Controversy over the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy is putting Iowa and Illinois leaders in the spotlight.
That includes Sen. Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa, and Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Illinois.
"Everybody's got this 'my way or the highway' attitude," said Joel Thompson, between sips on Thursday.
At Cool Beanz in Rock Island, the Supreme Court stalemate is a hot topic.
"I think the president should do it now," said Steve Lavelle, a junior at Augustana College.
"He's got every right to nominate someone," added Thompson. "I expect a big fight."
Thompson is a moderate-leaning Republican.
He wants to wait until after the election.
"I'd say let the next president select the justice," Thompson continued.
That echoes Sen. Grassley's statements.
He chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is tasked with the confirmation process.
"This is such an important position," he said. "Our times are a lot different. We need to wait until we get a new president."
But from the steps of the Supreme Court and the Senate floor, Democrats call for action now.
"The Republicans have basically decided to reach a new low," said Sen. Durbin. "In fact, to make history in a very sad way."
Back at Cool Beanz, Democrat Lavelle agrees with Sen. Durbin.
He thinks it should be up to President Obama.
"I feel like it's his duty to do it," he said. "It's part of his job."
Whatever way customers are leaning, they all seem to agree that this stalemate represents dysfunction in Washington.
The vacancy left by Justice Antonin Scalia's death depicts the polarized views from both parties.
"It's almost going to be an exercise in futility," said Paul Waytenick, a Republican from Milan, Illinois.
"They don't really want to work together," Lavelle said. "It's not looking good for both parties."
But what's bad in Washington seems to be good for business.
"If we didn't have this to talk about, we'd probably be sitting here looking at each other," Thompson concluded.
Instead, they're percolating over politics at Cool Beanz.