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

Britain to EU: Good riddance

The Brits are not the only ones who want to take back their country Published June 27, 2016

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump not respected by voters

Ranking right up there with the line, "Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?" is this recent headline in The Washington Times: "Honesty issues aside, voters still back Hillary Clinton, poll shows." Published June 22, 2016

Gun restrictions invite mass murder

Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Massachusetts Democrat, recently disclosed that a congressional investigation has found at least 72 employees of the Department of Homeland Security listed on the U.S. terrorist watch list. Published June 20, 2016

Hillary Clinton most bought, paid for candidate

"Raymond Shaw is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life." -- Frank Sinatra, as Maj. Bennett Marco Published June 15, 2016

Congress should declare war on terrorist groups

Credit President Obama for finally using the words he has desperately tried to avoid during his presidency. He correctly called the mass shooting in an Orlando gay nightclub Sunday morning, which killed 49 and injured 53, "an act of terror." It was, writes The New York Times, the "deadliest attack on a gay target in the nation's history." Published June 13, 2016

Donald Trump says beating Hillary Clinton will end Obama era

If there is one explanation for Donald Trump's success it is this: Unlike most Republicans, he fights back. He may not have the late Muhammad Ali's finesse, but he sees himself as more than capable of dealing a "knockout" punch to Hillary Clinton in November. That ought to be the goal of any Republican presidential nominee. Published June 8, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Hillary Clinton and the ‘what if’ scenarios

Some believe that soon after Tuesday's final presidential primaries the FBI will interview Hillary Clinton about her handling of emails while she was secretary of state. What comes next is the subject of much speculation. Published June 6, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Black success stories would be more inspiring than ‘Roots’ remake

My musical tastes do not include rap and hip-hop, but when Snoop Dogg comments on the "Roots" remake, saying he is tired of movies about slavery and would prefer a series "about the success that black folks are having," he is singing my song. Published June 1, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Hillary Clinton’s false claim she turned over all of her emails

"Rules are made to be broken" is a saying that has many variations, but perhaps no one has summed up Hillary Clinton's attitude (and Bill's, too) about rules more than the late science-fiction writer, Robert A. Heinlein, who said: "I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do." Published May 30, 2016

CAL THOMAS: A better way to run for president

The frustration of many voters over the way presidential candidates are selected has come to a head with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the presumptive nominees of their respective parties. Published May 25, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Donald Trump and the Supreme Court

In releasing his list of potential Supreme Court nominees, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has begun to solidify his support among conservatives as perhaps no other announcement could do. Published May 23, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Hamilton: Lessons from the man and the musical

The popularity of the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton" offers us all an opportunity to consider the wisdom of one of our most prolific Founding Fathers -- while we wait in line for tickets. Published May 18, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Signs of rotting moral values

"If you won't stand for something, you will fall for anything." -- quote attributed to numerous sources Published May 16, 2016

CAL THOMAS: North Carolina fights back in the restroom

Standing on principle, not to mention common sense, is so rare these days that when someone does it he makes headlines. That's because you can quickly be labeled a "bigot" if you oppose a lot of the sludge dumped on us by the secular left, and few can withstand the onslaught. Published May 11, 2016