Opinion and commentary on news, politics, culture, and policy impact.
Some laws just need to go, and both Canada and Great Britain are showing why. This week, Canadian Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announced plans to remove “zombie laws”—unconstitutional, outdated, or otherwise unnecessary sections of law—from Canada’s Criminal Code. Great Britain is pursuing similar ongoing review of its criminal code. Thus, two of America’s closest allies,…
Workers should be represented by people they choose, rather than by legacy institutions. Recent Heritage Foundation research found that only 6 percent of union workers covered by the National Labor Relations Act voted for their current union representation. Most inherited organizations and representatives were voted in by earlier generations of workers. Out of 8 million…
Washington talks a tough game about tackling federal spending, but President Donald Trump is beginning to take real action. On Monday, Trump issued a new executive order that would require the director of the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a review of all executive branch agencies and, in an effort to improve efficiency,…
Most Americans, whether liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican, do not show much understanding or respect for the principles of personal liberty. We criticize our political leaders, but we must recognize that their behavior simply reflects the values of people who elected them to office. That means we are all to blame for greater governmental…
The federal government employs well over 2 million people. One man cannot lead an organization that large by himself. Not only do you need a full Cabinet, but you need hundreds of undersecretaries and deputies as well. Being president without the aid of your Cabinet and agency leaders makes the job almost impossible. But this is…
Michael Krepon, co-founder of the U.S.-based Stimson Center, whose views are widely respected both in South Asia and in Washington, has written a thought-provoking piece on the future of U.S. policy toward Pakistan. In the article, Krepon argues in favor of a status quo U.S. policy toward Pakistan that relies solely on inducements and engagement,…
The secret ballot is a fundamental tenet of American democracy. It was implemented in the United States in the late 1800s to counter widespread instances of bribery and intimidation of voters. Both houses of the Colorado Legislature recently passed a bill that is now sitting on Gov. John Hickenlooper’s desk that would allow voters to…
In 1762, agents of the king of England entered John Entick’s house without his consent, searched it from top to bottom, and seized documents and other printed materials. Entick was not accused of a crime; rather, the king’s men were in search of allies and materials associated with John Wilkes, an outspoken critic of the…
As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sets out on his first official visit to Asia, expectations are high. As he visits key U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, he will be expected to reassure them of America’s steadfast commitment to their security. And in visiting the People’s Republic of China, Tillerson will have to send…
“For five years, Senate Democrats have blocked our efforts to repeal Obamacare,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Jan. 6, 2016. “That ends today.” “With this vote, we are keeping a promise and putting a bill that repeals Obamacare and defunds Planned Parenthood on the president’s desk,” Ryan continued. “This budget reconciliation bill, which would…
As President Donald Trump is preparing his first budget submission to the Congress, he should consider making Social Security reform a priority. The future of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and disability programs, and their impact on American families, the federal budget, and the economy, are issues too big to ignore. Social Security reform is…
Last week, the city of San Francisco announced that it is suspending its involvement in the Joint Terrorism Task Force—the primary mechanism for counterterrorism cooperation among law enforcement. This task force has allowed the law enforcement community to stop terror plots such as the 2015 plot to attack a public venue in North Carolina with…
“What’s a legitimate news outlet?” Apparently not The Daily Signal, if you believe the self-proclaimed arbiters of journalism who represent the “mainstream” media. The Washington Post published a story Friday with that audacious headline, questioning the “unusual” development of our White House correspondent’s handling pool coverage for Vice President Mike Pence. Fred Lucas, who joined…
Editor's note: We got a big reaction with our report on the appeals court date for the husband-and-wife Oregon bakers ordered by a state agency to pay $135,000 for declining to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Here's a sampling to lead off our latest roundup of mail. —Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: How can Aaron…
The new lawsuit filed by Hawaii against President Donald Trump’s revised March 6 immigration executive order is just as unsound as the lawsuits filed by other states against the original order—despite what some courts have said about the original order or may say about the revised order. Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign…
In a sad development, the government of India is clamping down on religious liberty, and impoverished children stand to lose the most. Compassion International, a Christian organization that partners with local churches around the world to improve the lives of children in poverty, began shutting down its operations in India due to financial restrictions imposed…
The Bureau of Labor Statistics just announced the U.S. economy created 235,000 jobs in February, slightly higher than most experts expected and much higher than President Barack Obama’s 187,000 average in 2016. But while the unemployment rate remained at a low 4.7 percent, the labor force participation rate, which measures the number of people leaving…
In the span of 24 hours, the Senate successfully overturned two sets of regulations finalized by President Barack Obama’s Department of Education late last year. Using the oversight authority granted to it by the Congressional Review Act, the Senate passed resolutions of disapproval for accountability regulations under the Every Student Succeeds Act and regulations for teacher…
In Fairfax, 10 parents have just three minutes each to give their views to the county school board each meeting. Earning one of these coveted slots is like buying concert tickets: You get up early on the Monday before the meeting and click frantically, hoping to be among the first 10 when the school board opens its sign-up line. Since…