Brickbats: February 2024
News of politicians, police, and bureaucrats behaving badly from around the world.
Latest
When Well-Intended Environmentalism Backfires
Housing bats, buying an E.V., and planting trees sometimes end up being counterproductive.
The 'No Compromise' NRA Is Neither New nor Uncompromising
The book Vote Gun criticizes the NRA’s rhetoric but pays little attention to gun control advocates' views.
What if Men Could Produce Their Own Eggs?
In vitro gametogenesi could allow same-sex couples, post-menopausal women, and couples experiencing infertility to have children.
A Constitutionally Dubious California Bill Would Ban Possession of AI-Generated Child Pornography
The proposal seems to conflict with a Supreme Court ruling against laws that criminalize mere possession of obscene material.
The Twisted Logic of Greg Abbott's Border Policy
Undocumented immigrants aren’t the same as an invading army, but the Texas governor keeps acting like they are.
No, Blocking Traffic Is Not Protected by the First Amendment
The freedom to protest is essential to the American project. It also does not give you carte blanche to violate other laws.
'The Most Horrible Thing I've Ever Seen': Alabama Executes Inmate With Experimental Method
Kenneth Eugene Smith was likely the first person in the world to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia.
Florida Bills Would Hide the Names of Police Officers Who Kill People
The bills would classify police and correctional officers who kill people on the job as crime victims.
Josh Hawley Thinks the White House Can Force an Aluminum Plant To Stay Open
Should there be any limits to a president's power to centrally plan the economy? Apparently not.
Study: If You Let People Buy Beer at Grocery Stores, the Liquor Stores Still Survive
Liquor store owners and store association lobbyists claimed that allowing alcohol sales on Sunday would negatively impact their livelihoods.
Canada's Trucker Crackdown
Plus: TED's "genocide apologists," California's speed limits, NYPD's inability to handle road blockages, and more...
Crackdown on Freedom Convoy Violated Canadians' Rights, Says Court
Opponents of pandemic restrictions had their day in court and won a victory for open dissent.
Review: Exposing a Broken Juvenile Court System
Kids were jailed for minor offenses, as detailed in The Kids of Rutherford County podcast.
5 Years After a Deadly Drug Raid, Houston's Former Police Chief Might Finally Be Held Accountable
Since leaving Houston, Art Acevedo has bounced from job to job, continuing a spotty career marred by scandal.
Florida Legislation Would Ban Civilian Police Oversight Boards
Florida Republicans and police unions insist that toothless civilian oversight boards are still more scrutiny than police deserve.
Amazon's Ring Will Stop Giving Police Your Doorbell Footage Without a Warrant
While not perfect, the move is a step in the right direction for civil liberties.
Yes, Biden Absolutely Told Coal Miners To Learn To Code
Where are the misinformation czars and the mainstream media fact-checkers now?
Milei vs. the WEF: Who Wins?
Marcos Falcone discusses Argentine President Javier Milei's fiery speech at the World Economic Forum's annual conference in Davos on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
What Javier Milei Could Teach Democrats and Republicans About Capitalism
His speech in Davos challenged the growing worldwide trend of increased government involvement in economic affairs.
Guarantors of Poverty
Plus: Chatbots vs. suicidal ideation, Margot Robbie vs. the patriarchy, New York City vs. parents, and more...
Microschool Parents Zoned Out of Operation
In states like Utah, microschools are up against burdensome building regulations.
The Government Is Better at Picking Losers Than Winners
It's taxpayers who lose when politicians give gifts, grants, and loans to private companies.
Tennessee Says Residents Can't Vote If They Have Lost Their Gun Rights
People who were disenfranchised based on felony convictions face a new obstacle to recovering their voting rights.
DeSantis Rightly Rejects GOP Bill To Help Fund Trump's Legal Defense
It is not the job of Florida taxpayers to support state officials' preferred presidential candidates.
Independents Hate the Trump-Biden Rematch
Donald Trump's winning numbers nonetheless contain hints of future losing; meanwhile, RFK Jr. is polling near 20 percent.
Wisconsin Could Make It Impossible for Cottage Food Producers To Make a Living
A new bill would impose a $20,000 annual sales cap, which would make the state’s cottage food regime one of the most restrictive in the nation.
St. Louis Schools Lost $260 Million to Economic Development Subsidies
According to a report from Good Jobs First, St. Louis' public schools took the brunt of the loss at nearly 65 percent of the total.
Man Sues Sunglass Hut After Faulty AI Facial Recognition Tech Led to Wrongful Arrest
Harvey Murphy was wrongfully arrested for robbing a Sunglasses Hut after facial recognition tech identified him as the robber. The 61-year-old says he was brutally sexually assaulted in jail.
Chuck Schumer Attacks Lifesaving Zyn Nicotine Pouches
Zyn pouches are a dramatically safer alternative to smoking.
Why We Went Crazy During COVID Lockdowns
The Things Fell Apart host Jon Ronson explains how a 1988 quack medical concept inspired George Floyd's death in 2020 and how Plandemic is basically a rewrite of Star Wars.
Feds Will Try Backpage Co-Founder Michael Lacey for a Third Time
It's a frightening reminder of how far the government will go to get their way—and to warn tech companies against platforming speech it doesn't like.
Goodbye to Haley the Hawk
Plus: The most boring write-in campaign, some heat in the Argentine streets, Brooklyn's penchant for vehicular manslaughter, and more...
Arizona Kids' Education Under Attack from State's Own Governor
Gov. Katie Hobbs hates that families are guiding their own children’s schooling.
Don't Shun Controversial Ideas and People. Debate Them.
They should be heard, not shouted down.
Accused of Dictatorial Ambitions, Trump Doubles Down on Authoritarianism
His understanding of effective leadership and policing should repel anyone who cares about civil liberties and the rule of law.
New Hampshire Takes Us Closer to a Trump-Biden Rematch
Donald Trump won an unsurprising victory in the New Hampshire primary against his hawkish rival Nikki Haley.
Appeals Court: FBI's Safe-Deposit Box Seizures Violated Fourth Amendment
Cases like this are exactly why the Fourth Amendment was adopted in the first place, wrote federal Judge Milan D. Smith Jr.
This Death Row Inmate Says He's Innocent. The Supreme Court Has Agreed To Hear His Case.
After multiple investigations shed doubt on his conviction, the Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Oklahoma death-row inmate Richard Glossip will get a new trial.
The Best of Reason: Is ESG Already Over?
CEOs are beginning to wonder what to do when environmental, social, and governance factors are at odds with performance.
Princeton's Matthew Desmond Gets Everything Wrong About Poverty's Root Causes
Desmond's analysis never goes deeper than his facile assertion that "poverty persists because some wish and will it to."
Homeschooling Parents Are No Threat to Their Kids
Stricter regulation of homeschooling families will just lead to harassment from government.
