New Books in Public Policy Stuck: How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
Mar 10, 2026
Dr. Maya Kornberg, a political scientist and Brennan Center researcher, explores why Congress resists change. She traces reform attempts across decades and highlights freshman classes, fundraising pressures, social media’s double edge, and rising political violence. The conversation points to institutional constraints and practical reforms to help new members legislate and rebuild representative power.
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Congress Lacks The Staff It Needs
- Congressional staffing and institutional support have shrunk since the 1970s, hampering members' capacity to legislate and serve constituents.
- Committee staff were gutted in the 1990s, the Office of Technology Assessment was eliminated, and personal staff caps remain unchanged since 1975.
New Members Get Lost On Day One
- Freshmen often arrive bewildered and under-supported, spending hours on basic tasks like locating the post office or setting up offices.
- Representative Pierre took four hours to find the post office and new members described learning the job as drinking from a fire hose.
AOC Turned Orientation Into Live Content
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used social media to document freshman orientation and demystify Congress for followers.
- She livestreamed 'Congress Day Camp Day Zero' and filmed discoveries like 'secret underground tunnels' between buildings.
