Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns

By: Rachel Porter, University of Notre Dame and Jeff Harden, University of Notre Dame, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 3, 2025

Words: 1,093

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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By Rachel Porter, University of Notre Dame and Jeff Harden, University of Notre Dame

The ongoing government shutdown shows how hard it has become for Congress to do its most basic job: keeping the government running. Ending the stalemate will require lawmakers from both parties to strike a deal – a reminder that legislative progress depends on bipartisanship.

Politicians often call for greater cooperation across party lines, and research shows that bills …

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