Get a weekly dose of our best stories in your inbox.


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from the Washington Monthly
Posted inPolitics

Shutdown Psychology Made Simple

The best explanation of the U.S. government shutdown points to two factors. The first involves information, or what people think they know. The second involves incentives, or what motivates our elected representatives. From decades of empirical research, we know that when like-minded people speak with one another, they tend to become more extreme, more confident […]