It's the Spending, Stupid!
The truest measure of government in our lives is the federal budget, which is out of control.
State of the Union
Bernie Sanders Is Lying About AI Data Centers
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi discuss why AI data centers spark joy, their favorite Black Mirror episodes, and libertarian skepticism of the Epstein files release.
Can People in Frog Costumes Beat Fascism?
The "State of the Swamp" event highlights the power and limits of absurdity and whimsy in political protest.
Trump's SOTU Lies
Plus: Entitlement reform, gas prices, the Reason SOTU drinking game, robo-vac spies, and more...
5 Reasons To Doubt Trump's Boast About Bringing Down Fentanyl Smuggling
A drop in seizures doesn't necessarily mean a decline in the supply.
Trump's Tariffs Are Not Going To Eliminate the Income Tax
And that's especially true if the tariffs are illegal.
Trump Says Tech Companies Should Build Their Own Power Plants for AI Data Centers
The plan recognizes that public opinion is what's holding data centers back the most.
Don't Believe Trump's Brags About Bringing Down Drug Prices
The president can't just bring prices down with the stroke of his pen, no matter what he claimed in his State of the Union speech.
Trump Gives IVF a Shoutout in the State of the Union Address
The Trump administration signals an intent to continue appealing to the mainstream, not the far right, on IVF.
3 Bogus Economic Stats in Trump's State of the Union
President Donald Trump tossed out a bunch of economic statistics during his State of the Union address. Here are three that are just plain wrong.
Trump Demands Congress Ban Large Investors Owning Homes. Here's Why That's a Bad Idea.
Large investors are a small, beneficial presence in the single-family home market.
Trump Can't Filibuster Through the 6-Year Itch
Those expecting fireworks at tonight's State of the Union will have to sit through the tedious resume-padding of a flagging president.
Trump's Habitual Charges of 'Treason' Reflect His Authoritarian Impulses
The president’s reaction to a supposedly "seditious" video illustrates his tendency to portray criticism of him as a crime.
Trump Promised a Balanced Budget. Don't Believe It.
It's great to have presidents talking about the need for a balanced budget, but Republicans are backing a plan that will increase borrowing.
Dead People Aren't Bankrupting Us
Plus: Democrat disruptions, Columbia University scrutinized by the feds, and more...
Trump vs. Cleveland: A Tale of Two Tariff Strategies
Grover Cleveland fought high tariffs as a “communism of pelf.” Trump embraces them as an economic cornerstone.
The State of the Union Is Shouty
Plus: A listener asks the editors a question about progressive taxation in the United States.
Cheering From the Press Box
Also: Oppenheimer and Godzilla win at the Oscars, Virginia state lawmakers nuke plans for taxpayer-funded arena, and more...
Biden's Inaccurate and Inadequate Lip Service to Marijuana Reform Ignores Today's Central Cannabis Issue
The president has not expunged marijuana records or decriminalized possession, which in any case would fall far short of the legalization that voters want.
State of the Union (on Stimulants)
Plus: Illegal immigrants at Whole Foods, AI predicting homelessness, Chinese espionage, and more...
Biden Touts More Forever Wars, Breaking His 2021 Promises
In his State of the Union address, Biden promised indefinite U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and beyond.
Biden's Plan To Subsidize Homebuyers Won't Work
The president's laundry list of proposed tax credits would likely make the problem of high housing costs worse.
Biden Says He'll Make the Wealthy Pay More To Fix Social Security. Here's Why That Won't Work.
Raising the payroll tax cap could generate up to $1 trillion over 10 years, but Social Security faces a $2.8 trillion deficit.
Biden Is Wrong About Student Debt Forgiveness
Biden claims that billions in loan forgiveness is "good for the economy," but his plans will end up costing taxpayers almost $500 billion.
Not Again With the 'Shrinkflation,' Please
Shrinkflation is just inflation by another name, and two other facts to keep in mind during tonight's State of the Union address.
Julian Assange's Brother Will Attend the State of the Union Address as Rep. Thomas Massie's Guest
As Joe Biden gives his speech, the audience will include this reminder of the journalist he’s trying to jail.
The State of Our Biden Is Historically Frail
Who you gonna believe during Thursday's speech, the president's protectors or your lying eyes?
Feds Want to Penalize Overly Complicated Subscription Cancellations at $50,000 a Pop
A government big enough to "solve" your minor irritants will do plenty of other stuff you don't like.
Biden Wants To Restrict Work and Flexibility for Freelancers
Most independent contractors don’t want the PRO Act anyway.
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.
Under No Circumstances Did Joe Biden Save Social Security
Plus: a listener question on prohibition and a lightning round on the editors' favorite Super Bowl moments
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.
Biden's Drug Price Controls Will Kill More Patients in the Long Run
And increase total health care costs to boot.
Biden's Foolish Rush To Regulate How Kids Use Tech
Instead of empowering the government to intervene, we should look more holistically at the experience of young people online.
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.
Biden's Claims About Universal Pre-K Are Malarkey
During the State of the Union, Biden claimed that "children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a two- or four-year degree," but evidence in favor of universal pre-k programs is lacking.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders' State of the Union Response Offers a Grim Glimpse of the GOP's Future
Biden's speech offered plenty of opportunity to present a counter-narrative to continued taxes and spending. Instead Sanders went a different direction.
Biden's Proposed Assault Weapon Ban Is Unconstitutional, Unlikely, and Ineffectual
As usual, Biden's gun policy proposals bump up against reality.
Biden's Foreign Policy Is Adrift
His State of the Union address sketched a foreign policy that is reckless on some points, relatively restrained on others, and utterly uninterested in any real resolution to America’s lingering military entanglements.
The Cops Who Killed Tyre Nichols Could Be Convicted of Murder and Still Get Qualified Immunity
In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Joe Biden said that he wants to hold police "accountable." But he neglected to mention the elephant in the room.
Joe Biden, Travel Agent in Chief
Plus: Bill would make all social media platforms check IDs, appeals court rejects rent control challenge, and more...
Biden Promises To Stop Waiving His Own Terrible 'Buy American' Mandates
The president's State of the Union address re-upped a tired, old promise to spend more tax dollars on less infrastructure.
Biden Deserves Some Credit on Immigration Policy, but He Refuses To Take Responsibility Where He Should
His administration has contributed to the problems Biden says he wants to solve.
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.
Biden May Dream of 6 More Years, but His Three Closest Comps Never Got There
What we can learn from the State of the Union addresses by Jimmy Carter in 1979, Richard Nixon in 1971, and JFK in 1963
