This is the Kato Daily Podcast for Friday, July 19th, 2019.

I'm Caleb Brown.

At the Kato Institute's Fear Summit held this week.

Attendees were treated to a frank conversation

on Capitol Hill between House Democrat Zo Boffgren

and newly minted House Independent Justin Amash

on political polarization, the 24-hour news cycle, and how best to arrive

at consensus on Capitol Hill.

Moderating the session held Wednesday evening was Cato's Jeff Vanderslice. I'd like to start by asking each of you

to really take a moment to discuss what you consider to be the cause of political polarization and the apparent

dysfunction in Congress that we see currently. Is it driven by leadership? Is it driven by leadership? Is it driven by leadership?

Is it simply a matter of members of Congress

echoing the sentiments that are expressed by their constituents back home.

Is it something else?

Miss Lofgren, if you would like to take that first question?

I think there's more than one factor, but to a large extent members of Congress tend to reflect

their constituents because they do have a hiring decision every other year. They do

try and keep in touch with what people want them to do.

And the country itself is more polarized than we've been in quite a long time

and that is reflected here in the Congress.

Add into that that the way to get media attention is to be extravagant in your rhetoric

and to be combative.

...