How U.S. Politics Stopped Working | Office Hours

In this Office Hours, Dr. Roy Casagranda and Jeremy begin with a recent controversy involving Donald Trump, including an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, before examining how U.S. politics reached a point where the system no longer functions as intended. They trace the roots of polarization from the late 20th century through the rise of identity-driven partisanship, the impact of McCain-Feingold reforms, and the consequences of Citizens United and the expansion of Super PACs. The conversation explores how these shifts weakened Congress’s ability to govern and check executive power, contributing to ongoing institutional breakdown. They then connect these dynamics to current global events, including ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, the risks of escalation, and the broader implications for U.S. alliances, tariffs, economic stability, and military morale. ~~~ 🔉 Dr. Roy Casagranda Podcast 🔉 Podcast Spotify ▶ https://open.spotify.com/show/6aebF9B... Apple Podcast ▶ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... ~~~ Chapters 00:00 Cold Open and Setup 01:28 Trump, the Pope, and the AI “Jesus” Image 11:48 Trump, Grifts, and Impeachment Breakdown 17:57 The Roots of U.S. Polarization 23:47 Campaign Finance, Citizens United, and Super PACs 37:42 Earmarks, Corruption, and Congressional Breakdown 50:15 Mueller, Ukraine, and Delayed Accountability 54:04 Ceasefire Breakdown and Escalation in Lebanon 57:07 Failed Negotiations and Strategic Fallout 01:05:06 Military Morale, Economy, and Global Risk 01:19:09 Voting Systems, Third Parties, and the Spoiler Effect 01:33:56 Tariffs, Trade, and Long-Term Consequences 01:47:15 Closing Thoughts and Wrap-Up #USPolitics #CitizensUnited #PoliticalPolarization #MiddleEastConflict #Geopolitics ~~~ © Dr. Roy Casagranda – All Rights Reserved. All video content featuring Dr. Roy Casagranda is the intellectual property of Dr. Roy Casagranda. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or re-uploading of this content—whether in full or in part—is strictly prohibited. Violations may result in takedowns, strikes, or legal action.