Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
-
opinion
Why Bans on Plastic Bags and Straws Are Annoying and Overrated
Canada, following precedent set by the European Union, is poised to join a growing list of places where single-use plastic items have been banned. Though the government hasn’t specified which items will actually be outlawed in 2021, according to The Guardian, “bottles, plastic bags, and straws” are being considered. First, they came for the bags…. -
news
4 Big Moments in the House’s Mueller Report Hearing
Watergate figure John Dean, who served as White House counsel for Richard Nixon, drew parallels Monday between the scandal that led to his conviction and toppled his former boss and special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of alleged Russian government ties to the campaign of President Donald Trump. Dean joined former Justice Department lawyers for a… -
news
Nikki Haley Warns That Politics Is ‘Reaching the Point of Hate’
DALLAS—Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned at an event Friday night that American politics is “reaching the point of hate.” Haley was the marquee speaker at Turning Point USA’s Young Women’s Leadership Summit, where rumors and speculation about a possible Haley 2024 presidential campaign hung as a backdrop. Turning Point USA… -
news
‘A Moment of Maximum Danger’: As US-Iran Tensions Rise, Kurdish Opposition Prepares for War
KOYA, Iraq—Just outside this town in Iraqi Kurdistan, a cemetery sits on a raised plot of land facing east toward the border with Iran, about 40 miles away. Buried here are the fallen leaders and peshmerga fighters of the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran, an exiled and armed opposition group. On this day in late… -
news
75 Conservative Groups Oppose ‘Any Carbon Tax’ Days After Mitt Romney Was Reportedly ‘Looking at’ One
Seventy-five conservative groups signed a public letter to Congress opposing “any carbon tax” days after reports that Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney openly considered backing a carbon tax bill. “We oppose any carbon tax,” conservative groups, led by Americans for Tax Reform, wrote in their letter, which was published online Monday morning. While the letter is… -
opinion
What Happens When Everyone Gets a ‘Free’ Lunch? Money Problems
A yogurt company, Chobani, has picked up the tab for unpaid school lunches in a Rhode Island school district. That’s a relief to the school district, but not one likely to be replicated elsewhere. A new report finds that it would take a whole lot of dairy to fix the waste and misspent money in… -
news
A Michigan Hotel Wants to Help Out-of-State Women Get Abortions
The manager of a small-town Michigan hotel is offering a free room for women looking to get abortions, particularly from states that have recently restricted or banned access. Shelley O’Brien, the manager of the Yale Hotel in Yale, Michigan, posted the offer on Facebook in May. The post offers several free nights at the hotel plus a… -
opinion
Why the Declining Marriage Rate Affects Everyone
Families are the building blocks of civilization. They are personal relationships, but they greatly shape and serve the public good. Strong families make for strong communities. Conversely, family breakdown harms society as a whole. That’s why America’s declining marriage rate is a real problem. While on the surface this might not seem like an issue… -
opinion
It’s Time for Poland to Join the Visa Waiver Program
President Andrzej Duda of Poland is set to visit President Donald Trump at the White House this week to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Poland joining NATO and to discuss matters of defense, security, energy, and trade. As longtime allies, it is time to take further steps to mutually improve security for both nations–and adding… -
news
100 Days After Michael Cohen’s Testimony, House Democrats Ignore Possible Perjury
A top House Democrat issued a warning to Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, early in a committee hearing. “I’ve made it abundantly clear to Mr. Cohen if he comes here today and he does not tell the truth, I will be the first to refer those untruthful statements to the… -
opinion
Congress Made Grand Jury Records Secret. Judges Shouldn’t Change That.
Attorney General William Barr is under fire from congressional Democrats for refusing to release a fully unredacted copy of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report. It seems not to matter to them that it is illegal for the attorney general to reveal the redacted information. In fact, that may be an attractive feature for the Democrats… -
news
6 Things to Know About the Hyde Amendment
Former Vice President Joe Biden came out Thursday against the Hyde Amendment, after previously supporting it. “If I believe health care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone’s ZIP code,” Biden said at a gala hosted by the Democratic National Committee in… -
news
Nearly Mile-Long Artwork Bible Unfurled on National Mall
More than 600 volunteers gathered recently on the Nation Mall in Washington, D.C., to unfold the longest illustrated Bible in recorded history. The Wiedmann Bible, nearly a mile in length, was painted by German artist Wilhelm “Willy” Wiedmann over the course of 16 years. Willy Wiedmann’s son, Martin Wiedmann, discovered the 3,333 images and sketches… -
news
Rep. Omar Dinged for Campaign Finance Violations, Ordered to Repay Campaign Thousands
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar improperly spent thousands of dollars in campaign funds on noncampaign expenses in 2016 and 2017 while serving in the state legislature, Minnesota’s campaign finance and public disclosure board ruled Thursday. The state board ordered Omar to personally reimburse her campaign for just under $3,500 the campaign spent on out-of-state travel… -
opinion
Stand Up to Anti-Semitism and Historical Revisionism. Because Truth Matters.
History, it has been said, is written by the winners of wars and other conflicts. But all too often, it is rewritten by historical revisionists—especially today, when “fake news” can take on a veneer of “truthiness” and is spread far and wide via social media. Take the case of freshman Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who… -
opinion
Yet Another Women’s Athletic Event Is Getting Biological Male Participant
There are a lot of issues race organizers have to deal with in a 100-mile endurance run. “Sponsors, weather, permits, volunteers.” But gender? In 28 years, John Medinger has never had to think about it, he told The New York Times. Until now. From June 29-30, runners will tackle one of the most grueling challenges… -
news
When the Left Defended the Electoral College
New York today is part of the movement to choose presidents by popular vote, but 40 years ago a nationally known liberal from the state took to the Senate floor to argue the advantages of the current system. The Electoral College, Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan asserted in his July 1979 speech, forces consensus and allows… -
opinion
This Teacher Came Out to His Students as Transgender, and Expects Them to Go Along With It
Transgender activists are continuing to force their lifestyle and language preferences onto children and college students, with little interference from administrative officials. All of this encourages young people to deny biology and accept these new “norms” as fact. Case in point: Mark Vincent Busenbark, a male science teacher at Allis Elementary School in Madison, Wisconsin…. -
opinion
If D-Day Were Today, Would Millennials Step Up to the Challenge?
As we celebrate the courage, determination, and resolve of the “Greatest Generation” on June 6—the 75th anniversary of the bloody Allied invasion of Normandy, France, that was the start of the liberation of Europe from Nazi tyranny and oppression—it brings to mind a crucial question. Would today’s millennials meet the same challenge if faced with…