Opinion and commentary on news, politics, culture, and policy impact.
The collapse of the U.S. steel industry in the 1980s sent once-thriving Pittsburgh into a severe economic depression. Pittsburgh has struggled to rebuild and rebrand itself for decades. Yet the city today is not the crumbling, desolate place one might expect. The city has been transforming itself from an industrial economy based on steel to…
When Americans buy plane tickets, they shop around to find the deal that best suits their needs and save a lot of time and money as a result. But for the past 10 years, the federal government has been unable to shop around for commercial services. The Office of Management and Budget established something called…
Fires rage across California yet again, and The Daily Signal’s Jarrett Stepman breaks down how environmental policies play a role in poor forest management. Plus: A school, in the interest of being more “inclusive,” no longer will recite the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. We also cover these stories: Vice President Mike Pence wants the Space…
On today’s “Problematic Women,” we cover our mini-documentary about the May school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, produced by our very own Kelsey Harkness and Lauren Evans. Unlike the shooting in Parkland, Florida, this community was not given a voice and largely has been forgotten. Two students now bravely tell their story. We also discuss…
Earlier this week, CNS News reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently signed a one-year, $15,900 contract with Advanced Bioscience Resources to acquire human fetal tissue “for implantation into severely immune-compromised mice to create chimeric animals that have a human immune system.” According to the government’s presolicitation notice, “ABR is the only company…
Apple has become the first U.S. company in history to attain a trillion-dollar valuation. Here are a few thoughts about the relevance of this to our country today. The story of Apple is the story of Steve Jobs. He co-founded the company in 1976 at the age 21, was fired from this same company at…
Can drones be used for assassinations, terrorist attacks, and drug trafficking? The Heritage Foundation’s Jason Snead explains how drones are already being exploited by bad actors—and why the U.S. needs to act more aggressively on the drone issue. Plus: The Oscars are trying a new strategy to get viewers. We also cover these stories: Rep. Chris…
Pakistan has received 12 bailouts from the International Monetary Fund since the late 1980s as a result of debt blowouts and balance-of-payment imbalances. Now, the country’s 13th bailout from the IMF—expected to be the largest so far—is on the horizon. And China is a key player as former cricket star Imran Khan of Pakistan’s PTI party…
Nolan Peterson, who reports from Ukraine for The Daily Signal, joins us today to discuss the European land war no one’s paying any attention to—and what Russia’s motivation is. Plus: We discuss how children are being euthanized in Belgium. We also cover these stories: A new survey shows small businesses are optimistic about their future. A…
This week, the conspiracy website Infowars, which is run by Alex Jones, was either “banned” or had content stripped from most social media platforms. YouTube cited “hate speech and harassment” as reasons to remove Infowars from the platform, Apple explained that “hate speech” wouldn’t be tolerated, and Facebook announced: “Upon review, we have taken it down…
Since the Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule to update compliance with legal requirements of the Title X family planning program, the move has received apocalyptic—and unwarranted—pushback from pro-abortion advocates on the left. The liberal media have predicted the rule would spell “doomsday” for women’s health. Title X is a…
In an op-ed for CNBC, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., urge Congress to approve a bill that would rebrand and double the size of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. They argue that the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act, or BUILD Act, would help the United States offset the influence…
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was the target Saturday of an alleged assassination attempt carried out by two drones. If this was indeed a drone attack on a head of state, it is a wake-up call for policymakers and law enforcement officials everywhere. According to reports, two explosives-laden drones of a type commercially available and commonly used…
When President Donald Trump last month announced his nomination of federal Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the “American people deserve to know what kind of a justice” Kavanaugh would be. He’s right. How do you measure something like the “kind of a justice” a nominee…
Join us for one very casual episode as we discuss the latest “Mission: Impossible,” “Ocean’s 8,” the “Mamma Mia!” sequel, and more. Plus: We analyze New Jersey’s move of funding journalism with tax dollars. We also cover these stories: President Donald Trump announces new sanctions against Iran. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., isn’t mincing words as he…
New York’s governor has made it clear that he’s on a witch hunt to put a private organization out of business. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has been in a protracted battle with the National Rifle Association. Now he’s using a state agency to hound the pro-Second Amendment organization with costly regulatory threats, as well…
Medicare Advantage, a system of competing private health plans, is surpassing the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program in delivering high quality, cost-effective medical care for senior and disabled citizens. The prominent research firm Avalere recently published a major study showing that Medicare Advantage generally outperformed traditional Medicare. This was especially so in caring for the most challenging patients who suffer from chronic conditions and complicated medical problems. Major structural differences between traditional Medicare and…
Carl and Janice Duffner are in federal court challenging a law in St. Peters, Missouri, that requires them to grow grass in their yard, even though Janice Duffner is allergic to grass pollen. The ordinance requires residents to grow turf grass on at least 50 percent of their yard or face potential penalties of up…
A congressional select committee on reforming the budget process recently held another public hearing, supposedly with the ultimate aim of designing a more transparent, accountable, and responsible budgetary process. Any such changes should also re-establish and enhance Congress’ power of the purse. But if those are the goals of the Joint Select Committee on Budget and…
Is recognizing a “right to literacy” the solution to improved reading outcomes in America? Groups in at least three states think so. There are currently lawsuits in Michigan, New Mexico, and California seeking to establish that school districts have violated a student’s “right to literacy” by providing inadequate learning conditions and insufficient school funding. The…