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
Congressional Liberals’ Latest Attempt to Push Americans Out of Private Health Care
With the collapse of choice and competition in the Obamacare health insurance exchanges, combined with major premium and deductible increases, “progressives” in Congress are looking for new ways to expand the role of government in Americans’ health care. Progressives’ current thinking: Use Medicare to entice millions into a government-controlled health system. By relying on even… -
opinion
How Colleges Are Ripping Off a Generation of Ill-Prepared Students
Earlier this month, the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress, aka the nation’s “report card,” was released. It’s not a pretty story. Only 37 percent of 12th-graders tested proficient or better in reading, and only 25 percent did so in math. Among black students, only 17 percent tested proficient or better in reading, and just… -
news
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Moves to End Reliance on ‘Secret Science’
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt proposed a new rule Tuesday aimed at bolstering the role of science in developing regulations. Pruitt announced the change at an event at the Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters that was closed to The Daily Signal and other press. It could, however, be viewed online. “The era of secret science at EPA… -
opinion
Kanye West’s Shoutout to Conservative Commentator Underscores Need for Civility, Respect
Everyone is making a big deal about rapper Kanye West’s admiring tweet about conservative Candace Owens after another one of her provocative comments went viral. “I love the way Candace Owens thinks,” West tweeted Saturday morning in the first of a string about paying attention and thinking for yourself: https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/987696355341553665 Maybe it is because the… -
opinion
How US Can Keep ISIS From Taking Root in Afghanistan
As the territorial integrity of ISIS’ “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria erodes, the terror group now finds itself looking to its contingent group in Afghanistan, known as the Islamic State in Khorasan, or IS-K, in order to maintain its operations. In the northern Afghan province of Jowzjan, IS-K has been actively recruiting fighters associated with… -
opinion
New York Times Confirms Why So Many People Doubt Its Best-Seller List
In my last column—“The New York Times Best-Seller List: Another Reason Americans Don’t Trust the Media“—I used my recently published book as evidence that The New York Times best-seller list is not a best-seller list. I pointed out that the book, “The Rational Bible: Exodus,” the first volume of my commentary on the first five… -
opinion
If Current Laws Had Been Followed, There Would Have Been No Waffle House Shooting
On Monday afternoon, Tennessee law enforcement officers captured a 29-year-old Illinois man suspected of opening fire on diners at a Nashville Waffle House, despite the man having had his firearms seized on multiple occasions in the last two years. Four people died and several others were wounded by the shooter—who wore nothing but a green… -
opinion
Podcast: The Importance of Implementing More Work Requirements for Food Stamps
Lawmakers tackle food stamps in the new farm bill, but The Heritage Foundation’s Mimi Teixeira says they missed valuable opportunities for real change. Plus: We talk about Waffle House hero James Shaw Jr. -
opinion
California Considers Bill That Would Make Traditional Views on Sexuality Illegal
A new bill in California claims to protect LGBT people, but actually limits their choices, censors speech, and infringes upon religious freedom. AB 2943 would amend the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act—a consumer law that outlaws unfair and deceptive practices—by adding so-called “sexual orientation change efforts” to a list of banned practices. It would in… -
opinion
Right Side of History: The Truth About Ted Kennedy and Chappaquiddick
“The Right Side of History” is a podcast dedicated to exploring current events through a historical lens and busting left-wing myths about figures and events of America’s past. On this week’s episode, hosts Jarrett Stepman, an editor at The Daily Signal, and Fred Lucas, The Daily Signal’s White House correspondent, discuss “Chappaquiddick,” the new movie… -
news
This 29-Year-Old ‘Hero’ Saved Several Lives During Tennessee Waffle House Shooting, Police Say
A 29-year-old man saved numerous lives after he took down the shooter who opened fire at a Waffle House in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday morning, according to police. James Shaw Jr. saw a chance to take down the shooter and did not hesitate, he said. The gunman entered naked except for a green jacket, which he later took… -
news
Professor Jordan Peterson Warns Against the ‘Dangerous Narrative’ of Victimization
University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson called the narrative of victimization “dangerous” and said it’s being pushed on college campuses all around the world. Peterson discussed, on “Fox & Friends” Monday, Candace Owens of Turning Point USA and her comments about the dangers of wanting to be a victim. “I think that Candace is commenting about the danger… -
opinion
Congress Can’t Afford to Play Politics With Mike Pompeo
“I have a secret and dangerous mission. Send me a West Point football player.” So, Gen. George C. Marshall, America’s architect of victory in World War II, is alleged to have said. Himself a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Marshall was a shrewd judge of leadership. I’m not sure what sports CIA Director Mike… -
opinion
Must-See Moments: The Comey Memos
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. We cover the memos written by former FBI Director James Comey about his interactions with President Donald Trump, which were released earlier this week. We… -
opinion
Federal Government Continues to Give Native American Tribes a Bad Deal
The Department of the Interior has worked steadily to increase opportunity and access to the federal lands and resources under its purview. Earlier this week, the department released a comprehensive list of its accomplishments thus far in 2018. One area that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke should now turn his attention to is the morass of… -
opinion
1 Comment on Conservative Article Costs Iowan Government Appointment
You don’t have to be a Trump nominee to face the Christian inquisition. Just ask Iowa conservatives. The bad blood that’s turned the hearings of Mike Pompeo, Russell Vought, and Amy Barrett into anti-faith slugfests seems to be spilling over into state politics, too. And at least one military wife is out of a job… -
news
4 Takeaways From the James Comey Memos
The seven memos written by James Comey while he was still FBI director about his conversations with President Donald Trump are illuminating while offering no new bombshells and prompting predictable reactions from both parties. However, the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General has opened an investigation into whether memos Comey shared with a friend and… -
news
Boston College Philosophy Professor Offers Students Extra Credit for Going on First Date
A Boston College philosophy professor—dubbed the “dating professor” for offering extra credit for students who go on first dates—says that dating has become “a weirdly countercultural thing to do.” In Kerry Cronin’s class, the unconventional assignment used to be mandatory, but now is offered for extra credit, because students would ask someone on a date,… -
opinion
Federal Mortgage Down Payment Assistance Puts Taxpayers at Greater Risk
In January 2017, the Obama administration decided to reduce the mortgage insurance premiums charged by the Federal Housing Administration. Fortunately, after taking office later that month, the Trump administration immediately decided to reverse this decision in order to restore some semblance of financial sanity to the agency’s single-family housing mortgage insurance fund. Under the leadership… -
news
Cruz Pushes to Make the Tax Cuts Permanent
Republicans are looking to make the tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act President Donald Trump signed into law Dec. 22 permanent. “We’ve been able to deliver on a number of our most important promises to the voters. None is more important than the victory of tax reform,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said…