Opinion and commentary on news, politics, culture, and policy impact.
Late in the afternoon on Thursday last week, the Social Security Administration released its annual trustees’ report. As is often the case when government entities have bad news to report, they do so on a schedule that makes it easier to bury the information. The American people need to know the state of finances of…
How should the U.S. win the war of ideas against Islamism? That question understandably provokes strong differences of opinion. For example, honest people can disagree over the merits of the Obama administration’s Countering Violent Extremism policy, which George Selim, director of the Office of Community Partnerships, described as “the first federal assistance program devoted exclusively…
In two years, it will have been a half-century since American astronauts first set foot on the moon. Apollo 11 was followed by five more successful voyages to the moon and back, an accomplishment of which NASA is duly proud. During the Apollo program, the National Aeronautical and Space Agency was at the top of…
In May, media reports indicated the Trump administration was considering returning two compounds—one in Maryland and one in New York—to Russia. Those compounds were seized by the Obama administration last December in response to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Last week, in an interview with CNN, a senior White House official again raised…
Linda Sarsour is fighting back after being criticized for calling for “jihad” against President Donald Trump and his administration. During a speech at the Islamic Society of North America Convention, she said: I hope, that when we stand up to those who oppress our communities, that Allah accepts from us that as a form of…
Editor's note: Jarrett Stepman's commentaries for The Daily Signal ring bells with readers. See for yourself in this selection of responses.—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: Jarrett Stepman writes in opposition to Seattle's having raised the minimum wage: "Lincoln saw the ‘opportunity society’ and reaping the fruits of one’s labor as fundamental to the growth and…
The Senate is seriously considering keeping Obamacare’s 3.8 percent net investment income tax as part of its most recent repeal and replace proposal. Rather than falling back on the simple story that the tax will just be paid by the rich, this is an important opportunity for the Senate to explain that taxes on investment…
On Thursday, the Senate Republican leadership unveiled an updated version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. While it is an imperfect legislative product, it is nonetheless a major improvement over the status quo. Obamacare has wrecked both the individual and small group health insurance markets. After seven years, millions of Americans enrolled in…
All five of Hawaii’s pro-life pregnancy centers will be forced to choose between advertising free abortions and defying the state’s demands starting Wednesday, after Gov. David Ige allowed a mandatory disclaimer bill to become law Tuesday night. Mirroring a 2015 California law, Hawaii’s edict forces locally funded pregnancy centers to post and distribute to each…
UPDATE Aug. 18, 2017: The mainstream media is at it again. CNN published today a map of "hate groups" relying on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list, which include groups like Alliance Defending Freedom and Family Research Council. ORANGE COUNTY, California—Once again, the mainstream media is demonstrating it doesn’t care about the impact of extremist…
Leaders in the business world often have to make painful decisions in order to meet long-term strategic goals and keep up with market trends. For example, Sears Holdings announced earlier this year that it plans to close 150 unprofitable Sears and Kmart stores. If Sears Holdings attempted to keep these stores open, it would damage…
President Donald Trump followed up a successful week in Europe with a visit to France for Bastille Day and the 100-year commemoration of America’s entrance into World War I. He also held a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron to talk about the Syrian civil war, the Middle East, terrorism, and other topics…
On July 10, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced a new rule to ban financial service providers, such as banks or credit card companies, from using mandatory arbitration clauses to deny consumers the opportunity to participate in a class action (“arbitration rule”). The arbitration rule’s summary explains: First, the final rule prohibits covered providers of…
The debate over climate change policy pits two competing visions of the future against each other. On the one hand are the “true believers,” who see in global warming an existential threat to humanity. They want to slow the rise in temperature as soon as possible, and as much as possible. Their policy prescriptions focus…
President Donald Trump declared during energy week that the United States would “usher in a golden age of American energy dominance.” From rolling back egregious offshore drilling restrictions and power plant regulations to a policy review to revive nuclear energy, the Trump administration is making important headway to unleash America’s vast energy resources. But energy…
President Donald Trump will be the guest of honor at the Bastille Day parade in Paris on Friday, marking the 100th anniversary of U.S. forces joining the fight against Germany in World War I. This will be his second visit to Europe in two weeks, following his successful trip to Poland and the G-20 summit…
“When Washington reporters ask hard questions, Sean Spicer turns to Skype.” That was the headline of a front-page article in USA Today last week, capping months of criticism of the White House press secretary. Spicer is being pilloried for the sin of including reporters outside the clubby White House press corps in daily press briefings—and…
Junk science endangers lives. Forensic junk science in the hands of overzealous prosecutors, ignorant police detectives, and reckless experts threatens liberty. There is a crisis in America’s government-run crime labs—and it’s not just the result of a few rogue operators. The problem is long-festering and systemic. In April, Massachusetts state crime lab chemist Annie Dookhan…
While much of the focus of President Donald Trump’s G-20 summit had to do with Europe, his trip could have big implications for Asia as well. The escalating tensions with North Korea, and the lack of demonstrable Chinese efforts in curbing North Korean efforts, are likely to be a continuing topic of conversations between Trump…