Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
  • Video
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Reason Rundown With Peter Suderman
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Print/Digital Subscriptions
    • Gift Subscriptions

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Thanksgiving

Roger WIlliams statue

Civil Liberties

Sick of the Pilgrims? Celebrate Roger Williams Instead

While we often spend Thanksgiving remembering a different set of Puritan settlers, the religious, freedom-loving Roger Williams is an apt hero for the more liberty-minded.

Emma Camp | 11.24.2022 9:58 AM

A cultivation room at Upside Food's EPIC facility

Regulation

Come Next Thanksgiving, We Might Be Giving Thanks for Government-Approved, Lab-Grown Turkey

Regulators are beginning to smile on the sci-fi project of creating real meat products without the typical death and environmental destruction.

Christian Britschgi | 11.24.2022 8:30 AM

Thanksgiving dinner

Family

Friendsgiving Is Cultural Flourishing, Not Cultural Decay

Found families may ultimately lead to new ones.

Scott Shackford | 11.24.2022 8:00 AM

A grocery store worker is seen holding a pumpkin pie

Thanksgiving

Be Thankful for Low-Skilled Workers

These are the people who showed up when the economy was shut down by the government, working in jobs labeled "essential."

Veronique de Rugy | 11.24.2022 12:01 AM

Biden turkey pardon overlaid on prison image

Clemency

Pardon People, Not Turkeys

Biden should exercise his pardon power to help some of the people whose lives his criminal justice policies destroyed.

Billy Binion | 11.23.2022 4:33 PM

John Stossel dressed in a Pilgrim costume stands next to a sign that says "Happy Starvation Day"

Capitalism

The Pilgrims Dreamed of Socialism. Then Socialism Almost Killed Them.

Private property was the solution to their failed experiment. But people keep repeating the Pilgrims' mistakes.

John Stossel | 11.23.2022 12:30 AM

joel-muniz-A4Ax1ApccfA-unsplash

Charity/Philanthropy

This Thanksgiving, I'm Grateful for America's Generosity and Unprecedented Charitable Giving

The unique civic and economic role of voluntarism and charity has been a core part of American culture for centuries.

Veronique de Rugy | 11.25.2021 7:00 AM

dreamstime_xxl_157705400-3

Property Rights

Private Property Rights Made the First Thanksgiving Possible

Something to be grateful for.

John Stossel | 11.24.2021 4:26 PM

reason-hancock

Colorado

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock Urged People Not To Travel for Thanksgiving Shortly Before Boarding His Flight

The mayor is traveling to Mississippi to spend the holiday with his wife and daughter.

Christian Britschgi | 11.25.2020 4:50 PM

sipaphotosten228567

Economics

Be Grateful for Capitalism This Thanksgiving

If government controlled the production of turkeys and toilet paper, this would be a very unhappy holiday.

John Stossel | 11.25.2020 12:30 AM

westendrf406277

Reason Roundup

Instead of Policing Thanksgiving, Governments Should Get Their Own Act Together

Plus: Trump adviser says TikTok ban will happen, Texas to teach birth control in middle school sex ed, and more...

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 11.24.2020 9:30 AM

Bernard Kersh Body Slammed

Chicago Police Department

Chicago Cops Body-Slammed a Man on Thanksgiving, Then Charged Him With Assault

The arresting officer is on desk duty and an investigation is underway.

Zuri Davis | 12.2.2019 11:10 AM

ibphotos364825

Economic Growth

On Thanksgiving, Take a Moment to Focus on the Good News

It will help us feel grateful for our lives.

Veronique de Rugy | 11.28.2019 12:01 AM

sipaphotosten223040

Socialism

On Thanksgiving, Be Grateful for Property Rights

When people respect private property, they interact more peacefully.

John Stossel | 11.27.2019 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages

Homelessness

This Thanksgiving, Here Are 6 Ways the Government Suppresses Charity

Government has repaid acts of service with exorbitant fines and misdemeanor charges.

Zuri Davis and Joe Setyon | 11.22.2018 7:45 AM

Large image on homepages

Technology

On Thanksgiving, Be Grateful for Technology

We should all be thankful for innovators and visionaries who aren't afraid to dream big.

Veronique de Rugy | 11.22.2018 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages

Politics

On Thanksgiving, Be Grateful for Property Rights

There's no reason to celebrate collective ownership.

John Stossel | 11.21.2018 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages

TSA

Go Ahead and Pack Your Weed This Thanksgiving—the TSA Probably Won't Find It

The TSA's policy is to report any weed they find to local law enforcement. But they'll have to notice it first.

Joe Setyon | 11.19.2018 1:25 PM

Large image on homepages

Reason Podcast

The Secret Meaning of Thanksgiving Dinner

Food historian Rachel Laudan explains why we eat what we eat on "turkey day" - and it has nothing to do with the Pilgrims.

Nick Gillespie | 11.23.2017 1:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Who Really Held the First Thanksgiving in the United States?

The important thing about the holiday is not who started the tradition but the humble and grateful spirit the tradition instills.

A. Barton Hinkle | 11.22.2017 12:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Property Rights

Thankful for Property Rights on Thanksgiving Day

Private property became the foundation for building the most prosperous nation in the history of the world.

John Stossel | 11.22.2017 12:15 AM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Will Donald Trump Be the Peacenik President? Was He Elected Dictator? And What's the Deal with Thanksgiving?

Subscribe to the Reason podcast (free!) and support Reason's efforts to make the world a free-er, fairer, more-fun place (tax-deductible!).

Nick Gillespie | 12.3.2016 10:05 AM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Thanksgiving Tragedy

Property rights saved the Pilgrims from starvation; a lack of property rights keeps Indians in poverty today.

John Stossel | 11.23.2016 12:01 AM

Large image on homepages

The Fifth Column

Happy Broadway-Boycott Thanksgiving From The Fifth Column!

Three-headed podcast takes on New York bubble-politics, the objectionable Jeff Sessions, Kanye's breakdown, and more

Matt Welch | 11.22.2016 4:11 PM

Politics

Presidential Candidates Celebrate Thanksgiving, Europeans Talking ISIS, Record Crowd Expected for NYC Thanksgiving Parade: A.M. Links

Ed Krayewski | 11.26.2015 9:00 AM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Obama Says No Terrorist Threat for Thanksgiving, Urges Europe to Step Up Fight Against ISIS, Surge of Unaccompanied Children Across U.S.-Mexico Border, Pope in Nairobi: P.M. Links

Ed Krayewski | 11.25.2015 4:30 PM

Large image on homepages

Politics

Ditch the Fake Lovefest and Learn the Real Story of the First Thanksgiving

Saints & Strangers plays out the tense political negotiations.

Glenn Garvin | 11.20.2015 3:00 PM

Large image on homepages

Economics

This Thanksgiving, Be Grateful for Property Rights. The Pilgrims Nearly Starved Without Them.

Things go wrong when resources are held in common.

John Stossel | 11.25.2014 12:00 PM

Politics

Ira Stoll on Immigration and Thanksgiving

Reason Staff | 11.24.2014 4:30 PM

Politics

An Immigrant Thanksgiving

New arrivals make America a better place to live and work.

Ira Stoll | 11.24.2014 4:30 PM

Politics

The War on Politics-Free Thanksgiving

Matt Welch | 11.24.2014 10:22 AM

Edward Snowden

For Thanksgiving: Go See Citizenfour!

Ronald Bailey | 11.14.2014 12:23 PM

Economics

Thanksgiving Weekend Retail Sales Drop Could Be First in Seven Years

Doesn't bode well for holiday shopping season

Reason Staff | 12.5.2013 3:30 PM

Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Thanksgiving!: A Shot of Cranberry Schnapps to Clear the Drowsing

Nick Gillespie and Meredith Bragg | 11.28.2013 1:30 PM

Politics

If You Were Out Shopping on Thanksgiving, You Wouldn't Be Reading This Right Now

Nick Gillespie | 11.28.2013 11:35 AM

Politics

What if Thanksgiving Exposes the Government?

What if at every Thanksgiving liberty is weakened and the government is strengthened?

Andrew Napolitano | 11.28.2013 7:00 AM

Politics

Andrew Napolitano Asks: What if Thanksgiving Exposes the Government?

Reason Staff | 11.28.2013 7:00 AM

Economics

Thanksgiving ReasonTV Replay: The Pilgrims and Property Rights

Meredith Bragg and Nick Gillespie | 11.27.2013 10:27 PM

Culture

More Than 200 Flights Cancelled on Thanksgiving Eve

Be thankful it wasn't worse?

Reason Staff | 11.27.2013 7:20 PM

Culture

Pizza Hut Manager Says He Was Fired For Refusing to Keep Store Open on Thanksgiving Day

Chinese take-out is a Thanksgiving tradition, not pizza

Reason Staff | 11.27.2013 7:10 PM

Culture

Pre-Thanksgiving Flight Cancellations Piling Up

Bad weather

Reason Staff | 11.27.2013 5:40 PM

Politics

Obama Cracks Joke While Pardoning Thanksgiving Turkeys

His own pardon record's no laughing matter

Reason Staff | 11.27.2013 4:40 PM

Culture

Volunteering for Thanksgiving on Skid Row Like Going to the Oscars

LA!

Reason Staff | 11.27.2013 3:30 PM

Culture

Weather May Ground Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

NYC changed rules after a 1997 accident led to four injuries

Reason Staff | 11.27.2013 3:10 PM

Culture

Winter-Like Storm That Hit West Coast Rolling Through US For Thanksgiving

At least 10 traffic fatalities related to the weather so far

Reason Staff | 11.25.2013 11:20 AM

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason FacebookReason TwitterReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeReason ItunesReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2022 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use