Bernie Sanders holds the record as the longest serving Independent member of Congress in the US

The independent congressman from Vermont was raised in New York City and received a political science degree from the University of Chicago. Bernie Sanders held the position of mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from 1980 to 1989. His family continues to reside in Burlington.

One of the interesting facts about Bernie Sanders is that he became the first independent lawmaker elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in decades when he secured a seat in 1990. He was chosen to serve in the U.S. Senate in 2006, and he continues to do so. He is the independent member of Congress with the longest tenure. Sanders joins the Democratic caucus in Congress while being an independent. Almost single-handedly, Sanders has transformed Democratic politics throughout the course of his career, mainstreaming liberal ideas like "Medicare for all" and free higher education.

The longest-serving independent in American congressional history is Vermont's Senator Bernie Sanders. He has gained notoriety for denouncing corporate excess and promoting greater openness in political financing; he notably delivered a more than eight-hour-long filibuster against the renewal of Bush-era tax cuts. He joins to discuss economic fairness, his decision to abstain from the recent Netanyahu speech, and his considerations for a 2016 presidential candidacy.