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
How Big Money Impacts Environmental Policy
Is big money dangerously and improperly compromising environmental policy? Climate change advocates have long asserted that the fossil fuel industry “bought” science—i.e., paid scientists for favorable findings—to strengthen its efforts to defend techniques such as offshore drilling and, in recent years, hydraulic fracturing or fracking. The latest example of this is the case of Willie… -
news
16 Touching Moments at the World War II Memorial
Nestled between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial is the World War II Memorial, a 7.4-acre site in Washington, D.C., honoring the 16 million American men and women who served in the war. Eleven years ago, on April 29, 2004, the memorial opened to the nation and since then, hundreds of thousands of visitors… -
news
Hear From Both Sides of the Same-Sex Marriage Debate
The Supreme Court’s oral arguments on same-sex marriage drew supporters and opponents to Washington, D.C. Jeff Mateer, general counsel for the Liberty Institute, and Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry, were inside the courtroom. After the court adjourned, they spoke to The Daily Signal about their perspectives on the case. -
opinion
International Community Responds to Devastation in Nepal
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, killed at least 5,000 people and injured thousands more, and the number of casualties continues to climb. The international community, especially other nations in South Asia, has responded quickly but more needs to be done to help the thousands of refugees. Survivors of the earthquake… -
news
How California Cities Are Making Millions Seizing Property and Money From Law-Abiding Citizens
In a small number of cities clustered in Los Angeles County, Calif., people are seeing their property and money seized by law enforcement through civil asset forfeiture, and it’s making police departments tens of millions of dollars. California has safeguards in place to protect innocent people from the harmful practices of civil asset forfeiture. However, a… -
opinion
Inside the Court: Judges Don’t Have a Crystal Ball on Marriage
Oral arguments at the Supreme Court today were fascinating. Over two and a half hours of discussion about whether the Constitution requires all 50 states to treat same-sex relationships as marriages highlighted one essential truth: There are good policy arguments on both sides of the marriage debate and the Constitution doesn’t take sides in it…. -
news
Kentucky Court Says Printing Business Has Right to Deny Service for Religious Reasons
A Kentucky court ruled on Monday that a Lexington printing business does not have to print messages that are in conflict with its religious beliefs. The decision runs contrary to recent high profile rulings, including ones against Oregon bakers and a Washington florist who were punished for refusing to serve same-sex weddings. >>> Bakers Facing $135K… -
opinion
Citizens, Not Judges, Should Determine Future of Marriage
As the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments about gay marriage Tuesday, it’s important to realize what the justices are actually being asked to settle. Here’s the bottom line: Whatever people may think about marriage as a policy matter, everyone should be able to recognize the U.S. Constitution does not settle this question. Unelected judges… -
opinion
Should Texas Require Hair Stylists to Have Over 2,000 Hours of Training to Legally Braid Hair?
Did you know Texas imposes stringent license regulations in order to open an African hair braiding business, including a requirement to attend more than 2,000 hours of barber school? Now the Texas Legislature is moving forward on a bill that gives their citizens the freedom to pursue a career in this field without onerous regulatory… -
news
Scott Walker’s Pitch: ‘Fights and Wins for Everyday Americans’
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker believes his soon-to-be candidacy for the presidency is unique because he’s “fought the good fight.” “What I hear that Americans want is someone who fights and wins for everyday Americans,” Walker told The Daily Signal during a sit-down interview near Des Moines, Iowa this past weekend. “A lot of people on… -
opinion
Why We Need to Hear Bruce Jenner’s Story
“We need to be having a conversation about this,” said Ryan T. Anderson in an interview on CNN Monday morning about Bruce Jenner’s decision to talk about why he now identifies as transgender. “This is great that Bruce Jenner is telling his story.” “I think it will be important that we hear other peoples’ stories,… -
opinion
Heritage Event Highlights Need for Prompt Civil Forfeiture Reform
Last week, The Heritage Foundation, the Institute for Justice, the American Conservative Union, and the Charles Koch Institute co-hosted a panel discussion at the Capitol, highlighting the need for reform of the nation’s civil forfeiture laws. Civil asset forfeiture is the legal tool that enables law enforcement authorities to seize property or currency they suspect… -
news
Marco Rubio Lists His ‘Bully Pulpit’ Issues
So what will be Marco Rubio’s “bully pulpit” issues if he becomes president of the United States? He laid them out during a one-on-one interview with The Daily Signal in Des Moines, Iowa over the weekend. “We have to have tax policies, regulatory policies, debt policies, health care policies that make us globally competitive,” Rubio says…. -
news
Exclusive: Bakers Facing $135K Fine Over Wedding Cake for Same-Sex Couple Speak Out
It was the first time seeing her bakery since the new owners moved in. “This is really hard,” Melissa Klein said, tears filling up her eyes. Almost two years ago, Melissa and her husband, Aaron, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, had to close the bakery they built from scratch after declining to bake a… -
news
Scott Walker Wants to Finance New Bucks Stadium With State Bonds
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is considering using public funds to finance a new stadium for the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. According to Fox Business, Walker, a Republican, initially proposed using $220 million in state bonds to finance part of the $500 million arena. The current and previous owners of the team have pledged a combined… -
opinion
What Will Anthony Kennedy Do in Gay Marriage Case? Ryan T. Anderson Weighs In
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Ryan T. Anderson, the William E. Simon senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, discussed the same-sex marriage case the Supreme Court will hear this week and Bruce Jenner’s interview announcing he is identifying as transgender. -
opinion
How the Sierra Club’s Lexus Liberals’ Agenda Hurts Poor Americans
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren and the whole gang of Democratic leaders claim that one of their highest priorities is to lift up the middle class and reduce the income gap between rich and poor. That goal collides with what they admit is their very highest priority: stopping climate change. Their agenda is driven by… -
news
After Receiving Over $100K in Donations, Bakers’ Crowdfunding Page Shut Down
Less than a day after a donation fund was set up for the Oregon bakers who the state recommended be fined $135,000 for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding, the crowdfunding website, GoFundMe, has shut it down. “The campaign entitled ‘Sweet Cakes by Melissa’ involves formal charges. As such, our team has… -
news
Lindsey Graham on Radical Islam: ‘I’m Going to Stand Up to These Thugs’
DES MOINES, Iowa—In an interview with Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican says he’ll announce his intentions about a presidential campaign either next month or in June. But whenever he decides, Graham has a clear message for voters: “Security through strength.” >>> Update: Graham declared his candidacy for president June 1 in his hometown… -
opinion
The Next Round of Net Neutrality Court Battles
Telecommunications policymaking has long been compared to a three-ring circus consisting of the Federal Communications Commission, the courts and Congress. Nowhere has that been truer than in the long-running debate over net neutrality regulation. For the past year or so, all attention has been on the FCC, led by Chairman Tom Wheeler, as it drafted…