At the NH Liberty Forum
Friday, April 24, 2025
Join us for the kick-off Liberty Forum 2025 with a welcome from Hon. Eric Brakey, Executive Director of the Free State Project and lead producer for this conference. A three-term state senator from Maine who relocated last year to lead the Free State Project, Eric has been engaged in the effort to restore liberty since he led the 2012 Ron Paul campaign in the Pine Tree State. In his welcome address, Eric Brakey will speak to the purpose of the 2025 New Hampshire Liberty Forum.
In previous decades, libertarian ideas mostly existed in the theoretical world of white papers and journal articles. All that has changed. Today, multiple libertarian revolutions are happening all at once. Liberty Republicans in the mold of Ron Paul have won hundreds of seats in state legislatures across the country. A Bitcoin and digital asset revolution, conceived in Austrian economics, threatens the primacy of central banks in worldwide monetary systems. A school choice revolution, rooted in the Chicago School ideas of Milton Friedman, is sweeping state legislatures. More homeschooling families than ever are claiming total responsibility for the education of their children, building large education networks that compete directly with government schools.
Eric Brakey will welcome you to this conference and invite you to engage in the discussion on “Liberty-For-Real.” How do we bring more liberty ideas from the theoretical world into the one where real people live? How do we ensure the success of emerging free societies? What liberty revolution are on the horizon? What can we learn from past and present efforts around New Hampshire, the country, and the world?
This NH Liberty Forum marks 24 years since the announcement of the Free State Project by Jason Soren. Since then, New Hampshire was selected as the location for this libertarian mass migration movement. Many thousands have made the move, shifting the politics and the culture of the already libertarian state further in the direction of freedom. Those gains for liberty have compounded over the past generation. New Hampshire is now consistently ranked #1 for freedom among the American states. Robust libertarian community abounds in all corners of the state with multiple clubhouses and daily events.
To help kick of Liberty Forum 2025, we welcome Jason Sorens to speak to the successes and challenges of the Free State Project over its first generation, and aims for the generation ahead.
Join Dennis for an engaging discussion on how to accelerate the Free State Project’s growth and reach the goal of 20,000 activists in just 10 years. While the classic diffusion curve suggests a slow path, Dennis will explore how to overcome obstacles and boost migration from 5-10 movers a month to 100+ a month.
The solution? A decentralized, multi-prong communications strategy targeting affinity groups to spark rapid, organic growth. Dennis will also highlight the unexpected successes achieved with only a fraction of the desired diffusion, showing that the movement is already stronger than anticipated. Don’t miss this insightful exploration of scaling the Free State Project!
Rep. Tom Mannion is the New Hampshire House Assistant Majority Whip, representing the people of Pelham in his second term.
A participant in the Free State Project, Tom moved from Massachusetts in 2020 to escape the lockdowns and COVID tyranny. As a retired U.S. Marine, Rep. Mannion is known in the NH Legislature as a champion for Defend the Guard legislation, bringing our troops home from wars not declared by Congress.
At the NH Liberty Forum, Rep. Tom Mannion will deliver a mainstage talk on the state of liberty in the New Hampshire state legislature — giving an overview of active policy battles and what they mean for the development of the Free State.
Ted Patterson is a seasoned political strategist and the Vice President of Grassroots at Young Americans for Liberty (YAL), where he has been a driving force behind the passage of over 500 pro-liberty bills across the country. With extensive experience in activism, candidate training, policy consulting, and legislative strategy, Ted has worked at every level of politics—from the campaign trail to elected office.
In his talk, Ted will shatter establishment narratives about on the functioning of political and legislative systems, laying out pure mechanics on “The Real Nature of Politics” and how you can work the system to advance liberty for real.
In the second session of our “Liberty-For-Real” Dialogue Series, join Hon. Eric Brakey for a presentation and discussion on tax nullification.
The national government steals our money through taxes, debt, and inflation, then ransoms it back with string attached — turning our once sovereign states into marionette puppets in their unconstitutional power grabs.
State legislatures to exercise their constitutional decision-making authority over a wide variety of issues (including education, healthcare, gun rights, drinking ages, and motor vehicle laws) find themselves unable to act without the threat of lost federal funding.
How do we cut these puppet strings, restore state sovereignty, and protect liberty in the face of federal overreach?
Eric Brakey proposes “tax nullification” — the idea that state legislatures interpose between taxpayers and the IRS to (1) deny the transfer of tax dollars to the federal government for unconstitutional expenditures and (2) invert the current financial power dynamics between the states and national government.
Hon. Eric Brakey is the current Executive Director of the Free State Project and Lead Producer for the 2025 NH Liberty Forum. A retired three-term Maine State Senator, Brakey is best known as the author of the Pine Tree State’s constitutional carry law. He began in politics as the Maine State Director of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign.
A liberty champion in the Maine House of Representatives, Laurel Libby was silenced and censured by the Democrat majority this year for a social media post against biological males competing in girls sports in government schools. Now, Rep. Libby is not allowed to speak or vote on the House floor until she “apologizes” — which she refuses to do.
She may be silenced in Maine, but she is welcome in the Free State to speak from the main stage at the 2025 NH Liberty Forum on the stifling of free speech as a political tool of authoritarian in state politics.
As the New Hampshire Commissioner of Education these last eight years, Frank Edelblut has served as the administrative architect of the school choice revolution taking place in New Hampshire.
Now, as the Education Freedom Account model that he pioneered heads toward universal access for NH families, Commissioner Edelblut will address Liberty Forum participants on the morning of Friday, April 25th with his remarks, “Education Freedom Accounts: Seed Capital for Bright Futures.”
Frank Edelblut is a businessman, former state legislator, and outgoing New Hampshire Commissioner of Education who has spent years fighting to put families—not bureaucracies—in charge of education.
As a state representative (2014–2016), he championed school choice and limited government, and as Education Commissioner (2017–2025), he led initiatives like Yes! Scholarships and Learning Pods to give parents more control over their children’s learning.
Details to follow.
Lunch buffet will be a chilled Italian table and will be served in the Welcome Hall. Grab some lunch at the buffet and join us in the Exhibition Hall for remarks by FSP Director, Eric Brakey.
Grab some lunch at the buffet and join us in the Exhibition Hall for remarks by FSP Director, Eric Brakey.
Struggling in public school is all too common—whether due to anxiety, bullying, boredom, or being left behind academically—all while school district budgets soar.
Education Options (EdOpt) empowers families to take control of their children’s education by exploring flexible, personalized alternatives. Join Jody for a powerful discussion on the challenges in our school system and the bold solutions EdOpt is driving to revolutionize learning.
John Weeks is a corporate and branding consultant.
He is a feature writer at The Libertarian Institute, where he focuses on applying “Corporate Agent Theory” to the State. He argues that, despite its lack of phenomenal consciousness, the State has its own beliefs, desires, and intentions, all of which are inimical to liberty. As a contributor to the Libertarian Institute, he offers nuanced perspectives on how centralized authority impacts individual freedoms.
In his upcoming talk, “The Global Source of Censorship and the Local Voice of Liberty,” John examines the origins and mechanisms of censorship in the modern world. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges to free speech and the ways in which grassroots movements are asserting their voices in defense of liberty.
Rep. David Boyer (R-ME) began in Maine politics as a field staffer for the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign.
David went on to serve as the Maine Director for the Marijuana Policy Project, leading the 2016 referendum campaign that legalized adult-use cannabis statewide and lobbying over subsequent years for successful implementation.
Currently, he is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives, elected by the people of Poland and Mechanic Falls. He serves at the GOP lead on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, which oversees all state cannabis policy.
During his remarks at the 2025 NH Liberty Forum, Rep. David Boyer will discuss how libertarian influence in the crafting of Maine’s medical and adult use cannabis policies has resulted in competitive and consumer-friendly industries that resist corporate monopolization through the embrace of free market principles.
Dana Rohrabacher is a former speech writer for Ronald Reagan who played a leading role in the formulation of the Reagan Doctrine on foreign policy during the final days of the Cold War.
A self-described anarcho-capitalist, Rohrabacher served in the U.S. House of Representatives from California for thirty years from 1989 to 2019.
One of his most notable legacies during his time in Congress was the adoption of the Rohrabacher Amendment — legislation that prohibits the U.S. Justice Department from spending funds to interfere with state medical cannabis laws.
This accomplishment helped to “defang” and defund the federal government’s war on cannabis, giving states more breathing room to nullify federal cannabis laws.
What if you could choose where your tax dollars go—rewarding effective government and cutting off waste?
Tax Choice introduces competition into public finance, letting citizens allocate their taxes to the local, state, or federal level based on performance. With transparency, accountability, and efficiency at its core, this model challenges the monopoly of traditional taxation.
Join Nick for a dynamic discussion on how Tax Choice could reshape governance, empower taxpayers, and bring real fiscal accountability. Is this the future of taxation? Let’s dive in.
Carla Gericke is an author, activist, and attorney born in South Africa. She immigrated to the United States in the 1990s after winning a green card in the Diversity Visa Lottery. Carla practiced law in South Africa and California, working with companies like Apple Computer and Logitech. She is also the President Emeritus of the Free State Project, an organization aiming to attract 20,000 liberty activists to New Hampshire.
Louis Calitz is a biokineticist who was previously based in Cape Town, South Africa. Alongside his wife, he co-founded Calitz & Calitz Biokineticists, focusing on improving clients’ physical health through individualized exercise programs. Louis has also served as a Senior Development Economist, assisting organizations like the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa in evaluating commercial potentials.
In their joint presentation, “What Americans Can Learn from South Africa,” Carla and Louis will share insights from their diverse experiences. Together, they provide a unique lens on overcoming systemic challenges and fostering personal empowerment.
Skot Sheller is a passionate advocate for liberty and the leader of the Free State Ambassador program. He also serves as the lead organizer of the Shell Clubhouse and the FSP Ambassador to Argentina. Skot has closely followed the political journey of Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, and is actively working to bring Milei’s lessons and principles to broader audiences.
In his talk, ” The Liberty for Real Lessons of Argentina,” Skot will dive deep into the real-world application of liberty through the lens of Milei’s radical reforms. From dollarizing the economy to slashing government spending, Skot will highlight the lessons that liberty-minded individuals can learn from Argentina’s bold political shift. Drawing parallels to movements in other countries, he will explore how freedom-oriented policies can be the key to tackling global economic challenges and reshaping the future.
Lily Tang Williams is a Chinese-born American activist, politician, and former congressional candidate in New Hampshire. Born in 1964 in Chengdu, China, she experienced the hardships of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution before immigrating to the United States in 1988. Lily became a U.S. citizen in 1994 and has since been an outspoken advocate for liberty. She is the founder and chair of the New Hampshire Asian American Coalition and a member of the Speakers Bureau of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
In her talk, “CCP Propaganda Strategies Adopted by the Washington Deep State,” Lily draws on her personal experiences to analyze the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) propaganda tactics, focusing on how these methods—such as disinformation and media manipulation—are reflected in the U.S. Government.
How can the Free State Project prove its strategy is working—and use that proof to bring more libertarians to New Hampshire? So far, traditional measures have fallen short, either failing to show direct FSP influence or underestimating its true impact on policy, culture, and governance.
Join Jason for a deep dive into a new, scientific approach to measuring the FSP’s effect on freedom in New Hampshire. By establishing clear “proof of concept,” we can strengthen the case for liberty and accelerate the Free State movement.
Details to follow.
Representative Keith Ammon is a Liberty Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing the 40th District. He is known for his forward-thinking approach to financial and economic policy, which includes his recent proposal to establish a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” for the state of New Hampshire.
In his talk, “A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for New Hampshire?” Representative Ammon discusses the potential of Bitcoin as a reserve asset for state finances. His presentation offers a deep dive into how states like New Hampshire could embrace digital assets and cryptocurrency as a way to modernize and enhance their financial strategies.
Bruce Fenton is Founder and CEO of Chainstone Labs, an investment and advisory holding company focused on securities and Bitcoin.
Bruce has over 30 years as a licensed financial professional and economic advisor. He focuses on free markets and Austrian economics. Bruce is founder and Co-Host of the Satoshi Roundtable, an annual retreat that gathers developers, CEOs, founders, academics and investors, now in its 12th year.
Bruce lives in New Hampshire, where he ran for US Senate in 2022 as a liberty republican and is active in free state politics.
Bruce has been working in Bitcoin full time since 2013. He served as executive director and board member for the Bitcoin Foundation, founded the original Bitcoin Association industry group and has spoken at numerous industry conferences. He has served on several boards. He is the founder of the Dubai Bitcoin Conference, organizer of Devcore and an active investor.
Details to follow.
Saturday, April 25, 2025
Join Matt for a groundbreaking discussion on creating and sustaining free communities that respect individual rights.
He’ll introduce a novel approach that uses AI, psychology, and Web3 technology to address key challenges in building voluntary societies.
This discussion will explore how we can improve conflict resolution and maintain community integrity using innovative tools. This system integrates behavioral science, psychometrics, and blockchain to foster trust and shared values—advancing the cause of liberty in practical, measurable ways.
Don’t miss this exciting vision for the future of free communities!
Details to follow.
Details to follow.
Details to follow.
Join Carla for an engaging discussion on how the liberty movement can connect more deeply with others by blending IQ and EQ.
She’ll explore the power of storytelling—why we care about liberty, what shaped us, and how sharing our personal stories can humanize the cause and inspire action. Let’s brainstorm ways to train liberty advocates to tell their stories in ways that resonate emotionally, creating stronger, more authentic connections.
If we want liberty to thrive, we need to start winning hearts, not just arguments.
Carla Gericke is an author, activist, and attorney born in South Africa. She immigrated to the United States in the 1990s after winning a green card in the Diversity Visa Lottery. Carla practiced law in South Africa and California, working with companies like Apple Computer and Logitech. She is also the President Emeritus of the Free State Project, an organization aiming to attract 20,000 liberty activists to New Hampshire.
Will Ruger is a distinguished scholar and policy expert specializing in American foreign policy, military affairs, and political philosophy.
He currently serves as the President of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), where he advocates for a realistic approach to international relations.
Ruger earned his Ph.D. in Politics from Brandeis University and holds an A.B. from the College of William & Mary. His academic work has focused on state politics and policy, and he has contributed to numerous scholarly articles.
In his talk, “A Free Republic Requires Realism,” Ruger argues that a pragmatic and realistic foreign policy is essential to preserving the principles of a free republic. Ruger’s insights are informed by his experiences, including serving as a U.S. Navy officer, and his advocacy for restraint in foreign policy continues to shape debates on America’s role in global affairs.
Sgt. Dan McKnight is a dedicated veteran who has served in the United States Marines, Army, and National Guard.
He is the founder and chairman of Bring our Troops Home, an organization advocating for the responsible use of the National Guard and promoting a more restrained foreign policy. His efforts aim to empower citizens to actively participate in shaping defense policies, ensuring that military engagements are undertaken with careful consideration and public support.
In his presentation, “Awakening the Remnant: Building a Grassroots Army to Rein in the War Machine,” Sgt. McKnight emphasizes the importance of grassroots activism in influencing national defense policies.
Details to follow.
For the first time, the 2025 NH Liberty Forum will host a SoHo Forum debate, moderated by the great Gene Epstein.
Eric Brakey (Executive Director for the Free State Project) will take the affirmative on the resolution.
Andrew Heaton (host of the Political Orphanage and author of “Tribalism is Dumb”) will take the negative on the resolution.
This will be a debate under Oxford rules, meaning that the audience will be polled at the beginning and end of the debate to vote — “Yes,” “No,” or “Undecided” — on the resolution.
Whoever shifts the vote in his favor will be declared the “winner.”
Don’t miss out on this exciting debate, only at the 2025 NH Liberty Forum!
Details to follow.
Love the concept of marriage, but don’t think the state should have a say? Join Mitch for the “proposal” of an exciting new bill that champions personal liberty and puts control of relationships where it belongs: back in the hands of individuals!
Mitch’s Marriage Liberty Act allows consenting adults to create contractual marriages, free from government interference and regulation. No exceptions, no state-imposed rules, and no family court! This is a game-changing approach to personal freedom and autonomy, so don’t miss this exciting dialogue!
Matt McCaw is the Executive Director of the Greater Idaho movement, which advocates for shifting the border between Oregon and Idaho to better reflect the cultural and political values of eastern Oregon.
The Greater Idaho movement has gained significant attention and support, though it also faces opposition. McCaw’s talk provides an in-depth look at the potential benefits and challenges of this bold strategy for greater political and cultural alignment within the state.
In his presentation, “Greater Idaho: Shifting State Borders as a Strategy for Freedom,” McCaw explores the legal and logistical aspects of shifting state lines, highlighting that such a change is possible through an interstate compact and approval from Congress.
He argues that this border adjustment would give residents in these regions greater political representation and influence, allowing them to live under a state government that aligns more closely with their values.
Andrew Heaton is a comedian, author, and political satirist known for his insightful commentary on societal issues. He hosts “The Political Orphanage” podcast, where he explores political and cultural topics with humor and depth.
His recent book, Tribalism Is Dumb: Where It Came From, How It Got So Bad, and What to Do About It, delves into the origins and impact of tribalistic thinking in modern society.
In his presentation based on his recent book, Heaton examines the evolutionary roots of tribalism and how it influences contemporary politics and social interactions.
Heaton also offers strategies for individuals and society to mitigate the negative effects of tribalism, promoting more nuanced and respectful conversations across differing viewpoints. His work encourages audiences to reflect on their own biases and consider the broader implications of groupthink on societal cohesion.
Details to follow.
Join Matt for an exciting discussion on how to build a truly free society!
As population centers grow, many rural areas are stuck under governments that don’t reflect their values. Matt will explore a bold solution: redrawing state borders.
Rural counties can choose to stay in their current state or join a neighboring one that better aligns with their needs. This could create win-win situations for citizens, improve governance, and ease political tensions.
Whether you live in New Hampshire, or beyond, come discuss solutions with a liberty-for-real pioneer!
Daniel Diaz is the Executive Director of Citizens for Sound Money, an organization focused on advocating for the restoration of gold and silver as legal tender in the United States. With a background in financial services as a stockbroker and financial advisor, Diaz is deeply passionate about promoting financial literacy and sound monetary policies.
Join Stephen for a crucial discussion on how the Free State Project can evolve to attract more libertarians and build a true Libertarian Homeland.
While many see the FSP as too aligned with the GOP, limiting its appeal, Stephen believes the movement needs a clear long-term goal and a strategy to accelerate migration.
Stephen’s goal is to attract more voters and independent liberty builders to New Hampshire, and brainstorm programs that will encourage libertarians to make the move.
Don’t miss this opportunity to help redefine the FSP’s vision, take bold action, and push toward real liberty without the constraints of partisan politics!
Angela McArdle is a prominent figure in the Libertarian Party, having served as its National Chair from May 2022 until her resignation in February 2025. She previously held the position of Secretary for the Libertarian Party of California and was the party’s nominee in the 2017 and 2018 congressional elections in California’s 34th district.
In her presentation, “The Heart of the Deal,” McArdle delves into the intricacies of political negotiations and coalition-building within the context of advancing libertarian principles. Her insights are particularly valuable for those interested in understanding the dynamics of political strategy and the application of libertarian ideals in the pursuit of a freer society.
Exhibition Hall:
Dinner is Served for VIP Ticket Holders.
Choice of Steak, Salmon, or Stir Fried Veggies.
Live Auction to Follow.
Remarks By
Jeff Deist (KEYNOTE)