This is Democracy – Episode 309: Government Shutdowns

This week, Jeremi and Zachary invite John Lawrence, a former senior staff member with extensive experience in the U.S. House of Representatives, to discuss the recent government shutdown. The conversation delves into the causes and impacts of these shutdowns, the role of partisanship, and historical precedents. Jeremi opens the conversation with a powerful excerpt from C.P. Cavafy’s poem "Waiting for the Barbarians," setting the tone with a poignant reflection on the complexities and challenges of democracy. Dr. John A. Lawrence served for thirty-eight years as a senior staff person in the United States House of Representatives, including as chief of staff for Speaker Nancy Pelosi from 2005 to 2013. He is currently a visiting professor at the University of California’s Washington Center. He is the author of: The Class of ’74: Congress after Watergate and the Roots of Partisanship; Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership; and Sherlock Holmes: The Affair at Mayerling Lodge.

You can listen to This is Democracy – Episode 309: Government Shutdowns online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

This is Democracy – Episode 309: Government Shutdowns is an episode from This is Democracy by LAITS.

This episode is 31:37 long.

This episode was published on Oct 15, 2025.

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