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
No Excuse for Congress Not to Pass Criminal Code Reforms So Innocent Americans Don’t Get Punished
Contrary to recent calumnies that “criminal justice reform is dead,” the 115th Congress has the means, backed up by bipartisan and public support, to continue its work to address problems in the federal criminal code. Only Congress can enact much-needed mens rea (Latin for “guilty mind”) reform and address overcriminalization, the overuse of criminal laws… -
opinion
How White Liberals Enable Crime in Black Communities
Ordinary black people cannot afford to go along with the liberal agenda that calls for undermining police authority. That agenda makes for more black crime victims. Let’s look at what works and what doesn’t work. In 1990, New York City adopted the practice in which its police officers might stop and question a pedestrian. If… -
news
Trump’s Progress So Far on 2016 Promises
President Donald Trump hasn’t yet repealed and replaced Obamacare, or achieved 4 percent economic growth just shy of one month in office. But the new president has begun to deliver on several other campaign promises. Trump issued executive orders to begin constructing the border wall and curb burdensome Obamacare regulations until the law is replaced…. -
news
Legislation Would Curb Restrictions on Political Speech in Churches
Congress is taking aim at a 1950s-era law that restricts the free speech of churches and other nonprofits after President Donald Trump recently condemned it. "The IRS has used the Johnson Amendment to silence and threaten religious institutions and charitable entities," @CongressmanHice says. Trump pledged at the National Prayer Breakfast earlier this month, “I will… -
opinion
This Little-Used Tool Could Help Congress Undo Years of Government Overreach
In Washington, there is a saying that regulators never met a rule they didn’t like. Federal agencies, commonly referred to these days as the “fourth branch of government,” have been binding the hands of the American people for decades with overreaching regulations. All the while, Congress sat idly by and let these agencies assume their… -
news
These Are the Top 3 Most Likely Replacements for Mike Flynn
President Donald Trump is considering three former high-ranking military officials for the post of national security adviser, after the Monday resignation of Michael Flynn. Flynn stepped down after reports indicated he misled Vice President Mike Pence on his discussions during the presidential transition with Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak. Trump is considering retired Lt…. -
opinion
Remembering Hal Moore, an American Hero
America lost a role model on Saturday when Hal Moore passed away at the age of 94. Harold “Hal” Moore was a retired three-star Army general, but he will forever be remembered for his courageous actions as the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in November… -
opinion
Colombia Is Helping You Spread Love This Valentine’s Day
That time of year has once again arrived when the scent of fresh-cut roses is flooding stores nationwide. But little known to most Americans, one factor is making their Valentine’s Day purchases even sweeter. Thanks to the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, Americans don’t have to pay extra taxes on Colombian-grown flowers. When the agreement went… -
opinion
Why Frederick Douglass Was an Exemplary American
This month of each year, we commemorate the great individuals and events in the history of African-Americans. On Tuesday, marking his 199th birthday, we will commemorate perhaps the greatest of them all, Frederick Douglass—a singular exemplar and apostle of the American spirit. “He was an American of the Americans,” Douglass once said of Abraham Lincoln,… -
opinion
Bringing Back Earmarks Would Be a Colossal Mistake
In November the American people voted to give Republicans unified control of the federal government because, in large part, we pledged to “drain the swamp”—that corrupt political culture prevailing in our nation’s capital that enables elites to manipulate the levers of government to their advantage. Changing business as usual in Washington is a tough fight…. -
opinion
These Joint Resolutions Could Prevent the Next Retirement Crisis
Last year, with little fanfare, the Obama administration’s Department of Labor issued a rule that threatens the retirement accounts of workers across the country. In an alleged attempt to increase workers’ access to workplace retirement accounts, the rule exempts state and local governments from all federal rules and regulations intended to safeguard workers’ private retirement… -
news
Appeals Court Keeps Freeze on Trump’s Refugee Order
A federal appeals court Thursday night kept a freeze on President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting refugee resettlement and other forms of legal immigration, meaning those previously blocked from traveling to the U.S. under the action can continue to enter the country as the case makes its way through the legal system. A three-judge panel… -
news
Book Detailing the Story of Infamous Abortionist Left Off New York Times Best-Seller List
A popular book chronicling the story of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted for murdering several infants, was left off The New York Times best-seller list. Since its release on Jan. 24, "Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer" quickly reached Amazon’s best-seller list, but was left off The New York Times' hardcover nonfiction best-seller… -
opinion
8 Snapshots of America’s Fiscal Outlook
America is facing a looming budget crisis, but you wouldn’t know it from the way Congress keeps spending. By 2027, net interest on the national debt will cost the American people $768 billion, Social Security and health care spending will consume 59 percent of the entire budget, and Obamacare will have cost taxpayers nearly $1… -
opinion
How to Change a Federal Agency From the Inside Out
As Washington’s departments and agencies bring on new staff at every level, I want to share advice from an FBI director about your job description. Note, this doesn’t come from James Comey, “the” FBI director, but from Judge William Webster, a previous FBI director. Webster was a United States Court of Appeals judge in St…. -
opinion
Planned Parenthood Still Hasn’t Produced an Annual Report. Here’s Why That’s a Problem.
The American taxpayer is on the hook to provide money to the nation’s largest abortion provider, so it’s important that we have the necessary information to evaluate its practices. Planned Parenthood releases a report each year highlighting the abortion giant’s medical service data, revenue and expenses, and advocacy and educational activity. The annual reports are… -
opinion
This Republican Carbon Tax Proposal Is Anything but Conservative
The Climate Leadership Council, a group of self-described conservatives, released a new report rashly titled “The Conservative Case for Carbon Dividends.” Tactfully so, it avoided the word “tax” in its title. The plan calls for a gradually increasing tax on carbon dioxide emissions—a recommended $40 per ton of emissions to start—tacked onto the use of energy… -
news
How a Law Designed to Promote Fairness Is Hiking Gas Prices in Wisconsin
New Deal-era legislation is causing major headaches for Wisconsin’s consumers and businesses. A law that has been on the books in Wisconsin since 1939 forces consumers to pay an extra 9 percent on fuel, in the name of fairness. A report by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute examined the law and its impact on consumers… -
opinion
What Ruth Bader Ginsburg Gets Wrong About the Electoral College
Since President Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the November presidential election without winning the popular vote, there have been almost unending calls from the left to eliminate the Electoral College. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined that chorus on Monday. When asked by a group of students what she would change about American… -
news
These Small Business Owners Fret Over ‘Devastating’ Import Tax Pitched by House GOP Leaders
Marc Johnson runs a small business with a major footprint. Johnson’s late father, Boine, who founded the company, and three engineers from England, helped create an instrument that measures the composition and texture of any product imaginable: baked goods, cereals, cosmetics, adhesives—to ensure they are performing well, and consistently. Johnson imports his finished instrument from…