FOLLOW-UP: The Cost of Political Polarization — Legislative Gridlock Accelerates Yesterday's analysis on polarization's legislative impact now shows measurable acceleration: according to newly compiled congressional records, the average time to pass non-unanimous bills has increased 23% since 2015, with committees deadlocking on routine appropriations measures that historically passed with bipartisan consensus. This follow-up underscores a critical context point—gridlock isn't merely procedural friction, but a structural shift that compounds annually, affecting everything from infrastructure investment timelines to regulatory responsiveness.