Billy Binion
@billybinion.bsky.social
Journalist. Criminal justice & government accountability. Yes, this is my real name.
There are few things that haunt me more than someone dying this young. Her essay on coming to terms with her mortality was one of the more gorgeous things I’ve read, and a reminder how lucky we are to be here. RIP.
BOSTON (AP) — Environmental journalist Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of late President John F. Kennedy, has died, family says.
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 AM
There are few things that haunt me more than someone dying this young. Her essay on coming to terms with her mortality was one of the more gorgeous things I’ve read, and a reminder how lucky we are to be here. RIP.
A SWAT team threw 30+ grenades into an innocent man’s business while chasing a suspect.
L.A. left him with a $60,000 bill. His livelihood was destroyed.
A federal court says he’s entitled to $0. Whatever your politics, that’s a travesty. reason.com/2025/12/29/i...
L.A. left him with a $60,000 bill. His livelihood was destroyed.
A federal court says he’s entitled to $0. Whatever your politics, that’s a travesty. reason.com/2025/12/29/i...
Innocent man sues for over $60,000 after police blew up his business. A court says he's entitled to nothing.
Carlos Pena sued Los Angeles for over $60,000 after law enforcement destroyed his printing shop in pursuit of a fugitive who had broken in.
reason.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A SWAT team threw 30+ grenades into an innocent man’s business while chasing a suspect.
L.A. left him with a $60,000 bill. His livelihood was destroyed.
A federal court says he’s entitled to $0. Whatever your politics, that’s a travesty. reason.com/2025/12/29/i...
L.A. left him with a $60,000 bill. His livelihood was destroyed.
A federal court says he’s entitled to $0. Whatever your politics, that’s a travesty. reason.com/2025/12/29/i...
Thinking about the time my sister blew up a photo of a guy trolling me on Twitter, framed it, and gave it to me as my Christmas gift. You can’t top it
December 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Thinking about the time my sister blew up a photo of a guy trolling me on Twitter, framed it, and gave it to me as my Christmas gift. You can’t top it
We're constantly told the Supreme Court is "extreme" and hopelessly divided. Meanwhile, here's a major ruling where 3 conservatives and 3 liberals just benchslapped the Trump admin on a key issue. Reality is often way more interesting than the narrative.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court keeps President Trump’s National Guard deployment blocked in the Chicago area for now.
Supreme Court keeps Trump’s National Guard deployment blocked in the Chicago area, for now
The Supreme Court has refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area to support its immigration crackdown.
bit.ly
December 23, 2025 at 9:36 PM
We're constantly told the Supreme Court is "extreme" and hopelessly divided. Meanwhile, here's a major ruling where 3 conservatives and 3 liberals just benchslapped the Trump admin on a key issue. Reality is often way more interesting than the narrative.
This is atrocious. These law-abiding H-1B holders were following the rules to renew their visas. They’re now trapped abroad, separated from their families, and unsure if they’ll be able to work. The U.S. is their home. Cruelty for the sake of it. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
H-1B workers flew to India to renew U.S. visas. Now they’re stuck.
H-1B holders who returned to India this month to renew their visas had consular appointments canceled, stranding them far from their homes and jobs, lawyers said.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
This is atrocious. These law-abiding H-1B holders were following the rules to renew their visas. They’re now trapped abroad, separated from their families, and unsure if they’ll be able to work. The U.S. is their home. Cruelty for the sake of it. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Omar Fateh was born in the United States. He is an American. I don’t share his politics, but I tend to think it’s better to challenge him based on his ideas, not his race. This is so gross.
JD Vance: "They are not sending their best. Omar Fateh was Ilehan [sic] Omar's candidate for mayor of Mogadishu-- I mean Minneapolis. Little Freudian slip there."
December 21, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Omar Fateh was born in the United States. He is an American. I don’t share his politics, but I tend to think it’s better to challenge him based on his ideas, not his race. This is so gross.
The saddest part of this story: The arts are supposed to bring people together. They're supposed to be an equalizer. Really disappointing—for both the artists & patrons—that the president has decided to infect that so he can have another vanity project.
Workers began adding President Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center on Friday, despite no action by Congress to legally rename it. It comes a day after Trump’s board of loyalists moved to rename the performing arts center as the Trump-Kennedy Center. nyti.ms/4pa6FpX
December 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The saddest part of this story: The arts are supposed to bring people together. They're supposed to be an equalizer. Really disappointing—for both the artists & patrons—that the president has decided to infect that so he can have another vanity project.
Apropos of nothing, *BANGS ON SIGN*
December 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Apropos of nothing, *BANGS ON SIGN*
This story is insane. It’s been almost a year since the Palisades fire & the LA City Council “is still debating how much permit relief the city can afford.”
Out of 6,000 homes, construction is underway at fewer than 400 addresses. Devastating for these victims. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Out of 6,000 homes, construction is underway at fewer than 400 addresses. Devastating for these victims. www.latimes.com/california/s...
For L.A.'s mayor, a Palisades recovery marked by missteps, reversals and delays
Since the Palisades fire, Mayor Karen Bass has outlined recovery strategies that critics say have faltered in execution, affecting confidence in the rebuilding process.
www.latimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This story is insane. It’s been almost a year since the Palisades fire & the LA City Council “is still debating how much permit relief the city can afford.”
Out of 6,000 homes, construction is underway at fewer than 400 addresses. Devastating for these victims. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Out of 6,000 homes, construction is underway at fewer than 400 addresses. Devastating for these victims. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Just months ago, several top Republicans argued that nasty rhetoric should not only cost you your job but also potentially land you in prison for inciting violence. Curious to hear their thoughts on this.
December 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Just months ago, several top Republicans argued that nasty rhetoric should not only cost you your job but also potentially land you in prison for inciting violence. Curious to hear their thoughts on this.
Just insane. This man's face & name have already been plastered all over the internet, but police are saying the evidence "now points in a different direction." I can't imagine. A reminder to wait for the facts to come out.
BREAKING: Authorities say they will release person of interest detained in Brown University shooting that killed 2 and wounded 9.
Authorities say they will release person of interest detained in Brown University shooting
Police in Rhode Island said that they had a person of interest in custody after a shooting that rocked the Brown University campus during final exams, leaving two people dead and nine others wounded.
bit.ly
December 15, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Just insane. This man's face & name have already been plastered all over the internet, but police are saying the evidence "now points in a different direction." I can't imagine. A reminder to wait for the facts to come out.
Counterpoint: The Cinnabon story shows why strict labor protections are immoral.
If an employee calls a customer the n-word, you should be able to fire them. The idea that the government would stop you is dystopian. No one is entitled to your money.
If an employee calls a customer the n-word, you should be able to fire them. The idea that the government would stop you is dystopian. No one is entitled to your money.
“Those of us on the left should be fighting to improve protections for workers of all races, and thereby for the betterment of people’s material conditions regardless of their views,” Arash Azizi argues:
Why the Cinnabon Story Doesn’t Make Me Happy
The left should be promoting working-class solidarity, not delighting in seeing workers summarily dismissed.
bit.ly
December 12, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Counterpoint: The Cinnabon story shows why strict labor protections are immoral.
If an employee calls a customer the n-word, you should be able to fire them. The idea that the government would stop you is dystopian. No one is entitled to your money.
If an employee calls a customer the n-word, you should be able to fire them. The idea that the government would stop you is dystopian. No one is entitled to your money.
A very refreshing piece from @wsj.com. Most Somali people want the same things as the rest of us. Watching some of the loudest voices smear them all as villains has been depressing. But it's given me a better understanding of how bigotry takes root. www.wsj.com/opinion/what...
December 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
A very refreshing piece from @wsj.com. Most Somali people want the same things as the rest of us. Watching some of the loudest voices smear them all as villains has been depressing. But it's given me a better understanding of how bigotry takes root. www.wsj.com/opinion/what...
I still can’t get over this story. A Tennessee man spent 37 days in a cage—on *$2 million* bond—for posting a meme, because police said he was trying to “create hysteria.”
This was the meme. I would expect this to happen in China, not the United States. reason.com/2025/10/30/p...
This was the meme. I would expect this to happen in China, not the United States. reason.com/2025/10/30/p...
November 19, 2025 at 5:01 AM
I still can’t get over this story. A Tennessee man spent 37 days in a cage—on *$2 million* bond—for posting a meme, because police said he was trying to “create hysteria.”
This was the meme. I would expect this to happen in China, not the United States. reason.com/2025/10/30/p...
This was the meme. I would expect this to happen in China, not the United States. reason.com/2025/10/30/p...
Perfect example of why jury trials matter.
The government had to argue—in public—that throwing a sandwich at a man in a bulletproof vest caused “fear of immediate bodily harm.” And the jury called that what it was: overreach. Prosecutors shouldn’t go unchecked. reason.com/2025/11/06/d...
The government had to argue—in public—that throwing a sandwich at a man in a bulletproof vest caused “fear of immediate bodily harm.” And the jury called that what it was: overreach. Prosecutors shouldn’t go unchecked. reason.com/2025/11/06/d...
D.C. jury acquits 'sandwich guy' of assaulting federal agent
A jury found Sean Dunn, who went viral in August for throwing a Subway sandwich at a Border Patrol officer, not guilty.
reason.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Perfect example of why jury trials matter.
The government had to argue—in public—that throwing a sandwich at a man in a bulletproof vest caused “fear of immediate bodily harm.” And the jury called that what it was: overreach. Prosecutors shouldn’t go unchecked. reason.com/2025/11/06/d...
The government had to argue—in public—that throwing a sandwich at a man in a bulletproof vest caused “fear of immediate bodily harm.” And the jury called that what it was: overreach. Prosecutors shouldn’t go unchecked. reason.com/2025/11/06/d...
Heritage’s chief of staff—who was retweeting calls for staffers to leave the foundation for tweeting that “Nazis are bad”—has been demoted. This is what happens when you let Too Online bros run your org. Heritage’s decline really is quite sad. www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/excl...
Exclusive: Heritage Reassigns Chief of Staff Following Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes Fallout | National Review
The conservative think tank’s executive vice president, Derrick Morgan, has been tapped to replace Ryan Neuhaus as chief of staff.
www.nationalreview.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Heritage’s chief of staff—who was retweeting calls for staffers to leave the foundation for tweeting that “Nazis are bad”—has been demoted. This is what happens when you let Too Online bros run your org. Heritage’s decline really is quite sad. www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/excl...
I don’t get how anyone can support the president having power over tariffs after watching this exchange. He is unilaterally raising taxes on Americans—not because of a ~negotiating~ tactic or to create jobs, but because…Canada hurt his feelings. Congress needs to do its job.
Breaking News: President Trump said he would raise tariffs on Canada by 10% over an ad, paid for by the province of Ontario, that used Ronald Reagan’s words to denounce tariffs. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/w...
October 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I don’t get how anyone can support the president having power over tariffs after watching this exchange. He is unilaterally raising taxes on Americans—not because of a ~negotiating~ tactic or to create jobs, but because…Canada hurt his feelings. Congress needs to do its job.
What a wild story. The DOJ failed to convince *three* grand juries to indict a woman for felony assault of a police officer. So they refiled the case as a misdemeanor.
A jury acquitted her.
Is this what a responsible use of law enforcement resources looks like? reason.com/2025/10/17/w...
A jury acquitted her.
Is this what a responsible use of law enforcement resources looks like? reason.com/2025/10/17/w...
Woman acquitted of assaulting FBI agent after 3 grand juries declined to indict
Grand juries have declined to indict numerous times when Trump's prosecutors have brought excessive charges.
reason.com
October 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
What a wild story. The DOJ failed to convince *three* grand juries to indict a woman for felony assault of a police officer. So they refiled the case as a misdemeanor.
A jury acquitted her.
Is this what a responsible use of law enforcement resources looks like? reason.com/2025/10/17/w...
A jury acquitted her.
Is this what a responsible use of law enforcement resources looks like? reason.com/2025/10/17/w...
Maria Corina Machado lives in hiding—because she’d otherwise be jailed or killed for the crime of sticking up to a tinpot dictator. She’s fought against socialism
and is an ardent defender of the flourishing that comes from free market capitalism.
A great pick. reason.com/2025/10/10/v...
and is an ardent defender of the flourishing that comes from free market capitalism.
A great pick. reason.com/2025/10/10/v...
Venezuela’s María Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize for standing up to socialism
The award goes to a classical liberal and free market advocate who has risked her life to challenge Venezuela’s socialist dictatorship.
reason.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Maria Corina Machado lives in hiding—because she’d otherwise be jailed or killed for the crime of sticking up to a tinpot dictator. She’s fought against socialism
and is an ardent defender of the flourishing that comes from free market capitalism.
A great pick. reason.com/2025/10/10/v...
and is an ardent defender of the flourishing that comes from free market capitalism.
A great pick. reason.com/2025/10/10/v...
Reposted by Billy Binion
*ding ding* We’re seeing rampant lawlessness from the Trump admin @billybinion.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
*ding ding* We’re seeing rampant lawlessness from the Trump admin @billybinion.bsky.social
Unpopular opinion: Conversion therapy—however ineffective—is clearly protected by the First Amendment. People can find it offensive. But offensive speech is still protected. The Supreme Court should (and I suspect will) overturn Colorado’s ban. reason.com/2025/10/08/i...
Is conversion therapy free speech?
Colorado says no. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical.
reason.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Unpopular opinion: Conversion therapy—however ineffective—is clearly protected by the First Amendment. People can find it offensive. But offensive speech is still protected. The Supreme Court should (and I suspect will) overturn Colorado’s ban. reason.com/2025/10/08/i...
This is insane. DHS agents tackled an American citizen & held him for an hour because, according to his suit, they thought his ID was fake. Three weeks later, he was detained *again.* No one who cares about responsible government should be OK this kind of harassment. reason.com/2025/10/01/i...
ICE arrested a U.S. citizen—twice—during Alabama construction site raids. Now he's suing.
'I got arrested twice for being a Latino working in construction,' says Leo Garcia Venegas, in a lawsuit challenging ICE raids on construction sites.
reason.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
This is insane. DHS agents tackled an American citizen & held him for an hour because, according to his suit, they thought his ID was fake. Three weeks later, he was detained *again.* No one who cares about responsible government should be OK this kind of harassment. reason.com/2025/10/01/i...
She sued Biden for violating the First Amendment—in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court. Now she’s gearing up to sue Trump for...the same thing.
I spoke with Jenin Younes about why free speech shouldn’t be partisan. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1A...
I spoke with Jenin Younes about why free speech shouldn’t be partisan. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1A...
Defend Speech Even When Your Side Hates It
YouTube video by The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
She sued Biden for violating the First Amendment—in a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court. Now she’s gearing up to sue Trump for...the same thing.
I spoke with Jenin Younes about why free speech shouldn’t be partisan. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1A...
I spoke with Jenin Younes about why free speech shouldn’t be partisan. www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP1A...
The “freedom fighter” Assata Shakur cozied up to a regime that jailed dissenters, shut down the press with armed militias, and threw people into concentration camps. *That* is her legacy.
I wrote about why it’s absurd to treat her as a martyr for freedom. reason.com/2025/09/29/a...
I wrote about why it’s absurd to treat her as a martyr for freedom. reason.com/2025/09/29/a...
Assata Shakur stood with the oppressors
The fugitive freedom fighter allied with a government known for imprisoning dissidents, curtailing civil liberties, and forging equality in the sense that people are more equally oppressed.
reason.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The “freedom fighter” Assata Shakur cozied up to a regime that jailed dissenters, shut down the press with armed militias, and threw people into concentration camps. *That* is her legacy.
I wrote about why it’s absurd to treat her as a martyr for freedom. reason.com/2025/09/29/a...
I wrote about why it’s absurd to treat her as a martyr for freedom. reason.com/2025/09/29/a...
Not long ago, I interviewed several black Cubans about life there. Dissent can land you in jail, so we spoke over encryption & they were still afraid to talk to me at all. *That* is the regime Assata Shakur stood with. She was no freedom fighter.
As we face the great fight for freedom of our day, may we find strength and purpose in these enduring words from Assata Shakur.
If there is a single truth in this world, it is that Assata died a free woman.
May she rest in power and paradise for all eternity.
If there is a single truth in this world, it is that Assata died a free woman.
May she rest in power and paradise for all eternity.
September 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Not long ago, I interviewed several black Cubans about life there. Dissent can land you in jail, so we spoke over encryption & they were still afraid to talk to me at all. *That* is the regime Assata Shakur stood with. She was no freedom fighter.