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
Bill Maher’s Flip-a-District Flops as Minn. Congressman Coasts to Victory
HBO host Bill Maher wasn’t on the ballot in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District this week, and his efforts to make himself a player in the race fell flat. Maher, the host of “Real Time,” targeted the suburban Twin Cities seat held by Republican Rep. John Kline for his much ballyhooed “Flip-a-District” national campaign. “John Kline,… -
opinion
19 Incredible Photos from This Week’s News
A midterm election might've stolen the show this week, but photo journalists all over the world captured everything from polling booths to Taylor Swift. Here's a quick look at this week's news in 19 photos. Nik Wallenda, a professional daredevil/acrobat/aerialist/high wire artist broke two tightrope world records. First, he conquered the "steepest incline" as he walked… -
opinion
No Constitutional Right to Same-Sex Marriage, Circuit Court Rules
Earlier today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit overruled lower court decisions that had struck down state laws defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The 6th Circuit Court ruled that constitutional amendments passed by popular vote in Michigan (2.7 million votes), Kentucky (1.2 million), Ohio (3.3 million) and Tennessee (1.4… -
news
This West Virginia Teen Ran for Office … and Won
On Tuesday, Saira Blair of West Virginia became the youngest state lawmaker-elect in the nation. Blair is an 18-year-old freshman at West Virginia University. According to the Wall Street Journal, she is an economics major and “hopes to become a financial planner.” She ran as a Republican on what she calls a “fiscally conservative platform,”… -
opinion
My Mom Has the Same Brain Cancer Diagnosis Brittany Maynard Had. She’s Fighting to Live as Long as She Can.
If my mom had made the same decision that Brittany Maynard did to end her life earlier, we would have missed out on so much. My mother was diagnosed last year with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor, the same diagnosis as Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old who ended her life Nov. 1 after launching… -
news
11 to Watch: Meet the New Crop of Tea Party Conservatives in Congress
The incoming wave of Republicans who will shake up Washington’s political landscape includes some tea party candidates who promise to promote an agenda based on conservative principles such as limited government, traditional American values and a strong national defense. For those who’d like to get to know these fresh faces, The Daily Signal created a… -
opinion
Pastor Charged with Criminal Penalty for Feeding the Homeless
Should a 90-year-old pastor face sixty days in jail and a $500 fine for simply giving food to homeless people? The authorities in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. seem to think so. Arnold Abbott runs a non-profit charity called Love Thy Neighbor, Inc., which seeks to care for the homeless population in the Fort Lauderdale area. Abbott… -
opinion
4 Lasting Lessons of the Cold War
Today’s world would be a far different place if the United States had not waged and won—at the cost of thousands of lives and many billions of dollars—the Cold War. That conflict established America as the leader of the free world and a global superpower and shaped U.S. military strategy, economic policy and domestic politics… -
opinion
The End of the Cold War Still Has Lessons to Teach Us
This Sunday, November 9, marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. Today, 10 nations that were once part of the Soviet Union or Warsaw Pact are NATO member states. Germany is one of the world’s strongest and freest economies—and a strong… -
news
Mia Love: ‘I Wasn’t Elected Because of the Color of My Skin’
Congresswoman-elect Mia Love of Utah’s fourth district is the first black female Republican elected to Congress. During a CNN interview regarding her election, host John Berman called her election “historic” and asked “why it took so long” for Republicans to elect a black woman. Love responded that her election had “nothing to do with race.”… -
news
Beyond Washington, Republicans Seize Control of State Capitals
The Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate may have been the biggest election news. But the most consequential storyline resonates beyond Washington and into the heart of the country, as Americans delivered Republicans firm control of the nation’s state capitals. Republicans picked up Democratic-held governorships in traditionally liberal states such as Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois,… -
news
All She Wanted to Do Was Farm, but an Environmental Group Got in the Way
All she wanted to do was run a small farm and be part of her community. But an eight-year legal battle with a conservation group working in apparent collusion with the local government got in the way of living out that childhood dream. As investigative reporter Kevin Mooney has documented in a series of articles for The… -
news
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood Open CMAs With Dig at Democrats
At the 48th annual Country Music Association Awards, hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood once again found a way to weave politics and public policy into their opening monologue. Last year, it was their satirical spoof “Obamacare By Morning” that took the political world by surprise. >>> Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood Mock Obamacare at Country… -
news
Starbucks Bans Engagement Rings for Workers, but Nose Studs and Tattoos Are OK
Starbucks has a new dress code for its baristas and other employees: no engagement rings allowed. The Seattle-based company blames federal food safety guidelines for the anti-jewelry policy. Even though engagement rings—and wedding bands with a stone—aren’t allowed, the company is now OK with nose studs and tattoos. >>> What do you think? Leave a… -
opinion
With Eye on 2016, Republican Leaders Vow to Make Governing Top Priority
At an Election Night press conference at Republican National Committee headquarters shortly after the polls closed in most U.S. states, party Chairman Reince Preibus said success was “clearly in view,” referring to the GOP wins that helped the party capture control of the U.S. Senate. “We couldn’t be happier with what’s been happening around the… -
opinion
Return of the Zombie Congress
With the midterm elections just behind us, Americans might think they can finally stop worrying about politics for a while. Not so fast! Now is when they need to be more vigilant than ever. Although dozens of politicians were replaced with fresh faces on Election Day, the losers don’t have to vacate their offices for two… -
opinion
Megyn Kelly, Dana Perino Analyze Why Democrat ‘War on Women’ Rhetoric Failed This Cycle
Fox News’ Megyn Kelly and Dana Perino talk about Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and his failure to win reelection, despite making his campaign about the war on women rhetoric that was used so much during the 2012 election. -
news
Scott Walker’s Biggest Critic Calls His 3rd Win in 4 Years ‘Unprecedented’
Liberal pundit Ed Schultz called Republican electoral gains “huge.” And no race was bigger, in his opinion, than Gov. Scott Walker’s victory in Wisconsin. “What hasn’t this guy done against the progressive movement? And he’s been victorious at almost all of it,” Schultz said on MSNBC. Schultz, an outspoken critic of Walker, rallied liberals in… -
opinion
This Blind Cuban Dissident Tells the New York Times What They Have Wrong on Cuba
On the day when millions of Americans were exercising their sovereign right to elect their leaders, a blind Cuban dissident who’s never been able to cast a vote in his life was in Washington with a simple message for The New York Times. “If you end the embargo now like The New York Times wants,… -
opinion
The Crazy Reason Two Auto Companies Were Fined $100 Million
The federal government just fined Kia and Hyundai motors $100 million dollars. Was the culprit: A.) Sudden acceleration of vehicles. B.) Excess dirty pollutants spewing out of exhaust pipes. C.) Too much of a colorless, odorless nontoxic gas that will at best make an infinitesimal impact on climate change. If you said C, sadly you’d…