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
San Francisco DA Touts Progressive Ambitions for Already Troubled City
Chesa Boudin spent his childhood influenced by members of a radical left and violent domestic terrorist organization. During college, he worked as an English translator for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Today, Boudin is the top prosecutor in one of America’s largest cities, gaining laudatory endorsements from a U.S. Supreme Court justice and a U.S. senator,… -
news
Faith, Family, Football: Why Patriots Tight End Benjamin Watson Champions Life
Benjamin Watson is not only a starting tight end for the New England Patriots—he’s also the father of seven children, a man of faith, a commentator, and an advocate for life. The 39-year-old football player, who formerly played for the Baltimore Ravens, the New Orleans Saints, and the Cleveland Browns, told The Daily Caller News… -
opinion
How MLK Channeled the Spirit of 1776
Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday when it was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. As Americans celebrate MLK Day, it’s important to recognize the contributions of King and the tradition of ideas he espoused that put him in the pantheon of great Americans. The federal holiday may have… -
opinion
Europe Has Free College. Here’s How It’s Working Out.
Free college sounds great! Who doesn’t like free stuff? To make the idea sound even more appealing, advocates continuously cite Europe as an example of success. Many European countries offer their citizens tuition-free higher education, so why can’t America? The truth is that free college in Europe is no success story. Rather, it should serve… -
news
4 Things to Know About Lev Parnas, the Left’s New Hero
An associate of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, one of the president’s personal lawyers, is the left’s new hero going into the Senate impeachment trial. He is a native of Ukraine named Lev Parnas, and he and his business partner were arrested in October as they appeared to try to leave the country while… -
opinion
Why ‘1917’ Is Such a Good Movie
Yes, it’s up for this year’s “Best Picture” Oscar, but that hasn’t stopped critics delivering decidedly mixed reviews to “1917.” The plot is the stuff of a standard action/adventure flick: two soldiers on a desperate mission to stop a British unit from charging into a trap. At a more substantive level, however, it’s a movie… -
opinion
Here’s Why the Killing of Suleimani Was Legal
Since the U.S. killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani in a drone strike on Jan. 2, talk has turned to whether the strike was legal if the general could not be proven to have posed an imminent threat. But, as I said on Jan. 6 on Fox News and for the reasons explained below, the… -
opinion
Is Iran Headed for Regime Change?
It’s fine for astrologers and bookmakers to make predictions, but there’s no absolute certainty about what the future holds. That’s true regarding matters of national security—and there the stakes are truly high. Consider Iran. There is no more risky business than predicting when an authoritarian regime will collapse under the weight of its own putrefaction. Natan Sharansky… -
opinion
Another Women’s Sport Is Letting Biological Males Compete
I’m no professional athlete, but years after my sex reassignment surgery and the near-elimination of testosterone from my system, my beginner’s tennis serve easily overpowered and dismayed the female participants when I took a junior college introductory women’s tennis course in my 40s. The stark truth on display on that tennis court was that my… -
opinion
Iranian Missile Attacks Offer Insights Into Tehran’s Intentions, Capabilities
Iran fired missiles at two U.S. bases in Iraq on Jan. 8, setting off a wave of speculation in the American media. Now that the dust has settled, analyzing the strikes can provide important insights into Iran’s intentions and capabilities—and how the United States should respond. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, many commentators… -
opinion
New Study Claims ‘Trans’ Kids Know Their Real Gender Identity. Here’s Why It’s Flawed.
Young children can know that they are transgender. At least, that’s what some researchers are now claiming. A December report released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claims to show that transgender children sense their true “gender identity” and even align with clothing and toy preferences of that gender at a young… -
opinion
To Keep African Americans Safe, Target Criminals, Not Police
Criminal activity imposes huge costs on black residents in low-income neighborhoods of cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and many others. Thousands of black Americans were murdered in 2019. Over 90% of the time, the perpetrator was also black. Leftists and social justice warriors charge that what blacks have to fear most… -
opinion
‘It’s Got to Be More Than a Handout’: A Charity’s Innovative Approach
In charity work, the numbers aren’t everything. Meals and shelter can be provided—and those are good—but as our guest today says, the goal needs to be more. In addition to offering short-term relief, charity needs to help people get back on their feet and become self-sufficient. How? Rachel sat down recently with James Whitford to… -
opinion
The Case That Could Upset Roe v. Wade
In March 2020, the Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of Louisiana’s new abortion law, which requires that physicians doing abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. Under the leadership of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, an amicus—”friend of the court”—brief supporting the law was just filed, signed… -
opinion
Roger Scruton Was a Giant of Conservatism
Roger Scruton has died. Conservatism has lost one of its great thinkers. Scruton, who died Jan. 12 at age 75, authored more than 50 books on an astonishing number of subjects. He wrote about conservative political philosophy and Western civilization with erudition and grace, and was a trenchant critic of leftist thought. But Scruton also… -
opinion
New Hampshire Is Fighting Back to Defend the Electoral College
New Hampshire legislators have introduced an election bill that would be completely unacceptable under normal circumstances. But these are not normal times. Constitutional institutions, especially the Electoral College, are under attack. Extraordinary action may be needed. Thus, some New Hampshire legislators have proposed to withhold popular vote totals at the conclusion of a presidential election…. -
opinion
For Korean Americans, Divided-Family Reunification Act Is a Ray of Hope
Despite more than 20 family reunions held among divided families in South Korea and North Korea, not a single formal family reunion has taken place between Korean Americans and relatives in North Korea. More than 100,000 divided family members were residing in the U.S. in 2000, but now many of them are deceased, and only… -
opinion
This Is How Fake News Spreads
In my last column, “Newsweek Hits a New Low,” I wrote about Newsweek’s dishonest description of what I had said on one of my weekly PragerU “Fireside Chats.” A viewer had asked me to respond to a statement Anne Frank made in her epic Holocaust diary. Frank said, “Despite everything, I believe that people are… -
opinion
Podcast: What It’s Like on the Streets of San Francisco
San Francisco has been called the Paris of the West, but lately, it’s become a nightmare. Rows of tents now line the sidewalks, and the air smells foul. Homelessness is out of control. We discuss Kate’s recent feature on what’s going on in America’s most liberal city. We also cover the following stories: President Donald… -
opinion
4 Potential Consequences of Passing the Equal Rights Amendment
A radical feminist constitutional amendment that could dramatically change the country may be on the verge of passing. Virginia’s now Democrat-controlled legislature is back in session, and there’s a strong chance it will pass the Equal Rights Amendment, which purports to grant equal rights to women under the Constitution. The amendment has passed the Virginia…