A Congressman Makes the Case for Local Power
From The Strong Towns Podcast by Strong Towns
May 11, 2026 · 41 min · Episode 703
About this episode
Congressman Jake Auchincloss discusses the importance of localism in national politics and its implications for urban issues.
Congressman Jake Auchincloss joins the the Strong Towns podcast with a case for localism that takes it seriously without treating it as a cure-all. He explains why localism deserves a bigger role in national politics, not as a slogan, but as a way to rebuild trust and solve problems closer to the ground. That idea gets tested against some of the hardest problems facing cities today: transportation systems that reward expansion over maintenance, a housing market that has lost its entry-level rung, and federal policies that often struggle to match local realities. The conversation closes with a warning about digital life and a defense of face-to-face community. Additional Show Notes Jake Auchincloss (LinkedIn, Substack, Site) "Digital Dopamine is Consuming America. It's Time to Fight for IRL.", (Article) Chuck Marohn (Substack) This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you! Join fellow members discussing this episode in The Commons.
People in this episode
Host: Strong Towns
Guest: Jake Auchincloss
Topics covered
- localism
- national politics
- community trust
- transportation systems
- housing market
- digital life
Keywords
- local power
- national politics
- transportation
- housing
- community
- digital life
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