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

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog as new Republican Party (GOP) symbol illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Republicans should trade in elephant symbol for one that reflects today’s party

After watching too many of the Republican non-debates and the insults each of the candidates have thrown at one another, it's time for a dose of reality. Published January 15, 2024

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, where nine worshippers were killed in a mass shooting by a white supremacist in 2015. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Biden prefers identity politics to improving Black Americans’ lives

President Biden is "down" with Black voters, and I'm not speaking street slang. Published January 10, 2024

Biden vs. Trump: The evil of two lessers

Some voters have complained about being forced to choose between "the lesser of two evils" in recent elections. In the 2024 election, it appears we are heading for an even worse choice: the evil of two lessers. Published January 8, 2024

Harvard University President Claudine Gay speaks during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Dec. 5, 2023, in Washington. Gay resigned Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, amid plagiarism accusations and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say unequivocally that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) **FILE**

Institutions of ‘higher learning’: Harvard President Claudine Gay is a symptom, not the cause

Harvard President Claudine Gay and many other university presidents are only a symptom of what's wrong with our system of education, from bottom to top. Published January 3, 2024

Migrants queue in the cold as they look for a shelter outside a migrant assistance center at St. Brigid Elementary School on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in New York. It could be a cold, grim New Year for thousands of migrant families living in New York City’s emergency shelter system. With winter setting in, they are being told they need to clear out, with no guarantee they’ll be given a bed elsewhere. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Biden is not ‘faithfully executing’ immigration law

The oath all presidents take includes a promise to "faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Published January 1, 2024

Remembering 1924 illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Looking back, looking forward: The year 1924

At the end of the year, we hear predictions about the future, many of which have been proved wrong -- from the end of the world due to climate change to the telephone is just a toy. Published December 27, 2023

Foreign infiltrated American universities and colleges through Middle East donations illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Media ignorance and apathy: Failure to investigate foreign donations to U.S. universities

The joke is told about a poll-taker who asks about ignorance and apathy in the country. "I don't know, and I don't care," says the respondent. Published December 26, 2023

Gifts that keep on giving for Christmas illustration by The Washington Times

Children’s Scholarship Fund: A gift that will keep on giving

Admit it. Unless you received a big-ticket item for Christmas last year -- such as a car -- you likely have forgotten what was under your tree. Published December 18, 2023

Propagandists rotting America's education system illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Rotting intellectual fruit: The root causes of lower learning

We are constantly told it is necessary to find the "root causes" of everything: crime, illegal immigration, the wave of antisemitism spreading across many college campuses and in our streets. Published December 13, 2023

Norman Lear arrives at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Lear, the writer, director and producer who revolutionized prime-time television with such topical hits as "All in the Family" and “Maude” and propelled political and social turmoil into the once-insulated world of sitcoms, has died, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. He was 101. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Norman Lear and me: TV producer was also a reasonable voice on American political scene

Television producer Norman Lear, who died last week at age 101, probably could not get away today with what he put on the small screen in the 1970s. Published December 11, 2023

The United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai food choices illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Let them eat chicken: The insanity of U.N.’s latest climate summit

The worthies attending the United Nations COP28 climate summit in Dubai are mostly not eating meat. Published December 6, 2023

In this combination of photos, Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks on Sept. 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, at left, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, speaks on Sept. 12, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo)

Newsom and DeSantis trade insults, spout talking points in disappointing debate

If you watched the so-called debate between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Gov. Gavin Newsom with the hope of witnessing something that elevated the political rhetoric, you were probably disappointed. I was. Published December 4, 2023

Pro-Palestinian protesters illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

The ignorance of pro-Palestinian protesters

Some movies are worth watching more than once. The one now playing in the Middle East isn't one of them. Published November 29, 2023

Illustration on an evangelical dilemma by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Many biblical illiterates among the evangelical fold

More than 150 Iowa "faith leaders" have announced they are supporting former President Donald Trump in the state's forthcoming caucuses. Published November 27, 2023

Illustration on gratitude for family and loved ones at Thanksgiving by Alexander Hunter/The Washington times

Have an attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving

When Abraham Lincoln issued his Proclamation of Thanksgiving in 1863, it probably seemed to many an odd time to be thankful. Published November 22, 2023

Congressional spending, debt and budget cuts illustration by Greg Groesch / The Washington Times

Solution to debt: Cut spending

Congress just passed - and President Biden just signed - the latest short-term government funding bill to keep the government running. Published November 20, 2023

Biden and a second presidential term illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

No fooling the voters: They know what they’re getting with Biden

Few politicians say things that immortalize their words. Abraham Lincoln was a notable exception. Published November 15, 2023

Envy of Jews and the Jewish State Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Gratitude and ingratitude: Jews have contributed greatly to our world

We have again entered the season of gratitude. You remember gratitude, don't you? It was what we expressed before we became entitled. Published November 13, 2023

Virginia, Ohio elections and abortion illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Virginia, Ohio elections and abortion

Elections, especially in Virginia and Ohio, should convince pro-life Republicans of their need to come up with a different strategy when it comes to abortion. Published November 8, 2023

Illustration School Choice by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

A third try in Texas for school choice

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called a third special legislative session in an attempt to push through three priorities that previous sessions have defeated. School choice is one of those priorities. Published November 6, 2023