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How the Medicaid provider taxes raise your premiums
One of the major provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) was to arrest the growth of provider taxes. Provider taxes are specific…
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This week in health care policy: November 6-13
Drug pricing and innovation Biotech groups sue CMS over the GLOBE model. Three biotech groups sued CMS over the Global…
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Retro review: Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character, and Conviction (2016)
We live in a cynical time, one in which many people consider talking about virtue – much less heroism – to be outdated or…
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The new rules of capital: Bureaucrats try to ban prediction markets, jail entrepreneur
Introducing the new rules of capital, the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s regular update on developments in financial regulation. Prediction markets CEI sues Wisconsin…
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Credit card economics under a 10 percent interest rate cap
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the likely new chair of the Senate Banking Committee, has publicly said she wants to work with President Trump…
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Free the Economy podcast: The culture of free enterprise with Larry Reed
In this week’s episode we cover social mobility around the world, new inflation numbers, and the rise of robotaxis. Our…
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Historic changes to the National Historic Preservation Act in the permitting reform bill
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) recently reached its 60th anniversary, but there would have been much more to celebrate had the…
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The Senate permitting bill: An overview and interview with former FERC Chairman Mark Christie
This article is divided into two main parts.First, it provides a brief overview of the importance of permitting reform, along with some thoughts and…
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The week in regulations: Deepwater port licenses and nuclear credit ratings
Voters made known their feelings about tariffs, gas prices, and corruption. The FAA announced that it still uses floppy disks for air traffic control…
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This week in health care policy: October 31-November 6, 2026
Drug pricing and PBMs Medicare’s second round of negotiated prices starts in two months. On January 1, negotiated prices for…
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Are Korean antitrust actions retaliatory tariffs in disguise?
It’s not just American and European antitrust regulators that are going after American tech companies. South Korean antitrust regulators are getting in on the…
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Tariffs, elections, and radicalism: Is history about to repeat itself?
There is a curious pattern in American political history that the midterm elections suggest might be on the verge of repeating itself. It’s a…
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What a 1958 onion law reveals about modern politics
University of Chicago students recently held an onion-themed protest, of all things. Social media was flooded with more onion puns than any reasonable…
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America’s debt and the next generation
Every tab eventually comes due. The conversation winds down, the plates are cleared, and someone reaches for the check. For decades, the United…
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Free the Economy podcast: Consumer protection and free speech with Casey Mattox
In this week’s episode we cover the debt load of state and local governments, advances in nuclear waste storage, and hope…
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Principled business in Austin
The view from my hotel room in Austin was majestic – a giant hole in the ground. When I arrived for the 3rd…
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New Mexico’s infinite money glitch: Cashing in on the First Amendment
Last month, a state district court in Santa Fe ordered Meta to pay a historic $25 billion civil penalty under New Mexico’s Unfair…
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CEI seeks to protect the right to vote in Wisconsin
CEI filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction asking a federal court to protect Wisconsinites’ right to vote ahead of the general election on November…
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The regulatory dark matter beyond Washington’s graveyard of rules: 83,141 ghosts and counting
The clocks have turned back, the days are growing darker, and Washington’s regulatory shadows lengthen. Washington’s policy ghouls are waking up to the fact…
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The week in regulations: Space modernization and closed captioning
Sir Patrick Stewart passed away at age 86. GDP growth came in higher than average for the third quarter, but so did September’s PCE…
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This week in health care policy: October 24-30, 2026
FDA and innovation FDA and CMS move on personalized gene therapies. The FDA released draft guidance that lets developers of…
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Argentina’s chainsaw president keeps slashing away
Horror-movie slashers aren’t the only ones revving their chainsaws this Halloween. As Argentine President Javier Milei enters his final year in office before he…
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Free the Economy podcast: Affording the American Dream with Akash Chougule
In this week’s episode we cover what’s making housing so expensive, the common good of the Constitution, and more jawboning…
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New CEI paper: Renewing and improving the USMCA
Trade agreements are not as dramatic as trade wars, but they are essential to sound trade policy. President Trump’s tariffs have harmed the domestic…
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The challenges of central banking
The Federal Reserve has decided to maintain interest rates between 3.75 percent and 4 percent. Within minutes of this announcement, economists, investors, politicians,…
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OCC aligns with CEI suggestions in new stablecoin rule
Last week, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released its long-awaited final rule implementing the GENIUS (Guiding and Establishing National…
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America250 and the Oath against democratic socialism
Not every ideology seeking power is equally compatible with a faithful commitment to preserve the constitutional order. Turn on cable news or browse conservative…
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The week in regulations: Mailing live animals and crash test dummy comments
A Trump administration envoy to Russia called Vladimir Putin a humanitarian. The Justice Department announced it will sue if the Republican Senate candidate in…
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Market-oriented reforms that can save Medicare $100 billion
Since 1970, Medicare spending has grown from 0.7 percent of GDP to 4.0 percent of GDP, and it is projected to grow even further.
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This week in health care policy: October 16–23, 2026
Medical innovation FDA approves several innovative treatments. Last week, the FDA granted accelerated approval to GSK’s Jemperli for certain untreated…
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The problem is scarcity, not Disney’s prices
Disney doesn’t just offer admission to a theme park. It promises a magical experience. But when millions of people seek that experience, Disney must…
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Free the Economy podcast: The Grim Old Days with Chelsea Follett
In this week’s episode we cover global energy security, a new lawsuit against Section 338 tariffs, and fresh talent in…
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CEI’s lawsuit to stop Wisconsin’s disenfranchisement of prediction market participants
The Competitive Enterprise Institute has just filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn a grave threat to democracy from a state that touts itself…
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The week in regulations: Salt substitutes and spiny lobster management
The new White House Press Secretary lasted five days before resigning. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is upset that one company makes two brands of hot…
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How inflation pushes people toward collectivism
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that 50,000 drivers recently (exactly when is unclear) officially signed cards to join the…
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California forces rideshare drivers into a union
A reported 50,000 rideshare drivers for Lyft and Uber in California have recently signed cards to join the existing California Gig Workers…
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This week in health care policy: October 8–15, 2026
Innovation watch Merck expects faster production of its personalized cancer vaccine. CEO Rob Davis told CNBC the six-week turnaround for…
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Natural gas heating bills projected to come down this winter
In a rare piece of positive news on the energy affordability front, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that Americans heating their homes…
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Free the Economy podcast: The future of Fusionism with Stephanie Slade
In this week’s episode we cover federal vs. state rules for prediction markets, the difference between Detroit and Pittsburgh, and a…
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GDP and the origins of prosperity
The United States is a wealthy and prosperous country. Historically, Americans have looked to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to measure their prosperity. GDP…
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Can a country trade its way to independence?
Protectionists often say that tariffs are a way to achieve economic independence. They argue that raising the prices of foreign goods can bring production…
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The week in regulations: Mariner training and Maryland trash
The federal government’s annual budget deficit hit $2 trillion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged to livestream an execution. Thirty-year Treasury bond interest rates continued…
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This week in health care policy: October 5–9, 2026
Drug pricing and 340B PhRMA sues to block GLOBE. On October 7, PhRMA sued to block the most-favored-nation drug-pricing model…
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New legislation seeks to shuffle the deck chairs on the sinking No Surprises Act
On October 8, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced the Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act as a fix for the disastrous No Surprises Act (NSA).
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Free the Economy podcast: Competition and innovation with Jack Nicastro
In this week’s episode we cover the case of Suncor v. Boulder County at the Supreme Court, the problems with the Los…
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Asking the right questions on inequality
A recent Congressional Budget Office report finds that inequality in America has declined slightly in recent years. Over at National Review, my colleague…
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Forest Service proposes to correct course on Roadless Rule, 25 years later
The US Forest Service is finally taking action to correct a longstanding issue with the way it manages National Forest System land. On August…
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Why can’t we just print more money?
Last week, I attended an event at a think tank where the conversation centered on the federal budget and national debt. At one…
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CEI files amicus brief urging Supreme Court to review EPA’s particulate matter standards
On October 2, 2026, CEI joined the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, the Heartland Institute, and Heartland Impact…
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Here’s how one-in, ten-out is successfully cutting rules — but not draining the swamp
It’s October already, and while there’s no real fiscal year for federal regulation, the September 30 closing of the 2026 budgetary fiscal year marks…
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The week in regulations: Drug prices and inedible almonds
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) learned the difference between the Atlanta Hawks and the Iowa Hawkeyes. President Trump rolled back some China tariffs and published…
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This week in health care policy: September 28 – October 2, 2026
Drug pricing CMS finalizes GLOBE pilot. On September 30, CMS finalized the Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing model, a…
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Buy Now, Pay Later doesn’t mean pay more, owe more, and panic more
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) has become a familiar way to pay for everything from discretionary purchases to everyday expenses. BNPL lets consumers divide…
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Diagnosing unemployment
The unemployment rate is a symptom, not a diagnosis. When it rises or falls, it shows that something is changing in the labor market,…
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Free the Economy podcast: Real-world economics with Paul Mueller
In this week’s episode we cover spiraling health care costs, reforming state-level regulations, and how to keep asset managers accountable…
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Reading the fine print on unemployment
When politicians talk about unemployment, it is worth remembering an old principle: buyer beware. The unemployment rate is a statistic, but politicians can transform…
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Protestations aside, Washington wants to regulate AI. It also wants to run it
Washington’s latest AI summit between Trump and tech executives was billed largely as a meeting about safety. Ultimately, it was a meeting about something…
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Tinplate tariffs are a microcosm of larger harm
Most of the talk about tariffs raising the cost of living is pretty abstract. In an op-ed syndicated by InsideSources, I look at…
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What Mexico City can teach America about the cost of public transit
I recently vacationed in Mexico. While in Mexico City, I tried to take the metro to attend a concert. At five pesos, or…
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The week in regulations: Safe explosives and baker’s yeast
President Trump proposed an export ban on diesel fuel. Mortgage rates topped 7 percent. Agencies issued new regulations ranging from bank mergers to window…
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This week in health care policy: September 21–25, 2026
Innovation watch FDA approves the first treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome. On September 17, the FDA approved Ultragenyx’s Fayuvi, a one-time…
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Free the Economy podcast: Gen Z capitalism with Sam Raus
In this week’s episode we cover how data centers power our lives, how modern technology is fueling family togetherness, and the…
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Are stablecoins already delivering what CBDCs promise?
Many proposals for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a digital form of the US dollar issued by the Federal Reserve, have circulated…
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The week in regulations: School libraries and sport pilots
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Congress passed a Russia sanctions bill that gives President Trump more tariff authority. Agencies issued new regulations ranging…
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Stop rogue government AI
Performative Washington, responsible for funding AI weaponry and R&D for years, purports to have suddenly discovered the dangers of artificial intelligence. Recent incidents…
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America as an act of disobedience
CEI’s annual Julian L. Simon Memorial Award Dinner is on September 23. The theme is American Treasures. This post celebrates one of the…
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Congress gives Trump new tariff powers
The power to tax is one of Congress’ most important responsibilities. But it keeps looking for and finding ways to dodge it. The most…
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Free the Economy podcast: The Overton Window with James Hohman
In this week’s episode we cover Treasury yields, oil prices, US-China-Taiwan security policy, and Trump’s $5,000 dividend checks. Our…
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How The No Surprises Act worsened the problem of surprise bills
Next week, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will convene a roundtable to discuss adjustments to the 2020 No Surprises Act, which has come under…
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Trump administration targets implausible emissions scenarios
I submitted comments last week in support of the US Global Change Research Program’s proposal to amend the 2023 Fifth US National…
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The intergenerational John Adams
CEI’s annual Julian L. Simon Memorial Award Dinner is on September 23. The theme is American Treasures. This post celebrates two of the…
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Why the 5 percent Treasury bond interest rate matters
The recent rise of the 10-year Treasury yield to 5 percent has set off alarm bells among economists, policymakers, and investors. While the…
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The rules Congress never gets to see
The 1996 Congressional Review Act (CRA) has been used to overturn only a few dozen federal regulatory directives since its enactment, most during the…
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Jimmy Kimmel and the FCC: No time for equal time
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) “equal time” rule aims to foster competing voices and ensure opportunities for debate. It was created in an era…
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Pre-approved plans can speed up housing without compromising health and safety
Housing affordability has renewed interest in removing unnecessary barriers to homebuilding. While much of the discussion has centered on land use and zoning regulations…
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The pointless trade war against Canada
Starting a trade war with Canada is one of the strangest decisions of Donald Trump’s presidency. Over at the Daily Wire, I try to…
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The week in regulations: Waters of the United States and ASCII formatting
The country reflected on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. President Trump promised a $5,000 check to every American adult…
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9/11 and presidential power
America is a complicated country, founded on a simple idea: no kings. Even so, nearly every president since at least John Adams has grown…
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Free the Economy podcast: The search for critical minerals with Seaver Wang
In this week’s episode we cover the latest employment data, a new award for academic courage, free speech versus native…
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Misalignment by design: How AI could become the operating system of the administrative state (Part 2)
Read Part 1 here. The AI deregulatory alternative: Liberalize networks and what flows through them This is where the…
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Misalignment by design: How AI could become the operating system of the administrative state (Part 1)
The AI debate asks how the federal government should regulate commercial artificial intelligence and “big tech,” with little recognition or appreciation that the government…
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Out, damned spot! Precautionary regulation could threaten the future of wearable AI
California may become the first state to take major statutory action to regulate wearable recording devices like smart glasses. Senate Bill 1130 has…
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The week in regulations: Honey taxes and airline delays
August’s job numbers were better than expected. President Trump threatened to cut off trade to all nations that export more to America than they…
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Free the Economy podcast: Maximum New York with Daniel Golliher
In this week’s episode we cover climate collusion between California and Quebec, how luxurious college campuses are breeding socialists, and government…
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The ‘no hire, no fire’ era is starting to crack
Families gathering around the barbeque next Monday to celebrate the national day off from work will probably be grilling more hot dogs and cheap…
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The never-ending ferry tale: Why Washington shouldn’t subsidize ferries
The Trump administration recently announced $664.8 million in federal grants for ferry infrastructure, including $28.2 million for North Carolina’s Cherry Branch Ferry Terminal.
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The regulatory costs we still aren’t counting
Several years ago, I assembled a “Costberg” working paper surveying the largely impenetrable and undisclosed costs of regulation. The project grew out of…
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The week in regulations: Voting by mail and $100,000 visas
The number of new final regulations in 2026 topped the 2,000 mark. President Trump escalated his trade war against Canada and issued an executive…
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Free the Economy podcast: The future of financial regulation with Thomas Hoenig
In this week’s episode we cover the status of occupational licensing in the 50 states, the coming crack-up over entitlement spending,…
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Sports dominate prediction markets, but don’t bet on that being the whole story
Less than two years ago, the biggest controversy surrounding prediction markets was their enabling of speculation on elections. Then in early 2025, with…
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HHS cutting Head Start red tape shows the cost of regulatory micromanagement
Individual regulations are often defended as necessary on their own terms. But as CEI Senior Fellow Wayne Crews’ Ten Thousand Commandments documents, the…
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It’s not the (government’s) thought that counts
Good intentions are not enough to create an effective regulation. An executive agency, Congress, or the White House can have the best intentions in…
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Let’s end ‘reputational risk’ debanking once and for all
Although this legislative session is near its end, Congress still has the opportunity to take an important step to ensure that financial regulation is…
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The week in regulations: Roadless areas and squid quotas
The national debt topped $40 trillion. Vice President JD Vance argued for ending the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency. The Treasury Department…
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Free the Economy podcast: Housing abundance and affordability with Luca Gattoni-Celli
In this week’s episode we cover J.D. Vance and the strength of the US dollar, how to track extreme weather events,…
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Are Trump’s drone tariffs flying blind?
President Trump’s new Section 232 tariffs on drones and drone components are being justified as responses to national security vulnerabilities. In its…
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Vance wants to break the dollar’s global reserve currency status: Why American consumers would pay
A recently resurfaced video of Vice President J.D. Vance has brought renewed attention to his argument that the US dollar’s status as the…
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Why a supersonic cross-country flight could be closer than you think
What if a cross-country flight took less time than your favorite movie? That future may be closer than it sounds. The Federal Aviation Administration…
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The Regulatory Plan needs a regulatory plan
As the Trump administration’s early emphasis on the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has tapered off, so too has its emphasis…
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Federal court strikes down another bad appliance regulation – this time for stoves
Last June, the Supreme Court vacated a lower court decision upholding a bad Department of Energy (DOE) efficiency regulation targeting residential furnaces and sent…