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What kind of politics would it take to restore the material and moral foundations of democratic life?

Gluesenkamp Perez doesn’t offer a direct answer to that question. But the way she talks about work, ownership, obligation, and time gestures toward a different starting point—one rooted in her community’s particular needs, rather than any comprehensive ideology. 

This week, Rep. Adam Gray (CA-13), Blue Dog Coalition Whip, led a majority of the Blue Dog Coalition in authoring an op-ed in The Hill advocating for fiscal responsibility in the reconciliation process.

"Over the last few weeks, Americans have been hearing endless mentions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Although the Republicans’ reconciliation proposal is certainly big — so big it would add over $4 trillion to our national debt — it is by no means beautiful.

Unrestrained fiscal policy has plagued the U.S. for decades, and it has not been limited to one side of the aisle. While members of Congress sit insulated on Capitol Hill and alternate between irresponsible tax cuts and excessive spending, life gets worse for everyday Americans.

At a time where costs are rising, confidence in government is sinking, and Americans are eager for change, we remain committed to using a steady hand to deliver pragmatic policies that most Americans agree on. In that spirit, our offer still stands. We are eager to work with our Republican colleagues to solve the issues facing our country and deliver results to the American people.”

Standing beneath towering shelves of kegs in the back of Vancouver’s Loowit Brewing, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has just given a thank-you talk to her supporters after squeaking through another tight election. As she wraps up her remarks in that December gathering and pauses for questions, a man in the crowd speaks up: “I’d like to see you expand the Blue Dog Coalition … I think that’s exactly what we need at the broader level.”

“I have had so many people come up to me in D.C., and be like, ‘Hey, you know, I think we should, like, maybe start something that’s oriented around people in the trades and who are working for a living,” Gluesenkamp Perez said to the crowd. “And I’ll slowly put on my Blue Dogs hat, ‘Like you mean what we’ve been doing?’”

In the latest episode of The Depolarizers podcast, Rep. Adam Gray (CA-13), Whip of the Blue Dog Coalition, discusses the importance of authentic, place-based leadership in addressing the unique needs of his community and fostering bipartisan collaboration.

“The singular, most important influence on a Member of Congress should be what the needs of their district are,” Gray says—underscoring his belief that effective governance begins with listening to constituents and crafting policy rooted in local realities.

By Paul Kane | The Washington Post

By Sam Brodey | Daily Beast