Thursday Open Thread
What's on your mind?
Politics
House Passes Electoral Count Act Reform Bill
The bill is similar to that drafted by a bipartisan group of senators. Either version, or a reconciliation between the two, would be a major step forward relative to the status quo.
Most Americans Say Immigrants Make the U.S. Better. So Why Don't Politicians Do Anything About It?
Democrats pander to immigrants but do little to liberalize the system. Meanwhile, Republicans' hostility to immigrants has increased.
Biden-Backed DISCLOSE Act Would Dox Donors to Groups That Run Political Ads
Plus: Student drag shows are protected speech, a bank CEO rebuffs Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and more...
First Amendment Limits on State Laws Targeting Election Misinformation, Part IV
First Amendment implications for state laws targeting election speech.
Gaming Tribes Battle Online Corporations for Control of California Sports Betting
Messy, dueling ballot initiatives await voters in November.
New York Attorney General Sues Trump for Fraud, Seeks $250 Million in Restitution
In a press conference, Letitia James accused the former president of routinely misstating the values of his properties for personal financial gain.
First Amendment Limits on State Laws Targeting Election Misinformation, Part III
A First Amendment framework for analyzing restrictions on election-related speech.
If Ron DeSantis Is So Bad, Why Is Living in Florida So Good?
A live Reason discussion about how libertarians should think about the country's most controversial governor.
The Way To Stop Worrying About Judicial Legitimacy Is To Stop Worrying About Judicial Legitimacy
The answer to any question about the Supreme Court's legitimacy should be "next question."
First Amendment Limits on State Laws Targeting Election Misinformation, Part II
An overview of state efforts to combat election misinformation.
The Will to Power Was Front and Center at NatCon III
What differentiates national conservatives from some other right-wing varietals is the desire to use government to destroy their enemies.
First Amendment Limits on State Laws Targeting Election Misinformation, Part I
Although the federal government has largely stayed out of regulating the content of election-related speech, the states have been surprisingly active in passing laws that prohibit false statements associated with elections.
If Ron DeSantis Hates Communism, He Shouldn't Weaponize Victims of Communism
The governor flew dozens of Venezuelans to Martha's Vineyard at taxpayer expense, even though they fled a regime he says "is responsible for countless atrocities."
A Senate Candidate's Belated Acknowledgment of Biden's Victory Is a Reality Check for a Trump-Dominated GOP
Until he won the Republican nomination in New Hampshire, Don Bolduc insisted that the presidential election was stolen.
No Senate Vote on Gay Marriage Until After Midterms
A genuine surprise: Politicians prioritize a bill’s possible success over partisan campaign signaling.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Bar crawls, backyard riots, and impersonating an officer.
What Happens When Reporters Are Barred From the Story
Their articles do not, in fact, get more accurate.
How Faithful Is The Rings of Power to J.R.R. Tolkien's Anti-Statism?
Between the books and the new TV series, we see two different visions of freedom.
Americans Reject Biden's Divisive Rhetoric
The president’s Philadelphia “threats” speech gets thumbs-down from the public.
Marco Rubio, Who Last Month Said Abortion Regulation Should Be Left to the States, Endorses a Federal Ban
The senator's avowed devotion to federalism is no match for his political ambitions.
Libertarian Party Faces State Rebellions
The Libertarian Party's state affiliates in New Mexico and Virginia have broken away amid ideological and procedural turmoil—and the Virginia branch may have dissolved entirely.
National Abortion Ban Proposal Divides Republicans, Excites Democrats
Plus: Court-ordered "care," railroad strike averted (for now), and more...
Hiring Formerly Incarcerated People Is Good, Actually
Some conservative media outlets and politicians lambast the practice. But if you care about public safety, that opposition doesn't make sense.
How Government Officials Bully Social Media Companies Into Censorship
A new Cato report sheds light on "jawboning," or attempts by state actors "to sway the decisions of private platforms and limit the publication of disfavored speech."
Biden's Party Is Still Boosting Those 'MAGA Republicans' the President Warned Us About
New Hampshire Republican candidates get a leg up from expensive Democratic ad buys.
Both Left and Right Are Converging on Authoritarianism
The problem with American politics isn't polarization—it's rising illiberalism.
The Queen Is Dead. Anarchy in the U.K.?
Plus: The editors respond to a question about the Forward Party.
Maybe a Ceremonial Monarchy Can Show the Way to a Less Powerful State
The real danger to citizens is the use of coercive government power, no matter how it’s named.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Torture, restraint chairs, public cavity searches, and the secret to eternal youth.
If Monarchy Is a Must, Keep It Neutral
Hopefully King Charles III follows his mother’s example and stays out of politics.
