Kentucky Teacher Protests Are Political Theater Without Substance
Teachers have shut down schools across the state, allegedly to protest pension changes. But those pension reforms are pretty mild.
Law & Government
GOP Senate Candidate Austin Petersen Wants You to Be Able to Legally Buy a Machine Gun
"Let's get the conversation to where people are talking not about limiting gun rights but expanding them."
Constitutional Law Scholars' Amicus Brief in the Travel Ban 3.0 Case Explains Why the Bill of Rights Restricts Federal Power over Immigration
The brief, which I coauthored on behalf of myself and six other legal scholars explains why the Bill of Rights constrains federal power over immigration no less than other types of federal power.
The Spending Bill Brings Us Closer to National Bankruptcy
Thanks to Congress and President Trump, budget deficits will only mushroom.
Rep. Thomas Massie: 'Anybody That Voted for the Omnibus Committed an Appalling Act'
The problem is in the procedure, says the libertarian-leaning Kentucky congressman. He thinks it could cost the GOP big in November.
Sessions Distorts the Law to Give Trump the Bump Stock Ban He Demanded
The attorney general pretends to discover that the controversial rifle accessories are already illegal.
A One-Page Provision About Minor League Baseball Shows How Broken Congress' Legislative Process Is
Congress kneecapped minor league ballplayers' lawsuit with last week's omnibus bill. Even if that was the right thing to do, the way it was done is wrong.
If Congress Reclaims Its War Powers, There Would Be Little Reason to Worry About John Bolton
Many people fear that John Bolton and Donald Trump might start an unnecessary war. But such fears would be unnecessary if Congress were to reclaims it power to initiate war.
Why the Summer Zervos Lawsuit Is Bad News for Donald Trump
"The President of the United States has no immunity and is 'subject to the laws' for purely private acts."
9 Ridiculous Things About the Omnibus Budget Bill
Spending. The Pentagon. TIGER grants. Border Wall. NSF. Planned Parenthood. CDC. Head Start. The whole process. I can't take it anymore.
The Omnibus Spending Bill Is a Fiscal Embarrassment
Republicans prove yet again why they deserve to be labeled the biggest swamp spenders.
To Protect Mueller From Trump, Republican Silence May Be Shrewd
Congressional Republicans may be keeping quiet not because they want to see Mueller fired but because they don't.
FOSTA Passes Senate, Making Prostitution Ads a Federal Crime Against Objections from DOJ and Trafficking Victims
The measure will "make it harder, not easier, to root out and prosecute sex traffickers," said Sen. Ron Wyden, one of only two senators to vote no on FOSTA.
Fix NICS Bill Would Help Block Gun Sales to Peaceful People
The measure, which Congress may be on the verge of enacting, aims to improve enforcement of misguided rules.
Under Trump, Elizabeth Warren Suddenly Discovers the Downside of Unaccountable Federal Agencies
Maybe don't give the other side the rope to hang you with.
The Unpublished Dissent in Cooper v. Aaron
"Of all the tribunals this is the one that should stick to the rules."
Congress Is Still Ignoring Its Spending Problem as Deadline Looms for $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill
Four out of five voters agree that Washington has a spending problem, but a new omnibus spending bill will add yet more to the national debt.
Sex, Lies, and Constitutional Law: The Stormy Daniels Settlement Agreement
There is, it turns out, more to the Stormy Daniels Affair than meets the eye.
No Fourth Amendment Protections Against Warrantless Cell Phone Searches at U.S. Border, Says Federal Court
"Border searches never require a warrant or probable cause."
Rand Paul Will Oppose Trump's Pro-War, Pro-Torture Nominees for State, CIA
Paul says Mike Pompeo, Trump's pick to be the next secretary of state, will repeat the foreign policy mistakes of the past two decades.
What Do Judges Think of Chevron?
It appears that Justice Neil Gorsuch is far from the only one who questions the wisdom of Chevron deference and other findings from a new survey of federal judges.
Judges Not Eating Up Class-Action Food Lawsuits
Lawyers look to cash in for the silliest of reasons.
Trump Orders Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum. Can Congress Stop Him?
A 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum will take effect in 15 days, unless GOP lawmakers take unusual steps to stop them.
Rand Paul, on Trump: 'I Think He Will Sign Audit the Fed if We Can Get it to Him'
Given the state of the modern GOP, that's a very big "if." But the senator is trying for a vote again this week.
Trump and Trial Lawyers Target Drug Companies Over Opioid Addiction
Making drug-company shareholders foot the bill for a public health crisis is flaky and counterproductive.
Florida School Shooting Resurrects Terrible Plan to Prevent People on the No Fly List from Buying Guns
Senators want to use secret, largely unaccountable government watchlists as a justification for denying some citizens' due process.
Trump Plans to Ban Bump Stocks by Administrative Fiat
Since the accessories are legal, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is helping the president rewrite the law.
House Passes 'Anti Sex-Trafficking' Bill Opposed by Both DOJ and Trafficking Survivors
The bill makes "promoting prostitution" a federal crime, holds websites legally liable for user-posted content, and lets states retroactively prosecute offenders.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's Proposed Bump Stock Ban Is Mostly Pointless
It's more about sending a message to Congress
Massachusetts Salon Owner Says He Wants to Hire More Workers. Licensing Is the Reason He Can't.
Even entry-level jobs that allow someone to test out the profession have to be filled by licensed professionals.
This Man Is on Death Row for Killing a 6-Month-Old. But What If We're Wrong About Shaken Baby Syndrome?
A controversial medical examiner, exaggerated testimony, and bad forensics branded Jeffrey Havard a rapist and a baby killer.
Democrats Release Memo Rebutting Claims that FBI Inappropriately Snooped on Former Trump Aide
Argues that secret wiretap authorizations were not abused.
USDA's 'Harvest Box' Food-Shipping Proposal Is Truly Absurd
Poor people are likely to make better food choices for themselves than the government.
Emergency Hearing to Address Fate of Pregnant Prisoners in California
"Time is truly of the essence here," said a lawyer for women imprisoned at Santa Rita Jail.
D.C. Public School Chief Resigns After Sneaking His Kids Into Top School
Top public school officials will risk their careers to have school choice. Maybe they should let everyone else have it too.
9 Women Describe Horrific Treatment at the Hands of Their Jailers
In California's Santa Rita Jail, pregnant inmates were pressured to have abortions, forced to go without food, and made to live in unsanitary conditions, a new lawsuit alleges.
Appeals Court Rules That Trump's Travel Ban 3.0 Is Unconstitutional
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit concluded that the ban violates the First Amendment because it is intended to discriminate against Muslims.
Jeff Sessions and Chuck Grassley Spar Over Sentencing Reform
"If General Sessions wanted to be involved in marking up this legislation, maybe he should have quit his job and run for the Republican Senate seat in Alabama."
Trump's Food Stamp Overhaul Sounds Like a Boondoggle Waiting to Happen
And, weirdly, grocery store cronyism might be the thing that stops it.
