San Francisco Wants To Spend $1.7 Million on a Single Public Toilet
Local officials argue that the eye-popping sum is necessary due to rising construction costs, but experts disagree.
Regulation
Bikini Baristas Win Lawsuit Over Unconstitutional Dress Code
Plus: Fiona Apple fights for court transparency, ACLU asks SCOTUS to consider boycott ban, and more...
Napa Valley Winery Sues Napa County Over Arcane Environmental Rules
Hundred Acre's lawsuit alleges heavy-handed and extralegal enforcement by county environmental regulators.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Why the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Funding Structure Is Unconstitutional
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is right to notice that the CFPB is unique even among federal agencies that don't get their funding from Congress.
The U.K. Competition Authority 'Wins,' but Consumers Lose
U.K. regulators shut down Meta/GIPHY deal in favor of their own “approved buyer.”
Netflix Teams Up With the Obamas To Produce Big Government Propaganda
The G Word, a new documentary, only occasionally covers serious issues. But it opts not to do honest reporting.
Open Virginia's Whiskey Market
Freeing up Virginia’s liquor market is more worthwhile than just busting its whiskey black market.
How Federal Energy Regulations Make Dishwashers Worse
The Trump administration briefly liberalized dishwasher standards, but the Biden administration quickly reimposed the old rules.
Blame the Government for the Adderall Shortage
Limiting the supply of a controlled substance does not remove demand. Users simply look elsewhere, including more unsavory sources.
Divided Government Is Good. In 2023, Bipartisanship Would Be Better.
From immigration to drug reform, there is plenty of potential for productive compromise.
Biden Chips Away at Trump's Deregulatory Legacy With New Gig Worker Rule
The administration's draft regulations expand and complicate who the federal government considers an "employee."
Gavin Newsom Vetoed California Crypto Regulations—and Invited Even Worse Federal Intervention
Any new rules for the crypto market should protect entrepreneurs and investors from overzealous intervention, not subject them to it.
New Jersey Brewery Sues State Over Outrageous Restrictions
The restrictions are clearly intended to crush breweries in order to protect restaurants.
California's Housing Crisis Hasn't Spared the State's College Students
A new law would make it harder for NIMBY neighbors to obstruct new dorms with bogus environmental complaints.
Zoning Laws Make Child Care Unaffordable in Utah
Child care centers should have the same development flexibility as charter schools.
Subreddit Gets Users To Call Texas Gov. Greg Abbott a 'Little Piss Baby' To Defy Content Moderation Law
Reddit users are protesting Texas' H.B. 20, which forces social media platforms to host speech they find objectionable.
D.C.'s Preschool Teacher Education Requirement Won't Help Working Families
Even if credentialed teachers help kids learn more, it’s not worth making D.C. day cares prohibitively expensive and pushing experienced teachers out of jobs.
Coloradans Might Fix Their Arcane Booze Rules
On the ballot in November, Coloradans can choose to have more alcohol in grocery stores and available for delivery.
L.A. Times Investigates California's Marijuana Legalization Disaster
An emphasis on corruption and enforcement downplays the very real influence of regulation and taxes on California's booming black market.
Study: New York City Apartments Being 'Defunded' by High Inflation, Rent Caps
A new report from The Community Housing Improvement Program argues that allowable rent hikes in rent-stabilized buildings cover less than half the increase in operating costs.
As California Embraces Development, San Francisco Mayor Vetoes Fake Housing Reform Bill
The proposed policy was offensive to property rights and disincentivized construction. The mayor's rejection of it shows the state's increasing interest in allowing more building.
The Federal Trade Commission vs. the Internet
Data collection is not the same as surveillance.
Community Fridges Are Facing Vandalism and Regulatory Challenges
The community fridge is a civic model that regulators should encourage, not seek to shut down.
Everyone Wants To Ban Certain Content Online. No One Wants To Talk Enforcement.
Proposed internet bans open a can of worms about how to punish those involved in creating and consuming controversial content.
What Would It Take for the Democrats To Really Be the Party of Opportunity?
Government should not penalize investment, thwart competition, discourage innovation and work, or obstruct production.
English Tests Are Just an Excuse To Block Immigrants From Licensed Professions
Why should the government care if massage therapists can speak English?
The Biden Administration Finally Taps a Regulatory Czar
Noted environmental law scholar Richard Revesz will be nominated to head the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
California Bureaucrats Want to Take Over Your Local Fast Food Joint
Where have we heard before about government councils dictating terms to nominally private enterprise?
Christian Britschgi: Zoning Restrictions Worsen the Housing Crisis
Associate Editor Christian Britschgi breaks down how zoning restrictions distort the housing market.
New York Set to Hobble 'Legal' Cannabis with Taxes and Regulations
Empire State politicians will soon wonder why the marijuana black market still thrives.
New Survey Data Cast Further Doubt on the FDA's Opposition to Flavored E-Cigarettes
The "epidemic" of adolescent vaping seems to be fading fast, and vaping is replacing smoking among adults, a harm-reducing trend that regulators seem determined to discourage.
Tiny Homes for Las Vegas Homeless Demolished Over Code Violations
Plus: Trump sues over Mar-a-Lago raid, why people vote to "dismantle democracy," how Ireland ruined its rental market, and more...
Supreme Court Asked To Decide if Paid Diet Advice Is Protected by the First Amendment
A Florida woman has been threatened with fines for giving tips without the proper occupational licensing.
Federal Appeals Court Upholds College Degree Requirement for Child Care Staff
Plus: how voters respond to vague criticism, U.S. lawmakers still at war with TikTok, and more...
School Choice Faces a New Threat: Local Code Enforcers
Enemies of educational freedom are using inane regulations to target learning pods.
FDA Can't Stop Harassing Distillers Who Made Hand Sanitizer During the Pandemic
After 18 months of dealing with the FDA, some distillers are regretting making hand sanitizers at all.
The New Federal Gun Law Violates Our Civil Liberties
It is unlikely to stop mass shootings, but it will restrict Second Amendment rights and unjustly send people to prison.
Joe Manchin Strikes a Deal To Fix Antiquated Environmental Review Regulations. Will It Do Any Good?
The West Virginia senator proposes marginal reforms to a federal permitting process that policy wonks say needs a root-and-branch overhaul.
The Easy Way To Avoid Federal Income Tax: Move to Puerto Rico
Wherever markets are free, new wealth gets created. Then almost everyone wins.
Not Even the FDA Trusts the FDA To Regulate Food Safety
The FDA has effectively thrown up its hands over its most important food-related role.
Chuck Schumer Learned Nothing From the Failure of Pot Legalization in California
The Senate majority leader’s marijuana bill would pile on more taxes and regulations, despite years of complaints about the barriers they create.
Elizabeth Warren Wants To Stop Airline Mergers, Despite Evidence That They Lower Airfares
The senator urged the Department of Transportation on Monday to regulate airline consolidation and levy heavy fines for canceled flights.
Poll: Tech Regulation Should Focus on Privacy and Security—Not Breaking Up Big Tech Companies
Plus: Arizona prisons censor The Nation, Facebook's feed changes, and more...
My Baby Needed Special Formula From Europe. U.S. Trade Policy Made It Almost Unobtainable.
The FDA should not stand in the way of parents doing what’s best for their children.
D.C. Circuit Makes It More Difficult for New Administrations to Stop "Midnight" Rules
It may now require notice and comment to rescind final rules that were never published in the Federal Register.
Review: The FDA's Awful Labeling Regulations Made the Baby Formula Shortage Worse
Elaborate labeling requirements blocked the importation of direly needed European baby formula.
Chuck Schumer's Doomed Marijuana Monstrosity Is Not a Serious Attempt To Repeal Pot Prohibition
The Senate majority leader's 296-page bill would compound the barriers to successful legalization.
