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Michael McKenna

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

Ronald Reagan illustration by Alexander Hunter / The Washington Times

Reagan changed the world at 1976 GOP convention

Ronald Reagan, who had just lost a tough primary battle to President Ford, was invited by Mr. Ford to give an impromptu address to the delegates. He responded with the greatest speech in the history of conventions. Published August 19, 2020

The Death of the Legislative Branch Illustration by Greg Groesch/The Washington Times

Death of the legislative branch: Presidents now make laws

In the wake of President Trump's somewhat aggressive executive orders on payroll taxes and unemployment payments this month, it is probably wise and useful to think about the nature of precedent. Published August 14, 2020

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden gestures while referencing President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center in Wilmington, Del., Tuesday, July 28, 2020.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)  **FILE**

Why Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick will matter so much

There is a good reason why former Vice President Joe Biden's selection of a running mate has become so freighted with emotion and expectation, and it is not just that the Democratic presidential nominee is not, shall we say, entirely and always there. Published July 31, 2020

Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, speaks during a campaign event, Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Biden presidency would push expensive climate plan

Other than an enormously damaging and historically large tax increase, what else might Joe Biden do if elected president? It's a safe bet that climate and infrastructure are the next stops after tax increases. Published July 19, 2020

In this June 20, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla. Trump’s reelection bid will take baby steps back out onto the road in the coming days after a multi-week hiatus that came amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases across much of the nation and after the debacle of his planned comeback in Oklahoma. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

President Trump can win. Here’s how.

Imagining that an incumbent president can run for reelection without reference to the main portion of his record is ridiculous. Voters need to be reminded of the good things that have been accomplished. Otherwise, they remain susceptible to the line of argument from the other side that not much has been done. Published July 11, 2020

Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to reporters during a campaign stop at Sweet Creek restaurant and farmers market, south of Montgomery, Ala., Monday, July 6, 2020. Sessions faces former Auburn University football Coach Tommy Tuberville in the July 14 Republican runoff. Sessions held the seat for 20 years before resigning to become President Donald Trumps first attorney general. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

Jeff Sessions the stronger candidate in Alabama Senate race

Voters in Alabama will go to the polls Tuesday to select a Republican to challenge Democratic incumbent Sen. Doug Jones. Their choices in this runoff primary are former Sen. Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville. Published July 8, 2020

Collins is GOP’s best bet in Georgia; Loeffler should recognize that illustration by The Washington Times

Doug Collins, not Kelly Loeffler, is GOP’s best Georgia Senate hope

One state that will determine who controls the Senate is Georgia, which is holding two races, one being a special election. It features four-term Rep. Doug Collins trying to defeat newly appointed Sen. Kelly Loeffler and at least five other candidates Published July 1, 2020

A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989.  The man, calling for an end to the recent violence and bloodshed against pro-democracy demonstrators, was pulled away by bystanders, and the tanks continued on their way.  The Chinese government crushed a student-led demonstration for democratic reform and against government corruption, killing hundreds, or perhaps thousands of demonstrators in the strongest anti-government protest since the 1949 revolution. Ironically, the name Tiananmen means "Gate of Heavenly Peace". (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)

U.S. treating China like Russia after the Cold War was a big mistake

For the last 30 years, America's policy with respect to China has been wrong. This is not the fault of any particular person or group of people. Rather, it is the shared and terrible failure of Republicans and Democrats, hawks and doves, businesses and think tanks. Published June 22, 2020

People clean up burned businesses on Saturday, May 30, 2020, after a night of fires and looting following the death of George Floyd. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Flight from Democratic stronghold cities accelerates

In the wake of this year, American cities are going to experience a reprise of the flight of the middle and upper-middle classes similar to the postwar flight that was accelerated by the destruction and fear of 1968. Published June 15, 2020