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
With Cuomo Under Scrutiny, New York Switched to Undercounting Deaths in Nursing Homes
The New York State Department of Health’s quiet switch to a reporting method that undercounts deaths of nursing home and other long-term care facility residents followed the administration facing criticism over skyrocketing deaths in such facilities. New York knowingly omitted an unknown number of coronavirus deaths in recent reports regarding residents of nursing home and… -
opinion
Problematic Women: Reopening State Economies, Big-Government Bailouts, and the Drama in Between
States across America are weighing the decision of whether or not to reopen their economies. Some—such as Georgia and Florida—have few restrictions in place now and have allowed businesses to reopen, while others—among them Connecticut and Michigan—continue to limit economic activity. Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, the lobbying arm of The… -
opinion
New York’s Mayor Goes After Jewish Residents Again
For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic became a daily battle between disease control and civil liberties, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has taken to Twitter to criticize the peaceful assembly of Jews in a city that boasts over a million Jewish residents. This time, de Blasio specifically targeted children meeting at a… -
opinion
The Dangers of ‘Caring’ Government Programs
Mother’s Day made me think how my mom warned me, as a young teen: “Work hard! Or you’ll freeze in the dark!” Sometimes, the warning ended, “Or you’ll starve in the cold.” She grew up during the depression. She and her peers were sensibly worried about freezing in the dark. The message scared me, and… -
news
Illegal Aliens Can Begin Applying for Cash Assistance in California
Illegal aliens can apply for direct cash assistance from the California state government as of Monday, marking the implementation of the first relief program of its kind. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, announced in April the launch of the Disaster Relief Fund, a $125 million coronavirus relief program for illegal aliens living in the state who don’t… -
opinion
The ACLU Loses Its Way
The American Civil Liberties Union used to be a great institution. Founded in January 1920, the ACLU sought to become, in its own words, “the nation’s premier defender of the rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.” Over the decades, the organization fought for civil liberties even when no one else would. The ACLU fought against… -
opinion
The Rule of Law and the Targeting of Mike Flynn
The most frightening phrase my parents ever heard was: “the 2 a.m. knock on the door.” That was because my parents lived under a communist dictatorship in Hungary, and the phrase referred to one group: the secret police, who invariably would come to your home in the middle of the night to make an arrest…. -
news
Grassroots Petition Urging Governors to ‘Reopen Their States’ Tops 100,000 Signatures
A petition launched in late April by Heritage Action for America asking governors to “open American society” has surpassed 100,000 signatures. “Millions of Americans are losing their jobs for good as businesses shut down around the country, even while the risk of COVID-19 is decreasing in many areas,” Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action… -
news
Barr Says Obama, Biden Are Not Under Criminal Investigation
Attorney General William Barr poured cold water Monday on the idea that former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden will face criminal charges in connection with the surveillance activities against associates of President Donald Trump. “As to President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement, based on the information… -
news
Feed the Heroes Delivers a Hot Meal to DC’s Hospital Workers, First Responders
Washington, D.C., emergency room nurse Anaelise Martinez and her roommate, Azure McFarlane, posted on Facebook on March 30, asking their friends to help them send food from the restaurant Buffalo & Bergen to the medical personnel at Prince George’s Hospital Center emergency room in Cheverly, Maryland, just outside of Washington. Within 24 hours, they had exceeded their… -
opinion
Awarding of Pulitzer Prize to the Deeply Flawed ‘1619 Project’ Highlights What’s Wrong With Many of Our Institutions
The New York Times’ “1619 Project”—despite being riddled with historical inaccuracies—is now the winner of a Pulitzer Prize, an outcome that is unfortunate but utterly unsurprising. The award was given specifically to journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, the architect of the 1619 Project. But her lead essay in the project has been lambasted by historians as inaccurate,… -
opinion
Losing Our Fears, in War and Plague
Seventy-five years ago this month, Germany surrendered, ending the European theater of World War II. At the war’s beginning, no one believed Germany would utterly collapse in May 1945. On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, German invaders were on the verge of capturing Moscow. Britain… -
news
Democrats Reject Amendment Denying Benefits to Illegal Aliens
House Democrats have rejected an amendment that a Republican congressman proposed to their $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill, dubbed the HEROES Act, that would have prohibited economic stimulus payments from going to illegal immigrants. “After the $2.2 trillion CARES Act became law, I have been clear in my belief that we should study its strengths… -
opinion
How We Get to the Bottom of the Obama White House’s Domestic Spying
Michael Flynn did not seem to be the best choice President-elect Donald Trump could have made for his first national security adviser. My own publication, The Daily Caller, broke the story of Flynn writing an op-ed praising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan just before Trump’s election. The op-ed was a clear break from Flynn’s past… -
opinion
Time Right for More Freedom of Navigation Operations in the Arctic
The Navy last week entered the Barents Sea in international waters off the coast of Russia. It was the first time a U.S. surface ship has entered the Barents Sea since the mid-1980s. Because of the unusual nature of this patrol, the U.S. alerted Russia in advance “to avoid misperceptions, reduce risk, and prevent inadvertent… -
opinion
‘Last Dance’: ESPN Series on Michael Jordan Full of Lessons on Life, Family
ESPN’s documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls is already receiving rave reviews for shining a spotlight on not only the greatest basketball player ever, but one of the best athletes of all time. Four episodes into the 10-part series, “The Last Dance,” has already underscored the vital role that family plays, especially in… -
opinion
The Dangers of the Equality Act
Upon receiving the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign on May 6, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden committed to making so-called Equality Act legislation a “first 100 days” priority of his administration if he’s elected in November. This isn’t the first time Biden has made known the priority he has placed on the Equality Act. Soon after… -
opinion
Flynn Judge Disagrees With Own Rulings by Letting Outsiders Fight Dropping Charges
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan’s order soliciting comments from outsiders opposed to the Justice Department’s motion to throw out charges of lying to FBI agents against former national security adviser Michael Flynn is highly unusual and contradicts earlier rulings by the judge. Sullivan’s order, issued Tuesday, solicits “friend of the court” (“amicus curiae” in legal parlance) briefs… -
opinion
In Charts, How Big Blue States Outspend Red States
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow House Democrats are seeking a more than $1 trillion federal bailout for state and local governments. This is in addition to the unprecedented aid Congress already has sent. Instead of waiting on a handout from Washington, states should clear the way for a more robust economic recovery by addressing… -
opinion
Let’s Not Waste a Crisis
Former Barack Obama adviser Rahm Emanuel, during a recent interview, reminded us of his 2008 financial crisis quotation, “Never allow a crisis to go to waste.” The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a wonderful opportunity for those of us who want greater control over our lives. Sadly, too many Americans have already taken the bait. We’ve…