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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

Paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Tax Day tyranny: How the 16th Amendment empowered a wasteful, unaccountable leviathan

America's annual rituals and observances include days we usually celebrate together (July Fourth, Memorial Day, Veterans Day) or as members of special groups (Passover, Easter and Christmas).

April 14, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attends a news conference discussing the Republican-backed budget plan at the Capitol, in Washington, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democrats changed their tariff tune only because Trump is in charge

Guess who said this: "China takes total advantage of the United States." Elon Musk? Nope. President Trump? Wrong. That was Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer in a 2018 radio interview.

April 9, 2025

A demonstrator carries a photo depicting Elon Musk in a uniform as they take to the streets and march during a protest against President Donald Trump on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Today’s boogeyman is Elon Musk, blame Congress instead

Boogeymen are nothing new. They have existed in the form of politicians going back to the founding of the country.

April 7, 2025

Blind Justice Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Injustice in Nashville: The case of Kevin Burns

Kevin Burns spent nearly 30 years on death row in a Nashville prison for murders that substantial evidence shows he did not commit.

April 2, 2025

The costs of violent college (universities) protests illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Why are top universities getting federal money?

Columbia University at first appeared to have surrendered to President Trump's demands that the New York school stop coddling antisemitic and anti-Israel demonstrators.

March 26, 2025

Demise of the Department of Education Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Department of Education fails to deliver after decades of increased spending

How did I, my parents, grandparents and ancestors going back to the founding of the nation manage to get a decent education before the federal Department of Education (DOE) was created?

March 24, 2025

In this photo provided by El Salvador's presidential press office, prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP)

Even Venezuelan gang members deserve their day before a judge

President Trump is using an 18th-century law, the Alien Enemies Act, to justify the deportations of hundreds of people he says are members of a vicious Venezuelan gang.

March 19, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin deals the Ukraine cards: Will Trump fold or raise the stakes?

The cliche has been that the ball is now in Russian President Vladimir Putin's court. Not any longer.

March 17, 2025

Stock market and U.S. economy illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Riding the economic roller coaster: Lessons from Reagan, Trump and the market’s wild ride

When I began investing in balanced mutual funds in 1983, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 1,190. On Monday, despite dropping more than 1,000 points, the index closed at 41,911.

March 12, 2025

Illustration on reparations by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Reparations are a bad idea

A new law permits the D.C. Council to establish a commission that will give "reparations" to descendants of enslaved people.

March 10, 2025

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Trump’s address to Congress energized Republicans

It was a partisan speech. It was an optimistic speech. It was a speech that laid the blame for inflation and the massive number of migrants and illegal drugs that entered the country.

March 5, 2025

Support Ukraine against Russia illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Ukraine Christian ministers speaking truth about Russia

Does Mr. Trump seriously believe he can make a peace deal with Mr. Putin by the force of his personality and pressuring Mr. Zelenskyy to acquiesce to something that is not in his country's best interests?

March 3, 2025

President's pride and power illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Pride before the fall: A Nixon-era warning for Trump

President Trump is on a roll, claiming victory after victory against the "swamp."

February 26, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., holding hands with Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., accompanied by other members of Congress, speaks during a rally against Elon Musk outside the Treasury Department in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Democrats cry ‘constitutional crisis,’ but they created it

Democrats are raising an alarm about what they call a "constitutional crisis." If there is one, they should know because they are to blame for it.

February 24, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin illustration by Greg Groesch / The Washington Times

Putin must be defeated

Accommodating evil never ends well.

February 19, 2025

People protest during a rally outside the Treasury Department in Washington, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Democrats protest as Trump’s DOGE squad exposes federal waste

The credit card statement contained an unfamiliar charge. I called the fraud department, which canceled the payment and sent me a new card. If only the federal government responded with similar alacrity.

February 17, 2025

Stop minting pennies illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

U.S. needs to stop minting all coins

President Trump has ordered the Treasury Department to stop minting pennies to save money.

February 12, 2025

Elon Musk listens as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show on Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Trump and Musk are spring cleaning the government

It's a bit early for spring cleaning, but that's what President Donald Trump and his faithful companion Elon Musk appear to be doing.

February 10, 2025

Democrats and rebuilding for next election illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Democrats double down on failed race and gender messaging despite election losses

It's not true, as it has been reported that Democrats don't have a "coherent message" and are wallowing in confusion.

February 5, 2025

Illustration on corporate newspaper and television media by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

New media’s rise marks legacy news outlet’s fall

The "legacy media" are in decline, and the new media are surging.

February 3, 2025