Ari Armstrong's Web Log (Main) | Archives | Terms of Use
Disclosures
This document was created on December 12, 2009 and updated at various times. As I explain in a related article, "Abolish the FTC: New Blogging Rules," the Federal Trade Commission imposed new rules—with which I disagree—pertaining to bloggers (and others) on December 1, 2009. Although I regard the FCC's requirements as ridiculous, I'm happy to make this information public. It's as complete as I can reasonably make it. I do not include information about people who have donated to my work, in each case in an amount less than $50 per month, via Patreon, Substack, or PayPal. Items are listed (more or less) in reverse chronological order.
In April 2025, Ian Silverii bought me lunch.
In March 2025, the Cato Institute shipped me a box of Build, Baby, Build books to distribute to policymakers.
In March 2025, Jason Salzman bought me lunch.
In March 2025, Grasslands PR firm gave me a bag with some hand-out items including a hat and some sauces.
In late 2024, Michael Huemer sent me a copy of his book Progressive Myths as a thank-you for helping to proof it. Previously he also sent me a copy of Understanding Knowledge for the same reason.
In late 2024, Aaron Ross Powell bought me lunch.
In October of 2023, Ethics Press sent me a pdf of Modernizing Aristotle's Ethics.
Around August, 2023, the publisher of Jennifer Burns's book on Milton Friedman sent me a digital copy of the book.
In July of 2023, Frank Atwood bought me lunch (less than $20) to discuss approval voting.
In 2021, Michael Huemer gave me a hardcover copy of his book, Knowledge, Reality, and Value, as a "thank you" for me proofreading the text. (I also did a podcast with Huemer about the book.)
In 2019, I had Jason Crawford on my podcast; Crawford has contributed to my work via Patreon.
In 2019, I received a review copy of Michael Huemer's book, Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism, which I went on to discuss on a podcast episode.
Robert Anthony Peters has contributed small amounts of money to my work. On June 18, 2019, I published an interview with Peters about his short film, Tank Man. However, there was no expectation either way regarding the funding or the interview.Starting in September, 2018, the Colorado Sun paid me to write a twice-monthly column. This arrangement came to an end in early 2019.
In February, 2018, the Independent Institute sent me a complimentary copy of Pope Francis and the Caring Society.
In January, 2017, the Jefferson County Republican Breakfast group payed for my breakfast and gave me twenty bucks when I presented a talk on "Reclaiming Liberalism."
In June, 2016, the Ayn Rand Institute send me a complimentary paperback copy of Defending Free Speech, edited by Steve Simpson.
In May, 2016, Carl Barney sent me a complimentary hardback copy of Equal Is Unfair via the Ayn Rand Institute.
In April, 2016, Laura Carno sent me a complimentary digital review copy of her book, Government Ruins Nearly Everything.
In February, 2016, St. Martin's Press sent me a complimentary digital preview copy of Equal is Unfair by Don Watkins and Yaron Brook.
In September, 2015, I received complimentary digital copies of two books: The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, by Alex Epstein (from Epstein's organization); and Judicial Review in an Objective Legal System, by Tara Smith (from the Ayn Rand Institute).
In April, 2015, I got complimentary entry into a class taught by Alon Stivi on workplace safety in Grand Junction.
In April, 2015, the Independence Institute gave me a plaque for its Vern Bickel award, along with entry to its annual banquet and two coffee mugs. Also, Jon Caldara, president of the II, gave me a nice writing pen.
In September, 2014, Alex Epstein sent me a review copy of his book, The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels.
In March, 2014, my wife and I received complimentary passes to the Independence Institute's Founder's Night banquet.
Before and after October, 2013, I received several complimentary copies of the journal Critical Review. Starting October, 2025, I received complimentary digital versions of some issues.
In October, 2013, Diana Brickell sent me a review pdf of her new book, Responsibility & Luck: A Defense of Praise and Blame.
In March, 2013, the Independence Institute invited my wife and me to its annual banquet, at no charge.
In February, 2013, the publisher Palgrave Macmillan sent me a review copy of the book, Freedom and School Choice in American Education.
In February, 2013, Lin Zinser facilitated a ticket for me to the Leadership Program of the Rockies annual retreat in Colorado Springs. (I have no idea where she got the ticket.)
In December, 2012, Michael Huemer sent me a review copy of his book, The Problem of Political Authority.
In November, 2012, Max Borders sent me a complimentary digital copy of his book, Superwealth.
On October 4, 2012, I spoke at an event hosted by the AFGE 3607 Union, which provided me with lunch from Illegal Pete's.
In August, 2012, the Ayn Rand Institute gave me an early and final version of the book Free Market Revolution. Also, McGraw-Hill send a review copy of the book, The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure, to The Objective Standard, and I acquired it. (I reviewed both books.)
On August 11, 2012, the Independence Institute gave me a barbecue lunch, a can of Coors Banquet beer, a bottled water, and a box of shotgun shells as part of of the organization's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms party. I sent the II photographs and video of the event.
In July, 2012, I helped raise $1,170 for Liberty In the Books (a project of Liberty On the Rocks) to fund my work with the group through August of 2012.
During 2011 John Andrews gave me DVDs from that year’s Western Conservative Summit.
During a June, 2012 rally, the Colorado Americans for Prosperity handed out free sandwiches, and I had a couple.
In June, 2012, Americans for Prosperity paid for (most of) my expenses to attend Right Online, including airfare, two nights hotel stay (at the Venetian, which is pretty nice), and three meals (if you count the "continental breakfast" as a meal; I bought a salad from a vender). AFP also gave me a flash drive. At that event, the Franklin Center gave me some sort of USB doodad.
In April, 2012, the Heritage Foundation paid my way to a two-day conference in Colorado Springs sponsored by Heritage. The organization paid for three meals, one hotel night, and various books.
In October 2011, I got two complimentary DVDs, Indoctrinate U and The Libel Tourist, at the Free Minds Film Fest; the videos were made available by the Moving Pictures Institute. At the same festival, some party (I'm not sure who) provided free Chipotle chips and salsa, and I believe the organizers of the fest provided free popcorn.
In 2010, Mike PcPheters sent me a complimentary copy of his book, Cartels and Combinations. In February of 2011, Jason Lewis's publicist sent me a complimentary digital copy of Lewis's book, Power Divided is Power Checked.
In 2010 Students for Liberty gave Liberty On the Rocks free copies of The Economics of Freedom, a collection of writings by Bastiat, and I got one of these copies for use with Liberty In the Books.
My wife and I received complimentary tickets for the Great American Beer Fest of 2010, put on by the Brewer's Association, and I think for two other years as well.
FreedomWorks also agreed to pay my air fare, hotel expenses, and conference fees for the 2012 conference sponsored by the Association of Private Enterprise Education. I prepared a presentation for that conference on the topic of Hayek, Adam Smith, and the Tea Party.
FreedomWorks also hosted a bloggers' conference in Denver in November, 2011. I attended the event at no cost to myself, and FreedomWorks provided me with two meals, coffee and tea, and a couple of booklets.
FreedomWorks payed for a plane ticket for me to Washington, D.C. from September 9–12, 2010, as well as for my hotel accommodations. While in D.C., I attended a bloggers' conference and a 9/12 Tea Party event, both sponsored by FreedomWorks. FreedomWorks also bought me two meals, gave me several books, and gave me $10 worth of Metro fare (to travel to a FreedomWorks event). Before accepting the gift, I emphasized that FreedomWorks would have absolutely no influence over the contents of my writing, and a representative of the organization confirmed that the organization has no expectation that I write about any particular subject or express any particular view as a consequence of accepting the gift.
Years ago I benefitted from free seminars hosted by the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS), Property and Environment Research Center, Ludwig von Mises Institute, and the Center for Study of Public Choice. I also worked for a summer as a Koch Fellow in 1995—I spent most of the summer researching racially unjust criminal sentencing—this program is now operated by IHS. On at least two occasions the Cato Institute has given me free beer. I have been financially compensated for participating in seminars hosted by Liberty Fund, which sells many great books. I'm pretty sure that all of the organizations mentioned in this paragraph have at some point given me either books or essays at no charge.
Boulder Weekly used to pay me to write a column, as did Grand Junction Free Press.
Adam Schrager, formerly a reporter for 9News, helped get media coverage for my book, Values of Harry Potter, on that station. Vincent Carroll helped get media coverage for my book in the Rocky Mountain News. Joel Warner helped get media coverage for my book at Westword. Various other television stations and newspapers in Colorado have covered events that I've organized.
Amazon sells my books. For a time I was also an Amazon "Associate," for which Amazon paid me a pittance for links to products Amazon sells.
In 2011 the International Policy Network named me a finalist in its Hoiles prize for regional journalism. The organization agreed to pay for my plane ticket to New York for the awards banquet, plus a "small honorarium."
In 2009 the Sam Adams Alliance awarded me $10,000 as the recipient of the Modern Day Sam Adams Award.
Encounter Books sent me a review copy of David Gratzer's essay, Why Obama's Government Takeover of Health Care Will Be a Disaster.
For brief periods years ago, I worked on a contract basis for the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition as well as for Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. Years ago I also worked on a contract basis for the Libertarian Party of Colorado to produce its newsletter (before leaving that party).
Dave Kopel of the Institute has given me a handful of books over the years. In December 2009 he gave me a review copy of his Merril Press book, Aiming for Liberty: The Past, Present, and future of Freedom and Self-Defense. In August of 2011 Jon Caldara, President of the Institute, picked up part of my tab at an impromptu dinner meeting.
In 2005, I wrote a paper for the Independence Institute for financial compensation titled, "Wasteful Spending by Colorado Government." In 2009, 2010, 2012, and at least one previous year, the Independence Institute gave me and my wife free tickets to its annual banquet, I believe in appreciation for the uncompensated articles I occasionally wrote for the Institute. Continuing into 2017 I've written several articles for compensation for Complete Colorado, which is affiliated with the Institute. Starting again in 2020, I became a paid columnist for Complete Colorado. In 2022, I wrote a paper for compensation for the Institute questioning Jared Polis's libertarianism.
From July through September of 2010, Diana Brickell also raised funds from private donors for our rewrite of our paper on the so-called "personhood" ballot measure in Colorado. She and I agreed to split the proceeds after other expenses. We also raised funds to revise the paper a subsequent year.
In July and August of 2010, Diana Brickell assisted with a pledge campaign to raise funds from private donors for my work with Liberty In the Books, a project of Liberty On the Rocks, an organization run by Amanda Muell (formerly Teresi). Brickell received a small cut of the pledges for her assistance. Liberty In the Books no longer is active.
Dr. Paul Hsieh, who runs Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine, has provided editorial feedback on some of my work and has contributed material to one of my publications. He and Diana once paid for a Front Range Objectivism dinner for my wife and me.
Diana Brickell (formerly Hsieh) also offered feedback on early drafts of my book on Potter and promoted its sale.
The Objective Standard's web page once featured advertisements for my book, Values of Harry Potter. These ads were published at no cost to me as a way to promote advertisements on the site. Publisher Craig Biddle also offered editorial advice on the book. I wrote numerous articles for TOS for compensation and was an associate editor for the journal into 2015.
In December, 2009, the Ayn Rand Center gave me a promotional copy of the book edited by Elan Journo, Winning the Unwinnable War. I am especially a fan of ARI's "books for teachers" program, which I have financially supported.