Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
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news
IRS to Return $30K It Seized From Maryland Dairy Farmers
After more than four years, two congressional hearings, and countless pleas to the IRS and Justice Department, Randy Sowers’ fight with the federal government is finally coming to a close. The Internal Revenue Service is returning the $29,500 it took from the Frederick County, Maryland, dairy farmer, ending his long journey through the civil asset forfeiture… -
opinion
Why the Stock Market Shouldn’t Be Used to Judge Brexit
Last week, the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union. The U.K.’s earlier decision to stay out of the euro currency (which most, but not all, EU member states use) contains an unexpected lesson about economics and humility. In 2003, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown announced that Britain’s economy had not met… -
opinion
Brexit Highlights Need for Trade Without Costly Regulations
Britain’s vote to leave the European Union serves as a lesson for U.S. trade negotiators that the goal of trade agreements should be to increase economic freedom and opportunity, not to create new regulatory and political bureaucracies. The arguments made against Brexit included the possible loss of free trade benefits between Britain and other EU countries,… -
opinion
Why Democrats Are Really Blocking Funding to Fight Zika Virus
The hypocrisy of Democrats in Congress when it comes to combatting the Zika virus is not only outrageous, it’s dangerous. The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there are now over 2,600 cases of the Zika virus confirmed in the United States and its territories. Most cases are occurring in Puerto… -
opinion
11 Million Spent Half of Their Income on Rent. Why the Government Is to Blame.
A recent report out of Harvard University has found the number of struggling household renters at an all-time high. A table in the appendix of the report shows that almost half (49.3 percent) of renters in 2014 spent at least 30 percent of their household income on housing costs. Why are so many spending so much?… -
opinion
How Brexit Will Affect Paris Global Warming Treaty
The fate of the European Union’s global warming commitments negotiated as part of the Paris Protocol may be in jeopardy as result of Brexit. The U.S. on the other hand, should take a page out of the U.K.’s playbook and not only withdraw from the Paris agreement, but also withdraw participation from the United Nations… -
opinion
More Bad News at America’s Southern Border
Flash back three years ago, and remember when the secretary of Homeland Security declared “the border has never been stronger.” Well, if what is going on at America’s border with Mexico is a success, Americans should shudder to think what failure looks like. If what is going on at America’s border with Mexico is a success,… -
opinion
Brexit Is a Powerful Reminder Why Congress Must Fix America’s Overregulation Problem
At the heart of the decision by the U.K. to leave the European Union was an evident desire of the British people to restore economic freedom, self-determination, and independence. Congress should take note: Americans want the same thing. Fundamentally, the Brexit campaign has been about pursuing the freedom to choose, driven by the proven conviction… -
news
Veteran Diplomat’s Ties to Boeing While Backing Iran Nuclear Deal Raise Questions
Former Ambassador Thomas Pickering’s involvement with the Boeing Co. during the years he spent pushing for the historic nuclear deal with Iran is raising questions about whether the veteran diplomat violated federal lobbying law by failing to disclose his ties to the aerospace giant. The Daily Beast last week reported that Boeing kept Pickering’s… -
opinion
A Global Response Is Needed to Defeat ISIS
“A feckless delusion that is never going to happen.” That’s how the current head of the CIA, John Brennan, described the possibility of the existence of an Islamic caliphate five years ago. In a cruel piece of irony, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, proclaimed the existence of such a caliphate precisely three years… -
opinion
The Bill of Rights Ensures the Government Can’t Do Whatever It Wants
Since the horrific terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, nearly two weeks ago—the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001—Congress has been engrossed in a debate about what can be done to prevent something like this from happening again. Unfortunately, many of members of Congress believe that those four words—“something must be done”—give… -
news
‘Growing Up GOP’: Young Republicans Seek Messaging Strategy for Millennials
Four years after a wave of millennials swept Barack Obama into his second presidential term, the Republican Party is redoubling efforts to repackage its conservative platform to appeal to young voters. A new report from the College Republican National Committee, “Growing Up GOP: Fresh Ideas From the Fresh Faces of the Republican Party,” outlines strategies the… -
news
Restrooms at National Parks ‘Align’ With Gender Identity
Visitors to national parks are free to use whichever public restroom they believe matches their gender identity, the Department of Interior says. “As it relates to recently passed state laws relating to the transgender community, visitors to public lands and water sites are welcome to use restrooms that best align with their gender identity,” an… -
opinion
Liberals Are Trying Hard to Tarnish Reagan’s Legacy
Liberals leap to put down Ronald Reagan even when they are writing about someone else. They simply cannot accept that Reagan was one of the most successful and remains one of the most popular presidents in American history. For example, in a critical essay about Donald Trump in the Sunday New York Times, the novelist… -
opinion
How Congress Should Seize the Brexit Opportunity
This week, the people of Britain won a major victory for democracy and sovereignty by voting to leave the European Union. Many on the left, along with their allies in the media, are predicting that this Brexit will lead to economic disaster for Britain, if not all of Europe and the rest of the world…. -
opinion
Supreme Court Federalizes ‘Any Robbery,’ Shows Old Statute Is Ready for Change
Robbery is a crime in every state, and no one argues that it should not be. But should any local robbery also be a federal crime? Although the Supreme Court’s opinion in Taylor v. United States says that now it is, significant constitutional and policy considerations beg to differ. Taylor v. United States David Taylor… -
news
United Way Affiliates Give $3 Million a Year to Planned Parenthood
United Way affiliates provide almost $3 million a year to Planned Parenthood, according to a money-tracking website that examines consumer and political causes. 2nd Vote, a conservative, nonprofit watchdog that tracks corporate spending, conducted what it calls "exhaustive" research of United Way affiliates and their giving to Planned Parenthood. “Last year, 2nd Vote compiled an exhaustive list of… -
opinion
Court Says BLM Can’t ‘Bootstrap’ Itself to Regulating Fracking
In a win for good environmental policy, the federal district court in Wyoming struck down the Bureau of Land Management’s controversial hydraulic fracking rule. The rule would have set federal water, chemical disclosure, and construction requirements for fracking operations on federal and Indian lands in addition to already existing state regulations. The Case At issue… -
opinion
Iran’s Unfriendly Skies
With the blessing of the Obama administration, Boeing Co. has negotiated the sale of a fleet of new jets to the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. The $17.6 billion deal between the aviation giant and the Islamic Republic of Iran was made possible by the lifting of economic sanctions against Tehran in January. It… -
opinion
House Republicans’ Blueprint Bodes Well for Pro-Growth Tax Reform
House Republicans released a blueprint for tax reform on Friday. If Congress follows the architecture the blueprint lays out, it will create a strongly pro-growth tax system that will create jobs, raise wages, and increase opportunity for American families at all income levels. On the individual side, the blueprint calls for lower tax rates for all…