This conversation with Ohio State’s Michael Neblo and Amy Lee explores why town halls remain a powerful — and surprisingly durable — tool for constituent engagement, even amid rising polarization and safety concerns.

Drawing on Jennifer Pahlka’s insights, the post explores how Congressional office structures sideline constituent-facing staff, why that weakens policymaking, and how rethinking culture, training, and tools can elevate constituent input.

In this conversation with Chelsea Mauldin, Executive Director of the Public Policy Lab, we explore constituent engagement as a form of qualitative research. From “shower thoughts” to structural change, we discuss how local interactions can inform better policymaking, elevate the role of district staff, and shift how we think about data in democracy.