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

What happened to the media’s coverage of the Ukraine war?

Last weekend, The Wall Street Journal published a rare story on the Ukraine war, though it was buried on page A10 after a front-page teaser. Published June 30, 2025

Make America clean again

Over many years, I have traveled to various countries, and I have always longed to return home and hear these words from an immigration officer: "Welcome back to the United States." Published June 25, 2025

Iran has been at war with the U.S. since 1979, and Trump has finally responded

In ordering the bombing of three nuclear sites in Iran, President Trump did the right thing, for the right reason, and at the right time. Published June 23, 2025

Handicapping the L.A. protests

It would be amusing if it weren't so serious. Last weekend's expressions of supposed free speech were almost universally called demonstrations by the media and "mostly peaceful" by some. Published June 18, 2025

Israel strikes back: Peace through strength is the only option

After Israel took out at least two of Iran's top scientists behind the development of nuclear weapons and promised to kill more, my high school fight song came to mind. Published June 16, 2025

What did losing the Vietnam War mean?

Rod Kjersten has returned to Vietnam for the first time since he was a nurse in the U.S. Air Force hospital in Cam Ranh Bay. Published June 11, 2025

From Vietnamese street orphans to successful Americans: The untold rescue story

The story sounds like a "Mission: Impossible" script. Published June 9, 2025

Why Democrats need to say, ‘We were wrong,’ to fix their credibility crisis

Six months after its disastrous election performance, the Democratic Party is "still searching for the path forward," The New York Times reports. Published June 4, 2025

Trump’s ‘beautiful bill’ delivers ugly fiscal reality for America’s $36 trillion debt crisis

After many years living in and covering Washington, I have learned one overriding principle: If you don't trust politicians, you will never be disappointed. Published June 2, 2025

The death of proper English: America lost in lazy language

The beginning of summer offers a columnist the opportunity to address subjects he might avoid the rest of the year because of his focus on domestic and foreign issues. Published May 28, 2025

Universities are teaching a new generation to hate Jews, and blood is on their hands

The alleged killer of two Israeli Embassy employees, the terrorist murders of Jews in Israel by Hamas and the vilification of Jews by professors at certain universities are instructing a new generation to hate. Published May 27, 2025

What was really going on in the Biden White House?

Those who lived through the Watergate scandal in the'70s with its associated names and labels, including President Richard Nixon, Bob Woodward and Carl Berstein, the plumbers, non-denial denials, press secretary Ron Ziegler, Haldeman and Erlichman, the tapes, Judge John Sirica, Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski, John Dean and the cover-up, will recall the blazing headlines. Published May 21, 2025