Constitutionally Speaking

Luke interviews Jay about his new book, James Madison: America’s First Politician, which is out on November 9th. Jay introduces a new bonus for podcast listeners — autographed book plates! — and the two dive (once again!) into Madison’s fascinating political career.

In this week’s episode, Jay and Luke examine what makes members of Congress tick. The answer: paranoia. Specifically, the all-abiding fear that they might lose reelection. The congressional drive toward reelection frames their entire career in Congress, especially how they interact with their constituents back home. It determines how they view their districts and how they communicate with it. Those who are good at this job tend to win reelection. Those who don’t, don’t.

In this final installment of their ‘Historical Congress’ series, Luke and Jay discuss various facets of the legislative group since the 1990s.

Jay and Luke discuss Congress’s evolution and role after the Watergate scandal. 

Luke and Jay take a look at Congress’s confrontation with reform, from the collapse of the Populist movement through the rise of modern American liberalism. As the Civil War generation fades into the past, new cleavages and governing patterns emerge.

Jay and Luke take a look at the long period of congressional dominance in the 19th century, and they explain how congressional supremacy survived everything from the Civil War to civil-service reform.

Jay and Luke discuss Congress and the mid 1800s.