Political Commentary & Opinion
Analysis, commentary, and opinion essays on politics and policy from The Daily Signal’s contributors and experts.
-
news
Rick Perry: ‘We Do Not Have to Settle for a World in Chaos’
ATLANTA, Ga.—Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said today that “over-taxation and over-regulation” are stifling economic growth in the United States. Perry, who spoke at the RedState Gathering in Atlanta along with other Republican candidates for president, also criticized President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran. “He’s issued these lawless executive orders and now he wants to… -
opinion
Are Fannie and Freddie Here to Stay?
Nearly seven years into federal conservatorship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, quintessential institutions of cronyism, look to remain a permanent fixture of the housing finance system. Earlier this year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie’s regulating agency, announced that the government-sponsored enterprise would be relocating to its new and modern location in the next… -
opinion
A Closer View Into Guantanamo Bay
Few can say they’ve had the chance to view the al-Qaeda terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay Detention Center in Cuba. I got the interesting opportunity by attending what is called a Periodic Review Board for three different al-Qaeda terrorists being held in Cuba. The three are among 116 detainees from 17 countries, currently held… -
news
The 3 Things This Conservative Leader Wants Congress to Do
CLEVELAND—Since taking control of Congress in January, the Republican Party has watched its favorability rating precipitously decline, mostly because of views held by fellow Republicans. So why are the Republican faithful viewing the GOP in a less favorable light? Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, says this frustration among voters comes down to this: “There’s a… -
news
On Point: How Two College Friends Turned Needlepoint Into Big Business
In November 2004, Austin Branson and Peter Carter found themselves nervously standing in the lobby of a hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, waiting. The 22-year-olds, who met years earlier at Bowdoin College, had convinced their parents to gift them enough miles for their airline tickets for Christmas, and were decked out in their nicest, most “businesslike”… -
opinion
Cartoon: Time is Ticking on Iran Deal
Michaela Dodge wrote this week on what President Obama got wrong in his Iran deal speech: On Wednesday, President Obama continued his push to sell the Iran deal to an increasingly skeptical American public. Unfortunately for the White House, Obama’s charm offensive won’t solve the major flaws in the Iran deal. The… -
news
28 Tweets Responding to Netflix’s New Maternity and Paternity Leave Policy
New parents have a laundry list of things to worry about, but on Tuesday, streaming service Netflix decided to take one thing off that list for its employees: maternity and paternity leave. The U.S. media company announced that parents can take off an unlimited amount of maternity or paternity leave for the first year after… -
news
Here Are 21 Policy Highlights From the First 2016 Republican Debate
The 2016 primaries are in full momentum following months of build-up, officially kicking off on Thursday night in prime-time as the ten leading Republican candidates squared off for the first time. The 10 highest-polling candidates in the Republican 2016 presidential field took the stage tonight at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, for the… -
news
Highlights of the Happy Hour Debate
The Republican presidential field gathered tonight for the first official debate of the 2016 presidential election, and there was no shortage of policy ideas offered in the first debate of the night from the seven Republicans participating. Dubbed the “happy hour” debate because of its 5 p.m. start time, the seven lower-polling of the 17… -
news
19 Photos From Behind the Scenes at the GOP Presidential Debate
CLEVELAND—Republicans squared off for their first debate Thursday at the Quicken Loans Arena. The Daily Signal was there along with hundreds of other media outlets to cover the event. Here are some photos from behind the scenes. -
news
What Democratic Presidential Candidates Said at Iowa Presidential Forum
ALTOONA, Iowa—While many 2016 presidential candidates are in Ohio tonight for the first Republican national debate, Democratic presidential candidates gathered in Iowa this afternoon at a presidential forum to show their support for workers and labor unions. Candidates were given three minutes to make opening remarks, answered a series of questions posed by a panel… -
news
At This Ohio County Fair, Contempt for Washington
LISBON, Ohio—Prize-winning cattle are more popular than politicians at the Columbiana County Fair. “Government is broken from the very bottom to the very top,” says Theresa Bosel of Lisbon, Ohio. At least that was the case on this overcast Thursday afternoon, hours before 17 Republicans were preparing for two debates 90 minutes north in Cleveland. En route… -
opinion
Why Western Women Are Volunteering for the Islamic State
They are forbidden to leave their homes without a male escort, or they will be beaten. Their eyes must never be seen. Without a double-veil, they will be lashed. Shrouded in darkness, they’re forced to wear black. Over 550 Western women have traveled to Iraq and Syria, burned their passports, and joined the Islamic State,… -
news
Democratic Leader: War Against ISIS Is ‘Illegal’ Without Congressional Authorization
The U.S. began its latest war in the Middle East one year ago this week, launching a military campaign against ISIS, a long-term battle against terrorists that military experts say could last a decade. The president has ordered more than 5,000 airstrikes and deployed 3,500 U.S. troops across Iraq and Syria—where ISIS controls territory—but as… -
opinion
Bipartisan Report Confirms IRS Mistreatment of Conservative Groups
The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance has released an extensive bipartisan report on the IRS targeting scandal that makes it clear, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, “that the agency mistreated conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.” In fact, “political biases and poor management went hand in hand to let politically motivated behavior continue unchecked.” The… -
news
Here’s What the GOP’s 2016ers Tweeted After Learning the Debate Lineup
What do you say on Twitter after you’ve either made the cut as one of the 10 Republican presidential candidates who will slug it out in the main event, or learned you’re one of the seven who’ll have to be content with being on the undercard? Maybe you celebrate with a reminder to the faithful… -
opinion
Why US Coast Guard Could Lose Important Navy Support
Onboard the guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman earlier this month, the embedded Coast Guard team made waves. After spotting “suspicious packages in the water,” the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment seized and identified “approximately 775 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $15.5 million.” The USS Kauffman is currently supporting Operation Martillo, “a… -
opinion
Why The US Should Re-Negotiate the Iran Deal
A great deal of debate has arisen in wake of the administration’s controversial deal with Iran, and political figures around the world have weighed in with a full spectrum of opinions on the outcome of the deal. Many of the critics have rightly focused on the sunset facet of the deal, which frees Iran from… -
opinion
Why Scandinavia Is Unexceptional
Scandinavian countries appear to many to be exceptional social democratic success stories because they are able to maintain economic prosperity while balancing financial equality and social welfare. So what makes Scandinavia exceptional? According to Nima Sanandaji, a Swedish research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies in London, the answer is nothing. The Institute of… -
opinion
The Voting Rights Act Worked
There is no question that we can and should celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which is one of the most successful—and important—laws ever passed by Congress. It may be one of the few statutes passed by Congress that has fully achieved its objective: it has enfranchised millions of black and…