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
White Supremacy Is Bad, but This Bill to Criminalize It Is Not the Answer
On Jan. 19, a Virginia lawmaker introduced a bill in the state’s Legislature specifically aimed at “combating the rise in white supremacist violence.” H.B 1601, prepared by Democratic Del. Marcia Price—with guidance from Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring—would create a criminal offense for “domestic terrorism” and require the superintendent of the Virginia State Police to… -
opinion
What We Lose When We Take Down Statues of Men Like Columbus
Another day, another historic statue comes down. This time in California, to no one’s surprise. On Tuesday, the San Jose City Council voted to remove a Christopher Columbus statue from City Hall. The California city joins a long list of other municipalities that have considered removing Columbus statues or have abolished Columbus Day in favor… -
opinion
Podcast: Trump, Red States, and Criminal Justice Reform
The Heritage Foundation’s John-Michael Seibler joins us to discuss President Donald Trump’s reference to criminal justice reform in the State of the Union speech—and tell us how Texas slashed the number of prisoners, while lowering crime. Plus: MSNBC turns on “Fire and Fury” author Michael Wolff, and a statue of Columbus is kicked out of… -
opinion
Fixing a Foster Care System That Would Ban Mother Teresa
In one of the most moving parts of the president’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump honored Ryan Holet—a police officer who decided to adopt the baby of a heroin addict. Holet encountered the baby’s parents while on duty and asked the mother, “Why do you have to be shooting that? You’re going… -
opinion
7 Reasons Earmarks Are a Very Bad Idea
Earmarks could be making a comeback. Before a Republican-led Congress banned earmarks back in 2011, lawmakers used earmarks to send funds directly to specific projects and recipients in their districts. This was more widely known as “pork-barrel spending.” While in theory there is nothing wrong with Congress being actively involved in specific funding decisions, lawmakers… -
opinion
Trump’s Conservative Approach to Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal justice reform throughout the nation could be a major policy success story in 2018. So it was encouraging to see President Donald Trump commit to prison reform in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. “As America regains its strength,” the president said, “this opportunity must be extended to all citizens. That is… -
news
Florida Could Give 1 in 4 of the Nation’s Felons the Right to Vote
Florida voters will decide next fall whether about 1.5 million felons will regain the right to vote in time for the 2020 presidential election. If state voters approve the ballot question, they will restore the right to vote to nearly one-fourth of the nation’s former prisoners who committed felony offenses, according to the Sentencing Project,… -
opinion
Michael Wolff Doubles Down, Says Nikki Haley ‘Embraced’ Rumored Trump Affair
Discredited “Fire and Fury” author Michael Wolff doubled down on his smear campaign against U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, now saying the former South Carolina governor “embraced” rumors that she slept her way to success. During an interview with theSkimm, Wolff confronted Haley’s response to the rumor he started about her sleeping with the president. “Ambassador… -
opinion
Here’s an In-Depth Analysis of Trump’s Policy Proposals in His State of the Union Speech
President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night. Experts from The Heritage Foundation weighed in with responses on various policy fronts. Here’s what they had to say. Economy Law Immigration Defense & Foreign Policy Energy & Infrastructure Health Care Education Economy Tax Reform Is Delivering Results President Trump is… -
news
Disclosed House Settlements Now Number 41 and Total $1 Million, but More Remain Hidden
The number of disclosed financial settlements between the House of Representatives and employees who alleged that they were harassed or otherwise wronged at work rose to 41 cases at a cost of nearly $1 million, according to newly released information dating back to 1996 published by the House Administration Committee. The top Democrat and Republican on the… -
opinion
Federal Overreach on Frogs’ Habitat Is Threatening This Company’s Private Property
Does private property have to be “habitable” by a species in order for bureaucrats to claim it is that species’ “critical habitat”? In an extreme example of government run amok, a group of environmentalists and federal bureaucrats says “no.” In 2012, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials told landowners and businesses in Louisiana that they… -
opinion
Podcast: Celebrities, Clinton Promote Misogynistic Michael Wolff
On Sunday, the Grammys—and Hillary Clinton—embraced the work of shoddy journalist Michael Wolff, who suggested that U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley was engaging in an affair with President Donald Trump, without evidence. So much for treating women well. The Daily Signal’s Kelsey Harkness joins us to discuss that, Alec Baldwin’s defense of alleged child molester Woody… -
opinion
Transgender Ideology Hurts Kids
Properly understanding sex, gender, gender identity, and gender dysphoria will continue to be pressing concerns in 2018. A proper understanding is a prerequisite for properly forming people in the truth and properly ministering to people in need. As new gender ideologies are promoted throughout America, their lies will impact not only those who suffer from… -
news
Mother of Girl Killed by MS-13 Gang Will Attend State of the Union Address
Evelyn Rodriguez, whose daughter was killed by a notorious gang, was invited to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. In September 2016, Rodriguez’s daughter, Kayla Cuevas, was killed by members of MS-13 in Brentwood, New York. MS-13 is a violent, transnational gang founded in Los Angeles by El Salvadoran refugees…. -
opinion
Why the State Can Never Get Out of Marriage
As conservatives have suffered a series of setbacks in the culture wars, some have become tempted to wish away any further conflicts about marriage and the family by getting the government out of the marriage business altogether. “Better to have no state recognition of marriage at all, than for the state to recognize marriages badly,”… -
opinion
Unborn Babies Can Feel Pain at 20 Weeks. But Shamefully, Our Laws Don’t Protect Them.
At 20 weeks past conception a baby can sleep and wake in the womb. She can suck her thumb, make faces, and see light filtering in through the womb. And by 20 weeks, if not before, science suggests that a baby can also feel pain. Only seven countries in the entire world allow elective abortions… -
opinion
This Critical Reauthorization Will Help Keep Americans Safe
The reauthorization earlier this month of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is a reaffirmation that America must continue to have the best possible tools at its disposal to counter dangerous adversaries and the evolving threats that we face in a volatile world. Section 702 allows the government to target non-U.S. persons… -
opinion
California Bill Threatens Waiters With Jail for Providing Plastic Straws
Waiters could face criminal penalties for giving straws to customers if a recently proposed California bill goes into effect. California Assemblyman Ian Calderon, the Democratic majority leader of the state Assembly, has introduced a bill into the state’s lower House that would make it a criminal offense for restaurant employees to provide patrons with single-use…