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

President Clinton and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich share a few words during introductions at the National Summit on Retirement Savings at the Hyatt Hotel in Washington. (Agence France-Presse Images)

Bring back Clinton and Gingrich’s Balanced Budget Act

On Aug. 5, 1997, President Bill Clinton and the Republican-controlled Congress, led by House Speaker Newt Gingrich, enacted the Balanced Budget Act. Published October 1, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds up a map while speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Netanyahu warns Israel’s enemies (again) in United Nations speech

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the United Nations General Assembly was partly performance but mostly profound. Published September 29, 2025

Erika Kirk wipes tears from her eyes before speaking at a memorial for her late husband conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Forgiveness or revenge? Erika Kirk has it right; the president does not

It has been 10 years since a White supremacist fatally shot nine people studying the Bible at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Published September 24, 2025

Asher Rogers holds an image of Jimmy Kimmel outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is staged on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Market forces, not federal bureaucrats, should determine television programming success

The "indefinite suspension" of Jimmy Kimmel from his late-night show on ABC has unleashed a torrent of criticism or praise, depending on which ideological side one stands. Published September 22, 2025

New York City values and political candidates illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Hochul and Democrats gamble on socialist mayoral candidate Mamdani

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's endorsement of Zohran Mamdani for New Yorrk City mayor reminds me of a Groucho Marx line: "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them ... I have others." Published September 17, 2025

Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks during a campaign rally, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Charlie Kirk challenged young minds and paid with his life

Charlie Kirk has been called many things, including an influencer, but a better label might be "converter." Published September 15, 2025

This undated photo posted to Instagram on June 9, 2025, by Iryna Zarutska shows a picture of herself. (Iryna Zarutska via AP)

Iryna Zarutska fled Ukraine only to be murdered in the U.S.

She fled Ukraine for fear she might be killed in the war with Russia and came to America, where she thought she might be safe. Published September 10, 2025

Joe Biden pardons and use of the autopen in the White House illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Why did Biden pardon thousands of violent criminals?

The autopen has been around in one form or another since Thomas Jefferson was president. Published September 8, 2025

Liberal media bias illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Media bias turns free press into Gaza propaganda

Traveling the world as I have this summer exposed a difference in how journalists in free countries and propagandists in unfree ones report them. Published September 3, 2025

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks as people gather at a vigil at Lynnhurst Park after a shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minneapolis Mayor Frey deflects from real issues after Catholic school massacre kills two children

Leave it to a politician to take advantage of a tragedy and attempt to use it for political advantage. Published September 1, 2025

President Trump wants to penalize anyone who burns the American flag illustration by Linas Garsys/ The Washington Times

Flagging flag burners (again)

President Trump wants to penalize anyone who burns the American flag. Published August 27, 2025

Members of the South Carolina National Guard patrol the Amtrak area of Union Station in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Trump’s National Guard deployment tackles symptoms, not root causes of urban crime

Fatherless homes and lost faith fuel urban crime more than politics. Real reform comes from rebuilding families, not relying on federal troops. Published August 25, 2025

Blue states and taxes illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Blue state tax hikes drive residents out

During the high-inflation days of the Biden administration, many of the less-than-well-off were forced to cut back on their spending, whether on food, gasoline or, in some cases, medication. Published August 20, 2025

President Donald Trump, right, Russia's President Vladimir Putin arrive for a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Did Trump get rolled in Alaska?

Promising severe consequences if Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine and then apparently reversing himself sends a signal of weakness. Published August 18, 2025

Crime and violence in Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Democrats dare to claim crime is down in the District of Columbia

I was born in the District of Columbia at the end of 1942. Published August 13, 2025

Illustration on a school mass shooting by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Stopping school shootings requires more than metal detectors and locked doors

As President Trump prepares to head to Alaska to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop the killing" in Russia and Ukraine, what is being done to stop school shootings? Published August 11, 2025

Sydney Sweeney stars in American Eagle’s latest campaign. Courtesy of American Eagle

Sydney Sweeney, White supremacist

Some fads end slowly, taking up to a generation to wane. Others are like lightning, bursting on the scene unexpectedly, destroying all in its path. Published August 6, 2025

Kamala Harris running for political office? illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Media obsession with 2028 and the false gods of politics

August is usually downtime in Washington. Not this August. Cable news, especially, along with some newspapers, seems to be fixated on the person Democrats will nominate for president in 2028. Published August 4, 2025

People take part in a protest calling for an end to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip and the starvation of Palestinian civilians, in Jaffa, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, July 25, 2025. Arabic on the placard at right: " Gaza is starving."(AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

‘Starvation’ in Gaza: Whom to blame?

In the Middle East, war is conducted not only with bullets and missiles but also with pictures. The latest are pictures of allegedly starving children in the Gaza Strip, distributed by Hamas and its enablers. Published July 30, 2025

Broken Democratic Party illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Democrats conduct political autopsy but ignore the real cause of death

The media are describing it as an "autopsy," an examination by Democrats of why they lost the last presidential election and a congressional majority. Published July 28, 2025