Thomas Massie’s useless tenure in Congress is coming to an end

Washington Examiner ^ | 16 May 2026 | Joe Conch

[Vigilanteman]

In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

An op-ed in the New York Times on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) this week, He’s One of a Dying Breed in Congress. America Needs Him Now More Than Ever, could not have been any more sycophantic.

The Times hasn't endorsed a Republican presidential candidate since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. That means they loved the likes of Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Jimmy Carter twice, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden twice. But since Thomas Massie is a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, he's getting the kind of special treatment other anti-Trump Republicans from Marjorie Taylor Greene to George Conway to Mitt Romney have received.

But as for Massie's accomplishments? Well, in the political arena, none exist. The congressman never offers anything resembling solutions or alternatives outside of pie-in-the-sky generalities. He helped oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy when a solid majority of House members approved of his performance, leaving Republicans scrambling for months.

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TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: edgallrein; fifthcolumnists; kentucky; massie; nytimes; thomasmassie

[Vigilanteman]

Less than a week ago, Massie the @$$ie had a nine point lead in Kentucky's primary polls.

Now, not so much. Is this the value of a New York Times endorsement?

[ComputerGuy]

So let it be done...

[rdcbn1]

Massie is a strange duck.

As a politician, he seems to side with Democrats on virtually all of the really important issues which he justifies as some sort of principled stance that coincidentally pushes the Democrat agenda forward and blocks the Republican agenda.

Republicans can do better.

[buckalfa]

"Republicans can do better."

Of course they can, but remember the GOP agenda is not the Trump agenda .

[boycott]

This says it all about Massie ...

“But as for Massie’s accomplishments? Well, in the political arena, none exist. The congressman never offers anything resembling solutions or alternatives outside of pie-in-the-sky generalities.”

Time for him to find a real job.

[Destroyer Sailor]

Well Massie’s agenda is not even close . He uses the excuse of having libertarian tendencies as excuse for what he does.

[SmokingJoe]

It's too close to call with high confidence, but Thomas Massie is in serious danger of losing his Republican primary on May 19, 2026.
We'll see.

[escapefromboston]

Massie (like MTG) would be happier as a podcaster / talking head anyways.