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
DHS Is Encouraging Illegal Aliens to Self-Deport
The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it will use “every available tool to compel illegal aliens to self-deport.” “President [Donald] Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem have a clear message for those in our country illegally: Leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and…Virginia Allen -
- News
Byron Donalds Confirms Run for Florida Governor
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds announced Tuesday evening on Fox News that he will be running for governor next year. With current Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approaching the end of his second term, potential candidates for the position have begun to emerge. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to offer…Hailey Gomez -
- Opinion
Student Loan Forgiveness’ Unintended Consequences for Recipients
Instead of alleviating rising debt burdens, Joe Biden’s student loan debt “forgiveness” has caused recipients to take on additional non-student loan debts, a new economic analysis shows. The data shows that the beneficiaries responded not only by taking on more debt but also by working and earning less—the opposite of the intended effect. Moreover,…Rachel Greszler -
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USAID Funded Pet Apps, Fashion Companies, Designer Furniture, Sen. Ernst Reveals
The U.S. Agency for International Development funded a pet tracking app, fashion companies, specialty food companies, and firms making designer furniture, according to records reviewed by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. “USAID was wasting tax dollars like it was going out of style,” Ernst, who chairs the Senate DOGE Caucus focused on rooting out waste and…Tyler O’Neil -
- Opinion
Where Was ‘60 Minutes’ When Rust Belt Jobs Were Cut?
CAMPBELL, Ohio— Sept. 19 marked 47 years since thousands of workers, who were mainly men, did what they did every Monday in the valley. They walked into the Campbell Works of Youngstown Sheet and Tube along the Mahoning River for the early shift. Within an hour of the workers’ shift, Youngstown Sheet and Tube abruptly…Salena Zito -
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5 Big Controversies Facing the Fed’s ‘Consumer Watchdog’ Agency as DOGE Eyes Its End
Democrats and the media—along with federal employee unions—have rallied around the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an agency that has been in the sights of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative for its censorship, waste, and hindering of businesses disfavored by the Left, among other issues. CBS’ “60 Minutes” also aired a highly sympathetic piece about…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Just Like Colorado Bakers, Banks Also Need to Be Allowed to ‘Not Bake That Cake’
The government shouldn’t pressure banks and other financial institutions to avoid doing business with politically controversial people and businesses, just as bakers should not be compelled to bake cakes with messages they disagree with. Instead, they ought to be empowered to make their own decisions, taking a pass on would-be customers who are at odds…Patricia Patnode -
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House DOGE Panel to Examine How Foreign Aid Spreads ‘Woke Agenda’
The House Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., will convene Wednesday to explore one question: “How Foreign Aid Undermined U.S. Interests Around the World.” Coming amid President Donald Trump’s drastic downsizing of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the hearing will hear from three witnesses who will make the…George Caldwell -
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IED Kills Texas Rancher. Cartels Expected to Be Responsible, Official Says.
An improvised explosive device killed a Texas rancher last month, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says. “This shocking act of violence highlights the growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border,” Miller said in a statement Tuesday. Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, was killed at the end of January when his vehicle detonated an…Virginia Allen -
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Kansas Legislature Overrides Governor to Stop ‘Sex-Change’ Treatments on Children
The Kansas Legislature moved to outlaw “transgender” medical interventions for minors when it voted to override Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of the Help Not Harm Act on Feb. 18. The Republican-led House voted 85-34 along party lines to override the governor’s veto, and the Senate sent the bill through 31-9, also along party…Moira Gleason -
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First-Term Congressman Aims to Hold ‘Illegal’ DOGE Actions Accountable
THE CENTER SQUARE—A Virginia congressman has introduced legislation to “bring transparency and accountability” to the Department of Government Efficiency. Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, a first-term congressman, says recent actions by DOGE are “illegal” and “unconstitutional,” resulting in the firings of “highly qualified” federal workers, the dismantling of “congressionally-authorized agencies,” as well as “other actions that…Sarah Roderick-Fitch -
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Detransitioner Says Her Gender Confusion ‘Ultimately Came From a Lack of Faith’
Seven years ago, when she was 13, Chloe Cole started taking testosterone and puberty blockers. Two years later, she had a double mastectomy. Looking back now, at the age of 20, Cole says she believes it was the absence of a spiritual faith that led her down the path of transgenderism. Faith is “that piece…Virginia Allen -
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Warning From Chloe Cole: ‘We Need to Continue to Fight’
The battle to protect children and youth from harmful transgender practices has not been won, according to detransitioner Chloe Cole. While great progress has been made during the first month of the Trump administration, the battle is far from over, Cole says. “This is not a point in time where we can just assume…Virginia Allen -
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Despite Democrats’ DOGE Meltdown, Turns Out Americans Want to Cut Government
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—More than 6 in 10 voters believe President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency will significantly reduce federal government spending over the next year. The new polling from the Napolitan News Service, conducted by Scott Rasmussen at RMG Research, adds fresh evidence of DOGE’s popularity despite unrelenting attacks…Rob Bluey -
- Opinion
MAGA Foreign Policy and the Iranian Regime
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. One topic that’s come up throughout January and this week again is what to do about…Victor Davis Hanson -
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Rep. Harriet Hageman: Rooting Out Woke Agenda in Government
A group of lawmakers are working to uncover the radical Left’s woke agenda that had wormed its way into nearly every corner of the federal government under the Biden administration. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs were embraced under the previous administration, but the Anti-Woke Caucus is exposing how these “insidious theories have infiltrated so much of…Virginia Allen -
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Comer: DOGE Follows GAO in ‘Identifying Trillions of Dollars Lost’
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—As the Trump administration is homing in on how trillions of tax dollars are being misspent, the Government Accountability Office is set to report to Congress about wasteful spending in Medicaid, improper payments to federal program beneficiaries, and outdated information technology systems. The House Oversight and Government Accountability Committee is holding…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Why Does the Left Coddle Illegal Alien Child Rapists?
When it comes to giving illegal aliens sanctuary, services, and second chances, “Just say, ‘No’” is not in the Democrat–Left’s vocabulary—apparently not even for child rapists. “It’s hard to believe there are any jurisdictions out there that wouldn’t cooperate with [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] when it comes to illegal aliens charged with forcibly raping children, but in Massachusetts, it’s…Deroy Murdock -
- Opinion
Democrats Had Their Own Version of DOGE Under Clinton and Gore. Why Are They Terrified Now?
While Democrats in Congress howl over President Donald Trump’s cuts to wasteful and fraudulent government spending, they’ve been hit with a partywide case of amnesia. They’re forgetting their own party once stood for fiscal responsibility, even creating their own version of the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative called Reinventing Government—REGO for short. Also known…Carrie Sheffield -
- Opinion
America’s Most Conservative Governor Delivers on Promises
OXON Hill, Md.— Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders aspires to make Arkansas the most conservative state in America. And with a growing list of conservative accomplishments, she appears intent on delivering. Following her CPAC appearance Saturday, Sanders spoke exclusively with The Daily Signal about her approach to governing, legislative priorities, and her take on President Donald…Rob Bluey