State Politics & News
Coverage of state politics, elections, and conservative policy battles across all 50 states shaping America’s future.
-
- News
Ohio Town Announces It’s a ‘Sanctuary City’ for Historical Statues
The manager of a small town in Ohio has declared his municipality a “sanctuary city” for statues being toppled in other parts of the country. A proclamation signed July 4 by Newton Falls City Manager David Lynch declares that monuments of the Founding Fathers and others will find safety in Newton Falls. “I, David M….Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Putting the COVID-19 Surge in Florida in Context
Florida is melting down. Or is it? While the state has shown a big increase in the number of daily new COVID-19 cases, there also are signs that those increases might not lead to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat elected statewide, painted a grim picture. >>> What's…Doug Badger -
- News
Texas Congressman Tours American Landmarks: ‘I Pledge to Defend Them!’
At a time when America’s monuments and statues are under attack from an angry mob, a Texas congressman took a road trip to personally visit and defend our nation’s landmarks ahead of the Independence Day holiday. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and members of his congressional staff traveled to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and several landmarks in Washington,…Robert B. Bluey -
- News
4 Points to Understand the COVID-19 Surge in Texas
Texas has seen a significant surge in coronavirus cases in the past two weeks, joining other Sun Belt states. Here are four things to know about the increase in positive tests for COVID-19 in the Lone Star State. 1. What’s the Caseload in Texas? Texas has almost 168,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday,…Fred Lucas -
- News
Florida Governor Signs Law Requiring Parental Consent Before Girls Can Get Abortions
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Tuesday requiring parents or legal guardians to consent before a minor can obtain an abortion. The bill, SB 404, requires that a parent or guardian consent before a minor can obtain an abortion and increases penalties for abortion providers who refuse to comply with Florida’s requirement to care…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
California Democrats Demand Removal of John Wayne’s Name From Airport
The Democratic Party of Orange County, California, has demanded the removal of actor John Wayne’s name from the county airport due to “racist and bigoted” remarks the Hollywood legend made nearly 50 years ago. The party created a resolution last Friday to seek removal of Wayne’s name and likeness because of “white supremacist, anti-LGBT, and…Mary Rose Corkery -
- Opinion
Freedom of Religion Narrowly Upheld in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed what most Americans no doubt take for granted, that the Constitution prohibits religious discrimination. The 5-4 divide among the justices in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, however, shows that religious freedom is not fully secure in America. Different state and local governments have developed “school choice” programs that make…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
1 in 5 Ballots Rejected as Fraud Charged in New Jersey Mail-In Election
Following accusations of widespread fraud, voter intimidation, and ballot theft in the May 12 municipal elections in Paterson, New Jersey, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced Thursday he is charging four men with voter fraud—including the vice president of the City Council and a candidate for that body. With races still undecided, control of the…Mark Hemingway -
- Opinion
In the Name of Tolerance, California Blacklists Idaho
In a bizarre show of authoritarianism—even for them—California state officials have decided to ban state-funded travel to Idaho because of its transgender law. In a press release, California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, said: “Where states legislate discrimination, California unambiguously speaks out. The state of Idaho has taken drastic steps to undermine the rights of the…Nicole Russell -
- Opinion
Correcting the Record on George Washington’s Mother
A pivotal moment in world history occurred when Mary Ball Washington forbade her eldest son from joining the British navy as a cabin boy—one-third of whom died at sea. After obeying his mother this time, George Washington lived to fight and lead another day. Despite a sometimes complex relationship with his mother, he said a…Fred Lucas -
- News
Wisconsin Vandals Tear Down Statue of Civil War Hero Who Fought to End Slavery, Assault Senator
Protesters toppled two statues and physically attacked a state senator outside the Wisconsin Capitol building Tuesday night, the state’s governor said. Demonstrators began assembling throughout the day near the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. However, they became agitated following the arrest of a black man who brought a baseball bat and megaphone into a nearby restaurant, according to The…Thomas Catenacci -
- News
Communist Emblem Spray Painted on North Carolina WWII Memorial
A communist symbol was reportedly spray painted on a World War II memorial in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the weekend. A hammer and sickle was emblazoned across the stone monument in red and yellow, as well as the words “Glory to the day of heroism June 19, 1986,” according to Fox News. Both are references to…Jake Dima -
- Opinion
China Must Be Held Accountable for COVID-19 Pandemic, Arkansas Attorney General Says
Eighteen state attorneys general have signed onto a letter requesting that Congress investigate China’s role in the coronavirus pandemic. One of the signatories of the letter, Leslie Rutledge, the attorney general of Arkansas, joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss why and how China should be held accountable. She also discusses the Supreme Court’s decision last…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
New York Times Mum on ‘1619 Project’ Creator Calling ‘1619 Riots’ Moniker an ‘Honor’
After a New York Post op-ed essay, “Call Them the 1619 Riots,” linked rioting occurring in cities across the country to The New York Times’ controversial “1619 Project,” the journalist behind the project responded, “It would be an honor. Thank you.” The tweet by Nikole Hannah-Jones was subsequently deleted, without explanation. The New York Times…Virginia Allen -
- News
Minnesota City to Vote on Removing ‘Chief’ From Job Titles, Calling It a Microaggression
A Minnesota city mayor is pushing city council members to delete “chief” from job titles, citing how it promotes the marginalization of American Indians. The City Council is planning to vote Monday on whether the titles of chief administrative officer and chief financial officer should be changed to city administrator and finance director, respectively, according…Spencer Landis -
- News
St. Junipero Serra Statue to Be Removed From California City
The statue of a Roman Catholic saint, Junipero Serra, will be removed from public display over accusations that statues of the missionary reflect oppression of indigenous peoples, according to city officials. The mayor of Ventura, California, representatives from the Barbareno/Venureno Band of Mission Indians, and a pastor of the Mission San Buenaventura issued a joint…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
State Legislatures Possess the Power to Curtail Shutdown Orders
In an effort to contain the coronavirus, many governors are relying on emergency powers to issue orders requiring self-quarantining, restricting business activity, banning gatherings, and limiting mobility across entire regions. These shutdowns have eviscerated more than 30 million jobs, threatened countless businesses with insolvency, and disrupted core civic activities. Many private citizens and some state legislators…Joel Griffith -
- Opinion
State Department Rightly Condemns Russia’s Continued Borderization of Georgia
On May 27, Georgian Independence Day, the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi issued a statement condemning Russia’s continued borderization activities along the line of occupation in Georgia. The U.S. was right in making this statement. Since 2011, three years after the Russo-Georgian War, Russian-led security forces have continued to illegally claim Georgian territory through a process…Alexis Mrachek -
- Opinion
Reopening of California Justified by Lower Total of COVID-19 Deaths
In the nearly three and a half months since California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency March 4, state and county officials have imposed severe lockdowns throughout the state in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Newsom’s declaration gave essentially unlimited powers to health officers, at both the state level and the county level, to control the virus. Those…James Enstrom -
- News
George Washington University Apologizes for Sharing Email About Police Recruitment Fair
George Washington University issued an apology Wednesday to students after sending an email about an upcoming police employment fair. The chair of the sociology department, Hiromi Ishizawa, said the employment email sent a few days prior “hurt many people in this context of national and international focus on police violence and police abuses, especially against…Jake Dima