Daily news coverage of politics, policy, and issues shaping the nation.
Former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said Wednesday that he would like to “turn the Pentagon into a triangle.” “I always tell people I’m a hawk,” Gingrich said. “But I’m a cheap hawk.” Gingrich honored the 20th anniversary of his “Contract with America” by pointing conservatives back to a key point in his Republican…
Robert Marmet knew he was supposed to inspect Martha Boneta’s farm, but he didn’t know exactly what for. He knew there were limits on what he could inspect, but he had no idea where they were. So when Marmet, a senior energy policy analyst with the Piedmont Environmental Council, and his partner Mike Kane, a…
Sen.Marco Rubio, R-Florida, warned in a speech Wednesday that there was a “growing intolerance” toward those who support traditional marriage. Speaking at the Catholic University of America, Rubio cited various instances of intolerance: We have seen the push to remove the CEO of Mozilla because, in 2008, he made a small donation to support Proposition…
As lawmakers debate how to handle the surge of immigrants crossing the country’s southern border, unaccompanied minors denied asylum face a long road back home. Because of the backlogged U.S. immigration system, many of those children remain in the country for years—even if deportation is the only option. According to information obtained by the House…
The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to temporarily ban U.S. flights to Israel escalated into a political showdown today between the Obama administration and Sen. Ted Cruz. Following the FAA’s decision to extend the ban for a second day, the Texas Republican accused President Obama of using the federal agency to “launch an economic boycott on…
The United States should “absolutely” send unaccompanied children back home, said Newt Gingrich in an exclusive interview with The Daily Signal. Accusing the Obama administration of encouraging illegal immigrants to enter the United States, the former House speaker endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to activate the National Guard and said the children should stop being…
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria ultimatum that Christians leave Mosul to avoid purge expired Friday at noon, driving a reported 2,000 Assyrian families out of the area. Many of these families sought refuge in Qaraqosh, a historic Christian city outside of Mosul—though according to Bloomberg Businessweek, even this “formidable” Kurdish-protected area is falling…
As Texas Gov. Rick Perry activates troops to help manage a surge of immigrants entering his state through Mexico, Border Patrol agents responsible for apprehending the illegal crossers say they do not want assistance from the National Guard to secure the border. Perry announced Monday he would deploy up to 1,000 National Guard troops to…
Conservatives in the U.S. House revolted yesterday against a taxpayer-funded program on rare earth minerals, defeating a bill that was expected to quickly pass without much debate. Because the measure came up under suspension of House rules, two-thirds of lawmakers needed to approve it. The bill failed when 142 Republicans and one Democrat voted against…
In Texas, the stage is set for a sequel to last summer’s political drama, a battle that engulfed the state and brought abortion into the national spotlight. As pro-life groups celebrate the one-year anniversary of the state’s passage of abortion regulations, pro-choice groups are preparing to make up for lost ground in November. Since Gov….
Another Planned Parenthood clinic was caught on camera providing X-rated advice to underage girls. >>> This report and video contains graphic language. This time, the incident took place in Portland, Oregon, where an employee at the Planned Parenthood Clackamas Center told a 15-year-old girl how to best “enjoy” sex and explore “different types of fetishes.”…
Andrew Slavitt, a former executive at the technology company tasked with saving HealthCare.gov and current second-in-command at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was granted an ethics waiver by the Department of Health and Human Services to begin working with his former company immediately. The waiver was granted despite Republican lawmakers’ concerns about Slavitt’s…
A thank you letter written by Michael Sulsona of Staten Island, New York–a double-amputee, who had stepped on a landmine during a tour in Vietnam and subsequently lost both his legs–has made waves across news outlets and social media. In the letter, Sulsona wrote expressing his gratitude to three Lowe’s Home Improvement employees for helping repair…
ENCINO, Texas—Far from the border with Mexico, Ronnie Osburn, manager of the Tepeguaje Ranch, says illegal immigrants trespass his property to avoid a highway checkpoint and make it to Houston—and beyond. In the follow-up to The Daily Signal’s “Life on the Ranch” video, Osburn describes how trespassers vandalize the wired fence that lines his property,…
More than three years ago, Todd Staples, Texas commissioner of agriculture, officially put his stamp on an issue seemingly unrelated to agriculture: illegal immigration. After rural landowners reached out to him over the years, sharing stories of how illegal immigrants — specifically, drug cartels and other criminals — trespass farms and ranches, Staples spearheaded the…
The chairman of the House Financial Service Committee scolded the leaders of Boeing and National Association of Manufacturers for their lobbying efforts to preserve the Export-Import Bank. In a letter to Boeing chief executive James McNerney and National Association of Manufacturers chief executive Jay Timmons, Rep. Jeb Hensarling characterized the reauthorization debate as a decision…
Along East 7th Street in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul, Minn., more signs are in Spanish than English, advertising everything from used cars to groceries. That backdrop certainly made Larry Dalin’s sign stand out. Holding a placard that read, “In Mexico, illegals are jailed,” Dalin was a lone sentry outside the Mexican Consulate…
David Emanuel wanted to cancel his private insurance plan with BlueCross BlueShield after he became eligible for Medicare, but was told nothing could be done until HealthCare.gov consented to the change. The 65-year-old Oklahoma man spent three months entangled in bureaucracy. He shared his story with KJRH-TV in Tulsa, Okla., which was picked up by the Washington…
Jarred by the defect-riddled rollout of the Obamacare website, Obama administration officials signed up a technology company to rid HealthCare.gov of its bugs. Now, though, congressional Republicans are scrutinizing that outfit for a potential conflict of interest because its sister company, UnitedHealthcare, is among insurance companies selling plans to Americans through online marketplaces, or “exchanges.” “If…
MEMPHIS—City officials, citing public safety concerns, have imposed cease-and-desist orders against private ride-share companies Uber and Lyft. Now, in the wake of those decisions, officials are facing questions of possible cronyism. Memphis officials have a strong incentive to help cab companies beat back any competition, said Justin Owen, president of the Nashville-based Beacon Center of…