Independent Institute

Gas is topping $5 again, but it’s not just the Iran war. Decades of California regulations, refinery shutdowns, and energy policy are driving prices higher. Policy choices have consequences. | K. Lloyd Billingsley

@JonathanHofer20 independent.org/article/2026/0…

How many license plate readers are tracking Americans? No one really knows. Best estimate: 9,000–15,000 in California alone, with little transparency. Surveillance is expanding faster than accountability. | @JonathanHofer20

Trump promised peace, but now a new war with Iran is costing $1.375B a day, driving up gas prices, and risking American lives, all without Congress. So much for “ending wars.” | Sam Jenson

@PhilWMagness independent.org/article/2026/0…

The income tax wasn’t created to “soak the rich.” It started as a low-rate replacement for tariffs, then exploded into today’s system after WWI pushed rates as high as 77%. What began as reform quickly became something very different. | @PhilWMagness

Arguing Against the State Without Hesitation libertarianinstitute.org/articles/argui…

It was a pleasure facilitating a panel discussion on 'Navigating the Shifting Global Economic Order' at the Lex Libertas 'Future of Nations Conference' (25 Feb). The full discussion is now live on YouTube (link in thread). I was joined on the panel by: ➡️Esma Kurtlu – Independent Institute (@IndependentInst) ➡️Theuns du Buisson – Solidarity Research Institute (@solidariteit) ➡️Dawie Roodt – Efficient Group (@EfficientGroup) Thank you to my fellow panellists for the engaging discussion and to @LexLibertasOnX and @ErnstRoets for inviting me.

@PhilWMagness independent.org/article/2026/0…

Big ruling: The Supreme Court just struck down Trump’s tariffs. Why it matters: Tariffs are taxes, and the Constitution gives that power to Congress, not the president. “No taxation without representation” still applies. | @PhilWMagness

A federal court just ruled mass license plate tracking isn’t a “search.” That could allow governments to quietly build databases of where you drive, without a warrant. The real issue isn’t what’s seen in public, but what’s stored and analyzed over time.

New allegations surrounding Cesar Chavez are prompting renewed scrutiny of a figure long celebrated as a civil rights icon. At the same time, past accounts have pointed to more controversial aspects of his legacy, from harsh rhetoric toward undocumented workers to aggressive tactics during labor campaigns. Moments like this raise a broader question: how should we approach historical figures? Rather than treating them as untouchable heroes or erasing them entirely, perhaps the real value of history is in confronting the full, complicated truth—and learning from it.

@AeonSkoble independent.org/store/book/del…

In Deleting the State, @AeonSkoble argues that helping the oppressed is morally important, but warns that intervention often creates worse outcomes.

@SFBART independent.org/article/2026/0…

BART’s transformative Next Generation Fare Gates Project is being recognized by two prestigious national organizations. The American Public Works Association named the fare gates as its winner of the 2026 Public Works Project Award and the International Partnering Institute announced the gates as its 2026 Collaborative Project of the Year.

@SpeakerPelosi @SFBART independent.org/article/2026/0…

Met with @SFBART leadership to discuss strengthening our region’s transit system, from increasing ridership to building a more reliable and resilient system for the future. Public transit is essential to our economy, and we must ensure it remains strong for generations to come.