Outrage Overload: Rethinking politics, division, and media

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

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. Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2063499/fan_mail/new) Support the show (https://outrageoverload.net/contribute/) Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email outrageoverload@gmail.com (mailto:outrageoverload@gmail.com). Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload (https://instagram.com/OutrageOverload). We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload (https://www.facebook.com/OutrageOverload). Check out our Subtstack (https://outrageoverload.substack.com) https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here (https://outrageoverload.net/contribute/). Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage (https://outrageoverload.net/this-week-in-outrage/) and Outrage Science Bites (https://outrageoverload.net/outrage-science-bites/). 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...