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
How Sens. Ernst, Blackburn Met Poverty, Tyranny Outside America
A pair of female Republican senators shared eye-opening, firsthand encounters with authoritarianism and socialism in their travels abroad—including grinding poverty and lack of freedom—for an appreciative audience Thursday at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. The theme of this year’s gathering of conservative activists is “America vs. Socialism,” which many of the speakers—including Sens. Joni… -
opinion
What Bernie Sanders Isn’t Telling You About Canadian Health Care
All Americans, regardless of political party, want access to timely, high-quality health care. The question is how to get there. Do we harness the power and innovation of the private sector, or do we hand it to the government and hope for the best? Canada has chosen the latter route, and at one of the… -
opinion
HBO Comedian’s Ill-Informed Support of ‘Medicare for All’ Is No Laughing Matter
John Oliver, on a recent edition of his HBO show “Last Week Tonight,” gave me an unexpected cameo appearance, courtesy of an old Fox News Channel clip. In the clip, I commented on the defects of “Medicare for All,” the big proposal for total government control over American health care. The majority of House Democrats… -
opinion
Out of Africa Not for US
Defense Secretary Mark Esper drew fire from Congress and elsewhere when it was reported that the Pentagon was downsizing its commitments to Africa. It would indeed be wrong-headed for the U.S. to walk away from the continent. But Esper’s actions reflect a sad reality: The U.S. footprint in Africa isn’t right. The problem is, Esper… -
opinion
Union Boss’ Quid Pro Quo Threat to Lawmakers Reveals a Cause of Unions’ Decline
Before the House approved a sweeping union-boss wish list that attempts to send workers back into the 20th century, AFL-CIO union leader Richard Trumka warned lawmakers that “Those who would oppose, delay, or derail this legislation, do not ask us—do not ask the labor movement—for a dollar or a door knock. We won’t be coming.”… -
opinion
How the 1960s and the ‘Great Society’ Are Still Shaping America Today
“When you compare the two progressive impulses of our past, the 1930s New Deal, 1960s Great Society, which costs us more? … People think New Deal was so socialist, but Great Society costs us more,” says Amity Shlaes, author of the new book, “Great Society: A New History.” “Why does it matter? Because even a… -
opinion
My Family Came From Cuba. Sanders Should Educate Himself on Cuban Suffering.
In a “60 Minutes” segment that aired Feb. 23, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., once again praised the supposed achievements of the Castro family’s communist rule over Cuba since 1959. His remarks were ill-informed, as I can attest. “We’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba but you know, it’s unfair to simply say everything is bad. You… -
opinion
Virtue Signaling Replaces Recycling in Baltimore
Virtue signaling is the modern, politically correct way to demonstrate your “goodness” to others, usually with little actual sacrifice or effort. It’s a kind of surface-level, and typically meaningless, moralizing that Americans get force-fed from Hollywood types seeking accolades on social media. Now, if you live in one Maryland county, you too can participate and… -
opinion
Disney Thinks Kids Need an Animated LGBT Character
It looks like Disney-Pixar, the folks behind an array of wonderful animated films such as “Toy Story,” “Finding Nemo,” and my personal favorite, the marvelous but underrated “Ratatouille,” has decided to dive headfirst into the LGBT universe. Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios have announced that “Onward,” their next animated movie, will feature—for the… -
opinion
The Far Left’s Strategy to Control Your Community
Why are wealthy left-wing donors across the country, the abortion industry, and national gun control groups more interested in your local school board and city council races than most of the people who live in your own town? Because they’re funding efforts to ensure their far-left agenda pervades our entire society—from getting their abortion curricula… -
opinion
Arizona GOP Leader Explains Why Area Voted Against Sanctuary Status
When talking about the immigration issue, more focus is often given to those coming into the country illegally, while citizens who live in border towns and cities are more often left out of the conversation. On today’s podcast, I speak with Chris King, the first vice chairman of the Pima County Republican Party, who talks… -
opinion
Mullahs Moving More Menacing Munitions to Yemen
Add surface-to-air missiles to the growing list of advanced weapons—such as cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and armed drones—that Iran is smuggling to its proxy, the Houthi rebels, in Yemen. Clearly, Iran has no interest in ending the nearly 5-year-old Yemeni civil war, stopping its proxy conflict with the Saudi-led coalition—or shortening its long list of… -
opinion
Why the Left Calls Good People Racist
A few weeks ago, I devoted my column to an article about me published in Newsweek under the headline “Conservative Radio Host Ridicules Anne Frank.” As the full context of my comments in the video made clear, it was a lie. To its credit, after its editor was notified of this fact, Newsweek changed the… -
news
Today’s Political Mob Has Consequences, Veteran Jurist Warns
Retired federal judge Janice Rogers Brown warned Tuesday about the perils of the mob that views politics as all important and ignores objective truth. President Donald Trump has had to contend with a fired-up “resistance” of political opposition that will not recognize his presidency as legitimate, Brown suggested. “Prior to the 2016 election, America had… -
opinion
Judge Rules Chicago Can’t Ban Christian Students From Evangelizing
When people ask Jeremy Chong about his Friday night plans, they don’t get the typical college sophomore response. He and his friends usually head to downtown Chicago. But the point isn’t to party—it’s to evangelize. And thanks to a federal judge, the group of Wheaton students can finally resume that without harassment. For months, students… -
opinion
In Chicago, the Next Act of the Jussie Smollett Saga Begins
Jussie Smollett was back in an Illinois court on Monday, and things are not looking good for the ambitious actor. This time, an independent special prosecutor has filed a six-count felony indictment against Smollett in Chicago and his lawyers are crying foul, claiming the state already has prosecuted him for the same conduct. It’s going… -
opinion
Americans Don’t Realize How Much Law Enforcement Cares, Border Sheriff Says
Most people don’t understand the extent to which the Border Patrol and other law enforcement become humanitarian and first-aid responders for illegal immigrants trying to enter the United States, says Sheriff Mark Lamb of Pinal County, Arizona. In a recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, I spoke with Lamb, whose county is about 60 miles… -
news
Cuban Americans Tell What Life Under Castro Was Really Like
When Sebastian Arcos and family members tried to travel from Cuba to the United States, authorities stopped them in what turned out to be a sting operation to arrest one of his uncles, who had advocated and fought for Fidel Castro’s revolution more than 20 years earlier. That was Dec. 31, 1981, and for trying… -
news
Saving Babies’ Lives More Important Than Winning Sports Titles, Tim Tebow Says
Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow says he prefers to be remembered for saving babies from abortion than for winning college football’s Bowl Championship Series. Tebow is known for both his athletic achievements—winning the 2007 Heisman Trophy and leading the University of Florida Gators to two national championships in 2007 and 2009—and for being a Christian… -
news
Senate’s FISA Probe Will Begin With Focus on Mystery Steele Dossier Source, Lindsey Graham Says
A Senate investigation of the FBI’s abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will start off with a focus on a mysterious source for Christopher Steele who disputed much of the former British spy’s infamous dossier, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday. Graham said his first order of business during the probe will be to interview…