Story perspectives

Congress Faces Shutdown Amidst Bipartisan Cooperation Crisis

11/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The ongoing government shutdown underscores Congress's struggle to maintain basic functions and the need for bipartisan cooperation.
Research analyzing over 2.2 million policymaking actions shows first-term amateurs are significantly less likely to cross party lines than experienced lawmakers.
This trend mirrors the decline in bipartisan efforts following the 2020 election certification crisis.
As new amateurs enter Congress, the challenge is to balance fresh perspectives with needed experience for governance.

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Story summary

The ongoing government shutdown underscores Congress's struggle to maintain basic functions and the need for bipartisan cooperation.
Research analyzing over 2.2 million policymaking actions shows first-term amateurs are significantly less likely to cross party lines than experienced lawmakers.
This trend mirrors the decline in bipartisan efforts following the 2020 election certification crisis.
As new amateurs enter Congress, the challenge is to balance fresh perspectives with needed experience for governance.