It is MISERABLE to be a non-MAGA Republican these days

Why Patrick McHenry retired.

(Patrick McHenry of North Carolina)

Not so long ago, the idea of someone like North Carolina Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry retiring from Congress would have been laughable.

After all, McHenry is the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, a powerful perch. He’s in the prime of his political life — currently serving in his 10th term — and, at age 48, on the young side of the House. He spent weeks as the Speaker pro tempore — thrust into the role after the surprise ouster of Kevin McCarthy — and, generally speaking, is well regarded not just by Republicans but by Democrats too.

In short, if you were making a list of who might lead the Republican party in the House over the next 10 years, McHenry would absolutely be on the list.

And yet….

Now, there’s no doubt that McHenry will cite a desire to spend more time with his family. Or his interest in pursuing other career options. Or some junk like that.

But, here’s the reality: McHenry’s retirement is rightly read as simply the latest example of how utterly un-fun — and unworkable — functioning as a non-MAGA Republican is within Donald Trump’s Republican party.