What’s behind the recent wave of Congressional exits?

Two dozen Democrats and over 20 Republicans plan to retire from
Congress this year. Several members of the House have chosen to
end their terms early, making the situation especially difficult
for an already tight GOP majority. The most recent examples
include Wisconsin Representative Mike Gallagher and Texas
Congressman Ken Buck. In interviews prior to his exit this month,
Buck called out a lack of professionalism in the current
Congress. How serious is this wave of exits? And what are some of
the underlying factors making it harder for well-intentioned
members to do their jobs?


Vice President Kamala Harris is campaigning for Joe Biden’s
re-election with strong messaging on protecting abortion rights.
It seems like an opportune time for Democrats to push the issue,
with oral arguments in a Supreme Court case over access to the
abortion drug mifepristone beginning earlier this week. There is
hope that keeping abortion in the news could drive fringe voters
to the polls this fall. But does a strong push on abortion miss
the issues that matter to the class of voters at the foundation
of the Democratic party? How would Biden’s re-election bid fare
if the current realignment of non-college-educated voters
continues?


A new law in Indiana seeks to create more space for intellectual
diversity in college classrooms. Supporters say the law could
change a culture of silencing conservative voices on campus. It’s
a serious problem, but will legislation provide a real solution?