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
Is the US a Post-Christian Nation? Here’s What Ross Douthat Thinks
Amid declining church attendance, and cultural storms, do Americans still take faith seriously? “We’re a no longer deeply Christian country that is not yet post-Christian and is still heavily influenced by Christianity,” says Ross Douthat, a New York Times columnist and author. Read the lightly edited interview, posted below, or listen on the podcast: We… -
opinion
3 Steps to Take the Surprise Out of Surprise Medical Bills
Surprise medical bills are a source of frustration for many Americans. Patients who schedule medical care from network physicians or at network hospitals sometimes receive bills from doctors outside the network such as anesthesiologists, radiologists, or pathologists. Or a patient may be transported to a nearby emergency department, only to learn that the hospital was… -
news
California Farmer Fights Government Claim That Dirt Is a Pollutant
No one told Jack LaPant that he could be in violation of the Clean Water Act for farming his own land. That’s mostly because the federal law includes a clear exemption for “normal” farming activities. But it’s also because the government officials LaPant consulted didn’t view overturned dirt that has been tilled and plowed as… -
opinion
For Chick-Fil-A, a Hard Lesson Is Coming
It is a truism that a blackmailer is rarely satisfied. Once the payoffs start, there often is no end to them. The Chick-fil-A fast-food chain is about to learn this hard lesson, far too late, as many victims of blackmail and extortion generally do. For conservatives and evangelical Christians, Chick-fil-A has been a model company that has consistently stood… -
opinion
How Protests Undermine Iran and Its Proxies in Iraq and Lebanon
Iran’s Islamist dictatorship has been challenged and rebuked in recent weeks by massive political protests—not only at home, but also in the spheres of influence that the regime carved out in Iraq and in Lebanon. In all three countries, the popular protests reportedly erupted spontaneously and initially focused on economic issues, particularly high prices, lack… -
opinion
‘Miracle Baby’: College Football Star Was Almost Aborted
“When my dad was alive, he would tell me, ‘No matter what, have a smile on your face. No matter how you’re feeling, you’re living, and you should be able to smile.’” These days, Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins has a lot to smile about. He just moved into second place on the Buckeyes’ all-time… -
opinion
After Pressure, California School Lets Homeschooler Play ‘Joy to the World’
The turkeys may be gone, but some liberals are back to carving up something else: free speech. Now that it’s December, the left wants to make it clear that Santa Claus isn’t the only thing coming to town—so is censorship. And Brooklyn Benzel, an eighth grade homeschooler from California, seems to be the holiday’s first target…. -
opinion
The Left’s Revealing Hatred of the Salvation Army
We all know some individuals who are so obviously good and kind that we are certain if anyone were to dislike them, that’s all we would need to know about the person. We would immediately assume he or she is a bad person. To hate the manifestly good is a sure sign of being bad…. -
opinion
Patients Deserve Price Transparency. They Soon Might Be Getting It.
Imagine being a patient whose infusion therapy to treat Crohn’s disease cost $40,000, but who later found the same treatment for $4,000 at a treatment center a few miles down the road. On top of that, the patient also gets paid $500 in shared savings cash every time he or she drives to the new… -
opinion
He Grew Up Poor in Chicago. Then Conservative Values Helped Transform His Life.
“After I began to volunteer with this alderman and learn the ways of the Democratic Party … I began to question some of the narratives,” says Gianno Caldwell. “Why is it that although these politicians come every year during election time, why is it the conditions and the communities never get better?” That was the… -
opinion
Let’s Be Thankful America Isn’t Fighting ‘Endless Wars’
“Thank you for your service.” Our troops hear that often from their fellow Americans, and not just during the holidays. Well, our gratitude can go even deeper. We also can be thankful that our military isn’t fighting “endless wars.” Calls for “no more endless wars” may be catchy, but they’re a bumper-stick excuse for a… -
opinion
American Health Care Costs a Lot, but Delivers Results
“The U.S. spends more than other countries on health care and gets worse results.” You hear that argument a lot—especially from those pushing for “Medicare for All” or some other government-run health system. But is it true? Certainly Americans spend more on health than other nations. But the latest report on health care from the… -
opinion
Trump’s Afghanistan Trip Shows He’s No Isolationist
It was not a happy Thanksgiving for President Donald Trump’s detractors, as the president showed with his surprise trip Thursday to Afghanistan that “America First” is not a code term for isolationism. Trump’s visit with U.S. troops, his meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and his announcement that the U.S. has reopened peace talks with… -
news
ICE Catches Alleged Child Sexual Predator Repeatedly Released by Philadelphia Police
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were able to arrest an illegal alien accused of sexual abuse against children after local police refused to honor an ICE detainer and twice released him from their custody. The Philadelphia Police Department arrested Hector Moran-Espinoza, a Guatemalan national living in the U.S. illegally, on two different occasions on charges… -
opinion
London Bridge Killer Should Have Been Assessed Before Release in Terror Case
It was a matter of when, not if, the United Kingdom would be attacked by terrorists again. The when ended up being Friday. The perpetrator this time was British citizen Usman Khan, 28, who police said stabbed two people to death and injured three others in the London Bridge area. Brave Londoners managed to restrain… -
opinion
A True ‘Lifeline’ for Vulnerable Children
For the past 16 years, Herbie Newell has been president and executive director of Lifeline Children’s Services, an Alabama-based organization that serves vulnerable children around the world. Newell shares his views on the child welfare system, how his organization approaches finding homes for kids in need, and how it trains and equips parents who want… -
opinion
29 Books That Would Make an Excellent Christmas Gift
The Christmas season is here, which means the clock's a-ticking to find the perfect gifts for your loved ones. Here are 29 books that our friends at The Heritage Foundation think you and your family will enjoy. Current Affairs 1) “A Republic, If You Can Keep It” by Neil M. Gorsuch In a collection of… -
opinion
Gifts That Keep on Giving
Thanksgiving and Christmas seem to come earlier each year. Though the dates remain the same, the promotions from advertisers don’t. Christmas decorations are appearing before Halloween. Merchants can’t wait for Thanksgiving to end so they can promote “Black Friday,” itself beginning days and even weeks before the day after Thanksgiving. Catalogs fill my mailbox, all… -
opinion
These 2 Cases Show Why Trans ‘Rights’ Could Upend the Rights of All
The battle over the rights of “transgender” and “cisgender” people continues to escalate in one of the most influential arenas: our nation’s schools. The Chicago Tribune reported this month that after a four-year battle, a school board in Palatine, Illinois, has granted transgender students “unrestricted access to locker rooms based on gender identity.” Just a… -
news
Chick-Fil-A Donated to Southern Poverty Law Center, Others on Left
Chick-fil-A donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center and other left-wing organizations that promote abortion and LGBT rights, issues that run counter to the fast-food chain’s image as a Christian conservative business. According to public tax documents first reported Tuesday by Townhall, Chick-fil-A donated $2,500 to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2017 despite the…