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Beto O'Rourke

Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke misleadingly implies that AR-15s are more powerful than rifles that legislators do not classify as "assault weapons." | F. Carter Smith/SplashNews/Newscom

Assault Weapon Ban

The 'Motherfucker' Who Enraged Beto O'Rourke Laughed at His Claims About the Rifles He Wants To Confiscate

The Texas gubernatorial candidate's interpretation reflects his assumption that opponents of "assault weapon" bans don't care about murdered schoolchildren.

Jacob Sullum | 8.12.2022 1:15 PM

CoryBooker | Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA/Newscom

Debates 2020

The Woke Primary Is Over and Everyone Lost

Maybe now would be a good time for Democrats to recognize that identity-politics signaling doesn't translate into votes.

Matt Welch | 1.14.2020 1:45 PM

Beto-O'Rourke-Newscom-10-17-19 | Brian Cahn/Zuma Press/Newscom

Assault Weapon Ban

If Confiscating 'Assault Weapons' Is a Gimmick, So Is Banning Them

Beto O’Rourke’s scheme would be an ineffectual attempt to enforce arbitrary distinctions.

Jacob Sullum | 10.23.2019 12:01 AM

polspphotos608440 | F. Carter Smith/Polaris/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Elizabeth Warren Is the Democratic Frontrunner. Everyone's Piling On.

Fellow Democratic candidates took aim over how Warren plans to pay for all the "free" stuff she's promising, her policy in the Middle East, and her thoughts on Trump's Twitter account.

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 10.16.2019 9:38 AM

upiphotostwo689910 | KEVIN DIETSCH/UPI/Newscom

Debates 2020

Beto O'Rourke Still Has No Idea How He'd Actually Seize Americans' Guns

Asked how he'd actually follow through on his promise to "take your AR-15," the former Texas congressman didn't have much of an answer.

Eric Boehm | 10.15.2019 11:07 PM

Beto-O'Rourke-gun-policy-forum-10-2-19 | YouTube

Gun Control

5 Misconceptions Promoted by Democrats During Their 'Gun Safety Forum'

The presidential contenders hyped the "epidemic" of gun violence and the threat posed by school shootings while perpetuating myths about "assault weapons," background checks, and the Second Amendment.

Jacob Sullum | 10.3.2019 11:20 AM

polspphotos610392 | Jeremy Hogan/Polaris/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Beto Goes to Kent State, Argues Only the Government Can Be Trusted With Guns

Someone should tell Beto who did the killing at Kent State.

Eric Boehm | 9.27.2019 4:30 PM

Beto-O'Rourke-debate-9-12-19 | Heidi Gutman/Zuma Press/Newscom

Assault Weapon Ban

Vicious Scapegoating Is the Whole Point of Beto O'Rourke's Gun Grab

The "assault weapons" that the presidential contender wants to confiscate are not especially deadly, but the symbolism of that policy is poisonous.

Jacob Sullum | 9.13.2019 2:25 PM

polspphotos606652 | Keiko Hiromi/Polaris/Newscom

Debates 2020

Beto O'Rourke: 'Hell Yes, We're Going To Take Your AR-15'

Advocating for gun control is no longer enough. On Thursday night, the Democratic presidential candidates promised gun confiscation.

Eric Boehm | 9.12.2019 10:25 PM

Beto-crop | Jeff Topping/Polaris/Newscom

Guns

Beto's Impossible Gun Ban Dreams

A growing number of prominent Democrats want owners of "assault weapons" to surrender them to the government. History says most people will ignore any such law.

J.D. Tuccille | 9.4.2019 1:05 PM

BetoHands | Jeff Topping/Polaris/Newscom

Gun Control

Will Democrats Really Grab Your Guns?

Debating "mandatory buy-backs," Afghanistan withdrawal, and back-to-school week on the Reason Podcast.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Nick Gillespie | 9.3.2019 5:45 PM

donaldtrump8-21 | SARAH SILBIGER/UPI/Newscom

Election 2020

The 2020 Race Is Completely Unpredictable Because Politicians Are Awful

We're vastly more interested in the upcoming election than we were in 2016. We're also convinced neither party represents us. What could go wrong?

Nick Gillespie | 8.21.2019 5:25 PM

krtphotoslive867398 | Nick Wagner/TNS/Newscom

Hate Speech

Beto O'Rourke Proposes Plan to Punish Tech Companies for Failing to Censor Hate Speech

The move would violate the First Amendment.

Billy Binion | 8.20.2019 5:20 PM

Beto4America | Beto for America

Beto O'Rourke

Beto's Reboot: So You're Saying There's Still a Chance?

Former media darling halted his long poll slide after the El Paso shooting by blaming it on Trump, and is now hoping Democrats forget his past centrism.

Matt Welch | 8.15.2019 5:00 PM

Democratic apocalyptics are wrong | Petar Veinovic/Dreamstime

Climate Change

Despite What Democrats Said at Their Debate, We're Not Heading Toward Climate Apocalypse

Climate change is a problem, but the end of the world is not scheduled for 2030.

Ronald Bailey | 8.1.2019 3:25 PM

upiphotostwo689861 | Edward M. PioRoda/UPI/Newscom

Debates 2020

Beto vs. Warren Is the Trade Policy Debate Democrats Need To Have

Unlike many other policies proposed by Democratic presidential hopefuls, trade policy is something a new president can unilaterally impose.

Eric Boehm | 7.31.2019 12:00 PM

DemDebate1 | Paul Hennessy/Polaris/Newscom

Debates 2020

Democrats Are Terrified of Their Own Non-Socialism

Those who disagree with Elizabeth Warren's economics tried really hard not to say so during the Dems' first presidential debate

Matt Welch | 6.27.2019 4:05 PM

Beto2 | Kevin E. Schmidt/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke: Tax the Non-Military Rich to Pay for Veterans

The presidential candidate wants to end wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and levy a "war tax" for every future conflict.

Matt Welch | 6.25.2019 11:30 AM

reason-borderpatrol | LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS/Newscom

Immigration

Democrats Have Never Been More Pro-Immigration, Thanks to Trump

The benefits of a backlash

Shikha Dalmia | 6.13.2019 10:15 AM

BETO | K.C. Alfred/TNS/Newscom

Immigration

Beto O'Rourke Wants To Overhaul Our Asylum System and Provide Amnesty for 11 Million Immigrants

The presidential hopeful released his immigration plan on Wednesday.

Billy Binion | 5.30.2019 5:50 PM

Beto O'Rourke | Jeff Topping/Polaris/Newscom

Drug Policy

Beto O'Rourke Wants To Legalize Weed and Expunge Records, Too

Anti-prohibitionists are now trying to help those still impacted by old drug convictions.

Zuri Davis | 5.22.2019 1:20 PM

BernieWarren | Zach D Roberts/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Student Loans

Democratic Contenders Apologize for Everything Except Their Lousy Economic Policies

Being a presidential candidate means never having to say sorry for heavy-handed proposals to limit choice and promise free stuff.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Nick Gillespie | 4.29.2019 2:30 PM

Beto O'Rourke | KEVIN DIETSCH/UPI/Newscom

Election 2020

Here's What's in Beto O'Rourke's $5 Trillion Plan To Fight Climate Change

O'Rourke wants net-zero emissions by 2050.

Joe Setyon | 4.29.2019 12:45 PM

BookerSanders | YouTube

Election 2020

All the Top Democrats Running for President Favor Legalizing Marijuana

The one potential holdout? Joe "gateway drug" Biden.

Matt Welch | 4.20.2019 9:30 AM

zumaamericastwentythree662807 | KC McGinnis/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke: U.S. 'Has Completely Forgotten Its Constitutional Responsibility to Lawfully Declare and End These Wars'

O'Rourke has long been a critic of U.S. intervention abroad.

Joe Setyon | 4.15.2019 12:45 PM

Large image on homepages | Everett Collection/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Beto Called Charter Schools a 'Good Idea' in 2012. He Was Right.

The presidential candidate suggested at the time that charter schools and traditional public schools can coexist.

Zuri Davis | 4.5.2019 4:05 PM

Large image on homepages | Staton Rabin/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Election 2020

Bernie, Kamala, and Probably Beto Raised More Money in the First Quarter Than Gary Johnson Did During Entire 2016 Campaign

Sobering reminder for all current and future Libertarians: A previously unknown mayor from a midsized Indiana college town will soon shatter the high-water fundraising numbers for America's third party.

Matt Welch | 4.2.2019 1:35 PM

Large image on homepages | Keiko Hiromi/Polaris/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Beto Offers Democrats a Blend of Old and New

In New Hampshire, some voters say they are ready for a fresh face.

Ira Stoll | 3.25.2019 4:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Medicare for All

Beto O'Rourke's Health Care Plan Is an Attempt to Back Medicare for All Without the Problems of Single Payer

Medicare for America doesn't solve the problems of government-run health care. It just creates new ones.

Peter Suderman | 3.21.2019 1:29 PM

Large image on homepages | Matt Welch

Beto O'Rourke

The 4 Contradictions of Beto O'Rourke

He's a free trader against dumping, a deficit hawk for Medicare expansion, and an anti-drug warrior who wants to imprison pharma execs.

Matt Welch | 3.20.2019 3:00 PM

Large image on homepages | XU JING Xinhua News Agency/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke, 2012: 'We Cannot Continue to Spend Ourselves into Ruin'

The 2020 presidential candidate ran on spending cuts, troop withdrawls, and means-testing Social Security while primarying an incumbent Democrat 7 years ago.

Matt Welch | 3.19.2019 5:27 PM

Large image on homepages | Preston Ehrler/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Elizabeth Warren

Is There a Libertarian Argument for Breaking up Big Tech?: Podcast

Elizabeth Warren, Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, and most of the 2020 presidential field agree that tech companies have too power. But maybe they don't like the competition.

Matt Welch | 3.18.2019 3:00 PM

Large image on homepages | Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Has Phony Betomania Already Bitten the Dust?

Legitimately interesting yet eminently mockable GenXer Beto O'Rourke joins the 2020 presidential scrum.

Matt Welch | 3.14.2019 8:15 AM

Large image on homepages | Carlo Allegri/REUTERS/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Can a Self-Described 'Capitalist' Win the 2020 Democratic Primary?

Beto O'Rourke-who won't call himself a "progressive," let alone a "democratic socialist"-is expected to jump into the presidential race.

Matt Welch | 3.1.2019 2:15 PM

Large image on homepages | Disney

Green New Deal

Green New WTF?: Podcast

Untethered from real-world constraints, progressive Democratic policy goes utopian.

Matt Welch and Mark McDaniel | 2.11.2019 4:55 PM

Large image on homepages | MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS/Newscom

Beto O'Rourke

Bernie Supporters Slam Beto O'Rourke's Progressive Bona Fides but Mostly Ignore Pot, Immigration, and War

Democratic socialists prioritize economics first.

Matt Welch | 12.31.2018 3:45 PM

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