Congress Used to Work. What Happened?

The Washington Roundtable is joined by Carl Hulse, the New York Times’ chief Washington correspondent, to discuss Congress’s dwindling role in the American political system. Why are Congress members passing fewer bills than their predecessors? Why can the institution no longer complete basic tasks of governing, such as passing a budget on time? Are representatives more interested in being social-media stars than crafting legislation? The panel analyzes why Congress has increasingly surrendered its power to the President, in areas as diverse as tariffs and the war in Iran. “Once you give up power, you never get it back in Washington,” Hulse says.

This week’s reading:

• “The White House Press Corps in the Second Trump Era,” by Katy Waldman
• “The Complications of Graham Platner’s Veteran Identity,” by Jasper Craven
• “Maine’s Mad Scramble to Replace Graham Platner,” by Jason Zengerle
• “Trump’s War on Journalists,” by Ruth Marcus

The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.

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