The Half-War
Richard Epstein examines the unfolding U.S. confrontation with Iran through both a strategic and constitutional lens, arguing that President Trump’s approach reflects a deeper tension between military necessity and political constraint. Epstein contends that limited or “half-war” measures—such as reliance on air power or pursuit of partial ceasefires—invite instability, while effective strategy demands either decisive dominance or restraint from intervention altogether. The conversation then pivots to the constitutional stakes, with Epstein criticizing the War Powers Act as an impractical and possibly unconstitutional encroachment on executive authority, arguing that modern warfare requires speed, secrecy, and unified command that Congress is structurally ill-equipped to provide. The discussion highlights the enduring conflict between law and strategy, suggesting that America’s greatest vulnerability may lie not only in foreign adversaries, but in its own divided system of war-making power.
The Libertarian
Surf’s Up: Roman Law and Beach Houses
Episode 4 of The Libertarian with Richard Epstein and Charles C.W. Cooke
Posse Comitatus: Trump, Troops, and the Limits of Presidential Power
Episode 5 of The Libertarian with Richard Epstein and Charles C.W. Cooke
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Politics
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Is American Nationalism Still Creed-able?
We are not there now, but there is reason to worry that the United States is in danger, if we are not careful, of ceasing to be a nation with the principles of 1776 at its core.
National Civitas Institute Poll: Americans are Anxious and Frustrated, Creating a Challenging Environment for Leaders
The poll reveals a deeply pessimistic American electorate, with a majority convinced the nation is on the wrong track.
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Can Britain’s Next Prime Minister Escape the Net Zero Trap?
Britain has burned through five Prime Ministers and is paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world.
The Scanner at the Gate: Europe’s China Policy Litmus Test
China’s industrial policy is entering Europe through public procurement—and reshaping sensitive markets from within.
Confronting the New Antisemitism
"The postwar effort 'to rebrand Judaism as a religion' has made it impossible for American Jews to understand what they are facing today, because what we are facing today is an attack on the idea of Jewish peoplehood.”
“Democratic” Socialism Is Undemocratic
By promoting class hatred, suppressing private initiative, and seeking enhanced control of our lives, today’s democratic socialists undermine patriotism and individual initiative—two qualities that have long distinguished the United States from other major nations.
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