The American Interest notes with deep sorrow and regret the passing of James Q. Wilson (May 27, 1931–March 2, 2012), eminent American public policy scholar and a member of the AI’s editorial board. He was 80.Update:Francis Fukuyama on James Q. Wilson.Wilson in the AI:The Sources of American Conduct, Autumn 2005A Quarter Century of Broken Windows […]

Since I took a look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for The American Interest late last year, the future of both agencies has remained uncharted by Congress. My piece offered a brief history of the Depression-era birth of Fannie Mae and its younger thrift-inspired sibling, Freddie Mac. For much of that history, these government-sponsored […]

The news that many evil bankers are fleeing New York City, pink slips in hand, will surely cheer the Occupy Wall Street crowd . But Salt Lake City has even more reason to be happy about this turn of events.Reuters reports that Goldman Sachs is planning to add 300 new employees to its already growing […]

In what may become a landmark moment for the legal profession, a New York District Court Judge has issued an opinion—the first of its kind—approving the use of “computer-assisted review” by law firms in an upcoming case. The decision allows both sides’ lawyers to use computer programs to scan through large amounts of data relevant […]

Recent grumbling by certain emerging powers, notably China and Brazil, has led to speculation that America’s 67-year claim on the presidency of the World Bank might be weakening. Declinists everywhere have been poised to add this item to their eulogies of American global prominence.The declinists will have to back down, at least in this case. […]

An American company, Envia, has tested a new lithium-ion battery that will allow an electric car to travel 300 miles at half the price of the current model. The battery has set a new world record in energy density, and the company aims to ready it for large-scale production in a mere 18 months. If it holds up […]

Via Meadia has closely followed the sordid spectacle of professional pundits who have allowed partisan passions to override good sense by attacking Mitt Romney for his Mormon faith. For these pundits, insinuations of theocratic ambition and taunts about Mormons’ “strange” beliefs were considered beyond the pale when the subject was Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, […]

In a surprise breakthrough on the Korean Peninsula, Yahoo News reports the United States and North Korea have agreed to a deal that would see the North stop nuclear tests, halt uranium enrichment and allow inspections of its nuclear facilities by international monitors. The price? An initial 240,000 metric tons of food aid, with the […]

Despite the announcement of another massive bailout fund for the troubled Greeks, the eurogloom that has permeated the continent for the past year or so shows no sign of abating. Though there is increasing evidence that Brussels wants Greece out, an eye-opening on-the-ground report from Megan Greene (h/t Marginal Revolution) suggests that leaving the Eurozone […]

Here at Via Meadia we are exposed to some shocking news, but nothing more shocking than this: A group of Oxford-affiliated “ethics experts” have published an article finding that infanticide is acceptable and no different from abortion, giving the practice the charming name of “after-birth abortions.” We are practically at a loss for words, so […]