ICYMI: Top reads on Congress

Carl Hulse and Emily Cochrane, “McConnell and Pelosi Have a Fraught Relationship. The Shutdown Hasn’t Helped,” New York Times:

“The two congressional leaders are ideological opposites who are two of the capital’s most experienced deal makers, yet to this point each has mainly called on the other to relent.”

Matthew Green, “Trump’s shutdown tactics borrow from the Freedom Caucus,” Vox:

“But why would Trump believe that refusing to sign funding bills without money for a wall is the best strategy to get what he wants? The answer likely lies with the House Freedom Caucus, an organized group of conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives. The caucus advocated for the shutdown — which reflects the kinds of tactics used by the group in the past — and it has developed key ties to Trump that allow its members to shape the president’s strategic decisions.”

Ella Nilsen and Dylan Scott, “The silent majority of Democratic House freshmen,” Vox:

“National attention has focused on a handful of young, left-wing first-time members of Congress elected to safe seats. But realistically, the future of the House lies with a larger group of Democrats who eked out narrow wins in newly purple districts.”

Burgess Everett, “Senate GOP could change rules to speed Trump nominees’ confirmation,” Politico:

“Senate Republicans have been discussing cutting the debate time on lower-level nominees for months now, frustrated by Democrats’ ability to demand as many as 30 hours of debate on each one. The Indiana Republican told Hugh Hewitt on Monday that the GOP conference may make a move soon.”

Jonathan Miller, “Congressional scandals ain’t what they used to be,” Roll Call:

“Jordan’s rise in the ranks of the Republican Party is just one example of a phenomenon that has been sweeping Congress and Washington in the era of Trump, and even for some years before — that of a consequence-free culture. Even more stunning: in some cases, scandal has not been a career-ender, but instead a career-enhancer.”

John Sides, “What would actually put more working-class people in office?” Washington Post:

“But what would actually put more working-class people in political office? I contacted Duke University professor Nicholas Carnes, author of the recently published book “The Cash Ceiling: Why Only the Rich Run for Office — and What We Can Do About It.” Here is a lightly edited version of our exchange.”

Craig Volden, Alan Wiseman, and Dana Wittmer Wolfe, “How the record number of female lawmakers will — and won’t — change Congress,” Washington Post:

“A record number of women are serving in the 116th Congress. These 25 senators and 102 House members will have the opportunity to champion favored issues and try to advance them through Congress. But political scientists offer mixed findings on whether women are more effective lawmakers than men. Here’s what we know and what it might mean for the current Congress.”

Ezra Klein, “The political scientist Donald Trump should read,” Vox:

It’s not often I run across political science that genuinely changes my understanding of how American politics works. But Frances Lee’s research has done exactly that. Twice. Not that he asked me, but if President Donald Trump were looking for a political scientist to read to gain a more strategic perspective on his current predicament, I’d direct him to Lee.”

Ryan Scoville, “Can the President Cut Support for Congressional Foreign Travel During the Shutdown?” Lawfare:

“In short, the president is now using the shutdown as justification to severely restrict executive branch support for all congressional foreign travel, whether or not military aircraft are involved. This is a significant escalation of other recent efforts by the administration to control the extent to which Congress can engage in oversight through the investigation of foreign conditions and operations. As far as I am aware, it is also unprecedented, whether during a shutdown or otherwise. What to make of it?”