Make Congress Work (with Yuval Levin)

Season 2, Episode 5,   Feb 02, 11:00 AM

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In other democracies, when a party wins an election it wins all the power. But American democracy is different, and under the Constitution, Congress is supposed to engage in cross-partisan bargaining—yet it's failing at this very basic job.

In other democracies, when a party wins an election it wins all the power. But American democracy is different, and under the Constitution, members of Congress are supposed to engage in cross-partisan bargaining—yet they’re failing at this very basic job. What we’re left with are spending bills finalized at midnight before a government shutdown, and party line votes that are undone by other party line votes. Yuval Levin joins John to discuss some remedies: expanding the number of House members, re-empowering committees to reduce some of the leadership’s power, and using rank-choice voting to get the kind of candidates who bargain and build coalitions.