Michael McKenna
Columns by Michael McKenna
Gerrymandering, migration and political violence set the stage for America’s great unraveling
We live in uncertain times, and three key features of the current landscape increase the likelihood of political violence. Published November 2, 2025
Republicans should attack on health care
Why haven't voters been more concerned about the shutdown, lapse, or whatever? Part of the answer is that 80% of government functions keep sailing right along, more or less on autopilot. Published October 29, 2025
The Nigerian holocaust
When you hit church on Sunday, in between prayers for your family and neighbors and the state of your own wretched soul, take a moment to pray for the Christians in Nigeria. Published October 26, 2025
Voters backed Trump to fix the economy and the border, not obsess over wars abroad
It is not uncommon for presidents, especially as their tenure progresses, to spend more time on foreign policy than on domestic policy. Published October 22, 2025
Trump, the presidency and an American system that holds back absolute power
On Thursday, I found myself at the baptism of one of my great-nephews. Published October 19, 2025
Time for Trump and Congress to reset immigration policy
If our politics were not irreparably broken, President Trump's efforts to secure the border would be the opening act of a bipartisan agreement on how best to deal with immigration. Published October 15, 2025
Kabuki theater shutdown proves politicians’ addiction to drama over duty
Right before the most recent government shutdown/lapse/whatever, both sides were supremely confident that they finally had the other guys by the short hairs and would achieve ultimate victory. Published October 12, 2025
For the left, Jay Jones talking about killing his rivals is just everyday chitchat
In August 2022, Jay Jones, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, the oldest legislative body in the United States, was listening to delegates pay tribute to Democrat Joe Johnson. Published October 8, 2025
Greenpeace wants to destroy the U.S. Constitution
For almost 240 years, the Constitution has been the law of the land and American courts have been the final arbiters of legal disputes in the United States. Published October 5, 2025
IEA’s peak oil narrative exposes peak idiocy in global energy policy
Back in 2020, the International Energy Agency, created in 1974 to address OPEC and the risk it then posed, openly joined the environmental crazies to embrace and amplify the narrative of scarcity. Published October 1, 2025
Israel seems intent on undoing the Abraham Accords
Without a doubt, the most impressive foreign policy achievement of President Trump's first term were the Abraham Accords. Published September 28, 2025
America’s future depends on rejecting politics of recrimination
Right before he left the White House after having resigned, President Nixon encouraged his soon-to-be former staff not to give in to hate. Published September 24, 2025
Conroe’s natural gas pipeline lawsuit delivers national consequences
Montgomery County, Texas, is way on the northern border of the Houston/Woodlands metroplex. Published September 21, 2025
What does the Constitution’s oath of office mean?
Now that the Trump administration has let us know it has attacked and sunk a third boat in the Caribbean, perhaps it is time to think about the value of due process. Published September 17, 2025
America stands at crossroads between civil discourse and political violence
In the immediate wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a friend of mine posted on social media that she looked forward to similar levels of outrage for the recent shootings of schoolchildren. Published September 14, 2025
Due process protections matter even for terrorists and drug dealers
One morning at the end of September 2011, a young American who had been born in New Mexico and was residing in and traveling through Yemen was killed by a drone strike while having breakfast. Published September 10, 2025
Fans fund failure as teams like Cowboys and Yankees chase only franchise value
The end of summer means more important things are afoot -- namely, pennant races in baseball and the start of football. Published September 7, 2025
America’s postwar dominance built the modern world
There has been little official fanfare about this, but 80 years ago Tuesday -- Sept. 2, 1945 -- the Japanese government formally surrendered to the Allied forces (which consisted primarily of Americans). Published September 3, 2025
Gimmicks won’t shrink the federal government
The Congressional Budget Office projected in August that the tariffs imposed by the administration would raise nearly $4 trillion over 10 years. Published August 31, 2025
Buchanan deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom
A few days ago, Rep. Riley Moore sent a letter to President Trump suggesting that now would be an optimal moment to give the presidential Medal of Freedom to Patrick Buchanan. Published August 27, 2025
