J.D. Vance Has Changed a Lot Since the Days of Hillbilly Elegy
Untangling the roots of Vance's odd political evolution.
Economic Nationalism
Vivek Ramaswamy: Is There a Libertarian-Nationalist Alliance?
The former presidential candidate discusses the ideological tensions within the America First movement.
J.D. Vance Turned an Inspiring Personal Story Into an Unsatisfying Political Sales Pitch
If voting was the solution to the ills of America's working class, wouldn't it have worked by now?
GOP VP Nominee J. D. Vance is an Enemy of Free Markets
The Ohio Senator is one of the Party's leading advocates of protectionism, economic planning, and immigration restrictions.
Vivek Ramaswamy Debuts 'National Libertarianism' at NatCon 4
"I don’t care to replace a left-wing nanny state with a right-wing nanny state," the onetime presidential hopeful said this week.
Trump Said Tariffs Would Reduce the Trade Deficit. Instead, It Grew.
In 2017, the last full year before Trump's tariffs were imposed, America's overall trade deficit was $517 billion. By 2023, it had grown to $785 billion.
J.D. Vance's Incoherent Argument for Higher Minimum Wages
Vance thinks that jobs lost because of incompetent central planning don't matter—but that jobs lost to immigrants do.
Why a "Libertarian-Nationalist Alliance" Makes No Sense
Vivek Ramaswamy isn't the first to advocate this badly wrong idea. But there's still no good justification for it.
Trump's Proposed Tariffs Would Cost Families $1,700 Annually
"The scale of trade barriers proposed by candidate Trump is unprecedented."
Brussels Mayor Attempts To Shut Down National Conservatism Conference by Force
It's a good thing opponents of the move can appeal to the liberal values of free speech, free association, and equal treatment under law.
J.D. Vance Thinks U.S. Steel's Shareholders Weren't Adequately Warned of J.D. Vance's Efforts To Block Sale
Vance's latest gambit is pretty nonsensical, intellectually embarrassing, and obviously self-serving. But that doesn't mean that it's not dangerous too.
Marco Rubio Is Wrong About Industrial Policy
Breaking down Rubio's factually flawed and logically incoherent call for more government involvement in the economy.
Opposition to U.S. Steel Sale Shows How Similar Biden and Trump Are on Trade
Economic nationalists are claiming the deal endangers "national security" to convince Americans that a good deal for investors, employees, and the U.S. economy will somehow make America less secure. That's nonsense.
Federal Handout to Intel Will Cost $283,000 Per Job, and That's Being Generous
And the real kicker is that Intel was probably going to create those jobs without taxpayers funding anything.
The U.S. Steel/Nippon Deal Should Be None of Joe Biden's Business
Both companies consented to the deal. Why should they have to get permission from the president to do business?
Not All Policy Is Industrial Policy
Just say no to empowering government actors to put their thumbs on the scale on behalf of certain sectors.
Josh Hawley Thinks the White House Can Force an Aluminum Plant To Stay Open
Should there be any limits to a president's power to centrally plan the economy? Apparently not.
What Javier Milei Could Teach Democrats and Republicans About Capitalism
His speech in Davos challenged the growing worldwide trend of increased government involvement in economic affairs.
Over 300,000 Ohioans Are Employed by Foreign Companies. Why Isn't J.D. Vance Outraged?
Companies based outside the United States employ 7.9 million Americans. Foreign investment isn't something to be feared or blocked, but welcomed.
Spanish Translation of "The Case Against Nationalism" Now Available
The Cato Institute has posted a Spanish-language version of the article I coauthored with Alex Nowrasteh.
My New National Affairs Article on "The Case Against Nationalism"
Coauthored with Cato Institute scholar Alex Nowrasteh.
American Distillers Brace for Huge E.U. Tariff Hike
More than five years after it began, former President Donald Trump's trade war is still spiraling out of control.
Why Is Halloween Candy So Expensive? Sugar Protectionism.
A new report from the GAO highlights how America's system of sugar subsidies and tariffs costs consumers about $3.5 billion every year.
Trump's Tariffs Didn't Reduce the Trade Deficit. Why Would They Work Now?
Donald Trump's latest argument for protectionism is undermined by the realities of his own trade policies.
Trump Floats Tariff Plan That Will Make Everything More Expensive
The "Tariff Man" promises to strike again.
China's Industrial Policy Is Failing. Will American Politicians Take Notice?
Panic over China's rapid economic growth has fueled all manner of big-government proposals. They're looking even more foolish now.
Barbie Girls Now Live in a Much Wealthier Barbie World
The average working woman in 2023 earns enough money to buy a Barbie doll every 33 minutes. In 1959, it took nearly two hours.
'Freedom Conservatism' Statement of Principles Shows the New Right Isn't the Only Game in Town
A new document with more than 80 signatories puts liberty, not government, at the heart of the conservative movement.
Do the Natcons Get Anything Right?
Plus: A listener asks if the Roundtable has given the arguments of those opposed to low-skilled immigration a fair hearing.
Josh Hawley Wants the Debt Ceiling Deal To Include a Massive Tax Hike on Americans
Hawley might call them "tariffs on China," but that's obvious nonsense: Tariffs are paid by Americans.
The Post-Liberal Authoritarians Want You To Forget That Private Companies Have Rights
J.D. Vance and Co. are trying to give themselves permission to wield public power unconstitutionally.
Oren Cass Notices One of Industrial Policy's Fatal Flaws
Cass says industrial policy will only work if the politicians can put aside political disagreements and partisan agendas. In other words, industrial policy will never work.
China Is Scaling Back Its Failed Semiconductor Industrial Policies. America Should Do the Same.
The warning signs are flashing "don't be like China."
Big Dairy Wants Congress To Restore Huge Tariffs on Imported Baby Formula
Unless Congress takes action, those tariffs will return on January 1. And the baby formula shortage hasn't yet passed.
Maybe Republicans Need a Policy Agenda After All?
The GOP has hit the dead end of Trump-style personality-cult populism. It's time to try having ideas.
The Will to Power Was Front and Center at NatCon III
What differentiates national conservatives from some other right-wing varietals is the desire to use government to destroy their enemies.
"Great Replacement Theory" and the Perils of Zero-Sum World Views
The racist Buffalo mass murderer's ideology drew on dangerous ideas common on both the ethnonationalist right and the far left.
Repulsive Replacement Theory and Economic Delusions
Plus: The editors each point out one key disagreement they have with one another.
J.D. Vance Takes Victory in Ohio GOP Senate Primary
The former venture capitalist will face Rep. Tim Ryan, the Democratic nominee, in November's general election.
Economic Penalties for Putin's Aggression Threaten To Impoverish the World
Countries insulating themselves against future sanctions may block trade that lifted billions from misery.
The Senate's Industrial Policy Bill Is a Debt-Financed Corporate Giveaway That Lobbyists Love
The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act is a lobbyist-crafted proposal that funnels emergency spending to politically connected special interests.
Liberal Media Coverage Is Boosting Conservative Nationalists
Plus: Supreme Court to rule on Catholic foster agencies, tech associations sue over social media law in Florida, and more…
America's Semiconductor Industry Doesn't Need $52 Billion in New Subsidies To Stay Ahead of China
Industrial policy is the wrong answer to a problem that mostly doesn't exist.
Nationalist Conservatives Are Abandoning the Ideas of Liberty
We should prefer drag queens in libraries over despots in the government.
The U.S. Won't Beat China by Being More Like China
Biden's argument about a strategic competition with China ignores America's advantages.
COVID-19 Industrial Policy Fails Again
A Connecticut company got a $138 million government contract in order to break America's supposed "dependence" on foreign-made syringes. It has yet to produce even a single one.
Foxconn Finally Admits It Won't Create 13,000 Jobs in Wisconsin
It now plans to employ just 1,454 people after bulldozing dozens of homes to make room for a factory Donald Trump once touted as the "eighth wonder of the world."
