Actor Richard Schiff Talks The Real World Of The West Wing Mastering The Room podcast

Takeaways

Richard Schiff's upbringing in New York City and his early involvement in political activism shaped his interest in politics.
The West Wing had a profound impact on young people, inspiring many to pursue public service, but the show's influence has diminished over time.
Schiff reflects on the challenges of maintaining a West Wing mentality in today's political climate and the need for cynicism and pragmatism.
Researching for the role of Toby Ziegler on The West Wing exposed Schiff to the inner workings of government and the complexity of decision-making at the presidential level. Real politics often involves compromises that can be disappointing.
Staying engaged in politics and making a positive difference is important.
The pursuit of a more perfect union requires continuous effort.
Extending life and health span raises ethical questions.
Getting involved and contributing to positive change can make a difference.
Resisting apathy and staying informed is crucial in politics.

Titles

Researching for the Role of Toby Ziegler
The Impact of The West Wing on Young People The Impact of Toby Ziegler
The Ethics of Extending Life

Sound Bites

"You guys personified politics as it's supposed to be."
"Do we have room for a West Wing mentality anymore?"
"The West Wing was a seven-year graduate school in political science education."
"Our compromises were always disappointing."
"You would rather lose and be correct than hold power and get half the loaf."
"Doing something positive, even if it's just charity work, will make you feel better about the world."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

05:38 The Impact of The West Wing on Young People

07:32 The Challenges of Maintaining a West Wing Mentality

23:24 Researching for the Role of Toby Ziegler

26:08 The Complexity of Decision-Making in Government

29:18 The Compromises and Disappointments of Real Politics

32:57 The Impact of Toby Ziegler

38:05 The Ethics of Extending Life

42:37 Getting Involved and Making a Positive Difference

52:55 Resisting Apathy and Staying Informed

ABOUT MASTERING THE ROOM

Mastering the Room is produced by the George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management and hosted by political analyst and professor Casey Burgat. In less time than the average D.C. morning commute, you'll get an inside take on today’s issues with information and perspectives you won’t get anywhere else.

MTR challenges guests to go beyond the Sunday show talking points and offer a deeper understanding of polarizing topics, discussing ideas that few have heard before.

Whether you agree with them or not, you’ll see unique arguments from surprising new angles. Packed with influencers, experts, and familiar names in DC and beyond, Mastering the Room is a podcast with access, connections, and proximity to power.

To listen to vintage episodes from the original Mastering the Room podcast, click here.

ABOUT CASEY BURGAT

Mastering the Room host, Casey Burgat, is the Director of the Legislative Affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.

Before joining GSPM, Dr. Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of Congressional capacity and reform. Mr. Burgat is known for his regular contributions to scholarly and journalistic publications, including CNN, the Washington Post, and Politico, and has appeared on various television and radio outlets.

Dr. Burgat is the author of the 2025 Amazon best-seller We Hold These "Truths," exploring society's myths and misconceptions about how government works (published by Authors Equity). He's also co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress, published by Sage/CQ Press in the fall of 2022.