That America’s market is far from free.
As I recall the actual story is the downgrading of the US index status from 82% to 79%. Which pushed it below the 80% boundary between "Free" and "Partially Free".
(The actual classifications - not the "totally free" and "Mostly free" nonsence)
The idea that anyone classed the US (or any nation) as 100% economically free seems to be a myth created by this writer.
... And has been for a looooong time (at least so long as my lifetime goes). Even the Great Ones like The Gipper could only reverse some of the downward spiral and only temporarily.
Bush/Clinton and Obama have been disasters.
Oh and if you don't have a good background in the fall of the Roman Empire, now would be a good time to start doing a bit of historical research.