Slave Staters Whine, Free Staters Shine
DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2025
AUTHOR: Hon. Eric Brakey - Executive Director, Free State Project
Since making the move to New Hampshire one year ago, I have noticed two consistent phenomena:
Free Staters keep winning.
Slave Staters keep whining.
This week, we have crystal clear examples of both.
Before I get to that, however, I want to invite you to join us in one month for the 1st annual Granite Freedom Trek.
On Sunday, September 21st, 2025, lace up your boots.
Join fellow liberty lovers for a scenic hike of Mt. Cardigan (3,155 ft) and Mt. Firescrew (3,040 ft) in a moderate 5-mile loop offering breathtaking 360-degree views of New Hampshire’s rolling hills — led by expert hiker Derek Proulx.
For active Free Staters and liberty-loving visitors who enjoy the outdoors, join us as we traverse New Hampshire trails in good company during one of the most beautiful times of year.
Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or a curious newcomer, you are invited to join us for this one-day (rain or shine) medium difficulty hiking adventure. (Click here to see the trail map.)
We have only a limited number of hiking slots available, so act fast. Grab your ticket now!
FREE STATERS WIN:
Right to Try Expansion Signed into Law
What was the big win for liberty this week?
Governor Kelly Ayotte has signed into law another Free Stater-led policy reform effort — expanding the state's "Right to Try" law for terminally ill patients seeking to save their own lives with investigational, non-FDA approved medical treatments.
Should you have to ask permission from federal bureaucrats to save your own life? Not in the Free State.
Officially called the "John Lewicke and Michael Yakubovich Right to Try Act" (HB 701), the bill was named for two state legislators fighting terminal illnesses.
Michael Yakubovich has a particularly inspiring story.
A leading liberty legislator in the NH State House, Michael won the Republican nomination for a state senate seat in 2022. Sadly, he was diagnosed with a potentially lethal cancer and stepped down to focus on his family and his health.
Even while facing this awful disease, he did not slow down in his pursuit of liberty — taking on the fight to expand Right to Try protections for those in health situations just like him.
Yakubovich was out of state receiving medical treatment and unable to attend the signing, but he provided a statement.
“HB 701 means patients like me don’t have to sit back and wait for certain death. This law gives families hope, removes unnecessary barriers, and makes New Hampshire a place where innovation can reach patients when they need it most. The law will not guarantee miracles, but it will make them possible. I’m grateful to see this day.”
In his place, his wife, Marika, was present yesterday for the bill signing.
What are the effects of this enhanced Right to Try law?
Under the framework for the basic policy, terminally ill patients with less than 6 months to live (and who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments) can try an investigational treatment or medical product that has completed phase one safety trials — provided the patient, doctor, and manufacturer are all in agreement.
These investigational treatments can be caught up in bureaucratic phase two and three approval processes for a decade — awaiting FDA approvals on clinical trials for efficacy — but if you are already dying, what do you have to lose?
Should someone with six months to live have to wait ten years for an FDA approval process?
This enhanced Right to Try law goes further to increase access to investigational treatments for the terminally ill with two big changes.
Patients will now be able to waive certain civil liability risks, including in clinical trial settings, making it more likely that both doctors and pharmaceutical companies will participate.
New Hampshire-based providers will now be able to conduct remote pre-screenings for out-of-state patients, sparing families the burden and cost of traveling only to learn they are ineligible for a trial.
As Sarah Scott (Free Stater) noted in comments to the NH Journal, the expanded protection for medical freedom will benefit both patients and the state economy.
Sarah Scott of Americans for Prosperity–New Hampshire, a strong supporter of the measure, called the law a breakthrough.
“In the past, suffering patients have spent their last months flying around the country just to be told they don’t qualify for treatment. Now they’ll be able to do that first interview remotely,” Scott said. She also pointed to liability protections as a major step toward encouraging innovation.
Another New Hampshire advantage, she said, is geography.
“Boston is already a biotech hub, and with this law, New Hampshire can leap ahead of other states like Montana that recently passed similar legislation,” Scott said.
... While Scott works on many policy issues for AFP, she said this Right to Try cause was more personal for her. “I’ve seen the struggles that Michael [Yakubovich] and another friend have gone through just to get treatment. I’ve seen the strain it puts on their families,” Scott said.
“Another component that’s personal to me is that a lot of the potential treatments are for rare genetic diseases. When you look at rare disease in general, about 80 percent are genetic in nature. I think five percent have an FDA-approved treatment, and a lot of those diseases primarily affect children. I’ve seen so many stories of families traveling across the country, bringing their whole family along, trying to find treatment for their kids.”
Reflecting on my own work to support this policy reform movement (including the passage of basic Right to Try legislation in Maine in 2015 and adopting the policy as a plank of the Republican National Platform in 2016), I am particularly proud to watch my new home state of New Hampshire now lead the way on medical freedom.
SLAVE STATERS WHINE:
Free Staters Keep Winning!
But not everyone is so happy to see the Free Stater winning the day (over and over again) as liberty expands throughout our borders.
Also this week, we received another love letter from a progressive Slave Stater.
(I use this term now because, if you don't believe in a state that promotes human freedom, then you believe in one that promotes human slavery.)
In the Concord Monitor, Jean Lewandowski (Slave Stater), calls Free Staters "highly invasive vines like knotweed and bittersweet."
Jean, by her own description, is a retired government special education teacher in Nashua.
(A little more research, however, shows that she — very ironically — moved to New Hampshire from California ten years ago. So, when she wants to impose her slave state ideology on everyone else in the "Live Free or Die" state, she may want to think twice about who she calls "invasive.")
On social media yesterday, I published a full response (paragraph by paragraph) to this attack piece against Free Staters.
You can click here to read the full thread, but I thought I would highlight a few excerpts and my response for this week's newsletter.
New Hampshire gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts are familiar with highly invasive vines like knotweed and bittersweet. They climb all over power poles and fences, smothering and killing trees and shrubs. These invaders are very much like the plague of outside money and anti-democratic ideology that came to New Hampshire 20 years ago as the Free State Project. It has entwined itself around what once was our Grand Old Party and made alarming progress in pulling down our cherished public institutions.
The FSP isn’t a political party that respects our Constitution or seeks to influence policy as part of our representative government. It’s a movement aimed at destroying government by defunding public institutions and creating what Jason Sorens, its founder, calls an anarcho-capitalist state. In this vision of a “free state,” all goods and services are privately held by a few wealthy people who free themselves from regulation and oversight. Everyone else is on their own.
First, I wonder if there is any other immigrant group Jean would be comfortable describing as "invasive" weeds.
I am not generally one to play this card, but what does it say about our government schools that someone entrusted with instructing New Hampshire children would refer to her fellow citizens in dehumanizing language like this? (At least she gives us another reason to support school choice!)
Second, all the leftist buzzwords, like “anti-democratic,” are humorous because they don’t carry the weight they used to.
We have all seen the levels of depravity — including years of lawfare, spy agency abuse, and covidian dictatorship — slave staters like Jean are ready to cheer on in the name of their precious “democracy.”
Third, she states that our economic system would mean all the wealth is in the hands of wealthy people, but that’s actually the current system she is implicitly defending.
It is the inflationary fiat money system, powered by the Federal Reserve Central Bank, which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer (while hollowing out the middle class). Meanwhile, liberty leaders at the State House, like Rep. Keith Ammon, are restoring sound money in New Hampshire, empowering the common man to save and invest for the future.
Several thousand people have migrated from across the United States, bought land, moved in and established themselves as “good neighbors.” Many have used the good neighbor strategy to win elected offices. At the local level, they have changed zoning laws to make it easier to buy up land and undercut environmental and other regulations. They’ve gained control of some school boards and town committees and drastically cut budgets and services. Free Staters and allies in the Liberty Alliance hold majority power in our state legislature, and Jason Osborne, a Free State transplant, is their leader.
These self-described "liberty Republicans" represent the shoots and vines of a nationwide anti-democracy movement. Pull on those, and we unearth the complex root system that feeds them. Billionaire donors like Make Liberty Win and Americans for Prosperity, a big-oil-funded super-PAC, contributed over a million dollars to FSP-aligned candidates last year. The NH Liberty Alliance PAC distributed it to over 150 members of our 400-member House of Representatives, which obligingly passed bills that defunded public education, public works, public health, city and county governments and support for small businesses.
Fourth, I find the accusation particularly humorous that Free Staters being "good neighbors" is a nefarious plot.
To paraphrase: “Can you believe these people? They have the audacity to move in and be good neighbors? Don’t they know they should be posting their land and snitching on their neighbors every time they disobey a COVID mandate or sell a pickle in Manchester without a permit? They are so good at this 'good neighbor' act that people are electing Liberty Republicans en masse to represent them in the legislature — when they should be electing people like me who want to change the state motto, establish an income tax, and transform New Hampshire into the state of California that I left behind!”
Fifth, for the policy changes she complains about, let me break down a few for what she really means:
“Defunding public schools” — Liberty Republicans have established universal school choice in NH. Government schools only lose funding if families don’t want to send their kids there.
“Public health” — We all experienced what slave staters did with these public health programs in 2020 and 2021.
“Support for small business” — Small businesses need economic freedom, not corporate welfare.
New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Accounts are a good example of how the current legislature represents profiteers, not people. Voters testified during legislative hearings by a margin of 10-to-1 against expanding EFA eligibility to wealthy families, but our testimony was ignored. The state education fund is being plundered while taxes rise and public schools struggle. At the same time, we’re denied any say about curricula, standards, practices or outcomes. Is this not taxation without representation?
Sixth, I had a similar experience in Maine.
When Democrats wanted to expand abortion to legalize killing babies in the womb until the moment of birth for any reason whatsoever, the opposition to that bill was even more than 10:1. The hearing lasted for 26 straight hours, but the only testimony my Democrat colleagues seemed to care about was the Planned Parenthood lobbyist. Party leaders rammed it through using every legislative trick in the book, including threatening Democrat representatives who had sincere ethical objections.
Perhaps I am just too desensitized to have much sympathy for this argument.
Seventh, she says they are “denied any say about curricula, standards, practices, and outcomes.”
I am curious if Jean had anything to say when school boards were invoking the Patriot Act against conservative parents who were speaking up at school board meetings against progressive curricula and policies.
Either way, if she doesn’t feel she is being heard, she has the freedom to start a charter school or homeschool co-op (and she can even accept EFA funds for her teaching).
It’s not just education, either. For a decade, while clear majorities of state voters have called for worker protections; affordable health, housing, and energy; consumer protections; and clean air and water, our efforts have been blocked and vetoed. Now we know why: our state government represents its billionaire donors, not us.
Eighth, I will translate this paragraph for you.
Leftist Slave Staters in New Hampshire aren’t just failing to maintain government school monopolies, they are also losing ground on all of their other Marxist economic agendas that require the plundering of taxpayers and building overbearing regulatory bureaucracies to manage how we all live our lives.
This is a critical moment to stand up for the Granite State. FSP leaders recently told attendees at a training that they plan to “accelerate migration” to New Hampshire this year to achieve their goal of seceding from the Union and forming an independent nation-state powered by unregulated nuclear energy under a crypto-currency economy. What could possibly go wrong?
Ninth, this paragraph is a work of art. Do I need to say anything at all?
I will at least counter that she is mashing up a lot of different ideas from different people and painting them as a unified agenda.
Personally, I’m not a secession advocate (even though she does make it sound really cool). I am, however, a big believer in using 10th Amendment state powers to challenge unconstitutional federal policies.
(I also love nuclear energy and cryptocurrency — so I do feel a little seen in this paragraph!)
Elections are next year, and we have a state Constitution and representative government to defend. The Liberty Alliance publishes “liberty ratings,” which assess legislators based on how closely their voting records align with FSP goals. The higher their score, the more they need to be replaced.
Tenth, I agree with Jean: you should read the NHLA Legislative Scorecard.
Do with that information what you will, but if Jean faces another disappointing election, then maybe she will finally go back to California to be with her own people.
Outreach to Maine Gun Owners
This Friday and Saturday (August 23-24), our FSP Outreach Team is crossing the border into Taxationland and heading to the Augusta Gun Show in Maine.
The effort is being organized by our Maine Ambassador, Jaime Hussey. We are looking for volunteers who would like to join us for one or both days to:
Speak to Maine gun owners about the FSP’s mission and upcoming events in NH;
Sign up interested people for the FSP email newsletter; and
Sell FSP swag, including limited edition FSP-branded AR-15 magazines.
We can still use a few more volunteers, so hit reply to this email if you'd like to join in.
FSP Branded AR-15 Magazines. These limited edition items will be available for sale when the FSP Outreach Team travels to the Augusta Gun Show this August 23-24.
Finally, if you believe in our mission for a libertarian homeland in New Hampshire, I'd like to ask you to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project.
For as little as $10/month, you can support our year-round efforts to achieve "Liberty in Our Lifetime" — one new mover at a time.
Additionally, you will receive exclusive patron benefits, including our quarterly print newsletter, access to our private Signal group, and perks at all FSP events.
We currently have 180 active patrons and we want to reach 200 by the end of August. Can we count you in?
Porcupine Patron Pin. In addition to other fantastic benefits, every Porcupine Patron of the Free State Project receives this "Porcupine Patron Pin." These pins are not just for show! Patron pins grant access to exclusive perks at all FSP events, including VIP rooms, patron-only events, and courtesy drink tickets.
Click here to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project.
It is my honor to serve as Executive Director of the FSP.
For more of our weekly newsletter from the Free State, prepared with assistance from our Communications Director, Mahgdalen Rose, please read on.
For Liberty!
Hon. Eric Brakey
Executive Director
Free State Project
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
As noted above, on Sunday, September 21, we are hosting the first annual Granite Freedom Trek.
We are only making a limited number of tickets available for this moderate challenge, one-day, rain-or-shine, 5-mile hiking adventure through Mt. Cardigan and Mt. Firescrew.
Lace up your boots and take a hike with expert guide Derek Proulx and other Free State leaders, including Eric Brakey and Jason Sorens.
Grab your ticket now for the 1st annual Granite Freedom Trek.
This October, Columbus Day weekend is packed with events for families and digital asset enthusiasts alike.
FREE STATE FALL FEST:
For the entire three-day weekend (October 11-13), our friends at Independence Realty are organizing several family-friendly events across the state.
Activities will include apple picking, corn mazes, candlepin bowling, a family hike, and even an arcade day at Fun Spot (the largest arcade in the world).
CLICK HERE for more information and to RSVP for currently announced Fall Fest events.FREE STATE BITCOIN DIGITAL ASSET CONFERENCE:
On Sunday, October 12, the FSBDAC returns with discussions on cutting-edge issues and opportunities in the emerging realm of cryptocurrencies.
This event will be held at Wentworth by the Sea in beautiful New Castle, NH. Included with your ticket will be a light breakfast, coffee, refreshments, and lunch.
Registration is now open. CLICK HERE to Secure Your Ticket to the Free State Bitcoin Digital Asset Conference.
This November 9th, several friends with the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire are running in the Manchester City Marathon.
Under the team name, "LPNH for Defend The Guard," they are seeking to raise support and awareness for legislative efforts to bring our state national guard troops home from foreign wars not declared by Congress.
If you would like to run with the team, email Rachel Goldsmith for details: goldsmithrd@gmail.com.
Free State Voices
Porcupine Report #78: “Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing” with Lyn Ulbricht
In this episode of *The Porcupine Report*, Eric broadcasts from Ron Paul’s 90th birthday celebration in Lake Jackson, Texas. He reflects on Ron Paul’s legacy in sparking the modern liberty movement and highlights the success of the Free State Project in New Hampshire.
Brakey is joined by Lyn Ulbricht, who discusses her new organization, Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing (MACS), which fights against harsh and disproportionate prison terms. She shares stories of people serving life sentences for minor, nonviolent drug offenses, and explains how mass incarceration devastates families and communities. Together, they emphasize the failure of the drug war, the financial and human costs of long sentences, and the urgent need for reform. The conversation closes with gratitude for the liberty community and a call to continue Ron Paul’s message of freedom.
"The Economics of the Housing Crunch." Jason Sorens discussed the economics of the housing crunch in his latest virtual Salon.
News from the Free State
NH Bulletin: Lawmakers expand the ‘Right to Try’ for New Hampshire’s terminally ill
NHPR: New legislation curtails offshore wind development in New Hampshire
World Atlas: The Most Charming River Towns In New Hampshire
World Atlas: 2025's 11 Most Scenic New Hampshire Towns
Union Leader: Travis Tripodi: New Hampshire small businesses need Bitcoin
Laconia Daily Sun: New Hampshire Named 14th Most Affordable State for College Grads
Yahoo: New Hampshire's 2025 'I Voted' sticker contest open to 4th and 5th graders
PorcFest XXII
We have been publishing content from this year's Porcupine Freedom Festival.
Just as we did earlier this year with the NH Liberty Forum, we will be publishing PorcFest content on a rolling basis, several times a week, across multiple social media platforms. Please find below all content published since our last newsletter!
You can find all video content from FSP events on YouTube and all audio-only content on our Spotify podcast channel: "FSP Talks."
"Defending the Guard" with Tom Mannion"
Tom Mannion, a former Marine, delivers a passionate talk on the Defend the Guard movement, which seeks to keep state National Guard units under local control unless Congress issues a formal declaration of war. He explains that since World War II, U.S. wars have been fought under vague authorizations rather than proper declarations, allowing presidents to overreach constitutional limits. Mannion highlights how this misuse has drained Guard resources needed for domestic crises like hurricanes, wildfires, and border security. He also critiques the military-industrial complex and the use of Guardsmen for foreign interventions that often lack clear legal or moral justification. The legislation has support from figures across the political spectrum, including Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Senator Rand Paul. Mannion argues that passing Defend the Guard laws is essential both to uphold the Constitution and to keep communities protected at home.
"From Sovereign Old Nations to Silent Member States: The European Decline" with Claudia Nunes
In this talk, Claudia Nunes explores the transformation of Europe from sovereign nations into subordinate member states under the European Union. She traces this shift from the Treaty of Westphalia’s principle of sovereignty to the EU’s centralization of power through treaties like Maastricht and Lisbon. She criticizes the EU’s unelected institutions, heavy regulations, and repeated disregard for national referendums. Brexit is highlighted as a struggle to regain sovereignty, while other countries remain hesitant to leave due to economic and political pressures. Nunes warns that the EU fines, overregulation, and suppression of dissent create an authoritarian system that weakens national identity. Ultimately, she argues that Europe faces a growing clash between centralized authority and people demanding independence.
"Exposing the Voluntary Society that’s Surrounding You!" with Trent Larson
Trent Larson shares how voluntary communities are quietly forming and thriving, offering real alternatives to centralized systems. Drawing from his experiences in Utah and the Free State, he describes grassroots networks built on mutual aid, skill-sharing, and personal connection. He introduces *Time Safari*, a decentralized platform for giving thanks, offering services, and launching collaborative projects—designed to foster trust, reputation, and self-reliance without big tech oversight. Larson envisions these networks growing from local meetups into full-fledged governance alternatives, supported by sustainable agriculture and community-based identity systems. His mission is to help people connect with like-minded neighbors, experiment together, and build resilient, freedom-oriented societies from the ground up. Ultimately, he sees these efforts as the seeds of a voluntary future that could replace dependence on traditional government structures.
Watch his full remarks from PorcFest XXII.
As Seen In the Free State
Crossing into the Free State! Whether you are driving in from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, or Quebec, it is normal to breathe a sigh of relief when you see that "Live Free or Die" motto on the highway.
You can just do things. In New Hampshire, why should you have to wait for permission from any government bureaucrat? These liberty state representatives just take care of things.
Happy 90th Birthday to Ron Paul. Director Brakey shares a memory of Ron Paul's joy and optimism in the face of disappointment. Click here to read the post.
New Hampshire is for builders. Do you want to build something for liberty? The Free State is the place to do it. Click here to read the post.
Some Upcoming Events:
Friday, Aug 22nd
Rollingsford, 6pm-9 - Cozy Movie Night - A cozy movie night watching Julie & Julia with snacks and community vibes. Expect soft lighting, Julie and Julia inspired food, and connection. Wear your coziest outfit or pj's. Bring your favorite movie snack, themed dish or drink. Open-invite. Hosted by Zephan Wood. (the SHELL, 3 Front St, Rollinsford, Unit B10)
Saturday, Aug 23rd
Lempster, 3pm-7 - Monthly Open Range & Monthly Challenge - Join Us for an Action-Packed Open Range Day! Get ready to elevate your shooting skills in a dynamic and supportive environment at our August Open Range Day! Compete in our Drill of the Month Competition! Come hone your abilities and take your shooting to the next level! Cost: $20 for full event range access. Firearm rentals and ammo are available for purchase at an additional charge. Hosted by Jesse Smith. (NORO Tactical Solutions, 186 Lempster Rd, Lempster)
Henniker, 5pm-6:45 - Community Circle - Gathering in community is a practice as old as time, and one that is needed now more than ever, in this age of digital communications. And so, we hold space every month for in-person connection. $22 suggested donation. Hosted by Lauren Noone. (Rooted Free Farm, 1040 Old Hillsboro Rd, Henniker)
Lancaster, 6:30-8:30 - North Country Enameling Jewelry Class - Learn the art of enameling, fusing vibrant glass powders to copper to create unique, colorful designs. Perfect for beginners and creatives alike, this hands-on workshop provides all materials and guidance to make a one-of-a-kind piece to wear or gift. Unleash your creativity in a fun, supportive setting! Members Fee for supplies: $15 for pendant (single piece) or $20 for earrings (2 pieces) (Non-members add $5 guest fee.) Hosted by Andrea Fletcher. (the Pine, 70 Main St, Lancaster)
Henniker, 7pm-9 - Ecstatic Dance - Dance can be a modality to reach ecstasy, through movement alone (substance free event). Led by incredible facilitator Kaylan Look, in the magical setting of an historic barn on beautiful grounds. No skill necessary! Expect a transformational evening. $20 suggested donation. Hosted by Lauren Noone. (Rooted Free Farm, 1040 Old Hillsboro Rd, Henniker)
Lempster, 7pm-11 - NORO Night Vision Open Range - We’ll be running dynamic drills in the shoot house and around our range vehicle, providing a realistic training environment. Night vision equipment will be available for rental once the sun sets, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. $20 gets you access for the entire event and we take care of the targets. Hosted by Jesse Smith. (NORO Tactical Solutions, 186 Keyes Hollow Rd, Lempster)
Sunday, Aug 24th
Lancaster, 10am-11 - North Country Sunday Yoga/Pilates - Join for a casual yoga and Pilates session. Open to all levels. Free for The 'Pine members ($5 donation for non-members). Hosted by Amy Norris. (the ‘Pine, 70 Main St, Lancaster)
Pembroke, 2pm-5 - Summer Potluck Picnic - A sunny summer potluck in the park to share food, play games, and hang out. Expect blankets, watermelon, kites, playgrounds, and joyful company. Bring a dish, fruit, your favorite park activity (musical instrument, game, kite, bubbles, chalk, sports equipment etc.), and a blanket. Hosted by Zephan Wood. (Memorial Park, 99 Pleasant St, Pembroke)
Manchester, 5pm-7:30 - Manchester Crypto Meetup - We’re not trying to shill any coin, token, or project. We are a group of individuals and businesses in support of cryptocurrency and its everyday uses. Hosted by Matt Ping. (Strange Brew, 88 Market St, Manchester)
Keene, 5pm-6 - Social Sunday - Enjoy the company of other liberty-loving people at NH's longest-running activist social! Hosted by Chris Waid. (Local Burger, 82 Main St, Keene)