Iran is nearing an agreement to purchase anti-ship cruise missiles from China, coinciding with the deployment of U.S. naval forces off its coast, Reuters reported. There is no delivery date set for the Chinese CM-302 missiles to Iran, but the deal is reportedly near. The supersonic missiles have a range of 290 kilometers, or 180 miles.  Six people confirmed to Reuters that negotiations between China and Iran started at least two years ago, but accelerated during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in 2025. Top Iranian officials, including Massoud Oraei, Iran’s deputy defense minister, traveled to China last summer as part of the negotiation. It has not been determined how many missiles were being sold or for how much.  “Iran has military and security agreements with its allies and now is an appropriate time to make use of these agreements,” an Iranian foreign ministry official told Reuters. The weapons transfer would violate a United Nations weapons embargo imposed in 2006 and temporarily lifted in 2015 as part of a nuclear deal with the U.S. and allies. The U.N. reimposed the embargo last September. “It’s a complete gamechanger if Iran has supersonic capability to attack ships in the area,” said Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli intelligence officer and now senior Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies think tank, according to Reuters. “These missiles are very difficult to intercept.” The USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group, along with the USS Gerald R. Ford and its escorts, are also heading to the region near Iran and can carry more than 5,000 personnel and 150 aircraft. China, Iran and Russia, seen as hostile to U.S. interests, hold annual joint naval exercises. Last year the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned several Chinese entities for supplying chemical precursors to Iran’s military.  Reuters contributed to this report. The post ‘Gamechanger’? China and Iran Reach a Deal That Could be Disturbing News for U.S. appeared first on The Daily Signal.

President Donald Trump is expected to highlight his economic accomplishments in the 2026 State of the Union address. The official theme of the speech is reportedly “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected.” Trump will showcase the economy by highlighting working-family guests and a data-driven case on affordability, Fox News Digital first reported. For instance, Trump will honor Pennsylvania wife and mother Megan Hemhauser, a waitress who benefitted from his “No Tax on Tips” and “No Tax on Overtime” policies. Trump also invited Catherine Rayner of Norfolk, Virginia, who was the first patient to use the TrumpRx portal to access discounted fertility drugs. Trump will highlight the tax cuts from his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the establishment of Trump Accounts for babies born during his second term, efforts to lower drug prices, and moves to improve housing affordability, Fox reported. State of the Union viewers can expect the speech to feature a lot of economic focus, including some announcements on the economy, according to Breitbart’s Matt Boyle, who attended the president’s lunch with news anchors Thursday. Trump will reportedly call for a new form of corporate and personal tax cuts in his speech. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump will announce agreements with major tech companies to make them carry a greater share of the energy cost burden associated with data centers. The companies have committed to “pay their own way” to keep consumers’ electricity costs down amid the increase in data center construction. Trump should highlight the Big Beautiful Bill’s increase of the Child Tax Credit to $2,200 for families; deregulatory actions, which have saved the economy over a trillion dollars; and Department of Government Efficiency cuts, which saved hundreds of billions of dollars, according to economist Steve Moore. “Trump is a pro-business president, and Biden was anti-business, and so that really hurt employment,” Moore told The Daily Signal. “It hurt American competitiveness.” “Trump put in policies, like the reduction in the tax on capital investment by businesses, that have been a huge boon to businesses and to workers as well,” Moore continued. “I think that’s the most important change is that Biden treated businesses like enemies, and Trump treated them like assets.” However, 57% of Americans said they disapprove of the way Trump is managing the economy, in a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. However, families have more income, not less, thanks to Trump, Moore said. “He’s got to stay the course that these policies are working,” Moore said. “We’re bringing inflation down.” “We want stable prices, and we want to get away from the 9% inflation that we had under Biden,” Moore said, “so people want to feel like every time they go to the grocery store they’re not paying more.” Under Trump, inflation is falling, Moore said. “Historic relief for Americans,” Moore said. “That’s the real State of our Union.” Inflation under Biden hit 9.1%. The fastest price growth since Jimmy Carter.Under President Trump, inflation is down near 2% and falling. Historic relief for American families. That's the real State of our Union. pic.twitter.com/CfFyVZQd1l— Stephen Moore (@StephenMoore) February 24, 2026 The post ‘Historic Relief for Americans’: Trump to Showcase Economy in State of the Union Address appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Tonight is a big night for America—and The Daily Signal will be there every step of the way.  President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. EST, and our team is ready to bring you the most comprehensive conservative coverage of his State of the Union address.  Here’s what we have planned.  Starting at 7 p.m., Daily Signal national correspondent Tony Kinnett kicks off a special live edition of “The Tony Kinnett Cast” with news and analysis before the speech even begins. At 8 p.m., Kinnett shifts into bonus coverage, breaking down what to watch for tonight and what’s at stake for Trump.   The Daily Signal will carry the entirety of Trump’s speech live, starting at 9 p.m. Then, after the president wraps up, Kinnett and the Daily Signal team go live again for a full post-speech breakdown.  Meanwhile, our own George Caldwell and Olivia Pero will be reporting from Capitol Hill inside Emancipation Hall, getting instant reactions from members of Congress.  You can watch the entire broadcast live on The Daily Signal’s YouTube channel and right here on our website.  This is what The Daily Signal does best. While other media outlets will offer you spin and selective outrage, we’re committed to bringing you Trump’s speech, the facts, and the honest analysis you can trust.  In the hours after the speech, our team of reporters will have detailed reports. Tyler O’Neil will examine the winners and losers. Elizabeth Mitchell is breaking down the top moments. Jarrett Stepman delivers the big-picture analysis. And our news team on Capitol Hill will have congressional reactions.  Be sure to subscribe to The Daily Signal on YouTube if you haven’t already. And share this with everyone you know who wants the real story tonight.  We’ll see you at 7 p.m.  The post WATCH LIVE: Tony Kinnett Covers Trump’s State of the Union—Only on Daily Signal  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Elaine Culotti, a California-based political commentator and columnist for The Daily Signal, is running for governor of the Golden State. “California is broken, but it can be fixed,” Culotti says in her announcement video, which aired on The Adam Carolla Show on Friday. Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom is term limited and cannot run for re-election in 2026. Culotti says, “I am running under ‘NPP’—no party preference. If you have a neutral leader in California, you have a negotiator. You have a person who is listening to both parties, a governor who believes in small government, somebody who is thinking about California and Californians first.” On the issues, Culotti calls for “integrity in our elections,” opposes a proposed statewide wealth tax in the state, and calls for improved infrastructure. Culotti is a successful California real estate developer, interior designer, and farm-to-table farmer. She starred in the Discovery+ reality series “Undercover Billionaire.” She began providing California commentary for The Daily Signal in 2025. The California gubernatorial primary race is already packed ahead of the June 2 primary. Democrat contenders include Rep. Eric Swalwell, former Rep. Katie Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, and former U.S. health secretary Xavier Becerra.  Republican contenders include political pundit Steve Hilton and former Riverside County sheriff Chad Bianco. California has an open primary system, meaning the top two vote-getters in the primary will face off against each other in the Nov. 3 general election, regardless of party affiliation. The post Elaine Culotti Runs for California Governor appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ran her gubernatorial campaign last year as a moderate Democrat. Now that she’s sworn in, however, Virginia Democrats are pushing for a slew of new taxes as the state struggles to respond to winter storms and the massive Potomac sewage spill. Nevertheless, her performance seems good enough for national Democrats to give her the State of the Union spotlight. Spanberger will deliver the Democrat response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Tuesday night. While the governor will deliver her national address from Williamsburg, Virginia, Republicans in Virginia are suggesting that Spanberger is leaving average Virginians behind. “If Abigail Spanberger is the Democrats’ model politician, it just proves that they’re lying about who they are and what they plan to do,” Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., told the Daily Signal.  Spanberger ran as a moderate Democrat, promising to lower costs for middle-class families, cut certain taxes, and keep the congressional district map as it stood. Now, however, some say her plan to provide affordability will increase taxes on Virginians. What’s more, Spanberger is considering signing certain tax increase proposals from the Democrat-controlled legislature and is moving forward with a plan to redistrict Virginia before the 2026 midterms. “Abigail Spanberger is set to lie to the country after the State of the Union address just as she has lied to Virginians,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-VA., told the Daily Signal.   “I have no plans to redistrict Virginia.” — Abigail Spanberger, August 25, 2025I am tired of the blatant lies to our face. The lack of truthfulness from this administration and the Democrat party needs to wake up Virginians! Don’t tell us one thing and then do another. We all… pic.twitter.com/hmQateTVqC— Jen Kiggans (@JenKiggans) February 21, 2026 “When she talks about ‘affordability,’ she means higher taxes; when she says ‘safer communities,’ she means prioritizing illegal immigrant criminals; and when she claims to ‘defend freedom,’ she means backing some of the most gerrymandered maps in the country—maps that silence and divide Virginians and weaken their voice,” Kiggans continued.   “Unfortunately, rhetoric and reality couldn’t be farther apart for Governor Spanberger and I am confident that will be on full display after the President’s address,” Kiggans continued. Dems Announce SOTU Response  Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., announced Spanberger would deliver the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union Address last week.   “Gov. Spanberger has always put service over politics — defending our national security and delivering real results for working families. She knows Americans want lower costs, safer communities, and a stronger democracy — not chaos and corruption,” Schumer said in the press release.  “Gov. Spanberger will lay out a clear path forward: lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation,” he concluded. Republicans believe Democrats have found their wolf in sheep’s clothing. “By awarding her this speech, Democrats are saying they think Abigail Spanberger has unlocked the code and they’re holding her up as their new ideal candidate. But she lied to get elected and concealed her true agenda, masquerading as a moderate and promising to address affordability,” Cline told The Daily Signal.   Choosing Abigal Spanberger to deliver the response to the SOTU is a tell: Democrats know their progressive policies are so politically toxic so they have to mask them. Who better to do that than Spanberger — a progressive who ran as a moderate? pic.twitter.com/WyGT9yi43t— Brianna Lyman (@briannalyman2) February 21, 2026 “As soon as she won, the mask came off and she began governing as a leftist, immediately acting to raise electricity rates and entertaining every tax increase under the sun,” Cline continued.  Spanberger’s Frozen Poop Problem  Democrats placing Spanberger on a pedestal so soon might backfire as the Virginia governor has struggled to respond to the sewage catastrophe in the Potomac River. Since January, over 240 million gallons of sewage have spilled into the river due to critical infrastructure failing. The response has triggered the ire of the president.  “The two Governors and the Mayor of D.C. must act, IMMEDIATELY,” said Trump in a Truth Social post. “This is a Radical Left caused Environmental Hazard. With all of their talk about carbon footprints and everything else, they’re allowing hundreds of tons of sewage to pour into the Mighty Potomac, making it much less mighty. ACT FAST. I am awaiting your call,” the president continued.   Jess Kramer, EPA’s Senior Response Officer at the Potomac Interceptor collapse, was again on site yesterday alongside @USACEHQ. Rapid progress has been made with @DCWater and our federal/local partners since DC Mayor Bowser requested Trump Admin assistance last week, and we are… pic.twitter.com/GLJ3tscMpR— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) February 23, 2026 While Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested the federal government’s assistance, both Spanberger and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore have refused to ask for hemp from the Trump administration. Virginia Petition Says Spanberger Has Gone ‘Far Left’ A petition recently went viral on Facebook calling for “legislative review and accountability of Governor Spanberger.” The petition, live on Change.org, has over 105,000 verified signatures.   “While I did not vote for her, I was not upset when she won the governor’s office. She ran on an explicitly moderate platform, and I trusted that she would govern as a moderate,” said Lisa Vaughan, the creator of the petition.  “However, since taking office, she appears to have moved to the far left on a number of issues,” Vaughan continued.   After a wave of @SpanbergerForVA tax proposals: “All Virginians will once again be left footing the bill for these Democrat socialist, progressive policies—handing over more of their hard-earned money to the government," @JenKigganshttps://t.co/SSt7L9KC1O @DailySignal— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) January 21, 2026 The petition calls for the Virginia General Assembly to hold public hearings for Virginians to voice their concerns regarding Spanberger, and she must attend at least one. It also asks the assembly to conduct a formal legislative review of the governor’s use of executive orders and consider appropriate legislative remedies. Spanberger did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment. The post Spanberger Given State of the Union Spotlight Despite Sewage Crisis appeared first on The Daily Signal.