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Ilya Somin

@ilyasomin.bsky.social
6.9K followers 475 following 1.4K posts

Law professor; author of Free to Move: Foot Voting Migration and Political Freedom; Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is Smarter; The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain; Volokh Conspiracy blogger.

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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Peltola has a big lead because 1) voters like that she has a pet lizard and 2) she’s going to make my 11 year old daughter Lydia her chief of staff. Unlike Peltola’s other staffers, Lydia is an expert lizard-feeder (had a job doing that when she was 8).
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In this post, I discuss Justice Gorsuch's well-taken recent warning against abuse of executive emergency powers, and how strong judicial review can help deal with this problem: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Justice Gorsuch on Abuse of Emergency Powers
In a recent speech, he decried a situation where "everything is an emergency."
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
In this post, I discuss Justice Gorsuch's well-taken recent warning against abuse of executive emergency powers, and how strong judicial review can help deal with this problem: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Justice Gorsuch on Abuse of Emergency Powers
In a recent speech, he decried a situation where "everything is an emergency."
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
My brief post on yesterday's federal court decision ruling against Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee. This is the second court to rule against it: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Second Federal Court Rules Against Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
The court ruled that the imposition of the fee violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In this post, I discuss implications of prominent economist @justinwolfers.bsky.social recent recognition that libetarians "were right" about dangers of government power. He's the latest of a number of notable left-liberals to see this: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Justin Wolfers Recognizes His "Libertarian Friends Were Right" About Government Power
NA In a recent post, prominent left-liberal economist Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan) concedes that his "libertarian friends" were right…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In this post, I discuss implications of prominent economist @justinwolfers.bsky.social recent recognition that libetarians "were right" about dangers of government power. He's the latest of a number of notable left-liberals to see this: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Justin Wolfers Recognizes His "Libertarian Friends Were Right" About Government Power
NA In a recent post, prominent left-liberal economist Justin Wolfers (University of Michigan) concedes that his "libertarian friends" were right…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
My brief post on yesterday's federal court decision ruling against Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee. This is the second court to rule against it: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Second Federal Court Rules Against Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
The court ruled that the imposition of the fee violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In this post, I discuss the debate over whether the Nazis were socialist, and why it matters. It turns out the Nazis were similar to socialists only in part. But the difference between the two is greater in theory than practice: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Were the Nazis Socialist? Only in Part
The Nazis were similar to socialists supporting economic statism, but different in other key aspects of their ideology.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In this post, I discuss the debate over whether the Nazis were socialist, and why it matters. It turns out the Nazis were similar to socialists only in part. But the difference between the two is greater in theory than practice: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Were the Nazis Socialist? Only in Part
The Nazis were similar to socialists supporting economic statism, but different in other key aspects of their ideology.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Popular culture has many elements that appeal to some but not others. I know a lot about pro sports and SF/fantasy, but almost nothing about country music. Some people are the reverse. Almost impossible to follow every field. There’s too much out there for that.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
My new Montreal Economic Institute paper on "The Legal Battle Over Trump's Tariffs: Implications for Canada." I think this overview of the legal struggle and its implications may also be useful to many Americans: www.iedm.org/the-legal-ba...
iedm.org
The Legal Battle Over Trump’s Tariffs: Implications for Canada | Montreal Economic Institute
Canada’s counter-tariffs could complicate U.S. legal proceedings aiming to invalidate the most recent tariffs imposed by President Trump. So says Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason Universit...
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
My new Montreal Economic Institute paper on "The Legal Battle Over Trump's Tariffs: Implications for Canada." I think this overview of the legal struggle and its implications may also be useful to many Americans: www.iedm.org/the-legal-ba...
iedm.org
The Legal Battle Over Trump’s Tariffs: Implications for Canada | Montreal Economic Institute
Canada’s counter-tariffs could complicate U.S. legal proceedings aiming to invalidate the most recent tariffs imposed by President Trump. So says Ilya Somin, Professor of Law at George Mason Universit...
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Nikole Hannah-Jones' story about her daughter's education (and my own somewhat similar one) highlights the value of exit rights and choice. There is much we can do to expand such options for the poor and disadvantaged: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Exit, Voice, and Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones' controversial article about her daughter's schooling is a testament to the importance of exit rights.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Nikole Hannah-Jones' story about her daughter's education (and my own somewhat similar one) highlights the value of exit rights and choice. There is much we can do to expand such options for the poor and disadvantaged: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Exit, Voice, and Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones' controversial article about her daughter's schooling is a testament to the importance of exit rights.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 21/09/2026
this is a bit of an obsession of mine especially here in charlottesville. the cost of commercial real estate is prohibitive if you want to experiment and the city seems categorically opposed to small lots and small units that could allow people to start businesses without a huge capital investment
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
My short post about tonight's Supreme Court ruling against Trump's mail-in ballot ruling. As J. Scalia might put it, Trump was claiming that a huge elephant of power over state election rules was hidden in a tiny mousehole of USPS authority over rules for delivering mail: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Supreme Court Refuses to Block Lower-Court Ruling Against Trump's Mail-in Ballot Executive Order
NA Earlier tonight, the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 ruling, refused to stay a lower-court decision blocking the Postal Service's…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I'm now officially a Senior Fellow at Montreal Economic Institute! And I have Trump's tariffs to thank for it. The position arose from a paper MEI commissioned me to write about them. Once again, Trump comes through for his white working class base! www.iedm.org/ilya-somin/
iedm.org
Ilya Somin | Montreal Economic Institute
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
My short post about tonight's Supreme Court ruling against Trump's mail-in ballot ruling. As J. Scalia might put it, Trump was claiming that a huge elephant of power over state election rules was hidden in a tiny mousehole of USPS authority over rules for delivering mail: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Supreme Court Refuses to Block Lower-Court Ruling Against Trump's Mail-in Ballot Executive Order
NA Earlier tonight, the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 ruling, refused to stay a lower-court decision blocking the Postal Service's…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
@cato.org, Prof. Michael McConnell, and I recently filed an amicus brief in case challenging Trump's massive Section 301 tariffs, which used "forced labor" as a pretext for sweeping protectionism: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Our New Amicus Brief in the Section 301 Tariff Case
The Cato Institute, Michael McConnell, and I filed an amicus brief in litigation challenging Trump's massive Section 301 tariffs, which use "forced labor" as a pretext for sweeping protectionism.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
In this post, I explain how Trump's Section 338 tariffs and import bans run afoul of the major questions and nondelegation doctrines, in addition to their other legal flaws. Plaintiffs bringing cases against them should include these points: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Major Questions, Nondelegation, and the Section 338 Tariffs Against Canada
Illustration: Midjourney I have previously written about Trump's harmful and illegal imposition of Section 338 tariffs against various Canadian imports,…
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Cato Institute @cato.org · 12/09/2026
Private property puts a limit on government power. Without the right to own and use what is yours, other liberties are vulnerable. Strong property rights mean more individual freedom, more choice, and less government control, explains Cato's Ilya Somin. ow.ly/TPfi50ZMmCb
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
My reflections on 25th anniversary of 9/11, and 2 ongoing related issues: 1) growing proliferation and abuse of emergency powers, and 2) the need to protect Afghans who fled the Taliban whom the Trump administration is seeking to deport back to their oppressors: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Links to writings about the 9/11 attack and its aftermath, and the ongoing issues of the proliferation of dangerous emergency powers, and protecting Aghans who fled the Taliban.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
My reflections on 25th anniversary of 9/11, and 2 ongoing related issues: 1) growing proliferation and abuse of emergency powers, and 2) the need to protect Afghans who fled the Taliban whom the Trump administration is seeking to deport back to their oppressors: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Links to writings about the 9/11 attack and its aftermath, and the ongoing issues of the proliferation of dangerous emergency powers, and protecting Aghans who fled the Taliban.
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Walter Olson @walterolson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
First Circuit weighs in against Trump power grab on mail voting. And the Major Questions Doctrine helped!
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In this post, I cover today's correct First Circuit decision refusing to block district court injunction against Trump's executive order on mail-in voting. Hopefully, Supreme Court will also reject Trump's position: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
First Circuit Refuses to Stay District Court Injunction Against Trump's Executive Order on Mail-In Voting
NA I recently wrote about how Donald Trump's executive order seeking to curb mail-in voting is an attack on federalism…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Today, @cato.org and I filed our amicus brief in Federal Circuit, supporting Liberty Justice Center and Oregon (leading coalition of 24 states) cases against Trump's harmful and illegal Section 122 tariffs: www.cato.org/legal-briefs...
cato.org
State of Oregon v. Trump
The Federal Circuit should affirm the decision of the Court of International Trade and declare the new round of tariffs to be illegal.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
A brief post on Trump's harmful and illegal expansion of Section 338 tariffs on Canada, including banning some imports entirely. I build on helpful summary by Georgetown Prof. @petereharrell.bsky.social: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump Expands Illegal Section 338 Tariffs Against Canadian Imports - and Bans Some Entirely
The move further escalates this harmful and illegal trade war with a vital ally.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
In this post, I explain why Trump's executive order seeking to curb mail-in ballots is an affront to constitutional federalism and separation of powers: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump's Mail-Order Ballot Order is an Assault on Federalism and Separation of Powers
It seeks to usurp state and congressional power over election administration.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
In this post, I explain why Trump's executive order seeking to curb mail-in ballots is an affront to constitutional federalism and separation of powers: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump's Mail-Order Ballot Order is an Assault on Federalism and Separation of Powers
It seeks to usurp state and congressional power over election administration.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
In this post, I consider last week's 3 rulings in sanctuary city/state cases. Trump lost 2 largely in line with numerous previous cases, but also picked up an unusual win in a case involving the Contracts Clause: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump Loses Two More Sanctuary City Cases - And Picks up A Rare Win
The unusual victory arises from a connection to the Contracts Clause.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
In this post, I consider last week's 3 rulings in sanctuary city/state cases. Trump lost 2 largely in line with numerous previous cases, but also picked up an unusual win in a case involving the Contracts Clause: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump Loses Two More Sanctuary City Cases - And Picks up A Rare Win
The unusual victory arises from a connection to the Contracts Clause.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Labor Day is great time to recognize we can massively help workers by breaking down barriers to labor mobility - both domestic and international. Workers of the world, unite to demand more freedom of movement! reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Help Workers by Breaking Down Barriers to Labor Mobility
Labor Day is a great time to remember that we can make workers vastly better off by empowering more of them to vote with their feet, both within countries and through international migration.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Labor Day is great time to recognize we can massively help workers by breaking down barriers to labor mobility - both domestic and international. Workers of the world, unite to demand more freedom of movement! reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Help Workers by Breaking Down Barriers to Labor Mobility
Labor Day is a great time to remember that we can make workers vastly better off by empowering more of them to vote with their feet, both within countries and through international migration.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Great work if you can get it!
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Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
BREAKING: Federal judge dismisses the Trump administration's lawsuit challenging New Jersey Gov. Sherrill's executive order that limits federal access to state property for enforcing "civil immigration law."
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY and MIKIE
SHERRILL, in her official capacity as Governor
of the State of New Jersey,
Defendants.
Civil Action No. 26-1770 (GC) (JTQ)
OPINION
CASTNER, District Judge
THIS MATTER comes before the Court upon Defendants the State of New Jersey and
Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff United States of America’s Complaint (ECF
No. 1) under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Rules) 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 10.) The
United States opposed, and Defendants replied. (ECF Nos. 14, 20.) The American Civil Liberties
Union of New Jersey and 19 other organizations (ACLU-NJ) filed a brief as amicus curiae in
support of Defendants’ Motion, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) filed
a brief as amicus curiae in opposition to Defendants’ Motion. (ECF Nos. 12, 18.) The Court has
carefully reviewed the parties’ submissions and decides the matter without oral argument pursuant
to Rule 78(b) and Local Civil Rule 78.1(b). For the reasons set forth below, and other good cause
shown, Defendants’ Motion is GRANTED.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
My new @usatoday.com op ed on dangerous commonalities between "democratic socialists" and MAGA nationalists - both seek sweeping government control over the economy, thereby imperiling liberty, prosperity, and democracy: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
usatoday.com
Democratic socialists and MAGA share a dangerous flaw | Opinion
From Castro to Stalin to Trump's tariffs: Why massive government control of the economy – from the left or right – tends to end badly.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
My new @usatoday.com op ed on dangerous commonalities between "democratic socialists" and MAGA nationalists - both seek sweeping government control over the economy, thereby imperiling liberty, prosperity, and democracy: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
usatoday.com
Democratic socialists and MAGA share a dangerous flaw | Opinion
From Castro to Stalin to Trump's tariffs: Why massive government control of the economy – from the left or right – tends to end badly.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Today, a federal district court issued first ruling against Trump's new executive order on birthright citizenship. As the court rightly concluded, the new order is blatantly at odds with the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Trump v. Barbara. For more, see my analysis here: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Federal Court Issues First Ruling Against Trump's New Birthright Citizenship Executive Order
Milla74/Dreamstime Last month, I wrote about Trump's new executive order seeking to deny birthright citizenship to various classes of children…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Today, a federal district court issued first ruling against Trump's new executive order on birthright citizenship. As the court rightly concluded, the new order is blatantly at odds with the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Trump v. Barbara. For more, see my analysis here: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Federal Court Issues First Ruling Against Trump's New Birthright Citizenship Executive Order
Milla74/Dreamstime Last month, I wrote about Trump's new executive order seeking to deny birthright citizenship to various classes of children…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
My new Liberalism.Org article explains why private property rights are central to the liberal tradition, and strengthening protection for them is essential to protecting liberty and to expanding opportunity for the poor/disadvantaged: www.liberalism.org/p/private-pr...
liberalism.org
Private Property: For Abundance and Diversity
The right to hold and use property enriches and protects us all.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
My new Liberalism.Org article explains why private property rights are central to the liberal tradition, and strengthening protection for them is essential to protecting liberty and to expanding opportunity for the poor/disadvantaged: www.liberalism.org/p/private-pr...
liberalism.org
Private Property: For Abundance and Diversity
The right to hold and use property enriches and protects us all.
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Cato Institute @cato.org · 01/09/2026
A free society should be capable of learning to live with potentially risky substances without the government banning them, says Cato Institute Senior Fellow in Health Policy Studies Dr. Jeffrey A. Singer. ow.ly/kBLG50ZHuPO
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Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Naming disputes like "Persian Gulf," "Sea of Japan," "South China Sea" etc. were always the kind of thing we used to roll our eyes at and would humor only because it wasn't even worth fighting allied petty nationalists over. It's a marker of confident hegemony to not give a shit about such things.
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Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Extraordinary, powerful and heart-wrenching. Active duty Marine Colonel Zach Schmidt, speaking in his personal capacity, about Khalil, an Afghan national whose family helped U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Khalil was deported by the U.S. on Friday to a conflict zone.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
In this post, I offer a few thoughts on yesterday's excellent federal court decision ruling against speech-based deportations. I also commend FIRE for their win, and their principled defense of free speech, regardless of whether threat comes from right or left: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Federal Court Rules Speech-Based Deportations Violate the First Amendment
The decision goes further than other similar recent rulings.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
As the Red Sox battle the self-proclaimed Evil Empire of baseball this weekend, it's important to remember that "Red Sox Spirit" can improve constitutional law: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
"Red Sox Spirit" and Constitutional Theory
In the course of a post criticizing the Hawaii Supreme Court's recent "Aloha Spirit" decision interpreting the Hawaii state constitution,…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
As the Red Sox battle the self-proclaimed Evil Empire of baseball this weekend, it's important to remember that "Red Sox Spirit" can improve constitutional law: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
"Red Sox Spirit" and Constitutional Theory
In the course of a post criticizing the Hawaii Supreme Court's recent "Aloha Spirit" decision interpreting the Hawaii state constitution,…
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
In this post, I briefly summarize reasons why Trump's new Section 338 tariffs are harmful and illegal, and further poison our relations with a vital ally and trading partner: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump Imposes Harmful and Illegal Section 338 Tariffs Against Many Canadian Imports
Section 338 is a long-defunct part of the notorious Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930.
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Ilya Somin @ilyasomin.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
In this post, I briefly summarize reasons why Trump's new Section 338 tariffs are harmful and illegal, and further poison our relations with a vital ally and trading partner: reason.com/volokh/2026/...
reason.com
Trump Imposes Harmful and Illegal Section 338 Tariffs Against Many Canadian Imports
Section 338 is a long-defunct part of the notorious Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930.
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Reposted by Ilya Somin
Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
In his speech yesterday, Canada PM Mark Carney seemed to try to explain to the President what a “trade deficit” is. You’re not just giving another country 100s of millions of dollars… You’re buying things from them! That you want!
Another prominent justification for U.S. tariffs has been their claim that, since the United States runs a trade deficit with Canada, we were "ripping them off"
But the United States' narrow merchandise trade deficit only exists because the U.S. buys so much of its energy from us.
Canada fuels American growth: supplying 99% of their natural gas imports, 85% of electricity imports, and 60% of crude oil imports. I don't think they want us to stop sending it.
And the comprehensive U.S.-Canada trade balance, which includes the many services - from finance to entertainment - that we buy from the U.S. shows a persistent American trade surplus.
Most fundamentally, trade is about building mutual strength - creating a relationship that benefits both countries.
For example, Canada is the largest customer for U.S. cars - in fact, we buy more American-built cars than the United Kingdom, Japan, and China combined.
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