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
These Millennials Braved a Blizzard to March for Life
Despite a storm of historic proportions, the 2016 March for Life went on in Washington, D.C., with hundreds of attendees gathering at the Washington Monument and marching to the Supreme Court. The Daily Signal documented the March, asking millennials why they decided to brave the blizzard to make their voices heard. -
opinion
Why the US Must Remain a Stabilizing Force Around the World
Does the world need the United States to keep the peace? Some say no. They argue that the U.S. would be better off without actively engaging around the world, and that we should instead retrench ourselves – allowing our allies to fend for themselves. However, this is an overly simplistic theory, which is inadequate to… -
news
After Changes to Visa Waiver Program, Republicans Upset Over Exception for Iran
In a rare bit of cooperation inspired by terrorism concerns, the Obama administration and Congress last month agreed to shore up a program that allows citizens from 38 approved countries to travel to the United States for 90 days without a visa. But when the administration announced Thursday that it had implemented reforms to the… -
news
35 of the Most Interesting Signs at the March for Life
An enthusiastic crowd showed its support for the pro-life movement by attending the 2016 March for Life despite frigid Friday weather and an impending blizzard in our nation’s capital. A number of demonstrators brought their own handmade signs displaying why they choose to be pro-life. The March for Life in Washington, D.C., is held annually on… -
opinion
Today, We Celebrate Life
Jan. 22 is a bittersweet day in America. On this day 43 years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States issued two unconscionable decisions in the cases of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton that made abortion legal and available on demand across the country. These decisions defied the spirit and the letter… -
opinion
Cartoon: What Will Iran Spend $100 Billion On?
Earlier this week Heritage expert Luke Coffey weighed in on Implementation Day: It's been reported that “Implementation Day” is here, and nuclear sanctions against Iran have now been lifted. But what exactly does this mean? Heritage Foundation expert Luke Coffey weighs in to answer Implementation Day questions: 1. What is Implementation Day? Implementation Day is… -
news
Why Calling 2015 the Warmest Year on Record Is Problematic
As a third of Americans prepare to hunker down for a blizzard, the analysts at NASA has announced that 2015 was the hottest year on record (and this time they really mean it!). They mean it so much that they want you to ignore their own satellite data, which shows that while 2015 was warm, it… -
opinion
California Joins the Effort to Persecute, Suppress Scientific Dissent on Climate Change
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has joined New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in trying to prosecute ExxonMobil for supposedly lying to its shareholders and the public about climate change, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times reported that Harris is investigating what ExxonMobil “knew about global warming and what the company told investors.”… -
news
Farm Owners Lose Appeal, Ordered to Pay $13,000 for Declining to Host Same-Sex Wedding
The New York Supreme Court found a Christian couple in violation of a human rights law for refusing to host a same-sex wedding at their farm, upholding a $10,000 fine levied by a state agency. The court also upheld $3,000 in compensatory damages for the lesbian couple who wanted to have their marriage ceremony there. Cynthia and… -
news
Wisconsin Farmers Seek End to Ban on Sales of Home-Baked Goods
Three Wisconsin farmers have filed a lawsuit against their state’s agriculture agency to overturn a ban on the sale of homemade baked goods. Erica Smith, a lawyer with the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm representing the farmers, told The Daily Signal that she sees the lawsuit as a way to “raise awareness in… -
news
New House Task Force Considers Push Against Presidential Overreach
House Republicans have put together a team to address what they consider unauthorized expansion of presidential power. In coming months, the Task Force on Executive Overreach will explore how Congress can begin to reassert its legislative authority. But it’s not political. So says House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who authorized the task force. The… -
news
Nearly 500,000 Foreigners Overstayed Their Visas Last Year. What That Means.
Almost 500,000 foreigners who traveled legally to the U.S. last year for business or leisure remained here after their visas expired, according to a long-awaited government study on one of the more undertold aspects of the country’s immigration story. The Department of Homeland Security report, first requested by Congress in 1997, shows that 1.07 percent of… -
opinion
Why Arms Trade Activists Are Wrong to Blame Democracies
The activists behind the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) have never been shy about blaming the U.S. and other democracies far more than they blame dictatorships for the evils of the world. Their latest campaign shows they’re at it again. The campaign centers on the conflict in Yemen, a war-torn nation on the Arabian Peninsula. In the… -
opinion
Another Government-Caused Water Crisis and Cover-Up
Flint, Mich., may be another case (similar to the Environmental Protection Agency Gold King Mine spill) of negligent government behavior that would raise criminal prosecution had it come from a private party. Michigan officials are under scrutiny for potentially causing, and covering up, a series of decisions that resulted in Flint’s drinking water being contaminated… -
opinion
Is It OK For Government to Demote Employee Based on Misunderstanding of His Politics?
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in another free speech and association case, this time involving a police officer who was demoted for purportedly helping the challenger in his town’s mayoral election. The First Amendment is supposed to protect the free speech and associational rights of individuals who work for the government. Yet,… -
news
World Watches How Iran, Now Free of Nuclear Sanctions, Will Act
“Implementation day” of the nuclear deal among Iran, the U.S., and five other world powers came and went on Saturday after international inspectors confirmed that Tehran had fulfilled the terms of the agreement. The implications of the deal will play out over many years, as nations watch what Iran makes of itself now that Tehran has… -
news
Conservatives Denounce New Efforts to ‘Expose’ Donors
Conservative leaders are coming together to push back against what they call renewed momentum on the left to force right-leaning organizations to disclose their donors. The Conservative Action Project, a coalition of leaders from groups such as Heritage Action for America, Tea Party Patriots, and Club for Growth, released a memo urging fellow movement leaders to tell… -
opinion
Attacks on Women in Cologne Highlight Double Standard of Multiculturalism
The horrendous attacks on women in Cologne, Germany, on New Year’s Eve have exposed a deep crack in the façade of radical multiculturalism. On one side are radical feminists who argue that sexism, no matter how innocently expressed, must be vigorously repressed. On the other are the mavens of racial and ethnic identity politics who… -
opinion
Planned Parenthood Abuses the Law to Stop Dissent
Last year, a number of academics penned a letter to the Obama administration demanding a criminal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) investigation into those who disagree with man-made global warming, following the lead of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. As we wrote at the time, this would be an abuse of the Racketeer Influenced… -
opinion
Implementation Day: Time for Iran to Cash In on Sanctions Relief and Hostages
The arrival of Implementation Day triggered celebrations in Tehran. And well it should. Iran is now set to cash in, gaining access to an estimated $50 billion immediately and eventually pocketing up to one hundred billion dollars more in frozen assets as sanctions are lifted. In addition, Tehran recovered seven Iranians charged with sanctions violations in return for four…