Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
-
- Opinion
Waste of the Day: Fauci Still Getting Chauffeur, Security Detail
TOPLINE: Taxpayers have spent $15 million on security services for Dr. Anthony Fauci in the past two years, after he had already returned to life as a private citizen, according to a new report from OpenTheBooks.com. KEY FACTS: The security agreement took effect in January 2023, and extended to September 2024. The agreement states that the contract could…Jeremy Portnoy -
- News
Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Revamped: A Political Twist Sparks Heated Debate Among Audiences
SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 —Todd Scofield portraying the character of “Lord Capulet,” pictured left, and Fran Tapia as “Lady Capulet,” pictured right, in the Folger Shakespeare Library’s production of “Romeo and Juliet,” which ran Oct. 1- Nov. 10, 2024. (Erika Nizborski, Photographer.)Ann Moreno -
- News
Help The Daily Signal Improve
As we head into 2025, The Daily Signal is looking to become even better. But we need your help. As we make decisions about our coverage, priorities, and formats next year, we’d love your input—your honest takes on what you love (or hate!) about The Daily Signal. So if you can spare a few minutes,…Katrina Trinko -
- Opinion
Crime Rate for Illegal Aliens Vastly Understated, Data Shows
In June, illegal alien Victor Martinez-Hernandez was charged with the murder of Rachel Morin, a mother of five in Maryland. Police in Oklahoma tracked the accused repeat offender down with a sample of his DNA recovered from a Los Angeles home invasion in which a 9-year-old girl and her mother were assaulted. Police say Martinez-Hernandez…John R Lott Jr. -
- Opinion
Why Going Nuclear Is Vital to America
Production of clean, safe, and reliable nuclear energy is a vital part of America’s energy future. Once a reactor is built, it becomes a lasting part of America’s energy infrastructure. An insightful new book by Jack Spencer, “Nuclear Revolution: Powering the Next Generation” (Optimum Publishing International) describes what America has to do to ramp up…Diana Furchtgott-Roth -
- Opinion
Heritage Foundation Chief Takes Long View in Combating America’s ‘Social and Cultural Deterioration’
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts says he has two great passions in life: politics and education. “And I make a living in education,” Roberts told Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn during a recent interview on “The Larry Arnn Show” podcast reaired on “The Kevin Roberts Show” podcast Wednesday. Arnn presented Roberts with two questions: “What’s…Christina Lewis -
- Opinion
IRS Compliance Costs $546 Billion Per Year
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of the accompanying video from professor Peter St. Onge. Americans spend over $500 billion per year defending themselves against the IRS. That’s spitting distance from the $800 billion the Defense Department spends protecting us against foreigners—well, failing to protect, in the case of the border. So, forget…Peter St. Onge -
- Opinion
Over a Decade in the Making, ‘Bonhoeffer’ Finally Hits Big Screen
Camille Kampouris says she and her husband have long carried with them a desire “to raise up men and women, old and young, to be like [Dietrich] Bonhoeffer, to speak out when there's evil.” Bonhoeffer was a German theologian, a pastor, an anti-Nazi dissident, and a spy who took part in an assassination plot against…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Destructive Environmentalists
People eagerly give money to rich environmental groups. The Natural Resources Defense Council has $463 million in assets. The NRDC claims it uses law “to confront the climate crisis.” What it really does is pay lawyers to torture people who try to do useful things. Example: America needs minerals like copper and silver to make…John Stossel -
- News
Judge Compares Spa’s Women-Only Policy to Segregation-Era ‘Whites Only’ Rules
A federal judge compared a female-only entrance policy for a Washington state-based spa to a “whites-only” policy at a hearing on Monday. Judge M. Margaret McKeown, a Clinton appointee who sits on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, drew a parallel between Olympus Spa, a Korean spa whose services are restricted to biological women, and…Victoria Marshall -
- Opinion
Young, Black, Hispanic Americans Would Opt Out of Social Security Even If It Weren’t Broken
I pull the following directly from the summary of the 2024 annual reports of the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees: The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund (that is, Social Security) will be able to pay 100% of total scheduled benefits until 2033, unchanged from last year's report. At that time, the…Star Parker -
- News
‘COMMON SENSE’: GOP Lawmakers in Swing State Override Governor’s Veto of Anti-Sanctuary Bill
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Lawmakers in North Carolina overwhelmingly voted for legislation to require law enforcement across the state to cooperate with federal immigration authorities who are trying to catch illegal aliens. The GOP-dominated state Legislature on Wednesday completed its override of Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of HB 10, a bill that effectively will ban “sanctuary city” policies…Jason Hopkins -
- Opinion
It Isn’t Country Music: The Real Reason CMA Awards’ Snub of Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Wasn’t ‘Racist.’
Ringo Starr has a new country music album set for release on Jan. 10, and the legendary ex-Beatle appears to have recorded an LP that has more of a traditional country music sound than almost anything playing on contemporary country radio today or, for that matter, a good many of the songs feted Wednesday night…Peter Parisi -
- Opinion
Bondi Reminds the Left: Be Careful What You Wish For
On the latest episode of “The Tony Kinnett Cast,” the Left’s cheers over former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., taking himself out of the running for attorney general in the forthcoming Trump administration turn to tears as former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi steps up to the plate. Bondi’s battle-tested stances on illegal immigration, drug trafficking,…Tony Kinnett -
- News
‘A Giant Sick Joke’: FDNY’s Gender Identity Training Sparks Internal Pushback
In New York City, fire department employees are lectured about “The Genderbread Person”—a cartoon that is part of mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion training that is meant to explain the “spectrum of countless identities” people can have. In the fire department’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s training video, which employees are required to view by…James Lalino -
- News
Harris Raises Money for Recount as Deadlines Pass to Seek One
Vice President Kamala Harris is raising money for a recount, but doesn’t appear likely to ask for one since deadlines have passed for such requests in most battleground states. The Harris campaign raised more than $1 billion in the Democratic presidential nominee’s bid to defeat former President Donald Trump, but reportedly ended up with $20…Fred Lucas -
- News
‘Smirking Young Thug’ With Links to Tren de Aragua Charged in Robbery of NYC Prosecutor
An illegal alien with suspected ties to the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua robbed one of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecutors, New York police say. Around 2 a.m. Sunday, police said, Brandon Simosa robbed Bragg’s employee, a 38-year-old woman, in her apartment building on 44th Street, the New York Post first reported. Simosa,…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Former Planned Parenthood Chief Needs Our Prayers, Not a Presidential Medal of Freedom
In a private ceremony Wednesday, President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, this honor is awarded by the president of the United States and is “the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary…Mary Szoch -
- Opinion
Every Political Action Has Its Equal and Opposite Reaction. Trump’s Backlash Has Been Well-Earned.
Isaac Newton’s third law of motion famously states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction: If you push an object, for example, the object pushes back against you with equal force. It turns out this isn’t just a law of physics. It’s a law of politics. President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks…Ben Shapiro -
- News
BREAKING: Matt Gaetz Withdraws Attorney General Nomination
In a surprise move Thursday, former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination to become attorney general in President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Gaetz—who had won reelection Nov. 5 to a fifth term representing Florida’s 1st Congressional District before abruptly resigning the seat on Nov. 13—said the move followed many “excellent meetings” with senators, who would…Tyler O’Neil