The Joyful Contrarianism of Gordon Tullock
Meet the economist who understood NASCAR crashes, the sale of indulgences, and the feeding habits of coal tits.
Corruption
4 Businessmen Used Cash and Casino Chips as Bribes to Secure Mississippi Prison Contracts
They're the latest to plead guilty in the Mississippi Department of Corrections bribing scheme.
Trump Mulls Commutation for Disgraced Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich
While the president's mercy might be self-serving, it's not necessarily wrong.
If Bill Barr Brings Back Federal Executions, Innocent People Will Die
We need to leave ourselves room for making good when we inevitably convict the wrong people.
Mass Protests Force the Resignation of Puerto Rico's Scandal-Plagued Governor
The island's residents have had enough of a territorial government tainted by corruption and that is seemingly contemptuous of their daily struggles.
Florida Sheriff Deputy Arrested After Planting Drugs on Innocent People
Reason uncovered body camera footage of the officer lying about a roadside field test for drugs.
Ted Cruz Wants To Punish Google Because Execs Didn't Vote for Trump
Plus: a bipartisan batch of U.S. lawmakers proposes more plans to take over tech, San Francisco bans e-cigs, Tiffany Cabán wins Queens DA primary, and more...
Florida Cases Restoke Chinese Conspiracy Fears
Yujing Zhang, Cindy Yang, and prostitution busts at Chinese spas have planted the seeds for new conspiratorial corruption narratives to bloom.
Cindy Yang Says Democrats Are Playing Politics With Request for FBI to Investigate Her
Plus: An Ohio city just abolished its entire vice policing unit, and unfunded liabilities in public pension plans are now more than $5.96 trillion.
This Is the World From Which Trump Emerged
A&E's Trump Dynasty explores the president's family and business history but doesn't do justice to the corrupt New York culture surrounding it.
Was Philadelphia's Soda Tax the Result of a Union-Versus-Union Political Fight?
Indicted union boss John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty ordered the soda tax passed to hurt the city's Teamsters union, federal prosecutors say.
Florida Man Jailed 41 Days Over 92 Grams of…Laundry Detergent
Spoiler alert: It wasn't heroin.
Chicago Aldermen Dismayed Not by Corruption, but by One of Their Own Cooperating With the Feds
A retiring member of the Chicago City Council wore a wire to record conversations. He's being treated like a snitch…by city leaders.
Mueller Mulls Middle East Meddling: Reason Roundup
Plus: Trump inauguration spending also under scrutiny, feds want fentanyl cases out of state court, and Twitter's stock is surging.
Putin's Potential Penthouse in Trump Tower Moscow Launches Investigation: Reason Roundup
Plus: CNN fires Marc Lamont Hill for Palestine comments and the link between life expectancy declines, opioid pills, and prohibition.
House Democrats Plan to Use Their New Majority to Target Trump. Let's Hope It Keeps Them Too Busy to Legislate: Reason Roundup
Plus: menthol cigarettes may be banned, Big Tech warms to new regulation, and NYC building raided over illegal Airbnb listings.
Menendez Campaign Thanks Trump for Endorsing GOP Challenger
It's unorthodox, but it makes sense.
Despite Indictment, Rep. Duncan Hunter Remains Favorite to Win Another Term in Congress
The Republican lawmaker is accused of misusing campaign dollars for for personal expenses including a trip to Italy, massive bar tabs and video games.
Elizabeth Warren's Anti-Corruption Bill Is a Big Government Mess
In trying to squeeze corporate influence out of politics, Warren would only grow the power of the state.
Congressman Launches His Yacht in the Swamp
Rep. Vern Buchanan bought a yacht with a giant loan from a foreign bank that lobbied heavily in favor of tax reform.
Paul Manafort Convicted of 8 Bank and Tax Fraud Charges; Mistrial on 10 Other Charges
Former Trump campaign chairman likely heading to prison.
Trump's Rally Isn't the Craziest Thing Happening in West Virginia Right Now
West Virginia's entire Supreme Court was impeached last week. And things have only gotten weirder since then.
West Virginia's Entire Supreme Court Just Got Impeached
The four justices allegedly spent more than $1 million in taxpayer funds on office renovations.
The Trump Administration Is a Sinkhole of Sleaze
Donald Trump has an instinct for finding and empowering scam artists, spongers, and thugs.
Charges Against a North Carolina Police Chief Lead to the Suspension of His Entire Department
The entire Southport Police Department is now on paid leave.
Laws Are for the Little People
Lots of government officials enjoy legal immunity with a wink and a nod. But in Arizona, immunity is actually official.
Environmental Protection Agency
Scott Pruitt's Newest Scandal Involves a Salty Practice Called 'Ratfucking'
The EPA administrator's perks now include a $43,000 phone booth, a Chick-fil-A franchise for his wife, and ratfucking.
Will EPA Head Scott Pruitt Be Shown the Door?
A parade of nearly comical ethics scandals is overwhelming his record as a deregulator.
Crony Capitalism, Eminent Domain Abuse, and Alleged Corruption
Lawsuit exposes a shady deal in Edgewater, New Jersey.
New York Officials Weaponize Regulatory Power Against the NRA
In a politicized environment, getting on the wrong side of regulators can be dangerous. Don't be surprised if banks and insurers cave.
Feds Raid Office of Trump Lawyer Who Paid Off Stormy Daniels. This Is a Big Deal.
The search of Michael Cohen's office, explained.
A Jailed Model Claims to Have Evidence of Russian Meddling in U.S. Elections. Her Story Is Even Weirder Than You Think.
Rybka has spent the past several years as a protegee of pickup artist and seduction coach Alex Lesley-and picked up a plausible claim to 2016 election dirt along the way.
When Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel Was Accused of Corruption, He Responded: 'Lions Don't Care About the Opinions of Sheep'
Israel reportedly hired his political supporters to do outreach for the police.
D.C. Public School Chief Resigns After Sneaking His Kids Into Top School
Top public school officials will risk their careers to have school choice. Maybe they should let everyone else have it too.
The Corrupt Politics of Low-Income Housing
State officials gleefully line their own pockets at taxpayers' expense.
Duped by State Detectives, Pennsylvania Police Chief Shows Up at Sheetz Gas Station for Sex With Underage Girl
Chief Michael Diebald was allegedly undeterred when the "girl" said she was in eighth grade-"everyone has to have a first time," he told her.
Less Regulation Means Less Opportunity for Government Corruption
Smaller government has the possibility to be more honest government.
Trump Wants More Money for Corrupt Border Patrol
Congress should tell him to take a hike.
Chicago's Chronic Police Corruption Leads to Its First 'Mass Exoneration'
Fifteen men allegedly framed by a corrupt sergeant have convictions overturned.
Mass. State Trooper Suing After Commanders Made Him Edit Report About Judge's Daughters
Police agencies regularly demonstrate the need for radical reform.
Feds Keeping Homeland Secure with Fake Sex-Trafficking Busts
As America deals with terrorist attacks and mass shootings, DHS and the FBI are busy enforcing misdemeanor vice laws.
Yulia Tymoshenko Warned Us About Paul Manafort Years Ago
Why didn't the Obama administration do anything?
Chicago Alderman Who Told Businessman to 'Come Back To Me On Your Knees' Sued for Abuse of Power
Brian Strauss sues to protect his property rights.
