Liberty Lens

Big John and Mike ter Maat take a hard look at America’s exploding debt and what Trump’s latest budget reveals about Washington’s spending addiction. From entitlements to defense to deficits, they explain why both parties keep kicking the can—and what it will take to avoid a fiscal collapse. – Why rising U.S. debt threatens long-term […]

Big John and Mike ter Maat explore global government efforts to regulate online speech, from China’s national ID system to the UK’s Online Safety Act, and debate the U.S. history of Section 230. The episode examines whether social platforms are neutral platforms or biased publishers. – Libertarian perspective on free expression– China’s new single sign-on […]

In this Liberty Lens Classic, Big John and Mike ter Maat examine government intervention in markets—from Intel’s ownership stake and housing “emergency” proposals to tariffs and Fed independence—asking whether central planning threatens liberty. – Intel stake and AI chip supply concerns– Housing emergency powers and tariffs– Court challenges on presidential tariff authority&#8211...

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s explosive Senate testimony sparks bipartisan controversy as senators press her on Epstein files, DOJ politicization, and the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard. Big John and Mike ter Maat unpack what this means for liberty, law, and limits of power. – Senate Democrats grill AG Bondi on Epstein investigation– Refusals […]

Big John and Mike ter Maat explore the fine line between dissent and domestic terrorism, the dangers of politicized prosecutions, and the risks of eroding constitutional guardrails. – When dissent becomes labeled as “terrorism” – The history of political “enemies lists” – Presidential influence on prosecutions – Guardrails and the independence of DOJ/FBI – Political [...