Law & Government
New California Bill Proposes Legalizing Authentic Cannabis Cafes
Cannabis consumers should have the same commercial leisure spaces that alcohol drinkers do.
Save Endangered Species From Environmental Regulations
A legal fight over the Arctic grayling shows how regs can hurt rather than help.
A Texas-Backed Lawsuit Argues That the ATF's Pistol Brace Rule Is Arbitrary and Unconstitutional
Although the law did not change, regulators suddenly decided to criminalize unregistered possession of braced pistols.
Oregon's Whiskey Ring Shows Perils of State Liquor Control
Top government officials reportedly kept rare bourbons for themselves and other powerful insiders.
After Muslim Students Complained That an Art Exhibit Was 'Harmful,' Macalester College Shut It Down
"My artwork is unapologetic," said the artist. "Sometimes it can be very political. Sometimes it can be very controversial."
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.
Yes, You Have a First Amendment Right To Livestream Cops
Plus: Some State of the Union fact checking, a livestream discussion about gun rights and violence, and more...
"Third-Party Standing" Doctrine Shouldn't be Used to Block Lawsuits Challenging Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness Plan
Legal scholar Michael Dorf claims Supreme Court should rule on this basis. But the doctrine doesn't apply to this case, and is dubious anyway.
The Fight Over the Debt Ceiling Is Just Beginning
Legislators will increasingly argue over how to spend a diminishing discretionary budget while overall spending simultaneously explodes.
Calls To 'Close the Border' in Response to Fentanyl Deaths Are Misguided
As Biden mentioned fentanyl deaths in his State of the Union address, Republicans called on him to close the border. But "open borders" aren't to blame for overdoses.
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.
House Oversight Committee Is Fighting Twitter Censorship the Wrong Way
Congress should set its sights on bad government actors who pressured social media companies.
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.
The State of Our Union Sucks
The bipartisan (if shouty!) embrace of big-government nationalism ensures our populist moment won't end any time soon.
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...
Mike Pompeo Says He 'Grew Up Libertarian'
These days, he may run for president. His politics have changed.
Migrating Americans Seek Lower Taxes and Greater Freedom
There are many reasons people move, but overburdening your citizens is a good way to lose them.
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.
Should There Be Three-Judge Panels for National Injunctions
A proposal to limit state AG (and other) forum-shopping for national injunctions.
Police Officer Who Kneeled on a 12-Year-Old Girl's Neck Faces a Federal Lawsuit
According to the suit, the officer "acted with malice or in reckless disregard of Jane Doe's federally protected rights."
A New Federal Bill Could Require You To Show Facebook and Twitter Your Government ID
The age verification proposal is a disaster for both children and adults.
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
Republicans and Democrats Face Impasse Over Cutting Spending Versus Raising Taxes
Plus: Court denies motion to suppress January 6 geofence warrant, Texas may ban some immigrants from buying property, and more...
Neil Gorsuch's LGBT Decision May Doom Affirmative Action in the Supreme Court
Why isn’t affirmative action in college admissions prohibited under the Civil Rights Act?
This Texas Bill Could Bar Certain Immigrants From Buying Property in the State
Gov. Greg Abbott has already announced that he’d sign the bill if passed.
An Iowa Town Charged a Man With Disorderly Conduct Because He Called a Cop a 'Domestic Abuser'
Now a judge has cleared him of wrongdoing and struck down the rule used to justify the arrest.
Ron DeSantis Wants $12 Million To Transport Migrants 'From Any Point' in the U.S.
The Florida governor wants to fund more migrant stunts, despite claiming that his budget will “keep more money in the pockets of Floridians.”
West Virginia Family Court Judge with History of Arranging Warrantless Searches Resigns
We may have finally discovered a limit to judicial immunity.
New Israeli Government's Judicial Reforms are not Anti-Democratic - But they May Create a Tyranny of the Majority
By destroying judicial review, they would empower the narrow right-wing majority to violate the rights of minorities.
The Continuing Relevance of Frederick Douglass
Douglass is best-known for his role in the abolitionist movement that helped end slavery. But much of his thought is also relevant to contemporary issues.
Homeland Security Wants To Protect Us From Foreign Bands
A new proposal to more than triple visa entry fees for performers will harm American audiences and culture.
House Republicans Vote Ilhan Omar to Foreign Affairs Committee Just To Kick Her Off the Next Day
Plus: Judge strikes down Super Bowl censorship law, report details how much inflation was driven by stimulus spending, and more...
Child Welfare Algorithm May Unfairly Target Disabled Parents, Complaints to DOJ Allege
"When you have technology designed by humans, the bias is going to show up in the algorithms," said one former child welfare worker.
Democrats Say They Support Green Energy. Why Do Their Policies Say Otherwise?
If you look closely, you'll find a lot of contradictions.
Police Harassed a Man Holding a 'God Bless the Homeless Vets' Sign. He's Suing.
"My intention is to ensure that all Americans from the wealthiest millionaire to the poorest homeless person can exercise these rights without fear of consequence from our government," said Jeff Gray.
Congress Formally Grants Federal Recognition to Gay Marriage
While same-sex marriage was already protected under federal law, that protection was afforded by the Supreme Court, not Congress.
After Repeatedly Opposing Marijuana Banking Reform, Cory Booker Says It Is Urgently Needed
The senator bemoans the "cannabis crisis" he helped maintain by blocking the SAFE Banking Act.
