Afternoon all. Sending along a fresh interview we just completed with Rep. Greg Landsman (OH) and Mark Veasey (TX), co-hosts of a new Member-driven podcast, “The Fly-In.”
We kicked off our lively discussion by getting their thoughts on the current stalemate. Both Members were concerned about the damage a shutdown brings and were optimistic that Republicans would negotiate and a deal could come together in the coming weeks. They were both a bit more optimistic than I am about getting a deal soon, but for the good of the country let us hope they are right.
The bulk of our conversation was about their new podcast. We often talk here about the need for our leaders to innovate in the communications space, and use modern means to reach voters where they are today. This new podcast is a great example of such innovation. It is recorded on “Fly-In” day, the first day each week the House is in session and when Members return. Each episode, Reps. Landsman and Veasey are joined by a guest - often a fellow Member of the House New Democrat Coalition - to learn more about them, get their perspective on the news of the day, and play a quiz game based on recent headlines.
In our discussion Reps. Landsman and Veasey take us back stage and talk about why they started the podcast, what they hope to do it with it and what they have learned so far. It’s a great conversation and hope you can get to it when you can.
You can find each week’s episode on the website of the New Democrat Coalition; on the NDC’s new Substack, New Dem Dispatch; and Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube too.
As Hopium subscribers will learn in our discussion I helped start the New Democrat Coalition almost 30 years ago shortly after starting my old organization, NDN. The NDC was established to help President Bill Clinton advance his agenda through Congress and remains a significant force today. Here’s how the NDC describes itself:
Founded in 1997, the center-left New Democrat Coalition is made up of 116 pragmatic House Democrats who work across the aisle and across the Capitol to advance innovative, inclusive, and forward-looking policies. Representing over half the Democratic Caucus, New Dems are united behind a mission to build an economy that works for every American.
New Dems work to bridge the partisan divide with a solutions-oriented approach to politics. The Coalition’s primary goal is to find workable solutions to the most pressing issues facing our nation—from ensuring every American has access to quality health care to increasing affordable housing in every community. New Dems have shown time and again how lawmakers can make real progress in Congress. And real progress is what’s truly progressive. That’s why New Dems are the ‘Can Do Caucus.’
The New Dem vision is built on three pillars: economic growth and opportunity, healthy and safe communities, and strong national security and defense. Our Members are ready to work with both Democrats and Republicans to find common ground, and will stand up to anyone who seeks to undermine our Constitution, weaken our democracy, or diminish our nation’s and our children’s future.
Enjoy our discussion, get to know two smart and energetic Members, and check out their new podcast, The Fly-In. For more on my thoughts about the shutdown check out my last two posts:
And a reminder that you can find all of our interviews and podcasts on the Podcast tab on the Hopium site and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
More, tomorrow! - Simon
