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
Pakistan Could Easily Become a Nuclear Hazard. Here’s What Needs to Be Done.
Michael Krepon, co-founder of the U.S.-based Stimson Center, whose views are widely respected both in South Asia and in Washington, has written a thought-provoking piece on the future of U.S. policy toward Pakistan. In the article, Krepon argues in favor of a status quo U.S. policy toward Pakistan that relies solely on inducements and engagement,… -
news
Home Caregivers, Alleging Fraud, Push to Decertify Union That Deducts Dues
ST. PAUL, Minn.—When the union representative came to her door last month, Mary Barton invited the cheerful young woman in because she seemed friendly, and it was raining. But about two weeks ago, that visit to her home somehow led to $27.90 in union dues being deducted from Barton’s benefit check as a home caregiver… -
news
House Hacking Suspects Could Read Every Email Dozens of Congressmen Sent and Received
Congressional IT staffers who are the subject of a criminal investigation into misusing their positions had full access to members’ “correspondence, emails, confidential files,” and there was almost no tracking of what they did, a former House technology worker said. Imran Awan bullied central IT to bend the rules for him so there wouldn’t be… -
news
The Danger of the Dark Web
The latest WikiLeaks revelations—purportedly revealing CIA hacking tools and techniques—are a reminder of just how vital cybersecurity is. A big area of concern … the so-called Dark Web, a largely hidden online world where some of the most serious crimes are committed. The FBI has dedicated teams to battle cyber criminals, and one of its special… -
opinion
At Odds With History: States Seize Control of Civil Asset Forfeiture
In 1762, agents of the king of England entered John Entick’s house without his consent, searched it from top to bottom, and seized documents and other printed materials. Entick was not accused of a crime; rather, the king’s men were in search of allies and materials associated with John Wilkes, an outspoken critic of the… -
news
The Legal Questions Facing Trump’s New Travel Ban
With his revised temporary travel ban, President Donald Trump sought to resolve legal questions that caused a federal judge to halt the first version of the executive order. Legal experts say the Trump administration succeeded in strengthening the legal case for the new order by applying travel restrictions to fewer people—exempting entire classes of individuals,… -
news
Foes of Government Excess to Pick ‘Champion of Waste’ in March Madness Parody
Two lawmakers have turned a government waste report into an online imitation of college basketball’s March Madness. Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., set up the #SourSixteen Tournament of Waste to highlight what they call some of the worst examples of how government spends taxpayers’ dollars. https://twitter.com/PaddyMcOz/status/839818320266280960 The contest to select the “Champion of Waste” began Thursday… -
opinion
How San Francisco Is Letting Its Guard Down on Terrorism
Last week, the city of San Francisco announced that it is suspending its involvement in the Joint Terrorism Task Force—the primary mechanism for counterterrorism cooperation among law enforcement. This task force has allowed the law enforcement community to stop terror plots such as the 2015 plot to attack a public venue in North Carolina with… -
opinion
The Daily Signal Won’t Be Bullied by the Establishment Media
“What’s a legitimate news outlet?” Apparently not The Daily Signal, if you believe the self-proclaimed arbiters of journalism who represent the “mainstream” media. The Washington Post published a story Friday with that audacious headline, questioning the “unusual” development of our White House correspondent’s handling pool coverage for Vice President Mike Pence. Fred Lucas, who joined… -
opinion
Steve Bannon Is Right. It’s Time to Deconstruct the Administrative State.
In his first public remarks since the election, White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon recently told a packed house at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that the “deconstruction of the administrative state” was one of the major goals of the Trump administration. In so doing, Bannon took aim at our modern form of government,… -
opinion
‘Man-Made’ Famine Leaves Millions Facing Starvation in Africa
Years of internal conflicts and poor governance are not the only problems facing the African countries of South Sudan, Nigeria, and Somalia. The United Nations recently declared famine in parts of South Sudan and Nigeria. Judging by current conditions, it won’t be long before Somalia follows suit. The number of people affected is staggering. In… -
news
Here’s What Happened to Workers After Philadelphia Passed a Soda Tax
Pepsi announced last week that it will lay off around 100 employees at distribution plants that supply the Philadelphia area. This is the latest blow for the city’s new beverage tax, which went into effect in January. “Unfortunately, after careful consideration of the economic realities created by the recently enacted beverage tax, we have been forced… -
opinion
Seattle Case Shows Why Drone Regulation Should Be Local, Not Federal
Since Christmas 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued new, burdensome regulations on small recreational and commercial drones, ostensibly because these devices carry inherent and unique dangers that only the FAA can safely regulate. Since June 2015, however, the city of Seattle, Washington, has been quietly proving the FAA wrong. A Seattle municipal court recently… -
opinion
This Small City Mayor Models What Fiscal Stewardship Looks Like
Conservatives should be praising Darrio Melton. The Mayor of Selma, Alabama, has just struck a very public blow for fiscal responsibility, accountability, and courage. Here’s the background. On March 7, 1965, armed, uniformed police stopped civil rights activists crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The photos and film footage of the beatings and dogs attacking humans… -
opinion
‘Day Without a Woman’ Strike Organized by Group With All-Male Leadership
For many, the election of Donald Trump to the presidency served as devastating news. For many on the left who have sought an opportunity to gain political relevancy, however, the election of Trump is a tremendous opportunity. Like all good games, politics requires an opponent. Today, the left and those looking to gain politically, financially,… -
news
Texas Bathroom Bill Intended to Be ‘Model for Other States’
The Texas Legislature will be voting next week on a bill that will prevent men from entering women’s restrooms and the lieutenant governor of Texas says his state’s legislation is a model for the nation. “I think that our legislation can be a model for other states to follow and end this discussion once and… -
opinion
Capitol Hill’s Misleading Claims on Tax Credits for Health Care
Most conservative health care experts are panning House Speaker Paul Ryan’s health care plan, which would keep in place the fundamental architecture of Obamacare. Rather than listening to constructive feedback from the policy community, however, House Republicans appear to be attempting to throw chaff in the air and ram their flawed proposal through Congress. Proponents of… -
opinion
Numbers Show That Democrats Place More Trust in the Media
While anecdotal examples and internal inklings might convince some that media bias is afoot, is there actually evidence to corroborate the claim? Personally, I’ve always felt that bias is most certainly at play, but it’s making the concept provable that is quite complicated. While not foolproof, I would look at how the public assesses its… -
opinion
Note to Congress: Light Work Schedule Isn’t Getting the Job Done
I have rarely been one to argue that Congress spend more time in Washington. In general, the less they are here to create new laws and new regulations and other busybody measures telling the rest of us how to live, the better. But in order to get less government, we need the current Congress to… -
opinion
‘A Day Without a Woman’ Strike Promotes Idea of Women as Helpless
The way to help women continue to move forward isn’t to propagate the myth that women in the United States are victims, oppressed by the system and unable to help themselves secure a better future. Yet that’s exactly the message of the “A Day Without a Woman” strike happening Wednesday. Various organizers, including the Women’s…