Abolish FEMA
FEMA has given Americans every reason to believe it is highly politicized, a poor steward of federal resources, bad at establishing priorities, and often unable to communicate clearly to people in distress.
Natural Disasters
FEMA's Targeting of Trump Supporters Makes the Case for Less Government
Government agencies and officials can’t be trusted, so we should give them less to do.
No, Hurricane Helene Does Not Justify Giving North Carolina's Electoral Votes to Trump
When your opponents are accusing you of trying to subvert democracy, maybe don't suggest that it "makes a lot of sense" to ignore the will of the voters.
The Panic Over an Imaginary Militia 'Hunting FEMA' Did More Damage Than the Actual Threat
Someone did allegedly threaten first responders, but the panic may have done more damage.
The Remarkable Redneck Air Force of North Carolina
The relief effort after Hurricane Helene is powered by private citizens, and volunteers have discovered that it's better to ask forgiveness than permission.
Brian Trascher: Has FEMA failed North Carolina?
The Vice President of the United Cajun Navy, Brian Trascher, discusses effective disaster response and the problems with FEMA.
What Happens When FEMA Buys Your House?
As hurricane damage mounts, the government is buying—and sometimes seizing—homes in flood-prone areas, sparking concerns over property rights and accusations of discrimination.
How Milton Friedman Can Help Us Get Through Hurricane Milton
To give storm victims the best chance at recovery, let local knowledge and markets guide decisions.
Washington Worsened Hurricane Helene's Destruction
How the National Flood Insurance Program subsidizes living in high-risk flood zones.
NOAA Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters Are Not Evidence of Climate Change
Weather and climate disaster losses as a percentage of U.S. GDP have not increased between 1990 and 2019, a new study finds.
All I Want for Christmas Is for Congress To Exercise Fiscal Restraint
Lawmakers can take small steps that are uncontroversial and bipartisan to jumpstart the fiscal stability process.
What's in Your Bug-Out Bag?
Your ideal bug-out bag depends on your needs. Here's what J.D. Tuccille puts in his.
Do the Proud Boys Deserve To Be in Prison Forever?
Plus: A listener question concerning porn verification laws.
Subsidized Flood Insurance Makes Storm Damage Worse
It's high time for Congress to end a program that routinely goes into debt providing subsidies to wealthy people living in high-risk areas.
Politicians Continue To Make a Mockery of 'Emergency Spending'
Legislators abuse the emergency label to push through spending that would otherwise violate budget constraints.
The Argentine Libertarian Dog-Friendly Darling?
Plus: Libertarian lessons in the wake of the Maui wildfires
This Scientist Used To Spread Climate Change Alarmism. Now She's Trying To Debunk It.
The doomsday consensus around climate change is "manufactured," says scientist Judith Curry.
The Debt Ceiling Deal Does Not Go Nearly Far Enough
Projections of huge savings are making the rounds. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Jones Act Is Driving Up Prices and Making Crises Worse
The legislation, which forbids shipping anything between American ports in ships that are not U.S. built and crewed, is just another a special deal that one industry has scammed out of Congress.
In Syria and Turkey, Helping Earthquake Victims Is a Crime
Politicians in Syria, Turkey, and the United States are getting in the way of relief efforts.
Wealthy Connecticut Residents Received Millions in Federal Dollars After Hurricane Sandy
It shouldn't be the federal government's responsibility to protect wealthy homeowners from the inevitable.
This Military Spending Bill Will Make Puerto Rico's Next Hurricane Disaster Even Worse
The maritime industry inserted some protectionism into the National Defense Authorization Act.
Texas Roofer Arrested in Florida for Helping Hurricane Victims
He's fully licensed, but not in the right state.
Here's What the Media Get Wrong About Hurricanes
No, a big storm does not require big government.
Storms and Reforms
Plus: The editors unpack a philosophical question from a listener concerning foreign policy.
Who Sabotaged the Nord Stream Pipelines?
Plus: Gov. Ron DeSantis gets accused of fair-weather fiscal responsibility, warrantless drone searches might be illegal, and Lizzo's flute playing sparks a fake controversy.
Feds Allow Single Foreign Ship To Deliver Fuel to Hurricane-Ravaged Puerto Rico
It’s only one vessel, but the U.S. domestic shipping cartel, protected by the awful Jones Act, is screaming about it.
Government Subsidies Encouraged Millions To Move Into Hurricane Ian's Destructive Path
Plus: Reason livestream on right-wing populism, the government can't solve the fentanyl crisis, and more...
In the Aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, the Jones Act Is Screwing Over Puerto Rico Again
The island is begging the Biden administration to allow foreign ships to bring fuel to help restore power. But entrenched maritime interests balk at competition.
Where Did Puerto Rico's Disaster Relief Go?
After a Category 1 hurricane made landfall Sunday, a million Puerto Rican households are still without power.
Embrace a Bit of Prepper Mindset for the Next Emergency—Even the Government Approves
A little readiness is a good hedge against the surprises the world just seems to keep throwing our way.
Weather Is Not Climate. Or Is It?
For years, experts warned that any given hurricane or heat wave cannot be attributed to long-term changes in average temperatures. But it turns out that climatologists and meteorologists sometimes can establish such causal relationships.
Weather and Climate Disasters Are Declining Globally
Increasing weather damage costs are not reliable evidence for climate change.
Rand Paul Isn't a Hypocrite on Disaster Relief
The senator's opposition to past disaster relief bills has always been on the grounds that congressional budgets should mean something.
If Government Is Good at One Thing, It's Making a Crisis Worse
The same institution that's unable to run the Postal Service or Amtrak orchestrated our invasion and withdrawal of Afghanistan.
Drown the Federal Flood Insurance Program
Why is the government encouraging people to live in dangerous, flood-prone areas?
Why Isn't California Safer From Wildfires?
An environmental law keeps public agencies from reducing wildfire fuel.
Did Anti-Price Gouging Laws Lead to More COVID-19 Deaths?
A new paper finds that the shortages produced by emergency price controls led to more social interactions as people searched for scarce goods. Additional COVID-19 deaths weren't far behind.
Joaquin Castro Accidentally Makes the Case for 'Price Gouging'
Texas officials' rush to enforce price gouging laws during that state's winter storms will only make residents worse off.
2020 Is in a Near Tie for Hottest Year in the Modern Temperature Record
The last seven years have been the warmest seven years on record.
Dozens Died in California Wildfires. Why Is the State Forcing Insurance Companies To Ignore Risks?
The state's insurance commissioner forbids the canceling of policies for homes in risky areas.
Businesses Prepared for Natural Disasters Are Surviving COVID-19 Better Than the Competition
A government survey finds that prepping for hard times can have wide benefits.
U.N. Reports 'Staggering Rise in Climate-Related Disasters'
And yet, fewer lives are being lost with no increase in proportional economic losses.
Can Fire Insurance Manage Wildfire Risks in California?
The state's wildfire conundrum: overgrown forests, climate change, and more people living in the woods
The Upside of a Blackout? People Take Care of Themselves and Each Other
Nobody can read the rule book in the dark.
The Global Environmental Apocalypse Has Been Canceled
"Environmental humanism will eventually triumph over apocalyptic environmentalism."
