Elections
Kamala Harris Does Not Understand Why the Constitution Should Get in the Way of Her Gun Control Agenda
The presidential contender conspicuously fails to explain the legal basis for her plan to impose new restrictions by executive fiat.
Andrew Yang Is the Anti–Elizabeth Warren
A progressive who wants to empower the little guy instead of big government
Elizabeth Warren Doesn't Want to Say How She'd Pay for Her Health Care Plan
Probably because it would involve raising middle-class taxes.
Vicious Scapegoating Is the Whole Point of Beto O'Rourke's Gun Grab
The "assault weapons" that the presidential contender wants to confiscate are not especially deadly, but the symbolism of that policy is poisonous.
On Trade, Democrats Continue Struggling To Differentiate From Trump
Elizabeth Warren is probably the worst of the bunch when it comes to protectionism, but few alternatives are emerging.
Real Distinctions Between Democrats Emerged During Last Night's Debate
Perhaps the biggest difference is how much trust the candidates place in individuals.
Democratic Candidates Agree—Let's Get Out of Afghanistan
Sen. Warren: "The problems in Afghanistan are not problems that can be solved by the military."
Beto O'Rourke: 'Hell Yes, We're Going To Take Your AR-15'
Advocating for gun control is no longer enough. On Thursday night, the Democratic presidential candidates promised gun confiscation.
Andrew Yang Makes Pitch to, Uh, Libertarians? 'It's Time To Trust Ourselves More Than Our Politicians'
The entrepreneur and long shot presidential candidate finds a libertarian-sounding way to pitch free money to voters.
What a Libertarian Hopes To Learn from Tonight's Democratic Debate
Andrew Yang's crazy stunt, Joe Biden's real-time decomposition, and whether any candidates believe in limits to government.
Elizabeth Warren Issues Misleading Claim That Three Industries Are Responsible for 70 Percent of Carbon Pollution
One of those industries is just…“industry.”
Here Is What the 2020 Candidates Say About the President's Power to Wage War Without Congressional Approval
The strongest critics of unilateral decisions to attack other countries include Tulsi Gabbard and Bernie Sanders, while Joe Biden thinks anything goes.
Elizabeth Warren's Plans Don't Add Up
The Warren worldview of ill-founded economic pessimism is both bloodless and moralizing.
Democrats' Anti-Scientific Climate Dystopias
What last week's town hall tells us about this week's presidential debate—and about the state of Democratic policy thinking
Bill de Blasio's Proposed 'Robot Tax' Is Completely Unnecessary, Just Like His Candidacy
Forcing future Americans to do manual labor that could be automated isn't "saving" them from job losses. It's trapping them in jobs that could be made more efficient, more productive, and more rewarding.
Former S.C. Congressman Mark Sanford Launches Longshot Primary Bid One Day After GOP Cancels S.C. Primary
In Sunday morning announcement, Sanford says Trump is the "king of debt," and promises to champion fiscal issues.
Trump Is Terrible on Trade. Top 2020 Dems Are No Better.
Democrats are happy to criticize the president's trade war—but many are tacitly endorsing the same protectionist views.
The GOP Deals With Trump Competition by Canceling Elections
President with 90% approval ratings among Republicans will be shielded from Bill Weld and Joe Walsh in four states, reports Politico.
Unions Aiming to Repeal California's Property Tax Caps
Californians' tax rates are among the nation's highest in almost every category, but their property tax levels have remained reasonable. That could change soon.
4 Memorable Moments From CNN's Climate Town Hall
From Joe Biden's call for high-speed rail to Kamala Harris' call for banning plastic straws, the Democratic presidential candidates pushed a hard-green agenda.
A Government-Run Health Insurance Plan Would Be Less Radical Than Medicare For All. But It Still Wouldn't Work.
The public option comes with plenty of pitfalls.
Should Amazon (and Google, and Facebook) Be Canceled by Antitrust Law?
Donald Trump, Elizabeth Warren, and "hipster antitrust" scholars and activists say big tech companies need to be broken up. Economist Tom Hazlett says they're wrong.
Beto's Impossible Gun Ban Dreams
A growing number of prominent Democrats want owners of "assault weapons" to surrender them to the government. History says most people will ignore any such law.
Dems to Talk for 6 (!) Hours About Climate Change on CNN Tonight
Plus: occupational licensing, Hong Kong, school choice, social media spies, and more...
Could a Warren/Sanders Team-up Topple Biden?
Maybe. But it is hard to imagine Sanders endorsing Warren until and unless Warren defeats him consistently and by a significant margin in several early states.
If You Freak Out Over This Trump Fan Video, You're Playing Into His Hands
For many of the president's biggest supporters, pushing back against "Trump Derangement Syndrome" is their raison d'être.
Elizabeth Warren's 'Economic Patriotism' Doubles Down on Bad Policy
Maybe Trump and Warren should team up for their 2020 run to make room on the ballot for better ideas.
Kirsten Gillibrand, Who Touted 'Clean Elections' and Women's Rights, Ends Presidential Bid
The Democratic presidential hopeful's campaign never gained traction.
The Libertarian Case for Term Limits
Nick Tomboulides of U.S. Term Limits says the best way to shrink government is to limit how long legislators can serve.
Democrats Are Retreating on Single Payer Health Care
It’s not just obstructionist Republicans who won't buy into Medicare for All—it’s Democrats themselves.
Bernie Sanders' Plan To Save Newspapers Is Wrong on Every Level
Even as the senator calls Donald Trump a press-bullying authoritarian, he threatens press freedom in the name of preserving "independent" media.
Is Biden's 2020 Lead Over? A New Poll Says Yes…Until You Read the Fine Print
Plus: The root of Twitter toxicity, the truth about the DOJ's attack on Backpage, and more...
Olive Garden, Fake News, and the Rise of 'Conspicuous Non-Consumption'
The chain restaurant has been falsely accused of supporting Donald Trump. But truth may be no match for the online outrage mob.
Joe Walsh Isn't Running on the Issues
The conservative radio host says he is running for president because Trump is “erratic" and "cruel." But Walsh has his own history to live down.
Can #NeverTrump GOP Presidential Wannabe Joe Walsh Run on Deficit Reduction and Win?
The ex-congressman and talk show host thinks he can save the Republican Party.
Elizabeth Warren's Pitch for 'Economic Patriotism' Is Full of Intellectual Dishonesty and Economic Fallacies
Warren needs to take a lesson from Leonard Read's "I, Pencil."
Did Trump's 2016 Rallies Trigger a 226% Increase in Local Hate Crimes? Not Exactly.
The study at the source of the viral headline was limited to counting anti-Semitic incidents, many of which were not criminal in nature.
Trump-Critical Journalists Targeted by Outrage Mobs Armed With Old Tweets
Plus: Trump forcing U.S. companies out of China?, Joe Arpaio is running again, sex discrimination goes to the Supreme Court, and more...
The 2020 Race Is Completely Unpredictable Because Politicians Are Awful
We're vastly more interested in the upcoming election than we were in 2016. We're also convinced neither party represents us. What could go wrong?
Marianne Williamson Wants To Defeat Dark Psychic Forces With New Department of Peace
True to form, the presidential hopeful is turning the conversation around war on its head.
Beto O'Rourke Proposes Plan to Punish Tech Companies for Failing to Censor Hate Speech
The move would violate the First Amendment.
Bernie Sanders Calls for Legalizing Marijuana and Curtailing Asset Forfeiture in Sprawling Criminal Justice Plan
Sanders' plan takes aim at every part of the justice system, including typical Sanders targets like private prisons and corporate "profiteers."
Kamala Harris' Medicare for All Problem Is the Democratic Party's Medicare for All Problem
The California senator's history of flip-flops reveal the emptiness of her campaign—and looming problems for her party.
Interesting New York Times Slavery Project Hobbled by Anti-Capitalism
Also: the politics of recession, Bernie's criminal justice plan, and stanning for Barry Manilow, all on the Reason Podcast
Biden's Age Matters, Even if Democrats Want To Ignore It
It's possible that the visibility of the way Biden is wrestling with his own aging could make him a more relatable and sympathetic figure. Or the Biden blunders could confirm that his moment has passed.
Kamala Harris Promises To 'Disarm Violent Hate' by Seizing Guns From Bigots
The Democratic presidential contender suggests that "racist threats or anti-immigrant manifestos" could justify federal gun confiscation orders.