Civil Liberties
Colleen Eren: Why Donald Trump Signed the FIRST STEP Act
The author of Reform Nation explains how celebrity, philanthropy, and activism produced the most significant prison reform in decades.
Only 'Dangerous Individuals' Lose Their Gun Rights Because of Protective Orders, the Government Says
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar falsely claims a federal gun ban "requires individualized findings of dangerousness."
New Jersey Secretly Stores Your Newborn's Blood for Decades
According to a new lawsuit, New Jersey has handed over leftover blood from newborn genetic testing to law enforcement and sold it to third parties.
'A Tyranny of the Minority': Why This College Dropout Wants To Cancel Cancel Culture
"Being a true free speech champion does require that you defend speech that even you disagree with," says libertarian Rikki Schlott.
Yes, Anti-Israel Protests Are Free Speech
Peaceful pro-Palestine protests are protected by the First Amendment, even if protesters often use offensive or inflammatory rhetoric.
He Allegedly Killed a Cop During a No-Knock Raid. Will the Jury Agree It Was Self-Defense?
Almost 10 years after his arrest, Marvin Guy will soon learn if he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.
Lawmakers Try To Insert Privacy Protections Into the Feds' Snooping Powers
The bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act would stop a lot of warrantless surveillance as a condition for renewal of Section 702 authorities.
10,000 Dead
Plus: Trump's asset valuation expertise, surfer COVID rage, Adam Neumann's flop, and more…
"A Woman Intentionally Crashed Her Car Into What She Thought Was a Jewish School …
because she was angry about the Israel-Hamas war, Indianapolis police said."
No Malarkey: Even Democrats Think Biden Is Too Old
Plus: A listener asks the editors about requiring gun buyers to pass a psychological assessment.
How Vexatious Government Demands Can Lead Your Bank To Refuse To Do Business with You
The government treats its endless appetite for information about citizens as more important than people's ability to conduct business in a normal fashion.
Due Process Demands Stricter Standards for Restraining Orders That Negate Gun Rights
In an upcoming Supreme Court case, the Cato Institute argues that the "threadbare procedures" required by federal law provide inadequate protection for constitutional rights.
Is Restricting Pro-Israel-as-Jewish-Democracy Speech National Origin/Ethnicity Discrimination or Harassment?
Harvard concludes that it is, but I’m skeptical that this is right—just as I’d be skeptical that an employer’s restricting pro-Hamas speech constitutes such discrimination or harassment.
Harvard Kennedy School Professor's Rejecting Students' Class Project Discussing "Jewish Democracy" in Israel
was a violation of free speech principles, Harvard concludes.
Man Pleads Guilty to Driving Car at "Stop Asian Hate" Demonstrators
The plea agreement recommends that he receive probation.
N.Y. Law Protects Public's Right to Record in Police Precinct Lobbies
even though the First Amendment doesn't itself provide such protection. [UPDATE 8/10/26 9:54 am: This has been reversed.]
Idaho "No Public Funds for Abortion" Act Doesn't Preclude Pro-Abortion Speech by Professors
Idaho's Attorney General Raúl Labrador so opines, including a rousing defense of academic freedom, including in scholarship and teaching.
These Public Officials Blocked Critics on Social Media. Was That Constitutional?
The Supreme Court considers whether and when banishing irksome constituents violates the First Amendment.
S. Ct. Will Hear NRA's Case Alleging That N.Y. Government Coerced Companies to Stop Doing Business with NRA
The controversy is similar to part of the controversy in Murthy v. Missouri (formerly Missouri v. Biden), which also involves allegations of government coercion aimed at interfering with speech.
This City Wants To Ban Gun Ads at the Airport
Commercial speech enjoys First Amendment protections, whether politicians like it or not.
A Montana Case Tests the Constitutionality of the Gun-Free School Zones Act
The law makes it a felony to possess a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, which covers the sidewalk in front of Gabriel Metcalf's house.
Court Reverses Personal Protective Order Issued Against "Distasteful and Provocative" Critic of Inkster City Attorney
Hustler Magazine v Falwell comes to small town politics.
A Rare Order Calling for Defendant-Side Pseudonymity,
and a much more common rejection of plaintiff-side pseudonymity.
Johan Norberg: Why We Need a Capitalist Manifesto
Q&A with the author of the book Elon Musk calls "an excellent explanation of why capitalism is not just successful, but morally right."
Don't Blame the Maine Shootings on 'Woefully Weak' Gun Laws
Criticism of the state’s "yellow flag" statute is doubly misguided.
The Solicitor General's response to my amicus brief in Rahimi
Only one federal firearms prohibitor does not require any specific finding of fact
Several Justices Express Dismay at Long Delays in Returning Seized Cars to Innocent Owners
Without a prompt post-seizure hearing, people can lose their property for months or years even when they ultimately get it back.
Tennessee to Pay $125,000 to Settle Lawsuit by Man Arrested for Posting Meme Mocking Dead Cop
Joshua Garton spent nearly two weeks in jail for "manufacturing and disseminating a harassing photograph on social media." A First Amendment lawsuit quickly followed.
Hall-of-Famer Brett Favre's Defamation Lawsuit Against Hall-of-Famer Shannon Sharpe Thrown Out
Passes are parabolas, "you've got to be a sorry mofo to steal from the lowest of the low" was hyperbole.
It's Hard To See How the 9th Circuit Can Manage To Uphold California's 'Assault Weapon' Ban
The appeals court is reviewing an injunction by a judge who concluded that the law is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's Second Amendment precedents.
DeSantis Wants To Reduce Mass Shootings by Locking More People in Mental Hospitals
It's unlikely to stop would-be shooters, but it certainly would allow more innocent people to be locked up with little recourse.
Louisiana Mother of Autistic Child Hit by Teacher Files Supreme Court Petition
School officials in three states are effectively immune from lawsuits over excessive corporal punishment. A Louisiana mother is asking the Supreme Court to step in.
