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Study Reveals Decline of Evidence-Based Rhetoric in Congress

4/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study of eight million U.S. Congressional speeches from 1879 to 2022 uncovers a troubling trend: evidence-based rhetoric has plummeted since its peak in the mid-1970s. This decline, linked to rising political polarization and dwindling legislative effectiveness, underscores an urgent call for initiatives that champion fact-driven dialogue to rebuild public faith in democracy.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study of eight million U.S. Congressional speeches from 1879 to 2022 uncovers a troubling trend: evidence-based rhetoric has plummeted since its peak in the mid-1970s. This decline, linked to rising political polarization and dwindling legislative effectiveness, underscores an urgent call for initiatives that champion fact-driven dialogue to rebuild public faith in democracy.