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
Refuting Big Lie the Left Tells About Pro-Lifers
“It’s … hard to take seriously Republicans’ passionate pleas for this body to defend the existence of an unborn fetus when they seem to care so little about many of the existential threats that are posed to every American after they are born. … It seems that after birth, life matters a little bit less to some…Chuck Donovan -
- Opinion
We Don’t Have a ‘Mass Incarceration Problem’ in America (and Other Myths About Police and Crime)
The tumultuous summer of 2020 prompted Americans to question our country’s criminal justice system. Fueled by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, political leaders and the media used these examples and others to attack police, prosecutors, and the rule of law. Today, we know they peddled a false narrative. Unfortunately, we’re seeing the…Robert B. Bluey -
- Opinion
New York Times Columnist Gets First Freedom Wrong
In her recent guest essay in the New York Times, former Times reporter and columnist Linda Greenhouse accuses Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito of weaponizing religious liberty. In reality, Alito merely issued a plea that religious liberty is provided “special protection” promised by the Constitution. It appears Greenhouse actually believes religious liberty should be relegated…Kelly Shackelford -
- Opinion
A Modern, Americanized Version of a Maoist Struggle Session
Arguing for keeping “presentism” out of history seems like a straightforward argument from an acknowledged history scholar, right? Wrong. Not these days. The president of the American Historical Association, James H. Sweet, published an essay last week arguing that scholars should bar “presentism” from history. Sweet’s column in the American Historical Association magazine, Perspectives on…Jarrett Stepman -
- Opinion
What Released Affidavit Reveals About FBI’s Mar-a-Lago Raid
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that on Aug. 8, the FBI took the unprecedented step of executing a search warrant at former President Donald Trump’s Florida home, Mar-a-Lago. Despite claims by some that they have “seen no evidence that there was any political motivation” behind the raid, many remain skeptical—especially given…Zack Smith -
- Opinion
There Should Be a Republican Tsunami This Fall. But Will It Happen?
The late spring scenario of a massive GOP win—in historic proportions analogous to 1938, 1994, or 2010—is said now to be “iffy.” The left boasts that it now has a chance at keeping the House, with even better odds for maintaining control over the Senate. Polls are all over the place. Now they show generic…Victor Davis Hanson -
- News
Children’s National Hospital Operator Says Hospital Provides Hysterectomies for Minors
A recorded call with Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., indicates the hospital provides “gender-affirming hysterectomies” for 16-year-olds and younger patients, although the hospital is denying it does. The call was recorded by Chaya Raichik, who is behind the popular Libs of TikTok Twitter account. In the call to the Children’s National Hospital, Raichik, who…Gillian Richards -
- Opinion
A Vote-Buying Scheme for Affluent Millennials
“No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” That’s what it says right there in the Constitution. And yet, without any legislation, President Joe Biden now promises to “cancel” up to $10,000 in student loans per borrower ($20,000 for Pell Grant borrowers), limited to those with annual…David Harsanyi -
- News
DC Mayor Says No Virtual Learning, Giving Unvaccinated Black Teens Zero Alternative Options
The District of Columbia does not appear to have a contingency plan for unvaccinated students, who are banned from attending schools in person this fall after the first 20 days, according to comments made by Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser Thursday. During a press conference, Bowser, a Democrat, admitted there are no alternative options, including…Douglas Blair -
- Opinion
Why US Needs to Remain Engaged With Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a U.S. NATO ally situated along the shores of the Black Sea, in a region now top of mind for efforts to deter further Russian aggression and mitigate Chinese influence in southeastern Europe. Strengthening the long-standing U.S.-Bulgaria bilateral relationship provides Sofia with a robust alternative partner in the West to support that nation…Katherine Birch -
- Opinion
The Troubling Backlash to Texas Putting ‘In God We Trust’ Signs in Schools
Texas public schools are beginning to hang posters featuring the national motto, “In God We Trust.” While that hardly seems newsworthy, the intense backlash that the posters have garnered is newsworthy—and points to troubling cultural trends. The posters are the result of a new law, passed by the Texas state Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, a…Arielle Del Turco -
- Opinion
Remembering How Sen. Patrick Leahy Treated Clarence Thomas
When President George H.W. Bush nominated U.S. Appeals Court Judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court in 1991, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa both served on the Senate Judiciary Committee. They still serve there today. But Leahy, who is 82, is not running for reelection this year….Terence Jeffrey -
- Opinion
Broken Promises, Grim Realities: Under Taliban, Prospects Dim for Afghan Women and Girls
The world watched a year ago as Taliban fighters stormed the presidential palace to seize power again in Afghanistan. The swift fall of Kabul came as a shock to many Americans, who for days were told by President Joe Biden and his administration that the capital city remained secure, and that the U.S.-trained Afghan army…Nicole Robinson -
- News
Conservatives Sweep School Board Races Across Florida
School boards in five Florida counties flipped to conservative majorities Tuesday with help from the endorsements of Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican. Miami-Dade County, Sarasota County, Duval County, Martin County, and Clay County held school board elections. The conservative school board candidates in the five counties won their races, resulting in a flip in the…Reagan Reese -
- Opinion
Are We Headed for a Civil War?
I wrote a column in 2011, as the presidential politics of the upcoming year were starting to unfold, with the headline “Why 2012 looks a lot like 1860.” The deep fracturing of the American electorate—remember the tea party?—leading up to the 2012 presidential election was starting to look like what happened in the presidential election…Star Parker -
- Opinion
Canada Is Euthanizing Its Sick and Poor. Welcome to World of Government Health Care.
Many leftists tout Canada’s socialized health care system as something America should emulate, claiming government-run health care is more humane. But it seems Canadian officials are more interested in urging doctors to help patients to kill themselves than to treat them. America’s neighbor to the north has some of the most permissive euthanasia laws in…Douglas Blair -
- Opinion
Insulin Price Caps Aren’t the Answer
Over the past several decades, the federal government has exercised unprecedented control over aspects of American life that our Founders never intended—including your personal medical decisions. As a life-long job creator and small business owner, I know the dangers of an intrusive government. Regulators in the executive branch don’t know what it takes to develop…Rep. Kevin Hern -
- Opinion
How Can the Constitution Be Jettisoned? 2 Writers Share Ideas in New York Times
On Friday, The New York Times published its latest op-ed calling for the end of the Constitution of the United States. The authors, Ryan Doerfler and Samuel Moyn, teach law at Harvard and Yale, respectively. They argue that the left’s progress has been stymied by constitutionalism itself. “The idea of constitutionalism,” they correctly write, “is…Ben Shapiro -
- Opinion
Did American Academy of Pediatrics Just Blink on ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ or Bluff?
In its staring contest with human biology, did the American Academy of Pediatrics just blink? For years, the academy has been a booster for the school-to-sterilization pipeline for kids struggling with their sexed bodies—to the dismay of at least some of its 67,000 members. Of course, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other partisans camouflage…Jay Richards -
- News
Most Americans Support Publicly Funding Pregnancy Resource Centers, Poll Finds
A majority of Americans are voicing their support for maternity homes and pregnancy resource centers three months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, a recent poll revealed. The 85 Fund poll, which was conducted by the Creative Response Concepts, or CRC, Research from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7, found…Samantha Aschieris