Free Society

Cato in the News

March 20, 2024 • Free Society

News Notes

Matt Taibbi Praises Cato

Best-selling author and investigative reporter Matt Taibbi said this at Cato’s exclusive New York City seminar for Sponsors and the public: “Cato has a position of critical importance in American society.… There’s a new rising movement that believes that free speech and liberal democracy don’t work.… This is completely at odds with the ideas that the Cato Institute stands for—the whole idea of individual liberty, rule of law, and pluralism.”

Preventing a Budget Crisis

Romina Boccia, Cato’s director of budget and entitlement policy, earned major support for a Base Realignment and Closure-like fiscal commission tasked with reining in federal spending. She advised members of the Problem Solvers Caucus and Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, while former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R‑CA) promoted the broad contours of her proposal. A version of her proposal passed in the House Budget Committee in January. It is now a top issue for Speaker Mike Johnson (R‑LA).

Protecting Your Digital Wallet

The scholars of Cato’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, led by Norbert Michel, vice president and director, made key recommendations improving bills that would prevent the creation of a central bank digital currency, including bills introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R‑UT) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R‑MN).

Reducing Chaos at the Border

David J. Bier, Cato’s associate director of immigration studies, and Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies, worked with key officials in the Biden administration. Their discussions inspired a new program that permits Americans to sponsor immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The program reduced illegal immigration from those nations by about 90 percent.

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The Obscure Maritime Law That Ruins Your Commute

–by Scott Lincicome

Biden Can’t Stop Immigration. Time to Embrace It.

–by David J. Bier

She Tried to Start a Business but Was Told It Wasn’t Needed. Supreme Court Should Change That.

–by Anastasia P. Boden

We Will Never Run Out of Resources

–by Marian Tupy

Erdoğan Triumphed by Vowing to Make Turkey Great Again

–by Mustafa Akyol

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