Interview - Why Congress Is So Divided—And One Idea to Fix It

Americans consistently say they want less division in Washington. But our political system often rewards confrontation over cooperation. In this episode, Mosheh sits down with Brad Porteus, founder of ⁠Bridge Grades⁠, a new effort to change those incentives. Instead of rating politicians based just on ideology, Bridge Grades scores every member of Congress on how well they collaborate across party lines—looking at bipartisan legislation, public rhetoric, and relationships with colleagues from the other side. They discuss why so many lawmakers believe working together can actually hurt their political careers, whether voters can help change those incentives, and why collaboration doesn't have to mean compromising your principles. They also explore surprising findings from the data—including conservatives and progressives who earn top marks—and whether a new way of evaluating elected officials could lead to a healthier Congress over time. Mosheh Oinounou (⁠⁠⁠@mosheh⁠⁠⁠) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.