Conor Friedersdorf

Unbundling the Police in Venice Beach, California

You shouldn’t have to call 911 for problems related to homelessness.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• July 6, 2020

Why the War on Cocaine Still Isn’t Working

U.S. policy continues to harm Colombia while failing to prevent immense quantities of cocaine from reaching American soil.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• June 21, 2020

Apply Broken-Windows Theory to the Police

Police misconduct is widespread, far beyond the countless examples that are captured on cellphone cameras and posted to YouTube.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• June 19, 2020

Against the Insurrection Act

President Trump and Senator Tom Cotton want to use the military to quell riots. That would be catastrophic.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• June 4, 2020

The Protesters Deserve the Truth About the Coronavirus

Public-health experts should strive to provide a neutral accounting of risk.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• June 4, 2020

Police Reform Is Popular. Rioting Is Not.

Once the fires are out, what is the best way to secure justice?

• Conor Friedersdorf
• June 3, 2020

Trump’s Looting Tweet Violates His Oath of Office

The president is supposed to protect and defend the nation’s supreme laws. Shooting looters is unconstitutional.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 29, 2020

The Regulatory State Is Failing Us

Tyler Cowen suggests how to address some of the biggest obstacles to fighting COVID-19.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 29, 2020

Why Are So Many Republicans Remaining Silent?

Not a single congressional Republican from Florida was willing to comment about President Trump’s attacks on their former colleague Joe Scarborough.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 28, 2020

Maybe Trump Isn’t Lying

The president does not seem to grasp the most basic aspects of the public-health crisis.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 19, 2020

Don’t Anguish Over Whom to Believe

Pressure to pick a side in sexual-assault allegations can do more harm than good.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 16, 2020

Take the Shutdown Skeptics Seriously

This is not a straightforward battle between a pro-human and a pro-economy camp.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 10, 2020

Food Banks Can’t Go On Like This

Demand is spiking. And meeting it is costlier than ever. Without more changes to federal and state food assistance, the status quo is unsustainable.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 6, 2020

Masks Are a Tool, Not a Symbol

Lives will be lost if Americans allow the culture war to determine whether they cover their face in public.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• May 5, 2020

The Implications of Trump Derangement Syndrome

Even now, vehement Trump supporters seem to believe that most criticism of the president is explained by widespread TDS.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• April 27, 2020

Melania Trump’s Birthday Gift

Nothing says “happy birthday” like the zip codes, email addresses, and mobile numbers of 1 million Americans.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• April 26, 2020

How to Protect Civil Liberties in a Pandemic

There are much bigger worries than temporary stay-at-home orders.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• April 24, 2020

Let Volunteers Take the COVID Challenge

Young, healthy, informed people should be allowed to participate in vaccine trials.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• April 21, 2020

Hospitals Must Let Doctors and Nurses Speak Out

Nicholas Christakis says that “clamping down on people who are speaking is a kind of idiocy of the highest order.”

• Conor Friedersdorf
• April 10, 2020

The Emergency in Florida Jails

Everyone is being ordered to practice social distancing. Except those who are being ordered into places where that’s impossible.

• Conor Friedersdorf
• April 9, 2020