"You just saw President Trump laying into Senate Republicans — calling out the RINOs and making it clear he’s fed up with the dysfunction in that chamber. That frustration is real, and it’s not just about one meeting or one bill. It goes much deeper. The United States Senate was never designed to be just another popularly elected body like the House. The Founders created it as a deliberative body to represent the sovereign states, with Senators chosen by state legislatures, not by direct popular vote. That structure was meant to protect federalism, check federal power, and keep the Senate focused on the long-term interests of the states. In 1913, the 17th Amendment changed all of that. Since then, Senators have become more responsive to national donors, party leaders, and the D.C. machine than to the states they’re supposed to represent. The result is exactly what we’re seeing today: gridlock, broken promises, and a Senate that often feels completely disconnected from the American people and the Constitution. My guest today has been digging into this issue for years. He’s a highly respected attorney who specializes in investigating public corruption and racketeering, the same kind of institutional failures we see in Arizona and across the country. He’s currently a graduate student and researcher in Public Administration and teaching political science. He’s the co-author, with James R., of the new book Restoring the Senate.







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