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
Lorie Smith Goes to Washington Fighting to ‘Create and Design’ Consistent With Her Faith
WASHINGTON — The United States Supreme Court took up a momentous free speech case on Monday, one dealing with graphic designer Lorie Smith and her desire to speak and work consistent with her faith. Smith spoke with The Daily Signal outside the Supreme Court following Monday's oral arguments. "I am a graphic and website designer…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Republican Women Offer Real Solutions for Empowering Women in Need
Many of today’s young families do not remember the 1970s—its wrap-around-the-block gas lines or spirit-crushing inflation. But they are beginning to understand why it is considered one of the low points in the American economic psyche: because history is coming close to repeating itself. Today, the cost of food at home is up 13.1%. Groceries…Lynn Fitch -
- Opinion
ACLU Now Sides With Government Against First Amendment Rights
The American Civil Liberties Union is a leftist organization, not one that defends free speech. That’s what was revealed in an op-ed by David Cole, the ACLU’s legal director, published Monday in The New York Times in reference to the Supreme Court case called 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis. In July 2021, the 10th U.S….Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
What Democrats Are Trying to Pass Before Their House Majority Ends
Democrats are in a mad scramble to push through unpopular legislation before the clock strikes midnight on the 117th Congress. The lame-duck session is the period between November’s congressional elections and the convening of the new 118th Congress on Jan. 3. With some Republican help, Democrats in the Senate passed the so-called Respect for Marriage Act,…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
If You Really Wanted to Destroy US, You’d Do These 10 Things
First, you would surrender our prior energy independence. Reduce new gas and oil leases on federal lands to the lowest levels of any president in history. Cut back production at precisely the time the world is emerging from a two-year lockdown with pent-up consumer demand. Make war on coal and nuclear power. Drain the Strategic…Victor Davis Hanson -
- Opinion
What George Will and Karl Rove Get Wrong About Populist Conservatism
Are modern conservatives just unthinking rubes who want to be angry? That was the tenor of a discussion Wednesday on the “future of conservatism” featuring former George W. Bush strategist Karl Rove and columnist George Will, who announced that he’d left the Republican Party in 2016. The event was sponsored in part by the Lyndon…Jarrett Stepman -
- News
Democrats’ ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ Myth Debunked Again in Georgia Runoff
For James Newton, an African American voter in Atlanta, early voting is a tough sell. “I always vote on Election Day. I like the excitement of it,” Newton told The Daily Signal after voting at a church on Election Day in November. “For me, it’s like showing up to a ballgame. You want all the…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
4 Charts Expose Feds’ Hypocrisy: Cracking Down on Taxpayers While Own Improper Payments Go Unchecked
The Inflation Reduction Act gives the IRS an additional $80 billion to hire 87,000 more agents with the hope of bringing in about $200 billion in additional tax revenues over the next 10 years. But in 2021 alone, the federal government spent $279 billion of taxpayers' money on improper payments. This glaring double standard—cracking down…Rachel Greszler -
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‘I Don’t Trust BlackRock’s Ability to Deliver’: Florida’s CFO to Divest $2B in Investments
Another state on Thursday announced that it would begin divesting its assets currently managed by investment giant BlackRock, accusing it of “[leaning] heavily into Environmental, Social, and Governance standards.” “As Florida’s chief financial officer, it’s my responsibility to get the best returns possible for taxpayers. The more effective we are in investing dollars to generate…Samantha Aschieris -
- Opinion
Iranian Arms Sales to Moscow Benefit Tehran, Too
Press reports suggest that Iran—in addition to already providing armed drones to Russia—is in the process of transferring short-range ballistic missiles, such as its Fateh and Zolfaghar systems, to support Moscow’s unjust war in Ukraine. If true, that’s deeply troubling. Those expected Iranian ballistic missile transfers to the Kremlin would allow Russia to continue its…Peter Brookes -
- Opinion
Propaganda Trumps Sports for Iran’s World Cup Team
All soccer teams worry about what happens during a match, but Iran’s World Cup team is much more concerned about what happens afterward. Iran’s ruthless rulers reportedly threatened the Iranian players with severe punishment if they criticized the Islamist regime’s ongoing crackdown on political protests. After Iran’s team lost Tuesday to the U.S. team, Iran’s…James Phillips -
- Opinion
Why This Graphic Designer Can’t Be Forced to Endorse Same-Sex Marriage
The Supreme Court next week will consider whether Colorado may use a state law to require someone to express someone else’s message. The case to be argued Monday, called 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, concerns graphic artist and website designer Lorie Smith, who also is a devout Christian. Smith’s faith, in fact, was part of…Aaron Martin -
- Opinion
‘Profound Consequences’: Sen. Mike Lee Outlines How Respect for Marriage Act Will Affect People of Faith
This is a lightly edited transcript of remarks Sen. Mike Lee delivered before his amendment to the so-called Respect for Marriage Act was voted on. That amendment failed in a 48-49 vote Tuesday. Shortly after, the Senate passed the Respect for Marriage Act. Madame President, today, as popular winds blow against the man and woman…Daily Signal Staff -
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What I Saw Attending College in ‘The People’s Republic of Boulder’
Decades ago, KGB spy Yuri Bezmenov defected to America and exposed a four-step plan the Soviets engineered to bring down the United States: demoralization, destabilization, crisis, and normalization. Demoralization was the first and most critical step, and it involved infiltrating the institutions upon which our society was built. Although the Soviet Union is long gone,…Alex Gage -
- Opinion
Radical ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Could Spell End of Religious Tax Exemptions
In just a couple of hours, the Senate is gearing up for a final vote on the misnamed “Respect for Marriage Act.” The vote is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. EST with the full Senate voting on the First Amendment Defense Act amendment from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and two other amendments from Sen….Emma Waters -
- Opinion
Question Fools Don’t Ask of ‘Experts’: ‘What Is the Price?’
What would you think of a person who never asked the price of anything he or she bought? You would assume the person was inordinately wealthy. But if the person wasn’t, you would dismiss him as a fool, and you would certainly never ask this person for advice about how to spend your money. Yet,…Dennis Prager -
- Opinion
Focus on the Family Blamed for Club Q Shooting Despite Jim Daly Condemnation, Suspect’s Nonbinary Identity
Earlier this month, a gunman opened fire at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing five and injuring 25 others. Despite the suspect's identifying as "nonbinary" and going by "Mx. Anderson Lee Aldrich" in court documents, many on the Left blamed conservatives and Christians for the attack, and vandals targeted one prominent…Tyler O’Neil -
- News
Appeals Court Clears Way for Challenge of California Election Laws
A typically left-leaning federal appeals court based in San Francisco ruled last week that a group advocating election reforms has legal standing to sue over California’s election laws. The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears the way for Election Integrity Project California, along with recent and future congressional candidates in the…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
True Diversity Is Viewpoint Diversity, and It Allows All of Us to Show Up
Diversity emphases are popping up everywhere from business to academia. One of the top business schools in the country, Wharton, is going to offer a diversity major for students. The Wall Street Journal is reporting more companies are trying new tactics to add greater diversity to their supply chains. As a black woman who immigrated…Patrice Onwuka -
- News
Walmart’s Walton Family Funds Drag Queen Shows, Gender Ideology for Kids
Second- and third-generation heirs of Walmart founder Sam Walton’s fortune have funneled millions of dollars into LGBTQ-related causes in their home state of Arkansas. Among other things, these Walton-funded groups and the Walmart Foundation have sponsored local drag shows and story hours for kids; “teens only” events for LGBTQ-identifying youth; and other progressive causes such…Gillian Richards