Political News
Reports on political developments, legislation, and leadership. The Daily Signal provides news and conservative analysis of American politics.
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opinion
How China’s Economic Freedom Deficit Distorts Markets Beyond Its Borders
In an attempt to lay out the Biden administration’s approach to charting the course of the U.S.-China economic relationship, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai underscored that the bilateral relationship is “complex and competitive.” More importantly, Tai noted, “In recent years, Beijing has doubled down on its state-centered economic system. It is increasingly clear that China’s… -
news
Sen. Josh Hawley Questions ‘Weaponizing’ of FBI to Silence Parents
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., sharply questioned Attorney General Merrick Garland’s deployment of the FBI to intervene in local school board matters in an exchange Tuesday with one of Garland’s deputies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. In a memo the day before, Garland instructed the Justice Department and FBI “to address the rise in criminal conduct directed toward… -
opinion
Adding Dental Benefits to Medicare Is a Solution in Search of a Problem
The massive government expansion bill that congressional Democrats are currently trying to enact includes provisions that would add new dental benefits to Medicare, the federal health insurance program for seniors. Yet that might prove to be an unpopular move once seniors realize that the proposed changes could leave them with worse dental coverage than they… -
news
7 States Push Noncitizen Voting, 4 States Say No
Litigation in Vermont has highlighted the expanding trend of noncitizen voting, which two cities in that state recently allowed. Municipalities in California and Maryland similarly allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. Other jurisdictions are considering doing so. So far, these efforts to allow noncitizens to vote don’t apply to national elections for president or… -
opinion
What If Political ‘Polarization’ Isn’t the Big Problem?
The University of Virginia Center for Politics this week released a poll surveying Americans’ feelings about their political opponents. According to the poll, 80% of Biden voters and 84% of Trump voters believed that elected officials of the opposite party present a “clear and present danger to American democracy”; 78% of Biden voters believed that… -
opinion
In Afghanistan Evacuation, Air Force Once Again Rises to an Enormous Challenge
The air evacuation out of Afghanistan was, in a word, amazing. Despite immense obstacles, U.S. Air Force airmen were able to rise to the challenge and evacuate 124,000 U.S. personnel and refugees out of Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. While you may be thinking it was unprecedented for an Air Force that just… -
opinion
This Group Is Suing Biden Administration Over Vaccine Mandates
Small businesses around the country are attempting to bounce back from the devastating effects of the pandemic. But vaccine mandates imposed by the Biden administration, critics say, threaten to crater the progress made by small companies just as they’re starting to get back on their feet. Alfredo Ortiz is president and CEO of Job Creators… -
opinion
And Jews Will Still Vote Democrat
There is almost nothing Democrats can do to damage America or Israel that would change most American Jews’ political leanings. The latest example took place just last week. A college student speaking to Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, condemned America for supporting Israel, and charged Israel with committing “ethnic genocide” against Palestinians. Harris’ said,… -
opinion
Attorney General Garland Abuses Power He Doesn’t Have to Threaten Parents
Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo on Monday directing the Department of Justice and the FBI to “launch a series of additional efforts in the coming days designed to address the rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel.” The Garland memo looks like an effort to use the FBI to threaten and silence… -
opinion
The Irony: UN Women Says Word ‘Women’ Is Exclusionary
U.N. Women, the United Nations organization responsible for furthering the cause of women all over the world, seems out to erase itself and any credibility it has as a women’s rights organization. U.N. Women announced in July 2019 it would focus on “equality of all genders” (as I wrote about here) instead of solely women’s rights…. -
opinion
We Hear You: Amazon’s Scary Reasoning for Rejecting a Book Ad
Editor's note: The Daily Signal's audience was critical of Amazon for blocking advertising for Heritage Foundation scholar Mike Gonzalez's book on Black Lives Matter for several days before allowing the ad after concluding employees incorrectly applied standards. A sampling of your response leads off today's dip into the mailbag at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal:… -
opinion
‘Build Back Better’ Plan Puts in Place a Government Option and Sets a Path to Single-Payer
As negotiations over the staggering $3.4 trillion “Build Back Better” plan price tag continue to raise concern, the health policy agenda put forth in the plan is equally alarming. At first glance, some might argue the Build Back Better plan takes a more modest approach on health care by avoiding the inclusion of a full-blown,… -
opinion
Why We Don’t Need ‘Human Infrastructure’
Self-styled progressive Democrats demand that Congress pass a “human infrastructure” package that would provide funding for “free” college and preschool, alongside other social agenda items. Jon, a man whose story I know, would have called it a “government package.” Jon, who is middle-aged, had a HUD housing voucher and food stamp benefits, and was on… -
news
Merrick Garland Directs FBI to Target Parents Responsible for ‘Disturbing Spike in Harassment, Intimidation’ Against Schools
Attorney General Merrick Garland called on the FBI to “use its authority” against parents who threaten or use violence against public school officials in a Monday memorandum. Garland said there has been a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.” He said he is directing the FBI… -
opinion
Why Hispanic Heritage Month Shouldn’t Be a Thing
We’re in the first week of Hispanic Heritage Month, yet another 30 days of identity-focused celebration, following on the heels of Black History Month in February and Gay Pride Month in June. But although the ubiquity of the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” might make it seem that they’ve always been there, Heritage Foundation senior fellow… -
news
Noncitizen Voting in Vermont Part of Democrats’ ‘Long Game’
Noncitizens will be able to vote in two Vermont cities as part of a growing national trend, unless lawsuits prevent new laws from taking effect. The cities of Montpelier, with about 7,375 residents, and Winooski, with about 7,335, both will allow noncitizens to vote in local elections for offices such as mayor, city council, and… -
news
House Republicans Probe Climate Groups’ Ties to China
A pair of top House Republicans demanded information from several progressive organizations on their ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia, ranking member on the oversight and investigations subcommittee, wrote letters Sunday to four left-wing climate-focused groups with a series of… -
news
After ‘Equity Audit,’ Minnesota Middle School No Longer Gives Students ‘F’ Grades
A Minnesota middle school will no longer give students “F’s” in an attempt to address “systemic racism” after conducting an “equity audit.” Sunrise Park Middle School in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, announced a new grading scale for the 2021-2022 school year that does not include anything under 50% or any “F’s,” according to a video posted to… -
opinion
What Needs to Happen Now That Arizona Election Audit Over
Editor’s note: Discrepancies and other problems uncovered by the Arizona Senate’s audit of the presidential election in the state’s largest county, Maricopa, were the topic of a Sept. 27 appearance by Hans von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, on Newsmax’s “American Agenda.” “Election officials in Arizona should not simply dismiss this audit [and]… -
opinion
President’s ‘Word as a Biden’ Isn’t Worth Much, His Record Shows
When President Joe Biden wants you to believe something he’s about to say—really, really wants you to believe it—he prefaces it with the phrase, “I give you my word as a Biden.” He peppers his public statements with it, puts it in his tweets, and holds it up as some sort of gold standard for…