The Lesson of COVID-19: Don't Give Government More Power
The pandemic showed that America's founders were right to create a system of checks and balances that made it hard for leaders to easily have their way.
Public Health
'15 Days To Slow the Spread': On the Fourth Anniversary, a Reminder to Never Give Politicians That Power Again
In the name of safety, politicians did many things that diminished our lives—without making us safer.
The Supreme Court Should Reject Clandestine Government Censorship of Online Speech
The Biden administration’s social media meddling went far beyond "information" and "advice."
The New York Times Again Worries That Free Speech Endangers Democracy
The newspaper portrays the constitutional challenge to the government's social media meddling as a conspiracy by Donald Trump's supporters.
Because 'Marijuana Is Dangerous,' 2 Inveterate Drug Warriors Say, 'Legalizing It Was a Mistake'
William Barr and John Walters ignore the benefits of legalization and systematically exaggerate its costs.
Expanding the Drug War To Include Tobacco Would Be a Big Mistake
The judicially approved Brookline ban reflects a broader trend among progressives who should know better.
When Doctors Are the Source of Public Health Misinformation
Medical professionals are often unaware of the relevant research on the relative risks of tobacco products, and that can matter for public health.
Did Decriminalization Boost Drug Deaths in Oregon?
Recent research finds "no evidence" that it did, undermining a key claim by critics of that policy.
Biden's Cognitive Shrinkflation
Plus: A listener asks if the state of Oregon’s policy on drug decriminalization should be viewed as a success.
Was Amazon 'Free to Ignore' White House Demands That It Suppress Anti-Vaccine Books?
The Biden administration's interference with bookselling harks back to a 1963 Supreme Court case involving literature that Rhode Island deemed dangerous.
Do New Documents Prove a COVID Lab Leak?
Health reporter Emily Kopp and biologist Alex Washburne discuss new documents that detail plans to manipulate bat-borne coronaviruses in Wuhan on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
Why We Went Crazy During COVID Lockdowns
The Things Fell Apart host Jon Ronson explains how a 1988 quack medical concept inspired George Floyd's death in 2020 and how Plandemic is basically a rewrite of Star Wars.
The World Economic Forum Is Begging You To Trust the Science
"There has been a deliberate attempt to inflame the public against experts," warned one Davos panelist.
Lab Leak Is Not a Conspiracy Theory, Anthony Fauci Concedes
The doctor's claims that he was open to either explanation is flatly contradicted by his literal words.
Fauci to Congress: 6-Foot Social Distancing Guidance Likely Not Based on Data
Republican lawmakers criticized the former NIH official for playing "semantics" about lab leaks and gain-of-function research during closed-door congressional testimony this week.
Guns, Germs, and Drugs Are Largely Responsible for the Decline in U.S. Life Expectancy
The Washington Post hectors Congress to make U.S. life expectancy a "political priority."
Biden Administration Quietly Extended the Unnecessary COVID Bailout for States and Local Governments
Republican senators say the change is "mind-bending and deeply concerning."
Former NIH Director: Ignoring 'Collateral Damage' Inflicted by COVID-19 Policies Was 'Really Unfortunate'
Francis Collins’ remarks highlight the folly of attaching "infinite value" to a life saved by government regulation.
'I Relied on Others,' 'Documents Were Filed in the Wrong Place,' and Other Memorable Excuses
The year's highlights in blame shifting.
Is Economic Freedom Good for Public Health?
New research on how the growth of government may affect public health, even if only indirectly.
WHO Calls for Punitive Booze and Soda Taxes on the Anniversary of Prohibition Repeal
Nannies never fall out of love with failed authoritarianism and curbs on freedom of choice.
Lawsuit: COVID Vaccine Injury Claims Diverted to Unconstitutional 'Kangaroo Court'
A war on terror–era program is the only legal avenue for people seeking compensation for a COVID vaccine injury.
Rand Paul: Pursuing Accountability on Lab Leak 'Deception'
Reason's Zach Weissmueller talked with the senator about his quest to uncover the origins of COVID-19 and hold Anthony Fauci accountable.
Rand Paul on the Lab Leak 'Deception'
Reason's Zach Weissmueller talked with the senator about his quest to uncover the origins of COVID-19 and hold Anthony Fauci accountable.
'A Tyranny of the Minority': Why This College Dropout Wants To Cancel Cancel Culture
"Being a true free speech champion does require that you defend speech that even you disagree with," says libertarian Rikki Schlott.
Remember the Teen Vaping 'Epidemic'?
Policies inspired by that exaggerated threat continue to undermine the harm-reducing potential of e-cigarettes.
SCOTUS Will Decide When the Government's Social Media Meddling Violates the First Amendment
The justices agreed to consider whether the Biden administration's efforts to suppress online "misinformation" were unconstitutional.
California Quietly Repeals Restrictions on Doctors' COVID-19 Advice
Several federal judges had expressed skepticism about the constitutionality of penalizing physicians for departing from a government-defined "consensus."
Sales Data Indicate That Restrictions on Flavored Vaping Products Encourage Smoking
A study found a "high rate of substitution" between vapes and cigarettes, suggesting that policies aimed at preventing underage use are undermining public health.
How Bans on Flavored Vapes Could Increase Teen Smoking
Well-intentioned restricitons on selling vaping products with non-tobacco flavors could have dire unintended consequences.
A Study Finds 'No Evidence' That Decriminalization Boosted Drug-Related Deaths in Oregon
The researchers reached a similar conclusion about overdose trends in Washington, where penalties for simple possession were reduced in 2021.
Johan Norberg: How Sweden Defied Dire COVID Predictions
The attacks on Sweden's laissez faire approach were shortsighted, says the Cato Institute senior fellow.
A Former Twitter Executive's Highly Selective Concern About 'Coercive Influences' on Social Media
Yoel Roth worries about government meddling in content moderation, except when Democrats target "misinformation."
The E.U. Doesn't Want People To Sell Their Plasma, and It Doesn't Care How Many Patients That Hurts
The United States currently supplies about 70 percent of the plasma used to manufacture therapies for the entire world.
The Truth About Sweden's COVID Policy
Join Reason on YouTube on Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern for a discussion with Johan Norberg about his recent policy analysis of Sweden's decision to forgo lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tamale Police Lose Their Excuse To Restrict Homemade Meals
States that allow home chefs to sell perishable foods report no confirmed cases of relevant foodborne illness.
Aaron Kheriaty: Will COVID Restrictions Persist Indefinitely in Schools?
Aaron Kheriaty, author of The New Abnormal, examines the persistent COVID mandates for K-12 schools, college campuses, and health care settings.
The Return of COVID Mandates?
Join Reason on YouTube and Facebook at 1 p.m. Eastern this Thursday for a discussion with Aaron Kheriaty, author of The New Abnormal about the persistent COVID mandates for K-12 schools, college campuses and health care settings.
New Mexico Anti-Gun Decree Follows a Dangerous Path of 'Emergency' Rule
No response to authoritarian government actions is quicker or more reliable than non-compliance.
A Blatantly Unconstitutional Gun Edict Highlights the Hazards of Emergency Powers
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham thinks violent crime gives her a license to rule by decree.
The 5th Circuit Agrees That Federal Officials Unconstitutionally 'Coerced' or 'Encouraged' Online Censorship
The appeals court narrowed a preliminary injunction against such meddling but confirmed the threat that it poses to freedom of speech.
Gavin Newsom Spins Revisionist History of His COVID Record
Plus: internet censorship, outdoor dining land grabs, and more...
Don't Make the Same COVID Mistakes Again
It's vital to recognize the many unforeseen consequences of school closures, business lockdowns, and mask mandates.
The University of Michigan Will Force Students With COVID To Leave Campus
A likely consequence: Sick students will avoid going to the university hospital.
