What is Exiled Policy?
Exiled Policy is a passion project of Jason Pye that’s rooted in classical liberal thought. A Georgia native and a current Virginia resident, Jason is a lobbyist and public policy professional with more than a decade of experience in Washington, DC. Having gained a reputation for his ability to connect with people regardless of their background or political views and his fact-based approach to public policy, Jason created Exiled Policy as a way to write about hot-button issues in the news, on social media, or overheard in conversation.
Although Jason is a classical liberal in terms of his political philosophy, he is politically homeless. He is an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves and University of Georgia sports teams. For hobbies, Jason writes and records music and, although he is an agnostic atheist, studies biblical scholarship. He currently resides near Richmond, Virginia and regularly visits Washington, DC for work.
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FAQs
Are you a Republican or a Democrat?
I don’t call either any political party home. I have considered myself a Republican before. I was also a member of the Libertarian Party off and on for about ten years. Both Republicans and Libertarians have seemingly lost their minds. I want nothing to do with either party. The Democratic Party really isn’t an option for me because it’s socialist fringe. I’ve considered myself an independent voter since 2016.
What’s your political philosophy?
I consider myself a classical liberal. I’ve associated with libertarian causes in the past, but the term “libertarianism” has become so tainted by radical right-wing culture warriors and edge-lords that I no longer want to be associated with it. I have a generally progressive approach to social issues and a free-market approach to economics. I also believe very much in the Constitution.
Why did you name this Exiled Policy?
When I started writing a blog (or newsletter, whatever you want to call it), I had a difficult time coming up with a name. I recall listening to some music when “In Exile” by Thrice came on. The song has religious overtones (a lot of their music does), but aspects of it spoke to me. Because I’m politically homeless, I feel like I’m in this weird spot, politically speaking, of being alone on an island. Working in public policy for a living makes it even weirder.
How do you decide on topics to write about?
It varies. Sometimes, a conversation with my fiancé, a friend, or an acquaintance will spark an idea for a post. Other times, a report from a government agency or a news story will pique my interest. I try to keep things accessible and easy to understand, though, because I realize that most people don’t know much about the aspects of public policy that I cover here.
Why are you so harsh toward Republicans?
It’s a fair question. As I mentioned, I was once a Republican. I’ve voted in Republican presidential primaries and general primaries throughout the years. I’ve often voted for Republicans in general elections. The Republican Party has become increasingly dominated by cultural and religious conservatives who are eager to fight the culture wars that are tearing the United States apart. Although I sympathize with conservatives on a limited range of cultural issues, generally, I don’t have much of an interest in the culture wars, except to say that people have the liberty to do what they want as long as they don’t harm anyone in the process. Also, economic populism is rising in the conservative movement and the Republican Party, which flies in the face of the economic liberalism that made the United States so successful. Finally, Donald Trump just isn’t a good person, and the Republican Party’s willingness to blindly follow him, with his authoritarian tendencies, is, frankly, shocking and alarming.
What do you do for a living?
I’m the vice president of the Due Process Institute and a senior policy adviser for the Independent Center. My work at the Due Process Institute mostly involves criminal legal reform, such as sentencing reform and second chance policies. I focus on a few other things—budget and appropriations, entitlement modernization, immigration, and healthcare—for the Independent Center. I also worked at FreedomWorks from September 2014 through February 2021, where I was the vice president for legislative affairs. I briefly rejoined FreedomWorks in September 2023 until the organization dissolved in May 2024.
How can I support Exiled Policy or your professional work?
I have a couple of pledges to Exiled Policy if I ever decide to monetize it. Right now, I don’t have an interest in doing that. Exiled Policy is just an outlet to write about things I may not write otherwise. I thought about creating a Patreon, but I don’t know if there’s any value for you, the reader, to that. If you’re interested in contributing to Due Process Institute, I welcome and thank you for the contribution.
Are you religious?
No, I’m not. I grew up in an evangelical Christian home. I began “deconstructing” my faith when I was in my early 20s. I became an agnostic. Eventually, I realized there was no reason to believe in a higher power without evidence. I’ve since considered myself an agnostic atheist.
What do you do in your downtime?
I write and record music, mostly post-hardcore and punk rock. It’s all for fun. Occasionally, some of my friends in DC and I get together to play cover songs from the ‘90s and 2000s. I read a lot of biblical scholarship. I hang out with my fiancé and her daughter and do stuff around the house. When you come to my home during the late spring and summer, we’ll likely have a baseball game on the TV. Being from Atlanta, I’m a Braves fan. During fall weekends, we’re watching football. Granted, the only football I really care about is the Georgia Bulldogs, but I’ve developed an appreciation for the Virginia Tech Hokies.
