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Capitol Riot

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Donald Trump

Why Is Trump Worried About What Mark Meadows Might Say in the Election Interference Cases?

The former White House chief of staff is one of several former Trump advisers who are cooperating with prosecutors.

Jacob Sullum | 10.25.2023 5:15 PM

Trump's First Amendment defense comes back to the question of whether he sincerely believed the election was stolen. | Abaca Press/Gripas Yuri/Abaca/Sipa USA/Newscom

Donald Trump

Here Is Why Trump's Lawyers Say His Post-Election Conduct Was Constitutionally Protected

When he alleged fraud and sought help from government officials, they say, Trump was exercising rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Jacob Sullum | 8.7.2023 5:00 PM

Protestor at US Capitol | BONNIE CASH/UPI/Newscom

Donald Trump

Have We Lost Track of the Trump Indictments Yet?

Plus: Why don't journalists support free speech anymore?

Matt Welch, Nick Gillespie, Peter Suderman, and Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.7.2023 4:40 PM

Donald Trump in front of a large American flag | Brian Cahn/Zuma Press/Newscom

Donald Trump

Did Trump Really Believe the Election Was Stolen? Here Is Why It Matters.

The new federal charges against Trump depend on the assumption that his claims were "knowingly false."

Jacob Sullum | 8.2.2023 3:30 PM

Donald Trump in front of a large American flag | Brian Cahn/Zuma Press/Newscom

Donald Trump

Is Trump's Latest Indictment About Defending Democracy or Attacking Free Speech?

Plus: More "manifesting prostitution" nonsense, U.S. loses top-tier credit rating, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.2.2023 9:45 AM

Donald Trump speaks at a Turning Point USA conference | Al Diaz/TNS/Newscom

Election 2020

2 Reasons It's Not Clear That Trump 'Corruptly' Obstructed an Official Proceeding

Appeals in the January 6 cases raise serious questions about how broadly the statute should be applied.

Jacob Sullum | 7.21.2023 4:10 PM

Donald-Trump-7-18-23-Newscom | imageBROKER/Walter G. Arce Sr./Newscom

Donald Trump

Does Trump's 'Alternate' Electors Plan Justify Criminal Charges Against Them and Him?

The alleged state and federal felonies involve intent elements that may be difficult to prove.

Jacob Sullum | 7.19.2023 3:25 PM

Did Donald Trump really believe that he won the 2020 presidential election? | Joshua Boucher/TNS/Newscom

Election 2020

A Grand Jury Considers the Question of Whether Trump Sincerely Believed He Won Reelection

That issue is central to Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation of the former president's response to Joe Biden's victory.

Jacob Sullum | 7.14.2023 3:55 PM

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy holds press conference on debt-ceiling deal | Rod Lamkey/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Debt Ceiling

Banging Our Heads on the Debt Ceiling

Plus: A listener question cross-examines prior Reason Roundtable discussions surrounding immigration, economic growth, and birthrates.

Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman | 5.30.2023 3:59 PM

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes received an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy and two other charges. | Ron Sachs/CNP/Polaris/Newscom

Capitol Riot

Stewart Rhodes Gets 18 Years After the DOJ Reiterates a Conspiracy Claim That Jurors Rejected

It remains unclear whether the Oath Keepers leader had a specific plan to violently disrupt the electoral vote count on January 6.

Jacob Sullum | 5.29.2023 3:25 PM

John Stossel is seen next to books written by Vivek Ramaswamy | Stossel TV

Election 2024

Vivek Ramaswamy Thinks 'Wokeness Is a Cultural Cancer'

Why the businessman launched a long shot campaign for the presidency.

John Stossel | 5.17.2023 12:30 AM

Violent pro-Trump protesters clash with law enforcement on the steps of the Capitol, January 6, 2021. | Brian Branch Price/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Criminal Justice

Punishing Rioters Is Wise. Bogus 'Seditious Conspiracy' Charges Are Not.

Politics ruin everything, including the criminal justice system.

J.D. Tuccille | 5.8.2023 7:00 AM

Do seditious conspiracy convictions show the Capitol riot was "premeditated" and "not spontaneous"? | Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/Newscom

Criminal Justice

Do These Seditious Conspiracy Convictions Prove the Capitol Riot 'Was Not Spontaneous'?

A jury convicted members of the Proud Boys without evidence of an explicit plot, let alone one that most of the rioters were trying to execute.

Jacob Sullum | 5.5.2023 3:30 PM

Tucker Carlson | Brian Cahn/Zuma Press/Newscom

Capitol Riot

Tucker Carlson Describes the Capitol Riot as 'Mostly Peaceful Chaos.' Is He Wrong?

Video footage and arrest data indicate that most of the Trump supporters who invaded the building did not commit violent crimes.

Jacob Sullum | 3.8.2023 6:30 PM

capitol rotunda at night under moon and clouds | Allison Bailey/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Capitol Riot

2 Years After the Capitol Riot, the GOP Remains Divided. Good.

Plus: Misinformation about athlete deaths, FTC wants to ban noncompete clauses, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 1.6.2023 9:32 AM

Trump's First Amendment defense comes back to the question of whether he sincerely believed the election was stolen. | Abaca Press/Gripas Yuri/Abaca/Sipa USA/Newscom

Capitol Riot

Don't Count on Criminal Prosecution To Hold Trump Accountable for His Egregious Post-Election Behavior

The final report from the January 6 select committee falls short of proving the elements required to convict the former president.

Jacob Sullum | 12.23.2022 3:40 PM

Picture of Trump speaking overlaid on investigative documents | Rod Lamkey/CNP/Picture Alliance/Consolidated News Photos/Newscom

Donald Trump

The January 6 Committee's Suggested Charges Against Trump May Be Hard To Prove

The leading possibilities include knowledge and intent elements that have to be established beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jacob Sullum | 12.20.2022 6:50 PM

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes received an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy and two other charges. | Ron Sachs/CNP/Polaris/Newscom

Capitol Riot

Judging From These Verdicts, Stewart Rhodes' Seditious Conspiracy Did Not Involve Attacking the Capitol

The Oath Keepers leader was acquitted of two riot-related conspiracy counts but convicted of plotting to keep Donald Trump in office "by force."

Jacob Sullum | 12.1.2022 3:10 PM

Trump's First Amendment defense comes back to the question of whether he sincerely believed the election was stolen. | Abaca Press/Gripas Yuri/Abaca/Sipa USA/Newscom

Donald Trump

A Federal Judge Says Trump Knowingly Endorsed False Fraud Claims in an Election Lawsuit

Despite that evidence, it is hard to tell whether Trump actually thought he beat Biden.

Jacob Sullum | 10.20.2022 4:25 PM

Capitol Riot

A Section Three Disqualification

The first government official has been removed by judicial order for participating in the January 6th "insurrection"

Keith E. Whittington |The Volokh Conspiracy | 9.6.2022 4:36 PM

Josh Hawley during the Capitol Riot footage played at January 6 committee hearing | Al Drago - via CNP/Polaris/Newscom

Reason Roundup

January 6 Committee Wraps Summer Hearings With Footage of Hawley Fleeing, Detailed Account of Trump's Day

Plus: Electoral count reform, freeing baby formula from useless regulation, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 7.22.2022 9:41 AM

Image from the January 6th Congressional Hearing | Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Newscom

Congress

The Senate's Election Reform Bill Is Surprisingly Logical and Bipartisan

Former President Trump's attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election relied on three potential pressure points. This bill addresses all three.

Eric Boehm | 7.21.2022 4:30 PM

v3 | © Joe Sohm  | Dreamstime.com

January 6

Don't Jail Trump for the January 6 Riot

Though morally responsible for the attack on the Capitol and unfit for office, he’s protected by the First Amendment from legal liability.

Robby Soave and Regan Taylor | 7.14.2022 4:00 PM

The Novavax vaccine | Utrecht, Robin/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Reason Roundup

FDA Approves Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, but Feds Undecided on Who It's for

Plus: The story of a 10-year-old rape victim who sought an abortion is confirmed, inflation hits a record 9.1 percent, and more...

Robby Soave | 7.14.2022 9:46 AM

Angela Pence versus Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene | Illustration: Lex Villena; Gage Skidmore, Serdar Duran

Politics

How Georgia's Outlandish Ballot Access Law Is Protecting Marjorie Taylor Greene (and the Two-Party System)

A ballot access law meant to block Communists has become an obstacle to third-party politics. 

Eric Boehm | 7.13.2022 1:45 PM

Trump's First Amendment defense comes back to the question of whether he sincerely believed the election was stolen. | Abaca Press/Gripas Yuri/Abaca/Sipa USA/Newscom

Capitol Riot

Did Cassidy Hutchinson's Testimony Clinch the Incitement Case Against Trump?

The former president's recklessness is beyond dispute, but that is not enough to convict him while respecting the First Amendment.

Jacob Sullum | 6.29.2022 3:05 PM

dpaphotosfive873955 | od Lamkey - CNP/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom

January 6

January 6 Hearings Reveal More Trump Misconduct, but Was It Incitement?

Plus: Facebook censors information on abortion pills, TikTok provokes the ire of the FCC, and more...

Robby Soave | 6.29.2022 9:30 AM

January 6 Capitol riot Qanon Shaman man | Chris Kleponis/Sipa USA/Newscom

Capitol Riot

The Capitol Riot Was Never Going To Succeed

The intruders created plenty of mayhem, but it was a farcical coup attempt doomed from the start.

Steven Greenhut | 6.24.2022 8:00 AM

January 6th committee hearing | Drew Angerer - Pool via CNP/picture alliance / Consolidated News Photos/Newscom

Free Speech

YouTube Deleted a January 6th Committee Video for Spreading Election Misinformation

"We enforce our policies equally for everyone," said a spokesperson.

Robby Soave | 6.17.2022 11:52 AM

Ivanka Trump Capitol riot video testimony on big screen during House select committee on January 6 hearing | Ernst Jonathan/Pool/ABACA/Newscom

January 6

The January 6 Hearings May Be Surprisingly Worthwhile

Plus: Competing stories about antitrust reform, capitalism didn't cause the formula crisis, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 6.10.2022 9:55 AM

Man in trump mask | Leo Schulz / Alto Press/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Reason Roundup

Will Tonight's Capitol Riot Hearing Deliver Bombshells or Be Another Dud?

Plus: Families sue over Texas directive on care for transgender kids, teleworker taxes will come before Ohio Supreme Court, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 6.9.2022 9:30 AM

Three Proud Boys members, including head Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, in Washington, D.C. | Carol Guzy/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

January 6

'Seditious Conspiracy' Charges for Proud Boys Taint January 6 Prosecutions

Normal criminal law covers the alleged acts without politicizing proceedings.

J.D. Tuccille | 6.8.2022 7:00 AM

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