Washington Free Beacon editor-in-chief Matthew Continetti warned Wednesday that Democrats were allowing process to overshadow substance.
Speaking with Chuck Todd on MSNBC's Meet The Press, Continetti said Democrats were overreaching and missing an opportunity to score policy wins.
Todd noted that Democrats had spent political energy and headlines demanding Barr testify on their terms.
"Democrats constantly stay on the story in process form," Todd said. "In a weird way politically, it is exactly what the Republicans want."
"Right," Continetti said. "Historically, every incoming House majority tends to overreach. I think there's a worry that the investigations are overpowering the actual reasons that these Democrats were elected to Congress."
Now past halfway through President Donald Trump's first term, the Democrat-held House remains focused on investigations and oversight. As a result, Continetti reasoned, Democrats give "the general public a sense they aren't accomplishing their agenda."
Todd suggested Democrats might focus on the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. Authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro has refused to yield power to Juan Guaido, the nation's constitutional leader, who enjoys widespread international support.
Continetti agreed, praising Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) for her recent support for bills providing for cyber response to foreign operations.
He noted the trouble Democrats were having formulating a nonpartisan response to Russian involvement in the Latin American country.
"The problem is Democrats are always trying to link the Russian activities to Trump," he said. "As soon as you introduce the Trump thing, then the Republicans don't want to have anything to do with it."
Speaking on Fox News Channel's Special Report Tuesday, Continetti urged the Republican White House to focus on the Russian threat to the lawful government of Venezuela.
"I think the administration needs to train its criticism on Russia," he said. "If you look at the Russian actions from the military flights to Venezuela, to inserting the so-called little green men, these kind of non-uniformed paramilitary officers, to sending formal military advisers and assistance to Maduro, Russia is clearly trying to overthrow the Monroe Doctrine."