Correcting Some Media Misconceptions About Libertarianism, Trade, and Immigration
Since last week’s victory in our tariff case before the US Court of International Trade, I have done more media interviews than in any other comparable period in my life. I have spoken to print reporters, TV, radio, podcast interviewers, and more. The interviews included ones with media in seven different countries, and three different languages. I compiled links to some of these interviews and stories based on them here, here, and here. The media frenzy did not happen because I am an important person or a great media personality (I am neither). It’s because Trump’s trade war impacts millions of people all over the world.
On the whole, this has been a positive experience. Most of the coverage has, in my view, been fair and accurate. In many cases, I have been very impressed by the knowledge and insight of the reporters and interviewers, including some from foreign countries.
But there have been a few cases of serious misconceptions, many of them involving libertarianism, what it is, and why libertarians would challenge a policy adopted by a right-wing administration. And these misconceptions are widespread enough (both in the media and elsewhere) to be worth taking some time to set straight. To briefly summarize: libertarians are not conservatives, no one should be surprised that we support free trade, and our concern about abuses of presidential power is not limited to trade and other narrowly “economic” issues.
Perhaps the most egregious example of media misconceptions on these points was by prominent legal commentator Elie Mystal, in an article for the left-wing Nation. Mystal agrees with me about Trump’s tariffs, but complains that agrees with me about Trump’s tariffs, but complains that Reason and I don’t care about “abducting immigrants and sending them to torture camps”:
In the movement conservative publication Reason, law professor Ilya Somin writes: “From the very beginning, I have contended that the virtually limitless nature of the authority claimed by Trump is a key reason why courts must strike down the tariffs.… I am glad to see the CIT judges agreed with our argument on this point!” If only abducting immigrants and sending them to torture camps affected the 401Ks of the people at Reason, we could have even more conservatives who understand that the “virtually limitless nature of the authority claimed by Trump” is indeed a very bad thing.
Mystal evidently has no idea who he’s dealing with! I’m the guy who wrote an entire book defending migration rights. Plus many academic articles, and numerous popular press pieces attacking Trump’s Alien Enemies Act deportations (which, presumably, is what Mystal is referring to by “abducting immigrants and sending them to torture camps”) and other unjust immigration policies. See, e.g., here, here, here, and here. Just yesterday, I filed an amicus brief opposing Trump’s use of the AEA. My coauthors and I wrote it on behalf of the Brennan Center, the Cato Institute, legal scholar John Dehn, and myself. Cato, as regular readers know, is a libertarian think tank. T
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
