Did you know that there’s a “Congressional Baking Caucus?” Two members, a Republican from Pennsylvania and a Democrat from North Carolina. Both male, in case you were wondering, projecting a vision of getting together now and again to advance the cause of bi-partisan scone-baking across our great land.
There’s also a “Congressional Bourbon Caucus,” a “Congressional Bus Caucus,” a “Congressional Caucus on Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies,” a “Bipartisan Ski and Snowboard Caucus” (think Colorado, Utah and California!), a “Congressional Algae Caucus,” a “Congressional Ferry Caucus” (what, no equal time for a “Fairy Caucus?”), a “Congressional Chicken Caucus” (I’m moved to ask, alive or dead?), a “Congressional Candy Caucus” (with a Representative “Smucker” as a member), a “Congressional Bulgaria Caucus,” a “Congressional Cement Caucus” (whose members I trust have permission to put their handprints all over Washington, D.C.’s construction projects), a “Congressional College Football Caucus” (one member, from Texas, of course, but who played baseball in college) a “Congressional Rock & Roll Caucus” (popular, with six members!) and a “Congressional Cranberry Caucus.”
The “Congressional Anti-Woke Caucus” also has just one member, which begs the question, Is a caucus a caucus when there’s no one else to caucus with? And when it meets with itself, does it make the sound of one hand clapping?
All this is to set a stage for my idea of a caucus that does not currently exist, but really should.
Surely, in these fractious times under a president whose ill temperament increasingly shows almost no restraint, there is a crying need for a Decency Caucus, whose charter would advance the cause of kindness, patience, empathy and plain good manners as guiding principles of our civic and political life.
Think it might have more potential impact than a caucus devoted to cranberries?
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There are two fascinating Senate races going on right now. One features the boyishly handsome seminary student, former middle school teacher and current congressional representative James Talarico in Texas. The other has the Reverend Adam Hamilton, the current pastor of the largest Methodist church in the country, trying to unseat the incumbent in the heartland state of Kansas.
Both are Democrats, and their races in firmly red states would in normal times make their candidacies extreme longshots. But these not being normal times, their contests against establishment, MAGA-aligned Republicans are currently rated tossups, which suggests there might be something dramatic rising underfoot.
And I would posit that the “something dramatic” can be encapsulated in one word: “exhaustion.”
Exhaustion with the chaos, the vitriol, the defiance, the cruelty, the cronyism, the pompousness, the lies, the insults, the attacks on allies, the cozying up to Putin and Kim-Jong, the self-promotion, the industrial scale fraud, the assault on constitutional order and the plain bad behavior perpetrated on the American people by the current occupant of the once hallowed Oval Office.
This exhaustion is not limited to any given policy, though to varying degrees it may include policy matters. But ruinous though any policy may be, it’s more what lies under the policies that leaves so much of the country desperate for the kind of relief on offer from the likes of Talarico and Hamilton.
Both of them are surpassingly, demonstrably decent human beings by word and deed, entering an arena where decency seems in ever-dwindling supply and jadedness and hostility rule the day. Once elected, they could reach across the aisle to form a bipartisan Decency Caucus with Southern Baptist minister James Lankford of Oklahoma, conservative to his core but of similar temperament and tone.
With both houses of Congress currently resembling a bad marriage where the kitchen walls themselves wilt under the persistence of barely concealed scorn, the Decency Caucus would represent some much needed therapy for that body and the nation it is drawn from.
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Grounded in biblical imperatives of loving friends, neighbors, strangers and enemies alike, Talarico, 37 ,and Hamilton, 62, form inter-generational bookends, grounded in the virtue of politics as calling and public service. Together, they project the values that are easy for cynics to dismiss and admittedly difficult to employ, given how badly our political and civic discourse has been bespoiled by the relentlessly mean-spirited invective of the current president.
Over his years in office, Trump has followed an ever darker trajectory of behavior that would have long ago gotten him kicked out of any school or workplace he ever entered. What began as juvenile nickname insults—“Lyin’ Ted,” “”Crooked Hillary,” “Crazy Nancy,” “Little Marco,” “Birdbrain Haley”—has steadily turned into full-on delegitimization and enemy language, his opponents in every case labeled “sick, evil, scum, the enemy within.”
His debasement of the office also encompasses his erasure of any barrier between private language and the public square. Last year he set the unseemly precedent of uttering the first f-bomb in presidential history when describing for the record the Arab-Israeli conflict to reporters: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”
Also: Kamala Harris was a “shit vice-president,” countless antagonists are “stupid sons of bitches,” and Robert Mueller’s death begat this response, “Good, I’m glad he’s dead.”
Even more gasp-worthy was his posting on X following director Rob Reiner and his wife being murdered by their own son, Trump assigning the blame to Reiner’s “massive unyielding and incurable affliction with a mind crippling disease known as TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME.”
The mind and the heart reel…
This list could grow much longer, but it won’t. The point is that this coarsening of our culture has seemed to reach a fever-pitch under Trump, the nation’s chief “influencer” and most immoral and overtly obscene president in our history.
The good news is that the rise of Talarico and Hamilton may represent a classic dialectical reaction, an “Enough now!” revolt against where we are, and a vision for where we need to go.
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For all of of Barack Obama’s profound decency and intelligence, and as much as his rhetoric tried to appeal to our better angels as our first black president, his mere presence in the Oval Office also unleashed the dark hounds of repressed and in some cases overt racism that still play a prominent role in American life.
That revolt against Obama set the table for the vulgarian Trump, playing to our worst instincts but posing as a voice for the common man, the “real people” of rural and working class America. However real and sincere were their grievances about being left behind and unseen by the dislocations of the modern world, their falling into line for Trump, the billionaire who had never soiled his hands by lifting a tool or digging in dirt, was misguided at best.
We see it in his governance via scorched earth that has now called forth, in this historical pattern of heave-ho, the persons and campaigns of Talarico and Hamilton, and a population starved for the notion that the very foundation of a functional society is basic decency and goodwill.
None of this will be easy. The hard slog and struggle of actual statecraft never is. Kindness, decency and empathy aren’t automatic features running every human being’s life. We can often be distemperate creatures, quick to take offense, go all self-protective, assume the worst in others, act from fear or vengeance and worse. Our representatives are no different.
And Talarico and Hamilton may both lose. Sobering thought, that.
But what they’re signaling with their performance thus far—running neck and neck in deep red states with a religiously-based theme of love and inclusiveness that specifically rejects politics as mortal combat—could also be the beginning signs of the country’s fed-upness with the style of governance we have been subjected to since Trump strode atop the national stage and began hurling his bombs of anger, aggression and exclusion at all those who might thwart his will to power.
Riven as we have not been since the Civil War, it’s time we do things a different way, since what we are doing is so clearly not working. The candidacies of Talarico and Hamilton show us we may yet get to try.
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Thanks, Andrew. A breath of fresh air this notion of a decency caucus. It reminds me that the first elected president after Nixon resigned was Jimmy Carter, possibly the most decent president we’ve ever had. May the pendulum swing again in that direction starting with November 3.
Great point, Al—I hadn’t put that together, but the Carter example perfectly illustrates the basic thesis of how these cycles of history to a great extend reflect changing “moods” and reactions of the electorate to the currently prevailing situation. Yes, most elections hinge to a great extent on the so-called pocketbook issues, but we can’t underestimate deeper rumblings of a far more subjective nature.
I looked into these two guys and it looks like the religious right thinks they’re Satan on earth. I guess we should have expected it.
Yeah, I doubt they will peel off much if any from the religious right, Jonathan, but I don’t think they’ll need them to get really close and maybe over the top. It’s independents, the non-religious, and the moderate and liberal wing of Christianity—which actually does exist—that they’ll need to invite into the tent. Texas Republicans gave Talarico a gift by nominating the utterly corrupt Ken Paxton, but Hamilton will have a bigger mountain to climb in beating an incumbent with no huge scandals in his background. Still: it’s hard to accurately assess the depth & breadth of revulsion to all things Trump, and how that will all feel by election day. If all those people turn out to vote and Trump doesn’t do something nuts like cancel the election or have the army patrolling polling places (both possibilities) it could be the wave election Democrats are hoping for.
I’ve been a Texas resident since 2015. In these last eleven years, the Republicans have pitched a perfect game against the Democrats: No statewide office. No United States Senator. No Hillary, Joe or Kamala. I suppose it makes sense; Nolan Ryan’s a Texan. While James Talarico is presently polling evenly with Ken Paxton, I fear his lack of a rap sheet will ultimately doom him. On the other hand, Ken Paxton is a good old boy. His resume includes impeachment by his own party, adultery, alleged securities fraud, bribery, sexual misconduct charges and a Biblical divorce, whatever that is. Bad can’t hurt in Texas. Maybe Reverend Adam Hamilton can defeat Roger Marshall, Kansas’ incumbent MAGA senator. After all, Dorothy found Oz from there. Incidentally, the Dems have adopted a novel strategy in Montana, Idaho and North Dakota–Support the Local Independent. Just maybe, come November, the road to D.C. will be paved in blue, pushing aside all of the super-glued gold ornamentation encircling the Resolute Desk.
I don’t know if you or Jonathan saw this, Robert, but WaPo chronicled yesterday how “Texas Republicans” consider Talarico to be a “blasphemer” for, among other things, his views that God may be non–binary because he-she isn’t a “person” at all, but something far beyond what our puny imaginations can adequately conceive. The morally bankrupt-fraudulent-self-enricher Paxton gets a pass, however, because he’s “a flawed human being….who never claimed to be a saint…” so deserves voters’ unwavering forgiveness and support. The mental gymnastics required to assume such positions are quite beyond the pale, but the good news is there really are a goodly number of mainstream Christians, independents, and just enough (I hope!) disaffected former Bush Republicans who just can’t stomach Paxton and what’s become of their party to get Talarico over the top. Big hill to climb, though, no doubt… https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/16/senate-hopeful-talarico-touts-his-faith-texas-republicans-call-it-blasphemy/
A Decency caucus is a fine idea and would be one of many right (corrrect) steps that could be taken to soften the toxic political environment. Twere that it were so that in politics doing the right (correct) thing mattered. Sadly, the impulse weighs heavily toward WHO is right (correct) rather than what. Republican disdain for all things progressive and reasonable is much too powerful and entrenched for well-meaning candidates such as Talarico and Hamilton to overcome. Vitriol, lies, and all manner of nasty schemes will bury “weak,” peace and decency -seeking candidates committed to restoring sanity and civility to our governing bodies. My skepticism is fueled by an attack I endured at a basketball team reunion a few years ago by several Trump-supporting teammates and long-ago friends. It was my first-ever encounter with the deep anger and hatred of “the left.” it is powerful, runs deep, and the commitment to protecting what, in their minds, is right is fierce and unyielding. Decency has no place in their world. Being right is what matters most.
Great hat and song. May all your words and intentions be God’s will!
Much appreciate these short notes, Miryam, thanks for checking in!
Jay, there’s a whole post or two of material you raise there, pal, much of it hinging on conundrums that will indeed be difficult to reconcile. Given where we are, it will be a long time a’comin’ restoring any kind of unity in this country—I did say, after all, “None of this will be easy.” Where I would take some issue with you, though (kindly, decently!) is in your seeming to equate the pursuit of kindness and decency with being “weak” and thus getting buried by aggressive and angry opponents.
I don’t see Talarico and Hamilton laying down to be anyone’s punching bag. Neither did MLK nor Obama. Deceit and aggression and just plain bad policy must be countered, but it really is the “how,” I think, that makes just about all the difference.
I’ve been startled lately by how angry what I can only label as the far left is with more mainstream/moderate Democrats, basically equating them with Republicans in a kind of pox-on-both-their-houses mashup. There’s talk of them sitting out the election, or voting Socialist all the way. Really? So much anger at what has happened to this country, which they reflexively blame as much on Dems as Repubs, and leading to some of the most irrational, cloudy thinking I hear this side of a deep red, dirt poor MAGA voter who still thinks Trump is doing everything for them. Anger can do that to people, and other than allowing all of us to occasionally blow off some steam, it doesn’t do much to inspire voters, win elections and influence policy. The polls and focus groups I’m paying attention to are sounding a pretty consistent theme that people are dispirited and sick of all the combat and invective, and just want politicians to help make their lives better.
Does that mean kindness and decency will convert the approximately 35% of Republicans who are MAGA die-hards? Not bloody likely! (That number is steadily slipping, by the way—AI just informed me of this seconds ago: “President Donald Trump’s approval rating stands at 33%, according to an August 2026 Reuters/Ipsos Poll.”) I think most all those folks are unreachable, at least for now. But that won’t matter if the all-important Independent voting bloc remains as repelled by Trump as they appear to be now. And Dems won’t reach them nearly as well, I am convinced, if our rhetoric and comportment is just a mirror image of Trump & Co. If we stand for values of decency, inclusiveness and empathy, we can’t express and behave in ways that are the opposite without bankrupting and soiling our own souls and reeking of hypocrisy. Firm in opposition, yes, but no crudity, no indignity, no f-bombs in public discourse because we have to “fight fire with fire” by stooping to their level.
It’s hard, though. I fail at this all the time. Thank goodness for friends, where we can blow off the steam of our lesser selves, roll around in the mud awhile, then get up and put on clean adult clothes to get on with doing the really hard work of being a decent person in an environment that constantly lures us toward the cheap (and cheapening) dopamine hit of lashing out at our antagonists. It’s all hard and messy, because life is hard and messy. Good to have an ever-fresh challenge at this age, though, yes?
OK, enough now, for the one post I mentioned way up above. I’m pretty certain another one will get brewed up down the road—it’s not like this issue will be going away anytime soon!
It’s possible, I hope, that wise, reasonable people such as Talarico and Hamilton in Congress could help elevate the basic decency that resides in others who are otherwise currently ruled by their own anger and that of their constituents and that of party leaders. I certainly hope so. Getting one, or both of these gentlemen elected would be a much needed step in the positive direction of populating Congress with members inspired to return political differences to a theatre of decent, reasoned debated that has the capacity for disagreement without outrage. The Don’s 33% approval standing does provide some hope.
Reporting from Sonoma County in Northern California… I recently attended a talk by Jared Huffman, who is our Representative to Congress. He and Jamie Raskin founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus to promote sound public policy based on reason, science, and moral values. He has written a book called No Prophets – The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism. I was very impressed with Rep. Huffman, and I am now three chapters into his eye-opening, excellent new book. I recommend it highly.