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
How Affirmative Action Backfires on Minority Students, and Why Colleges Do It Anyway
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas once recounted the time when his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School was dismissed from nearly every law firm he considered. The interviewers, believing him to be a beneficiary of Yale’s aggressive affirmative action policies, which de-emphasized LSAT scores and grades for black students, questioned him pointedly about his… -
opinion
Media Misses: Why Trump’s Criticism Is Justified
It’s no secret that Americans distrust the media and a recent poll proves it. While many Americans find President Donald Trump divisive, even more find the media to be divisive. A prime example of divisive rhetoric occurred this week when CNN’s Don Lemon made these remarks: “We have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest… -
opinion
The 3 Big Differences Between Conservatives and Progressives
What’s the difference between a conservative and a progressive? Here are three examples. No. 1: Conservatives and progressives have different views about individuals and communities. Conservatives ask: “What can I do for myself, my family, my community, and my fellow citizens?” Progressives ask: “What is unfair?” “What am I owed?” “What has offended me today?”… -
opinion
Trump’s Proposed 5% Cut Would Be a Win for Taxpayers
President Donald Trump went bold last month when he directed Cabinet members to cut spending by 5 percent for their upcoming annual budgets. This comes nine months after Congress passed its latest budget-busting deal, which sent deficit spending soaring by nearly $300 billion above the Budget Control Act caps. Asking agencies to cut 5 percent… -
opinion
If We Don’t Enforce the Law, We Get Anarchy
What makes citizens obey the law is not always their sterling character. Instead, fear of punishment—the shame of arrest, fines, or imprisonment—more often makes us comply with laws. Law enforcement is not just a way to deal with individual violators but also a way to remind society at large that there can be no civilization… -
opinion
Confronting Anti-Semitism in Our Day
“Some of my best friends are Jews.” That familiar, yet offensive, phrase has been used by some people as a defense against an accusation of anti-Semitism. It’s time, however, to rebrand it as a positive affirmation of love and concern for the Jewish people. In light of the latest mass shooting, this time at a… -
news
America’s Premier Libertarian Magazine Celebrates Its 50th Year
The nation’s most prominent libertarian magazine officially is turning 50. Reason magazine, the print and online publication of Reason Foundation, will celebrate its 50th anniversary Saturday with well-known figures in the libertarian movement at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Los Angeles. Reason bills itself as “the planet’s largest source of news, culture, policy, and ideas from… -
news
Founder of #WalkAway Campaign Hopes to Make It a ‘Roadshow’
The founder of the #WalkAway Campaign, a movement showcasing stories of why Americans walk away from leftist ideology and the Democratic Party, says he is pleased with an organized march last weekend in the nation’s capital and plans to take the idea on the road. “I thought it was spectacular. I am so proud of… -
opinion
8 Years After the Tea Party Wave, Congress Still Spends Like There’s No Tomorrow
When it comes to our nation’s spending, most politicians are only interested in the time between now and the next election. Because of this, we can’t rely on Congress to give us the full, honest truth about our fiscal trajectory and what exactly needs to change. We need independent voices. One such voice came last… -
opinion
The Left’s Response to the Mass Shooting of Jews Was an Act of Bad Faith
After the horrific massacre of 11 Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue, many of the same liberals who had recently fought to prop up Iran, the world’s most powerful Jew-hating terror state, lectured us on the importance of combating anti-Semitism. The same Voxers who had long rationalized, romanticized, and excused the Jew-killing terror organization… -
news
On the Street: What Americans Think About Birthright Citizenship
What are Americans saying about President Donald Trump’s announcement that he is considering ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants? How much do people really know about the issue? We took our camera “On the Street” in Washington, D.C., to find out. -
opinion
Here’s Why Trump’s Constant Criticism of the Media Resonates With Americans
Americans aren’t fans of their media. A recent poll shows that while many Americans find President Donald Trump divisive, even more find the media to be divisive. A Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that 56 percent of Americans think Trump has done more to divide the country, while 64 percent of Americans think the media has… -
opinion
He Was Given 4 Months to Live, but Refused Assisted Suicide. Here’s Where His Fight Led.
They received the same diagnosis—and chose two very different paths J.J. Hanson—a loving husband, father, and Marine—was diagnosed in spring 2014 with grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme, the deadliest form of brain cancer. He was right in the prime of his life. This aggressive cancer was the same disease that prompted Brittany Maynard to take her… -
news
Tree of Life Rabbi Says He Was ‘Pleasantly Surprised’ by Trump’s ‘Warm and Personal Side’ During Pittsburgh Visit
Tree of Life synagogue Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said he was “pleasantly surprised” by President Donald Trump’s warmth and compassion during his visit to Pittsburgh, on CNN’s “New Day” Thursday. “I was privileged to have a private 15 or 20 minutes with the [Trump] family. The president was very warm, very consoling,” Myers said. “He put his hand… -
opinion
Meeting the Caravan With Common Sense
It’s sad to see the debate over the migrant caravan break down into the usual polarized camps. You’re either pro-immigrant and therefore willing to let anyone in, or you’re anti-immigrant and you want to slam the door in the face of anyone, right? Wrong. The phrase “My fellow immigrants” certainly rings true for me, as… -
opinion
Podcast: Chip and Joanna Gaines Should Be Allowed to Have as Many Kids as They Want
Glamour magazine announces its women of the year—and surprise, surprise, not a single woman on the list is on the right. You may have heard that Ben and Jerry’s has released a new anti-Trump ice cream, but did you know it’s also supporting the Women’s March financially, despite the group’s concerning ties with Louis Farrakhan,… -
news
Here Are the 3 Times in Past Century That President’s Party Gained Seats in Midterms
History is not on any president’s side in a midterm election. But there are three occasions since 1934 when a president’s political party actually gained seats in Congress. Since 1862, the president’s party on average loses 32 House seats and more than two Senate seats in a midterm election. And in the 47 midterms since… -
opinion
Fake News Threatens Our Nation
President Donald Trump was right to tweet out: “There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true enemy of the people, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news honestly and fairly. That will do much… -
opinion
Yes, Unvetted Illegal Caravans Threaten Public Health
We live in bizarro times. Suddenly, it is controversial to state obvious, neon-bright truths. This week, it has become newsworthy to observe that illegal border-crossers who circumvent required medical screenings are a threat to America’s public health and safety. Just look at these hyperventilating headlines and tweets. From Newsweek, which is supposed to, you know,… -
opinion
When Tragedy Came to Pittsburgh, First Responders Were There
Last Saturday morning, my hometown of Pittsburgh experienced a horrendous tragedy when an evil individual fatally shot 11 people and wounded six others at the Tree of Life Congregation, a synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood—the city’s largest Jewish community. Since that awful morning, we have and continue to come together to remember the victims…