Civilians Across the Middle East React to the Iran War: 'A Fear That Settles in Your Heart'
"Now they are hitting everything. Nowhere is safe. But don't worry, we are okay," one Iranian woman texted her American relative.
June 2026
A Pointless War
President Donald Trump and his predecessors spent decades putting the U.S. on a path toward war against Iran.
Features
He's a U.S. Citizen and Combat Veteran. ICE Tear-Gassed, Jailed, and Falsely Accused Him.
"I didn't do anything wrong," George Retes, a U.S. citizen imprisoned for three days, tells Reason.
What Does the New Right Believe?
From trade to migration to personal freedom, the conservatives of the global New Right hold a philosophy incompatible with individualism.
Chernobyl Wasn't a Nuclear Disaster—It Was a Communist Disaster
Forty years after the Chernobyl meltdown, too many people are still drawing the wrong conclusions.
Interview
Stewart Brand on Fixing Stuff, Modern Environmentalism, and the Nuclear Future
"There's always a place in not just the market, but a range of situations and mindsets, for things that are cheap, fast, and just barely in control," the Whole Earth Catalog creator tells Reason.
Editor's Note
AI Companies Learn the Word No
Some of the people building AI have started acting like it might be dangerous.
Topics
Photo: Technology Is Bringing Lost Paintings Into the Public Eye
This Rembrandt painting was identified by Dutch researchers after being held by a private individual for over 60 years.
Are Democrats Now the Party of Free Markets? Don't Bet on It.
Even the abundance wing of the left wants "a much stronger government," in movement champion Ezra Klein's words.
The Happy Capitalism of Richard Scarry's Busytown
Welcome to the pro-market world of children's book author and illustrator Richard Scarry.
Coffee Is Good for Your Brain
Researchers tracked 130,000 people for over 40 years and found coffee was associated with reduced risk of dementia.
'Boneless Wings' Aren't Really Wings. Is That Fraud?
"Our boneless wings are all white meat chicken....Our buffalo wings are 0% buffalo," Buffalo Wild Wings quipped.
This Tiny Toad Blocked a Green Energy Project. A New Federal Rule Will Cut 'Green' Tape.
A streamlined process for environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act gives the government broader discretion to approve projects.
Congress Gave Away Its Authority To Declare War and Enabled Trump's Iran War
Congress hasn't voted to declare war since 1942, yet the legislative branch constantly refuses to rein in presidents.
It's Not Just ICE Stockpiling Weapons—the IRS, EPA, and Other Feds Are Arming Up Too
An armed IRS agent roaming the streets should send shivers down the spine of any freedom-loving American.
Adam Carolla on the California Exodus, Gavin Newsom, and Mainstream Media
"You can't ask tough questions or follow-up questions because then that person would never come back," the comedian tells Reason's Nick Gillespie.
Japan's Smoking Bans Make a Lot More Sense Than America's
Owners of small restaurants and bars can decide whether to allow smoking, and customers can choose for themselves whether to patronize them.
Why the Bipartisan War on Housing Investors Won't Make Housing More Affordable
Politicians on the left and right are increasingly blaming large investors for raising home prices. Here's why they're wrong.
Culture
Venezuelan Victims of Socialism Are Using RuneScape To Make Money
Venezuelan players mine in-game resources and turn hours of gameplay into dollars or cryptocurrency.
The Gun Debate Hasn't Changed in 500 Years
Guns disrupted the established order—and sparked modern-sounding debates over whether they could be effectively regulated.
A Recent Book Shows Why Invading Greenland Would Be a Dumb Idea
Polar War demonstrates how difficult it is for armies to operate in the high north—and just how far America is behind Europe in Arctic warfare.
Reviews
Review: Minecraft Is Still Getting Better Over 15 Years After Its Original Release
Contrary to the concerns of big-is-bad types, the game's charm has only grown since its Big Tech acquisition.
Review: A Victim of Chinese Authoritarianism Explains Censorship and Surveillance
"A primary aim of censorship is to normalize itself," Ai Weiwei writes in his new book On Censorship.
Review: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Is a Fantasy Drama About Occupational Licensing
The first season of this Game of Thrones spinoff considers whether the main character is officially a knight.
Review: The Boring History for Sleep Podcast Mostly Delivers on Its Promise
If this podcast has a flaw, it's that occasionally the episodes are slightly too interesting.
Review: Racism, Immigration, and the American Dream in This Ragtime Revival
The musical contemplates the best way to achieve social change in the face of injustice.
Review: A Sci-Fi War Movie About the Pentagon's Inscrutable Budget
The Pentagon's budget is so vast that a soldier believes the extraterrestrial machine shooting lasers at them might be taxpayer–funded.
Review: Latest Bridgerton Season Explores Personal Autonomy
A gossip column runs up against monarchical censorship.
ETC.
Brickbats: June 2026
News of politicians, police, and bureaucrats behaving badly from around the world
Archives: The Best of Brian Doherty
The June 2026 issue's archives are dedicated to longtime Reason editor Brian Doherty, who died in March.
