R Street Institute

"It is important for all countries to create systems that place citizen interests over government interests in order to adapt to the demands of the people for legitimacy and accountability. This is particularly true in regards to police, as those who enforce the law often represent the entire system of governance that stands behind them." Sarah Anderson #criminaljustice #policing #policy

"Liberty does not preserve itself; it requires constant vigilance, principled leadership, and a government that reflects the will of the people." Jonathan Madison #publicpolicy #governance #government

"This reliance on liberty as the guiding principle of energy policy has a variety of benefits. It permits—indeed, encourages—innovation, as individuals and organizations have strong incentives to find new ways to produce energy and to put that energy to productive purposes. Liberty also empowers consumers, which not only encourages lower prices but has driven companies to reduce the environmental impact of their products in recent years. And liberty allows the economy to adjust more easily to changes in the energy and economic landscape." Josiah Neeley #energy #energypolicy #environment

"The root of the issue with financial consumer protection rules is that they degrade the responsibility necessary for freedom to flourish. Liberty cannot truly exist without personal responsibility, and consumers give up more of their liberty each time the government places a 'pro-consumer' mandate." Caroline Melear #liberty #finance #publicpolicy

20 states now have laws targeting the use of AI to generate deceptive election content. Fifteen were approved in 2024 alone. The specifics vary from state to state, but overall, the most common approach is to pair disclosure requirements with civil penalties. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ePF8X6qB #ai #artificialintelligence #publicpolicy

"Physical borders alone no longer define the frontlines of liberty; instead, they are embedded in the very architecture of our digital world—woven into the networks we rely on, the data we generate, and the algorithms that shape our interactions and experiences." Haiman Wong #publicpolicy #cyber #tech

The politics of the early republic weren’t so different from those of today—often messy, fiercely competitive, and driven by self-promotion. And though women of the time were excluded from formal political life, that doesn’t mean they lacked influence. Intelligent, ambitious women found ways to shape the fledgling nation, ensuring that their husbands and sons remained committed to the ideals of liberty, virtue, and the public good—even from outside the political sphere. In 1976, in an article for?The American Quarterly, historian Linda Kerber described these women as “republican mothers”: The Republican Mother’s life was dedicated to the service of civic virtue; she educated her sons for it; she condemned and corrected her husband’s lapses from it…. The theorists [of the early republic] created a mother who had a political purpose and argued that her domestic behavior had a direct political function in the republic. In short, republican motherhood offered women a way to influence politics indirectly—by raising engaged citizens and reinforcing civic responsibility. Today, of course, women directly shape policy, lead institutions, and hold elected office. But the principle that everyone, whether serving in public office or not, has a role to play in fostering civic responsibility remains just as vital. That’s why this idea resonates with me. As R Street’s Vice President of Public Affairs, I see civic responsibility not just as an abstract value, but as an active, ongoing commitment—one that aligns with our vision for free markets and limited, effective government. That’s why R Street is hosting its second?Real Solutions Summit?on?May 6?at the?Planet Word Museum?in Washington, D.C. At this event, we’ll bring together academics, policymakers, media, industry leaders, and philanthropists to reflect on America’s upcoming 250th birthday and explore the pressing policy challenges of today—everything from energy sustainability to AI governance and beyond. In the early republic, many believed the experiment in self-government would fail. Women played a key role in ensuring its survival by instilling core civic values in their families and helping shape the broader political culture. As we approach our nation’s semiquincentennial, R Street remains committed to these founding principles—popular sovereignty, federalism, civic virtue, and the constitutional framework that has shaped our democracy. We believe in protecting these values through genuine debate, collaboration, and bold policy solutions and we hope you’ll join us in the conversation. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eHZQZVba Sabrina Schaeffer #publicpolicy #event #government

Being on a panel with Marc Levin and Amber Widgery, Esq. is like reconnecting with old friends—no matter how long it’s been, the conversation picks up right where it left off. The ideas flow, the laughter is easy, and it's always a good time. It was a privilege to join them for such a thoughtful panel at the Louisiana Public Safety Summit, speaking to a truly engaged and solutions-focused audience. Also, great to finally connect with David Kennedy in person and catch-up with several others. Huge thanks to Christopher Csonka for the invitation. I also want to lift up how meaningful events like this can be for other states. I watched policymakers, mid-presentation (credit to Jeff Asher for sparking it), gather to problem-solve how to improve public safety data across Louisiana, with real commitment. I also saw two practitioners dive into a conversation where one helped the other work through legal and logistical challenges around supporting juveniles reentering society after detention. This is what real impact looks like—practical, timely, and driven by people ready to make change happen. R Street Institute

"One likely reason that most states favor the disclosure policy over prohibition is concern about regulating speech in light of the First Amendment. A federal judge blocked California’s prohibition law in 2024 over concerns that it violated the First Amendment, writing that AB 2839 “unconstitutionally stifles the free and unfettered exchange of ideas which is so vital to American democratic debate.” A prohibition law in Minnesota faces a similar legal challenge. While there are no guarantees that disclosure requirements will stand up to legal scrutiny if challenged, most lawmakers are opting to pursue the lighter-touch disclosure policy not yet blocked in federal court." #elections #deepfakes #governance

"The government should not restrict people’s access to tools that can help keep them safe and alive." Stacey McKenna #harmreduction #policyresearch