A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Liberty Forum
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 2025
AUTHOR: Hon. Eric Brakey - Executive Director, Free State Project
Do you have a favorite coffee shop?
Since moving to Dover, NH, I spend many days sitting and working at a local place called "Breakaway Cafe."
I enjoy the atmosphere. Plus, as I've made my own "breakaway" from the state of Maine to help build the Free State of New Hampshire, it seems appropriately named.
It's a popular location -- and I often run into other Free Staters at that coffee shop (just as I did Monday, when four of us were there, working on liberty projects).
...But coffee is not only popular for those who love freedom.
As I worked on the schedule for the upcoming 2025 NH Liberty Forum (April 24-27), in walks a politician. How did I know he was a politician?
As a recovering politician myself, I recognized all the signs: the politician smile, the politician suit, and a look on his face that said, "If you make eye contact, I'm going to come over to shake your hand."
That's when I realized it was Democrat Congressman Chris Pappas.
Now, I'm still new to New Hampshire and learning all the players, but he's apparently planning a run for the U.S. Senate next year (and the media seems to think it's a big deal).
Sitting down at a large table, he was joined by half the local Democrat delegation of state representatives -- unknowingly surrounded on all sides by Free Staters.
Focused on my own work, I was not actively eavesdropping, but… we overheard them complaining about all the Free Staters moving into the area!
I could only laugh quietly to myself... as I continued working to bring more libertarians to New Hampshire.
I didn't even notice when some campaign staffer snapped a photo until it appeared on the Congressman's social media.
After sharing on X the bizarre experience and the comments we overheard, a few discerning people noticed something...
...the Executive Director of the Free State Project sitting right over his shoulder in this picture posted on the Congressman's page.
He was somewhat rightfully met with a little bit of online ridicule.
It is nice to know that our libertarian concentration strategy is continuing to frustrate the tyrants.
Since I was in the middle of preparing for the conference, I suppose you could say, a funny thing happened on the way to Liberty Forum.
With only 27 days remaining until we kick-off this conference, we are working hard to make final preparations, confirm speakers, and make sure everyone knows to grab tickets before they sell out!
We have a few tickets remaining, and a few spots still open for sponsors and exhibitors.
The 2025 NH Liberty Forum is all about "Liberty-For-Real." How do we take liberty ideas from theory and bring them into the real world?
For the last seventy years, libertarians have been writing about liberty in books and white papers, but New Hampshire is the place where growing Free State communities and legislative coalitions are bringing those ideas into reality.
That’s why, the 2025 NH Liberty Forum is bringing together thinkers and problem solvers who are ready to bridge the gap from theory to practice: "Liberty-For-Real."
In fact, we have so many speakers from across New Hampshire and the Authoritarian 49 coming to participate, you'd have to be Chris Pappas or one of his grumpy statist friends to want to miss this.
On our main stage, speakers and panels will explore several areas where liberty-for-real policy advancements are taking place in state legislatures, including Defend the Guard, Digital Assets, Cannabis Freedom, Firearm Rights, and Educational Choice.
Lessons from past victories and present efforts will be discussed to apply to future fights to establish liberty-for-real.
To promote deeper exploration in our "Liberty-For-Real" Dialogue Series, ten presenters will address challenges faced by emerging free societies with proposed solutions — followed by an interactive brainstorming session with participants.
In the meanwhile, CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets for the 2025 New Hampshire Liberty Forum.
Of course, that's not all we are preparing for.
With winter now officially over, don't forget to plan ahead to Taste the Revolution this summer.
Join us for the 22nd annual Porcupine Freedom Festival this June 16-22, 2025!
In recent weeks, we've announced several new speakers for PorcFest, and one guest I am particularly excited to welcome is Clifton Duncan.
A Broadway star canceled in his prime for refusing to submit to COVID vaccine mandates, Clifton Duncan is now charting his own course -- developing a one-man show on the life of Thomas Sowell.
I enjoyed meeting Clifton myself last month on the Tom Woods Cruise and hearing his amazing singing voice as he gave a private concert for those in attendance.
For the first time, Clifton will join us at PorcFest to share his story and experiences -- and I hope you will join us there.
There are too many speakers joining us this year to tell you about them all in one post, but you can learn more at our website: PorcFest.com.
I was also pleased this week to welcome to my show, The Porcupine Report, one of our returning speakers for PorcFest this year: school choice champion, Corey DeAngelis.
The Porcupine Report, Episode 57
Corey DeAngelis is a prominent advocate for school choice. He joins the Porcupine Report to discuss the growing momentum of education freedom policies across the U.S., particularly in New Hampshire. Corey notes the rapid expansion of school choice in the last few years, with 15 states adopting universal programs as well as how pandemic school closures awakened parents to problems in public education, fueling the push for school choice. He emphasizes the need for continued activism to dismantle bureaucratic control over education. Corey’s book, “The Parent Revolution” can be found here.
It is my honor to serve as Executive Director of the FSP, and I hope to see you at both the NH Liberty Forum and the Porcupine Freedom Festival.
If you would like to support our continued outreach efforts, then please CLICK HERE to become a patron of the Free State Project.
Thank you for supporting our mission to achieve "Liberty in Our Lifetime" — one new mover at a time.
Please read on for more of our weekly update from the Free State, prepared by our Communications Director, Mahgdalen Rose.
For Liberty!
Hon. Eric Brakey
Executive Director
Free State Project
FSP Podcast Appearances!
Dennis Pratt - Is Libertarianism Growing? Insights on the Future Free Cities Podcast, Episode 121: "Liberty, Community & The Free State Project" with Dennis Pratt.
Our Executive Director sits down with Monica Perez!
The Free State Project & Libertarian Solutions for the Real World w/ Eric Brakey