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
How This Ultrasound Program Brought Life to 358,000 Babies
The pro-marriage, pro-life group Focus on the Family is celebrating the 12th anniversary of Option Ultrasound, a program that rejoices in the birth of 358,000 babies who had been at risk for abortion. “Here at Focus on the Family, what we wanted to do was help equip the pregnancy medical clinics around the country to be able… -
news
House Conservatives Warn Paul Ryan: ‘Honeymoon Is Over’
House conservatives on Wednesday challenged Speaker Paul Ryan to fulfill his pledge to play offense in 2016, warning their leader that “the honeymoon” period of his tenure is over. As House and Senate Republicans get set next week to lay out their goals for 2016 during a joint retreat, conservatives say they want Ryan, R-Wis.,… -
news
In New York, You Could Be Fined $250K for Failing to Use a Transgender Person’s ‘Preferred’ Pronoun
Raising the bar for other cities throughout the country, New York City announced “strong” and “bold” protections for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. The new legal guidance, issued Dec. 21 by the New York City Commission on Human Rights, came as part of an expansion of the city’s 2002 Human Rights Law, which protects against discrimination… -
opinion
How Congress Can Increase the Transparency of Environmental Regulations
The House is expected to begin considering the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act (H.R. 712), which would address a legal tactic often referred to as sue and settle. Given that interest groups (and arguably agencies) are able to circumvent the rule-making process through sue and settle, congressional efforts for reform should be not a matter of controversy, but… -
opinion
Congress Can Take an Important Step in 2016 to Address the ‘Food Stamp’ Bill
The next farm bill won’t be considered until at least 2018. However, Congress can take what should be non-controversial action now that sets up the possibility for real reform in the future: Separate agricultural programs from the food stamp program. Food stamps account for about 80 percent of the farm bill costs, making “food stamp bill” a more accurate title than the “farm bill.” From… -
opinion
It Would Be a Mistake to Not Hold Steady in Afghanistan
In the wake of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, including reports that the Taliban may now control more territory than they have at any time in the last 14 years, the U.S. must maintain current troop levels through 2016, and even consider increasing them. U.S. Commander of Afghanistan General John Campbell made clear last… -
opinion
What the Top 5 States People Are Moving From Have in Common
Americans are moving to places with affordable costs of living and strong labor markets (or good retirement communities). The top destination states of 2015 could hardly be more different geographically and culturally: Oregon and South Carolina. What they have in common is that both states are relatively affordable places to live. The data on moving… -
news
Franklin Graham at Iowa Prayer Rally: ‘America Needs the Christian Vote’
DES MOINES, Iowa—Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed for what he called America's needs during a rally he led from the steps of the Iowa State Capitol. “Right now we need to get godly men and women to vote and to run for office,” Graham said. “Your vote counts. America needs the Christian vote.” Graham, the eldest… -
opinion
Remembering the Conservatives We Lost in 2015
The conservative movement lost a number of its leaders, heroes, and colleagues last year. Before we get farther into 2016, we’d like to take a moment to note some of the people we will miss. Martin Anderson August 5, 1936 – January 3, 2015 Anderson wrote a paper that helped end the draft in 1973, advised Ronald Reagan… -
news
Gallup Poll: Americans Say Government Is Their Top Concern
Americans again name government as the top problem facing the United States, according to a new Gallup poll. It was the second consecutive year government ranked as the most important concern facing the U.S. In 2015, 16 percent in the Gallup Poll Social Series surveys put government at the top of concerns. This is down from 18… -
news
22 Tweets About the Occupiers of the Oregon Wildlife Refuge
As armed, anti-government protesters continued to occupy a remote wildlife refuge in Oregon, Twitter had no shortage of commentators assessing the situation. “If you’re occupying with guns, it’s terrorism,” one observer tweeted. “Unless you’re left-wing, then it’s ‘social justice,’” another offered. The group, called Citizens for Constitutional Freedom, said it was protesting to protect land rights and oppose the… -
opinion
Why Soldiers Miss War
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Martin parked the truck outside the concrete slabs arranged in a defensive perimeter around the tactical operations center at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan. A layer of fine brown dust hung in the air. Out in the distance, high, snow-capped mountains ringed the combined U.S.-Afghan base. C-130 transport planes and… -
news
How the Latest Middle East Crisis Complicates Iran Nuclear Deal, Syrian War
The breakdown in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran complicates life for the United States, which has staked its hope for peace in the Middle East on these two rival powers playing nice. While the U.S. tries to push both countries into helping end the war in Syria, the Obama administration is also banking on… -
news
Why Federal Law Enforcement Is Taking a ‘Wait and See’ Approach to the Oregon Protesters
Americans remembering the deadly confrontations at Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in the early 1990s are likely to see a different response from law enforcement officers monitoring protesters at a federal building in Oregon, former federal officials say. On Saturday, a group of militants took over an empty building on the Malheur National Wildlife… -
opinion
How Lawmakers Stopped Part of Obama’s Assault on First Amendment
There is no question that the omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed just before its holiday recess is full of wasteful spending. Even worse, it completely funds Obama’s unilateral, above-the-law executive actions in almost every area, from his immigration amnesty program to his overregulation of power plants. However, there is one area where Congress acted… -
news
Washington Quietly Adopts New Transgender Bathroom, Locker Room Policies
One day after Christmas, Washington state quietly adopted a set of new policies regarding transgender individuals using sex-specific facilities. The rules, adopted by the state Human Rights Commission, make it illegal for business owners to limit sex-specific facilities such as bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms to persons with the anatomical parts of one sex. “To my… -
news
What Rising Murder Rates in US Cities Mean for 2016
The 2015 year in crime was marked by a sharp rise in murder rates in many U.S. cities, including those touched by high-profile incidents between police and citizens, such as Baltimore and Chicago. But the rate of crime overall in America’s largest cities declined in 2015 (as of Dec. 23) compared to the year before,… -
opinion
Cronyism on Display in Puerto Rico
Employees in Puerto Rico take home a smaller share of income than anywhere else in the U.S. But is this despite or because of the many regulations the Puerto Rican government uses to tilt the economic scale in favor of workers? The island’s government leans to the left and has done all it can to… -
news
Once a Congressional Outsider, Tim Huelskamp Now Plans to Work on the Inside
WESTERN KANSAS—Tim Huelskamp has the look of a hunted man. Since 2012, the Kansas representative has been crisscrossing back roads, ducking into hundreds of town halls, and talking to anyone who will listen. And he has had reason to run. He’s bucked the party line so many times he’s been branded an enemy of the… -
news
Sweden Accepted More Refugees Per Capita Than Any Other EU Country. Now It’s Tightening Borders.
Sweden, Europe’s greatest benefactor toward Syrian refugees, is moving to tighten its borders as 2016 rolls in. “We’re willing to do more than anyone else,” says Sweden’s migration minister. “But even we have our limits.” Strained after the nation accepted more refugees per capita than any other European country, Sweden closed its open-door policy and is…