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
The Government Now Requires TV Stations Air Programs for Kids. That Could Be About to Change.
Saturday morning cartoons—once a staple of weekend TV entertainment for children—largely have become a thing of the past, thanks to an ever-changing digital media landscape. Now, in an attempt to modernize its regulations, the Federal Communications Commission plans this week to reassess the rules that required the regular airing of children’s educational programming, in response… -
news
Illinois State-Funded Abortions Increase Nearly 300% in 2018
Taxpayers in Illinois paid for almost quadruple the number of abortions in the first six months of 2018 than they did in 2017 following a bill mandating the state pay for abortions. There were only 84 abortions between January and June 2017, but that number skyrocketed to 314 in 2018, according to records from the Illinois… -
opinion
This Technology Could Help Avert Electricity Crises Like Puerto Rico’s After Hurricane Maria
As major storms and potential terrorism have made America aware of the vulnerability and critical nature of our electric infrastructure (think Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria), new ideas are needed to better protect this essential part of our overall critical infrastructure systems and to repair it more quickly when it does get hit. Awhile back, I… -
opinion
A Look Into the Mind of the American Left: Part I
As I watch a great number of my fellow Americans and virtually all of the mainstream media descend further and further into irrational and immoral hysteria—regularly calling the president of the United States and all of his supporters Nazis, white supremacists, and the like; harassing Republicans where they eat, shop, and live; ending family ties… -
news
YouTube Will Use ‘Quality News’ Sources to Fight Fake News
YouTube is working with news organizations to deem “authoritative” and “quality” news sources in an effort to combat fake news and conspiracy theories. “[W]e’re announcing steps we’re taking with the GNI [Google News Initiative] to support the future of news in online video, and product features we’ve been working on to improve the news experience… -
news
With Foster Homes Idle and Children Languishing, Catholic Agency Fights Back Against Philadelphia LGBT Policy Barring It
Although at least 250 children in Philadelphia are in need of foster homes, 35 homes willing to take them in are still waiting—and the private religious charity that could bring them together is fighting back against a city that doesn’t want its help. After a 50-year relationship with Catholic Social Services, the city decided to… -
opinion
The Right Choice for America
On Saturday, my family and I attended a performance of “Hamilton: An American Musical.” To say we were excited would be a massive understatement: critics call “Hamilton” one of the decade’s biggest stage hits, and friends who’d already seen it told us we just had to go. They were right! It’s a fantastic production and… -
news
Starbucks Joins the Anti-Straw Craze
Starbucks plans to stop using plastic straws at all of its stores worldwide within the next two years. The global coffee chain will eliminate all plastic straws by 2020, and will instead cap cold drinks with lids, Starbucks stated in a press statement. Starbucks becomes the most recent company to join a crusade against plastic straws. The… -
news
Refusal to Use Preferred Gender Pronouns Costs British Doctor His Job
The belief that gender is assigned at birth has cost one British doctor his job as a disability assessor for the Department of Work and Pensions in the United Kingdom. Dr. David Mackereth, 55, the father of four, was dismissed from the department after only recently being hired because he told the instructor for a… -
opinion
Even Before Nominee Named, Left Turns to Court-Packing to Save ‘Democracy’
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement sent many on the left over the edge. Even before President Donald Trump announced his nominee to replace Kennedy, progressives were lining up in fierce opposition. While it’s understandable that those on the left would be aggressively opposed to adding another advocate of the Constitution to the Supreme Court, some of… -
news
Trump White House Has Smaller Staff, Spends Less on Salaries Than Obama White House
Over $20 million in taxpayer funds could be saved at the end of President Donald Trump’s first term in office due to his leaner White House operation. A new report on the White House office personnel revealed that Trump has a significantly smaller staff than his predecessor did at this time, according to an analysis… -
opinion
Left’s War on Gov. Walker in Wisconsin Was a Dry Run for Its ‘Resistance’ Against Trump
Good morning America. You are now entering Wisconsin, circa 2011. The left’s #Resistance movement today against all things Trump is what big labor brought the Badger State seven years ago when “progressives” stomped all over civility in a campaign to topple Republican Gov. Scott Walker. “What happened in Wisconsin … is being writ large across the country,”… -
news
Fewer Than One-Third of Democrats Are ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be Americans
Less than one-third of Democrats are “extremely proud” to be Americans, according to a Gallup poll released on Monday. Only 32 percent of Democrats rated themselves as “extremely proud” to be Americans, while 74 percent of Republicans rated themselves as such, according to the poll. This is the lowest number for Democrats and the highest number… -
opinion
The System Doesn’t Need to Be ‘Fixed’ Every Time Liberals Lose
If you’re under the impression that the system exists merely to facilitate your partisan agenda, it’s not surprising that you also believe it’s broken every time things don’t go your way. This is why so many Democrats argue that we should “fix” the Electoral College when they lose a presidential election and “fix” the filibuster… -
news
Professor Wishes Students Happy Fourth by Saying She Hopes They ‘Can Find Something to Celebrate’
A Colorado professor did not send a standard “Happy July Fourth” out to her students, instead saying she hopes they are able to “find something to celebrate” on the holiday. University of Northern Colorado sociology professor Kyle Nelson made the remark in an email obtained by Campus Reform. “Happy 4th of July on Wednesday,” the professor… -
opinion
Problematic Women: Counting Down Our Favorite Independent Women
In honor of Independence Day, this week’s special edition of “Problematic Women” counts down the five most problematic—and independent—women of the year. From first lady Melania Trump wearing the wrong shoes, to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao protecting her husband in a wave of aggressive protesters, these women define what it means to be strong and… -
opinion
Pennsylvania District Fights to Keep Parents From Watching Pro-LGBT Videos Students Were Required to Watch
At East Penn School district, officials don’t just indoctrinate kids — they refuse to show parents how! That’s the outrageous predicament Emmaus families find themselves in after they found out about a weeklong blitz of pro-LGBT videos that was required watching in every homeroom. And here’s the irony: while students were forced to watch them,… -
opinion
Congress Needs to Make Changes to the Final NDAA
Before Congress sends the final 2019 National Defense Authorization Act legislation to President Donald Trump, lawmakers should improve upon certain areas. In June, the House and Senate passed their individual versions of the 2019 NDAA and started to conference to work on the differences in their bills. While both versions have laudable provisions, there is… -
opinion
How We Can Hold Bureaucrats Accountable
These are the remarks as prepared for delivery by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in a June 25 speech at The Heritage Foundation in Washington. In 1980, I was elected to the U.S. Senate. During my early days in the Senate, I met a man who had a significant impact on my career. His name is… -
news
Fact Check: Are 80% of Asylum Court Cases Not Approved?
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a Fox News interview that about 80 percent of people seeking asylum in immigration court do not receive it. Verdict: True About 80 percent of asylum cases in immigration court are denied or otherwise closed. That figure does not include thousands of people granted asylum outside of court….