Rep. Barney Frank. D-Mass., blamed the media, in part, for the rise in what he called angry politics during an appearance on The Tonight Show Thursday.

“There was one difference, they didn't have mainstream media people cheering them on,” Frank said on the show about the changes since he took office, according to The Hill. “And I think part of the problem is that the worst behavior these days gets encouraged rather than discouraged.”

He also blamed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, noting: “A very self-described partisan came to office. Newt Gingrich became the speaker, and he said this was a mistake, that politics get muffled if you act like as if it's all people of goodwill disagreeing.”

See a clip below: