“Freedom allows those who oppose it—the truly harmful individuals—the chance to dismantle it.”
Radio and Fox News personality Mark Levin shares his thoughts on why free societies are often under threat from those who take freedom away, such as left-leaning mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani. Levin reflected on freedom during his two-month recovery from an Achilles tendon injury. “I’ve come to understand that liberty without rights means nothing. And rights without power? Also meaningless.” So, while in recovery, he wrote another book.
Levin engages in a discussion with hosts Peter Schweiser and Eric Eggers about his book, “About Power“, which debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
According to Schweiser, “Mark is genuinely involved in writing his own work. Many celebrities will hire ghostwriters.”
Levin noted he had two book ideas in mind and while he wasn’t interested in the drug angle, he settled on the theme of power. So that’s the path I took.
As Americans, we often view the Declaration of Independence as a cornerstone of freedom and rights. Levin points out, “What the revolution really fought for was power. Who has the authority to make decisions?”
“The founders blended principles from Jewish-Christian ethics with Enlightenment rationality,” he explains, highlighting that the Federalist Papers frequently mention Montesquieu, a French Enlightenment thinker whose ideas significantly influenced the separation of powers in constitutional governance.
“While laid up in the hospital, I pondered this as I stared at the ceiling. After tearing my tendon, I needed a wheelchair even for a trip to the bathroom,” Levin admits.
Addressing recent political news about President Trump potentially putting the police in Washington, D.C., under federal oversight, Schweiser inquiries about the role of federal oversight in cities. Levin recounts, “Trump recognized that, under federal law, he has a limited timeframe to exert control over local law enforcement. He can mobilize the National Guard to help tackle crime.”
“He certainly has the authority to take those actions,” Levin asserts. He elaborates that Congress has the authority to determine jurisdiction. However, he remarks that D.C. exists solely because Congress permitted it, noting the distinction between how other parts of the nation formed—from towns to colonies to states—whereas D.C. was established by the central government. “There are forces at play that are more aggressive and negative,” he concludes.
Levin believes that the frequent use of executive orders by Trump has become problematic and is continually challenged in courts.
“You have a huge bureaucracy that acts similarly to an unchecked parliament, with no accountability as outlined by the Constitution,” he states. “People can’t vote for these administrative agencies, yet they claim authority over a branch that was meant to be guided by law.”
As the conversation turns to the misuse of freedom, Levin reflects on the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s point about how a constitution could look great theoretically but when all the power is concentrated in one hand, it’s a different story.
“People like Mamdani manipulate democracy and freedom to undermine cities and liberties. That’s a concern for many of us and the audience,” Levin expresses. “How do we protect our freedom from those who would exploit it to bring harm? I delve into this in my book, albeit it’s not a usual topic.”
On the Democrats’ increasing acceptance of socialism, Levin cautions voters to weigh actions—rather than words—by observing what occurs when they gain power around the globe.
Lastly, he commends the show’s hosts, saying, “I’ve done many interviews, and you all are doing a fantastic job, if I may add.”
For more information about Peter Schweizer, refer to the Drill Down Podcast.
