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
Secretary Azar Discusses the Road to a Better Health Care System
Watch The Daily Signal’s interview with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar above, or read a lightly edited transcript of the conversation below. Genevieve Wood: Secretary Azar, thank you very much for sitting down with The Daily Signal. Secretary Alex Azar: Glad to be here, thanks. Wood: Appreciate it. You head the Health and… -
opinion
How Your Child’s Lemonade Stand Could Land You in Jail
Have your kids ever asked you if they could set up a lemonade stand in the neighborhood? If so, don’t be so quick to give permission—it could be conspiracy to commit a crime. Across America, parents and children are learning that the hard way. From Louisiana to Colorado, families set up makeshift lemonade stands, hoping… -
opinion
New Leadership Could Revitalize This Important African Nation
One of Africa’s most important countries is in the midst of seismic changes. In his first four months in office, the new prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed (known simply as Abiy), has launched a series of long-overdue economic and political reforms, the pace and—so far—the success of which no one predicted. It is unclear… -
opinion
Why the LGBT Alliance Could Be on the Brink of Schism
Events at the July 7 Pride in London parade revealed deepening fractures that could lead to a schism in the LGBT community. A group of eight lesbians interrupted the parade to protest the inclusion of transgender individuals in the LGBT community. One protester shouted, “A man who says he’s a lesbian is a rapist,” referring… -
opinion
The FAA Is Slowing Down Potentially Life-Saving Drone Technology
Regulators too afraid of “making a mistake” are depriving Americans of numerous beneficial and even life-saving drone technologies. That is one of several alarming conclusions in a recently released report taking the Federal Aviation Administration to task for stalling the deployment of drones even as foreign companies and nations surge ahead. On its own, that… -
opinion
The IRS Has Rehired Hundreds of Fired Employees. Congress Should Step In.
For one of the most punitive agencies in the federal government, the IRS sure is forgiving with its own employees. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., has proposed a bill that would prevent the IRS from rehiring employees fired for misconduct or poor performance. The bill, titled the Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act, follows a… -
opinion
The True Extent of Palestinian Hatred for Israel
Pick up any newspaper and you might get the impression that Israel is being ruthless and aggressive when it comes to dealing militarily with the Palestinians. That is especially true for those living under the control of the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. Regardless of manipulation of the news by Hamas, this could not be… -
opinion
My 25th Wedding Anniversary Is This Week. Here’s the Secret to a Happy Marriage.
To commemorate my 25th wedding anniversary this week to my husband, Jesse, I asked readers on Facebook to share their own secrets to a long happy marriage. In short, the crowdsourced recipe for marital endurance includes faith, forgiveness, romance, kindness, selflessness, and a healthy dose of humor. A union built to last begins with a… -
news
Tuition-Free College Bill Coming Down the Pipeline From House Democrats
Editor's note: A group of House Democrats unveiled the bill July 24. House Democrats will introduce a bill to make college tuition-free by minimizing debt and simplifying financial aid procedures. The Aim Higher Act, which is expected to hit the House between July 24 and July 27, would grant states federal funding provided that they… -
news
San Francisco Joins Nationwide Push Against Plastic Straws
San Francisco passed an ordinance Tuesday prohibiting local store fronts from selling or distributing plastic straws as more cities jump aboard a nationwide push to ban plastic materials. If the ordinance passes the city’s Board of Supervisors on the second reading, it will then be presented to Democratic Mayor London Breed. The measure would effectively prevent restaurants from… -
opinion
Pompeo Stands Up for the Iranian People in Major Speech
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave a Reaganesque speech on Iran at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Sunday. The speech, titled “Supporting Iranian Voices,” was a powerful and clear-eyed assessment of the damaging impact that Islamist ideology and revolutionary policies have had on the Iranian people. Addressing the Iranian people, as well as Iranian-Americans… -
opinion
It’s Time for Tax Reform 2.0. Here’s Why It’s So Important.
You’ve probably heard about last year’s tax reform—the bill that cut Americans’ taxes in 2018 by about $1,400. What you might have missed is that all of those tax cuts for individuals are set to expire in less than eight years. That might sound far off in the future, but it’ll come faster than we… -
news
Portland Food Cart That Helps Homeless Shut Down After Alleged Harassment From Occupy ICE Protesters
A Portland nonprofit food cart was shut down after the owners faced alleged harassment from Occupy ICE protesters Friday. The Happy Camper Food Cart, founded by Scott and Julie Hakes in 2017, raised funds to help the homeless through the project Operation Off The Grid. The stand was across the street from the Portland Immigration and… -
opinion
New Study Claims Global Warming Will Cause Thousands More to Commit Suicide
A July study claims that thousands more people will commit suicide in the coming decades due to man-made global warming. Published in the journal Nature Climate Change on Monday, the study found a 1-degree increase in average monthly temperature correlated with suicide rate increases of 0.68 percent and 2.1 percent in the U.S. and Mexico,… -
news
‘I Did Write It’: Waiter Admits Faking Viral Racist Note on Receipt
A Texas waiter who claimed to have been stiffed by a racist customer now admits he made the whole thing up. Saltgrass Steak House waiter Khalil Cavil went viral after posting a Facebook picture of a racist note that Cavil claimed a customer had left on the receipt, in lieu of a tip. “I don’t… -
opinion
If Slut-Shaming Is Not OK, Neither Is Virgin-Shaming
Society condemns so-called slut-shaming, but apparently it’s perfectly acceptable to “virgin-shame,” a concerning reality for a culture that prides itself on tolerance and acceptance. Daytime talk show host Wendy Williams has slammed a 26-year-old recent contestant on “The Bachelorette” for revealing that he is a virgin. The contestant, former San Diego Chargers tight end Colton Underwood,… -
opinion
Ominous Court Ruling Allows Discrimination Against Christian Adoption Provider
Earlier this month, in a first-of-its-kind case, a federal judge ruled that a Christian adoption provider’s religious freedom claims must submit to the government’s sexual and moral standards. Catholic Social Services simply wanted to continue serving Philadelphia’s needy children in accordance with its beliefs, as it had for decades, but the city severed ties with… -
opinion
The Experts Have Been Wrong About Lots of Things. Here’s a Sampling.
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers predicted that if Donald Trump were elected, there would be a protracted recession within 18 months. Heeding its experts, a month before the election, the Washington Post ran an editorial with the headline “A President Trump could destroy the world economy.” Steve Rattner, a Democratic financier and former head of…