Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
(Johns Hopkins University Press, Forthcoming in 2026)
My new book will be published March 10, 2026. You can pre-order it on Amazon Barnes&Noble JHU Press
Stay tuned for more information on book publication and events!
Congress, the central democratic institution in the United States, is hanging on by a thread. On January 6, 2021, a violent attack on the Capitol Building left five people dead, and threats and attacks against politicians are on the rise. In Stuck, Maya Kornberg chronicles the efforts of congressional reformers over the last fifty years and documents the mounting forces that have kept their reforms from creating meaningful change.
The "Watergate babies" of 1974, the Contract with America conservatives of 1994, and the historic 2018 class fueled by backlash to Donald Trump all represent younger, more diverse, and less entrenched members who arrived in Washington energized and idealistic. Kornberg reveals the ways Congress has become increasingly inhospitable to change. Political violence, astronomical campaign costs, relentless fundraising demands, shrinking staff, and centralized party leadership all constrain the ability of new members to legislate and represent their constituents. Social media, while offering new platforms for political expression, has also heightened harassment and fueled a performative culture that rewards spectacle over substance.
Bolstered by dozens of interviews, congressional records, and the voices of lawmakers past and present—including Henry Waxman, Toby Moffett, Phil English, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Lauren Underwood—Stuck offers a sobering portrait of a legislative body paralyzed by its own internal dynamics. Kornberg also outlines tangible reforms that could restore Congress's capacity to function and amplify the power of its newest members. At a time when Americans are losing faith in democracy's most representative institution, Stuck makes the case for how it could be saved.
Reviews
"Maya Kornberg's "Stuck," tracing the evolution of Congress from the Watergate class of 1974 through the Trump revolution, presents timely insights into why the current Congress is ceding its authority to an expansive executive. Essential reading for anyone eager to better understand today's political dynamics."
Andrea Mitchell, chief Washington correspondent for NBC News and host of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports”
“Stuck is a powerful reminder that the existence of political violence is not new, but in today’s political environment campaign money and media (especially social media) have added fuel to the burning fire. Stuck is a must read to understand the barriers to change in today’s Congress while also offering seeds of hope for getting unstuck.”
Donna Edwards, Former Congresswoman and Executive Director of the Center for New American Democracy
"As a former Member of Congress dedicated to improving the institution, I know how urgent it is to fix our politics. This lively and insightful book captures the experiences of politicians trying to make change, offers thoughtful analysis of distortions in our political system, and suggests pragmatic solutions to strengthen our democracy.”
Derek Kilmer, Former Congressman and Chair of the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
"Maya Kornberg has written an important book about how to make Congress work better. This is not the standard academic tome. Focusing on the largest groups of newly elected Members over the past fifty years, she identifies obstacles and suggests solutions. A useful and readable exploration of a critical problem. "
Elizabeth Holtzman, Former Congresswoman and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congresswomen's Caucus
"A clever construct and many insightful interviews with members from three pivotal congressional classes enable Maya Kornberg to trace change in Congress, in the broader political context, from 1974 until today. A valuable contribution to our understanding of Congress."
Norman Ornstein, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and New York Times bestselling author
"For every American frustrated with a Congress that has become “stuck”, this book is vital. Maya Kornberg provides a spirited analysis of change-making cohorts of legislators, with special attention to the transformative impact of the Watergate Babies Class of 1974 and offers a roadmap to revitalize Congress while curbing excessive presidential power."
Julian Zelizer, Princeton Professor and New York Times bestselling author of numerous books including In Defense of Partisanship
Inside Congressional Committees: Function and Dysfunction in the Legislative Process
(Columbia University Press)
*Shortlisted for 2025 Political Studies Association Mackenzie Book Prize*
The book is available for purchase online and in stores. You can order your copy here: Amazon Barnes&Noble Columbia University Press Indiepubs
It is widely believed that Congress has broken down. Media accounts present the storied legislature as thoroughly gridlocked, paralyzed by partisan rancor. Political scientists find that Congress is passing fewer laws and spending less time on legislative work. Which parts of a supposedly dysfunctional legislature continue to function?
This book examines the legislative process beyond voting patterns, emphasizing the crucial role of congressional committee hearings. In committees, lawmakers hear from expert witnesses, legislators revise and discuss bills before bringing them to a vote, and the public has an opportunity to engage with Congress. The book scrutinizes the inner workings of committees—the different types of witnesses who testify, the varied hearings Congress holds, and the distinct effects that committee work has on Congresspeople. It deploys original mixed-methods datasets that span from insider interviews to sentiment analysis examining the language used in hearings. The book evaluates how committees operate and the conditions affecting their performance, finding that committee work can be more deliberative and productive than the politics of the Congress floor.
Through a comprehensive exploration of who committees hear from and how they listen, this book demonstrates that Congress is not as dysfunctional as is often claimed. Inside Congressional Committees also suggests timely reforms based on these findings that can strengthen Congress.
Reviews
“Maya L. Kornberg has produced a rich, informative, and beautifully written study of the internal operations of the contemporary Congress. Inside Congressional Committees is a refreshingly balanced perspective, one that offers a nuanced understanding of Congress’s strengths, weaknesses, and complex institutional realities.”
Frances E. Lee, Princeton University
“This creative and impressive book shines a welcome light on the political underbelly of committees in the U.S. Congress. Marshalling a remarkable array of evidence, Kornberg pinpoints the roles of norms and relationships in sustaining committees as arenas of bipartisan problem solving. She advances a nuanced, clear-eyed view of the potential and pitfalls of today’s committees.”
Sarah Binder, George Washington University
“Kornberg significantly increases our understanding of how congressional committee hearings are structured, who testifies at them, what those witnesses say, and what impact the hearings have. This book is a must-read for scholars of Congress.”
Josh Chafetz, Georgetown University
“Everyone loves to hate Congress for being dysfunctional, polarized, and weak. Kornberg’s elegant study asks us to think twice. She carefully examines how congressional committees actually channel expertise and discourse, why that matters, and where to focus any efforts to make it better.”
William J. Antholis, CEO of the Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia