Has the response to the September 11th attacks of 2001 made America safer from terrorism? Since the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the Federal Government has capitalized off Americans’ fear of terrorism to encroach upon more and more of our liberties. The passage of the USA PATRIOT Act directed law enforcement agencies and even private banks to help governments spy on millions of Americans’ transactions and use of technology, in violation of our essential right to privacy. The War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan has cost thousands of American lives and added trillions of dollars to the national debt,…

The American pharmaceutical industry is certainly an outlier among developed countries. Americans face by far the highest out of pocket costs for prescription medications in comparison to every other OECD country, causing millions to ration their supplies of drugs. In particular, brand-name drugs, such as Xarelto, Enbrel, and Harvoni, are often magnitudes more expensive in the United States. And this divergence has shown a k-shaped trend over time, largely due to the pharmaceutical industry’s oligopoly over most prescription medications, as well as a lack of price controls in the United States. Thus, this leads to massive economic inefficiency for injured…

Flock Cameras have popped up on roads all across American communities. Wikimedia Commons The frequency of Flock Inc.’s cameras in American cities has grown exponentially since the tech giant’s founding in 2017. But unlike most traffic cameras, they record far more than just a vehicle’s license plate. Flock cameras with integrated AI are largely placed on the sides of roads, performing billions of vehicle scans on a monthly basis. Flock claims to record the license plates and models of these vehicles, storing the information in a massive database, in order to help police resolve traffic violations and escaped criminals. However,…

Blaming Western countries and civilization for the world’s tragedies and inequalities is common among progressives on virtually every issue, and environmental protection is no exception. The United States and countries in the European Union are widely criticized for their high ecological footprints and greenhouse gas emissions but the methodologies used to calculate their environmental damages are likely severely flawed. This becomes apparent when they are compared to many non-Western countries, whose cultural norms have led to massive pollution, environmental destruction, and inefficient resource usage that plague their lands’ sustainability. The governments’ reluctance to encourage their citizens to become more environmentally…

If every plank and sail is replaced in the Ship of Theseus, does it assume a new identity? If the specific wood and fabrics are of different types for the replacement parts, most would say yes. Applying this logic on a larger scale, what happens to a country once its population’s composition becomes radically altered through immigration? In the 21st century, immigration to the United States has reached all-time highs, often from regions whose institutions and cultures are strongly different, such as India, the Middle East, and Africa. As this influx continues, and these immigrant communities gain political influence as…

Are Trump’s tariffs more about protecting American small businesses, or rewarding political allies? Trump has recently announced a deal to waive tariffs on beef imports from Argentina under the guise of lowering food inflation for consumers. However, if that is the case, it is strange that he has not made this tariff waiver global. His continuation of tariffs on the European Union, combined with his desire to halt trade with its members for refusal to help with his war in Iran, suggests that his concern for American households is a ruse.

Despite being United States citizens, Puerto Ricans are often restricted from importing goods from the mainland. As a tropical island, Puerto Rico is accustomed to hurricanes and flooding during the summer. But after every hurricane season, sending aid there is expensive compared to mainland support in the US. This stems from the 1920 Jones Act, which requires that all cargo transportation between two American ports is done on American-manufactured vessels. But the decline of American shipbuilding within the past century and high costs of maintenance and labor aboard said ships has made trade with Puerto Rico increasingly expensive. Cheaper foreign…

Iceland will soon vote on a referendum to reopen its application to formally join the European Union. After World War II, the European Continent transformed from one marked by centuries of violent conflict between competing superpowers into one marked by unparalleled stability under the European Union (EU), which today encompasses 27 member states across the continent. However, there are four additional countries economically connected to it via the European Single Market (ESM). The ESM is governed by the EU’s member states, which aim to spur economic growth across the continent by removing international barriers to trade and economic activity. Specifically,…

Striking McDonald’s Workers Support a Long-Overdue Hike in the Federal Minimum Wage Adjusted for inflation, $7.25 in the year 2009 had the purchasing power of over $11 in 2026. The cost of living has surged in the past seventeen years across America, but the increase in minimum wages has been less steady. After the last hike in the federal minimum wage occurred in 2009, many states have not codified a pay over $7.25 per hour for their working populations. These states, like Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming, are strongholds for the GOP on an overwhelming level. But, a closer inspection at…

Senator Rand Paul has led the fight against Fauci for his contempt of congress. Last week, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times when questioned about his actions and advice during the COVID-19 pandemic. But given that Fauci was pardoned by President Biden for offenses between 2014 and 2025, his right to remain silent while under investigation is not legally protected. Consequently, Senate Republicans aim to prosecute him for contempt of Congress, which could result in severe fines or prison time. Perhaps Fauci is only just the beginning of crimes against humanity during COVID. Not only did he refuse…