John,
Trust is the most valuable currency in Washington—and its growing scarcity was highlighted in a new Wall Street Journal article out today.
Amid the decline in cross-party relationships on Capitol Hill, the article highlights a glimmer of hope: a bipartisan group of lawmakers who meet each morning at 6:30 AM for rigorous workouts, no politics allowed.
The group has been led for more than a decade by Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a No Labels ally and former professional mixed martial arts fighter. As Senator Mullin puts it, “The core group—we hold together” through changes in administration and more.
At No Labels, we understand that these warm personal relationships are not just “nice to have”—they are a “need to have.”
Otherwise, how can we expect lawmakers who do not know each other, like each other, or trust each other to get into a room and suddenly solve our nation’s biggest problems? We cannot.
The article offers some reasons for the increasing rarity of these personal relationships, including how redistricting has rewarded “lawmakers who cater to their party’s base, rather than the political center” and new fundraising tactics that are “elevating the loudest lawmakers” over the steadiest problem solvers.
No Labels is the only movement working to change these realities. In fact, addressing the problems highlighted in the article is central to No Labels mission.
For example, we are building the Ark – a new governing philosophy that calls on the nation to lean on trust and shared values as a means of weathering the chaos of this current moment. That applies to citizens and leaders alike.
We are also working to change the broken fundraising paradigm to elevate the center. That is what our Giving Portal is all about – it is our answer to ActBlue and WinRed, and it sends a powerful signal that the commonsense majority is not only awake, but organized.
While our work to build trust between members of Congress rarely plays out on the front page of the newspaper – and that is intentional – it is nonetheless moving forward at a steady clip. These efforts will come into the spotlight on June 26, when we host our first public bicameral meeting of No Labels allies in Congress. We hope you will attend virtually via Zoom to send a message that America is hungry for unifying leadership. Be on the lookout for details soon on how to register.
Our recent work behind the scenes will also come into focus next Wednesday night (May 14) at 6:30pm, when we announce our new National Leaders.
