U.S. Congress
'Do you guys know how stupid you are?' Congressional staffers field increasingly abusive calls
As political civility wanes, congressional staffers and interns answering constituent calls in congressional offices find themselves on the front lines of public anger. One group is trying to help.
Ledyard KingUSA TODAY
- Capitol Hill interns and young staffers are regularly bombarded with angry calls from constituents.
- They field passionate calls about the Southern border, rising inflation and, now, abortion rights.
- Braver Angels, which promotes political civility, is training those staffers to navigate the anger.
WASHINGTON – They are on the front lines of America’s new civil war.
Capitol Hill interns and other young staffers find themselves routinely bombarded by callers enraged over COVID restrictions, the Southern border, inflation and, now, abortion rights.
"They are the Marines, if you will," said William Doherty, a co-founder of Braver Angels, a national organization working to bridge political differences among Americans. "And in increasingly polarized times, they're getting more and more flak that's intended for the boss but lands on them."