A related change on the people's part has been decreased understanding of how to leverage their own political power.

Congress-critters are concerned about losing reelection. (And of being primaried even in safe districts)

Yet the minification of attention spans has confused the average American voter that they're impotent, when really they're just lazy, ignorant, and unwilling to muster real-world action.

When's the last time you saw someone pepper a House district with self-made signs?

There are things every single person can do, but just doesn't. And because of this, media has been able to turn political engagement into profitable passive consumption.

> When's the last time you saw someone pepper a House district with self-made signs?

Never, because it would be totally ineffective. Incumbents in Congress have about a 95% win rate[1]. For almost everywhere in the country, districts are what they are and no amount of hand drawn signs are going to change it.

1: https://ballotpedia.org/Election_results,_2024:_Incumbent_wi...