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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

Legalized gambling and professional sports illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

How legalized gambling poisoned college and professional sports

It wasn't that long ago that sports betting was illegal. Then, suddenly, it was as if profiting from, rather than controlling, this vice became paramount.

January 19, 2026

Destruction of Women Sports by Men Illustration by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

Men do not belong in women’s sports, period

In 2015, the Supreme Court declared that the 14th Amendment requires every state to grant same-sex marriages identical recognition to those of opposite-sex couples.

January 14, 2026

Protesters confront federal law enforcement officers outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore., Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

How can law enforcement ‘serve and protect’ under these conditions?

Let's start with the shooting last week of Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent while attempting to drive away from the scene of an ICE operation.

January 12, 2026

Wasteful spending in the federal government illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

How to finally stop all wasteful and fraudulent government spending

We regularly hear complaints of "waste, fraud and abuse" in Washington. Politicians make promises to root it out. Rarely do they follow through.

January 7, 2026

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro captured and arrested illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Dictators everywhere, take note: Trump means business

Venezuelans are celebrating in the streets of Caracas and around the world after U.S. forces staged a flawless removal of brutal dictator and narco-trafficker Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

January 5, 2026

Calvin Coolidge

What 1926 teaches America as 2026 approaches

"What's past is prologue," William Shakespeare wrote in "The Tempest." It was a thought profound enough to be engraved on the National Archives building in Washington.

December 31, 2025

The cult of Democrats illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Democrats’ false prophets never acknowledge failure

End-of-the-year predictions have been around at least since the days of Nostradamus, but what about past predictions?

December 29, 2025

Illustration on the value of the Christmas story by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

Christmas really about sin, forgiveness and heaven

Perhaps some of the worst people to explain the real meaning of Christmas are those who claim to believe in its central message but have trouble communicating it.

December 24, 2025

New signage that says "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts" is unveiled on the Kennedy Center, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The ‘Trump’ Kennedy Center

On Friday evening, I attended the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with my wife and two friends to listen to a wonderful performance of Handel's "Messiah."

December 22, 2025

Antisemitism illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Antisemitism thrives when hate faces no consequences

How many more Jews must die before the world wakes up and does something about it?

December 17, 2025

A sign for Time magazine is displayed outside the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Donald King)

This Christmas season offers a chance to honor those who have influenced lives without fanfare

'Tis the season. No, not that season. It's the season for end-of-year lists.

December 15, 2025

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at Mount Airy Casino Resort, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in Mount Pocono, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Will America buy Trump’s road show message?

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles says she has a plan for keeping Congress in Republican hands after next year's midterm elections.

December 10, 2025

President Donald Trump and the economy illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Is the economy about to turn in Trump’s favor?

President Trump got what might be considered some good news last week, though most of the major American media ignored it.

December 8, 2025

FILE - British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher poses for a photo in this 1980 photo. Two people are running to be Britain’s next prime minister, but a third presence looms over the contest: Margaret Thatcher. Almost a decade after her death, the late former prime minister casts a powerful spell over Britain's Conservative Party. In the race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and prime minister, both Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak claim to embody the values of Thatcher. (AP Photo/File)

Conservative giants William F. Buckley Jr. and Margaret Thatcher deserve more praise

This year is the centenary of two towering individuals in the conservative movement, neither of whom received the respect they deserved: William F. Buckley Jr. and Margaret Thatcher.

December 3, 2025

Islamic terrorists targeting the United States of America illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Where’s Islamic extremism in National Guard shooting discussion?

After the shootings of two National Guard members in the nation's capital, President Trump announced he wants to "permanently pause migration" from unstable countries.

December 1, 2025

Illustration on Thanksgiving by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

Thanksgiving has become a bump in the road to Christmas shopping season

Among my growing list of improper uses of the English language is the response I get when telling a restaurant server or anyone else, "Thank you."

November 26, 2025

Illustration on relations between Putin and Trump by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

Trump’s Russia strategy cedes victory to Putin

In 1988, when President Reagan was asked by a reporter during the summit in Moscow what his goal was in the Cold War, he said: "We win, they lose."

November 24, 2025

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive to speak during a campaign rally at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

America not ready for a female president?

Former first lady Michelle Obama says America is not ready for a female president.

November 19, 2025

Toward Socialism Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Republicans’ message not reaching younger generation enamored with socialism

In the 1967 film "Cool Hand Luke," the "Captain" says to Luke, "What we've got here is a failure to communicate." The same could be said of the Trump administration and congressional Republicans.

November 17, 2025

BBC Director-General Tim Davie is pictured at BBC World Service offices in London, Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP, File)

BBC: The biased broadcasting corporation

Two friends emailed from London about the editing scandal that led to the resignation of two top officials from the British Broadcasting Corp.

November 12, 2025