Podcast Summary: “Congress Is Dying in Real Time”

Podcast: The Opinions
Host: The New York Times Opinion
Guests: Michelle Cottle, Jamelle Bouie, David French
Date: November 1, 2025

Overview

This episode delves into the deepening dysfunction of the United States Congress, particularly focusing on the ongoing government shutdown and the extraordinary breakdown in legislative processes. Host Michelle Cottle, joined by columnists Jamelle Bouie and David French, analyze both the roots and ramifications of congressional abdication, the influence of former President Trump, and the shifting balance of power in federal governance. Key subjects include the erosion of congressional authority, the collapse of bipartisan compromise, and the potential for future reforms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Dysfunction Reaches a New Level

• Out-of-Session House: Jamelle Bouie points out Speaker Johnson's unprecedented decision to keep the House out of session and stall negotiations, especially as the SNAP benefit cliff looms, leaving millions without food assistance ([02:48]).
• Indifference to Constituents: Bouie highlights the indifference of Republican lawmakers towards the impending hardship for their own constituents:

  "Republican members seem completely, by and large, seem completely indifferent to the fact that many of their constituents are about to lose food assistance … disproportionately children, disabled people and seniors." ([03:27])

2. A Difference in Kind, Not Just Degree

• Total Subservience to the Executive: David French describes a fundamental change: Congress has become “absolutely subservient” to the executive, with compromise now seen as defeat or humiliation ([04:22], [05:21]).

  "Now just that very word, that word compromise is seen as synonymous with defeat. It's seen as synonymous ... with humiliation and subjugation." ([05:21])

• Breakdown of Legislative Practice: They've moved from working out bipartisan deals to a situation where "there will be no real discussion…just waiting for the king on the throne to raise his scepter in a particular way and … say, make a deal, don’t make a deal, hold the line, whatever." ([09:17])

3. The Trump Effect: Fear and Distrust Across the Aisle

• Republican Fear of the President: Cottle observes that Republicans are now more afraid of crossing Trump than being blamed for shutdowns, trusting him to spin the narrative in their favor ([07:33]).
• Democratic Distrust: Democrats, meanwhile, won’t negotiate in good faith as they can't trust the President to honor deals—highlighted by his record of clawing back previously agreed-upon measures ([07:57]).

4. The Rise of Imperial Executive Power

• Executive Orders vs. Legislation: French underscores Trump’s reliance on executive orders rather than law, creating instability because “presidential actions are more ephemeral than ever” and not grounded in legislation ([13:01]).
• Governing by Shutdown: Bouie warns that Trump appears to see government shutdowns as a means of increasing his power, with no apparent limiting principle ([10:28], [12:05]).
• Legal Overreach: Bouie and French critique former OMB Director Russ Vought’s strategy of simply ignoring congressional statutes ([14:35]):

  "All he's doing is just breaking the law, right? … if there were a Congress interested in enforcing its prerogatives, you could just cut that short in an afternoon." ([15:04])

5. Congress’ Abdication: Structural and Cultural Roots

• Long-Term Decline: Cottle and French both acknowledge a years-long pattern of Congress “happily shoveling” its core powers to other branches ([15:42]).

• Shifting Power Balance: French:

  "What we're seeing is constitutional devolution … Article 1 is receding down to, like, Article 3 level, and Article 2 is Article 1 now with a bullet." ([17:13])

• Consequence: Most Americans lose their say in governance; stability is undermined.

6. The Case for an ‘Imperial Congress’

• Historical Precedent: Bouie references Reconstruction as a period when Congress meaningfully asserted its power—after sidelining an obstructive President ([19:21]).
• Cultural Shift Needed: Bouie argues more members need an “ethos” of legislating actively and ambitiously, not as “passive members of a party” ([20:43]).
• Money’s Role: Cottle notes centralized campaign funds reinforce a top-down, leadership-focused system, limiting individual initiative ([21:54]).

7. Reform and Snapback: Is Change Possible?

• Potential for Amendment: French and Bouie both maintain private lists of constitutional amendments—ranging from reforming the pardon power to overturning key Supreme Court decisions—that could reinforce congressional authority ([24:07], [26:17]).

  "We need to constitutionalize overturning Trump v. U.S … so that a corrupt president does not interpret it as license to do whatever they want." ([26:39])

• The Cult of Personality: Both argue reform is impossible until the Trump “fever” passes ([25:56]).

8. Symbolic Dismantling: The East Wing Renovation

• A Metaphor for Power Abuse: The ongoing (controversial) demolition of the White House East Wing for a Trump-funded ballroom is seen as “the perfect metaphor, the perfect symbol” for congressional irrelevance ([27:07], [29:36]).

  Bouie: "…when I open up my computer and I see that they've demolished the East Wing as if it belongs to him, as if it's just something he can do. The White House is very distinctly not a palace." ([28:16]) Cottle: "Isn't this project then, the perfect metaphor? You know, he's taking a wrecking ball to..." ([29:36])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bouie on Republican indifference: “Even as this SNAP cliff approaches, Republican members seem ... completely indifferent to the fact that many of their constituents are about to lose food assistance.” ([03:01])
• French on compromise: “That very word, compromise, is seen as synonymous with defeat ... humiliation and subjugation.” ([05:21])
• Bouie on executive subservience: “If you’ve been there for 20 years, presidents come and go ... But what’s striking is how they really do fully identify their political futures with that of the President—even in circumstances where it’s clear that Trump is dragging you down.” ([06:09])
• Cottle on institutional decay: “Congress has been happily shoveling that out the door and letting the executive branch or the judicial branch do its job... [They're] basically ripe for a takeover.” ([15:42])
• French on the constitutional ‘revolution’: “Article 1 is receding down to, like, Article 3 level, and Article 2 is Article 1 now with a bullet.” ([17:13])
• Bouie on the White House: “The White House is very distinctly not a palace ... it’s open to the public for the most part. ... These things really do matter to how people understand themselves.” ([28:16])

Important Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 02:48 – Bouie: The unique indifference and inaction of House Republicans regarding SNAP benefits and the shutdown.
• 04:22 – French: Congress’s total subservience to the President; compromise as defeat.
• 06:09 – Bouie: How members now see their futures tied to the President.
• 09:17 – French: Mapping the breakdown of legislative endgames; “the king on the throne” analogy.
• 13:01 – French: Trump’s governing through executive orders and its consequences.
• 15:42 – Cottle: Question to both on whether Congress’s abdication enabled Trump’s power grab.
• 17:13 – French: Structural constitutional decay; Article 1 recedes, Article 2 ascends.
• 19:21 – Bouie: Historical example—Reconstruction and the idea of an 'imperial Congress'.
• 28:16 – Bouie: Reaction to demolition of the East Wing and the symbolism of overreach.
• 29:36 – Cottle: East Wing renovation as a symbol for Trump’s approach to institutions.

Closing Recommendations (32:16–34:50)

• French recommends the evolving Apple TV’s “The Morning Show,” embracing its shift from prestige TV to a soapy, Dallas-style drama.
• Bouie recommends “28 Years Later,” highlighting it as a surprisingly profound and emotionally rich legacy sequel.
• Cottle urges listeners to support local food banks as need rises during the shutdown and holidays.

Tone & Highlights

• Candid, Wry, and Occasionally Sardonic: The panelists mix deep concern for the state of governance with dark humor, pop culture allusions, and open geekery (e.g., Star Wars and Parliament Funkadelic references at [14:52], [24:53]).
• Intellectually Rigorous, Yet Accessible: The episode is rich in constitutional and historical references (e.g., Reconstruction era, Article 1 powers), but remains clear and comprehensible for lay listeners.

Final Thoughts

The episode presents a sobering, multi-dimensional portrait of Congressional erosion, its present-day consequences, and the enduring challenge of institutional reform in the shadow of an empowered executive. Ultimately, the conversation calls for vigilance, respect for constitutional structures, and genuine ambition among legislators—tempered by the reality that deep change may only come after the current era of political “cult of personality” subsides.