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Trump Promised Transparency. His Administration Keeps Finding New Ways to Hide Records.
"The most transparent president in history" keeps chipping away at laws like FOIA meant to keep the government honest.
Virginia Man Argues His 'FTP&ATF' License Plate Is Free Speech
A federal appeals court ruled that Curtis Whateley's anti-police vanity plate was private speech protected by the First Amendment. Virginia says it will seek review from the Supreme Court.
The War on Free-Range Kids Makes The New York Times
For too long, the government has acted as if any child venturing out unsupervised is in danger—and has negligent parents.
New Jersey Revives the Fight To Reclassify Gig Workers as Employees
California notoriously fought to do the same, which led to a slew of exemptions and job declines.
Latest
Trump's Assault on Judicial Review Undermines a Crucial Safeguard Against Tyranny
In one case after another, the president has tried to cut the courts out of the picture painted by the Framers.
Why Is the Kennedy Center Board Trying To Add Trump's Name to the Building—Again?
Must they keep chipping away at their dignity?
Ohio's Republican Governor Says Haitians 'Played a Major Role' in Springfield's 'Economic Comeback'
Gov. Mike DeWine's recent essay in The New York Times makes the case for a more open legal immigration policy.
Jeff Merkley Wants To Save Big Government From Donald Trump
The Oregon senator's "For Our Republic Act" would check many of the president's abuses while preserving the powerful federal state he commands.
Flock Safety's New Privacy Rules Do Little To Ease Concerns Over ALPR Surveillance
The company’s attempts to protect Americans’ privacy “will do nothing to protect innocent people from warrantless mass surveillance,” says an Institute for Justice attorney.
Podcast
Woke 1.0, House of the Dragon, and the Absurd Politics of Surveillance
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi break down the absurd political fights about America’s surveillance state before jumping into House of the Dragon.
Trump Is Trying To Spin U.S. History
The real goal isn't to promote accuracy, but to encourage agitated conservatives to complain about historical references that make them uncomfortable.
Socialists Claim Public Libraries Are Examples of Their Policies. Don't Believe Them.
Libraries aren’t all that socialist, and they’re far from the total state the radicals really want.
Review: Is Exit 8 an Anti-Screens Metaphor or Something Deeper?
A Japanese thriller explores agency in a world that makes it too easy just to go along for the ride.
Woke 1.0, House of the Dragon, and the Absurd Politics of Surveillance
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi break down the absurd political fights about America’s surveillance state before jumping into House of the Dragon.
How Karoline Leavitt Changed the White House Press Room
The new media seat was a good idea.
Trump Media Is Selling Early Access to the President's Truth Social Posts for $100,000 a Month
Press groups are suing Trump Media over the scheme, calling it “profoundly corrupt.”
Puerto Rico Stole Roberto Clemente's Trademark. The Supreme Court Should Make It Pay.
Property rights are no less worthy of protection just because intangible property is at stake.
She Spent 7 Months in Legal Hell After Cops Used Flock Surveillance To Identify the Wrong Car
From wrongful arrests to officers stalking exes, license plate cameras keep exposing police failures.
America Suspended the Jones Act. Americans Were the Winners.
In under five months, waiving the protectionist law opened up whole trade routes and sent fuel to areas that needed it. Why go back?
Government Regulations Are Keeping Drone Delivery Grounded
To fly a drone out of sight, you must get airline-level certification, which requires a lengthy approval process from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Trump Administration Claims Executive Privilege Over White House Conversations With Private Advisers
Transparency advocates say it's the latest attempt to hide more of the executive branch's business from the public and congressional investigations.
Trump Promised To End Foreign Aid. Now He's Giving Christian Groups Nearly $2 Billion.
The administration says faith-based organizations deliver aid more efficiently, but offers no data to support that claim—and its preference for religious providers raises constitutional questions.
Airports Are ICE's Latest Target, Raising 4th Amendment Concerns From Airlines
An apparent surge of ICE arrests in airport terminals has created viral videos and questions over ICE's authority to board planes without judicial warrants.
How Much Does New York Actually Recycle? The N.Y. Comptroller Says the State Doesn't Really Know.
A comptroller audit says New York State's recycling data are unreliable.
The Trump Administration's Hormuz Oil Numbers Don't Add Up
Energy Secretary Chris Wright claims that more oil left the Middle East in a day than before the war. But the industry isn’t buying it—and gas prices are still high.
August/September 2026
Magazine
9/11 and the Surveillance Ratchet
The U.S. government responded in ways that are so integrated into daily life that we no longer recognize them.
