Congress I

For Wednesday:

• Frontline on Clarence Thomas (start at 1:05):    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJuRx1wARUk 
• Preston Padden

This past weekend:

• Feinstein death and her successor
• Shutdown:  Jeffries and McCarthy
• Gaetz v. McCarthy and GOP v. Gaetz
• Alarming news and an expulsion call

From last time

Reflections on pre-Trump press relations.



19:00, 40:00, 50:00

STAFF INK STINKS

• Spicey's bad start.  You do not want to be the butt of comedy.
• The message box and KC:  "alternative facts"
• Mooch did not follow his own advice

Dunaway writes that Members use "the media to send messages to one another, interest groups, the White House, and other political elites" (p. 211 of 11th ed.)

Congressional Approval v. Congressional Reelection Rates

Polarization of constituencies

Running for Congress by running against Congess

Incumbency advantages:

• Social media and staff -- Dr. Glassman on staff allocation
•  Sen. Padilla and Rep. Chu
• Compare committee and member pages Intelligence and  Turner personal page
• News deserts, ghost papers, and shuttered DC bureaus mean that incumbents face less investigative scrutiny from reporters:
• Cunningham
• Santos and a little-read little paper

BUT CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS IS INCREASINGLY NATIONAL

• Newt's C-SPAN strategy
• Press Galleries: House Press Gallery and Senate Press Gallery
• Party:
• House GOP
• House Dems