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
Why These African American Leaders Reject the Left’s Victim Narrative
The reality of racism in America has led to cries for justice across the nation, as the May 25 death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis sparked peaceful protests as well as violence and looting. But conservative African American leaders say they’re concerned that the message being sent to the nation’s black community… -
news
What to Expect From Trump’s Police Reforms
The Trump administration had established a commission on reforming police well before the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis pushed the subject to the top of the national debate. Last October, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. He tasked… -
opinion
Trump Administration Right to Reject Jurisdiction of International Criminal Court
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday announcing sanctions on individuals “directly engaged in any effort by the [International Criminal Court] to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any United States personnel without the consent of the United States” or the “personnel of a country that is an ally of the United States without the… -
opinion
Why Americans Must Stand Up to the Left’s Power Grab
Parts of the movement started by widespread revulsion at the murder of George Floyd have metastasized into a power grab by hard leftists. Their aim goes beyond dismantling the police—likely to have an early sell-by date—but targets the suppression of such tenets of liberalism as speech and property rights. Conservatives who want to conserve the… -
opinion
The Problem With ‘Pick a Knee’
“Pick a knee,” says CNN’s S. E. Cupp, “The one that knelt on a neck or the one that knelt to try to prevent it.” This kind of ugly false choice—either you adopt my favored form of political protest or you support murder!—is meant to bully you into participating in groupthink. Worse, it’s meant to… -
opinion
The US Army, 245 Years Strong and Still True to Its Roots
June 14 marks the 245th birthday of the U.S. Army. Born even before the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, the Army marks its birthday from June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress directed “[t]hat six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia … [and]… -
opinion
Raise Entry Fees for Funds to Reduce the Maintenance Backlog at Our National Parks
The Great American Outdoors Act is well-intentioned, with its goal of addressing the nearly $20 billion deferred maintenance backlog of our nation’s public lands. But the bill, which the Senate will vote on soon, would also add to the federal debt and empower the executive branch to acquire more federal land with limited accountability. Recognizing… -
opinion
Star Parker Shares Why It’s Not True That America Is ‘Systemically Racist’
In 1992 Star Parker ran a small publishing business in Los Angeles. Her business was destroyed by riots after four police officers were exonerated of charges after Rodney King’s beating. Parker, the president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and a columnist for The Daily Signal, joins the podcast today to talk about why… -
opinion
When Confirmation of Judges Becomes a Political Weapon
A new report from The Heritage Foundation documents how radically the norms of the judicial confirmation process have changed, especially in the past 20 years. These norms were based on how America’s Founders designed the process for appointing judges. The Constitution gives the power to make nominations exclusively to the president, but requires the Senate’s… -
opinion
We Must Never Forget the 100 Million Victims of Communism
You know you’re doing the right thing when your enemies condemn you. When President George W. Bush 13 years ago on June 12, 2007, dedicated a U.S. memorial in Washington, D.C., to the more than 100 million victims of communism, both the Chinese communists and the Russian communists immediately attacked the president and the Victims… -
opinion
Reform of Policing: What Makes Sense—and What Doesn’t
The videotaped killing of George Floyd has sparked widespread protests, many of them peaceful, but interspersed with acts of rioting, arson, vandalism, looting, and other violence, some of it directed at the police. It has also reignited a nationwide discussion regarding police accountability, which has also taken many forms, ranging from calls to defund or… -
opinion
The Trans Teen Revolution
Keira Bell can never get her childhood back. And her body, a scarred and mangled reminder, tells her every day. “I am living in a world where I don’t fit in as male or as female. I am stuck between two sexes.” Now 23, she’s dedicated her life to stop teenagers from making the same… -
opinion
Seattle Occupiers’ Dangerous and Unconstitutional Demands
After repeated clashes with, at times, violent protesters, the Seattle Police Department abandoned its East Precinct building in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. On June 8, protesters occupied and barricaded the six blocks surrounding it. They have since named their territory the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. The protesters have now published a list of demands. The… -
opinion
Missouri Planned Parenthood Prioritizes Agenda Over Women’s Health
Protecting the health of women should be apolitical. Unfortunately, the nation’s largest abortion business is more interested in pursuing its own agenda than in protecting patients. Lawyers for Planned Parenthood sought, and just obtained, an administrative ruling to allow its abortion business in St. Louis, Missouri, which didn’t meet the state’s safety standards and violated state law, to… -
opinion
US and Mongolia Cultivate Strong Partnership in Indo-Pacific
Mongolia, a landlocked country between China and Russia, thus far has managed to contain the spread of COVID-19 with prompt and strict measures. The country introduced social distancing early on, and closed its borders Jan. 27. As of June 5, no local transmission had been detected, with only 191 imported COVID-19 cases confirmed. Mongolia’s improved… -
opinion
Problematic Women: There’s a Solution to Police Abuse, but It’s Not Defunding Police Departments
The majority of America’s police officers are brave men and women who make sacrifices and take risks every day to keep our communities safe, but incidents of misconduct do occur. Defunding America’s police departments would not solve the issue of police abuse, but limiting the power of police unions would allow for needed reforms. Rachel… -
opinion
Armstrong Williams Discusses How America Can Move Forward After Floyd Death
Armstrong Williams, host of “The Armstrong Williams Show” joins the Daily Signal Podcast to discuss racism in America, privilege, peaceful protests, and the way forward for America. Read the lightly edited transcript of the interview, pasted below, or listen on the podcast: We also cover these stories: George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, testifies before the… -
news
White House Prepares for Favorable DACA Ruling by Supreme Court
The Trump administration anticipates a victory in the Supreme Court to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the nation’s No. 2 homeland security official said Wednesday. “We have all the usual judicial challenges. You see judges trying to get in the way of what we are doing all the time,” Ken Cuccinelli, acting… -
opinion
The Troubling Mob Response to J.K. Rowling’s Asserting Women Have Periods
J.K. Rowling, the celebrated author of the “Harry Potter” series, is at risk of being “canceled.” In a tweet on June 6, she mocked an article that refused to refer to “people who menstruate” as women. So, now Rowling risks becoming the victim of the so-called cancel culture by the social justice mob because she… -
news
Protesters Topple, Behead Christopher Columbus Statues in Richmond and Boston
Protesters attacked Christopher Columbus statues in Richmond, Virginia, and Boston Tuesday night. The Columbus statue in Richmond’s Byrd Park was toppled, set on fire, and thrown into a nearby lake, ABC affiliate WRIC News reported. The Boston statue, located in Christopher Columbus Park, was discovered decapitated Wednesday morning, according to Boston 25 News. The Richmond statue is seen…