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
Lindsey Graham: Removing Confederate Flag From South Carolina Capital Was ‘Right Decision’
MANCHESTER, N.H. – During a meet and greet here Friday, Sen. Lindsey Graham said that it has “been a tough three weeks” in his home state of South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the confederate battle flag that, until today, flew on the South Carolina Statehouse grounds. “The flag came down today, it was… -
opinion
Run, Hide, Fight: What to Do If There’s an Active Shooter
In less than a week, authorities have issued two reports of an active shooter in high-profile areas of Washington, D.C. Last Thursday, the Navy Yard was placed on lockdown after someone reported the sound of gunfire in one of the buildings (the same location where a shooter killed 12 in 2013). On Monday, employees and… -
opinion
Americans Are Pro-Trade When They Understand the Tradeoffs
In June, NBC News released a poll with the following question: Which is more important to you: Protecting American industries and jobs by limiting imports from other countries, or allowing free trade so you can buy products at low prices no matter what country they come from? As we noted at the time, this question… -
news
‘Staggering’ Hack of Government Computers Exposes 21.5 Million People, Forcing Director’s Resignation
The Office of Personnel Management disclosed Thursday that 21.5 million people were caught in the sweeping data hack of U.S. government databases leading to the exposure of sensitive information including Social Security numbers and fingerprints. The revelations forced the resignation of Office and Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta on Friday, just one day after the… -
news
Megyn Kelly: Why Is Obama Silent About Murder of Kate Steinle?
In the wake of 32-year-old Kate Steinle’s murder by an illegal immigrant in San Francisco, the Obama administration has remained silent, Fox News host Megyn Kelly pointed out. “Surrounded by friends and family, it does not appear at this hour that anyone from the Obama administration was in attendance,” Kelly said of Steinle’s funeral services… -
opinion
40,000 Soldiers Cut: Army Now Smaller Than Before 9/11
Today, the Army is announcing that it is cutting another 40,000 soldiers, leaving the United States with an Army that is smaller than before Sept. 11, 2001. However the cuts themselves aren’t news—Army leaders have been forecasting this cut for years due to the dramatic budget cuts they are facing. What Americans should be worried… -
opinion
How Sanctuary Policies Have Directly Led to Thousands of Crimes Against Americans
There has been a fiery debate over the past few weeks about illegal aliens and crime, which has intensified with the murder of Kate Steinle in San Francisco by a seven-time felon and five-time deportee as the direct result of the city’s sanctuary policy. What seems to have been overlooked in the back and forth… -
news
Democratic Congresswomen Seek to Allow Taxpayer-Funded Abortions
Democrat members of Congress have introduced legislation that would end the Hyde Amendment and permit taxpayer funding for abortions. The Hyde Amendment, attached to the appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, prevents the use of federal taxpayer funding for elective abortions—or health insurance plans that cover abortions. Exceptions are made for… -
news
The Moving Meaning Behind the Viral Semicolon Tattoo
Punctuation can be powerful. Amy Bleuel battled addiction, mental illness, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts after her father took his own life when she was only 18 years old. Bleuel wanted to honor her father’s memory, and got a tattoo of a semicolon. It soon launched an organization—and a global movement—to support those struggling with the same… -
news
IRS Returns $107,000 It Took From North Carolina Convenience Store Owner
More than a month after dismissing a case involving a Fairmont, N.C., convenience store owner, the federal government returned the more than $100,000 it took from him last year. But the government still refuses to pay the lawyers’ fees and expenses that the store owner is entitled to. According to documents filed in federal court… -
news
Okla. Governor Refuses to Remove 10 Commandments Monument From Capitol
Although the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled last month that the state Capitol’s Ten Commandments monument must be removed from the Capitol grounds, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said on Tuesday the monument will remain intact. Attorney General Scott Pruitt has requested the state Supreme Court rehear the case. Immediately after the initial court ruling last month,… -
news
Conservatives, White House Upset With Education Law Rewrite for Different Reasons
The House passed a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind Act in a razor-thin vote Wednesday night, ignoring a White House veto threat and pushing on with legislation that would ease the federal government’s role in public education. The bill passed by a mere five votes in the final 218-213 roll call. No Democrats… -
news
Wasserman Schultz on Cuba: ‘Relationship With US Should Be Earned’
In an interview with The Daily Signal, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz says that she has a “different” view than President Obama over how the U.S. should engage with Cuba. “My view is different from President Obama’s,” the DNC Chairwoman says. “I believe a relationship with the United States should be earned …… -
news
The Beautiful Reason This Man Is Walking 645 Miles Dressed as a Stormtrooper
Talk about a walk to remember. Minnesota native Kevin Doyle is currently walking 645 miles down California’s West Coast in full stormtrooper armor in his late wife Eileen’s memory. Doyle, who lost his wife to cancer, is making the trek to San Diego’s annual Comic-Con entertainment and comic convention, raising money for cancer research in… -
news
Martin O’Malley: No Nation ‘Ever Cut Its Way to Prosperity’
CONCORD, N.H.—Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley tonight advocated for a return to what he called “common sense economics”—including keeping the minimum wage above the poverty level. “I don’t believe that any nation ever cut its way to prosperity,” O’Malley said during a backyard town hall in New Hampshire. “There are certain things we need to… -
news
Wasserman Schultz on Bakers Fined $135K Over Wedding Cake: ‘You Shouldn’t Be Able to Turn People Away’
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the marriage debate is over. “The marriage equality decision is settled. Love is love and now everyone in America enjoys the protection of the United States Constitution when it comes to who they choose to marry legally,” Wasserman Schultz told The Daily Signal. She also weighed in… -
news
12 Tweets About Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson’s Decision to Delay Sex Until After Marriage
Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson is known on the field as a short but tenacious player who has already broken multiple NFL records. Off the field, he’s known for his love of others, devout faith, and now, his decision to abstain from sex until marriage. Wilson has been a weekly visitor to the Seattle Children’s… -
opinion
Allowing Puerto Rico to Declare Bankruptcy Is Giving It a Bailout
Puerto Rico is in the midst of a severe economic and financial crisis and is looking for a way out—or in other words—a change in the rules. As a U.S. territory, and not a state, Puerto Rico cannot allow its municipalities to file Chapter 9 bankruptcy (a special bankruptcy reserved for municipalities if their state… -
news
Chicago Slaps 9% Tax on Netflix
Sorry, Chicagoans: Your Netflix bill is about to go up 9 percent. The Windy City has decided to tax a new source of revenue: streaming services. Chicago’s Department of Finance has ruled that streaming services fall within the purview of the city’s amusement tax. According to the City of Chicago, the “privilege” of watching “electronically… -
opinion
3 Reasons Stopping Police From Wrongly Seizing Americans’ Assets Will Be Tough
“There are two kinds of people,” Robert Frommer of the Institute for Justice says: “those that don’t know about civil asset forfeiture and those that are mad about it.” This was the broad consensus at a recent event hosted by Americans for Tax Reform and Right on Crime, titled “Civil Asset Forfeiture: Undue Process and…