Is the Senate Filibuster a 'Jim Crow Relic' That Should Be Abolished in the Name of Democracy?
Politicians' opinions about the maneuver depend on which party is in power.
Lots of Talk But Much Less Action on Police Reform
Getting government officials to put their packs of enforcers on shorter leashes is the definition of an uphill battle.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser Tells Retailers To Call the Cops on Customers Who Don't Wear Masks
Armed agents of the state shouldn't be enforcing mask mandates.
California's Top Court Rules Against Pension Spiking
The decision will make it harder for government employees to abuse and milk the state’s retirement systems.
Latest
Brickbats: August/September 2020
News of politicians, police, and bureaucrats behaving badly from around the world
Detroit Police Department Settles Another Dog Shooting Lawsuit After Video Contradicts Cop's Account
A 2016 Reason investigation found Detroit police have a nasty habit of shooting dogs during drug raids.
The Extremely Online Are Less Informed About Political News, More Informed About Conspiracy Theories
Plus: Congress moves forward on encryption backdoors, largest school districts aren't reopening, and more...
Montana's Ban on Flavored Vaping Endangers Public Health
The debate over flavored vapes really is a debate about whether adult smokers will still have access to products that could save their lives.
COVID Concerts
As bans on mass gatherings persist, musicians are increasingly turning to livestreamed shows as a substitute for traditional performances.
Linda Greenhouse Thinks COVID-19 Rules That Favor Casinos Over Churches Raise No Constitutional Issues Worth Considering
The former New York Times SCOTUS reporter does not seem to understand the arguments she is criticizing.
2 Pro-Democracy University Employees in Hong Kong Fired as Beijing-Imposed National Security Law Takes Effect
"Academic staff...are no longer free to make controversial statements to the general public about politically or socially controversial matters," one of them writes.
No, Trump Can't Delay the Election
And no, mail-in voting is not more vulnerable to fraud than absentee voting. It's actually the exact same thing.
Herman Cain, Former Presidential Candidate, Dies From Coronavirus Complications
His political claim to fame was his "9-9-9" tax plan.
Congress Wants To Regulate Big Tech. They Still Don't Understand It.
Plus: Trump suggests election delay, and more...
Podcast
Jia Lynn Yang on the Immigration Law that Changed America
The author of a new history of immigration worries that the coronavirus is bringing the mythology of America as a nation of immigrants to an end.
Don't Expand Coronavirus Unemployment Insurance
The negative impact of the program is well documented.
Congress Used the Antitrust Hearing To Peddle Petty Grievances Against Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google
The scary monopoly power on display Wednesday was the federal government's.
12,000 U.S. Troops Will Leave Germany
The plan, whose timetable is uncertain, will reshuffle 5,600 troops elsewhere in Europe.
Trump Appeals to Progressive Voters With Promise To Defend Suburbs Against New Housing Development
NIMBYism comes in many different ideological stripes. Fewer homes and higher rents is always the result.
Jia Lynn Yang on the Immigration Law that Changed America
The author of a new history of immigration worries that the coronavirus is bringing the mythology of America as a nation of immigrants to an end.
Everybody Is Jumping to Conclusions About This Couple's Show of Force in Response to Trespassing Protesters
Mark and Patricia McCloskey's justification for brandishing their guns depends on facts, not ideology.
A Congressman Asked Mark Zuckerberg Why Facebook Censored Donald Trump Jr., but That Was Twitter
"I think you might be referring to what happened on Twitter."
California's Attorney General Decides How Ballot Initiatives Are Summarized. He's Happy To Abuse This Power.
Xavier Becerra conceals tax increases and reframes a gig economy proposition to hurt its chances.
Federal Cops Are Leaving Portland. But Will the Standoff Really End?
With many of the city's entertainment options shut down, protesting has become a form of nightlife.
After Failing To Quell Unrest, the Feds Will Depart From Portland
President Trump sent federal agents to squash protests, but the situation has continuously escalated.
We Should Name Military Bases After Lynched Black Veterans Who Fought for Freedoms They Were Denied
Let's replace the names of Confederate figures with those of patriots who upheld America's ideals.
August/September 2020
Magazine
Coronavirus Cuisine
In the face of the greatest challenge in generations, America's chefs, bartenders, and restaurant owners are reinventing their food, their businesses, and themselves.