Debauchery and Disorders: 25 Legislators Reveal the True Nature of Congress Life
We conducted interviews with Democrats and Republicans, both on the record and anonymously, discussing life on Capitol Hill, the issues that have caused dysfunction in Congress, and much more.
TroibNews 
This article is based on interviews conducted by Ben Jacobs, Jasper Goodman, Jordain Carney, Jennifer Scholtes, Hailey Fuchs, Emma Dumain, Lisa Kashinsky, Connor O’Brien, Holly Otterbein, Adam Wren, Daniella Diaz, and Nicholas Wu, with contributions from Juan Benn Jr.
Congress has a reputation that many find hard to love. Surprisingly, many lawmakers share this sentiment about their own institution.
In an effort to delve into the experience of serving on Capitol Hill—after years characterized by gridlock, government shutdowns, and recent political upheaval—we spoke with 25 lawmakers willing to share their thoughts.
Our discussions covered their frustrations and fondness for Congress, insights into its dysfunction, and potential solutions for improvement. They also highlighted surprising truths about life as a legislator that they believe the public might not be fully aware of.
Topics included the visible decline of aging members, incidents of intoxication on the floor, and the strategies they employ to survive long, demanding days. We also touched on political matters, such as lessons learned by Democrats from their 2024 setbacks and the future of Speaker Mike Johnson.
Our interviews included voices from both parties, with lawmakers from the House and Senate, men and women alike. To encourage candidness, we allowed lawmakers to speak off the record if they wished, but only a few chose this option; most preferred to express their thoughts openly.
Here’s a summary of their remarks, edited for brevity and clarity.
“How absolutely lame it is. You honestly think that life is full of House of Cards or snappy dialogue out of The West Wing. And it’s sad. You’re constantly living out of a suitcase.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“It is an endless grind that is far less romantic than people might think.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“Everybody thinks that we fly around on Air Force One and dine at the French embassy every night. But the reality is, I’m eating burritos and McDonald’s more often than I’m dining in any embassies. It’s also a lonely life. It’s really hard to establish friendships, just because the pace is so breakneck.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“If people knew the truth about the compensation of a congressman, they would be shocked. I have people who land in the airport here and call me, asking if I can send my car for them. I mean, my first term up here I didn’t even own a car.” — Rep. James Clyburn
“I got elected in 2018, and one of the first things I had to do was go sit in a classified briefing. I’m furiously taking notes and look at Elissa Slotkin, raising my eyebrows. In my head, I’m thinking, ‘Man, I’m swimming with the big fish now.’ And we walk out, and she says, ‘The fuck are you doing taking notes in a classified briefing?’ You effectively get a security clearance without a background check.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“It’s common to book out members’ time in 15-minute increments. Just when I'm getting into a conversation, there’s a knock at my office door: ‘Congressman, we need to be wrapping up.’ It’s alien to me.” — Rep. Jefferson Shreve
“Some of my best friends are in the progressive caucus. We go out, have dinner, and can joke with each other, as long as nobody’s listening.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“A multitude here are committed to finding common ground or working towards shared goals.” — Sen. Katie Britt
“I was surprised at how thirsty my colleagues are.” — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove
“I just drink massive amounts of caffeine all the time.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“When things get ugly, I’ll hit a thrift store. It’s soothing and comfortable.” — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
“Watching old episodes of Columbo brings me comfort, as I used to watch reruns with my dad.” — Rep. Brendan Boyle
“Practicing radical self-care is vital. Saying no and laughing are essential; if you take it all too seriously, you’ll be in a fetal position on the floor.” — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove
“The National Archives is amazing. I think I’ve been there five times already, and I’ve only been here for 10 months.” — Rep. Mike Rulli
“Going to the gym is key for me, but Whole Foods has some great snickerdoodle cookies.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“I love to shop, especially for shoes. My mother, a garment worker, had a big influence on my sense of style.” — Rep. Rosa DeLauro
“I’d say you either love this job or you don’t; those thinking they’re sacrificing for the country won’t last long.” — Rep. Tom Cole
“There’s a handful of colleagues who, when they talk, it’s like nails on a chalkboard.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“Right now, my least favorite lawmaker would be Mitch McConnell.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“The least impressive person I've met is Kevin McCarthy. He stands for nothing and doesn’t take his oath seriously.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’m hoping to find out real soon.” — Rep. James Clyburn
“It wasn’t eggs. People got eggs for brains if they think it was eggs. It was social issues.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“We cannot afford to cede the issue of border security to the Republican Party. I feel like that is a lesson that has been widely internalized.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“Democrats did better than many incumbents around the world in the face of global inflation, but everyone voted against the incumbents.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’ve always seen the Democrats as the party of working Americans, not just the well-educated coastal elite.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“They should have been less dismissive of Bernie. Running a status quo campaign wasn’t the way to go.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“We should present a clearer vision for the future rather than trying to guess what people want to hear.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“Absolutely.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“Probably.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“I think it depends on whether he falls out of favor with the president.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“Never.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“As of now, no.” — Rep. Mike Rulli
“He’s never done anything that I thought was an impeachable offense.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“If he completely went off the rails, yeah. I have not seen that from the president.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“That’s impossible to answer.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“The worst about the Democratic Party is that some of them honestly don’t like this country.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“The Republican Party lacks a spine and is unwilling to stand up to Trump.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“Their policies are destructive. Undoing the mess they made will take time.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“The worst about the Republicans is the House Freedom Caucus, who will burn everything down for their ideology.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“I don’t understand why they target the LGBTQ community for political points.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“Intolerance. We are sometimes self-righteous and judgmental.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“There’s too much stagnation, and we need to make way for a new generation of leadership.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“There is no smoke-filled room. This is always a cat-herding exercise.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“We should be more of a united front, even as individual thinkers.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“There’s a tendency toward conflict and war that appears to be diminishing, but remnants remain.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“Absolute half-measures are frustrating; we need to do more.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“The potential of what we can achieve here is immense, and we’re at a pivotal moment.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“I’m an introvert, so performing publicly can be challenging, but helping people is what I love.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“Constituent services work is fulfilling. Hearing gratitude is rewarding.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“The need to monetize everything has turned us into spectacles rather than legislators.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“Political theater wastes a lot of time in Washington, D.C.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“The turnover in membership is frustrating; no one remembers how to legislate anymore.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“The slow process of achieving anything is frustrating, especially on the Democratic side without term limits.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“It takes so long to get things done.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“Too many spineless people chase clicks over serving the country.” — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove
“The system is failing, and campaign finance laws play a large role.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“Unlimited money to ruin reputations is a problem, alongside the social media frenzy.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“C-SPAN and social media have made members of Congress entertainers just as much as legislators.” — Sen. Kevin Cramer
“Partisan factionalism seems to overshadow Congress’ role as a co-equal branch.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“I know I’m supposed to say Congress is terribly broken, but when people say it’s broken, they often mean it’s not doing what they want.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“Remove the influence of lobbyists from Washington.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“Decentralize power and let the committee process function effectively.” — Sen. Katie Britt
“I’d like to see better signage in the Capitol tunnels.” — Sen. Ed Markey
“Expanding the size of the House is a topic worth discussing.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’ve been advocating for multi-member districts and ranked-choice voting to mitigate extremism.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“I proposed a ‘BUDS’ resolution to promote bipartisanship; it’s crucial in today's polarized politics.” — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
“I’d like to see regular order restored; it would help the legislative process significantly.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“I’d bring back powdered wigs.” — Sen. Kevin Cramer
“There may be craziness. The House has a reputation for wildness.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“D.C. is more like Veep than House of Cards.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“We’re human beings, subject to the same temptations. It’s ridiculous to act otherwise.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“I have no idea; I’ve never heard anyone admit to cheating on their spouse.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“During late-night votes, it’s rare for anyone to have had alcohol; I’ve seen one Republican appear drunk, but that’s it.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“Well, I’ve seen one Republican show up drunk several times.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“Maybe I’m not in that club because I don’t drink.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“Substance abuse can worsen this job.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’ve never seen anyone drunk on the floor; some may have a drink, but you can’t tell.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“I’d prefer a drunken vote for Medicare for All over a sober one influenced by pharma money.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“There’s no question that several colleagues lack the faculties for their job.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“I sometimes can’t tell if it’s age or just a lack of intelligence.” — a House Republican
“Leadership has a responsibility to encourage members to retire if they’re past their prime.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“When someone can’t do the job anymore, it’s time for them to step aside.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“My family believes it’s our duty to protect each other and would tell me if I’m not recognizing people anymore.” — Rep. James Clyburn
“I think imposing an age limit is worth considering.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“Ultimately, voters will decide when it’s time to go.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“When you can’t make a difference anymore, that’s when it’s time to retire.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“I plan to serve for four to six years and then leave.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“If you become a shell of your former self, then it’s time for you to go.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“Some people’s lives are tied to being in Congress, but I’m thankful I don’t share that problem.” — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
“I show every new staffer a picture of me with 100-year-old Strom Thurmond and tell them he had a wonderful career, but he was worn out. If I ever get to that point, I expect them to tell me to go home.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
Congress has a reputation that many find hard to love. Surprisingly, many lawmakers share this sentiment about their own institution.
In an effort to delve into the experience of serving on Capitol Hill—after years characterized by gridlock, government shutdowns, and recent political upheaval—we spoke with 25 lawmakers willing to share their thoughts.
Our discussions covered their frustrations and fondness for Congress, insights into its dysfunction, and potential solutions for improvement. They also highlighted surprising truths about life as a legislator that they believe the public might not be fully aware of.
Topics included the visible decline of aging members, incidents of intoxication on the floor, and the strategies they employ to survive long, demanding days. We also touched on political matters, such as lessons learned by Democrats from their 2024 setbacks and the future of Speaker Mike Johnson.
Our interviews included voices from both parties, with lawmakers from the House and Senate, men and women alike. To encourage candidness, we allowed lawmakers to speak off the record if they wished, but only a few chose this option; most preferred to express their thoughts openly.
Here’s a summary of their remarks, edited for brevity and clarity.
“How absolutely lame it is. You honestly think that life is full of House of Cards or snappy dialogue out of The West Wing. And it’s sad. You’re constantly living out of a suitcase.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“It is an endless grind that is far less romantic than people might think.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“Everybody thinks that we fly around on Air Force One and dine at the French embassy every night. But the reality is, I’m eating burritos and McDonald’s more often than I’m dining in any embassies. It’s also a lonely life. It’s really hard to establish friendships, just because the pace is so breakneck.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“If people knew the truth about the compensation of a congressman, they would be shocked. I have people who land in the airport here and call me, asking if I can send my car for them. I mean, my first term up here I didn’t even own a car.” — Rep. James Clyburn
“I got elected in 2018, and one of the first things I had to do was go sit in a classified briefing. I’m furiously taking notes and look at Elissa Slotkin, raising my eyebrows. In my head, I’m thinking, ‘Man, I’m swimming with the big fish now.’ And we walk out, and she says, ‘The fuck are you doing taking notes in a classified briefing?’ You effectively get a security clearance without a background check.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“It’s common to book out members’ time in 15-minute increments. Just when I'm getting into a conversation, there’s a knock at my office door: ‘Congressman, we need to be wrapping up.’ It’s alien to me.” — Rep. Jefferson Shreve
“Some of my best friends are in the progressive caucus. We go out, have dinner, and can joke with each other, as long as nobody’s listening.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“A multitude here are committed to finding common ground or working towards shared goals.” — Sen. Katie Britt
“I was surprised at how thirsty my colleagues are.” — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove
“I just drink massive amounts of caffeine all the time.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“When things get ugly, I’ll hit a thrift store. It’s soothing and comfortable.” — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
“Watching old episodes of Columbo brings me comfort, as I used to watch reruns with my dad.” — Rep. Brendan Boyle
“Practicing radical self-care is vital. Saying no and laughing are essential; if you take it all too seriously, you’ll be in a fetal position on the floor.” — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove
“The National Archives is amazing. I think I’ve been there five times already, and I’ve only been here for 10 months.” — Rep. Mike Rulli
“Going to the gym is key for me, but Whole Foods has some great snickerdoodle cookies.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“I love to shop, especially for shoes. My mother, a garment worker, had a big influence on my sense of style.” — Rep. Rosa DeLauro
“I’d say you either love this job or you don’t; those thinking they’re sacrificing for the country won’t last long.” — Rep. Tom Cole
“There’s a handful of colleagues who, when they talk, it’s like nails on a chalkboard.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“Right now, my least favorite lawmaker would be Mitch McConnell.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“The least impressive person I've met is Kevin McCarthy. He stands for nothing and doesn’t take his oath seriously.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’m hoping to find out real soon.” — Rep. James Clyburn
“It wasn’t eggs. People got eggs for brains if they think it was eggs. It was social issues.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“We cannot afford to cede the issue of border security to the Republican Party. I feel like that is a lesson that has been widely internalized.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“Democrats did better than many incumbents around the world in the face of global inflation, but everyone voted against the incumbents.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’ve always seen the Democrats as the party of working Americans, not just the well-educated coastal elite.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“They should have been less dismissive of Bernie. Running a status quo campaign wasn’t the way to go.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“We should present a clearer vision for the future rather than trying to guess what people want to hear.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“Absolutely.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“Probably.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“I think it depends on whether he falls out of favor with the president.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“Never.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“As of now, no.” — Rep. Mike Rulli
“He’s never done anything that I thought was an impeachable offense.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“If he completely went off the rails, yeah. I have not seen that from the president.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“That’s impossible to answer.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“The worst about the Democratic Party is that some of them honestly don’t like this country.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“The Republican Party lacks a spine and is unwilling to stand up to Trump.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“Their policies are destructive. Undoing the mess they made will take time.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“The worst about the Republicans is the House Freedom Caucus, who will burn everything down for their ideology.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“I don’t understand why they target the LGBTQ community for political points.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“Intolerance. We are sometimes self-righteous and judgmental.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“There’s too much stagnation, and we need to make way for a new generation of leadership.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“There is no smoke-filled room. This is always a cat-herding exercise.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“We should be more of a united front, even as individual thinkers.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“There’s a tendency toward conflict and war that appears to be diminishing, but remnants remain.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“Absolute half-measures are frustrating; we need to do more.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“The potential of what we can achieve here is immense, and we’re at a pivotal moment.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“I’m an introvert, so performing publicly can be challenging, but helping people is what I love.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“Constituent services work is fulfilling. Hearing gratitude is rewarding.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“The need to monetize everything has turned us into spectacles rather than legislators.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“Political theater wastes a lot of time in Washington, D.C.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“The turnover in membership is frustrating; no one remembers how to legislate anymore.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“The slow process of achieving anything is frustrating, especially on the Democratic side without term limits.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“It takes so long to get things done.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“Too many spineless people chase clicks over serving the country.” — Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove
“The system is failing, and campaign finance laws play a large role.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
“Unlimited money to ruin reputations is a problem, alongside the social media frenzy.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“C-SPAN and social media have made members of Congress entertainers just as much as legislators.” — Sen. Kevin Cramer
“Partisan factionalism seems to overshadow Congress’ role as a co-equal branch.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“I know I’m supposed to say Congress is terribly broken, but when people say it’s broken, they often mean it’s not doing what they want.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“Remove the influence of lobbyists from Washington.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“Decentralize power and let the committee process function effectively.” — Sen. Katie Britt
“I’d like to see better signage in the Capitol tunnels.” — Sen. Ed Markey
“Expanding the size of the House is a topic worth discussing.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’ve been advocating for multi-member districts and ranked-choice voting to mitigate extremism.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“I proposed a ‘BUDS’ resolution to promote bipartisanship; it’s crucial in today's polarized politics.” — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
“I’d like to see regular order restored; it would help the legislative process significantly.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“I’d bring back powdered wigs.” — Sen. Kevin Cramer
“There may be craziness. The House has a reputation for wildness.” — Sen. Jon Ossoff
“D.C. is more like Veep than House of Cards.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“We’re human beings, subject to the same temptations. It’s ridiculous to act otherwise.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“I have no idea; I’ve never heard anyone admit to cheating on their spouse.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“During late-night votes, it’s rare for anyone to have had alcohol; I’ve seen one Republican appear drunk, but that’s it.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“Well, I’ve seen one Republican show up drunk several times.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“Maybe I’m not in that club because I don’t drink.” — Rep. Riley Moore
“Substance abuse can worsen this job.” — Rep. Sean Casten
“I’ve never seen anyone drunk on the floor; some may have a drink, but you can’t tell.” — Rep. Steve Cohen
“I’d prefer a drunken vote for Medicare for All over a sober one influenced by pharma money.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“There’s no question that several colleagues lack the faculties for their job.” — Rep. Jim Himes
“I sometimes can’t tell if it’s age or just a lack of intelligence.” — a House Republican
“Leadership has a responsibility to encourage members to retire if they’re past their prime.” — Rep. Don Beyer
“When someone can’t do the job anymore, it’s time for them to step aside.” — Rep. Ro Khanna
“My family believes it’s our duty to protect each other and would tell me if I’m not recognizing people anymore.” — Rep. James Clyburn
“I think imposing an age limit is worth considering.” — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
“Ultimately, voters will decide when it’s time to go.” — Sen. John Fetterman
“When you can’t make a difference anymore, that’s when it’s time to retire.” — Rep. Austin Scott
“I plan to serve for four to six years and then leave.” — Rep. Eli Crane
“If you become a shell of your former self, then it’s time for you to go.” — Rep. Ritchie Torres
“Some people’s lives are tied to being in Congress, but I’m thankful I don’t share that problem.” — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
“I show every new staffer a picture of me with 100-year-old Strom Thurmond and tell them he had a wonderful career, but he was worn out. If I ever get to that point, I expect them to tell me to go home.” — Rep. Frank Lucas
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
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