Michael McKenna

Michael McKenna, a columnist for The Washington Times, is the president of MWR Strategies. He was most recently a deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the White House. He can be reached at mike@mwrstrat.com.

Columns by Michael McKenna

Three important takeaways from the election

As always, the commentariat has expended a lot of intellectual firepower examining the election results from every possible angle. As usual, most of that has been a waste of time. Published November 8, 2024

Whether your candidate won or lost, get over it

In the wake of any electoral setback, it is tempting for those who voted for the losers to spiral into depression and despair. Similarly, winners usually get carried away and interpret the results as a mandate to do whatever they want. Both should resist those impulses. Published November 6, 2024

If you value our Constitution and the rule of law, you must vote Trump

At the end of any campaign, and especially at the end of a difficult and ugly campaign, voters rightfully expect a true accounting of both candidates. Published November 1, 2024

If Trump wins next week, speed will be of the essence

The shambolic, wandering and vituperative remarks from Vice President Kamala Harris in Tuesday's closing argument were, of course, more like a typically dreadful State of the Union address. Published October 30, 2024

Lies, fascism and violence: News outlets run with John Kelly’s dubious story about Trump

One truly depressing thing about the end of campaigns is that they tend to devolve into desperation and ugliness. Published October 25, 2024

Trump will win

As we approach the end of an election cycle, it is probably time to make some predictions. I have two to offer. Published October 23, 2024

Biden’s bumbling eulogy did a disservice to devout Catholic Ethel Kennedy

I recently read Robert F. Kennedy's ruminations on the death of his mother, in which he described her devotion to the Roman Catholic Church as "blind." He didn't mean it in a good way. Published October 18, 2024

Will Trump or Harris be constrained by their margin of victory?

It is a depressingly safe bet that, irrespective of who wins -- or who thinks they should have won -- after the presidential election, there will be violence in the streets. Published October 16, 2024

Taylor Swift vs. Elon Musk

Courtesy of "Monday Night Football," we got to enjoy yet another victory by the Kansas City Chiefs, and yes, even more shots of Taylor Swift and her entourage. Published October 13, 2024

We finally have a way to recycle plastic: California wants to destroy it

The leaders of our nation's largest and wealthiest state have moved decisively against the real problem facing our country: Those who recycle plastics may not be doing it in a way that completely fits the disordered, obsessive-compulsive worldview of California bureaucrats. Published October 9, 2024

Hopelessly broken Nuclear Regulatory Commission needs overhaul for U.S. to compete with China on AI

Americans have various sentiments about artificial intelligence, ranging from a collective shrug to enthusiasm about the technology's enormous economic potential to fear of the apocalypse. Published October 4, 2024

Federal government encouraging dependence is a terrible policy

The Economic Innovation Group recently issued a report that makes a pretty conclusive case that a large and growing percentage of the population gets a significant portion of its income from government transfers. Published October 2, 2024

Politicians think we’re stupid

A friend has contended for several years that politicians think we are stupid. I have routinely resisted that, but recent events are causing me to reassess my resistance. Published September 28, 2024

Can Harris or Trump stop the killing in Ukraine and Middle East?

I was recently part of a conversation about the election with a crew from finance land, and the question arose, what Donald Trump's plan is to "solve" the war between Ukraine and Russia should he return to the White House. Published September 25, 2024