Liberty — by land, air, and sea
The Free State Project offers something rare in American libertarianism: realistic optimism.
We are not waiting for the country to suddenly become libertarian.
We are bringing people together in one place: building a community, strengthening institutions, and creating the conditions where liberty can actually advance.
Our unique work for liberty in NH extends beyond the state’s borders — with invitations for liberty lovers everywhere to learn, connect, visit, move, and build with us here in New Hampshire.
That is why we are making a full push — by land, sea, and air — to promote the continued liberty migration to the #1 state for freedom.
- By Land! Free State outreach volunteers traveled the roads south, east and west to connect with liberty lovers across the Northeast.
- By Sea! Aboard the Tom Woods Cruise, Free Staters connected with liberty lovers from all corners of America.
- By Air! Not even the airwaves are safe from our relentless promotion of liberty migration as we launch the Free State Podcast Network. Look for more shows — by Free Staters and for liberty — streaming on FSP social media platforms, featuring Carla Gericke, Mark Edge, and Granite Discourse.
- Climb a mountain with us! We are climbing Mt. Pierce on October 17 for the second annual Granite Freedom Trek. Purchase your ticket today.
- Clubhouse News. The SHELL soft-launches its new home and membership campaign. The Quill adopts a new statement of values. The Pine screens ‘Spooktacular’ movies throughout October.
- A Porcupine Patron Update. Thank you to all 335 Porcupine Patrons who fund our year-round mission. Become a patron!
Weekly FSP newsletters are long because a lot is happening. Skip ahead to whatever interests you.
Outreach By Land
Through the late summer and early fall, our Free State Outreach Envoys have continued traveling to meet liberty lovers in states across the northeast.
Outreach continues through October.
If you’d like to learn about more opportunities to volunteer with FSP Outreach, then join the FSP Outreach Team Signal group.
This is a “no chat” group, which means there are no conversations to keep up with — just outreach volunteer opportunities posted as they become available.
On Saturday, October 24, I will be a featured speaker at the New York Libertarian Party State Convention.
If you live in New York or the general region, I’d love to see you there.
Outreach By Sea
Last year, I won passage on this August’s Tom Woods Cruise by winning a pitch contest with a promotion for PorcFest.
When I learned it was departing from Boston, I knew an outreach opportunity when I saw one.
That’s why we encouraged Free Staters to hop aboard and join me for a week at sea with many liberty lovers from across the country.
A special thank-you goes to the Porcupine Patrons who crowdfunded passage for our Welcome Director, Chris Lopez.
The FSP also covered passage for Carla Gericke as a thank-you for more than a decade of leadership.
Throughout the trip, we all connected with Tom Woods, Scott Horton, Doc Dixon, Clint Russell, and many others.
In addition to a wonderful adventure, we met many liberty lovers interested in visiting or moving to the Free State. Nearly 50 people signed up to stay connected with the FSP.
To all the Tom Woods cruisers new to this newsletter, I hope that the next time we meet, it will be here in New Hampshire.
Porcupine Report #125: “Outreach on the High Seas”
Eric returns from a busy month of travel and outreach with an update on the Free State Project’s efforts to connect with liberty-minded people beyond New Hampshire. He reflects on the Tom Woods Cruise, the growing interest in the Free State movement, and the importance of building relationships with potential future movers. Eric also responds to recent media coverage and criticism while looking ahead at the movement’s expanding outreach across the Northeast.
Launching Our New Podcast Network
On FSP social media platforms — YouTube, Facebook, and X — you may have seen new shows appearing from other voices of the Free State.
We are officially launching the Free State Podcast Network (FSPN).
Working to promote more voices to our audiences, you will now find new episodes every weekday evening at 7:00 P.M. (NH time):
- The Mark Edge Show – Mondays @ 7:00 PM
- Free State Rewinds – Tuesdays @ 7:00 PM
- The Porcupine Report w/ Eric Brakey – Wednesdays @ 7:00 PM
- The Independents w/ Carla Gericke – Thursdays @ 7:00 PM
- Granite Discourse – Fridays @ 7:00 PM
Tune in to the Free State Podcast Network and send me any feedback on our lineup as it evolves!
Clubhouse News: The SHELL Moves into Bigger Space
The SHELL is growing!
The Seacoast liberty clubhouse has moved into a bigger space, making more room for Free Staters to gather, connect, and build community.
I recently welcomed Stephen Nass onto The Porcupine Report to talk about the new SHELL clubhouse. Watch our conversation below for a closer look at this next chapter for the Seacoast community.
Porcupine Report #129: “The New SHELL Clubhouse”
Stephen Nass joins Eric to talk about the opening of a new Shell clubhouse in Rollinsford and a new initiative aimed at expanding the community. The Shell is proposing a $100 annual membership—just $8.33 a month—if 250 people commit, a significant reduction from the current $50 monthly membership. Stephen explains the idea behind the new model, plans for the clubhouse, and the broader goal of creating a sustainable gathering place for New Hampshire’s liberty community.
2nd Annual Granite Freedom Trek
October 17, 2026
The Granite Freedom Trek is back for a second year.
Experience the White Mountains. Connect with Free Staters. Discover New Hampshire.
Spend a day exploring the best of New Hampshire with the people who call it home. The Granite Freedom Trek is a signature Free State Project experience designed for prospective movers, visitors, and liberty-minded adventurers. Join us for a guided hike to the summit of Mount Pierce, one of New Hampshire’s iconic 4,000-foot peaks, followed by a private after-party at Basecamp Brewing in Lincoln. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or seriously considering a move, this is your opportunity to experience New Hampshire beyond the brochures. Hike with Free Staters, ask questions, make connections, and discover why thousands have chosen to build their lives in the Granite State.
Get Granite Freedom Trek tickets
Thank you to our Porcupine Patrons!
This entire newsletter — and the outreach you just read about — exists because of our patrons.
If you believe in our mission to build a liberty homeland in New Hampshire, I’d like to ask you to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project.
For just $10/month, you can support our year-round efforts to build “Liberty in Our Lifetime.” Additionally, you will receive exclusive patron benefits, including our quarterly print newsletter, access to our private Signal group, and perks at all FSP events.
Our Porcupine Patron community is constantly growing. Currently, we have 335 active patrons. Can you help us reach 350?
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to the Free State Project are tax-deductible. We welcome donations in dollars, cryptocurrency, and other forms.
Can I count you in as a Porcupine Patron?
It is my honor to serve as Executive Director of the FSP.
Please read on for more of our weekly newsletter from the Free State.
For Liberty!
Hon. Eric Brakey
Executive Director
Free State Project
Mark Your Calendar!
Recurring Free State Events
New Mover Potluck Parties!
- Manchester – First Friday
- North Country – Third Saturday
- Upper Valley – First Saturday
Local Meetups!
- Bedford – weekly, Tuesdays
- Plymouth – semi-monthly, Wednesdays
- Seacoast – weekly, Thursdays (changes town)
- Upper Valley – monthly, fourth Tuesday
- Nashua – weekly, Sundays
- Lakes – monthly, third Saturday
- Ossipee – monthly, second Sunday
- Madison – monthly, second Saturday and third Tuesday
- Grafton – monthly, second Saturday
- Keene – weekly, Sundays
- Lower Valley – monthly, third Friday
This is only a small sample of what’s going on in the Free State! Recurring topical events include agorism, family play time, range shooting, and crypto.
Find upcoming events across the state on our NH Liberty Calendar.
NHLA Power Hour
Our friends at the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance are now hosting a weekly meeting to network, hear from guest speakers, stay informed and help accelerate the liberty movement. You are invited.
Every Friday, AFP 8025 S. Willow St, Manchester
- 11:30 – 12:00, Networking & Lunch
- 12:00, Meeting begins
NH Liberty Clubhouse Events
Free State Voices
Journal of Libertarian Studies: “Social Gravity: The Evolutionary and Logical Foundations of Voluntary Order.” (Author: Matt Barney)
Matt Barney’s new article in the Journal of Libertarian Studies explores what makes voluntary societies actually work. His central argument is that liberty requires more than nonaggression alone: flourishing communities also depend on trust, reciprocity, reputation, and people choosing to create value for one another.
That idea should feel familiar to Free Staters. The Free State Project is not only an effort to reduce coercion, but an ongoing experiment in building stronger voluntary institutions, deeper social networks, and a culture of neighbors helping neighbors. Barney’s concept of “social gravity” offers a useful framework for understanding why those relationships matter so much to the future of liberty.
The Daily Economy: “Public Sector Unions Undermine Accountability” (Author: Jason Sorens)
Who holds government accountable when public sector unions help elect the officials they negotiate with? In his latest article, Jason Sorens examines how collective bargaining affects public schools, policing, and government spending. He argues that union protections can shield poor performance and misconduct while leaving taxpayers with higher costs and less control.
For Free Staters working toward more accountable government, the article raises a central question: do public institutions serve the people, or the interests organized within them? Sorens argues that abolishing public sector collective bargaining is necessary to restore accountability to citizens.
Class Is in Session: Scott Horton Takes Mark Edge to School (Host: Mark Edge)
Scott Horton joins Mark Edge again and this time it’s all about the Scott Horton Academy, the course Scott spent most of a year putting together. Mark admits he’s been hooked on it, and the two talk about how Scott learned all this in the first place: thousands of interviews, years at Antiwar.com, and a knack for remembering who said what and when. Plus, Scott tells Mark what the history books leave out about the war on terror.
Porcupine Report #128: “Advocates for Self-Government” with Mike Sertic (Host: Eric Brakey)
Eric talks with Mike Sertic, president of the Advocates for Self-Government, about liberty, political identity, and what self-government can look like in practice. They explore the history and impact of the World’s Smallest Political Quiz, changing political attitudes, and the limitations of the traditional left-right spectrum. The conversation also looks at New Hampshire’s growing liberty community and how principles of self-management and individual responsibility can shape businesses, organizations, and education. They discuss what it takes to build cultures based on trust, accountability, and voluntary cooperation rather than traditional command-and-control structures.
First Amendment, Political Speech & Third-Party Pressure in NH | The Independents (Host: Carla Gericke)
Carla Gericke examines the increasingly blurry lines between free speech, political rhetoric, and partisan politics in New Hampshire. She discusses recent controversy surrounding online speech and calls for law-enforcement scrutiny, raising broader questions about where protected expression ends and genuine threats begin. The episode also looks at the role of supposedly nonpartisan institutions in today’s political climate and the influence of high-profile political figures on First Amendment conversations. Carla also explores third-party political efforts aimed at holding major-party candidates accountable and the potential impact of independent campaigns on upcoming elections.
Have you ordered your copy yet?
FSP Director Eric Brakey published his first book — a pithy door-knocking guide of 13 rules for liberty candidates running for local office. This is a must-have for anyone who wants to win at the door.
All proceeds benefit the Free State Project.
As Seen in the Free State
