When John Adams took the reins after Washington, the young republic faced foreign threats — and internal paranoia. In this episode, listeners meet a president torn between defending liberty and silencing dissent. The Alien & Sedition Acts cracked down on immigrants and critics, sparking outrage from Jefferson's camp and igniting a debate over free speech that still echoes today. Adams' caution — or overreach — might have kept America safe from France, but it also cost him his political future. This one's a masterclass in how fear can challenge freedom.