GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw joins Jonah to discuss fixing Congress and other broken institutions of government. They delve into Congress' transformation, weakening major parties, and historical roots of antisemitism. They also explore the ideological divide, radicalization of the right, frustrations of the budget process, and potential for a grand bargain on border security.
01:52:15
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Weak parties lead to strong partisanship and members prioritize re-election over compromise, contributing to the dysfunction in Congress.
The focus on regular order and passing appropriations bills may not be effective, as compromise and negotiation based on political realities are necessary.
The current political climate encourages a win-or-lose mentality, perpetuating dysfunction in Congress and shifting power away from Congress towards the executive branch and the judiciary.
The rise of populism, erosion of institutional norms, and the influence of entertainment and social media have contributed to the current state of politics, emphasizing the need for a more informed and long-term perspective in decision-making.
Deep dives
The Broken Congress and Weak Parties
Congress is broken because the parties are too weak and Congress doesn't function as it should. Weak parties lead to strong partisanship and members prioritize re-election over compromise. Congress should serve as a place to work out disagreements and build majority coalitions. However, the current system incentivizes pandering to a segment of the party base, leading to gridlock and lack of compromise.
The Obsession with Regular Order and Budget Process
There is an obsession with regular order and passing 12 appropriations bills, but this may not be the most effective approach. The budget process is complex and subject to political realities, making compromise and negotiation necessary. Some amendments lack thought and understanding of the agencies they affect. The focus should be on responsible principles and an acceptance of political realities.
The Performative Nature of Politics
Politics has become performative, with a focus on appearances and grandstanding rather than effective legislating. The leadership holds significant power, while committee work and bipartisan collaboration are marginalized. This leads to the consolidation of control and legislation being decided behind closed doors. The incentive to perform and pander to certain factions undermines the proper functioning of Congress.
The Culture of Losing and Purism
There is a culture of losing as proof of purity, where perceived failures are seen as a lack of will rather than a lack of votes or political realities. Some members prioritize maintaining ideological purity over achieving meaningful progress and compromise. This culture contributes to the dysfunction and gridlock in Congress.
Importance of compromise in politics
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of compromise and the need for politicians to make partial victories rather than aiming for total wins. It discusses how the current political climate encourages a win-or-lose mentality, leading to dysfunction in Congress. It highlights the fact that voters play a role in perpetuating this dysfunctional system by rewarding uncompromising behavior. The episode also touches on the issue of power shifting away from Congress and towards the executive branch and the judiciary.
Human nature and the vision of the Founding Fathers
The podcast explores the different philosophical ideas manifested in liberal and conservative views using Thomas Sowell's book 'Conflict Divisions' as a reference. It raises the question of whether the Founding Fathers envisioned the eventual segregation of the country into two political ideologies. It discusses the constrained and unconstrained visions of human nature, emphasizing the founding fathers' understanding of the imperfections and limitations of human nature. The podcast argues that the Constitution was designed to distribute political power across various institutions, allowing competing forces to cancel each other out and prevent the concentration of power.
The impact of populism and the erosion of institutional norms
The episode delves into the rise of populism and its effect on political discourse. It highlights the tendency of populism to oversimplify complex issues and perpetuate conspiracy theories. The podcast discusses how the erosion of institutional norms, such as strong political parties and rigorous candidate selection processes, has contributed to the current state of politics. It emphasizes the need for a more informed and long-term perspective in political decision-making rather than succumbing to the allure of short-term gains or performative politics.
The role of entertainment and social media in shaping politics
The podcast touches on the influence of entertainment and social media on political discourse. It highlights how people often follow politics as a form of entertainment, rooting for their chosen 'heroes' and dehumanizing their opponents. It discusses the impact of social media on creating echo chambers and fostering the spread of conspiracy theories. The episode raises concerns about the diffusion of responsibility and the ease with which people with fringe views can find like-minded individuals, leading to the normalization of extreme beliefs.
On today’s Remnant, Jonah joins GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas to discuss what we can do to fix Congress and our other broken institutions of government. Come prepared with your bingo cards, because the nerdery covers some of Jonah’s favorite bugaboos, including Congress’ transformation into a parliament of pundits, the weakening of our major parties, and the historical roots of antisemitism.
