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
Rise of the Administrative State: Opponents Want the Next President, Congress to Restore Balance
Sen. Ben Sasse spent much of his freshman year without taking the podium. In a studied decision to use his previous reticence as leverage, the Nebraska Republican devoted his first speech on the Senate floor Tuesday to sounding the alarm on the rapid expansion of an “administrative state” comprised of unelected federal bureaucrats. “The growth of the administrative state, the fourth branch… -
news
10 Amendments to the Highway Bill That Seek to Change the Export-Import Bank
Before the House of Representatives votes on a bill that could bring the controversial Export-Import Bank back to life, lawmakers will address measures aimed at, among other things, boosting the agency’s financing for small businesses and diversifying its portfolio. The House was set to vote today on 81 amendments to a bill reauthorizing the Highway Trust… -
news
Meet the New Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Here Are 15 Facts About Jenean Hampton
Elections were held around the country Tuesday, and results in Kentucky made history. Matt Bevin, the Republican candidate for Kentucky governor, and running mate Jenean Hampton won by a margin of 53 percent to 44 percent over Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, a Democrat, according to CNN. Conway had been at the top in polls leading up to the… -
news
Arizona Will No Longer Facilitate State Employee’s Planned Parenthood Donations
Arizona has cut the umbilical cord off Planned Parenthood, no longer allowing the organization to receive donations from state employees on the government’s dime. Republican Governor Doug Ducey, who serves as the chairman of the State Employee Charitable Campaign, “absolutely supports” the move to remove Planned Parenthood from the program, called the State Employee Charitable… -
opinion
Should the Government Ask Job Applicants if They Are Felons? The Pros and Cons
This week, the White House announced a pending executive order instructing the Office of Personnel Management to “delay inquiries into criminal history until later in the hiring process.” This delay, known as “banning the box,” eliminates asking an applicant if he or she has a criminal record. The federal government certainly has good reasons to… -
news
Congress Shouldn’t Ground Air Marshals Amid Current Threats, Their Boss Says
At an altitude of 30,000 feet, there’s little room for error when confronting a hysterical passenger, hijacker or other threat. That’s why the Federal Air Marshal Service is a critical last line of defense, transportation security officials say. One leading congressional critic, however, argues that the Federal Air Marshal Service is an outdated and inefficient… -
news
What Companies Are Friendly to Faith-Based Shoppers? See The Rankings.
A new faith-based consumer organization is looking to have an impact on the profit margins of major companies this holiday season—and beyond—by influencing where people spend their money. In order to do so, the group, called Faith Driven Consumer, launched a Faith Equality Index, where they score companies on a 100-point “faith-compatibility” scale. Few companies… -
opinion
Why Churchill Thought the American Constitution Was Important
Winston Churchill wrote as much as he acted, and he wrote about every action. His books number more than fifty. His speeches, written almost exclusively by him, take up more than eight thousand crowded pages in a series of books that only purports to be exhaustive. His articles are almost numberless, and his memos and letters… -
news
Ohio May Legalize Marijuana Today
As voters across the United States move to elect their next state leaders Tuesday, Ohio residents are weighing whether the Buckeye State will become the latest to legalize marijuana. If voters approve the measure, Ohio will become the fifth state to legalize recreational weed and the first in the Midwest. But Issue 3, which would add… -
opinion
Why TransCanada Has Asked to Suspend the Keystone XL Pipeline Review
How long does it take a single pipeline to be made? Thanks to the Obama administration, it apparently will take more than 7 years. In a move to pre-empt the State Department’s rejection of TransCanada’s permit application to build the Keystone XL, TransCanada has sent a letter to the State Department asking the agency to… -
opinion
Countdown: District Has 30 Days to Change Transgender Student Locker Room Policy or Lose Federal Funds
Uncle Sam isn’t going to let schools place certain restrictions on how transgender students use a single-sex locker room. A school district near Chicago, Palatine 211, provides numerous accommodations for transgender students. The district calls the students by requested names, honors selected gender (including allowing them to play on the sports teams of the gender… -
news
Charles Koch Responds to Democrat Attacks: ‘People Aren’t Going to Scare Me Off’
Democrats have tried to make the “Koch Brothers” public enemy no. 1 for their support of conservative candidates and causes. Last year, then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., even labeled them “un-American.” But in an interview with “Morning Joe” co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, Charles Koch says he’s not intimidated. “It’s frightening for the… -
news
New Food Stamp Bills in Wisconsin Aim to Curtail Welfare Fraud and Abuse
As part of continued efforts by Gov. Scott Walker and legislators, welfare fraud and abuse legislation will be put to a vote on Tuesday in Wisconsin. A series of four bills, three of which target abuse of Wisconsin’s food stamp program, are expected to pass. The legislation (Wisconsin Assembly Bills 222, 200, and 188) would require… -
opinion
Supporting Terrorism: How “Behind-the-Scenes” Contributors and Foreign Fighters Have Strengthened Terrorist Groups
There have been 74 Islamist terror plots or attacks against the U.S. homeland since 9/11, with more plots in 2015 than any other year since 2001. For example: July 4, 2015. Alexander Ciccolo had plans to use pressure-cooker bombs, Molotov cocktails, and firearms to attack a college or college bar. He had purchased pressure cookers… -
opinion
Greg Gutfeld Explains Why All Success in Life Is Based on Conservative Principles
In the latest video from PragerU, Fox News host and bestselling author Greg Gutfeld says conservative principles are more common than you think in professions sometimes identified with liberals—music, exercise, and cooking. “If liberals applied their no-score, no-winner, no-loser belief system to their hobbies and professions, they would fail miserably,” says Gutfeld, author of “How… -
opinion
Airbnb’s War Against San Francisco Regulations
Airbnb has made headlines for reportedly spending a whopping $8 million to defeat a San Francisco proposition to restrict short-term rentals. This translates into roughly $40 per voter of advertising from Airbnb alone, not including supporting tech lobbies. Much of the animosity toward Airbnb began in San Francisco’s Mission District, where I happen to live…. -
news
‘Being Honest,’ Paul Ryan Says Defunding Planned Parenthood Is Unlikely
Newly elected House Speaker Paul Ryan vowed to move forward with an investigation of Planned Parenthood but also cast doubt on Congress’ ability to end taxpayer funding for the nation’s largest abortion provider. In an interview with Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Ryan said he wants to ensure that Republicans are an “effective opposition party,”… -
news
31 of the Best Quotes From Fred Thompson
Former United States Sen. Fred Thompson passed away on Sunday, according to a report from The Tennessean. Thompson, 73, who served in the Senate from 1994-2003 as a Republican from Tennessee, is also known for his role as an attorney in the Watergate investigation (which led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon), his time… -
opinion
Michael Landon Jr.’s Heartfelt Quest to Revive TV’s ‘Family Experience’
At its height, Hollywood perfected the art of storytelling for television and the world was better for it. Writers spent years honing their craft to help produce programs and entertainment that would stand the test of time. These writers wove together stories, characters, and dialogue that reflected our own experiences and at the same time… -
news
Halloween Advertisements Featuring Disabled Children Go Viral
This year, fashion brand Ultra Violet Kids decided to do something a little differently with their Halloween advertising by including a child with a visual disability in their promotional photos for the very first time. Four-year-old Zoe Lush, a little girl who is confined to a wheelchair, was one of five child models featured in…