Michael McKenna
Columns by Michael McKenna
Fifth-term Rep. French Hill realistic but clear about what Congress’ priorities should be
Members of Congress typically bring life experiences to the job. Among the more expansive experiences are those of French Hill, a fifth-term Republican congressman from Arkansas. Published March 1, 2023
EPA holds back climate change progress by slow-walking state permits
Shortly after being elected, President Biden announced that it was his goal for the U.S. electricity system to be "net zero" with respect to carbon dioxide emissions by 2035. Published February 26, 2023
Team Biden: World first, America last
Sometimes you wonder if those who lead the federal government are on your side. Published February 22, 2023
You get what you voted for: Democrat-controlled states are raising taxes, squandering surpluses
The 2022 elections had more deleterious effects than just leaving Team Biden (mostly) in charge of the federal government. Published February 18, 2023
Google’s intrusion into your life now includes the electricity system
Google has made it clear that it wants to disrupt places where regulators of electricity are tied to voters in some material way. Published February 15, 2023
FBI should focus on crime, not law-abiding citizens
It turns out that the once respected and admired FBI has started to watch the dangerous radicals who attend the Tridentine Latin Mass on the regular. Published February 11, 2023
Feds can’t manage budgets or secure borders, yet they want to tell us which stoves and cars to buy
The federal government, which for decades has failed to pass budgets on time, balance those budgets, win wars or secure borders, has recently been on a spree of incompetence. Published February 8, 2023
Republicans stripping Ilhan Omar from her committee seat compromises free speech
The new management in the House of Representatives has decided it would rather not have Rep. Ilhan Omar sitting on the Foreign Relations Committee. Published February 5, 2023
Hysterical Team Biden always on the defense
In case you wonder whether elections matter at this late date in the republic, there was a startling bit of confirming evidence this week. Published February 1, 2023
Republicans in twilight: RNC vote reflects era of institutional complacency
It is not at all obvious that those who run the Republican Party wish their own voters or the party itself well. Published January 27, 2023
United States losing its will to live
The Aspen Institute Economic Strategy Group recently released a book about the economic challenges facing the United States. One challenge on which they focused was the specter of U.S. population decline. Published January 25, 2023
What a House Select Committee can do about China
A few days ago, the Center for Strategic and International Studies made public the results of war games that sought to predict what would happen if communist China invaded Taiwan. Published January 21, 2023
Biden’s IRS plans to squeeze everyone, even those making less than $400,000 a year
Last week, Jonathan Chait from New York Magazine gently notified me that a fragment of data referenced in the August note I wrote for friends and families was incorrect. Published January 18, 2023
The cautionary tale of gas stoves and letting government make your decisions
Early last week, Richard Trumka Jr. decided that natural gas stoves posed a "hidden hazard" and that banning natural gas stoves was under consideration. Published January 15, 2023
House panel formed to probe ‘weaponization’ of FBI, DOJ too important for partisan trivialities
This week, House Republicans established a subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government (whatever that means). Published January 11, 2023
Donald Trump is not running for president
Last week, former President Donald Trump made it clear -- intentionally or otherwise -- that he has no actual intention of running for president again in 2024. Published January 6, 2023
What Republicans must address in the 118th Congress
While everyone else was transfixed by the theater that is the speaker's race, the incoming majority whip of the House outlined last week the first 11 bills or resolutions that the majority will address. Published January 4, 2023
Gorsuch dissent on Title 42: Supreme Court not ‘policymakers of last resort’
In a recent case before the Supreme Court, several Republican-led states argued in Arizona v. Mayorkas that the Title 42 orders -- which essentially allow the federal government to prevent certain people from coming into the country during a public health emergency because of the fear of communicable disease (in this case, COVID-19) -- must remain in place. Published January 3, 2023
Predictions for 2023: Biden and Trump won’t run, Hunter gets a plea deal, and more
Predictions are, of course, a sucker's game. In a universe with billions of planets and on a planet with billions of people, there is simply too much randomness to try to guess about any specific combinations. Published December 31, 2022
How did we do on predictions for 2022? Here’s a play-by-play.
In the interests of full disclosure and a correct record, it is important to assess how well this columnist's predictions for 2022 (originally published Jan. 2) reflected reality. Published December 28, 2022
