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Accountability on Capitol Hill should be a given, but why is it that Congress feels immune to the standards the rest of us live by? It’s easy to see why voters across the political spectrum are fed up. If you’ve ever searched “why is Congress so ineffective,” “why don’t politicians get fired,” or “why is Washington so broken,” we’re discussing a lot of these questions in this episode.
We start with the basics that should not be controversial: show up, do the job, and act like public service is actually service. We talk about the shift from a five-day work week to a three-day work week in Washington, D.C. and how that change fuels polarization by killing real relationship-building. Less time together means less trust, more performative politics, and a system that rewards soundbites over solutions.
Then we get into two issues people constantly Google and argue about: stock trading for politicians and the budget process. Why are members of Congress allowed to trade stocks while writing laws that move markets? How do so many politicians become millionaires on a $175,000 salary? And why are continuing resolutions and government shutdown threats still being used like a weapon instead of passing a real budget like adults?
Finally, we talk about the human cost of all of this. When elected officials disappear for weeks or months, miss votes, and hide behind vague explanations, it creates chaos and destroys trust. Mental health matters, but accountability matters too. If we want decency, transparency, and real consequences back in government, it may have to come from voters, not from the institution protecting itself.
CHAPTER MARKERS:
00:00 Intro
00:28 Accountability on Capitol Hill. Congressional accountability and public trust
01:07 Three Fixes for Congress.
02:59 When politicians disappear and voters get no answers
08:19 Party loyalty, scandals, and “winning at all costs”
12:12 Reform Ideas. Term limits, ballot initiatives, and constitutional amendments
15:24 Money and Power in Washington.
17:50 Decency and Bipartisanship. Exhausted majority and Future Caucus hope
20:07 Israel and Antisemitism. Nuance, party distrust, and black and white politics
27:54 Rethinking the Congress Workweek. 5 day vs 3 day schedule and polarization
30:34 Attendance and Accountability. Show up, vote, and do the job
31:48 Fixing the Federal Budget Process. Continuing resolutions and shutdown threats
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Lindsey Graham:
https://apnews.com/article/lindsey-graham-dies-south-carolina-bfa556e170f2df22ce9ffc7165da3dfa
Tom Kean:
End Congressional Stock Trading Act (H.R. 1908, 119th Congress)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1908
Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Roy, and Magaziner on insider trading legislation (C-SPAN)
We’ve Got To Talk David French Episode https://youtu.be/JQSKSrQfw78?si=G2PBvuhr0fHAF9sY
Future Caucus (formerly Millennial Action Project)
Congressional Future Caucus
How America Got Mean (David Brooks, The Atlantic)
We’ve Got To Talk Episode (David Brooks Article) https://youtu.be/qydEt3wbPXQ?si=DYQlKg1y4b1UlS6Q
David Brooks: How America Recovers from All This (Yale Jackson School event page)
David Brooks: How America Recovers from All This (video)
James Talarico (official site)
In Israel, Rahm Emanuel Calls for End of Unconditional U.S. Support (NYT)
Congress Schedule Opinion https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/388007-lawmakers-to-help-repair-our-polarized-congress-make-dc-your-home/
Congress Schedule
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/TE10041?utm_source=
We’ve Got To Talk Episode Brad Porteus of Bridge Grades ttps://youtu.be/Pq5BYIgxJvw?si=DzRop48P67TlNGH_
Bridge Grades (Brad Porteus) – About
Bridge Grades (main site)
We’ve Got To Talk Tipping and Rating Episode:
https://youtu.be/Ou1CVCXOaXo?si=atxMn3OKK0GUFFIA
NYTimes Bruce Feiler Article:
What Is an Honor Walk (organ donation tradition, Lifebanc)
Our Website:
LINKS:
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wevegottotalk/
On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeveGotToTalk
On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weve-got-to-talk/id1797423701
On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qJVgTvjciUffRmoUienx2
How to find Nicole https://nicolefonarow.com/
How to find Jolene https://dibledough.com/
