In 2018, Rep. Gallagher wrote an extensive piece in The Atlantic that grappled with one topic: How to Fix Congress. The problem, he concluded, “...is not the people. The problem is a defective process and a power structure that...funnels all power to leadership and stifles debate and initiative within the ranks.” In the piece, he put forward three solutions based on his own observations to help make the institution better serve the American people, but there are certainly other paths forward. Two years later, he decided to explore the topic of improving Congress by gathering suggestions from members who recently announced they would retire from Congress.

On this second of three special episodes of the NEW Look podcast, Rep. Gallagher is joined by Rep. Will Hurd, who was first elected to Congress in 2014 and is currently a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Intelligence Committee. Before coming to Congress, Rep. Hurd served in both the CIA and the private sector, and shares how those experiences influence his work and perception of Congress. And while there’s plenty of thoughtful discussion on how to improve Congress, there’s still time for the two to discuss their favorite movies and who the next James Bond should be.