Brickbats: May 2025
News of politicians, police, and bureaucrats behaving badly from around the world.
Latest
Trump's Independent Voter Problem
Plus: A listener asks about possible book club books that are "subtly libertarian."
A Federal Judge Greenlights a Lawsuit That Claims Florida's Ban on Lab-Grown Meat Is Unconstitutional
U.S. District Judge Mark Walker says Upside Foods has plausibly alleged that the law's protectionism violates the "dormant" Commerce Clause.
European Commission Fines Apple and Meta $800 Million
The penalty amounts to a "multibillion-dollar tariff," a Meta spokesperson says.
How Tariffs Could Cause Shortages in American Stores
A sharp decline in ocean freight from China during April is a sign of the supply chain issues that will begin hitting in May.
Trump Administration Admits ICE Arrested Mahmoud Khalil Without a Warrant
The administration's lawyers claim that this was justified by Khalil's likelihood of escape.
Deporting the Cancer Kid
Plus: Pell Grant fraud, New York mayoral candidate defaulting on student loans, and more...
California Concealed Carry Now Available to Out-of-Staters
It’s a small step in the right direction for self-defense rights.
In Praise of Zeppo and Shemp
Two new biographies tell the stories of the unsung members of the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges.
Researchers Accidentally Discovered an Ancient Megacity in a Mexican Jungle
Lidar technology is revealing that the Mayan civilization was more complex and interconnected than previously thought.
In Boston's Scooter 'Wild West,' Lawmakers Take Aim at the Wrong Target
The city passed a law cracking down on food delivery companies rather than the reckless drivers creating chaos on sidewalks and streets.
Can America Get Out of the Gerontocracy Trap?
If voters so overwhelmingly prefer younger candidates, why are they underrepresented in politics?
Trump Administration Restores Thousands of Terminated Foreign Student Visa Records
Earlier this month, 4,700 foreign students were at risk of detainment after ICE inexplicably terminated their visa records.
Trump's Understanding of Due Process Is Just As Farcical As His Definition of 'Alien Enemies'
A new ACLU lawsuit argues that the government still is not giving alleged gang members the "notice" required by a Supreme Court order.
Justice Department Memo Claims Alien Enemies Act Allows Warrantless Home Searches and No Judicial Review
The memo says "Alien Enemies" aren't subject "to a judicial review of the removal in any court of the United States."
DOGE Has Been a Smashing Success
When compared to the most likely alternatives, DOGE has cut as much government as one could hope for.
Could 'Princess Awesome' Defeat Trump's Tariffs?
Small businesses and a dozen states have filed a pair of lawsuits challenging Trump's authority to impose tariffs on board games, clothes, and lots of other things.
As the Economy Tumbles, so Does Trump's Approval Rate
There isn't much public enthusiasm for the president's chaotic style.
ICE Is Trying To Deport a Harvard Medical School Researcher Over Frog Embryos
An immigration judge found the official document initiating Kseniia Petrova’s deportation to be legally deficient. She remains in detention, unable to further her cancer research.
Does Legalizing Sex Work Increase Human Trafficking?
A go-to study for advocates of restricting sex work used a flawed economic model and abysmal data.
The Accountant 2 Is a Shaggy, Silly Bro-Hangout Movie
More murder, less math, in Ben Affleck's odd but amiable sequel.
Trump 2028
Plus: AEA deportations, Glenn Greenwald on civil liberties under Trump, and more...
Will the 'Abundance' Agenda Make California Great Again?
Democrats would have a stronger rebuke to Trumpism if civic service in blue states were the national model rather than a laughingstock.
Judge Halts Federal Scrutiny of $200 Transactions
The temporary restraining order allows time to challenge burdensome reporting requirement.
Review: How Video Games Can Connect Us to the World
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, a documentary on Netflix, explains how a terminally ill boy found freedom in World of Warcraft.
Glenn Greenwald: Americans' Liberties Are in Danger
The journalist joins the show to discuss due process, immigration enforcement, and the growing tensions between the courts and the executive branch.
Judge Says Trump Must Provide 'Notice of a Right To Seek Judicial Review' to Alien Enemies Act Deportees
A federal judge in Colorado rules against the Trump administration.
With Proposed Glue Trap Ban, San Francisco Sides With the Pests
Glue traps are a cheap and effective pest control tool. Naturally, San Francisco is considering banning them.
Is REAL ID Actually Happening?
The law was passed 20 years ago, and enforcement finally looms.
Washington's Broken Promises Leave Afghan Allies in Limbo
But volunteers are stepping up even as Congress fails to act.
Tariffs Helped Wreck the Economy in the 1930s. Why Is Trump Making the Same Mistake?
Far from delivering industrial renewal, Trump's tariffs have already led to layoffs at manufacturing plants.
Over 1,500 Economists Agree: Trump's Tariffs Are Terrible
Reason interviewed five signatories of the Anti-Tariff Declaration to learn why they oppose tariffs and support free trade.
Stephanie Ruhle Doesn't Know There's Fact-Checking on X
Live by your own rule, Ruhle!
Is This Constitutional? Here's How Due Process Works
It appears many people are now eager to dispense with due process.
Parental Opt-Outs for Controversial Books
Plus: Cornell's cancel culture case, Trump's immigration policy approval ratings, and more...
Virtual Fencing Can Help Buffalo Roam and Antelope Play
Hundreds of thousands of miles of fences ensnare and sometimes kill wild animals. GPS technology offers an alternative.
By Openly Retaliating Against Disfavored Law Firms, Trump Attacks Free Speech and the Right to Counsel
Two of his targets are seeking permanent injunctions against the president's blatantly unconstitutional executive orders.
The Trump Administration Continues To Attack Due Process
"We have thousands of people that are ready to go out, and you can't have a trial for all of these people," Trump said.
4 Apocalypses That Never Were
Climate change is real and may cause real problems. But media outlets keep pushing hysterical myths that don't materialize.
The DOJ Is Doing Its Best To Make Google Unprofitable
Google has lost its second major antitrust case against the Department of Justice, threatening the tech giant's free-to-consumer business model.
Trump's Tariffs Are Causing an Economic Boom for D.C. Lobbyists
More lobbyists are spending more money to influence trade policy. The swamp is having a great time during the trade war.
Trump Administration To Restart Collections on Defaulted Student Loans
"Student and parent borrowers—not taxpayers—must repay their student loans," reads a press release from the Education Department.
Will Florida Teens With Sexually Transmitted Diseases Have To Tell Their Parents Before They Can Get Treatment?
These bills would require exactly that—and a lot more.
