Rand Paul: Budget Deal Should Be Renamed 'The Status Quo Protection Act'
Libertarian-leaners are lonely voices on Capitol Hill opposing the latest bipartisan spending spree
Deficits
Dems Horrified That Somebody Besides Gov't Might Spend $1 Trillion on Infrastructure
Trump's attempt at wooing Democrats with transportation billions runs up against their anti-private-sector ideology
Turns Out Congressional Republicans Don't Really Want to Cut Spending
GOP politicians admit that President Trump's draconian cuts to the regulatory state aren't going to happen.
Steve Bannon vs. the Tea Party Libertarians [Reason podcast]
Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch talk Trump, Ryan, gender-neutral pronouns, DJ Khaled, and more.
The Cost of Carrying Debt
Low interest rates ease the pain of carrying so much debt. But in the long run, somehow, the U.S. will end up paying for it.
Trump's Over-Praised State of the Union: The New Fifth Column
Why Paul Ryan was clapping at policies he's long opposed, how POTUS could be a strong de-regulator, and why the media cares 100x more about presidential theatrics than the war in Yemen
Trump's Economic Illiteracy on Display in Address to Congress
The president takes a reckless stance on free trade, entitlements, and debt reduction.
Will President Trump Create More Debt Than President Obama?
Trump doesn't want to fix Social Security or Medicare.
A Ringside Seat to the Debt Ceiling Fight
With our debt about to explode, the debt limit is more needed than ever. Congress needs to resist the calls to dispose of it.
Runaway Deficits Forever
Is anybody actually interested in balancing the federal budget?
5 Things Libertarians Should Be Nervous About in 2017
Say goodbye to 2016. But don't let your guard down.
Challenge Grant Time in the Reason Webathon! Because We Still Treat Presidential Politics as if (Bad) Ideas Matter
From Bernie to Hillary, from Trump to the chumps in Congress, we used the spectacle of politics to argue about the substance of policy.
Will Trump Supporters Like What They Get?
Trade wars and debt increases loom on the horizon.
The US Is Already Broke!: Economist (and Presidential Candidate) Laurence Kotlikoff
Says real national debt is north of $200 trillion and screwing younger Americans from now til Doomsday.
Gary Johnson Calls "Horseshit" On Reports That He Doubled Debt As N.M. Governor
During PBS debate with Green Party candidate Jill Stein, the Libertarian candidate shows his fangs.
Nightmare In Deep Ellum: How Pension Obligation Bonds Ruined Dallas Employees' Retirement Dreams
Dallas' pension crisis is another example of why cities and states shouldn't use pension obligation bonds.
'We Have Two Parties Right Now That Have Abandoned All Pretenses at Realism About Our $20 Trillion National Debt and About Our Entitlements'
Matt Welch assesses Hillary Clinton's absurd "I do not add a penny to the national debt" claim on Stossel
The Trillion-Dollar Deficit Question
The bottom line is that we have a spending problem that should be addressed by reforming Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
With Mitch Daniels Republicanism on the Outs, Mitch Daniels Cozies up to Gary Johnson
Former Indiana governor pushes for Libertarian nominee's inclusion in the debates, hosts a big event for him at Purdue, and writes WSJ op-Ed about an issue only Johnson is any good on
Lawsuit Challenges Arkansas City and County Practice of Arresting People Over Court Fines Associated with Bad Checks
An effective policy of debtors prison said to violate the federal constitution and various parts of Arkansas' state constitution.
Hillary Clinton's Free College Promise Won't Be Free—and Won't Help College Students
Political concession to the Sanders crowd that you'll pay $35 billion for
Neither Clinton Nor Trump Would Reduce the National Debt
Clinton's policies would increase the debt less-but would still leave the budget on an unsustainable path.
Republicans Have Become the Party of No Ideas—and Democrats Have Become the Party of Bad Ideas
Elizabeth Warren's DNC speech was a vision of government unbounded by cost or consequences.
We Were Kidding About Donald Trump Literally Taking the U.S. to Bankruptcy Court, Right?
GOP presumptive nominee discusses renegotiating federal debt, like struggling economies do.
Puerto Rico Has Become America's Version of Greece
Debt relief and privatization are the only ways to fix its fiscal mess.
Who Would Bankrupt America First, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?
Lessons from Puerto Rico.
New GAO Report Details Scope of Federal Government Inefficiency
The feds could save tens of billions just through better management.
The Incredible Cluelessness of Donald Trump
Trump has demonstrated over and over again that he doesn't know the slightest thing about policy. The GOP is supporting him anyway.
Donald Trump's Plan to Preserve Social Security by Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Doesn't Even Come Close to Adding Up
Trump wants to cover a $150 billion gap with $3 billion in savings.
Yet Another Tale of Death in Jail Over a Debt, in a Nation Officially Without Debtors Prisons
Taken from a hospital suffering from gastroenteritis straight to jail, Joyce Curnell died there of likely dehydration. All over an unpaid court debt.
$19 Trillion and Counting: The Dangers of Unlimited Debt
"If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."
CBO's Latest Budget Report Is a Reminder That Debt and Deficits Haven't Gone Away
Trillion dollar deficits are on their way back.
Econopocalypse Looming Again?
Stock market and debt troubles could mean bad news for this presidential election year, giving Trump and Sanders both more traction for their respective bad ideas.
Here Come Big Budget Deficits!
Thanks to more spending, annual deficits will grow faster than expected.
Feds Still Owe the $30 Billion Woodrow Wilson Borrowed for WWI
Who could run a household or a business the way the feds have run the government in the past 100 years?
The GOP's Omnibus Spending Binge Will Undermine the Next President
Expect even more red ink and massive deficits during our next recession.
Students Say They Want Cheap (or Free) College, Then Make Demands That Drive Up Costs
Somebody should picket for mandatory economics classes.
Republican Tax Fantasies
Tax cut promises are divorced from actual spending discipline.
Is There Really Any Way to Stop College Students From Wasting Money on Their Edumications?
You can go to college for $60,000 total or $160,000. Is that really a tough decision? And what school should accept you if you pick the latter?
Rand Paul Vows Filibuster of Debt Limit Bill
Senator holds back his desire to use profanity in describing the super-spendy bill.
Generational Swindle: How DC is Screwing over Millennials
Jared Meyer on "Disinherited: How Washington Is Betraying America's Young"
How to Balance the Budget in One Easy Step
It's like a real life easy button no one who can wants to use.
5 Takeaways from the CBO's Latest Budget Report
Lower deficits for now, but debt remains on an unsustainable path.
