The Fighter

We thought we had John McCain figured out. the cranky ex-maverick. the hard-righter who'd given us sarah Palin. Then came Trump, the Russian collusion scandal, endless assaults on health care. And most challengingly, his own diagnosis with cancer. That's when McCain Showed us who he'd always been.

- Jason Zengerle

WHEN JOHN MCCAIN revealed in July that he’d been diagnosed with glioblastoma—the same aggressive form of brain cancer that killed his friend Ted Kennedy—the news seemed of a piece with all of the other dismal political headlines of the year. But in the midst of surgery and radiation and chemo, the Arizona senator has somehow emerged as perhaps the most consequential man in Washington, casting the deciding “no” vote on the Obamacare repeal; urging his fellow senators, Republicans and Democrats alike, to do better; and serving as a constant thorn in the side of Donald Trump. All the while, the war-hero senator, now 81, has re-asserted himself as a living example of dignity and honor in the face of adversity—and provided a model of the type of courageous, experienced public servant we need to fix our broken politics. We recently spoke to McCain about the tumultuous year in politics, his health, and about what he’s still eager to achieve.

GQ: How has Washington, D.C., changed since you arrived 30 or so years ago?

JOHN MCCAIN: You know, as we grow older, we forget the rough spots and we only remember the good times. That’s just human nature, as you know. But having said that, the Senate was a much more congenial place than it is today. That seems to be missing now. And there’s clearly a polarization that’s taking place that outside forces are effecting. For example, declaring a jihad against certain senators because they weren’t in line with certain people’s beliefs. In other words, disagreements, sometimes strong disagreements, but it’s much more intense.