As a child, I was told by many people that the United States was the only free country in the world, the land of the free, which implicitly suggested that every other country was somehow not free. I thought that other countries were tyrannical states, which subjugated their citizens and treated them like slaves. As I grew older, I realized that nothing was further from the truth. A myriad of free societies exist throughout the world, many of which are free in ways that are completely different from the United States.

Neoliberalism is a myth. The concept suggests that starting in the 1970s Western economies have been shaped by free-market principles, the state has retreated, and markets have reigned supreme. And yet, the last fifty years were not about liberalizing, but about strengthening the state. Neoliberalism never happened. Instead, what unfolded was neostatism—a strategy where governments restructured their role to protect and expand their power. From the late 1970s onward, policies branded as “neoliberal” were crafted not to relinquish state control but to reassert it. And today, as overt state intervention returns with a vengeance, it becomes clear that the “neoliberal era” was a carefully managed illusion.

After his approval rating plummeted, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his intention to resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party. How people will remember Trudeau’s legacy is likely to be contentious, but he may very well go down in history as one of Canada’s worst executives. He championed the idea of “sunny ways,” yet he leaves behind a country grappling with serious economic challenges, including substantial deficit spending and a recession on a per capita GDP basis. Additionally, Canada is facing protectionist policies from the incoming Trump administration.

The devastating wildfires experienced by the people of southern California have left behind many indelible pictures of destruction in recent weeks. But perhaps one picture above all tells the truest tale of the catastrophe: the empty reservoir at Santa Ynez. Here is The Free Press‘ Austyn Jeffs’ video report of what he found there:

President Trump has convinced many Americans that the Panama Canal, a vital shipping route for international commerce—particularly for cargo going to and originating in the United States—is controlled by China. He views this as a direct threat to the U.S. He also believes that the Panamanians are charging U.S. ships too much for using the canal. As a result, he threatened Panama with military force, intending to take the canal from them and put it under Washington’s control.

Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) penned a letter urging top automakers to end their opposition to right-to-repair legislation. These laws generally require automakers to share proprietary data for third-party maintenance and repair. For example, automakers would be required to provide maintenance manuals as well as whatever electronic tools and credentials are needed to access cars’ onboard data and diagnostics systems.

The US has several goals in the Arctic: Militarily, the United States wants to increase monitoring and deterrence of Russian naval and air activity in the region and into the North Atlantic. Economically, it is important that US companies profit from the development of mineral resources in Greenland and the Arctic. Strategically, to maintain global hegemony, it is vital that the US control the region and not allow any other great power to rise. All these ends can be achieved by negotiation. Furthermore, Greenland is not for sale and military action seems highly unlikely. Therefore, recent statements by the president-elect and his camp should be construed as posturing ahead of negotiations to secure US goals in Greenland.

In a disturbing number of incidents in recent years, local governments have withheld critical services, resulting in destruction and death. Consider, for example, the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022.

A bombshell report was released in December of 2024 by the House Judiciary Committee, revealing that a massive and constitutionally dubious surveillance operation has been underway by the federal government against countless Americans. Titled, “How the Federal Government Weaponized the Bank Secrecy Act to Spy on Americans,” its key findings demonstrate that the FBI and the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have been working together to undermine the 4th Amendment and conduct widespread warrantless surveillance on the financial transactions of innocent U.S. citizens engaging in constitutionally protected behavior.

Am I Racist?, Matt Walsh’s searing attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, dominated the documentary film box office in 2024. Screening in 1,600 theaters at its height, the film earned $12.3 million before streaming on the Daily Wire. Walsh’s film grossed more at the box office than any other documentary since 2019. That’s when Peter Jackson’s artistically boundary-pushing World War I film They Shall Not Grow Old brought in $12.2 million.