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Denis McDonough

Democrat, White House Staff
Secretary of Veteran's Affairs

McDonough is the newly-appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the Biden Administration. Previously, he has served as Chief of Staff of the National Security Council (2009-2010), Deputy National Security Advisor (2010-2013), and White House Chief of Staff during Obama's second term in office. McDonough graduated from Saint John's University with a Bachelor's in history and Spanish and received a Master's degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Based on voting history, policy positions, and public statements, Denis McDonough demonstrates a Center political bias. Compare Denis McDonough with other politicians in our Politician Bias Chart.

Analyst Rating
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Biasly’s analyst team evaluates politician twitter accounts, voting records, and statements made in the press to determine leanings. Our diverse analyst team includes equal representation from conservative, center, and liberal viewpoints on every article we rate.

Center

A.I. Policy Leanings
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Our policy leanings for Denis McDonough show what policies Denis supports and opposes including Denis's conservative and liberal leanings based on the news.

0% Center

Extremely
Liberal

Very
Liberal

Moderately
Liberal

Somewhat Liberal

Center

Somewhat Conservative

Moderately
Conservative

Very
Conservative

Extremely
Conservative

-100%
Liberal

100%
Conservative

*Our bias meter rating uses data science including sentiment analysis, machine learning and our proprietary algorithm for determining biases in news articles. Bias scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores being more liberal and higher positive scores being more conservative and 0% being neutral. The rating is an independent analysis and is not affiliated nor sponsored by the news source or any other organization.

A.I. Media Portrayal
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The A.I. media portrayal of Denis McDonough shows how positively or negatively the media portrays Denis. Negative and positive sentiment scores are on a scale of -100% to 100% with higher negative scores showing that more media companies see Denis in a negative light and higher positive scores showing that more media companies see Denis in a positive light.

79% negative

Denis McDonough’s Policy Stances

Left
Center
Right
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Gov. Dependency
  • Healthcare
  • Immigration
  • National Security
  • Reduce Budget Deficit
  • War on Drugs
  • Criminal Justice
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Foreign Relations
  • Government Dependency
  • Healthcare
  • Immigration
  • National Security
  • Reduce Budget Deficit
  • War on Drugs
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  • Stances

  • Media Portrayal

  • Policy Leanings

  • News Mentions

  • Creations

  • My Articles

  • Contact

  • Criminal Justice

    Somewhat Left

    Denis McDonough's details on his specific positions are limited, but his background as a senior advisor in the Obama administration suggests he likely holds moderate views that aim to balance public safety with criminal justice reform. Without more concrete policy positions from McDonough, his overall stance on this issue can be characterized as Somewhat Liberal.
    Source: Denis McDonough - BallotPedia

  • Economy

    Somewhat Left

    Denis McDonough's advocated for policies that would grow the economy and create jobs, such as investing in education, infrastructure, and research and development. He also supported a balanced approach to deficit reduction that involved both spending cuts and revenue increases. Overall, McDonough's economic policies seem to be Somewhat Liberal.
    Source: Denis McDonough - Whitehouse.gov

  • Education

    Center

    There is not enough information to provide a policy analysis.

  • Energy

    Somewhat Left

    Denis McDonough's stance on energy policy appears to be somewhat liberal. He has advocated for investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean technology as part of the Obama administration's efforts to address climate change. McDonough has also emphasized the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable energy system. However, the sources do not provide detailed information on his specific policy positions, so his overall stance on energy issues is difficult to characterize with certainty.
    Source: The Hill

  • Foreign Relations

    Center

    Denis McDonough has a balanced and neutral stance on foreign relations. As a former Deputy National Security Advisor and Chief of Staff in the Obama administration, McDonough has extensive experience in foreign policy and national security. He has worked to address complex international challenges and crises, demonstrating a pragmatic and bipartisan approach to foreign relations. McDonough's background suggests he likely holds a centrist position on foreign policy, balancing both conservative and liberal perspectives.
    Source: BallotPedia

  • Government Dependency

    Center

    It does not appear that Denis McDonough has explicitly stated his policy stance on government dependency. As the former White House Chief of Staff under President Obama, McDonough seems to have focused more on national security, foreign policy, and veterans affairs rather than domestic economic policies related to government dependency. Without any direct statements or policy positions from McDonough on this topic, it is difficult to assess his leaning on a conservative-to-liberal scale. Therefore, no definitive conclusion can be drawn about McDonough's stance on government dependency
    Source: Politico Magazine

  • Healthcare

    Center

    Denis McDonough appears to have a balanced and neutral stance on healthcare policy. He has worked to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' healthcare system, including reducing veteran homelessness and making the agency more welcoming. McDonough also supported the VA Choice Act, which expanded veterans' access to private healthcare options, while also maintaining job protections for VA employees. Overall, McDonough's healthcare policy seems to fall in the center of the conservative-liberal spectrum, balancing both private and public healthcare options for veterans.
    Source - Denis McDonough - U.S Department of Veteran Affairs
    https://department.va.gov/staff-biographies/denis-r-mcdonough-2/

  • Immigration

    Center

    There is not enough information to provide a policy analysis.

  • National Security

    Center

    Denis McDonough has emphasized the importance of working with international partners, strengthening alliances, and addressing global threats like terrorism and extremism. McDonough has also highlighted the need to protect civil liberties and human rights, including religious freedom, as part of the national security strategy. Overall, his approach appears to be centered on a pragmatic and comprehensive view of national security.
    Source: Denis McDonough - U.S Department Of Veteran Affairs

  • Reduce Budget Deficit

    Center

    Denis McDonough has a neutral stance on reducing the budget deficit. He stated that the President is committed to a balanced approach to deficit reduction, which involves cutting wasteful and inefficient spending while also making investments that help grow the economy. McDonough emphasized the need to avoid just cutting for the sake of cutting, and to ensure that the budget decisions are made based on what is best for the American people and businesses.
    Source - Denis McDonough - Federal News Netwrok
    https://federalnewsnetwork.com/veterans-affairs/2024/07/va-chief-says-increased-outreach-utilization-drove-massive-budget-shortfall/

  • War on Drugs

    Center

    There is not enough information to provide a policy analysis.

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