Cato Institute
@cato.org
A public policy research organization dedicated to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. https://www.cato.org/
As some US lawmakers push “democratic socialism,” Argentine President Javier Milei—having seen socialism’s damage firsthand—shows that private property, individual liberty, and free markets are what create broad prosperity.
➡️ https://ow.ly/v0T550XTwJ8
➡️ https://ow.ly/v0T550XTwJ8
January 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM
As some US lawmakers push “democratic socialism,” Argentine President Javier Milei—having seen socialism’s damage firsthand—shows that private property, individual liberty, and free markets are what create broad prosperity.
➡️ https://ow.ly/v0T550XTwJ8
➡️ https://ow.ly/v0T550XTwJ8
Nicolás Maduro’s arrest raises hard questions about presidential power, congressional authority, and the legal boundaries of military force. Cato’s Brandan P. Buck and Clark Neily analyze the operation’s status under US and international law.
➡️ https://ow.ly/k1C350XUcqm
➡️ https://ow.ly/k1C350XUcqm
January 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Nicolás Maduro’s arrest raises hard questions about presidential power, congressional authority, and the legal boundaries of military force. Cato’s Brandan P. Buck and Clark Neily analyze the operation’s status under US and international law.
➡️ https://ow.ly/k1C350XUcqm
➡️ https://ow.ly/k1C350XUcqm
Freedom shouldn’t depend on your bank account.
People in Lancaster County can sit in jail simply because they can’t afford bail, despite having not been convicted. Cato’s Matthew Cavedon argues the courts should hear their challenge instead of dismissing it.
https://ow.ly/skfb50XQrac
People in Lancaster County can sit in jail simply because they can’t afford bail, despite having not been convicted. Cato’s Matthew Cavedon argues the courts should hear their challenge instead of dismissing it.
https://ow.ly/skfb50XQrac
HC v. Chudzik Brief: Court Gamesmanship Should Not Excuse Violations of the Right to Bail
Incarcerating people before trial simply because they are too poor to pay for their release violates their rights to equal protection and due process.
ow.ly
January 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Freedom shouldn’t depend on your bank account.
People in Lancaster County can sit in jail simply because they can’t afford bail, despite having not been convicted. Cato’s Matthew Cavedon argues the courts should hear their challenge instead of dismissing it.
https://ow.ly/skfb50XQrac
People in Lancaster County can sit in jail simply because they can’t afford bail, despite having not been convicted. Cato’s Matthew Cavedon argues the courts should hear their challenge instead of dismissing it.
https://ow.ly/skfb50XQrac
When drugs are legal, private and public mechanisms for quality control limit the risk of accidental overdoses. The lesson from marijuana is therefore not that drugs are harmless but that criminal enforcement makes their harms worse, explains Cato’s Jeffrey Miron.
https://ow.ly/tCBF50XSF2b
https://ow.ly/tCBF50XSF2b
January 10, 2026 at 3:00 PM
When drugs are legal, private and public mechanisms for quality control limit the risk of accidental overdoses. The lesson from marijuana is therefore not that drugs are harmless but that criminal enforcement makes their harms worse, explains Cato’s Jeffrey Miron.
https://ow.ly/tCBF50XSF2b
https://ow.ly/tCBF50XSF2b
The Trump administration says it will sell Venezuelan oil at market prices and oversee allocation of the proceeds. “If Venezuela’s oil is sold and the proceeds are treated as money the US government has received, then why wouldn’t it go to the Treasury?” Tad DeHaven asks.
https://ow.ly/4psp50XUcMT
https://ow.ly/4psp50XUcMT
January 9, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The Trump administration says it will sell Venezuelan oil at market prices and oversee allocation of the proceeds. “If Venezuela’s oil is sold and the proceeds are treated as money the US government has received, then why wouldn’t it go to the Treasury?” Tad DeHaven asks.
https://ow.ly/4psp50XUcMT
https://ow.ly/4psp50XUcMT
A Russian dissident living in exile finds her US bank accounts closed after the Kremlin labels her an extremist. Nicholas Anthony interviews Anna Chekhovich of the Anti-Corruption Foundation about her experience being debanked. Listen to Cato Podcast.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Xs1B50XU9MM
➡️ https://ow.ly/Xs1B50XU9MM
January 9, 2026 at 9:05 PM
A Russian dissident living in exile finds her US bank accounts closed after the Kremlin labels her an extremist. Nicholas Anthony interviews Anna Chekhovich of the Anti-Corruption Foundation about her experience being debanked. Listen to Cato Podcast.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Xs1B50XU9MM
➡️ https://ow.ly/Xs1B50XU9MM
“Fighting crime is a worthy endeavor. However, we cannot sacrifice the freedoms that make America great in the process,” says Cato’s Nick Anthony, in reference to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plan to boost surveillance under the Bank Secrecy Act.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/w6bf50XU9vW
Learn more: https://ow.ly/w6bf50XU9vW
January 9, 2026 at 8:05 PM
“Fighting crime is a worthy endeavor. However, we cannot sacrifice the freedoms that make America great in the process,” says Cato’s Nick Anthony, in reference to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plan to boost surveillance under the Bank Secrecy Act.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/w6bf50XU9vW
Learn more: https://ow.ly/w6bf50XU9vW
In 2014, President Obama exempted US territories from Obamacare’s health insurance regulations because they restrict access to care. One Kentucky lawmaker now aims to extend that freedom to residents of her state, notes Cato’s Michael F. Cannon.
➡️ https://ow.ly/sPhu50XU9lC
➡️ https://ow.ly/sPhu50XU9lC
January 9, 2026 at 7:05 PM
In 2014, President Obama exempted US territories from Obamacare’s health insurance regulations because they restrict access to care. One Kentucky lawmaker now aims to extend that freedom to residents of her state, notes Cato’s Michael F. Cannon.
➡️ https://ow.ly/sPhu50XU9lC
➡️ https://ow.ly/sPhu50XU9lC
The US has the most progressive tax system in the developed world, with the rich paying the largest share.If federal spending continues its current path, Adam Michel warns,the US will need European-style tax levels and a broader tax base to match a European-sized government.https://ow.ly/I7Iu50XTzMe
January 9, 2026 at 5:01 PM
The US has the most progressive tax system in the developed world, with the rich paying the largest share.If federal spending continues its current path, Adam Michel warns,the US will need European-style tax levels and a broader tax base to match a European-sized government.https://ow.ly/I7Iu50XTzMe
SNAP now costs taxpayers $110 billion a year, and rampant fraud exposes the failures of such aid-to-state programs—from EBT skimming by transnational gangs to a $66 million USDA insider fraud scheme.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/Qa4V50XTBkg
Learn more: https://ow.ly/Qa4V50XTBkg
January 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
SNAP now costs taxpayers $110 billion a year, and rampant fraud exposes the failures of such aid-to-state programs—from EBT skimming by transnational gangs to a $66 million USDA insider fraud scheme.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/Qa4V50XTBkg
Learn more: https://ow.ly/Qa4V50XTBkg
Imagine staying in prison longer than your sentence. Alabama created a law to ease prison overcrowding, but some people say they were kept past their lawful release. Cato’s Kimberly Coleman and Matthew Cavedon show why this case belongs in federal court.
https://ow.ly/sQLE50XQt2r
https://ow.ly/sQLE50XQt2r
Singleton v. Hamm Brief: Federal Courthouses Should Hear Over-Detention Claims
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants imprisoned them beyond the time limits allowed by this law.
ow.ly
January 9, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Imagine staying in prison longer than your sentence. Alabama created a law to ease prison overcrowding, but some people say they were kept past their lawful release. Cato’s Kimberly Coleman and Matthew Cavedon show why this case belongs in federal court.
https://ow.ly/sQLE50XQt2r
https://ow.ly/sQLE50XQt2r
“Today, the Senate took the rare but necessary step in checking the scope of Executive power and reminding current and future administrations that the Article I branch has not abdicated its constitutional duties,” says Cato’s Katherine Thompson, commenting on the Senate's passage of Res 98.
January 8, 2026 at 11:15 PM
“Today, the Senate took the rare but necessary step in checking the scope of Executive power and reminding current and future administrations that the Article I branch has not abdicated its constitutional duties,” says Cato’s Katherine Thompson, commenting on the Senate's passage of Res 98.
Debanking can be a frustrating and nerve-racking experience. A sudden notice from the bank announces that you have 30 days to collect your money and find another bank.
A new study by Cato’s Nick Anthony examines the growing phenomenon of debanking.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Awpq50XTJK2
A new study by Cato’s Nick Anthony examines the growing phenomenon of debanking.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Awpq50XTJK2
January 8, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Debanking can be a frustrating and nerve-racking experience. A sudden notice from the bank announces that you have 30 days to collect your money and find another bank.
A new study by Cato’s Nick Anthony examines the growing phenomenon of debanking.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Awpq50XTJK2
A new study by Cato’s Nick Anthony examines the growing phenomenon of debanking.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Awpq50XTJK2
“The Trump administration has a choice to make. Do they want Venezuela to take a central—perhaps the central—place in the story of Trump’s second term? If so, there are real dangers,” Cato Institute’s Justin Logan writes.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Gt8O50XTEJ5
➡️ https://ow.ly/Gt8O50XTEJ5
January 8, 2026 at 9:05 PM
“The Trump administration has a choice to make. Do they want Venezuela to take a central—perhaps the central—place in the story of Trump’s second term? If so, there are real dangers,” Cato Institute’s Justin Logan writes.
➡️ https://ow.ly/Gt8O50XTEJ5
➡️ https://ow.ly/Gt8O50XTEJ5
The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the legality of presidential tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The Cato Institute launched an informational website on IEEPA.
➡️ https://www.cato.org/ieepa
The Cato Institute launched an informational website on IEEPA.
➡️ https://www.cato.org/ieepa
January 8, 2026 at 8:30 PM
The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on the legality of presidential tariff authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The Cato Institute launched an informational website on IEEPA.
➡️ https://www.cato.org/ieepa
The Cato Institute launched an informational website on IEEPA.
➡️ https://www.cato.org/ieepa
President Trump announced that the US Navy will build a new class of battleship called the “Trump class.” These ships, or any new battleship, “is a terrible idea,” argues Cato’s Benjamin Giltner.
Dive into the analysis: https://ow.ly/3TMS50XTxcO
Dive into the analysis: https://ow.ly/3TMS50XTxcO
January 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM
President Trump announced that the US Navy will build a new class of battleship called the “Trump class.” These ships, or any new battleship, “is a terrible idea,” argues Cato’s Benjamin Giltner.
Dive into the analysis: https://ow.ly/3TMS50XTxcO
Dive into the analysis: https://ow.ly/3TMS50XTxcO
“Why should the federal government dictate how we should eat?” asks Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a general surgeon and senior fellow at Cato.
The government should stay out of this and let autonomous adults decide for themselves what and how to eat.
The government should stay out of this and let autonomous adults decide for themselves what and how to eat.
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
“Why should the federal government dictate how we should eat?” asks Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a general surgeon and senior fellow at Cato.
The government should stay out of this and let autonomous adults decide for themselves what and how to eat.
The government should stay out of this and let autonomous adults decide for themselves what and how to eat.
NYC Mayor Mamdani backs collectivism, which elevates the group over the individual. History shows this philosophy crushes liberty and prosperity. Progress requires protecting individual rights and private property, argues Cato’s Ryan Bourne.
https://ow.ly/jjBE50XSHuP
https://ow.ly/jjBE50XSHuP
Mayor Mamdani's "Collectivism" Is No Slip of the Tongue—It's About Force, Coercion
Zohran Mamdani is consciously drawing on a tradition that stretches from Karl Marx, who rejected “bourgeois individualism” in favor of collective ownership, through Vladimir Lenin, who implemented it via one-party rule, to Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, who enforced it at colossal human cost.
ow.ly
January 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM
NYC Mayor Mamdani backs collectivism, which elevates the group over the individual. History shows this philosophy crushes liberty and prosperity. Progress requires protecting individual rights and private property, argues Cato’s Ryan Bourne.
https://ow.ly/jjBE50XSHuP
https://ow.ly/jjBE50XSHuP
As Cato scholars have documented, there are numerous legal, practical, and fiscal obstacles to fulfilling the president’s tariff-funding promises – not least of which is the fact that you can’t spend the same dollar twice.
Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/LnkA50XSIi3
Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/LnkA50XSIi3
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
As Cato scholars have documented, there are numerous legal, practical, and fiscal obstacles to fulfilling the president’s tariff-funding promises – not least of which is the fact that you can’t spend the same dollar twice.
Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/LnkA50XSIi3
Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/LnkA50XSIi3
A free society views individuals as sovereigns over their own bodies, provided they do not infringe on the equal rights of others. That principle encompasses the freedom to end one’s own life—and to seek medical help in doing so, explains Cato’s Dr. Jeffrey Singer.
https://ow.ly/uygM50XSIGu
https://ow.ly/uygM50XSIGu
Autonomy at the End of a Person’s Life
A free society recognizes individuals as sovereign over their own bodies, so long as they do not infringe on the rights of others. That principle necessarily encompasses the freedom to end one’s own life — and to seek medical help in doing so.
ow.ly
January 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM
A free society views individuals as sovereigns over their own bodies, provided they do not infringe on the equal rights of others. That principle encompasses the freedom to end one’s own life—and to seek medical help in doing so, explains Cato’s Dr. Jeffrey Singer.
https://ow.ly/uygM50XSIGu
https://ow.ly/uygM50XSIGu
Who should decide which speech is “acceptable”?
Cato’s Matthew Cavedon warns that once the government codifies patriotism, the law becomes a weapon against dissent. Protecting the flag by criminalizing desecrating it would betray the freedom it represents.
https://ow.ly/K96Y50XQr1Q
Cato’s Matthew Cavedon warns that once the government codifies patriotism, the law becomes a weapon against dissent. Protecting the flag by criminalizing desecrating it would betray the freedom it represents.
https://ow.ly/K96Y50XQr1Q
The Flag Deserves Better than Protection
Outlawing flag burning would undermine the banner’s very meaning.
ow.ly
January 7, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Who should decide which speech is “acceptable”?
Cato’s Matthew Cavedon warns that once the government codifies patriotism, the law becomes a weapon against dissent. Protecting the flag by criminalizing desecrating it would betray the freedom it represents.
https://ow.ly/K96Y50XQr1Q
Cato’s Matthew Cavedon warns that once the government codifies patriotism, the law becomes a weapon against dissent. Protecting the flag by criminalizing desecrating it would betray the freedom it represents.
https://ow.ly/K96Y50XQr1Q
Research consistently shows that large institutional investors play a relatively small role in the market for owning single-family homes.
“Infusing private capital into housing markets should be welcomed because it has positive long-term effects,” argues Cato’s Norbert Michel.
“Infusing private capital into housing markets should be welcomed because it has positive long-term effects,” argues Cato’s Norbert Michel.
January 7, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Research consistently shows that large institutional investors play a relatively small role in the market for owning single-family homes.
“Infusing private capital into housing markets should be welcomed because it has positive long-term effects,” argues Cato’s Norbert Michel.
“Infusing private capital into housing markets should be welcomed because it has positive long-term effects,” argues Cato’s Norbert Michel.
The federal policies and programs that President Trump claims US tariffs would pay for keep growing.
Cato’s Scott Lincicome and Alfredo Carillo Obregon created a table to track the president’s tariff promises. (Spoiler: the math doesn’t add up.)
https://ow.ly/3vtN50XSI57
Cato’s Scott Lincicome and Alfredo Carillo Obregon created a table to track the president’s tariff promises. (Spoiler: the math doesn’t add up.)
https://ow.ly/3vtN50XSI57
January 7, 2026 at 4:02 PM
The federal policies and programs that President Trump claims US tariffs would pay for keep growing.
Cato’s Scott Lincicome and Alfredo Carillo Obregon created a table to track the president’s tariff promises. (Spoiler: the math doesn’t add up.)
https://ow.ly/3vtN50XSI57
Cato’s Scott Lincicome and Alfredo Carillo Obregon created a table to track the president’s tariff promises. (Spoiler: the math doesn’t add up.)
https://ow.ly/3vtN50XSI57
Collectivism robs individuals of autonomy. People are treated as a means to an end—to produce as the state dictates.
Libertarianism begins from the opposite premise: people own their lives. Learn more from Cato’s Ryan Bourne.
https://ow.ly/pasP50XSHo9
Libertarianism begins from the opposite premise: people own their lives. Learn more from Cato’s Ryan Bourne.
https://ow.ly/pasP50XSHo9
January 6, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Collectivism robs individuals of autonomy. People are treated as a means to an end—to produce as the state dictates.
Libertarianism begins from the opposite premise: people own their lives. Learn more from Cato’s Ryan Bourne.
https://ow.ly/pasP50XSHo9
Libertarianism begins from the opposite premise: people own their lives. Learn more from Cato’s Ryan Bourne.
https://ow.ly/pasP50XSHo9
The right policy is for the US to legalize all currently prohibited drugs, argues Cato’s Jeffrey Miron.
“This will eliminate underground drug markets, which are the real reason for most adverse consequences typically attributed to drugs.” Learn more: https://ow.ly/Vbv750XSEL8
“This will eliminate underground drug markets, which are the real reason for most adverse consequences typically attributed to drugs.” Learn more: https://ow.ly/Vbv750XSEL8
January 6, 2026 at 9:00 PM
The right policy is for the US to legalize all currently prohibited drugs, argues Cato’s Jeffrey Miron.
“This will eliminate underground drug markets, which are the real reason for most adverse consequences typically attributed to drugs.” Learn more: https://ow.ly/Vbv750XSEL8
“This will eliminate underground drug markets, which are the real reason for most adverse consequences typically attributed to drugs.” Learn more: https://ow.ly/Vbv750XSEL8