New Jersey Town Drops Plan to Condemn a Church to Build a Park and Pickleball Courts
The mayor abandoned the plan after it aroused strong political resistance and threats of litigation.
Month: August 2025
Capitalism in the Cracks: How Japan's Microspaces Unleash Economic Experimentation
These spaces are so small that most cities would ignore them. Tokyo doesn't.
Grand Jury Nullification in the District of Columbia?
Grand jurors in the District of Columbia thrice refuse to indict a defendant for felony assault of a federal officer. And it happened again and again.
When Can Lawyers Be Punished for "Undignified or Discourteous" Criticism of Judges?
"Miss Manners has much to commend her within a polite and respectful society, but we are not her enforcement division."
Raw Milk Debates Are Turning Sour in Florida
Florida officials can’t agree on whether unpasteurized milk is a health threat or benefit, leaving consumers more confused than if they were left to decide for themselves.
Federal Circuit Rules Against Trump's Massive IEEPA Tariffs in Our Case Challenging Them
In a 7-4 ruling, the en banc court upheld trial court ruling against all the challenged tariffs. The scope of the injunction against them remains to be determined.
Friday Open Thread
What's on your mind? (Other than the thread was late, sorry about that.)
Death Doulas Have First Amendment Right to Advise Clients Without Having to Get Funeral Services License
"[Indiana's] approach furthers the state's interests the way an atom bomb would further the eradication of a residential ant infestation."
Federal Appeals Court Says Trump's Tariffs Are Unlawful, Allows Them To Remain in Place
Trump went "beyond the authority delegated to the President," the court ruled, but it vacated an injunction that could have provided immediate tariff relief to American businesses.
California Law Restricting "Materially Deceptive" Election-Related Deepfakes Violates First Amendment
So a federal judge just held.
Trump's Tariffs and Immigration Policies Are Why Your Amazon Packages Are So Expensive and Will Take Forever
I got a pair of shoes delivered from Asia for a reasonable price. Trump just ended the exemption that makes that transaction possible.
New Pew Charitable Trusts Repot on "How States and Cities Decimated Americans' Lowest-Cost Housing Option"
They have done so banning or severely restricting low-cost "single-room occupancy" (SRO) housing.
Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal
A rescinded diploma, a brown seer stone, and a pointless waste of time.
Neither Cranks Nor Hacks Should Head HHS
RFK Jr. has had a crazy week. It will not be his last, alas.
Trump's $4.9 Billion 'Pocket Rescission' Violates Federal Law and Usurps Congressional Authority
Congress holds the power of the purse in our system of government, and further eroding congressional responsibility for spending decisions will not end well.
Why Is Trump's Border Patrol Arresting Firefighters During a Wildfire?
Trump has promised to go after illegal immigrants "committing vile and heinous acts against innocent Americans." His record consistently says otherwise.
What Does the Public Think About Trump's Approach to Crime?
Polling shows that most Americans agree with President Trump that crime is a problem, especially in large cities.
Trump's Fed Coup
Plus: Beachy vignettes, Smithsonian scrutiny, Gavin Newsom might not be the Democrats' great new hope, and more...
Gavin Newsom's Trolling of Donald Trump Is a Painful Reminder That Politics Can Always Get Dumber
Newsom hired a brass-knuckled social-media team to fight fire with fire, but the result is even more childish nonsense in politics.
Report: 28 States Now Recognize Occupational Licenses From Elsewhere
Despite improvement, significant barriers remain to working many jobs.
Review: Coastal Is a Culinary Love Letter to California's Central Coast
The cookbook offers everyday inspiration to get creative and elevate the ordinary.
Bob Murphy: Are We Flirting with Fascism?
Economist Bob Murphy discusses the mounting pressure on the Federal Reserve, the implications of the government taking Intel equity, and capitalism under siege on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
Trump's Immigration Crackdown Could Make Wildfire Season Deadlier This Year
Two firefighters were recently detained by federal law enforcement while fighting the Bear Gulch fire in Washington state. The arrests appear to be immigration-related.
The Real Threat to Fed Independence Isn't Trump. It's Congress' Debt Addiction.
The president's clear attempt to interfere in the Federal Reserve is not a one-off crisis.
The 10th Circuit Agrees That Prosecuting Cannabis Consumers for Gun Possession May Be Unconstitutional
The appeals court rejected most of the arguments in favor of that policy, saying "the government must show non-intoxicated marijuana users pose a risk of future danger."
Federal Funding for Universities Comes With Strings. Now Trump Is Pulling Them.
The potential nationalization and forced revenue sharing of university patents makes a strong case for the separation of economy and state.
Trump's Tariff Spin Is Putting Republicans in an Awkward Spot
Should they brag about raising taxes, like the White House is doing, or try to distance themselves from those same tax increases?
Fed Governor Lisa Cook's Record Is a Reminder of the Social Justice Insanity of 2020
Trump is attempting to fire a Federal Reserve board governor.
Is RFK Jr. 'Weaponizing Public Health'?
The CDC needs drastic reform, but RFK Jr.'s firing of agency head Susan Monarez does not achieve that.
Zombie Knives Don't Kill People, but Banning Them Kills Liberty
Britain’s crackdown on “zombie-style” knives shows how politicians blame objects instead of criminals—and how bans only hurt the law-abiding.
'Tariffs Will Simply Put Us All Out of Business': Trump's Trade War Is Crushing American Crafters
Tariffs are making it more expensive and inconvenient for Americans to explore their creative sides.
Maybe Prayer Isn't Bullshit
Plus: Beware of distorted data, inside the mind of Curtis Sliwa, a thong-related clarification, and more...
Will SCOTUS Let Trump Fire Lisa Cook From the Federal Reserve?
Or will the justices say that Trump fired her for illegal reasons?
America Educates the World's Best and Brightest—Then Shows Them the Door
As students grapple with an unfriendly immigration system and targeted crackdowns on campus, how long will the U.S. remain the world's top study destination?
Should We Take More Kids From Their Homes or Fewer?
When children are abused, we want government to step in. But Child Protective Services sometimes goes too far.
No, These New Studies Don't Show an AI Jobs Apocalypse Is Coming
Economists at the Federal Reserve and Stanford University recently published studies investigating how AI affects employment in different industries.
When It Comes to Fighting Crime With the National Guard, Trump Says, He Can Do 'Anything I Want To Do'
The president's plan to promote public safety by deploying troops in cities across the country is hard to reconcile with constitutional constraints on federal authority.
My New The Hill Article: "Abolish ICE and Give the Money to Real Cops"
It makes the case for abolishing ICE and transferring its funds to state and local police.
