What Ronald Reagan's Fusionist Politics Teach Us About Liberty, Virtue, and Their Limits
Fusionism holds that virtue and liberty are mutually reinforcing, and that neither is possible in any lasting or meaningful way without the other.
Free Markets
These 4 Industries Successfully Lobbied Trump for Tariff Exemptions
Trump's trade war has created a carve-out bonanza for industries with political connections and big lobbying budgets.
J.D. Vance Wants a Free Market for Crypto. What About Everything Else?
Vance says "you've gotta let these people make decisions on their own." He should try that approach more generally.
Welcoming Anti-Trump Liberals to the Free Trade Club
The real case for free trade is not "my enemies hate it" or "it's cheaper for me, personally" but "it makes the world richer, freer, and more peaceful."
Are We Headed for Another Disaster With Fannie and Freddie?
If the Trump administration fails to implement real reform, Main Street taxpayers could once again be conscripted into subsidizing lucrative Wall Street deals.
Nippon Steel Will Finally Get To Buy U.S. Steel. The Deal Likely Ensures More Federal Meddling in the Future.
The federal government will reportedly get a "golden share" in U.S. Steel, potentially allowing it to overrule shareholders on some decisions.
The Trade War Is Eroding America's Soft Power
The debate over free trade should include more than the costs of Trump's tariffs versus the value of cheaper stuff.
Trump Declares That iPhones Should Be More Expensive
Whether due to tariffs or because they are made in America, the result would be much higher prices.
Farmers Need Free Markets, Not Tariffs and Welfare
The more important the product—and food certainly ranks high on any list—the better it is to allow markets to work.
A Judge Blocked Apple From Collecting These Commissions
"It's hard to see how completely ripping [the system] apart will be helpful to consumers," warns one economist.
Subaru Is the Latest Carmaker To Hike Prices in Response to Tariffs
Subaru says it has "adjusted its pricing in response to current market conditions," but we all know what that means.
Trade War Means Higher Prices, Fewer Customers for This Vermont Distillery: 'It's Just Chaos'
Scenes from a trade war.
Trump's Tax Plan Is a Leftist Economic Agenda Wrapped in Populist Talking Points
The administration shows no coherent commitment to free market principles and is in fact actively undermining them.
Trump's 'Deal' With China Leaves American Consumers and Exporters Facing Higher Tariffs Than Before
The White House calls it "the art of the deal," but a 30 percent tariff on imports from China is economically damaging and constitutionally dubious.
The U.K. Trade Deal Screws American Consumers
Residents of the United Kingdom will get lower tariffs, while Americans are stuck paying higher ones.
Billionaire Cliff Asness: Can Technology Outrun 'Stupider and Stupider' Government?
Co-founder of AQR Capital Management, Cliff Asness, discusses the decline of market efficiency, the dangers of populist economics, and his libertarian outlook on capitalism.
The Trouble With Donald Trump's 'Department Store' Analogy
America is not a department store. And no successful department store would be following Trump's antitrade strategy.
When Tariff Shortages Arrive, Here's What Might Be Missing
Sex toys, blenders, baby strollers, microwaves, hair dryers, and other affordable goods that Americans take for granted could soon be in short supply.
5 Times the Trump Team Told Americans To Accept Being Poorer
Trump's comment about how "dolls" will "cost a couple of bucks more" is the latest in a long trend of nationalist conservatives disparaging affordable stuff.
Trump's 'America First Antitrust' Policy Will Put America Last
The Justice Department is pursuing an antitrust policy inspired by Oren Cass and members of the New Right.
Senate Republicans Voted Overwhelmingly To Continue Trump's Trade War
Sen. Rand Paul's attempt to end the non-existent economic emergency failed to pass the Senate on Wednesday night.
Trump Admits Tariffs Could Create Shortages, Hike Prices
"Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls," Trump said Wednesday. "And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple bucks more than they would normally.”
Trump's Independent Voter Problem
Plus: A listener asks about possible book club books that are "subtly libertarian."
How Tariffs Could Cause Shortages in American Stores
A sharp decline in ocean freight from China during April is a sign of the supply chain issues that will begin hitting in May.
Could 'Princess Awesome' Defeat Trump's Tariffs?
Small businesses and a dozen states have filed a pair of lawsuits challenging Trump's authority to impose tariffs on board games, clothes, and lots of other things.
Trump's Tariffs Are Causing an Economic Boom for D.C. Lobbyists
More lobbyists are spending more money to influence trade policy. The swamp is having a great time during the trade war.
'Stop the Nonsense' With Tariffs, Says This New York Manufacturing CEO
Scenes from a trade war.
Trump Wants Lower Egg Prices. He's Also Putting Tariffs on Imported Eggs.
The White House's trade policy is totally scrambled.
Trump's Tariffs Are Starting To Kill Jobs
Goldman Sachs estimates that the tariffs will create about 100,000 manufacturing jobs while destroying 500,000 others. In Pennsylvania, it's already starting.
How Egg Prices Became the Symbol of Poland's Successful Transition to Freedom
In the chaotic early days of Poland's "shock therapy," free market reformers measured their success by the falling price of this one basic commodity.
Trump's Tariff Mania Shows the Folly of Central Planning
Even if Trump were a font of intelligence and wisdom (and he's not), no one person should be directing any country's economy.
Tariff Uncertainty Is Stalling the Economy
Businesses are reporting fewer orders, lower inventories, less employment, and weaker expectations. The only thing going up: prices.
The Masters Ticket Lottery Is Dumb
Plus: Paying college athletes, sports betting isn’t bad, and pickleball?
Markets Are Smart Even When They Seem To Panic
The stock market may look irrational, but it's repricing risk faster than ever. Sometimes, that's a feature, not a bug.
America Gained Nothing From Trump's Latest Tariff Stunt
There were no deals. There were no wins. There was no plan.
Trump's Tariffs: It's Not Just the Stock Market That's In Trouble
The president is raising taxes, hiking prices, and creating supply chain chaos. Congress should act quickly to stop this.
Sellouts and Selloffs
Plus: A deportation fight, pussy hats in Maine, antagonizing Brown University, and more...
Trump's Tariff Blueprint Called for 'Careful Planning' and 'Precise Execution'
With him in charge, it never stood a chance.
Yes, Trump Really Put Higher Tariffs on Israel Than Iran
And he did it after Israel dropped all its tariffs on American goods.
Trump's New Tariffs on These 3 Countries Look Particularly Foolish
What tariffs on Singapore, Brazil, and Vietnam can tell us about how Trump misunderstands the value of trade.
'Liberation Day' Tariffs Will Liberate People—From Their Income
Lower-income families who spend the largest shares of their income on goods—and who have been badly hurt from the recent inflation—will likely suffer the most.
The Senate Just Passed Rand Paul's Bill To Block Trump's Tariffs on Canada
The bill faces an uncertain future, but it is a faint glimmer of hope for those hoping to limit executive power over trade.
Javier Milei's Free Market Reforms Are Starting To Pay Off
As poverty and inflation plunge, Milei's reforms begin to reshape Argentina's economy.
Americans Are Deeply Skeptical of Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs
Polls of consumers and surveys of business owners suggest the White House has a lot of convincing to do.
A Trade War Will Reduce American Exports Too
It's obvious that tariffs will harm American companies that import goods. But the losses don't end there.
Peter Navarro Says Tariffs Will Be a $6 Trillion Tax Increase, but Also a Tax Cut
If true, then these tariffs would be the biggest peacetime tax increase in American history.
The 'Meritocracy' Lie
Two months after he was inaugurated, Trump has smashed many of the government's silly DEI rules. But he hasn't created a new age of meritocracy.
