The Supreme Court Should Take the Love Terminal Takings Case
A lower court decision the Supreme Court is currently considering reviewing has important - and dangerous - implications for property rights.
Month: May 2019
Alabama Passes New Transparency Requirements for Civil Asset Forfeiture
Alabama is one of the least transparent states in the U.S. when it comes to civil asset forfeiture. That could be changing.
That Time Michael Moynihan Got Handcuffed at a NYC Checkpoint for an Unpaid 1998 Speeding Ticket
The most hilarious overpolicing story you'll hear this week, on the latest Fifth Column podcast
Illinois Legislators Pass Pot Legalization Bill
One legislator tried to stop them by reenacting an infamously dumb anti-drug ad. It didn't work.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Where is the treasure? Where are the assets? Where's the loot?
David French Is Right: Classical Liberalism Is the Best Framework for Protecting Religious Freedom
In which First Things throws a temper tantrum
2020 Presidential Candidate Blowout!
We’ve got so many giveaways, we’re practically giving them away!
Deadwood Returns for More Violence, Cussing, and Mayhem Amid a Changing World
Movie treads the familiar grounds of the beloved, abruptly canceled HBO show.
Texas Police Union Kills Effort To Close State's 'Dead Suspect Loophole'
Texas law lets police hide records of suspects who die in custody from grieving families. It could have been fixed, but a police union torpedoed the reform bill.
The NYPD Underreported Rape Due to an Outdated Definition of the Crime
The NYPD failed to update its crime-tracking system—and underreported rape by 38 percent.
Vegetarians vs. Omnivores: A Soho Forum Debate
Listen to journalist Nina Teicholz face off against David L. Katz, MD, the founding director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, at an event in New York City.
The Weakness of the "Whiteness" Literature
A 1922 case often cited as showing Italians may not have been considered "white" doesn't really support that inference
Court Upholds Baltimore's Cronyist Rules Limiting Food Trucks
The ruling says it's acceptable for cities to use ordinances to protect some businesses from competitors.
New Car Crash Study Highlights the Irrationality of DUI Laws Based on THC in Drivers' Blood
The researchers found no statistically significant relationship between testing positive for THC and contributing to accidents.
Illinois Passes Constitutional Amendment to Allow a Progressive Income Tax
Voters will decide next year whether to impose it.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters Is a Reminder That Eco-Terrorists Make Effective Movie Villains
The eternal battle between man and megalizard continues.
Earth Is Nearly 520 Percent More Abundant Now Than in 1980
Thanks to the ultimate resource: the human mind
Seattle Doesn't Want You To Have A Big House
Proposed legislation aims to crack down on "McMansions."
How Stunningly Stupid Is Trump's Tariff Threat Aimed at Mexico? Let's Count the Ways.
Politically. Economically. Diplomatically. Legally. Trump's tariff threat against Mexico is a stunningly stupid maneuver no matter how you look at it.
Facebook's Zuckerberg Was Right To Skip Canadian Show Trial
Abroad, legislators are in the mood to theatrically punish social media companies. CEOs shouldn’t play along.
Trump Announces Escalating Tariff Up to 25 Percent on Mexican Goods
Plus: unlicensed diet tips in court, California takes aim at independent contractors, and more...
What to Make of the Supreme Court's Latest Abortion Case
SCOTUS sidesteps the hard questions in Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky.
Think Trump's Attacks on Journalism Are Bad? San Francisco Cops Literally Raided a Reporter's Home.
Actions speak louder than words. Trump 's labeling of the media as "the enemy of the people" is bad, but he's not breaking into reporters' homes to find leakers. That's what the San Francisco Police Department did.
Census Citizenship Question Pushed for by GOP Gerrymanderer
And that whole Voting Rights Act justification? Kinda the opposite, actually.
First Amendment Limits Media Liability for Inducing Breach of Nondisclosure Agreement
So holds a (nonprecedential) California Court of Appeal decision in the Jenni Rivera heirs vs. Univision case, though the decision is narrowly tied to these particular facts.
Beto O'Rourke Wants To Overhaul Our Asylum System and Provide Amnesty for 11 Million Immigrants
The presidential hopeful released his immigration plan on Wednesday.
$6.75 Million Awarded to the Family of a Milwaukee Jail Inmate Who Died From Dehydration
The jail, which saw several deaths, was overseen by former Sheriff David Clarke at the time.
Dangers of a World Where "Almost Anyone Can be Arrested for Something"
A recent dissenting opinion by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch highlights some of the dangers of the enormous scope of modern criminal law.
Vox Symposium on Whether a Sitting President Can be Indicted and Prosecuted for a Crime
The symposium includes contributions by 16 legal commentators, including VC bloggers Keith Whittington and myself.
Subpoenas Seeking to Identify Illegally Absent Teachers Likely Don't Violate the First Amendment
"Students are expected to attend classes. If they fail to do so without a valid excuse, their absence is duly-noted and appropriate action is taken. But the teachers at the center of this controversy expect different treatment."
Illinois Is on the Verge of Legalizing Marijuana. Here Is What the Bill Would Do.
New York legislators also are taking another shot at legalization.
Is California's Watered-Down Rent Control Bill Still Problematic?
A compromise version of the bill would cap rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation for three years.
Unlike President Donald Trump, Justin Amash Actually Fights Against FISA Surveillance Abuse
The most absurd attack against the Michigan congressman involves ignoring his entire history in office.
New Hampshire Just Abolished the Death Penalty
State lawmakers reached across the aisle for a bipartisan push against capital punishment.
Trump Trade Advisor Peter Navarro Says Trade Deficits Hurt Jobs and Growth. Here's Why He's Wrong.
Navarro's Wall Street Journal op-ed looks more like a deliberately deceptive attempt to argue that limiting imports will boost economic growth. It won't.
First Amendment Group Sues the University of Illinois Over Bias Reporting System, Restrictions on Political Speech
"An elaborate investigative and enforcement regime designed to restrain, deter, suppress, and punish speech."
Booker Expresses Tepid Support for Charter Schools While Sanders Seeks To Stifle Them
Sen. Cory Booker's comments were in response to Sen. Bernie Sanders' public education plan, which targets charter schools.
Justice Department Tells Republicans to Hand Over Records on Cindy Yang and Other Chinese-American Supporters
Plus: humanitarians face felonies for helping migrants, Huawei scientists banned from reviewing prestigious journal, and more...
Bill Weld: Mueller Shows How 'Trump Is Not Worthy of the Oval Office'
Scuffling GOP primary challenger, meanwhile, defends his assertion that the president would prefer an "Aryan nation"
California Criminal Jury Instructions No Longer Label Carrying Taser "Carrying a Loaded Firearm"
A small step forward for self-defense rights.
When the Cops Come for You in the Target Parking Lot
A mom reflects on her experience parenting in the age of fear.
The Foolish Economic Agenda of Kamala Harris
Another bad idea from the Democratic presidential hopeful.
