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Cal Thomas

Cal Thomas

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

Chaplain Commie Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Bernie Sanders, Charlie Chaplin and no more billionaires

He was the Bernie Sanders of his day. Charlie Chaplin, the iconic actor and at the time a well-known political leftist (some said Communist), delivered a speech in San Francisco in 1941 prior to America's entry into World War II. Published October 23, 2019

Illustration on Hillary Clinton by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

The Hillary Clinton vs. Tulsi Gabbard smackdown

Last week, Mrs. Clinton accused Congresswoman Gabbard of being a "Russian asset" as she offered new excuses beyond the real ones for why she lost the 2016 election. Published October 21, 2019

Illustration on President Trump’s comments by Paul Tong/Tribune Content Agency

President Trump’s caustic personality

Depending on the polls you read and how you read them, nearly half of those surveyed want the House impeachment inquiry of President Trump to continue. Published October 16, 2019

FILE - In this May 28, 1972 file photo, U.S. Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., appears on TV 's "Face the Nation." The Sunday morning public affairs show "Face the Nation" celebrates 60 years of broadcasts this week, making it the second longest-running television program on the air. (AP Photo/Jeff Robbins, File)

Trump channels George McGovern

Does the president seriously believe Mr. Erdogan will bow to threats from one he likely considers an "infidel" leader of the "great Satan," as another Islamist state, Iran, has called us? Published October 9, 2019

God’s Guiding Light Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

The political power debate about among those of faith looms large for Trump

The debate about political power and authority among those who profess the Christian faith has raged since the 1st century. In modern America, the debate raged throughout Jimmy Carter's presidency and more recently through the presidencies of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The debate now looms large for Donald Trump. Published October 2, 2019

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. holds up a copy of a released transcript of a phone call between President Donald Trump and the President of Ukraine as Schumer speaks to the media about an impeachment inquiry on President Trump, Wednesday Sept. 25, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Ukraine, a political rerun for Democrats

The same bunch who brought us the failed Russian "collusion" story, the sliming of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and charges that President Trump is a racist, are now rerunning the same show with different characters. Published September 30, 2019

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 file photo, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends an interview with the Associated Press before the Climate Strike, at City Hall, in New York. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is among four people named Wednesday as the winners of a Right Livelihood Award, also known as the "Alternative Nobel." Thunberg is being recognized "for inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts," the prize foundation said. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)

Greta Thunberg’s message of climate doom misses the mark

How much credibility should we give to a 16-year-old when considering her qualifications to lecture adults about science and an end-of-the-world scenario? Greta Thunberg has been dubbed by the media as a "climate change activist" and a teen "eco-warrior." Published September 25, 2019

Illustration on  mentors by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

A tribute to my journalism mentors

They are all gone now; the men (and one woman) who were major influences in my early journalism career. The last two died within weeks of each other. They were Jack Perkins and Sander Vanocur, both veterans of NBC News where I started as a copyboy. Published September 23, 2019

In this Oct. 8, 2018, file photo, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh stands before a ceremonial swearing-in in the East Room of the White House in Washington. At least two Democratic presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Kamala Harris are calling for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in the face of a new, uninvestigated, allegation of sexual impropriety when he was in college.  (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The Brett Kavanaugh reboot

When the U.S. Supreme Court, under a previous ideological majority, was handing down decisions favorable to the left, Democrats were fine with deferring to that third branch of government to achieve what they declined to produce in legislation. Published September 18, 2019

People wave banners depicting Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, during a protest march in support of the National Health Service (NHS), as winter conditions are thought to have put severe strain on health services, in London Saturday Feb. 3, 2018.  The Government is urged to provide funds for beds and staff to ease the problems facing the NHS medical services. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

When government runs health care

"When would you like to schedule your knee replacement surgery?" asked my American doctor before I left for Ireland? I gave him a date that works for me (I'm calling it the result of an old basketball injury, not advancing age.) His office scheduled it for that date. Published September 11, 2019

Resolute Support (RS) forces guard at the site of a car bomb explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. The Afghan government says at least 10 civilians are dead and another 42 wounded after a Taliban suicide car bombing rocked the Afghan capital near a neighborhood housing the U.S. Embassy and the NATO Resolute Support mission. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

President Trump dealing with the Taliban devil

President Trump was right to cancel a "secret" meeting with leaders of the Taliban and the Afghan government following two bomb attacks by the terrorist group that killed 10 civilians, an American soldier and a Romanian service member in heavily fortified Kabul. Published September 9, 2019

Coming After Retirement Savings Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

‘Will Democrats tax your retirement savings?’

We regularly hear from Democrats how rich people aren't paying their "fair share," though they never tell us what they consider fair and how much of that share they think government should seize. Published September 4, 2019

Former FBI Director James B. Comey has been found to have violated agency policies in his handling of memos documenting private conversations with President Trump. (Associated Press/File)

Unequal justice for James Comey

One doesn't have to be a cynic to be cynical about the Justice Department's decision not to hold former FBI Director James B. Comey accountable for what an inspector general's report called his violation of FBI policies and his setting a "dangerous example" in order to "achieve a personally desired outcome." Published September 2, 2019

Homeless tents are shown along a street in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

They’ve lost their minds in San Francisco

San Francisco, a city described in song for its natural beauty, is descending into an abyss of homelessness, the use of sidewalks as toilets and a place you might not want to visit, much less live. Published August 26, 2019