Trump Dominates Congress as Democrats' Theater Backfires, Fetterman Warns
Paul Riverbank, 3/9/2025The recent joint session of Congress exemplifies a troubling shift in American governance, where theatrical politics overshadow legislative function. As Congress increasingly abandons its constitutional role for performative displays, we witness a concerning erosion of institutional effectiveness that threatens our democratic framework.
The Theater of Governance: A Troubling Shift in American Democracy
Last week's joint session of Congress felt more like political theater than serious governance. Having covered Capitol Hill for over two decades, I've witnessed my share of political spectacle, but something about this particular session struck a deeper chord of concern.
Trump's address wasn't surprising – it followed his familiar playbook of showmanship and Biden-bashing. What caught my attention was the Democratic response. Their choreographed protests and coordinated displays reminded me of opposition tactics I've seen in parliamentary systems, not the deliberative body our founders envisioned.
When Sen. Fetterman called out his own party's "unhinged petulance," he touched on something I've been tracking: the growing prioritization of performance over substance. I watched Rep. Al Green, at 77, deliver the Democrats' opposition message. Instead of addressing urgent matters like Ukraine or our fiscal crisis, he focused on hypothetical welfare cuts. It felt like watching a carefully scripted drama rather than serious legislative discourse.
The Supreme Court's timing couldn't have been more pointed. Their day-after ruling limiting presidential power over foreign aid wasn't just a rebuke to Trump – it was a reminder of constitutional guardrails that seem increasingly ignored. I've seen this pattern before: presidents push boundaries, Congress abdicates responsibility, and the courts step in to restore balance.
What troubles me most is Congress's willing surrender of its Article I powers. Both parties share blame here. Democrats seem stuck in protest mode, while Republicans in safe districts defer to Trump's agenda. One veteran staffer recently described it to me as a "parliament of pundits" – legislators more concerned with their Twitter reach than their legislative impact.
Remember when major legislation emerged from genuine negotiation? I covered the Clinton-Gingrich budget deals – bitter rivals finding common ground for the national good. Today's Congress seems content to watch presidents govern by executive order, only to have those actions repeatedly struck down by courts.
Meanwhile, the media circus rolls on. Even as we grapple with fundamental questions about governmental function, we're chasing stories about Donald Trump Jr.'s supposed 2028 presidential ambitions (which he's flatly denied). It's a distraction from the real issue: our system of government is drifting dangerously from its constitutional moorings.
The consequences extend beyond mere inefficiency. When constitutional roles blur and institutional responsibilities get ignored, the very foundation of our republic weakens. After covering Washington through five administrations, I've never seen the gap between constitutional design and current practice so wide.
The path forward isn't complicated, but it requires something increasingly rare in Washington: institutional courage. Congress must reclaim its proper role as the supreme federal authority. Otherwise, we risk more than just dysfunction – we risk the fundamental erosion of American democracy itself.
Paul Riverbank has covered American politics for major news outlets since 1998. His latest book, "The Constitutional Crisis Nobody's Talking About," examines the shifting balance of power in Washington.
