news Archives

Jim Daly Statement on Mid-term Election Results

It appears that many of the pundits were correct when they predicted that Republicans would hold their majority in the U.S. Senate while Democrats would gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. This result is both good news and bad news for Americans concerned about the family, the sanctity of life, religious freedom and free speech.

The very good news is that it appears the U.S. Senate can continue to forge ahead with confirming the excellent judges the President has been nominating for the federal bench, almost all of whom have been constitutionalists, such as Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, government, news November 6, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Death of Civility

Earlier this week former First Lady and Democrat candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, made an astonishing statement. In fact, I believe that it succinctly sums up the dangerous and dysfunctional state of today’s American political affairs.

“You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about,” Mrs. Clinton told a reporter.

One day later, the former attorney general, Eric Holder, echoed Mrs. Clinton’s endorsement of incivility and potentially even mob violence by suggesting it was time for Democrats to act “tough.” Playing off of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s famous declaration during the 2016 presidential campaign, Holder said bluntly, “When they go low, we kick ‘em.”

This past summer, Democrat Representative Maxine Waters, one of the most liberal members of Congress, had urged supporters to physically harass Republican officials with whom they disagree.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news October 11, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family President Jim Daly Praises Passage of the Opioid Response Act

We are pleased to hear of the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Opioid Crisis Response Act by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 98-1. This followed an earlier House vote of 393-8. The bill now goes to President Trump, who last year declared the opioid crisis to be a national emergency, for his signature.

The opioid epidemic in this country is destroying lives and families. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 63,600 people died in 2016 from an overdose in the United States, of which 42,249 involved an opioid.

Topics: Current Events Tags: addiction, events, news October 4, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Jim Daly Applauds Recognition of Down Syndrome Awareness Month

We’re grateful that President Trump is recognizing and celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

All individuals with Down syndrome have intrinsic value and worth as beings created in the image of God, and we’re excited that the White House has vowed to continue creating great opportunities so that men, women and children with Down syndrome can reach their full potential.

As an organization dedicated to the sanctity of life, we are also encouraged that the Administration has recognized that often preborn children with Down syndrome are never given a chance at life because of abortion.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, kids, news October 2, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

My Latest Thoughts on Judge Brett Kavanaugh

The escalating drama and controversy surrounding the Supreme Court confirmation proceedings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh have reached a disturbingly feverish pitch. At stake is a seat on the nation’s highest court, of course, and a man’s honor and public reputation is also now on trial.

Sexual assault charges are serious, even allegations from several decades ago. The timing of the accusations, the partisan individuals representing the accusers and the irresponsibility with which they’ve been handled by key members of the United States Senate, all establish a dangerous precedent.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news September 24, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Fake News Is Really Old News

This essay originally ran in The Christian Post.

This past Tuesday was the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of legendary ABC Radio newsman Paul Harvey. Known for his homespun and perceptive commentaries, Mr. Harvey used to say that “In times like these, it’s important to remember there have always been times like these.” He was right.

Wednesday’s anonymously authored New York Times Op-Ed featuring a supposed “senior-member” of the Trump administration decrying internal dysfunction set off an avalanche of criticism, and rightly so.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, faith, news September 11, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Democrat Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is Right

Earlier this month, the city of Chicago made headlines when 74 people were shot in a single weekend in numerous incidents and neighborhoods. As of today, 12 of those wounded have died.

Sadly, rampant crime in the Windy City is not a new phenomenon. During the July 4th holiday weekend in 2017, 101 people were shot, 14 of whom died.

For years, liberal commentators have been attributing the rise in violence to guns – or easy access to them, inadequate laws, insufficient government spending, drugs and the proliferation of gangs.

Topics: Current Events Tags: discipline, family, news, parenting August 22, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Veterans Teach Vandals a Valuable Lesson

When’s the last time you read a news story with a happy ending?

After all, as a general rule of thumb, it’s the noise that makes news.

It’s human nature.

Maybe it’s because bad news makes us feel better about ourselves. Our lives could be worse – just look at that sad and sordid story.

But then there’s Heard County High School in Franklin, Georgia, population 993.

In a nod to tradition, seniors in the high school there regularly try and pull off a prank this time of year.

Topics: Current Events Tags: events, news, pop culture May 16, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

From “Napalm Girl” to “Child of God”

Today is the 43rd anniversary of the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Stories from the Vietnam war have been told for decades, from the soldiers who fought it to the victims caught in the crossfire. Few of those stories are as inspirational as that of Kim Phuc Phan Thi.

You remember her as “the napalm girl,” the central figure in the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo “The Terror of War.” The photo portrays a young girl running naked down the road, her skin on fire from a napalm attack.

Topics: Current Events Tags: broadcast, faith, news April 30, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Focus on the Family Wins 26 Evangelical Press Association Awards

Just under a year since Brio relaunched, the magazine was honored with the Evangelical Press Association’s highest award in the “Youth” category. Focus on the Family’s publication for teen girls received an Award of Excellence at the EPA’s annual convention earlier this month.

I thought my friend and colleague, Bob DeMoss, summed it up well:

“We had high expectations for how well Brio would be received by teen girls, but the response in our first year far exceeded what we could have imagined.

Topics: Focus Events Tags: entertainment, events, news April 27, 2018 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura