The Daily Punch Fly Out Day: Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar on the frontlines of the funding fight
Jan 22, 2026
Pete Aguilar, a California U.S. Representative and senior appropriator, shares insights on the intricate world of appropriations, discussing recent Democratic concessions and frustrations. He dives into California's redistricting fight against Republican gerrymandering, emphasizing its importance for democracy. Aguilar expresses cautious optimism about winning the majority, highlighting district strategies and the significance of appealing messages to voters. He also reflects on leadership changes in the party and offers personal travel tips for balancing work and downtime.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
DHS Bill Opposition Rooted In ICE Concerns
- Democrats broadly oppose the DHS bill because of ICE's recent actions that they call lawless and terrorizing to communities.
- Pete Aguilar says some members may still vote yes to fund critical DHS functions like TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA and HSI despite those concerns.
Appropriations Gains Despite Minority Constraints
- Aguilar says Democratic appropriators played the best hand they could in minority, winning language and program protections in many bills.
- He argues Republicans wasted time and left Democrats forced to accept compromises that could have been avoided with earlier collaboration.
California Helped Head Off Mid‑Decade Gerrymanders
- Aguilar credits California's pushback against mid-decade redistricting with neutralizing a potential Republican gerrymander plan.
- He warns that unequal rules across states would be unfair and that Californians acted to protect democratic norms.