The FCC: America's Other Space Agency
How the FCC went from regulating telegraphs to regulating satellites
Technology
NASA's Costly, Delayed Mission To Update Its Spacesuits
NASA has spent more than $420 million on the development of spacesuits with very little to show for it.
The Fractal, Fractious Politics of The Expanse
Taking humanity from Earth to the stars isn't easy.
Robert Heinlein's Dream of Private Space Travel Is Coming True
A new generation of companies has made space travel affordable.
Reports of Facebook's Immortality Are Greatly Exaggerated
Critics have said for years that Facebook is a monopoly that can only be killed by federal regulation. Meanwhile, the platform bleeds users, its stock price is plummeting, and it just announced its first-ever round of layoffs.
Livestream: Homeland Security's Backdoor Social Media Speech Regulation
Livestream with Nick Gillespie, Robby Soave, and Zach Weissmueller
Twitter Was Already a Hellscape Even Before It Was Set Free
Plus: For Halloween, the editors describe what scares them most about politics and government right now.
The U.K. Competition Authority 'Wins,' but Consumers Lose
U.K. regulators shut down Meta/GIPHY deal in favor of their own “approved buyer.”
The Press Idolizes Politicians. Instead, It Needs To Hold Them Accountable.
Newspapers deserve a great deal of credit for the expansion of freedom over the past 200 years. But the media have lost credibility.
Biden's New Industrial Policy Will Fail, Just Like Industrial Policy Always Fails
While campaigning for the midterm election, the president is promoting a disastrous and expensive form of economic protectionism.
Balaji Srinivasan: How To Build Your Own Country in the Cloud
The Network State author and serial entrepreneur on the future of freedom, online and offline.
Balaji Srinivasan: How To Build Your Own Country in the Cloud
The Network State author and serial entrepreneur on the future of freedom, online and offline.
A California Law Designed To Protect Children's Digital Privacy Could Lead to Invasive Age Verification
While the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act was hailed as a victory for digital privacy, critics warn of a litany of unintended consequences.
Artificial Intelligence Will Change Jobs—For the Better
Rather than being replaced by A.I., humans should plan to work with it.
Subreddit Gets Users To Call Texas Gov. Greg Abbott a 'Little Piss Baby' To Defy Content Moderation Law
Reddit users are protesting Texas' H.B. 20, which forces social media platforms to host speech they find objectionable.
No, Google Isn't Dying. Internet Search Is Better Than Ever if You Know How To Use It.
Getting the best information when we need it will likely always be a challenge, but the Reddit hack helps.
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."
The Queen Is Dead. Anarchy in the U.K.?
Plus: The editors respond to a question about the Forward Party.
The Federal Trade Commission vs. the Internet
Data collection is not the same as surveillance.
Everyone Wants To Ban Certain Content Online. No One Wants To Talk Enforcement.
Proposed internet bans open a can of worms about how to punish those involved in creating and consuming controversial content.
What Would It Take for the Democrats To Really Be the Party of Opportunity?
Government should not penalize investment, thwart competition, discourage innovation and work, or obstruct production.
Google Says Truth Social Must Clean Up Act Before Gracing Android App Store
Plus: Vermont city repeals prostitution ordinance, political correctness revisited, and more...
Concerned About Abortion Surveillance and Law Enforcement? Time To Treat Encryption Seriously
A mother-daughter arrest in Nebraska was fueled in part by unencrypted Facebook messages police accessed through a warrant.
Does the Government Really Need To Help Parents Spy on Their Kids?
A robust market of monitoring technology already exists. There's no need to boost it further by government fiat.
Big Tech's Ban on Alex Jones Fans the Flames of His Conspiracy Theories
Deplatforming controversial content is perfectly legal—and often counterproductive.
The CHIPS Act Is Corporate Welfare Disguised as Industrial Policy
If you believe that moving most of our chip production onshore is good for national security, you should labor for regulatory reforms rather than subsidies.
No, Amazon Isn't Coming for Your Medical Data
One Medical and Amazon are going to provide a much-needed alternative to consumers who are already frustrated by the health care system.
Poll: Tech Regulation Should Focus on Privacy and Security—Not Breaking Up Big Tech Companies
Plus: Arizona prisons censor The Nation, Facebook's feed changes, and more...
Republicans and Democrats Battle To Control What Google Shows People Seeking Pregnancy Help
It's none of their business.
Both Democrats and Republicans Want To Break Up Big Tech. Consumers Would Pay the Price.
Government often proves to be biased against large, successful companies that legislators don't understand well but customers love.
Is It TikTok's Fault When Children Die Making Dangerous Videos?
A lawsuit alleges that the social media giant "tries to conceal the dangerous and addictive nature of its product, lulling users and parents into a false sense of security."
Homeland Security Agrees That the Disinformation Board Was a Bad Idea
The feds now admit there was "no need" for such a thing.
Homeland Security Is Buying Its Way Around the Fourth Amendment
Plus: The Respect for Marriage Act, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and more...
A California Bill Wants To Punish Social Media Companies for 'Addicting' Children
The bill makes little note of parents' ability to control their own children's social media access.
Liz Wolfe: How San Francisco's Failures Could Help Austin and Miami
Associate Editor Liz Wolfe discusses the political and economic fortunes of both Austin and Miami, plus potential reasons these pastures might not always be greener.
California's Competitors
Miami and Austin lured people away from California. But the new tech hubs could end up repeating San Francisco’s mistakes.
A Bipartisan Tech Antitrust Bill May Soon Pass. It's Still a Bad Idea.
The legislation is likely to have a number of negative consequences for consumers.
What The New York Times Didn't Say About Crypto Firm Kraken's Culture War
An explosive Times report alleged that Kraken CEO Jesse Powell created a "hateful workplace," leading to an employee exodus. Is that what really happened?
Why Is the E.U. Telling Apple Which Chargers It Can Use?
If Europe really cared about e-waste it would stop mandating inefficient products.
Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce Warn of Danger in Data Privacy Bill
Plus: Purity politics, the end of the "millennial consumer subsidy," an unhappy outcome for folks seeking to free Happy the elephant, and more...
Texas Can't Start Enforcing Social Media Law, Says SCOTUS
Plus: Who's bringing fentanyl across the border? Will Austin become a sanctuary city for abortion? And more...
Robert Breedlove: Like the Constitution, Bitcoin 'Will Change the Way We Treat One Another'
The self-described "freedom maximalist" and former hedge fund manager talks "incorruptible money," Austrian economics, and why Satoshi Nakamoto's invention is unstoppable.
Civilization Runs on Ammonia, Plastic, Steel, and Cement—for Now
Vaclav Smil’s How the World Really Works offers hope and despair for techno-optimists.
Federal Judges Block Parts of Florida Law That Force Social Media To Carry Political Messages
A new ruling says Twitter and Facebook are not “common carriers" and thus cannot be forced to carry politicians' messages.
Agnieszka Pilat: 'I Didn't Realize People Still Think Socialism Is a Good Idea.'
The Polish-born artist is creating "heroic portraits" of machines and defending individualism and creative expression in Silicon Valley.
Republicans Defend Texas Social Media Law—and Compelled Speech
Plus: Twitter defends user anonymity, Oklahoma legislature approves abortion ban, and more...
