Billy Binion: Civil Liberties Don't Just Belong to the Rich

Reason reporter Billy Binion discusses his coverage of outrageous cases around civil liberties, criminal justice, and government accountability, and the unusual path that led him to journalism.

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Billy Binion: Civil Liberties Don't Just Belong to the Rich

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Today's guest is Billy Binion, who joined Reason's staff in 2019 after stints at an opera company (!) and as a contractor for NATO (!!). He has written blockbuster stories about the abuse of power by cops and courts, and he just produced an incredible documentary about a citizen journalist in Laredo, Texas, who sued the city after they arrested her for reporting on a couple of controversial local stories. It's a case that could have major First Amendment implications for independent reporters.

Nick Gillespie talks with Binion about what drives his interests in such topics as civil asset forfeiture, SWAT teams run amok, and people who get arrested after using unlicensed guns to ward off would-be killers. They discuss how, contrary to most news accounts, today's Supreme Court is less polarized than the country it serves. And they also talk about how Binion's time living in California and Texas back to back gives him a distinct perspective on blue and red America—and insight into what sort of government governs better, if not quite best.

0:00- Ad: St John's College
1:17- Introduction
2:24- Priscilla Villarreal documentary
9:55- James O'Keefe
14:56- Qualified immunity & absolute immunity
21:08- Charles Foehner self defense/gun possession case
23:16- LaShawn Craig self defense case
25:20- Dexter Taylor 'ghost guns' case
28:38- Civil liberties shouldn't be granted based on class
33:46- SWAT damage cases
42:38- Is policing getting better or worse?
46:18- Binion's background
49:48- Are the arts politically homogenous?
53:04- Being disillusioned by Los Angeles
57:08- Leaving California for Texas
1:01:41- Finding libertarianism
1:04:49- The Supreme Court is not 'radical'
1:09:08- The complicated story is more interesting

Today's sponsors:

• St. John's College. Explore 3,000 years of human thought on campuses in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and in Annapolis, Maryland. From the Greek philosophers who are the wellspring of democratic ideals to America's founding fathers to contemporary critics who question everything: Each is welcome at St. John's College. In-person and online Master's degree courses are offered, too.
• The Reason Speakeasy. The Reason Speakeasy is a monthly unscripted discussion in midtown New York City that doubles as a live taping of The Reason Interview with Nick Gillespie. The next one is on Thursday, October 24, and features the Stony Brook sociologist Musa al-Gharbi, whose new book is We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite. Tickets are $15 and include beer, wine, soft drinks, and light food. For more information and to buy tickets, go here. To watch or listen to past Speakeasys, go here.

Comments

[Chumby]

A contractor for NAFO? FFS.

How about a story on the NAFO color revolution Maidan that was the harbinger of such much death.

[Uncle Jay]

"Civil Liberties Don't Just Belong to the Rich."

Don't be silly.
If the masses were allowed to have civil liberties, the US would need a Constitution and a Bill of Rights to keep our obvious betters in government in line.

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

The constitution and the bill of rights are only for chiefs, and sons of chiefs.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

With that hair Binion could be the next Robby Soave.

[Rick James]

I'm noticing a trend in the hiring at Reason... bit of a master-race thing going on.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Hmm. Robby, Billy and Liz. It's like a 3rd Reich cocktail party.

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

How does Little Emma figure in?

[Mother's Lament]

If Nick and Robby had a baby.

[shadydave]

Of course they don't, they belong to all Democratic voters regardless of wealth or immigration status.

[Rick James]

The "First Amendment of the Internet" certainly feels like something that's only for the rich.

[JoeJoetheIdiotCircusBoy]

Dude looks like the offspring of Robby Soave and Nick Gillespie

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Need to get some angry villagers together and chase it back to its castle with torches and pitch forks.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Stop him before he gets his own TV show!

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

What would a Binion TV show look like?

[AT]

Oh, it's Billy. She's been blowing Billy.

https://reason.com/2024/09/27/citizen-journalist-barred-from-press-conference-can-sue-texas-sheriff-for-violating-his-rights-judge-rules/?comments=true#comment-10740575

Also, this might be the most Echo Chamber lol JoUrNaLiSm ever. Interviewing your own rEpOrTeR's? This is a new low, Reason.

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

It really is self-indulgent tripe, isn’t it? Maybe next Boehm and Sullum can interview each other for articles about what a poopyhead Trump is.

[Mother's Lament]

Bring in Lancaster and he can be Lucky Pierre.

[Chumby]

You think Billy looks to old for Jeff?

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

CanJeffy even find his penis amongst his voluminous folds of fat?

[MasterThief]

I put Binion and Camp down as probably the dumbest writers here. Most of them are dumb, but I get more of a sense of dishonest malevolence from the others. Binion seems to be genuinely naive and incapable of logic.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

I didn't actually read the article. Do they link to their respective
X* feeds?
*formerly known as Twitter.

[AT]

Nah, that’s the Jakey/Ceej approach.

“As you can see, I’ve thoroughly sourced all my information – from my own articles I also wrote on the same subject.”

[John Gall]

The 2nd amendment, the forgotten civil liberty.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Remember that guy who became like the all time first VP Gentleman and was teaching all of us toxic males how to be super beta after he cheated on his wife and knocked up the au pair? Yeah. Me neither.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/second-gentleman-doug-emhoff-forcefully-slapped-his-ex-girlfriend-so-hard-she-spun-around
Second "Gentleman" Doug Emhoff 'Forcefully Slapped' His Ex-Girlfriend So Hard 'She Spun Around', New Report Alleges

[Mother's Lament]

Psaki says "he was reshaping masculinity".

[Chumby]

Apparently he was reshaping her face too.

[Social Justice is neither]

Psaki's face? OK, I approve. Now random women and we're talking something abhorrent that I would never approve of.