Monday Open Thread
What's on your mind?
Politics
The Post-Neoliberalism Moment
Anyone advocating neoliberal policies is now persona non grata in Washington, D.C.
Insurrection, Rebellion, and January 6: Rejoinder to Steve Calabresi [updated with brief further rejoinder]
"Insurrection" and "rebellion" should not be conflated. But the events of January 6 readily meet the criteria for both.
Supreme Court Will Consider Trump Section 3 Disqualification Case
The justices will hear the case on an expedited schedule, and could potentially consider all the issues it raises.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Gross, degrading, and deeply concerning.
No, Nikki Haley, We Don't Need to Turn Schools Into Airports, the Place Literally Everyone Hates
Schools are already bad enough for kids. Let's not make it worse by taking tips from the people who've insisted you take your shoes off at the airport for 20 years.
DeSantis Wants To 'Eliminate the IRS' and Implement a Flat Tax
DeSantis says the new, single tax rate would mean "lower taxes for everyone" but that only demonstrates that he hasn't thought too deeply about how a flat tax would work.
The Sweet East Is a Phantasmagorical Tour of Fringe America
In this bizarre East Coast road trip story, there's no American mainstream, just fringes and subcultures.
7 Reasons Trump's Lawyers Say He Is Not Disqualified From Running for President
His Supreme Court petition raises serious questions about how to interpret and apply Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Watchdog Report: USPS Still Failing To Secure Facility That Was Robbed Twice in 2023
A new inspector general report indicates that officials knew that the industrial park had been targeted in the past.
3 Economic Myths That Need To Die
As we step into 2024, it's crucial to adopt a more informed perspective on these dubious claims.
Iran Explosion
Plus: Gay fallout, Lithuanian badasses, Epstein buddies, Haley chutzpah, and more...
America Has Borrowed $1 Trillion Since the Start of Football Season
The federal government is borrowing money at a mind-spinning rate, and you can't blame it on the COVID-19 pandemic anymore.
In 2024, Teens Will Get Pregnant in Driverless Cars
Plus: State officials attempt to ban Donald Trump from 2024 election ballots.
Protectionism Ruined U.S. Steel
Another round of federal intervention to prevent its sale makes no sense.
Escalation in the Red Sea
Plus: Inheritance taxes, lady gadgets, a stabbing in South Korea, and more...
"[Mother] Shall Not Post on Social Media About [Her Parental Rights Termination] Case"
A Florida appellate court just overturned the injunction on First Amendment grounds.
Monday Open Thread
"С новым годом, с новым счастьем"—to the new year, to the new happiness!
Brickbats: January 2024
News of Florida politicians, police, and bureaucrats behaving badly.
Who Decides Whether Trump Can Run, and What Sort of Evidence Suffices?
Letting state officials determine whether a candidate has "engaged in insurrection" opens a huge can of worms.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Brady violations, dual enrollments, and a West Coast conviction.
Trump Wouldn't Be the First Non-Confederate Barred From Office by the 14th Amendment
The weird story of Victor Berger, the Espionage Act, and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.
Maine and Michigan Issue Rulings on Trump and Section 3 Disqualification
Maine's Secretary of State ruled that Trump is ineligible for the presidency. The Michigan Supreme Court refused to reconsider a lower court ruling allowing Trump to remain on the GOP primary ballot, because state law doesn't limit primary ballot access to allow only candidates eligible for the office they seek.
More on Criminal Conviction and Section 3 Disqualification [Updated]
My response to conservative political commentator Conn Carroll's argument on this issue.
A Bad Year for Drag Queen Foes
New anti-drag laws were deemed unconstitutional in every state where they were challenged this year.
Vivek Ramaswamy Really, Really Wants You To Know He Thinks January 6 Was an 'Inside Job'
The fourth-place GOP presidential candidate asserts the existence of "clear evidence" of "entrapment," without providing any.
William D. Eggers: Making Government More Effective and Less Intrusive
The former Reason Foundation privatization guru says it's time to move past the "vending machine" model of government.
'I Relied on Others,' 'Documents Were Filed in the Wrong Place,' and Other Memorable Excuses
The year's highlights in blame shifting.
