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
Lithuania Is a Post-Soviet Success Story
This year is the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian independence, and millions of Lithuanians are celebrating. But independence isn’t the only thing Lithuanians have to celebrate. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, economic freedom in Lithuania has grown by leaps and bounds—it is now ranked as one of the 20 freest economies in the world… -
opinion
Podcast: The Week in Review, Plus an Interview With Rep. Louie Gohmert on Comey and Mueller
On today’s edition of The Daily Signal podcast, Rob Bluey and Ginny Montalbano review the week’s top news. We feature an exclusive interview with Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, who spoke to us about former FBI Director James Comey’s new book, special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, and what he would like to see in the next… -
opinion
South Dakota Republicans Push for Higher Taxes
President Donald Trump may have spearheaded a large tax cut late last year, but two members of his party apparently prefer that Americans pay more. In two different battlegrounds, South Dakota Republicans are leading the charge to increase the ability of tax collectors to reach out and collect revenue from anyone in the U.S. Twenty-five… -
opinion
Remembering Columbine, 19 Years Later
It’s one of those moments that life sears into our memory. Nineteen years ago today, Americans turned on the news. And we saw it: the harrowing footage of students running out of Columbine High School. I learned later the Columbine attackers tried to prevent those students from leaving. They planted a powerful bomb in the… -
news
Andrew McCabe, FBI’s Former No. 2, Faces Criminal Probe for Lying, Leaking
The Justice Department’s internal watchdog has asked for a criminal probe of the FBI’s recently ousted top deputy for leaking and lying to investigators, several media outlets report. Michael Horowitz, inspector general at the Justice Department and an appointee of President Barack Obama, sent a criminal referral on Andrew McCabe to prosecutors in the U.S…. -
opinion
Transition of Power in Cuba: What You Need to Know
For the first time since 1959, on Thursday someone with a last name other than Castro became president of the island nation. However, as Heritage Foundation expert Ana Quintana explains to The Daily Signal, that is about the only thing that will change in the communist regime. Because Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez is the hand-picked… -
opinion
Problematic Women: The Legacy of Barbara Bush
On this week’s edition of “Problematic Women” we discuss Nikki Haley standing up for herself, a GQ writer calling a Taylor Swift cover “hate speech,” a triggering Chick-fil-A opening in New York City, and more. We also cover Carrie Underwood revealing her face during an epic Academy of Country Music Awards music performance after a… -
news
He Persuaded the Columbine Killers Not to Murder Him
Nineteen years ago, one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history happened at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Thirteen lives were lost, and 13 families were forever changed. Evan Todd was one of the lucky ones. The first to be shot in the library, he persuaded the shooters not to murder him. “After… -
opinion
Podcast: Happy Tax Freedom Day!
Today is Tax Freedom Day, and The Heritage Foundation’s Adam Michel joins us to discuss that, tax reform 2.0, and how your taxes will be different in 2019. Plus: We chat about a new study that looked at the relationship between big government and religious behavior. -
news
The Labor Board Is Now GOP-Run. Here’s 1 Big Change It Could Make to Rein In Unions.
An Obama administration rule that fast-tracked elections to establish unions at private companies could be on the chopping block of a federal labor agency three years after going into effect. The new Republican majority on the National Labor Relations Board, led by recently confirmed chairman John Ring, could do what Republicans in Congress failed to… -
opinion
Why Netflix Must Ensure ‘13 Reasons Why’ Is Safe for Kids
Millions of children and teens recently watched another teen commit the most graphically explicit suicide ever depicted on TV—without any warnings to parents that such content existed. A basic Netflix subscription allows children and teens access to watch “13 Reasons Why,” a story about the 13 reasons why a high school girl committed suicide. We… -
news
Q&A With Rep. Kevin Brady: ‘America’s Back’ Because of Tax Cuts
House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, sat down with The Daily Signal to talk about the historic tax reform package passed by Congress and the impact it will have, and in some cases already is having, on individuals, families, and the economy. On the midterm elections, Brady says the key question voters should ask… -
opinion
Congress Shouldn’t Forget Local Role in Setting Drone Policy
As Congress works through its reauthorization package for the Federal Aviation Administration, it should hold fast to first principles. Although lawmakers are contemplating legislation on new technologies and developing business operations, the novelty of certain enterprises is no reason to deny the values of our constitutional framework. Consider drone package delivery and a current proposal… -
news
Tax Reform 2.0 Is About Creating Culture of Ongoing Reforms, Ways and Means Chairman Says
House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, says he wants tax reform 2.0 to be about creating a culture of reform so that the country does not regress and wait decades to further streamline the tax code. “I want to change the culture in Washington,” Brady said Wednesday during a speech on the future… -
news
Parkland Student Plans Conservative Livestream on Columbine Anniversary
Conservative Parkland student Kyle Kashuv is organizing a pro-Second Amendment Facebook Live show on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. I am working on having 4 prominent speakers, one every 15 minutes, go live on Facebook at 10:00 AM-11:00 AM on Friday, to discuss ways to save lives without infringing on 2A… -
opinion
The Chick-Fil-A-Phobes Are Back With New Symptoms
Move over, Trump Derangement Syndrome. Another unhinged liberal pathology is back: Chick-fil-A-phobia. Perhaps, in the interest of public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should launch a weekly C-F-A-P surveillance report to map the recurrence of this culturally infectious disease. Early-onset symptoms include fear of pressure-cooked poultry, allergic reaction to waffle potato fries,… -
opinion
Podcast: California Shows Progressive Policies Don’t Work
The Daily Signal’s Jarrett Stepman joins us for today’s podcast, where we talk about the changes that helped make California so liberal. Plus: We discuss some experts’ claim that daily showers aren’t healthy and Columbine High School’s day of service. -
news
What Presidents and First Ladies Are Saying About Barbara Bush
Former presidents and first ladies from both parties praised the life and legacy of Barbara Pierce Bush, the wife and mother of the only two living former Republican presidents. “Our souls are settled because we know hers was,” George W. Bush says. Political rivals of the Bush family—who include in varying degrees three of the… -
opinion
How Better Treatment of the Mentally Ill Could Reduce Mass Shootings
After a 19-year-old with a rifle killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, President Donald Trump lamented how mental illness could have been a contributing factor in that massacre and many others. So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates… -
opinion
It’s Clear ‘White Flight’ to Suburbs Isn’t Reason Cities Struggle
When World War II ended, Washington, D.C.’s population was about 900,000; today it’s about 700,000. In 1950, Baltimore’s population was almost 950,000; today it’s around 614,000. Detroit’s 1950 population was close to 1.85 million; today it’s down to 673,000. Camden, New Jersey’s 1950 population was nearly 125,000; today it has fallen to 77,000. St. Louis’…