Daily news coverage of politics, policy, and issues shaping the nation.
Always donning millennial-approved Ray Ban sunglasses, seems to prefer turtlenecks to neck ties, not afraid to wear baseball pants to deliver a speech … meet Rand Paul, the latest Republican to announce his official presidential run. A United States senator since 2011, Paul has been vocal over everything from drones, to the National Security Agency,…
The Daily Signal sent three questions to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and he provided his answers by email over the weekend. “Most Americans have fallen victim to an overzealous federal government.” —@RandPaul Paul’s reply to the second question previews a slogan—Defeat the Washington Machine, Restore the American Dream—he was set to unveil Tuesday in Louisville in announcing he will seek…
John Gaskin wasn’t sure what to expect when he heard a U.S. senator wanted to meet privately with local activists, educators and pastors to talk about the concerns of black residents during the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. Gaskin, a college student and youth organizer who was born in Ferguson 22 years ago, set up the…
While the nation debates whether Christian business owners should be forced by the government to cater same-sex marriages, the military is embroiled in its own dispute over religious freedom. In two high-profile cases, military chaplains have been punished for citing their religious beliefs during private counseling sessions and other official events, sparking questions about what…
In Indiana, only one story is garnering more headlines than tonight’s NCAA men’s basketball championship: Gov. Mike Pence’s handling of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Playing sloppy offense and porous defense, the Hoosier governor seemed to alienate both sides of the debate last week. Now some believe Pence has bounced himself from the Republican presidential bracket. A…
White House correspondent April Ryan’s new book discusses a topic that is bound to make some Americans uncomfortable—race relations and the White House. Ryan, an 18-year media veteran for the American Urban Radio Networks, is the author of “The Presidency in Black and White,” a book that analyzes the past three presidents and takes all…
MARIUPOL, Ukraine—Even while speaking through a translator, Andrey is a man of few words. When asked why he defected from Russia to join a Ukrainian National Guard regiment, the 22-year-old Muscovite simply replied: “Common sense.” After an assurance that his face would not be photographed or his last name used, Andrey opened up, explaining in…
Researchers say the demographics of each of the world’s major religions will undergo significant changes by the year 2050. In a study titled “The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050,” the Pew Research Center estimated how many followers each of the world’s major religions will have in the year 2050. Pew analyzed demographics…
Standing on a factory floor in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2009, something just didn’t sit right with Matthew “Griff” Griffin. The former Army Ranger, who completed three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, was standing among more than 300 Afghans making 1,000 pairs of boots a day for the Afghan National Army. And Griffin couldn’t…
Pastor Jesse Johnson of Immanuel Bible Church just outside Washington, D.C., has a new appreciation for religious freedom in the United States after a recent trip overseas. He shared his insights with The Daily Signal about the fight for religious freedom around the globe and here at home. “It is in light of the resurrection and God’s sovereignty that…
In a crowded field of Republican presidential candidates, is there room for agreement on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act? The legislation would prohibit abortion after five months—more than halfway through a pregnancy—except in cases where rape or incest were reported. A recent Quinnipiac poll shows 60 percent of Americans support pain-capable legislation. Do the…
MARIUPOL, Ukraine—Like manmade thunder, the artillery concussions cut through the light drizzle on the grey, overcast day. Standing in the unpaved parking lot of the Ukrainian National Guard Azov Regiment camp, Ivan Kharkiv, a 20-year-old soldier who has been with the unit since May 2014, smiled and pointed in the direction of the shelling. “You…
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said he believes he could defeat Hillary Clinton in an election. “I think there is a lot of frustration and anger among working families who, in many cases, are working longer hours for low wages,” Sanders said during a recent appearance on “America with Jorge Ramos” on Fusion. “And yet, what…
A bill has been introduced in the Ohio legislature that would prohibit abortion based on a fetal diagnosis of Down syndrome. House Bill 135, titled “The Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act,” would prohibit abortion because of “a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome in an unborn child.” The legislation was introduced by Reps. Sarah LaTourette, R-Bainbridge, and…
The same week a national debate swept through the nation surrounding Indiana’s decision to adopt a religious freedom law, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review a historic lawsuit regarding a New York City policy that plaintiffs say is discriminatory toward religious organizations. The case, Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education…
Lawmakers in Indiana and Arkansas have revised language in two controversial religious freedom bills. Originally, both bills were intended to prohibit state and local government from infringing on someone’s religious beliefs without a compelling reason. Here’s what you need to know about the debate in 90 seconds.
Last week, the Obama administration proposed new regulations for short-term lenders, criticizing the industry for trapping low-income households into cycles of debt. But under Operation Choke Point, the government has already been quietly regulating the industry for years. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is now attempting to rein in short-term lenders—who offer what are…
A fundraising effort for the family-owned pizza restaurant at the center of a national controversy over Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act raised over 250,000 dollars in less than 24 hours. After telling a local media outlet their views on the state’s religious freedom law—which has since been amended to remove divisive parts—the O’Connor family of…
Perhaps President Obama is frustrated he couldn’t pass climate legislation when Democrats controlled both houses of Congress and the White House, and perhaps this frustration was compounded by the historic losses his party suffered in the off-year elections. But whatever the cause, the president is working unilaterally to commit the U.S. to international climate agreements….
The American Family Association and Family Research Council want customers of Angie’s List to boycott the company in an act of support for religious freedom. Angie’s List recently announced that it has withdrawn a proposal to expand its Indianapolis headquarters because of the corporation’s disapproval of Indiana’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Angie’s List is an online…