About

Ari Armstrong is a columnist for Complete Colorado; the publisher of Colorado Pickaxe and Self in Society; and the author of What’s Wrong with Ayn Rand’s Objectivist Ethics, Reclaiming Liberalism, and Values of Harry Potter. He has written for the Colorado Sun, the Objective Standard, and other publications. He has appeared on CNN, Denver’s 9News, City Cast Denver, Devil’s Advocate, and other television and radio shows. Ari won the 2009 Modern Day Sam Adams award, he was a finalist in the 2011 Hoiles Prize for regional journalism, and he received the Independence Institute’s 2015 Vern Bickel Award for Grassroots Leadership. Ari has been writing online about politics and culture since 1998, before the term “blog” was coined.

Email Ari at [first name][at]ariarmstrong[dot]com.

Ari Armstrong established the “Self in Society” podcast in June, 2019, since moved to Substack. Ari established “Self in Society Press” on October 11, 2021. “Self in Society” and “Self in Society Press” are trademarked by Ari Armstrong. Ari established Eversol Press on September 10, 2018. “Eversol Press” is trademarked by Ari Armstrong. Write c/o Ari Armstrong, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy. #K2-111, Westminster, CO 80021. Ari established IndySchooler (IndySchooler.com) on August 4, 2020. Ari established Contours of Liberty (ContoursOfLiberty.com) on August 20, 2020. By using this site you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use.

See partial lists of media appearances and outside publications.

See Ari’s disclosures.

Download a high-resolution photo for media use.

Select Praise for Ari’s Work

Craig Silverman, December 6, 2022: “Have you noticed the courage and independence of Ari Armstrong? Me too! I fear he’s put his career at risk by declaring truth about MAGA, but he is too good a writer, and free thinker, to be silenced.”

Craig Silverman, November 22, 2022: “Outstanding column by Ari Armstrong [“Religion and Anti-LGBTQ Bigotry“] is must reading.”

Jon Caldara, December 6, 2022: “Ari is right again” about approval voting. (Note: Caldara is the president of the Independence Institute, which published the piece.)

Sandra Fish, May 15, 2020: “Good analysis of the [Covid 19 Colorado] situation from Ari Armstrong.”

Mark Hillman, May 2, 2020: “Laws against so-called ‘price gouging’ are the problem, not the solution. Excellent explanation of basic economics by Ari Armstrong. Should be required reading for all elected officials!”

Timothy Sandefur, March 15, 2020: “A characteristically fine piece by my friend Ari Armstrong” about gratitude.

Phil Weiser, February 26, 2019: “Thoughtful analysis and engagement” on red-flag laws (which the Colorado legislature subsequently passed). Old link: https://freecolorado.com/2019/02/26/reasons-to-be-skeptical-of-colorados-red-flag-bill/

Wayne Laugesen, 2019: “Ari nails one again,” referring to a piece on a charter school. Old link: https://freecolorado.com/2019/02/06/the-bias-against-ascent-classical-academy/

Paul Jacob, August 30, 2018: “Great article by Ari Armstrong about police illegally blocking a journalist from recording on a public street.” Old link: https://freecolorado.com/2018/08/29/colorado-journalist-unlawfully-detained-by-denver-police-engages-top-law-firm/

Jon Caldara, August 29, 2018: “Ari Armstrong is a force of nature. Always well researched. Always clear thinking.”

Chase Woodruff, June 20, 2018: “Some blog nobody reads,” referring to the Colorado Freedom Report.

Dave Kopel, 2007: “Sort of the founding father of pro-freedom Colorado webbing.”

Ed Quillen, September 22, 2005: “Ari Armstrong, . . . who produces the Colorado Freedom Report, has done some useful research into state spending.”

State Senator Ken Gordon, 2003: “I appreciate the respectful and reasoned tone of your discussion.”

Dave Kopel, 2002 (Rocky Mountain News): “Ari Armstrong . . . works very hard to add original research to his opinion pieces.”