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
What the Iranian Nuclear Implementation Day Means for US
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 the point at which the deal agreed in Vienna last summer between… -
opinion
Martin Luther King Jr. and the Struggle for Integration
The third Monday of each January, we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. by a national holiday. Mindful of his concrete actions and accomplishments and, still more, of his sublime words, his high hopes, and his ultimate martyrdom, we have come not only to admire, but even to revere King. In the pantheon of American heroes, King, the… -
opinion
Taiwan Holds Fourth Democratic Transition
Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has become the fourth popularly elected president of the Republic of China since the return of presidential elections in 1996—joining Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, and Ma Ying-jeou. Early reports indicate that she has taken a solid majority of the popular vote, outpolling Eric Chu of the Kuomintang… -
news
Republicans Battle to Roll Back Washington’s New Transgender Bathroom Rules
OLYMPIA, Wash.—Pressure is mounting at the state capitol for lawmakers to undo a divisive new rule that allows transgender individuals to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-segregated facilities of the sex the individuals identify as being. “People don’t understand the magnitude of the rules that they’re making,” Jill Wade, a mother of two from… -
news
Why the Freedom Caucus Wants to Declare War on ISIS
Many members of the House Freedom Caucus want to declare war—no, not on their party leadership, but against Islamic State terrorists. While Republicans in Congress have long ridiculed President Barack Obama’s military campaign against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, lawmakers have so far refused to authorize the use of force against the… -
news
This 71-Year-Old Woman Didn’t Commit a Crime. But She Fought the Government to Get Her Seized Jeep Back.
A 71-year-old woman in Rock Island County, Ill., found herself in the middle of the complex system of civil forfeiture laws as she successfully fought to have her Jeep Compass returned after it was seized by law enforcement for a crime she didn’t commit. Judith Wiese’s car was seized under Illinois civil forfeiture laws after… -
news
5 Places Paul Ryan Wants Republicans to Make a Mark in 2016
BALTIMORE—House Republicans sought to come of age the past few days at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. During their annual policy retreat, an introspective Republican caucus took up the question posed by House Speaker Paul Ryan: “How do we offer the country a very clear and compelling choice?” At issue is the legislative direction Republicans will take to distinguish themselves from… -
opinion
Why a Global Approach Is Needed to Defeat ISIS
During his final State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama attempted to downplay the threat to U.S. national security posed by the rise of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL). But a special report recently published by the Heritage Foundation on combatting the ISIS foreign fighter problem explains… -
news
Conservatives Ponder Rerun of Legislative Play to Push Welfare Reform
Conservatives are considering whether to redeploy a fast-track process known as reconciliation to advance welfare reform and other policy goals in 2016. They ran that legislative play late last year to send a bill repealing the Affordable Care Act to President Obama’s desk. Republicans may use reconciliation to win more reforms of welfare, said Rep…. -
opinion
Q&A: Iran, the American Sailors, and Current Laws
Given the news that Iran held U.S. naval personnel and their two vessels for a day or so, and broadcast the images and videos of the sailors, we thought it prudent to explore the legal, security, and policy ramifications of Iran’s latest provocative actions. 1) Why did Iran hold American sailors? There are myriad issues… -
news
Ithaca College President to Step Down Following Protests for Handling of Race-Related Incidents
Tom Rochon, president of Ithaca College, announced Thursday he will be stepping down next year following campus-wide protests and calls for his resignation from both faculty and students related to his handling of race-related incidents. In a letter sent to the school’s faculty, students, and supporters Wednesday, Rochon said he made the decision to retire… -
news
Liberal Professors Outnumber Conservative Faculty 5 to 1. Academics Explain Why This Matters
Professors in higher education have become notably more liberal during the past 25 years, according to a recent study, and academics predict that the trend isn’t likely to slow any time soon. During the past quarter-century, academia has seen a nearly 20-percent jump in the number of professors who identify as liberal. That increase has created… -
opinion
ISIS Fails to Achieve Its Goals With Indonesian Terror Attack
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack in Jakarta, Indonesia, this week that claimed two innocent lives and left 20 injured. This is the most significant attack in Indonesia since 2009. With all condolences to the victims, one thing is for sure: The terrorists will lose this round, too. The Indonesian people are nothing if… -
opinion
Why ISIS Is Directing Jihadists to Wear Christian Symbols
The Islamic State (ISIS) has previously taken manpower, territory, and funds from al-Qaeda. Now it is taking its instruction books. A story in London’s Daily Telegraph highlights that ISIS has commandeered and then updated a publication released by al-Fajr Media Center (al-Qaeda’s online distributor) called “Safety and security guidelines for lone wolf mujahideen and small… -
news
Nearly Half of Millennials Say the American Dream Is Dead. Here’s Why.
Belief in the American Dream among millennials is dimming as the nation’s largest generation continues to face steep socioeconomic barriers despite overall economic recovery, according to a new report. Generation Opportunity, a nonprofit organization advocating limited government to spur opportunity for young Americans, reported Tuesday that for the first time in U.S. history, a younger generation… -
opinion
5 Policies That’ll Fix America’s Assimilation Problem
We spend a lot of time debating immigration as a society. This is natural, as it is an important policy that always, one way or another, inflames passions. Curiously, though, we spend a lot less time discussing what happens after immigrants come to the United States. This is peculiar, because it is by how immigrants… -
opinion
What Michael Bay’s ‘13 Hours’ Reveals About the Benghazi Attacks
Director Michael Bay’s “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” is a dramatic recounting of the half-dozen CIA security contractors (former SEALs, Marines, and an Army Ranger) who responded to the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission compound in Benghazi, Libya, and a nearby covert CIA intelligence collection facility. Bay does a credible… -
opinion
How the Left Misreported the Number of Voting Americans Without IDs
The use of photo identification to confirm the identity of voters serves an essential election security function in America’s polling places and boosts citizens’ confidence in the voting process. In perhaps their most prevalent means of attack, opponents of laws requiring photo ID greatly exaggerate the number of voters without a valid ID. In legislative,… -
news
After State of the Union, Freedom Caucus Gears Up: ‘We Are the Party of Yes’
One member of the House Freedom Caucus called President Barack Obama’s America a “reverse world.” Other members used dark, dramatic descriptors like “dangerous,” “feckless,” “anxiety,” and “the worst” to define the Obama era. And they said the president was “delusional” to use his final State of the Union address to tell the story of a nation on… -
news
Mike Lee Assures Prison Reform Dispute Over Criminal Intent Can Be Resolved ‘Relatively Easily’
Seeking to settle a dispute that threatens to block bipartisan progress toward a deal on criminal justice reform, the Senate’s conservative leader on the issue is downplaying the hurdles to reaching an agreement. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the influential Judiciary Committee, declared Tuesday that the House won’t pass legislation unless it contains a controversial…