For me, there are some individual politicians I still take seriously. I agree with some and disagree with others. These are people that I read as believing in some set of principles and driving toward them. I loathe the people driving at principles I see as counter to our founding, but I take them seriously.
Cruz, Bernie, Warren, Gowdy and Paul fit this category along with very few others.
The vast vast majority are very clearly "in the game" to either advance themselves and/or to go around the rules to expedite their desires.
Flake, Harris, Schiff, Feinstein, Gillibrand, Clintons, Graham, McConnell and so many more. Basically the swamp.
There are some "tweeners" that I think flip back and forth between principles and self serving sneakiness.
Schumer and Rubio jump to mind.
As an overal collage, the Washington scene can only be taken seriously because it impacts lives. It is too big in scope and highly inefficient in practice.