Monday Open Thread
What's on your mind?
Month: September 2024
Second Amendment Roundup: Textualism and ATF's Redefinition of "Firearm"
The statutory history of the Gun Control Act cuts in favor of the VanDerStok respondents.
Waiving the Filibuster to Pass a National Abortion Bill Is a Bad Idea
Democrats will live to regret doing this if they have the votes to do it.
Washington Worsened Hurricane Helene's Destruction
How the National Flood Insurance Program subsidizes living in high-risk flood zones.
Eric Adams and New York City's Corruption Problem
Plus: A listener asks the editors what a “conservatarian” presidential candidate and agenda might look like.
Harris Scales Back Harmful Price Control Proposal
The narrower version put forward by her campaign is still bad, but much less so than the much broader one floated earlier.
Held Hostage Overseas? The IRS Wants Your Back Taxes.
The IRS fines hostages for taxes they couldn't pay while they were detained. A bill in Congress is trying to fix this.
Did the Abraham Accords Pave the Way for Total War?
Many conservatives saw the Abraham Accords as a way to get U.S. forces out of the Middle East. Now the architect of the agreement is pushing for a regime change campaign in Lebanon—and maybe Iran.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Vetoes Car Speed Alarm Bill
He returned S.B. 961 to the California Senate for all the wrong reasons.
California Prohibits Legacy Preferences in College Admissions
A new law bars both public and private universities from privileging children of alumni in college admissions.
Congress Passes Bill Backing 'Self-Care' for People Pursuing Prostitution Stings
The IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act would provide outreach and training to Homeland Security Investigations staff.
Hezbollah's Leader Killed
Plus: Fentanyl wars, rent stabilization in NYC, possible dockworker strike, and more...
Criminal Conviction Based on "Only Women Can Be Mothers" and "'Transing' Kids Is Abuse and Homophobia" Signs, …
displayed on defendant's car and on her fence facing neighbors who have a transgender child; an appellate court reverses the conviction on procedural grounds, without resolving the First Amendment issue.
Meet the Candidates: November 2024 Puzzle
"2024 presidential candidate who once dumped a dead bear in Central Park"
The Government Monopoly on Donated Kidneys Is Killing Americans
Organ donations in the U.S. are controlled by a network of federally sanctioned nonprofits, and many of them are failing.
Second Amendment Roundup: VanDerStok Tests Limits of Yet Another ATF Rule
The Supreme Court is set to decide whether the agency may expand criminal liability under the Gun Control Act.
A Prosecutor Allegedly Told a Witness To Destroy Evidence. He Can't Be Sued for It.
Absolute immunity protects prosecutors even when they commit serious misconduct on the job.
Mandatory ID Checks for Nonalcoholic Beer?
Some people really think nonalcoholic beer is a gateway to alcoholism.
Kids Should Be Blindfolded and Dropped in the Woods at Night
In the Netherlands, kids grow up with more independence than in the United States.
UNM Policy Used to Charge High Security Fees for Riley Gaines Talk Struck Down
The case was brought by Turning Point USA over the University of New Mexico's decision to charge over $5K (originally planned to be over $10K).
Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Can Mark Cuban Make Prescriptions Affordable Again?
Special interests and government prevent the free market from working the way it should in the healthcare industry, making many Americans poorer and sicker.
In a Victory for the Free Market, FDA Approves New Schizophrenia Drug
Despite billions of taxpayer dollars spent on mental illness research, Cobenfy was developed by a private biopharmaceutical company.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Veterinary speech, inflation reduction, and Inspector Javert's playbook.
Virginia Court Rules Against Arlington "Missing Middle" Zoning Reform
The ruling highlights need for state-level zoning reform and stronger judicial protection of constitutional property rights.
Citizen Journalist Barred From Press Conference Can Sue Texas Sheriff for Violating His Rights, Judge Rules
The decision is a reminder that independent reporters are still protected by the same First Amendment as journalists in legacy media.
Revised Versions of Articles on "The Constitutional Case Against Exclusionary Zoning" and "Land Use Regulation" Now Available
Revised versions of both publications are now up on SSRN.
How Much Would an American-Made Toaster Actually Cost?
A lot more than Oren Cass and J.D. Vance want you to think, and Americans wouldn't like the tradeoffs necessary.
Justice Department Says a Small Mississippi Town Ran a Dickensian Debtor's Prison
Federal investigators say police in Lexington, Mississippi, used illegal searches, excessive force, and kept residents in jail when they couldn't pay off old fines.
Previewing the Next Supreme Court Term (Updated)
A panel examining what is in store for October Term 2024.
DIY Genome Editing at Only $2 a Pop
Avoiding regulation, DIYBio becomes cheaper and more available.
Megalopolis Is a Mega Mess
Francis Ford Coppola's clumsy passion project is an ambitious misfire.
More Vance Than Anyone Could Ever Need
Plus: Long live Eric Adams, Electoral College bias, and more...
Justice Kavanaugh Warns Against Over-Reading Loper Bright Decision
The Court's decision to overturn Chevron should be seen as more of a "course correction" than a revolution. (Updated with Video.)
War Game Documents an All-Star Political Live-Action Role-Playing Game
What happened when some officials role-played a bigger, noisier rerun of January 6, 2021
It's Time to Confront Failures of Justice (Part V)
A sample list of reforms to reduce failures of justice.
Trump's and Vance's Attacks on Haitian Immigrants Reveal a Complete Lack of Decency
Weak after-the-fact "collaboration" in no way substantiates or justifies cruel allegations against Haitians in Springfield.
Review: A Radical Libertarian Lawyer Charts His Evolution
Randy Barnett developed an influential form of constitutional originalism.
