Ryan Lau

Editor-in-Chief

Ryan Lau is the editor-in-chief of 71 Republic and a member of its board of directors. He directs the site's coverage and serves as a news reporter covering breaking news, U.S. Politics, and the Libertarian Party. He also contributes to 71 Republic's opinion column and editorials. A Connecticut native, Ryan studied psychology and philosophy at the University of Vermont and then at Trinity College, where he majored in philosophy. He wrote for the Brownstone Institute on public-health policy and appeared on the Connecticut ballot as a Libertarian candidate.

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Essays

Black Belts Banned in California Over Public Safety Concern

[Satire] After a rise in attacks by martial artists, the Golden State has officially banned the promotion of any new black belts indefinitely.

Essays

5 Sexist Laws That Still Exist in the United States

Though the United States has taken great strides towards gender equality, there are a number of sexist laws still present today.

Opinion

Governor Ralph Northam Has a Disposition for Destruction

Ralph Northam, stating his support for women making a decision to end a child's life after birth, is showing a clear lack of either sense or morals.

Essays

Psilocybin Mushrooms Are Changing the Way You Die

With groundbreaking research, scientists are proving that psilocybin mushrooms benefit the mental states of people with terminal illnesses.

Opinion

Tulsi Gabbard Is a Hawk in Dove's Clothing

Though she claims to be antiwar, Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is a hawk that has a record with deeply disturbing statements.

Essays

Acorn Community: American Anarchism at its Apex

For more than a quarter-century, Acorn Community has thrived in rural Virginia as an example of a society that truly practices anarchism.

Technology

Reports: Instagram Down Across the Globe

Many users in the United States and across the globe are reporting that Instagram is down as of approximately 7:50 PM EST Monday.

Opinion

Where is the Outrage over the Jack Morrissey Death Tweet?

After 'Beauty and the Beast' producer Jack Morrissey tweeted about throwing kids into a woodchipper, he deserves to be fired from Disney.

World · Latin America

Venezuelan Military Shoots, Kills Citizens Protesting Maduro

Street protests are turning violent as the Venezuelan military and security forces split allegiances between Juan Guaido and Nicolas Maduro.

Opinion

CT Gov. Ned Lamont Had a Brilliant Plan, but He Killed It

Ned Lamont is teaming up with Webster Bank to aid federal employees during the shutdown, but is the government side holding back the plan's success?

Technology

The Dark Overlord Releases Batch Two of 9/11 Files

Exchanging cyber-cash for a cyber-cache, the hacker group The Dark Overlord has leaked more of their supposedly damning 9/11 files.

Technology

An Uncooked Egg Is Instagram's Most-liked Photo in History

Nearly a year after the previous record was set by a certain celebrity, the world record egg has taken the throne for most Instagram likes of all time.

Essays

Twenty Minutes to Landing, Seven Seconds of Silence

A fast-paced narrative outlining the actions of Dan, a pampered young man unprepared for a sudden change of fate with 20 minutes to landing.

World · Europe

Russia Declares Successful Test of Undetectable Nukes

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that he had a new weapon, an undetectable hypersonic nuke, in his arsenal, and its ready to go.

Essays

Populism and Elitism: Two Sides of an Evil Sword

Though populism and elitism both claim to help us the most, the individual is usually best equipped to make his or her own decisions.

Essays

The Eichmann Defense: Who to Blame for the State's Killing

Does the famous Eichmann Defense of "just following orders" excuse anyone from blame for modern murders by the government?

Essays

Missing Morals: How a Single Story Leads Us Towards War

President Obama’s speech on counterterrorism strategy serves as a sinister example of how a single story can be used for the sake of harm.

World · Europe

Poll: 72% of the French Support "Les Gilets Jaunes"

After police opened fire against Les Gilets Jaunes, French tax protestors, the group has sparked international protests worth dubbing the European Spring.

Essays

A Libertarian Isn't Fiscally Conservative and Socially Liberal

Gary Johnson, in spreading the "fiscally conservative and socially liberal" myth, only made libertarianism even less attractive.

Finance & Markets

Bitcoin Floor Falls, Bottoms at $5600 USD

Popular cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Ethereum, among others, have lost considerable value, some more than 10 percent, as of noon EST on Wednesday.

U.S. Politics

Hillary Clinton 2020? Third Bid in Play, Says Ex-advisor

Just days after the midterm season ends, a top former advisor believes we will soon see a Hillary Clinton 2020 presidential run.

Essays

The Constitution Is as Effective as Gun-free Zones

The success and legitimacy of both the Constitution and gun-free zones in America operate on the same system of flawed logic.

World · Europe

Did Hungary Really Just Ban Gender Studies?

A recent Fox News story gave a blatantly inaccurate headline regarding Hungary's new policy towards gender studies programs.

Essays

The Murderous Military Uses Call of Duty for Target Practice

Through the use of Call of Duty and other violent video games, the United States armed forces is trying to desensitize its soldiers to killing.