Porcupine Day X Is Almost Here

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Free State Project, Executive Director

[Welcome message.]

Here are a few things we are reporting on in this week’s Porcupine Post:

• Happy Freedomversary, Ross! — This week marks one year since Ross Ulbricht walked free. This success was built on a decade of support from Free Staters and the Porcupine Freedom Festival.
• Celebrate Porcupine Day X — February 3 — Join us for our 10th annual celebration.Tickets!
• The Liberty Candidate’s Practical Guide to Door Knocking — I’ve published a 13-rule system for effective door knocking to help liberty candidates win local races. Grab a copy!
• Elizabeth Nolan Brown to Speak at the 2026 NH Liberty Forum — March 5-8 — Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Senior Editor at Reason, will join us as a Friday main stage speaker. Tickets!
• A Porcupine Patron Update — Thank you to our 280 Porcupine Patrons who helped fund the FSP in 2025. Be a patron!
• Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein Returns to the SHELL — On Valentine’s Day, the SHELL Liberty Clubhouse welcomes back Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein for a night of comedy. Tickets!
• DEBATE: "Does a libertarian society require a majority Christian population?" — The Independence Inn hosted a debate between two Free Staters on the necessity of Christianity to a sustainable libertarian society. Watch!

These weekly FSP newsletters are often long because a lot is happening in the Free State. Treat it like a Sunday paper and skip ahead to whatever interests you.

PLEASE NOTE: Some email service providers, including Gmail, regularly cut these emails short. Be sure to click "View Entire Message" at the bottom to read the full Porcupine Post!

We are glad to see that he (and Leaf Erikson) are looking healthy and well after 365 days of liberty.

Over eleven years, Lyn Ulbricht found the "first kernel of support" for her son at the Porcupine Freedom Festival in 2014 — and that support built steadily as she returned each year.

Thank you to our friends at Free the People for the powerful video they produced — highlighting Lyn’s appearances at PorcFest through the years and culminating in the arrival of Ross last year. Click here to watch.

He will always have a home here in the Free State.

We are marking 10 years since 20,000 signers triggered the move to New Hampshire to participate in the Free State Project — and celebrating all the victories over the history of this movement.

On Tuesday, February 3, join us for Porcupine Day X — the 10th annual celebration of the moment the FSP "triggered the move" for thousands of liberty-lovers to come and build the Free State.

On this day in 2016, the Free State Project reached a historic milestone: 20,000 liberty-loving people pledged to move to New Hampshire.

Ten years later, we’re still growing, still building, and still proving that liberty works best when practiced together.

Check out event details for Porcupine Day X and get your tickets here.

Your ticket helps fuel the next chapter, supporting outreach, community-building, and the work that makes New Hampshire the freest state in the nation.

• General Admission: $50– Includes finger food, networking, celebration and direct support of the Free State Project’s mission
• VIP Admission: $100 – Includes all GA benefits, plus a limited-edition keepsake and a complimentary drink ticket.

Porcupine Patron Benefits:

• Porcupine Patrons, All Levels: Receive a free drink ticket at registration (when wearing your Porcupine Patron Pin)!
• Porcupine Patrons, Silver and Higher:You may redeem 2 complimentary tickets for Porcupine Day X. Reply to this email. We will confirm your patron status and register you for the event.
• Not a Patron yet?Why not? Join our Porcupine Patron program today!

Ten years down and a freer future ahead! Join us for Porcupine Day X and help power the next decade of liberty!

That’s why, this week, I published my first book: "The Liberty Candidate’s Practical Guide to Door Knocking."

You can purchase a copy on Amazon.

This is a short and pithy set of guidelines to follow for any liberty candidate running for local office.

This book outlines my personal 13-rule system for effective door-to-door campaigning — which I developed over the course of three campaigns in a hotly contested district, hitting 20,000 doors and winning plenty of swing voters along the way.

Do you want to win at the door? Then this is the guide for you.

All proceeds from book sales benefit the Free State Project.

Here is what they are saying.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown to Deliver Main Stage Remarks at the 2026 NH Liberty Forum

This March 5-8, we are assembling a conference for thought leaders and builders to discuss the many practical ways we can build freedom, right here, right now.

This week, we’re excited to announce that Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Senior Editor at Reason, will join us as a Friday main stage speaker.

Elizabeth is one of the most incisive journalists covering liberty in America today, known for her sharp reporting on criminal justice reform, free speech, digital freedom, and the everyday ways government power expands quietly and unchecked. Her work doesn’t just critique bad policy, it exposes how narratives are built, distorted, and normalized in real time.

In her talk, “How Journalism Can Build Freedom,” Elizabeth will explore the often-overlooked role journalism plays in shaping the boundaries of what people believe is possible. She’ll dig into how good reporting can defend liberty, how bad reporting can undermine it, and why independent, principled journalism is essential to any free society that hopes to last.

If you care about truth, power, and the stories that decide which ideas survive, this is a session you won’t want to miss.

Join us for the NH Liberty Forum, March 5–8, 2026

Please use discount code "PorcPost" to save 5% on your tickets for the 2026 NH Liberty Forum.

• Porcupine Patrons, All Levels: Receive complimentary access to the VIP Lounge (when wearing your Porcupine Patron Pin).
• Porcupine Patrons, Gold and Higher:You may redeem 2 complimentary tickets to Liberty Forum 2026. Reply to this email so we can confirm your patron status and register you for your tickets.
• Not a Patron yet?Why not? Join our Porcupine Patron program today!

For just $10/month, you can support our year-round efforts to build "Liberty in Our Lifetime." Additionally, you will receive exclusive patron benefits, including our quarterly print newsletter, access to our private Signal group, and perks at all FSP events.

We reached 280 in 2025 — and we need to keep the momentum going in 2026.

If you’ve ever thought about becoming a $10/month Porcupine Patron (or at a higher tier), this is the week I’d be especially grateful if you did.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all donations to the Free State Project are 100% tax-deductible. We welcome donations in dollars and many forms of cryptocurrency.

Can I count you in as a Porcupine Patron?

Please read on for more of our weekly newsletter from the Free State, prepared with assistance from our Communications Director, Mahgdalen Rose.

For Liberty!
Hon. Eric Brakey
Executive Director
Free State Project

The SHELL Liberty Clubhouse in the New Hampshire Seacoast hosts regular events for Free State community building.

Seating is limited for the upcoming Comedy Night with Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein. Click here for tickets.

Visiting the SHELL for the first time? Don’t get lost. Click here for directions to find the SHELL.

Come on out for Arts & Crafts Club on January 29 at the Quill (Manchester) and the Agora Market on February 8 at the Prickle (Concord).

Founded by Free Stater Jody Underwood, EdOpt organizes Fairs around the state. They invite local education providers to showcase the range of different approaches to educating children that are available in their regions, from homeschooling, learning centers and activities, to private schools. Free entry. Kid activities and snacks are provided.

Click here to register for attendees and vendors (if you want a table). Share with your friends. Word of mouth is the best way to reach people.

At the Independence Inn, two liberty-minded New Hampshire transplants square off over a provocative resolution: whether a sustainable libertarian society requires a majority of practicing Christians.

The affirmative (Nate Dwyer) argues that Christianity historically laid the moral groundwork for liberty, citing abolition, human dignity, and Western political traditions. The opposition (Conner Drigotas) pushes back, contending that liberty principles predate Christianity, thrive across belief systems, and are already flourishing in New Hampshire despite declining religiosity.

The exchange weaves history, philosophy, religion, and modern data into a sharp but civil clash of worldviews. Audience questions and rebuttals add depth as both sides wrestle with what truly sustains freedom over the long haul.

Click here to watch the full debate.

Retired U.S. Marine and state legislator Tom Mannion joins the show to explore the growing momentum for liberty in the New Hampshire State House, centered on the renewed push for Defend the Guard and the effort to bring troops home from undeclared wars. He offers sharp, firsthand insight into how the bill passed the House once again and the institutional resistance it continues to face. The conversation also ranges across campus carry, food freedom, and the unexpected alliances forming around these fights. Along the way, listeners get an unfiltered look at how real change takes shape inside the legislature, and why this moment feels different.

Click here to watch the full episode.

This week on The Independents, Carla Gericke breaks down what’s really happening in New Hampshire—and why it matters far beyond the Granite State. 📹 Police body cameras and government transparency 📜 The latest Right-to-Know bill hearings 🗳️ A proposed study on New Hampshire’s sovereign options 🌍 The U.S. withdraws from the WHO—what does that mean, actually? 👀 Plus: what else lawmakers don’t want you paying attention to. No spin. No party talking points. Just independent analysis from the freest place in America.

Click here to watch the full episode.

In this episode of Voices of Liberty (a new podcast by Young Americans for Liberty), host Sean Themea sits down with Eric Brakey, Executive Director of the Free State Project and former Maine State Senator, for a wide-ranging conversation on how state-level leadership is shaping the future of freedom in America.

Eric shares his personal journey into the liberty movement, from being inspired as a college student to serving in elected office, and now leading the Free State Project’s mission to build what he calls “Liberty Lighthouse States.” The conversation explores why state politics matter more than ever, how reforms like constitutional carry and education freedom accounts are changing lives, and why New Hampshire has become a national proving ground for liberty-minded policy.

Click here to watch the full episode.

• Union Leader: A foot of snow or more expected for New Hampshire, Sunday into Monday
• NH Bulletin: House Republicans push new property tax cap proposal; local officials object
• NHPR: Judge expected to rule quickly on fate of New Hampshire motor vehicle inspections
• Concord Monitor: New Hampshire likely to kill another attempt at mandating car insurance
• Union Leader: At the top of New Hampshire’s famous summit, the Mount Washington Observatory expands its mission
• WMUR: New Hampshire Democrats look to hold onto first-in-the-nation status for presidential primary
• Newsweek: Republican Chances of Flipping New Hampshire Senate Seat: Poll
• NHPR: Portsmouth mayor upset NH legislature won’t back ‘pillow tax’ for hotel, room rentals
• Monadnock Ledger-Transcript: New Hampshire unemployment rate rises to 3%, still below national average
• World Atlas: The Best Small Town In New Hampshire For Seniors

• Claremont, 5pm-7 – Claremont EdOpt Fair – Local people showcase the range of different approaches to educating children that are available in their regions. Open to anyone in the general public. Free entry. Kid activities and snacks are provided. Registration required for attendees and vendors (if you want a table). Hosted by Jody Underwood. (Claremont Savings Bank Community Center, 152 South St, Claremont)
• Rollinsford, 5:30pm-7:30 – Conspiracy Theory Group – Meets every fourth Monday. Join us at The SHELL to discuss the latest psyops and conspiracies with like-minded liberty lovers. Hosted by Nick Hubbard (the SHELL, 3 Front St, Rollinsford)
• Strafford, 6pm-9 – Beyond Car Inspection (Liberty Legislated) – At "Liberty Legislated", we review the past and strategize the future of liberty legislation, looking at the mechanics to return liberty to New Hampshire. Some of our most impactful bills are written by non-legislators who work out the language, and shop the bill around for legislators. Guest speakers, Jeremy Olson and Steve Zemenek. Facilitator: Dennis Pratt. (Independence Inn, 6 Drake Hl Rd, Strafford)

Tuesday, January 27th

• Bedford, 4pm-8 – Taproom Tuesday at Murphy’s Carriage House – Come meet fellow liberty lovers at our weekly event! $5 drafts & wine and $10 cocktails & appetizers all night! Please invite others! Hosted by Bill & Gail. (Murphy’s Taproom & Carriage House, 393 State Rte 101, Bedford)
• Lebanon 6-8pm – Upper Valley Meetup – Meets every fourth Tuesday. Meet your liberty neighbors in the Upper Valley! We’ll be in the back by the arcade games. Hosted by Jody Underwood. (Ziggy’s Pizza, 254 N Plainfield Rd, West Lebanon)
• Manchester, 7:40pm-9:10 – First Fruits Ministries – Monthly on the last Tuesday. Please join us to learn more about the Scriptural, historical, cultural, contextual, and practical applications of the faith for living in the 21st Century. Hosted by Andrew Manuse. (First Fruits Ministries, 60 Bailey Ave, Manchester)

Wednesday, January 28th

• Lancaster, 8:30am-10:30 – North Country US History Class – Geared toward teenagers & adults, this United States History is a full survey course designed to help students think critically about history, engage with primary sources, and develop strong historical arguments. Free for The ‘Pine members ($5 donation for non-members). Course taught by NH State Rep Calvin Beaulier. (the Pine, 70 Main St, Lancaster)
• Plymouth, 6pm-8:30 – PemiValley Porcupines – Come on over and join us liberty lovers for dinner and conversation at our semi-monthly event. Hosted by Aubrey Freedman. (Biederman’s Deli, 83 Main St, Plymouth)
• Dummer, 6pm-8 – Dummer EdOpt Fair – Local people showcase the range of different approaches to educating children that are available in their regions. Open to anyone in the general public. Free entry. Kid activities and snacks are provided. Registration required for attendees and vendors (if you want a table). Hosted by Jody Underwood. (Dummer Town Hall, 75 Hill Rd, Dummer)
• YouTube 7pm-8 – FSP Porcupine Report – Free State Project Executive Director Eric Brakey sits down every week to interview the movers and shakers of New Hampshire. Join us on YouTube! Hosted by Eric Brakey.

Thursday, January 29th

• Dover, 6pm-8 – Dover EdOpt Fair – Local people showcase the range of different approaches to educating children that are available in their regions. Open to anyone in the general public. Free entry. Kid activities and snacks are provided. Registration required for attendees and vendors (if you want a table). Hosted by Jody Underwood. (Loyal Order of Moose Lodge, 45 Chestnut St, Dover)
• Manchester, 6pm-11 – Arts & Crafts Club – Come join our new Art/crafting club! Bring your current project or just to hang out and talk to other makers! Byob and snacks to share if you like! Supervised children are welcome! Hosted by Lady Jane. (the Quill, 131 Amory St, Manchester)

Friday, January 30th

• 6:30pm-10 – Religious Bitcoin/Crypto Meetup – Join us for a monthly meetup exploring the moral and spiritual dimensions of Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Together, we’ll discuss how sound money principles align with religious values like stewardship, honesty, and justice. This gathering is open to all faith backgrounds and anyone interested in the ethical implications of a decentralized peaceful money standard. Almost one year active! Text Zephan for address (603)369-7729

Saturday, January 31st

• Rollinsford, 6pm-9 – Movie Night – Let’s watch "Bridge on the River Kwai," scarf down popcorn, and whistle along to the Colonel Boogie March. Hosted by Stephen Nass. (the SHELL, 3 Front St, Rollinsford)

Sunday, February 1st

• Candia, 1:15pm-3:15 – The Gruck a.k.a. Garnet Ruck – GRUCK: Granite Ruck. Rucking is the act of walking with weight on your back. It’s a low impact exercise based on military training workouts that improves cardio, strength, endurance, and character. This is a challenge by choice event, go as heavy or as far as you’re enthusiastic about. Whether you come for camaraderie or to test your mettle, as long as you come in peace, you’re welcome! Hosted by Michael Rohan. (Garnet School, 456 Critchett Rd, Candia)
• Manchester, 2pm-4 – Ice Skating – A family friendly public skating event. Only $5 per person! Hosted by Patrick. (JFK Memorial Coliseum, 303 Beech St, Manchester)
• Manchester, 5pm-7:30 – Manchester Crypto Meetup – We’re not trying to shill any coin, token, or project. We are a group of individuals and businesses in support of cryptocurrency and its everyday uses. Hosted by Matt Ping. (Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St, Manchester)
• Keene, 5pm-6 – Social Sunday – Enjoy the company of other liberty-loving people at NH’s longest-running activist social! Hosted by Chris Wade. (Local Burger, 82 Main St, Keene)
• Nashua, 6pm-8 – Nashua Liberty Social – Weekly Nashua Meet-Up – Location varies each week. This calendar event is typically updated by 2PM on Sunday. Meet-ups are generally within about a 10 minute drive of the downtown area. Hosted by Jeff Creem.

For all FSP events and more details on those highlighted here, be sure to check out the NH Liberty Calendar.