Freedom
Meet the Students Pushing Back Against Socialism
"It's very easy for politicians to legislate freedom away," says Northwood University's Kristin Tokarev. "But it's incredibly hard to get back."
Banks Increasingly Back Political Scheme To Track Gun Purchases by Credit Card
Politicians lean on the financial industry to target activities they don’t like.
L.A. Plans To Scrap Its Genuinely Good Outdoor Dining Program and Replace It With Rules, Fees, and Paperwork
The L.A. City Council saw a good thing happening and decided government wasn't involved enough.
Mike Pompeo Says He 'Grew Up Libertarian'
These days, he may run for president. His politics have changed.
Migrating Americans Seek Lower Taxes and Greater Freedom
There are many reasons people move, but overburdening your citizens is a good way to lose them.
COVID Made Us Sick, But Government Responses Crippled Our Liberty
Report author: “The COVID-19 pandemic was a catastrophe for human freedom.”
A Louisiana Town Repeatedly Arrested a Man for His 'FUCK JOE BIDEN' Flags. Now, He's Suing.
"The Town has routinely detained, cited, and forced Mr. Brunet to go to trial to vindicate his constitutional rights, taking the extraordinary step of adopting a boldly unconstitutional local Ordinance to silence him," the complaint reads.
No, the World Is Not Heading Toward 'Mass Extinction'
Despite an apocalyptic media narrative, the modern era has brought much longer lives and the greatest decline in poverty ever.
Lockdowns Had Little Impact on COVID-19
Data show Florida and New York had similar death numbers despite vastly different approaches.
'The Hypocrisy Hurts': Enes Kanter Freedom on Standing Up to China in the NBA
"When it comes to problems happening in America, [the NBA is] the first organization saying, 'This is wrong,'" says the former professional basketball player. But then they're silent for victims of torture.
Chinese Protesters Use Their Bodies as Weapons Against the State
Standing with blank pages in hand, the protesters' goal is to make manifest the implied violence that authoritarian states use to keep order.
The World Is Still Getting Less Free. A Distressing Number of People Think That's Fine.
Report: “Half of democratic governments around the world are in decline.”
It's Bodies vs. the State
Plus: The editors ponder the lack of women’s pants pockets in the marketplace.
'We Want Freedom': Chinese Protests Reflect Frustration With Country's Continuing COVID Restrictions
Plus: Reason's holiday gift guide, a possible new antitrust suit against Microsoft, and more...
Sick of the Pilgrims? Celebrate Roger Williams Instead
While we often spend Thanksgiving remembering a different set of Puritan settlers, the religious, freedom-loving Roger Williams is an apt hero for the more liberty-minded.
Americans Oppose Big Government, Unless Their Party Is in Power
Supporting restraints on government only for your opponents is a recipe for continued conflict.
When Karl Marx Made the Case for Capitalism
In barely a century, capitalism led to more productivity "than have all preceding generations together," Marx and Friedrich Engels argued.
Can the Iran Protests Do Better Than Uprisings of the Past?
This time could really be different.
The Press Idolizes Politicians. Instead, It Needs To Hold Them Accountable.
Newspapers deserve a great deal of credit for the expansion of freedom over the past 200 years. But the media have lost credibility.
Divided Government Is Good. In 2023, Bipartisanship Would Be Better.
From immigration to drug reform, there is plenty of potential for productive compromise.
Iran's Hijab Protests Are Part of a Long, Slow Revolution
Plus: A bevy of bad economic indicators, Italy elects right-wing populist Giorgia Meloni, and more...
Don't Hold Your Breath Waiting for a Post-Pandemic 'Return to Normal'
We’re likely to be poorer, distrustful, and less free for years to come.
Migrants Are People, Not Props
Plus: The editors have gripes with Biden’s recent interview on 60 Minutes.
This Tennessee Town Claims Restricting Protests Helps 'Facilitate' the First Amendment
A new ordinance in Franklin will restrict evening and weekend protests and subject violators to misdemeanor charges.
Muddling Through the Mar-a-Lago Mess
Plus: The editors reaffirm free speech absolutism in the wake of the recent attack on Salman Rushdie.
Biden Shouldn't Meet Xi Jinping in China. He Should Do It in America.
The U.S. may not realize it, but it has the upper hand. It turns out communism doesn't work.
Democrats Rediscover the Rhetoric of 'Freedom.' How About Rediscovering the Policies?
We should be skeptical of some Democrats' newfound embrace of "freedom" until they abandon freedom-restricting policies.
Does This Woman Have a Constitutional Right to Her 'FCANCER' License Plate?
The Delaware DMV recalled Kari Overington’s plate over “perceived profanity.” Now the ACLU is helping her take on the state.
There's Nothing Legacy-Defining About the Inflation Reduction Act
Plus: The editors consider the state of freedom in the U.S. compared with other developed nations.
Gavin Newsom Thinks California Is Freer Than Florida. Is He Crazy?
If Newsom wants to pick a fight with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, he should try a different topic.
Penn Jillette: Did His Libertarianism Survive Trump and COVID?
The larger, louder half of Penn & Teller talks masks, vaccines, compassion, Bob Dylan, and much, much more.
How Would You Change the Constitution?
I asked scholars, podcasters, and passersby how they'd change the nation's founding charter. Here's what they told me.
Is America Heading for a National Divorce?
Plus: A listener asks about Supreme Court legitimacy, and the editors practice "libertarian Festivus."
Once Again, the Firework Cops Failed To Stop People From Celebrating Freedom With a Boom
Firework seizures and buyback programs won't stop millions of Americans from setting off black-market bottle rockets tonight.
The Satanic Temple: If Christians Can Raise Flag at Boston City Hall, We Can Raise Ours Too
Plus: The push to abolish the Senate, Feds hike interest rates by 0.5 percent, and more...
Freedom Is a Victim of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
This war, like all wars, will invigorate the state and be deadly to liberty.
Surfers Chase Freedom in Cuba
Havana Libre tells the story of Cuba’s underground surfers struggling to practice their sport.
'Fear Is the Tool of Totalitarians': Ron Paul on War, Money, and the Libertarian Moment
The former Texas congressman and presidential candidate says his goal was to get people to think about freedom.
Ukraine Can't Defend Its Freedom With an Army of Conscripts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has barred men aged 18-60 from leaving the country.
My New Article on "Immigration and the Economic Freedom of Natives"
It explains how immigration restrictions massively diminish both the "negative" and "positive" economic liberty of natives of receiving countries.
Marco Rubio Accidentally Makes the Case Against Common-Good Conservatism at CPAC
Here’s hoping the Florida senator recognizes threats to freedom when they come from the right as well as the left.
Jackass Embodied Gen X's Casual Indifference to Authority
Beneath all the harm, humiliation, and non-consensual hair-shaving was a love of freedom.
Rand Paul, Thomas Massie Dine at Restaurant Shut Down for Ignoring COVID-19 Mandates
"My servers are not lesser people," said owner Eric Flannery. "They don't need to be masked. They don't carry disease."
Are Oregonians Ready To Pump Their Own Gas?
A bill would let Oregon gas stations turn their customers loose on a limited number of self-service pumps. Some drivers fear the freedom.
How Much Would You Pay To Escape Australia's COVID 'Ring of Steel'?
Australian researchers used changes in home prices and rents to tease out how much people were willing to spend to avoid the country's harshest lockdown.
Which States Are the Freest?
Many Americans are fleeing restrictive jurisdictions and moving to places that respect their liberty.
