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
Questioning Vaccines Shouldn’t Be Verboten
In the Harry Potter series, the villain, Lord Voldemort, is known as “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” There’s a similar sentiment whenever someone expresses a heterodox opinion on vaccines. The long knives are already out for Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. While there are valid concerns among pro-life activists, the most prominent objection is… -
news
A Christmas Tale, 1919
Editor’s note: This true story about my family was first published by The Wall Street Journal in 2008. It has now been 105 years since my father fled Russia after the communists took over, but his five children, of which I was the fourth, still celebrate his escape every Christmas. And we still feel very blessed to have… -
opinion
Jordan Peterson’s New Book on Religion Strikes a Chord
In his new book, Jordan Peterson solidifies a complete transformation away from his teenage beliefs claiming “religion was for the ignorant, weak and superstitious.” His fourth book, “We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine,” is essentially a Bible study, albeit one far more sophisticated and classical than your average Protestant workbook. Peterson surveys… -
opinion
The White Pill
The movie “The Matrix” gave us the “red pill” and the “blue pill.” The red wakes you up to reality; the blue keeps you indoctrinated. Internet culture then invented a black pill. Those who take it think the world is doomed. So, podcaster Michael Malice wrote the book “The White Pill,” calling it a “symbol… -
opinion
Capitol Hill’s DOGE Lawmakers Ready to Reduce Regulatory Burdens for Everyday Americans
In Ronald Reagan’s stirring 1964 “A Time for Choosing” speech, he said: “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So governments’ programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth.” Reagan’s words were as true 60 years ago as they are… -
opinion
How to Reduce Housing Costs
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of the accompanying video from professor Peter St. Onge. Can Donald Trump reduce house prices? A recent study by Redfin found that millions of Americans are skipping meals, selling belongings, and even delaying medical care to afford housing. Three in four Americans making less than $50,000—nearly half… -
opinion
A Return to Narnia Through Blue’s Tooth by Way of Ford’s Edge
It’s been quite some time since I’ve visited Narnia. I tend to give Disney’s 2005 adaptation of “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” a watch every Christmas season—it is a Christmas movie after all. I’ve loved the film since seeing it in theaters. It is a faithful representation of the book, though not quite… -
opinion
Trump’s Bank Deregulation
Donald Trump wants to unchain the financial sector to flood lending into the economy. Will it boost growth? Or will it boost inflation? The Wall Street Journal recently summed up Trump’s plans to eliminate overlap, duplication, and regulations that shut out competitors and reduce lending. Specific things he wants to get rid of include the… -
news
Thoughts on Fatherhood: A Post-Birth Dispatch
One year ago, almost to the day, I used this column as a “post-wedding dispatch” to offer some (very) preliminary thoughts on marriage. The column was published five days after my wedding. Now, almost exactly one year later, I am using this column as a “post-birth dispatch” to offer some (very) preliminary thoughts on another… -
opinion
California’s Downfall Funded by ‘George Soros and the Cartels,’ Former Democrat Claims
Following Donald Trump‘s election victory in November, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, convened a special session of the California Legislature to “Trump-proof” the state. At the top of the agenda: Newsom’s effort to prevent the second Trump administration from deporting illegal aliens who live in California. “This is going against the rule of law and… -
news
UnitedHealthcare Covers Double Mastectomies for 17-Year-Olds With Gender Dysphoria
America’s largest health insurance company covers double mastectomies for some 17-year-old girls who identify as transgender. UnitedHealthcare’s “Gender Dysphoria Treatment” guide, which took effect Dec. 1, says: “For mastectomy or breast reduction, individuals must be at least 18 years of age; however, individuals within one calendar year of turning 18 can be considered on a… -
opinion
A Government ‘Shutdown’ Isn’t Really a Shutdown. Here Are the Facts.
The current battle in Congress over the continuing resolution to fund the government is a fight worth having to stop the bloated spending of the federal government—spending that increases our unsustainable, monumental debt; funds dangerous and unnecessary government programs; and keeps unaccountable bureaucrats in office whose goal in life is to control our lives from… -
news
Disney Under Fire for Partnering with Ad Association That Discriminated Based on Political, Religious Beliefs
Religious liberty law firm Alliance Defending Freedom will meet with The Walt Disney Co. in early January to question its collusion with a now-defunct advertising giant known to censor news outlets and personalities. The Global Alliance for Responsible Media likely violated federal antitrust laws by censoring and boycotting the speech of conservative news outlets and personalities,… -
opinion
‘Gladiator II’ Rips the Heart Out of the Russell Crowe Classic
Are you not entertained? But is that really why you are here? The genius of the 2000 movie “Gladiator” wasn’t just the music, the acting of Russell Crowe, or the ancient Roman setting. The movie had all of these things in spades, and to call it entertaining would be a gross understatement. The beating heart… -
opinion
The Dumbest Fallacy in Foreign Policy
Last week, after 50 years of tyranny and repression, the government of Bashar Assad fell in Syria. It fell thanks to a combination of three forces. First, Israel’s military utterly eviscerated Assad’s foreign military support base, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. Second, Ukraine has bled dry the Russian military coffers over the course of the last… -
news
Tom Homan Tells Tucker Carlson He ‘Used to Respect’ Mayorkas
During the Obama administration, Alejandro Mayorkas and Tom Homan had a positive working relationship. Not so much now. Mayorkas, then director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Homan, then associate director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, largely appeared to agree on immigration policy, as Homan recalls. “I used to respect him,” Homan,… -
news
IRS Whistleblowers Push Forward on Defamation Case Against Hunter Biden’s Lawyer
The drama and legal saga adjacent to Hunter Biden’s conduct isn’t over yet. Lawyers for the two IRS whistleblowers in his tax evasion case contend it would be bad news for future whistleblowers if their defamation case against the prominent lawyer for President Joe Biden’s son is dismissed. In what was likely a reference to… -
opinion
Public Support Shifts From Defund Police to Pro-Police Policies Nationwide
If there was any doubt left, last month’s elections sealed the deal. The nationwide experiment labeled “Defund the Police” was an abject failure. Our citizens made it clear that they are sick and tired of politicians who prefer coddling criminals to supporting our police. Sadly, though, it will take years to recover from the disastrous… -
opinion
No, Republicans, the Sky Won’t Fall If There’s a Government Shutdown
Hey, Republicans. The sky will not fall if there’s a government shutdown. The government was shut down six times during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Over 20 times since 1974. Yet, recent presidents have avoided it like the plague. The nation survived, Reagan won massive landslides, and, in the end, the public didn’t give a damn despite… -
news
Musk, Ramaswamy Floated as Next House Speakers
Amid the uproar over the spending bill, some are suggesting it’s time for a new House speaker. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, suggested on X that Republicans should replace Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., with Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, who will head President-Elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., floated Musk…