Commentary

Across Civitas Outlook and the broader media landscape, our scholars provide timely insights into issues of national significance.

What’s Wrong with a Military Campaign Against the Drug Trade

Trump’s boat strikes against the cartels risk crossing the line between law enforcement and war.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Sep 24, 2025
Ignore 'Open Letters' From Economists

Don’t be swayed by “open” letters signed by well-known and well-respected scholars, experts, professors, and businessmen.

Charity-Joy Acchiardo, Dirk Mateer & Brian O'Roark
Economic Dynamism
Sep 23, 2025
The Long History of Presidential Discretion

The Framers did not expect Congress to preauthorize every use of force or to manage military campaigns.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Sep 19, 2025
Exodus: Affordability Crisis Sends Americans Packing From Big Cities

The first in a two-part series about the Great Dispersion of Americans across the country.

Joel Kotkin, Wendell Cox
Pursuit of Happiness
Sep 9, 2025
Demystifying the New Deal
Economic Dynamism
Sep 5, 2025
Decadent Ideology, Decaying Fraternity
Politics
Sep 4, 2025
Why Is California Losing Good Jobs to Other States? It’s Not Rocket Science
Economic Dynamism
Sep 4, 2025
Trump’s Factory Revival Is Happening
Economic Dynamism
Sep 4, 2025
Why Trump’s ‘Emergency’ Tariffs Won’t Fly
Constitutionalism
Sep 2, 2025
Stanford’s Graduate Student Union Tries to Stifle Dissent
Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 29, 2025
All commentary
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The 529 Education Revolution Is Here
Michael Toth, Dan Lips
Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 28, 2025
Do We Still Really Need the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
G. Dirk Mateer
Economic Dynamism
Aug 27, 2025
The Next Californias
Joel Kotkin
Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 25, 2025
Can Tariffs Replace Income Taxes?
Richard M. Reinsch II
Economic Dynamism
Aug 22, 2025
The Moral Collapse on Campus Is a Result of the Hollowing Out of the Humanities
Alexander Duff
Pursuit of Happiness
Aug 18, 2025
DC and LA Failures Play Into Trump’s Hands
Joel Kotkin
Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Other

Content

Amicus Brief: Hon. William P. Barr and Hon. Michael B. Mukasey in Support of Petitioners

Former AGs Barr and Mukasey Cite Civitas in a SCOTUS Brief

Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Sep 22, 2025
Revival: Americans Heading Back to the Hinterlands

Smaller communities throughout the country are poised to play an outsize role in forging our future.

Joel Kotkin, Wendell Cox
Pursuit of Happiness
Sep 19, 2025
Rational Judicial Review: Constitutions as Power-sharing Agreements, Secession, and the Problem of Dred Scott

Judicial review and originalism serve as valuable commitment mechanisms to enforce future compliance with a political bargain.

John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Sep 15, 2025
Amicus Brief: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish

Civitas Research Fellow Michael Toth's work was cited in a Supreme Court brief.‍

Michael Toth
Constitutionalism
Sep 11, 2025
The Causal Effect of News on Inflation Expectations

This paper studies the response of household inflation expectations to television news coverage of inflation.

Carola Binder, Pascal Frank, Jane M. Ryngaert
Economic Dynamism
Aug 22, 2025
The Rise of Inflation Targeting

This paper discusses the interactions between politics and economic ideas leading to the adoption of inflation targeting in the United States.

Carola Binder
Economic Dynamism
Aug 11, 2025
Epstein & Yoo: Amicus Brief in Supreme Court of Maryland

Civitas Senior Research Fellows Richard Epstein and John Yoo, alongside the Mountain States Legal Foundation, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of Maryland.

Richard Epstein, John Yoo
Constitutionalism
Jul 24, 2025

The Libertarian

The inimitable Richard Epstein offers his unique perspective on national developments in public policy and the law.

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Law Talk

Welcome to Law Talk with Richard Epstein and John Yoo. Our show is hosted by Charles C. W. Cooke.

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Peter Robinson Unbridled

A new show and podcast bringing the energy of Austin to wide-ranging conversations on politics, economics, education, and culture.

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The Three Whiskey Happy Hour

Steven Hayward brings you the Power Line Blog's perspective on the week's big headlines.

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Unlocking Housing Supply: Market-Driven Solutions for Growing Communities

Economic Dynamism
Sept 15, 24
2:16:09

Robert George and Cornel West - Truth Matters, A Book Talk

Pursuit of Happiness
Sept 15, 24
1:33:03

Epstein: Executive Power & Authoritarianism

Constitutionalism
Sept 15, 24
44:10

Epstein: Tim Kaine’s Misunderstanding of Natural Rights

Constitutionalism
Sept 15, 24
15:49

Trump’s Tariff-for-Income-Tax Swap

Economic Dynamism
Sept 15, 24
19:25
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