Special Book Edition: The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party (with Kevin R. Kosar)

Understanding Congress

The topic of this episode is a new book on Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican who served as his party’s chamber leader for the better part of two decades.

The book was written by Associated Press reporter Michael Tackett, and its title is The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party. It was published by Simon & Schuster in November of 2024.

It is a fine book, and I certainly enjoyed reading it. I learned a lot about Senator McConnell. For example, who knew that he dated a lot when he was a single guy? Who knew that he had a role in transforming Kentucky from a Democrat-controlled state to one with a vibrant Republican party? And who knew that Senator McConnell recruited a Rep. Tom Cotton of Arkansas to run for the Senate?

Capacious as this book is, I could have read one twice its size. Mitch McConnell is fascinating figure, and a historic one.

So let’s get to it—the story of Mitch McConnell.

Read the full transcript here.