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
Army and Air Force JAG Corps Need Career Litigators Now
The Army and Air Force vehemently oppose developing career prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys in their respective Judge Advocate General’s Corps, a position that confounds professional attorneys not only in their sister service—the Navy—but also across the vast civilian profession that includes district attorney and public defender offices. Given the compelling case against their position,… -
opinion
Sorry, Hollywood: Reagan’s Second Term Was Incredibly Successful
Hollywood liberals are known for their contempt of conservatives, but their idea to produce a “comedy” about a demented President Ronald Reagan in his second term is far more offensive than usual. It’s also at total variance with the facts. Actor Will Ferrell appears to agree, and has announced he will not take part in… -
opinion
Why Over Half of Prince’s Estate Will Go to the Government
It appears that the pop star Prince may have died without a will, leaving behind a multimillion-dollar estate. Although Prince has one full sister and five half-siblings, Prince’s family members will not be his biggest heirs. Both the federal government and Minnesota’s state government will assess so-called “death taxes” or estate taxes on Prince’s assets,… -
opinion
IRS Admits Tax Code Is Too Complex to Enforce
In an ideal world the federal government would collect all of the taxes that it was owed—and then spend only what it intended to. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. The tax gap and improper payments serve as reminders that the federal government is not very good at administering complex programs. Instead, every year we have a… -
news
For This CEO, the Health Care Debate Is Personal
Why did the president and CEO of the Game Show Network get involved in the debate over America’s broken health care system? In an interview with The Daily Signal, David Goldhill tells the story of his father, who died in 2007 from infections acquired in a well-regarded New York hospital. Goldhill was determined to understand… -
opinion
The Rise of the Executive-Administrative State
In Jan. 2012, an interviewer from the Univision Spanish-language TV network asked President Barack Obama why he was continuing to deport illegal immigrants from Mexico and elsewhere. He replied that this was “because that’s the law that’s on the books right now. And the way our system works, the president doesn’t have the authority to… -
news
House Conservatives Cold on Climate Deal
Conservative lawmakers attacked President Barack Obama’s decision to make the U.S. part of an international agreement on climate change, calling the deal an attempt to circumvent Congress. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., said Wednesday at a monthly Capitol Hill meeting between House conservatives and reporters that Obama is “desperately seeking some type of legacy and this… -
opinion
What Made Ronald Reagan Great (and Why It Matters)
He has been out of office for nearly three decades, and yet the name of Ronald Reagan is heard often today. Even as history fades and the precise details of his presidency become less distinct, many believe that the fortieth president of the United States would have answers to the complex and almost implacable issues… -
news
House Conservatives Say ‘It’s Time’ to Address Freedom of Conscience Debate
House conservatives said Wednesday that “it’s time” for Congress to address the marriage debate and protect religious liberty at the national level, arguing for legislation that would prohibit the federal government from taking punitive actions against individuals who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. “It’s time for us to respond to… -
news
If Congress Is to Rescue Puerto Rico, Key Conservative Has These Conditions
As the House struggles to find consensus on a plan to rescue Puerto Rico from its debt crisis, an influential conservative lawmaker today laid out his expectations for what legislation should look like. Rep. Raúl Labrador, who is Puerto Rican, has been quiet about the plan being crafted by the Natural Resources Committee since he… -
opinion
America Wants a Foreign Policy President
The presidential campaign more and more resembles Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The public and pundits are constantly being surprised on where the course turns next. Few would have predicted the list of candidates left standing as the parties turn towards their conventions. The next president is going to have to sharpen America’s blunt sword. Fewer… -
opinion
Press Freedom Is Under Attack Around the World
The 2016 edition of the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders is out, and the news is not good. According to the group, “there has been a deep and disturbing decline in respect for media freedom at both the global and regional levels.” This trend, which started in 2013, shows no sign of… -
opinion
This Legislation Will Curb the Power of Unaccountable Bureaucracy
The Constitution could not be clearer: “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” However, it seems that someone forgot to tell federal regulators about that. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, tried this week to change some of that this… -
news
GOP Fights Over Whether Puerto Rico Rescue Plan Is a ‘Bailout’
The GOP lawmaker charged with devising a plan to rescue Puerto Rico from its debt crisis uses a word dreaded by most Republicans—bailout—only to describe what could happen if Congress doesn’t act now. “The soonest you solve this problem or get a structure in place to solve the problem, the more you lessen the problem,”… -
opinion
What a 19th Century Political Thinker Can Teach Us About ‘True’ Conservatism
Self-identified conservatives are at odds with each other. What American conservatism means today, who defines it, and who is or is not a “true” conservative, is the flashpoint of bitter controversy. So, too, is the ever-shifting definition of that broadly despised thing called “The Establishment.” But there is a North Star that should simultaneously guide… -
opinion
Liberal Groups Continue to Repeat North Carolina Bathroom Bill Lies
Apparently, the strategy of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and other opponents of privacy and freedom, is to continually repeat a big lie in the hopes people will eventually come to believe it. That’s how they have attacked a new law in North Carolina known as the Bathroom Privacy and Safety Act (HB 2). The… -
opinion
Do Human Rights Abuses Cause Terrorism?
Secretary of State John Kerry and Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski presided over the release of the U.S. Department of State’s 40th annual Human Rights Report. The report reviews the state of human rights in nearly all countries across the world. This year, Kerry placed special emphasis… -
news
Kevin Williamson on Why Conservatives Are in a Bad Mood
In an interview with The Daily Signal, author and columnist Kevin Williamson talks about why, like many other Americans, conservatives are in a bad mood. And it’s not, he says, just because of this presidential election cycle. -
news
Oregon Bakers Continue Legal Fight, Challenging ‘Gag Order’
The Oregon bakers who were ordered to pay $135,000 for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding filed a brief with the Oregon Court of Appeals on Monday, arguing the ruling against them was biased and violates both the Oregon and U.S. constitutions. “In America, you’re innocent until proven guilty,” said Kelly Shackelford,… -
opinion
Debunking the Wage Gap: We Are Not Victims
We have so many opportunities in the workforce, yet women are often still told that we’ve got to run ourselves ragged and forego balance in order to break through the glass ceiling. Why? Part of the reason work-life balance is difficult to achieve is because our society places so much weight on the financial success…