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
Trump’s NIH Nominee Vows to Ensure Transparency, Accountability
During his confirmation hearing Wednesday to be the next director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya promised he would bring transparency and accountability to federal government-funded research. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Bhattacharya decried the government research establishment for abusing its authority during the COVID-19 pandemic…Jacob Adams -
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In Face of GOP Criticism, Democrat Mayors Defend Sanctuary City Policies at House Panel Hearing
Congressional Republicans sharply questioned four “sanctuary city” mayors on immigration policy at a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday, but Democrats continued to insist that mayors need not cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement on deportations of illegal immigrants. Testifying at the hearing were Democratic Mayors Eric Adams of New York, Mike Johnston of Denver,…George Caldwell -
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California Bill Would Ban Private Firefighters From Using Hydrants, Cites Public Good
THE CENTER SQUARE—California lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban private firefighters, like those who saved many buildings in the Palisades and Eaton fires, from using public hydrants, saying firefighting is a “public good.” Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, D-Los Angeles, introduced Assembly Bill 1075 with the support of the California Professional Firefighters Union, which claims private…Kenneth Schrupp -
- Opinion
Here’s Why Democrats’ Feeble Attempts to Moderate Are Doomed to Fail
Has anyone ever told you to lighten up and be more genuine? The best way to connect with people is to be yourself. Perhaps, instead of constantly railing about how President Donald Trump is “Hitler,” for example, you could enjoy a bite to eat at a local restaurant. Rather than hoisting a rainbow flag and…Tyler O’Neil -
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‘He Was Belligerent’: House Speaker Explains Why He Booted Democrat From Trump’s Speech
House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself banging the gavel more than usual during President Donald Trump’s Tuesday address to Congress. But despite several Democrat disruptions, Johnson gave Trump high marks for his record-setting speech. “The president had a great night. I thought it was one of his best speeches, maybe the best he’s ever done,”…Rob Bluey -
- Opinion
DOGE v DOD: David Meets Goliath
The Department of Government Efficiency is right to look into waste, fraud, and abuse at the Department of Defense, and the first place to look is in the dollars being misdirected away from warfighting capabilities. The U.S. military has struggled to meet demands for actual warfighting equipment, such as ships, fighter jets, and munitions. Many…Liam Knotek -
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The Importance of Retaking Institutions
Lasting political change doesn’t come from winning elections but reshaping institutions. On Feb. 26, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, issued a stunning announcement. “I’m writing to let you know about a change coming to our opinion pages,” he wrote on X. “We are going to be writing every…Victor Joecks -
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The War on Motherhood: Why the Left Wants to Erase Moms
Democrats are upset about President Donald Trump renaming the former Gulf of Mexico but want to replace the word “mother” with “inseminated person.” You can’t make this up. The Left’s war on language has reached a new level of insanity, and this time, they’ve set their sights on one of the most sacred and fundamental…C.J. Pearson -
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What Democrats Refused to Stand for During Trump’s Speech
In the entirety of President Donald Trump’s hour and 40-minute address to Congress, almost all Democrats refused to stand for a single thing the president said—from promises for peace in Ukraine to honoring a 13-year-old battling brain cancer. Here is what the Democrats showed the American people they quite literally do not stand for.Elise McCue -
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James Madison, the ‘OG’ of DOGE
Step aside Elon Musk and make way for the “OG” of DOGE, James Madison. This week in 1788, Madison’s Federalist No. 62 was published in The [New York] Independent Journal. The essays we know collectively today as The Federalist Papers, each authored under the pseudonym Publius by Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, have stood the test of time…Donald J. Kochan -
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Two More States Designate Additional Millions to Expand Educational Freedom for Families
Support for greater educational freedom is moving west as lawmakers in Idaho and Wyoming increase funding for school choice, including designating funding for pre-K education. Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit program into law Thursday aimed at expanding schooling options in the state. Meanwhile, the Wyoming State Legislature passed…Moira Gleason -
- Opinion
First Lady Backs ‘Take It Down’ Bill That Would Curtail ‘Revenge Porn’
This week, first lady Melania Trump participated in a roundtable discussion with lawmakers and victims about the scourge of “revenge porn”—viz., the online posting of intimate photographs or films without the consent of the party involved. She urged lawmakers to pass the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks…Paul J. Larkin -
- Opinion
Restoring Trust in Public Health: Full Transparency and Cooperation with Congressional Inquiries
This is the fifth in an eight-article series on “Restoring Trust in Public Health: Lessons from COVID-19.” Four years of the Biden-Harris administration has left Americans rightly skeptical of public health institutions. This series highlights key findings from several congressional oversight reports, including the final report of the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic,…Robert Moffit -
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21 Republicans Draw Line in Shutdown Showdown: No Deal Without DOGE
More than 20 Republican members of the House and Senate sent a letter Monday to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., making one thing clear: They will not give in to Democratic demands to stop Department of Government Efficiency cuts in exchange for a stopgap budget deal. The letter,…George Caldwell -
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Hill Republicans Strive to Avert Government Shutdown
House and Senate Republicans are working quickly to pass a continuing resolution to fund the federal government to prevent a government shutdown that could occur as soon as mid-March. A government shutdown affects parts of the federal government deemed nonessential and happens when Congress fails to pass some or all of the 12 appropriations bills…Jacob Adams -
- Opinion
Stop California Absurd Hydrogen Car Subsidies Before Approving Federal Fire Aid
Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested $40 billion in federal aid to assist California in the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires last month. As a Pacific Palisades resident, I can attest the devastation is catastrophic and funds are desperately needed. However, the Trump administration is poised, understandably, to tie a lot of strings to any…James Breslo -
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NJ Attorney General Faces Impeachment for Targeting Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
The New Jersey attorney general is facing impeachment, in part, for allegedly targeting pregnancy resource centers for investigation because of their pro-life stance and for demanding the names of their staff and donors in the process. Republicans in the New Jersey Assembly filed articles of impeachment against Attorney General Matthew Platkin on Thursday. They…Moira Gleason -
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Dems Fretting Over Billionaires Have Been on the Billionaire Dole for Years
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Numerous elected Democratic officials have criticized the wealthy despite taking funding from billionaires in the past. Railing against billionaires has been a popular Democratic rhetorical device for decades, but the criticism has come to the forefront since Elon Musk took the lead of the Department of Government Efficiency and has made many…Audrey Streb -
- Opinion
Democrats Should Concede DOGE’s Diagnosis or Confirm That They Are Fools
President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk are trying to rightsize the entire federal enterprise, just as companies—large and small—do daily. Democrats are having none of it. Indeed, their rage over DOGE knows no borders. “Donald Trump has turned the White House into ‘The Elon Musk Show,’” House Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries of…Deroy Murdock -
- Opinion
UC Berkeley Faces Scrutiny Over Failure to Report Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes
Hannah Schlacter, a 2024 University of California at Berkeley graduate with an MBA, has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that the university violated federal law by failing to properly report anti-Jewish hate incidents during the fall 2023 semester. The complaint, detailed in documents reviewed by The Daily Signal, follows Schlacter’s…Tony Kinnett