Maya L. Kornberg, "Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress" (JHU Press, 2026)

In this episode of The New Books Network, host Ursula Hackett interviews Maya Kornberg, author of 'Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress' (JHU Press, 2026). Kornberg presents a compelling historical analysis of Congress over the past 50 years, focusing on three transformative classes of freshman representatives: the 1974 Watergate babies, the 1994 Republican Revolution, and the diverse 2018 cohort. She argues that while each group entered Congress with a shared spirit of reform, systemic distortions—driven by money, media, and violence—have increasingly trapped the institution in gridlock. The book reveals how campaign finance reforms like Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United have turned fundraising into a full-time job for lawmakers, while social media incentivizes spectacle over substance. Violence against members, particularly women and people of color, has become a growing deterrent to political participation. Despite these challenges, Kornberg emphasizes that relationships, institutional support, and strategic onboarding remain essential tools for change. She concludes with concrete recommendations: restoring congressional staff, reorganizing outdated committee structures, and seizing opportunities during wave elections to reinvigorate the institution. The episode underscores a central paradox: Congress is both deeply broken and irreplaceable. Kornberg calls for renewed civic engagement, not resignation, urging Americans to see Congress not as a failed institution but as one that can be reformed through collective will and structural investment. Her message is one of cautious hope—democracy is stuck, but not beyond repair. The conversation highlights the urgent need to rebuild Congress’s capacity to govern, protect its members, and serve the public, especially in an era of executive overreach and rising polarization.