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Hungary

Statue of Liberty with an American flag draped across her mouth | lustration: Eddie Marshall | Midjourney

Free Speech

Survey: Free Speech Support Is Eroding in America

A new global survey reveals a stark decline in Americans' support for free speech as the Trump administration tightens its grip on expression.

Jacob Mchangama | 4.3.2025 12:00 PM

Donald Trump answers questions at the National Association of Black Journalists Annual Convention and Career Fair in Chicago on July 31 | Eileen T. Meslar/TNS/Newscom

Election 2024

Neck and Neck

Plus: Baby showers for frozen eggs, Orbán pulls an Abbott, China's economic woes, and more...

Liz Wolfe | 9.9.2024 9:30 AM

Donald Trump gives a fist pump at a Moms for Liberty conference | Mark Alfred/Zuma Press/Newscom

Authoritarianism

'Sometimes You Need a Strongman,' Trump Declares

The former president's attempts to put a positive spin on the term are consistent with his alarmingly authoritarian instincts.

Jacob Sullum | 9.5.2024 4:25 PM

orange background with cartoon of old-fashioned picketers carrying signs saying 'we want beer' | akg-images/Newscom

Prohibition

Just Say 'No' to New Forms of Prohibition

It doesn't make sense to create laws that restrict activities enjoyed by the general populace to protect a tiny minority that will undoubtedly partake in those activities anyway.

Steven Greenhut | 3.3.2023 8:05 AM

Viktor Orbán walks into a conference. | /ANP/Sipa USA/Newscom

Hungary

National Conservatives Can't Find a Good Excuse for Viktor Orbán's Inflation Disaster

Hungary's inflation hits 24.5 percent—the highest in the European Union—and Orbán's price controls aren't helping.

Ryan Bourne | 2.2.2023 10:45 AM

John Stossel prostitute | Stossel TV

Sex Work

'I Have My Own Life': The Case for Legalizing Sex Work

It would be far easier to prosecute sex trafficking if voluntary sex work were legal.

John Stossel | 9.14.2022 1:00 PM

Viktor Orban at CPAC | Chris Rusanowsky/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Hungary

Viktor Orbán Flatters Republicans With the Lie That Progressive Liberals and Communists Are 'the Same'

The Hungarian prime minister also makes the historically illiterate claim that Christians can't be racist.

Matt Welch | 8.5.2022 2:15 PM

Viktor-Orbán-america | Reason/Lex Villena/Attila Volgyi/Polaris/Newscom

Foreign Policy

U.S. Conservatives Set To Applaud Viktor Orbán's Paranoid Anti-Americanism

Kleptocratic Hungarian leader, under fire for "mixed race" speech, condemns America for weaponizing energy, antagonizing Russia, and incubating gender "lunacy."

Matt Welch | 8.3.2022 5:30 PM

images of a globe, a cut off hand, and a man folded out of money overlaid on tan background | Illustration: Lex Villena; Sirirak Kaewgorn | Dreamstime.com

Taxes

A Global Tax Cartel Is Floundering. Good.

Just as you don't attract bees with vinegar, you don't attract corporations by promising to tax them heavily.

Veronique de Rugy | 7.14.2022 3:40 PM

thumbnail (8) | Come SITTLER/POOL/SIPA/Newscom; Alain ROBERT/SIPA/Newscom

France

France's Authoritarian Establishment Faces Off Against the Even Uglier Authoritarianism of the Far Right

French President Emmanuel Macron is authoritarian-light. Candidate Marine Le Pen is worse.

Veronique de Rugy | 4.21.2022 2:56 PM

Viktor Orban | Attila Volgyi/Polaris/Newscom

Hungary

Viktor Orbán's Reelection Shows Mere Democracy Is Not Enough

The less of our lives we allow to be put to a vote, the better.

Stephanie Slade | 4.5.2022 11:05 AM

ViktorOrban | Luka Dakskobler/ZUMAPRESS/Newscom

Ukraine

Putin's Aggression Is Isolating the New Nationalists

Hungary's Viktor Orbán becomes the latest Kremlin crony to break ranks.

Matt Welch | 3.7.2022 4:50 PM

BidenIke | Illustration: Lex Villena; Gage Skidmore

State of the Union

What Biden Can Learn from Eisenhower's 1957 State of the Union

The world's conscience had been shocked by Russia's recent invasion of a sovereign European state. Ike responded with sober, long-game containment in Europe...and more reckless escalation in the Middle East.

Matt Welch | 3.1.2022 4:18 PM

belphotos589465 | POOL NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/BELGA/Newscom

Economics

Hungary To Place Price Ceiling on Groceries

Price controls almost never achieve their goal, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has decided to utilize them anyway.

Corey Walker | 1.14.2022 4:00 PM

polspphotos877035 | Attila Volgyi/Polaris/Newscom

Authoritarianism

In 2022, Pay Attention to Right-Wing Authoritarianism

For decades, libertarians have focused on illiberalism coming from the political left. But authoritarianism has taken root among many conservatives across the world.

Veronique de Rugy | 12.30.2021 3:46 PM

topicspolitics | Photo: Vincent Mounier/Shutterstock

Politics

Hungarian Nationalism Is a Dead End

Hungary's brand of nationalism generates not just cronyist domestic policy but tawdry foreign policy as well.

Matt Welch | 12.30.2021 6:00 AM

chuttersnap-Ay5VDmOaKBo-unsplash | Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Freedom

Global Freedom Is on the Decline

A new report says 83 percent of the world's population is less free today than it was in 2008, and the gap between the world's most and least free countries is growing.

Eric Boehm | 12.17.2021 2:40 PM

red-markets | Photo: Mao Zedong on a bank note; baona/iStock

Communism

Red Markets

Sometimes communist countries had to tolerate a little economic liberty just to survive.

Jesse Walker | 11.7.2021 6:00 AM

thumbnail 2 | Gage Skidmore

Politics

Bernie Sanders Is Wrong About Denmark. Tucker Carlson Is Wrong About Hungary.

The two are idolizing the wrong models.

Veronique de Rugy | 9.2.2021 1:17 PM

polspphotos751437 | Phil McAuliffe/Polaris/Newscom

Conservatism

Conservatives Are Asking You To Disbelieve Your Own Eyes

The political right's movement toward authoritarianism is exemplified by its refusal to embrace facts that don't conform to their alternative reality.

Steven Greenhut | 8.13.2021 10:40 AM

CarlsonOrban | Fox News

Hungary

No Self-Respecting American Should Aspire to Hungarian-Style Nationalism

Extolling the virtues of Viktor Orbán's culture war over a sumptuous meal in Budapest is next-level cognitive dissonance.

Matt Welch | 8.11.2021 1:13 PM

Hungary Index | Screenshot szabadindex.eu

Hungary

Firing of Hungarian Newspaper Editor Stokes Press Freedom Fears

Another blow to the country's few remaining independent news outlets

Max Dunat | 7.27.2020 12:45 PM

ViktorOrban | Darmer/Davids/Ropi/ZUMA Press/Newscom

Coronavirus

Coronavirus Gives the Illiberal Right Fever Dreams of Power

Hungary's Viktor Orbán consolidates power, Harvard's Adrian Vermeule fantasizes about wielding it, and many of those who oppose authoritarian conservativism beg Donald Trump to close the country down.

Matt Welch | 4.2.2020 4:42 PM

ianbremmer1 | GZERO Media

Donald Trump

Understanding the Failure of 'Globalism' Is Key to Understanding Donald Trump's Appeal

Us vs. Them author Ian Bremmer says that worldwide populism is a response from people who are being left behind economically.

Nick Gillespie | 6.12.2019 1:30 PM

Large image on homepages | BERNADETT SZABO/REUTERS/Newscom

Food Freedom

The State of Food Freedom Around the Globe

Authoritarian cruelty in Hungary, civil disobedience in Ukraine, and booze reform in Canada

Baylen Linnekin | 6.23.2018 8:30 AM

Large image on homepages | Heineken

Brickbats

Brickbat: Red Star Over Budapest

Charles Oliver | 7.3.2017 4:00 AM

Large image on homepages | Wikimedia Commons/By Unknown - http://www.budapestcity.org/11-egyeb/utcak-terek/Moricz-Zsigmond-ter/index-hu.htm, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18863725

Olympics

When the Russians Played the Olympic Villain For a Lot More Than Just Doping

1956's "Blood in the Water" match between Hungary and the Soviet Union brought war to the pool.

Anthony Fisher | 8.10.2016 10:05 AM

Large image on homepages | wichitaliberty.org

Hungary

Hungarians Elect Free Market Advocate in By-Election, Right-Wing Ruling Party Loses Supermajority

Zoltán Kész defeated a member of the ruling party, ending its razor-thin supermajority hold on parliament.

Ed Krayewski | 2.23.2015 10:58 AM

Large image on homepages | Leigh Phillips/Foter

Politics

P.M. Wins Second Term and Anti-Semites Enjoy Increased Support in Hungarian Election

Matthew Feeney | 4.7.2014 3:40 PM

Politics

Obama Nominates Soap Opera Producer as Ambassador of Hungary

Raised more than $500,000 for the president

Reason Staff | 11.7.2013 11:40 AM

Policy

Four Neo-Nazis Jailed in Hungary for Murder Spree That Targeted Roma Minority

Three given life without parole, fourth given 13 years without parole

Reason Staff | 8.6.2013 11:30 AM

Policy

Hungary Planning To Cut Ties With IMF

Hoping to pay back loan early

Reason Staff | 7.15.2013 3:00 PM

Politics

Hungarian Prime Minister Warns the Germans Not To Send in Tanks

A not very well disguised WWII reference made in response to German criticisms of the Hungarian government

Reason Staff | 5.21.2013 9:16 AM

World

Hungarian Government Looking To Limit Scope of National FOIA Law

Amendments passed through legislature in record time

Reason Staff | 5.9.2013 8:20 AM

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