Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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news
Here Are the 55 Republicans Who Voted Against Speaker Johnson’s Foreign Aid Scheme
House Speaker Mike Johnson lost more than 25% of his Republican conference Friday on a procedural vote to advance four foreign aid bills. The measure passed, 316-94, thanks to the support of Democrats, who typically oppose the majority party’s rules. In this case, however, Johnson, R-La., won the backing of 165 Democrats compared to 151… -
news
Montana Hit With Lawsuit Over Sex-Change Policy for Birth Certificates, Driver’s Licenses
Two transgender people sued Montana on Thursday, challenging a state policy that bars residents from changing the sex designations on their birth certificates unless they meet certain criteria. Jessica Kalarchik and an individual identified only as “Jane Doe” are listed as plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging a state policy that, they argue, makes it “impossible” for transgender… -
opinion
Differences Among States Are a Plus, Not a Bug, in Our System
If those in federal office are willing to pay attention, the states are displaying the best—and the worst—of our republican form of government. Every four years, American citizens get the opportunity to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, endorse a policy agenda for the nation, and hold the occupant of… -
news
Speaker Johnson’s Shrewd Plan to Pass Biden’s Foreign Aid Package, Explained
A proposed House rule faces a crucial vote Friday in the latest showdown between Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican lawmakers. The rule would combine four unrelated foreign aid bills into a single legislative package—an approach favored by President Joe Biden but long resisted by conservatives. Johnson, R-La., has pledged that lawmakers will get to vote… -
opinion
Want a Faith-Filled Nation Back? Build the Family
There’s a direct link between being raised in a family with a mom and dad present and a commitment to faith, according to the president and founder of Communio, a nonprofit that equips churches to work for the renewal of healthy relationships, marriages, and the family. “Many pastors don’t know that 80% of everybody sitting… -
opinion
An American Foreign Policy That Benefits America
In his latest book, “The Last Best Hope,” political risk analyst John Hulsman offers a succinct, understandable guide to uniting the disparate wings of conservatism behind a realist foreign policy. While pitched at the interested layman rather than foreign policy nerds, Hulsman’s vignettes might even teach the most savvy readers a new thing or two…. -
news
House Democrats Vow to Codify ‘Rights’ to Trans Surgeries, Hormones, Puberty Blockers
House Democrats released an agenda Thursday that includes a vow to codify a right to so-called gender-affirming care—transgender surgeries, hormones, and puberty blockers. The promise came within the Congressional Progressive Caucus’ agenda, which House Democrats first shared with NBC News. That agenda includes a slew of left-wing interests, including promises of a higher minimum wage… -
opinion
Examining the High Costs and Questionable Gains of ‘Green’ Policies as Earth Day Approaches
As we approach Earth Day, it is time to evaluate how green policies have performed. One such policy is the New Jersey bag ban, which was ostensibly designed to tackle plastic pollution, requiring stores over 2,500 square feet in size to replace disposable plastic bags with reusable ones. The ban bag is an example of… -
opinion
The Kill Switch
Soon the government might shut down your car. President Joe Biden’s new “bipartisan infrastructure law” gives bureaucrats that power. You probably didn’t hear about that because when media covered it, few mentioned the requirement that by 2026, every American car must “monitor” the driver, determine if he is impaired, and, if so, “limit vehicle operation.”… -
news
California’s High-Speed Rail Project Far From Finished, but It Is Putting Money in Unions’ Coffers
Democratic officials are throwing billions at California high-speed rail projects that have yet to be built, funding thousands of jobs specifically for union members. Despite funding initially being approved by a referendum in 2008, the California High-Speed Rail project currently has less than a quarter of its expected length under construction and was initially supposed… -
opinion
Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Allowing Boys in Girls Sports
What does it take for a federal court to reach the outcome it wants—instead of the outcome that the law demands? Apparently, just some creative judicial gymnastics. That’s what happened Tuesday with a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit when it overturned a lower court decision and struck… -
news
Republicans Slam Democrats for Dismissing Mayorkas Impeachment Case
The Senate voted along party lines Wednesday afternoon to dismiss the House’s impeachment case against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Within a few hours, congressional Republicans’ yearlong effort to investigate and hold President Joe Biden’s appointee accountable for the crisis of illegal immigration at the southern border ended. “Democrats concluded that Joe Biden and Alejandro… -
opinion
Don’t Look to Baby Boomers for Wisdom About Romance
Where are our wise elders? Reality TV stars Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, who charmed Americans on “The Golden Bachelor,” announced Friday that their marriage was over, just three months after 7 million watched their emotional wedding. “I truly thought it was going to last forever,” Nist wrote of her marriage in an Instagram post… -
news
This Soros-Funded DA Faces Recall Vote as Crime Ravages Blue County
An effort to recall a progressive, George Soros-funded district attorney in California has received enough signatures from voters to advance amid an upswing in crime, officials say. Organizers seeking to oust Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price collected 74,757 verified signatures in support of their effort to hold a recall election, over 1,000 more than… -
opinion
NPR Host’s Bid to Discredit Dissident Ex-Colleague Is an Epic Fail
National Public Radio senior editor Uri Berliner has been suspended for his unauthorized critique of the insular liberal bias of his network. NPR star and “Morning Edition” host Steve Inskeep took to his Substack blog to slam Berliner’s article as “filled with errors and omissions.” (Editor’s note: Berliner on Wednesday submitted his resignation from the… -
opinion
Joining UAW Would Be Loser for Volkswagen Employees
Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will vote this week on whether to join the United Auto Workers, and President Joe Biden is trying to help. Last month, Biden said, “I congratulate the Volkswagen autoworkers in Chattanooga who filed for a union election with the UAW.” The vote comes right after Tax Day, and union dues would represent another… -
opinion
A Celebrated Atheist’s Surprising Revelation on Christianity
For decades, avowed atheist Richard Dawkins has built a small industry attacking biblical Christianity and Christians, authoring books such as “The God Delusion.” That’s why so many were surprised by his recent statement proclaiming himself “a cultural Christian.” “And so you know, I love hymns and Christmas carols, and I sort of feel at home in the Christian… -
news
EXCLUSIVE: Congressman Calls on House to Pass Bill Banning Earmarks
Rep. Ralph Norman reintroduced a bill Wednesday aimed at stopping a form of federal spending known as earmarks. “I’ve always said that earmarks are evil,” Norman, R-N.C. told The Daily Signal. “They are sneaky in the way that they get tacked onto big, important spending packages to be automatically passed by the ‘uniparty’ with… -
opinion
Bill Aims to Stop Illegal Aliens From Squatting in US Homes
A new bill in Congress would stop illegal aliens from squatting in U.S. homes. “We’re trying to get out in front of it to protect American homeowners,” Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., says. Leonel Moreno, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, recently went viral on social media after a video post explaining how to take advantage of… -
news
Apologies for Government Response to COVID-19 Not Good Enough, Witnesses Say
America can’t move on from what happened during the mass government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That was the message Tuesday at a House Judiciary Committee subcomittee hearing titled “Liberty, Tyranny, and Accountability: COVID-19 and the Constitution.” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said the government response to the pandemic triggered “some of the most aggressive usurpations…