Topic: Three Martini Lunch

A new book on 19th-century lobbyist Sam Ward prompts a discussion on the decline of social interaction in Washington D.C. The hosts argue that strict 1995 and 2007 lobbying disclosure rules, which banned free meals for members of Congress, have increased political contentiousness. They suggest that the loss of the "social lobby" and the "three martini lunch" has prevented lawmakers from building the personal relationships necessary for effective governance.