No, the HEROES Act Doesn't Let Biden Forgive Student Loans
"If it was an emergency, why wait three years to provide the forgiveness? Why present it in a political framework, as fulfilling a campaign promise?" said one higher education expert.
Economics
Paul Krugman Says Social Security Is Sustainable. It's Really Not.
Krugman sees benefit cuts as "a choice" but believes that implementing a massive tax increase on American employers and workers would be "of course" no big deal.
The Answer to Population Decline Is More Immigration
Politicians' go-to fixes like child tax credits and federal paid leave are known for creating disincentives to work without much impact on fertility.
Did Biden Just Commit America to Another Forever War in Ukraine?
Plus: the editors field a listener question on intellectual property.
What the Madoff Series Left Out
A Netflix documentary series blames the SEC for missing the Ponzi scheme and then calls for giving the SEC more power.
Want Less Corruption? Try Having Smaller Government.
People can never be made incorruptible. We can, however, design governmental systems filled with checks and balances that limit the temptations.
New York Floats a Crackdown on Independent Workers
Like California’s ruinous A.B. 5, the proposal would greatly harm freelance employment.
Businesses See Political Advocacy As a No-Win Situation
Companies who embrace political agendas to please some of their employees or customers risk alienating others.
Biden Wants To Restrict Work and Flexibility for Freelancers
Most independent contractors don’t want the PRO Act anyway.
Social Security and Medicare Cuts Are Coming, Whether Politicians Do It or Not
As legislators refuse to act, benefits will be cut without any possibility of sheltering those seniors who are poor.
U.S. Will Add $18.8 Trillion in New Debt by 2033
Plus: Age verification for social media, a bill to ban cannabis "gatherings," and more...
PredictIt Helps Forecast Election Results. Bureaucrats Are Trying To Kill It.
Election betting markets are often more reliable than pundits. Did the site steal user funds? No. Did they lie to people? No. Harm anyone? No.
Is Inflation Sneakily Starting To Rise Again?
January's consumer price data indicates another drop in annual inflation, but the past three months might tell a different story.
Photos Show the Transformation of Great Britain
A new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art displays how the U.K. changed in the 1970s and '80s.
New California Bill Proposes Legalizing Authentic Cannabis Cafes
Cannabis consumers should have the same commercial leisure spaces that alcohol drinkers do.
Biden's Terrible Billionaire Tax
By raising the effective tax rate on capital gains, the proposal would reduce U.S. saving, discourage entrepreneurship, and decrease economic output.
For Joe Biden, Competition Is Essential. Except When It Must Be Banned.
It's a fundamental contradiction that's affected the Biden administration's economic policy for the past two years.
The Fight Over the Debt Ceiling Is Just Beginning
Legislators will increasingly argue over how to spend a diminishing discretionary budget while overall spending simultaneously explodes.
Marc Andreessen: What the World Needs Most Is More Elon Musks
The Netscape co-founder and legendary venture capitalist talks about the future, innovation, and your next beach read.
Marc Andreessen on A.I., Crypto, Nietzsche, and Why We Need More Elon Musks
The venture capitalist and prognosticator on his hopes for the future and his fears about the present.
Mike Pompeo Says He 'Grew Up Libertarian'
These days, he may run for president. His politics have changed.
Biden Promises To Let Social Security's Ship Keep Sinking
Biden vowed to block any attempts to cut Social Security benefits, and Republicans made it clear that they have little appetite to try it.
Republicans and Democrats Face Impasse Over Cutting Spending Versus Raising Taxes
Plus: Court denies motion to suppress January 6 geofence warrant, Texas may ban some immigrants from buying property, and more...
Florida's War on Drag Targets Theater's Liquor License
Apparently, parents’ rights don’t extend to letting their kids listen to naughty Christmas lyrics.
Democrats Say They Support Green Energy. Why Do Their Policies Say Otherwise?
If you look closely, you'll find a lot of contradictions.
Biden Promotes a Hummer That Doesn't Even Qualify for His Electric Vehicle Tax Credits
Biden sat in a truck that costs as much as $120,000 to promote a tax credit that only applies to electric vehicles retailing for up to $80,000.
COVID Stimulus Spending Played 'Sizable Role' in Inflation
Fiscal stimulus during the pandemic contributed to an increase in inflation of about 2.6 percentage points.
National Conservatives Can't Find a Good Excuse for Viktor Orbán's Inflation Disaster
Hungary's inflation hits 24.5 percent—the highest in the European Union—and Orbán's price controls aren't helping.
DeSantis Revokes Licenses From Businesses That Fail To Use Flawed E-Verify System
Floridians will bear the cost of DeSantis currying favor with immigration restrictionists.
Poll: One-Fifth of Americans Say Government Is Our Nation's Top Problem
Plus: Democrats doubt Harris' ability to win, an end to pandemic emergency status, and more...
Are We Making Any Progress on Police Brutality?
Plus: The editors consider the ongoing debt ceiling drama and answer a listener question about ending the war on drugs.
Argentina's Inflation Crisis
Annual inflation was reported at 88 percent in October, up from 50 percent in January 2022.
If Republicans Want To Cut Spending, They Should Start With the Pentagon
Sen. Rand Paul says Republicans "have to give up the sacred cow" of military spending in order to make a deal that will address the debt ceiling and balance the budget.
End the Fed? A Soho Forum Debate
Economists Lawrence H. White and Frederic Mishkin debate whether the Federal Reserve should be replaced with free market institutions.
Social Security Is on the Brink of Collapse. The GOP Won't Touch It.
In 1950, there were more than 16 workers for every beneficiary. In 2035, that ratio will be only 2.3 workers per retiree.
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.
What the U.S. Should Learn From China's Population Decline
The U.S. remains the top destination for the world's immigrants—but it must be careful not to squander its immigration advantage.
ChatGPT Isn't Coming for Your Job (Yet)
Content-generating A.I. will probably enhance human labor rather than make it obsolete.
Robert Reich Is Wrong: 'Corporate Greed' Isn't To Blame for Egg Prices
The former labor secretary ignores the avian flu epidemic that devastated the supply of egg-laying hens.
Tariffs Targeting Carbon Emissions Would Be a Costly Blow to Free Trade
Joe Biden could take advantage of the expanded executive authority over trade that Donald Trump helped create.
Pennsylvania's New Governor Dumps Excessive College Diploma Demands for State Jobs
More leaders should follow in the footsteps of Govs. Josh Shapiro, Larry Hogan, and Spencer Cox.
Survey: Americans Want K-12 Schools To Prioritize Practical Skills, Not College Prep
New survey results show that "Americans believe the K-12 education system should redirect its focus on what it means to successfully prepare American students—equipping them with practical skills that prepare them for life."
Republicans Want More Control Over America's Oil Reserve. They Should Scrap It Instead.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is supposed to insulate the U.S. from oil embargoes and foreign wars. More often, it has been used like an insurance policy for private companies.
The Courts Are Rejecting Biden's Antitrust Crusade
The Biden administration's antitrust efforts are being shut down by judges, except for a single successful case where best-selling authors were involved.
The GOP's Current Plan To Cut Spending Is a Political Failure
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are still the chief drivers of our future debt. But Republicans aren't touching them.
The Political Lies That Really Matter
From George Santos to Joe Biden, résumé padding is unacceptable. But it's all the lies about legislation we can't afford.
Ohio To Honor Occupational Licenses from Other States
While not a cure-all, universal recognition reduces the costs and time commitments of mandated training.
