Below is my column in The Hill on the recent significant victory for free speech out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. It is a story of how this little first-grade girl schooled her principal and a federal judge on the essence of free speech.
Here is the column: Continue reading “How a First-Grader Taught Her School District and a Federal Judge about Free Speech”
I was fortunate enough to speak in Naples, Florida on my book Rage and the Republic. I wanted to share a few photos of this uniquely beautiful place. Continue reading “The Radiant Beauty of Naples, Florida”
Today is the birthday of our greatest Framer and the genius behind our Constitution: James Madison. He would have been 275 years old. I ordinarily celebrate at home (as shown in this picture from a previous Jemmy Party). However, I am in Naples, Florida, to talk about Rage and the Republic, which discusses Madison’s brilliant design for our Republic. I will be toasting Jemmy tonight as I hope you do. Continue reading “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JEMMY!!!”
Last week, Chief Judge James Boasberg delivered a blow to the criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell by tossing out grand jury subpoenas. Boasberg declared the investigation overtly political and coercive, without any criminal predicate. The decision is a rare rejection of a duly issued grand jury subpoena at this stage of an investigation. In my view, he was premature and could face a difficult appeal in In re Grand Jury Subpoenas, Bd. of Governors of the Federal Reserve System v. U.S. Continue reading “Boasberg’s Law: Why The Quashing of the Powell Subpoenas Leaves More Questions Than Answers”
Below is my column on Fox.com on the land dispute of Gov. Josh Shapiro. The only thing murkier than the legal merits is the political implications of the litigation. Welcome to the intersection of adverse possession and American politics.
Here is the column: Continue reading “The Adversity of Josh Shapiro: Pennsylvania Governor Claims Neighbor’s Property to Build Fence”
This week, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking at the Reagan Presidential Library on my book, Rage and the Republic. I was able to spend time with the outstanding staff of the library and the foundation, who were kind enough to give me a tour of this unique and inspiring place. I hope that sharing some pictures from the visit might lead some of you to plan a visit to the library in Simi Valley. It is truly extraordinary in the breadth of its collection and its presentation of historical artifacts. Give yourself a few hours because you will want to explore every corner of this amazing place. Continue reading “A Visit With The Gipper: My Trip to the Reagan Presidential Library”
Professor Muhammad Abdou, who until recently taught students at Columbia University, appeared online this week to spread calls for religious-based violence and glorify the murder of Jews. He did so as part of an event at the Union Theological Seminary, an institution associated with Columbia. While the university recently ended Abdou’s teaching, it is important to remember that this unhinged fanatic was previously chosen by Columbia faculty and administrators to teach their students. Those individuals remain at Columbia, and Abdou is just the latest example of the radical chic of higher education. Continue reading ““We Need to Destroy”: Former Columbia Professor Calls for Violence and Glorifies the Murder of Jews”
Below is my column on Fox.com on the new push by Democrats to impose a wealth tax nationally. While the proposal currently focuses on billionaires, this legislation would be a test case for the federal courts in asserting this new and unlimited tax authority. If allowed, Congress would then be able to set any wealth level for special taxation. At the same time, Democrats in states from Washington to Virginia are moving to impose a ten percent millionaire’s tax on income.
Here is the column: Continue reading “Eat the Rich: Sanders and Khanna Introduce Federal Billionaires Tax”
Across the country, Democrats are moving forward with millionaire taxes to tap wealthy taxpayers to address budget shortfalls. We have previously discussed how such wealth taxes are unconstitutional (in my view) in the federal system. However, state constitutions have been interpreted to allow such taxes. More importantly, there is no constitutional barrier to imposing huge increases in income taxes on wealthy taxpayers. That is what just happened in Washington as Democratic legislators seek to reproduce the exodus of wealth from California. Continue reading “Washington Moves to Replicate the California Exodus with Millionaires Tax” 
Across the country, Democrats are moving to ban popular semiautomatic weapons as well as magazines holding more than 10 or 15 rounds of ammunition. That includes, most recently, Virginia, which has careened to the left after the election of Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D). However, the most chilling such legislation may be in Minnesota, where state Sen. Matt Klein has introduced SF 4290. The law not only bans semiautomatic rifles and magazines with more than ten bullets, but also allows citizens to keep prior purchased weapons only if they agree to allow the police to enter their homes to inspect storage and safety conditions.
I am on a book tour for Rage and the Republic in California this week that began with an event at the 131-year-old Jonathan Club. The building and collection of the club are a delight for anyone who, like me, relishes historical preservation. It is filled with incredible art, antiques, and period designs. I wanted to share some pictures from my visit. Continue reading “A Visit with the Historic Jonathan Club”
There has been an ongoing struggle between district court judges and the Trump Administration over a variety of policies. In the first year, some district court judges issued nationwide injunctions that were largely rejected by the Supreme Court and appellate courts. These conflicts have continued and the intracourt tensions have increased. That was evident with the recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which delivered a virtual haymaker in reversing Judge Sara Ellis, an Obama nominee. The panel criticized Ellis for limiting the operation of federal officers in Chicago, saying that she “effectively established the district court as the supervisor of all Executive Branch activity in the city of Chicago.” Continue reading “Seventh Circuit Delivers Sharp Rebuke to Chicago District Judge Over Her “Constitutionally Suspect” Orders Against the Trump Administration”
Today is the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. In my book “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution,” I explore the importance of The Wealth of Nations to the founders and why it will be even more important in this century. Continue reading “Happy Anniversary, Adam Smith”
Below is my column in The Hill on the recent announcements of additional layoffs due to AI and robotics. The economic and political impact of this technological revolution is a focus of my new book Rage and the Republic. We are already watching this unfold, including the adoption of Universal Basic Income programs around the country. These changes will constitute one of the greatest challenges to our Republic on the 250th anniversary of our independence.
Here is the column: Continue reading “From Redcoats to Robots: AI and Robotic are Challenging our Republic’s Future”
In Rage and the Republic, I quote former Rep. Jaamal Bowman (D., N.Y.) as capturing the essence of an age of rage when a colleague asked him to stop yelling outside of the House floor. Bowman responded, “I was screaming before you interrupted me.”
Bowman’s statement came to mind this week when Democratic members were miffed when they were interrupted in tirades over war powers with questions about their prior support for unilateral attacks by Democratic presidents. Leaders like Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D., Cal.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Cal.) struggled to explain their prior support for President Barack Obama in doing precisely that in Libya with embarrassing results. Continue reading “Democratic Leaders Struggle to Explain Their Past Support for Unilateral Presidential War Powers”