In many Western countries, governments are enacting draconian speech laws. Politicians argue that these measures are necessary to combat misinformation and hate speech spread through social media. Nowadays, even mild insults are often labeled as “hate speech.” Illiberal politicians, government officials, and special interest groups frequently use this term to silence anyone who criticizes them. Those who dare to question their politics risk destroying their reputation and being “canceled.”

As economic educators, we wonder if we have let our students down.

Our nation is in the middle of a presidential campaign featuring campaign proposals that would be laughed out of the public square if we had an economically aware electorate. Had economic educators succeeded over the years, we would not have seen so many discredited policies from the past.

Edmundo González Urrutia, the real winner of Venezuela’s presidential election in July, has decided to go into exile in Spain, disheartening many Venezuelans. For many, he was the last hope of halting the country’s descent into chaos. According to official tallies obtained and published by the opposition, González secured nearly seventy percent of the vote. However, he was forced to spend weeks holed up in the Dutch embassy after his victory.

The U.S. government has paid its creditors more than $1 trillion in interest during its 2024 fiscal year. CNBC reports on Uncle Sam’s new grim fiscal policy milestone:

California has long positioned itself as a leader in green energy, with lofty environmental goals and a slew of policies designed to make those goals a reality. For over three decades, the state has poured billions into subsidies and mandates, from tax incentives for solar panels to rebates for electric vehicles. Yet, despite those efforts, progress is thwarted by the very regulations meant to support green development.

Presidential candidate and VP Harris has proposed giving first-time home buyers up to $25,000 to go toward their down payments, plus another $10,000 tax credit. If enacted, this proposal would raise the price of housing.

On this anniversary of “9/11,” I am mourning the loss of our American culture, of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

According to reporting by Reuters, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) has blocked the $14.9 billion takeover of US Steel (USS) by Nippon Steel (Nippon) due to the “consequences to national security” and a “continued loss of viable commercial production capabilities.” Because the United States defends Japan’s sovereignty, it is difficult to imagine the latter undermining US national security. Moreover, Nippon has agreed to no “layoffs or plant closures or idling of US Steel facilities.” Domestic politics may motivate this decision, namely helping Democrats in contested races, particularly Vice President Harris.

On August 31, San Francisco 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall was walking through downtown San Francisco when a robber pulled a pistol and demanded Pearsall’s upscale watch, according to some reports, a Rolex. The rookie receiver refused to hand it over, and in the ensuing struggle, the assailant shot Pearsall in the chest. Miraculously, the bullet struck no vital organs and passed out his back. 

Paying attention to government spending is often both a thankless and depressing task. What makes it that way are the horrible incentives that politicians and bureaucrats have. Too many politicians see spending whatever their supporters want as their easy ticket to election and re-election. Meanwhile, bureaucrats have perverse incentives to run through every dollar the politicians authorize them to spend because if they don’t use it, they lose it. The result is often highly wasteful spending.