How the Grants Pass Decision Shapes Local Approaches to Homeless Encampments
Friday June 28, 2024 | Christopher Calton

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in The City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson will allow cities to enforce ordinances against sleeping in public spaces. This decision is a welcome victory in favor of local autonomy against federal overreach. Homelessness is a local problem that requires local solutions, and this decision will allow officials to address homeless encampments according to their city’s unique needs. (more…)

California Advances Bills to Ban Thicker, Reusable Plastic Bags That It Previously Required
Wednesday June 26, 2024 | Adam Summers

It seems that California’s plastic bag ban has been a failure, but that is not stopping lawmakers from trying to impose a second bag ban. (more…)

Interest on National Debt Surpasses Defense Spending
Monday June 24, 2024 | Craig Eyermann

Interest on the national debt is rapidly becoming the biggest single category of spending by the U.S. government. As of May 2024, the amount of money spent to pay interest owed to the federal government’s creditors surpasses the annual amount it spends on national defense. (more…)

America’s Surging Deficit Spending
Thursday June 20, 2024 | Craig Eyermann

The U.S. government’s budget deficit in 2024 will be 27% larger than the Congressional Budget Office predicted just four months ago. (more…)

Milei and Steering Argentina Toward Economic Stability
Tuesday June 18, 2024 | Alvaro Vargas Llosa

A recent visit to Argentina confirmed my sense that President Milei is on the right track despite what his critics on the left and the skeptics on the right are saying.  (more…)

The FDA Is Coming After Microdosing Chocolate Bars
Monday June 17, 2024 | Raymond J. March

Diamond Shruumz chocolate bars come in various popular flavors, including dark chocolate, cookies and cream, fruity cereal, and birthday cake. Each bar costs about $25—and contains trace amounts of magic mushrooms. (more…)

Myths about the U.S. Constitution and Individual Rights That Erode Civil Society
Thursday June 13, 2024 | Lawrence J. McQuillan

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia hosted an online discussion recently about the new book The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning. The conversation featured the book’s author, journalist A. J. Jacobs, and NCC president and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. I encourage readers to watch the entire discussion; this post will focus on only a short excerpt. (more…)