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
Lesson From Tennessee: School Spending Should Be More Transparent, Help Children With Special Needs
Two Anderson County, Tennessee, school employees were indicted in February on charges of stealing $10,000 from a local school. Just weeks after that, the office of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury announced that the head of the Parent Teacher Association at Kingston Elementary School had misappropriated nearly $20,000, and investigators are reviewing an additional…Jonathan Butcher -
- News
State Financial Officers Urge Biden to Prioritize American Energy
President Joe Biden should prioritize American energy independence and end reliance on adversaries such as Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, 27 state financial officers say in a letter Tuesday to the president. In their letter, they urge Biden to consider the consequences of foreign energy dependence for U.S. businesses and consumers. “Policies implemented during the last…Maggie Hroncich -
- Opinion
How Socialist Policies Destroyed His Home Country of Venezuela
Two decades ago, Venezuela was a thriving country. Today, Venezuela is ranked 176th on The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, just above North Korea. How did Venezuela fall from prosperity so quickly? How did socialist policies affect the nation’s economy? Is there any hope for its future? Jorge Galicia, a refugee from Venezuela and…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Don’t Let Biden Hijack Global Magnitsky Act for Left-Wing Social Agendas
Congress is considering several bills that would warp how the U.S. applies sanctions—through the Global Magnitsky Act—against foreigners who violate human rights. The changes would redefine human rights to enforce the left’s abortion-and-gender agenda. That would hobble the fight against real abuses of human rights. This problem has already appeared in trade bills related to Russia…Grace Melton -
- News
Sen. Rick Scott: GOP Must Be More Than ‘Speed Bump’ on Road to Socialism
The “militant left” has gained control of virtually every one of the nation’s institutions, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Thursday, arguing that Republicans have to be more than a “speed bump on the road to America’s socialism and collapse.” “I’m a business guy,” Scott said in outlining an 11-point plan for conservative governance during a…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Biden’s Bid to Transform Federal Judiciary in Full Swing
President Joe Biden took office in January 2021 with clear instructions about undoing his predecessor’s impact on the federal judiciary. Weeks earlier, more than 70 liberal groups issued a statement urging Biden to appoint judges who would advance “the administration’s priorities” on a range of issues. Their demand became Biden’s plan and, while a lot…Thomas Jipping -
- News
Finnish Court Clears Christian Politician, Bishop of ‘Hate Speech’ Charges
A Finnish court has dismissed all charges against a Christian member of Parliament and a bishop charged under Finland’s “hate speech” and “ethnic agitation” law for supporting traditional marriage. The court ordered the government to reimburse the two. In a unanimous ruling Wednesday, the Helsinki District Court determined that it isn’t its job “to interpret biblical…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Biden’s Regulatory Blitz a Massive Tax, Especially Harming Seniors and Low-Income Americans
Public attention is understandably focused these days on the inflationary effects of massive government spending, which has increased the national debt by $7 trillion in the past two years. No less dire are the repercussions of the Biden administration’s radical regulatory agenda. The president’s 2022 regulatory to-do list includes 2,678 “active” actions, which exceeds by…Diane Katz -
- Opinion
What the Confirmation Hearing Told Us About Judge Jackson’s Judicial Philosophy
“I do not have a judicial philosophy, per se,” Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson told the Senate Judiciary Committee last year. This week, the committee held its hearing on her nomination to replace Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and identifying her judicial philosophy and measuring it against how America’s Founders designed the judiciary is necessary for…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
Kansas Weighs Protecting Rights of Children, Families in Education
Special-interest groups don’t want parents to know when a student in Kansas public schools “identifies as” a gender not aligned with his or her biological sex. And school officials are prepared to keep this information from families, even when it involves children who are minors. Now, Kansas lawmakers are considering a proposal to create a…Jonathan Butcher -
- Opinion
Sleepwalking Into a Chinese-Style Social Credit System
While the world fixates on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a huge threat is gathering here at home. As Canada demonstrated, Western governments and tech companies are mobilizing to cut off mainstream Americans from public life and constrain their private lives. Actions like protesting government overreach, expressing “anti-authority” ideologies, or even sharing “disinformation” on social media…Kara Frederick -
- Opinion
How Heritage’s Budget Blueprint Would Make Social Security Solvent, Better Deal for Workers
Social Security is extremely popular, but most people don’t realize how much more income and opportunity they could have without Social Security’s high taxes, lack of ownership, and limits on when people can access money and how much they can receive. Moreover, Social Security has long been unsustainable. Beginning just 11 years from now, Social…Rachel Greszler -
- Opinion
8 Ways Heritage Foundation’s 2022 Budget Blueprint Strengthens Financial Health, Economic Vitality, National Security
The Heritage Foundation on Feb. 22 unveiled its Budget Blueprint for 2022, and with more than 200 specific policy proposals accompanied by analysis from Heritage experts, it contains a wealth of information for both policymakers and the public. The Budget Blueprint is about much more than just numbers. It addresses America’s most pressing problems and…David Ditch -
- News
America ‘Not Going Down Socialist Road,’ Rep. Byron Donalds Vows
The warnings about creeping socialism appear to be true, Rep. Byron Donalds says, invoking politicians on the far left such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “In 2020, when we were telling the world that the radical Democrats believed in socialism, the media said we were lying. They said it was a joke….Fred Lucas -
- News
Clinton, Trump, and 6 Keys to What’s Next in Special Counsel’s Spying Probe
A single court filing has created immense buzz in a Justice Department special counsel’s case against a former Hillary Clinton campaign lawyer. Clinton and the indicted lawyer, Michael Sussmann, were both dismissive of the revelation in special counsel John Durham’s filings. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump says Durham’s allegation proves his long-standing claim that he…Fred Lucas -
- News
5 Things to Know About Special Counsel’s Finding That Clinton Campaign Spied on Trump, White House
Electronic political espionage that allegedly infiltrated White House computer servers “should shock everyone regardless of who controls the White House,” and the crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, said Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation. The recent court filing by special counsel John Durham alleges that…Fred Lucas -
- News
Biden Officials Brief Senators on Russia’s Confrontation With Ukraine
Top Biden administration officials gave a classified briefing to senators Thursday about a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. The briefing came a day after President Joe Biden ordered almost 3,000 U.S. troops to shield Poland and Romania, two allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Ukraine is not a NATO member, though it would like…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Trans Health Association Recommends Mental Health Assessment Before Teens Transition. The New York Times Isn’t Convinced.
In an incredible twist, The New York Times appears to at least kind of acknowledge the idea that transgender teens may “need therapy before hormones,” a concept that conservatives have been warning about for years. In a recent article, the newspaper of note says, “Clinicians are divided over new guidelines that say teens should undergo…Nicole Russell -
- News
Chicago Schools Tell Teachers Sex Is ‘Socially Constructed,’ Tell Them to Hide Students’ Gender Pronouns From Parents
A Chicago Public Schools training program tells teachers that sex is a “socially constructed” phenomenon and instructs them to hide students’ gender pronouns from their parents, Fox News reported. Chicago Public Schools told teachers that “gender and sex” are social constructs that have been “created and enforced” by society and threatened retaliatory measures if they…Kendall Tietz -
- Opinion
Democrats Rushed to ‘Reimagine’ Policing in Washington State. Now It’s Unsafe.
SEATTLE—Democrats in Washington state rode the wave of anti-police sentiment after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Their goal was to “reimagine policing,” and it’s exactly what they did. Consequently, Washington experienced a surge of violent crime. Now Republicans, and even some Democrats, are rushing to fix as much as possible. With total control…Jason Rantz