Hello! Red, White, Blue, & Purple is The Paladin’s podcast covering politics and policy from a Furman perspective. New episodes are released every other Monday. Enter your email address below to receive a newsletter notifying you when new episodes are released and providing my own thoughts and recommendations. Last week on the podcast, I interviewed David Trone, who represents Maryland’s 6th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here are some things to listen for:

• You may recognize Trone’s name: the Trone Student Center was funded in large part by his donation. In 2016, he ran the most expensive ever self-funded campaign for Congress — and lost in the Democratic primary in the 8th district. (He subsequently won his current seat in 2018 and again in 2020.)
• I asked Trone why, after a successful business career, he decided to run for Congress. He replied that other forms of philanthropy aren’t “moving the needle in the way that I want to move it.” His position on the House Appropriations Committee allows him to influence the spending of billions of dollars more than he could ever hope to spend on his own.
• The far right and the far left are both “cancers” to their respective parties that are largely enabled by gerrymandering and campaign finance rules, Trone said.
• He also indicated that the ills of our polarized political climate might subside somewhat if members from opposite parties spent more time together. While that is certainly a worthy endeavor and may help around the edges, I am skeptical. Personal camaraderie by itself cannot rectify the institutional challenges that our government faces.
• Trone speaks with the directness and energy of an experienced businessman, and that outlook has shaped how he views his role in Congress. Free from the fundraising concerns that plague the average lawmaker, he spends his time learning about “policy, policy, policy” — and that’s what he thinks Congress should focus on. Multiple times in our conversation, he said that he and his fellow public servants should strive to be both courageous and competent. I hope they take his advice.

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Recommended Reading:

Nikki Haley’s Time for Choosing (Politico). South Carolina has a habit of producing some of the most colorful and consequential characters in American politics. Today, Nikki Haley is perhaps the prime example. But this article isn’t just about Haley’s ambition; it’s also about the future of the party she wants to lead. This is simply the best longform political journalism you can find, and it’s worth reading in full.

Next Up:

In the next episode, which will be released on March 1, we’ll hear from the longtime mayor of Greenville, Knox White. Stay tuned for his perspectives on Furman, Greenville, and how to get things done.