Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is again drawing attention for a warning that reaches beyond one party or one congressional dispute: many Americans no longer believe Washington is working the way it should.
In recent remarks about the political climate in Congress, Gingrich criticized what he sees as a growing habit of lawmakers putting party loyalty ahead of cooperation. His concern is not just that politicians disagree. It is that the culture inside government may be making compromise, public service, and practical leadership harder to achieve.
A Warning About Partisan Reflexes
Gingrich pointed to conduct during a joint session of Congress, saying he believed some lawmakers were unwilling to show support even during moments meant to bring the country together.
“They couldn’t applaud anything,” Gingrich said, using the moment to argue that the problem is larger than normal political disagreement.