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Dingell family in office for 90+ years: Locals praise pavement-pounding, critics say it indicts incumbency
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Rep. Debbie Dingell has held office for a decade, but her family has represented in the same general region of Michigan for almost a century, since Rep. John Dingell Sr. took office in 1933.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, however, Dingell, a Democrat, stressed she is not concerned with the idea she is continuing a record-breaking family legacy but instead the «quality» of work she does in-the-moment for the people in her district.
«I love my husband very much. And I’m proud of my last name. But I have to get up every day and earn the respect of the people that I represent. And I have to deliver for my constituents every day,» Dingell said.
«Most important to me is being a voice in a room and at the table for the people that I represent.»
JOHN DINGELL, LONGEST-SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS, DIES AT 92
Dingell’s own lineage, like her husband’s (Rep. John Dingell Jr.) and father-in-law’s, is also one that epitomizes the area she represents. She is the great-granddaughter of one of the Fisher Brothers – whose Fisher Bodyworks company became an early component of what is now General Motors.
«Home is home to me,» she said. «My district is a very complicated district. [It’s] Mini-America. Downriver (southwest of Detroit) is home – they have a manufacturing legacy, but they have a lot of environmental issues, and I’m really proud of some of the things I did from the moment I stepped into this job.»
Dingell spoke of regularly being on the phone with agencies from FEMA to healthcare, saying she always wants to «talk to people directly» and not politicize pressing issues.
«I don’t have entourages because I don’t believe in them. I love my staff… but I want people to talk to me directly … I go to farmer’s markets every weekend because that’s where [constituents are].»
Dingell supporters point to her willingness to work across the aisle, as the congresswoman said: «We’ve got to respect … [and] listen to each other.»
In the century since Dingell Sr. took office, politics has gotten nastier, or as Dingell put it, «what we’ve lost in the legislative process is trust – people don’t get to know each other anymore.»
LIBERALS BLAME BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL LOSS ON DYING DEMS: IMAGINE IF THEY ‘RETIRED INSTEAD OF DIED IN OFFICE’
Rep. John Dingell Jr.’s portrait is unveiled. (Reuters)
National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O’Meara called Dingell and Dingell Jr. the «hardest-working people» he’s worked with.
«I think in the conservation world, they’re just kind of legendary figures,» he said, noting that Dingell Sr. was a leader in the space as well, drafting the «Dingell-Johnson Act» in 1950 that helped restore sportfishing and continues to be utilized today.
The Dingells were instrumental in the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act and other key laws, he said, adding Dingell has led major cleanup efforts around Michigan while also leading nationally on conservation, including via caucus chairmanships.
O’Meara said that Dingell and her family have been «versatile lawmakers» in a Washington full of «one-trick ponies.»
David Hecker, a former state president of American Federation of Teachers, said Dingell has supported domestic manufacturing, workers’ rights and education issues.
«The congresswoman is everywhere, informing, but moreso listening: to needs and concerns of her constituents and supporting community organizations,» Hecker said.
85-YEAR-OLD LONGTIME HOUSE DEMOCRAT FACING PRIMARY CHALLENGER WHO’S MAKING AGE A KEY ISSUE
Bill Clinton, left, John Dingell Jr., right. (Reuters)
Trenton, Mich., Mayor Steve Rzeppa told Fox News Digital that Dingell and Dingell Jr., could not be «bigger fighters» in Congress.
Rzeppa’s earliest political work was in Dingell Jr.’s district office.
«It’s tough to even put into words what you learn working for someone like that,» he said. «It was really more a way of living and serving others than it was a set of certain skills.»
Rzeppa said the political family have been «champions» of the local auto industry, universal healthcare and conservation – recalling them also greeting workers at plants’ shift-change.
Bentley Johnson of the League of Conservation Voters called the Dingells’ district a «fascinating case study» as the home of UAW and heavy-industry workers who were longtime Democrats who have been trending more toward President Donald Trump or independent affiliation.
«In a lot of ways, it’s a microcosm of the country in terms of political polarization. But what is interesting is that we see water and outdoor recreation as classic examples of issues that are top priorities for people across the entire political spectrum,» Johnson said.
Johnson said the Dingells recognize that and that as «problem-solvers,» there is «no situation too complex or politically sticky that they won’t throw themselves into to try and find a solution.»
Local colleges also praised the Dingells’ tenure, with spokespeople for both the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University crediting their support for the institutions.
«Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has been an incredible supporter of Michigan Medicine, and we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber represent our students, faculty, staff and patients,» said Mary Masson, a spokesperson for UMich-Health.
«As a lifelong resident of Ann Arbor and former local elected official, I’ve had the honor of working over many years with Debbie Dingell and, before her, John Dingell,» added Eastern Michigan administrator Leigh Greden.
REP. DEBBIE DINGELL: DEMOCRATS NEED TO EXAMINE WHY MILLIONS OF VOTERS SUPPORTED TRUMP
Rep. John Dingell Sr. (Bettmann-Getty)
«The district has changed a lot over the years… What hasn’t changed between John and Debbie is their omnipresence in the community.»
The lack of change, however, has been something critics of term limits and «dynastic» political families have in turn called out.
Writer Andrew Sullivan previously dove into the «Dingell Dynasty» and cited several critiques of having a family in office that long.
He cited journalist Philip Klein’s take that it is an indictment of incumbency.
«[Dingell Jr.] was re-elected over and over again due to the way congressional districts are drawn up and because incumbents have such a huge money and influence advantage that it creates a barrier to entry for any potential challengers,» he said according to Sullivan.
«The United States was created by a revolution against a monarchy, and yet Americans have had an unhealthy obsession with political dynasties,» added Klein, who noted that at the time, the nation was flirting with dynastic presidencies of Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush.
«And seriously, does anybody believe that Caroline Kennedy is the most qualified person in the country to serve as ambassador to Japan?» he wrote.
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Reps. John Dingell, John Dingell Jr., Debbie Dingell. (Getty; Reuters)
Outside The Beltway writer Doug Mataconis said following Dingell’s primary win to succeed her husband, «as a general rule, there is something unhealthy about both political dynasties and long-term incumbency, and the Dingell case provides ample examples of both.»
«Congressional seats such as Dingell’s are made virtually immune from challenge by the opposing party … there is just something distasteful about the fact the same family has held the same congressional seat since Franklin Roosevelt was first elected to the presidency.»
Dingell Jr.’s tenure by itself remains the longest of any member – at 59 years.
Former Democratic Sens. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, and Carl Hayden of Arizona, and ex-Rep. Jamie Whitten of Mississippi all served about 50 years as did Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Former Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, served 49.
At the state level, the «Byrd Machine,» led by Democratic Sen. Harry Byrd, famously controlled Virginia’s politics for almost all of the 20th century.
democrats,michigan,elections,family genres,family traditions,congress
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EXCLUSIVE: Indiana will be getting their own version of Alligator Alcatraz in Florida with 1,000 beds.
The «Speedway Slammer» will be located at the Miami Correctional Center in Miami County, which is in between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. The name is a nod to Indiana’s racing culture, such as the annual Indianapolis 500.
«We are proud to work with President Trump and Secretary Noem as they remove the worst of the worst with this innovative partnership,» Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said in a statement on Tuesday. «Indiana is taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating illegal immigration and will continue to lead the way among states.»
RED STATES CONSIDER ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ SPINOFFS AS WH URGES THEM TO FOLLOW DESANTIS’ LEAD: ‘LOTS OF BEARS’
Sen. Mike Braun speaks during a Republican Indiana gubernatorial candidate forum in Carmel, Indiana, on Jan. 25, 2024. Braun has been endorsed by former president Donald Trump for Indiana’s governorship. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)
The funds are sourced from a reconciliation bill signed by President Donald Trump last month, dubbed the «one big, beautiful bill.»
According to DHS, it provided the funding for the 287(g) program, which fosters collaboration between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local governments, in addition to 80,000 ICE detention beds.
«COMING SOON to Indiana: The Speedway Slammer. Today, we’re announcing a new partnership with the state of Indiana to expand detention bed space by 1,000 beds,» Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. «Thanks to Governor Braun for his partnership to help remove the worst of the worst out of our country. If you are in America illegally, you could find yourself in Indiana’s Speedway Slammer. Avoid arrest and self deport now using the CBP Home App.»
TRUMP SAYS ONLY WAY OUT OF ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ’ IS DEPORTATION
US President Donald Trump tours a migrant detention center, dubbed «Alligator Alcatraz,» located at the site of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida on July 1, 2025. (AFP via Getty)
The Trump administration has continued deportation operations as it encourages people who are in the country illegally, but do not have an additional criminal record, to self-deport. The administration is offering $1,000 and free travel out of the country if people exit on their own, which opens up the door for the individual to return legally, according to DHS.
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Alligator Alcatraz opened this summer under the purview of federal officials and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and it’s meant to be a stopping point before individuals in the country illegally are deported. The facility used state funds at first, but will also get money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It can hold 2,000 people but is expected to hold 4,000 in the future, and deportation flights already started at the end of last month.
«I’m pleased to report that those flights out of Alligator Alcatraz by DHS have begun. The cadence is increasing. We’ve already had a number of flights, in the last few days, we’ve had hundreds of illegals [that] have been removed from here,» DeSantis said at the time.
SELF-DEPORT OR END UP IN ‘ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ,’ NOEM WARNS MIGRANTS DURING TRUMP VISIT
Demonstrators hold signs as they protest the construction of an immigrant detention center, dubbed «Alligator Alcatraz,» in the Everglades near Ochopee, Florida, on June 28, 2025. (Getty Images)
The facility was a defunct airport in the Everglades, and a second center is likely to be built in Florida, according to WJHL. Sunshine State leaders faced scrutiny from both left-wing immigration and environmental activists due to its location and purpose.
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«Building a bare-bones tented detention center on hot tarmac in the middle of the Everglades and exposing imprisoned immigrants to the elements is a cruel and absurd proposal,» Melissa Abdo, PhD, National Parks Conservation Association Sun Coast Regional Director, said in a July 1 statement in opposition to the facility. «The Everglades’ intense heat, humidity, and storms can be hazardous without proper precautions. This facility’s remote, harsh nature could leave people in very real danger, especially as Florida’s heat index skyrockets and hurricane season escalates.»
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.
immigration,indiana,florida,homeland security
INTERNACIONAL
Empresarios temerosos en Brasil tras la detención de Bolsonaro: «Todos tienen los nervios a flor de piel»
El gobierno brasileño estaba organizando una conversación telefónica entre Lula y Trump para los próximos días sobre los aranceles y esperaba que las negociaciones avanzaran. Pero el arresto domiciliario de Jair Bolsonaro, decidido el lunes por el magistrado Alexandre de Moraes, podría afectar la reanudación del diálogo.
Corresponde al republicano habilitar los canales diplomáticos para que ambos países reanuden las negociaciones, interrumpidas días antes de que Trump condicionara la suspensión del arancel del 50 % a la interferencia del Poder Ejecutivo en el proceso judicial contra Bolsonaro. Ahora, fuentes del Gobierno consultadas por RFI alertan sobre el riesgo de agravamiento de la crisis y refuerzan que es momento de prestar atención.
En el sector productivo, el clima es de aprensión. Para el presidente de la Asociación de Comercio Exterior de Brasil, José Augusto de Castro, todavía no hay luz al final del túnel.
“Este es un momento de hibernación, porque cualquier chispa es capaz de hacer estallar el escenario en su conjunto. Todos tienen los nervios a flor de piel”, afirmó.
Castro explica que las empresas que quedaron fuera de la lista de exenciones del aumento arancelario enfrentan dificultades para encontrar nuevos mercados o precios competitivos como los que tenían en Estados Unidos.
El presidente Lula debía pronunciar este martes un discurso en defensa de la soberanía y la unión nacional durante la nueva edición del Consejo de Desarrollo Económico y Social Sostenible, el llamado “Conselhão”. La reunión congrega a 155 participantes, entre ministros y representantes de diversos segmentos de la sociedad, que asesoran al Gobierno en la formulación de políticas públicas.
La reunión se celebra en vísperas de la entrada en vigor del arancel del 50 % sobre parte de las exportaciones brasileñas. El vicepresidente Geraldo Alckmin, responsable de las negociaciones con Estados Unidos y del diálogo con el sector productivo nacional, reforzará esta misma línea en su discurso durante el evento.
El lunes, Alckmin presidió la reunión del Consejo de Ministros de la Cámara de Comercio Exterior, que aprobó una consulta a la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) sobre el caso de los aranceles. La decisión final sobre cómo y cuándo recurrir a la OMC corresponderá al presidente Lula.
El gobierno aún calcula los impactos del arancel anunciado por Trump. Según cálculos oficiales, el 12,5 % de las exportaciones brasileñas tienen como destino Estados Unidos, y la subida de aranceles afectará al 35 % de ese total. La lista con 694 exenciones anunciada la semana pasada supuso cierto alivio, pero la decisión del ministro Alexandre de Moraes de decretar la detención de Bolsonaro reavivó las tensiones y generó un nuevo clima de incertidumbre.
Por ahora, los empresarios no quieren oír hablar de represalias, por temor a agravar aún más la situación. Lo que esperan del gobierno es un plan de contingencia, actualmente en fase final de elaboración, para apoyar a los sectores más afectados. Entre las medidas que se están estudiando se encuentran líneas de crédito con recursos del BNDES, acciones para el mantenimiento del empleo y cambios normativos para estimular el consumo interno de productos que antes se exportaban.
El gobierno federal ya ha decidido dar prioridad a la compra de productos de la industria nacional para abastecer al Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) y está estudiando hacer lo mismo con los alimentos.
Los empresarios que se reunieron con Alckmin solicitaron la ampliación de la Ley Acredita Exportación a las grandes empresas. El texto, en vigor desde el lunes, prevé el reembolso del 3 % del valor exportado a las micro y pequeñas empresas, mediante créditos fiscales. Dado que esto tiene un impacto fiscal, el Gobierno aún está evaluando el costo de extender el beneficio a las empresas de mayor tamaño.
Alckmin también afirmó que el Ejecutivo está concentrando sus esfuerzos en abrir nuevos mercados para los productos brasileños. Las negociaciones políticas para que el Reino Unido y la Unión Europea vuelvan a comprar pescado de Brasil, un producto que se exportaba ampliamente a Estados Unidos y al que se le aplicó un recargo del 50 %, se encuentran en su fase final.
El vicepresidente brasileño volvió a criticar el porcentaje impuesto por Washington. Destacó que ocho de cada diez productos exportados por Estados Unidos a Brasil tienen un impuesto cero, mientras que el arancel medio brasileño sobre los productos estadounidenses es de solo el 2,7 %.
Los nuevos aranceles estadounidenses entran en vigor a las 00:01 horas de este miércoles.
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Biden’s doctor thought cognitive tests were ‘meaningless,’ ex-aide Bruce Reed told investigators
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Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor previously dismissed cognitive tests as «meaningless,» ex-Biden administration aide Bruce Reed told House investigators on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the proceedings.
Reed, who served as White House deputy chief of staff for policy, is the ninth member of former President Joe Biden’s inner circle to sit down with House Oversight Committee lawyers.
A source familiar with his interview told Fox News Digital that Reed attributed Biden’s disastrous 2024 debate performance against then-candidate Donald Trump to the former president’s stutter, a condition that’s been well-documented and Biden himself has publicly acknowledged.
But his meandering and seemingly tired demeanor on stage with Trump alarmed both Democrats and media pundits, who saw it as a glaring sign of Biden’s advanced age. It precipitated both a public and private push by left-wing lawmakers to get Biden to drop out of the race — which he did in July 2024.
COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’
The House Oversight Committee questioned President Joe Biden’s physician Kevin O’Connor last month in its probe into Biden’s mental decline. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)
When asked whether public concerns about Biden’s mental acuity were legitimate, however, the source told Fox News Digital that Reed said he believes Americans should not have had any concerns about the ex-president’s mental faculties.
Reed also told investigators that «the president’s communications team anticipated that the issue of a cognitive test would likely be raised» in Biden’s interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos following the debate.
«Mr. Reed further explained that President Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, dismissed cognitive tests as ‘meaningless,’» the source said.
O’Connor was among the first former White House officials summoned by House investigators, and sat down with them last month after being compelled via subpoena.
But his sit-down lasted less than an hour, with the doctor opting to invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering all questions but his name. His lawyers said at the time that was due to concerns about violating doctor-patient confidentiality.
In his own interview Tuesday, Reed also defended the Biden 2024 campaign’s preference to hold the debate earlier than typical for a presidential cycle, the source said.
Former deputy chief of staff for policy Bruce Reed is the ninth ex-Biden administration aide to appear before the House Oversight Committee. (Getty Images)
«During his interview, Mr. Reed stated that the decision to hold the debate early was a deliberate strategy to get ahead of early voting and the Olympics. He emphasized that the campaign’s push for the early debate was unrelated to concerns about President Biden’s age,» the source said.
Excerpts of Reed’s opening statement to investigators, obtained by Fox News Digital via a second source familiar with the interview, show he emphatically defended Biden’s cognitive abilities.
«While I can only speak to my own observations, I had the benefit of working with President Biden nearly every day of his presidency. Despite his age, President Biden maintained an unrelenting work ethic, embraced complex policy issues, and approached decisions with diligence and deliberation,» Reed said, according to the source.
LONGTIME BIDEN AIDE SAYS HE STOOD TO EARN UP TO $8M HAD PRESIDENT WON RE-ELECTION
Reed also described Biden as «a demanding boss who routinely grilled staff members on a topic until he reached the limits of our knowledge so he could judge whether to have confidence in our advice,» though «that didn’t mean he’d take it.»
«From the first days in the White House to the last, President Biden governed the same way he’d gotten there, by trusting his own values and instincts,» Reed said, according to the source.
«There is no tougher test than the presidency: President Biden asked tough questions, made tough decisions, and led his country well in challenging times for the nation and the world.»
House Oversight and Accountability committee Chairman James Comer is leading the probe (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is probing whether Biden’s senior aides worked to cover up evidence of mental decline in the former president, and whether that meant Biden was not making the final decision on executive matters signed by autopen.
Of particular interest to Comer is the myriad of clemency orders Biden signed in the latter half of his presidency, though the former president told The New York Times last month that he was behind every decision.
His allies have also dismissed Comer’s probe as purely political.
Fox News Digital reached out to Reed’s counsel and lawyers for O’Connor for comment but did not hear back by press time.
joe biden,house of representatives politics,politics,congress,mental health,geriatric health
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