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
The Truth About Dan Rather’s Deceptive Reporting on George W. Bush
So you're an art connoisseur who likes the works of Gilbert Stuart, the early American artist famous for his portraits of George Washington. Someone wants to sell you an original Stuart portrait of Washington he claims he found in someone's attic. It looks good enough—old canvas, faded oils, facial resemblance—but there is one little problem…. -
opinion
Architects of Disaster: The Destruction of Libya
Benghazi has been much in the news because of the long-awaited testimony by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. As important as it is to understand what led to the loss of four American lives on September 11, 2012, when the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked, understanding the context is critical as well. The… -
news
Government Agency Gave $10 Million Loan Guarantee to Renovate Apartments Valued at $4 Million
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The Department of Housing and Urban Development provided a $9.4-million loan guarantee to renovate an apartment complex here eight months after the owner convinced the county to value the complex at just $3.8 million, a Watchdog.org investigation found. The loan for Apollo Village Apartments defaulted, and the property was foreclosed on in 2012,… -
news
Without Government Subsidy, Electric Car Sales Crash in Georgia
For more than 15 years, Georgia offered one of the country’s most generous tax credits for people who bought electric cars. But the $5,000 subsidy went away three months ago, and a look by Watchdog.org at how the tax credit’s expiration has affected sales shows a dramatic drop in the number of all-electric cars such as Teslas… -
opinion
Debunking the ‘Postwar’ Myth and Staying Army Strong
Since 1775, the U.S. Army has protected America’s interests at home and abroad. American soldiers became symbols of freedom to all who encountered them. With current budget constraints, though, the Army is downsizing into what Secretary of Defense Ash Carter calls a “postwar Army.” Nadia Schadlow and other defense experts debunk the idea of a “postwar… -
opinion
Why Is This Town Requiring All Homeowners, Even Those With Allergies, to Have Turf Grass?
An ordinance in St. Peters, Mo., requires that a “minimum” of 50 percent of all yard areas “shall be comprised of turf grass.” But some people are allergic to turf grass, including St. Peters resident Janice Duffner. Duffner and her husband, Carl, replaced their grass with landscaping many people would cherish: a manicured hillside with flowers and… -
opinion
Put the Brakes on Bangladesh’s Flawed War Criminal Process
The Bangladeshi authorities are set to execute two senior opposition politicians for alleged war crimes committed 45 years ago—by an International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) that has been deemed “flawed” by international human rights organizations. The convictions and death sentences of senior Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) politician Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, and senior Bangladesh National Party politician Salauddin… -
opinion
The Only Region Effective Against ISIS Is Going Broke
A flood of Middle East refugees into Europe has held the world’s attention and sympathy since August. The European Union recently committed to taking in 120,000 asylum seekers and has increased its budget for migrant issues twice in four months. Late last month, 19 countries pledged $1.8 billion to U.N. agencies assisting refugees. Most of that money will… -
news
Should Government Save Horse Racing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s wilting horse-racing industry can no longer support the fund that pays to oversee the sport, a development that could lead to a shutdown by late November. Yet the races could go on, through Thanksgiving and thereafter, if lawmakers push through a plan to subsidize the depleted State Racing Fund with money from another pot… -
opinion
First Nuclear Power Plant in 20 Years: Good News, But No Nuclear Renaissance
It’s been almost 20 years since a new nuclear power plant was licensed to generate electricity in the U.S. Last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued an operating license to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Watts Bar 2 reactor. The last time this happened, today’s college students were in baby clothes, Atlanta was hosting… -
news
Looking Beyond Planned Parenthood to Build a Culture of Life
Building a culture of life requires looking beyond Planned Parenthood, participants in a panel discussion on Thursday at The Heritage Foundation concurred. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, is facing allegations that it is trafficking the body parts of aborted babies following the release of hours of undercover footage by the Center for Medical Progress…. -
opinion
Would You Have Been a ‘Suffragette?’
When you think of “suffragettes,” what comes to mind? The musical geek in me immediately starts humming along with Mrs. Banks from the classic movie “Mary Poppins” as she marches and sings: Cast off the shackles of yesterday! Shoulder to shoulder into the fray! Our daughters’ daughters will adore us, and they’ll sing in grateful… -
opinion
5 Charts to Explain the 2016 IRS Tax Brackets and Other Changes
The 2016 tax brackets just announced by the Internal Revenue Service don’t include dramatic changes, largely because of low inflation last year. The brackets will rise about 0.5 percent, the IRS said, meaning a $50 increase for single filers in the lowest tax bracket up to a $2,100 increase for married filers in the highest… -
news
Why the Magna Carta Still Matters Today
On the 800th anniversary year of Magna Carta, I sat down with the Honorable Daniel Hannan, a conservative member of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom and a long-time friend of The Heritage Foundation. Hannan represents the area of the UK, Runnymede, England, where Magna Carta was signed on June 15, 1215. Often known… -
opinion
The Constitution’s Lost Clauses
Those who drafted the Constitution and subsequent amendments labored over every word that would be included in our charter of liberty. But today some clauses have limited application and others have been swept under the rug entirely. Have you ever heard of the Contract Clause, the Coinage Clause, or the Origination Clause? The Pacific Legal… -
news
Football Coach ‘Devastated’ After Being Suspended for Post-Game Prayer
It’s like straight out of a movie. Washington state high school football coach Joe Kennedy, inspired by the Christian faith-based film “Facing the Giants,” walks to the 50-yard line after games to thank God for the players he has the opportunity to coach. As of Wednesday, Kennedy has been suspended and is no longer able… -
news
GE Admits Ex-Im Reauthorization Will Not Affect Jobs Moving Overseas
General Electric admitted it will ship American jobs overseas, even if the Export-Import Bank gets reauthorized. General Electric officials have previously said that more jobs are likely to move overseas, unless the Export-Import Bank gets reauthorized. In accordance, GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt has campaigned to revive Ex-Im, according to Reuters. Ex-Im provides taxpayer-backed… -
news
In Pennsylvania, Stalking Can Be Legal for Union Members. That May Change.
Pennsylvania lawmakers are on the brink of closing a legal loophole that exempts parties to an organized labor dispute from charges of stalking, harassment, and threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction. The stalking loophole has existed since the state officially defined the offense in its criminal code in 2002. As of 2012, Pennsylvania… -
opinion
Nation’s Sugar Program Sets a Grim Mood for Halloween
Sugar prices this Halloween are more than a little scary. Here’s the history that haunts the candy industry—and your grocery bill. The nation’s sugar policy is an extension of laws dating back to the Great Depression. Under the current system, domestic sugar manufacturers are protected from foreign competition by a tariff and quota system that… -
news
This Music Awards Show Honors ‘Faith, Family, and Country’
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—This past August, during an acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West announced his plan to run for president of the United States in 2020. The admission, widely reported by media outlets, was perhaps not entirely shocking in 2015, when awards shows frequently resemble either popularity contests or spectacles. (As the…