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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

‘Drug pricing reform’ will kill people

The Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) has been a failure.

June 11, 2022

What would a stronger GOP position on energy issues look like?

As the Republicans think about what to do in the event they wind up taking one or both houses of Congress next November, they should consider reframing many issues.

June 8, 2022

3 lessons from the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial

There have been dozens of different takes on the social, cultural and historical significance of the jury verdicts in the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial.

June 3, 2022

America’s violence and the limits of congressional legislation

As Congress begins to discuss what to do next with respect to gun laws, some context, perspective and a sense of the limits of legislation are essential.

June 1, 2022

Sen. Rick Scott: ‘I am the most blessed person in America’

Like a lot of moms, Senator Rick Scott's (R-FL) mom had a clear plan for her son: He was going to make straight As, be an Eagle Scout, go to church, and eventually get a job and make money.

May 28, 2022

The first victims of the Biden’s ‘energy transition’

A few weeks ago, Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party, won control of parliament in the north of Ireland for the first time since the dismemberment of Ireland in 1921.

May 25, 2022

Rediscovering conservatism

In his new book, "Conservatism: A Rediscovery," Yoram Hazony makes a convincing case that Enlightenment rationalism is the god that failed.

May 21, 2022

Timor-Leste: The most important nation you’ve never heard of

If you care about who will control global energy flows and who will control the Pacific for the next 50 years, you should care about Timor-Leste. It may be the most important nation you've never heard of.

May 18, 2022

Google has some ideas about your electricity. You should be worried

A couple of weeks ago, Google came out with a manifesto on electricity and all the changes they plan to advocate for in the electricity industry. Some of them are not good.

May 11, 2022

Republican senators unwisely propose new energy tax

Two Senate Republicans -- Sen. Kevin Cramer and Senator Bill Cassidy -- seem to be taking Sen. Joe Manchin's latest legislative effort as a moment to advocate for higher energy taxes for consumers.

May 8, 2022

Comrade Sanders wishes us a happy May Day, ignoring the 100M killed by communism

Sen. Bernie Sanders, independent socialist from Vermont, just couldn't resist. Last Sunday, on May 1, he sent out an email wishing us all a "very happy May Day" and extolling the virtues of collectivism.

May 4, 2022

Is $73 trillion a lot? Team Biden doesn’t think so

$73 trillion over the next 10 years. That is how much of your money Team Biden wants the federal government to spend. Is that a lot? Well, on an annual basis, it is 66% higher than the average yearly spending over the last 10 years.

April 30, 2022

Tax the billionaires: They are not your friends

Everyone on the right is all excited about Elon Musk buying Twitter, but would be wise to reserve judgment about whether that will ultimately be a good thing.

April 27, 2022

No, Disney’s freedom of speech wasn’t violated. Neither was yours.

Since the state of Florida dissolved the Reedy Creek Improvement District, partly in response to Disney's opposition to legislation precluding teachers from talking about sex and gender with kindergarteners, there has been a steady drumbeat from those who contend that Disney's freedom of speech has been violated.

April 26, 2022