalists but I don’t want are Star Wars t shirt wearing stoner children being the heads of the party. Michael assures Angela that mature leadership is at the Mises Caucus. Michael says the Mises Caucus has the penchant for dark humor but we’re interested in taking down the cultural forces of the left and the foreign policy of both parties. Angela says that’s a-ok as long as it’s not in these next few days. Michael assures Angela he already told the team.
Michael goes back to Jeremy and he assures Michael he will tone it down for the coming days. Michael then repeats What Would Ron Paul Do? Jeremy then lights a joint.
It is the debate between Angela and Sarwak and Michael gets his phone ringing and texts dinging and he leaves the room. Jeremy has posted something inflammatory. He posts a picture of a black person with fried chicken and discussing the welfare system.
Ron Paul shows up to give his support to Angela. He says she understands where the party must go and how to excite the young people. Ron Paul when he goes off stage gives a grandfatherly pat on the back to Michael. Michael is about to speak and he is frozen.
Michael runs back to Jeremy’s office and demands him delete the post. Jeremy agrees but says to Michael didn’t you at least think that was fucking funny. Jeremy is clearly high and giggling. Jeremy deletes it and is giggling. Michael says Angela is actually trying to make some change and with idiots like you we look like a bunch of racist losers who spend too much time on the internet.
Michael says to Jeremy what you did was racist and against all the values we have at the Mises Caucus. Don’t forget racism is a progressive value. Michael gives Jeremy the finger.
Michael and Angela give statements condemning Jeremy Kaufman’s post. After this Michael and Angela have a meeting in private where Angela asks Michael to fire Jeremy. Michael is conflicted as the post was racist but he also doesn’t control the LP of New Hampshire and he’s done a lot for the Mises Caucus. He’s the reason we appeal to young people. Meme culture is the future. Angela says but not racist meme culture. Angela demands Michael fire him from Mises Caucus. LP of NH can do what they want.
Emily also demands Michael fire Jeremy from Mises Caucus. Michael fires Jeremy. Jeremy goes back to focusing on LP NH rather than the national stuff. Angela says thank fucking Christ. Ron Paul speaks again for Angela and says she’s the best possible candidate despite the controversy.
The election is that night and the election is between Sarwak and Angela. Some delegates voted for Sarwak but Angela was able to be elected. The Mises Caucus has a party which leads to Michael losing his virginity to Emily. Michael says in voice over “I lost my virginity tonight”.
That night Emily wakes up in Michael’s bed and says she’s proud of him for taking over the libertarian party. You were once just a blogger now you’re the most talked about person in the Libertarian Party in 2022.
The film then cuts to Michael at the convention floor getting swarmed by reporters.Angela says that as chair he was able to get abortion and open borders out of the national platform. Reason a prominent libertarian magazine interviews Michael Heise. They ask him why he supported the ending of the abortion plank and open borders out of the plank. Michael says it was to reflect the diversity of libertarians. There are many pro life libertarians especially small l libertarians . We need to make the Libertarian party less scary for those people. He is asked if the Mises Caucus is a plant for Trump and he answers that he believes Trump is a war criminal but believes some of his supporters would be open to libertarian messaging.
The chapter of the film ends with a news report of resignations from many libertarians because of the divisive rhteroric of the now dominant Mises Caucus. Some feminist libertarians are calling this betrayal and we cut to Michael Heise , Dave Smith and Mises Caucus volunteers getting higb calling them woke losers.
Chapter 3 The 2024 Libertarian National Convention
Angela McArdle is on the phone with Donald Trump and Donald Trump wants to speak at the Libertarian National Convention.
Angela says but you’re not a libertarian candidate you’re actually opposing us. Angela says we’d be open to having you under certain conditions though. Donald Trump says conditions we can make a deal.
It is the Libertarian Convention 2024 in Reno Nevada and Angela talks with members of the Mises Caucus who are willing to make a deal with Trump to speak and maybe get an endorsement.
To get an endorsement he has to pardon Edward Snowden, Ross Ulbricht and audit the federal reserve and legalize marijuana
Vivek Rameswamy (Ali Fazal) former presidential rival who now works for the Trump campaign goes to negotiate with the Mises Caucus.
Vivek says I agree with you on everything but Trump is running for President and pot smoking is a little controversial down south. Vivek agrees to the not cracking down on states rights to legalize weed. Trump agrees to the endorsement deal.
Michael Rectenwald the libertarian candidate who was the Mises Caucus candidate reminds them that the caucus sought him out. Clint Russell (Brian Austin Green) who is Rectenwald’s VP candidate and a host of a show is more open about the Mises Caucus. He is a muscled up over the top libertarian who cares a lot about taxes and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps and talks a lot about fitness. He invites everyone to come and shoot targets with semi automatic weapons with him. Clint shoots the targets perfectly and laughs he says “shot the commie”.
Clint Russell talks to the power players at a Mises Caucus meeting about the lockdown should be a number 1 priority in these negotiations. We can’t forget that Donald Trump trusted Anthony Fauci and trusted in this process unless he agrees to fully apologize. Michael heise says he completely agrees.
In the next negotiating session Michael brings up we want a full apology for the lockdown. Clint is wearing a proudly unvaccinated t shirt which Vivek compliments. Vivek is physically in the room but Donald Trump is on the phone. Donald Trump agrees to apologize for the lockdown, pardon Ross Ulbricht, audit the federal reserve and legalize marijuana.
Then cut to Michael and Angela saying they hit the jackpot. Michael suggests we endorse Trump after the convention let Michael have his dog and pony show then we endorse Trump.
Chase Oliver (Corey Stoll) emerges as a favorite of the libertarian establishment. Clint Russell yells profanity at the tv saying Chase is weak as fuck and he is a feminine boy. He says he’s going to make the Libertarian Party more woke which is the opposite of what we need.
Vivek when Michael is having a burger says big man Trump is eager to meet you and wants to invite you to Mar A Lago. I wouldn’t say no kid.
The next day at the libertarian national convention. Chase Oliver makes his common expression I want a gay couple to be able to defend their marijuana plant with fully automatic weapons. Chase says that he’s not the candidate of purity tests.
We then cut to a Dave Smith private set to the Mises Caucus where he discusses they talk about purity tests but I think it’s pretty basic to not want a fucking former weapons manufacturer lobbyist like Bill Weld in 2016 with Raytheon to be the VP candidate of the Libertarian fucking party.
Tom Woods has endorsed Donald Trump and Michael Haise watches his endorsement video. Angela takes Michael to lunch and asks Michael why he cares so much and Michael says I’m a big fan of Jordan Peterson and he discusses that you should take on maximum responsibility to pursue meaning. Michael says I want a family, I want the liberty movement to have power this is why I do what I do.
Tom Woods is at the Libertarian Convention and advises Michael to quit the Mises Caucus and join the Trump campaign. Tom says he knows the right people and he knows he could get you a gig. Trump’s trying to court the Mises Caucus guys. Tom says the Libertarian Party is for 52 year old stoners who have never had a blowjob before. Tom says you have potential. Michael says so I’m supposed to leave something I’ve built from the ground up. Tom mentions he left League Of The South when it was getting too crazy and racist. Tom says if we can agree on one thing Clint is fucking crazy. Michael says I’m not a quitter. Tom says suit your fucking self.
Michael calls Emily and says if he can get a job with the Trump campaign do it maybe you can be home more. I miss you. Michael says I can’t just quit. Emily eventually says whatever you decide you’ll make the right decision.
That night is the Trump speech at the Libertarian Convention. Trump promises to pardon Ross Ulbricht and says he wants libertarians in the MAGA movement. The crowd boos him.
Michael tries to fire up the delegates on a last ditch effort to elect Michael Rechtenwald (Stephen Root). Rechtenwald is scheduled to speak next but he is smoking a joint. Rechtenwald is high during his speech and he discusses taking the libertarian party away from wokeness and political correctness.
The vote happens and the delegates are actually voting for Rectenwald. Heise says we might actually win but then Chase Oliver wins.
A group of libertarians run after Angela and Michael because it is known that the Mises Caucus were the ones who invited Donald J Trump.
Chase Oliver speaks and accepts the libertarian nomination and pledges to bring the party away from racist Memes and into the mainstream. To make sure the Libertarian Party stands for all. We see some Mises Caucus members calling him a communist,
Vivek closing night does a rally and he raps The Real Slim Shady. At the rally Michael and Clint both rap along.
Angela in interviews says she offered both candidates but The Washington Post investigative team proves that that was a lie. The Trump campaign got Angela McArdle to let him speak.
A group of pissed off libertarians are interviewed. Some of them say that theyre glad Rectenwald and the Mises Caucus lost trying to integrate fascism into our party. One trans woman says the Mises Caucus is helping a candidate who wants to take away my rights.
Angela does a press conference the next day at the closing night of the Libertarian Convention. She is asked questions about the Washington Post report. She denies vehemently the allegations and says she has no plans to resign.
In her hotel room she confides in Michael that she’s going to have to resign not now but near the end of the year but you are the future of the party. I’m proud of you.
Vivek in a casino meets with Michael and Vivek criticizes the woke nominee Chase Oliver and says that the Mises Caucus should be working for Trump. He says Trump is the most libertarian candidate of my lifetime. Michael says I’m not entirely opposed but I have to maintain credibility in the party. Michael agrees to endorse Trump publicly after Vivek said Trump promised to have a Libertarian cabinet member and retweet many of Trump’s posts. Vivek says you made a good choice my man.
Michael Heise writes a blog endorsing Donald Trump but says he will vote down ballot libertarian. We then cut to Michael drumming on his drum set to the metal song Leviathan from Monuments
Chapter 4 The Fall: Michael runs for Chair January 2025
It is revealed through a newscast that in November 2024 Angela McArdle resigned citing the lackluster response to the Trump speech. The newscaster says Mises Caucus founder and Chairman Michael Heise is running for Libertarian party chair despite endorsing Donald Trump in the 2024 election over libertarian candidate Chase Oliver.
Michael and Emily are her OBGYN and she starts recommending fertility treatments to Michael and Emily. The OBGYN recommends IVF but then says in his voice over I feel like if I fucked her as hard as I did the first time it could make a baby. They have sex and she screams put a baby inside me. This is before Michael gets on a plane for Phoenix Arizona. On the plane Michael watches a Jordan Peterson speech about parenthood and responsibility.
It is this time Phoenix Arizona and it is the Libertarian Party special election and it is the Mises Caucus’s last chance. Michael gives a speech saying we need more small l libertarians in the party.
Dave Smith takes Michael Heise out for lunch. Michael asks Dave about parenthood. Dave said it was the best thing ever for him. He loves his two kids. Michael says I wished I had that. Dave says you will and bro I’ll help pay for any fertility treatments you need. Michael thanks Dave and Dave says knock em dead show em the Mises caucus means business.
Clint Russell gives a speech in his over the top macho way and says that he’s never seen a man who’s cared more about liberty than Michael Haise except maybe Ron Paul but he’s a god. He brings up on the first few days in office Donald Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht which was all thanks to the Mises Caucus working with Donald Trump. I support anyone who can get us wins like that.
A volunteer tells Micheal Ron Paul bailed he had another speaking engagement. Michael is visibly upset.
Ron Paul calls and gives his support and apologizes for not showing up in person.
Clint Russell says to Michael almost pinning him to the wall asking will you be a fighter for liberty? Michael says of course we’ve been over this. Clint says you better fight wokeness. Michael says we’ve been over this. Clint says he says because politicians only do what you want over threat. Clint says and you’re a politician now?
The delegates vote and Michael has a delusion of him unexpectedly winning the chair position. The whole crowd singing he’s got the whole world in his hands as he approaches the stage. One of the delegates says the Mises caucus what the fuck is the Mises caucus it’s over. You fucked it up by being a traitor to Trump.
But some delegates vote for him but many don’t even some Mises Caucus ones Michael loses and yells at them for being disloyal and says they are only helping the woke left and says he doesn’t want them in the Mises Caucus anymore. He is in the hallway crying and he gets a call from his wife saying that she’s pregnant. Michael then goes to his Arizona hotel room and listens to a Jordan Peterson clip about responsibility and fatherhood as he goes to sleep. Michael posts a vague tweet saying life feels a lot less stressful being a married guy. He signs on to Discord and is banned from the Libertarian Party discord. He stares at his Ron Paul background on his phone.
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