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
The Washington Post’s Questionable Claim About a Community Health Center
The Washington Post published a questionable claim about a community health center in a story about an Ohio Planned Parenthood clinic. In a story published Tuesday titled “Planned Parenthood is a symbol. This is the reality of one Ohio clinic,” a Washington Post reporter shared anecdotal stories about a day she spent at a Planned Parenthood clinic… -
news
California Republican Resigns From Conservative Group Over Tactics
A California Republican has resigned from the conservative House Freedom Caucus, arguing that the group’s tactics have done more harm to conservative policy than good. In a letter delivered to Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Rep. Tom McClintock criticized the strategy used by the conservative group in fights over Planned Parenthood, immigration, and trade…. -
news
Why Conservatives Object to Leadership’s Latest Tactic for Ending Planned Parenthood’s Federal Funding
Conservatives are pushing back against a Republican leader’s plan to use a budget tool known as reconciliation to strip Planned Parenthood of its federal funding. Instead, they argue that the tactic should be used to repeal Obamacare as lawmakers originally promised. In an interview with CQ Roll Call, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said he would advocate… -
opinion
Why Reconciliation Can’t Be Used to Defund Planned Parenthood
Last May, Congress passed the first concurrent budget resolution in six years. The resolution produced a path to balance by fiscal year 2024 in large part because of an assumption that the Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s coverage expansion would be repealed, reducing spending and the deficit by almost $2 trillion over the next 10 years…. -
news
Creator of Undercover Videos Says They Reveal ‘Three Basic Revelations’ About Planned Parenthood
During a webcast Tuesday evening called “Stop Baby Parts Trafficking,” David Daleiden, the director of the Center for Medical Progress, said that the organization’s videos have exposed “three basic revelations” about Planned Parenthood. First, he said, “Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of the fetuses they abort” and they make money from those sales. Second, Planned… -
news
Bobby Jindal Adopts New Strategy in Fight Against Planned Parenthood
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration announced that it will end its Medicaid contract with Planned Parenthood “for cause” instead of “at will.” The change marks a shift in the administration’s strategy to combat a lawsuit filed against them by Planned Parenthood. According to a report by Bloomberg, health officials in Jindal’s administration argued that “the… -
news
13 Photos of the Devastating California Wildfires
More than 550 homes in flames, 62,000 acres scorched, and one death — the Valley Fire in Middletown, Calif. is only 30 percent contained, according to the Los Angeles Times, and doesn’t look like it is anywhere near done raging through Northern California. Its cousin, the Butte Fire, now about 45 percent contained, forced evacuations and… -
opinion
Eight Important Facts You Need to Know for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s Article 32 Hearing Prior to a Court-Martial
The Army will hold an Article 32 hearing for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl this week at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. The hearing, which may take a few days, is standard for all military court-martials where felony charges have been preferred against the accused, unless the accused chooses to waive the hearing. Sgt. Bergdahl has… -
opinion
What Happened When One Company Lowered Its Costs and Improved the Environment? Government Fines.
Here’s how the federal government rewards an energy company for upgrading its power plants to lower costs for families and businesses and improving the environment: slap them with a nearly a million dollar fine, force them to close power plant units and lay off employees and make them millions of dollars in environmental mitigation projects…. -
news
Is This ‘Compromise’ the Answer to the Planned Parenthood Fight?
A moderate Republican from Pennsylvania believes he devised a “reasonable” solution to the debate over Planned Parenthood—one that both sides can agree with. Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Penn., wants to temporarily withhold funding from the specific clinics allegedly involved in the procurement of tissue from aborted body parts, and permanently close a loophole that may be… -
news
Connecticut Homeowners Fight to Prevent City From Taking Their Homes for Redevelopment
Every day, Janet Rodriguez sits at her home in West Haven, Conn., and she waits. She waits for a knock at her front door, a knock she fears will bring news that Rodriguez and her family will be forced to leave the home they’ve lived in for nearly a decade. A knock that means the… -
opinion
How Do America’s Poor Really Live? Examining the Census Poverty Report
Today, the Census Bureau will release its annual poverty report. It will almost certainly report that over 40 million Americans “live in poverty.” But what does it mean to be poor in America? To the average American, the word “poverty” suggests significant material deprivation. But the actual living conditions of those the government defines as… -
opinion
Here’s How Religion Shaped Margaret Thatcher’s Politics
Few people are aware that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, one of the foremost politicians of the 20th century, was a lay Methodist preacher before she entered politics. There has been very little examination into the role that her Christian faith played in her politics. “Economics is the method; the object is to change… -
opinion
Why ‘Sagging Pants’ Should Not Be a Criminal Offense
The war on bad fashion has a new battlefront: Dadeville, Ala. Members of the Dadeville City Council are considering an ordinance to punish people wearing sagging pants or revealing miniskirts in public. “I am ashamed to see all the sagging pants around here,” said Frank Goodman, the councilor who proposed the law. “We are going… -
news
In New Video, Planned Parenthood Executives Worry About Public Relations: ‘This Could Destroy Your Organization and Us’
The Center for Medical Progress released the fourth installment of its “Human Capital” series on Tuesday. The video, titled “Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Criminal Enterprise,” is the 10th released by the organization. The undercover video features a conversation actors portraying potential buyers from a human biologics company had with Dr. Carolyn Westhoff, senior medical… -
opinion
Lesser Prairie Chicken Case a Win for Good Environmental Policy
Earlier this month, a federal district court in Texas dealt a blow to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and its misguided approach to protecting species, in this particular case the Lesser Prairie Chicken. Five states have endeavored to respect the environment, the economy, and individual rights by accommodating the needs of private property… -
opinion
What Comedy Can Teach Us About the Iran Deal
David Zucker, the Hollywood filmmaker best known for his 1980s movies “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun,” is out with a new spoof on the Iran deal. He spoke to “Fox and Friends” today about why he created the video and what he hopes to accomplish. Watch the video below and let us know what you… -
news
How a Catholic Cardinal Is Responding to the Assault on Marriage and Family
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio—Pope Francis’s visit to the United States next week will coincide with a meeting of Catholics from all over the world to discuss some of the most pertinent issues facing the church. For a society that’s become increasingly secularized, the upcoming World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia will be an opportunity for bishops to discuss… -
news
Pastors in John Boehner’s District Encourage Him to Be ‘Bold’ and Defund Planned Parenthood
A group of pastors in House Speaker John Boehner’s congressional district are encouraging him to defund Planned Parenthood. In a letter, the pastors asked Boehner, R-Ohio, to support efforts to defund Planned Parenthood in a spending bill, and to meet with them to hear their concerns. In an interview with The Daily Signal, Johnathan Newman,… -
news
Medicare Yet to Save Money Through Heralded Medical Payment Model
A high-profile Medicare experiment pushing doctors and hospitals to join together to operate more efficiently has yet to save the government money, with nearly half of the groups costing more than the government estimated their patients would normally cost, federal records show. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offers the lure of bonuses to…