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
At White House Rally, Lawmakers Ask Obama to Save Christian Mom in Sudan
In the shadow of the White House, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., joined prominent Christian groups in calling for President Obama to help rescue Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, the 27-year-old mother sentenced to death in Sudan for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. “There are assaults on religious liberty across the… -
news
Clinton to Radio Host on Same-Sex Marriage Support: ‘You Are Trying to Say’ It Is Because of ‘Political Reasons’
Hillary Clinton was on the hot seat today about her announcement last year that she supported same-sex marriage. In a tense interview, Terry Gross, host of NPR’s Fresh Air, asked the former First Lady if “political calculations” motivated her stance on gay marriage or if her opinion changed once she left the White House. Clinton… -
news
Cheeseheads Prompt Federal Agency to Back Off Regulatory Threat
MADISON, Wis.—Don’t tell cheeseheads how to make their cheese. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration learned this recently when word surfaced the agency might be thinking of banning the longstanding practice among cheese makers of using wooden boards to age their products. Yesterday, the FDA cut the cheese rhetoric—and seemed to be backing off its… -
opinion
9 Government Programs Your Tax Dollars Are Being Wasted On
If someone approached you on the street and asked for a dollar to promote mohair exports—or to perfect a weight-sensing skateboard—would you give it to him? Probably not. Yet these are enterprises you have unknowingly supported through paying your federal taxes. Wasteful projects that should be far outside the scope of government are endemic across… -
news
Study Finds Food Trucks Are Cleaner Than Restaurants
Fueled by public health concerns, mobile food vendors increasingly face regulations that either outright ban them or restrict where and when they can operate. But a new study from the Institute for Justice finds food trucks might be safer than most sit-down eateries. The study, called “Street Eats, Safe Eats,” takes on the perception that… -
opinion
Celebrate Father’s Day, Not Parent Day
Dads matter. As we head into Father’s Day weekend, that statement may seem like a cliché. But the tragic reality is that if people seeking to redefine marriage succeed in their efforts, it will become less likely in the future that Americans will have involved fathers. After all, the best way to ensure that a… -
news
14 Fun Facts About Bush Sr. (Besides His Crazy Socks)
Today former U.S. president George H.W. Bush celebrates his 90th birthday. He is known for his funky sock collection, but there’s much more to the former president than crazy footwear. 1. In 1943, Bush was the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time. 2. During World War II, he flew 58 combat missions for… -
news
Undercover Investigation Exposes Planned Parenthood’s Controversial Sex Ed Advice
Planned Parenthood, which is receiving taxpayer funding under Obamacare for teen sex education, is the subject of a new undercover investigation that exposes its counselors providing graphic sexual advice to minors. The undercover video consists of footage with counselors as well as Planned Parenthood’s own promotional materials. Those materials include a Planned Parenthood-sponsored series called… -
opinion
The Surprising Ingredient for Bipartisan Reform: Hit Show ‘Orange Is the New Black’
For most Americans, the Netflix show “Orange is the New Black” is the closest they will ever come to experiencing the criminal justice system. Americans see the imprisoned female characters killed, starved and driven mad by prison conditions. For many viewers, the show provides a spooky wake up call to the all-too-disturbing reality of mass… -
news
4 Implications of Eric Cantor’s Primary Defeat
The defeat of Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the House’s No. 2 Republican, has major ramifications for policy and leadership in Washington. Cantor lost his primary election Tuesday to Randolph-Macon College economics professor Dave Brat in a startling upset in Virginia’s 7th District. Brat credited the tea party and grassroots activists for his victory. Many conservatives see the results… -
opinion
Is Brazil Ready for the World Cup?
The World Cup starts tomorrow and right now, there’s little faith Brazil will come out of the games unscathed. Government mismanagement, burdensome bureaucracy and outsize corruption have led to this being the most expensive World Cup to date at around $12 billion. From unfinished construction projects to blatant government corruption, the games have served to… -
news
In Past Decade, Traffic Fatalities Involving Marijuana Have Spiked
Drinking and driving has met its match. Marijuana intoxication has been the focal point of multiple studies finding a link between the drug and driving fatalities. Traffic fatalities involving marijuana have tripled in the U.S. over the last decade, increasing from 4 percent in 1999 to 12 percent in 2010, according to a toxicology examination… -
news
Study: Texas, Utah and Idaho Rated Friendliest States by Small Business Owners
Small business owners in Texas, Utah, Idaho, Virginia and Louisiana rated their states as having the friendliest business environments, according to a study released this morning. In contrast, small businesses gave California, Rhode Island and Illinois failing grades for business viability, and those in Connecticut and New Jersey gave their states a “D.” The study—conducted… -
opinion
No Apology for Benghazi in ‘Hard Choices‘
In “Hard Choices,” Hillary Clinton’s new memoir, the former secretary of state attempts to answer the critics of her handling of the Benghazi scandal. Yet she completely fails to do the one thing that might have help lay the controversy to rest: express personal remorse and a sense of responsibility. Clinton’s account of the fateful… -
news
Comedy Central’s Daily Show Tops MSNBC for Trustworthiness
A joint survey by the Brookings Institution and Public Religion Research Institute reveals more Americans place their trust in Comedy Central’s Daily Show with Jon Stewart than MSNBC. Released yesterday, the survey polled more than 1,500 Americans concerning a host of topics ranging from immigration reform to the state of religion. However, the survey’s findings… -
opinion
Iraq: Fall of Mosul Spells Disaster for U.S. Counterterrorism Policy
The sudden rout of Iraqi security forces in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, is a humiliating defeat for the Iraqi government, a severe blow to U.S. policy in Iraq, and a strategic disaster that will amplify the threat posed by al-Qaeda-linked terrorists to the United States and its allies. The swift victory of the Islamic State… -
news
Clinton: Released Taliban Leaders ‘Not a Threat to the United States’
Hillary Clinton said in an interview today that the five Taliban leaders released in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl “are not a threat to the United States.” Clinton was responding to NBC Correspondent Cynthia McFadden’s assertion that many people feel the United States is “less safe today” as a result of the exchange. “These five… -
news
Union Vows to Appeal Teacher Tenure Ruling as California Braces for Sweeping Change
Court-ordered reform of California’s teacher tenure program won’t happen without a fight. The California Teachers Association announced plans to appeal yesterday’s landmark court decision on teacher tenure which, many say, is a victory for students. The lawsuit, Vergara v. California, aimed to strike down statutes that make it difficult for administrators to dismiss poorly performing… -
opinion
Escalating Taliban Attacks Put Pakistan on Crisis Footing
The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is escalating its campaign of violence against the state as tentative peace talks with the government break down and the Pakistani military conducts air strikes against the group’s bases along the Afghan border. The U.S. must support Pakistan in its fight against the TTP, which seeks to overturn the Pakistani government… -
opinion
The Issue That Likely Fueled Cantor’s Defeat
Rarely is an election about just one specific issue. But Eric Cantor’s position on immigration reform, which included supporting some types of amnesty, fueled his defeat. His opponent, Dave Brat, made it the focal point of his campaign to oust Cantor. And while the political class is putting much of the blame for Cantor’s defeat on…