Podcast Summary:
New Books Network – Interview with Dr. Maya Kornberg
Episode: "Stuck: How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress"
Date: March 10, 2026
Host: Dr. Christina Gessler

Episode Overview

Dr. Christina Gessler interviews Dr. Maya Kornberg about her new book, "Stuck: How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress." This rich discussion delves into Kornberg’s 50-year analysis of the U.S. House of Representatives, exploring why Congress remains resistant to change, and highlighting the interplay of money, media, and violence. Key points include structural challenges, onboarding issues for new lawmakers, impacts of money and media, and the rising threat of violence. Kornberg argues that, while Congress often seems dysfunctional and "stuck," change is still possible—and necessary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Kornberg's Background and Motivation

• [00:36] Dr. Kornberg introduces herself as a political scientist with extensive research on Congress and global legislatures. She blends academic research with practical experience in international development and democracy nonprofits.
• [01:36] Her fascination with Congress stems from a broader interest in community, governance, and making democratic institutions work better for citizens.

The Book's Structure and Methodology

• [02:18] Kornberg’s book is based on a broad array of sources, including:
  • Dozens of original interviews with current and former lawmakers, congressional staff, and advocates.
  • A 50-year survey focusing on three pivotal "freshman" Congressional classes: 1974, 1994, and 2018.

Why Focus on 1974, 1994, and 2018?

• [04:46] These classes mark inflection points tied to impeachment proceedings, major social upheaval, and moments of Congress asserting power over executive overreach (e.g., the Watergate scandal, the Vietnam War, post-Trump era).
• [07:23] The class of 1974 especially represents significant institutional and generational change—reshaping committee assignments and power dynamics.

The Problem of "Stuckness"

• [09:30] The book’s title captures the public’s growing frustration: “Our democracy feels stuck and many Americans feel trapped in a political and economic ecosystem that is not working for ordinary people.” (B, 09:30)
• Kornberg identifies money, media, and violence as underexplored distortions preventing effective reform and responsiveness in Congress.

The Freshman Experience & Institutional Challenges

• [10:29] New lawmakers face a steep learning curve, with:
  • Minimal onboarding or guidance.
  • Significant under-resourcing compared to earlier decades (e.g., fewer staff, reduced agency support).
• [13:35] Vivid anecdote: "It took him four hours to find the post office... We didn’t know what the hell we were doing. We are just freshmen, right." (Freshman Davis quote, 13:35)
• Senior lawmakers and leadership may exploit newcomers’ inexperience to further entrench their own power.
• [15:14] "Leadership...takes advantage of some of that newness to push forward changes...naivete can be taken advantage of...by people who have been there for a while and know what to do." (B, 15:14)

Diversity, Representation, and Additional Barriers

• [16:48] Challenges are not uniform: Women, people of color, and religious minorities face added obstacles.
• [17:55] Vivid example: “There were no women’s bathrooms in The Senate...female senators were forced to use visitor restrooms...Women were not allowed to swim in the chamber’s pool because some male members preferred to swim naked.” (A, 17:55)
• [20:47] Shirley Chisholm’s trailblazing experience highlighted both overt and subtle forms of exclusion for women and minorities.

The Double-Edged Sword of Media and Social Media

• [22:33] Social media is now a critical tool for visibility, fundraising, and constituent engagement—but rarely translates into legislative power.
• [23:51] “There are two kinds of power. You can be a king who governs or a prophet who holds the megaphone.” (Sean Kasten quote, cited by Kornberg, 23:51)
• Social media has shifted incentives from collaborative lawmaking to attention-seeking, performative behavior: “It incentivizes eyeballs and acclaim rather than policy work.” (Lauren Underwood, 25:10)

Rising Threat of Violence in Congress

• [27:23] Political violence is surging, illustrated by data and chilling anecdotes (e.g., death threats, staff exposed to danger, Nancy Pelosi's family attacked).
• [29:53] Quote: “There are members of the United States Congress saying, 'I would have voted to impeach the president, but I was afraid for the physical safety of my family.'” (B, 29:53)
  • Violence deters qualified candidates, especially women and minorities.
  • Limits public engagement (e.g., fewer town halls).
  • Directly shapes legislative agendas and votes.

Money in Politics: Structural & Practical Distortions

• [34:01] The fundraising arms race is historically new and increasingly overwhelming.
  • “There’s a quote...from Marcia Fudge...saying that she doesn’t know how she is going to raise the money that she needs to pay her dues to the party.” (B, 34:01)
  • Supreme Court decisions (Buckley v. Valeo, 1976; Citizens United, 2010) shifted the playing field, making campaigns vastly more expensive and exclusionary.
  • Pressure to fundraise affects who is able to serve and who can obtain meaningful positions of power in Congress.
• "[AOC] started paying dues to the party...if she wanted to actually chair a committee as she tried to do..." (B, 35:44)

Change: How Does It Actually Happen?

• [39:01] Major reform often occurs when large incoming classes shake up the system.
• Savvy reformers find "windows when doors are closed," build alliances, and use soft skills to make incremental progress.
• [41:37] “Finding allies...patience and relationship building are essential in Congress.” (Waxman quote, 41:37)
• Relationship-building is pivotal; collaboration is baked into Congressional function.

Path Forward: Practical Reforms and Political Hope

• [45:04] Kornberg calls for:
  • Dramatically increasing staff and updating committee structures.
  • Improving member safety (security stipends, police support).
  • Adjusting Congressional salaries to widen access.
  • Campaign finance reform.
  • Citizen engagement to shift broader political culture and pressure for change.
• [48:34] Role of hope:
  • “Hope is also taking action...electing people who we think can strengthen the institution and make our government look like what it's supposed to.” (B, 48:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “Stuckness”:
  "Our democracy feels stuck and many Americans feel trapped in a political and economic ecosystem that is not working for ordinary people." (Kornberg, 09:30)

• Freshman Experience:
  “We didn’t know what the hell we were doing. We are just freshmen.” (Freshman Davis, 13:35)

• Gender Exclusion:
  “There were no women’s bathrooms in The Senate...Women were not allowed to swim in the chamber’s pool because some male members preferred to swim naked.” (A, 17:55)

• Social Media Power Dichotomy:
  “There are two kinds of power. You can be a king who governs or a prophet who holds the megaphone.” (Sean Kasten, cited by Kornberg, 23:51)

• Violence’s Chilling Effect:
  “There are members of the United States Congress saying, ‘I would have voted to impeach the president, but I was afraid for the physical safety of my family.’” (B, 29:53)

• Practical Optimism:
  “Congress is malleable. It is always shaped and reshaped by the people who walk its halls and by the people who engage with it and in it.” (B, 50:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to Dr. Kornberg and Research Approach: 00:36–04:46
• Three Pivotal Freshman Classes & Congressional Change: 04:46–09:30
• Freshman Challenges and Systemic Under-resourcing: 10:29–17:55
• Diversity, Gender & Structural Barriers: 16:48–22:33
• Social Media, Kings vs. Prophets, and Attention Economy: 22:33–26:02
• Rising Violence and Its Disruptive Impact: 27:23–31:59
• Money, Fundraising, and Access to Power: 34:01–38:16
• Mechanics of Change and Incremental Reform: 39:01–43:52
• Practical Recommendations for Reform: 45:04–48:34
• Role of Hope and Civic Engagement: 48:21–50:26
• Closing Reflections & Call to Action: 50:02–51:12

Conclusion

Dr. Maya Kornberg’s "Stuck" is an incisive analysis of why Congress resists change, exploring how entrenched interests, cultural inertia, and underappreciated forces (money, media, violence) shape legislative life. Kornberg remains hopeful, insisting that change, though slow and uneven, is both possible and urgent. Her call to resist disengagement—by citizens and would-be reformers within Congress alike—serves as a timely reminder that democracy’s fate is not fixed.

For a deep exploration and practical roadmap for Congressional reform, listeners are encouraged to read Dr. Kornberg’s book and stay engaged with the democratic process.