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
14 States Could Take Up Transgender Athlete Legislation
Bills restricting transgender students’ involvement in school-sponsored athletics are up for consideration in 14 states, according to the left-wing Human Rights Campaign. Legislatures adjourned amid the coronavirus pandemic, so actions have not been taken on pending bills, Axios reported. However, special sessions are likely to resume in the coming weeks and it’s possible the transgender bills may… -
opinion
The Problem of ‘Anti-Racism’
Today, the nostrum goes, it is not enough for Americans to be not racist. They must be “anti-racist.” This woke terminology has infused our lexicon. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., recently declared from the well of the Senate: “Being race-conscious is not enough. It never was. We must be anti-racists.” What, pray tell, is the difference… -
news
Florida Governor Signs Law Requiring Parental Consent Before Girls Can Get Abortions
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Tuesday requiring parents or legal guardians to consent before a minor can obtain an abortion. The bill, SB 404, requires that a parent or guardian consent before a minor can obtain an abortion and increases penalties for abortion providers who refuse to comply with Florida’s requirement to care… -
news
Seattle Police Start to Clear CHOP, Make 23 Arrests
Seattle police arrested 23 people Wednesday morning after the mayor ordered protesters at Seattle’s Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone to vacate within 48 hours, according to the Seattle Police Department. Police said they arrested the individuals for failure to disperse, obstruction, resisting arrest, and assault after Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an emergency executive order labeling… -
opinion
Students, Faculty Target Professor for Writing Honest History of Black Lives Matter
Views that part from far-left progressivism apparently aren’t tolerated any longer by many colleges and universities. William Jacobson, founder and publisher of Legal Insurrection and professor of law, joins The Daily Signal Podcast to explain why he is being publicly shamed for writing the truth about the Black Lives Matter coalition. Want to support The… -
news
California Democrats Demand Removal of John Wayne’s Name From Airport
The Democratic Party of Orange County, California, has demanded the removal of actor John Wayne’s name from the county airport due to “racist and bigoted” remarks the Hollywood legend made nearly 50 years ago. The party created a resolution last Friday to seek removal of Wayne’s name and likeness because of “white supremacist, anti-LGBT, and… -
opinion
DC Already Is a ‘State’
In the latest of many cynical and highly political moves, the House of Representatives last week passed a measure that would transform the District of Columbia and make it the 51st state. “D.C.,” as it is often abbreviated by locals, is already a “state.” It is a state of corruption, crime, and dysfunction. The only reason… -
opinion
Freedom of Religion Narrowly Upheld in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed what most Americans no doubt take for granted, that the Constitution prohibits religious discrimination. The 5-4 divide among the justices in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, however, shows that religious freedom is not fully secure in America. Different state and local governments have developed “school choice” programs that make… -
opinion
USMCA Marks New Chapter for North American Trade
For more than 25 years, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which built the continent into one of the most efficient and competitive trade blocs in the world, has been the law of the land. On July 1, rules for trade in North America will change with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement entering into force…. -
opinion
Mike Pompeo’s Call for Freedom
In his recent remarks about the challenges that China presents to free societies, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered a strong defense of democracy and freedom. Speaking to an audience of business leaders and policymakers around the globe at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Pompeo underscored that the choice confronting today’s world is “between freedom and… -
opinion
I’m Reporting From Seattle’s CHOP. Here’s What It’s Really Been Like.
SEATTLE—Mason McDermott and his father caught a would-be arsonist and put out the fire he set at their auto repair shop, but they couldn’t get police to come out and arrest him. The McDermotts’ 49-year-old business is on the edge of central Seattle’s Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, six blocks controlled by demonstrators, and police were… -
opinion
A Young American’s Take on Why Electoral College Remains Best Way to Elect President
The best method for electing the president of the United States, debated by the Founding Fathers, is a bone of contention generations later. Today, many call the Electoral College outdated. But Carly Terry, a new high school graduate from Nassau County, Florida, argued in an award-winning essay that the Founders settled on the Electoral College… -
opinion
Mob Rule Imperils Western Civilization. Now’s the Time for Courage and Leadership.
The war on history has spread across our country and has even spilled over to other parts of the Western world. Now, on a daily basis, we see scenes of lawless mobs attacking and tearing down statues, and defacing monuments of every type—often as authorities stand idly by. But this violence has hardly been reserved… -
opinion
Long Live the Designated Hitter
Major League Baseball is moving toward a 60-game 2020 season. For the first time in history, the designated hitter rule will be implemented in both the American and the National Leagues. This is fantastic news for anyone who loves baseball and America, and not simply because the nation will be treated to more home runs… -
news
Labor Department Seeks to Protect Retirement Savings From Politics
The Labor Department has proposed a new rule governing the responsibilities of those who manage retirement plans, to prioritize investors over social goals. The department says in a press release that it receives questions periodically on how a 1974 law applies to nonfinancial objectives—such as environment, social, and public policy goals—for investment managers. The law… -
opinion
In the Name of Tolerance, California Blacklists Idaho
In a bizarre show of authoritarianism—even for them—California state officials have decided to ban state-funded travel to Idaho because of its transgender law. In a press release, California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, said: “Where states legislate discrimination, California unambiguously speaks out. The state of Idaho has taken drastic steps to undermine the rights of the… -
opinion
Is This the Stupidest Time in America’s History?
Have we become a nation of toddlers? Even as our country is grappling with weighty questions about history, racism, and how to deal with a pandemic, we’re seeing an explosion of behavior as rational as that of a small child, high on sugar-laced juice boxes, throwing a tantrum. Just consider these examples from the past… -
news
Abandoned Businesses, Residents Living Within Seattle’s CHOP Sue City
Businesses, workers, and residents sued the city of Seattle on Wednesday, saying local leadership enabled and endorsed the occupied zone at the detriment of “basic public safety.” At least a dozen businesses filed the class-action lawsuit, which came as a result of Seattle’s Capitol Hill Organized Protest’s continued proliferation in the city. “Rather than seeking to restore… -
news
House Democrats Block GOP Resolution Opposing Efforts to Defund Police
Democrats in the House on Thursday blocked consideration of a Republican resolution opposing efforts pushed by some on the left to defund police departments across the country. “Our resolution strongly opposes what I think is one of the craziest public policy proposals I have ever seen—this idea that we’re going to defund the police,” Rep…. -
news
Are You a #ProudAmerican? Here’s an Opportunity to Say Why
Americans watching in shock, disbelief, and anger as mobs tear down statues, vandalize other property, and attack police officers now have an outlet to express pride in being part of our nation. The Heritage Foundation and its lobbying arm, Heritage Action for America, are urging supporters and allies to record and submit short videos on…