Latest from Jacob Sullum
Federal courts and the Constitution are not on the president’s side.
The issue the Supreme Court addressed goes far beyond this particular administration, potentially affecting progressive policies pursued by Democrats as well as conservative policies favored by Republicans.
The official reason for expelling the pro-Palestinian activist is that he poses a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests. That justification is alarmingly broad and vague.
The 11th Circuit is not the only federal court that has proven unreceptive to the argument that police should make sure they are in the right place before raiding someone’s home.
Whether endorsing the arrest of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, threats to take away government contracts from Elon Musk, or vendettas against universities and the media, Donald Trump is motivated to punish people whose views offend him.
Whether on tariffs, immigration or other matters, the president treats legal constraints as inconveniences.
The former New York congressman’s evolution extended beyond crack penalties. By 2011, the same politician who in 1991 had defended the war on drugs in a debate with National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr. was co-sponsoring a bill aimed at ending federal marijuana prohibition.
On the face of it, Joe Biden did a far better job of waging the war on drugs than Donald Trump. But that conclusion credits presidents with much more power than they actually have to curtail substance abuse by attacking the supply of illegal drugs.
The body of law is so vast and obscure that no one knows exactly how many offenses it includes.
Elon Musk recently acknowledged a reality that should have been obvious from the outset: Any serious attempt to address the country’s looming fiscal crisis will require hard choices and congressional action.