Joe Lancaster

Latest from Joe Lancaster

Election 2024

Nikki Haley Positions Herself as the Anti-Gerontocracy Candidate

Haley seeks to make her relative youthfulness a selling point. It hasn't caught on among primary voters, but it's nonetheless worth considering whether the oldest candidates are always the best.

Joe Lancaster | 8.11.2023 2:15 PM

Clean Energy

The EPA's Power Plant Emissions Rules Are Unworkable, Says Trade Group

The Edison Electric Institute submitted comments clarifying that although it supports the EPA's goal of decarbonization, the technologies being presented are not sufficiently proven effective.

Joe Lancaster | 8.9.2023 3:45 PM

Crony Capitalism

Yellow Corporation To Close, Lay Off 30,000 Employees, and Likely Default on $700 Million Pandemic Aid Loan

The company blames much of its problems on the Teamsters trucking union's "intransigence," while the Teamsters say Yellow is delinquent on benefit payments.

Joe Lancaster | 8.7.2023 4:22 PM

Gun Owners

New Zealand Keeps Doxxing Registered Gun Owners

The events expose an underappreciated downside to government registries: In addition to civil liberties concerns, so much information in a concentrated database is a potential privacy nightmare.

Joe Lancaster | 8.3.2023 3:55 PM

DHS

Mayorkas Pressed Over DHS Labeling Protesters 'Domestic Violent Extremists'

Rep. Cori Bush (D–Mo.) and multiple civil liberties organizations cited the "Cop City" project in Atlanta, in which dozens of protesters have been charged with domestic terrorism.

Joe Lancaster | 8.1.2023 11:50 AM

Bankruptcy

Trucking Company on the Hook for $700 Million Federal Loan Files for Bankruptcy

Reason reported last month that with less than two years left on its loan, Yellow Corporation owed more than it originally borrowed and had repaid only $230 in principal.

Joe Lancaster | 7.28.2023 3:58 PM

Subsidies

Taiwanese Company Demands U.S. Taxpayers Cover the Higher Costs of Making Semiconductors in Arizona

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company cites regulatory costs and a lack of skilled workers as specific impediments. Biden and Congress can fix those without giving out billions of taxpayer dollars.

Joe Lancaster | 7.25.2023 4:10 PM

NYPD

'First Amendment Auditor' Sues NYPD Over Right To Record in Police Stations

SeanPaul Reyes has been arrested and threatened by NYPD for filming in public places, including inside police precincts. He says that's a violation of his First Amendment rights.

Joe Lancaster | 7.24.2023 3:05 PM

Free Speech

Ron DeSantis Bullies Bud Light Like Elizabeth Warren Bullies Amazon

DeSantis talks a lot about freedom but increasingly only applies it to those who agree with him.

Joe Lancaster | 7.21.2023 4:25 PM

Donald Trump

Georgia Supreme Court Declines Donald Trump's Request To 'Quash' Grand Jury Report

The court ruled unanimously that the former president was trying to circumvent normal legal channels.

Joe Lancaster | 7.18.2023 4:01 PM

Subsidies

Giving Away Taxpayer Money Is Not the Best Way To Attract Investment

State and countries should make their business climates more attractive to investment, not just dole out taxpayer money.

Joe Lancaster | 7.14.2023 5:30 PM

Republican Party

GOP Hopeful Asa Hutchinson Wants Parents To Make Medical Decisions for Trans Kids

The crowd at the socially conservative FAMiLY Leadership Summit was not receptive, and Glenn Beck likened the Arkansas governor's performance to the crash of the Hindenburg.

Joe Lancaster | 7.14.2023 2:45 PM

Criminal Justice

1 Year After Chesa Boudin's Recall, Is San Francisco Safer Under His Successor's More Punitive Policies?

Brooke Jenkins took office one year ago this week promising more prosecution for drug and property crime offenders. Crime and overdoses still went up.

Joe Lancaster | 7.12.2023 2:40 PM

Government Waste

Tesla Solar Factory Not Living Up to New York's $1 Billion Investment

In exchange for $1 billion, the state expected 5,000 jobs and 1,000 installations a week. Instead, it reported 1,700 jobs, most of them Tesla data analysts, and 21 installations per week.

Joe Lancaster | 7.7.2023 2:25 PM

War on Drugs

Florida Bans Medical Marijuana in All State-Licensed Rehabs and Sober Living Houses

Some patients, especially those with opioid addictions, could actually benefit from access to medical marijuana.

Joe Lancaster | 7.6.2023 1:30 PM

Electric cars

Automotive Lobby: EPA's Vehicle Emission Standards 'Neither Reasonable Nor Achievable'

The group stresses that it supports the government's ultimate goal of electrification, but the method of achieving that goal should be realistic.

Joe Lancaster | 7.3.2023 5:08 PM

Government Waste

Trucking Company, Careening Toward Bankruptcy, Could Default on $700 Million Federal Bailout Loan

After losing more than $100 million in a single year, Yellow Corporation got a $700 million pandemic assistance loan from the government. It has only paid $230 on the principal.

Joe Lancaster | 6.28.2023 12:55 PM

Government Waste

Ohio E.V. Manufacturer Fails Despite Millions in Taxpayer Subsidies

Lordstown Motors received $24.5 million to operate an Ohio factory. G.M., the factory's previous owner, received $60 million before shuttering it.

Joe Lancaster | 6.27.2023 2:25 PM

Automobiles

Florida Doubles Down on Anti-Competitive Car Dealership Law

Automobile dealers say the law will preserve and protect the "competitive nature" of the business, by removing their competitors.

Joe Lancaster | 6.15.2023 3:51 PM

Privacy

Intelligence Services Evade 4th Amendment by Paying for Your Data

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned that the practice threatens civil liberties, risks "mission creep," and could increase intelligence agencies' power.

Joe Lancaster | 6.14.2023 2:25 PM

Government Waste

Movie Industry Says Georgia's Film Tax Credits Are Great. State Auditors Say They're a Waste of Money.

Contradicting a new report funded by entertainment industry advocates, state auditors have cast significant doubts on the tax credit program's actual effectiveness.

Joe Lancaster | 6.12.2023 3:02 PM

Privacy

Virginia Wildlife Agents Came Onto His Land and Stole His Camera. Now He's Suing.

Eight weeks ago, a camouflaged game warden came onto Josh Highlander's land, scared his son, and stole his trail camera.

Joe Lancaster | 6.8.2023 2:45 PM

Electric cars

U.K. Think Tank Warns Government Not To Get Into E.V. 'Subsidy Race'

Rather, Downing Street should prioritize "stability in government policy," cautions Policy Exchange's Geoffrey Owen.

Joe Lancaster | 6.6.2023 2:20 PM

Surveillance

Michigan Supreme Court To Decide If Government Can Warrantlessly Spy on You With Drones

The state court of appeals held previously that unconstitutionally collected evidence could still be used for civil enforcement.

Joe Lancaster | 6.5.2023 1:05 PM

Economics

No, Corporate Greed Didn't Cause the 2023 Egg Price Shock

A much more plausible explanation is the avian flu outbreak that devastated the poultry industry last year.

Joe Lancaster | 6.4.2023 7:00 AM

Police

Georgia Arrests 'Cop City' Bail Fund Organizers for Fraud, Money Laundering

As with other cases in recent months, Georgia law enforcement has used specious classifications to charge nonviolent protesters with domestic terrorism.

Joe Lancaster | 6.1.2023 4:39 PM

Police

NYPD Claims It's Illegal To Film in a Police Station

A growing number of "First Amendment auditors" are testing the limits of what police will and will not allow them to film.

Joe Lancaster | 5.31.2023 4:00 PM

Free Speech

German Police Investigate Roger Waters Over Concert Wardrobe

Laws against displaying Nazi-esque iconography are well-intended, but they pose a threat to free speech and the principles of a free society.

Joe Lancaster | 5.30.2023 3:00 PM

Privacy

European Union Fines Meta $1.3 Billion Because of NSA Spying Programs

The record penalty seems to be based less on the Facebook parent company's lax data practices than the U.S. intelligence community's data-collection programs.

Joe Lancaster | 5.26.2023 3:00 PM

Electric cars

Should Drivers Have To Pay More To Register Electric Vehicles?

Texas's $200 annual E.V. fees seem like a lot of money but is largely in line with what owners would likely pay in gas taxes.

Joe Lancaster | 5.25.2023 8:00 AM

Crony Capitalism

Michigan Has Given the E.V. Industry $1.4 Billion and Counting

Carmakers don't need a crony-capitalist slush fund.

Joe Lancaster | 5.24.2023 1:00 PM

Intellectual Property

Supreme Court: Andy Warhol's Prince Prints Not 'Transformative' Enough for Fair Use

The case could have long-term implications for how broadly fair use can be applied.

Joe Lancaster | 5.19.2023 4:15 PM

Occupational Licensing

Michigan Senate Proposes Onerous Licensing Rules for Hunting and Fishing Guides

Proponents say that the bills would ensure the quality of fishing and hunting guides, but occupational licensing doesn't tend to work that way.

Joe Lancaster | 5.18.2023 3:45 PM

Election 2024

Do Conservatives Actually Like RFK Jr., or Do They Just Think He'll Hurt Biden?

Democrats spent tens of millions of dollars last year's midterms meddling in Republican primaries. Republicans may now be borrowing a page from their playbook.

Joe Lancaster | 5.17.2023 3:20 PM

IRS

Simplify the Tax Code Instead of Creating an IRS Rival to TurboTax

Americans collectively spend billions of hours each year preparing their taxes. Rather than adding a government-run website into the mix, politicians should just simplify the tax code.

Joe Lancaster | 5.15.2023 4:00 PM

Energy & Environment

EPA's New Power Plant Rules Would Be Hard To Implement, Possibly Unconstitutional

The Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the agency lacked the authority to regulate the entire energy industry at once, but the Biden administration is taking another swing at it anyway.

Joe Lancaster | 5.11.2023 4:00 PM

Federal government

George Santos Arrested, Indicted on 13 Federal Counts, Pleads Not Guilty

The serial fabulist is accused of wire fraud and lying to Congress.

Joe Lancaster | 5.10.2023 1:50 PM

Economics

States Spend Billions on Economic Development Deals With Little Return

In a new report, the Center for Economic Accountability analyzed economic development data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and there's very little to show for billions in annual spending.

Joe Lancaster | 5.9.2023 2:20 PM

Local Government

Government Waste Monopoly Pits Private Dumpster Business Against Garbage Bureaucrats

Steven Hedrick rents out roll-off dumpsters to people and hauls them away after. A new city ordinance is mandating that people use county services instead.

Joe Lancaster | 5.4.2023 3:45 PM

Atlanta

'Cop City' Protesters Arrested For Distributing Flyers

Just days after the release of an autopsy showing an activist may not have fired on officers before being shot to death, police arrested activists for putting flyers on mailboxes.

Joe Lancaster | 5.3.2023 4:55 PM

Militarization of Police

Why Do Federal Bureaucrats Need So Much Firepower?

A new report details a startling trend: Federal agencies with no obvious law enforcement purview are spending millions each year on guns and ammunition.

Joe Lancaster | 5.2.2023 4:45 PM

Subsidies

Rivian Continues To Hemorrhage Money Despite $1.5 Billion in State Incentives

According to a new Bloomberg report, Rivian has lost 93 percent of its market value since November 2021. The state of Georgia is still on the hook for as much as $1.5 billion in state incentives.

Joe Lancaster | 5.1.2023 2:50 PM

Clean Energy

Biden and Congressional Democrats Support Policies That Will Undermine Their Own Clean Energy Goals

The House passed a resolution that will reimpose tariffs on solar panels from China, while the EPA sits on applications for carbon capture technology that may soon be mandatory.

Joe Lancaster | 4.28.2023 4:45 PM

Artificial Intelligence

A Fake Drake Song Shows the Potential for A.I.'s Future

Meanwhile, content creators and corporations want copyright regulations for artificial intelligence.

Joe Lancaster | 4.26.2023 4:00 PM

Election 2024

President Joe Biden Announces He Is Running for Reelection

In recent months, progressives have held their noses and publicly supported Biden even in the face of downright illiberal policies.

Joe Lancaster | 4.25.2023 8:05 AM

Homelessness

Trump Advocates Mass Incarceration, 'Tent Cities' To Address Homelessness

The plan is unlikely to work, and the government already has a sordid recent history of funneling people into tent cities anyway.

Joe Lancaster | 4.20.2023 1:55 PM

Free Speech

The Fox-Dominion Lawsuit Shows That Mike Lee Is Wrong About Defamation

The 1964 Supreme Court decision New York Times Co. v. Sullivan makes it more difficult for public figures to prove defamation—but as we saw this week, not impossible.

Joe Lancaster | 4.19.2023 2:35 PM

Electric cars

Biden's 'Buy American' Electric Vehicle Tax Credits Go Into Effect

The credits may be well-intentioned, but they will distort the market and lead to a windfall for U.S. companies.

Joe Lancaster | 4.18.2023 4:15 PM

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