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
A Hamiltonian Foreign Policy
When we think of Alexander Hamilton, we think of him as a great promoter of the Constitution and as America’s financial founding father. He is most famous as the organizer and lead author of the Federalist, and then as the architect of the plan to pay America’s revolutionary war debt and of its first national… -
news
Boehner Invites Inner-City Students to See Pope Francis
House Speaker John Boehner has invited 10 students from Washington, D.C.’s inner-city Catholic schools to join the thousands expected to pour onto the Capitol’s West Lawn to see Pope Francis Thursday after his historic address to Congress. The students shared their excitement for the Pope’s brief address in the speaker’s Wednesday press release, noting his influence… -
news
Pope Francis Spends Time With Homeless During Trip to US
During his trip to the United States, Pope Francis has chosen to dine with the underprivileged and often overlooked population of Washington, D.C.: the homeless. The pope will spend time on Thursday at St. Patrick’s Church then move next door as homeless people gather for a meal held by Catholic Charities—a social ministry nonprofit that reaches… -
news
Is Another Fiscal Cliff Coming? Why Conservatives Are Concerned
Republicans riding high after passing their first budget plan in six years earlier this year are in for a familiar scare: the specter of a fiscal cliff and a so-called mega spending deal that may come with it. But even as the stars align for such an all-in-one deal — the government again will likely… -
news
What Millennials Hope to Hear From Pope Francis
Today, Pope Francis made a historic visit to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Mixed into the attendees were college students and other millennials who came from near and far to witness the event. To learn about the issues they hope Pope Francis addresses during his visit to the… -
news
Gallup: Americans Increasingly View Government as Corrupt, Threat to Their Freedom
The American people’s trust in government is the lowest it has been in the last 10 years, according to three Gallup polls released recently. The polls measured the population’s opinions on government corruption, government regulation of business, and whether the government poses an immediate threat to personal liberties. In a poll that was released on… -
opinion
General Motors Accepts Charges and $900 Million Penalty
The Department of Justice’s criminal proceedings against General Motors, over failure to disclose an ignition switch defect, has reached a temporary resolution. The DOJ announced criminal charges and a deferred prosecution agreement with a $900-million fine: GM is charged with concealing a potentially deadly safety defect from its U.S. regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety… -
opinion
How We Should Help the Poor Escape Poverty
The Census Bureau’s most recent poverty data was released last week. Predictably, vast expenditures on anti-poverty programs have not budged the numbers: more than 45 million Americans are living in poverty. A clue as to why our nation’s $24-trillion War on Poverty has failed to empower the poor to rise to self-sufficiency can be found… -
news
As Pope Francis Visits the US, Here Are 5 Facts About American Catholics
Gallup has released a list of five facts about American Catholics in honor of Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States. According to Gallup’s report: Twenty-three percent of the United States’ adult population is Catholic. Gallup has tracked the percentage of Catholics since 1948 and says the number “has remained fairly steady” since then, averaging at… -
opinion
The Refugee Crisis Is Going to Get Worse
Hundreds of thousands of migrants are leaving the Middle East, heading to what they see as the promised lands of Europe and, if possible, America. Notice where they are not going. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has 57 members. Though Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey are serving as way stations, no OIC states are offering… -
news
West Virginia House Speaker Wants to Make Sure Planned Parenthood Isn’t Receiving State Funds
This post has been updated to include a response from a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, who returned our request for comment after this article was published. The Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates has asked the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources to provide lawmakers with information about any payments… -
news
Teacher in Viral ‘Humans of New York’ Photo Attacks Marijuana, Says It Makes His Students ‘Less Curious’
Brandon Stanton, the 31-year-old photographer behind the viral Humans of New York photo series, does not shy away from sensitive topics. On Monday, a photograph posted to the blog’s Instagram account was no different, touching on recreational marijuana use amongst high schoolers. “I hate pot. I hate it even more than hard drugs,” reads the… -
news
Poll: Trust in Three Branches of Government at Historic Lows
Americans’ trust in the three branches of U.S. government is at historic lows, specifically in the judicial branch, according to a Gallup poll released on Friday. Only 53 percent of respondents have a “great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the judicial branch. This is a 23 percent drop from the 76 percent… -
opinion
No, America Was Not Founded On Racist Principles
Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told an audience at Liberty University that the United States was founded “on racist principles.” He added, “That’s a fact. We have come a long way as a nation.” The principles on which on our country was established are articulated with clarity in the Declaration of Independence. On the… -
news
Conservatives Have Unlikely Ally In Arguing Reconciliation Cannot Be Used to Defund Planned Parenthood
Republican leaders have been considering using a budget tool known as reconciliation to strip Planned Parenthood of its federal funding. Reconciliation is a tactic that allows legislation to pass with just 51 votes. However, the plan has earned the ire of conservatives, who argue the procedure should be used to roll back Obamacare. Now, a… -
news
New York Times Declines to Publish Congressman’s Criticism of Iran Deal ‘Jew Tracker’
The New York Times declined to publish Republican Rep. Peter Roskam’s letter to the editor condemning its heavily criticized graphic that tracked members of Congress opposed to the Iran nuclear agreement, initially singling out Jewish lawmakers with a bold yellow highlight. Roskam said he was “disappointed” the Times chose not to publish his letter, which… -
news
What ‘Boots on the Ground’ in Iraq Looks Like
U.S. ARMED FORCES, Iraq—The booms come at regular intervals like incoming artillery. In the background is a heavy metal soundtrack pumped through an iPhone speaker. After doing a clean and press, an Air Force pararescueman throws down the heavily loaded Olympic bar, which rebounds loudly off the plywood floor of the tent gym. The floor… -
opinion
Poll Shows Americans Ready for Tougher Approach to ISIS, al-Qaeda
The cover of a new survey by Chicago Council of Global Affairs entitled “America Divided: Political Partisanship and US Foreign Policy” creates the impression that Americans are deeply divided over U.S. foreign policy. Yet, according to the research presented inside that is not consistently so. In some regards, opinion on foreign policy is converging, even… -
news
Birth Photographer Captures Newborns in Unique Pose
One photographer from the Netherlands is gaining a following for portraying babies as though they are still in the womb. Marry Fermont, 35, of Fermont Fotografie became the first photographer in the Netherlands to specialize in these “birth photos.” Fermont initially studied to become a midwife but, after completing part of her training, had the… -
opinion
The Pope Is at Odds With Liberals, Too. Just Don’t Expect the Media to Report It.
When it comes to Pope Francis, the media are quick to pick up on his more liberal views. In a story headlined, “Republicans’ Comments Put Them on Other Side of Pope’s Visiting Message,” the New York Times reports, “Pope Francis has delivered an encyclical calling for increased action against climate change, denounced the role of…