New Books in Political Science Stuck: How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
Institutional Culture Reinforced Exclusion
- The House's physical culture reflected exclusion: lack of women's restrooms and pool rules signaled a 'rich white man's place.'
- Congressional caucuses like the Congressional Women's Caucus helped women and people of color build community and power over time.
AOC Live Streamed Her First Days In Congress
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used livestreams to demystify onboarding, calling her first day 'Congress Day Camp Day Zero' and showing swag bags.
- Her videos highlighted institutional gaps and normalized the human side of freshman learning.
Social Media Is Megaphone Not Lawmaking Power
- Social media gives some members 'prophetic' megaphone power but rarely translates into legislative authority.
- AOC exemplifies platform influence, while Lauren Underwood warns it incentivizes eyeballs over policy work.
Fifty years of changemaking and reform haven't fixed Congress—what does that reveal about American democracy? In Stuck: How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress, Maya Kornberg chronicles the efforts of congressional reformers over the last fifty years and documents the mounting forces that have kept their reforms from creating meaningful change.
Dr. Kornberg reveals how political violence, astronomical campaign costs, relentless fundraising demands, shrinking staff, and centralized party leadership all constrain the ability of new members to legislate and represent their constituents. Social media, while offering new platforms for political expression, has also heightened harassment and fed a performative culture that rewards spectacle over substance. Bolstered by dozens of interviews, congressional records, and the voices of lawmakers past and present—including Henry Waxman, Toby Moffett, Phil English, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Lauren Underwood—Stuck offers a sobering portrait of a legislative body paralyzed by its own internal dynamics.
Dr. Kornberg outlines tangible reforms that could restore Congress's capacity to function and amplify the power of its newest members. At a time when Americans are losing faith in democracy's most representative institution, Stuck makes the case for how it could be saved.
A Neuroscientist's Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life
Our guest is: Dr. Maya Kornberg, who is a senior research fellow and manager in the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program. She’s taught political science at NYU, Georgetown and American University, worked on democratic governance issues at numerous institutions, and led research for a UNDP and IPU project examining civic engagement in the work of over 80 parliaments around the world. She is the author of Stuck.
Our host is: Dr. Christina Gessler, who is an academic writing coach and editor. She is the producer and show host of the Academic Life podcast.
Playlist for listeners:
The Vice-President's Black Wife
You Have More Influence Than You Think
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