Walter Olson

2 months ago | cato.org | Walter Olson

The February 18 executive order moving to assert White House supremacy over federal regulation is momentous, but not for the reason mistakenly surmised in some early reports. In declaring a general presidential authority to pronounce on legal interpretation, in particular, the order does not aim to aggress against the role of the courts in saying what the law is.

2 months ago | cato.org | Walter Olson

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched an investigation of all-news San Francisco radio station KCBS 740 AM over its coverage of a Jan. 26 federal immigration raid in San Jose. Speaking on the “Fox & Friends” show, FCC Chairmen Brendan Carr cited conservative claims that the station, in relaying reports from persons at the scene, had identified the locations and car models of ICE officials while the raid was in progress.

2 months ago | cato.org | Walter Olson

In a remark that might seem to sum up Congress’s current approach to its oversight role, Sen. Thom Tillis (R‑NC) acknowledged the other day that the Trump administration’s opening moves to cut spending and do away with agencies without congressional approval were in some cases not lawful, but said, “Nobody should bellyache about that.” In particular, he said, “That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense.

2 months ago | cato.org | Walter Olson

Generated with ElevenLabs AI technology. In its early executive orders and actions, the Trump administration has regularly taken steps that go beyond what standard legal opinion would have to be its authority.

2 months ago | cato.org | Walter Olson

Getting Away With MurderIf you believed any of this, you got fooled. The actual order of clemency Trump signed extends to every Jan. 6 rioter, no matter how violent or premeditated the conduct. It makes no concession to individualized consideration of the seriousness of offenses, the quality of legal process, or the reformed-or-otherwise state of mind of the offender.