U.S. Intelligence Agency News
The Daily Signal provides coverage of intelligence operations, surveillance controversies, and the role of U.S. agencies in national security and civil liberties.
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- News
Bolton: US Has ‘Special Responsibility’ to Constitutional Government in Venezuela
The United States is working to support what national security adviser John Bolton called the “constitutional government” in Venezuela, as two men are laying competing claims to the presidency of the South American nation. Socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro is trying to hold onto power after the United States recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to…Fred Lucas -
- News
Senate Adopts Resolution Saying Judicial Nominees Can Be in Knights of Columbus
GOP Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska introduced a Senate resolution Wednesday providing that it is unconstitutional to disqualify a nominee from public office based on their membership in the Knights of Columbus. The resolution, which The Daily Caller News Foundation obtained in advance of its introduction, comes after Democratic Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and…Kevin Daley -
- Opinion
Don’t Be Fooled: Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘Green New Deal’ Is Crammed With Socialist Goodies
An aide for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., says Warren supports Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s, D-N.Y., “Green New Deal,” further elevating the status of the plan at the highest levels of the Democratic Party. In expressing her support for the plan, Warren joins Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Cory Booker, D-N.J. The Green New Deal has been hailed by…Justin Haskins -
- Opinion
The Green New Deal Is a Trojan Horse for Socialism
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is ready to tax the rich to make her Green New Deal a reality. “People are going to have to start paying their fair share in taxes,” the recently elected New York Democrat told TV show “60 Minutes” in an interview set to air Sunday. Speaking of prior decades’ taxation rates in…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Former NFL Player Burgess Owens Decries Socialists, Says ‘Black Elitists’ Letting Down Black Community
Former NFL player Burgess Owens said socialism and Marxism are pushing an “anti-white” and “anti-American” agenda that’s hurting the black community. Owens was discussing the NFL’s ratings boost as national anthem protests begin to fade and said America is fighting for its soul. “The biggest takeaway from the last two years—we are in the fight for the heart and soul…Nick Givas -
- Opinion
Sweden Isn’t Socialist
For years, I’ve heard American leftists say Sweden is proof that socialism works, that it doesn’t have to turn out as badly as the Soviet Union or Cuba or Venezuela did. But that’s not what Swedish historian Johan Norberg says in a new documentary and Stossel TV video. “Sweden is not socialist—because the government doesn’t…John Stossel -
- Opinion
New Mexico’s New Physician-Assisted Suicide Bill Would Hurt the Entire Country. Here’s Why.
An earlier version of this op-ed and its headline misrepresented HB 90 as opening the door for “suicide tourism.” Although the bill’s language in this regard is somewhat ambiguous, it does not remove the current residency requirement in New Mexico. A new bill introduced in New Mexico could make our culture even more dangerous for…Monica Burke -
- Opinion
Thanks to Senate Democrats, Our Judicial Vacancy Crisis Is More Out of Order Than Ever Before
Some people in government don’t even need a shutdown to avoid work. Consider how Senate Democrats are handling President Trump’s judicial nominees. Or, to be more precise, not handling them. Just before the Christmas break, The Hill reported, Democrats vowed to “reject any end-of-the-year deal on judicial nominations, signaling they’ll toe a tougher line on court appointments amid…Ed Feulner -
- News
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd Keeps ‘Climate Deniers’ Off His Hourlong Global Warming Special
NBC’s “Meet the Press” devoted the full hour of its Sunday program to talk about climate change, and the show focused the bulk of its time discussing the matter with a who’s who of climate activists. MSNBC host Chuck Todd kicked off the program with a promise to the audience: the show will avoid debating the science…Chris White -
- Opinion
3 Times Special Prosecutors Were Fired
Democrats and a few Republicans—most notably among the latter outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona—have pushed legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by the president. For his part, President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted he doesn’t intend to fire Mueller. Still, critics of the president are not convinced. The legislation isn’t…Fred Lucas -
- News
Democrats Question Judicial Nominee About Membership in Catholic Association
Two Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pressing a nominee for the Nebraska federal trial court about his membership in the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal service organization of the Catholic Church. Democratic Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Kamala Harris of California submitted written questions in December to Brian Buescher, an Omaha lawyer nominated to the U.S. District Court for…Kevin Daley -
- Opinion
By Democrats’ Own Standard, We Have a Judicial Vacancy Crisis
Words like “crisis” are in the eye of the political beholder. But it’s hard to pick a better one to describe the current state of vacancies in the federal courts. Today, 126 positions on the U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals are vacant. In fact, we’re in the longest period of triple-digit vacancies…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
The Breakdown of Family and Religion Explains France’s Social Unrest
As France is gripped by civil disorder, many commentators identify, quite correctly, as the culprit the outsized burden that France’s bloated welfare state places on its citizens. According a recent report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the highest tax burden in the industrialized world is in France—46.1 percent of gross domestic product….Star Parker -
- Opinion
France Protests Are Warning to American Politicians Who Ignore Forgotten Man
The European elites can’t be happy with what is happening in France. Over the last month, hundreds of thousands of angry French citizens have joined in “yellow vest” protests, initially sparked by proposed carbon taxes on fuel. This weekend, protester turnout was down, but the violence was up. While the destructive rioting should be deplored,…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
What the New Socialists in Congress Need to Know About Poverty
In a few short weeks, America will welcome the 116th Congress. Among the loud and celebrated voices in the new Congress are those who not only accept socialism as a viable option for America, but also those who celebrate their ties to organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America. Incoming Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New…Xavier Underwood -
- Opinion
Our Ignorance of Socialism Is Dangerous
A recent Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation survey found that 51 percent of American millennials would rather live in a socialist or communist country than in a capitalist country. Only 42 percent prefer the latter. Twenty-five percent of millennials who know who Vladimir Lenin was view him favorably. Lenin was the first premier of the…Walter E. Williams -
- News
Flake Continues to Hold Judicial Confirmations Hostage to Vote on Mueller Protection Bill
Retiring Sen. Jeff Flake is staying true to his pledge to not advance judicial nominees in the Senate Judiciary Committee, unless a bill that would prevent President Donald Trump from firing special counsel Robert Mueller gets a Senate vote. “It is not productive,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, per Politico. “One of the greatest substantive…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Where Trump’s Judicial Picks Stand at the End of This Congress
The 115th Congress is almost finished, with the Senate expected to adjourn by Dec. 14. What does that mean for the process of filling positions in the judicial and executive branches? First, here’s how it usually works. The majority and minority typically agree to confirm a group of nominees in the last few days of…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
A Lesson in Racial Politics From Florida
Now that, finally, the elections in Florida have reached a conclusion, there are lessons worth learning. One is on the subject of race. There was a fateful anomaly in racial voting in the governor’s race between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Rick DeSantis, now Florida’s governor-elect. Given that Gillum, formerly mayor of Tallahassee, was running…Star Parker -
- Opinion
We Hear You: Recounting Votes, Feeding Anti-Semitism, and Promoting Socialism
Editor's note: Here we go again with election recounts in Florida, and The Daily Signal's audience is none too pleased. This week's mailbag begins with some of those comments. Remember to write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Once again we see the double standard, as Fred Lucas reports on the Florida recounts (“Trump…Ken McIntyre