Michael McKenna
Columns by Michael McKenna
Mamdani is a gift to Trump and the Republican Party
Zohran Mamdani won the New York City Democratic primary for mayor, immediately becoming the favorite to win the general mayoral election -- and an object of both adulation and concern. Published June 29, 2025
Destruction won’t kill ideology: Why bombing Iran won’t stop its nuclear ambitions
A lot of people are confidently predicting that President Trump has successfully threaded the needle between corroding Iran's ability to build and launch nuclear weapons and destabilizing the regime in Tehran. Published June 25, 2025
Environmentalist goon squad Greenpeace learns a lesson
In 2016, Greenpeace deployed operatives and assorted stooges to North Dakota to organize opposition to a pipeline being constructed by Energy Transfer, based in Texas. Published June 18, 2025
Happy birthday to the U.S. Army
In the depths of a cold night almost 250 years ago, a handful of soldiers waited their turn to cross a river and head toward their enemy in hopes of surprising them on Christmas. Published June 15, 2025
Democrats: Doubling down on stupidity in California
Most Democrats, at least elected ones, seem to be fundamentally unbright when it comes to anything involving President Trump. Published June 11, 2025
Trump should have ditched Musk long ago
Watching President Trump and Elon Musk turn their relationship into one impressively aggressive and large dumpster fire and scream at each in the middle of the street was kind of entertaining. Published June 8, 2025
Red tape reckoning: Team Trump needs to overhaul America’s obsolete environmental laws
Recently, the Supreme Court came to two clear conclusions in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County about how federal agencies should implement the National Environmental Protection Act. Published June 4, 2025
Pope Leo XIV’s surprise election reveals why the Catholic Church survives leadership changes
A few weeks ago, a man named Richard Prevost was elected by his peers to become the most important man in the world. Published June 1, 2025
Senate’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ process likely to focus on saving taxpayer money
Last week, the House of Representatives passed, by the bracing margin of 215-214, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Published May 28, 2025
Reflecting on Memorial Day’s true meaning
On Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day, the civic holy day we set aside to commemorate those who died fighting our wars. Published May 25, 2025
For Trump’s tariffs to work, consumer behavior needs to change
President Trump teed off a bit last weekend in response to Walmart's announcement that it plans to increase prices on some of the goods it sells, partly because of the effect of tariffs on goods originating in China. As a reminder, these tariffs are still in place, albeit at a 30% rate rather than the 145% rate where we started. Published May 21, 2025
City monopolies: Breaking the ruinous Democratic stronghold
If the Justice Department is really serious about breaking up monopolies that have a toxic effect on Americans, they should do something about America's cities. Published May 18, 2025
Trump must stay tough on China: No ‘shared interests’ with a genocidal regime
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent observed early this week that the U.S. and China found common ground on trade in talks over the weekend and neither side wants a divorce. Published May 14, 2025
The Inflation Reduction Act tax credits are at risk
Way back in 2022, the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the Inflation Reduction Act would increase the federal deficit by $366 billion over the next 10 years. Published May 11, 2025
Congressional overreach: Greene’s hearing on private fencing match pointless
I believe just about everyone is either a male or a female in every cell of their body, and concerning the primary sexual organs with which they were born. Published May 6, 2025
Trump’s reindustrialization depends on protecting energy giants like Phillips 66
It is safe to say that reindustrializing America is at the center of President Trump's agenda. Published May 4, 2025
Simple truths for complex times: Advice to the next generation
A few days ago, I talked with professor Henry Barbour's public policy class at the University of Mississippi. Published April 30, 2025
Independent agencies: Important for stability, business planning or obstructionists to presidents?
The independent regulatory agencies are among the most troublesome weeds that grow in the federal government. Published April 27, 2025
A valedictory for Pope Francis
One of the best customs that happens in the wake of the death of a pope is that he is no longer referred to by his papal name but rather by his baptismal name. Published April 23, 2025
250 years after Lexington and Concord, do we still fight for freedom?
John Brown, Samuel Hadley, Caleb Harrington, Jonathan Harrington, Robert Munroe, Isaac Muzzey, Asahel Porter and Jonas Parker were the first American casualties in the American Revolution. Published April 20, 2025
