Elections
D.C. Finally Moves To Implement Ranked Choice Voting After 3–1 Voter Approval
Voters overwhelmingly supported Initiative 83, but Democratic lawmakers have been hesitant to adopt it.
Why Can't Elon Musk and Donald Trump Both Win?
In a petty, public war of words, Trump threatens to cut off federal support to Musk's companies after the billionaire attacked his deficit-busting budget bill.
Another Divorce for Trump
Plus: A cynical take on Zohran Mamdani, Florida's drinking water threatened, and more...
Schumer Attacks Trump for Repeating Obama's Iran Diplomacy
Democrats keep trying to out-hawk Republicans, even though the mood in America has shifted toward diplomacy.
Trump Wants $25 Million To Settle His Meritless 60 Minutes Lawsuit
In a legal filing this week, Trump argued that routine edits to a CBS News interview he did not participate in caused him "confusion and mental anguish."
Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Shouldn't End Scrutiny of the Cognitive Decline Cover-Up
Ignore David Axelrod's suggestion that questions "should be more muted and set aside for now as he's struggling through this."
Biden's Cancer
Plus: That big, beautiful bill; Romanian election results; China's pivot to nuclear; and more...
Reason Nominated for 17 Southern California Journalism Awards
Nominees include stories on inflation breaking brains, America's first drug war, Afghans the U.S. left behind, Javier Milei, and much more.
Do These Libertarians Regret Voting for Donald Trump?
Three libertarians—Dave Smith, J.D. Tuccille, and Liz Wolfe—revisit their reluctant votes for Trump, weighing the promises, chaos, and consequences of his second term so far.
New Oklahoma Curriculum Requires Students To Learn 2020 Election Fraud Conspiracies
The new standards are "the most unapologetically conservative, pro-America social studies standards in the nation," according to State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
Treating Journalism As Consumer Fraud, Trump Claims Coverage of a Presidential Poll Was Not 'News Reporting'
The president's lawyers also conflate fraud with defamation, misconstrue the commercial speech doctrine, and assert that false speech is not constitutionally protected.
Joe Biden's Handlers Definitely Knew. Did the Media?
Now the tell-all books are pouring in.
Trump's War on the Press
The president is arguing in court that journalism he doesn't like is "election interference" that constitutes consumer fraud.
Pete Hegseth's Carelessness and Dishonesty Mirror Hillary Clinton's
The defense secretary, who shared information about imminent U.S. air strikes in a manifestly insecure group chat, thought Clinton should be prosecuted for her careless handling of sensitive information.
Chuck Schumer Thinks Only Republicans Hate Paying Taxes
The Senate minority leader mocked anti-tax, anti-government views held by most Americans.
AI Isn't Destabilizing Elections
Researchers analyzed political content made with artificial intelligence and found much of it was not deceptive at all.
Are Democrats Regretting Trying To Out-Hawk Trump?
Rep. Adam Smith (D–Wash.) thinks Democrats should return to their antiwar roots—and be open to negotiating with Russia.
Germany's New Political Leaders Face Big Problems of Their Own Making
Regulations, taxes, bad energy policy, and a lack of entrepreneurial spirit hold the country back.
FBI Nominee Kash Patel, Who Vowed To 'Come After' Trump's Enemies, Disclaims 'Retributive Actions'
At his confirmation hearing, the president's pick to run the nation's leading law enforcement agency ran away from his record as a MAGA zealot.
The Cultural Consequences of Trump's Victory
Plus: A listener asks the editors to name their least favorite national emergency from the list of those currently in effect.
The Country's Largest Police Union, Which Repeatedly Endorsed Trump, Is Dismayed by His Capitol Riot Pardons
The Fraternal Order of Police mistakenly thought that the president "supports our law enforcement officers" and "has our backs."
Biden and Trump Show Presidents How To Abuse Clemency
Biden’s preemptive pardons and Trump’s blanket relief for Capitol rioters both set dangerous precedents.
Trump's Blanket Clemency for Capitol Rioters Excuses Political Violence
The president drew no distinction between people who merely entered the building and people who vandalized it or assaulted police officers.
Do You Feel Equal Yet?
Plus: Fauci preemptively pardoned, hostages released, Inauguration Day, and more...
Trump Would Have Been Convicted for Election Interference, Says Jack Smith
In the first volume of his final report, Special Counsel Jack Smith laid out a damning case against the former and future president.
Election Reforms Blocked by Elections
Ranked choice voting and nonpartisan primaries suffered a bad election cycle in 2024.
Despite 2024 Setbacks, Drug Policy Is Still on a Long-Term Trend Toward Reform
Recent election results show the drug war’s punitive mentality still appeals to many Americans, even in blue states.
Trump's Latest Defeat Is One of Many Decisions That Suggest SCOTUS Won't Rubber-Stamp His Agenda
Despite some notable wins, the president-elect's overall track record shows he cannot count on a conservative Supreme Court to side with him.
Venezuela's Maduro Begins Third Term Amid Contested Election
President-elect Edmundo González has vowed to challenge Maduro's grip on power.
Meet Pierre Poilievre, the Front-Runner To Be Canada's Next Prime Minister
He says he wants to "stop growing the money supply and start growing the stuff money buys."
Alvin Bragg's Misbegotten 'Election Interference' Case Against Trump Ends With a Whimper
Aside from a felony record that may yet be erased on appeal, the president-elect will face no punishment for trying to conceal his hush payment to Stormy Daniels.
Justin Trudeau's 'One Regret' Is Not Implementing Ranked Choice Voting in Canada
The outgoing Canadian prime minister says ranked choice voting would change how political parties and voters approach elections. He's right.
American Public Has High Hopes for New Trump Administration
The incoming administration has an opportunity—if it can meet expectations.
Why the Race and Gender Politics of White Dudes for Harris Failed
It's still the economy, stupid.
How Political Ignorance Helped Cause the January 6 Attack and Trump's Subsequent Political Comeback
Voter ignorance and bias in evaluating political information were major factors in both.
Kamala Harris' Long Day
Plus: Evading congestion pricing, expelling Hondurans (and the U.S. military), and more...
Biden Strengthened the Refugee Resettlement System. Will Trump Undo It?
Refugee resettlements last year hit a 30-year high, but that progress is fragile.
Mike Johnson Is Speaker of the House. Again.
After a delay, Johnson secured the slimmest of majorities.
Medical Marijuana Legalization Takes Effect in Nebraska After Lawsuit Dismissal
Voters overwhelmingly favored the new policy, which a former state legislator unsuccessfully tried to block.
The 2024 Campaign Was an Embarrassment for Elite Media
Journalists increasingly see their job as protecting their preferred candidates, not asking tough questions.
Trump's January 6 Pardons Could Address Some Real Injustices
The president-elect makes valid points in highlighting potential abuses of prosecutorial power.
How Many Americans Really Want Mass Deportation?
Even among Republicans and conservatives, support for the policy comes with caveats.
Brianna Wu and TafTaj: How Have Trans Issues Scrambled Our Politics?
Brianna Wu and TafTaj discuss the role of transgender issues in the 2024 election, "centrist" trans politics, and their own personal stories.
Missouri Narrowly Approves Sports Betting Measure
More than a month after Election Day, the race has been called in favor of Amendment 2.
When Deciding Whether To Investigate His Opponents, Trump Says, He Will Defer to 'Very Fair' Kash Patel
Trump's pick to run the FBI has a long list of enemies he plans to "come after," with the legal details to be determined later.
