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
What an Iran Deal Won’t Cover
With the deadline pushed off until July 7, I’m betting that an Iran nuke deal actually will be trumpeted over the July 4 holiday weekend, since the best time to put out controversial news in Washington, D.C., is near or over a break. Why? Well, most Americans will be distracted by festivities of fireworks, food… -
opinion
What the Role of ‘We the People’ Is
“We the People.” We’ve heard that phrase so often it’s easy to overlook its significance. But as we mark our nation’s birthday, we should take a moment to ask ourselves: What is the role of the people? Our nation is unique because of its universal founding principles. At the heart of these principles is the belief that… -
opinion
What Fireworks Does ISIS Plan for the 4th of July?
What to make of reports that ISIS may try to pull off a terrorist attack on Independence Day? Let’s look at the facts. It is not the first time after 9/11 that U.S. authorities have expressed concerns about possible terrorist attacks timed to coincide with significant dates like the Fourth of July. In 2011, a senior U.S. official told… -
news
These 18 Photos Show America’s Long History of Celebrating the Fourth
Many Americans have honored the nation’s birth in numerous ways and festivities. Here are some photos showing how Americans have celebrated over the years. -
news
What American Institutions Conservatives Trust, And Which Ones Liberals Trust
Trust in American institutions varies widely by political ideology, according to a new Gallup poll. Gallup found that American liberals and conservatives “report markedly different levels of confidence in nearly every key institution” that they measure, a shift they attribute to a significantly different “worldview” embraced by each group. Conservatives are more likely to trust… -
opinion
Forget Greece. Here’s the Country We Should Be Panicking About.
Sick of what Greece is doing to your 401(k)? Well, there’s a bigger threat looming in the form of a far leftist movement in a larger Mediterranean country. Spain’s Podemos party has just taken over the country’s biggest cities. Oh, and it really doesn’t care about your capitalist savings. Podemos, or “We Can” in Spanish—one… -
news
California Implements Strictest Fracking Regulations in US
California implemented new hydraulic fracturing regulations Wednesday, making the state home to perhaps the strictest fracking rules in the nation. The regulations force increased transparency and accountability through expanded monitoring and reporting of air and water quality, public disclosure of chemicals used in fracking procedures, and estimates of the environmental impact fracking activities may cause…. -
news
This Blind Veteran Overcame All Odds to Complete Ironman
Retired Army Maj. Scott Smiley defied all odds last Sunday when he became the first blind veteran to successfully complete an Ironman. The race in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, took place during record-breaking temperatures, causing 188 competitors to drop out of the contest. It takes much more than a hot day to deter Smiley. "Let's do this,… -
opinion
How the Government Got Away With Taking This Innocent Man’s Life Savings
Vu Do, an entrepreneurial, law-abiding New Yorker, has just become the latest member of a sad club: The victims of civil asset forfeiture, the law enforcement tool that enables the government to seize a citizen’s cash or assets. Do, who owns two nail salons, made the mistake of traveling to California with his life savings—nearly… -
opinion
What People Are Saying About the EPA and Army Corps’s New Water Rule
Within hours of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers’s publication of their final rule on federally regulated waters, more than half of the states—27 of them—filed lawsuits against the rule. They are joined by farmers, ranchers, home builders, mining companies, manufacturers, counties, states, Democrats, and Republicans, to name just a few,… -
opinion
How Goldwater and Reagan Responded to Defeat
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s devastating opinions on same-sex marriage and Obamacare, some conservatives are asking themselves: Has America reached the point when we have become like ancient Rome in its final days, all bread and circuses, that we cannot make our way back to the ideas on which we were founded? Do… -
opinion
The ‘Mini Greece’ of the United States
The inability of Puerto Rican governments to live within their own means is, of course, the reason why the island finds itself with a $70 billion debt it can’t pay. But as we apportion blame, let’s not forget the federal government’s role in creating our own “mini-Greece.” From Franklin D. Roosevelt on down, we have… -
opinion
July 2 Was Supposed to Be Independence Day. Here’s Why It’s Not.
Do you know the real story behind American Independence? It was actually on July 2, 1776, that the American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. David Azerrad, director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics at The Heritage Foundation, explains what happened on the second and what we celebrate on the… -
opinion
Influential Legal Group Wants to Change the Law to Accommodate the Thin-Skinned
As law professor Ronald D. Rotunda is reporting in The Wall Street Journal, the American Law Institute (ALI) is up to no good. The ALI is an influential private organization whose objective is “to promote the clarification and simplification of the law and its better adaptation to social needs.” The ALI wields this influence by… -
opinion
Pat Boone Speaks His Mind on Being a Conservative in Hollywood
Entertainer Pat Boone sat down with The Daily Signal to talk about what he’s observed during his 50 years living in Hollywood, why he believes it’s important to speak out on political and cultural issues and what’s kept him involved. You can watch the full video or jump to specific topics via the time codes… -
opinion
Threat of Terrorism Remains Very Real During July 4 Weekend
As Americans gather this weekend to celebrate July Fourth, we remember our nation’s birth and the brave men and women who fought for our independence. From the Founding Fathers to today’s veterans, countless individuals have risked their lives to protect and defend the United States. With large celebrations across the country, this symbolic day is… -
news
22 Inspiring Quotes About What It Means to Be an American
At the time we are celebrating our nation’s independence, many Americans reflect on the distinctive values that contribute to our unique national character. What do the stars and stripes truly stand for? This Fourth of July, in between family barbecues and watching fireworks, take a moment to consider these inspiring patriotic quotes about what it means to… -
news
If Elected President, Lindsey Graham Would Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ To Defeat ISIS
MASON CITY, Iowa— At Music Man Square here Wednesday night, Sen. Lindsey Graham touted himself as a “very good commander-in-chief” who would do “whatever it takes” to defeat ISIS if he were to win the presidency in 2016. “I’m running for president because I’m very much worried about where we’re going,” said Graham, R-S.C., who… -
news
A Pharma Payment a Day Keeps Docs’ Finances OK
Few days went by last year when New Hampshire nephrologist Ana Stankovic didn't receive a payment from a drug company. All told, 29 different pharmaceutical companies paid her $594,363 in 2014, mostly for promotional speaking and consulting, but also for travel expenses and meals, according to data released Tuesday detailing payments by drug and device…