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
The Left’s Appalling Whitewashing of Castro’s Legacy
You will hear some people today excuse Fidel Castro’s crimes by begging that he accomplished social goals. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have already beclowned themselves on that front. They were merely the first. Our own President Barack Obama opted for washing his hands, choosing to neither praise Castro… -
opinion
Fidel Castro May Be Dead, but Tyranny Remains in Cuba
Late Friday evening, Cuban state media reported the death of their former leader, Fidel Castro, at age 90. Some will mourn his passing or even glorify his life. But for many others, not even his death will fill the void caused by his life. For over five decades, Cubans suffered under the tyranny of Fidel… -
opinion
Fidel Castro’s Death Is an Opportunity to End Cuba’s Communist Dynasty
You might hear some voices chiding Cuban exiles for rejoicing publicly over the death of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, forgetting, willfully or not, their lives of suffering over the country he destroyed. It’s important to remember, however, that whether done in exultation, in anger, or in sober reflection, the job right now is to constantly… -
opinion
The Federal Regulations That Affect Your Thanksgiving Foods
This being the fourth Thursday of November, we turn our attention to the abundance on our tables and the blessings in our lives. (There is also no small number of folks who are deeply grateful for the end of election season.) Let us also give thanks that the Obama administration will soon cease, albeit leaving… -
opinion
A Government Report Shows Huge Downsides to Overtime Rule Just Stopped by Judge
Last night, news emerged that a federal judge put a halt to the Department of Labor’s damaging new overtime rule. This is welcome news, and businesses across the country are breathing a sigh of relief. The rule was set to take effect on Dec. 1, but the judge’s preliminary injunction now means the Trump administration… -
opinion
Thanksgiving Through the Years
George Washington was first in war, first in peace, and in November 1789, the first president to proclaim a national day of thanksgiving, openly acknowledging God as the source of all “the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.” Among the “favors” were a Declaration of Independence that inspires… -
opinion
Department of Justice Fines Sheriff Department for Hiring Only US Citizens
In a sharp illustration of how the federal government refuses to play by the same rules as everyone else, the Denver Sheriff’s Department has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine for making U.S. citizenship a qualification for being hired as a deputy sheriff. The eight-page settlement agreement was signed by Sheriff Patrick Firman and Alberto… -
news
Conservative Group Launches Boycott of Target Over Bathroom Policies
A conservative watchdog group has started a campaign to boycott Target over its bathroom policies. In April, Target announced that customers and employees at its locations would be allowed to “use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.” At the time, the American Family Association launched a petition to boycott the company… -
opinion
How to Be Persuasive About Politics With Your Liberal Relatives on Thanksgiving
We want Thanksgiving to be as drama-free as possible for everyone. Because you can’t choose your family, it’s likely you have sharp disagreements with several members. You may already be suffering from panic attacks in anticipation of the many dinner tables you’ll have to sit around. But as we’ve written for the past few months,… -
opinion
Expansion of Preclearance Program Is a Boon for Travelers and the US
The Department of Homeland Security is taking a positive step forward in making international travel more efficient and secure. Customs and Border Protection recently picked 11 foreign airports that it will consider for preclearance. Included in these 11 are airports in Scotland, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and St. Maarten. This decision follows in the footsteps of… -
opinion
Thanksgiving: A Uniquely American Holiday
Just about every country has a national day, a holiday when citizens stop to honor their constitution, celebrate a monarch’s birthday, recall the day their nation was liberated from colonial rule, or otherwise pay tribute to their country’s origins. The United States isn’t unique in celebrating a day of independence. But Thanksgiving is something else…. -
news
The Very Liberal Views of the Leading DNC Chairman Contender
The leading candidate to be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., has said he wants the Democratic Party to come out against the Second Amendment, compared the 9/11 attacks to the Nazi Reichstag fire, and was affiliated with the controversial Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam. “We’re not broke. There’s… -
opinion
New Regulations Would Throw Railroads Off Track
With the new Trump administration beginning to taking shape, regulators of every stripe will soon be looking for ways to trim red tape. But apparently, that doesn’t include the railroad regulators at the little-known Surface Transportation Board. The board, created in 1996 to replace the obsolete Interstate Commerce Commission, is considering a costly set of… -
news
Former Staffer Defends Jeff Sessions From Decades-Old Liberal Attack
In the media, Sen. Jeff Sessions has been under fire since it was announced he was Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general. “I say that the people making these allegations don’t know Jeff Sessions,” said William Smith, the first Republican African-American chief counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee, in an interview Monday on “Fox & Friends.”… -
opinion
Taking the First Step Toward Welfare Reform
Since President Lyndon Johnson launched the War on Poverty in 1964, the federal government has spent over $22 trillion on means-tested welfare programs. And what do we have to show for it? When the official poverty rate was introduced in 1969, an estimated 12.8 percent of Americans were in poverty. Today, that number has risen… -
opinion
New Study Challenges Conventional Wisdom on College Degrees
Conventional wisdom says that students need a four-year degree to make it in today’s economy. But do the numbers back that up? According to a new study released by the Department of Education, students who pursue an occupational credential (an education that is career-centered) are more likely to be employed than those who get an… -
opinion
As Colorado Legalizes Assisted Suicide, Don’t Be Conned by the Agenda of Death
Editor's Note: Reprinted with permission from Bound4LIFE International. Campaign season 2016 is officially over. As I sat in stunned elation watching the last of the presidential returns filter in during the wee hours of the morning, my heart was also broken. While we as a nation voted in the most pro-life platform in history, Colorado also… -
news
In 2006, These Democrats Still in Office Voted to Build a Wall
Editor’s note: During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Sen. Chuck Schumer declared, “We’re not going to help [Trump] build his wall.” Schumer was one of the Democrats to support construction of a wall in 2006. Democrats are already grumbling about Donald Trump’s proposed border wall, though Barack Obama and other leaders in… -
opinion
Recommitting to Fight for Afghanistan
Shortly after the Trump administration takes office in January 2017, it will need to consider its strategy in Afghanistan, the country from which al-Qaeda launched the 9/11 attacks and where U.S. and NATO-backed Afghan forces continue to battle the Taliban 15 years after the Islamist extremist group was ousted from power. Just last week, the…