Clarence Thomas Doubled Down on Presidential Power
The conservative justice pushed for greater executive authority even in cases in which Trump won.
Tariffs
Video of National Constitution Center Conference on "2026 Supreme Court Review: Key Decisions, Executive Power, Civil Discourse"
Three different VC bloggers were among the speakers: Jonathan Adler, Keith Whittington, and myself.
The Roberts Court vs. the Trump Court
Why Trump lost big in the Supreme Court cases he cared the most about
America Was Not Founded by 'Tariff Men,' Contrary to This Painting in Trump's White House
Free trade is "a direct affront to our Founding Fathers," President Donald Trump said during his first presidential campaign.
Trump Called the USMCA His 'Best Deal.' Now, He Wants Out of It.
The decision not to renew the USMCA is less dramatic than it might appear. Even so, Trump is exchanging stability for more uncertainty.
Trump's Fertilizer Tariff Retreat Is Another Admission That Tariffs Raise Prices
The White House quietly repealed tariffs on Moroccan fertilizer this week.
The Right Way To Fight a Trade War
Economist Soumaya Keynes discusses Trump’s tariff policies, how China changed the global economy, and why trade wars require restraint.
The Trump Administration Wants More Tariffs To Combat 'Structural Excess Capacity.' Here's What That Means.
When businesses in other countries produce more goods than their domestic markets can use, is that a conspiracy against America? Of course not.
The Courts Should Rein in Trump's Proposed Section 301 Tariffs as Well
A guest post by Georgetown legal scholar Peter E. Harrell.
Federal Circuit Stays Enforcement of Ruling Against Trump's Section 122 Tariffs
The ruling is flawed on both substantive and procedural grounds.
Trump's Position in the White House Ballroom Case Reflects His General Resistance to Judicial Review
The president has repeatedly argued that courts have no business deciding whether his actions are legal.
Federal Court Invalidates Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee as Illegal Usurpation of Congress' Power to Tax
The ruling relies in part on the Supreme Court's decision in the tariff case.
The Trump Administration Is Still Fighting To Keep Billions in Illegal Tariff Revenue
The administration has paid $20 billion in refunds. Now, it is asking a federal appeals court to limit which businesses will get the rest.
Trump's Dubious New Section 301 Tariffs
They appear to be yet another illegal power grab, one that should be challenged in court.
Cutting Tariffs on Farm Equipment Is Another Admission That Trump's Trade Policies Are Increasing Prices
Even as the White House backs away from its foolish tariff plans, the Trump administration keeps revealing why it should never have had these powers in the first place.
Trump's Cotton Bailout Is Another Sign His Tariffs Aren't Working
The Great American Cotton Plan will shell out millions in taxpayer funds, continuing the Trump administration’s pattern of paying off industries harmed by the president’s economic policies.
How To Win a Trade War? Lose Less Than Your Opponents.
The only winning move is not to play. But if you must, a new book offers some suggestions.
Trump Administration Will Appeal Ruling Requiring Tariff Refunds
They claim the injunction requiring refunds cannot be universal, and can only apply to those businesses who filed lawsuits seeking recovery.
Iran Is Turning America's Sanctions Playbook Against It
The U.S. Treasury is trying to fight the kind of trade embargo that it usually imposes on other countries.
Trump's Trade War Caused a $15 Billion Decline in U.S. Farm Sales to China
Though some of their products may have been redirected elsewhere, American farmers are likely eating most of the losses.
250 Years Later, Benjamin Franklin's Warning Is Still Relevant
He famously said the Founders had created "a republic, if you can keep it." How have we kept it? And can we continue?
Video of my Bruno Leoni Institute (Milan) Talk on the Supreme Court Tariff Decision and its Implications
I gave the talk earlier this week.
Trump's Approval Rating Is Cratering. Tariffs Are a Big Reason Why.
They cost each American household roughly $1,000 in 2025, with more coming in 2026.
US Court of International Trade Refuses to Stay Injunction Against Trump's Section 122 Tariffs
The decision means the injunction blocking collection of the tariffs will not be blocked while litigation continues.
Why Populism Leads to Decline
Johan Norberg discusses what makes societies prosperous, why protectionism and nostalgia keep returning, and how populism feeds cultural decline.
Trump Is the High-Prices President
Trump's signature policies are pushing prices higher—and voters are pushing back.
A North Carolina Goodyear Plant Is the Latest Victim of Trump's Misguided Tariffs and Costly Iran War
Another example of the flawed logic behind the Trump administration's tariff policies: You can't make a tire without rubber, and the U.S. doesn't produce rubber.
Unitelma Sapienza University Talk and Interview About "Threats to Liberal Democracy in the United States - And How To Counter Them"
Videos of my presentation and interview on this topic at a major Italian university.
Congress Ramps Up Its Crusade Against Chinese Cars Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting
Chinese cars are cheap and widely popular, but Americans can't buy them.
Reason Receives 17 Nominations for Southern California Journalism Awards
Nominees include stories on America's gerontocracy, the war on chocolate, how Texas beat California on housing, and more.
Clarence Thomas Sets a New SCOTUS Record
Plus: A "supremely cringe" viral tweet about the Supreme Court
A Modest Uptick in Supreme Court Popularity
A recent YouGov poll shows the Court is likely less unpopular than before. The tariff ruling may have given it a boost. The poll has several other notable findings, as well.
New Jersey's Iconic Diners Are Dying. This Is the Wrong Way To Save Them.
Democratic state lawmakers want to give tax carveouts to certain restaurants. The real problem is New Jersey's tax code itself.
Federal Court: Trump's Newest Tariffs Are Also Illegal
Trump's use of Section 122 ignored the plain language of the law and invoked a broad executive power where Congress clearly provided a narrow one.
US Court of International Trade Rules Against Trump's Section 122 Tariffs
The 2-1 decision concludes Trump's massive new tariffs are illegal because there is no "balance of payments deficit" of the kind needed to authorize them.
Trump's New European Car Tariffs Demonstrate Why His 'Deals' Are Worthless
A trade deal that can be terminated by one person at any time and for any reason isn't really a trade deal at all.
Have Trump's Tariffs Brought Manufacturing Jobs Back to America? New Study Says No.
However, the tariffs did shift supply chains away from China and towards other countries with low-cost manufacturing, like Vietnam, Malaysia, and India.
Rethinking Conservative Approaches to Executive Power
Conservative legal commentator Gregg Nunziata outlines reasons why conservatives should reject broad views of executive power.
Trump's Illegal Tariffs Are Finally Being Refunded. Will You Get Any of the Money?
The burden of Trump's illegal tariffs was spread across the American economy. The refunds likely won't cover all those costs.
Tariffs Are Driving Up Your Homeowners Insurance Premiums
When it costs more to build a house, it also costs more to rebuild one.
The Trump Administration Is Worried About High Fertilizer Prices. Its Top Trade Official Lobbied for Them.
Before joining the Trump administration last year, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer lobbied for tariffs that limited fertilizer imports and drove up prices for American farmers.
Upcoming Speaking Engagements in Spain and Italy
I will be giving multiple talks in these two countries in late April and May.
The Bipartisan War on Cheap Food
Republicans and Democrats preach about food affordability. Yet their policies continue to make it worse.
Trump Ended Free Trade for Mexican Tomatoes. Prices Are Up 23 Percent in the Last Year.
America gets 90 percent of its fresh tomatoes from Mexico, and those imports were tariff-free until last year.
Trump Administration Presents Update on its Tariff Refund Plan
The plan is not completely terrible. But many importers may still have difficulty getting the refund money owed to them.
Federal Reserve: Without Tariffs, Inflation Would Have Dropped to Pre-Pandemic Levels During 2025
New study finds that tariffs were responsible for the "entirety of the excess inflation in the core goods category."
Thoughts on Today's Oral Argument in the Section 122 Tariff Cases
The outcome is unclear. But the judges seemed skeptical of the Trump Administration's claims that Section 122 grants them sweeping tariff powers.
In New Tariff Cases, Trump Asserts 'Unreviewable' Power To Invent a Balance-of-Payments Deficit
The Court of International Trade is weighing the legality of the import taxes that the president wants to impose under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
