Daily Signal News

Gabe Johnson was sitting in his apartment Saturday night in Portland, Oregon, when he heard the gunshots that took the life of a man later identified as Aaron "Jay" Danielson.  Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran and Portland local, has watched the violence unfold in his city over the past three months. He also watched with frustration as the media often failed to report what is actually happening there.  After he heard the gunshots Saturday night, Johnson said, he was concerned that the media would not report the incident accurately, so he walked the four blocks to the scene of the crime to see the situation firsthand.  Johnson joins the podcast to explain what he witnessed and what it has been like living so close to the ongoing riots in Portland. Click here to support Johnson's fundraiser for police chaplains in and around Portland, Oregon. We also cover these stories:  President Trump is going to Wisconsin despite a request by Gov. Tony Evers that he not visit the state. The case of former national securi

The left largely has ignored the Trump administration's role in negotiating the recent peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.  The Abraham Accord, announced Aug. 13, normalizes relations between the Jewish state and the UAE. Helen Raleigh, policy fellow at the Centennial Institute and a senior contributor at The Federalist, calls the agreement a historic achievement.  Raleigh joins the podcast to explain how the Israel-UAE accord could affect diplomatic relations in the Middle East for years to come, and why the mainstream media has chosen to ignore its significance. She also discusses how the Chinese Communist Party strategically spreads propaganda on American college campuses.  Plus, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a nonprofit that converted its parking lot into an outdoor learning center and tutoring hub for children who are distance learning this fall.  Enjoy the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about

Netflix in early September is releasing a French film, "Cuties,” which has been criticized for its hypersexualization of young children. Some of the promotional material for the film has likewise been criticized, for which Netflix has since apologized. Lila Rose, the founder and president of Live Action, a nonprofit opposed to abortion and dedicated to promoting a culture of life, characterizes the film as “the outright promotion of pedophilia" and joins "The Daily Signal Podcast” to discuss it. We also cover these stories: The Justice Department has deployed about 200 federal agents to Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid the violence and unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an African American man, on Sunday.  President Barack Obama praised the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks for boycotting a playoff game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night in response to the Blake shooting.  An additional 1 million Americans filed for unemployment insurance benefits last week.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv

Portland, Oregon, is three months into rioting after the May 25 death of George Floyd with no end in sight. What do you think is the driving force behind the continued violence? The far-left anarchist group Antifa has been behind a lot of the violence in Portland. How is the situation developing? Lora Reis, a senior research fellow for homeland security at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss it.  We also cover these stories: Two people are dead and a third was badly wounded after a third night of violence Tuesday and into Wednesday morning in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man. Julia Jackson—the mother of Blake, the 29-year-old man shot multiple times by police Sunday in Kenosha—had harsh words for rioters in an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, and she also apologized to President Donald Trump for missing his call.  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers turned down federal assistance to curb the violence in Kenosha.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri

Riots have erupted in the state of Wisconsin following the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by police on Sunday night. What happened? The Racine County Eye reported that rioters have taken over Kenosha, Wisconsin and that the area has turned into a war zone. Is that is a fair assessment of what is happening? Brett Healy, president of the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy, joins The Daily Signal Podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: President Trump is now looking to make Chad Wolf the official secretary of the department of homeland security. Jacob Blake, the 29-year-old man shot in the back by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is reportedly paralyzed from the waist down.  Greg Goodman, co-president of Portland’s Downtown Development group, is speaking out about conditions in Portland hurting businesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A French teacher at West Point High School in West Point, Virginia, was fired for not using pronouns preferred by a transgender student. Should people be forced to contradict their core beliefs just to keep a job? Can you be compelled to speak a message you don't believe in? Caleb Dalton, a counsel with the Christian legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom who represents the teacher, Peter Vlaming, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the issues involved. We also cover these stories: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before a House oversight committee on Monday.  Riots broke out in Wisconsin following the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, by police on Sunday night.  Kellyanne Conway, a long-time adviser to President Donald Trump, is leaving the White House.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daily Signal's White House correspondent, Fred Lucas, had a front row seat to the impeachment of President Donald Trump, an impeachment that Lucas says began even before Trump took office.  Lucas’ newly released book, “Abuse of Power: Inside the Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump,” dives deep into the left's plot to remove the president from office and the key players involved in the partisan effort.  Lucas joins the podcast to discuss his book and how the American people should view Trump’s impeachment.  Also on today’s show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about a 107-year-old woman who has beaten both the Spanish flu and COVID-19.  Click here to purchase a copy of "Abuse of Power: Inside The Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump." Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elias Zarate was told he could not pursue his dream of being a barber in Tennessee because he didn't have a high school diploma. Zarate, whose mother died when he was a child, dropped out of school as a teen to support two younger siblings. As an adult, he found his passion in barbering. Braden Boucek, a lawyer at the Beacon Center, heard Zarate’s story and stepped in to help the aspiring barber fight a legal battle to realize his dream. Boucek and Zarate join today’s podcast to share their story of working together for two years to cut through government red tape.  We also cover these stories: Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to President Trump, is one of four men charged with running an online fundraising scam based on building a border wall. A federal district court judge rules against the president in his battle to hold onto his tax records. A $600 million settlement is reached in Michigan over the Flint water crisis. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Lea

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called lawmakers back early to vote on legislation centered on the U.S. Postal Service. Pelosi and the Democrats asked Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan to come before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Aug. 24, fast-tracking a hearing originally set for mid-September. What is really going on with the Postal Service? Is it true that the Postal Service is removing sorting machines to sabotage mail delivery before the November election? David Ditch, a research associate in budget and transportation issues at The Heritage Foundation who focuses on federal spending and fiscal policy, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss. We also cover these stories: A group of Democrat and Republican lawmakers asks House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to focus on issues faced by minorities and women during the coronavirus pandemic.  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proposes legislation to prevent citi

For many families, home has become both office and school during the coronavirus pandemic. Parents across America are facing the challenge this fall of managing a full-time job with their child's education. Memories of a chaotic spring have driven moms and dads to find creative solutions. Education pods are one way families can ensure their children still get a good education during the pandemic. Jenny Clark, founder of Love Your School and Cottage School Life, joins the podcast to explain how she created a pod in her community and how you can do the same.  Check out Jenny Clark's website here: Love Your School. We also cover these stories: The state of California suffers from electrical blackouts for the first time in 19 years.  The Senate Intelligence Committee releases the fifth and final volume of the report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. President Trump pardons women’s rights icon Susan B. Anthony. We want to improve your podcast experience. Find our five-minute survey at dailysignal

How has the pro-life movement affected culture and politics? Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony List, examines that impact in her new book, "Life Is Winning: Inside the Fight for Unborn Children and Their Mothers." She joins the podcast to discuss how the pro-life cause went from “an orphaned political problem” to a winning issue "embraced at the highest levels of the Republican Party,” how women built the pro-life movement, and more.  We also cover these stories: The Trump administration announces plans to begin drilling for oil and gas in 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska.  Protests against police in Seattle again become violent, and police arrest 18 on Sunday when another riot breaks out.  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks in support of the city's police Sunday after violence erupts again over the weekend.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kimberly Ells arrived at the United Nations excited to engage in work to strengthen families around the world. What she found was an agenda to dismantle the traditional family, promote sexuality to children, and reduce parenthood to a burdensome civil construct.  Kimberly Ells, a policy adviser for Family Watch International and author of the new book, “The Invincible Family: Why the Global Campaign to Crush Motherhood and Fatherhood Can't Win,” joins the podcast to explain the anti-family agenda being promoted by the United Nations.  Also on today’s show, we read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about peaceful gatherings of prayer and worship taking place in cities that have been most hurt by riots.   To watch Sean Feucht's full Fox News interview, click here. Visit the Hold The Line website here. Please take five minutes to complete The Daily Signal Podcast survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi

Progressive activists seek to expand sex education in schools across America to include topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity. Their proposed curriculum also promotes abortion. On today's episode of "The Daily Signal Podcast," we listen in on The Heritage Foundation's virtual event Wednesday, the Protecting Children in Education Summit. Participants break down proposed leftist curriculum and addresses how Americans can stand against the sexualization of children. We'll hear from Irene H. Ericksen, senior research analyst at the Institute for Research & Evaluation; Monica Cline, a former sex educator with Planned Parenthood who founded the group It Takes a Family; and Mary Hasson, the Kate O'Beirne fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Serving as moderator for the discussion is Jonathan Butcher, senior policy analyst at Heritage's Center for Education Policy. We also cover these stories: President Trump announces a historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Janice Dean is Fox News' senior meteorologist. She lost both of her in-laws to COVID-19, and then was pulled from testifying at hearings on New York nursing home deaths. Why was she prevented from testifying, and what does she think of how New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has handled COVID-19? Dean joins the podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of China’s growing threat to the free world.  The United Kingdom's GDP went down by 20.4%, which is the sharpest decline any major economy has ever seen.  Hoboken, New Jersey is considering implementing a $250 fine for not wearing a mask outside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hundreds of vandals looted Chicago businesses Sunday night and into Monday morning. The images of shattered storefronts in and around the city's Loop look more like a war zone than an American city.  John Tillman, chairman and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, joins the podcast to offer insight into how the streets of Chicago so quickly fell into chaos, and what must be done to prevent further violence and looting.  Tillman also explains how Illinois' economy may be affected by the city’s surge in criminal activity and spike in murders this year.  We also cover these stories: The police chief of Seattle resigns after the City Council votes to cut the department's budget by almost $4 million. The Chicago man accused of firing shots at police officers Sunday afternoon is now charged with two counts of attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that his nation has approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. “The Daily Signal Podcast” is available on Ricochet, App

It’s not just statues and American history that are under attack. The most essential ideas from America’s founding are under siege and on trial. Robert R. Reilly, the director of the Westminster Institute and widely published author, joined “The Right Side of History” podcast to discuss his new book “America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding.” Reilly discusses the deeper origins of the American Revolution—rooted in Western thought, philosophy, and religion—and explains why America’s current success and survival depends on embracing those ideas rather than abandoning them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A battle is raging for the future of our nation as "extremists and criminals literally try to rip out [statues and other monuments] to destroy the history of America," Interior Secretary David Bernhardt says. Bernhardt joins the podcast to explain how he is working alongside President Donald Trump to protect monuments that tell the story of America. The interior secretary also discusses the president’s signing of the Great American Outdoors Act and how the administration is preserving our national parks. We also read your letters to the editor and share a good news story about an 8-year-old boy who started an organization to serve veterans, seniors, and others in need.  Please take five minutes to complete The Daily Signal survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of June, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to "defund" the city's police. Now crime is on the rise.  John Hinderaker, president of the Minnesota policy organization Center of the American Experiment, joins the show to explain what the future may hold for the Minneapolis Police Department and what his organization is doing to support local law enforcement.  We also cover these stories:  New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, moves to shut down the National Rifle Association.  The votes of more than 84,000 New York City residents weren't counted during the summer’s Democratic primary.  A Secret Service report reveals that many shootings are carried out with illegal guns.  Please take five minutes to complete The Daily Signal survey here. Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A large explosion Tuesday in Beirut, Lebanon, killed at least 100 and wounded 4,000 others, authorities say. The president of Lebanon said the explosion was caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that was not safely stored. Was foul play involved? How should Lebanon respond? Are there likely to be any shifts of power because of what happened? Jim Phillips, senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at The Heritage Foundation, joins the podcast to discuss. We also cover these stories: Sally Yates, deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about investigating the 2016 Trump campaign.  Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., asks Attorney General William Barr to investigate the vandalism of Catholic churches across the country in recent weeks.  New York City cracks down on out-of-state travelers by setting up checkpoints at the main entries to all five boroughs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your a

Climate activists continue to sound the alarm over carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. Caleb Rossiter, the executive director of CO2 Coalition, an organization of climate scientists and experts who research and report the facts of climate change, joins the show to explain just how worried we really should or should not be about the planet's warming.  Rossiter also explains “a long campaign to … cancel climate voices in the mainstream media,” including his own.  To learn more about CO2 Coalition, visit the website or Facebook page. We also cover these stories:  The New York City health commissioner has left her job, reportedly over New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s handling of the coronavirus.  The Trump administration announced Tuesday that the Justice Department is giving $35 million in grant money to help survivors of human trafficking.  Ariana Pekary resigned from her position as a producer at MSNBC and has released an open letter describing mainstream cable news networks as a "cancer.” E