Libertarian Reporting for 2026-05-06
Today’s news coverage from libertarian media sources.
Why the Courts Will 86 the Flagrantly Unconstitutional Charges Against James Comey
The case defies more than half a century of rulings on the “true threat” exception to the First Amendment.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Some Links
TweetBill Colton’s letter in today’s Wall Street Journal is excellent: Phil Gramm and Michael Solon provide both evidence and clarity regarding the consumer harm done by the administration’s disastrou...
Cafe Hayek
May 5, 2026 - cafehayek.com
Can We Ever Trust the Government To Be Honest About War?
Trump joins a long line of presidents unwilling to be transparent about the causes and goals of their adventurism abroad.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
How the Slaveholding Founders Really Felt About Slavery
Angst, guilt, and more self-awareness than you might expect
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
What To Do About Saudi Arabia's Sports Takeover? Nothing, Apparently.
Plus: The NFL has no easy response to the Dianna Russini–Mike Vrabel affair, and how ketamine may have helped the Sixers upset the Celtics
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
The Lies People Tell
Carson Holloway joins the Law & Liberty Podcast to talk about his latest book, libel law, and the New York Times v. Sullivan case.
Law & Liberty
May 5, 2026 - lawliberty.org
Congress Gave Away Its Authority To Declare War and Enabled Trump's Iran War
Congress hasn't voted to declare war since 1942, yet the legislative branch constantly refuses to rein in presidents.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
The Truce That Wasn't
Plus: Homeschooling discourse, AI regulation, Christian cell network blocking porn, and more...
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Gramm and Boudreaux: “‘Liberation Day,’ One Year Later”
TweetNow that 30 days have passed since the Wall Street Journal published Phil Gramm’s and my piece assessing the first year of Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs punitive taxes on Americans’ purchases ...
Cafe Hayek
May 5, 2026 - cafehayek.com
Elite Panic and the Push to Regulate "Misinformation"
European leaders' warnings of a democratic apocalypse failed to materialize in 2024.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Gorsuch Says SCOTUS Is Doing 'Pretty Darn Well' in Handling the 'Hardest Cases'
The justice defends the Supreme Court as a model of respectful and principled adjudication.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Let judicial candidates speak
State Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry, Wilkes) is challenging Justice Anita Earls for her seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Although the race will not determine control of the court (Republicans h...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
Can a Revolution Be Lawful?
To be legitimate, revolutions must be something more than the overthrow of a regime—they must be the restoration of moral order.
Law & Liberty
May 5, 2026 - lawliberty.org
The Partisan Asymmetry In Callais
Justice Jackson never countenances that her decision to "run out the clock" might be partisan.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Affordable manufactured housing versus unaffordable climate regulations
The Biden administration had a field day piling on one costly climate-related regulation after another, not knowing – or caring – that affordability would emerge as a much more pressing concern for Am...
Blog Posts Archive - Competitive Enterprise Institute
May 5, 2026 - cei.org
Obama objects to SCOTUS shutting down Democrats’ power grabs
Tyler O’Neil writes for the Daily Signal about a former president’s response to the US Supreme Court’s recent redistricting ruling. Barack Obama is a real piece of work. Seriously, he has no shame. On...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
The Kyle Anzalone Show with Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski : Iran: The Next Forever War?
“The one institution that should win the Nobel Peace Prize every single year is the United States military.” We start there, because that claim tells you a lot about how Washington sells war and how q...
The Libertarian Institute
May 5, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Deregulation by the numbers: One-third into 2026 — a rulebook rewrite?
At the close of the first third of the year, a spring 2026 Unified Agenda formally outlining agency priorities has yet to appear. In fact, the most recent edition remains spring 2025 — released with a...
Blog Posts Archive - Competitive Enterprise Institute
May 5, 2026 - cei.org
Touting a new book about Alito’s SCOTUS role
Ilya Shapiro writes for the Washington Free Beacon about a new biography of US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Mollie Hemingway has written the rare Supreme Court book that’s both useful and enjoy...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
Scary lesson from recent SPLC indictment
Nicholas Giordano writes for the Federalist about a story behind the headline of a recent federal indictment. The real Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) scandal isn’t just the indictment. The deeper ...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
Federalist Society: When Should We Recognize Something as a Property Right?
Related: IP is Not “Not Property” It is impossible to own ideas Another way to explain the problem with IP: Resources v. Knowledge; Ownership v. Possession Libertarian and Lockean Creationism: Creatio...
C4SIF.org
May 5, 2026 - c4sif.org
The Spirit of the Declaration, Part 1
[This post is excerpted from the new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America (Avid Reader Press/Simon… The post The Spirit of the Declaration, Part 1 appeared first o...
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Democrats’ potential ‘Tea Party’ moment
Editors at National Review Online ponder the Democratic Party’s current trends. The sudden decision by Governor Janet Mills to drop out of Maine’s Senate primary and effectively yield the Democratic n...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
Shame on You, Good Riddance, or Please Come Back
I applaud when people migrate to escape punitive taxes. I like when they move from high-tax states to low-tax states, and I like when they move from high-tax nations to low-tax nations. This tax compe...
International Liberty
May 5, 2026 - danieljmitchell.wordpress.com
NAACP Seek To Recall Callais Judgment So It Can Seek Reconsideration
The time to make this request was when the Plaintiffs moved to issue the judgment forthwith.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Today in Supreme Court History: May 5, 1992
5/5/1992: The 27th Amendment is ratified. It was initially proposed in 1789. No law, varying the compensation for the services… The post Today in Supreme Court History: May 5, 1992 appeared first on R...
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
The Happy Capitalism of Richard Scarry's Busytown
Welcome to the pro-market world of children's book author and illustrator Richard Scarry.
Reason.com
May 5, 2026 - reason.com
Ron Paul: Hegseth Claims We’re in a Different War With Iran
On today’s Ron Paul Liberty Report: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press conference today in which he rolled out the new White House line that Operation Project Freedom is separate from Epic Fu...
Antiwar.com Blog
May 5, 2026 - antiwar.com
4/30/26 Daniel Davis on What’s Been Happening in Ukraine
Download Audio. Scott brings Daniel Davis back on the show. As the world’s been focused on what’s happening between the US and Iran, important developments have taken place in Russia’s war with Ukrain...
The Libertarian Institute
May 5, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Fixing America’s chip ‘crisis’
Cory Gardner writes at National Review Online about a technological challenge for America. The United States is building the world’s most advanced AI infrastructure. In the process, however, we are ov...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
The Kyle Anzalone Show with Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski : Iran: The Next Forever War?
“The one institution that should win the Nobel Peace Prize every single year is the United States military.” We start there, because that claim tells you a lot about how Washington sells war and how q...
Antiwar.com Blog
May 5, 2026 - antiwar.com
Before the Kentucky Derby: North Carolina’s Colonial Horse Racing Roots
I can’t watch the Kentucky Derby without thinking of North Carolina’s heritage of horse racing, particularly in the region around the colonial town of Halifax. The staff at the Halifax Historic Site t...
John Locke Foundation
May 5, 2026 - johnlocke.org
Pay Day: Learn Who Cashed In When Trump Went to War
Donald Trump campaigned on ending forever wars. He said so in rallies, in debates, in interviews, repeatedly and without ambiguity. The MAGA base that swept him back to the White House believed him. O...
The Libertarian Institute
May 4, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
How a Bill Banning AI Companions for Kids Could Usher in Widespread ID Checks Online
Plus: Supreme Court pauses ban on mail-order abortion pills, TikTok's artistic merit, a defense of pickup artists, and more...
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Justice Neil Gorsuch: 'Aspirations for Power Need To Be Checked'
The Supreme Court justice discusses the Declaration of Independence, how unchecked power threatens liberty, and what the Founders can teach future generations.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Why Do Big City Democrats Keep Electing Socialists?
Plus: Trump announces “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz, King Charles visits the U.S., and a listener asks why voters keep rewarding bad politicians.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Trump's New European Car Tariffs Demonstrate Why His 'Deals' Are Worthless
A trade deal that can be terminated by one person at any time and for any reason isn't really a trade deal at all.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
The week in regulations: Marine terminal fires and marijuana rescheduling
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, and outgoing Chairman Jerome Powell will remain on the Fed’s Board of Governors when Kevin Warsh takes over. GDP rebounded to 2 percent growth in the fi...
Blog Posts Archive - Competitive Enterprise Institute
May 4, 2026 - cei.org
How Bad Facts Make Good First Amendment Law
Jay Near was a hateful man whose litigation set a vital precedent for free speech.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Project Freedom
Plus: Rudy Giuliani hospitalized, rules relaxed for foreign physicians, cities without children, and more...
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
AI Companies Learn the Word No
Some of the people building AI have started acting like it might be dangerous.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Open Letter: North Carolina Should Reclaim the NCInnovation Endowment
This letter was sent to members of the North Carolina Senate on April 30, 2026. Dear Senator, On behalf of the John Locke Foundation, I urge the Senate to support reclaiming the taxpayer-funded NCInno...
John Locke Foundation
May 4, 2026 - johnlocke.org
The Kyle Anzalone Show with Dave DeCamp: The Ceasefire Is Dying, Israel Waits for Trump’s Greenlight to Restart War
Trump is posting like the Strait of Hormuz is a light switch he controls, but the shipping data, tanker seizures, and oil price spikes point to something far more dangerous: a grinding maritime confro...
The Libertarian Institute
May 4, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Is Anyone Home Anymore?
Endless scrolling is replacing real connection. A growing analog revival shows people choosing presence, conversation, and self-governance over screens.
The Advocates for Self-Government
May 4, 2026 - theadvocates.org
A Key Difference Between Trump and Milei
The presidents of the United States and Argentina are political allies, but that does not mean they share the same views on all issues. The biggest difference is probably that Javier Milei is an arden...
International Liberty
May 4, 2026 - danieljmitchell.wordpress.com
Condemning Nicotine Pouches, Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Reveals Her Hostility to Harm Reduction
Nicole Saphier seems determined to obscure the health advantages of a much less hazardous alternative to cigarettes.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Just "Felonious Peccadillos"; I'm "Overqualified for Oklahoma"; Bar Association, "Bring It on Bitch": Surprisingly Ineffective in Fighting Disbarment
Some excerpts from the long opinion in State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n v. Barlean, decided Tuesday by the Oklahoma… The post Just "Felonious Peccadillos"; I'm "Overqualified for Oklahoma"; Bar Associ...
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Seattle's Socialist Mayor Laughs at Wealthy Residents Leaving To Escape High Taxes
“Bye!” Mayor Katie Wilson says with a wave to those who want out.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Continued Western Support for Ukraine Is Dependent on Ending the War Against Iran
European officials warned that the pipeline of weapons flowing to Ukraine could halt if the US breaks the ceasefire with Iran. A European diplomat speaking with Foreign Policy about the transfer of m...
The Libertarian Institute
May 4, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Highway robbery in plain sight and how to fix the Highway Trust Fund
Established to provide a dedicated, user-financed stream for highway investment, the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) was once a model of fiscal alignment between revenue and spending. That alignment has take...
Blog Posts Archive - Competitive Enterprise Institute
May 4, 2026 - cei.org
Mightier Than Kings
Merchants humbled a king. A stateless island kept the peace. History shows order can emerge without centralized power or force.
The Advocates for Self-Government
May 4, 2026 - theadvocates.org
Mamdani Slapped in the Face with Reality
A confident narrative meets hard reality. When the facts don’t cooperate, watch how the argument shifts—and what that reveals.
The Advocates for Self-Government
May 4, 2026 - theadvocates.org
The Little Red Hen goes digital: No data centers, no internet
The politics of data centers increasingly resemble the fable of The Little Red Hen. Everyone wants the bread — AI, cloud computing, streaming, financial markets that clear in milliseconds — but fewer ...
Blog Posts Archive - Competitive Enterprise Institute
May 4, 2026 - cei.org
The Bureaucratization of Assisted Suicide
Across the West, the most final act a state can authorize is being routed through the least solemn of its institutions.
Law & Liberty
May 4, 2026 - lawliberty.org
Justice Alito Enters Administrative Stay of Mifepristone Order
The Court responds to the mifepristone shadow docket filings.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Posting Video of 10-Year-Old Hockey Player's "Tantrum" Isn't Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
In Mufarreh v. Google, Inc., decided Friday by the Illinois Appellate Court (Justice Raymond Mitchell, joined by Justices Sharon Oden-Johnson… The post Posting Video of 10-Year-Old Hockey Player's "Ta...
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Mifepristone Returns to the Shadow Docket
Drug makers seek interim relief after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit blocks FDA rule allowing mifepristone prescriptions via telemedicine. (With Update Below.)
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Focusing needed attention on the demands of wartime mobilization
Todd Harrison explores the demands associated with wartime mobilization. Recent wars have exposed a reality that peacetime defense planning often understates: Stockpiles are finite, production does no...
John Locke Foundation
May 4, 2026 - johnlocke.org
The Correct Term is “Free Trade”
TweetHere’s a letter to the Wall Street Journal. Editor: Gerard Baker displays his usual impressive wisdom in decrying President Trump’s second-term pursuit of a misguided and extreme ideological agen...
Cafe Hayek
May 4, 2026 - cafehayek.com
Ron Paul asks Is ‘Project Freedom’ Just Another Trump Scam?
On today’s Ron Paul Liberty Report: As gas prices continue to skyrocket in the US, President Trump has rolled out a new product, Project Freedom, which he claims will open up the Strait of Hormuz. Dub...
Antiwar.com Blog
May 4, 2026 - antiwar.com
The Myth of “Voluntary” ESG
Despite the “vibe shift” since 2024, ESG policies still undermine the American financial system.
Law & Liberty
May 4, 2026 - lawliberty.org
California Says It Detected a Disease-Carrying Bug. So it Destroyed 32,000 Trees, 5 Miles Away.
How heavy-handed state regulations led to one farmer suing the state for $3 million in damages
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Michael Auslin Guest-Blogging This Week About "National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America"
I'm delighted to report that Michael Auslin, a Distinguished Research Fellow here at Hoover, will be guest-blogging this week about… The post Michael Auslin Guest-Blogging This Week About "National Tr...
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
Today in Supreme Court History: May 4, 1942
5/4/1942: Wickard v. Filburn argued. The post Today in Supreme Court History: May 4, 1942 appeared first on Reason.com.
Reason.com
May 4, 2026 - reason.com
The Jim Webb Podcast Launches Nationwide
The Jim Webb Podcast, a new daily podcast focused on war, foreign policy, freedom, personal liberty, and global power dynamics, officially launches nationwide May 4, 2026. Hosted by James R. Webb, a t...
Antiwar.com Blog
May 4, 2026 - antiwar.com
Israel Prepares to Return to War as Trump Attempts to Break Iran’s Hold on Strait of Hormuz
Israeli leaders are watching events in the Strait of Hormuz closely and preparing to strike Iran. Israel has been pushing for the US to abandon the diplomatic process and greenlight renewed attacks on...
The Libertarian Institute
May 4, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Iran Claims to Fire Warning Shots at US Warship Near Strait of Hormuz
The Iranian military reported firing missiles and drones at a US warship near the Strait of Hormuz as a warning for the vessel to turn back. “Immediately after they switched their radars back on they...
The Libertarian Institute
May 4, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Trump’s New War Powers Workaround – Will It Pay Off?
Will Congress buy Trump's War Powers explanation? It may not matter.
Main Feed
May 4, 2026 - libertynation.com
Democrats and the Affordability Mirage
The platform, dubbed the New Affordability Agenda, is modeled after the Contract With America that Newt Gingrich and Republicans released during their road to victory in the 1994 midterm elections.
Main Feed
May 4, 2026 - libertynation.com
Want to Cut Taxes? Reduce Government Spending.
Politicians love to claim they are cutting taxes all the while running up ruinous debts and deficits. If they wish to get serious about cutting taxes, they first need to cut spending.
Mises Institute
May 4, 2026 - mises.org
How Government Debt Reshapes the Economy
The system does not break all at once; it wears down slowly, through a steady loss of purchasing power that households are already beginning to feel.
Mises Institute
May 4, 2026 - mises.org
From Ma Bell to FaceTime: Why the next Telecom Act must embrace innovation over regulation
This year is the 30th anniversary of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Telecom Act), a landmark law that Congress is considering updating. Lawmakers should begin with a clear-eyed assessment of what...
Blog Posts Archive - Competitive Enterprise Institute
May 4, 2026 - cei.org
The Most Dangerous “Weapon” We Face
Ignoring the limits of the Constitution because you don’t like the results you’ll get? George Washington called that a WEAPON to destroy freedom. The post The Most Dangerous “Weapon” We Face appeared ...
Tenth Amendment Center
May 4, 2026 - blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com
Our Coblogger Stewart Baker Has Died
It grieves me to report that our coblogger, and my friend, Stewart Baker died suddenly a few days ago at… The post Our Coblogger Stewart Baker Has Died appeared first on Reason.com.
Reason.com
May 3, 2026 - reason.com
4/30/26 Larry Johnson on Trump’s Tenuous Ceasefire with Iran
Download Audio. Scott interviews Larry Johnson about where things stand with Trump’s war on Iran. The two dig into the cards each side holds as this ceasefire limps along, reflect on the troubling lac...
The Libertarian Institute
May 3, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
US, Israel Reject Hamas Proposal to Disarm in Exchange for Palestinian Statehood
The US and Israel have rejected a peace proposal from Hamas that would see the Palestinian group disarm in the process of the creation of an independent Palestinian state. A senior Palestinian source...
The Libertarian Institute
May 3, 2026 - libertarianinstitute.org
Trump Renews Call for Israel to Give Netanyahu a Pardon
President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on Tel Aviv to grant a pardon to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader is battling multiple corruption charges. Trump told the Is...