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
Texas Heartbeat Act Again Before Supreme Court. Here’s What You Need to Know.
The Texas Heartbeat Act, known as SB 8, is once again up for consideration before the Supreme Court as a result of two consolidated cases. Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson and United States v. Texas—scheduled for oral arguments on Monday—will require the court to consider whether the federal government can sue to enforce the right… -
opinion
Virginia Parents Standing Up to Loudoun County School Board Should Inspire Parents Everywhere
Who should make decisions about how children should be educated? The obvious answer—consistent with American democratic values—is clear: parents. The alternative is unavoidably tyrannical. Indeed, the question of who our children fundamentally belong to has come to define our modern political divide. “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,” said… -
opinion
3 Things to Know About Biden’s Trip to ‘Fantasy’ COP26 Climate Summit
Hundreds of world leaders, activists, and researchers are on their way to Glasgow, Scotland, for an annual summit on climate change. But Steven Groves, a Heritage Foundation research fellow, says the gathering is based on a “global fantasy.” The summit is the product of a “global fantasy that there can be a solution reached by… -
news
Nation in ‘Energy Crisis,’ White House Adviser Says
A top White House official said there was an “energy crisis” in the U.S. and urged foreign fossil-fuel producers to ramp up production to quell it. “We see this as an energy crisis because this is not just natural gas prices that have been elevated, but crude oil is at very high levels at the… -
opinion
As US Reopens Travel From Europe, Why Is Romania Still Not in Visa Waiver Program?
The Biden administration’s recent announcement that travel restrictions from Europe would be eased for vaccinated travelers was long overdue. As trans-Atlantic air travel stands to pick up again in earnest, the continued exclusion of some European NATO allies—Romania, in particular—from the Visa Waiver Program remains a glaring omission in need of a swift solution. The… -
opinion
G-20 Needs a Freedom and Prosperity Agenda More Than Ever
The first in-person gathering of the world’s 20 biggest economies, the Group of 20, since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic will take place in Rome, Italy, from Oct. 30 to 31. To say the least, the summit should not be business as usual. Regrettably, there’s reason to believe that the meeting will fail to address… -
opinion
The Ignoble Lie
In a controversial passage in Plato’s “Republic,” Socrates introduced the idea of the “noble lie” (gennaios pseudos). A majestic fiction, he says, could sometimes serve society by persuading uninformed citizens of something good for them. Ever since, many prevaricators have used the excuse that they lied for the common good. Take Dr. Anthony Fauci, our… -
opinion
We Should All Know the Name Henrietta Lacks
On a hot summer day, Aug. 1, 1920, a woman named Henrietta Lacks was born in Roanoke, Virginia. Though blessed with the gift of life, she was not blessed with the fruits of good fortune. At the tender age of 4, her mother died while giving birth to her 10th child. Not too long after,… -
opinion
Punishing Achievement Punishes Everyone
This week, Democrats settled on an area of apparent commonality: the desire to eat the rich. According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, “Senator [Ron] Wyden and the Senate Finance Committee … would impose a tax on unrealized gains on liquid assets held by extremely wealthy individuals, billionaires.” While Yellen refused to call this a “wealth… -
news
Amid Controversy Over Virginia Public Schools, Religious Private Schools See Surge in Enrollment
As the Fairfax County Public Schools system reports dwindling school enrollment, leaders at religious private schools across Northern Virginia say they are only growing. “This year alone, I can point to at least four families … who have either relocated to the area from other states or who have moved from very progressive public school… -
opinion
Democrats’ Proposed Tax on Unrealized Capital Gains Likely Unconstitutional
Democrats have proposed partly funding some of their multitrillion-dollar spending plan with a tax on the “unrealized capital gains” of anyone who makes more than $100 million per year or is worth at least $1 billion. That proposed tax is likely unconstitutional. To understand why, we first must understand how such a tax would work…. -
opinion
Some Women Are Choosing Sterilization as Birth Rates Continue to Fall
Sterilization is not something you often hear about women choosing, but that may be changing. The recent piece “First Comes Love. Then Comes Sterilization.” by Suzy Weiss on the “Common Sense With Bari Weiss” Substack tells the story of four women who have been, or plan to be, sterilized. For reasons including past trauma or… -
news
4 Points to Understanding How Many Americans Are Stranded in Afghanistan
The State Department’s admission that three times as many Americans remain in Afghanistan as officials originally estimated marks the most recent controversy resulting from President Joe Biden’s hasty withdrawal of troops. The botched pullout ending America’s longest war was punctuated early on with a terrorist bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members at the airport… -
opinion
Health and Safety Heroes Deserve Better on National First Responders Day
What a difference a year makes. On National First Responders Day (Oct. 28) last year, doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, and hospital staffers were considered heroes for treating COVID-19 patients at great risk to themselves and their families, well before a vaccine was available. Police officers and firefighters likewise answered emergency calls in the face… -
opinion
Superman No Longer Fights for ‘the American Way,’ but He’s the Hero America Needs
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s… Social Justice Man! DC Comics recently announced that it would be changing Superman’s iconic motto from “Truth, Justice, and the American Way,” to “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow.” After more than 80 years of holding the U.S.A. near and dear, the Man of Steel has formally removed… -
opinion
Former Soros Activist Explains How Progressive Policies Ruined San Francisco
There’s a crisis in San Francisco. Homelessness has skyrocketed and drug use is rampant. Michael Shellenberger moved to San Francisco in 1993 to work on liberal causes, and even spent time working for George Soros’ foundation. He advocated the decriminalization of drugs and promoted drug treatment programs. But, Shellenberger says, he began to worry when… -
opinion
Anarchy Reigns in Portland
Immediately upon taking office, President Joe Biden removed President Donald Trump’s designation of Portland, Oregon, as a jurisdiction in anarchy. So, how are things going now? Anarchy reigns in the City of Roses. Over the weekend, police were called to 19 shootings. One of which is likely to be ruled a double homicide, bringing the… -
opinion
Biden Pick Becerra’s Indecent, Indefensible Legal Assault on Nuns, Human Life
The following is excerpted from Trump White House press secretary Sean Spicer’s new book “Radical Nation: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s Dangerous Plan for America.“ It is available here and elsewhere. Founded in France in 1839, the Little Sisters of the Poor is a Catholic order of nuns who operate 29 care homes across the United… -
opinion
How America Went ‘Race Crazy’: Author Charles Love Explains and Offers Remedies
Since The New York Times released its 1619 Project in 2019, schools have been quick to adopt the curriculum. Tensions over race and racism over the past year and half have only added to the number of schools using the curriculum, says Charles Love, host of the “Cut the Bull” podcast and executive director of… -
opinion
IRS Oversteps Its Boundaries With Lazy and Destructive Proposal
“Americans are starting to be worried about this. Do you think that this pay-for of giving the IRS more money to crack down on unpaid taxes is going to stay in the reconciliation bill?” “Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.” —House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., exchange with reporter during weekly press conference on Oct. 12 No, the…