Members of Congress are set to return to their districts this weekend for their first week-long recess since Trump's inauguration. Heading home during legislative breaks is nothing new, but this year most Republicans are foregoing a hallowed recess tradition: holding in-person town halls in which lawmakers take questions from constituents in a high school gym, local restaurant, or college classroom.
After outpourings of rage at some early town halls—including "Do your job!" chants yelled at Rep. Jason Chaffetz near Salt Lake City—Republicans are ducking in-person events altogether, opting instead for more controlled Facebook Live or "tele-town halls," where questions can be screened by press secretaries and followups are limited—as are the chances of becoming the next viral meme of the left.
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