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

The French disconnection: Riots show influence of growing radical wing of Islam

Imagine the U.S. canceling the Fourth of July holiday due to high crime in our cities, and you get a sense of what has occurred in France. Published July 19, 2023

Secret Service makes me nervous: Rules for Democrats appear to be different

Irving Berlin's last musical was a largely forgotten show called "Mr. President" (1962). One of the silly songs below his usual high standards included the lyric "The Secret Service makes me nervous." Published July 17, 2023

Questions loom about Biden’s mental state

It began shortly after President Biden's inauguration. First, there were whispers and what seemed like slander on far-right websites and social media that the president was suffering from cognitive decline. Published July 12, 2023

Vice President Harris’ unknown language

If President Biden is serious about seeking a second term, he must fix the problem of his vice president, Kamala Harris. Published July 10, 2023

The catastrophe du jour: ‘Climate change’ doomsday predictions

King Charles III has launched a catastrophe countdown clock. It will tick until 2030, a year in which he predicts "serious consequences" if the world doesn't effectively address "climate change." Published July 5, 2023

Allowing everyone to compete on an equal plane

Last week's ruling by the Supreme Court that affirmative action in college admissions violates the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause is an important advancement toward equality for all. Published July 3, 2023

Pride vs. shame: ‘We’re here, we’re queer, we’re coming for your children’

At the end of the LGBTQ community's celebration of Pride Month, it might be worthwhile to consider some of the downsides of pride and its opposite -- shame, or humiliation. Published June 28, 2023

Is the whistleblower lying about Hunter Biden case, or is Merrick Garland?

It is an unfortunate truism of politics that partisans tend to believe the worst about members of the opposite party, and no amount of facts move people from their entrenched positions. Published June 26, 2023

America must wean itself from China

Many have tried not buying items made in China, but it is a near impossibility. Published June 21, 2023

In a decadent nation, what is inappropriate?

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre recently used a word that seems to have disappeared from our anything-goes culture. Published June 19, 2023

Journalism is in trouble, largely of its own making

Before the recently fired CNN President Chris Licht fades into a Google search, it is important to reflect on what he tried to do and why it was equivalent to offering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a corpse. Published June 14, 2023

The Trump indictment and our two-tier system of justice

In reporting on news of a federal indictment of former President Donald Trump, the Daily Mail posted a video of President Biden backing his Corvette into the garage, which contained boxes of classified documents. Published June 12, 2023

If Black children are told they cannot succeed, many will internalize that message

When George W. Bush was running for president in 2000, he spoke to the NAACP's 91st annual convention, where he coined the phrase "the soft bigotry of low expectations." Published June 7, 2023

Trump never changes: Making a third bargain with the devil

It wasn't a difficult choice to watch the first of the NBA playoff games between Miami and Denver instead of Donald Trump's appearance on "Hannity," but when Denver built a 12-point lead, I switched channels. Published June 5, 2023

Could the McCarthy and Biden debt deal have been better?

It was either the best deal that could have been reached given the political makeup of the House, Senate and White House, or it was a bad deal that might have been much better had Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans held out for more. Published May 31, 2023