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Cal Thomas

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Cal Thomas

tcaeditors@tribune.com

Cal Thomas is one of the most widely syndicated political columnists in America. Based in Washington, he is a wide-ranging social commentator, not a "beltway insider," who supports traditional conservative values and the American "can-do spirit." He'll take on virtually any topic, from the decline of the family to growing terrorism worldwide.
A syndicated columnist since 1984, he is the author of “America’s Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires, Superpowers and the United States” (HarperCollins/Zondervan, January 2020). His latest book is “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen in 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books, May 2023). Readers may email Mr. Thomas at tcaeditors@tribune.com.

Columns by Cal Thomas

The Vietnam War, Iran war and President Donald Trump Illustration generated by ChatGPT for The Washington Times

Lessons for Iran from the Vietnam War

We Americans are an impatient lot. If we must engage in warfare, then we would prefer it to be wrapped up in weeks, not months, and certainly not years.

March 30, 2026

Political instant replay between Democrats and Republicans' battles illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Voters stuck in political instant replay as Democrats and Republicans recycle the same battles

In sports, the instant replay was invented and first used by a man named Tony Verna on the Dec. 7, 1963, broadcast of the Army-Navy football game on CBS.

March 25, 2026

Blue states lose billions in tax revenue as residents leave Illustration generated by ChatGPT for The Washington Times

Blue states lose billions in revenue as Americans head for lower taxes

Even someone with only a rudimentary understanding of economics should know that if you tax a business or individual beyond their level of tolerance, they will leave.

March 23, 2026

Government Waste Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Trump’s second coming of DOGE

President Trump has signed an executive order creating a task force to crack down on fraud in government programs.

March 18, 2026

Illustration on America's radical Islamist enemies by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

How many terror attacks before U.S. government confronts Islamist networks at home

By unleashing a war on Iran to prevent the ayatollahs from building a nuclear weapon and deliver freedom to the Iranian people, President Trump has acted as no other president has.

March 16, 2026

Iran and nuclear weapons illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

What if those Iranian bombs had nuclear warheads?

Criticism of President Trump's bombing campaign against the Iranian regime continues from most Democrats and a few Republicans.

March 11, 2026

FILE - State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, greets supporters at a primary election watch party in Austin, Texas, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Texas voters, don’t be fooled by James Talarico

Democrats have had trouble in recent years attracting conservative evangelical voters, who vote mostly for Republicans.

March 9, 2026

Putting Bill and Hillary Clinton in jail illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Epstein depositions revive Clintons’ long war with credibility

How much faith should one have put in the veracity of Bill Clinton when he testified last week that he'd done "nothing wrong" in his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein?

March 4, 2026

Trump and Iran illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Trump takes the fight to Iran and shatters decades of hesitation

If you want to look at it this way, President Trump is keeping his promise to end wars by taking out the Iranian regime, which has made war on us and underwritten terrorism since its 1979 revolution.

March 2, 2026

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, as Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., listen. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

At State of the Union, Trump showcases patriotism (and bravado) while Democrats turn petty

Most State of the Union addresses are forgettable the moment they end. Not this one.

February 25, 2026

President Donald Trump gestures during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)

Trump: Insulter in chief

Each time one thinks President Trump has reached the lowest level possible in insulting his enemies, he finds new depths to plunge.

February 23, 2026

FILE - Democratic presidential primary candidate Jesse Jackson speaks to a group of his supporters at a rally held at a Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio, April 14, 1984. (AP Photo/Rob Burns, File)

Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson

President Trump called the Rev. Jesse Jackson "a force of nature," and so he was.

February 18, 2026

Illustration on the need for an Article V Convention of the States by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

Convention of states offers constitutional path to restrain runaway federal power

It's only February, but news networks are obsessed with the November elections. Why all the attention?

February 16, 2026

FILE - A person walks into the One Franklin Square Building, home of The Washington Post newspaper, June 21, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

The decline of The Washington Post

Unless you work -- or used to work, given the layoffs and closings of so many newspapers -- in the declining profession of journalism, you may not be aware of the problems at The Washington Post.

February 11, 2026

Illustration on Obama's scheme to fast track illegal immigrants into citizen and voter status by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

The other voter fraud: Clinton and Biden programs fueled mass naturalization for political gain

When President Trump claims "voter fraud" in previous elections, what usually comes to my mind is non-U.S. citizens casting ballots.

February 9, 2026

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listen during the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) ** FILE **

Will there be consequences if the Clintons lie about Epstein?

Bill and Hillary Clinton have finally announced that they will give sworn depositions concerning what they know about the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

February 4, 2026

Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger during an interview at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 6, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Spanberger’s needless tax hike plans will cause a Virginia exodus

At first it seemed like something from the satirical newspaper "Babylon Bee." The new governor of Virginia has proposed a tax hike on services such as dog walking and grooming.

February 2, 2026

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey holds a news conference on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck) ** FILE **

Foul, nuclear rhetoric has only inflamed Minneapolis, ICE tensions

Ancient proverbs can be helpful in adjusting our language and behavior in ways that can benefit every generation.

January 28, 2026

President Donald Trump versus Democrats illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Trump admin must counterprogram the Democrats’ ICE lies

If you follow what presents itself as "reporting," you've likely heard about a 5-year-old boy in Minneapolis who was used as "bait" to get his father, who'd abandoned him, to return.

January 26, 2026

Mitt Romney illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Mitt Romney, Republican who wants to raise taxes

Congress is debating major funding bills that would avoid another of those phony government "shutdowns," now scheduled for Jan. 30.

January 21, 2026