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
Why Christians and Conservatives Should Engage Hollywood
Joel Pelsue, co-founder and CEO of Arts & Entertainment Ministries, is a champion of quality Christian and conservative movies and TV shows. About 20 years ago, Pelsue says, he became frustrated with the lack of Christian discipleship within the arts community. As a musician, he knew that many artists were seeking Christian community, but didn’t feel… -
news
4 Keys to What’s Next in Afghanistan as 13 US Service Members Die in Attack
A deadly terrorist attack Thursday outside Kabul’s international airport demonstrate that U.S. evacuation efforts there, as well as the general situation in Afghanistan, are deteriorating. Here’s a look at what lies ahead in the hastily executed U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after nearly 20 years there to prevent more terrorist attacks like those that occurred on… -
news
New Chief Chaplain at Harvard an Atheist
Harvard University has selected a man who does not believe in God to be the school’s chief chaplain. Chief Chaplain Greg Epstein is the author of “Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe.” He also serves as Harvard’s humanist chaplain, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's humanist chaplain, and as convener for ethical life at… -
news
Report: ISIS-K Militants Surround Kabul Airport, More Attacks ‘Likely’
Hundreds of ISIS-K militants have surrounded the Kabul airport and are expected to conduct more attacks, a source familiar with the situation told Fox News. “Hundreds of ISIS-K in the vicinity, attacks likely to continue,” the source told Fox News reporter Jacqui Heinrich. Twelve U.S. service members were killed and 15 were injured in explosions outside the… -
opinion
Does America Still Work?
For nearly two years, Americans have engaged in a great woke experiment of cannibalizing themselves. American civilization has invested massive labor, capital, and time in an effort to constantly flagellate itself for not being perfect. Yet America’s resilience and its resources are not infinite. We are now beginning to see the consequences of what happens… -
opinion
Where Are America’s ‘Feminists’ Fighting for Afghan Women?
After four years of marching in the streets and claiming “oppression” under President Donald Trump, many of the country’s so-called feminists are conspicuously silent about the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Worse, some of those who aren’t silent are instead using their platforms to attack conservatives… -
opinion
Cable ‘News’ Channels Could Use More News
The heartbreaking scenes of suffering in Kabul are the kind of “hard news” that many Americans find compelling. But on most days, many Americans don’t find “hard news” a compelling thing to watch. People would rather be entertained. Even political junkies want to be entertained—with political hot takes. A new Media Research Center study of… -
opinion
Energy and Climate Regulations in California Are ‘Green Jim Crow’
For decades, California has been viewed as a vanguard state, a province that leads America on things like entertainment, fashion, and politics. No longer. Instead, California has become a state to be rebuked, a place where a small group of regulators and politicians—with the full backing of the state’s powerful environmental groups—have created “a new… -
opinion
Time to Revitalize Pursuit of US-Kenya Free Trade Agreement
In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, seven Republican senators have underscored the importance of resuming the negotiation of a bilateral U.S.-Kenya trade agreement. The Aug. 20 letter highlighted that a free trade pact with Kenya would be “the appropriate next step in recognizing and strengthening relations, economic opportunities, and a security partnership… -
opinion
Iran Looms Large Over Biden’s Talks With Israeli Prime Minister
Although Washington’s attention has been riveted on Afghanistan, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s visit to the Oval Office on Aug. 26 will prompt the Biden administration to refocus on the slow-motion Iran nuclear crisis, which is fast approaching a critical juncture. Iran’s nuclear brinkmanship has reached dangerous proportions. Not only has Tehran violated the 2015… -
opinion
Hey, Mr. President: What’s the Counterterrorism Strategy for Afghanistan?
With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 almost here, I’m hoping someone in the Biden administration is giving some deep thought to the counterterrorism challenges we’ll likely face after the United States withdraws from Afghanistan. Our invasion, after all, was meant to prevent another 9/11. Unfortunately, under Taliban control or in areas outside Taliban control, Afghanistan could—once… -
opinion
California and the West Burn Again
Another dry, late summer in California, another year in which the state burns and towns get incinerated. Large, out-of-control fires have become a yearly occurrence in the Golden State. The fires may be so bad in 2021 that they run straight through the dry season and up until December, according to the U.S. Forest Service…. -
opinion
6 Ways Conservative College Students Can Maintain Their Voices and Sanity
As the school year begins for returning college students, it’s easy to lose the excitement and anticipation that comes with your first year in higher education. For conservative students especially, that first-year glow can fade even faster when intellectual curiosity collides with the reality of viewpoint discrimination. But no matter your experience, don’t resign yourself… -
opinion
Likely Long-Term Ripple Effects of Precipitous Pullout From Afghanistan
What has happened in Afghanistan will not stay in Afghanistan, but will have a ripple effect throughout the region and beyond. In remarks Friday at the White House, President Joe Biden again proved he is out of touch with reality. Responding to criticism that America’s credibility has been damaged due to his precipitous withdrawal of… -
opinion
Administrative Bloat at Universities Raises Costs Without Helping Students
The dramatic increase in noninstructional staff and spending at universities has driven tuition higher for decades. A new American Council of Trustees and Alumni study confirms the findings of earlier research that administrative bloat is raising costs without benefiting students. But the real danger of universities hiring staff who do not engage in teaching or… -
opinion
Afghan Women and Girls Were Left Behind. They Need Our Prayers.
Twenty years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda, with the aid and blessing of Afghan Taliban leaders, planned and carried out the horrifying murder of almost 3,000 Americans. This was not the first attack planned and carried out against Americans by its leader Osama bin Laden—since-killed, courtesy of SEAL Team 6. When our nation required… -
opinion
The Steep Cost of Mishandling Our Withdrawal From Afghanistan
In March 1975, an American president was fighting to save an American ally from being overrun by an implacable enemy. The North Vietnamese Army, mounting a massive conventional strike on the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, was plunging closer to Saigon. Gerald Ford urged the Democratic congressional majority to authorize military aid to South… -
opinion
Taliban Fighters Now Well-Equipped for Decades
As if it were not enough that the Taliban took complete control of Afghanistan—imposing its will and murderous tactics on innocent citizens; endangering Americans still present in the country; and complicating efforts to extract Afghans who provided important support, such as translators—it gets worse. The Taliban has also seized tens of billions of dollars of… -
opinion
World Must Not Finance Taliban’s Drive for Greater Power and Influence
Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan last weekend, the International Monetary Fund made it clear that Afghanistan will not be able to access the IMF’s financial resources, at least in the short run. The IMF stated that “There is currently a lack of clarity within the international community regarding recognition of a government in Afghanistan,… -
opinion
A Shameful Attack on Conservatives for Supporting Afghan Women
A liberal male columnist and comedian says that conservatives are unqualified to fight for the rights of Afghan women—because they don’t believe women are oppressed here. “Afghan women’s rights are threatened—but the GOP isn’t their champion” was the headline Wednesday on Dean Obeidallah’s opinion column for MSNBC, as the world watched video of young Afghan…