Speaking with former members of Congress, we ask whether things are really worse today or whether—because of social media, some loud and extreme members, or something else—things just feel worse. Former Democrats and former Republicans give us their thoughts, stories, and perspectives.
bensamuels.substack.com (https://bensamuels.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Paul Hodes (D-NH): Money, Obamacare, and politicians with a temper
Former Congressman Paul Hodes discusses money's role in politics, the 2008 financial crisis, Obamacare's impact, and his experience working for Marianne Williamson in this interview episode.
28 May 2025
Steve Russell (R-OK): Refugees, waste, and forgiveness
Former Congressman Steve Russell discusses government waste, political shifts, forgiveness, and refugee policies during his interview with the host.
14 May 2025
Sam Coppersmith (D-AZ): DC, the NFL, and democracy
Listen to the latest episode of Former Member (https://bensamuels.substack.com/podcast), where I talk to former members of Congress—Democrats and Republicans—to get their perspectives on what it was like to serve, and how things are different today vs. when they were around.
Yesterday, I spoke with Sam Coppersmith (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Coppersmith), a one-term Democratic Congressman from Arizona who served from 1993 to 1995.
He ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_United_States_Senate_election_in_Arizona) in a Republican wave year and lost. Since then, he has stayed connected to politics, has chaired the Democratic Party in Arizona, and—just to keep those of us who are younger humble—runs triathlons (https://liberaldesert.blogspot.com/2025/04/cactus-man-triathlon-2025.html).
Details below.
Topics from my conversation with Sam Coppersmith
* 0:00 – 2:05: Sam’s background and time in Congress.
* 2:06 – 5:54: How the NFL got him elected to the House of Representatives.
* 5:55 – 13:12: The Republican Revolution of ’94, and how the axiom that “all politics is local” is dead.
* 13:13 – 20:14: Can you get anything done in just one term? (Or, Sam Coppersmith briefly roasting me.)
* 20:15 – 23:12: The absurdity (and political opportunity) of tax subsidies for professional sports teams.
* 23:13 – 27:50: Members of Congress who are actually doing a good job.
* 27:51 – 33:32: The challenge of developing personal relationships in Congress when you’re running in a competitive district. (Flying back and forth to campaign makes it hard to get to know people!)
* 33:33 – 37:20: Political realignment from the ’90s to the present.
* 37:21 – 44:32: Democracy, its future, and innovation in government. (And, how we vote on too much stuff in the U.S.)
* 44:33 – 48:04: What do you miss about Congress? And wrap-up.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bensamuels.substack.com (https://bensamuels.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 May 2025
Bob Inglis (R-SC): Climate change, Tea Party, and Trump
This is the latest in my Former Member series, where I talk to former members of Congress—Democrats and Republicans—to get their perspective on what it was like to serve, and how things are different then vs. now.
Last week, I spoke with Bob Inglis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Inglis), a former Republican Congressman from South Carolina who served in two separate stints in Congress: from 1993 to 1999, and again from 2005 to 2011.
He isn’t your typical elected Republican—he works on addressing climate change at RepublicEn.org (https://republicen.org/) and endorsed Kamala Harris (https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2024/09/17/inglis-endorses-harris-calling-trump-a-clear-and-present-danger/) in 2024. But he entered Congress with Newt Gingrich and still considers himself a Republican.
Give it a listen.
Topics from my conversation with Bob Inglis
Want a transcript of this conversation? Click the “Transcript” tab towards the top of this page (https://bensamuels.substack.com/p/conversation-with-bob-inglis-south-carolina-former-member).
* 0:00 – 2:05: Introduction, more on RepublicEn.org (https://republicen.org/), and how Republicans are talking about climate change.
* 2:06 – 6:45: How climate change is already impacting people across America—housing costs, insurance markets, and more.
* 6:46 – 8:34: Serving in Congress in the ’90s, and the rise of Newt Gingrich’s Republican Party.
* 8:35 – 11:22: Rise of—and surviving in—the Tea Party (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement).
* 11:23 – 15:48: Trump getting older, and whether Congressional Republicans really like him. (Spoiler: no, not really. But they’re afraid of losing their jobs.)
* 15:49 – 17:09: What we can learn from Billy Tarver, the unluckiest man in South Carolina.
* 17:10 – 22:06: Anything you regret from your time as a Republican in Congress?
* 22:07 – 25:09: How do you reach people whose “facts” are so disconnected from reality?
* 25:10 – 27:04: What do you miss about serving in Congress?
* 27:05 – 28:06: Can you still be a Republican at this point if you endorsed Harris?
* 28:07 – 32:14: Policy solutions for climate change, and wrap-up.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bensamuels.substack.com (https://bensamuels.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
30 Apr 2025
Toby Moffett (D-CT): Then vs. Now in Congress
Are things really worse in politics today than they’ve been in the past? Or for whatever reason—because of social media, perhaps—does it just feel worse?
To answer that question, I’m speaking with former members of Congress—Democrats and Republicans—to get their perspective on what it was like to serve, and how things are different then vs. now.
Yesterday, I spoke with Toby Moffett (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Moffett), a Democrat from Connecticut, a self-described “left liberal,” and a Watergate Baby (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_Babies) who served from 1975-1983.
He’s concerned about money in politics and a profound lack of bipartisanship today. Give it a listen:
* 0:00 – 4:50: Introduction and Toby’s background.
* 4:51 – 6:05: Comparing Nixon, Reagan, and Trump.
* 6:06 – 8:19: Getting elected as a Democrat in 1974.
* 8:20 – 15:28: How the Republican Party has changed.
* 15:29 – 22:36: How bipartisanship has changed (or, how to make a quick buck at Laurel Park (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_Park_(race_track))).
* 22:37 – 25:35: Working with conservative Republicans like Henry Hyde (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hyde) (the staunch abortion opponent).
* 25:36 – 33:00: The corrosive impact of money in politics, and how much more pervasive its impact is today.
* 33:01 – 35:31: How media and the media landscape have changed.
* 35:31 – 38:35: Best member of Congress to work with.
* 38:36 – 46:07: What do you miss about serving in Congress?
* 46:08 – 47:57: Wrap-up.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bensamuels.substack.com (https://bensamuels.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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