90. Can You Build a Political Tribe Out of the Moderates Left Behind? – Paul Chapman

June 17
30 mins

Episode Description

The U.S. House of Representatives used to pass roughly 900 bills per session in the 1950s. Today, that number has plummeted to just 50 or 60. Our legislative branch isn’t just slow—it is structurally paralyzed.

In this episode, we look past the cultural shouting match to expose the structural design flaws fueling our polarization. From sweetheart gerrymandering that leaves 80% of congressional districts completely non-competitive, to the financial incentives driving both major parties to abandon the center, we look at the reality of the "exhausted majority."

To discuss a radical attempt to fill this vacuum, we sit down with political scientist Paul Chapman. He is the founder of the CenterCratic Party, a brand-new third-party movement trying to do something entirely unique: build a political tribe out of the 45% of Americans who now identify as politically homeless.

We push into the hard mechanics of his strategy, the realities of voter tribalism, and the party’s nine guiding principles of governance.

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Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C.

Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen.

Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...

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