Culture
A New History of the Old Right
On the American right, populism has always been lurking in the shadows.
Boris Johnson Is Out as Britain's Prime Minister. Who Will Replace Him?
Plus: Why one pitcher wants the MLB to stop COVID testing, how shipping industry protectionism is slowing aid to Ukraine, and more...
Review: Marta Kubišová Challenged Czechoslovak Communism
Her 1969 Songy a Balady (Songs and Ballads) was yanked from shelves, only to reappear after the 1989 Velvet Revolution.
Pennsylvania Town Threatens Churches With $500 Fines for Providing Free Meals, Counseling Services
Borough officials in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, told Mission First and Christ Episcopal churches that their charitable work goes beyond what the zoning code allows for downtown churches.
The Troubling Meaning of the 'We Will Adopt Your Baby' Meme Wars
The debate isn’t a panorama of the whole American abortion war, but it is a snapshot of a key battle after a surprise victory, and it shows no path to peace.
The Quest for a Libertarian Island Paradise
Raymond B. Craib's new book recounts how Michael Oliver repeatedly tried to create a new country with a government funded entirely by voluntary contributions.
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.
Brian Doherty: From MAD Magazine to Maus
A new history, Dirty Pictures, explores how underground comix revolutionized art and exploded censorship once and for all.
Is America Heading for a National Divorce?
Plus: A listener asks about Supreme Court legitimacy, and the editors practice "libertarian Festivus."
Brittney Griner's Russian Detention Is a Reminder of What Happens When You Declare War on Drugs
The WNBA player has been detained in Russia on drug possession charges since February.
The Social Media Mob vs. the Novel
Are “extremely over-sensitive, Twitter activist people" ruining literature?
Sensitivity Readers Are the New Literary Gatekeepers
Overzealous gatekeeping on race and gender is killing books before they're published—or even written.
The G Word Begs Americans To Fall Back in Love with Uncle Sam
Adam Conover and President Barack Obama want to unruin the federal government. But they’re not really willing to truly consider that it’s too big and too wasteful.
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.
Comic: Roger Williams in 'Crazy Talk!'
Williams believed the government had no authority to meddle in religious beliefs. Blasphemy!
How the Conservative Supreme Court Is Changing America
Leading libertarian legal scholar Randy Barnett talks about abortion, gun rights, and worrying trends at the highest court in the land.
'Ghost Kitchens' Spur Overheated Health Concerns From Regulators
Regulators are setting their sights on ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants.
Review: How Melatonin-Filled 'Lazy Cakes' Became the Subject of a Moral Panic
Senators asked for an investigation since the "sweet, chocolaty taste may encourage consumers to eat well over a recommended quantity of melatonin."
The FBI Kept Tabs on Mort Sahl's Jokes About It, and Hoover Thought Sahl Was a 'Sick Man'
The late standup comedian's FBI file says he "ridiculed the FBI, law enforcement, and high public officials, beyond the bounds of good humor."
Criticizing Lack of Grocery Stores in the South Bronx Means the Twitter Mob Will Try To Get You Fired
A recent college grad from the Midwest landed in the Bronx and was confused by bodega culture. This led to a social media mob, a digging up of old videos, and a firing.
A Broader Perspective on "My Body, My Choice"
The principle has implications that go far beyond abortion. Some of them deserve far more attention than they have gotten to this point.
Christopher Alexander's Utopian Blueprint
There is telling people how to live, and there is maximizing people's ability to live the lives they want.
The Dirty Pictures That Revolutionized Art
Brian Doherty's history of underground comix chronicles how Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, and others challenged censorship and increased free speech.
The End of Roe Is Republicans' Latest Excuse for Growing the Size and Cost of Government
There is demand for child tax credits, paid family leave, and funding for crisis pregnancy centers but the Rubio-Romney plan is not the answer.
Conservatives Embrace Anti-Discrimination Principles
Anti-discrimination law was pioneered by the political left. But, in recent years, conservatives have increasingly tried to use it for their own purposes.
A New Jersey Town Wants To Charge This Woman $5,000 To Sell Cookies
Somerville still has costly regulations on the books even though New Jersey has legalized the sale of home-baked items.
Supreme Court Says High School Coach's Postgame Prayers Are Protected Free Speech
A 6–3 majority sees it as noncoercive and not a violation of the Establishment Clause.
New Complaint Challenges Limits to Corporate Speech Enacted by Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act'
Three Florida companies are suing in federal court for the right to discuss diversity and inclusion concepts in workplace trainings.
Seaweed Is a Promising Food Tangled in Regulations
Regulatory uncertainty is keeping the seaweed market from reaching its full potential.
Announcing The Reason Rundown With Peter Suderman
A new limited series podcast incoming next week
Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Era of Cultural Stagflation
On streaming and the big screen, we're paying more for less, even as new ideas seem few and far between.
Review: Gran Turismo 7
The video game serves as a fun reminder that free trade, not protectionism, makes us all better off.
As the ACLU Recedes From Its Core Mission, FIRE Expands To Fill the Void
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is defending expression on campus and off as the ACLU becomes a progressive advocacy group.
Title IX Didn't Make College Sports Equal, It Made Them Contentious
After 50 years, not only has Title IX failed to deliver on its promises for female athletes, it also made men's sports worse.
Sotomayor vs. Roberts on Religion, Schools, and the First Amendment
“A State violates the Free Exercise Clause when it excludes religious observers from otherwise available public benefits,” the Supreme Court held.
My NBC News Article on Today's Supreme Court Ruling Barring Discrimination Against Religious Schools in Maine School Choice Program
The decision is an important victory for both the principle of nondiscrimination and parents and students seeking better educational opportunities.
School Choice and Religious Liberty Advocates Just Won Big at the Supreme Court
States may not "exclude some members of the community from an otherwise generally available public benefit because of their religious exercise,” says SCOTUS.
Landmark Shark Attack
Government officials have declared an Oxford home's shark roof sculpture a protected landmark, against the wishes of the current owner of the house.
Critical Race Theory: A Deep Dive
A seven-episode mini series on critical race theory.
Let's Applaud the 10-Year-Old Who Walked to School Every Day for 4 Years
A kid roaming the streets on his own is like an endangered species: once common, now rare, and worth trying to bring back.