NPR

Congress wasn't always this dysfunctional (except it kind of was)

You've likely heard lots this week about how rare the repeated failed Speaker votes have been. But is this a new level of dysfunction for Congress?
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy enters the Capitol on January 6.
Updated January 6, 2023 at 5:43 PM ET

What a week it's been in Congress.

You've likely heard lots about how unprecedented the repeated failed votes for Speaker have been, or at least that it hasn't happened in about a century. But is this a new level of dysfunction for Congress?

To answer that question, we've turned to author and historian John Farrell. He has covered Congress as a journalist and also written biographies

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min read
More Than 500 People Have Been Arrested At Pro-Palestinian Protests At Colleges
Students and others are protesting Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza and, in some cases, their school's investments in Israel. Presidents at several schools face calls to resign amid the protests.
NPR5 min read
Iran Women's Protests Are The Focus Of 'Persepolis' Author Marjane Satrapi's New Book
The French Iranian author and artist, best known for her graphic novel Persepolis, edited and contributed to a new graphic anthology titled Woman, Life, Freedom, inspired by Iran's recent protests.
NPR5 min readWorld
Blinken Tells China It's In Their Interest To Stop Helping Russia
NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken following his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and top Chinese officials in Beijing.

Related Books & Audiobooks