Why America’s Political Leaders Are Growing Older

WHO:

BBC - Mausser commented on the effects of long-term involvement in politics.

BBC News - The article frames the subject as older politicians and young men and women in the US political system.

WHAT:

BBC - Mausser said that having been in politics for a long time is not necessarily a problem.

BBC - Mausser said the problem may be what long-term involvement can produce: “You become so used to the language and the ideas of the political establishment that anything else - any new ideas, whether they come from young people or old people - seem crazy.”

BBC News - The article asks why older politicians seem to have a tight grip on the US political system.

WHERE:

BBC News - The article concerns the US political system.

WHY:

BBC - Mausser said familiarity with the political establishment’s language and ideas can make new ideas seem “crazy,” whether those ideas come from young or old people.

HOW:

BBC - Mausser described the potential effect of long-term political involvement as becoming accustomed to establishment language and ideas, which can make alternatives seem “crazy.”

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 02:17 UTC)

A discussion of older politicians in the US examines why they appear to hold such a firm grip on the political system, and what that means for younger people seeking a voice. Mausser says simply spending a long time in politics is not necessarily a problem. The risk, they argue, is that years of involvement can make politicians deeply accustomed to the language and ideas of the establishment. Once that way of thinking feels familiar, alternatives may seem unreasonable or even “crazy.” Mausser stresses that this reaction can apply to new ideas from people of any age, not just younger politicians. The concern, then, is less about age or experience itself than about whether long-standing political habits leave room for fresh thinking.