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
Top Six New Programs Created in No Child Left Behind Rewrite
The 1,061 pages of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently known as No Child Left Behind) would reconstitute or create entirely new programs. Here are the top six major new codified initiatives: The Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program. Part A of Title IV of ESSA… -
opinion
The Department of Justice Practice That Robs Taxpayers
The Department of Justice has a practice that robs taxpayers of money that should be paid into the federal treasury. As part of the settlement of a criminal or civil case, the department will require a defendant to pay money over to a third party, rather than write a check to the federal government. The… -
opinion
Why Paris Climate Conference Is a Throwback to 1997 Kyoto Debate
Hey, Paris Climate Conference, 1997 called, and it wants its failed climate discussions back. Eighteen years ago, the Kyoto climate protocol was debated in Congress, and back then many members questioned the science and the high price Americans would pay for little, if any, benefit from the climate agreement. As leaders from around the world… -
news
Policy Riders: What They Are, How Congress Uses Them, and Why They Matter to You
In broad strokes, it’s simple how a bill becomes law. But in detail, that process can be much more complex. One legislative provision in particular, the appropriations policy rider, is little understood but enormously significant. When appropriation bills sail through Congress, lawmakers often stow policy riders inside. This way, they can achieve policy victories that… -
news
Worldwide Conflicts Threaten to Overshadow Paris Climate Summit
PARIS—A U.N.-sponsored climate change summit opened Monday amid gathering clouds of global conflict that threaten to overshadow the negotiations. More than 150 heads of state, including President Barack Obama, attended the opening of the summit. Its benchmark for success: to reach an international deal to limit emissions and hold the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius. “I’ve come… -
opinion
Cambodia’s Slide Into Repression
On Nov. 13, Cambodia’s dictatorial prime minister Hun Sen ousted opposition leader Sam Rainsy, stripping him of his seat in parliament and calling for his arrest. These latest actions against Rainsy are representative of Cambodia’s long muddle through a sort of unfree democracy. Cambodia’s latest actions should remind the international community of the commitments it… -
news
This Devout Christian Pastor and Police Officer Was One of the Planned Parenthood Shooting Victims
Garrett Swasey, the 44-year-old police officer killed Friday in a shooting at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic, also was a devout Christian pastor who “believed in forgiveness” and “was there to save lives,” those who knew him say. “He might not be in alignment with [abortion], but he’d be willing to go in and lay… -
opinion
Vote Fraudsters Jeopardize Electoral Integrity
Our right to vote is one of the core foundations of the American republic. Elections determine the future of towns and cities, states and the nation, and as such, every American must be able to say with confidence that electoral results are reliable and reflect the will of all eligible voters—and only eligible voters. This… -
opinion
Removing Dealership Monopolies Could Save You $1,950 on a New Car
Get ready for it! Holiday deals are about to be in full swing as automakers and car dealerships begin to advertise “unbeatable” end-of-the-year deals and “amazing” savings opportunities. Want to hear a better deal? Removing the car dealerships’ monopoly on vehicle sales could save Americans $1,950 on a new car. If you want to buy… -
opinion
Why Did ISIS Target Paris?
“Allah chose me … to travel to Europe in order to terrorize the crusaders waging war against the Muslims.” So begins an Islamic State magazine interview published last February with the man police now think planned the butchery in Paris. Abdelhamid Abaaoud went on to mock the European authorities who could not block his travels… -
opinion
3 Conservative Goals No Child Left Behind Rewrite Wouldn’t Accomplish
Monday morning, Congress released a proposed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind. The proposal, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act, would makes some important changes to No Child Left Behind, such as eliminating Adequate Yearly Progress mandates (standardized testing benchmarks), but would not accomplish conservative… -
opinion
TPP to Roast the Chicken Tax…Someday
Want to know how government policies waste Americans’ time and money? We saw a vivid demonstration recently at the Port of Baltimore. Before customers can buy Ford Transit Connect cargo vehicles, workers at the Port of Baltimore first unload Ford Transit Connect passenger vehicles from Europe, strip the extra seats, line the floor with durable… -
opinion
These 12 Policy Reforms Could Save An Average Household $4,440 a Year
Economic freedom is a matter of principle, but it’s also a boon to family budgets. Just 12 economic policy reforms would save the average household $4,440 a year. Opening up markets to more competition, treating outsiders and insiders equally, and squeezing out bureaucratic delays could push prices down enough to give American families some budgetary… -
news
Two Iraqi Refugees in 2013 Had Links to al-Qaeda
Two Iraqi refugees in Bowling Green, Ky., were proven to be terrorists with links to al-Qaeda after being caught on camera handling heavy weapons inside a storage unit, according to a 2013 investigative report from ABC News. ABC reported the FBI found that the two men, identified as Waad Ramadan Alwan and Mohanad Shareef Hammadi, intended… -
news
Here’s Why This Legal Society Is Examining How Congress Works
Corrects Randy Barnett’s role in challenging the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court. The Federalist Society has catapulted traditional jurisprudence into prominence, making constitutional principles vogue at both law schools and the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, for the first time, the society plans to make a similar play on Congress. At its annual… -
opinion
Why al-Qaeda and ISIS Are Ruthlessly Targeting This Country
The small North African country of Tunisia suffered another major terror attack, the third this year. The attack should remind the world that Tunisia faces an array of deadly threats, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Information is still coming in, but a suicide bomber reportedly detonated himself in central Tunis, the… -
news
This Company Aims to Help Christians Fight Back Against Secular Culture With Their Wallets
From the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage to threats on religious liberty, conservative Christian voters feel frustrated. But a new company called Faith Driven Consumer is giving them a chance to fight back with their wallets, looking at companies’ behaviors. Their research shows that faith-driven customers spend roughly $2 trillion every year. The Daily Signal… -
opinion
Government Now Trying to Interfere in Internet TV?
Television has come a long way since it was dubbed a “vast wasteland” more than a half-century ago. Once limited to a meager handful of government-approved stations, each with cookie-cutter fare, consumers today can choose from hundreds of diverse channels, each competing for their attention. Now, a wave of change is engulfing the market: Internet-based… -
news
For This Hotel, Catering to Cops, Firefighters Is a Thanksgiving Tradition
Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical workers in the nation’s capital will briefly abandon their posts Thanksgiving Day and head to one of the region’s most luxurious hotels. But don’t worry—these and other first responders won’t be away long. The Four Seasons hotel, in the upscale Georgetown neighborhood, will for the 16th year host the public servants for… -
opinion
How Many Turkeys We Could Buy With the Amount National Debt Has Increased in Past Three Weeks
The Washington Examiner recently released a piece claiming that our national debt has skyrocketed by nearly $600 billion in the three weeks since the debt ceiling was suspended. While these staggering numbers are accurate, this borrowing has been happening since March, when the Treasury previously hit the debt limit and borrowed from loophole accounts to…