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
France’s First Fetal Surgery Results in a Healthy Baby Girl
France is celebrating its first successful fetal surgery after a baby girl was born Nov. 9 at full term and in good health. “Today, there is a demand from couples who want to undergo this surgery. It would almost be unethical not to offer it to them.” Nearly four months earlier, in July, doctors at… -
opinion
You’ve Never Heard of This Legislation. But If Passed, It Would Increase the Welfare State.
Before Congress recessed for the midterm elections, lawmakers announced plans to use the current lame-duck session to work on passing a bill called "The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act." Supporters describe the bill as a way to eliminate "barriers to work and saving by preventing dollars saved through ABLE accounts from counting against… -
news
Al Franken Net Neutrality Story Withdrawn
Because of inaccuracies, The Daily Signal has removed a Watchdog.org story. The story discussed contributions Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., received from Time Warner. -
news
Undaunted by District Attorney’s Investigation, Republicans Found a Way to Win in Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis.—Even after a wave of Republican victories in this month’s elections, targets of a Milwaukee County district attorney's investigation say the probe effectively chilled conservative donors and volunteers. Critics say the Democrat district attorney's investigation, launched in 2012, was aimed at disrupting the campaigns of Gov. Scott Walker and other state Republicans. “We spent, but we didn’t spend like… -
news
Congress Will Be in Session Longer Next Year. Will It Make a Difference?
The House of Representatives will be in session for 132 days next year, 20 more days than in 2014. According to the official House calendar, released this week by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the first session of the 114th Congress will begin on Jan. 6, 2015. “In the coming year, we have much work… -
news
Government Agency Under Scrutiny for Telework Abuse
The federal office that stripped the Washington Redskins’ trademark has lost control of its “teleworkers,” who are reportedly gaming the system on the taxpayers’ dime, according to recent reports. The Washington Post reported that “generous agreements” with three unions at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have undermined the agency’s productivity and credibility. This week, the House Judiciary Committee… -
news
Maryland Questions Its Taxpayer Subsidy for ‘House of Cards’
Maryland politicians cast their film incentives program as the only way to lure productions such as “House of Cards” and boost the state’s economy. Yet, a new report suggests, it could be that star-struck politicians and Hollywood producers are deceiving taxpayers just like the characters do in the popular fictional television show, which dramatizes the cunning… -
news
Why One State Wants to Ban Powdered Alcohol
A measure that would ban crystalline, or powdered alcohol, is a step closer to becoming law in Ohio. House Bill 594 was reported out of committee passed by the House this week. The bill now goes to the Ohio Senate. The bill would prohibit the sale of crystalline alcohol. It was sponsored by state Reps. Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown,… -
opinion
17 Photos Take You Inside Museum of the Bible, Opening in 2017
A new multimedia history museum is now under construction in Washington, D.C.—an eight-story, 430,000 square-foot experience dedicated to the best-selling, most-read and most-banned book of all time: the Bible. Slated to open in fall 2017, the Museum of the Bible will be a significant addition to the city’s cultural and tourism landscape, offering a scholarly… -
opinion
The Internet and ICANN Accountability—Yes, It Matters
On March 14, 2014, the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced that it did not intend to renew its contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which since 1998 has managed policy and technical features of the Internet’s domain name system (DNS). However, the NTIA stated it would not… -
opinion
ISIS Is Getting Smarter About Avoiding U.S. Surveillance
Social media can be a double-edged sword for terrorists groups such as ISIS, a fact that its leadership appears to be aware of. According to recent reports, the group’s top cadre has curtailed electronic communications, hoping to shrink its footprint and exposure to western intelligence agencies. A terrorist group of the 21st century, ISIS is… -
opinion
This Week’s News in 19 Photos
Immigration, immigration and more immigration. After reports surfaced about President Obama’s 10-step plan to take executive action on immigration, lawmakers and the media flooded our screens with alternative plans and warnings. Last night, he made it official. In other news, Pope Francis is holding a raffle, and one photographer proved cows can be artistic. Check… -
news
Study: State Governments Are in a $4.7 Trillion Hole
HONOLULU — A new report from State Budget Solutions, a national nonprofit organization focusing on states’ fiscal responsibility, warns it’s time for newly elected state officials in Hawaii and throughout the country to address unfunded liabilities in the retirement system. The report finds Hawaii has $30 billion in unfunded liability–money promised to state and municipal… -
opinion
Some People Want the Duggars’ Show Canceled Because They Oppose Men Using Women’s Bathrooms
A Change.org petition to get the Duggar family’s show, “19 Kids and Counting,” off the air is gaining steam. The petition, which has gathered close to 80,000 signatures, says it wants the show canceled to help “end LGBTQ fear mongering by the Duggars.” That so-called “LGBTQ fear mongering”? It’s about the Duggars’ opposition to a… -
opinion
Democratic Reform in Cambodia Uncertain
At least 15 social and political activists were arrested in Cambodia in yet another attempt by the Hun Sen government to silence dissent. The incident is as a reminder that, without consistent international attention, Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) will continue to violate the rights and freedoms of Cambodians. Land rights activists,… -
opinion
The Independent Review of the Nuclear Mission: Five Things You Need to Know
Last week, the Department of Defense published its long-awaited review of the U.S. nuclear enterprise. The review and renewed Russian nuclear threats to NATO attracted new attention to weapons that in 2009 the President promised both to maintain and to rid the world of. This conflicting rhetoric from the highest level of the government has… -
news
‘I Love ISIS!’ Was This Virginia Mom Helping Terrorists?
A Virginia woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS. Heather Coffman, 29, began exchanging messages with an undercover FBI official in July. Coffman allegedly believed the undercover agent was a fellow ISIS sympathizer and offered to put him in touch with her contacts, according to an affidavit… -
news
The Millions of Dollars Jonathan Gruber Got From You, in One Chart
Jonathan Gruber, one of the architects of Obamacare, has been caught over and over again mocking the American people. Gruber apparently has not objected to the fact that those same taxpayers were on the hook for $6 million in federal and state contracts awarded to him over the past six years. Gruber — whom Obama… -
opinion
This Infographic Ranks How Conservative Top House Republicans Are
Republicans may control the Senate as well as the House come January, but that doesn't guarantee conservative leadership. Pulling from lifetime scores by Heritage Action for America, this infographic ranks the new lineup of House leaders by their conservative (or not-so-conservative) voting records. >>> Conservatives Wary as Texan Wins Bid to Head House's Republican Study Group -
news
Pacemakers Get Hacked On TV, But Could It Happen In Real Life?
Jay Radcliffe breaks into medical devices for a living, testing for vulnerabilities as a security researcher. He’s also a diabetic who gives himself insulin injections instead of relying on an automated insulin pump, which he says could be hacked. “I’d rather stab myself six times a day with a needle and syringe,” Radcliffe recently told…