The Reason Roundtable What the Media Didn't Tell You in 2025
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Dec 30, 2025 
Join Robby Soave, a senior editor at Reason known for his insights on civil liberties and tech policy, as he dives into the underreported stories of 2025. He discusses the troubling implications of cash surveillance at the border and the chaotic state of refugee admissions. Robby also critiques the Buy-Now-Pay-Later trend, arguing it parallels traditional credit systems. Plus, he highlights the murky legal landscape of Section 230 as it relates to AI-generated content, calling for essential clarification in an ever-evolving digital world.
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BNPL Mirrors Credit-Card Risks
- Buy-now-pay-later services mainstreamed in 2025 and drew moral panic similar to credit cards.
- Robby Soave argues BNPL functions like credit cards and risks are private-sector issues unless bailouts occur.
Wage Rules Crush Mid-Range Restaurants
- D.C. restaurant closures surged after changes to tipped-worker rules and rising labor costs.
- Robby Soave links new wage rules and potential $25 minimum wage to mid-range restaurant collapse.
Discord-Fueled Youth Uprising In Nepal
- Nepal's Gen Z organized against a social-media ban using Discord and mass protests.
- Katherine Mangu-Ward describes youth picking an interim leader on Discord and toppling the government.
