What Mitch McConnell Did to America
Mitch McConnell's long tenure as Senate GOP leader is analyzed in the context of his declining health and his lasting impact on American governance. The article highlights his strategic use of the filibuster and judicial appointments to shape the conservative landscape.
Why it matters
McConnell's legislative and judicial strategies have fundamentally altered the balance of power in the U.S. government, with effects that will persist long after his retirement.
The former Senate GOP leader’s legacy will make America harder to govern for years to come.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty August 8, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save O n the first Saturday of every August, the Saint Jerome Catholic Church in the tiny town of Fancy Farm, Kentucky, hosts a picnic renowned for its mutton-and-pork barbecue. Since 1880, the scent of smoked meat has attracted people; the whiff of votes then attracted politicians. The picnic long ago morphed into the premier event in the state’s campaign season, attracting its most famous officeholders. As attendees eat sandwiches, browse for We love Jesus and BBQ too T-shirts, or try to win a hunting blind at bingo, they also encounter candidates of all parties, who share one outdoor stage and are given only a few minutes to address a rowdy, heckling crowd.
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