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
Bad Iran Deal Breeds Warranted Skepticism
On Wednesday, President Obama will make a personal push to sell the flawed Iran deal to the American public and Congress. The president’s efforts to sell his bad deal are unsurprising, considering that the more Americans have learned about the deal, the less they like it. They have plenty of reasons for skepticism. The deal… -
opinion
Why Conservative Governors Are Embracing Criminal Justice Reform
It used to be that, like entitlement spending, criminal justice reform was a third rail in politics—touch it, and you could be sure that your next opponent would run a commercial saying you were “soft on crime.” It was a one-way ticket to “Loserville.” That has changed, most notably in conservative states. Listen to what… -
news
What 14 Republican Presidential Candidates Said at New Hampshire Forum
Republican presidential candidates gathered at Saint Anselm’s college in Manchester, N.H., Monday night for the Voters First Forum. The forum took place only days before the first national debate. Participants included Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich,… -
opinion
The Truth About Defunding Planned Parenthood and Women’s Access to Health Care
Supporters of Planned Parenthood claim that an end to federal funding of the organization will limit women’s access to family planning services and preventive care. In reality, Planned Parenthood itself has decreased cancer screenings and other preventive care since 2004, all the while increasing the number of abortions its affiliates perform annually by about 70,000…. -
opinion
Why the Defund Planned Parenthood Vote Matters
Serious questions have been raised as to whether Planned Parenthood is selling tissue and body parts of unborn babies for profit. So serious that Congress is planning to hold investigations this fall. But apparently not serious enough to get 60 members of the U.S. Senate to be willing to vote Monday to take taxpayer dollars away… -
opinion
Forget Cecil. Legal Hunting Benefits Africa.
Lost in the outrage over the death of Cecil the Lion is the plight of the people of Zimbabwe and the fact that big game hunting actually helps Africa. On July 1, a lion known as Cecil, who was popular with safari-goers in Zimbabwe, was killed by a hunter after being lured out of a national… -
news
‘National Anthem Girl’ Sings Anthem 24 Times in 24 Hours to Raise Funds for Wounded Vets
Performer Janine Stange has made history for a second time. Stange, also known as the “National Anthem Girl,” first made headlines in August 2014 when she became the first person to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in all 50 states. This past weekend, the Los Angeles resident sang the national anthem 24 times in 24 hours…. -
opinion
Companies Giving to Planned Parenthood Sometimes Reject Religious Charities
As The Daily Signal and 2nd Vote have revealed, corporate America is a major source of revenue for Planned Parenthood. While less than the half-billion in taxpayer dollars Planned Parenthood receives annually, corporate contributions made up a healthy piece of the $127 million in “excess revenue” the ostensible nonprofit received last year alone. But while… -
news
Would Women Be OK Without Planned Parenthood?
Will women have access to the health services they need if the government defunds Planned Parenthood? That depends on whom you ask. “Absolutely,” said Jay Hobbs, communications director for Heartbeat International, a pro-life organization that assists with pregnancies. “If Planned Parenthood were gone tomorrow, the nation’s 2,500 pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, maternity homes and… -
opinion
How to Make the Case to Liberals That Conservatives Have Hearts, Too
Being conservative in a politically correct culture has never been easy. Whether you’re a politician trying to explain a controversial sound-bite or a voter attempting to defend your stance on a hot-button issue to co-workers, you either grow a thick skin—or learn to keep quiet. Sadly, you get used to having your motives impugned by… -
opinion
How the Iran Deal Complicates Israel’s Approach to Iran
The Vienna Agreement overseeing Iran’s nuclear program brought no joy to Tel Aviv. “Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran,” declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “because Iran continues to seek our destruction.” He then added pointedly, “We will always defend ourselves.” Of course, Netanyahu is right. Israel, like all nations, has the inherent… -
opinion
What We Can Do to Boost Graduation Rates
High school graduation remains a crucial rite of passage. The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that in 2013, the median earning for workers with a high school diploma was 26 percent higher than for those without it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently finds higher rates of employment for high school graduates than for… -
news
Why Mark Levin Says the GOP Needs a Facelift
Mark Levin is fed up with the Republican leadership in Congress. A day before Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., filed a motion to remove House Speaker John Boehner from his leadership post, Levin called on Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to resign. Posted by Mark Levin on Monday, July 27, 2015 At the Young… -
news
Bernie Sanders: ‘Climate Change Is the Greatest Threat Facing the Planet’
CONCORD, N.H.—Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders was endorsed by Friends of the Earth, a progressive political action committee fighting climate change, during a campaign stop in New Hampshire today. .@BernieSanders: “Climate change is the single greatest threat facing the planet.” pic.twitter.com/CQalmDUP9X — Kate Scanlon (@scanlon_kate) August 1, 2015 “I am very honored to receive the… -
news
22 Quotes to Celebrate Milton Friedman Day
July 31 is known as a day to honor conservative economist Milton Friedman, as he would have been 103 years old if he were still living today. Friedman was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in economics, specifically for “his achievements in the field of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory, and for his… -
opinion
What the Death of a Senior al-Qaeda Terrorist Means for the U.S.
The Pentagon announced that terrorist and leader of the al-Qaeda (AQ) based Khorasan Group, Muhsin al-Fadhli, was killed in a drone strike earlier this month. The Khorasan Group The Khorasan Group is a product of the al-Qaeda core that has emerged in Syria within the last couple of years. Many believe that of all the… -
news
Miracle Preemie Released From Hospital After Nearly a Year in North Dakota NICU
For Becky and Bo Frolek, August 12th represents a milestone they hardly could have imagined this time last year. The couple, who live in Fargo, North Dakota, will celebrate their son Trevor’s first birthday–and the long way he’s come. Born at just 23 weeks, Trevor spent 345 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)… -
opinion
Yes, There Are Good Alternatives to the Iran Deal (Besides War)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei recently tweeted an image that represented President Obama with a gun to his own head with the caption, “If any war happens, the one who will emerge loser will be the aggressive and criminal U.S.” Such violent rhetoric coming from Iran is nothing new. The only difference now is that… -
opinion
One College’s War Against Terms ‘Mothering’ and ‘Fathering’
The University of New Hampshire’s “Bias-Free Language Guide” considers the words “mothering” and “fathering” to be problematic, biased language. According to Campus Reform, the guide suggests replacing “mothering” and “fathering” with words such as “parenting” in order to “avoid gendering a non-gendered activity.” Originally published in 2013, the guide gained attention recently following Campus Reform’s… -
news
Under ISIS Rule: A Regime That Victimizes Its Women
ISIS has identified a key demographic from which it can derive strength and power: women. From sexual violence to exploiting Western women as public relations ploys, ISIS knows women are critical actors in their regime. This was the consensus of witnesses speaking to the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this week as they outlined ISIS’…