Political News
Reports on political developments, legislation, and leadership. The Daily Signal provides news and conservative analysis of American politics.
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exclusive
Trump Reveals What He Told Xi About Political Prisoners
President Donald Trump told the Daily Signal he had “hopefully fruitful” discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about political prisoners in China, including American Min Zin and Jimmy Lai. When asked by the Daily Signal if he discussed the release of political prisoners, Trump said, “I did.” “We talked, and I think we had some… -
news
‘Creating a One-Party System’: Conservatives Warn of Consequences and Need to Counter Left’s Weaponization of Legal System
Conservatives are pushing back against the Left’s effort to discipline lawyers for the clients they represent, in what is being called “barfare,” with threats of disbarment or other actions. During a conference Wednesday near Capitol Hill on the topic, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., praised the effort to fight back. “We need smart people who have… -
opinion
Jack Smith’s Media Dragnet Gets a Pass From Legacy Press
One of the biggest government attacks on free press occurred under a presidential administration and the legacy media have collectively shrugged. Why? Because it was carried out by a Democrat administration and not President Donald Trump. It’s that simple. On Tuesday, former special counsel Jack Smith—who served under former President Joe Biden—testified before the Senate… -
opinion
Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Can’t Afford to Repeat Bush’s Biggest Mistake
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal senior contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for the Daily Signal. Do you think it’s possible that we’re on the edge of a boom and we don’t even… -
breaking
Ohio Lawmakers Succeed in Passing Bill to Suspend Gas Tax
While Ohio drivers are seeing increasingly high gas prices, state lawmakers just moved a step closer to providing some relief. On Wednesday, both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly approved House Bill 519, temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax for 90 days, which could get drivers lower prices at the pump through the holiday season…. -
news
Federal Judge Asks Pro-Transgender Lawyer About Double Standard on Cosmetic Surgery
A man who identifies as a woman sued Aetna for refusing to cover his transgender facial surgery, claiming discrimination, even though Aetna says it would not cover cosmetic procedures for a woman who suffers distress from not looking feminine enough. A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit heard oral… -
news
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to Host First-Ever Anti-Communist Film Festival
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will host its first-ever Anti-Communist Film Festival beginning Oct. 1. Elizabeth Spalding, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation chairman, said the selected movies are meant to appeal to a wide variety of audiences of all ages and genre preferences. The festival will open with “Pilecki’s Report,” a Polish movie… -
opinion
It’s Been One Week …
Friends of mine like to shrug off accusations of being “conspiracy theorists” by saying what they are engaged in is called “pattern recognition.” Just over a week into Virginia’s 2026 midterm voting, a familiar pattern is emerging. Based on the statistics carefully collected and curated by the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP.org), we are seeing… -
opinion
Victor Davis Hanson: ‘Inclusive’ Stanford University Caught Red-Handed Using AI to Race Swap Student
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words” from Daily Signal senior contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to Victor Davis Hanson’s own YouTube channel to watch past episodes. Jack Fowler: Victor, let’s talk about—you ever heard of Stanford University, Victor? Victor Davis Hanson: I have some recollection of it. … -
news
Catholic Bishop Calls for Month of Fasting and Prayer to Defeat Virginia Ballot Measures
Bishop Michael Burbidge is asking Catholics to spend October fasting and praying to defeat two proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. In a video posted Tuesday, Burbidge asked Catholics to observe two weekly disciplines during the month. On Fridays, he asked them to pray the Stations of the Cross and to fast—eating only one full… -
analysis
1 Local Issue Is Shaking Up Races in Key Battleground States
Virginia is one of the first states to open its polls, and I cast my ballot the day early voting began. There’s a lot at stake this election year in the commonwealth, particularly Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendments on abortion and marriage. But Virginia is hardly alone among the states that will shape the direction of… -
news
Jack Smith Scooped Up Reporters’ Phone Data in Trump Probe: ‘Massive First Amendment Breach’
Conservative media outlets pushed back after revelations that former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigators obtained communications from nearly 50 journalists at more than a dozen media outlets on both the right and the left. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, revealed the information Tuesday. The Senate Judiciary Committee previously exposed that Smith and the Justice… -
Professor Censored Over Mock Land Acknowledgment Speaks Out Against University ‘Orthodoxy’ After Court Win
A Washington state computer science professor who won a First Amendment lawsuit against his university over its response to his mock land acknowledgement says the campus culture that fueled the controversy remains firmly entrenched. “It’s kind of scary. They broke the law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the “9th Circuit said you broke the… -
news
Trump Suggests 10-Person Committee to ‘Watch Over” AI
President Donald Trump said he is thinking of forming a committee for policing artificial intelligence. He spoke to reporters after eating lunch with top tech executives, administration officials, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. “There’s going to be a tremendous self-policing aspect” with respect to AI, Trump said. “We’re also thinking about forming a committee of… -
news
Supreme Court Move Could Have Major Consequences for Trump Deportation Policy
The Supreme Court lifted the injunction against deporting illegal immigrants to a country other than their country of origin, known as sending them to a “third country,” and announced it will hear a case on the Trump administration’s policy. The case, D.V.D. v. Department of Homeland Security, is about whether the government can deport illegal… -
news
More Than 200 Virginia Pastors Sign Letter Opposing Constitutional Amendments
A pastoral letter that encourages Virginia voters to reject a pair of proposed amendments to the state constitution is going viral, with more than 200 signatures as of Tuesday morning, and more expected in the days ahead. The letter asks Virginians to reject both Ballot Question 1, which would enshrine the right to an abortion… -
news
Federal Judge Blocks University of California From Punishing Students for ‘Misgendering’
The University of California tells students that using pronouns or names corresponding to a person’s sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity can constitute sexual harassment. Now, an education watchdog has won an early victory in court to stop it from enforcing its misgendering policy. The ruling comes amid a First Amendment challenge to… -
news
Ten Commandments, Deportations, and Gun Rights: Supreme Court Choosing America’s Next Legal Battles
The Ten Commandments, the deep state, detention of illegal immigrants, and more Second Amendment questions could be on the Supreme Court’s docket early next year, as justices gather this week to determine what cases make the cut. Justices first met Monday for what is called a “long conference” to sift through cases submitted over the… -
news
MI Candidate Who Begged Hasan Piker for a Show Appearance Hates on the Nuclear Family
William Lawrence, a Democrat candidate for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, who once begged leftist streamer Hasan Piker for an appearance on his show, called the nuclear-family home an “isolating, individualistic, violent way of organizing society” in a now-deleted X post. “Biggest W of my late 20s was finding a long-term stable co-op house. F— isolation… -
news
Vance Says He and Trump ‘Aggressively Thought Through’ How to Pass SAVE America
Vice President JD Vance said he and President Donald Trump have “aggressively” considered how to pass the SAVE America Act, the White House’s voter ID legislation. Vance told the Daily Caller’s Vince Coglianese that he and the president have considered every option for how to take over the Senate floor and pass the bill. “The…