Mastering the Room

The decline in respect for the institution of Congress and the lack of trust and civility among members have changed the political landscape in Washington. The rise of social media and the influence it has on political discourse has contributed to the polarization and cynicism in Congress. The small number of competitive districts and the incentive structure in Congress make it difficult for membe...

Former President Trump faces a range of legal liabilities, including charges of falsifying business records, election fraud, mishandling national security documents, and subverting the 2020 election. The Manhattan charges, related to falsifying business records, are seen as less threatening but may be the first case to go to trial. The Georgia charges, involving election fraud, are significant as...

McKay Coppins is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he covers politics, religion, and national affairs. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Romney: A Reckoning , a biography of Mitt Romney published by Scribner in October 2023, and The Wilderness , a 2015 book about the battle for the future of the Republican Party. A former visiting fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of...

ABOUT SCOTT MACFARLANE Scott MacFarlane is a congressional correspondent for CBS News, reporting for all broadcasts and platforms. MacFarlane brings a wealth of experience to the Capitol Hill beat having covered Washington, D.C. and the federal government for nearly 20 years. MacFarlane's meticulous and ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has inclu...

ABOUT SCOTT MACFARLANE Scott MacFarlane is a congressional correspondent for CBS News, reporting for all broadcasts and platforms. MacFarlane brings a wealth of experience to the Capitol Hill beat having covered Washington, D.C. and the federal government for nearly 20 years. MacFarlane's meticulous and ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has inclu...

When was the last time you felt like you knew what was going on in the world of politics?  So how do you get a deeper understanding of the issues and the arguments that frame them?  We created Mastering the Room, a podcast that showcases diverse points of view to help you get to the truths that are often drowned out by shouting and sound biting. I'm not a politician. I'm not a journalist. I'm an a...