# Cato’s Letters: Against Tyranny and Corruption **URL:** **Published:** March 10, 2026 --- We explore how John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon’s fiery writings helped shape free speech and resistance to tyranny. Long before the American Revolution, in the 1720s, a series of newspaper essays known as _Cato’s Letters_ warned readers that power corrupts and liberty survives only through constant vigilance. In this episode of _Portraits of Liberty_, we explore how John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon’s fiery writings helped shape the American tradition of free speech, self-defense, and resistance to tyranny. [Embedded content](https://youtu.be/_93j6uLKCLQ?si=jGz5EJ3SnhsdEPJ9)