From Iowa to New York, Republican members of Congress have struggled to answer constituents’ tough questions about their party’s agenda, with several town hall meetings turning angry and going viral.

Republican leaders have told lawmakers to stop holding them all together.

Representative Mike Flood of Nebraska has ignored that advice. The congressman speaks about the disappearance of an American political tradition and why he thinks it is worth preserving.

Guest: Representative Mike Flood, Republican of Nebraska

Background reading: 

• Representative Flood faced his hometown voters. It wasn’t pretty.
• From March: Republican House members were told to stop holding in-person town halls.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Photo: Scott Morgan/Reuters

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