Henry Olsen

Washington, D.C.

Columnist focusing on politics, populism, and American conservative thought

Education: Claremont McKenna College, BA in political science; University of Chicago Law School, JD

Henry Olsen is a Washington Post columnist, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the Thomas W. Smith distinguished scholar in residence at Arizona State University for the winter/spring 2023 semester. Olsen began his career as a political consultant at the California firm of Hoffenblum-Mollrich. After three years working for the California Assembly Republican Caucus, he returned to school to become a lawyer. Following law school he clerked for the Honorable Danny J. Boggs on the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and as an associate in the Philadelphia office
Latest from Henry Olsen

Here’s a solution to DeSantis’s Social Security and Medicare conundrum

The Florida governor can appeal to populists and fiscal hawks at the same time.

May 17, 2023

U.S. conservatives have found an alarming model for their movement

Embracing Hungary's strongman is as wrong-headed as it is dangerous.

May 15, 2023

The demise of the Chevron doctrine is nigh

The precedent has damaged our democracy. It is long overdue that the court overturns it.

May 4, 2023

Pay attention to Nikki Haley, Republicans. This is how to talk about abortion.

She lays out the best path forward to elect a pro-life president.

April 27, 2023

McCarthy’s debt plan needs an endgame. Here’s what it could look like.

A bipartisan deficit-reduction commission could do some real good — if set up correctly.

April 24, 2023

This New Hampshire poll shows DeSantis’s path to defeating Trump

DeSantis can narrow Trump's sizable lead if he can force a one-on-one race.

April 18, 2023

Biden’s polling numbers should not be this low

He should be praying no talented progressive decides to test the presidential waters.

April 10, 2023

What’s next for the Trump indictment? Our columnists answered your questions.

Ruth Marcus and Henry Olsen answered reader questions at 1 p.m. ET on April 7.

April 7, 2023

Why Joe Manchin keeps flirting with a presidential run

It's time to take the possibility seriously.

April 6, 2023