Today's Editorials: 9/11 Legacy, National Security Debates, and Cultural Critiques

12 september 2026 — synthesising 22 editorials from 3 editorial boards.

The Enduring Shadow of 9/11

Editorials today extensively revisit the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, critically examining their profound and lasting consequences. Reason argues that the U.S. government exploited the tragedy to expand state power and launch unnecessary wars, preventing national closure and fostering a permanent state of emergency. This sentiment is echoed by another piece in Reason, which contends that 9/11 served as a catalyst for a 'unidirectional' expansion of state power, leading to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and permanent funding for agencies like the TSA. Mother Jones reflects on the heroism of Flight 93 but laments that America has failed to learn deeper lessons, criticizing a persistent 'failure of imagination' regarding national security threats. Further, Reason posits a counterfactual history, suggesting that without the post-9/11 political shift, the U.S. Supreme Court would likely have a dominant liberal majority today, altering landmark decisions on abortion, gun rights, and executive power. This idea is reinforced by another Reason piece, which argues that 9/11 triggered a long-term transformation of the judiciary towards expanded executive power. Finally, Reason also offers a personal memoir detailing the immediate and long-term psychological impact of the attacks, highlighting how the event fundamentally altered the sense of security for an entire generation.

National Security and Government Overreach

Discussions on national security and governmental power continue to be a significant theme. Mother Jones critically examines how the term 'national security' has become a catchall justification for diverse political agendas, arguing it has evolved into a 'full-blown religion' used to bypass public opposition. Another editorial from Mother Jones questions the effectiveness of FBI Director Kash Patel, suggesting he is overly fixated on his social media image rather than the core mission of the FBI, indicating a broader issue of incompetence. Reason criticizes the detention of a Somali asylum seeker with a minimal criminal record at Guantanamo Bay, calling it 'political theater' that expands government power illegally. Additionally, Reason argues for curtailing executive emergency powers and protecting Afghan allies, highlighting how 9/11 catalyzed a dangerous trend of executive overreach.

Free Speech, Judicial Transparency, and Gun Rights

Several editorials delve into matters of civil liberties, judicial process, and constitutional rights. Reason emphasizes the critical importance of public access to judicial records for accountability, fairness, and the rule of law, arguing that transparency keeps all players honest. In a related vein, Reason discusses a court ruling that clarifies a pardon removes legal penalties but does not rewrite history or prove the falsity of statements for defamation purposes, reinforcing the factual basis of public discourse. On the Second Amendment, Reason supports a court decision striking down gun bans in religious institutions as unconstitutional, affirming the right of religious communities to manage their own security. Lastly, Reason also supports a court ruling upholding silent symbolic protests by parents as protected speech, even if controversial, safeguarding First Amendment rights against viewpoint discrimination.

Economic Policy and Tech Debates

Economic and technological issues spark debate across today's editorials. Reason presents a discussion on the effectiveness of U.S. trade policy, particularly tariffs, with arguments for and against their net benefits to the American economy. Another Reason editorial addresses the rising

Geopolitics, Social Issues, and Cultural Critiques

A range of editorials tackle geopolitical conflicts, social issues, and cultural representation. Reason praises President Trump's military strikes against Iran as a necessary response to an existential threat, arguing traditional deterrence is ineffective. Meanwhile, Mother Jones warns that anti-Muslim bigotry has become normalized and weaponized within the Republican Party under Trump, reaching a new level of systemic vilification. On environmental policy, Mother Jones highlights strong public opposition in Utah to the reduction of national monuments, asserting that Trump's actions defy local opinion and undermine conservation efforts. Culturally, The Guardian calls for the BBC's Gardeners' World to move beyond aspirational gardening, advocating for a new presenter who represents realistic, accessible, and diverse gardening practices. Lastly, Reason reviews Star City, arguing the show illustrates how government paranoia and authoritarianism stifle scientific achievement, using the Soviet space program as an example.

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All sources cited today

- Mother Jones (US) — What Does FBI Director Kash Patel Actually Do?

- Mother Jones (US) — I’ve Covered Islamophobia For Years. Trump’s GOP Has Taken It to a New Level.

- Reason (US) — A Somali Man With No Serious Criminal Record Is Spending 9/11 in Detention at Guantanamo Bay

- Reason (US) — Are We Winning the Trade Wars?

- Reason (US) — Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

- Reason (US) — "A Pardon Cannot … Change the Underlying Facts and Truth" for Purposes of a Defamation Action

- Reason (US) — AI Doom Is Misguided, Not a Psyop

- Reason (US) — In Memoriam

- Reason (US) — Court Allows Maryland Rabbi (and Apparently Congregation's Volunteer Security Guards) Right to Carry Guns in Synagogue

- Reason (US) — 9/11/2001 in Staten Island, New York

- Reason (US) — The Supreme Law Without 9/11

- Reason (US) — New in Civitas Outlook: The Supreme Law: A Quarter Century after 9/11

- Reason (US) — "The Why of Public Access to Judicial Records in Civil Cases"

- Reason (US) — President Trump Is Bold, Brave, and Right on the Iran War

- Mother Jones (US) — The Religion of National Security

- Mother Jones (US) — “We’ve Been Told There’s Another Plane in the Air and It’s Heading Here”

- Reason (US) — Politicians See Opportunity in Data Center Panic

- Mother Jones (US) — Utah’s Voters Would Like Their National Monuments Back, Thank You

- Reason (US) — How the War on Terror Turned 9/11 Into a Permanently Open Wound

- Reason (US) — Review: An Alternate History of Soviet Space Exploration

- Reason (US) — Brickbat: XX Marks the Spot

- The Guardian (GB) — It’s time for a Gardeners' World that reflects Britain’s gardens in all their messy, realistic chaos | Claire Ratinon