In a Complex World, Politicians Have a Simple Demand: More Power
Circumstances change and the world may grow more complicated, but authoritarians never vary from their demand for more power over our lives.
Public Health
Paul Krugman Thinks Holding Religious Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Like 'Dumping Neurotoxins Into Public Reservoirs'
The New York Times columnist misconstrues the issues at stake in the challenge to New York's restrictions on houses of worship.
SCOTUS Blocks New York's COVID-19 Restrictions on Houses of Worship, Saying They Are Not 'Narrowly Tailored'
Gov. Andrew Cuomo described his policy as a "fear-driven response," cut by a "hatchet" rather than a "scalpel."
Senseless Restrictions on Outdoor Activities Undermine the Goal of Curbing COVID-19
By arbitrarily foreclosing relatively safe social and recreational options, politicians encourage defiance, resentment, and riskier substitutes.
Instead of Policing Thanksgiving, Governments Should Get Their Own Act Together
Plus: Trump adviser says TikTok ban will happen, Texas to teach birth control in middle school sex ed, and more...
Vaccine Nationalism Threatens Politicized Decisions to Fight a Global Pandemic
If governments stand in the way of vaccine production and distribution for the world market, the costs will be high in lives and in wealth.
More Cops Say They Won't Enforce Coronavirus Curfews
Plus: Biden definitely wins Georgia, Alaskans approve ranked-choice voting, Facebook faces next antitrust lawsuit, and more...
Why the Hell Don't We Have Enough Damned COVID-19 Tests After 8 Months of the Pandemic?
It's not like we didn't know that we had a problem.
Gavin Newsom's French Laundry Outing Crystallizes the Arrogance of COVID-19 Dictators
After violating his own rules, California's governor offers deceitful excuses and announces new restrictions for the little people.
Coronavirus Curfews Are Trending Again, Despite Total Lack of Evidence They Help
Plus: Against the conservative case for antitrust action, New York City shuts down schools again, and more...
A New Prevalence Estimate Suggests the COVID-19 Infection Fatality Rate in Texas Is Roughly 0.4 Percent
That makes the disease much deadlier than the seasonal flu but not nearly as deadly as modelers initially assumed.
Unreasonable Rules Fueled a Black Market in Negative COVID-19 Test Results
Before putting testing rules in place, officials should have considered whether the public would be willing and able to comply.
Rapid At-Home Tests for COVID-19 Finally Get FDA Approval. But People Still Need a Prescription.
Plus: Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejects Trump campaign complaint, new pandemic restrictions in lots of states, and more...
Cuomo's COVID-19 Rules Discriminate Against Religion
The case gives SCOTUS another chance to enforce constitutional limits on disease control measures.
Jews and Catholics Ask Supreme Court To Stop NYC Religious Services Ban
Plus: DOJ argues for right to kill civilians, tech CEOs are back before Congress today, Dolly Parton helped fund COVID-19 vaccine, and more...
Arbitrary COVID-19 Control Measures Will Not Make Americans More Likely To 'Hang in There' Until Vaccines Are Available
Legal responses to this fall's surge in new cases, like last spring's lockdowns, are frequently illogical and unscientific.
Masks Are a Tool, Not a Panacea
They help keep the disease from spreading, but they won't single-handedly keep the COVID-19 numbers from going up.
Justice Samuel Alito Highlights the Legal Issues Raised by 'Previously Unimaginable' COVID-19 Restrictions
When "fundamental rights are restricted" during an emergency, he says, the courts "cannot close their eyes."
Joe Biden's COVID-19 Death Forecast Looks Less Plausible Every Day
So far the president-elect's "expectation" is off by a factor of more than three, which does not bode well for his approach to the pandemic.
Here Come the New Lockdowns
Plus: Hallucinogen decriminalization is trendy, U.S. divorce rate reaches 50 year low, and more...
Will Biden Use the Broad Pandemic-Fighting Powers Originally Claimed by Trump?
Trump claimed the power to issue a national eviction moratorium during COVID. Could that pave the way for the mask mandates Biden clearly wants?
The Economy, Racial Inequality, and COVID-19 Topped Voter Minds
It's the world of the present, not the controversies of the past, that motivated voters.
Bureaucrats Declare War on Learning Pods. They'll Lose.
Flexible education crafted to meet family needs is destined to prevail over failing government schools.
Hey, Teacher! Don't Leave Those Kids at Home
Schools don’t seem to spread the coronavirus much at all.
Why Is Donald Trump So Mad at Anthony Fauci?
The president's COVID-19 adviser is not always right, but at least he is attempting to describe reality.
What Current Data Tell Us About How the Pandemic Could Play Out This Winter
Peaks and valleys, a fall peak, or a slow burn?
New Evidence Suggests Better Treatment Is Contributing to Falling COVID-19 Fatality Rates
Even after adjusting for age and comorbidities, researchers in New York and England found large improvements in patient survival.
White House Says 'President Trump's Coronavirus Response Has Saved Over 2 Million Lives'
That claim is wildly implausible and contradicted by the president's suggestion that COVID-19 was never much of a threat.
A New Round of COVID-19 Restrictions Drives Illinois Eateries to Rebellion
Who could have predicted that intolerable rules won’t be tolerated?
Trump Is Wrong About Military Distribution of a COVID-19 Vaccine
When a coronavirus vaccine is ready, it will be distributed through normal civilian supply chains to your doctor's office and local pharmacy.
Trump and Biden Are Both Misleading Us About COVID-19
The president claims success based on a completely implausible worst-case scenario, while his opponent projects more than 3,700 deaths a day.
A New Study Estimates That COVID-19 Is Responsible for 2.5 Million Years of Life Lost in the U.S.
That is much lower than the toll from unintentional injuries, cancer, or heart disease but higher than the loss attributed to suicide or homicide.
The Games Must Go On
COVID-19 upended the NBA, the NFL, the NHL, and MLB. How the professional sports leagues responded offers a glimpse into our future.
Jo Jorgensen: 'Requiring People To Vaccinate Their Children Is One of the Most Egregious Things That the Government Can Do'
The Libertarian ticket is campaigning against lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and the World Health Organization, in addition to the usual taxation, prohibition, and war.
WHO Joins Top Epidemiologists in Emphasizing Harm Caused by Lockdowns
Months into the pandemic, we’re finally getting a real debate over the right way to fight the virus.
Emergency Coronavirus Orders Upheld in Wisconsin, Rejected in Michigan
Plus: Pandemic brings rise in electronic ankle monitoring, a court rules on stimulus checks for incarcerated people, and more...
A Group of Scientists Wants To Reopen Society. Here's What Everyone Is Getting Wrong About What They Said.
The Great Barrington Declaration asks how much collateral damage is too much.
Infection Rates in Neighborhoods With Low Voter Turnout, Many Bars, Few Trees Could Slow California's Reopening Under New 'Equity Metric'
California's new approach to combating coronavirus layers on yet more requirements for counties looking to reopen businesses.
Cuomo Clamps Down on New York Churches and Schools (Again)
Students and congregants may be collateral damage in a turf war between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
An Overdue Rebuke to Politicians Who Think Anything Goes in a Pandemic
Two courts say COVID-19 lockdowns in Michigan and Pennsylvania were unconstitutional.
The Post-Pandemic 'New Normal' Looks Awfully Authoritarian
Less-intrusive responses could preserve our health while leaving our freedom intact.
Here's Who Has Tested Positive for COVID-19 in Congress and the White House
Plus: Texas attorney general accused of bribery, Homeland Security wants credit reports on immigration sponsors, and more...
Democrats Propose $2.2 Trillion More for Coronavirus Relief and Other Pet Projects
Plus: Court says Subway sandwich bread isn't bread, Tennessee "abortion reversal" law blocked, and more...
Trump's Muddled Mask Message May Be His Best Attempt To Reconcile Irreconcilable Extremes
Both sides in the debate about face masks make claims that are not justified by the scientific evidence.
The Latest CDC Estimates of COVID-19's Infection Fatality Rate Vary Dramatically With Age
In younger age groups, the estimated risk is substantially lower than the overall IFR for the seasonal flu.
Tasing Moms Who Refuse Masks Does Not Make the World a Healthier Place
Once a desire—or even a good idea—is turned into a mandate enforceable by the cops, violence is only one disagreement away.
