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

Prescription drug price reform illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

You know prescription drug prices are a big problem when Trump and Sanders agree

Is there anyone who thinks prescription drug prices in America are about right? Published May 14, 2025

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., speaks with an officer demanding she be let into the ICE Detention office after the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Stage left: Democrats’ Newark ICE break-in a desperate act of political theater

If what happened last week in Newark was a play, it would have closed before opening night in New York due to bad reviews. Published May 12, 2025

Time to pay back student loans

After a five-year suspension initiated by President Trump during the COVID-19 crisis, the second Trump administration has restarted the requirement that loans be repaid. Published May 7, 2025

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson prays with from left, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Bishop Kelvin Cobari, Johnson, Pastor Paula White and President Donald Trump and others, during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s faith office initiative revives debates about church-state boundaries

Last week, President Trump announced the establishment of a White House faith office. Published May 5, 2025

Illustration: Dependence on Government by Linas Garsys for The Washington Times

Let them eat oatmeal: A case for personal responsibility in America’s entitled age

I was a panelist on "Fox News Sunday" with Shannon Bream on Sunday. Published April 30, 2025

Illustration on low American birthrates by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Trump’s $5,000 baby bounty: Can money solve America’s fertility crisis?

President Trump is going to God one better. God told Adam and Eve to start having children. The president is considering adding an incentive, paying couples $5,000 to beget. Published April 28, 2025

Iran's nuclear buildup illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Take out Iran’s nuclear facilities now

Iran is "freezing" negotiations while finishing the final stages of nuclear enrichment on the way to building a deliverable nuclear weapon. Published April 23, 2025

This undated photo provided by Murray Osorio PLLC shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Murray Osorio PLLC via AP)

The ugly case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

In politics, creating and then owning the narrative is the best way to deceive the public, especially when a compliant media helps promote it and ignores later information that contradicts the initial narrative. Published April 21, 2025

United States Postal Service illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Postal blues: First-class prices, third-class service from USPS

You'd better buy your "Forever" stamps now because the U.S. Postal Service has announced another price increase. Published April 16, 2025

Paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Tax Day tyranny: How the 16th Amendment empowered a wasteful, unaccountable leviathan

America's annual rituals and observances include days we usually celebrate together (July Fourth, Memorial Day, Veterans Day) or as members of special groups (Passover, Easter and Christmas). Published April 14, 2025

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attends a news conference discussing the Republican-backed budget plan at the Capitol, in Washington, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democrats changed their tariff tune only because Trump is in charge

Guess who said this: "China takes total advantage of the United States." Elon Musk? Nope. President Trump? Wrong. That was Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer in a 2018 radio interview. Published April 9, 2025

A demonstrator carries a photo depicting Elon Musk in a uniform as they take to the streets and march during a protest against President Donald Trump on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Today’s boogeyman is Elon Musk, blame Congress instead

Boogeymen are nothing new. They have existed in the form of politicians going back to the founding of the country. Published April 7, 2025

Blind Justice Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Injustice in Nashville: The case of Kevin Burns

Kevin Burns spent nearly 30 years on death row in a Nashville prison for murders that substantial evidence shows he did not commit. Published April 2, 2025

The costs of violent college (universities) protests illustration by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Why are top universities getting federal money?

Columbia University at first appeared to have surrendered to President Trump's demands that the New York school stop coddling antisemitic and anti-Israel demonstrators. Published March 26, 2025

Demise of the Department of Education Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Department of Education fails to deliver after decades of increased spending

How did I, my parents, grandparents and ancestors going back to the founding of the nation manage to get a decent education before the federal Department of Education (DOE) was created? Published March 24, 2025

In this photo provided by El Salvador's presidential press office, prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (El Salvador presidential press office via AP)

Even Venezuelan gang members deserve their day before a judge

President Trump is using an 18th-century law, the Alien Enemies Act, to justify the deportations of hundreds of people he says are members of a vicious Venezuelan gang. Published March 19, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin deals the Ukraine cards: Will Trump fold or raise the stakes?

The cliche has been that the ball is now in Russian President Vladimir Putin's court. Not any longer. Published March 17, 2025

Stock market and U.S. economy illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

Riding the economic roller coaster: Lessons from Reagan, Trump and the market’s wild ride

When I began investing in balanced mutual funds in 1983, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 1,190. On Monday, despite dropping more than 1,000 points, the index closed at 41,911. Published March 12, 2025

Illustration on reparations by Alexander Hunter/The Washington Times

Reparations are a bad idea

A new law permits the D.C. Council to establish a commission that will give "reparations" to descendants of enslaved people. Published March 10, 2025

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Trump’s address to Congress energized Republicans

It was a partisan speech. It was an optimistic speech. It was a speech that laid the blame for inflation and the massive number of migrants and illegal drugs that entered the country. Published March 5, 2025