Fredonia Cables
The members of The Steady State write thoughtful, serious, experienced-centered essays about national security, the United States, and our elected leaders, with an eye toward authoritarianism writ large and the creep toward autocracy in the U.S. that we see today. These issues are nothing to joke about, and nothing to take lightly, and, for the most part, we do neither. Mostly. There are, however, times and situations that are more easily digested when accompanied by a bit of sarcasm and humor. What little of those we allow ourselves is presented in The Fredonia Papers.
Background:
Observations by foreign governments on the workings of and influences on the US Government are valuable lenses through which to see how what we do is perceived by other countries. Our embassies provide insights into what foreign leaders understand and think of US policy, the details of which are informative and important. Embassy communication tends to be fact-based and whimsey-free, and these writings are often accompanied by comments from the US Ambassador in that embassy. These comments provide context, ambiance, and a subtler take for senior US leadership on what foreign leaders believe about the US government. Our Fredonia Papers are what we imagine may be sent home by embassies in Washington DC; embassy personnel providing dry, factual takes on what is going on here, with context, and ambiance provided by the Ambassador.
Our Fredonia is based on the Fredonia in the Marx Brothers' movie, Duck Soup. There have been and still are towns and counties throughout the United States named after Fredonia, and in 1803 a doctor and politician proposed that the name United States be replaced by Fredonia (derived from Fredon). In Duck Soup, Fredonia is the setting of a standard Marx Brothers, over-the-top, slapstick "comedy," depicting a country run, to some extent, by Groucho Marx's character, Rufus T. Firefly, who has, at the movie's beginning, been appointed "President" of Fredonia. Fredonia is "funded" by Mrs. Gloria Teasdale, a very rich philanthropist who is the target of constant insults by President Firefly. Other Marx brothers have other roles in the Fredonia story. Duck Soup and its Fredonia are standard Marx Brothers' farce and broad comedy; and we chose Fredonia because it feels appropriate to today's world. Our "Ambassador" held other senior positions during a 25-year career, but has never served as an ambassador and has played one only in our Fredonia Papers.
FREDONIA PROJECT - SITREP 29: KENTUCKY SENATOR, OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND ANTI-VAXXER CALLS OUT DR. FAUCI
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT - SITREP 28: TESTOSTERONE; THE FIX YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT – SITREP 27: CHANGES IN PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS OBSERVED, NOT DIAGNOSED, 1 APRIL THROUGH 30 JULY 2026
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT – SITREP 26: US DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY – U.S. CELEBRATES ITS 250TH YEAR
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT SITREP 25: U.S. POLICY DEVELOPMENTS 28 Feb - 29 Apr 2026
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE IRAN WAR AND ITS BROADER REGIONAL IMPACTS. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA A THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT SITREP 24: U.S. POLICY DEVELOPMENTS (27 Jan - 16 Apr 2026)
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA A THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT - SITREP 23: US DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY - 6-26 January 2026
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
FREDONIA PROJECT - SITREP 22: US DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY - January 3-7, 2026
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.