Open Thread

latest 8

Eugene Volokh

Today in Supreme Court History: December 14, 1964

latest 1

Josh Blackman

Almost a Year After It Launched, DOGE's Legacy Is Mixed

latest 2

Christian Britschgi

Nepal's Socialist Government Banned Social Media, So Activists Plotted a Revolution—on Discord.

Censorship Matthew Petti | From the January 2026 issue They marched to defend free speech online and ended up reshaping a nation. In September...

yesterday 10

Matthew Petti

Today in Supreme Court History: December 13, 1873

yesterday 10

Josh Blackman

Reflections on Lecturing in Mexico

yesterday 1

Ilya Somin

Americans Need More and Better 'Third Places.' User Fees Can Help.

Free Markets C. Jarrett Dieterle and Shawn Regan | 12.13.2025 7:00 AM America is lonelier than ever. Recent surveys find that nearly half of...

yesterday 3

C. Jarrett Dieterle

Court Blocks Federal Restriction on "Loud or Unusual Noise" on City Sidewalks Outside Federal Property

Politics Eugene Volokh | 12.12.2025 8:01 AM From Judge Ann Aiken (D. Ore.) Wednesday in Longworth v. Noem : Plaintiffs Chloe Longworth and Anna...

previous day 6

Eugene Volokh

Lawsuit Over Allegations That Young-Earth Creationist Dinosaur Adventure Land Is "Nexus for Pedophiles" Etc.

Free Speech Eugene Volokh | 12.12.2025 2:58 PM It's Hovind v. Stoney (S.D. Ala.), filed Wednesday; an excerpt: Plaintiffs are self-represented, and...

previous day 10

Eugene Volokh

Today in Supreme Court History: December 12, 1910

previous day 2

Josh Blackman

The Feds' 'Worst of the Worst' Database Is Stuffed with Nonviolent Offenders. Who Exactly Is ICE Arresting?

Immigration Autumn Billings | 12.12.2025 6:00 PM The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new database on Tuesday, highlighting "the...

previous day 10

Autumn Billings

Brickbat: Killer Cop

Crime Charles Oliver | 12.12.2025 4:00 AM Former Memphis, Tennessee, police officer Patric J. Ferguson has been sentenced to 38 years in federal...

previous day 3

Charles Oliver

Donald Trump Tries To Override State AI Regulations via Executive Order

Artificial Intelligence Jack Nicastro | 12.12.2025 5:38 PM President Donald Trump announced his executive order, "ensuring a national policy...

previous day 4

Jack Nicastro

Review: Wayward Spotlights the Dark Secrets of Troubled-Teen Programs

Entertainment Jeff Luse | From the January 2026 issue Netflix's Wayward follows Abbie and Leila, two best friends trying to escape Tall Pines...

previous day 7

Jeff Luse

LA Metro Is a Dangerous, Costly Mess. What Would Fix It?

Mass Transit J.D. Tuccille | 12.12.2025 7:00 AM Last month, the Los Angeles Daily News reported that LA Metro, the L.A. area's mass transit...

previous day 5

J.d. Tuccille

2 Grand Juries Have Rejected the Grudge-Driven Case Against Trump Foe Letitia James

Criminal Justice Jacob Sullum | 12.12.2025 4:00 PM For the second time in a week, a federal grand jury has refused to approve an indictment against...

previous day 7

Jacob Sullum

Stoner King Trump

Marijuana Liz Wolfe | 12.12.2025 9:32 AM Schedule III: President Donald Trump is soon expected to push for the federal reclassification of...

previous day 4

Liz Wolfe

"Black Robe Fever": Some Words from the Louisiana Chief Justice

Eugene Volokh | 12.12.2025 12:08 PM From Louisiana Chief Justice John Weimer's concurrence in yesterday's In re Colbert : Terms have been coined to...

previous day 3

Eugene Volokh

The Real Villain in Minnesota's $1.5 Billion Fraud Scandal Isn't Somalis—It's the Feds

Government Waste Jack Nicastro | 12.12.2025 2:24 PM A years-long scheme to defraud $1.5 billion from federally subsidized social services is fueling...

previous day 5

Jack Nicastro

Annapolis "Accused of AI Fabrication in Legal Filing," City Attorney Fired (but Maybe Not Because of That)

AI in Court Eugene Volokh | 12.12.2025 4:58 PM From the Capital Gazette (Katharine Wilson): Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann fired City Attorney D....

previous day 7

Eugene Volokh

Sex Offender Knocking on Neighbor's Window at 6 am and 4 am, Propositioning Her for Sex Isn't "Stalking"

Free Speech Eugene Volokh | 12.12.2025 4:39 PM From Graham v. T.T. , decided Nov. 26, by D.C. high court Judge Catharine Friend Easterly, joined by...

previous day 6

Eugene Volokh

Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal

Politics Forbidden vehicle pursuits, forbidden hand-washing pics, and Epic injunctions. John Ross | 12.12.2025 3:30 PM Please enjoy the latest...

previous day 5

John Ross

Review: When the CIA Tried To Unlock Mind Control

Psychedelics Brian Doherty | From the January 2026 issue Project Mind Control tells the lurid tale of the CIA's attempts to discover the scientific...

previous day 10

Brian Doherty

Brickbat: Poor Sports

California Charles Oliver | 12.11.2025 4:00 AM The city council of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, has banned pickleball at Forest Hill Park, the...

thursday 5

Charles Oliver

Columbia University Faculty Behaving Badly

David Bernstein | 12.11.2025 6:10 PM A new report out of Columbia University documents abuses of faculty prerogatives and general outrageous...

thursday 3

David Bernstein

Self-Represented Plaintiff Files Lawsuit, Court Spots AI-Hallucinated Citations—in Defense Lawyer's Filings

AI in Court Eugene Volokh | 12.11.2025 8:01 AM From Russell v. Mells , decided yesterday by Florida Court of Appeal (Second District) Chief Judge...

thursday 1

Eugene Volokh

Netflix and Paramount Will Fight for Trump's Favor

Media Criticism Robby Soave | 12.11.2025 4:05 PM Netflix has moved to acquire Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion, a massive media deal that would bring...

thursday 3

Robby Soave

Google, SpaceX, and Blue Origin Plan To Put AI in Space. Will It Produce Skynet or Untold Economic Abundance?

Artificial Intelligence Ronald Bailey | 12.11.2025 5:30 PM The growth of the U.S. economy is being fueled by the hectic quest to build out massive...

thursday 4

Ronald Bailey

New in Civitas Outlook: "Brazenly Partisan" Judges Scrutinize Trump's Mind, But Refuse To Explain Themselves

I write about Judge Wynn's decision to rescind his senior status because Trump won. Josh Blackman | 12.11.2025 9:50 AM Judge James Wynn of the...

thursday 3

Josh Blackman

Today in Supreme Court History: December 11, 1922

thursday 3

Josh Blackman

A Divided Fed

Inflation Liz Wolfe | 12.11.2025 9:30 AM Yesterday, Fed officials lowered interest rates by a quarter-point, roughly in line with people's...

thursday 20

Liz Wolfe

Congress Gives the Military $8 Billion More Than It Asked for

Government Spending Matthew Petti | 12.11.2025 9:45 AM The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal...

thursday 10

Matthew Petti

A Judicial Solution for Presidential Overreach and Congressional Abdication

Supreme Court Damon Root | 12.11.2025 7:00 AM The recent high-profile cases of Trump v. Slaughter and Learning Resources v. Trump might not...

thursday 3

Damon Root

These Researchers Are Turning Plastic Waste Into Fuel

Innovation Jeff Luse | From the January 2026 issue A recent innovation could make it easier to transform plastic waste into usable products. In...

thursday 2

Jeff Luse

Legislative Vetoes for Independent Agencies

Congress tried to claw back the FTC's powers in 1980 through a legislative veto, but Chadha rendered that "bargain" unconstitutional. Josh Blackman...

thursday 2

Josh Blackman

CBP Agents Held This U.S. Citizen for Hours Until He Agreed To Let Them Search His Electronic Devices

Fourth Amendment Jacob Sullum | 12.11.2025 3:25 PM Last July, Wilmer Chavarria, a naturalized U.S. citizen who lives in Vermont, was returning from...

thursday 20

Jacob Sullum

The Bipartisan War on Prices Is Coming for Your Credit Card

Credit Card Veronique de Rugy | 12.11.2025 2:00 PM In a scene that perfectly captures the strangeness of American politics today, President Donald...

thursday 5

Veronique De Rugy

Want To Vacation In America? Trump Wants To See Your Social Media Posts First.

Civil Liberties Emma Camp | 12.11.2025 1:43 PM On Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection filed a proposal that would require tourists from 42...

thursday 2

Emma Camp

Trump Administration Claims That Spending $140 Million on Jets for Deportations Will Save Money

Immigration Autumn Billings | 12.11.2025 3:10 PM In its latest splurge, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will spend nearly $140 million on...

thursday 3

Autumn Billings

The Far Right Is Powered by Left-Wing Illiberalism and Hypocrisy

Identity politics Stephanie Slade | 12.11.2025 2:55 PM The introduction of the " Groypers " into our national consciousness over the last six weeks...

thursday 1

Stephanie Slade

Brickbat: Vacation Photos

England Charles Oliver | 12.10.2025 4:00 AM West Yorkshire police arrested Jon Richelieu-Booth at his home after someone complained about a...

10.12.2025 5

Charles Oliver

Trump Says China Didn't Buy Soybeans While Biden Was President. Here's What the Data Show.

Free Trade Eric Boehm | 12.10.2025 2:20 PM As President Donald Trump rolled out a costly bailout of American farmers this week, his administration...

10.12.2025 70

Eric Boehm

The MAHA Administration Bails Out Big Seed Oil

Farm Subsidies Christian Britschgi | 12.10.2025 4:25 PM Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is no fan of seed oils, which he says contribute to a long list of...

10.12.2025 30

Christian Britschgi

The DOJ Says It Will Challenge Unconstitutional Gun Policies. Maybe It Should Stop Defending Them.

Second Amendment Jacob Sullum | 12.10.2025 3:35 PM The Justice Department recently established a "Second Amendment Section" within its Civil Rights...

10.12.2025 2

Jacob Sullum

Federal Reserve Defers to Donald Trump by Cutting Interest Rates by 25 Points

Federal Reserve Jack Nicastro | 12.10.2025 5:21 PM The Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States, voted to lower its federal funds...

10.12.2025 3

Jack Nicastro

Pickleball vs. Tennis Leads to Defamation Lawsuit

Free Speech Eugene Volokh | 12.10.2025 8:01 AM From yesterday's decision by Texas Court of Appeals Justice Katy Boatman in Daly v. Lehle , joined...

10.12.2025 1

Eugene Volokh

Judge's Having Referred Lawyer to State Bar for Alleged AI Hallucinations Doesn't Require Judge to Recuse

AI in Court Eugene Volokh | 12.10.2025 1:25 PM From Friday's order by Judge William Ray (N.D. Ga.) in Boston v. Williams : The Plaintiffs, acting...

10.12.2025 2

Eugene Volokh

Tariffs, Embargoes, and License Fees

Tariffs Eugene Volokh | 12.10.2025 12:43 PM Peter E. Harrell & Jennifer Hillman (Lawfare) had an interesting post yesterday, "Unexpected Questions...

10.12.2025 5

Eugene Volokh

Today in Supreme Court History: December 10, 2003

10.12.2025 4

Josh Blackman

French Far-Right Politicians Want To Reopen Brothels as Sex-Worker Cooperatives

Sex Work Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 12.10.2025 10:10 AM France's far-right political party, known as National Rally, is preparing to introduce...

10.12.2025 2

Categories

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Newspaper Columnists

Open Thread

Eugene Volokh

Today in Supreme Court History: December 14, 1964

Josh Blackman

Almost a Year After It Launched, DOGE's Legacy Is Mixed

Christian Britschgi

Nepal's Socialist Government Banned Social Media, So Activists Plotted a Revolution—on Discord.

Matthew Petti

Today in Supreme Court History: December 13, 1873

Josh Blackman

Reflections on Lecturing in Mexico

Ilya Somin

Americans Need More and Better 'Third Places.' User Fees Can Help.

C. Jarrett Dieterle

Court Blocks Federal Restriction on "Loud or Unusual Noise" on City Sidewalks Outside Federal Property

Eugene Volokh

Lawsuit Over Allegations That Young-Earth Creationist Dinosaur Adventure Land Is "Nexus for Pedophiles" Etc.

Eugene Volokh

Today in Supreme Court History: December 12, 1910

Josh Blackman

The Feds' 'Worst of the Worst' Database Is Stuffed with Nonviolent Offenders. Who Exactly Is ICE Arresting?

Autumn Billings

Brickbat: Killer Cop

Charles Oliver

Donald Trump Tries To Override State AI Regulations via Executive Order

Jack Nicastro

Review: Wayward Spotlights the Dark Secrets of Troubled-Teen Programs

Jeff Luse

LA Metro Is a Dangerous, Costly Mess. What Would Fix It?

J.d. Tuccille

2 Grand Juries Have Rejected the Grudge-Driven Case Against Trump Foe Letitia James

Jacob Sullum

Stoner King Trump

Liz Wolfe

"Black Robe Fever": Some Words from the Louisiana Chief Justice

Eugene Volokh

The Real Villain in Minnesota's $1.5 Billion Fraud Scandal Isn't Somalis—It's the Feds

Jack Nicastro

Annapolis "Accused of AI Fabrication in Legal Filing," City Attorney Fired (but Maybe Not Because of That)

Eugene Volokh

Sex Offender Knocking on Neighbor's Window at 6 am and 4 am, Propositioning Her for Sex Isn't "Stalking"

Eugene Volokh

Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal

John Ross

Review: When the CIA Tried To Unlock Mind Control

Brian Doherty

Brickbat: Poor Sports

Charles Oliver

Columbia University Faculty Behaving Badly

David Bernstein

Self-Represented Plaintiff Files Lawsuit, Court Spots AI-Hallucinated Citations—in Defense Lawyer's Filings

Eugene Volokh

Netflix and Paramount Will Fight for Trump's Favor

Robby Soave

Google, SpaceX, and Blue Origin Plan To Put AI in Space. Will It Produce Skynet or Untold Economic Abundance?

Ronald Bailey

New in Civitas Outlook: "Brazenly Partisan" Judges Scrutinize Trump's Mind, But Refuse To Explain Themselves

Josh Blackman

Today in Supreme Court History: December 11, 1922

Josh Blackman

A Divided Fed

Liz Wolfe

Congress Gives the Military $8 Billion More Than It Asked for

Matthew Petti

A Judicial Solution for Presidential Overreach and Congressional Abdication

Damon Root

These Researchers Are Turning Plastic Waste Into Fuel

Jeff Luse

Legislative Vetoes for Independent Agencies

Josh Blackman

CBP Agents Held This U.S. Citizen for Hours Until He Agreed To Let Them Search His Electronic Devices

Jacob Sullum

The Bipartisan War on Prices Is Coming for Your Credit Card

Veronique De Rugy

Want To Vacation In America? Trump Wants To See Your Social Media Posts First.

Emma Camp

Trump Administration Claims That Spending $140 Million on Jets for Deportations Will Save Money