Jeffrey Tucker, an influential figure inside the libertarian movement, started Brownstone. Now, organizations like this have rapidly become an important voice for us in the public conversations happening around this Covid pandemic. Since its founding, Brownstone has published over 3,500 original articles and more than 20 originally authored books. Of these, over a dozen aim squarely at pandemic-related harms. Tucker’s role in launching the Great Barrington Declaration, a manifesto opposing lockdown measures, has positioned him at the forefront of a growing movement advocating for alternative public health strategies.
Tucker’s path to the establishment of Brownstone started after he left the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER). There, too, he had served as the editorial director. His departure came amid sexual harassment allegations that led to an internal investigation. Even before coming to join AIER, Tucker had established deep ties within the greater libertarian ecosystem. He served on the staff of former Rep. Ron Paul and was editor of Lew Rockwell’s Mises Institute. He pushed for the state adoption of cryptocurrencies and started up a crypto-friendlier libertarian-centric social network.
The Great Barrington Declaration became an important watershed in the debate over Covid-19 restrictions. These were the words of Jay Bhattacharya, Martin Kulldorff and now-FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, the epidemiologists who joint-authored this powerful testimony. The declaration criticized lockdown policies, arguing that “current lockdown policies are producing devastating effects on short and long-term public health.” Though controversial, this manifesto ignited essential debates about the role of public health policy and government power in a crisis.
As a Brownstone fellow, Tucker is deeply involved in guiding the organization’s mission. He focuses on the impact of state power in emergencies. He’s already voiced his deep concerns about the dangerously broad government overreach. He first made the comparison during the Trump administration, when he called it “fascism.” In 2023, along with other authors, he urged Congress to investigate the pandemic’s handling in an 80-page document released by the group.
Unfortunately for the right, despite his controversial past, Tucker’s influence is only getting stronger. Brownstone announced $2.57 million in revenue last year, a 5 percent growth over the prior-year period. This eye-popping number represents a stunning 44 percent increase over two years ago. Together, this success is a testament to a growing appetite for fresh perspectives on complex public health and economic issues.
It’s just Tucker’s latest legal headache, with an introductory denial for a denied motion to dismiss Grochmal’s lawsuit. This is what motivates these efforts, and despite this, he remains deeply committed to his work at Brownstone. We’ve seen his leadership in calling for a culture to encourage open dialogue across government on difficult, divisive topics.
“Brownstone is a think tank that publishes articles from authors with many different points of view who often disagree with one another.” – Jeffrey Tucker
