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
Podcast: We Were at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
We discuss comedian Michelle Wolf’s mean, not funny, performance with Lauren Evans, a Daily Signal producer. Plus: A New York Times reporter accuses Hillary Clinton of sexist behavior. -
opinion
11 ‘Jokes’ From Liberal, Mean Girl Comedian at DC Journalists Dinner
Editor’s note: Due to the ribald nature of Michelle Wolf’s set, some of the jokes in this article are crass and not family-friendly. At the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday, comedian Michelle Wolf took aim over and over again at conservatives, including singling out White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was seated… -
opinion
I Apologize to Amy Chozick, but Her Error-Filled Clinton Book Provides Window Into New York Times
Editor’s note: Former Hillary Clinton aide Philippe Reines emailed these comments to Katrina Trinko, managing editor of The Daily Signal, when she asked for a response to New York Times reporter Amy Chozick’s account, in a new book about Clinton, of Reines’ making a vulgar, sexually suggestive remark to Chozick, saying to her, “I didn’t… -
news
Exclusive Interview: Ben Carson on Draining the Swamp, Fighting Poverty, and Kanye West
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson spoke to The Daily Signal’s Genevieve Wood about his policy goals at HUD, what it’s like to serve under President Donald Trump, and Kanye West’s recent tweets. An edited transcript of the interview is below. Genevieve Wood: Secretary Carson, thank you for talking with The Daily Signal. Ben… -
opinion
Must-See Moments: Is Kanye Becoming a Conservative?
The Daily Signal’s Facebook Live show “Top 10” features the top news stories of the week—many of which went misreported by the mainstream media and some weren’t reported at all. Kanye West broke Twitter this week with his show of support for President Donald Trump. West received backlash from his supporters and the left after… -
opinion
The Virtue of Ownership
What does it mean to own something? Beyond definitions or even illustrations, I’m talking about the responsibility and accountability that comes with owning something … and owning something of intrinsic worth. How does that make a person feel? Imagine the sheer sense of satisfaction, achievement, and stewardship that envelopes you when a valuable asset becomes… -
opinion
Wisconsin Forges Ahead on Welfare Reform
Wisconsin is taking the lead on welfare reform. In February, the state Legislature passed nine bills, which Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign. The state government is taking advantage of record-low unemployment and strong job creation numbers to help all of its able citizens enter the workforce. Among other measures, Wisconsin’s bold plan implements… -
opinion
Drones Are High-Tech Marvels, but Congress Needs to Address the Threats They Pose
As symbols of a new, high-tech era, drones have grown in popularity, largely because of their versatility. The U.S. military utilizes them to hunt down terrorists overseas. Companies such as Amazon have looked to employ drones as delivery machines. Photographers use them to capture bird’s eye images. Children ask for them as birthday presents. While… -
opinion
Prison Reform Bill Would Help End the Revolving-Door Crime Cycle
Debate in Congress about criminal justice reform has come to focus on one issue: Our federal prison system could be doing more to protect public safety and to invest tax dollars more wisely so that our prisons function less like revolving doors. The House Judiciary Committee was scheduled Wednesday to consider a bill, the Prison… -
news
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Fends Off Democrat Critics, Makes Case for Deregulation in Testy Hearings
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt offered up a vigorous defense of his record amid negative media coverage of his travel, security, and living expenses Thursday in testifying before two House subcommittees. “Much of what has been targeted toward me and my team has been half-truths or at best stories so twisted they do not represent reality,”… -
opinion
This Illinois Town’s Story Shows the Fate Others Will Face in Pension Crisis
Generous pensions have always been a prime perk of government jobs. Now those pensions are causing government layoffs, reduced services, and tax increases. Take Harvey, Illinois. The city has laid off half of its fire department and 13 police officers so it can meet its obligations to its retired police officers and firefighters—the result of… -
opinion
The Government Should Change How It Regulates Marijuana
Whether and how to regulate marijuana use has been in the news again recently. Currently, federal laws classify marijuana as a “Schedule I” (unhelpful and dangerous) drug. This means that physicians cannot prescribe marijuana for therapeutic or recreational purposes. Since 1996, however, numerous states have revised their state criminal laws to permit marijuana to be… -
opinion
Problematic Women: Kim, Kanye, and ‘Dragon Power’
On this week’s edition of “Problematic Women” we discuss Melania Trump’s big week, GQ putting the Bible on its list of books you “don’t have to read,” and outrage over a former NFL player posing with a gun in his daughter’s prom photo. We also cover Kanye West tweeting about his “love” for President Donald… -
opinion
Podcast: Why Bernie Sanders’ Guaranteed Jobs Plan Would Backfire
Sen. Bernie Sanders is back with another socialist plan. The Heritage Foundation’s David Kreutzer explains why pledging jobs for all is not going to lead to one big happily ever after for Americans. Plus: Yale students are embracing emotional support animals. -
opinion
Scott Pruitt’s Effort to Expose ‘Secret Science’ Has Environmentalists Scared Stiff
A proposed rule announced Tuesday by Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is intended to bring much-needed transparency to agency rule-making. The environmental lobby is positively apoplectic about the proposal (naturally), even though it aligns perfectly with its long-held commitment to the public’s “right to know” principle. The proposed regulation would require the… -
opinion
The Sad Case of Alfie Evans: A Sordid Lesson in Government-Controlled Health Care
The next time Sen. Bernie Sanders or his progressive Senate allies tout their proposal for total federal control of health care, just remember the case of Alfie Evans. Consider the basic facts. The National Health Service, Britain’s “single payer” health care system, provides universal government coverage for British citizens. Alfie, a seriously ill 23-month-old toddler,… -
opinion
Everyone Needs a Close Community, but Those Are Fewer and Fewer
According to the Department of Commerce, the United States economy grew 2.6 percent in the most recent economic quarter. This is strong economic growth. And according to the Labor Department, the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent in March for the sixth month in a row. Economists consider this number to be near full… -
opinion
Parents Stand Up for Children in ‘Sex Ed Sit Out’
Parents across the country pulled their children out of public schools on Monday for the “Sex Ed Sit Out”—a grassroots awakening of frustrated parents who are sick of the sexualization of children in their taxpayer-funded schools. The Sex Ed Sit Out was conceived by Elizabeth Johnston, who blogs at Activist Mommy, and other moms on… -
opinion
All Lives Matter, Including Alfie Evans’
When British hospital officials tried to pull the plug on 23-month-old toddler Alfie Evans on Monday night in arrogant defiance of his parents’ wishes, many Americans took to Twitter to count their blessings that they live in a country that would not allow such tyranny. “Stories like Alfie Evans make me realize how grateful I… -
opinion
Terrorist Dissidents Threaten to Undermine Peace Process in Colombia
A hostage crisis in Ecuador recently came to a tragic end. Two Ecuadorean journalists and their driver being held hostage were killed by their captors on April 12. The team was out on an assignment along the Colombia-Ecuador border when they were kidnapped on March 26 by a dissident faction of the recently demobilized FARC…