Washington Politics & News
The Daily Signal covers Washington state politics with reporting on progressive Seattle policies, rural-urban divides, tax debates, and political divisions between Western and Eastern Washington.
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- Opinion
Why Washington’s Spending Addiction Is a Threat to Tax Reform
I’m not sure what left the bigger impression on me after my visit with The Heritage Foundation’s Romina Boccia and Adam Michel—the awesome bigness of the federal government’s fiscal challenges or the mindsets of those we elected to deal with them. The problem is enormous. The federal government spends $4 trillion per year. It takes…Bill Walton -
- Opinion
‘Deregulation Day’ Spotlights Big Changes Trump Is Bringing to Washington
Monday is “Deregulation Day” for the federal government as declared by President Donald Trump, and thus is an opportune time to deliver the findings of The Heritage Foundation’s latest tracking of regulation. The bad news is that the final year of the Obama administration brought the private-sector costs of its reign of regulatory excess to…Diane Katz -
- Opinion
Rushed Legislation Is a Thriving Industry in Washington. How Our Criminal Code Suffers as a Result.
A recent poll of senior congressional staff suggests what many Americans have long suspected: Lawmakers don’t have enough time and resources to do all of their work well. The poll, released in August by the nonprofit Congressional Management Foundation, found that most respondents believed “senators and representatives lack the necessary time and resources to understand,…John-Michael Seibler -
- Opinion
What This Supreme Court Ruling Means for the Washington Redskins, Other Brands Deemed ‘Offensive’
Should “offensive” brand names be allowed to get a federal trademark? The Supreme Court answered “yes” on Monday, handing a decisive win to Simon Tam and his band, The Slants. Tam had tried to register a trademark for his band’s name, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied his application, citing a provision of…Elizabeth Slattery -
- News
‘The Oversight Man’ Explains Why Washington Doesn’t Change
Just a couple of months ago, investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson profiled Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the Republican chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which was poised to dig deep on wide-ranging investigations into government mischief, waste, fraud, and abuse. A few weeks later, Chaffetz abruptly announced he would resign from Congress. Attkisson…Daily Signal Staff -
- Opinion
This Bill Would Free Main Street From the Grip of Washington
America’s current financial regulatory system, begotten by some of the most liberal minds in this country, has consistently limited the ability of banks to serve their customers. It has forced community banks to bend to the will of an ever-expanding bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., for nearly a decade. What was this financial regulatory system that…Rep. Trey Hollingsworth -
- Opinion
Why Washington Hates Trump’s Budget
The Trump administration is getting pushback on its 2018 federal budget, and it’s coming from elected officials on both sides of the aisle. Why does Washington find the budget plan so distasteful? As our video explains, maybe it’s because President Donald Trump’s budget focuses more on what’s good for taxpayers as opposed to what’s good…Genevieve Wood -
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- Opinion
Why North Korea’s Latest Missile Launch Should Worry Washington
Saturday marked another breakthrough in North Korea’s broad array of missile programs. Pyongyang successfully launched a new system that could target U.S. bases in Guam. It is now one step closer to an intercontinental ballistic missile that could eventually threaten the continental United States. Pyongyang announced that the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile flew 490 miles,…Bruce Klingner -
- News
Paris and Washington Send a Message to Moscow: No Sanctions Relief Until Russian Troops Leave Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine—The Kremlin’s gambit to secure sanctions relief by redrawing the political landscapes in Europe and the United States has, so far, been a failure. In 2014, the U.S. and the European Union levied punitive economic sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and subsequent proxy war in eastern Ukraine. New presidential…Paul Runko -
- Opinion
How to Improve Airline Travel: Cut Out Washington Meddling
While grumbling about inconveniences at U.S. airports is a national pastime among travelers, the criticism has been especially shrill this year. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not pleased with the state of U.S. airports, calling them “obsolete” and even “third world.” Although these claims are hyperbolic (American airports move far…Michael Sargent -
- News
Congressman Says Corruption in Washington Is ‘Worse Than You Think’
Corruption on Capitol Hill is “worse than you think,” Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., insists. “When you first get here, you think that you are in some sort of fairy-tale novel,” Buck said. “They wine and dine you and they show you just exactly what it’s like if you play the game. It’s a wonderful life.” Things…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Weak March Jobs Report Shows Need for More Reforms in Washington
Friday’s jobs report announced that businesses created 98,000 jobs, underperforming expert predictions, and showing the weakest gains in almost a year. It appears that the “Trump bump,” based on confidence from President Donald Trump’s election, has subsided as job creators await Washington’s next concrete steps on taxes or trade. On the positive side, the jobs report…Timothy Doescher -
- Opinion
GOP Repeal Bill Left Too Much of Washington Power Grab in Place
The federal government has been too involved in regulating America’s health care system for years. Yes, long before the unaffordable “Affordable Care Act,” aka Obamacare, came along, Washington was picking winners and losers in health care. The unfair tax treatment of health care started post-World War II when we began giving tax breaks to those…Genevieve Wood -
- News
Conservatives Defend The Daily Signal After Washington Post Questions Legitimacy
Conservatives are coming to the defense of The Daily Signal after The Washington Post questioned its journalistic legitimacy for being part of White House press pool coverage. Pool reporting is a responsibility that includes covering day-to-day activities of the president, vice president, and first lady. The Washington Post called Daily Signal correspondent Fred Lucas’ participation…Caleb Ecarma -
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Trump Has Fewest Cabinet Secretaries Confirmed Since George Washington
It took nearly a month, but President Donald Trump is finally operating with at least half of his Cabinet in place. Not since George Washington in 1789 has a newly elected president waited so long. Twenty-five days after Trump took the oath of office, the Senate on Monday night voted to confirm the eighth and…Rob Bluey -
- News
Why These Americans From 14 States Came to Washington for Trump’s Inauguration
They came by the thousands from all over America to support the man they said can turn around economic, social, and other ills as the nation’s 45th president. The Daily Signal visited the National Mall, where an inaugural concert was held Thursday night, and the Capitol grounds, where Donald Trump was sworn in at noon…Josh Siegel -
- News
Trump’s Entrepreneurial Approach Threatens the Washington Establishment, Says Newt Gingrich
President-elect Donald Trump is on a collision course with the Washington establishment, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Thursday. A city that is accustomed to doing things a certain way contrasts sharply with Trump’s entrepreneurial approach, he observed. Gingrich spoke at The Heritage Foundation for the second of a six-part series on understanding Trump and…Morgan Walker -
- Opinion
Live From Washington, It’s The Daily Signal
You may have noticed that when we describe The Daily Signal, we refer to it as a “multimedia” news organization. That’s because there’s not just one way to tell a story or cover an issue. Sometimes, the best way is via the written word and photos. Other times, it is through a series of information…Genevieve Wood -
- Opinion
Artists’ Free Speech Rights at Stake in Washington Florist Case
An African-American marketer should not be forced to create an advertising campaign for a white supremacist group. Nor should a Muslim graphic designer be required to develop a webpage promoting Jewish teachings, or a Democrat freelance writer be ordered to draft political speeches for Republicans. Most agree with this, but Washington state Attorney General Bob…Jim Campbell