Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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- Opinion
FTX Meltdown Isn’t Failure of Capitalism
In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous Sherlock Holmes tale “Silver Blaze,” the detective investigates the case of a murder of a horse trainer. At first, investigators presume that the murderer of the trainer must have been a stranger to him. But Holmes cracks the case with the revelation that a watchdog remained silent the night…Ben Shapiro -
- News
5 Key Moments From Mayorkas’ and Wray’s Hill Testimony
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before a House panel on Tuesday, just days after Chris Magnus was forced to resign, according to reports, from his post as Customs and Border Protection commissioner. The House Homeland Security Committee hearing also featured FBI Director Christopher Wray and National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid. They fielded questions…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
Nevada’s Vote-by-Mail System Is a Total Disaster
2020 was the first time Nevada’s elections were conducted by mass vote by mail. 2020 should have been the last time Nevada relied on the United States post office to run an election. The warning signs were there. Photos from 2020 showed mail ballots blowing in the winds on Nevada roads. Some went to vacant lots and…J. Christian Adams -
- News
Growing List of Illinois Counties Vote to Leave Illinois, Form New State
A growing list of Illinois counties disenfranchised with the goings-on in Cook County have voted in nonbinding resolutions to leave Illinois and form a new state. Residents in three more counties—Brown, Hardin, and a portion of Madison County—voted in favor of a nonbinding resolution allowing their county board to explore the possibility of leaving the…Kevin Bessler -
- Opinion
Democrats’ ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Would Hurt Children
Control of the U.S. Senate has been decided and now we hear that Senate Democrats have scheduled a vote Wednesday on the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act, in hopes of legislatively cementing the mother- and father-loss that the Supreme Court’s Obergefell ruling endorsed seven years ago. With Obergefell, the Supreme Court made gay marriage the…Katy Faust -
- News
‘Country Wants Different Direction From House,’ Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs Says of Bid for Speaker
Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., will mount a challenge to Rep. Kevin McCarthy to become leader of House Republicans and most likely speaker of the House, Biggs announced on Monday. “I think the country wants a different direction from the House of Representatives,” Biggs said in a Newsmax appearance Monday night. “It’s a new world, and, yes, I’m…Arjun Singh -
- Opinion
Collegiate Alumni Donations: What Are We Giving To?
I read a news report about a group of woke Yale students who burst into a panel discussion on civil liberties hosted by the Federalist Society on campus back in March and tried to shout down and intimidate the speakers—who had to be escorted out by the police. This kind of activity on campus has…Adam Novak -
- Opinion
GOP Hints at Top-Down Leadership Shake-Up
Republicans haven’t won the House yet, but the media is already salivating over the next election—for GOP leadership. While a handful of districts are still up for grabs, the headlines are full of juicy gossip that Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is in for a rocky road to the speakership if his party wins back…Suzanne Bowdey -
- News
Kevin McCarthy Will Face Freedom Caucus Challenger, Biggs Spox Says
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy will face a challenger from the Freedom Caucus, a spokesman for Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., told The Daily Signal on Monday. Biggs has not clarified whether he will be that challenger. His spokesman Matthew Tragesser would only share that “McCarthy doesn’t have the votes to become [House] speaker and he’ll…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Time for G-20 to End Empty, Diplomatic Theater and Act
No immediate task is more important for this week’s meeting of the world’s leading affluent nations than acting with unity to reconstruct Ukraine and revitalize the global economy. The Leaders’ Summit of the Group of Twenty nations, or G-20, will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, hosted in Bali by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. This year’s…Anthony B. Kim -
- Opinion
How Florida Became New Capital of Red State America
In what was an overall frustrating election night for Republicans, in which the oft-predicted “red wave” failed to materialize nationally, there was one state above all that provided a clear beacon of hope. That would be my adopted state of Florida. In the Sunshine State last Tuesday evening, Gov. Ron DeSantis cruised to a second…Josh Hammer -
- Opinion
America’s Electoral System Is Suffering From a Credibility Crisis
Defying all predictions of a photo finish Senate race, Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman won 50.3% of the vote to Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz’s 47.3%. The unexpectedly large margin helped avoid a midterm meltdown. But don’t be deceived; that margin masks major electoral system dysfunction that remains unaddressed. If the margins had been narrower, things might have looked…Jason Snead -
- Opinion
America’s Fourth World Vote System Is a Global Embarrassment
The whole world is laughing. “US election results: When will we know who won?” the BBC wondered. AZCentral.com columnist Jon Gabriel wrote: “Friends in Hungary and Brazil asked how their entire nations can count votes in a few hours, while it takes Arizona a week or longer.” As of early Friday afternoon, America’s voting system…Deroy Murdock -
- Opinion
Tuesday Takeaways
What, if anything, did the midterms tell us about the country—other than underwhelming Republicans could still take the House and Senate? During the COVID-19 lockdowns, American elections radically changed to mail-in and early voting. They did so in a wild variety of state-by-state ways. Add ranked voting and a required majority margin to the mess…Victor Davis Hanson -
- News
4 Keys to Understanding Why This Arizona County Still Has Election Problems
On Election Day, Cathi Herrod received calls and emails about problems in Arizona’s Maricopa County about voting machines not accepting ballots, ballot tabulators being broken, and other questions regarding paper ballots. “Voters are skittish in Maricopa County about election integrity,” Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative think tank, told The Daily…Fred Lucas -
- News
Sports Star to Be Jailed 10 Months for ‘Transphobic’ Message That ‘God Created Adam and Eve’
One of the most legendary soccer players of his time received a jail sentence and a fine for posting “transphobic” social media messages citing the Bible’s creation account. “God created Adam and Eve,” wrote retired Greek football legend Vassilis Tsiartas in the second of two Facebook posts opposing a 2017 law that would have lowered the age…Ben Johnson -
- Opinion
Pollster Breaks Down Red Washout
As the two sides try to make sense of Tuesday’s surprises, Americans can agree on one thing: There were plenty of successes and disappointments to go around. Republicans and Democrats will both walk away discouraged about certain assumptions they carried into this week—and they are equal parts proud and reassured by other obstacles they overcame. By…Suzanne Bowdey -
- Opinion
Nevada Poised to Pass a ‘Trojan Horse for Gender Ideology,’ Critics Warn
Nevadans appear to have voted in favor of a new version of the Equal Rights Amendment to the state constitution, and for the first time, the amendment includes explicit language on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Critics warn that the new amendment will prove to be a “Trojan horse for gender ideology” that…Tyler O’Neil -
- Opinion
Understanding the Red Fizzle
There was no red wave. There was no red tide. There was no red trickle. There was a fizzle. The 2022 midterm election fundamentals would have suggested a ringing Republican victory: an unpopular president of the opposing party, deep public unhappiness with the state of the economy, unified Democratic control in Congress, and radical social…Ben Shapiro -
- Opinion
Midterms 2022: What We Know and What We Don’t Know
As results from Election Day continue to trickle in, it’s still not clear whether Republicans or Democrats will control the next House and Senate, and by how much. However, it’s clear that Republicans suffered both major wins and major losses in midterm elections across the nation. “Some of the big wins we saw in Florida….Samantha Aschieris