Discovery Channel has announced their new reality series called Rival Survival that strands Republican and Democratic U.S. senators on a remote island with limited resources.
The politicians will be challenged to put their political differences aside for one week to accomplish specific tasks on camera. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), both “weary of partisan politics,” are the first round of contestants.
The duo joined forces and issued this public statement regarding their new adventure, which they reportedly approached Discovery about:
Both of us know just how frustrated people are with Washington right now. We can both attest that no one is more frustrated than those of us trying to get things done in this environment. We recognize how difficult it can be to cut through the partisanship. So we decided to do something completely out of the ordinary and frankly a little extreme to show the world and our colleagues that even if you have serious differences, if you want to survive, you have to work together.
Flake, who previously joined the bipartisan group “Gang of 8,” served six consecutive terms in the U.S House of Representatives and has been a strong advocate for immigration reform and regulating excess government spending.
The Arizona senator recently paired up with Sen. John McCain to develop an alternative plan to President Obama’s stance on the border crisis.
Senator Heinrich, a “conservationist and a strong progressive voice,” is a member of the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Heinrich has devoted his life’s work to the environment. In his own words:
Our nation faces a tremendous challenge in our need to reverse climate change and to lead the world in clean energy technology. I share their commitment in rising to that challenge. Here in New Mexico, we already know the potential for clean energy to create jobs and jumpstart our economy. Through American ingenuity and the right policies, we can unleash the full potential of this growing industry and put even more Americans to work building the clean energy economy.
Watch as Flake and Heinrich put their politics aside and engage in team building exercises. They will build shelters, stay hydrated, and spear fish on the island of Eru, Marshall Islands for a solid week.
Rival Survival will premiere on Oct. 29 at 10 p.m.