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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- Opinion
D.C. Politicians Have Promised Seniors Trillions in Unpaid Benefits
Medicare is still in trouble. The Medicare Trustees just issued their 2015 report. Like last year’s report, it says that the Hospital Insurance trust fund will enjoy a few years of surpluses, followed by deficits, ending in insolvency in 2030. The trustees’ report is a bracing corrective to the complacency and demagoguery that often mar…Robert Moffit -
- News
DNC Chair Won’t State Difference Between Democrats and Socialists
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz can’t tell the difference between a Democrat and a Socialist. WATCH! Posted by Fox & Friends on Friday, July 31, 2015 Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is the chairwoman of the Democrat National Committee, refused to answer the difference between Democrats and Socialists when appearing on MSNBC program Thursday. “The more…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
Experts Agree: Islamist Terrorism Has Officially “Gone Viral”
The threat posed by Islamist terrorism continues to grow both at home and abroad, according to a panel of experts that met at The Heritage Foundation on July 22. The rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) has resulted in a surge in terrorist activity across the Middle East. Just as strikingly, it has also prompted…Ryan Spaude -
- Opinion
5 Takeaways from Obama Officials on the Iran Deal
Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the (deeply flawed) Iran deal with Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, and Secretary of Treasury Jacob Lew. In preparation for the hearing, The Heritage Foundation published 15 questions the administration needs to clarify. A majority of senators’ questions touched upon…Michaela Dodge -
- Opinion
The Different Social Visions of Liberals and Conservatives
The index before you is more than a book of statistics—more even than a diagnosis of America’s economy and culture. It is first and foremost a corrective to a misguided way of thinking about society that too often holds sway in American politics. >>> Read The Heritage Foundation’s 2015 Index of Culture and Opportunity, which…Yuval Levin -
- Opinion
The Deal’s Financial Lifeline: How Much Iran Will Pocket
One of the most troubling elements of the Iranian nuclear deal is the financial lifeline it throws to Tehran by lifting the punitive economic sanctions slapped on it because of bad behavior on atomic affairs. While estimates vary, we’re talking about Tehran pocketing well north of $100 billion—as a start—on “implementation day,” the point at…Peter Brookes -
- Opinion
Here’s Why the Recent Proposals to Fix Social Security Disability Won’t Solve the Shortfall
The House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing last week on “Promoting Opportunity for Disability Insurance Beneficiaries” to discuss, among other measures, a benefit-offset policy for Social Security disability payments. A benefit-offset policy is expected to increase the earnings and disposable income of disability program beneficiaries, while increasing program costs as the disability…Romina Boccia -
- News
Scott Walker: Those Born After 1967 Are ‘Ready for Reform’ on Social Security, Medicare
Before Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker became an official candidate for president, he told reporters that he would give detailed plans on entitlement reform once he started his official run. While we wait for that speech, Walker did provide a solid hint during an interview with The Daily Signal conducted in Iowa back in April. “I…David Brody -
- Opinion
Greece Disaster Shows Unavoidable Consequences of Socialism
The Greek citizens have rolled the dice and voted overwhelmingly to reject the “austerity” referendum. This was a way for voters to stick a finger in the eye of their creditors. The left around the world has responded to the vote with thunderous applause—and is selling the results as a vote for “the little guy.”…Stephen Moore -
- News
D.C. Council Debates Legalizing Physician-Assisted Suicide
Washington, D.C., may be the next location in the U.S. to approve physician-assisted suicide legislation, providing adults with terminal illnesses and less than six months to live medication to end their lives. On Friday, D.C. Council members held a hearing to discuss the future of this legislation in D.C. and Maryland. The bill was introduced…Diana Stancy -
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3 Tough Questions the Eurozone Will Face Over Greek Financial Crisis
All eyes are on how the eurozone will respond to Greece’s debt crisis. On July 5, Greek voters overwhelming rejected a eurozone deal that would have re-imposed austerity measures on Greece. Following Greece’s referendum, an emergency summit of the eurozone’s 19 finance ministers was called to consider whether Europe will provide additional financial relief to…Alex Anderson -
- Opinion
An End to Colleges’ Racial Discrimination in Admissions?
The U.S. Supreme Court has an opportunity to finally get rid of racial discrimination in college admissions. The court agreed this week to review, for a second time, Abigail Fisher’s case against the University of Texas at Austin in its new term this fall. This comes at a time when racial preferences in college admissions,…Tiffany Bates -
- News
In Under 2 Minutes, Here’s What You Need to Know About Greece’s Financial Crisis
The world has its eyes on Greece right now, as the country’s financial crisis has hit a peak after more than five years of instability. Greece is on the brink of defaulting on a $1.8 billion payment to the International Monetary Fund, which was due at midnight on Wednesday. On Sunday, July 5, Greek voters…Alex Anderson -
- Opinion
Judicial Activism From Supreme Court on Marriage. Here’s How to Respond.
Today is a significant setback for all Americans who believe in the Constitution, the rule of law, democratic self-government, and marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The U.S. Supreme Court got it wrong: It should not have mandated all 50 states to redefine marriage. This is judicial activism: nothing in the…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
Report: Nearly Half of Social Security Disability Beneficiaries Were Overpaid By Government
Waste is a real and pressing issue in Social Security’s disability programs. According to a recent report by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, 44.5 percent of beneficiaries received more money than they were supposed to at some point between 2004 and 2014. Recipients enrolled before October 2003 were overpaid…Romina Boccia -
- Opinion
How This Financial Habit of Millennials Could Increase Inequality
Recent polling shows a big majority of Americans think it will be more difficult for this generation of millennials to achieve the American dream of climbing the economic ladder. That’s probably way too much pessimism, but what is troubling is the early indicators of how young people are faring in the economy and what they…Stephen Moore -
- Opinion
Assessing the Future of the US-UK Special Relationship
The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is a political creation that reflects underlying realities. To assess the future of that relationship, and how the EU will affect it, we need to know how it began. For the relationship to come into being, the U.K. and the U.S. had to meet…Ted Bromund -
- News
Senate Votes to Overhaul NSA ‘Spy’ Program
The Senate approved legislation Tuesday to scale back the federal government’s collection of personal data in the post-9/11 era. Under the USA Freedom Act, the National Security Agency’s bulk data collection program would be terminated, and phone companies would be responsible for retaining customer data. The legislation amends the USA Patriot Act, which provides legal…Kate Scanlon -
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Senate Can’t Strike a Deal on Patriot Act, Forcing NSA Program to Expire
Portions of the USA Patriot Act expired at midnight after the Senate failed to reach a deal. Supporters of the USA Freedom Act, legislation to amend the Patriot Act, had hoped it would serve as a compromise by striking an appropriate balance between security and civil liberties. Opponents argued it was still too intrusive. The…Kate Scanlon -
- Opinion
David Axelrod Evaluates Obama’s Handling of Racial Issues, Inner City Problems
In my first two interviews with former Obama senior advisor David Axelrod, we talked about the growing divide among “Red” and “Blue” America and his predictions for the types of candidates and policy issues most likely to shape the 2016 presidential election. Now, in our final segment, we discuss the impact of racial tensions in places…Genevieve Wood