Trump vs. Free Markets
Much separates populist Republicans from progressive Democrats, but they all favor state control.
Donald Trump
19 States That Legalized Marijuana Use Nevertheless Say It Should Disqualify People From Owning Guns
They are joining the Trump administration in urging the Supreme Court to uphold a federal law that disarms "unlawful" drug consumers.
The 6 Ways Trump Tried To Control the Economy Last Week
From defense contracting and mortgage finance to credit, housing, and monetary policy, Trump is leaning heavily on command-and-control economics.
The Year of the Starter Home
Lawmakers across the country are introducing bills that would make it easier to build smaller single-family homes on small lots.
Trump's War on Interest Rates
No one likes high interest rates on credit cards and loans, but artificially lowering interest rates via executive power is not a solution.
Trump 2.0, Year 1: A Libertarian Nightmare
Trump's second term lurches forward, powered by monarchical authoritarianism
Iran's Inflation Protests Turned Into an Uprising. Will Trump Get Involved?
The unrest started with a merchants' strike, escalated into a bloody crackdown—and might become an American war.
A Breakable Regime
Plus: Wealth tax barely understood by its proponents, Jerome Powell investigated, why sobriety sucks, and more...
Trump's Proposed Ban on Institutional Investors Owning Single-Family Homes Would Make No One Better Off
While owning a very small percentage of single-family homes, large investors provide renters with more options and increase home construction rates.
Venezuelan Socialist Regime Announces Release of a 'Number of Important' Political Prisoners
It is a “gesture” to keep the peace, according to Jorge Rodríguez, president of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
Trump's Plan for 30 Million Barrels of Venezuelan Oil Doesn't Add Up
The plan is both light on specifics and full of contradictions.
Transgender Athletes, Guns, and the Federal Reserve: 3 SCOTUS Cases To Watch in January
The Supreme Court’s January docket is packed with big cases.
Why the DOJ Has Stopped Describing Maduro as the Head of a Literal Drug Cartel
That embarrassing mistake highlights the slipperiness of Trump's attempts to justify legally dubious policies by invoking the specter of "foreign terrorist organizations."
A Recent Book Shows Why Invading Greenland Would Be a Dumb Idea
Polar War demonstrates how difficult it is for armies to operate in the high north—and just how far America is behind Europe in Arctic warfare.
Federal Red Tape Plunges Under Trump
The president is making real progress on deregulation, but he needs to get Congress involved.
The 'Law Enforcement' Rationale for Invading Venezuela Is an Open-Ended License for War
If an indictment is enough to justify military action, why bother seeking congressional approval?
Trump Wants To Seize Greenland Because He Doesn't Understand Trade
Presidents should try to nudge the world toward more trade and less war whenever possible. Trump is doing the opposite.
Venezuela's Acting Dictator Is Delcy Rodríguez, a Maduro Regime Ally With a History of Human Rights Violations
Trump chose to work with a sanctioned regime insider rather than the country's elected opposition.
Is This the End of American Capitalism?
If interest rates stop being market signals and become policy decisions, what survives may look less like capitalism—and more like permanent crisis management.
How the Trump Administration Quietly and Quickly Took Over 3 Golf Courses in Washington, D.C.
Plus: Thank capitalism for the best parts of college football bowl season
New Vaccine Recommendations
Plus: The difficulties of rebuilding trust in public health, Maduro's arraignment, U.S. threats against Greenland, and more...
John Roberts Touts Judicial Independence, Subtly Rebukes Trump in 'Year End Report' on Federal Courts
The chief justice hails the judiciary as “a counter-majoritarian check on the political branches.”
Revised and Updated Version of My Article "Immigration is Not Invasion"
It is now available on SSRN. The revision adds additional evidence, and takes account of various recent events, including Trump's military intervention in Venezuela.
Did Marco Rubio Lie to Congress About Venezuela?
His explanation for why the Trump administration attacked Venezuela without congressional authorization does not stand up to scrutiny.
Regime Changed?
Plus: the illegality of the Maduro raid, the wide open question of what happens next, and more
How Marjorie Taylor Greene Went From QAnon Acolyte to MAGA Exile
You don't need a detailed theory to explain the departing congresswoman's journey.
Americans Are Increasingly Skeptical of Foreign Military Intervention
Nicolás Maduro’s removal should be welcomed by anyone who values liberty. Yet data show Americans—led by the youngest adults—are turning noninterventionist.
Thoughts on the Capture of Maduro and Trump's Attack on Venezuela
Maduro is a brutal dictator who is getting what he deserves. But Trump's actions are still illegal, because lacking proper congressional authorization. Whether they result in a beneficial regime change in Venezuela remains to be seen.
Donald Trump Says the U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela After Maduro's Ouster
When asked who would be in charge, Trump said: “We’re designating those people.”
Trump Should Have Tried To Get Congressional Authorization If He Wanted To Strike Venezuela and Capture Maduro
The strikes against Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro might be popular or defensible. They were not legal.
Photos: What Is the National Guard Doing in D.C.?
Uniformed and armed men and women can be seen all over the city wielding leaf blowers, hoses, and brooms as they do municipal chores.
The DOJ Thinks Cocaine Couriers Are Not Worth Prosecuting. Trump Thinks They Deserve To Die.
Even as the president blows up drug boats, the government routinely declines to pursue charges against smugglers nabbed by the Coast Guard.
A Socialist Swearing In
Plus: the limits of Zohran Mamdani's ability to ruin New York, Trump's National Guard withdrawal, and a deadly New Year's blaze in Switzerland
In 2026, Republicans Will Have To Decide What Comes After Trump
Is the party heading deeper into the right wing fever swamps?
3 Areas Where the Courts Pushed Back Against Trump's Attempts To Avoid Judicial Review in 2025
The president asserted broad powers to deport people, impose tariffs, and deploy the National Guard based on his own unilateral determinations.
Did Brett Kavanaugh Just Apologize for Butchering the Fourth Amendment? Maybe.
Puzzling over a curious omission from the conservative justice.
'Affordability' Politics Is a Major Opening for the Free Market Message in the New Year
The socialists of both parties want things to cost less. Only free markets can make that so.
Trump Bars 5 Europeans From the U.S. Over Their Censorship Efforts
Creeping authoritarianism in the European Union gets pushback from an administration that has its own rocky relationship with free speech.
How Politicians and Cops Tried To Dodge Responsibility in 2025
Presidents, legislators, and police officers were desperate to blame anyone but themselves.
The Politics of Permanent Outrage
Lauren Hall looks at the roots of political tribalism, why voters feel trapped between false choices, and how radical moderation offers a way out of constant polarization.
Here Are 5 Wars Trump Started or Expanded in 2025
The U.S. military is fighting or preparing to fight in more countries than it was when the self-proclaimed "peace president" took office.
Thoughts on the Supreme Court Ruling Against Trump in the Illinois National Guard Case
The decision is a preliminary "shadow docket" ruling. But it strongly suggests the majority believes Trump's use of the Guard is illegal.
Refusing To Let Trump Deploy the National Guard in Chicago, SCOTUS Adds a New Wrinkle To the Debate
The justices suggested the president is misinterpreting "the regular forces," a key phrase in the statute on which he is relying.
How Tariffs and Inflation Are Hitting Holiday Sweets
The Trump administration’s trade war has made home-baked and store-bought treats more expensive.
Trump's Marijuana Order Vindicates Longstanding Criticism of the Plant's Legal Classification
In addition to its symbolic significance, rescheduling the drug will facilitate research and provide tax relief to state-licensed cannabis suppliers.
5 Things You Should Know About the Latest Bari Weiss 60 Minutes Controversy
Is Bari Weiss censoring 60 Minutes or improving its output?
