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
Trump’s Bank Deregulation
Donald Trump wants to unchain the financial sector to flood lending into the economy. Will it boost growth? Or will it boost inflation? The Wall Street Journal recently summed up Trump’s plans to eliminate overlap, duplication, and regulations that shut out competitors and reduce lending. Specific things he wants to get rid of include the…Peter St. Onge -
- News
Thoughts on Fatherhood: A Post-Birth Dispatch
One year ago, almost to the day, I used this column as a “post-wedding dispatch” to offer some (very) preliminary thoughts on marriage. The column was published five days after my wedding. Now, almost exactly one year later, I am using this column as a “post-birth dispatch” to offer some (very) preliminary thoughts on another…Josh Hammer -
- Opinion
California’s Downfall Funded by ‘George Soros and the Cartels,’ Former Democrat Claims
Following Donald Trump‘s election victory in November, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, convened a special session of the California Legislature to “Trump-proof” the state. At the top of the agenda: Newsom’s effort to prevent the second Trump administration from deporting illegal aliens who live in California. “This is going against the rule of law and…Virginia Allen -
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UnitedHealthcare Covers Double Mastectomies for 17-Year-Olds With Gender Dysphoria
America’s largest health insurance company covers double mastectomies for some 17-year-old girls who identify as transgender. UnitedHealthcare’s “Gender Dysphoria Treatment” guide, which took effect Dec. 1, says: “For mastectomy or breast reduction, individuals must be at least 18 years of age; however, individuals within one calendar year of turning 18 can be considered on a…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- Opinion
A Government ‘Shutdown’ Isn’t Really a Shutdown. Here Are the Facts.
The current battle in Congress over the continuing resolution to fund the government is a fight worth having to stop the bloated spending of the federal government—spending that increases our unsustainable, monumental debt; funds dangerous and unnecessary government programs; and keeps unaccountable bureaucrats in office whose goal in life is to control our lives from…Hans von Spakovsky -
- News
Disney Under Fire for Partnering with Ad Association That Discriminated Based on Political, Religious Beliefs
Religious liberty law firm Alliance Defending Freedom will meet with The Walt Disney Co. in early January to question its collusion with a now-defunct advertising giant known to censor news outlets and personalities. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media likely violated federal antitrust laws by censoring and boycotting the speech of conservative news outlets and personalities,…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- Opinion
‘Gladiator II’ Rips the Heart Out of the Russell Crowe Classic
Are you not entertained? But is that really why you are here? The genius of the 2000 movie “Gladiator” wasn’t just the music, the acting of Russell Crowe, or the ancient Roman setting. The movie had all of these things in spades, and to call it entertaining would be a gross understatement. The beating heart…Tyler O’Neil -
- Opinion
The Dumbest Fallacy in Foreign Policy
Last week, after 50 years of tyranny and repression, the government of Bashar Assad fell in Syria. It fell thanks to a combination of three forces. First, Israel’s military utterly eviscerated Assad’s foreign military support base, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Second, Ukraine has bled dry the Russian military coffers over the course of the last…Ben Shapiro -
- News
Tom Homan Tells Tucker Carlson He ‘Used to Respect’ Mayorkas
During the Obama administration, Alejandro Mayorkas and Tom Homan had a positive working relationship. Not so much now. Mayorkas, then director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Homan, then associate director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, largely appeared to agree on immigration policy, as Homan recalls. “I used to respect him,” Homan,…Virginia Allen -
- News
IRS Whistleblowers Push Forward on Defamation Case Against Hunter Biden’s Lawyer
The drama and legal saga adjacent to Hunter Biden’s conduct isn’t over yet. Lawyers for the two IRS whistleblowers in his tax evasion case contend it would be bad news for future whistleblowers if their defamation case against the prominent lawyer for President Joe Biden’s son is dismissed. In what was likely a reference to…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Public Support Shifts From Defund Police to Pro-Police Policies Nationwide
If there was any doubt left, last month’s elections sealed the deal. The nationwide experiment labeled “Defund the Police” was an abject failure. Our citizens made it clear that they are sick and tired of politicians who prefer coddling criminals to supporting our police. Sadly, though, it will take years to recover from the disastrous…Craig Floyd -
- Opinion
No, Republicans, the Sky Won’t Fall If There’s a Government Shutdown
Hey, Republicans. The sky will not fall if there’s a government shutdown. The government was shut down six times during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Over 20 times since 1974. Yet, recent presidents have avoided it like the plague. The nation survived, Reagan won massive landslides, and, in the end, the public didn’t give a damn despite…Mark Levin -
- News
Musk, Ramaswamy Floated as Next House Speakers
Amid the uproar over the spending bill, some are suggesting it’s time for a new House speaker. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, suggested on X that Republicans should replace Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., with Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, who will head President-Elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., floated Musk…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
- Opinion
Nancy Pelosi Profited as Luxury Napa Resort Won COVID-19 Bailout
The Auberge du Soleil, a five-star hillside hotel and spa with a panoramic view overlooking the vineyards of Napa Valley, appears to be first-rate in all ways but one. While the glamorous resort, an hour’s drive from San Francisco, fills rooms that routinely go for $2,000 a night with A-list celebrities and tech titans, financial records…Leighton Woodhouse -
- Opinion
Musk Mobilizes the Masses
Elon Musk isn’t messing around, and he just got a massive scalp to prove it. The billionaire owner of X started his day by posting a photo of the 1,500-page spending bill in Congress with this question: “Ever seen a bigger piece of pork?” Scores of Musk posts and reposts followed Wednesday, sending members of…Rob Bluey -
- News
Swiss Billionaire’s Dark Money Efforts to Influence US Politics Exposed in Congressional Hearing
U.S. elections are “under attack” from foreign influence by both individuals and hostile state actors, experts told a House panel on Wednesday. Although foreign individuals and entities already are prohibited from contributing to American elections, foreign actors find a way, House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., says. “Foreign adversaries still have loopholes they can exploit…Fred Lucas -
- News
Public Trust in Health Agencies Gone, Former CDC Director Says
Americans don’t trust public health institutions, the virologist who used to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. “We have lost public trust, there’s no doubt about it, and it really harms public health in a big way,” Robert Redfield said Wednesday during an event at The Heritage Foundation, adding, “We’ve lost, I think,…Virginia Allen -
- News
Ohio’s Solicitor General Credits Heritage Internship for His Conservative Principles
Ohio’s lead government attorney for appeals cases is this year’s recipient of The Heritage Foundation’s Distinguished Intern Alumni Award. T. Elliot Gaiser, tapped late last year as the 11th solicitor general of Ohio, interned 10 years earlier at Heritage. Derrick Morgan, Heritage’s executive vice president, presented Gaiser with the award Dec. 9 at the…Audrey Streb -
- News
‘Breath of Fresh Air’: Washington Post Admits More Data Needed on ‘Gender Transitioning’ Minors
In a significant shift away from reflexive support for minors undergoing “gender transition” procedures, The Washington Post editorial board published an op-ed on Sunday that called for more robust scientific research to be conducted to determine the health outcomes of puberty blockers and hormones on children. The Post, considered among the most preeminent outlets of the legacy…Dan Hart -
- Opinion
Fighting Communism After The Cold War
Communism didn’t win the Cold War, but it’s doing surprisingly well in the 21st century, including in America. Elsewhere, especially in East Asia, Communism is the tyrannical creed of a ruling class that stays in power by jailing its opponents—or rolling tanks over them. Here, especially on college campuses, Communism is a status marker and…Daniel McCarthy