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Cato Daily Podcast

The Cato Daily Podcast allows Cato Institute scholars and other commenters to discuss relevant news and libertarian thought in a conversational, informal manner. Hosted by Caleb O. Brown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes

September 14, 2024 2:00am
Oprah Joins the AI Conversation
In evaluating the potential outcomes of the expansion of AI, the natural tendency to downplay the benefits and highlight the risks. Oprah Winfrey recently jumped into the conversation. Jennifer Huddleston comments.


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September 13, 2024 2:11pm
Does Fighting Corporate ESG Mean Ending Private Environmental Efforts?
Protecting our earthly environment is a worthy task, so why do many conservatives seem to believe that the private sector should have a severely limited role? Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center offers his take.


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September 13, 2024 11:03am
Future MDMA Treatment Following FDA's Rejection
The FDA's rejection of MDMA as a treatment may well be a short-term setback for legally helping people with PTSD and other disorders. Mason Marks of Harvard Law School’s Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy offers his assessment.


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September 11, 2024 1:42pm
How Is Free Speech Doing at American Colleges?
After months of protest, counterprotest, and administrative overreaction over the last school year, the protection of free speech on college campuses seems less certain than ever. Angela Erickson of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression discusses their new College Free Speech Rankings.


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September 10, 2024 1:40pm
The Islamic Moses: How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World
In The Islamic Moses, Mustafa Akyol provides a theological and historical exploration of the connection between Islam and Judaism through the single most-mentioned character in the Quran.


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September 06, 2024 11:50am
Freedom Conservatives in 2024
What will/should conservatism look like after this election year? John Hood of the John William Pope Foundation comments.


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September 06, 2024 8:16am
Economic Growth Is (Still) Underappreciated
The "degrowth" movement has many adherents, so it's worth emphasizing the manifold benefits of economic growth to the lives of humans across the globe. Justin Callais of the Archbridge Institute explains.


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September 05, 2024 8:20am
X (and More) Banned in Brazil
What appears to have started as a judge's request to have critical content removed from X (Twitter) has escalated into the country's highest court banning the service altogether. Cato’s David Inserra discusses how the US should respond.


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September 02, 2024 11:00pm
Hard Data on States That Impose Big Regulatory Burdens
Getting a handle on the state-level regulatory burdens can identify inexpensive ways for states to step away from useless intervention. Patrick McLaughlin of the Mercatus Center details a new index aimed at that task.


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September 01, 2024 11:00pm
Illegal Public Sector Electioneering against School Choice?
Fights over whether states should give parents a broader range of education options don't get much more pointed than public school officials leveraging state resources to advocate against public questions. Jacob Huebert of the Liberty Justice Center details two current cases of that kind of electioneering.


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August 29, 2024 11:00pm
Prescribing Psychologists and Access to Care
What should we expect from the state-level advance of prescribing psychologists, non-physicians who are able to prescribe certain medications? Jeff Singer says their potential for helping patients is strong.


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August 29, 2024 2:00am
Harris's Price-Control Free Plan to Control Grocery Store Prices
It's still just a wisp of an idea, but Kamala Harris's plan to ban so-called "corporate price gouging" assumes a lot (wrongly) about how grocery stores operate. Scott Lincicome offers his thoughts.


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August 27, 2024 11:00pm
Parental Empowerment in Education Works for West Virginia
Parents in West Virginia have new education options thanks to the Hope Scholarship. It's also dramatically expanded education entrepreneurship in the state. Jessi Troyan of the Cardinal Institute explains what it means for other efforts to broaden the range of choices available to families.


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August 27, 2024 2:10pm
The Parallel Handouts from Trump and Harris Campaigns
A large child tax credit is among a handful of remarkably similar campaign pledges from the campaigns of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Vanessa Brown Calder offers some analysis.


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August 26, 2024 2:44pm
Police and Prosecutor Misconduct Protections and A Possible Path Forward
At Cato University earlier this month, journalist Radley Balko discussed a range of ways that public sector officials, particularly police and prosecutors, are largely able to escape accountability for misconduct. He offers at least one way to evaluate certain incidents to prevent tragic outcomes for Americans going forward.


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August 24, 2024 2:00am
Federal Reserve Commitment to a Rule and Credible Monetary Policy
The Federal Reserve, when committed to a policy rule, could enhance its own institutional credibility while giving Congress a means to hold the central bank more accountable. Jai Kedia explains.


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August 23, 2024 3:17pm
Threats to Free Speech (Still) Abound
From Tim Walz misunderstanding what the First Amendment protects to European regulators trying to squelch speech on American platforms, the threats to free speech are numerous. David Inserra comments.


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August 22, 2024 3:09pm
Ukraine's Moves in Russia Should Mean More Cautious US Policy
The US ought to take a step back from the war in Ukraine. Doug Bandow explains why.


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August 16, 2024 9:28am
Candidates Should Stop Pushing Special Tax Carveouts
Presidential candidates Harris and Trump both seem amenable to special tax benefits for their favored groups of voters, be they tipped workers or recipients of Social Security benefits. Is that good tax policy? Adam Michel explains.


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August 14, 2024 4:38pm
Does Expanding Educational Freedom Hammer State Budgets?
Giving parents a wider variety of choices for their own kids means disrupting existing institutional power. But does enhancing parental choice in education "blow a hole" in state budgets? Cato’s Neal McCluskey evaluates the case of Arizona.


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August 13, 2024 3:47pm
Americans Seem Fine with Protectionism as Long as It's Costless
New polling from the Cato Institute asks Americans to weigh their preferences for Buy American policies against the very real likelihood that protectionism will hit them in their pocketbooks. Scott Lincicome and Emily Ekins detail the results.


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August 12, 2024 3:19pm
Google and What Makes a Monopoly
What makes a monopoly depends on who you ask and what’s being monopolized. In the case of Google, it's a narrow focus on one element of its business: search. Jennifer Huddleston details how a court concluded that Google, despite its many competitors, is still a search monopolist.


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August 08, 2024 4:15pm
Is 2024 a Crypto Election?
How have candidates navigated the thorny politics of cryptocurrency? Nicholas Anthony discusses how crypto crept into the 2024 election.


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August 07, 2024 2:45pm
Prospects for Immigration Reform amid Declining Public Support
Public support for fostering robust legal immigration has taken a dramatic negative turn. What's likely under a Trump or Harris administration on immigration? David Bier comments.


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August 06, 2024 11:58am
Candidates Harris and Trump on Tech Policy
Does a former U.S. Senator from the Bay Area have more than the usual sympathy for tech firms fearing the heavy hand of federal regulators? Cato's Jennifer Huddleston evaluates candidates Trump and Harris on tech policy and regulation.


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August 05, 2024 4:06pm
State of Emergency: An Economic Analysis
Many states declared states of emergency during the recent pandemic, and those declarations conferred fresh powers to the executive branch. What do those powers do in terms of saving lives? Christian Bjørnskov is coauthor of State of Emergency: An Economic Analysis.


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August 02, 2024 1:24pm
Project 2025, the GOP, and Trump on Education
Project 2025 has effectively become an epithet for many Democrats. The project was aimed at providing the next administration with a roadmap for reform in a wide variety of areas, some more controversial than others. Neal McCluskey offers a couple cheers aimed at the education portion of the document.


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August 01, 2024 2:29pm
Helping Parents Navigate the New School Choice Landscape
When parents have choices to make in education, it's an opportunity for parents to engage with what schools are offering. Colleen Hroncich and Jamie Buckland detail how states should proceed with helping those parents navigate the new landscape.


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July 30, 2024 10:09am
The Housing Crisis and Looming Federal Intervention
Large increases in home prices mean both home appreciation and closing off housing options for would-be buyers. Housing researcher Nolan Gray discusses a range of federal options for removing some state and local regulatory barriers to new housing.


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July 29, 2024 4:45pm
Trump and Harris Aren’t Free Traders
Neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris will make a full-throated defense of the freedom to trade, and both would use trade restrictions to score points or compel Americans' behavior. Scott Lincicome discusses their policy preferences.


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July 26, 2024 3:29pm
Past and Present Efforts to Obscure Presidential Health Problems
It is no small matter to attempt to hide a physical or mental infirmity in the President of the United States. The ramifications could be severe. Walter Olson discusses considerations in any attempt to insert some transparency into what the public and Congress should know about the chief executive’s wellbeing.


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July 25, 2024 3:12pm
Trump and Harris on Energy Policy
Cato's Travis Fisher walks us through the record and pronouncements of candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on critical energy issues.


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July 24, 2024 10:07am
Joe Biden's Departure and the Unserious Challenges to State Electoral Deadlines
Republicans seem so concerned about Joe Biden's departure from the presidential race that some groups have threatened litigation over any Biden replacement on Americans' ballots. Walter Olson comments.


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July 23, 2024 1:44pm
Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth
Why have five or more children? Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth by Catherine Pakaluk details the stories and reasoning of dozens of women who have gone well beyond replacement-level fertility.


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July 22, 2024 4:50pm
J.D. Vance on Immigration
Donald Trump's running mate this time around is a consistent opponent of immigration and doesn't draw the typical – and reasonable - distinctions between legal and illegal immigrants. David Bier comments.


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July 19, 2024 11:00pm
Free Trade in the Name of National Security
Protectionism is frequently justified on national security grounds, but there are strong reasons to liberalize trade in the name of American security, as well. Colin Grabow explains.


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July 19, 2024 12:03pm
The Ever-Expanding Definition of 'Public Health'
The One Weird Trick of public health advocacy seems to be to define as much as possible as a public health concern to justify massive intervention into the lives of Americans. Jeff Singer explains.


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July 18, 2024 12:43pm
Two Problems That Vanish with the End of Cannabis Prohibition
Most Americans have access to either medical or recreational cannabis, but prohibition at the federal level persists, and that prohibition keeps in place at least two big problems. Paul Best explains.


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July 17, 2024 8:20pm
Regulating AI and Free Expression
David Inserra says looming regulation of artificial intelligence has huge implications for the future of free expression.


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July 16, 2024 5:29pm
Social Security Still Poses Massive Fiscal Risks
The fiscal picture for the federal government is increasingly dire. Social Security’s worsening finances figure prominently in that story. Cato's Romina Boccia and Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute tell the tale.


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July 15, 2024 4:34pm
What about the Feds’ Junk Fees?
The federal government has its own problematic junk fees, according to Cato's Nick Anthony.


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July 13, 2024 2:00am
More Thoughts on Trump v. United States
It's hard to get a handle on the breadth of protections handed to current and future presidents in Trump v. United States. Cato's Walter Olson says much of the immunity from prosecution handed to these heads of state is wholly invented by SCOTUS.


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July 11, 2024 9:10am
The NetChoice Cases Deliver Win for Freedom of Speech
State laws seeking to compel social media companies to allow certain content or people on their platforms failed to pass muster at the Supreme Court. Jennifer Huddleston evaluates what's next.


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July 10, 2024 1:52pm
'Jawboning' and Murthy v. Missouri
In Murthy v. Missouri, the Supreme Court clarified the evidence that would be required to prove government coercion with respect to online speech platforms. Cato's Walter Olson and Brent Skorup discuss the case.


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July 08, 2024 2:41pm
Adjudicating Federal Agency Claims after Jarkesy
The Supreme Court's Jarkesy decision will mean more cases brought federal agencies will end up in court instead of the court-like rooms inside the agencies themselves. Will Yeatman of the Pacific Legal Foundation and Cato’s Jennifer Schulp explain the importance of the change.


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July 05, 2024 2:01pm
Initial Thoughts on Trump v. United States
The Supreme Court's decision giving absolute immunity to the President of the United States from prosecution for certain actions raises as many questions as it answers. Cato’s Clark Neily offers some initial thoughts.


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July 04, 2024 2:00am
America's Birth Certificate in Context
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in human history. Cato's Roger Pilon details the philosophical underpinning of America's Birth Certificate.


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July 03, 2024 2:00am
Examining the Evidence on Immigrant Crime
Texas collects data on the immigration status of those accused of crimes in the state. What it tells us about the crime rates of immigrants versus native-born Americans is valuable. Alex Nowrasteh explains.


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July 02, 2024 5:24pm
Supreme Court Ends Chevron Deference
Courts will no longer defer to federal agencies when it comes to interpreting certain statutes. Tommy Berry explains the Supreme Court's opinion that ended so-called Chevron deference.


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July 01, 2024 2:40am
A Tiny Silver Lining for Liberty in the NDAA
One galling and unAmerican provision typical of recent National Defense Authorization Acts may finally be on the way out. Patrick Eddington details how it happened.


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June 29, 2024 2:00am
Streetcars Won't Solve Any of Your City's Problems
Streetcars are great for politicians' ribbon cutting events, but not much else. Marc Joffe explains.


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June 28, 2024 5:42pm
Considering Options as Presidential Age Takes Center Stage
After President Joe Biden appeared distracted in last night’s debate with Donald Trump, some lawmakers are now discussing the 25th Amendment's provisions to remove a mentally unfit chief executive. And how would a political party replace a candidate after the selection process in states has largely concluded? Gene Healy and John Samples explain.


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June 27, 2024 11:00pm
The Future of Military Conscription?
Some members of Congress want to make it easier to draft both men and women into wartime military service. Doug Bandow explains why that's a terrible idea at odds with liberty in America.


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June 27, 2024 1:10pm
The Second Amendment and United States v. Rahimi
Big changes may be ahead for legal gun ownership in the United States. Clark Neily explains the potential implications following the Supreme Court's Rahimi decision.


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June 26, 2024 3:28pm
Police Lies, Malicious Prosecution, and Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon, Ohio
When police use underhanded tactics to wrongly charge you with a crime, should they get a free pass if they bring along some legitimate charges, as well? The Supreme Court says "no." Tommy Berry explains the case of Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon, Ohio.


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June 25, 2024 3:00am
Federal Taxes on Unrealized Income and Moore v. United States
The Supreme Court hasn't closed the door entirely on taxes on unrealized income, but the door isn't exactly open. Thomas A. Berry explains the court's decision in Moore v. United States.

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June 24, 2024 4:40pm
Intuit Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission
For many Americans, it is jarring to find themselves subject to severe financial, reputational, and professional penalties in adjudications very different from a courtroom. Brent Skorup explains.

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June 19, 2024 2:00am
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America
The CFPB has long been controversial. Its unique structure makes it powerful in ways other agencies are not. Jennifer Schulp and Tommy Berry detail the recent Supreme Court holding that the agency's funding doesn't violate the Appropriations Clause.


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June 18, 2024 2:35pm
Digital Currency or Digital Control?: Decoding CBDC and the Future of Money
Arguments on behalf of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) don't stand up to scrutiny. Nicholas Anthony runs down and interrogates the arguments in his new book, Digital Currency or Digital Control?: Decoding CBDC and the Future of Money.


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June 17, 2024 8:47am
How to Achieve the Lowest Tax Rates in A Century
Between the needless complications of the tax code and various special-interest giveaways in it, overall tax rates are higher than they could be otherwise. Adam Michel explains in a new paper what would be required for Congress to lower overall rates.


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June 14, 2024 2:36pm
Biden Executive Order Makes Life Harder for Asylum Seekers
A new executive order from President Joe Biden will make seeking asylum in The Land of the Free that much more difficult. David Bier explains.


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June 13, 2024 4:41pm
Guns, Dope, Hunter Biden, and Constitutional Rights
The conviction of the President's son, Hunter Biden, on charges relating to lying about drugs to get a gun makes for an interesting case for those who care about Second Amendment rights and ending the War on Drugs. Clark Neily comments on the case, appeals, and the broader justice system.


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June 12, 2024 3:54pm
David Boaz: The Libertarian Exponent

David Boaz was an intellectual leader of the Cato Institute for four decades and a libertarian thinker of the first order. In addition to his speeches, books, and clear-headed communication of libertarian ideas in the public sphere, David was a friend and mentor. David passed away on June 7, 2024. Aaron Ross Powell, founding director of Libertarianism.org, and Cato Senior Fellow Tom G. Palmer discuss the work and legacy of David Boaz.

Related:
The Libertarian Mind by David Boaz
The Libertarian Reader edited by David Boaz
“David Boaz: Liberty’s North Star” by Aaron Ross Powell

June 07, 2024 3:20pm
David Boaz: "Now, It’s Your Turn"

David Boaz, longtime executive vice president of the Cato Institute, has passed away at the age of 70. His contributions to the advance of libertarian ideas in the public sphere are hard to overestimate. These are his remarks at the Students for Liberty LibertyCon in February.


David Boaz Memorial Page


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June 06, 2024 1:19pm
Congress Should Stop Hindering Private Saving
Following his related testimony on Capitol Hill, Cato's Adam Michel details why Congress should move toward ending a wide variety of penalties aimed squarely at Americans who save.


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June 05, 2024 8:43am
Don't Freeze Technological Advancement to Stem AI
Slowing or freezing technological advancement could be devastating for the many benefits that artificial intelligence can bring to a wide variety of problems we face. Jack Solowey and Jennifer Huddleston explain what's at stake.


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June 04, 2024 3:39pm
Clawing Back Emergency Executive Authorities
Presidents of both parties have been handed – decade over decade – a growing list of powers to be only unlocked in the event of an emergency, but those powers rarely get reviewed on a consistent basis. What's a better path for handing over and taking back emergency power? Satya Thallam of Americans for Responsible Innovation comments.


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June 01, 2024 2:00am
Social Movements and Profit Opportunities
Serving the underserved is a well-established path to profits for entrepreneurs and acceptance for minority populations. Economist Nathan Goodman explains.


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May 31, 2024 1:22pm
Donald Trump Convicted
Former President Donald Trump has been convicted on felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal crimes. Cato's Clark Neily discusses the trial in the context of how criminal prosecutions work generally.


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May 31, 2024 12:31pm
What Impedes Social Mobility?
Social mobility means helping people improve their prospects for creating and building long-term wealth. What stands in the way? The Archbridge Institute's Gonzalo Schwarz discusses what he's learned.


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May 29, 2024 1:27pm
Assessing the Intelligence Risks of Chinese-Made Drones
Should Congress take steps to ban certain foreign-made drones that, despite being owned and used by Americans in a wide variety of helpful ways, could be sending sensitive data to antagonistic foreign governments? Will Duffield discusses the state of play.


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May 28, 2024 2:57pm
Trump, RFK Jr., and the Libertarian Party

Two notably illiberal politicians headlined at the Libertarian Party's convention over the weekend. What does it reveal about the brand of libertarianism advanced by the LP? Aaron Steelman and Andy Craig comment.

Related: “Trump is hardly libertarian. But neither is today’s Libertarian Party.” By Peter Goettler, The Washington Post, May 23, 2024


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May 27, 2024 2:00am
New Leadership in Taiwan as China Threat Looms
Will a new president in Taiwan mean a greater focus on defending against a potential Chinese attack? Eric Gomez comments.


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May 25, 2024 2:00am
How the ‘Open Fields Doctrine’ Nullifies the Fourth Amendment
How much US land receives Fourth Amendment protections under the so-called "Open Fields Doctrine"? Authors Joshua Windham and David Warren explore that issue in a new article in Regulation Magazine.


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May 24, 2024 11:10am
Marking a Century of Broken Immigration Policy
Should the government prove you shouldn't be allowed to immigrate, or should individuals have to prove that they should be allowed to immigrate? A century ago today, immigration policy shifted from the former to the latter. David Bier explains how the change has implicated Americans’ rights.


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May 24, 2024 7:33am
The Fatal Fallacy for Fans of CBDCs
The notion that there can ever be a "level playing field" between decentralized, private cryptocurrencies and state-issued ones is entirely wrong. Nick Anthony explains.


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May 22, 2024 1:04pm
John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill, and The Subjection of Women
The contours of freedom advanced in The Subjection of Women apply to us all. The influence of his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, in the work’s final form is hard to miss. That is in part why the essay remains a favorite of Libertarianism.org's Grant Babcock.


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May 21, 2024 1:44pm
A Guide to Content Moderation for Policymakers
Humility is a good starting point for lawmakers seeing to understand content moderation. David Inserra offers a helpful guide to policymakers.


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May 20, 2024 10:08am
J.S. Mill, On Liberty, and How Liberals Think
Paul Meany of Libertarianism.org walks us through the importance of John Stuart Mill through his powerful treatise On Liberty.


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May 18, 2024 2:00am
Congress Should Make No Law Setting Speech Rules for Universities
In the wake of protests at many universities over the Israeli war in Gaza, what's the role for Congress to regulate? Unsurprisingly, it's not much. Cato's Neal McCluskey and Nico Perrino of FIRE comment.


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May 17, 2024 12:26pm
Confront Errors in "Pandemic Inflation"
In David Beckworth's essay in The War on Prices, he explains what must be true for narratives of a pandemic-driven inflation to be true.


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May 16, 2024 9:44am
The Wage Gap and The War on Prices
The US wage gap between men and women consistently drives calls for deep federal intervention into the labor market in the name of preventing discrimination. Analyzing that gap more critically reveals far less clarity about its causes and potential solutions. Vanessa Brown Calder explains in her essay in the new book, The War on Prices.


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May 15, 2024 10:46am
Rent Control: Another Bad Idea That Never Dies
Rent control doesn't make housing more affordable. It makes affordable housing less available. Jeff Miron explains in his essay in the new book, The War on Prices.


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May 13, 2024 11:00pm
The Pink Tax and The War on Prices
Are the prices men and women pay for similar products evidence of discrimination that calls for a heavy-handed government response? Ryan Bourne is editor of the new Cato book, The War on Prices.


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May 13, 2024 2:32pm
The Punishing Effects of Credit Card Interest Caps
For the marginally creditworthy, mandatory interest rate caps on credit cards would end access to a convenient form of credit. Nick Anthony discusses his essay in Cato's new book, The War on Prices.


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May 10, 2024 2:00am
What Should We Learn from New Data on Price Gouging Laws?
It's not exactly a silver lining, but data from the pandemic has some lessons in it about the effectiveness of price gouging laws. Gavin Roberts, an economist at Weber State University, discusses his findings.


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May 09, 2024 2:00am
Will AI Power a Better Future for Local Journalism?
As smaller local newspapers continue to shrink, what's the potential for AI to help deliver local news to happy customers? Paul Matzko makes his hopeful case to foster a better-informed public.


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May 08, 2024 2:00am
Exploring Tensions among the US, China, and Europe
European leaders think very differently than US officials about China, both as a rising economic power and a military threat. Doug Bandow discusses why.


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May 07, 2024 1:59pm
Discrimination and Identity Politics Have No Place in Medical Education
Ideological commitments shouldn't harm your ability to receive medical treatment. Erec Smith and Jeff Singer discuss a troubling evolution in how medical education is delivered in the US.


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May 06, 2024 2:03pm
Trump and Biden Aren't Free Traders, so What's the Difference?
There aren't big, glaring differences between Trump and Biden on giving Americans maximum freedom to trade across the globe, but the style of the candidates' protectionism differs somewhat. Scott Lincicome explains.


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May 03, 2024 3:22pm
Medicare Can't and Won't Go on Like This
Medicare represents a massive fraction of the federal budget, and its spending is effectively on autopilot. That needs to change sooner than later. Paragon Health Institute chief Brian Blase and Cato's Michael Cannon comment.


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May 02, 2024 1:43pm
Will Your Financial Advisor Soon Have to Snitch on You?
New regulations under consideration would hold financial advisors accountable to elements of the Bank Secrecy Act, which currently compels banks to turn over certain financial data to the feds. How would that change your relationship with that advisor? Jennifer Schulp comments.


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May 01, 2024 1:38pm
Descheduling is Preferable to Rescheduling Cannabis
The DEA is likely to change its federal designation for cannabis in the coming months. It's a good sign for research and for the ability of Americans to receive medical treatments involving the plant, but descheduling and ending federal prohibition is still a worthy goal. Jeff Singer explains.


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April 30, 2024 3:12pm
Feds Beat the Drum for Early Childhood Education Spending
How productive is federal spending to advance early childhood education? Following her testimony on Capitol Hill, Cato's Colleen Hroncich says there are several problems with the assumptions about its benefits.


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April 29, 2024 3:12pm
Upsides and Risks of Increasing State Capacity
What does the case of Peru have to teach us about state capacity to foster (or hamper) human flourishing? Edwar Escalante of Angelo State University discusses the upsides and downsides of increasing state capacity.


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April 27, 2024 2:00am
Biden Continues Transferring Student Debt to Taxpayers
The Heroes Act was insufficient authority for the President to cancel massive amounts of student debt. The Biden White House has instead been moving to cancel (transfer) smaller amounts of student debt using different executive authority. Neal McCluskey explains the issues.


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April 26, 2024 1:39pm
How Much Immunity from Future Prosecution Is Due to Former Presidents?
Former President Trump's lawyers argued before the US Supreme Court that the President ought to be broadly immune against misdeeds committed in office, even many that are clearly criminal. The Supreme Court is now weighing where to draw the lines both for this former President and future former Presidents. Clark Neily discusses the oral argument at the high court.


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April 25, 2024 9:07am
Reputation, Dynamism, and Strangers with Candy
Economics is everywhere, and its implications are subtle and beautiful. The essays in Art Carden's book, Strangers with Candy, uses both economic and biblical insight to show how welcoming strangers can make us both better and wealthier people.


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April 24, 2024 3:16pm
Congressional Fans of Warrantless Surveillance on Americans Win Another Round
There was a point when Cato's Patrick Eddington believed warrantless snooping on Americans might be on the wane. He was very wrong. Congress instead voted to continue unconstitutional surveillance of Americans for at least two more years.


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April 23, 2024 2:00am
North Carolina Made Big Promises to VinFast and Locals Are Paying the Price
North Carolina's pursuit of VinFast to make electric vehicles in the state has placed dozens of homeowners in a difficult spot. Paul Best explains how economic development ran headlong into homeowners' property rights.


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April 22, 2024 10:52am
Wielding Federal Power with Accountability to Congress
There are two avenues to fixing a big issue with federal appointments, that of individuals not confirmed by Congress nonetheless wielding significant federal power. Tommy Berry explains the problem and the solutions.


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April 19, 2024 3:16pm
Housing Wealth and Generational Wealth

Housing plays a large role in growing wealth for Americans, but it remains an area where economist Jeremy Horpedahl is pessimistic for the near term.





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April 18, 2024 2:09pm
Reduce Deficits Now to Avoid Fiscal Crisis
Federal budget deficits are projected to remain alarmingly high for many years to come, but as Cato's Ryan Bourne notes, things that can't go on ... don't. His new paper on debt, spending, and fiscal crisis is available today.


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April 17, 2024 1:55pm
Tariffs Are Taxes, but Who Pays the Tax?
When countries impose tariffs, that begins a chain reaction that frequently doesn't end in the outcomes preferred by tariff advocates. Erica York of the Tax Foundation separates fact from fiction on tariffs.


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April 16, 2024 3:58pm
Bitcoin Mining and the Price of Energy
Bitcoin miners are under the microscope for what some call "parasitic" consumption of energy, but is distaste for some consumers of electricy enough to make it harder for them to buy it? Cato's Nick Anthony and Travis Fisher explain the implications.


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April 15, 2024 10:01am
Income Taxes Are Scheduled to Go Up in 2026
Income taxes are on pace to increase on virtually all Americans in 2026. Cato's Adam Michel has some reforms in mind.


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April 13, 2024 2:00am
What Has the US Promised to Taiwan?
It's been 45 years since the US made certain promises to Taiwan in the form of the Taiwan Relations Act, so what exactly has the US committed to provide? Eric Gomez discusses the strategic ambiguity of those American promises.


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April 12, 2024 2:59pm
Measuring the Relationships between Human Freedom and Prosperity
Human freedom and prosperity go together, but what does that look like specifically? Cato adjunct John Early explains.


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April 10, 2024 3:42pm
Inflated Revenue Claims in Pursuit of a Wealth Tax
Would a tax on unrealized income produce big dividends for Americans? Economic historian Phil Magness says the predicted revenues wouldn't materialize.


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April 09, 2024 2:38pm
Reevaluating the US/​Israel Relationship
The US continues to provide Israel with roughly $3.8 billion annually in addition to other arms deals and security benefits. What exactly the United States gets in return for this relationship remains unclear. Jon Hoffman explains.

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April 08, 2024 12:01pm
A Reform Agenda for the Securities and Exchange Commission
There are several ways the Securities and Exchange Commission could be reformed to make the agency more welcoming to regulatory comments, align its actions with statutory authority, and follow proper administrative procedures. Jennifer Schulp explains.


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April 06, 2024 2:00am
Does the Great Realignment Make More Room for Libertarian Ideas?
Amid the shifting ideological commitments among the voting public, how welcoming will voters be toward more liberty-friendly ideas? Stephanie Slade of Reason comments.


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April 05, 2024 3:17pm
Ensuring Election Speed, Efficiency, and Security
Separating credible election reforms from those borne of conspiracy theories is a valuable task, especially when some current proposed reforms threaten to make elections slower, less efficient, and less secure. Walter Olson provides details.


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April 03, 2024 2:09pm
The High Cost of Mandatory Parking
If markets demand parking, it will largely be provided. In so many cases, however, it's governments setting the rules for how much parking must be provided for new housing or commercial ventures. Requiring all that parking raises costs and make lots of unique development unaffordable. Author M. Nolan Gray explains why markets are generally far better at setting the right mix.


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April 02, 2024 4:25pm
There Is No Such Thing as a Wage-Price Spiral
The wage-price spiral is a popular explanation for why a temporary inflation might persist or even accelerate. Economist Bryan Cutsinger says the wage-price spiral narrative is unsupported by the empirical evidence.


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April 01, 2024 10:05am
The Nuclear Ratchet: Crisis, Leviathan, and Atomic Weapons
The growth in the size and scope of government can be understood along multiple dimensions. Economist Abigail Hall has studied crisis and the growth of government in the context of nuclear proliferation.


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March 29, 2024 12:37pm
Replacing Federal Bureaucrats and the Trump Agenda
Trump-supporting organizations are hoping that making it easier to fire career bureaucrats will make achieving the presidential hopeful's agenda easier. Cato's Tom Firey has some bad news for that plan.


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March 27, 2024 11:00pm
Courts Should Affirm First Amendment Rights of Youths in the Digital Age
Fears around children’s and teenagers’ online safety are basically as old as the internet itself. That's no reason to abridge the rights of young people online. Jennifer Huddleston explains.


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March 27, 2024 2:00am
United States v. Apple
The Department of Justice accuses Apple of behaving like a monopoly. Patrick Hedger of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and Cato's Jennifer Huddleston discuss the merits of the case.


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March 26, 2024 2:42pm
Private School Enrollment in the Wake of COVID-19
The ability of private schools to better meet parent demand compared with public schools may help explain rising demand for private school education. Neal McCluskey explains.


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March 25, 2024 1:52pm
A Would-Be Home Distiller Fights Back in Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury
An engineer and brewer thought he would take up home distilling as a hobby, but he then learned it's a federal crime. In Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury, he's fighting back. The Buckeye Institute's Robert Alt explains.


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March 23, 2024 2:00am
The Canceling of the American Mind
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fine concepts, but DEI offices on college campuses appear to have fostered a problematic culture. Greg Lukianoff is coauthor of The Canceling of the American Mind.

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March 22, 2024 3:35pm
SCOTUS Tells Feds They Can't Wish Away Certain Cases
Yonas Fikre , a US citizen, challenged his placement on the federal No Fly List and the feds removed him from the list. Did that moot the case? The Supreme Court says "no." Tommy Berry and Patrick Eddington explain why.


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March 21, 2024 4:42pm
the China Dilemma?: Rethinking US-China Relations through Public Choice Theory
Ryan Yonk is coauthor of The China Dilemma?: Rethinking US-China Relations Through Public Choice Theory.


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March 20, 2024 3:22pm
The Fertility Gap and Economic Freedom
Women tend to prefer more children than they have. How much can expanding economic freedom shrink the gap? Economist Clara E. Piano details her research.


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March 19, 2024 2:07pm
Gaming War Games
War games are supposed to help train the military, expose weaknesses, and provide guidance on resource allocation. That last part can provide an incentive to game the war gaming system. Economist Garrett Wood comments.


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March 18, 2024 3:50pm
The President Proposes a Homeowner Handout
Subsidizing both the buying and selling of homes in a seller's market means most of the subsidy will be absorbed by sellers. Mark Calabria explains why the President's plan won't create much new housing and offers some better ways to help Americans secure affordable housing.


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March 14, 2024 4:32pm
Biden Seeks to Weaken Short-Term Health Plans
A proposal to limit short‐​term health plans is not an attempt to protect consumers. It is the opposite: an attempt to punish consumers who choose a perfectly legal and valid product that competes with the product the Departments favor. Michael Cannon explains.


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March 13, 2024 3:42pm
The SEC's Big New Climate Disclosure Rule
What benefit does the Securities and Exchange Commission's new climate disclosure rule offer investors? Jennifer Schulp offers a few ideas why the agency adopted the new disclosure mandate.


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March 12, 2024 4:14pm
Congress's Proposed Effective Ban on TikTok Advances
t's an immensely popular social media app, but if a proposed new law goes into effect, TikTok would face a nationwide ban in the U.S. if the app isn't divested from Beijing-based ByteDance. It raises questions for both the free speech rights of producers and users, and the property rights of company owners. Cato's Jennifer Huddleston and Paul Matzko comment.


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March 11, 2024 4:11pm
Why Do Puerto Rico's Potatoes Come from Canada? (It's the Jones Act)
The Jones Act's costs are especially high in Puerto Rico, where the 100-year-old shipping law affects everything from where food comes from to the mix of industries that Puerto Ricans might undertake. Economist Russell Hillberry explains.


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March 08, 2024 4:16pm
How Courts Grapple with "Reverse Warrants"
Courts have witnessed the rise of "reverse warrants." Brent Skorup discusses how courts so far have managed the process.


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March 07, 2024 3:40pm
Undivide Us
Many Americans believe that civil dialogue with their fellow Americans is virtually impossible. Kristina Kendall's new film, Undivide Us, addresses that notion directly and offers a hopeful way forward for productive conversation in a polarized age.


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March 06, 2024 3:25pm
Dozens of States Continue to Attack Donor Privacy
The privacy of donors who give to nonprofits deserves protection, and indeed the Supreme Court has protected that privacy on more than one occasion. Some states aren't getting the message. Matt Nese of People United for Privacy Foundation explains how.


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March 05, 2024 3:56pm
A Massive Federal Database Contains All of Your Trading Information”
Want to keep your trades private? Good luck. The Securities and Exchange Commission wants that data. Jennifer Schulp and Brent Skorup detail the warrantless collection of your private trading data.


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March 04, 2024 4:11pm
White House Strongly Supports Widely Abused Surveillance Authorities
There are new wrinkles in the struggle to renew federal surveillance authorities, and the White House doesn't seem concerned about the programs' long history of abuse. Patrick Eddington explains.


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March 01, 2024 3:25pm
Mitch McConnell’s Legacy Includes Freeing Political Speech
In assessing the legacy of Mitch McConnell as a Republican leader in the U.S. Senate, it's important to include his large role in radically reducing the regulation of Americans’ political speech. Cato's John Samples explains.


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February 29, 2024 4:16pm
SCOTUS Hears the NetChoice Cases
The Supreme Court this week heard arguments challenging and defending laws in Florida and Texas that constrain internet platforms in setting their own rules for users.  How did the justices receive those arguments? David Insure, Jennifer Huddleston, and Tommy Berry comment.


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February 28, 2024 1:21pm
A Frosty Reception for Wendy's over Dynamic Pricing
Wendy's toyed with the idea of dynamic pricing for their menus, and then quickly walked those comments back. But the general ire for dynamic pricing shouldn't invite politicians to get involved. Ryan Bourne explains.

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February 27, 2024 2:52pm
Presidential Candidates Speak (or Not) on Central Bank Digital Currency
Trump and Biden have different takes on CBDCs, to say the least. And now states are moving in a variety of ways to account for the proposed new currency in their commercial codes. Nick Anthony explains.

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February 26, 2024 5:11pm
Chiaverini v. Evanoff
If an arrest warrant is issued without probable cause that a crime has been committed, the person arrested can sue for “malicious prosecution.” But there's a catch, and the Supreme Court will have to grapple with it this term. Tommy Berry explains.

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February 23, 2024 4:21pm
FERC's Quorum Problem and US Energy
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has a role to play in managing the multistate movement of energy, but it's not clear the agency will be able to do the job in the near term. Cato’s Travis Fisher explains.

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February 22, 2024 2:36pm
Dollarization at the End of the Javier Milei Honeymoon
His most recent package of reforms has stalled. Will Javier Milei now turn his full attention to securing dollarization to rescue Argentina from the costs of inflation? Daniel Raisbeck and Gabriela Calderon de Burgos explain the stakes.

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February 21, 2024 4:00pm
Has US Middle East Policy Failed?
The US has a particular way of engaging with the Middle East, and it doesn't serve US interests particularly well. Jon Hoffman explains.

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February 20, 2024 3:16pm
State Fiscal Health and Cost‐​Saving Strategies
State fiscal health was surprisingly good during and after the pandemic, but state debt expenses have increased as the Federal Reserve has tried to quell inflation. Marc Joffe offers some advice for states seeking cost savings.

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February 19, 2024 2:00am
The President's Odd and Expansive Conception of "Junk Fees"
When you hear complaints from the White House about "junk fees," it's worth digging into what that refers to and notably what it does not refer to. Ryan Bourne parses the rhetoric.

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February 16, 2024 3:45pm
The Broken Budget Process Demands Fixes Big and Small
Over the last few decades, the share of spending subjected to a normal budget process has been very small. Fixing it should be a high priority in Congress. Romina Boccia explains the high stakes for acting sooner versus later.

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February 15, 2024 3:56pm
97% of Green Card Applications Will Not Get Approved This Year
The approval rate for green card applications is remarkably low. David Bier explains in a new paper how to improve the backlogged process of welcoming new people to the United States.


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February 14, 2024 2:09pm
Frederick Douglass among Heroes of Progress
Author Alexander Hammond details the contributions that puts Frederick Douglass in the ranks of the Heroes of Progress.


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February 13, 2024 3:37pm
How Committed Is the US to NATO?
Remarks from Donald Trump on how the US would treat a Russia-led attack on fellow NATO members earned the ire of the group’s defenders, so it's worth asking: What are US obligations to the alliance? Justin Logan comments.


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February 13, 2024 2:28pm
Congress Should Reject the OECD's Planned Tax Cartel
In an era marked by global trade and digital transformation, the international tax landscape is at a crucial juncture. The OECD would like to create an international tax cartel. Adam Michel explains why Congress should reject the proposal.


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February 12, 2024 4:11pm
Biden's Liquefied Natural Gas Export "Pause" Makes No Sense
US-derived LNG exports can serve a variety of American interests at once, and yet the Biden White House seems to want to keep it in the ground. Travis Fisher details the President's error.


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February 10, 2024 6:09am
As Surveillance Fight Rises Again, New Fed Spyware Is Revealed
When the feds turn ads into spyware, surveillance tools demand more public scrutiny. Patrick Eddington explains.


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February 09, 2024 11:54am
The Road to Freedom: Estonia's Rise from Soviet Vassal State to One of the Freest Nations on Earth
In his new book, The Road to Freedom: Estonia’s Rise from Soviet Vassal State to One of the Freest Nations on Earth, Matthew D. Mitchell and his coauthors recount the fall and rise of Estonian freedom.


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February 07, 2024 12:08pm
Cato Institute Lands on FBI's "Vexsome" List for FOIA Requests
Why did the Cato Institute land on the FBI's list of "vexsome" filers of FOIA requests? Patrick Eddington explains.


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February 06, 2024 10:20am
Containing Medicaid Costs at the State Level
Medicaid is consistently among the top two expenditure categories in every state budget, but Medicaid spending levels vary greatly among states. Marc Joffe discusses how to shrink the program.


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February 05, 2024 2:55pm
Reviving Federalism to Tackle the Government Debt Crisis
An important way to tackle America’s debt problem is to devolve a large part of federal spending to the states, allowing them to fund it themselves. Chris Edwards explains in a new paper.


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February 01, 2024 3:49pm
"Nicotinophobia" Is for the Children
The anti-tobacco crusade morphed ever so slowly into an anti-nicotine crusade. If it continues unimpeded, the costs could be quite high. Jeff Singer explains.


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January 31, 2024 2:55pm
Context for the Fresh Calls for War with Iran
An attack on a US outpost leaves three service members dead, and some Republicans want war with Iran sooner than later. But the calls for war happily ignore several uncomfortable facts and critical context. Justin Logan explains.


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January 30, 2024 3:24pm
Fresh Chaos at the Border Doesn't Change What's Needed to Rationalize Immigration

It's utterly irrational to expect that making illegal immigration the only immigration would give US policymakers better options at the border. David Bier explains.

What Biden Can Do After Another Failed Border Deal


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January 29, 2024 5:26pm
Milei at the World Economic Forum

Daniel Raisbeck evaluates both Javier Milei's message to the World Economic Forum and the status of the Milei agenda in Argentina.


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January 23, 2024 3:14pm
Taiwanese Elections and the Looming China Threat
How will elections in Taiwan change the country's posture with respect to China's desire to seize control? Cato's Eric Gomez comments.


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January 23, 2024 6:37am
How Do Europe's Speech Restrictions Impact US Speakers?
Europe's heavy-handed regulatory approach to tech and speech may not leave US speakers unaffected. Cato's David Inserra and Jennifer Huddleston explain.


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January 18, 2024 4:01pm
Will China's Military Dysfunction Buy Taiwan Time to Build Its Defenses?
Taiwan should arm up according to Cato's Eric Gomez. Corruption and other problems in China's military could give them the time to do so.


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January 15, 2024 2:00am
National Rifle Association v. Vullo
When a New York regulatory agency tried to get groups doing business with the NRA to end those business relationships, it may have run afoul of the First Amendment. Cato's Walter Olson and Andrew Grossman comment on National Rifle Association v. Vullo.


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January 12, 2024 2:33pm
The SEC's Embarrassing Hack Should Deliver Greater Scrutiny
In the wake of the SEC's market-moving hack on social media, it's appropriate to examine where the agency ought to do more (securing its own data) and less (collecting too much data). Jennifer Schulp explains.


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January 11, 2024 4:17pm
New Punitive Crypto Rules Attack Financial Privacy
A new federal law means jail time and fines if you don't report the identities of people providing you with large amounts of crypto. Nick Anthony explains why it's another federal assault on financial privacy.


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January 10, 2024 7:58pm
Farm Bill Sows Dysfunction for American Agriculture
Why are some farmers so troubled by farm subsidies? Cato's Paul Best explains.


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January 09, 2024 7:54pm
Tech Regulation and Legal Challenges in 2024
Last year was a wild one for would-be tech regulators. State governments, Congress, and federal agencies are all still champing at the bit to impose some new restrictions on big and small tech firms alike. David Inserra and Jennifer Huddleston comment.


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January 09, 2024 11:03am
Nitazenes and the Consequences of Drug Prohibition
Nitazenes are a relatively new category of opioids, and their high potency demands a rational policy response. Jeff Singer explains.


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January 05, 2024 3:19pm
The Milei Agenda for Argentina So Far
Argentina’s Javier Milei has an ambitious regulatory agenda, but lawmakers will still have their say on a large portion of it. Daniel Raisbeck discusses what Argentina's new president has announced so far.


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January 04, 2024 3:33pm
The Influence of Herbert Spencer
Sociologist Herbert Spencer was "light years" ahead of his contemporaries in grappling with some very modern problems of political economy. Libertarianism.org's Paul Meany explains.


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January 03, 2024 3:20pm
The Sociology of Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer once loomed large in social science. Is he receiving his due in the modern era? Paul Meany discusses how a major thinker was celebrated, forgotten, and remembered again.


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January 02, 2024 4:28pm
Certificate of Need and Government-Run Health Care
For many states in the southeast, certificate of need laws have needlessly complicated the delivery of health services. Cato's Jeff Singer describes some differences among CON and non-CON states. We spoke in November.


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December 29, 2023 11:36am
Human Freedom Continues Worrying Decline
The Human Freedom Index tracks human freedom across multiple dimensions for the bulk of humanity. Ian Vasquez details the latest iteration.


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December 28, 2023 11:32am
The Big Impact of FDA's Drug Delays
The FDA's decisions to approve or delay drugs can have major impacts well beyond the health of Americans. Michael Cannon explains how FDA's delays approving contraception impacted women in the labor market.


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December 27, 2023 2:00am
Globalization Delivers the Goods (and Liberates Our Time)
Even critics of globalization admit that it's delivered the world's bounty to our doorsteps. Gabriella Beaumont-Smith details how globalization also gives us back our valuable time.


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December 26, 2023 2:00am
The Fundamentals of International Trade They Don't Want You to Know
Trade is a positive-sum game, and when you keep a few fundamentals of trade front and center, it becomes harder for politicians to confuse the issue. Economist Andreas Freytag explains.


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December 25, 2023 2:00am
Globalization Brings the World's Food to Our Table
It's getting more difficult to remember times when seasonal produce was only available for a brief window. Cato’s Scott Lincicome is old enough to remember those dark times of avocado deprivation. He explains how globalization has dramatically expanded the range of foods available all year.


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December 23, 2023 2:00am
Institutional Investors and the Housing Crunch
How much blame should be given to institutional investors for our current housing woes? Vanessa Brown Calder comments.


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December 22, 2023 8:30am
Tallying the Big Gains for Educational Freedom in 2023
This year was yet another banner year for educational freedom in states, and while a few states faced substantial setbacks, the broad trend toward more and universal school choice continues. Jason Bedrick details his research.


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December 21, 2023 12:16pm
2023 Was A Big Year for Housing Reformers
States are starting to understand how zoning and other housing restrictions have contributed to the housing crisis gripping so much of the United States. Nolan Gray of California YIMBY explains.


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December 20, 2023 3:32pm
Biden Wants to 'March In' to Fix Drug Prices
Does "march in" authority have hope for bringing drug prices down? Should it? What are the secondary effects of changing who can produce what drugs? Cato's Michael Cannon and Peter Van Doren comment.


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December 19, 2023 3:59pm
US Should Pivot Away from Ukraine Fight
Joe Biden keeps advancing the delusion that Ukraine can achieve total victory against Russia. Congress is under no obligation to join in that delusion. Justin Logan explains.


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December 18, 2023 2:00pm
What Does Data Tell Us about Certificate of Need in Health Services?
No matter how you slice the data, it tells a clear story: Certificate-of-need laws make health care services relatively less available or more costly. Jaimie Cavanaugh of the Institute for Justice explains.


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December 15, 2023 4:24pm
How Arizona Became the Leader in Educational Freedom
Ben Toma is the Republican Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. We discussed his state's role as the trendsetter for advancing educational freedom for families.


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December 14, 2023 4:03pm
Nikki Haley Wants to Trash Anonymous Online Speech
Presidential candidate Nikki Haley recently suggested that anonymity on the internet should be compromised on behalf of national security. Edward Longe of the James Madison Institute argues that it would trash an important element of free speech.


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December 13, 2023 11:47am
Let Phar­ma­cists Prescribe featuring Jeff Singer
There are many kinds of medical professionals who are legally prevented from delivering care for which they are trained. Jeff Singer describes how pharmacists could be allowed to step up.


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December 12, 2023 4:07pm
Due Process and Federal Agency Adjudications
It's hard to take seriously the federal agencies that undertake their own adjudications and often award damages to themselves. Adi Dynar of the Pacific Legal Foundation discusses how "due process" works in administrative law courts.


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December 10, 2023 11:00pm
Is Converting Vacant Commercial Property a Housing Solution?
The housing crunch affects so many parts of the country. In Arizona, it's harder to build than you might think. Leo Biasiucci is the Republican majority whip of the state's House of Representatives. We talked about how best to advance flexibility for new housing.


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December 08, 2023 11:00pm
Supreme Court Ponders Federal Agencies That Act Like Courts
The Supreme Court recently heard the case of Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Jarkesy. Cato's Tommy Berry and the Pacific Legal Foundation's Oliver Dunford evaluate what the court heard.


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December 08, 2023 2:57pm
Looking Ahead to Shrinking Federal Surveillance Powers
Federal lawmakers are continuing to ponder the end of some warrantless surveillance of U.S. citizens. Patrick Eddington provides a brief history lesson and an assessment of where things stand now.


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December 07, 2023 4:03pm
Defending Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogates provide a valuable service for many couples who want children, but the process has drawn significant criticism. Cato's Vanessa Brown Calder dispels the misconceptions.


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December 06, 2023 5:41pm
Occupational Licensing Reform in 2023 and Beyond
States are advancing policies that embrace universal recognition of various occupational licenses and others that end a broad range of certificate of need requirements. Ed Timmons runs the Knee Regulatory Research Center. He details the progress.


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December 02, 2023 12:00am
Tracking CBDCs Before They Launch
The central bank digital currency is on the wish list for many central banks despite the lack of compelling use cases for the currency and troubling rollouts of CBDCs thus far. Nicholas Anthony details the Human Rights Foundation's new tracker for CBDCs.


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December 01, 2023 4:53pm
Addressing Big Impediments to Delivering Civil Justice
America's civil justice system has a variety of problems that must be addressed. Bridget Mary McCormack, a former chief justice on the Michigan Supreme Court and the current head of the American Arbitration Association, has a few ideas.


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December 01, 2023 12:54pm
Canada's Link Tax Delivers Dire Warning
Link taxes are supposed to help prop up ailing print media outlets by charging big tech firms for the privilege of linking to news content. The case of Canada’s link tax is challenging that hope. Cato's Paul Matzko comments.


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November 27, 2023 2:00am
Illinois Handed Immense Power to Government Unions, So How's It Going?
Last year, Illinois voters handed breathtaking new powers to collective bargaining agreements for government employees. Mailee Smith of the Illinois Policy Institute evaluates the status.


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November 24, 2023 2:00am
What Does OPEC Do and Should We Care?
Contrary to conventional beliefs about how the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries operates, there are many reasons to believe OPEC has fewer degrees of freedom than most people believe. That misperception can serve the needs of politicians searching for a bogeyman. Peter Van Doren and David Kemp explain why in a new paper.


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November 23, 2023 2:00am
One Local Impediment to Free-Range Kids
Parents might embrace their children's independence, but how much support do those parents have in the form of local infrastructure? Andrea Keith of Let Grow explains.


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November 22, 2023 11:44am
What Incentives Do State Regulators Face?
It may not be shocking to learn that state-level regulators face many of the same incentives as federal regulators. State lawmakers should pay close attention to how those regulators do their work, says Joe Luppino-Esposito of the Pacific Legal Foundation.


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November 21, 2023 1:52pm
Is Javier Milei, Argentina's Next President, A Libertarian?
Javier Milei, the next President of Argentina, says he's a supporter of free trade, dollarization, and big cuts to the public sector. Cato’s Daniel Raisbeck evaluates the Milei platform against Argentina’s economic and political realities.


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November 21, 2023 1:45pm
Cataloging the Myriad Ways You Can Land in Jail
It's an immense task to understand the criminal penalties that attach to a vast array of federally disfavored behavior. Patrick McLaughlin of the Mercatus Center details what he's learned in undertaking exactly that task.


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November 20, 2023 4:24pm
Taiwan's Defense and US Policy
Eric Gomez is author of the new Cato Institute paper, "Taiwan's Urgent Need for Asymmetric Defense."


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November 17, 2023 3:06pm
Are Public School Libraries Accomplishing Their Mission?
If public school libraries are supposed to represent a broad range of views, do they? Neal McCluskey details his new paper exploring the question.


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November 16, 2023 6:25pm
Expiring Authority for Warrantless Surveillance Meets Resistance
A bipartisan group in Congress wants reform to federal surveillance authorities before signing off on reauthorization. What would that reform do? Cato's Patrick Eddington and James Czerniawski of Americans for Prosperity comment.


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November 15, 2023 12:36pm
Let Pharmacists Prescribe
Pharmacists have sufficient training to autonomously prescribe medications to prevent or treat many medical conditions. But states generally require patients to obtain a doctor’s prescription before purchasing pharmaceuticals. This restriction drives up health care costs and unnecessarily inconveniences patients, often when they are in distress. Canadian provinces, by contrast, give pharmacists a wide scope for prescribing pharmaceuticals, as Ross Tsuyuki will discuss. Alex Adams will explain recent pharmacist scope of practice reform in Idaho, Colorado, and Montana; Marc Joffe will provide an overview of relevant federal and state policies; and Dr. Jeffrey Singer will offer policy recommendations that could impr...
November 13, 2023 3:26pm
The New Right Gets Mugged by an Old Reality
Political reality demands that we recognize that any power we might claim for ourselves will ultimately be wielded by our ideological opponents. Scott Lincicome explains how that lesson is being learned the hard way yet again.


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November 10, 2023 9:54am
Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know
The freedom of speech is under constant threat, and broad public support for that freedom has eroded in recent years. Nadine Strossen, in Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know, details why that right is worth defending.


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November 08, 2023 3:41pm
An Expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan
What does the forced exodus of Afghans from Pakistan tell us about the domestic politics of Pakistan? Sahar Khan explains.


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November 07, 2023 3:18pm
The Trouble with Methadone Clinics
Methadone is a powerful drug that is often dosed out by the government for those in the criminal legal system who are able jump through the proper legal hoops. Helen Redmond of Filter says it serves as a mechanism for government control of people.


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November 06, 2023 3:09pm
Recovery and the Unfulfilled Promises of Obamacare
Michael Cannon details why the promises of Obamacare would be better delivered by giving consumers dramatically more power over health care dollars. Cannon's new book is Recovery: A Guide to Reforming the U.S. Health Sector.


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November 06, 2023 9:47am
Government Censorship by Proxy
During the pandemic, governments placed significant public and private pressure on social media companies to remove speech protected by the First Amendment, blurring the line between acceptable government speech and unconstitutional censorship by proxy. Concerns about this “jawboning” only grew with the recent decisions in Missouri v. Biden finding that the pressure applied by various government actors likely violated the First Amendment. But this case also revealed the limitations of broadly prohibiting government communications with private companies or merely relying on the courts to police government abuse. Join us as the panel discusses the options available to policymakers and why greate...
November 02, 2023 2:51pm
Biden's Big, Early Move to Regulate Artificial Intelligence
The Biden White House is out with a massive executive order on artificial intelligence. Why? Jennifer Huddleston and Jack Solowey comment.


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November 01, 2023 2:35pm
US Weapons Arm Both Israeli and Hamas Fighters
It should be troubling that the bloodshed in Israel and Gaza is being fueled somewhat by US policy with respect to weapons transfers. Where is the appetite for revisiting those polices? Jordan Cohen comments.


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October 31, 2023 2:57pm
A Mindset for Embracing Educational Freedom
Which school choice programs respect families most? Andrew Clark, president of yes. every. kid., offers his thoughts.


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October 30, 2023 4:00pm
'American Deindustrialization' Is a Dangerous Myth
By any relevant measure, the U.S. manufacturing sector is a dynamo. Retreating from globalized supply chains can threaten that success. Colin Grabow details the evidence.


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October 27, 2023 12:25pm
What Should Libertarians Expect from House Speaker Mike Johnson?
From reining in debt and spending to freeing up American healthcare, incoming House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson has an opportunity to bring seriousness to critical pending policy issues. Cato's Alex Nowrasteh comments.


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October 26, 2023 1:03pm
All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism
There is a word for self-styled conservatives who nonetheless want to the power of the state to compel certain social outcomes: illiberal. Kevin Vallier is author of All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism.


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October 25, 2023 2:15pm
Who Decides What 'News Distortion' Means?
Political actors are more than happy to attempt to bend media outlets to serve their preferred narratives. The history of it in the U.S. is less well known. Paul Matzko discusses a chapter in the history of crackdowns on news "distortion."


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October 24, 2023 3:47pm
For Good and Ill, Your Car Is Collecting Your Data
What are the privacy implications for cars that collect all manner of data about us and our driving habits? Jennifer Huddleston explains the good and bad.


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October 23, 2023 3:52pm
Where Does Speech End and 'Jawboning' Start?
When lawmakers wag their fingers in the faces of tech companies, when are they trying to exact compliance for activities that are otherwise perfectly legal? David Inserra helps us draw the lines.


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October 21, 2023 2:00am
Ecuador's Emerging Opportunity to Exit '21st Century Socialism'
What does the election of Daniel Noboa as president of Ecuador mean for the country’s engagement in the global economy? Cato's Gabriela Calderon de Burgos comments.


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October 20, 2023 4:37pm
How States, Feds, and Countries Are Approaching 'Online Safety
The approaches taken by governments to online safety vary widely. Matthew Feeney and Jennifer Huddleston discuss how various states and countries are handling the issue and assess the risks to privacy.


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October 19, 2023 2:35pm
Are States Trying to Subvert Donor Privacy Since Bonta?
Since 2020's Bonta decision at the U.S. Supreme Court, states have broadly taken two approaches to donor privacy, according to Luke Wachob of People United for Privacy Foundation.


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October 18, 2023 4:51pm
As Universal School Choice Advances, Hurdles Remain
Marc LeBlond directs policy at EdChoice.


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October 17, 2023 4:06pm
The Capitalist Manifesto: Why the Global Free Market Will Save the World
Johan Norberg is author of The Capitalist Manifesto: Why the Global Free Market Will Save the World.


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October 16, 2023 1:58pm
Recovery: A Guide to Reforming the U.S. Health Sector
In his new book, Recovery: A Guide to Reforming the U.S. Health Sector, Michael Cannon walks readers through a variety of ways to make health care in the United States better, more transparent, more secure, and more universal.


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October 13, 2023 3:37pm
Balancing the Loud, Local Voices Opposing New Housing
The housing crisis is actually myriad local crises. Combating that will, at some point, require some local ingenuity. Greg Brooks of the Better Cities Project has a few ideas to help generate the will to build more.


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October 10, 2023 11:00pm
State-Level Strategies for Constraining Spending
States are under more serious constraints than the feds when it comes to spending levels. There are still more steps governments can take to do so. Vance Ginn with the Pelican Institute details some of the ways states can get more control over budgets.


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October 09, 2023 11:00pm
Counting the Costs NIMBYism Imposes on Everyone Else
It's worth knowing just how costly it is to effectively give the loudest voices at a zoning board meeting the power of the veto. Chris Denson of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation discusses the tax NIMBYs impose on the rest of us.


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October 09, 2023 7:31am
State Drug Sentencing amid Increasing Fentanyl Overdoses
Misconceptions about the motivations of drug dealers and users have likely worsened the increases in drug overdoses. Are state lawmakers rethinking how they approach drug-related sentencing? Lauren Krisai of the Justice Action Network comments.


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October 08, 2023 2:00am
When Lawmakers Don't Make the Laws (State Government Edition)
The people who write the rules under which we must live generally ought to be subject to accountability from voters. That's not a controversial proposition, but how it works in practice is more complicated. Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation comments.


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October 07, 2023 2:00am
High Interest Rates and the Debt Doom Loop
The ability for the U.S. to escape the consequences of high spending and massive debt may be declining faster than conventional wisdom would have predicted. Cato's Norbert Michel and Romina Boccia detail the issue.


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October 06, 2023 3:37pm
Pregnant Workers, Fairness, and Maximizing Workplace Flexibility
So many well-intentioned laws run into basic incentive problems. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act appears to be another law aimed at protecting many women from mistreatment that may create perverse incentives. Vanessa Brown Calder comments.


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October 05, 2023 6:33am
An Overbroad Federal Swipe at 'Gamified' Investing
New tech threatens the ability for investors to understand what they're doing, or so the leaders of the SEC seem to believe. But what would their proposed federal regulations do to change that? Jack Solowey and Jennifer Schulp comment.


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October 04, 2023 3:39pm
The Unprecedented Removal of the U.S. House Speaker … and What’s Next
The U.S. House is without a Speaker after a small revolt within the Republican Party that removed Kevin McCarthy from that job. With yet another fight over spending just a few weeks away, Cato’s John Samples and Chad Davis explore what might be coming next.


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October 03, 2023 1:40pm
Defending Globalization Means Embracing Comparative Advantage
When politicians decry the production that's done overseas, it's a good time to take stock of a most basic economic concept: comparative advantage. Don Boudreaux discusses what it means.


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October 02, 2023 4:25pm
Feds vs. States on Trimming Medicaid Rolls
The Biden White House has urged states to slow the pace of trimming Medicaid enrollees. Why? Rea Hederman of the Buckeye Institute comments.


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September 28, 2023 8:55am
A Federal Plan to Expand Racial Categories Is a Bad Idea
Why does the Office of Management and Budget want to expand racial categories in the United States? Alex Nowrasteh discusses his new paper that explains why such an expansion is a bad idea.


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September 27, 2023 4:48pm
California May Join States Legalizing Psychedelics
California Governor Gavin Newsom is mulling legislation that would legalize possession of small amounts of multiple psychedelic drugs. Cato's Jeff Singer discusses the implications for medical practitioners.


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September 27, 2023 8:12am
The Nonemergency Emergency Spending Causing a Fiscal Emergency
The emergency spending that's come to characterize an increasing share of federal outlays has contributed mightily to current fiscal woes. Jonathan Bydlak of the R Street Institute comments.


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September 24, 2023 2:00am
A Glimpse at a Trump Foreign Policy Agenda for 2025
Donald Trump might prefer to leave Congress out of the loop on decisions about which nations or actors receive U.S. weapons. A new Heritage Foundation report also leans toward giving POTUS fewer checks on foreign policy moves. Jordan Cohen comments.


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September 23, 2023 2:00am
The Supreme Court's Opportunity to Restore Unsung Rights
The Supreme Court long ago erred in gutting a key provision of the 14th Amendment. Anastasia Boden says a case the court could take up this term gives them an opportunity to repair that mistake.


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September 22, 2023 3:08pm
How Putin and Kim Meeting Changes the War in Ukraine
Seeking fresh weaponry for his war in Ukraine, Russia's Vladimir Putin met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un recently. Eric Gomez discusses the geopolitical considerations.


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September 21, 2023 2:39pm
Saudi Arabia: Pariah or Partner?

What does the United States get in terms of security enhancement given its informal, but pricey financial commitment to Saudi Arabia? President Biden is advancing a plan that would formalize security guarantees to Saudi Arabia. Cato's Jon Hoffman comments.

Pariah or Partner: Reevaluating the U.S.-Saudi Relationship


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September 20, 2023 2:03pm
Does School Choice Raise the Price of Private Education?
School choice is on the march so it's reasonable to ask if the shift toward relatively more students receiving private school educations will raise prices at those schools? Cato adjunct Jason Bedrick comments.


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September 19, 2023 1:50pm
Guns, Drugs, Hunter Biden, and the Selectively Long Arm of the Law
The President's son, Hunter Biden, now faces charges related to his drug use and gun ownership. It illustrates, as Clark Neily details, the enormous discretion wielded by prosecutors.


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September 18, 2023 2:00am
The Tremendous Upside of Humanitarian Sponsorship for Escapees of Authoritarianism
"Parole sponsorship" allows individuals in the U.S. to sponsor people fleeing unstable or authoritarian regimes. The Biden administration has reinvigorated the program for people from a handful of countries. David Bier says it delivers great benefits.


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September 15, 2023 3:33pm
Why Do Rights-Violating University Officials Get Qualified Immunity?
What happens when public university officials violate your free speech rights? Often the get qualified immunity, thus shielding them from consequences of those actions. Casey Mattox with Americans for Prosperity comments.


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September 14, 2023 1:31pm
Joe Overton, Policy Change, and the 'Overton Window
Policy change can be a long slog. The now-famous "Overton Window" gives us a way of thinking about how change happens. Joe Lehmann of the Mackinac Center discusses how the late Joe Overton thought about policy change.


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September 13, 2023 3:00am
Defending Globalization Today
Globalization's opponents are loathe to admit that the process of expanding the movement of goods, services, and people relatively freely across borders has paid enormous dividends for a very long time. Scott Lincicome explains why free trade and migration deserves a vigorous defense.


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September 12, 2023 2:24pm
A New Nicotine Prohibition Push in States
States and localities, grimly unaware of the predictable consequences of prohibition, are moving ahead with plans to make cigarettes and other nicotine products a matter of criminal law. Jacob Grier is author of The New Prohibition.


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September 11, 2023 10:44am
The Local Tradeoffs That Can Address the Housing Crisis
The American housing crisis was largely created by local governments. Fixing it demands local innovation. Greg Brooks of the Better Cities Project details some local fixes to address the mismatch between supply and demand in American housing.


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September 08, 2023 2:39pm
Are Lifetime Bans on Firearm Ownership 'Cruel and Unusual' Punishment?
What are the implications of a federal court panel's decision that a lifetime ban on voting rights for felons is "cruel and unusual punishment"? Cody Wisniewski of the Firearms Policy Coalition comments.


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September 07, 2023 3:01pm
State-Level Handouts to the Middle Class
State-level programs intended for the very poor should not be expanded to include the middle class. Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center details some such programs states are working to expand.


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September 02, 2023 7:42am
NatCons vs. FreeCons
National conservatism (or conservative nationalism) may have had its moment, but a group of so-called Freedom Conservatives have unveiled a statement of principles that includes a more robust voluntary sector of society. Stephanie Slade of Reason comments.


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September 01, 2023 11:37am
Montana's Bipartisan Housing Turnaround
The American housing crisis can be fixed mostly by states and localities. How did Montana advance a more rational set of housing policies? Kendall Cotton of Montana's Frontier Institute explains.


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August 31, 2023 3:02pm
Contradictions of the Farm Bill
The Farm Bill puts food subsidies and healthy eating at odds with one another. Cato's Chris Edwards comments.


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August 28, 2023 6:05pm
Setting the Table for Medicare's Drug Price Negotiations
How will Medicare and drug companies effectively negotiate on matters of price? What are the real deficiencies in how drugs get to the people who need them? Michael Cannon comments.


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August 22, 2023 11:00pm
Building Confidence and Competence through Montessori Education
The methods of Maria Montessori aim to help young people take charge of their learning at a younger age. Jesse McCarthy, founder of MontessoriEducation.com, believes those methods prepare young people to thrive and build civil society.


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August 21, 2023 11:00pm
Teaching Kids How to Learn from the Past
The Tuttle Twins author Connor Boyack brings that same didactic approach to history in a new series of books aimed at young people.


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August 20, 2023 11:00pm
Psychedelics and the Advance of Cognitive Liberty
Psychedelics have powerful impacts on the human mind, and researchers are finding new ways to use those drugs to help people overcome mental difficulties. Do they also herald a new freedom of thought? Mason Marks of the Petrie-Flom Center comments.


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August 18, 2023 7:38am
PayPal Makes Big Entry into Stablecoins
PayPal's entry into stablecoins promises big potential benefits to consumers across the financial sector, but how well founded are regulators' fears? Cato's Jack Solowey highlights the legitimate concerns.


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August 17, 2023 2:53pm
The Promise of a Special Economic Zone in Honduras
Próspera aims to present a new model for governance, and Honduras has led the way in fostering it. J Robertson directs development for Próspera.


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August 16, 2023 12:30pm
Do Pot Smokers Have Second Amendment Rights?
Tens of millions of Americans use federally illegal drugs, often in states where those drugs are legal. Do those people have the right to possess firearms under the Constitution? The feds seem to think they don’t. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals weighed in last week. Cato's Clark Neily comments on the case.


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August 15, 2023 2:08pm
New Trump Indictment: Georgia Edition
Former president Trump and more than a dozen codefendants will face charges in Georgia over claimed attempts to subvert the will of Georgia voters in 2020. Cato’s Clark Neily discusses the indictment.


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August 15, 2023 10:03am
Will Consumer Welfare Cease to Guide Corporate Mergers?
New proposed merger guidelines would have a negative impact on consumers and companies of all sizes, according to Cato's Jennifer Huddleston.


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August 14, 2023 3:58pm
A 'Link Tax' Won't Save Struggling Newspapers
Well-intentioned though it may be, emulating Australia's "Link Tax" would be disastrous for small journalism outlets in the United States. Paul Matzko is author of a new Cato paper detailing the evidence.


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August 10, 2023 12:11pm
Freeing American Families
Being a parent is hard enough. Labor laws, child safety policies, tax and trade policy, and health policies each add impediments to the decision to have more children. A new Cato paper digs into policy reforms. Coauthor Vanessa Brown Calder comments.


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August 09, 2023 2:40pm
China Reshuffles Its Rocket Force
What does a shakeup in the highest levels of China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force mean for U.S. commitments to Taiwan? Cato's Eric Gomez offers his analysis.


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August 08, 2023 4:16pm
Argentina Should Dollarize Now
Argentina has long had big problems with inflation, so why is dollarization such a hard sell there? Cato's Daniel Raisbeck explains.


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August 07, 2023 2:38pm
Why Does the U.S. Sell Arms to Authoritarian Regimes?
The United States has recently sold weapons to well over 100 countries, many of which have terrible human rights records. Cato's new Arms Sales Risk Index aims to help Congress understand the risks associated with many of those sales. Cato's Jordan Cohen comments.


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August 05, 2023 2:00am
After SCOTUS Rebuke, Biden Changes Tactics on Student Loan Bailout
Now that the Supreme Court has tossed his original plan, President Biden plans different routes to forgives billions in student debt. Cato's Neal McCluskey discusses the plans.


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August 04, 2023 5:59pm
Amid Trial Preparations on Federal Prostitution Charges, Backpage Founder Takes His Own Life
A week before his trial on charges that his company facilitated prostitution, Backpage founder James Larkin took his own life. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason discusses what's led up to the trial and how prosecutors attempted to stymie the defendants.


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August 03, 2023 4:45pm
Will Credit Downgrades Spur Greater Interest in a BRAC-like Fiscal Commission?
Another credit rating agency has reduced its confidence in U.S. debt. Cato's Romina Boccia explains why it should spur greater interest in a fiscal commission that would stabilize the debt and protect politicians from some of the electoral fallout.


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August 02, 2023 2:00am
The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism
In The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism, authors Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi dissect the wide range of libertarian thought through history. Coauthor Matt Zwolinski discusses the book.


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August 01, 2023 12:48pm
Some in Congress Have Regulatory Knives Out for Crypto
Cryptocurrency has some powerful enemies, including several members of Congress who appear bent on regulating the products into oblivion. Cato's Nick Anthony explains.


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July 31, 2023 5:00am
The Green Card Game Shows Why Legal Immigration Is so Difficult
The Green Card Game shows just how time consuming, expensive, and complicated it can be to achieve legal status in the United States. Cato's David Bier and Alex Nowrasteh created the game.


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July 29, 2023 2:00am
Ukraine Should Not Be A NATO Member
The rumblings about adding Ukraine in yet another expansion of NATO raises many important questions, most especially about NATO's purpose. Justin Logan explains why NATO membership should be in the future for Ukraine.


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July 28, 2023 1:59pm
The Original Sin of U.S. Health Policy
The tax code penalizes workers who want to control their earnings and their health insurance. Michael Cannon explains why the income tax is the original sin of U.S. health policy.


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July 27, 2023 4:08pm
The Dissident Project Brings Escapees from Authoritarians to American High Schools
The Dissident Project’s speakers travel to high schools to speak to students about authoritarianism, drawing on their own experience living under autocratic rule in their home countries. Grace Bydalek and Frances Hui discuss The Dissident Project’s work.

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July 26, 2023 11:07am
The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights: The Untold Story of FDR’s Concentration Camps, Censorship, and Mass Surveillance
David Beito is author of The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights: The Untold Story of FDR’s Concentration Camps, Censorship, and Mass Surveillance.


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July 24, 2023 4:27pm
An Assessment of #StopCopCity and Training Centers for 'Urban Combat' Policing
Atlanta's Cop City represents an expansion of police training to include more potential "urban combat" scenarios. At least one Cop City protestor has been killed with little explanation by authorities. Patrick Eddington discusses what he's found.


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July 21, 2023 3:18pm
The Impossibility of Policy
What makes for good rules? Good rules are often "discovered," according to Cato's Deirdre McCloskey.


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July 20, 2023 4:53pm
New Attempts to Reform Rules for Accredited Investors
Accredited investors are supposed to be sophisticated, but the designation is rooted in the size of your portfolio and not your expertise. Jennifer Schulp discusses current attempts at reform.


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July 19, 2023 3:17pm
Defuse the Culture War with Liberated Education
The only way to treat all equally, while advancing genuine tolerance, is the good old American value of limited government. Mustafa Alkyl and Neal McCluskey explain what this ought to mean for education.


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July 18, 2023 1:51pm
The Bank Secrecy Act Delivers A Lopsided Privacy Tradeoff
The Bank Secrecy Act requires your financial institutions to snitch on you every time you engage in certain kinds of financial transactions. What's the benefit in terms of reducing crime? Nick Anthony says it's hard to tell.


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July 17, 2023 4:02pm
SCOTUS Nixes Souped-Up Independent State Legislature Theory
The Supreme Court shot down an extreme version of a relatively new theory of state legislative independence in the context of elections. Walter Olson explains.


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July 14, 2023 4:41pm
Big Taxpayer Bucks for Buc-ee's
Buc-ee's has garnered a reputation as an oasis for the weary traveler, but should taxpayers have to support it financially? Cato's Marc Joffe and John Mozena of the Center for Economic Accountability comment.


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July 13, 2023 3:56pm
Congressional Democrats Keep Pushing This One Big Tax Deduction
The state and local tax deduction has been curtailed, but many Congressional Democrats wish it would come back in full force. Cato's Adam Michel comments.


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July 12, 2023 4:20pm
SCOTUS Will Weigh in on Taxing Unrealized Income
The Supreme Court will take up the case of a one-time tax hike for a highly selective group of Americans on some of their unrealized income. Tommy Berry explains.


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July 07, 2023 2:53pm
An Object Lesson in States Holding Local Governments Accountable
How do states hold counties and cities accountable for their financial management? Marc Joffe details a tightening of some accounting requirements in North Carolina.


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July 06, 2023 2:55pm
AI Regulation in Europe versus the U.S.
Europe's data privacy rules make regulating artificial intelligence an easier step to take. How will those rules affect the deployment and investment in this new technology elsewhere? Jennifer Huddleston comments.


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July 05, 2023 8:19pm
Standing, the Right Not to Speak, and 303 Creative v. Elenis
The Supreme Court’ 303 Creative v. Elenis decision correctly applies First Amendment law to vindicate one of the most important dimensions of human liberty: the right not to speak. Walter Olson explains.


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July 04, 2023 3:00am
After SCOTUS Rejects Biden Plan, Will Student Debt Cancellation Get Another Round?
The Supreme Court rejected President Biden’s ambitious plan to give away hundreds of billions of dollars on behalf of student debtors. The President claimed his legal authority to do so came from 2003’s Heroes Act. Biden has pledged to try again. Tommy Berry evaluates the case.


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July 03, 2023 2:57pm
SCOTUS Clarifies 'True Threats'
In Counterman v. Colorado, the Supreme Court clarified what should be treated as a "true threat" going forward. Jay Schweikert discusses the court's opinion.


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June 30, 2023 3:25pm
The End of Racial Preferences in College Admissions
The Supreme Court has effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions. Cato's Anastasia Boden comments on the cases.


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June 29, 2023 4:04pm
SCOTUS Leans on Constitutional Avoidance in United States v. Hansen
The Supreme Court upheld the federal criminal prohibition on encouraging or inducing violations of immigration law, and how they did so is notable and disappointing. Tommy Berry comments.


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June 28, 2023 4:31pm
Mr. Modi Goes to Washington
What would India and the U.S. get out of a stronger relationship? Is that even likely? Cato's Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar comments.


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June 27, 2023 6:51pm
A Few Avenues for Fixing Broken Federal Budgeting
Congress is pretty good at avoiding accountability, opting instead for budgeting gimmicks that aim to hide the true cost of government. Romina Boccia highlights some of the ideas that could change that.


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June 26, 2023 3:54pm
Appealing Questionable Convictions after Jones v. Hendrix
A likely bad conviction, a sloppily written law, and the Supreme Court have come together to provide a strange and troubling outcome in Jones v. Hendrix. Cato's Jay Schweikert details what happened.


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June 23, 2023 1:34pm
For the Vast Majority, Legal Immigration to the U.S. Is Virtually Impossible
David Bier explains why the "just immigrate legally" crowd display a profound ignorance of how immigration does and doesn't work in the United States.


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June 22, 2023 4:04pm
The War on Vaping Proceeds Apace
Cato's Jeff Singer discusses the accelerating war on vaping and why the consequences will be as predictable as most prohibitions.


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June 21, 2023 4:28pm
Improving Youth Online Safety without Sacrificing Privacy and Speech
Jennifer Huddleston argues that currently proposed policy approaches to youth online safety are overly blunt tools that will cause more harm than good.


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June 20, 2023 4:27pm
Is Congress Tackling Tough Questions on Crypto Regulation?
Jack Solowey and Jennifer Schulp give a review of recent moves in Congress on cryptocurrency regulation.


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June 18, 2023 11:00pm
Rent/Landlord Control Challenged in NYC
New York City's strict rent control law also restricts the ability of landlords to exit the market. Tommy Berry details a challenge the Supreme Court may take up in the next term.


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June 16, 2023 12:22pm
When Debate Stops Being the Battle of Ideas
James Fishback, founder of Incubate Debate, believes that the changing nature of debate as a competitive event does young people a profound disservice.


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June 15, 2023 11:36am
ESG Fans and Opponents Can't Seem to Agree on ESG Means
Investing that targets certain environmental, social, and governance goals (ESG) has its fans and opponents, but they can't seem to settle on a common definition. That's enabled all manner of troubling policy proposals. Jennifer Schulp explains.


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June 14, 2023 12:44pm
Why the Car Market Went Crazy
Among the pandemic, new regulations on auto production, tax credits, and microchip supply constraints, it's been a wild few years for the car market. Scott Lincicome discusses what normal might look like in the near term and why government has made a stabilizing situation somewhat more volatile.


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June 13, 2023 3:05pm
A Libertarian Take on Family Policy
At the Cato Institute Benefactor Summit held in May, Vanessa Brown Calder spoke with Alex Nowrasteh on how libertarians ought to approach issues of broad importance to families.


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June 12, 2023 1:47pm
Donald Trump's Federal Criminal Indictment
If it weren't for the fact that Donald Trump is a former President who is seeking that job for a third time, the dozens of federal criminal charges relating to purloined classified documents he now faces would be straightforward. Clark Neily comments.


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June 12, 2023 2:00am
The End of Home Equity Theft and the Future of Takings
Geraldine Tyler will get her thousands of dollars back from her local government thanks to a recent Supreme Court opinion ending the practice known as "home equity theft." What's that mean going forward? Tommy Berry comments.


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June 09, 2023 2:18pm
What's the Benefit of Religious Charter Schools?
Religious charter schools may grow in the coming years, but it's not clear what the benefits are to the schools or religious institutions that would run them. Neal McCluskey comments.


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June 08, 2023 3:15pm
Industrial Policy Fans Hit with Harsh Political Realities
Fans of government intervention into the economy in the pursuit of largely agreeable social goods are running into the realities of lawmaking. Scott Lincicome offers some comfort.


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June 07, 2023 3:04pm
Central Bank Digital Currency versus The Constitution
Would a Fed-issued central bank digital currency (CBDC) run afoul of the Constitution? Christina Skinner of the Wharton School and Cato's Norbert Michel comment.


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June 06, 2023 3:55pm
The High Price of Buying American

Policies that privilege domestic producers of various products punish consumers, taxpayers, and producers alike while delivering few benefits. Cato's James Bacchus comments.

You can read "The High Price of Buying American" here.


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June 05, 2023 1:56pm
Voters as Mad Scientists
In Voters as Mad Scientists, economist Bryan Caplan explores various aspects of voter irrationality and how we might correct for our own errors of thinking.


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June 02, 2023 4:29pm
How Government Rigged the Adjudicative Process to Facilitate Its Unlawful Exercise of Power
At the Cato Institute's Benefactor Summit, Clark Neily details how government itself substantially altered the process of criminal adjudication and stacked the deck against average Americans.


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June 01, 2023 3:03pm
Sackett v. EPA Is Finally Resolved
The Sackett family has finally gotten its relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. Charles Yates of the Pacific Legal Foundation represented the Sackett family.


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May 30, 2023 3:07pm
A Tentative Debt Limit Deal Moves to Congress
The debt limit deal hammered out by House Speaker McCarthy and President Biden won't do much on its own to prevent a fiscal crisis, but it does set up some potentially productive negotiations to limit spending and debt in the coming years. Chris Edwards comments.


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May 29, 2023 3:00am
Can Congress Regulate Artificial Intelligence?
What do we give up in any attempt to regulate the development of artificial intelligence? Matt Mittelsteadt of the Mercatus Center and Cato's Jennifer Huddleston comment.


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May 28, 2023 3:00am
The FBI’s Ongoing War on Encryption
The FBI's war on encryption poses threats well beyond the private sector. In fact, as Cato's Patrick Eddington points out, the FBI itself faces threats from widespread compromised private communication technology.


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May 27, 2023 3:00am
Section 230 Will Return to the Supreme Court
What protections do/should platforms have to use algorithms to suggest content to viewers? Will Duffield and Jennifer Huddleston comment on recent and future cases at the Supreme Court.


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May 26, 2023 4:14pm
Housing Markets and Housing First

Where do "housing first" policies to address homelessness succeed or fail? Vanessa Brown Calder is coauthor of a new Cato briefing paper examining several of these attempts to make permanent housing a prerequisite for other assistance.

Briefing Paper: Housing Markets First: Housing Supply and Affordability Are Key to Reducing Homelessness


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May 25, 2023 3:33pm
Making the Broad Case for Liberty
Former Congressman Justin Amash, for a time the only Libertarian member of that body, discusses how he approaches making a compelling case for liberty and civil society. This conversation is from the Cato Institute's Benefactor Summit.


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May 24, 2023 6:31pm
What Does the Constitution Tell Us About the Debt Limit?
As the fight continues over how to handle mounting U.S. debt, Cato's Robert A. Levy has a few thoughts on how the Constitution ought to inform the debate.


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May 22, 2023 4:26pm
Understanding Jimmy Lai's Determination for Freedom
William McGurn speaks about Jimmy Lai at the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty, introduced by Cato President Peter Goettler.


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May 17, 2023 8:03am
A Few Thoughts on the Role of the Entrepreneur
One of the biggest misconceptions that drives mischief in the economy is the widespread belief that entrepreneurship is easy, and if it's not easy, it's at least formulaic. Deirdre McCloskey explains why that attitude can be so destructive.


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May 16, 2023 2:51pm
Will Assistant Physicians Be Allowed to Fill Emerging Gaps in Health Care?

There are several needless bottlenecks in certifying medical professionals on behalf of the patients who need them. Some states have moved ahead with allowing "assistant physicians" to take a more prominent role in delivering health care. Cato's Jeff Singer explains.

Watch the Policy Forum related to this topic online May 22nd: Expanding Access to Primary Care by Removing Barriers to Assistant Physicians.


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May 15, 2023 3:51pm
The Hong Konger
Jimmy Lai has become a powerful symbol of the struggle for democratic rights and press freedom in Hong Kong as China’s Communist Party exerts ever greater control over the territory. Lai will receive the 2023 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty this week. Eric Kohn is a producer on The Hong Konger: Jimmy Lai’s Extraordinary Struggle for Freedom.


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May 12, 2023 1:56pm
The Stakes for Elections in Turkey

Turkey's President Erdogan has taken big steps to consolidate his power. Is it reasonable to expect an election that could remove him will be free and fair? Cato's Mustafa Akyol discusses where Turkey sits on the road to tyranny.

Related Policy Forum: Turkey’s Centennial Election: What Is at Stake?


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May 11, 2023 3:35pm
Addressing the Oppressive Burden of Occupational Licensing
Occupational licensing places enormous burdens on people who want to use their skills in the marketplace. State-level reform efforts have been slow going. Kentucky Republican state Representative Steven Doan and the Pacific Legal Foundation's Steven Slivinski comment.


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May 10, 2023 4:56pm
Regulatory Power vs. the Right to a Jury Trial
When can a federal regulatory agency nix your right to a jury trial and instead subject you to their own internal court? That's a question now moving through the courts. Cato's Tommy Berry describes the case of Burgess v. Whang.


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May 09, 2023 1:50pm
Baby Ninth Amendments: How Americans Embraced Unenumerated Rights and Why It Matters
Anthony Sanders is author of the new book, Baby Ninth Amendments: How Americans Embraced Unenumerated Rights and Why It Matters.


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May 08, 2023 4:41pm
AOC Wants the Feds to Squelch Fox News. Can They?
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants the federal government to step in to punish what appears on a news network. Can they? Should they? Jesse Walker of Reason Magazine comments.


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May 05, 2023 2:49pm
P.G. Wodehouse: The Sensitivity Reader Edit
Many long-dead authors have had their works scrubbed by so-called "sensitivity readers," the latest of which is P.G. Wodehouse. Why? Writer Christian Schneider discusses the new scrutiny aimed at old books.


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May 05, 2023 6:41am
The Federal Reserve Reviews the Failure of Silicon Valley Bank
The Fed's report on the failure of Silicon Valley Bank doesn't just lay blame at the private sector. Norbert Michel details the most important and valuable takeaways.


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May 03, 2023 3:13pm
What is 'Race Essentialism'?
How do "race essentialists" think about how people ought to view and interact with each other? Erec Smith, a visiting scholar at the Cato Institute, discusses what it means to be a race essentialist.


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May 02, 2023 9:15am
The Digital Age Demands Robust Financial Privacy
Our arrival in the digital age has not been good for financial privacy. Nick Anthony's new Cato paper offers a framework for eliminating warrantless surveillance of our financial lives.


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May 01, 2023 3:44pm
After the Biden-Yoon Summit, What Did the U.S. and Korea Get?
What do South Korea and the U.S. want from each other? Cato's Doug Bandow and Eric Gomez explain.


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April 28, 2023 4:05pm
The Many and Varied Explanations for the Explosion in Human Wealth
There are many competing theories that purport to explain the dramatic and sustained increase in wealth and well-being for humans these last two centuries. Cato’s Deirdre McCloskey discusses why she believes liberty is the secret sauce of growing prosperity.


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April 26, 2023 3:09pm
In Search of the 15-Minute City
What stands in the way of people having quick residential access to most of life's amenities? How should that be balanced against the desire for many Americans who love suburbia? Cato's Marc Joffe discusses the dream of the "15-minute city."


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April 25, 2023 4:28pm
Going to War in Mexico over Fentanyl is a Terrible Idea
We're unfortunately used to going to war overseas for dubious purposes, but what about a war with a next-door neighbor over fentanyl? Justin Logan details the proposals now in Congress.


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April 24, 2023 1:14pm
SCOTUS Lets Challenges to Administrative Courts Proceed
You should be able to access a court to challenge an administrative agency seeking to prevent you from taking a matter to court. So says the Supreme Court. What does it mean for future litigation? Cato’s Tommy Berry and Will Yeatman of the Pacific Legal Foundation comment.


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April 21, 2023 3:56pm
Biden's Economic Advisors Are Crypto Skeptics
President Biden's Council of Economic Advisors have for the first time produced a report with a special chapter on "digital assets," and their skepticism toward cryptocurrencies is worth noting. Jack Solowey explains why.


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April 20, 2023 4:03pm
Can Congress Make Federal Spending Cuts a Top-Tier Issue?
Putting the brakes on federal spending and debt will require Congressional will and a plan to minimize political fallout. William Glass of the Millennial Debt Foundation and Cato's Romina Boccia discuss how to make it happen.


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April 19, 2023 11:28am
Fox News, Dominion Voting Systems, and Libel Law in America
Fox News has settled with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million dollars over election-related libel claims. What does or should that mean for efforts to change libel laws in the United States? Walter Olson explains.


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April 18, 2023 8:46am
Four Ways to Simplify Taxpaying
Politicians on both sides of the aisle often get carried away with designing new or expanded tax programs without considering what is already in the tax code. Adam Michel details how to make it simpler.


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April 17, 2023 2:27pm
Steps to Reforming the Internal Revenue Service
The IRS possesses "the power to destroy" and a mindset focused heavily on enforcement, but the agency is a mess in serious need of reform. Cato adjunct scholar Joe Bishop-Henchman details how it should be done.


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April 14, 2023 3:07pm
Understanding the Newest Intelligence Leak
A young member of the National Guard somehow accessed classified military plans relating to Ukraine and shared them with friends on social media. What are the implications for security, military intelligence, and the broader problems relating to classified documents? What are the key similarities and differences between this and other intelligence leaks? Cato’s Patrick Eddington and Eric Gomez explain.


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April 13, 2023 4:33pm
Generative AI and Copyright
What threat does copyright law pose to new generative AI technology? Writer Tim Lee comments.


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April 12, 2023 2:28pm
As Pandemic Concerns Fade, 'Cops Practicing Medicine' Returns
Pandemic-driven rules governing the prescribing of certain drugs are due to expire. Cato's Jeff Singer explains why government intrusions into the practice of medicine leaves patients hurting.


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April 11, 2023 3:14pm
Would New Legislation Actually Make Kids Safer Online?
State legislatures and Congress hope to create new rules to protect young people online, but those proposals come with their own costs and risks to privacy for young people. Jennifer Huddleston discusses her new paper analyzing the proposals.


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April 10, 2023 3:29pm
What Do Americans Think of Central Bank Digital Currency?
The federal impositions that would be enabled by central bank digital currency (CBDC) are hard to overstate. A new poll from the Cato Institute indicates that the more Americans know about it, the less they like it. Cato’s Emily Ekins describes what the poll tells us.


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April 07, 2023 1:31pm
Cannabis Legalization vs. Nanny Statism in Ireland
As Ireland ponders cannabis legalization, Paul Meany suggests that the debate is an opportunity to more clearly establish that individuals are morally entitled to make these kinds of decisions for themselves.


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April 05, 2023 11:00pm
About That Xi and Putin Meeting ...
War in Ukraine has supposedly brought China and Russia closer together. Facts on the ground make that narrative less compelling. Eric Gomez comments on the recent meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.


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April 05, 2023 2:00am
The U.S. Has Too Many Classified Documents
Federal agencies are already swimming in classified documents, and most of that secrecy is unwarranted. The problem promises to get worse. Patrick Eddington detail the scope of the problem and how it ought to be addressed.


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April 04, 2023 2:00am
Assessing the Risks and Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Central Bank Digital Currency
Central bank digital currencies are still not widely understood, but that's not stopping governments from moving ahead with the new technology. Nick Anthony is coauthor of a new Cato Institute paper exposing some of the myths and risks of CBDCs.


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April 03, 2023 2:28pm
All the President's Budget Assumptions
Presidents are known to make rosy assumptions when they propose budgets to Congress. How realistic are they? Cato's Adam Michel comments on the recent White House budget proposal.


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April 01, 2023 2:00am
United States v. Hansen
When are your words of mere encouragement to a friend criminal under federal law? Tommy Berry details a case that holds serious implications for freedom of speech.


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March 31, 2023 3:45pm
TikTok Grandstanding and National Security
Congressional anger at the popular app TikTok could be better aimed at making Americans' data more secure from snoopers and hostile foreign governments. Cato's Jennifer Huddleston and Will Duffield discuss the recent Congressional hearing on TikTok.


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March 30, 2023 3:35pm
The House-Passed 'Parents Bill of Rights' Is Unconstitutional
Congress wants to promote transparency in public schooling, but its means are dubious. Neal McCluskey discusses the House-passed "parents bill of rights."


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March 29, 2023 3:27pm
SEC Moves to Revamp Retail Trading
Securities and Exchange Commission leadership seems to believe that some big changes to how trades get executed will better protect retail traders. Jennifer Schulp says it's not clear retail traders are currently poorly served.


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March 28, 2023 4:34pm
The Consequences of Big Electric Vehicle Handouts
Getting certain members of Congress to sign off on big ticket legislation sometimes means cutting some deals that mitigate the impact of your bigger goals. In the case of electric vehicle subsidies, Scott Lincicome says the negative impacts are typical for industrial policy.


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March 24, 2023 4:16pm
Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable
In Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable, author Joanna Schwartz details the myriad ways police have been immunized or otherwise protected from the consequences of violating Americans' rights.


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March 23, 2023 2:11pm
Equalities of Outcome/Opportunity/Permission
When policymakers pursue “equality,” which equality should they pursue? Deirdre McCloskey believes neither "equality of outcome" nor "equality of opportunity" is a great option.


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March 22, 2023 7:55am
PTSD, Veteran Mental Health, and Psychedelics
Psychedelics show enormous promise in the treatment of PTSD and depression. Those treatments are largely unavailable domestically to veterans and others who might be helped. Call it a casualty of the War on Drugs. Jesse Gould runs the Heroic Hearts Project to help overcome those hurdles for veterans who might benefit from psychedelic treatment.


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March 21, 2023 7:45am
The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in the United States
How does immigration affect the public treasury? In most scenarios, that effect is positive. Alex Nowrasteh is coauthor of the new paper, "The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in the United States."


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March 20, 2023 9:28am
Appreciating Israel Kirzner
What are the big takeaways from the insights of the long career of Austrian economist Israel Kirzner? Economist Peter Boettke has some ideas.


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March 17, 2023 3:10pm
Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game
It took 30 years and one dedicated young man to get New York to throw out its ban on pinball. Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game tells the story of Roger Sharpe, a journalist at GQ and a pinball aficionado. Austin and Meredith Bragg are the film's directors. The film is in theaters and available for streaming today.


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March 16, 2023 1:56pm
Panic at the Chatbot
Fears of artificial intelligence have been goosed recently with the emergence of services like ChatGPT that can deliver longform coherent text addressing fairly specific prompts. Cato's Will Duffield says many of the fears it has inspired are unfounded.


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March 15, 2023 1:28pm
FDIC Sets Bad Precedent in SVB Failure
Shareholders are getting hosed by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, but depositors ought to be more on the hook for losses than, say, depositors at other banks. Norbert Michel discusses the bad precedent set by the FDIC.

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March 14, 2023 2:00am
Shelter from the Storm: How a COVID Mortgage Meltdown Was Averted
In his new book, Shelter from the Storm, Cato's Mark Calabria details his time as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency during one of the most turbulent times for housing finance.


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March 13, 2023 2:00am
Nigeria's Disastrous Rollout of Central Bank Digital Currency
Nigeria's experience with central bank digital currencies should give pause to advocates for the privacy killing monetary innovation. Cato's Nick Anthony comments.


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March 11, 2023 2:00am
Search Warrants and the Police Killing of Breonna Taylor
Police killed Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky three years ago. The warrants that led to her death remain a black eye for the judicial branch there. Julie Kaelin is a circuit judge in Louisville who has tried to reform warrant approval in Kentucky.


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March 10, 2023 3:10pm
Home Equity Theft at the Supreme Court
The Cato Institute has filed a brief in the Supreme Court case of Tyler v. Hennepin County. Tommy Berry details the argument against the government's taking of Ms. Tyler's home and all the equity it contains.


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March 10, 2023 2:09pm
Home Equity Theft at the Supreme Court
The Cato Institute has filed a brief in the Supreme Court case of Tyler v. Hennepin County. Tommy Berry details the argument against the government's taking of Ms. Tyler's home and all the equity it contains.


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March 09, 2023 2:03pm
Local Consequences of Certificate of Need in Health Care
Ron Shultis of the Beacon Center in Tennessee details some of the local costs that certificate of need laws can impose on health care consumers.


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March 09, 2023 7:09am
New Hampshire's Governor on the Regulatory State, Accountable Cops, and Ukraine
New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu (R) discusses devolving the regulatory state, police accountability, and U.S. support in the war in Ukraine.


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March 08, 2023 8:46am
The 1619 Project and Capitalism
The 1619 Project has been converted to a television production on Hulu. Cato's Paul Meany takes a look at a few of the more controversial claims.


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March 06, 2023 3:53pm
Do Effective Policy Solutions to the ‘Baby Bust’ Exist?
Americans aren't having as many kids these days. It reflects a global trend, and the consequences of the slowdown may be dire. Still, it's not clear that policy has any especially respectful solutions to address it. Writer Tim Carney (a father of six) discusses what to do – in policy and in the culture – about the "baby bust."


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March 01, 2023 2:00am
A Path Forward in Fights over African American History
In January, Florida governor Ron DeSantis announced an end to AP classes in African American history in state schools. Historian David Beito details why that history matters, what's missing in common treatments of African American history, and why choice in education is as important as ever.


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February 28, 2023 2:00am
Scope of Practice and the Delivery of Health Care
At least some of the modern fights over health care can be traced back to divvying up the healthcare marketplace in statute. Jeff Singer discusses the problems inherent in pervasive scope of practice regulation.


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February 27, 2023 2:00am
The New Attacks on Globalization
The new skepticism toward globalization has a bipartisan zeal with new concerns about the environment and national security thrown in. Johan Norberg explains why these new attacks are no smarter than the old ones.


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February 24, 2023 2:00am
Destroying Anonymous Online Speech 'for the Children
Much will be lost when platforms are compelled to collect our personal details in the name of protecting children online. Author Jeff Kosseff comments on the new push to force platforms to identify every user.


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February 23, 2023 2:00am
When Problematic Prosecutors Enjoy Absolute Immunity
When should victims of blatant proseutorial abuse be able to sue? Ben Field of the Institute for Justice details a troubling case of prosecutorial immunity.


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February 22, 2023 12:51pm
Should Every Felony Squelch Your Second Amendment Rights?
If you state made jaywalking a felony, should that necessarily mean you should never be able to own a firearm again? Clark Neily details the practical debate over gun rights now brewing in federal court and says the implications for the average American are substantial.


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February 21, 2023 7:55am
Federal Task Forces and Holding Corrupt Local Cops Accountable
A Minnesota police officer may avoid accountability for criminally sending some teenagers to federal prison for two years because she's a deputized federal agent. Patrick Jaicomo of the Institute for Justice represents one of the teenagers.


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February 21, 2023 7:53am
Big Spending and Big Debt Require Big Solutions
Congress and the President regularly have big spending plans, and too often they agree on them. The rapid rise in debt issued by the federal government is clearly unsustainable, so what would serious reform look like? Romina Boccia explains.


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February 21, 2023 7:49am
Swifties, Ticketmaster, and the Role of Antitrust
Is there more to the story of Ticketmaster's handling of Taylor Swift tickets beyond mere supply and demand? Jennifer Huddleston discusses why Congress and federal regulators are looking more closely.


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February 16, 2023 1:38pm
States Working to Make 2023 A Year of Universal School Choice
2021 was a big year for school choice, but this year more states are advancing so-called universal school choice programs. Colleen Hroncich discusses the trend.


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February 14, 2023 3:40pm
More Thoughts on Algorithms and Section 230 at SCOTUS

Will Duffield provides additional context ahead of the Supreme Court's consideration of liability under Section 230 of Communications Decency Act.

Related Cato Daily Podcast: Do Algorithms Get a Pass Under Section 230? featuring Thomas A. Berry and Caleb O. Brown


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February 13, 2023 1:34pm
Why Shadow Banking Didn’t Cause the Financial Crisis
In his new book, Why Shadow Banking Didn’t Cause the Financial Crisis, Norbert Michel explores the main problems with the conventional story about the 2008 crisis and explains why it does not justify expanding bank‐​like regulations throughout financial markets to mitigate systemic risks.


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February 10, 2023 11:49am
Tyre Nichols and Fostering a Police Culture of Accountability
It's a heavy lift to create a culture of accountability within policing that could reduce police killings. Jay Schweikert discusses the brutal police killing of Tyre Nichols and why the case was both exceptional and alarming.


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February 09, 2023 3:17pm
DeSantis Scrubs Florida Public Schools
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has asserted more direct control over the state's public schools. Neal McCluskey details why public institutions necessitate public control.


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February 08, 2023 3:15pm
Do Algorithms Get a Pass Under Section 230?
A case going before the U.S. Supreme Court at long last puts Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act front and center. Specifically, the court is being asked to rule on the status of algorithms that help platforms decide what content to offer up to users. Tommy Berry explains.


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February 07, 2023 3:13pm
Do Big Transit Spending Plans Make Sense Anymore?
Workers have largely maintained their out-of-office work arrangements. Do big spending plans for transit still make sense? Marc Joffe provides details.


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February 06, 2023 4:18pm
DeSantis Likes E-Verify Despite Its (Many) Failures
The federal labor market imposition known as E-Verify doesn't work very well, and it could be used in myriad ways to deny Americans’ employment. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis seems to like it anyway, having punished private employers who have refused to use the program. David Bier explains why the program is at best a bothersome federal intervention.


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February 03, 2023 9:38am
How Certificate of Need Obstructs Birthing Centers
Birthing can be a tense process. The comfort of pregnant women is of utmost importance for a smooth delivery. Still, many states tell future mothers they don't need facilities that specialize in providing that comfort. Anastasia Boden explains how certificate of need laws interfere with the preferences of parents in how their children are born.


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February 02, 2023 3:13pm
How Non-Compete Agreements Work in Labor Markets
What does research tell us about the use and abuse of non-compete agreements? Brian Albrecht of the International Center for Law and Economics comments.


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February 01, 2023 11:07am
Feds Back Down (Temporarily) on Expanded Financial Snooping
It's hard to square rhetoric surrounding high-earners who attempt to avoid taxes with a now-suspended plan to snoop on small financial transactions. Nick Anthony and Scott Lincicome comment.


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January 31, 2023 5:25pm
Immigrants Continue to Consume Less in Welfare Benefits
Why do immigrants consistently consume less in welfare benefits than native-born Americans? Alex Nowrasteh explains.


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January 30, 2023 9:10am
Scope of Practice and the Supply of Health Care Services
When you wait three months for an appointment only to spend a few minutes with a physician, would you say that you had adequate access to your doctor? How would expanding scope of practice help? Elizabeth Stelle with the Commonwealth Foundation comments from the Cato Institute’s State Health Policy Summit held earlier this month.


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January 27, 2023 8:43am
State-Run Home Equity Theft Goes before SCOTUS
A dozen states and DC steal home equity from often unsuspecting homeowners. The process known as “home equity theft” leaves many people both homeless and without a large fraction of their retirement savings. The Pacific Legal Foundation will bring a case to the U.S. Supreme Court this year. Researcher Angela C. Erickson and attorney Larry Salzman comment.


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January 26, 2023 4:30am
The Human Freedom Index 2022
The latest edition of the Human Freedom Index shows that the pandemic was devastating for freedom across the globe. Ian Vasquez is the author.


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January 25, 2023 3:19pm
The Political Opposition to Prescribing Psychologists
An emergent turf war over who gets to prescribe medication means delaying mental health care. Claudia Mosier is a prescribing psychologist in two states and believes what she's offering could help many Americans secure their own mental health.


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January 24, 2023 2:00am
Prescribing Psychologists and Mental Health Care
How might expanding the ranks of prescribing psychologists fill the gap in providing mental health care? What stands in the way? Beth N. Rom-Rymer is a clinical psychologist and advocate for the expansion of mental health access.


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January 23, 2023 8:16am
Biden, Trump, and Purloined Classified Documents
It's too soon to say if the classified material found in the home and former office of President Joe Biden represents a serious security vulnerability, but Patrick Eddington says it easily represents a breach for which most of us would already be in jail.


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January 20, 2023 9:20am
The Return of the Pre-COVID Regulatory Hurdles
Many regulations were suspended or relaxed as COVID-19 surged in the United States. So why are they coming back? Rea Hederman of the Buckeye Institute explains.


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January 19, 2023 11:00am
'Strategic Whac-A-Mole' and FBI v. Fikre
Yonas Fikre spent years on the federal "no fly" list. Now he's seeking the opportunity of redress. The FBI wants nothing to do with it and pledges not to put Fikre back on the list. Tommy Berry details why the claim of “mootness” has this case before SCOTUS.


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January 19, 2023 2:00am
Don't Build the Great Firewall of America
Some members of Congress appear to want to choke off all manner of innovation enabled by cryptocurrencies, and doing so would require a great deal more intrusive government. Jack Solowey explains.


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January 18, 2023 2:00am
Chevron Deference Returns to SCOTUS
Chevron deference, the doctrine under which courts defer to agencies in interpreting statutory authority, has long been controversial. Now the Supreme Court will look at the doctrine again. Tommy Berry comments.


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January 17, 2023 7:11am
Drug Paraphernalia Laws and Overdoses
Laws aimed at controlling drug paraphernalia can end up harming efforts to prevent overdoses. Jeff Singer explains.


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January 13, 2023 2:00am
Nationalism Stinks
Nationalism effectively outsources your ideological commitments to whatever the state wants. That's not a good thing. Alex Nowrasteh explains why.


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January 12, 2023 2:00am
Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media
The United States is an outlier (in a good way) in the protection of speech. Jacob Mchangama is author of Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media.


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January 11, 2023 2:00am
The Risks of Sending Ukraine Heavier Firepower
The U.S. shouldn't stumble its way into a war with Russia, but there are plans under consideration that put the U.S. at greater risk of a direct confrontation. Eric Gomez details why sending heavier firepower to Ukraine risks greater American entanglement.


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January 09, 2023 11:00pm
As Unions Decline, They Get Creative
Courts have given public sector employees the ability to walk away from their unions, so unions have had to get creative in retaining those members. Ken Girardin of the Empire Center discusses the state of unions today.


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January 09, 2023 2:03pm
Zoning and Housing Reform in 2022
The housing crunch is showing signs of breaking, at least when it comes to states where the availability of affordable housing has been most visible. Nolan Gray, author of Arbitrary Lines, discusses what changed in 2022.


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December 31, 2022 2:00am
Making Fun of Cops Online Is Protected Speech
Thomas A. Berry details two cases that may provide an opportunity for the Supreme Court to bolster its reputation as protectors of free speech and weaken the troubling court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity.


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December 30, 2022 2:00am
North Carolina and Cleaner Energy Production
Are there lessons for other states in North Carolina's plan to set guardrails on shifting energy sources? André Béliveau of the John Locke Center makes his case.


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December 29, 2022 2:00am
Aligning Incentives for Durable Conservation Efforts
Conservation needs willing parties to participate, so aligning incentives voluntarily is generally preferable to federal mandates. That from Brian Yablonski of the Property and Environment Research Center.


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December 28, 2022 2:00am
High-Profile Union Gains amid Unions' Steady Decline
The Mackinac Center's Jarrett Skorup believes the high-profile unionization of some businesses this year should be put in the broader context of the larger, steadier decline of union membership nationally.


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December 27, 2022 2:00am
Understanding Cato’s Letters (Part Two)
Paul Meany of Libertarianism.org details the ideas and influence of Cato’s Letters on the American founding era.


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December 26, 2022 2:00am
Understanding Cato’s Letters (Part One)
Paul Meany of Libertarianism.org discusses the cultural environment in which Cato's Letters arrived and their impact on the American Revolution.


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December 23, 2022 2:00am
2022's Big State Subsidy Binge
This year is looking more like a historic year for government handouts to well-heeled companies. John Mozena with the Center for Economic Accountability details how federal spending has fueled big state-level corporate giveaways.


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December 22, 2022 2:00am
The Myth of American Inequality: How Government Biases Policy Debate
This mismeasurement of income inequality has given us costly and unjustified policy interventions to boost redistribution. That's the argument from the book coauthored by Cato's John F. Early, The Myth of American Inequality.


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December 21, 2022 2:00am
In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace
Wishing the United States were less of a global hegemon doesn't mean giving up on engagement with the globe, as Christopher Coyne argues in his new book, In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace.


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December 20, 2022 2:00am
How the Feds 'Thanked' Distilleries When They Shifted to Hand Sanitizer
When we knew little about COVID-19 and hand sanitizer was in short supply, distilleries stepped in to fill the gap. For their efforts, the federal government thanked them with ... a hefty bill. Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation comments.


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December 18, 2022 11:00pm
Congressional Dysfunction and Separation of Powers
Outgoing Republican Representative Peter Meijer of Michigan would like to see Congress reassert powers over war from the executive branch and address its own dysfunction. We discussed what he’s learned in his term in Congress, if his party plans to engage in any form of introspection, and what’s next for him.


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December 16, 2022 12:35pm
Time to Think Small: How Nimble Environmental Technologies Can Solve the Planet's Biggest Problems
Todd Myers is author of Time to Think Small: How Nimble Environmental Technologies Can Solve the Planet's Biggest Problems.


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December 15, 2022 1:04pm
Criminal Justice Reform on Behalf of Workers
Productive employment is associated with avoiding entanglement in the criminal justice system, but for those already entangled that fact may be of little comfort. Scott Lincicome explains why criminal justice reform may also be pro-worker policy reform in his chapter of Empowering the New American Worker.


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December 14, 2022 11:39am
Health Care and the New American Worker
Employment and health care are inextricably linked, and often that means limiting the choices of workers across the economy. Michael Cannon authored the health care chapter in Cato's new book, Empowering the New American Worker.


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December 13, 2022 3:09pm
What Has Joe Biden Gotten Right on Immigration?
The President hasn't done much with respect to immigration, but there are a few bright spots. David Bier discusses the Biden record on immigration so far and a new paper on guest workers.


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December 12, 2022 4:36pm
Occupational Licensing and the Private Market Actors Who Make the Rules
It's a clear conflict of interest when industry insiders get to control who participates in that industry, but that's exactly how occupational licensing functions. And, as Steve Slivinski of the Pacific Legal Foundation notes, it's worse than you might think.


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December 09, 2022 5:30pm
Government Impediments to Lower Cost of Living
Higher salaries are great, but the cost of living impacts quality of life every bit as much. In her chapter in Cato's new Empowering the New American Worker book, Gabriella Beaumont-Smith details the myriad ways basic goods cost more than they should.


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December 08, 2022 4:18pm
Keeping North Carolina’s Housing Affordable
Mike Tanner's new paper on the path forward for housing affordability in North Carolina shows that some of the biggest impediments to new housing exist in more states than just New York and California.


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December 07, 2022 3:08pm
From Federal Spending Spree to Congressional Lame Duck
Congress loves to avoid accountability. Our current and most recent former presidents have both presided over unprecedented spending. To make matters worse, the flashpoint of accountability elections provide is two years or more away. Jonathan Bydlak of the R Street Institute says this is the time when we should expect to see lawmakers at their least accountable as many (but not all) traditional opponents of profligate spending have shifted focus more immediate culture war fights.


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December 06, 2022 4:11pm
Housing for the New American Worker
The cost of housing is at historic highs and largely without good reason. Vanessa Brown Calder discusses what needs to change to make housing more affordable for average Americans.


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December 05, 2022 10:22am
On A Matter of $8000 Stolen by the Government
Cristal Starling of Rochester, New York just wants her money back. The government took it without even charging her with a crime. Lee McGrath of the Institute for Justice is representing her in court.


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December 02, 2022 3:05pm
Smashing the Liquor Machine
The temperance movement in the U.S. that culminated with Prohibition wasn't the only one, though the results were similar. Mark Lawrence Schrad is author of Smashing the Liquor Machine.


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December 01, 2022 3:54pm
God in Commerce
What is the proper way for Christians to engage with the world around them? Many theologians believe Christians are called upon to be socialists. Deirdre McCloskey disagrees. Her forthcoming book is God in Commerce.


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November 30, 2022 3:00pm
Challenges to Donor Privacy New and Old
The nonprofit world largely weathered the pandemic, but the longstanding threats remain to the ability of nonprofit donors to remain anonymous haven’t gone anywhere. Peter Lipsett of DonorsTrust comments.


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November 29, 2022 1:44pm
Transportation and the New American Worker
American workers need to get to work, and the systems that support our transportation infrastructure need reform. Colin Grabow authored the transportation chapter in Cato's Empowering the New American Worker book.


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November 27, 2022 2:00am
North Korea’s Missile Tests a Regular Source of Anxiety
North Korea’s missile tests are a regular source of anxiety, but it’s important not to let the country’s saber rattling turn into a high-stakes cycle of increasing belligerence. Cato’s Eric Gomez details the current state of play.


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November 26, 2022 2:00am
Iran's Struggle against Mandated Religious Practices
Protests in Iran continue to highlight the struggle against mandated religious practices by Iran’s government. Cato’s Mustafa Akyol comments.


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November 25, 2022 2:00am
Items on Americans' Ballot
Items on ballots this month included the typical crop of candidates, but voters also weighed in on ballot issues on how people vote, abortion, the separation of powers, involuntary servitude, and ending some drug prohibition. Cato’s Walter Olson discusses some of the more notable ballot measures voters faced this year.


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November 24, 2022 8:56am
The Next American Economy
There are several paths forward for the American economy, but one path readily advanced by a movement on the right looks a lot like a loser’s playbook: protect industries and workers with the heavy hand of government and otherwise move toward more state interventions into economic affairs. Samuel Gregg is author of the new book, The Next American Economy.


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November 22, 2022 10:06pm
Fire Suppression versus Forest Management
There are ways to mitigate and prevent catastrophic wildfires if only the feds would allow them. Hannah Downey of the Property and Environment Research Center explains.


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November 21, 2022 9:45pm
Biden's Apparently Temporary but Also Seemingly Permanent Medicaid Expansion

The Biden White House continues to delay a return to normalcy in the Medicaid program, and that's putting states on the hook for more spending. Marc Joffe comments.


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November 18, 2022 3:00pm
Empowering Independent Work
Independent contractors perform vital functions throughout the economy so why do many states and the federal government want to disempower that kind of work. Scott Lincicome is editor of the new Cato book, Empowering the New American Worker.


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November 17, 2022 1:37pm
How States Protect and Punish Political Speech
How do states rank when it comes to protecting the right to speak publicly about politics? Scott Blackburn is author of The Free Speech Index at the Institute for Free Speech.


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November 15, 2022 2:00am
Education and the New American Worker
Public institutions dominate the education landscape, but those institutions do not serve the needs of workers particularly well. Neal McCluskey is author of two chapters dealing with education in the new Cato book, Empowering the New American Worker.


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November 13, 2022 2:00am
Lessons from Montana's Growing Pains
Kendall Cotton of Montana’s Frontier Institute discusses how the state can make room for new Montanans and prevent long-term economic problems in the process.


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November 11, 2022 7:40am
Home-Based Business and the New American Worker
Businesses run out of homes represent a massive and unseen part of our economy. Governments should take steps to empower rather than punish these firms. Chris Edwards is author of a chapter in the new Cato book, Empowering the New American Worker.


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November 10, 2022 3:28pm
Takeaways from Election Day 2022
Despite what was described just months earlier as a great political environment for Republicans, the anticipated "red wave" didn't materialize. Cato's Emily Ekins provided some analysis.


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November 10, 2022 2:00am
Empowering the New American Worker
The new Cato book, Empowering the New American Worker, digs deep into policy reforms that would give American workers far greater freedom to plot their own professional lives. Scott Lincicome is the book's editor.


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November 08, 2022 3:33pm
A Case for Limiting the Time and Term of Supreme Court Justices
What's the case for limiting the time or term of Supreme Court justices? Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School made his case at the Cato Institute's Constitution Day festivities in September.


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November 07, 2022 7:36pm
Prospects for Regulatory Reform in 2023
What does West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency portend for regulatory reform? Is there hope for other regulatory reform with a new Congress? Joe Luppino-Esposito of the Pacific Legal Foundation gives his take.


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November 03, 2022 4:19pm
Are Social Media Algorithms a Form of Speech?
When social media companies decide what to show you, are the algorithms they use to automate the process a form of speech? It matters for civil liability. Paul Matzko comments.


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November 02, 2022 9:02am
Conservatives' Time for Choosing on The One Ring of Big Government: #TeamFrodo or #TeamBoromir
Is a massive, powerful state something to be feared and destroyed … or wielded like a weapon? Many self-styled conservatives have decided that The One Ring of big government is a gift to conservative policy goals. Tony Woodlief disagrees.


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November 01, 2022 3:58pm
30 Years Later, Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights Has Been Decimated
Thirty years ago, Colorado's Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) was meant to strictly limit spending and taxes. That's not how it's worked out. Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute details for the benefit of other states how TABOR opponents wore it down.


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October 31, 2022 1:12pm
Is Democratic Opposition to School Choice on the Wane?
Recent shifts by some leading Democratic candidates for governor may indicate that the partisan political divide over school choice is shrinking. Rebekah Bydlak of the American Federation for Children explains.


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October 28, 2022 2:53pm
Suppressing Truthful Information about Judges Violates the First Amendment
Tragic circumstances have inspired federal lawmakers to try to protect basic biographical information about judges from distribution online, but the proposal runs headlong into the First Amendment. Tommy Berry explains.


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October 27, 2022 3:45pm
Big Takeaways from Large Declines in Student Achievement
We knew it was coming, but the magnitude of declines in student test scores on the National Assessment of Education Progress still shocked many parents. So what should parents do on behalf of their kids now? Colleen Hroncich comments.


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October 26, 2022 2:49pm
Rishi Sunak, UK Prime Minister
New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's agenda appears to be lighter than the one advanced by his immediate predecessor. The difficult work of regulatory reform appears to be nowhere on the agenda. Ryan Bourne comments.


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October 25, 2022 4:06pm
The Low-Key Housing Turnaround in Auburn, Maine
Boosting the production of new housing keeps young people engaged in communities they might otherwise feel compelled to leave. Greg Brooks of the Better Cities Project discusses the housing redemption for policymakers in Auburn, Maine.


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October 24, 2022 2:04pm
Resist the Urge to Suggest Jared Polis Is a Libertarian
Colorado's governor Jared Polis gets good press for his libertarian sympathies. Jon Caldara of Colorado's Independence Institute humbly asks the media to please cut it out and look at the evidence.


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October 22, 2022 2:00am
Is Kentucky’s Pension Mess Improving?
Kentucky is among the worst performers in managing state pensions. Those pensions are promises to government workers that, if not managed properly, represent a massive new liability for taxpayers. Allison Ball is Kentucky's state treasurer.


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October 21, 2022 12:53pm
Evaluating California's Progress on Poverty and Inequality
Cato's Project on Poverty and Inequality in California is a year old, so how has the Golden State changed in that time? Cato's Michael Tanner comments.


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October 20, 2022 3:41pm
Cato Files Suit to Stop Biden's Student Bailout
Does the President have unilateral authority to spend billions of dollars to provide college students a bailout? The Cato Institute has filed suit to stop the mass debt cancellation undertaken by the Biden Administration. Clark Neily comments.


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October 19, 2022 3:10pm
If Some Jones Act Defenders Had Their Way, Cato Employees Would Face Treason Charges
It's laughable, right? Right? At least one high-level Jones Act supporter would like to see Cato Institute "members" charged with treason for daring to speak out about the century-old protectionist shipping law. Colin Grabow and Scott Lincicome won't plead the Fifth.


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October 18, 2022 4:22pm
Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors 2022
Governors play a key role in state fiscal policy. This report grades governors on their fiscal policies from a limited‐​government perspective. Chris Edwards is the report's author.


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October 17, 2022 2:51pm
The Municipal Financial Crisis
Mark Moses is author of The Municipal Financial Crisis: A Framework for Understanding and Fixing Government Budgueting.


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October 13, 2022 3:53pm
How the Regulatory Sandbox Works for Utah
Utah adopted a first-in-the-country regulatory sandbox to address needs of entrepreneurs and get businesses up and running with a big, temporary reprieve from government red tape. So how is it going? Connor Boyack of the Libertas Institute discusses the power of the sandbox to submit existing regulation to greater scrutiny.


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October 12, 2022 4:34pm
Does the Regulatory State Fuel Populism?
Cato adjunct scholar Bryan Caplan speaks at the New Challenges to the Free Economy conference on the subject of how (or if) the regulatory state fuels populism.


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October 11, 2022 3:37pm
Ignoring versus Overstating the Tradeoffs Inherent in Crafting Policy
Where do the Left and Right go wrong when considering economic policy? Economist Jason Furman spoke at the Cato Institute's New Challenges to the Free Economy conference held last week.


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October 10, 2022 3:54pm
Kentucky Gives School Choice Its Day in Court
Kentucky is late to the school choice party, but its education opportunity accounts (#KYEOA) would deliver new education options for parents seeking better choices for their children. The Kentucky Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about EOAs this week. Akia McNeary is a parent seeking better education for her kids. David Hodges is an attorney at the Institute for Justice.


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October 07, 2022 3:13pm
Biden Moves to Begin the End of Cannabis Prohibition
The end of cannabis prohibition is long overdue. The Biden administration appears to recognize that, and is making substantial moves to bring that reality closer. Trevor Burrus discusses the importance of each of the President's directives.


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October 06, 2022 1:33pm
U.S. and Europe Should Welcome Russian Draft Dodgers
If you want to weaken an adversary who is escalating a war on a neighbor while scrambling global energy markets, you could do a lot worse than welcoming people who are trying to escape the regime. Alex Nowrasteh explains.


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October 05, 2022 8:19am
Will Inflation Ever Get Back to 2%? Does It Matter?
Norbert Michel details why the Fed needn't focus on returning to a pre-pandemic price level in its attempt to bring inflation down.


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October 04, 2022 3:21pm
Property Rights Fight in Sackett Returns to the Supreme Court
The Sackett family's long struggle over how or if they may use their private property to build a home may be nearing an end after this week's argument before the Supreme Court. PLF's Charles Yates and Cato's Tommy Berry discuss the oral argument.


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October 03, 2022 3:46pm
Unresolved Questions Following the School Choice Victory of Carson v. Makin
School choice litigation has come a long way in the modern era of advancing educational freedom. Michael Bindas of the Institute for Justice details the big win in Carson v. Makin and what might come next.


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September 30, 2022 4:03pm
What Will Post-Pandemic Litigation over Government Emergency Powers Yield?
The Big Board in Washington D.C. faced some seemingly capricious government action in its attempts to stay open without policing customers. Robert Alt of the Buckeye Institute is representing the bar in its challenge to D.C. government.


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September 29, 2022 5:51pm
Congress Wants to Subsidize (Some) Americans’ Savings
What's in the EARN Act, legislation nominally aimed at boosting Americans' savings? Romina Boccia explains.


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September 28, 2022 1:09pm
California Ponders Punishing Doctors Sharing COVID ‘Misinformation’
Will California move to prevent doctors from sharing information with patients that the state deems "COVID misinformation"? Cato's Jeff Singer discusses the likely consequences.


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September 27, 2022 1:49pm
Will Banning Congressional Stock Trading Achieve Anything?
Transparency is the best way to curb members of Congress who might wish to use their positions to enrich themselves, according to Jennifer Schulp. She argues that a ban on stock trading probably won't achieve that much tangible benefit.

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September 26, 2022 3:51pm
The Vaccine Mandate Cases in Retrospect
The vaccine mandate cases handled by the Supreme Court earlier this year deserve discussion for their implications for emergency powers going forward. Ilya Somin parsed the cases at Cato's Constitution Day event.


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September 23, 2022 4:27pm
Another Take on West Virginia v. EPA
While reining in the administrative state is a worthy goal, Jonathan Adler is not impressed with the reasoning and doctrine of West Virginia v. EPA. He spoke at the Cato Institute's Constitution Day festivities.


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September 21, 2022 3:22pm
Sourcing Flatware, Footwear, and Other Vital National Security Issues
The sourcing decisions for some pretty strange products are presented as vital national security matters by straight-faced members of Congress. Colin Grabow takes down some of the most galling justifications for limiting consumer choices.


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September 19, 2022 4:41pm
Team Libertarian on the Guardrails of Democracy
What do experts with ideological commitments view as the most important elements of protecting the "guardrails of democracy" in America? Walter Olson (Team Libertarian) makes the case.


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September 15, 2022 3:43pm
Cloudflare's About-Face over Kiwi Farms
A service that keep sites online despite attacks often protects sites whose bad reputations are well earned. Elizabeth Nolan Brown and Will Duffield discuss Cloudflare and its change of heart over providing service to the infamous troll haven known as Kiwi Farms.


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September 14, 2022 11:49am
The Fractured Schoolhouse: Reexamining Education for a Free, Equal, and Harmonious Society
American public schooling was established to unify diverse people and prepare citizens for democracy. How has it fared? Neal McCluskey is author of The Fractured Schoolhouse: Reexamining Education for a Free, Equal, and Harmonious Society.


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September 13, 2022 10:50am
The Jones Act and the Price of Gas
The inefficiencies that the Jones Act creates for American oil supply chains have ripple effects across the globe. Colin Grabow explains.


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September 12, 2022 11:10am
How the Fed Thinks about Inflation, Cryptocurrencies, and NGDP Targeting
Cato Institute president Peter Goettler and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell discuss approaches to inflation, cryptocurrencies, the Fed's dual mandate, and other elements of monetary policy at the Cato Institute's 40th Annual Monetary Conference.


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September 09, 2022 3:27pm
Russia Looks to North Korea for Weaponry in War over Ukraine
How should the U.S. view Russia's move to resupply ammunition from North Korea? Cato's Jordan Cohen comments


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September 08, 2022 3:44pm
Postal Banking: A Dead Idea Walking
Turning post offices into banks is a bad idea. So why does it keep coming back? Nick Anthony explains.


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September 07, 2022 1:46pm
Is Biden's Big Student Debt Cancellation Legal?
There are significant legal problems with the President's plan to cancel billions of dollars in student debt. Tommy Berry explains.


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September 06, 2022 1:56pm
Liz Truss, UK Prime Minister
Cato's Ryan Bourne details what we might expect from Liz Truss at the helm of the UK government.

Related content:

Brexit, Trade, and Regulatory Barriers in Great Britain featuring Liz Truss and Caleb O. Brown, Cato Daily Podcast, September 20, 2018


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September 05, 2022 12:00am
What Can Presidents Take with Them When It's Time to Leave?
Since 1978, departing U.S. Presidents have to leave the office — and almost everything in it — behind. Why is that? And what are the implications for former President Trump's legal problems? Patrick Eddington explains.


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September 03, 2022 2:00am
Why Immigration Visa Backlogs Are Pushing This CEO and Veteran Overseas

Tech CEO and veteran Matt McGuire and his foreign-born fiancee want to get married and live in the United States. So why won't the feds even look at her application for a fiancee visa? McGuire and Cato's David Bier explain the myriad problems with the massive backlog of visa applications.


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September 02, 2022 4:05pm
Inflation, Tangential Goals, and the Fed's Dual Mandate

Does the Federal Reserve's dual mandate allow the central bank to target goals well outside of that mandate? Economist Thomas Hogan comments.


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August 31, 2022 2:53pm
Jawboning over Social Media's Handling of Hunter Biden
The Hunter Biden laptop story was suppressed by Facebook and other social media over a general request regarding “election disinformation” from the FBI. It’s the kind of compliance that government probably couldn't get through legislation. Will Duffield discusses the difficult situations that arise from Congressional jawboning over social media moderation.


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August 30, 2022 3:35pm
U.S. Policy amid Pakistan's Uncertain Future
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imram Khan is touring the country assailing what he believes is U.S. intervention in domestic affairs as he seeks new political power. Sahar Khan explains why the U.S. shouldn't wave off Imram Khan's growing popularity in a nuclear-armed country.


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August 29, 2022 3:19pm
Mainstream Islam and Freedom of Expression
Following an assault on author Salman Rushdie, it's worth remembering that even mainstream Muslims defend laws against blasphemy. Mustafa Akyol makes the case for more tolerance for a robust freedom of expression.


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August 25, 2022 2:55pm
Biden Announces Big Student Loan Bailout
President Biden aims to cancel a large piece of outstanding student loans in the United States. Neal McCluskey explains the numerous ways that's a bad idea.


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August 25, 2022 1:42pm
The Inflation Reduction Act Won't Quell Inflation, but It Will Boost Debt
The Inflation Reduction Act has a lot of new spending in it. Big spending rarely does much to reduce inflation, but it does increase debt. And the U.S. is already saddled with massive debt. Romina Boccia explains.


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August 22, 2022 2:59pm
Are Cryptocurrencies Securities? Should It Matter?
Regulators are fighting over which of them get to regulate cryptocurrencies. A core question remains: Are cryptos securities? Jennifer Schulp and Jack Solowey comment.


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August 19, 2022 7:32am
The 1619 Project Deserves Consideration and Criticism
The 1619 Project aims to deepen our understand of American slavery, while also attempting to reframe current debate about it. Despite its laudable goal to elucidate the complexities of that institution, it fails on a number of fronts according to Phil Magness, author of The 1619 Project: A Critique.


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August 18, 2022 8:05am
The Feds Are in No Danger of Making a Profit from Student Loans
Concerns from Senator Elizabeth Warren and others about the federal government earning a profit from student lending are substantially misguided. Neal McCluskey explains why.


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August 17, 2022 9:20am
A Gay Bar and Some Polygamists Had a Fight over Zoning …
Ryan Yonk of the American Institute for Economic Research details some of the perverse and costly incentives built into our systems of zoning land for various uses.


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August 16, 2022 10:34am
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy
Lou Perez is a comedian and author of the new book, That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore: On the Death and Rebirth of Comedy.


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August 15, 2022 3:15pm
How Serious Are the New Claims against President Trump?
A recent FBI search of former President Trump's home revealed many boxes containing classified documents that the federal government has been trying to recover for several months. Julian Sanchez and Cato's Patrick Eddington comment on the arguments defending Trump and how these cases typically resolve.


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August 15, 2022 1:02pm
Congress Chooses Mandates over Markets to Control Medical Costs (Again)
Lowering costs for critical medical needs like insulin needn't be more mandates piled atop other mandates. Cato's Michael Cannon explains.


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August 13, 2022 2:00am
Should SEC Set Environmental, Social, and Governance Goals?
Is the Securities and Exchange Commission well positioned to tell investors and the world what qualifies as environmentally friendly? Jennifer Schulp comments.


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August 12, 2022 5:28pm
The Big Shiny Promise of Big Shiny Economic Development Giveaways
The incentives are aligned in a bad way for state governments pondering wasteful economic development giveaways. Economist Peter Calcagno explains.


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August 10, 2022 2:50pm
When (if Ever) Should Former Presidents be Charged with Crimes?
Would it set a dangerous new norm to charge former presidents for crimes that they actually may have committed? Walter Olson weighs the considerations.


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August 10, 2022 9:23am
Social Media Fights over the Definition of ‘Recession'
Economists use a variety of metrics to pinpoint recessions, and those determinations often come after the fact. Social media companies nonetheless try to police language about recession. Ryan Bourne and John Samples discuss the fight over "recession."


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August 08, 2022 3:27pm
What Do New Conservatives Believe about the Economy?
The apparent tenets of modern conservative thought have changed in recent years. So what do these "new conservatives" believe about the economy? Scott Lincicome and Norbert Michel comment.


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August 06, 2022 2:00pm
U.S. Job Openings Can Explain Border Crossings
With millions of available and unfilled jobs, Alex Nowrasteh says job openings in the U.S. does more to explain migrant border crossings than almost any of the smaller details of immigration enforcement.


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August 05, 2022 12:52pm
The Baby Formula Crunch Continues
Why has the baby formula crisis continued for so long? Cato's Gabriella Beaumont-Smith explains why it's largely domestic regulation and foreign trade rules standing in the way of a functioning market for this critical product.


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August 04, 2022 3:50pm
A Glimmer of Hope for an End to Qualified Immunity?
Institute for Justice attorney Patrick Jaicomo discusses current litigation on qualified immunity and a new tool for discovering if you might be able to overcome the doctrine when your rights are violated by state agents.


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August 03, 2022 3:46pm
Are Massive Federal Deficits Now Inevitable?
In the "modern budget era," we have federal spending increases baked into the cake. Economist Ed Lopez says that makes massive overspending in good times and bad extremely hard to avoid.


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August 02, 2022 10:14am
Active Denial and U.S. Military Strategy in Asia
The United States has many foreign policy commitments that it may not be able to credibly execute in the coming years, most especially in Asia. Eric Gomez discusses what he believes should move U.S. Asia policy to a better state.


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August 01, 2022 12:51pm
How the Academy Rehabilitated Karl Marx
Karl Marx made serious contributions to the field of economics, but they don't justify his strangely elevated status in American university courses. Phil Magness with the American Institute for Economic Research details how the Soviets and universities rehabilitated the academic reputation of Karl Marx.


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July 29, 2022 6:42am
Do Administrative Courts Deliver Due Process?
Some recent cases shed light on the degree to which federal administrative law courts deliver due process to defendants. Will Yeatman explains why it's concerning.


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July 28, 2022 4:47pm
Is Fair Trade Coffee Effective at Helping Low-Income Farmers?
Is fair trade coffee better? Does it help low-income farmers? Economist Victor Clear makes his case.


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July 27, 2022 4:24pm
Does the Fed's Dual Mandate Primarily Serves the Fed?
Economist Thomas Hogan discusses the ways in which the Federal Reserve's "dual mandate" has led monetary policy astray.


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July 26, 2022 4:52pm
Occupational Licensing Reform and Family Flexibility
Vanessa Brown Calder details how some straightforward occupational licensing and other labor market reforms can help working families.


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July 25, 2022 3:10pm
Latin America’s Leftward Lurch
What explains the leftward lurch of several countries in Latin American countries? Cato's Daniel Raisbeck says it's complicated.


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July 22, 2022 3:33pm
Educational Freedom after Carson v. Makin
School systems that are inherently discriminatory may be the next big target for the educational freedom movement. Neal McCluskey comments.


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July 21, 2022 4:08pm
Federal Reserve Tests the Waters of Central Bank Digital Currency
What exactly is the Federal Reserve planning for any central bank digital currency? So far, responses to the mere suggestion that they'll adopt one are overwhelmingly negative. Nick Anthony explains.


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July 19, 2022 6:14am
Elizabeth Warren Wants to Nab Price Gougers
Price gouging is difficult to identify, and it's difficult to say that people willing to pay more for basic necessities during an emergency should never have that opportunity. Ryan Bourne details Elizabeth Warren's plan to crack down on emergency prices and why it’s mistaken.


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July 15, 2022 4:12pm
The Supreme Court's Term on Criminal Justice
How did the Supreme Court's latest term stack up for criminal justice? Jay Schweikert and Clark Neily comment.


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July 14, 2022 4:06pm
Some Mechanics of Inflation Worth Remembering
How much grace are Congress and the President really due as Americans grapple with high inflation? Norbert Michel comments.


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July 14, 2022 11:13am
Immigration and Unionization in America
Alex Nowrasteh discusses recent work on the relationship between immigration and rates of unionization in the United States.


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July 08, 2022 12:45pm
Law Enforcement Continues to Meddle in Pain Management
Even after a Supreme Court decision that appears to protect some physicians, law enforcement will continue to target physicians for improper prescribing. Cato's Jeff Singer argues that police generally have precious little knowledge of how medicine works.


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July 07, 2022 4:29pm
When Universities Screen for Ideology
Universities that use "diversity statements" as a screening mechanism for faculty may stand at odds with other commitments to independent thought. Daniel Ortner of the Pacific Legal Foundation discusses the implications for litigation.


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July 06, 2022 4:14pm
Who Gets to Hand out the Occupational Licenses?
When governors pick members of licensing boards, the range of nominees is often limited to those with the explicit approval of industry groups. How does that change occupational licensing? Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation comments.


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June 30, 2022 3:58pm
Supreme Court Curtails EPA’s Creative Assertions of Power
A Supreme Court majority found in West Virginia v. EPA that the federal agency lacked authority to make bold assertions of authority based on old vague statutes in areas where Congress clearly chose not to act. Will Yeatman authored Cato's brief in the case. He explains the case's importance to administrative law going forward.


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June 29, 2022 1:20pm
The Immense, Unchecked Power of the California Coastal Commission
The California Coastal Commission exercises largely unchecked powers to regulate along much of the west coast. Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Oliver Dunford details his client's long fight with the agency.


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June 24, 2022 2:50pm
Supreme Court Protects Right to Bear Arms
The Supreme Court has thrown out a New York law that gave itself discretion over whether law-abiding citizens could truly "bear" arms. Trevor Burrus explains.


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June 23, 2022 2:08pm
Trump's Worst Trade Error
Exiting the Trans Pacific Partnership was a costly Trump administration error that Americans will have to live with for a long time. Scott Lincicome explains why.


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June 22, 2022 9:02am
Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It
There are many social and economic ills that could be addressed by dramatically reducing or abolishing zoning. That task is far from simple. M. Nolan Gray's new book is Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It.


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June 21, 2022 12:46pm
Educational Freedom, Blaine Amendments, and Carson v. Makin
The Supreme Court's decision in Carson v. Makin comes at the end of a long line of cases relating to state-level discrimination against schools and other institutions of a religious nature. Neal McCluskey discusses the case and its implications.

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June 20, 2022 4:05pm
The January 6 Committee and Electoral Reform
The wild theories advanced to help Donald Trump hang onto the White House again highlight the need for a bit more clarity in how presidential elections should proceed. Thomas Berry explains.


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June 17, 2022 3:48pm
The Bank Secrecy Act and Inflation
Financial privacy in the U.S. is very much on the wane, and inflation only makes the problem worse. Nick Anthony explains.


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June 16, 2022 2:00am
Fed Accelerates Rate Hikes to Combat Inflation
The Fed's uneven response to inflation highlights some of the central bank's more longstanding problems: the framework adopted in the wake of the financial crisis and its dual mandate to combat both inflation and unemployment. Norbert Michel explains.


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June 14, 2022 1:56pm
Drug Paraphernalia Laws Stymie Harm Reduction
State and federal laws governing "drug paraphernalia" make it more difficult to set up and operate private programs to get people clean needles and other services. Jeff Singer explains.


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June 13, 2022 3:55pm
Has the American Right Abandoned Free Speech?
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis may be the best exemplar of a movement on the right to view corporations as political punching bags when those firms display ideological commitments contrary to Republican preferences. Paul Matzko comments.


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June 11, 2022 2:00am
Toward Accountability for FBI Misconduct
Recent revelations about wide-scale FBI misconduct raises the question: What would appropriate accountability look like? Patrick Eddington comments.


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June 10, 2022 3:33pm
Promise and Pitfalls in Taking Psychedelic Medicine Mainstream
The promising results thus far in the clinical use of psychedelics shouldn't obscure the pitfalls of the regulatory processes. Researcher William Leonard Pickard discusses what the future might hold for psychedelic medicines.


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June 09, 2022 2:36pm
The Laws of War for Social Media
What changes when people trying to make effective use of social media are active participants in a war? How advisable is it for large social media platforms to effective pick sides in a conflict? Will Duffield comments.


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June 08, 2022 3:40pm
The Illinois Experiment in Legal Cannabis so Far
Illinois has struggled with its cannabis legalization, and it's not hard to see why. Adam Schuster of the Illinois Policy Institute details the several problems with the state's legalization so far.


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June 07, 2022 8:20am
When the Feds Mandate an Impossible Task
A man was on California's sex offender registry, then reformed and the state eventually expunged the case. Then the feds got involved. Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Caleb Kruckenberg details the strange case of John Doe.


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June 03, 2022 9:08am
The Chinese Government Is Still Fighting 'Tank Man'
When Robert Anthony Peters tried to screen his short film, Tank Man, at various events and film festivals in the United States, he learned that the chilling effect emanating from Beijing is strong more than three decades after a lone anonymous man stood down tanks in Tiananmen Square.


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June 02, 2022 9:11am
The Trans Complication in Facial Recognition Technology
For its numerous failings, facial recognition technology is proving to have surprisingly invasive capabilities. Matthew Feeney details the latest.


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June 01, 2022 5:00pm
Evaluating Amendment One in Illinois
Amendment One is a ballot initiative in Illinois presented as a workers' rights amendment. Adam Schuster of the Illinois Policy Institute describes the stunning expansion of labor union power that the amendment would foster.


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May 31, 2022 4:10pm
Equality before the Law versus Equity
In many contexts, some policy entrepreneurs have replaced the near-universal value of equality before the law with a far more nebulous "equity." Wen Fa, attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, explains the distinction and its implications.


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May 28, 2022 12:16pm
The Economics of Gifting Revisited
Economists often love to point out the inefficiency of giving gifts in lieu of cash. Economist Tony Gill revisits the idea.


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May 27, 2022 8:34am
Policy Hurdles in the Fight against Aging
How the FDA characterizes aging plays a large role in how the agency looks at drugs to mitigate or reserve the aging process. Economist Arthur Diamond comments.


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May 27, 2022 7:54am
Risks of Increased Border Militarization
There are a range of risks associated with the increased militarization at the U.S. border. Economist Nathan Goodman offers details.


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May 25, 2022 4:08pm
End the Tax Exclusion for Employer‐​Sponsored Health Insurance
It's an accident of history that predates modern health insurance and is roughly as old as the income tax itself, and yet it's mangled our health care system in America. Michael Cannon says it's well past time to eliminate it.


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May 25, 2022 8:15am
IRS Will Finally Hand Over Civil Forfeiture Data
It's been a legal fight for seven years. A secretive IRS database detailing the size and scope of federal civil forfeiture will finally receive outside scrutiny. Kathy Sanchez, a researcher at the Institute for Justice, explains what they might find.


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May 23, 2022 3:52pm
Central Bank Digital Currency Poses Enormous Risks to Freedom
As lawmakers and the Federal Reserve discuss a potential central bank digital currency, just remember that your privacy is on the table. Will Luther comments.


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May 20, 2022 11:52am
Black Liberation through the Marketplace
Black Liberation through the Marketplace details some of the work necessary to begin to make good on the promises of property rights, freedom of contract, and the protection of the rule of law for all Americans, most especially those Americans to whom those promises have not been delivered. Rachel Ferguson is the book's coauthor.


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May 20, 2022 11:41am
The High Costs to Cities of Police Misconduct
Cities have a role to play when it comes to insuring against the high legal costs of police misconduct. Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project details some ways that local governments can begin to reassert control.


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May 18, 2022 10:39am
Against the ‘Vetocracy’
There are too many points at which agents of the state may veto new enterprises or exchanges. How should lawmakers approach the problem with an eye toward expanding liberty? Will Rinehart with the Center for Growth and Opportunity comments.


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May 17, 2022 11:06am
Biden Administration Revives ‘Slush Fund’ Federal Settlements
When you're fined by the feds, the public treasury should get the money. But a practice common during the Obama years has been revived by President Biden: Allow companies to settle for less if they agree to fund pet causes of the administration. Will Yeatman comments.


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May 16, 2022 2:00am
The U.S. Should Welcome China's Young Elites Seeking Exit
In the wake of devastating Covid lockdowns, young and educated Chinese elites are looking for the exits. The U.S. should make it easier for them to escape. Alex Nowrasteh explains.


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May 13, 2022 3:36pm
The Baby Formula Freakout’s Predictable Causes
Between trade restrictions and domestic regulatory hurdles, the supply crunch for baby formula in the U.S. has well-known causes. Gabriella Beaumont-Smith discusses how we got here.


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May 11, 2022 10:36am
Joe Biden Isn't Doing All He Can to Mitigate Inflation

The politics of inflation are not all that complicated. The incentive for political actors remains to reward constituencies to enhance electoral prospects. Scott Lincicome details how the Biden Administration could, but probably won't act on inflation.

Related content:

“Is President Biden Trying to Boost Inflation?” by Scott Lincicome, The Dispatch


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May 10, 2022 3:24pm
Make Landowners Partners in Wildlife Protection
Landowners are often victims of wildlife conservation efforts rather than partners in the process. Megan Jenkins of the Center for Growth and Opportunity believes that can change.


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May 09, 2022 8:35am
An Alternative Case for Universal Basic Income
Is there a case to be made for universal basic income as a tool to get more brainpower off the sidelines? Economist Otto Lehto believes so.


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May 06, 2022 10:08am
The Trouble with Universal (Mandatory) Voting
Compelling your fellow Americans to go to the polls (or else) has several downsides. Walter Olson explains.


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May 05, 2022 1:52pm
How San Antonio Reduced Homelessness
Mary Theroux discusses her documentary, Beyond Homeless.


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May 04, 2022 4:16pm
The SEC's Gag on Potential Critics Now Faces Court Challenge
The SEC's longstanding rule that gags those who settle with the agency now faces a court challenge. The Cato Institute and others have filed a brief in the case. Will Yeatman and Jennifer Schulp discuss the challenge.


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May 03, 2022 2:11pm
Takeaways from the Leaked Draft SCOTUS Opinion on Abortion
What's the big takeaway from a leaked draft (not final) draft opinion of a Supreme Court justice? Walter Olson comments on the substance of the violation in protocol at the High Court.


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May 01, 2022 11:00pm
Some Historical Lessons for the War for Ukraine
If Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden are listening, Paul Matkzo has some lessons from history that might be instructive in proper responses to the war for Ukraine.


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April 29, 2022 11:00pm
Biden Could Help Address High Gas Prices with This One Weird Trick
Expensive inputs are critical to the development of new oil and gas supplies. The Biden White House is maintaining artificially high prices for some of those inputs. Gabriella Beaumont-Smith explores the issue.


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April 29, 2022 12:00pm
The Economic Engine of Home-Based Business

About half of the businesses in the U.S. are based in homes. Why do local governments actively work against them? Chris Edwards explains.

Related:

"Deregulate Home Food Businesses" by Chris Edwards, Cato at Liberty


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April 28, 2022 2:56pm
Twitter: A New Project of @elonmusk
Content moderation poses a huge challenge for even the best-run social media platforms. Add to that challenge the vitriol and handwringing associated with Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter. Will Duffield comments.


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April 26, 2022 3:16pm
The Muslim World and the Invasion of Ukraine
How has the Muslim world reacted to Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Mustafa Akyol comments.


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April 25, 2022 12:24pm
Where Russian Propaganda Thrives and Fails
The propaganda machine in Russia has been working overtime to sell its war in Ukraine as just and necessary. Will Duffield analyzes why this effort has failed so remarkably while other efforts have succeeded.


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April 24, 2022 2:00am
Modern Monetary Theory in Inflationary Times
Has Modern Monetary Theory weathered the historic inflation we face today? Economist Jeremy Horpedahl comments.


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April 23, 2022 2:00am
When Should the Federal Reserve Have Moved on Inflation?
The Federal Reserve appears late to the inflation fight. How much grace is due them? Economist Will Luther makes his case.


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April 22, 2022 2:00am
Texas Messes with Social Media, Makes Mess
Texas wants to treat social media companies as common carriers, but their arguments to support their imposition don't hold water. Tommy Berry explains why.


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April 21, 2022 3:08pm
Narrow the Fed’s Mandate
If Congress wants to hold the Federal Reserve accountable, why not narrow the Fed's mandate? Economist Alexander William Salter explains the upside.


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April 20, 2022 11:35am
The Big Student Bailouts Move Forward
The President would like to expand debt forgiveness from the federal government. Neal McCluskey says the arguments for handing a massive windfall to former college students don't hold up.


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April 19, 2022 8:22am
The SEC's Gargantuan Pending Climate Change Rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission proposes to compel public firms to make a broad range of disclosures related to climate change. Jennifer Schulp details why the massive rule now under consideration looks a tad hasty.


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April 18, 2022 4:32pm
A Few Reasons for Optimism in Changing Times
Writer Bari Weiss discusses optimism about the future of media and academia.


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April 15, 2022 9:32am
Prospects for Stability in Pakistan
Leadership in Pakistan has again changed amid charges of U.S. meddling there. What are the prospects for U.S. relations there? Sahar Khan comments.


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April 13, 2022 3:47pm
Supreme Court Clears One Hurdle to Claims of Malicious Prosecution
What does it take to move a malicious prosecution claim forward? The Supreme Court tackled that question last week. Jay Schweikert explains what they decided.


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April 12, 2022 3:10pm
Against Scientific Gatekeeping
Owning ourselves means having the right and power to medicate ourselves as we choose. That's not the story of modern medicine. Jeff Singer discusses his new article in Reason, "Against Scientific Gatekeeping."


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April 11, 2022 3:51pm
Cato FOIA Work Uncovers Substantial FBI Misconduct
Getting a sense of the FBI's handling of its agents' misconduct has occupied a lot of Patrick Eddington's time the last two years. Earlier this year, the agency has begun providing some of the requested documents.


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April 08, 2022 3:28pm
Immigration Restrictions Worsened the Labor Crunch
Donald Trump's immigration restrictions helped lay the groundwork for employers' current labor woes. Joe Biden has done precious little to fix it. David Bier explains.


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April 07, 2022 11:23am
Wither Consumer Welfare to Guide Antitrust Regulators?
The team in charge of the Federal Trade Commission appear to have very different ideas about what should guide the agency's actions. Duke economist Michael Munger discusses why the "consumer welfare" standard for antitrust action is on the ropes and what it means for a free economy.


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April 06, 2022 11:07am
Deregulate Low-Income Entrepreneurs to Address American Poverty
The poverty rate in the United States is generally unmoved in recent years despite many trillions of dollars in spending. Creighton University economist Colin O'Reilly says there's a better way.


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April 05, 2022 4:09pm
Do Immigrants Use More Welfare?
Alex Nowrasteh is coauthor of "Immigrant and Native Consumption of Means-Tested Welfare and Entitlement Benefits in 2019."


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April 01, 2022 9:58am
Pleading Out: How Plea Bargaining Creates a Permanent Criminal Class
What happened to the jury trial, something considered essential to the Founders' vision for a criminal justice system? Dan Canon traces the slow death of the American jury trial in Pleading Out: How Plea Bargaining Creates a Permanent Criminal Class.


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March 31, 2022 2:00am
The If, Who, Why, and How of Weapons Transfers to Ukraine
Who should and shouldn't send weapons to Ukraine? What weapon transfers should be viewed as provocation of war? What tends to happen after weapons transfers? Cato's Jordan Cohen discusses the ins and outs of weapons transfers.


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March 30, 2022 10:00am
Joe Biden's Taxing Plans for Unrealized Capital Gains
If you like business investment and the innovation that comes with it, Joe Biden's plan to tax certain unrealized capital gains makes no sense. Chris Edwards explains.


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March 29, 2022 4:15pm
The Biden Plan for Universal Pre-K
Colleen Hroncich is author of the new Cato paper, "Universal Preschool: Lawmakers Should Approach with Caution."


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March 28, 2022 11:40am
Full Senate Considers SCOTUS Nomination for Ketanji Brown Jackson
The Senate will now consider what it knows and has heard about the record of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson before a vote on her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Tommy Berry and Jay Schweikert discuss the most important parts of the hearings.


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March 25, 2022 3:46pm
Development with Dignity
Putting an end to poverty means prioritizing the dignity of the individuals involved. Matt Warner is coauthor of the new book, Development with Dignity.


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March 24, 2022 2:00am
Narratives of Public Schools, Narratives of Educational Freedom
School choice had a big year in 2021, but 2022 is different, and a particular faction of the school choice movement is clearly winning. That troubles Chris Stewart, CEO of Brightbeam. We discussed the culture war fights now taking center stage in state legislatures.


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March 23, 2022 9:00am
'Naked Collectivism' Animates Putin's War in Ukraine
Cato Institute senior fellow Tom Palmer is on the ground in Poland and Ukraine. We discussed the broad liberty movement's role in providing humanitarian aid and the collectivism animating Vladimir Putin's aggression.


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March 22, 2022 1:55pm
Will the U.S. Welcome Ukrainian Refugees?
The less-than-warm welcome by the United States for refugees fleeing Ukraine again highlights the lackluster immigration policy of President Biden. David Bier details the issue.


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March 21, 2022 3:28pm
Biden's ‘Buy American’ Plans Deny Opportunities to Build Cheaply
How much will "Buy American" rules cost Americans paying for government infrastructure in the coming years? Colin Grabow details some troublesome rhetoric and policy from President Biden.


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March 18, 2022 11:50am
The Harsh Realities of No-Fly Zones
What's actually involved in creating a "no-fly zone" over Ukraine? Eric Gomez explains why it would likely mean the U.S. engaging in direct war with Russia.


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March 17, 2022 3:53pm
NATO and War in Ukraine
How has NATO altered European security? What has NATO's role been in setting the stage for war in Ukraine? Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Cato Institute senior fellow Ted Galen Carpenter comment.


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March 16, 2022 4:44pm
Crowdfunding a Ukrainian Defense Revisited
Economist Garrett Wood revisits Ukraine's unique defense arrangement.


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March 15, 2022 4:06pm
FDA Moves Toward Prohibition of Menthol Cigarettes
The FDA is moving ahead with plans to ban menthol cigarettes. Guy Bentley and Jeff Singer discuss the likely, if unintended side effects of such a policy change.


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March 14, 2022 2:51pm
Let's Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education
Where have universities failed to deliver education to help foster reasonable adults? Jonathan Marks is author of Let's Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education.


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March 10, 2022 2:48pm
Some Unfortunate Consequences of Politics
The nature of politics is that some win and some lose, and that can have negative consequences for our own senses of compassion. Alexander William Salter, a professor of economics at Texas Tech, and Aaron Ross Powell discuss the simple idea that politics makes us worse.


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March 09, 2022 12:59pm
A New Kind of Government in Prospera
Prospera is an attempt to allow many different regulatory structures to exist simultaneously, and its creators hope to offer a new way of thinking about the rules we live by. Joel Bomgar is the president of Prospera.


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March 08, 2022 11:29am
How Federal Regulators Keep Crypto out of Your Portfolio
If you're doing your taxes and you have cryptocurrency purchases and sales, get ready for some headaches. Cato's Jennifer Schulp explains why federal regulators have chosen to keep it as difficult as possible for investors to have crypto exposure without the Tax Day complications.

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March 07, 2022 3:47pm
The Immigrant Superpower
What makes America great? Author Tim Kane believes immigrants are a key component. He makes his case in The Immigrant Superpower: How Brains, Brawn, and Bravery Make America Stronger.


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March 04, 2022 3:58pm
Oxfam Confuses Inequality with Poverty
Johan Norberg details why inequality isn't the same thing as poverty. In human efforts at eradicating poverty, Norberg says our planet has plenty to celebrate.


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March 03, 2022 2:56pm
Will A Putin-led Cyberwar Visit Ukraine?
In the early stage of Russia's war in Ukraine, cyberwar has been largely absent. Brandon Valeriano discusses why.


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March 02, 2022 10:15am
The Infuriating Five of Administrative Law (Part Two)
Will Yeatman details even more infuriating cases in administrative law. Part one is here.


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March 01, 2022 3:52pm
The Infuriating Five of Administrative Law (Part One)
Will Yeatman details some of the worst cases in American administrative law history.


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February 25, 2022 3:41pm
Biden Nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to SCOTUS
District of Columbia Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is President Biden's nominee to replace the retiring Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. Cato's Thomas Berry discusses her professional background and qualifications.


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February 25, 2022 1:29pm
Should Ukraine Have Kept Its Nukes?
In the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine suddenly became a major nuclear power, but maintaining a nuclear arsenal isn't exactly simple. As major powers became very concerned about the proliferation of both nuclear technology and know-how, Ukraine became convinced to give up the arsenal. Would keeping the nuclear weapons have deterred Russia today? Eric Gomez details some of the history of why Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons.


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February 24, 2022 1:57pm
How the FBI Crime Lab Promotes and Defends Junk Science
The FBI's crime lab is considered one of the very best, but the agency also has a long record of scientific errors that have contributed to false convictions. Radley Balko details the latest scandal.


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February 23, 2022 2:12pm
Senate Republicans Shocked to Learn about False Convictions
A few U.S. Senators speaking in opposition to a candidate for a federal judgeship appeared shocked to learn a few facts about false convictions. Clark Neily discusses the nomination of Nina Morrison to serve as a judge in U.S. District Court.


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February 22, 2022 3:25pm
Biden's Big Promises on Seized Afghanistan Cash
Joe Biden's promises about what to do with seized assets from Afghanistan face both problems and problematic implications. Sahar Khan explains.


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February 18, 2022 3:20pm
SEC Moves to Curtail Public Input on Regulation
The disconnect between the public and the massive regulatory state was already large. Now one federal agency, the SEC, appears ready to reduce the amount of time the public has to comment on pending regulation. Jennifer Schulp and Will Yeatman comment.


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February 17, 2022 3:33pm
Is Strip Searching Students in a School Covered by Qualified Immunity?
Discussions of qualified immunity focus almost exclusively on police. What about when public school administrators clearly violate the rights of students? Should parents of those children be able to hold administrators accountable in civil court? Chris Kemmitt is deputy director of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.


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February 16, 2022 11:35am
Conservatives Embrace Big Government over Big Tech
How have conservatives changed their tune about large tech companies, so-called Big Tech? Matthew Feeney and Ryan Bourne comment.


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February 15, 2022 1:02pm
School Choice > Partisan Culture War
The goal of school choice advocacy ought to be more educational freedom for families. Embracing culture war fights that school choice would naturally alleviate is a mistake. Neal McCluskey makes his case.


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February 14, 2022 3:25pm
High Tension at Ukraine’s Border
The brink of war has arrived in Ukraine, so what could have prevented it? What’s the path forward for the United States? What has NATO's role been in hiking tensions? Doug Bandow and Will Ruger comment.


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February 14, 2022 12:07pm
The CIA's Collection and Storage of Sensitive Information about Americans
The CIA has been collecting and storing sensitive information about Americans, and it's possible that the agency circumvented the law in doing so. Patrick Eddington and Julian Sanchez comment.


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February 11, 2022 3:47pm
Ideker Farms v. United States and What Makes a Taking
Under the Fifth Amendment’s Takings Clause, the federal and state governments must pay “just compensation” for taking private property for public use. Sam Spiegelman discusses Ideker Farms v. United States.


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February 10, 2022 3:05pm
The Electoral Count Act and the 20th Amendment
Time is getting away from Congress in fixing the Electoral Count Act. Thomas Berry argues that bipartisan agreement on counting electoral votes will be easier before it's clear who the next group of presidential candidates will be.


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February 09, 2022 4:34pm
IRS Snooping on Small Digital Transactions Is Underway
The IRS and enough members of Congress appear to believe financial privacy isn't a good enough reason not to hand over vast amounts of previously private financial data so the agency can do a bit of snooping. Julian Sanchez and Nicholas Anthony comment.


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February 08, 2022 3:22pm
Police Conduct Warrantless Surveillance with Stingrays and Fudge Facts When Confronted
Police use "cell site simulators" to gather cellphone data and it's rarely done under the authority of a warrant. Nondisclosure agreements local police sign at the behest of the federal government mean cops are regularly less than truthful when confronted in court. Nathan Freed Wessler of the ACLU discusses his work to try to learn what exactly is going on.


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February 05, 2022 2:00am
Let Solar Tariffs Die
The Biden administration has decided to keep solar tariffs on the books. Gabriella Beaumont-Smith explains why they need to go.


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February 04, 2022 1:07pm
Why Cops in California Rob Armored Cars
Police in California are robbing armed cars and turning the cash over to the FBI. Never mind that in California, the armored car company is well within the law transporting the proceeds of legal cannabis products. Dan Alban of the Institute for Justice represents owners of an armored car company.


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February 03, 2022 3:50pm
American Entrepreneurship: An Immigrant’s Take
What do immigrants think about the environment for entrepreneurship in the U.S.? Amjad Masad is the CEO of of Replit. He offers his take.


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February 02, 2022 4:15pm
Public Choice Theory and the Illusion of Grand Strategy
Richard Hanania is author of Public Choice Theory and the Illusion of Grand Strategy: How Generals, Weapons Manufacturers, and Foreign Governments Shape American Foreign Policy.


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January 31, 2022 3:57pm
Remembering Terry Teachout
Walter Olson describes the career of his friend and wide-ranging writer Terry Teachout.


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January 29, 2022 2:00am
In Replacing Breyer, Counterbalance Former Prosecutors
The next justice to serve on the Supreme Court should buck the long-term trend of successful candidates with experience working mainly on behalf of government. Clark Neily suggests a candidate who worked for the defense.


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January 28, 2022 3:08pm
Stephen Breyer on Administrative Law and Textual Interpretation
Stephen Breyer has been a nuanced jurist on the Supreme Court. Cato's William Yeatman and Thomas Berry detail Breyer's work in administrative law and how he approached interpreting the Constitution and statutes.


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January 27, 2022 3:50pm
Congress and School Choice
According to the Constitution, the federal government has no role in education. So how can Congress best get out of the way of education reforms underway in the several states? John Moolenaar is a Republican member of Congress from Michigan and is a member of the “School Choice Caucus.”


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January 26, 2022 1:55pm
A Freedom to Trade Wish List
What should trade policy look like in 2022? Inu Manak and Gabriella Beaumont-Smith say it should be a lot freer than it has been over the past five years.


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January 25, 2022 2:07pm
For #SchoolChoiceWeek, Scoring the Rhetoric of Educational Freedom
For fans of educational freedom, is "Fund students, not systems" a slogan worth repeating? Does it earn new supporters or is it just insider language? Jason Bedrick offers his thoughts.


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January 24, 2022 3:28pm
Pandemic Response Will Again Drive School Choice in 2022
This year has given schools no respite in responding to a global pandemic. It's unlikely that school choice reforms will top 2021, but this year could be another big year for educational freedom. Neal McCluskey comments.


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January 22, 2022 2:00am
What Do the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine Want from Each Other?
The U.S. and Russia are ramping up pressure over Ukraine, but what exactly is the U.S. security interest there? Cato's Doug Bandow and Brandon Valeriano comment.


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January 21, 2022 1:12pm
Election Reform for Serious People
Whether your concern is ballot harvesting, a lack of properly identified voters, or voter disenfranchisement, there are reforms people should be able to agree on to make election outcomes more credible. Walter Olson provides a few ideas.


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January 20, 2022 3:42pm
How to Fix The Electoral Count Act
The Electoral Count Act is confusing and vague and could again contribute to confusion over just which candidate has won the White House. So why isn't it front and center for election reform? Walter Olson details some ways to fix it.


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January 19, 2022 11:09am
State-Level Reforms for Addressing Opioids
When politicians start telling doctors how much pain medication they may prescribe, they're essentially practicing medicine. For pain patients, the consequences can be devastating. Jeff Singer argues that trusting patients and physicians is key to properly addressing patient needs. Law enforcement, he says, should play no role in questions about the standard of care patients should receive.


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January 18, 2022 3:03pm
Did Covid Help Courts Reform Themselves?
When you swear an oath to justice, you shouldn't follow through only when there's not a raging pandemic. Marc Levin discusses how Covid may have compelled some reforms that ought to stick around.


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January 14, 2022 3:08pm
The Policy Implications of Joe Biden's Bad Misreading of the Election of 2020
So many voters chose Joe Biden to restore a sense of normalcy. His ambitious policy agenda and numerous attempts to intervene in Americans' lives have put that hope to rest. National Review editor Ramesh Ponnuru comments.


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January 13, 2022 2:31pm
Supreme Court on Federal Vaccine Mandate
The Supreme Court weighs in on the Biden administration's vaccine mandate. Ilya Shapiro provides his expectation.


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January 12, 2022 9:38am
How Is Congress Going to Tax Crypto?
Taxes on cryptocurrencies are coming to the infant industry, though it's less than clear how Congress would do it and if their revenue estimates are rooted in reality. Nicholas Anthony comments.


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January 11, 2022 4:03pm
Squelching Speech and 'Shouting Fire in a Crowded Theater’
It’s a tired old phrase meant to justify all manner of speech restrictions. People using it should at least understand what it means. Author Jeff Kosseff evaluates some of the political state of play over the freedom of speech online.


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January 10, 2022 8:59am
Balancing State Budgets for the Long Term
Where should states look for stable budgets that balance through business cycles? Kurt Couchman of Americans for Prosperity offers his thoughts.


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January 08, 2022 2:00am
Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
Even our best efforts at being rational are beset by biases that skew our thinking. Steven Pinker's new book is Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters. He spoke at the Cato Club retreat in 2021.


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January 07, 2022 9:08am
A Radical Leftist Shift in Chile
Chile has elected a radical Leftist as President, part of a long trend. There are lessons for the United States. Ian Vasquez describes what he believes enabled the shift.


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January 06, 2022 11:30am
Disappointing Biden Immigration Policy So Far
As we approach the end of the first year of the Biden Administration, his anemic immigration policy hasn't undone many of the restrictions left by the Trump Administration. David Bier and Alex Nowrasteh discussed immigration for this month’s CatoAudio.


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January 05, 2022 3:55pm
Anti-Gouging Laws Can Make Disasters Worse
When disasters hit, law enforcement leaps into action to punish some of the people bringing in desperately needed supplies. Ryan Bourne describes the overblown threat of price gouging.


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December 31, 2021 1:51pm
Democrats Denying Reality on Inflation

Prominent Democrats have either denied the reality of inflation or prescribed the wrong solution. Norbert Michel describes what might come next on the inflation front.


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December 30, 2021 7:02am
Trade Is Voluntary Exchange for Mutual Benefit
It's easy to imagine trade is entire countries making big decisions. As Scott Lincicome and Alex Nowrasteh explain, it's individuals making millions of small decisions to benefit themselves through voluntary exchange. Curtailing trade violates that liberty. They spoke at the 2021 Cato Club event.


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December 29, 2021 2:46pm
Defending Startups and Their Angel Investors

Startups need capital to compete with bigger companies, and taxes on capital gains can stem the flow of angel investment. Chris Edwards makes his case for angel investors.


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December 28, 2021 10:15am
Health Policy Innovation in a Waning Pandemic
Charlie Katebi of Americans for Prosperity argues that some of the policy innovations driven by the pandemic have shown significant benefits and ought to continue even after the threat abates.


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December 27, 2021 10:05pm
Back to Basics in Separation of Powers
A few principles ought to guide efforts to push branches of government back into their proper roles. Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation offers his recommendations.


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December 25, 2021 2:00am
Freedom in Decline for Most of the World's People
The Human Freedom Index tracks freedom across a variety of metrics for most of the world's countries. The trend over the past decade has not been good. Ian Vasquez, the report's coauthor, describes the data.


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December 23, 2021 2:00am
School Choice, Housing, and Thriving Neighborhoods
How does the availability of school choice affect housing decisions? William Mattox of the James Madison Institute offers his thoughts.


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December 22, 2021 11:52am
Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Polarization
Despite some bumps in the road, advocates for ranked-choice voting see a bring future. Scot Turner, a former state lawmaker in Georgia, advocates for the instant runoff style of elections.


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December 21, 2021 4:15pm
The Busybody Coalition against Short-Term Rentals
The coalition that wants to keep you from using your property in accordance with your needs and values is extremely bipartisan. Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center discusses the busybody coalition that wants to ban short-term rentals and how states ought to fight back.


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December 20, 2021 4:02pm
Partisanship, Polarization, and Political Hatred
The rise of political polarization and hatred should be of genuine concern, and Joe Biden's pledge to deliver a sense of normalcy and boredom seems to have been just another broken campaign promise. Gene Healy made his case at the most recent Cato Club event.


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December 18, 2021 2:00am
Biden's No Good, Very Bad Record on Federal Spending
The new spending approved under the Biden Administration may soon top the new spending approved by two of his predecessors. Jonathan Bydlak walks through the implications.


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December 17, 2021 2:33pm
The Tuttle Twins Go Animated
The Tuttle Twins series of books teaching economics and liberty-friendly values to young people is now an animated series. Book series author Connor Boyack describes the new venue.


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December 16, 2021 3:53pm
The "Regular Order" Won't Restrain Spending
Former U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker has some ideas for restraining the spending and debt currently being accrued at a faster clip than ever.


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December 15, 2021 1:19pm
From Nervous to Apocalyptic: Grading the Rhetoric against School Choice
Whether the proposed school choice program is big or small, the breathless warnings from public school defenders are predictably dire. Jason Bedrick of EdChoice says the lesson for lawmakers is clear: Choose the more robust choice program.


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December 14, 2021 10:51am
West Virginia's Worst to First Move on School Choice
Among the many states that created or expanded school choice programs, West Virginia stands out for its innovative, big new program. Jessi Troyan with the Cardinal Institute explains.


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December 13, 2021 4:16pm
Labor Department, ESG, and Risks to Retirees
How the Department of Labor regulates pension funds and other retirement plans holds big implications for retirees, so how do so-called ESG (environmental, social, and governance) preferences change things? Jennifer Schulp comments.


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December 11, 2021 2:00am
Mark Meadows and Congressional Power to Subpoena
What powers does Congress have to access information from former executive branch officials? It's not totally clear, according to Julian Sanchez.


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December 10, 2021 3:00pm
Erdogan vs. the Lira
Turkey's president enjoys his control over various aspects of his country, and yet the value of Turkey's currency is demonstrably out of his control. Cato's Mustafa Akyol provides the context.

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December 09, 2021 1:48pm
Complications in the Metaverse
The metaverse offers an opportunity to replicate real-world human interaction, but it also presents some new and unique problems. Given the strength of current players in this market and the ever-present threat of regulation, how might the growth of this new simulated reality play out? Will Duffield comments.

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December 08, 2021 2:57pm
West Virginia vs. Environmental Protection Agency
To what extent can Congress delegate away the authority make laws? Will Yeatman details a case before the Supreme Court that holds big implications for the future of delegated legislative power.


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December 07, 2021 8:37am
I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance
Are Americans really suited to self-government? If so, why do so many who study politics seem to think otherwise? Tony Woodlief is author of I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance.


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December 06, 2021 5:42pm
Purchasing Submission: Conditions, Power, and Freedom
By placing conditions on government benefits, gifts, or licenses, governments can often achieve compliance in ways that would otherwise be blatantly unconstitutional. Philip Hamburger details how it works in his new book, Purchasing Submission.


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December 04, 2021 2:00am
Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19
Where does the evidence stand on the so-called "lab leak" theory regarding the beginnings of Covid-19? Matt Ridley is coauthor of Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19.


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December 03, 2021 4:21pm
Who Buys (and Who Achieves) the American Dream?
Optimism about achieving the American Dream is on the wane, or so we are told. Gonzalo Schwarz of the Archbridge Institute says that's not quite right.


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December 03, 2021 6:19am
The Tech/Innovation Policy Conversation We Need
The heavy lifts to getting government out of the way of innovation in many cases simply aren't happening. Will Rinehart of the Center for Growth and Opportunity believes the people who need to do that hard work are distracted.

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December 01, 2021 10:54am
New Hampshire Takes Top Honors in Freedom in the 50 States
New Hampshire takes top honors in the Cato Institute's new Freedom in the 50 States report. Authors Will Ruger and Jason Sorens discuss the report and its criteria.


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November 29, 2021 2:00am
Workforce Development and Broadband Spending
How should success be measured in state-led efforts to provide rural broadband? Will Rinehart of the Center for Growth and Opportunity comments.


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November 27, 2021 2:00am
Collective Bargaining and Public Sector Accountability
In many states, when teacher or police unions bargain over wages, benefits, and accountability, the public is left entirely outside the process. Jason Mercier of the Washington Policy Center details how that complicates holding the public sector accountable.


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November 26, 2021 2:00am
Police Power and Protecting Privacy in Montana
How should states assert that police power to use new technology must exist within by basic constitutional limits? Kendall Cotton of Montana’s Frontier Institute comments.


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November 25, 2021 2:00am
Two More Thanksgiving Arguments
Among the topics to avoid at the Thanksgiving table, the nature and causes of inflation and mask mandates rank high on the list. Economist Michael Munger discusses why those topics can and probably will inspire spirited disagreement this year.


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November 23, 2021 2:00am
A Bipartisan Effort to Curtail Presidential Warmaking
The push to give presidents of both parties the power to make unrestrained war (on a number of occasions) was bipartisan. Will the effort to reclaim those powers for Congress draw a diverse majority coalition? Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) hope so.


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November 22, 2021 8:22am
New Rochelle’s New Housing Blueprint
New Rochelle, a community in New York, seems to have found a way to streamline the production of new housing. Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project explains how they did it.


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November 19, 2021 7:13pm
The Struggle to End Qualified Immunity So Far
Clark Neily details how qualified immunity came to be and why Americans must end it.


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November 18, 2021 2:00am
The Utah Strategy for Medical Cannabis
Utah is ahead of more than a dozen states in approving medical cannabis. How did a conservative state like Utah get it done? How well does its program serve patients? Molly Davis with the Libertas Institute and the Utah Cannabis Association comments.


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November 17, 2021 4:17pm
A Policy Lesson from Elon Musk
Getting policy right means engaging in the right steps in the right order. Eli Dourado of the Center for Growth and Opportunity details a lesson for policymakers from a manufacturing titan.


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November 16, 2021 3:58pm
Missouri Kinda Learns a Lesson in Data Collection & How to Treat Journalists
Missouri threatened journalists with lawsuits after the journalists told them about their own errors in collecting and storing data online. Mike Masnick of Techdirt says, months later, the Show Me State hasn't learned all that much.


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November 15, 2021 1:42pm
Supply Chain Trouble and the Federal Policies That Make It Worse
There are many reasons for our supply chain disruptions. Colin Grabow details how the feds have made it worse.


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November 12, 2021 3:51pm
Biden Swings and Misses on Stablecoins

The President wants to isolate banks from the competition provided by the unregulated issuance of stablecoins. Norbert Michel and Jennifer Schulp comment.


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November 11, 2021 4:08pm
Congress's January 6 Reckoning vs. Basic Government Oversight
Is Congress's focus on this year's attack on the Capitol preventing or giving lawmakers a pass on basic oversight? Pat Eddington comments.


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November 10, 2021 2:00am
Tribal Sovereignty and Environmental Conservation
What do Native American tribes have to teach the rest of us about land management and environmental conservation? Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center explains.


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November 09, 2021 9:09am
A New Federal Nudge (for Now) to Corporate America
How the feds cajole or compel corporate behavior should be of great concern to customers and shareholders. The first step to nudging corporations toward "social responsibility" appears to be with corporate disclosures. Adam Millsap with Stand Together comments.


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November 08, 2021 2:00am
Litigating to Make Forest Management Worse
Managing forests is more than putting out fires, and people suing the feds over forest management plans can make the risk and consequences of fires worse. Jonathan Wood of the Property and Environment Research Center comments.


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November 05, 2021 11:00pm
The Cannabis Industry Has Its Own Entrenched Interests
Most Americans now live in states where cannabis is legal for either medical or recreational use, and that has brought with it industry insiders trying to drive regulation going forward. Shanita Penny is a cannabis educator and consultant who's seen it unfold.


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November 05, 2021 2:00am
Fixing Food: An FDA Insider Unravels the Myths and the Solutions
The FDA has a massive impact on our food supply. Can the agency actually execute on its mandate? Should it? How might consumers gain more control over their choices? Richard A. Williams is author of Fixing Food: An FDA Insider Unravels the Myths and the Solutions.


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November 04, 2021 1:46pm
When Schools Digitally Spy on Kids
The pandemic may have accelerated the trend of schools using digital tools to watch kids well beyond their activities during the school day. Neal McCluskey and Julian Sanchez detail why a reckoning with this kind of surveillance is overdue.

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November 03, 2021 1:13pm
Virginia’s Next Governor Offers Weak School Choice Plan
Republican Glenn Youngkin capitalized on parental anger over schools to become Virginia's next governor, but his own plans to expand choice for parents are, to put it mildly, weak. Neal McCluskey comments on the surprise upset in Virginia and what it means for state politics elsewhere.


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November 02, 2021 3:24pm
Monetizing Anger on Facebook (and in Print)
You’ll be forgiven if you squint a bit when establishment media outlets breathlessly report a social media outlet effectively monetizing anger. After all, media outlets have a long-established tradition of doing exactly that. Walter Olson comments.


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October 29, 2021 3:56pm
Health Savings Accounts Boost Retirement Savings
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a powerful innovation for health care payments, but they're also perhaps the single best financial vehicle for retirement savings. Michael Cannon explains.


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October 29, 2021 11:04am
States versus Feds in Emerging Tech
Logan Kolas of the Buckeye Institute details the technologies where feds should play a muted role in setting the rules of the road.

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October 27, 2021 10:55am
What Drives Regulators' Fears over Stablecoins?
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that track government money. Why do they strike such fear in the hearts of federal regulators? Norbert Michel discusses his new paper.


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October 26, 2021 4:10pm
Steps to Making America’s Supply Chains Less Brittle
The pandemic introduced a variety of shocks to the global economy, but the policies already on the books didn't help supply chains adjust appropriately. Now we have a serious problem getting goods from producers to buyers. Scott Lincicome offers some advice to lawmakers and the President.


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October 25, 2021 4:14pm
How Medicare Impacts Quality of Care
How does Medicare's incentive structure impact the quality of care it delivers? Cato's Michael Cannon is coauthor of a new paper exploring the question.


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October 21, 2021 11:00pm
Pennsylvania's Uncomfortable School Choice Consensus
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has seen large expansions in school choice programs in recent years under a Democratic governor. Marc Leblond of the Commonwealth Foundation describes how the politics aligned to make it happen.

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October 20, 2021 11:00pm
Does the Supreme Court Need Fixing?
There are many ideas for how to fix the Supreme Court. At Cato's recent Cato Club event, Ilya Shapiro said it's far from clear that it needs fixing at all.

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October 20, 2021 7:24am
How Should Congress and the Fed Deal with Growing Inflation?
The long-feared specter of inflation is here, even though it's a far cry from the inflation of the 1970s. Cato's Norbert Michel discusses how Congress and the Federal Reserve ought to respond.

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October 19, 2021 4:57pm
What Will 2021's School Choice Boom Give Students?
School choice exploded this year. What does that mean for students? Jason Bedrick comments.


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October 18, 2021 5:40pm
Immigrants and the Labor Crunch
The restrictive immigration policies of Donald Trump have sadly been mostly maintained by Joe Biden, and that means bad things for employers seeking workers. David Bier explains how executive action could free immigration and alleviate the labor crunch.


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October 15, 2021 4:11pm
The Broad Coalitions That Stop Corporate Welfare
he threat of big government handouts to well-funded special interests demands an opposition that is, if not well-funded, at least ideologically diverse. John Mozena of The Center for Economic Accountability comments.


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October 14, 2021 1:02pm
Political Sectarianism and the Presidential Cult
Increasing political polarization is real, according to political scientists. To what extent have the powers of the presidency helped drive it? Gene Healy comments.

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October 13, 2021 8:55am
Million Dollar Fines for 'Incompatible' Landscaping?
Could you prove that your landscaping was "compatible" with that of your neighbors? Is it excessive to fine homeowners $1000 a day for "incompatible" plants? Is there a true victim when disfavored landscaping arrives in your neighborhood? Maurice Thompson of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law has just such a case in Ohio.


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October 12, 2021 4:43pm
Federal Cops, Qualified Immunity, and Effective Absolute Immunity
Bringing claims against state cops for violating your rights is hard enough, but it's even harder when the cop is a fed. Patrick Jaicomo is an attorney at the Institute for Justice. We discussed current cases where federal cops stepped on American rights.


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October 11, 2021 4:12pm
Will the Feds Make Federal Cases out of Local School Battles?
Local public schooling fights over hot button political issues have attracted attention from the Department of Justice and the FBI. Neal McCluskey offers a way out of the escalating fights.


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October 09, 2021 12:00am
Abu Zubaydah (Figuratively) at the Supreme Court

Why does the U.S. continue to imprison Abu Zubaydah without trial? Julian Sanchez discusses how assertions of the "state secrets privilege" by the federal government has complicated this case for most of the last two decades.


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October 08, 2021 4:22pm
How Wealth Fuels Growth: The Role of Angel Investment
Angel investors provide a unique source of support for America’s entrepreneurs, particularly in leading-edge industries. What does that mean for economic performance and taxing and spending? Chris Edwards explains.


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October 07, 2021 3:29pm
The Innocence Project Receives the 2021 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty
Last week, the Cato Institute gave the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty to The Innocence Project for its work exonerating the wrongly convicted and recommending policy change supporting a better criminal justice system. Cato’s Clark Neily sat down with Innocence Project cofounders Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld and executive director Christina Swarns at a dinner honoring their achievements advancing human liberty.


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October 06, 2021 9:02am
The Unsung Promise of Health Savings Accounts
Health Savings Accounts were a legislative stowaway that have since become one of the most promising avenues for reforming American health care. Michael Cannon explains how they work.


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October 04, 2021 4:02pm
The Patriot Act Twenty Years Later
In the wake of September 11th, 2001, it's important to note what changed with respect to federal power. The Patriot Act delivered a massive increase in federal police authority. Christopher J. Coyne comments.

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October 02, 2021 8:42am
New Cato Polling: Vaccine Hesitancy and Mandates
Are heavy handed tactics with respect to vaccines helpful to people not sure if they want to get a jab? Cato's Jeff Singer discusses the new polling.

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October 01, 2021 4:02pm
China's Crypto Crackdown Shouldn't Encourage U.S. Regulators
China's prohibition on crypto transactions shouldn't tell U.S. regulators to follow suit. George Selgin discusses U.S. regulators' concerns over stablecoins.


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September 30, 2021 1:35pm
Biden and the Big Student Bailouts
The Biden Administration wants to give indebted students a bailout, but aren't the bailouts already underway? Mike Riggs of Reason discusses the Bush-era law that holds big implications for student debt.


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September 29, 2021 3:18pm
When Think Tanks Train Future Politicians
What's the case for think tanks training candidates to challenge incumbents? Matt Paprocki of the Illinois Policy Institute makes the argument.


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September 28, 2021 11:07am
Why, As A Muslim, I Defend Liberty
Mustafa Akyol's new book is Why, As A Muslim, I Defend Liberty, available at Libertarianism.org.

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September 28, 2021 11:05am
Why, As A Muslim, I Defend Liberty
Mustafa Akyol's new book is Why, As A Muslim, I Defend Liberty, available at Libertarianism.org.

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September 27, 2021 4:13pm
Luxury Housing, Market-Rate Housing, and Affordable Housing
The fights over housing in California and other states with high housing costs will spill over into other states with similar policies. The fights will continue for years to come. Timothy Lee of Full Stack Economics comments.


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September 24, 2021 10:52am
Illinois Has a Public Pension Warning for Your State
The problems faced by Illinois today will be faced by many other states down the road, and it threatens to bring states close to bankruptcy. Adam Schuster of the Illinois Policy Institute says pension reform needs to come sooner than later.


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September 23, 2021 3:09pm
Police Brutality Case of Brownback v. King Continues
When members of a state-federal task force beat James King unconscious after mistaking him for someone else, he ultimately sued to hold them accountable. Even after the Supreme Court ruled on King’s case, the case continues. King and his attorney Patrick Jaicomo discuss the case.


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September 22, 2021 3:43pm
Politics and Policy of Policing in Virginia
States are moving forward with changes to how policing works with mixed results. Nick Freitas, a Republican delegate in the Virginia House, discusses the reform proposals his state is considering.


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September 21, 2021 3:27pm
California Takes Important Step to Relieve Housing Costs
New laws in California will start the process of allowing more housing development. Michael Tanner argues that it's probably not enough to relieve high housing costs for average Californians, but it's a great first step.

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September 20, 2021 2:25pm
Joe Biden's Big Taxing, Subsidizing, and Bank Account Snooping Plans
Joe Biden wants to raise taxes on some, subsidies others, and snoop on everyone's bank accounts. What could go wrong? Chris Edwards explains.


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September 18, 2021 2:00am
Parsing the Biden COVID Employer Mandate
The Biden Administration plans to compel employers to compel employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get regular testing. How strong is the legal argument? Walter Olson explains.


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September 17, 2021 3:34pm
The FDA's Flawed Analysis Delayed Rapid COVID Tests
Rapid testing was supposed to be one of the key pillars of escaping this pandemic sooner than later. The FDA's processes didn't allow it. Scott Lincicome comments.


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September 15, 2021 1:28pm
Trends in State-Level Criminal Justice Reform in 2020
How did states alter the landscape of policing and broader criminal justice issues in 2020? Robert Alt is president of the Buckeye Institute and author of a forthcoming report on state-level criminal justice trends.


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September 14, 2021 3:31pm
AFPF v. Bonta and Donor Privacy
Bradley Smith of the Institute for Free Speech details key takeaways from the Supreme Court's AFPF v. Bonta case.


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September 13, 2021 8:59am
9/11 and the Targets of the New War on Terror
Muslims around the world soon felt targeted following September 11, 2001. Mustafa Akyol and Doug Bandow discuss the War on Terror's targets, and the impact on Muslims worldwide.


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September 10, 2021 11:00pm
9/11 Launched an Unprecedented Surveillance State
The attacks of September 11, 2001 provided cover for an unprecedented and largely ineffective surveillance apparatus that is broadly with us today. Patrick Eddington discusses how little we still know about how we're being watched.

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September 10, 2021 8:02am
State-Level Digital Taxes: How Do They Work?
Maryland is experimenting with levying taxes on entities that engage in digital advertising in the state, and they will bring inevitable headaches and legal complications. Joe Bishop-Henchman with the National Taxpayers Union Foundation comments.

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September 09, 2021 2:28pm
Cooperation & Coercion: How Busybodies Became Busybullies and What that Means for Economics and Politics
Humans can generally either cooperate or coerce to get what they want. Antony Davies is coauthor of Cooperation & Coercion: How Busybodies Became Busybullies and What that Means for Economics and Politics.

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September 08, 2021 11:05am
Will Onerous Regulations Stay Gone after COVID?
When states suspended regulations to better equip private actors for handling COVID-19, it raised an important question: Why did we have them to begin with? Sal Nuzzo of the James Madison Institute comments on some of the bright spots in healthcare during the pandemic.


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September 07, 2021 4:03pm
Kentucky Policing Reform Since Breonna Taylor's Death
Scandals in Kentucky police departments long precede the police killing of Breonna Taylor, the unarmed woman gunned down in her own apartment by police last year. So what policing reform did Kentucky do? Josh Crawford of Kentucky's Pegasus Institute says it was significant.


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September 02, 2021 11:00pm
Public Opinion on War and Terror: Manipulated or Manipulating?
People are regularly bombarded with ideas, and as they sort through these ideas, they pick and choose which to embrace and which to fear. John Muller is author of Public Opinion on War and Terror: Manipulated or Manipulating?


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September 02, 2021 8:39am
What Is the Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K?
Sahar Khan details the relationship between the Taliban and ISIS-K in Afghanistan.


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September 01, 2021 6:26pm
The Trouble with Housing in California
The regulatory environment and decades of less than adequate housing production has contributed to a dramatic rise in housing prices in California. Housing researcher Nolan Gray details how we got here.


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August 27, 2021 8:42am
The Rocky, Necessary 'Trump-Biden' Afghanistan Withdrawal
The U.S. departure from Afghanistan proceeds, but how much of the bloodshed and other bungling was avoidable? William Ruger was the Trump Administration nominee for Ambassador to Afghanistan and is a Cato Institute research fellow.

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August 26, 2021 10:18am
Harm Reduction amid COVID-19
We should admit to ourselves and each other that harm reduction will be a far less destructive strategy for dealing with COVID-19 than harsh lockdowns and other mandates. Jeff Singer is author of the new Cato paper on the subject.


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August 25, 2021 2:06pm
Congress Fighting over Qualified Immunity
The sticking point over policing reform in Congress is qualified immunity, the court-invented doctrine that regularly lets cops off the hook when they violate Americans' rights. Cato’s Clark Neily and Jay Schweikert discuss the negotiations.


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August 24, 2021 8:11am
Eyes to the Sky: Privacy and Commerce in the Age of the Drone
In the new book, Eyes to the Sky: Privacy and Commerce in the Age of the Drone, essayists detail both the promising and troubling potential uses of drone technology. Matthew Feeney is the book's editor.


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August 23, 2021 3:47pm
Reign of Terror
The War on Terror was an ill-defined campaign that eroded the safeguards built into American institutions, enhanced execute power, and gave federal agencies license to engage in torture and other crimes. Spencer Ackerman is author of Reign of Terror.


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August 20, 2021 2:35pm
Why Twitter Allows the Taliban
Social media companies have differing ideas about allowing the Taliban on their platforms. Will Duffield explains what social media means for the people and (new) government of Afghanistan.

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August 19, 2021 3:52pm
The Taliban New and Old
The Taliban has taken over Afghanistan. Is there any reason to think their assurances to Afghans are worth anything? Mustafa Akyol comments.


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August 18, 2021 9:05am
The Taliban "Inkblot" in Afghanistan Had Been Expanding for Years
The expanding influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, a decade or more of American government lies about “progress” in the war, and a fast U.S. military exit contributed to the Taliban’s speedy takeover of the country. Justin Logan offers perspective.


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August 17, 2021 3:11pm
What Would Serious Election Reform Look Like?
How much of the election reform passed this year in states makes sense? Walter Olson disentangles some of the motivations.


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August 16, 2021 3:37pm
What Should the U.S. Do for Afghan Refugees?
In the immediate wake of U.S. departure from Afghanistan and the rapid collapse of the government there, the U.S. owes something to the people who helped sustain this ill-fated war. Alex Nowrasteh details some history and offers ideas for the future.


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August 13, 2021 3:41pm
Advancing Liberty with Broad Perspective
Culture war battles, however seductive in the moment, are a distraction to the long-term fight for liberty, and broader perspective can help focus our attention. Wolf von Laer of Students for Liberty comments.


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August 12, 2021 3:09pm
Military Affiliation in the Attack on the Capitol
The attack on the Capitol in January was serious, but it's important not to overstate the size of the threat the groups involved pose. Abigail Hall comments.


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August 11, 2021 3:52pm
Overcoming the Hurdles to Seasteading
Creating new cities or countries on the ocean has long been just a dream. Is seasteading getting closer. Joe Quirk of the Seasteading Institute thinks so.


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August 10, 2021 2:21pm
New School Year, Big Shifts for Parents
The next school year looks to be as uncertain or more uncertain than the last one. Kerry McDonald discusses what the pandemic has changed.

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August 09, 2021 4:00pm
Louisiana Regulators Crush Services for Special Needs Families
Louisiana regulators have sharply limited competition in special-needs childcare because, well, it would make their jobs more difficult if they allowed it. Anastasia Boden of the Pacific Legal Foundation says that's not a good enough reason.


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August 08, 2021 2:00am
A New Proposal to Begin the End of the Drug War
The Drug War marks its 50th year this year. That's five decades too long. Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey has a few ideas about how to jumpstart the process.


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August 07, 2021 2:00am
Biden Ignores Court Rulings and Legal Counsel to Extend Eviction Ban
President Biden has been surprisingly frank in his belief that the eviction moratorium he's just extended probably won't hold up to legal scrutiny. In fact, it's what courts and his own legal counsel have told him. Walter Olson comments.


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August 06, 2021 4:13pm
Manufacturing Militarism: U.S. Government Propaganda in the War on Terror
How does our own government's propaganda shape our views of efforts to fight wars or to even go to war in the first place? Abigail R. Hall is coauthor of Manufacturing Militarism: U.S. Government Propaganda in the War on Terror.


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August 05, 2021 12:04pm
How the ‘Regulatory Sandbox’ Works in Utah
Regulation has the potential to stop new business before it starts. What if it didn't? Connor Boyack of the Libertas Institute details "the regulatory sandbox" experiment in Utah.


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August 04, 2021 2:20pm
A Bumpy Road to Rank-Choice Voting
Supporters of rank-choice voting argue that it might reduce partisanship and compel candidates to be less polarizing. New York’s recent confusing experience with rank-choice voting offers some lessons. How does it work? Is it ready for greater adoption? Adam Kissel of the Cardinal Institute offers his take.


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August 03, 2021 3:25pm
Unionization after Janus
Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center explains some of the reasons why unionization in Michigan has fallen so dramatically after the Supreme Court's Janus decision in 2018 and what that might mean for unionization elsewhere.


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August 02, 2021 3:57pm
The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth
The processes that have given rise to so much new knowledge show signs of sputtering. Jonathan Rauch, author of The Constitution of Knowledge argues that it's time to restore respect for the "how" of creating new knowledge.


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July 31, 2021 2:00am
New York's Counterproductive Half Measure on Sex Work
When New York decided to stop cracking down on sex workers, it maintained harsh policing of sex workers' customers. Kaytlin Bailey of The Old Pro Project explains why New York should just decriminalize the whole enterprise.


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July 30, 2021 5:12pm
Trade Is Good for Your Health
James Bacchus is author of the new paper, "Trade is Good for Your Health.”


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July 29, 2021 3:22pm
New Avenues in the War on Big Tech
Members of Congress continue to fight against large technology platforms, and many hope antitrust claims will give them sway that the First Amendment does not. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason discusses the contours of this new fight.

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July 28, 2021 12:28pm
Whole Foods in a Pandemic
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey says the long-term changes to business many expect to come in the wake of the pandemic may be overstated. He discusses how the grocery chain has dealt with the pandemic, and how it's stressed labor markets and supply chains.

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July 26, 2021 4:46pm
Single Family Zoning and Race
Residential zoning goes back a full century, and that zoning carried with it the specific intent of racial segregation. Patrick Tuohey of the Better Cities Project details why there should be a public reckoning over the racist legacy of zoning.


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July 23, 2021 4:30pm
Suspicionless FBI Snooping on Concerned Women of America
Do FBI agents have too much free time? Cato's Patrick Eddington has discovered that Concerned Women of America have been subjected to FBI inquiries with no claims of criminal activity.


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July 22, 2021 5:11pm
NSO Group Software Used to Surveil Journalists, Activists, and Governments
A data leak reveals thousands of potential targets of digital surveillance using software from Israeli firm NSO Group. Targets include reporters, activists, and allegedly some leading government officials. Julian Sanchez and Patrick Eddington comment.


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July 22, 2021 7:13am
Safe Consumption of Opioids and Harm Reduction
Reducing social costs associated with drugs like heroin means seeking solutions beyond mere criminal enforcement.  Safe injection sites are one of these policies. Rhode Island has legalized safe injection sites, but federal hurdles remain. Jeff Singer comments.


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July 20, 2021 1:57pm
How Government Boosts Low-ROI Graduate Degrees
Even some graduate degrees from elite institutions deliver few earnings benefits. Why do people get them? And how do government payoff programs make the cost of those degrees appear lower than they really are? Neal McCluskey explains.

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July 19, 2021 11:27am
How Are Plea Bargains Coercive?
The plea bargain as it's practiced by prosecutors has become a tool that helps pervert justice by penalizing people who seek a jury trial. Somil Trivedi of the American Civil Liberties Union is bringing a suit in Maricopa County, Arizona to challenge how the plea bargain is used.


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July 16, 2021 11:00pm
The President Wants More Control over Shipping Goods
The President wants to remove some barriers to shipping goods across the U.S. and among nations, but has silent about restrictions that are substantially counterproductive to Americans' well being. Colin Grabow and Scott Lincicome explain.

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July 16, 2021 2:28pm
The Departure from Afghanistan So Far
The planned U.S. departure from Afghanistan is underway, but the Biden Administration seems reluctant to give up the authority to go back in at any moment. John Glaser comments.

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July 13, 2021 3:53pm
Cybersecurity: Defense and Offense
Brandon Valeriano argues that defense against cyberattacks means actually doing the work of hardening systems against attacks rather than issuing threats after the fact.


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July 12, 2021 1:04pm
The Enormous Human Cost of China's Communist Party
As the CCP marks 100 years, the party's human rights abuses, mass slaughter of Chinese people, crackdowns on free speech, and internment camps for minorities won't be front and center. Doug Bandow and Eric Gomez comment.


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July 09, 2021 2:24pm
Don't Stop Repealin' (Authorizations for the Use of Military Force)
At some point, says Gene Healy, Congress will get around to repealing the authorization for the use of military force that has enabled so much American-led global meddling.


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July 08, 2021 12:17pm
A High Court Win for Nonprofit Donor Privacy

In AFPF v. Bonta, the Supreme Court made clearer that donors to nonprofits deserve greater privacy protection from state actors. Trevor Burrus examines the case

 


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July 07, 2021 2:00am
Thomas Again Urges Supreme Court to Address Qualified Immunity
A case of university led prior restraint spurred Clarence Thomas to urge his fellow justices to take up a case regarding qualified immunity. Jay Schweikert details the case.


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July 06, 2021 12:00am
Yes, You Have the Right to Record Police

A Florida appeals court has let cops off the hook after they arrested a woman after she recorded those cops doing their jobs. James Craven details why clarity on this issue is more important than ever.


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July 05, 2021 12:00am
Baltimore's Persistent Aerial Surveillance Ruled Unconstitutional

Persistent aerial surveillance may make the jobs of cops easier, but it's no solution if it endangers your rights. Matthew Feeney discusses the case of Balitmore's aerial surveillance program.


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July 02, 2021 4:15pm
SCOTUS Opens Door to Reining in the Administrative State
A patent case decided by the Supreme Court in June holds much larger implications for federal regulators. Thomas Berry comments.


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July 01, 2021 10:31am
Counting the Costs of the Jones Act
In restricting transportation of all manner of products, the Jones Act disproportionately harms the poor and raises prices for everyone else. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Cato's Colin Grabow discuss the new effort to eliminate the law.

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June 30, 2021 3:08pm
Big Federal COVID Spending > Big Waste and Fraud
In the wake of an especially massive outflow of federal money, the accounting for how the money was spent is just beginning. Cato's Will Yeatman says that we shouldn't get our hopes up that the money was spent well.


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June 29, 2021 9:32pm
What’s Next after SCOTUS Rebukes NCAA?
The Supreme Court's ruling against the NCAA regarding benefits paid to student athletes virtually guarantees that there will be future litigation on strikingly similar issues. The NCAA is hoping for time to change its rules. Ilya Shapiro comments.


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June 29, 2021 2:26pm
The Ugly Bipartisan History of Crack Cocaine Sentencing
Federal sentencing for drug crimes has never made sense, most especially the disparity between cocaine and crack. Kevin Ring of FAMM details how we got here.

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June 29, 2021 12:21pm
The Ugly Bipartisan History of Crack Cocaine Sentencing
Federal sentencing for drug crimes has never made sense, most especially the disparity between cocaine and crack. Kevin Ring of FAMM details how we got here.

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June 25, 2021 11:55am
False Confessions and Trust in Police
Interrogation methods that elicit false confessions speaks to the quality of policing. Marissa Boyers Bluestine of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School details the costs.

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June 24, 2021 3:52pm
The Evidence on Post-COVID Employment Hesitancy
How much of the current difficulties faced by employers is driven by extra unemployment benefits? Ryan Bourne explains.


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June 23, 2021 2:37pm
Omnibus "For the People Act" Is a Wish List of Constitutional Violations
There's more to voting rights in the For the People Act, and the fact that the massive piece of legislation is only partially constitutional just isn't good enough. Walter Olson offers his thoughts.


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June 22, 2021 3:18pm
Shouldn't Conservatives Be Big Advocates for Decentralized Tech?
Conservatives like to bemoan their treatment at the hands of companies like Facebook and YouTube, but fostering decentralized alternatives is somehow nowhere in their stump speeches. Matthew Feeney comments.

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June 21, 2021 2:57pm
Critical Race Theory and School Choice
An obvious way to diffuse fights over schooling is to put parents more directly in charge of the kinds of educations their kids receive. Neal McCluskey comments in the context of the latest fight over public schooling and critical race theory.


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June 19, 2021 2:00am
Campaign Contributions and "Things of Value"
Campaign finance laws are complicated. They leave well-meaning people on the hook for potential criminal violations. Allen Dickerson of the Federal Election Commission details just one example.


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June 18, 2021 1:25pm
The Anarchist Handbook
Michael Malice says many of the criticisms of anarchism boil down to a description of the status quo. His new book, The Anarchist Handbook, provides a useful diversity of anarchist views.


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June 17, 2021 4:22pm
El Salvador Goes All-In on Bitcoin
The government El Salvador has adopted Bitcoin as its currency, but that has problems. What does that mean for average people, and how could they have done it better? George Selgin offers a few ideas.


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June 15, 2021 3:32pm
Biden Wants to Give IRS More Money and Power
The IRS is a broken agency with a poor record of giving advice and securing data about taxpayers. Joe Biden wants the agency to get bigger and stronger. Andrew Moylan of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation comments.


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June 14, 2021 6:19pm
Counting Costs and Benefits in Corporate Mergers
There's a lot that we don't know about which mergers are going to pay off. In fact, there's a lot that companies don't know when faced with that prospect. Sam Bowman of the International Center for Law and Economics discusses antitrust and mergers in the U.S. and Great Britain.


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June 11, 2021 7:21am
The Pentagon Papers at 50
The Pentagon Papers launched a decades-long fight over how to protect the public from threats while respecting the public's right to know how government works. Patrick Eddington and Julian discusses the 50th anniversary of the Pentagon Papers.

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June 10, 2021 2:34pm
Local Barriers to Economic Recovery
As many thousands of businesses have been bankrupted or closed because of the pandemic, there are ways for state and local governments to foster a more robust recovery. Chris Edwards explains.


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June 09, 2021 3:35pm
Leave Me Alone and I’ll Make You Rich: How The Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World
Art Carden is coauthor of Leave Me Alone and I’ll Make You Rich: How The Bourgeois Deal Enriched the World.


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June 08, 2021 3:35pm
Social Entrepreneurship vs. Focusing on the Bottom Line
There are downsides to social entrepreneurship, according to Kimberlee Josephson of Lebanon Valley College. She details what she sees as risks of focusing on goods other than the bottom line.


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June 08, 2021 6:38am
What Happened after New Mexico Ended Civil Forfeiture?
New Mexico ended civil forfeiture in 2015. What's happened in policing since then? Jennifer McDonald of the Institute for Justice crunched the numbers.

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June 04, 2021 2:44pm
Congressional Stimulus for Homebuyers? Now? Really?
In an especially hot housing market with significant supply constraints, why spend taxpayer money to goose demand? Housing researcher Nolan Gray argues it's precisely the wrong policy response.


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June 03, 2021 12:40pm
Banning Menthols Will Have Predictable (Bad) Consequences
The long-awaited FDA ban on menthol cigarettes is now in the works. Guy Bentley of the Reason Foundation believes the social consequences will be both negative and predictable.


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June 02, 2021 7:36am
Cities Should Welcome Long-Term Innovation
Cities have great opportunities to drive higher incomes and tax revenue by fostering innovative problem solving, but future beneficiaries of gig work and home-based businesses are rarely the loudest voices in the room. Greg Brooks of the Better Cities Project comments.


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June 01, 2021 3:50pm
Follow the Science on Opioids
"Follow the science" is good advice for lawmakers, but in so many contexts where dominant scientific views change, it should mean lawmakers intervene less often. Jeff Singer explains.


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May 31, 2021 2:00am
Money and the Rule of Law: Generality and Predictability in Monetary Institutions
Can Congress oversee the Federal Reserve? Can Congress even oversee the Fed's adherence to a monetary rule? Alexander William Salter is coauthor of Money and the Rule of Law: Generality and Predictability in Monetary Institutions.


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May 29, 2021 2:00am
States Opting out of Enhanced Unemployment Benefits
Many state leaders frustrated with the slow pace of re-employment have opted to quit offering enhanced unemployment benefits. Logan Kolas of the Buckeye Institute discusses what that means for Ohio and many other states.


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May 28, 2021 4:12pm
The Big Taxing Plans of Joe Biden

Big spending means high taxes for President Joe Biden. What are the real consequences? Chris Edwards explains.


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May 27, 2021 4:14pm
Second Amendment Returns to SCOTUS
The Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to a New York state law that allows residents to carry a concealed handgun only if they can demonstrate a special need beyond a general desire for self-protection. Josh Blackman comments.


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May 26, 2021 3:53pm
When the Feds Buy Data about You
What happens when the feds buy data about you and use it to surveil or prosecute you? Is it an end-run around laws meant to prohibit exactly that? Cato's Julian Sanchez and Patrick Eddington comment.


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May 25, 2021 2:51pm
Don’t Be like China: Why the U.S. Government Should Cut Its Science Budget
President Biden unveiled plans to increase the U.S. government’s science funding by some 20 percent over the next year, but the reasoning behind it is flawed. Terence Kealey explains why.


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May 24, 2021 3:55pm
Why 'Just Put Out the Fire' Is Suboptimal Forest Management
The blank check that has accompanied forest management has done damage to forest ecosystems in ways you probably wouldn't imagine. Holly Fretwell and Jonathan Wood of the Property and Environment Research Center detail why protecting America's forests requires some counterintuitive thinking.


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May 21, 2021 10:42am
The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They’re Wrong

In The Most Common Arguments Against Immigration and Why They're Wrong, Cato's Alex Nowrasteh considers the most common arguments against immigration and rejects them using sound reasoning and evidence.

Help us celebrate the Cato Daily Podcast's 15th anniversary by receiving a small token of our appreciation for listeners.


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May 19, 2021 3:28pm
Waiving the Jones Act Would Boost Responsiveness to Shocks
The Jones Act keeps private sector actors from responding nimbly when economic disruptions occur, like a ransomware attack on a pipeline. Colin Grabow explains why.


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May 18, 2021 3:58pm
China: Rise or Demise?
China, even if it rises, does not present much of a security threat to the United States, according to Cato's John Mueller.


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May 17, 2021 8:49am
Policing Reform Demands an End to Qualified Immunity

As Congress mulls policing reform, it's still unclear if an end to qualified immunity will be included. Clark Neily details reform options on the table and why the invented Supreme Court doctrine needs to go.

Help us celebrate the Cato Daily Podcast’s 15th anniversary by receiving a small token of our appreciation for listeners.


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May 14, 2021 6:55am
Steelmanning 101
Showing respect for an opponent's argument may be difficult, but it's important if we care about having productive and civil discourse. Greg Rehmke runs economicthinking.org and has spend decades teaching young people how to engage in proper debate.

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May 13, 2021 10:37am
What Does Good Social Entrepreneurship Demand?
Social entrepreneurs still face a bottom line. Sam Staley of Florida State University discusses what is required to engage in charity and business simultaneously.


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May 12, 2021 1:53pm
Secretive Federal Court Again Stands Down on Warrantless Spying on Americans

You would expect a court designed for foreign intelligence surveillance would use a stronger hand in punishing agencies that illegally snoop on Americans. Julian Sanchez discusses why that's not exactly what's going on.

Help us celebrate the Cato Daily Podcast’s 15th anniversary by receiving a small token of our appreciation for listeners.


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May 11, 2021 2:11pm
Immigrants to the Right, Guns to the Left
The Left's blind spot about guns mirrors the Right's blind spot about immigrants. Trevor Burrus explains.

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May 10, 2021 3:46pm
How Do the Feds Tax Capital Gains?
The Biden Administration hopes to hike capital gains taxes for high earners. What are the likely results? Cato’s Jennifer Schulp comments.


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May 08, 2021 2:00am
Saudi Arabia and Iran Are Talking, and That's Fine
Should the U.S. care that Saudi Arabia and Iran are talking? Doug Bandow explains.


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May 07, 2021 2:49pm
The Era of 'The Era of Big Government Is Over' Is Over
As Republicans have come to love big government, Democrats have stopped pretending to care about fiscal restraint. Eric Boehm of Reason details the absence of serious fights over spending.


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May 06, 2021 4:43pm
High Court Takes up Free Speech for Students
How does an off-campus profane rant implicate student discipline for schools? The Supreme Court is looking at the case of a teenager disciplined for that kind of speech. Cato's Thomas Berry talks about why the student will probably prevail.


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May 05, 2021 1:05pm
Facebook Oversight Board Upholds Trump Ban ... with Conditions
The Facebook Oversight Board generally approved of the company's ban on Donald Trump, but the board attached some directions for Facebook, as well. John Samples, a vice president at Cato, is a member of the oversight board.


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May 04, 2021 2:18pm
Medical Malpractice Litigation: How It Works -- Why Tort Reform Hasn't Helped
How well does the medical malpractice system compensate injured patients and spur better care? Charlie Silver is coauthor of Medical Malpractice Litigation: How It Works — Why Tort Reform Hasn’t Helped.

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May 03, 2021 3:02pm
New Cato Polling: Understanding American Support & Opposition on Immigration
A new Cato Institute poll drills down on why Americans feel the way they do about immigration. Emily Ekins directed the research.


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April 29, 2021 4:32pm
California v. Donor Privacy
California wants to maintain a database of the identities of donors to all manner of charities throughout the U.S. Paul Sherman of the Institute for Justice says it's an imposition on privacy and association.


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April 28, 2021 4:30pm
Is It Possible to Crowdfund a Common Defense?
The experience of Ukraine may offer lessons for public defense. Economic researcher Garrett Wood has looked into the creative but imperfect means of crowdfunding small-scale defense in Ukraine.

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April 27, 2021 4:03pm
Above the Law: How 'Qualified Immunity' Protects Violent Police
Qualified immunity is an insult to Americans whose rights have been violated by public officials. Ben Cohen tells some of those stories in Above the Law: How 'Qualified Immunity' Protects Violent Police. We were joined by Cato’s Jay Schweikert and Clark Neily.


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April 23, 2021 11:00pm
New Mexico Ends Virtually All Qualified Immunity for Public Officials
New Mexico has eliminated qualified immunity for almost all public officials. New Mexico House Speaker Brian Egolf (D) discusses how it happened and why it's an important reform.

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April 23, 2021 3:21pm
Federal Nicotine Limits and Back Door Prohibition
The Biden Administration is reportedly considering a federal mandate to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes to nonaddictive levels. Is that just back door prohibition? Tom Firey and Jeff Singer comment.

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April 22, 2021 5:20pm
Another Take on Vaccine Certifications

The arguments from self-described libertarians on private vaccine certifications often disrespects the freedom of people to define their own associations. Sam Staley of Florida State University comments.


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April 21, 2021 12:34pm
For Criminal Justice Reform, We Need Better Criminal Justice Data
Criminal justice reformers should turn their eyes to how data is collected in myriad ways within the criminal justice system. Stuart Buck of Arnold Ventures details how credible data can drive reform efforts.

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April 20, 2021 8:47am
Congress Preps to End Cannabis Prohibition
As Democrats prepare to roll out the end of federal cannabis prohibition, it's worth taking stock of where cannabis legality stands today. Erin Partin details how states have moved over the past decade, and how the feds ought to move forward.


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April 19, 2021 7:18pm
Biden Backpedals on Immigration Reform
President Joe Biden lost credibility in his own party by failing to make good on campaign promises to increase the cap for refugee admissions to the United States. David Bier says Biden has no reason to back down from his immigration promises.


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April 17, 2021 2:00am
New Hate Crimes Legislation Moving in Congress
Defining a hate crime is a challenge and definitions vary by jurisdiction, but Congress is moving ahead with revising and expanding those laws federally. Walter Olson comments.


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April 16, 2021 3:37pm
In the Name of Fairness, A Push for Big New Labor Market Regulation
The rigidity that Democrats want in labor markets doesn't serve women well, and Republicans are far from innocent in pushing for new mandates. Rachel Greszler of the Heritage Foundation comments.


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April 15, 2021 2:51pm
Certificate of Need and Access to Health Care
Defenders of certificate-of-need laws make big claims, like those laws effectively protect access to health care services. Economist James Bailey at Providence College has examined that claim. He says there’s not much evidence to support it.


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April 13, 2021 7:28pm
Housing Churn and Housing Bubbles

The housing market's normal churn has been all but absent in this pandemic. Does that make for a housing bubble? Tom Firey comments.


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April 12, 2021 5:07pm
Dick Durbin, Counterterrorism, and Patriot Act 2.0
New proposed authorities to combat domestic terrorism after the attack on the Capitol again pose challenges for basic constraints on government like probable cause and particularized suspicion. Patrick Eddington comments.


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April 09, 2021 4:03pm
Is 2021 the Best Year for School Choice Ever?
Parents, put in a bind by a pandemic, have focused their attention on the options available to them for their kids' education. This year may be the very best for the expansion of school choice so far. Jason Bedrick explains how it happened.


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April 08, 2021 2:00am
Vaccine Passports vs. Private Vaccine Certifications
The price we all would ultimately pay for a central government database of our vaccination status to regulate our public engagement could be very high. Can we get the benefits without the costs? Julian Sanchez and Jeff Singer comment.


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April 07, 2021 2:00am
Economics in One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning through COVID-19
The pandemic has shown us that there is a price to be paid for failing to understand economic consequences. Ryan Bourne catalogs many of the missteps in his new book, Economics in One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning through COVID-19.


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April 06, 2021 1:00am
Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance
Islamic thinkers once inspired great Western thinkers. How can Islam fully embrace respect for science, reason, liberty, and other religions? Mustafa Akyol is author of Reopening Muslim Minds.


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April 05, 2021 9:09am
Local Criminal Justice Reform and State Preemption
Local efforts at criminal justice reform can be preempted by state-level edict. How should states and localities work to get along? Rachel Elise Barkow, author of Prisoners of Politics, comments.


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April 02, 2021 3:06pm
Is Congress Ready to Rein in Executive War Power?
The authorizations that have enabled two decades of American-led war across the globe should be repealed. Congress may finally agree. Gene Healy and John Glaser explain why.

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April 01, 2021 3:07pm
Biden's Big Unnecessary Infrastructure Push
The Biden Administration hopes to spend trillions of new dollars on public infrastructure, and while they're at it, massively subsidize private infrastructure. Cato's Chris Edwards says it's utterly unnecessary.

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March 31, 2021 2:57pm
Section 230 and the PACT Act
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has a new piece of would-be reform legislation, though the proposal highlights just how hard it is to do content moderation at scale. Mike Masnick of techdirt and Cato's Will Duffield comment.

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March 30, 2021 3:03pm
A Clarification on Systemic Racism
Understanding what systemic racism is requires an understanding of what it isn't. Jonathan Blanks of The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity details a few important distinctions.

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March 29, 2021 3:54pm
The Black Police Experience and Qualified Immunity
What does a former cop think about qualified immunity? Sonia Pruitt is head of The Black Police Experience.


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March 26, 2021 3:43pm
Pollsters Still Perplexed over GOP Performance at the Polls
Pollsters got it wrong again in 2020, underestimating support for Donald Trump and Republicans more broadly. How are they going to get it right? Emily Ekins discusses the theories.


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March 25, 2021 2:39pm
Medicare is ‘Junk Coverage’
The people who set the prices for a lot of Medicare-funded services point out many of the problems that leads Michael Cannon to conclude that the behemoth of government healthcare provides "junk" coverage.

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March 24, 2021 5:03pm
Loosening Telehealth Rules Beyond the Pandemic
Big players expanding telehealth offerings while a great deal of state regulation is temporarily suspended might mean a vast expansion of telehealth offerings going forward. Jeff Singer comments.


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March 23, 2021 3:44pm
Fostering Inclusive Economic Recovery in California
California's poverty is dramatically more stark than in other states. Delivering on an inclusive economic recovery from pandemic means addressing several underlying policy problems. Michael Tanner comments ahead of his conference in April.


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March 22, 2021 3:56pm
How Biden Can Do Right By Kids Crossing the Border
The Biden Administration has ways to make good on pledges to treat young people crossing the border fairly. David Bier comments.


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March 19, 2021 3:50pm
Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980
Rick Perlstein's Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980 details a downtrodden GOP approaching irrelevance ahead of the surprising resurgence of Ronald Reagan.


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March 18, 2021 4:11pm
The Stupidity of War
Stupid wars go back a long time, but the idea that war is stupid is relatively new. John Mueller explores the modern idea in The Stupidity of War.


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March 17, 2021 3:28pm
When Will the U.S. Exit Wars in Yemen and Afghanistan?
When will President Biden withdraw all support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen? Does Joe Biden own the war in Afghanistan if he doesn’t stick to the current timeline for U.S. departure? Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California discusses the Biden foreign policy so far.


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March 16, 2021 9:11am
The Burglary That Revealed Hoover’s Corrupted FBI
Fifty years ago this month, a group of anti-war activists broke into the FBI and revealed terrible crimes committed by that agency under the secrecy of COINTELPRO. Patrick Eddington details the history.


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March 15, 2021 3:04pm
Are Libertarians Too Influential in Federal Court Decisions?
Do judges feel undue influence from libertarian legal scholars? Sheldon Whitehouse may believe that's the case, and he'd like to change the way groups like the Cato Institute are allowed to engage with the judiciary. Ilya Shapiro comments.


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March 12, 2021 11:00pm
Breonna Taylor’s Killing One Year Later
A year after Louisville police killed Breonna Taylor, what's changed? Peter Kraska is a policing researcher at Eastern Kentucky University who worked on the Taylor case. He comments on police reform efforts now underway.

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March 12, 2021 9:03am
The Urge to Punish and Criminal Justice Reform
It's easy to want to throw the book at someone who's engaged in some egregious conduct, but it's harder to understand what even seemingly minor punishments entail. Author and criminal justice scholar John Pfaff discusses the incentives inherent in the way criminal justice is carried out in America.


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March 11, 2021 2:00am
End the National Security Free Pass for Presidential Meddling in Trade
The Trump Administration made extensive use of national security justifications for restricting trade. It's time for the law that allows it to go. Inu Manak and Scott Lincicome comment.


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March 10, 2021 3:44pm
When Are Online Platforms Culpable for Users' Criminal Behavior?

Should online platforms get blamed for criminal behavior that occurs online, even when police fail to act? Will Duffield comments.


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March 09, 2021 2:00am
Vaccine Distribution, Harm Reduction, and Winding Down a Pandemic
How governments have opted to distribute COVID-19 vaccines leaves a lot to be desired. And precisely what does the end of this pandemic look like? Comedian Andrew Heaton guest hosts in a conversation with Jeff Singer.


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March 05, 2021 4:47pm
Impeachment and Its Aftermath for the GOP
The last days of the Trump Administration saw an attack on the Capitol and an historic second impeachment for a sitting President. For Republicans who voted to bring that President to trial, what now? Republican Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler offers her thoughts.


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March 05, 2021 4:43pm
First, Do No Harm to the Global Supply Chain
The domestic politics of global supply chains are full of unfortunate incentives even now, when the stakes are historically high. Scott Lincicome comments.


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March 04, 2021 2:57pm
Some Initial Thoughts on Why Texans Froze
Texans are still dealing with the aftermath of that recent deep freeze. Peter Van Doren breaks down the relevant facts and provides some early economic analysis.

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March 03, 2021 5:51pm
Will Biden Accept Trump's Gift of A Quick Exit from Afghanistan?
America's longest war, Afghanistan, continues. Joe Biden has a unique opportunity to end it once and for all, thanks in part to Trump Administration efforts to shorten U.S. involvement. Doug Bandow and Will Ruger comment.

 


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March 02, 2021 4:12pm
Free Political Speech Online vs. Democrats' Election Reforms
An amalgam of proposals from Democrats would strictly regulate online speech, and make more costly other forms of public communication on policy issues. Will Duffield comments on the proposal.


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February 26, 2021 3:03pm
Is the Supreme Court Beginning to Curtail Qualified Immunity?
The Supreme Court created and has long supported a tortured reading federal law that helps public officials escape accountability for violating your rights. That may be changing in a small way. Still, Clark Neily and Jay Schweikert argue that qualified immunity will continue to protect malicious public officials until lawmakers step in to fix it.

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February 25, 2021 3:48pm
Were Trump's Judicial Appointments Worth It?
Some in the conservative legal movement view Trump's (and Mitch McConnell's) success at confirming judges as simply not worth the rest of the Trump presidency. Billy Easley, a senior policy advisor at Americans for Prosperity, is one of them. His new Libertarianism.org essay is entitled, “The Myth of Trump’s Judicial Success."


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February 24, 2021 4:20pm
The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics
Statistics are typically meant to influence, and influence can be achieved with bad statistics. Tim Harford tries to help you discern truth from fiction in The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics.


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February 23, 2021 1:24pm
Criminal Justice and "The Vanishing Trial"
Why do so few defendants get their day in court? Kevin Ring of FAMM discusses The Vanishing Trial. You may also host a screening of the film.


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February 22, 2021 2:39pm
The COVID-19 State Budget Shortfall That Wasn’t
State budgets didn't suffer the fate that was so widely predicted as COVID-19 began spreading throughout the U.S. Why? Logan Kolas of the Buckeye Institute and Chris Edwards comment.

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February 22, 2021 2:34pm
The COVID-19 State Budget Shortfall That Wasn’t
State budgets didn't suffer the fate that was so widely predicted as COVID-19 began spreading throughout the U.S. Why? Logan Kolas of the Buckeye Institute and Chris Edwards comment.

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February 20, 2021 2:00am
The Gray Wolf Is a Recovered Species, So Why Won't the Feds Say So?
When species recover, the feds should remove them from the Endangered Species List. But that's not how it often works. Jonathan Wood of the Property and Environment Research Center comments.


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February 19, 2021 2:48pm
Indiana Continues to Fight for Excessive Fines
Despite a Supreme Court ruling nudging states in the other direction, Indiana is continuing its fight to lay excessive fines over small-time drug crimes. Sam Gedge with the Institute for Justice is representing Tyson Timbs against Indiana.


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February 18, 2021 3:16pm
The Costs of Biden's Big Minimum Wage Boost
The minimum wage debate is rekindled as the Biden Administration plans its push for $15 an hour. Chris Edwards and Ryan Bourne discuss the side-effects and drawbacks.


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February 17, 2021 4:17pm
Federal Regulation from Trump to Biden
Tom Firey and Will Yeatman offer the soberest of sober assessments of the Trump regulatory record and a few thoughts on what's in store from Team Biden.

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February 16, 2021 4:18pm
Did Republicans Inoculate Future Presidents against Impeachment?
The second impeachment trial for Donald Trump ended up considerably more bipartisan than the last one, but “Citizen Trump" was nonetheless acquitted. So, have Republicans helped set a kind-of precedent by not issuing a conviction? Gene Healy dissects the trial.


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February 12, 2021 4:31pm
Ben and Jerry and the Campaign to End Qualified Immunity
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield are the icons better known for Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Now they're focusing their notoriety on ending qualified immunity. Ben, Jerry, and Cato's Jay Schweikert comment on the campaign to end the powerful, court-invented doctrine that shields public officials from accountability.


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February 11, 2021 8:32am
U.S. Marshals, Federal Task Forces, and Unaccountable Cops
U.S. Marshals sometimes act like local police, but with more violence and less accountability. That's according to a new investigation led by the Marshall Project. Reining it in is no easy task, according to co-author Simone Weichselbaum. And the Marshals, like other federal cops, regularly deputize local cops. That makes accountability for misconduct even more difficult, according to Patrick Jaicomo, an attorney at the Institute for Justice.

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February 10, 2021 3:49pm
The Life and Death and Future Life of Fusionism
"Fusionism," something of an ideological nonaggression pact between libertarians and conservatives, has fallen on hard times. Can it be reborn? Stephanie Slade of Reason discusses her new article on the subject.


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February 09, 2021 7:54am
A Second Senate Trial for Donald Trump
The President's second impeachment trial begins with most Republicans agreeing that the whole proceeding is a "sham" and is unconstitutional. Gene Healy describes the arguments.


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February 08, 2021 4:05pm
Erdogan, Bogazici University, and the Struggle over Liberal Thought in Turkey
The fight over leadership at Bogazici University in Turkey again shows how fragile academic freedom can be. Mustafa Akyol comments.


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February 07, 2021 2:00am
The Enduring Myth of Super Bowl Weekend Sex Trafficking
The conflation of human trafficking and sex work is both destructive and counterproductive, and the Super Bowl offers another opportunity to end myths surrounding sex work. Sex worker advocate Kaytlin Bailey comments.


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February 05, 2021 4:36pm
Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth
Stuart Ritchie is author of Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth.


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February 04, 2021 5:42pm
The Death Penalty’s Days are Numbered

The Trump Administration rushed more than a dozen federal executions in its final months, but the death penalty itself is now historically unpopular even among conservatives. Hannah Cox with Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty discusses the broad trend away from support for one form of state-sanctioned killing.


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February 03, 2021 12:37pm
Facial Recognition Tech and the Attack on the Capitol
How free should law enforcement feel to make use of new investigative technology without permission from political authorities? Matthew Feeney and Patrick Eddington discuss facial recognition tech in the wake of last month's Capitol attack.

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February 02, 2021 3:50pm
The Big Short Squeeze and Regulating Markets (and Social Media)
How will regulating stock trades change following last week's big short squeeze executed by retail traders? Jennifer Schulp and Matthew Feeney comment.


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January 29, 2021 11:00pm
GameStop, AMC, Robinhood, and the Big Short Squeeze
There are plenty of fingers pointing after a wild week on Wall Street that left hedge funds bloodied, traders exuberant, members of Congress signaling support for whoever the good guys might be, and trading platforms in a well-earned PR bind. Jennifer Schulp comments.

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January 29, 2021 11:00pm
GameStop, AMC, Robinhood, and the Big Short Squeeze
There are plenty of fingers pointing after a wild week on Wall Street that left hedge funds bloodied, traders exuberant, members of Congress signaling support for whoever the good guys might be, and trading platforms in a well-earned PR bind. Jennifer Schulp comments.

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January 29, 2021 3:43pm
A Realistic, Quick Path to Ending Cannabis Prohibition?
What's the best path forward to end cannabis prohibition without loading it up with needless federal regulation? Jim Higdon is the cofounder of Cornbread Hemp and an advocate for an end to cannabis prohibition. He says the Farm Bill is the key.

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January 29, 2021 3:43pm
A Realistic, Quick Path to Ending Cannabis Prohibition?
What's the best path forward to end cannabis prohibition without loading it up with needless federal regulation? Jim Higdon is the cofounder of Cornbread Hemp and an advocate for an end to cannabis prohibition. He says the Farm Bill is the key.

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January 28, 2021 5:07pm
The Fairness Doctrine Hot Takes Have It Almost Completely Wrong
The refrain is "Bring back the Fairness Doctrine!" Paul Matzko, author of The Radio Right, explains where reviving and expanding government control of broadcast and cable (and streaming) content will inevitably lead.

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January 28, 2021 5:07pm
The Fairness Doctrine Hot Takes Have It Almost Completely Wrong
The refrain is "Bring back the Fairness Doctrine!" Paul Matzko, author of The Radio Right, explains where reviving and expanding government control of broadcast and cable (and streaming) content will inevitably lead.

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January 27, 2021 3:02pm
Is Biden's Trade Policy Just Warmed-Over Trumpism?
Now that the loudly protectionist Trump team has departed the White House, should we expect anything better from Joe Biden? Scott Lincicome comments.


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January 26, 2021 4:38pm
Countering Violent Extremism and Where It Can Lead
The attack on the Capitol has renewed calls to more closely monitor and punish extremism in the United States. In some sense, the United States has been here before. Patrick Eddington and Julian Sanchez weigh in.


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January 25, 2021 4:02pm
A Declaration of Genocide in China
The Trump State Department accused China of Genocide with respect to Uyghur Muslims there. That designation is likely to stick. Eric Gomez and Mustafa Akyol offer their thoughts.


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January 21, 2021 11:00pm
Trump Is No Longer in Office, So Why Put Him on Trial?
The U.S. Senate is awaiting an article of impeachment from the House regarding Donald Trump's activities leading up to a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Why should the Senate proceed with a trial for a President who has already left office? Gene Healy offers his thoughts.

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January 21, 2021 11:00pm
Trump Is No Longer in Office, So Why Put Him on Trial?
The U.S. Senate is awaiting an article of impeachment from the House regarding Donald Trump's activities leading up to a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Why should the Senate proceed with a trial for a President who has already left office? Gene Healy offers his thoughts.

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January 21, 2021 2:00am
Is Trading Too Easy on Robinhood?
The "gamification" of stock trading has raised the hackles of state-level financial regulators. So what's the big deal if Robinhood throws up confetti when you make a trade? Jennifer Schulp evaluates the claims.


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January 20, 2021 9:05am
Transitioning to Biden Administration Foreign Policy
Team Biden won't deliver restraint, but it may deliver a basic regard for diplomacy across the globe. Eric Gomez and John Glaser comment.


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January 19, 2021 3:37pm
The Biden Immigration Plan Includes Massive Legalization
Among other reforms, the incoming Biden Administration would legalize many millions of immigrants now in the United States illegally. Alex Nowrasteh describes what we know now about the soon-to-be-released plan.

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January 18, 2021 2:00am
Federal No Fly Lists Deserve More Scrutiny after Capitol Attack
Placing people on federal no-fly lists without charging them with any crime poses significant due process issues. Patrick Eddington details the case of Capitol rallygoers who probably weren't rioters, but ended up unable to fly.

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January 16, 2021 2:00am
Trump’s Blackwater Pardons
The pardon power is broad, and many pardons that Presidents grant are questionable. In the case of pardons for security personnel working for Blackwater in Iraq, they might make relations for the U.S. and Iraq worse. Sahar Khan comments.

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January 15, 2021 3:52pm
Trump Team Stymies Diplomacy in Yemen
The Trump Administration has declared Houthis a terror group. In doing so, the road to a diplomatic resolution of the Saudi-led war in Yemen is that much more difficult. John Glaser comments.

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January 14, 2021 12:02pm
Social Media Reacts to the Attack at the Capitol
Twitter banned President Trump after he used the platform to help spin up a crowd just before last week's deadly Capitol attack. That should seem like an easy call. But what about similar bans on some Trump supporters? The removal of accounts on various platforms appeared to be fairly widespread. Will Duffield and Matthew Feeney comment.

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January 14, 2021 12:02pm
Social Media Reacts to the Attack at the Capitol
Twitter banned President Trump after he used the platform to help spin up a crowd just before last week's deadly Capitol attack. That should seem like an easy call. But what about similar bans on some Trump supporters? The removal of accounts on various platforms appeared to be fairly widespread. Will Duffield and Matthew Feeney comment.

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January 13, 2021 6:15pm
Trump Impeached (Again)

Donald Trump's latest impeachment in the U.S. House now triggers a Senate trial. An impeachment trial isn't a criminal proceeding, so how will the Senate weigh evidence? And why did some in GOP leadership push instead for “censure” just days after running for their lives from a Trump-inspired mob that killed at least four people? Gene Healy comments.


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January 12, 2021 3:30pm
Myths of American Exceptionalism Left and Right
Does the ideal of American exceptionalism demand anything? That is, how can the U.S. be exceptional without people working to make it that way? Historian Anthony Comegna talks about the myths that surround the notion of American exceptionalism.


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January 08, 2021 1:40pm
In the Wake of the Pro-Trump Attack on the Capitol, Let’s Clarify What ‘Sedition' and ‘Incitement' Mean
Donald Trump urged his followers to go directly to Congress on Wednesday. Was he inciting them to riot? The pro-Trump mob that shortly thereafter invaded the Capitol engaged in criminal behavior. Was it sedition? Was it treason? Walter Olson says we should define our terms clearly.

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January 07, 2021 2:36pm
Impeachment, the 25th Amendment, or Don't Bother?
As the U.S. enters the final two weeks of the presidency of Donald Trump, the pro-Trump mob attack on the Capitol is spurring lawmakers to renew calls to remove the President by either impeachment and removal or invoking the 25th Amendment. Gene Healy explains how those Constitutional processes would work.

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January 06, 2021 7:27pm
Pro-Trump Rioters Storm the Capitol
Pro-Trump forces hoping to overturn the 2020 presidential election broke police barricades, broke windows to enter the Capitol, entered members offices, and looted. David Boaz comments on how the conservative movement ended up here.


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January 05, 2021 3:31pm
Markets versus Central Planners on Vaccine Distribution
The heavy hand of government is getting heavier during the slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Jeff Singer comments.


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January 04, 2021 4:05pm
“Biden’s Pick for Secretary of Education
Joe Biden's pick for Secretary of Education will face pressure for the department to hand down "guidance" to tell schools when and how to open or close as the pandemic continues. Neal McCluskey explains why the feds need to stay out of it.


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January 01, 2021 2:00am
Campaign Finance and American Democracy: What the Public Really Thinks and Why It Matters
How has the Citizens United decision changed the competitiveness of politics? Do voters have a basically fair understanding of how campaign spending functions? David M. Primo and Jeffrey D. Milyo are authors of Campaign Finance and American Democracy: What the Public Really Thinks and Why It Matters.


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December 31, 2020 10:11am
Open: The Story of Human Progress
Despite the backlash against openness in much of the world, Johan Norberg says it's a source of strength. His new book is Open: The Story of Human Progress.


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December 30, 2020 10:06am
Biden Shouldn’t Back Down on Immigration Reform
Joe Biden has no reason to back away from his ambitious immigration reform plans. David Bier explains why.


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December 29, 2020 11:12am
Ever-Expanding Hopes for A Student Loan Bailout

It wasn't a big piece of the presidential campaign, but since the election, proposals to bail out student loan borrowers have become dramatically more ambitious. Neal McCluskey explains the folly of more freebies for the well-off.


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December 28, 2020 4:07pm
How Do Immigrants Vote?

Immigrants make up a valuable group of voters in American elections. How did they vote in 2016 and 2020? Alex Nowrasteh explains.


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December 26, 2020 2:00am
Regulating Cannabis in 2021
Cannabis descheduling at the federal level had a brief moment this year, but ultimately it didn’t happen. What does next year hold for continuing the trend toward decriminalizing or legalizing cannabis? Trevor Burrus explains.


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December 25, 2020 2:00am
Salaam Alaikum and Merry Christmas
Understanding the role of Jesus in Islam may be a key to expanding mutual religious toleration. Mustafa Akyol explains why.


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December 24, 2020 2:00am
Religious Persecution Across the Globe
Religious persecution around the globe continues. How would a Biden Administration differ in foreign policy relating to religion?


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December 23, 2020 11:34am
How COVID-19 Changed the Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve's expansion into credit allocation during the COVID-19 pandemic will be difficult to roll back. Jim Dorn comments.


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December 22, 2020 8:55am
Team Biden and the Means to "Full Employment"
What new government programs would be justified in pursuit of a target of "full employment" in the economy? Ryan Bourne discusses what the Biden economic team might be planning.


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December 21, 2020 3:54pm
Sizing Up the SolarWinds Hack
The devastation and expense of the attack on customers of SolarWinds, including many secretive government agencies, won't be known for some time. Julian Sanchez details some of what we know now.


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December 19, 2020 2:00am
Trump, Biden, and Reviving the Iran Nuclear Deal
Team Trump pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal, and that appears to have placed Iran closer to achieving nuclear weapons. John Glaser discusses what it would mean for the U.S. to try to revive the deal in a Biden Administration.


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December 18, 2020 3:33pm
Vaccine Distribution When Demand Far Exceeds Supply
What's the libertarian answer to distributing a vaccine against a deadly disease when supply is so low relative to the demand? Michael Cannon makes his case.


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December 17, 2020 3:35pm
Are Facebook's Newer Properties Evidence of Monopoly?
Was Facebook's purchase of Instagram and other properties evidence of monopolistic practices? Will Duffield and Ryan Bourne are skeptical.


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December 16, 2020 5:14pm
Waivers and Secretaries of Defense
Lloyd Austin is Joe Biden's pick to head the Defense Department? Why does he need a waiver to serve. Eric Gomez explains.


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December 15, 2020 2:02pm
Electoral College Politics in 2020
The Electoral College has cast its votes for President. It should come as no surprise that Joe Biden won. Cato Chairman Robert A. Levy details the current process and the hurdles to changing it for future elections.

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December 11, 2020 4:16pm
A Boring Biden Presidency? Don’t Bet on It

Will a Biden Administration bring us nothing more than an undoing of the executive actions of the Trump team? That's an unlikely outcome, according to Gene Healy.


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December 10, 2020 3:21pm
Access, Quality, and Educational Freedom
There exists a tension among educational freedom advocates between the broad freedom for parents to make meaningful choices about the educations their children receive and guarantees of equity and quality. Jason Bedrick explains why the policy choice between freedom and equity is often a false one.

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December 09, 2020 2:56pm
Big White Ghetto: Dead Broke, Stone-Cold Stupid, and High on Rage in the Dank Woolly Wilds of the "Real America"
Kevin D. Williamson is author of Big White Ghetto: Dead Broke, Stone-Cold Stupid, and High on Rage in the Dank Woolly Wilds of the "Real America".

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December 04, 2020 8:55am
The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World
Textiles are everywhere, and before the Industrial Revolution, even tiny advances in textile development had massive ripple effects. Virginia Postrel traces this amazing history in The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World.


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December 03, 2020 3:32pm
Supreme Disorder: Judicial Nominations and the Politics of America's Highest Court
Judicial confirmations are a partisan affair, and that's hard to square with what we expect from judges. Ilya Shapiro elucidates the confirmation process in Supreme Disorder: Judicial Nominations and the Politics of America's Highest Court.

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December 02, 2020 9:45am
Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy
How did the U.S. go from skepticism of foreign entanglements to setting the stage for its role as a dominant global power? Stephen Wertheim explains in Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy.


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November 30, 2020 2:09pm
The Radio Right: How a Band of Broadcasters Took on the Federal Government and Built the Modern Conservative Movement

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November 27, 2020 1:00am
A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution

Was the Constitution an anti-slavery document or a “covenant with death”? Damon Root explores the struggle through the eyes of Frederick Douglass in his new book, A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution.


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November 26, 2020 1:00am
Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius

Stoicism is built to deliver mental clarity in difficult times. Ryan Holiday is author of Lives of the Stoics: The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius.


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November 25, 2020 2:52pm
The Faithless?: The Untold Story of the Electoral College
The Electoral College is still poorly understood. Emily Conrad demystifies the institution in her new book, The Faithless?: The Untold Story of the Electoral College.
 


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November 22, 2020 11:00pm
Setting Trumpster Fires in Foreign Policy
The lame duck Trump team appears to be working to stymie the Biden foreign policy agenda. John Glaser explains how.

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November 19, 2020 11:00pm
Trumpism and Tylerism Revisited
Four years ago, Anthony Comegna argued that President John Tyler offered the greatest parallel to Donald Trump's presidency. As the Trump Administration winds down, Comegna argues that the parallels are as strong as ever.

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November 19, 2020 1:09pm
Government and Pandemics
Governments have roles to play in a pandemic. But the roles that governments choose to play of turn out to fail or make matters worse. Tom Firey details his new Cato paper.

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November 18, 2020 4:02pm
Yet Another Challenge to Obamacare before SCOTUS
How did Supreme Court justices receive the new case against Obamacare? Ilya Shapiro and Michael Cannon discuss the oral argument.


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November 17, 2020 4:05pm
SCOTUS Gives Hope for the Beginning of the End of Qualified Immunity
Qualified immunity, the court invented doctrine that protects public officials from civil liability even in cases of egregious conduct, took a small hit at the Supreme Court recently. Jay Schweikert explains what it might mean long term.


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November 16, 2020 10:28am
2020's Ephemeral Blue Wave and Persistent Polling Problems
Do we really know anything more about voters than we did before Election Day this year? Why were polls again so bad at clearly predicting results? Emily Ekins explains.

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November 13, 2020 4:20pm
An Unnerving Shakeup at Pentagon and DHS
The housecleaning at the top ranks of the Pentagon could have concerning implications, but it’s perhaps good news that we still don’t seem to know exactly why it happened. John Glaser and Eric Gomez comment.


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November 13, 2020 7:37am
Pfizer, Operation Warp Speed, and the Race for a Vaccine
Pfizer is among the leaders in the development of a vaccine or COVID-19, but it did so without subsidy from the U.S. government. Terence Kealey describes why that matters.

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November 11, 2020 4:23pm
President-Elect Biden and the Freedom to Trade
Partisan alignment over trade has become scrambled in the Trump years. Does a Biden Administration hold promise for enhancing free trade? Simon Lester and Dan Ikenson offer their assessments.


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November 10, 2020 4:05pm
Election 2020 and the Virtues of Divided Government
The news of this election and who controls what levers of federal power is a mixed bag, but divided government might be one bright spot for libertarians. Political strategist Liz Mair makes her case.


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November 09, 2020 1:36pm
Libertarians Spoiled 2020 for Donald Trump?
In close races, any Libertarian candidate attracting enough votes can get tagged as a "spoiler." It's not clear that's what happened in 2020's race for the White House. David Boaz explains.


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November 06, 2020 3:47pm
Postal Banking: A Bad Idea That Is Very Much Alive
Should the Postal Service hold your bank accounts? Should the Postal Service extend credit to Americans? You’ll be hearing more about this ideas soon enough. Diego Zuluaga explains the flaws in postal banking.


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November 05, 2020 9:59am
Ballot Measures Legalize (Some) Freedom
Voters in various states chose to legalize drugs, nullify labor regulations, and turn away tax hikes at the ballot box. Walter Olson details some of the initiatives on state ballots in 2020.

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November 04, 2020 2:04pm
In a Close Presidential Race, Send in the Lawyers
The race for the White House is very close. What would this fight look like in courts? Ilya Shapiro comments.


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November 03, 2020 12:48pm
Costs and Benefits of the Electoral College
Some people claim the Electoral College, the method by which Americans choose a President, has racist origins, that it protects rural states at the expense of big cities, and that the institution should be replaced by a national popular vote. John Samples discusses the claims.

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November 02, 2020 4:13pm
The Antitrust Case against Google
What is the substance of the antitrust case against Google? Geoffrey Manne of the International Center for Law & Economics evaluates the claims.

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October 31, 2020 2:00am
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Executive Power
The answers Joe Biden and Kamala Harris gave to a longstanding survey on executive power are less than promising for separation of powers. Gene Healy explains.

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October 30, 2020 4:11pm
Trump's Dubious Success at Cracking Down on Immigrants
Whether you like it or not, Donald Trump has has broad success at limiting immigration flows into the United States. In doing so, economic costs are likely to follow. David Bier comments.

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October 29, 2020 5:08pm
Will France's Reponse to Islamist Killings Backfire?
The killing of a schoolteacher in France over the display of images of Muhammad has inspired outrage, but France's official response to it may ultimately fail to achieve its goal. Mustafa Akyol comments.


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October 28, 2020 4:44pm
A Brutal Murder, Freedom of Speech, and Islamism in France
Has France reacted appropriately to attacks that included the beheading of a schoolteacher over a kind of blasphemy? What are the implications for free expression there? Flemming Rose comments.


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October 27, 2020 3:53pm
Revisiting Immigration and Crime in Texas
Data from Texas shows that illegal immigrants tend to commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. Alex Nowrasteh explains why puncturing the myth of immigrant crime is so important.


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October 26, 2020 4:08pm
Joe Biden's Tax and Spending Plans
The assumptions underlying Biden campaign's tax and spending plans give us a false picture of what those policies would mean for the economy. Chris Edwards explains why.


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October 24, 2020 2:00am
Following the Science and Pandemic Policy Outcomes
What does it mean for politicians to follow the science when scientists disagree and the policy outcomes might give us unintended consequences? Jeff Singer comments.

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October 23, 2020 3:27pm
The Investments Most of Us Can’t Buy
Regular folks don't have access to a vast array of investments, and that's because of Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Why is that? Jennifer Schulp explains.

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October 22, 2020 2:00am
Helicopter Money and Federal Reserve Performance in a Pandemic Recession
Helicopter money – money dropped on various recipients by the Federal Reserve with no expectation of repayment – sounds like a great way to lever-up the economy. Is it? George Selgin details his new Pandemics and Policy essay.

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October 21, 2020 4:13pm
Nice White Parents and School Choice in New York
A podcast aims to detail the changes brought by gentrification to one school and leaves many critical questions unasked. Robert Pondiscio of the Fordham Foundation offers his thoughts.


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October 20, 2020 4:01pm
DHS Moves Toward Requiring Massive New Biometrics Collection
A looming Department of Homeland Security rule would require collection of biometric information on not just immigrants, but related Americans. Patrick Eddington and Matthew Feeney say the rule has massive civil liberties implications.


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October 17, 2020 2:00am
Political Conspiracy Thinking Then and Now
Conspiratorial thinking has a long history in American politics. And yet, it’s tempting to think about our current moment as a golden age of conspiratorial thinking. Jesse Walker of Reason magazine traces the history.


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October 16, 2020 3:50pm
The Globalized Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine
Countries across the globe are working toward the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. How might the late protectionism of the United States affect that effort? Scott Lincicome comments.


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October 15, 2020 3:18pm
North Korea’s Parade of New Military Hardware
What can we infer from the new weaponry unveiled by North Korea? Eric Gomez and Doug Bandow describe how the U.S., South Korea, and China ought to respond.

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October 14, 2020 2:06pm
“Amy Coney Barrett and the Administrative State
As she endures questions in the Senate, there isn't much we can say with confidence about Amy Coney Barrett's general view of the legitimacy of the administrative state. Will Yeatman comments.


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October 13, 2020 4:41pm
American Election Security in 2020
The United States seems unprepared for a wide variety of ways in which elections might be disrupted. One saving grace, says Brandon Valeriano, is the distributed nature of American elections.


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October 10, 2020 2:00am
Some Bad Arguments in Favor of Qualified Immunity
The judicial doctrine known as qualified immunity is being misrepresented by law enforcement advocates. The only remaining question is whether those advocates understand the doctrine at all. Jay Schweikert details the errors.


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October 09, 2020 8:34am
Presidential COVID-19 Treatments and the Right to Self Medicate
When should you be able to play a decisive role in your own medical treatment? Pretty much all the time, according to Cato's Jeff Singer. He argues that the FDA should get out of the way of those who want to make decisions about their own treatments.


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October 08, 2020 3:00pm
Rising Fears of an End to Legal Gay Marriage
Some comments by Justice Clarence Thomas made in an opinion earlier this week appear to some to indicate a desire to overturn the Obergefell decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Walter Olson discusses the fear and its basis.

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October 07, 2020 4:54pm
Health Care Regulation's Pandemic Errors
Jeff Singer's Pandemics and Policy essay details the combination of officious health care regulation and viral pandemic that have worsened economic and health outcomes for those affected.


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October 04, 2020 11:00pm
The ’New Hampshire Advantage’ and Sound Fiscal Policy
What makes it relatively easy for New Hampshire to maintain low taxes and spending? New Hampshire's Republican Governor Chris Sununu has a few ideas. Sununu received an "A" on Cato's new Fiscal Policy Report Card for Governors.

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October 02, 2020 2:52pm
Public Health, Private Decisions, and COVID-19
Science is great, but scientific determinations do not and should not dictate all behavior. Peter VanDoren discusses some of the limits of science in his new Pandemics and Policy essay.

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October 01, 2020 3:19pm
Revisiting the 'Friedman Doctrine' on Business
Fifty years ago, Milton Friedman used the pages of The New York Times Magazine to suggest that businesses should focus solely on profits. The magazine revisited his claims. Diego Zuluaga sticks up for Milton.

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September 30, 2020 2:44pm
What We Need to Know about Nuclear Weapons
What do we need to know now about nuclear weapons policy? Cato's Eric Gomez wrote the lead essay for this month's edition of Cato Unbound.


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September 29, 2020 8:40am
Amy Coney Barrett and Government Accountability
Would a Justice Amy Coney Barrett hold government officials to high standards? With whom is she most aligned on the High Court? Andrew Grossman explains.


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