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

CAL THOMAS: Bernie Sandres, Hillary Clinton sell bigger government

Watching last Thursday's debate between Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, one might have thought a Republican had been in the White House for nearly eight years. Published February 8, 2016

CAL THOMAS: The failure of multiculturalism

Just as radar warns of approaching storms, so does the flood of migrants entering Europe warn us of a deluge yet to come, not only for Europeans, if they continue to allow unrestricted immigration, but for the United States. Published February 3, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Voters get the leaders they deserve

In the beginning there was a combative media. Dating back to Colonial America, as Eric Burns has chronicled in his book, "Infamous Scribblers," politicians and journalists have mostly had a love (for Democrats)-hate (for Republicans) relationship. It is television and the advent of the celebrity culture -- from TMZ to "Entertainment Tonight," to now even broadcast news -- that has taken the process to new depths. Published February 1, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Companies line up to do business with Iran

For anyone whose knowledge of history extends beyond the current season of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" or the latest instant replay of an NFL game, the four days of meetings involving Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, European leaders and businesses should remind people we have seen this show before. Published January 27, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Donald Trump is not a conservative

When the publisher of National Review, Jack Fowler, called and asked me to write 300 words on why I oppose Donald Trump for president of the United States, my first thought was about the derision that was sure to come from Trump supporters. Published January 25, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Obama trades Iran dollars for hostages

Every American should be glad that American hostages have been freed by the tyrannical Iranian regime and are being reunited with family, friends and co-workers. Published January 20, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Too big to fail, the sequel

Movie sequels are rarely as good as the original films on which they're based. The same dictum, it appears, holds for finance. The 2008 housing market collapse was bad enough, but it appears now that we're on the verge of experiencing it all again. And the financial sequel, working from a similar script as its original version, could prove to be just as devastating to the American taxpayer. Published January 18, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Hillary’s decline

It's happening again. The "inevitability" of Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy may not be so inevitable after all. Unlike eight years ago when Barack Obama beat her for the Democratic nomination and ultimately won the office Hillary and her supporters believed she was entitled to, this time her main opponent is not just Sen. Bernie Sanders, a socialist, it is Hillary Clinton herself. Published January 13, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Solutions to poverty, not posturing

In sports, if a game plan is not working, the coach changes it. In medicine, if a course of treatment does not cure a disease, doctors try a different approach. In government, failure means nothing. Government keeps cash flowing with little regard for results. In government, failure endures. Published January 11, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Obama’s gun restrictions won’t deter lawbreakers

I'm still waiting for someone to show me how laws stop a person intent on breaking them. Published January 6, 2016

CAL THOMAS: ‘Finding your Roots’ confirms American is the melting pot

Ever since the miniseries "Roots" was shown on ABC in 1977, Americans have demonstrated a keen interest in finding out more about where they came from and the names and circumstances of their ancestors. Published January 4, 2016

CAL THOMAS: Taking stock of big media

Taking stock is a tradition observed by Jews at Yom Kippur and others who examine their lives at the end of a year and vow to improve in the new year. Published December 30, 2015

CAL THOMAS: The sum of all fears

President Obama and members of his administration assure us we have nothing to fear when it comes to terrorism. Whether you accept this or not -- and opinion polls show a majority do not -- there is another fear that in large part is behind the phenomenon known as Donald Trump. It is the fear we are in danger of losing America. Published December 28, 2015

CAL THOMAS: No peace or goodwill

Not for a long time has the world seemed so removed from the angelic proclamation of 2,000 years ago: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). Published December 23, 2015

CAL THOMAS: Republicans surrender to the ‘dark side’

Since nearly everyone else seems to be employing "Star Wars" metaphors these days, permit me to use some of my own. Published December 21, 2015

CAL THOMAS: GOP debate No. 5, and counting

Each of the Republican presidential candidates brings something good to the race for the GOP nomination and some things not so good. In the fifth and final GOP debate of the year, the candidates on the main stage, and even a few on the "undercard," presented ideas and positions that many Republican voters would consider far better than those of the president we have now. Published December 16, 2015

CAL THOMAS: The hot air pollutes Paris

If representatives of the nearly 200 nations gathered in Paris for the U.N. Conference on Climate Change had instead formed a coalition to fight a real threat — Islamic terrorism — they might have accomplished something useful. Instead, what they came up with is a document that even Secretary of State John Kerry, in a rare moment of candor, confessed is pointless. Published December 14, 2015