Liberty Lighthouse

What? There were FBI informants at the January 6th protest? What's next? Is the government going to say Covid came from a lab? I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. The federal government has finally admitted that at least five FBI informants were involved with the Oath Keepers at the Capitol on January 6th. So, if there was a seditious conspiracy or insurrection planned, the FBI knew about it. If that is the case, why weren't the police prepared? Where was the riot gear? Why wasn't the National Guard called up? Everyone knew the protest was scheduled and expected to bring a quarter of a million people to DC. Gee, it almost looks like the people in charge of security wanted the protest to turn violent. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

California has gone completely crazy with its environmental policies. Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. We already know California has banned the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035. Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously voted to remove subsidies to builders who are installing gas lines for new constructions starting in 2023. Also, last week, the California Air Resources Board approved a proposal that would ban new natural gas-fueled furnaces and water heaters in homes by 2030. In short, California is now attacking clean-burning natural gas. The state that has rolling blackouts every summer and tells people not to charge their electric cars is trying to eliminate every alternative to the unreliable electric grid. California is actively trying to send itself and its residents back to the nineteenth century with no electricity and no alternatives. Find more commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Well, Ukraine is turning into a huge mess. I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. In a rare public address, Russian President Putin announced the mobilization of more troops headed for Ukraine. Russia is calling up 300,000 reservists in phase one of the mobilization. Putin also said he would not rule out the use of nuclear weapons. So far, the United States has sent about $70 billion to the war in Ukraine. I'm somewhat torn over the situation. In essence, this is a civil war. Ukraine was part of Russia for a very long time. However, the west did promise to defend Ukraine when they gave up the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal, but when do we cut our losses? At what point will American troops get involved, or even worse, when might we see mushroom clouds? Find more commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Did Resident Biden admit a border problem? I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. The Biden administration has set the record for the number of apprehensions at the US- Mexico border in a calendar year and in a fiscal year, twice. So far, more than 2 million arrests have been made this fiscal year. Yesterday, Biden said, “We’re working with Mexico and other countries to stop the flow,” Oh,working with Mexico like the previous administration had done, but you un-did. Things like the remain in Mexico program that you have fought in court to stop since taking office. Is that how you're working with these other countries? By bringing back all of the processes and procedures that you called racist on the campaign trail? It does seem that Biden has finally admitted a problem. There must be an election coming up. Find more commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Resident Biden will decide about running for reelection after the midterms. I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. When asked about his low poll numbers, Biden blamed Covid-19. He said covid had an “impact on the psyche of the American people.” Yeah, Joe. That is what hurts your poll numbers. It couldn't possibly be: Increased crime rates losing 20% of my retirement account because of your economy fentanyl becoming the #1 killer of adults under 45 Huge increases of overdose deaths Millions of illegal aliens being allowed to just walk in My utility bills increasing by 30% Sending $70 billion of our tax money to Ukraine Spending $1 trillion on the inflation extension act Our grocery bills are up 13% The National Debt is over $30 trillion I'm sure you're right. Covid is what people are thinking about when polled. Find more commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Saturday was Constitution Day. I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. Albert Einstein said, “the strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it.” Einstein said "each citizen," not citizens at large. On September 17th, 1787, thirty-nine men signed the United States Constitution. The grand experiment of a representative democracy framed as a Constitutional Republic began 235 years ago. The average Constitution tried in other countries only lasts 15 years. So clearly, the United States Constitution is remarkable. I have handed out thousands of pocket Constitutions, and I can't believe how often someone says, "I've never read it" or "I don't really know what's in it." Be determined to defend the Constitution. Read it. Teach its principles to younger generations. Returning to constitutional principles is our only hope of saving our republic. Find more Constitutionally-minded commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

It is Constitution Day! On this day, September 17th, in 1787, thirty-nine men signed the United States Constitution. That act established the grand experiment of a Constitutional Republic. Our Constitution has lasted 235 years, longer than any other Constitution in the history of mankind. Our representative democracy, framed as a Constitutional Republic, was a model of freedom and liberty for the rest of the world, but the average Constitution tried in other countries only lasts 15 years. So clearly, the United States Constitution is remarkable. Read the US Constitution. Teach its principles to younger generations. Returning to constitutional principles is our only hope of saving our republic. Find more Constitutionally-minded commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Please explain how ultra mega extreme MAGA are terrorists. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. Resident Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas both keep pointing at the Make America Great Again crowd as domestic terrorists. Let's examine this idea. The MAGA people don't seem to be hiding. Many of them wear clearly identifiable clothing, like bright red hats. Most are open about their beliefs, both religious and political. As far as I can tell, the MAGA folks just want to Make America a Great nation Again. They want our government to think about us, the American citizens, first. They want to pay fewer taxes, want to actually feel represented in DC, and generally want the government out of our daily lives. So please, tell me again how "Let's go Brandon" became the new Allahu Akbar. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. That quote from Benjamin Franklin cuts right to today's politics, 247 years later. Both sides of the political aisle use fear to push their agenda. Climate change, a threat to our democracy, white supremacists, covid, and monkeypox are shouted from the left. The right yells rising crime, socialism, the new world order, and an invasion from the southern border. Governments and politicians use scare tactics constantly. We are a nation founded on personal liberty regardless of your political views. We as individuals must start taking responsibility for ourselves again. That is why I end every show with, "protect your liberties. Once they're gone, there is no getting them back." Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Kenneth Harrelson has been a political prisoner for 552 days. I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. There is now a trial date. On September 27th, the first group of Oath Keepers will be tried by jury. The trial could last months. Disabled American Veteran, Kenneth Harrelson, will have spent 566 days in prison before the first day of his trial. In the meantime, the VA cut the benefits paid to his wife before any trial or conviction. It doesn't matter what you think about the events of January 6th. Your political ideology does not matter. This is wrong! The United States does not hold political prisoners. We have the right to a speedy trial. Our country, our constitution, does not allow citizens to be treated this way. I do not recognize the Republic that I love anymore. Find more news and commentary at Liberty-Lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis pacem, para bellum.

Resident Biden tried to emulate JFK I'm Peter Serefine with today's Liberty Minute. While at the John F Kennedy presidential library on Monday, the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy's moon shot speech, Biden said America would end cancer as we know it. Biden specifically set the goal to cut cancer deaths in half within 25 years. Has Biden forgotten that video cameras exist, or does he think people are too stupid to remember anything? Richard Nixon declared war on Cancer in 1971, the year before Biden was elected to the Senate. Biden himself claimed he would end cancer as we know it when he first ran for President in 1987. The media is running with Biden’s cancer moonshot speech like it is a brave new promise. Resident Biden, JFK, you are not. Find more news and commentary at Liberty-Lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis pacem, para bellum.

The DOJ is appealing the decision to appoint a special master in the Trump case. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. Justice Department appeals ruling on special master in Trump Mara Lago case, says the investigation could be "irreparably injured" by a pause. Really? The DOJ didn’t seem bothered by a pause when they waited three months before the raid. In fact, the DOJ didn’t seem bothered at all when Trump cooperated back in April. What damage could possibly be done by waiting for an independent third party to review the seized documents? Maybe the Department of Justice just doesn’t want an independent third party to see the stuff at all. We already know that the FBI took documents protected by the attorney-client privilege. What else might they have taken that? Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Politicians talk about billion-dollar spending like pocket change. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. You've probably heard me say that a billion dollars spent by our federal government is $8 per taxpayer. Let's talk about some other examples of what a billion really is. A billion seconds ago, it was 1990. If you played this Liberty Minute on a continuous loop a billion times, it would stop playing in the year 3912. The government has moved on to spending trillions of dollars at a time. Biden’s recent student loan forgiveness is likely to cost a trillion dollars. Six trillion was spent in the name of Covid. A trillion is a thousand billions, so $8,000 per taxpayer. A trillion seconds ago was 29,000 BC. Remember these examples the next time you hear a politician talk about spending. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Russian Sanctions may be backfiring. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. The US and most of Europe put heavy sanctions on Russian energy over the Ukrainian situation. These sanctions have had an effect, but maybe not the intended one. Much of Europe is warning of serious energy shortages in the coming winter. Some countries are putting caps on use and subsidizing costs. Yesterday, Putin announced he was closing the tap. No more energy exports until the sanctions are lifted. So, who is really being hurt by these sanctions, Russia or our European allies? If only there was another large country with vast natural gas and oil resources that could help our allies and prevent them from freezing. If only there was an energy independent nation with free markets which could guarantee the energy security of European families. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Another holiday weekend is marred by deaths. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. Two dead in Norfolk, three shot in Brooklyn, and seven dead are among the 46 shot in Chicago over the holiday weekend. Some will say we need gun control to stop mass shootings, but not so fast, gun grabbers. Gun control didn't stop the ten dead and 15 injured in the mass stabbing events in Canada over the weekend. Guns are tools, just like knives, and also just like knives, they can be misused for evil. In fact, so can household chemicals, cars, fertilizer, prescription drugs, and many other things we use every day. We need to focus on the real problems, criminals, and evil. Fixing the morality of society will do more to stop the violence than taking away a tool. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act hurts the electric vehicle push. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. It is no secret that Biden is pushing for electric vehicles, but his Inflation Reduction Act is contrary to that push. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, 72 vehicles qualified for a buyer tax credit. Now, only 16 models qualify. Of the 16 that qualify, only two have a list price below $36,000. Economical options like Toyota and Hyundai don't qualify for the tax credit, but BMW and Audi do. The average price of an electric vehicle that does qualify is $55,000 plus taxes and fees. So, once again, the government claimed to be helping the poor, but I don't know any poor people who can buy a BMW even with a tax credit. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

I got the news notification about student loans while at Home Depot.

The primary season is coming to an end. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. With primary elections nearly over and the general election fast approaching, I want to reiterate a flaw in the entire election process. Why are there any laws about primaries? The primary elections are how political parties choose what candidates to place on ballots. Political parties are private organizations. They should make their own rules. For example, if a party wants to allow independent voters to vote in their party primary, it should be the party's decision, not the state government. There are five nationally recognized political parties, but the Democrats and Republicans have been in power so long they have made laws specifically designed to protect their power. These private, supposedly non-profit organizations must be afraid of open and fair competition. Find more news and commentary at Liberty-Lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis pacem, para bellum.

The invasion continues. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. 4.9 million illegal aliens that we know of have entered our nation since Biden took office. 900,000 were “got aways” who were seen but not apprehended. Fifty-six known terrorists were captured in the 4 million aliens who were processed. So, using the same ratio of terrorists to aliens, there were probably twelve or more terrorists in the 900,000 “got aways.” In reality, that ratio is probably higher because the criminals and terrorists don’t want to be caught. Fentanyl now accounts for ⅔ of overdose death. 1200 people have been found dead on the US side of the border. At least a dozen terrorists roam free in our country. Tell me again how an open border is a humane thing to do. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Let's talk about Federalism for a moment. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. One huge difference between progressives and conservatives is at what level of government they each want their agenda implemented. The progressive wants the bloated, corrupt, and wasteful national government to regulate everything from the seat of power in DC. The conservative wants the smallest possible national government with the bulk of power at the state and local level. It seems to me that the conservatives' republican federalist model should be preferred by everyone. Regardless of your political ideology, it is far easier to push at the local city hall than it is in Congress. Local politics is less expensive too. The federal government of our nation was explicitly designed to be slow-moving. So, why do so many of us try to push our beliefs through Congress? Find more of my commentary at Liberty-Lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

It is time to double down. I'm Peter Serefine, and yesterday's Liberty Minute ruffled some feathers, so I'm going all in today. If I take out a loan and make a bad investment, I still have to pay back the loan. Real estate, business, stocks, crypto; the investment doesn't matter. So why should student loans be an exception? College is an investment. You chose to go to college. You selected your course of study. You picked the school. You decided to take out the loan. You are responsible. Oh, but the school lied. My advisor was horrible. That is unfortunate. I'm sorry, but it is still your debt. And your debt is your responsibility, and only your responsibility. I'm tired of my hard-earned tax money going to bail out the bad decisions of banks, businesses, or individuals. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

One step closer to "free" college. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. The Department of Education announced another $3.9 billion in student loan cancellation yesterday. That brings Biden’s student loan cancellation total to $32 billion in less than two years. Let's be honest, though. It is not loan forgiveness or debt cancellation. It is handouts of tax money to a privileged few. I never took a single college credit. I own my house and three cars and have never been unemployed. I have paid taxes to the federal government for 35 years. It was my money loaned out. Now, it is my money Biden says doesn't have to be paid back. I didn't sign the loan paperwork. I didn't get the benefit of education. I shouldn't have to pay for it. This is the worst face slap to the working class I've ever seen. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

I have a theory about the raid on Mar-a-Lago. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. Maybe the raid wasn't about the National Archives documents or the January 6th committee. Maybe it was about stealing evidence and stopping Trump's lawsuit. What lawsuit? The Criminal Organization RICO lawsuit Trump filed in Florida against Hillary Clinton, the DNC, and many others. The case that Bruce Reinhart was the judge for until he recused himself in June. Yes, the same Judge Bruce Reinhart that signed the warrant. Shouldn't he have done the same for the warrant if the judge was compelled to recuse the case? A huge list of very powerful people are at risk of being exposed as one big corrupt organization if Trump's lawsuit is allowed to continue. Conspiracy theory? Maybe, but maybe just a spoiler. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

The FBI oversteps again, this time in Missouri. I'm Peter Serefine, and this is today's Liberty Minute. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has randomly audited 24 sheriff’s offices in Missouri in search of concealed carry weapon details, but they all refused to comply, according to law enforcement authorities. Some of the Sheriffs have answered procedural questions, but none have given any details about any specific carry permits. Good! There are zero federal laws governing carry permits, concealed or otherwise. The FBI has no jurisdiction here, nor does any other federal agency. I have long said that the County Sheriff is our nation's most important elected job, and this is a perfect example of why. Make sure your Sheriff will stand up for your rights. Find more news and commentary at liberty-lighthouse.com Until tomorrow, si vis Pacem, Para Bellum

What does government value?