Opinion and commentary on news, politics, culture, and policy impact.
This is the second article in a series of five. You can read the first article, “How the Section 702 Program Helps America Thwart Terrorist Plots,” here, the third article, “Ample Safeguards of Civil Liberties Warrant FISA Section 702’s Reauthorization By Congress,” here, and the fourth article, “Forgetting Lessons of 9/11, Rebuilding FISA ‘Wall’ Would Be a Mistake,” here. …
Earlier this month, Nicaragua held local elections for the country’s 153 mayoral seats. The ruling leftist National Liberation Sandinista Front won 135 of the seats, leaving only 18 seats under opposition control. This puts the leftists in control of the presidency, the national assembly, the judiciary, and local-level government offices. While international electoral observers have…
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, announced he won’t hold up two judicial nominees any more because of “blue slips.” We explain. Plus: drama at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Prince Harry’s engagement to American actress Meghan Markle.
On Nov. 13, the Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments in a case with serious implications for free speech nationwide. In NIFLA vs. Becerra, the court will decide whether pro-life advocates must refer clients to abortion clinics or face fines, penalties, and possible closure. The basic question the court must decide is whether the…
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been a political hot potato since the day it was created as part of the legislative response to the 2008 financial crisis. A brainchild of then-Harvard law professor (now U.S. senator) Elizabeth Warren, the bureau was established in 2010 as an independent agency through the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform…
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2014, and is being republished in light of the announcement that American actress Meghan Markle is engaged to Britain’s Prince Harry, and the two will be married next spring. But it’s not just royals who benefit from marriage. Thirty-two percent of the growth in family income inequality…
Obamacare’s individual mandate survived the Supreme Court’s 2012 ruling on the Affordable Care Act solely because the court interpreted the insurance requirement as a “tax.” But now that Republicans in the Senate have included repealing—or zeroing out—this “tax” as part of tax reform, Democrats are crying foul play, accusing Republicans of trying to wrongly include…
Swarms of palm-sized quadcopters perform kamikaze attacks using tiny explosives to kill selected people using facial-recognition software and social media big-data analysis. News footage shows attacks on U.S. senators, student protesters, and hundreds of other civilians worldwide. Is this the trailer for a new science fiction blockbuster movie? No, this graphic, fictional scenario of a…
We are living through a remarkable time in history. Almost daily, those in influential positions who once appeared untouchable are falling out of popular favor as their abuses are exposed. Earlier this month, one particularly corrupt institution was dealt back-to-back blows: Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business. On Nov. 13, The Hill reported that…
This article is the first in a series of five. You can read the second article, “Anti-Terror Law’s Safeguards Against Incidental Collection of Domestic Data Are Sufficient,” here and the third article, “Ample Safeguards of Civil Liberties Warrant FISA Section 702’s Reauthorization By Congress,” here. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) will expire at the…
The Supreme Court’s final sitting of 2017 begins this week, and the justices will hear oral arguments in a number of high-profile cases involving the Fourth Amendment, free speech and religious liberty, federalism, and property rights. Here’s a look at the cases coming up. Property Rights of Patent Holders On Nov. 27, the Supreme Court…
Editor's note: We picked some sentiments and perspectives from The Daily Signal's audience that seem to suit Thanksgiving weekend and what we celebrate, reflect upon, and give thanks for. You can write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Regarding Katrina Trinko’s commentary, if there is no God, as many have been taught in our…
The Daily Signal’s Facebook Live show “Top 10” features the top news stories of the week, many of which often go underreported or misreported by the mainstream media. This week, on our special edition Thanksgiving episode, we discuss the commercialization of Thanksgiving and why society skips over the holiday, which gets a little lost between…
The circumstances of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez’s death remain murkier than the Rio Grande River. Martinez succumbed to critical head injuries early Nov. 19. An unnamed partner, who came to Martinez’s aid after he radioed for help from a remote area of the Big Bend Sector in Texas, suffered serious wounds. Whether by…
The intensifying Saudi-Iranian cold war is severely disrupting Lebanese politics. Lebanon’s prime minister, Saad Hariri, resigned suddenly on Nov. 4, blaming Iranian interference in Lebanese affairs and the internal threat posed by Hezbollah, Iran’s Lebanese Shiite surrogate. Hariri’s resignation speech was delivered from Saudi Arabia, which reportedly had pressured him to step down after summoning…
How will you fare if the GOP tax plan is enacted? Well, on net, most Americans will see a significant tax cut under the proposed plans from Republican lawmakers, including virtually all lower- and middle-income workers and a majority of upper-income earners. Both the House and Senate versions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act…
The Trump administration continues to move on its campaign promise to restructure the North American Free Trade Agreement, with round five of NAFTA negotiations starting last week. In the heat of the discussions between officials from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it’s easy to lose sight of the benefits that free trade affords all…
The 21st Amendment ended Prohibition on Dec. 5, 1933. Still, some laws that were enacted to enforce Prohibition remain on the books, binding businesses today with antiquated red tape. Members of the New York City Council raised awareness of the problems earlier this month when they voted to repeal a Prohibition-era “cabaret law.” But there…
Anyone who has ever seen footage of a Black Friday stampede knows the holiday season can bring out the worst in people. So it’s important to remember that it can also bring out the best—and to realize that government can inadvertently dampen our more compassionate impulses. Something about the season encourages us to be more…