James Pogue: What Ukraine Reveals About MAGA
Vanity Fair's James Pogue dives into the dissident right, his personal experiences with MAGA, and how Ukraine policy is unfolding.
Trump Administration
Jay Bhattacharya's Confirmation Hearing Proves the Lockdown Skeptics Won
Trump's nominee for NIH director once stirred major controversy for criticizing lockdowns, mask mandates, and school closures. Yesterday, Senate Democrats didn't even raise the issue.
Yes, Cutting Government Waste Is Important
Entitlements are a much bigger expense, but that doesn't mean the waste doesn't matter.
No, HHS Didn't Spend $8 Million 'Making Mice Transgender'
HHS, like all government programs, has plenty of silly and wasteful line items in its budget; there's no need to just make things up.
Weak Dollar
Plus: Columbia's Hamas apologists, Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, and more...
DC Circuit Allows Removal of Special Counsel Dellinger Pending Appeal
For now, President Trump has removed Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel.
Bagley and Bray on SCOTUS Denial of Stay in Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition
An exploration of some of the thorny issues that divided the Court.
The Bipartisan War on Elbridge Colby
Hawks from both major parties lashed out at the confirmation hearing for Trump’s nominee for top military strategist.
Contrary to What Trump Said, Even DOGE Does Not Claim To Have Identified 'Hundreds of Billions' in Fraud
The president's assertion is divorced from reality, and so are the "estimated savings" touted by Elon Musk.
Trump's (Un)strategic Crypto Reserve
If the government wants to encourage cryptocurrency innovation, "buying coins is actually a pretty lousy way of doing that," says one economist.
Trump Promised a Balanced Budget. Don't Believe It.
It's great to have presidents talking about the need for a balanced budget, but Republicans are backing a plan that will increase borrowing.
Trump's Trans Kid Story Doesn't Add Up
The president said a Florida school "secretly socially transitioned" a 13-year-old. Emails suggest otherwise.
SCOTUS Denies Trump Administration Application to Stay District Court Order Blocking Pause of USAID Payments; Certiorari Sure to Follow
A pre-opinion release order divides the justices 5-4, but this may not preview the split on the merits.
Dead People Aren't Bankrupting Us
Plus: Democrat disruptions, Columbia University scrutinized by the feds, and more...
The Best Part of Trump's Speech Was the List of Spending Cuts
If only they were as big as the list of new spending.
In Speech to Congress, Trump Promises More Tariff Madness
The tariffs Trump has already imposed on Canada, Mexico, and China will cost an estimated $142 billion this year—and he says more are on the way.
Education Department Clarifies Anti-DEI Guidance
The department insists its directive will not suppress First Amendment rights.
Trump Loves Tariffs. Fentanyl Is Just an Excuse.
If tariffs are a poor method of collecting revenue or strengthening trade, they're even less effective at stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
Tariffs Are In Effect. Expect Everything To Become More Expensive.
The Trump administration’s trade war leaves everyone worse off.
DOGE Goes Deep State
A smaller government with a more powerful set of unaccountable executive officials is unlikely to be much of a win for liberty.
Trump Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine
Plus: Tariffs go into effect, inside the fact-checker industrial complex, and more...
Trump Tests the Limits of Executive Orders
Making policy and passing laws is supposed to be difficult and should be left to the messy channels established by the Constitution.
Trump vs. Zelenskyy: Democracy Dies in Drama?
Plus: A listener asks the editors how to best determine whether Trump’s second term is good or bad for individual freedom.
U.K. Pledges To Support Ukraine After Trump Snubs Zelenskyy
One bright spot from Trump's shameful behavior in the Oval Office would be if it spurs European nations to shoulder more of the burden of supporting Ukraine.
Ukraine Will Fight On, With or Without the West
As world leaders debate, Ukrainian defenders innovate, adapt, and wage defensive war on their own terms.
Say Thank You
Plus: Change in Russia policy, Matt Taibbi interview, Dems try gun shows, and more...
DOGE and Congress Should Look Hard at Reforming Social Security
Means-test Social Security, raise the retirement age, and let us invest our own money.
How Would Milton Friedman Do DOGE?
If the Department of Government Efficiency goes about this the wrong way, we could be left with both a presidency on steroids and no meaningful reduction in government.
The Case Against Ross Ulbricht Was About Government Power
President Donald Trump's pardon of the Silk Road creator is a rare moment of reprieve in an era of relentless government expansion.
What the Supreme Court Said about Dellinger v. Bessent in Seila Law v. CFPB
A district court judge has concluded that President Trump cannot remove the head of the Office of Special Counsel without cause. Supreme Court review is inevitable.
Trump's Dramatic Crossroads Between Protectionism and Dynamism
The GOP faces a choice about how to move forward.
So Much For RFK, Jr.'s Promise of 'Radical Transparency' at HHS
RFK, Jr.'s Health and Human Service has inexplicably cancelled two vaccine-related advisory meetings since he took the helm of the agency.
Divided Fourth Circuit Denies Partial Stay of Preliminary Injunction Against Executive Order Curtailing Birthright Citizenship
If nationwide injunctions were okay against other administrations, the Fourth Circuit see no reason they are not okay now.
Tariffs on Imports From Canada and Mexico Are Still a Terrible Idea
And an increasingly unpopular one. Will Trump pay attention to the polls, if not the economists?
Trump Admin Argues DOGE Is Exempt From Records Requests in FOIA Lawsuit
Elon Musk promised "maximum transparency," but that apparently doesn't include Freedom of Information requests to DOGE.
The Sad Quest for a Secret 'Epstein Client List'
The Trump administration’s spectacle rehashed information that journalists, lawyers, and victims had already unveiled.
NATO Could Effectively Die This June
Trump's negotiations and German elections may augur the end of collective security as we've known it.
Matt Taibbi: The Collapse of the Censorship Regime
The award-winning journalist discusses the collapse of a post–World War II consensus, online speech police, and the legacy media on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
Trump Promised To Lower Prices. Will Congress Help Him Deliver?
At the current rate of inflation, the dollar will lose 33 cents of purchasing power within a decade.
WaPo Embraces Free Minds and Free Markets
"I'm confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America," wrote Bezos.
Ukraine Minerals Deal Won't Fix America's Mineral Problem
“We’ve basically made an agreement with very little data,” warned one expert.
District Judge Blocks Trump's Refugee Resettlement Pause, Saying It 'Crossed the Line'
“I cannot ignore Congress’ detailed framework for refugee admissions and the limits it placed on the president’s ability to suspend the same,” said Judge Jamal Whitehead.
Trump Gaza Is Finally Here
Plus: The House spending bill passes, Elon Musk's intelligence, Aella in The Atlantic, and more...
Will Absorbing the ATF Into the FBI Rein in Each Agency's Abuses?
The ATF, charged with regulating firearms, has a history of abuse and incompetence.
The FTC Has No Business Trying To Make Sure Social Media Are 'Fair'
Chairman Andrew Ferguson’s assault on "Big Tech censorship" aims to override editorial decisions protected by the First Amendment.
