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
Race and Riots
“No justice, no peace!” they shout. Then they break windows. It makes me furious. But then I watch the video of the Minneapolis cop kneeling on George Floyd‘s neck, while Floyd repeatedly says, “I can’t breathe,” and three other officers just watch. Then I see the video of the woman in Central Park calling 911,… -
opinion
Remembering the Life and Legacy of Sam Johnson
“Freedom has a taste to those who fight and almost die that the protected will never know.” Those words were etched into the wall of the now infamous Hanoi Hilton prisoner of war camp by one of Sam Johnson’s fellow prisoners of war. Now, they are imprinted in a handwritten note from Rep. Sam Johnson… -
opinion
America Is Better Than This
The orchestrated violence roiling an increasing number of American cities is cause for considerable concern. There are myriad explanations being offered by the media and pundits. But the voices that are largely silent during this time of chaos are the very people who are a central factor in the lawlessness and violence that is spreading…. -
news
Witness Says George Floyd Did Not Resist Arrest
George Floyd tried to defuse the situation surrounding his arrest and subsequent death, a witness of the incident said. Floyd tried “in his humblest form to show he was not resisting in no form or way,” witness Maurice Lester Hall told The New York Times. “I’m going to always remember seeing the fear in Floyd’s face… -
opinion
Trump’s New ‘Navigable Waters’ Rule Is an Improvement, but Still Murky
The Trump administration published this spring its new definition of “navigable waters” (also known as “waters of the United States”) under the Clean Water Act. The long-awaited action reversed course on decades of bureaucratic overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency and by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA’s partner in the abuse of… -
opinion
Amid the Chaos, Meeting the Challenge of Saving Our Streets
Anyone who has spent time working on the issues of safeguarding our homes from terrorists, hurricanes, and plagues understands the public safety challenge facing local officials, law enforcement, and everyday Americans. We haven’t seen anything quite like this in recent memory. We need leaders of strength and integrity to get through this. What makes dealing… -
opinion
The Controlled Burn Rages Out of Control
In the wake of riots that have spread across America, leaving shattered businesses and wounded communities in their wake, it feels as though our nation is collapsing around us. That’s bizarre, considering that virtually all Americans agree with the following two propositions: first, that it is evil for a police officer to place his knee… -
news
Retired Police Captain Dies in Street, Shot While Defending Store From Looters
Retired St. Louis Police Department Captain David Dorn was killed early Tuesday morning outside of a local pawn shop he was reportedly defending from suspected looters, more than 40 years after his time at the police academy, and 13 years after his retirement from the police department. Dorn, 77, died at 2:30 a.m. in the… -
opinion
A Former Cincinnati Mayor on Quieting the Riots Across America
As riots continue across America’s cities after the killing of George Floyd, local law enforcement and leaders struggle to stop the violence. Today, Ken Blackwell, the former mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a board member of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, joins the show to discuss how state and local leaders can keep the… -
opinion
Pennsylvania Governor’s 11th-Hour Ballot Deadline Change Spurs Election Chaos
The protests and unrest in response to the tragic death of George Floyd, an African American man who died in police custody last week, and the COVID-19 public health crisis have greatly complicated the work of election officials attempting to conduct honest and fair voting. If that were not enough, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf unilaterally… -
opinion
Rush Limbaugh’s Important George Floyd Conversation
Which of the following would you consider the most unusual and least likely to occur? 1. President Donald Trump calls Speaker Nancy Pelosi to invite her to lunch. 2. Rioters and looters agree to pay for the damage they caused to businesses and individuals. 3. Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh appears on “The Breakfast… -
opinion
Why We Commemorate Tiananmen Square
The image from June 5, 1989, is etched in our minds. One man. Four tanks. This iconic image has become a symbol of the resilience of the Chinese people during the Tiananmen Square massacre. Hundreds to thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators were killed by communist troops from June 3 to June 5, 1989. It is a… -
opinion
Stop Using the Boston Tea Party to Justify Violence in Modern America
Lawful protest in the American political process isn’t the same as the lawless rioting, looting, and destruction of lives and property that became a threat to the public in the past week. The death of a black man, George Floyd, at the hands of a white police officer May 25 in Minneapolis sparked widespread protests… -
news
George Bush Weighs in on Riots: ‘Lasting Justice Will Only Come by Peaceful Means’
Former President George W. Bush weighed in Monday on the riots that have torn across the United States, saying that “lasting justice will only come by peace.” Bush spoke out following the seventh night of destructive riots following the demise of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several… -
opinion
How the Media Deploy a ‘Distraction’ Framework
I’ve been in the news business for over 20 years now, and among the many things I’ve learned about how the media complex operates is this: One of the favorite tricks journalists and politicians use to control the focus of viewers and push the media’s preferred narrative is to label other stories as “distractions.” This… -
opinion
Riots Are Not the Way to Get Justice for Floyd’s Death
In 1992, I operated a small publishing business in Los Angeles. It was destroyed as a result of riots that ensued after four police officers were acquitted of charges of excessive violence in the beating of Rodney King. It changed my life. I focused my resolve to work in public policy to change destructive realities… -
opinion
Why Third-Degree Murder May Be Wrong Charge Against Derek Chauvin
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who arrested George Floyd and proceeded to press his knee into Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes, has been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Some legal experts are asking whether these are the most appropriate charges to be brought against Chauvin. >>> Update: Minnesota Attorney… -
opinion
Use of 1807 Insurrection Act Should Be Last Resort for Quelling Out-of-Control Protests
The civil unrest and protests taking place in many American cities—Minneapolis; Washington D.C.; New York City; Los Angeles; and elsewhere—in some cases have become riots and have overwhelmed local law enforcement, requiring assistance from the U.S. military. Use of U.S. armed forces for domestic law enforcement operations is prohibited by the Posse Comitatus Act, 18… -
opinion
These 2 Women Refuse to Be Stripped of Their Right to Fairness in Sports
Two female college athletes in Idaho are trying to preserve the right of all female athletes to compete only against other women. Idaho state lawmakers already passed legislation called the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act ensuring equality for women in sports. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court on… -
opinion
A More Fitting Criminal Charge in George Floyd’s Death
The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers was undeniably unjust. As many expected, prosecutors have announced the filing of criminal charges against former officer Derek Chauvin. Less expected, however, were the specific charges—third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Moreover, as of today, no charges have been filed against any of the…