Today's Editorials: US Politics & Constitutional Disputes, Surveillance, Healthcare Costs, and Global Narratives

24 september 2026 — synthesising 20 editorials from 3 editorial boards.

US Politics & Judicial Power

Several US-based editorials unpack the current state of American politics and the role of its judiciary. Reason highlights how Chief Justices Rehnquist and Roberts held differing views on the importance of Dames & Moore v. Regan, a landmark separation of powers case, indicating shifts in judicial interpretation over time. The publication further critiques the use of an 'ultra-fast lightning docket' by Justice Kavanaugh to swiftly decide redistricting disputes, suggesting a departure from traditional judicial deliberation. In a look at US trade policy, Reason argues that former President Trump's tariffs were unauthorized executive overreach, harming the economy and necessitating legislative reform. The publication also examines the political landscape in North Carolina, suggesting that Trump's influence might be hindering GOP success in key swing states. Mother Jones criticizes Governor Gavin Newsom for vetoing a bill that would ban extraditions related to abortion and gender-affirming care, arguing that his preference for executive action over legislative codification leaves providers vulnerable. Additionally, Mother Jones argues that the Supreme Court is systematically dismantling the Voting Rights Act through decisions like Louisiana v. Callais, potentially leading to a significant decline in Black political representation. The publication also explores how Donald Trump surrounds himself with loyalists who view his presidency as a divine mission, using this loyalty to manage distractions and scandals.

Surveillance, Privacy, and Civil Liberties

Concerns over surveillance, privacy, and civil liberties are prominent in today's discourse. Reason critiques the University of Kentucky's trial of facial recognition technology for dormitory access, arguing it's an invasive solution that raises significant privacy and security risks. The publication also reveals that Department of Homeland Security fusion centers are monitoring activists who oppose mass surveillance, suggesting the government is using anti-terrorism tools to scrutinize law-abiding individuals who build anti-surveillance technology. Furthermore, Reason reports on a federal court ruling allowing a privacy lawsuit to proceed against a professor who disclosed a former teaching assistant's childhood sexual abuse in a book. In Canada, Reason criticizes a Canadian MP for sponsoring a petition that, while intended to protect vulnerable individuals, could threaten press freedom by criminalizing the recording and distribution of footage in public settings.

Economic Policy and Healthcare Costs

Economic policies and their impact on healthcare are under scrutiny. Reason features Anthony Scaramucci, who argues that Donald Trump's rise was a consequence of systemic bipartisan policy failures and economic neglect of the American middle class, particularly referencing China's WTO entry, the costs of the Global War on Terror, and the 2008 financial crisis. On healthcare, Reason contends that federal healthcare subsidies are inflating costs and diminishing patient satisfaction, suggesting market reforms are necessary. Conversely, Mother Jones reports a legal victory for clean energy, as a Trump-appointed judge reinstated $7 billion in 'Solar for All' grants that the EPA had unlawfully terminated, benefiting various sectors including labor unions and solar companies.

Education, Institutions, and Accountability

Editorials address accountability within educational institutions and challenges to academic freedom. Reason critiques Nikole Hannah-Jones, arguing her personal experience with her daughter's education inadvertently supports school choice, as her child struggled in a low-income public school. The publication also reports that a court upheld the nonrenewal of a University of Rhode Island lecturer whose combative 'Declaration of Diversity' allegedly intimidated students, creating a hostile environment. Meanwhile, Mother Jones highlights a pervasive issue in New York schools, revealing nearly 2,000 child sex abuse claims since the 2019 Child Victims Act, indicating systemic institutional negligence and cover-ups.

Global Narratives & Media Freedom

International perspectives on media and power are also a key focus. The Conversation explores Iraq's shift from Saddam-era state propaganda to a fragmented media landscape where numerous entities promote their own agendas, suggesting that while centralized control is gone, true media freedom remains elusive. The article also touches on former President Trump's administration's legal argument, asserting that White House press access is a privilege, justifying the exclusion of outlets like CNN, MS NOW, and Politico based on national security and professionalism, a stance viewed skeptically by Reason. The Conversation also examines Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming visit to France, noting its aim to revitalize French Catholicism and address global issues like AI ethics and European peace, showcasing the Vatican's influence on contemporary debates.

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All sources cited today

- Reason (US) — Chief Justice Rehnquist and Chief Justice Roberts Did Not See Eye-to-Eye About Dames & Moore v. Regan

- Reason (US) — Scan Your Face To Enter Your Dorm? University of Kentucky Installs Facial Recognition Tech Around Campus

- Reason (US) — Anthony Scaramucci: How America Got Trump

- Reason (US) — My New Montreal Economic Institute Paper on "The Legal Battle Over Trump's Tariffs: Implications for Canada"

- Reason (US) — Nikole Hannah-Jones' Experiment Accidentally Undercuts Her Case Against School Choice

- Reason (US) — The Lightning Docket

- Reason (US) — What's Going on in North Carolina?

- Reason (US) — Privacy Lawsuit Over Prof's Book That Mentions Former TA's Childhood Sexual Abuse Can Go Forward

- Reason (US) — Homeland Security Is Monitoring Activists Building Anti-Flock Tech

- Reason (US) — Court Upholds Nonrenewal of URI Lecturer Who Circulated Combative "Declaration of Diversity," Allegedly Intimidated Students

- Mother Jones (US) — Trump-Appointed Judge Smacks Down EPA’s Termination of Clean Energy Grants

- Mother Jones (US) — Newsom Vetoes Bill That Would Ban Extraditions for Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care

- Mother Jones (US) — Whites Only

- Mother Jones (US) — Decades of Harm: New York Schools Named in Nearly 2,000 Child Sex Abuse Claims

- The Conversation (INT) — Saddam Hussein used Oliver Reed and a James Bond director to tell Iraq’s story – but who tells it now?

- Reason (US) — Federal Health Care Subsidies Are Devouring the Budget and Killing Patient Satisfaction

- The Conversation (INT) — Which spiritual and political issues will be the focus of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France?

- Mother Jones (US) — Loyalists Only, Please. Why Trump Surrounds Himself With True Believers

- Reason (US) — Brickbat: I Disavow My Actions

- Reason (US) — President Trump's Legal Argument in Support of Excluding CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House