Defending Student Deportations, Marco Rubio Equates Writing an Anti-Israel Op-Ed With Starting a Riot
The detention of Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk illustrates the startling breadth of the authority the secretary of state is invoking.
Foreign Policy
Who Is the 'Top Missile Guy' the U.S. Killed in Yemen?
For an administration that likes to show off successful assassinations, the Trump team has been surprisingly tight-lipped about the Houthi commanders they targeted.
To Remain Canadian, Our Northern Neighbors Should Become a Little More American
Canada long relied on the U.S. for protection. Now it needs to rediscover self-reliance.
Lee Kovarsky on the Venue Issue in the Alien Enemies Act Case
A leading expert on habeas corpus explains why the Trump Administration is wrong to claim the case must be heard in Texas, rather than Washington, DC.
The 'Meritocracy' Lie
Two months after he was inaugurated, Trump has smashed many of the government's silly DEI rules. But he hasn't created a new age of meritocracy.
Signal Chat Controversy Is an Endorsement of Encryption Software
Popular encryption apps are probably secure if government officials rely on them.
Pete Hegseth's Carelessness and Dishonesty Mirror Hillary Clinton's
The defense secretary, who shared information about imminent U.S. air strikes in a manifestly insecure group chat, thought Clinton should be prosecuted for her careless handling of sensitive information.
Pete Hegseth Says the Signal Chat Had 'No Classified Information.' How Is That Possible?
The U.S. has a real problem with overclassification. But the assertion that details about impending air strikes would not be classified strains credulity.
Will the U.S. Bomb Iran Over a Nuclear Weapons Program That Doesn't Exist?
Iran isn’t building a nuclear weapon, the Trump administration says. But this hasn’t stopped the march toward war.
Why Economic Sanctions Against Iran Are Backfiring
How Sanctions Work argues the consequences of economic warfare don't always serve American interests.
DC Circuit Upholds District Court Order Blocking Deportations Under The Alien Enemies Act
The 2-1 ruling is procedural, but strongly suggests the majority judges also reject the Trump administration's position on the merits.
It's Not Journalists' Job To Protect Government Secrets
With the controversy over the leaked White House group chat, mainstream media have been treating secrecy as a virtue and disclosure as a vice. That’s a dangerous game.
Federal Court Rules Migrants Have Right to Hearing to Challenge Alien Enemies Act Deportations
Judge Boasberg ruled the migrants are entitled to due process in determing whether they really are "alien enemies" covered by the Act.
Syria's Revolution Has Betrayed Its Promise
After Assad’s fall, Syria was poised for liberation. Instead, ethnic violence, sectarian dogma, and unchecked power are threatening to turn victory into yet another nightmare.
The Atlantic Should Not Find Out About a War Before Congress Does
The White House accidentally leaked military plans in Yemen to a journalist—and demonstrated how unconstitutional U.S. war making has become.
These Ceramic Tiles in Spain and Portugal Tell the Story of Globalization
Azulejos remind us that globalization has been shaping art, politics, and culture for centuries.
FIRE Says the Law Trump Is Using To Deport Mahmoud Khalil Is Unconstitutional. Trump's Sister Agreed.
As a federal judge, Maryanne Trump Barry said the provision is unconstitutionally vague. That's especially problematic when it is used to punish speech.
The European Commission Is Assaulting American Tech Companies
Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and others have all faced legal action from the European Union in recent years.
Are The Palestinians Systematically Oppressed?
City University of New York professor Peter Beinart and AEI's Michael Rubin debate Israel and Palestine.
Trump Thinks the Feds Can Fix America's Critical Mineral Supply Chain
Invoking the Defense Production Act won't boost the supply of critical minerals.
Afghan Refugees Stuck in Limbo as USRAP Suspension Defies Court Order
Afghan legal professionals face deadly threats, but a federal injunction and a last-minute boarding letter helped one family escape. Thousands more remain in limbo.
Two Audio Interviews About the Alien Enemies Act Litigation
Links to audios of a Cato Institute podcast and an interview with ABC News (Australia).
National Constitution Center Podcast on the Alien Enemies Act and Mahmoud Khalil Immigration Cases [Updated]
The participants were Adam Cox (NYU) and myself.
Trump Owns the Middle East Wars Now
The president is quickly wiping out his own accomplishments.
Trump Is Explicitly Targeting Legal Residents Based on the Opinions They Express
The rationale for deporting Mahmoud Khalil is chillingly vague and broad.
The Best of Reason: Trump's Dramatic Crossroads Between Protectionism and Dynamism
The GOP faces a choice about how to move forward.
Why Would Trump Want To Ban Bhutanese People?
The proposed list of countries for the "Muslim ban" reboot has been leaked. It includes a small Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas.
Allies Cancel Orders of F-35s, the Fighter Jets That Will Cost $2 Trillion
The U.S., in turn, should cancel the F-35 program altogether.
Trump Attacked Biden's 'Crazy' Yemen War. Now He's Reopening It.
The U.S. is back to bombing the Houthi movement.
First They Came For…
Plus: Democrats' filibuster hypocrisy, Trump bombs Yemen, March Madness, and more...
The Cold War Broadcasting Apparatus Should Shut Down
Dissidents resisting authoritarian regimes should be independent of the United States—and so should their media sources.
My US News and World Report Article on Trump's Dictatorial Immigration Power Grabs
The article is coauthored with Cato Institute scholar David Bier.
Pour One Out for Purchasing Power This St. Patrick's Day
Trump’s tariffs will kill the global trade that makes the holiday’s cultural celebration possible.
How Pokémon Helps Explain DOGE
Musk's fans and critics will keep debating whether DOGE is revolutionizing government or wrecking important institutions.
Howard Lutnick Doesn't Get To Decide What You Buy
There is no "royal we" in the marketplace.
Has Trump Cut a Deal To Get U.S. Troops Out of Syria?
Syrian Kurdish rebels and the new Syrian government have agreed to reunite peacefully. The U.S. military may have helped broker the agreement.
Trump May Soon Try to Use the Alien Enemies Act as a Tool for Deportation
His apparent plan to do so is illegal and would set a dangerous precedent if allowed to stand.
If You Want To Cut Government Spending, You Can't Ignore the Pentagon
Since Congress began requiring annual audits in 2018, the Department of Defense has never passed.
Are Democrats Regretting Trying To Out-Hawk Trump?
Rep. Adam Smith (D–Wash.) thinks Democrats should return to their antiwar roots—and be open to negotiating with Russia.
Congress and DOGE Can Find Spending Cuts at the Department of Defense
The U.S. can defend itself at a lot less expense.
What If Native American Tribes Had Gotten Their Own State?
Historian Donald L. Fixico explores a forgotten moment in Oklahoma history and its lessons about liberty.
Is Trump Borrowing Biden's 'Bear Hug' Approach to Israel?
The president is publicly taking a tough line on the Middle East—while privately supporting diplomacy.
Possible Travel Bans Coming
Plus: The Trump administration's American dream revisionism, 50 theses on DOGE, what people get wrong about extreme MAGA, and more...
James Pogue: What Ukraine Reveals About MAGA
Vanity Fair's James Pogue dives into the dissident right, his personal experiences with MAGA, and how Ukraine policy is unfolding.
Apple Takes U.K. to Court Over Demand To Weaken Encryption
If enacted, the order would weaken digital security for Apple users throughout the U.K.
The Bipartisan War on Elbridge Colby
Hawks from both major parties lashed out at the confirmation hearing for Trump’s nominee for top military strategist.
In Speech to Congress, Trump Promises More Tariff Madness
The tariffs Trump has already imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China will cost an estimated $142 billion this year—and he says more are on the way.
Trump Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine
Plus: Tariffs go into effect, inside the fact-checker industrial complex, and more...
