Do We Need a More Assertive Congress?

Philip Wallach ( follow on X ) is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of the book Why Congress , which he joins Richard Hanania to discuss. In this conversation, Hanania and Wallach review the historical role of Congress in American politics, focusing on key events from the FDR administration to the present. Wallach explains the important role Congress played in making sure that Roosevelt did not take the country too far down the path of economic statism, a history that Hanania points out is in tension with some of the ideas of Curtis Yarvin. Throughout the conversation, Wallach emphasizes the importance of Congress in shaping policy and maintaining a balance of power between the branches of government. They explore the impact of significant legislation, the dynamics of the Civil Rights Movement, and changes in Congressional structure during the 1970s. The discussion also touches on the influence of Newt Gingrich, the ongoing challenges of governance in a polarized political environment, the impact of Trump, and the potential for bipartisan cooperation on policy issues. Wallach argues for a more responsive Congress that can find compromises between political factions and effectively address the concerns of the American public. Hanania plays devil’s advocate, and asks whether it might be better for Congress not to legislate, using European states and the EU as a comparison. Near the end, Hanania asks who the best people are to follow in order to stay informed about Congress. You can find Wallach’s preferred list here. Get full access to Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology at

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Do We Need a More Assertive Congress? is an episode from CSPI Podcast by CSPI.

This episode is 61:00 long.

This episode was published on Mar 13, 2025.

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