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
This Top Teacher Is Right: Common Core Is Wrong Solution
An influential teacher spoke out against Common Core—and I share her concerns. -
opinion
The House Just Hiked the Deficit. Now It’s the Senate’s Time to Be Responsible.
Senators prudently left Washington for a two-week Easter recess last Friday without saddling Americans with $500 billion in new debt over the next twenty years. Last week, the House passed the irresponsible Pelosi-Boehner deal, legislation which permanently repeals the sustainable growth rate formula (which determines how much Medicare pays doctors) and adds $141 billion to… -
news
Remembering the Vietnam War, 42 Years After US Troops Withdrew
On this day, in 1973, the last of the U.S. troops withdrew from South Vietnam. The eight-year war was over. Sort of. Two months earlier, the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris, ending the direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. Among the agreement's provisions was a… -
news
Carly Fiorina on What Sets Her Apart in a Crowded GOP Field
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina said there’s a very high chance she’ll enter the race for president. “What are the chances that you’re going to run for president?” host Chris Wallace asked during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “Very high,” responded Fiorina. “You’re a former businesswoman, give me a number,” said Wallace. “Higher than… -
news
How Will Middle East Chaos Impact the Iran Nuclear Talks?
In a week’s time, a seemingly disconnected run of Middle East chaos has at least one commonality: Iranian influence. A Saudi-led coalition of Sunni nations has launched attacks against Iranian-backed Shiite rebels in Yemen. The United States is supporting the Saudi attacks with intelligence and logistical help. In Iraq, the United States and Iranian-supported militias… -
news
Senate’s 2016 White House Hopefuls Use Budget to Message Voters
The first budget resolution to clear the Senate in four years exposed a divide between four lawmakers who look to be rivals for the Republican nomination for president. Although largely symbolic and perhaps short-lived, the split had Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida voting in favor of the Republican budget… -
news
Martin O’Malley: Presidency Is a ‘Sacred Trust,’ Not ‘Some Crown’ for ‘Two Families’
Former Gov. Martin O’Malley, a potential Democratic challenger to Hillary Clinton, said the nation is seeking “new leadership” in 2016. During an interview this morning on ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked the Maryland Democrat why he was considering a presidential run. O’Malley said he believes the nation is facing a “defining moment.” Stephanopoulos… -
opinion
How Wisconsin’s Right to Work Laws Could Boost Union Members
Many wonder how right-to-work laws will affect Wisconsin. To see how, consider another question: Do monopolies help or hurt customers? Until now, unions have had a monopoly in many Wisconsin workplaces. They didn’t have to persuade workers to purchase their services; they could force them to. Anyone who didn’t pay dues — averaging about $700… -
news
A Woman Accused of Removing a 7-Month Baby From a Mother’s Womb Is Not Being Charged With Murder. Why That Has Sparked a Legal Debate.
The decision not to charge a Colorado woman with murder for the death of an unborn 7-month-old baby has reinvigorated a debate over when states should legally recognize a fetus as a human being. Dynel Lane, the woman accused of cutting and removing a 7-month-old baby from a mother’s body, will not face murder charges,… -
opinion
The Big Picture: Why Yemen Matters
While the United States moved out of Yemen last week, this week a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of a reported 10 mostly Arab states moved into Yemen with airstrikes aimed at the continuing chaos there. The immediate—but not the only—target of the coalition air campaign is the Houthi rebels who recently swept out of northern Yemen,… -
opinion
What Conservatives Get Wrong About the Middle East
In the wake of Benjamin Netanyahu’s victory in Israel, American leaders—both conservatives and liberals—should rethink their approach to the Middle East. Conservatives need to recognize more clearly who our enemies are; liberals need to learn to recognize our friends. Over the last six years, conservatives have made two errors regarding the Middle East. First, they’ve… -
opinion
Let’s Start Figuring Out Whether Government Programs Are Working or Not
Earlier this month, the House Budget Committee proposed spending almost $3.8 trillion in fiscal year 2016—one-fifth of the country’s total economic output. Yet much of that huge amount will be spent with little regard to efficiency and accountability. The sad truth is that, for many federal programs, we have no way of knowing whether they… -
news
How Twitter Reacted to Harry Reid’s Retirement Announcement
This morning, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced that he will retire in 2016 and not seek re-election. My life’s work has been to make Nevada and our nation better. Thank you for giving me that wonderful opportunity. https://t.co/dwy2rDWYhO — Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) March 27, 2015 “My friend Senator McConnell, don’t be too elated,”… -
opinion
Cartoon: Negotiating From Behind
Whether it's not following through, underestimating the enemy or simply making a bad deal, President Obama doesn't have the best track record when it comes to navigating foreign policy matters. It is no wonder there is bipartisan concern about any nuclear deal his administration might strike with Iran. In a column earlier this week, Heritage… -
opinion
$15.7 Billion Company Receives $259 Million Loan (of Your Money)
Alcoa is a company with a market capitalization rate of $15.7 billion, $23 billion in sales in 2013 and a CEO making $18.2 million. One would think it wouldn’t be too difficult to attract private financing or self-finance with that kind of stature in the market. Yet, the Department of Energy conditionally approved a $259… -
opinion
Congress Should Resist Latest Efforts to Break Up Large Banks
Senator Sherrod Brown (D–OH) offered a budget amendment today that he claims will “end ‘too big to fail’ bailouts.” But the change could ultimately give federal banking regulators more power to break up large banks without really protecting taxpayers. Section 165 of the Dodd–Frank Act already gives regulators the authority to break up certain banks… -
opinion
Conservatives Are Well-Informed, Not Confused, about No Child Left Behind Reauthorization
In late February, the Student Success Act, a rewrite of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), was pulled from consideration on the House floor. Conservatives had voiced thoughtful concerns that the policies contained within the rewrite fell short of truly empowering state and local leaders, and as such, represented a missed opportunity. Conservatives weren’t confused about… -
news
Exclusive: Afghanistan Chief Executive Vows US ‘Blood and Treasure’ Won’t Go to Waste
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal, Afghanistan’s chief executive promised a “new chapter” in relations with the United States and vowed that his country has to become self-reliant after more than 13 years of American nation-building. “In Afghanistan, the U.S. has invested a lot in blood and treasure and it’s important that those… -
opinion
See What Our Experts Are Tweeting about Vote-A-Rama
Vote-a-rama has started. This is a marathon voting session in the U.S. Senate budget process of addressing amendments that were not dealt with during the previous 50 hours of debate on the budget resolution. See what Heritage experts and others are tweeting about the hundreds of amendments that are being filed that could eventually have… -
opinion
New Federal Regulations Threaten Fracking Boom
The Department of Interior missed an opportunity for real reform recently when it released new regulations on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on federal lands. Since the onset of the Obama administration, the U.S. has undergone both an energy boom that was the bright spot in the great recession and a heated political battle over the…