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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

AI will happen with or without America

On August 6, 1989, what would become the internet went live for the first time at CERN.

August 8, 2026

Democrats risk winning Congress while losing the center

As we head towards the bell lap of the 2026 campaign, a few of its features and likely consequences are coming into focus.

August 5, 2026

We must fix America’s permitting problem

Many people in and around Washington are convinced that reform of the process by which we permit power plants and pipelines and transmission lines is hopelessly broken and need reform.

August 2, 2026

Immigration debates should confront cultural compatibility

A couple of months ago, freshman Rep. Brandon Gill, Texas Republican, made what should be classified as an anodyne observation about the comparative values of various cultures and societies.

July 29, 2026

America’s greatness comes from invention and improvisation

On July 23, 1903, Henry Ford, down to his last couple of hundred dollars, sold his first Model A to Ernest Pfennig, a Chicago dentist.

July 26, 2026

Republicans need a pro-growth case for data centers

It is not easy being a Republican. Lots of times, the party's elected officials seem to lose track of the narrative, of what they should favor and what they should oppose.

July 22, 2026

Congress’ old guard has overstayed its welcome

The great Jack Kemp once said that during their first terms in office, when using the word "we," members of Congress meant "the folks and me back home," but by their third terms, "we" meant "the other members of Congress and me."

July 19, 2026

OMB proposal treats academics like what they are: Political operatives

A few weeks back, the Office of Management and Budget proposed a rule that would change the way federal research funding is awarded, managed and terminated.

July 15, 2026

Modern life has turned children into an economic cost calculation

There has been a bit of a boomlet in concern from the usual suspects in academia, think tanks and the intelligentsia about the pending global depopulation.

July 12, 2026

Trump appeals to corporate America’s better angels

For successfully appealing to the better angels of the corporate hierarchy, we should be grateful to President Trump.

July 8, 2026

Supreme Court win for Trump will make independent agencies more partisan

The unitary executive team had a pretty big win at the Supreme Court last week.

July 5, 2026

Happy birthday to the United States of America. What happens next?

As we wander toward Independence Day, a lot of politicians will mention President Lincoln's description of the United States as "the last, best hope for mankind."

July 1, 2026

Elon Musk fortune exposes Washington’s tax-and-spend envy

In circles where people worry more about their net worth than salvation or the fate of the Yankees, big news this month was that Elon Musk either became or is about to become the world's first trillionaire.

June 28, 2026

Forget about celebrating Father’s Day

Each year, I question the value of celebrating Father's Day.

June 24, 2026

Congress, not presidents alone, must commit the nation to war

One of President Trump's enduring strengths is that he is a relentless provider of content to media of every shape, size and ideology.

June 21, 2026

A blue wave in this year’s midterms? Probably not

We are about three months from the start of this year's general election (early voting starts Sept. 18 in Minnesota and South Dakota), and it is probably a bit too early to make any informed predictions.

June 17, 2026

Grateful to our true heroes as we turn 250

Every five years, to celebrate their reign, Roman emperors sponsored a festival, usually consisting of gladiatorial fights, combat against ferocious animals, chariot races, boxing and theater.

June 14, 2026

What happens if the U.S. fails to build more data centers?

About 70% of those surveyed in a recent Heatmap poll would rather not have a data center built or operated near their neighborhood.

June 10, 2026

Foreign service has become a haven for leftists

The State Department, which is nominally responsible for creating, curating and advocating for the policies of the United States that involve other nations, has about 80,000 employees.

June 7, 2026