At the NH Liberty Forum
For those arriving early on Thursday, join us for a tour of the New Hampshire State House, guided by longtime Free Stater and veteran state legislator, Rep. Dan McGuire. Meet in the lobby, also known as the “Hall of Flags.”
For those in attendance on Thursday evening, we will be hosting a Welcome Reception in the Constitution Room, just off the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott Concord hotel, attached to the Grappone Conference Center.
Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Cash bar open.
Friday, April 25, 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?
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.
This NH Liberty Forum marks 24 years since the announcement of the Free State Project by Jason Sorens. 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.
Jason Sorens, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and Principal Investigator of the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas, a comprehensive database mapping zoning regulations. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Yale University and a B.A. in economics and philosophy from Washington and Lee University. Sorens has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles, Secessionism (McGill-Queens University Press), and co-authored Freedom in the 50 States (Cato Institute). His research focuses on housing policy, land-use regulation, fiscal federalism, and secessionist movements. A former director at Saint Anselm College’s Center for Ethics in Society, he has taught at Yale, Dartmouth, and the University at Buffalo, earning two teaching awards. Sorens, a conservative libertarian, founded the Free State Project in 2001.
Free State Project (FSP) migration to New Hampshire
lags significantly; ~7,000 movers remain after 22 years,
far from the ~28,000 needed for the 2% population
target, potentially requiring 70+ years. Restrictive local
zoning inflates housing costs, deterring crucial
younger libertarians.
Dennis Pratt proposes a solution: The “Second Free Town Project” proposes a tactical solution: concentrate ~50 committed liberty activists in one selected small town (~1,000-2,000 pop.).
By integrating respectfully (“Be a Good Neighbor”) and
gaining planning board influence, this group can
achieve targeted zoning reform in a small area.
The objective is enabling affordable starter homes,
directly addressing the FSP’s primary recruitment/retention bottleneck. This requires strong
leadership, a committed team, careful town selection,
and disciplined, low-profile execution, learning from
past failures, to provide a replicable model for
accelerating liberty.
Dennis Pratt is a libertarian activist, writer, and speaker known for promoting voluntaryism and individual freedom. A New Hampshire resident, he has been a key figure in the Free State Project, encouraging libertarians to relocate to the state to advance liberty-focused policies. Pratt has contributed to libertarian discourse through platforms like Quora, where he shares insights on living a “loving, peaceful, voluntary life” based on over 40 years of study. He has also engaged in community efforts, including supporting zoning reform to address housing issues, often referencing works like the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas. Pratt’s advocacy emphasizes non-coercion, free markets, and personal responsibility. He resides in New Hampshire, actively participating in the liberty movement.
Join us on at the Main Stage as Rep. Tom Mannion will delivers his assessment on the state of liberty in the New Hampshire House and Senate.
Now that liberty lovers account for a quarter of the House and Senate (according to the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance), the advancement of libertarian policies into state law has become more realistic than ever before.
So far, Free Staters in the legislature helped establish one the first states with Constitutional Carry and Education Freedom Accounts, generated the first lower chamber to pass Defend the Guard, and abolish multiple forms of taxation. What more is possible for the future?
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.
The political system works, but not how the establishment tells you.
The politicians can love and manipulate you, or they can fear and respect you. If you want to be effective in grassroots liberty politics, armed with the ability to push the politicians toward liberty, then you owe it to yourself to learn the “Real Nature of Politics.”
Bill Gillmeister is a Ph.D. Agricultural Economist turned grassroots activist with nearly 30 years’ experience in legislative procedure, general parliamentary procedure, and political mobilization. He is the parliamentarian and Wyoming State Director for American Action Fund, a project of Young Americans for Liberty. Prior to working with American Action Fund, Bill worked, first as Finance Director then Executive Director, of Renew Massachusetts Coalition, a grassroots mobilization organization in Massachusetts. Bill has served as Massachusetts Republican State Committeeman from 2012 to 2016 and on his local school committee for 15 years. He currently serves as Brookfield Town Moderator.
This keynote talk is recommended for any liberty lover who wants to be effective working the political system.
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 strings 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.
What happens when the people elect you, but a partisan majority in the legislature votes to strip you and your constituents of their right to be heard?
That’s what happened to Rep. Laurel Libby of Maine, a three-term liberty legislator censured by the Democrat House Majority for a social media post objecting to biological males competing in girls sports in government schools. In Orwellian fashion, Rep. Libby has been silenced and is not allowed to speak or vote again in the Maine Legislature until she apologizes, which she refuses to do.
Even The Boston Globe has called Rep. Laurel Libby “a free speech martyr,” going onto insist: “A basic respect for democracy argues for letting the voters in her district, not the House leadership, be the ones to decide whether her actions disqualify her . . . ,”
She may be silenced in Maine, but she is welcome to speak at the 2025 NH Liberty Forum about the silencing of dissent in state legislatures and how to ensure they can’t keep you quiet.
Rep. Laurel Libby, a third-term Maine legislator representing House District 90 (Minot and parts of Auburn), is a staunch advocate for individual liberty, limited government, and personal responsibility. A former ICU nurse, small business owner, and lifelong Mainer, she champions tax cuts, school choice, and reducing regulations for small businesses. Libby co-founded The Dinner Table PAC, Maine’s largest conservative grassroots organization. In 2025, she faced censure from the Democrat majority for her free speech stance on biological males in girls’ sports, yet remains committed to defending open debate and dissent.
How do we flip the incentive of public education funding to empower families and students, instead of ever-expanding bureaucracies and teachers unions?
As the New Hampshire Commissioner of Education these last eight years, Frank Edelblut has worked on that question
as the administrative architect of school choice in New Hampshire.
When parents rose up during the COIV Era, Commissioner Edelblut worked with grassroots school choice leaders to establish Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) — funding students, not systems, by putting state education dollars directly in the hands of families. (This model has been since replicated in many states across the country, further demonstrating the value of New Hampshire as a libertarian laboratory for policy innovation.
As the NH Legislature moves toward universal access to EFAs (not limited by household income) and he Commissioner Edelblut winds down his second and final term in his office, he will address the 2025 NH Liberty Forum participants with keynote remarks on these school choice innovations.
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.
In the post-COVID era, a growing consensus has emerged on the political right that taxpayer funding of government school systems has failed to deliver education that is accountable to students and families.
While some states (like New Hampshire) have blazed a trail forward on reform with Education Freedom Accounts, others (like Maine) remain stuck in systems that favor the interests of unions and bureaucracies over families.
How do states make the transition to new education models? And why are some states committed to maintaining failing systems?
Join us for a conversation between four state legislators and leaders on education freedom.
Rep. Laurel Libby, a third-term Maine legislator representing House District 90 (Minot and parts of Auburn), is a staunch advocate for individual liberty, limited government, and personal responsibility. A former ICU nurse, small business owner, and lifelong Mainer, she champions tax cuts, school choice, and reducing regulations for small businesses. Libby co-founded The Dinner Table PAC, Maine’s largest conservative grassroots organization. In 2025, she faced censure from the Democrat majority for her free speech stance on biological males in girls’ sports, yet remains committed to defending open debate and dissent.
Rep. Kristin Noble is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Hillsborough County District 2. She serves as vice chair of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee. A longtime attendee of the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, Rep. Noble is actively involved in the state’s liberty movement. In 2024, she earned an A+ rating from the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance (NHLA), reflecting her strong support for individual freedom and limited government. Her legislative focus includes expanding school choice, protecting parental rights, and opposing government overreach.
Rep. Glenn Cordelli has served in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives since 2012, representing Carroll District 7 (Moultonborough, Sandwich, Tuftonboro) since 2022 after redistricting from Carroll District 4. Now in his fourth term, he won re-election in 2024 and serves as chair of the Education Policy and Administration Committee. He champions education freedom, sponsoring bills for Education Freedom Accounts and parental rights, and has advocated for repealing the NH Blaine Amendment.
Sen. Victoria Sullivan represents New Hampshire’s Senate District 18 (Litchfield and Manchester Wards 5-9), assuming office in 2024. A Manchester resident, she previously served as a State Representative for Hillsborough 16 (2014-2018), where she was Assistant Majority Leader (2017-2018). She directs Freedom Staffing, a nonprofit aiding workforce reentry, and chairs a faith-based sober home. She advocates for education freedom, parental rights, and lower government regulations.
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.
After 22 years, the Free State Project has advanced from a few hundred movers to many thousands who have planted roots, established families, built institutions, shaped culture, and altered the trajectory of state politics.
That’s where we’ve come from, but where are we now and where are we going?
For the annual “State of the Free State,” delivered each year at the NH Liberty Forum, grab some lunch and join us in the Dining Hall for remarks by FSP Director, Eric Brakey.
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.
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.
Jody Underwood, Ph.D., is the founding president of Education Options, a non-profit whose mission is to provide information, support, and connections to families who want to explore education options. Jody has spent almost all of her life involved in education. Retired in 2023, she’s a learning scientist — she designed and produced software to help students learn or be assessed. She served on the Croydon NH school board from 2010-2022 and has been involved in education choice in NH at many different levels. For more information about Jody’s background, see https://edopt.org/about/
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 as 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 notable legacies during his time in Congress was 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 seasoned Software Engineer whose dynamic career has spanned Silicon Valley, startups, Fortune 100 companies, and Big Tech, often in leadership roles. Originally from South Africa, he relocated to the US in 1996 with his wife, Carla Gericke, landing in Silicon Valley just as the dot-com boom ignited. After a startup setback, realizing he hadn’t had the time to read a book in years, he found an intriguing online rabbit hole. In short order, after reading Hayek, Mises, Rothbard, Hoppe, and more, economics finally made sense, and the State did not. To someone that builds things to create a better world, the FSP is the only game in town to build something real on the ideas of liberty. Moving to New Hampshire in 2008, Louis has been helping to drive the liberty movement forward, serving on the boards of the FSP and the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance (NHLA). Now, he is working on neighborhood-scale community initiatives with We Heart West, Friends of Piscataquog River Park, and Strong Towns Manchester.
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.
Jason Sorens, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and Principal Investigator of the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas, a comprehensive database mapping zoning regulations. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Yale University and a B.A. in economics and philosophy from Washington and Lee University. Sorens has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles, Secessionism (McGill-Queens University Press), and co-authored Freedom in the 50 States (Cato Institute). His research focuses on housing policy, land-use regulation, fiscal federalism, and secessionist movements. A former director at Saint Anselm College’s Center for Ethics in Society, he has taught at Yale, Dartmouth, and the University at Buffalo, earning two teaching awards. Sorens, a conservative libertarian, founded the Free State Project in 2001.
Kumar Bukkapatnam is a principal at Standard Management, an asset tokenization firm focusing on computational governance.
With a background in mathematics and applied key cryptography, Kumar will discuss tokenization’s live applications and technical challenges moving into a decentralized computing framework.
Dr. Karl Kreder, “Dr. K,” a visionary blockchain innovator, is leading the development of Quai Network, a cutting-edge Layer-1 blockchain.
With over a decade of experience from ConsenSys and building hardware wallets, he’s driven to build decentralized finance and energy-backed digital currencies that prioritize resilience. Dedicated researcher and advocate for individual autonomy and censorship-resistant Proof-of-Work systems to empower a decentralized future.
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.
As cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, emerged as a technology, many proponents promised that it would serve as a medium of exchange with the potential to challenge even the U.S. Dollar the basis for market transactions — both locally and internationally.
In recent years, however, even as the dollar denominated value of Bitcoin and various cryptocurrencies have reach record highs on the basis of utility as a store of value and speculative projections on future value, the adoption of cryptocurrency as a medium of exchange in the marketplace has slowed and backslide in many areas.
This panel will discuss, “What happened to crypto adoption?” Should marketplace adoption of cryptocurrency remain a goal of the movement behind it? Or should we be content with the functions this technology has already established its value on the basis of?
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.
Joël Valenzuela is a prominent cryptocurrency advocate, journalist, and marketing expert based in New Hampshire. As a key figure in the Free State Project, he promotes libertarian principles and decentralized finance. Since 2013, Valenzuela has lived primarily on cryptocurrency, and currently serves as the business development and marketing lead for Dash. He has written for Cointelegraph, spoken at conferences like the Texas Bitcoin Conference, and hosts a podcast and YouTube channel on crypto education. With a background in politics, including work with the Cato Institute and the White House under George W. Bush, he studied Statesmanship at George Wythe University and Global Affairs at the University of Buckingham. Valenzuela resides in New Hampshire, advancing liberty and blockchain innovation
Aaron Day is a libertarian activist, entrepreneur, and author based in Bedford, New Hampshire. A key figure in the Free State Project, which he chaired, Day moved to the state in 2009 to promote individual liberty. He ran as a Libertarian for New Hampshire governor in 2018 and as an independent for U.S. Senate in 2016, notably impacting the race by drawing 17,742 votes. A serial entrepreneur in technology, healthcare, and blockchain, he authored The Final Countdown, addressing Central Bank Digital Currencies. Day, a Brownstone Institute fellow, has led initiatives like the Crony Awards and Stark360 SuperPAC.
Matt Ping is a New Hampshire-based real estate broker and principal broker at Porcupine Real Estate, specializing in residential property management and sales. Managing approximately 300 units, including multi-family homes, single-family homes, and condo associations in the Manchester/Concord area, Ping has been a licensed real estate agent since 2007 and a broker since 2014. He graduated from Ball State University with degrees in Property Management and Business Management. As broker for Ledgeview Commercial Partners, which acquired Porcupine Real Estate, he focuses on facilitating relocations to New Hampshire, aligning with the firm’s liberty-oriented mission. Ping is a Free State Project supporter, advocating for low taxes and individual freedom. He resides in Manchester, NH.
The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance has a volunteer team of bill reviewers, editors and distributors who collectively communicate the pro-liberty position on state issues to legislators. Learn how NHLA reviews bills, develops their vote recommendation newsletter (The Gold Standard) and distributes it to legislators and the community.
Adam Haverstock is the Director of Legislative Research for the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance. He is responsible for NHLA’s bill review process and the distribution of The Gold Standard, NHLA’s legislator vote recommendation newsletter. He was selected by Americans for Prosperity – New Hampshire as their 2024 Freedom Fighter of the Year.
Prior to moving to New Hampshire in 2023, Adam worked for the California State Assembly as a legislative aide to California State Assemblyman Jeff Gorell. He was also campaign manager for Assemblyman Gorell’s state assembly campaign and re-election. He was recruited by the Greater Conejo Valley (CA) Chamber of Commerce to serve as their Director of Government Affairs, developing and executing the government affairs plan for a professional business association with over 1,100 members. He served in that role for 10 years, mainly working on labor, employment and land use issues.
Adam served as a member and chair of the Moorpark, California Planning Commission where he oversaw the review of zoning changes, proposals for commercial and residential development, the city’s capital improvement plan and conditional use permits.
Adam is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a bachelor’s and master’s degree. He served as Associated Students President, representing 38,000 students and graduated with leadership honors. He lives in Hudson with his wife Andrea and two children. He is an avid craft beer enthusiast.
Saturday, April 26, 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.
Matt Barney, Ph.D. is an Organizational Psychologist and serial entrepreneur. His newest company “TruMind.ai” creates trustworthy AI assessments and coaching. He is also the Founder and CEO of XLNC.co that has pioneered international AI coaching standards with the International Coaching Federation. Previously, he was the Founder and CEO of LeaderAmp, an award-winning platform for expert and Artificially Intelligent coaching and assessment until May of 2022. In his 30 year career in multinationals such as AT&T, Motorola, Merck and Infosys, Dr. Barney has innovated interdisciplinary science and technology resulting in four patents, fourteen books, 49 peer-reviewed works and over 200 keynotes. In 2020, LeaderAmp won the AI Award for Human Capital Development. In 2018, his team won two competitive international awards from the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology and the Association of Test Publishers. Since 2014, he has served on the Business Affairs committee of the board of not-for-profit scientific publisher Annual Reviews. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Tulsa.
The 19th of April, 1775, a day that forever changed the course of our Nation. Why is this such an important day and who was involved in the birth of our Nation?
It will not be the story you think you know, or the story you heard in school. The volunteers at the Project Appleseed are passionate about American Heritage. We love to tell people the Story of the Three Strikes, about ‘The Day the Shot was Heard Around the World.’ The volunteers are willing to tell the story to groups around the Nation.
- When and where was the American Revolution fought and won?
- When and where did the Revolutionary War actually start?
- What caused the professional British Army to break and run from colonial farmers and shopkeepers?
- Who fired the first shots of the Revolutionary War?
- What did Paul Revere really say as he made his midnight ride?
It will be the real story, the story that historians have discovered, the story of the first day of the American Revolution.
Along the way, the story will answer questions you didn’t even know existed, like:
Who fired the famous “Shot Heard Round the World”? Historians have debated this for years, but you’ll find out the real answer at a LibertySeed.
Why did it take “three strikes of the match” before the American Revolution began? Yes, you believe the Revolution started on Lexington Green, when Capt John Parker’s men were shot down by the redcoats – but surprisingly, it did not began there. Nor did it begin with the fighting at the North Bridge in Concord a few hours later. You’ll learn the name of the obscure place the revolution REALLY began.
Why were some local peasants (as they were viewed by the British army) able to break the British line at Concord’s North Bridge – in less than two minutes? Some original historical research suggests why, and the answer, unlike the answer to most historical questions, is one word. At a LibertySeed, you’ll find out what that one word is.
You will be surprised by how much is known of that first day of the American Revolution, a day that some believe is the most important day in American history.
Matt Kennerson is a dedicated volunteer instructor with Project Appleseed, a nonprofit program under the Revolutionary War Veterans Association (RWVA) that teaches rifle and pistol marksmanship alongside American Revolutionary War history. Based in New Hampshire, Kennerson is a full instructor, recognizable by his red hat, and actively participates in Appleseed events across New England. A passionate advocate for liberty, marksmanship, and civic engagement, he helps participants of all skill levels master traditional shooting techniques while sharing stories of April 19, 1775, to inspire patriotism. Kennerson is committed to preserving America’s heritage and fostering a community of skilled, civic-minded riflemen. He resides in New Hampshire, contributing to the Free State Project’s liberty movement.
Jim Ostrowski, Second Amendment lawyer and author, outlines how gun control is a sophisticated propaganda movement based on two big lies that reduce to one really big lie: that the United States is an unusually violent country due to the right to bear arms. This is the opposite of the truth!
America’s unique right to bear arms is directly or indirectly responsible for its liberty, stability and prosperity. We should not restrict the right to bear arms but expand it to enact permit-less constitutional carry in every state and nationally.
Jim Ostrowski is a trial and appellate lawyer, libertarian author, and CEO of LibertyMovement.org, based in Buffalo, New York. A graduate of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute (1975), he earned a philosophy degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo (1980) and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School (1983), where he was a Moot Court Honor Society member. Ostrowski ran for New York governor as a Libertarian in 1994, placing second in the nomination race. His books, including Progressivism: A Primer and Last Rights: The Death of American Liberty, critique government overreach. He has published with the Mises and Cato Institutes and lives in Buffalo.
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.
Ryan M. Yonk is the Director of Education and Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. He holds a PhD from Georgia State University and a MS and BS from Utah State University. Prior to joining AIER he held academic positions at North Dakota State University, Utah State University, and Southern Utah University, and was one of the founders of the Strata Policy. He is the (co) author or editor of numerous books including Green V. Green, Nature Unbound: Bureaucracy vs. the Environment, The Reality of American Energy, and Politics and Quality of Life: The Role of Well-Being in Political Outcomes. He has also (co) authored numerous articles in academic journals including Public Choice, The Independent Review, Applied Research in Quality of Life, and the Journal of Private Enterprise. His research explores how policy can be better crafted to achieve greater individual autonomy and prosperity.
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.
Defend the Guard legislation is a direct challenge to the forever war machine, using state authority under the U.S. Constitution to call home all National Guard troops from foreign wars that have not been declared by Congress.
When Pentagon officials show up in state legislatures to intimidate lawmakers with vague threats to federal funding, how do we overcome legislative inertia to pass Defend the Guard?
Join us for a panel discussion with four of the nation’s leading champions on Defend the Guard.
Sgt. Dan McKnight leads the Bring Our Troops Home organization. He is a dedicated veteran who has served in the United States Marines, Army, and National Guard.
Rep. Tom Mannion is a retired U.S. Maine, the New Hampshire House Assistant Majority Whip, and the bill champion for Defend the Guard in the Granite State.
Rep. Ben Hymes is a second-term Maine State Representative and the bill champion for Defend the Guard in the Pine Tree State. During his twenty-year career in the U.S. Navy, he achieved the rank of Senior Chief, specializing in intelligence.
Derek Proulx is the Grassroots Engagement Director for AFP-NH. In his activism, he has been particularly focused on mobilizing support for Defend the Guard in New Hampshire.
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!
Where does your favorite state rank on state policies for economic and personal freedom?
Jason Sorens is a co-author of the annual the “Freedom in the 50 States” Index, tracking ranking each state based on 230 policy variables over the last quarter century.
Over lunch, learn about the rise and fall of freedom in the 50 laboratories of democracy.
Considering a move to the Free State?
Grab your lunch and join experienced real estate professional, Jack Garber, for a discussion and workshop on the state of the real estate in New Hampshire.
Jack Garber is a member of the Independence Realty Group, consisting of seven experienced real estate professionals who share a passion for helping people find their dream homes and investment properties while promoting the principles of individual freedom, personal responsibility, and free market economics.
As movers for the Free State Project, they are ready to help any liberty-lover making their own move to the “Live Free or Die” state.
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!
What can you do when progressive cities come to dominate the politics of the state and impose their ways on your rural community? What if you could secede and join an adjascent state that better protects freedom?
That is what the Greater Idaho movement seeks to achieve: shifting the border between Oregon and Idaho to better reflect the cultural and political values of eastern Oregon.
Matt McCaw is the Executive Director of the Greater Idaho Movement, a grassroots effort to redraw the Oregon-Idaho border, allowing 14 eastern Oregon counties and parts of others to join Idaho. A lifelong Oregonian, McCaw has led the movement since 2020, securing voter approval in 13 counties by 2024 to explore the border shift. A father and foster parent of eight, McCaw advocates for rural self-determination, citing cultural and political divides with urban Oregon.
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 tribality 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.
In matters of zoning, should we favor property rights or local control? And why is everyone upset about it?
Join us at the 2025 NH Liberty Forum (April 24-27) for a discussion with Andrew Heaton, Jason Sorens, Sen. Keith Murphy, and Jack Garber.
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. He produces satirical political and policy videos for Reason.
Jason Sorens, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research and Principal Investigator of the New Hampshire Zoning Atlas, a comprehensive database mapping zoning regulations. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Yale University and a B.A. in economics and philosophy from Washington and Lee University. Sorens has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles, Secessionism (McGill-Queens University Press), and co-authored Freedom in the 50 States (Cato Institute). His research focuses on housing policy, land-use regulation, fiscal federalism, and secessionist movements. A former director at Saint Anselm College’s Center for Ethics in Society, he has taught at Yale, Dartmouth, and the University at Buffalo, earning two teaching awards. Sorens, a conservative libertarian, founded the Free State Project in 2001. He lives in Amherst, New Hampshire, with his wife, Olga, and their children.
Sen. Keith Murphy has represented New Hampshire’s Senate District 16 (Bedford, Candia, Goffstown, Manchester Ward 1, Raymond) since 2022. Elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, he previously served four terms in the NH House of Representatives (2010-2018) for Hillsborough District 7 and as a Manchester Selectman. He is a restaurateur for 32 years, owning Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester and Bedford. He serves as vice chair of the Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, advocating for fiscal responsibility, education freedom, and housing affordability.
Jack Garber is a member of the Independence Realty Group, consisting of seven experienced real estate professionals who share a passion for helping people find their dream homes and investment properties while promoting the principles of individual freedom, personal responsibility, and free market economics.
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!
Dave Breger, known as “Silver Dave,” is the founder of Local Silver Mint in Weare, New Hampshire.
A former Green Beret, combat veteran, and Valor Award recipient, Breger discovered the value of precious metals during his military service in Afghanistan. As a long-time liberty activist and sound-money advocate, he established Local Silver Mint to promote physical silver as a stable store of value. Operating from his showroom at 33 North Stark Highway, he manufactures and sells high-quality silver bars, rounds, and unique products like fractional silver for barter. Known for unbeatable prices and educational outreach, Breger helps collectors and investors diversify portfolios while advocating for financial resilience.
As money printing and inflation rob the value of our savings and paychecks, the sound money movement has seen a resurgence as state legislatures grapple with waves of legislation to restore gold and silver as legal tender.
How is this sound money movement working to restore Liberty-For-Real in our monetary systems?
Daniel Diaz is the Executive Director of Citizens for Sound Money. With a background in financial services as a stockbroker and financial advisor, Diaz is deeply passionate about promoting financial literacy and sound monetary policies.
Citizens for Sound Money is an organization focused on advocating for the restoration of gold and silver as legal tender in the United States. Founded by the late NH State Senator Jim Forsythe, Citizens for Sound Money works to carry on his advocacy in legislative bodies across the country.
Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has stood alone on the world stage as the only superpower in what has been titled the “unipolar moment.” During this time, the U.S. dollar has functioned as the uncontested world reserve currency, delivering tremendous benefits to the U.S. government to print money and export inflationary effects to the world.
Today, many believe that unipolar moment is ending as we enter a multipolar world. With rising powers (including China, India, and Russia) contesting U.S. hegemony, BRICS nations are actively collaborating to reduce dependency on the dollar and pursuing gold-backed alternatives.
In a multipolar world, could sound money make a return to global monetary systems? What role might gold, silver, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies play in a changing world order?
Jeff Deist is a prominent writer, public speaker, and advocate for property, markets, and civil society. He served as president of the Mises Institute, a leading think tank promoting Austrian economics and libertarian principles, until 2023. Prior to that, he was a longtime advisor and chief of staff to Congressman Ron Paul, contributing to hundreds of articles and speeches. Deist also has a background as an attorney, specializing in private equity, mergers, and acquisitions. Currently, he is the general counsel for Monetary Metals, where he focuses on advancing innovative financial solutions. His work emphasizes decentralizing political power through private legal systems and sound money principles.
Gene Epstein is an American economist, author, and libertarian advocate based in New York City. From 1993 to 2018, he served as economics editor at Barron’s Magazine, penning the influential “Economic Beat” column, which critiqued government intervention and analyzed macroeconomic trends. A follower of the Austrian School of economics, Epstein is an associated scholar at the Ludwig von Mises Institute. He founded and directs The Soho Forum, a debate series promoting libertarian ideas, hosting notable discussions on capitalism and socialism.
Joël Valenzuela is a prominent cryptocurrency advocate, journalist, and marketing expert based in New Hampshire. As a key figure in the Free State Project, he promotes libertarian principles and decentralized finance. Since 2013, Valenzuela has lived primarily on cryptocurrency, and currently serves as the business development and marketing lead for Dash.
Daniel Diaz is the Executive Director of Citizens for Sound Money. 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.
A software developer by profession, Stephen is the author of the Club 75 Manifesto. He was one of the earliest Free State Project participants, moving to New Hampshire in 2003. He has served as treasurer for both the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance and the Free State Project. He was also the libertarian candidate for Governor of New Hampshire in 2024.
Stephen is concerned that potential movers may see the FSP as too aligned with the GOP, limiting its appeal. He proposes to combat this by focusing more on the long-term goal of the FSP, and less on legislative wins that were already available in states like Florida.
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!
Joseph McKinney is a founder and strategist in Special Economic Zones and startup jurisdictions. He co-founded the Catawba Digital Economic Zone—the first tribal SEZ in the U.S.—where he led the development of regulatory frameworks for fintech, corporate law, and digital governance.
Building on that success, Joseph is now working to extend this model to other federally recognized tribes, helping them establish sovereign zones that drive economic development through innovative legal infrastructure. As former CEO of the Startup Societies Foundation, he has advised governments and entrepreneurs globally on unlocking growth through jurisdictional innovation.
Angela McArdle is the former chair of the Libertarian National Committee and co-founder of Rage Against The War Machine and Rescue The Republic. She is a member of the Mises Caucus, a two time congressional candidate for California’s 34th District, and is known for inviting Pres. Donald Trump to the Libertarian National Convention is exchange for a pardon for Ross Ulbricht.
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.
What is the true nature of political parties?
Are Democrats always for democracy? Are Republicans always for the republic? Are Libertarians the exclusive party for those who seek liberty?
Parties may be named after political philosophies, but the last decade has demonstrated how these political machines can be captured and redirected — for better or worse — by new coalitions toward news ends.
For libertarians, should we remain monogamous and limit ourselves to operating through and voting for the Libertarian Party? Or are efforts to build coalitions and capture political machinery within major parties essential to an effective political strategy?
Angela McArdle served as the 22nd chair of the Libertarian National Committee from May 2022 until her resignation in February 2025. A prominent member of the Libertarian Party’s Mises Caucus, she previously held roles as secretary of the Libertarian Party of California and chair of the Los Angeles County Libertarian Party. McArdle ran as a Libertarian candidate for California’s 34th Congressional District in 2017 and 2018. She is known for her advocacy against war and government overreach, notably speaking at the 2023 Rage Against the War Machine Rally.
Eric Brakey is the Executive Director of the Free State Project. A libertarian-leaning Republican, he served as a Maine State Senator for District 20 (Auburn, New Gloucester, Poland, Minot, and Mechanic Falls) from 2014 to 2018 and again from 2022 until his resignation in November 2024 to move to New Hampshire. He got his start in politics on Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign. As a senator, he chaired the Health and Human Services Committee and sponsored and passed legislation including Maine’s 2015 Constitutional Carry law, welfare reform, Right to Try, and market reforms to medical cannabis. Brakey was the 2018 Maine Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and Secretary of State in 2021. He remains active in libertarian advocacy, focusing on individual liberty and free-market policies.
Michael Granger is a Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Strafford District 2 (Milton, Rochester Ward 5, and Milton Mills) since December 7, 2022. He won re-election in November 2024, with his current term ending December 2, 2026. A former board member of the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, Granger served in the Army National Guard and advocates for transparency in legislative voting, notably requesting more Roll Call Votes than any other legislator in 2024. He supports reducing business taxes and regulations, opposes broad-based taxes, and has sponsored bills on issues like Defend the Guard and repealing auto inspections. Granger resides in Milton Mills, New Hampshire, is married, and has three children.
Jeremy Olson is a liberty activist from Manchester. He devotes his efforts to pro-liberty legislation and election campaigns, working with AFP-NH, the NHLA, and the GOP. He is currently leading the effort on HB649, to end the car inspection sticker scam. He previously served on the NHLA Board as Research Director, the CCJR-NH Board as Secretary, and currently the Quill Board as Chairman. He moved to New Hampshire as FSP mover #200 in 2007.
Dining Hall:
Dinner is Served for VIP Ticket Holders.
Choice of Steak, Salmon, or Stir Fried Veggies.
Live Auction to Follow.
What lessons can liberty lovers learn from the political rise, fall, and rise again of President Donald Trump? The imperialist neoconservative faction, including the Bush and Cheney dynasties, have fallen from their position of dominance in the GOP. In their place, a populist MAGA movement has taken center stage in Washington, coalesced around the figure of Donald Trump. In this moment, should the liberty movement view Trumpism as an opportunity for coalitions to advance our ideals or a siren song filled with peril?
Jeff Deist is a prominent writer, public speaker, and advocate for property, markets, and civil society. He served as president of the Mises Institute, a leading think tank promoting Austrian economics and libertarian principles, until 2023. Prior to that, he was a longtime advisor and chief of staff to Congressman Ron Paul, contributing to hundreds of articles and speeches. Deist also has a background as an attorney, specializing in private equity, mergers, and acquisitions. Currently, he is the general counsel for Monetary Metals, where he focuses on advancing innovative financial solutions. His work emphasizes decentralizing political power through private legal systems and sound money principles.