Ocasio-Cortez Dismisses Progressive Era as “Crazy,” Drawing Sharp Conservative Pushback

During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., sought to distance herself and fellow progressives from controversial positions associated with the early 2020s by dismissing them as relics of the past. Host Jon Karl prompted the congresswoman to address the record of Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, who has faced scrutiny over statements calling for the elimination of Thanksgiving and the abolition of prisons—positions Hong has since attempted to distance herself from as she competes for the Democratic nomination.

Ocasio-Cortez responded by quoting a local official’s characterization of the era as “Woke 1 was crazy,” adding that voters should focus on what candidates say currently rather than their historical rhetoric. The remark prompted immediate condemnation from conservative figures and organizations across the political spectrum.

Tim Graham, executive editor of NewsBusters at the Media Research Center, challenged the congresswoman’s framing in a statement to Fox News Digital. Graham argued that disavowing statements made merely six years ago stretches credibility and noted that Hong’s objections extended beyond Thanksgiving to encompass Valentine’s Day, Independence Day, Halloween, and Christmas. He suggested that Democratic strategists employ this tactic to repackage radical candidates as moderates for less politically engaged voters.

Jesse Arm, a Manhattan Institute vice president and pollster, posed a direct challenge to progressive Democrats, questioning which specific positions from the earlier era they now considered objectionable. Arm cited examples including gender-affirming surgery for minors, transgender athletes in women’s sports, race-conscious admissions policies, and debt forgiveness, asserting that Democrats have renounced none of these positions.

Arm further criticized what he characterized as the left’s unwillingness to acknowledge responsibility for promoting ideas that proved unpopular with voters. He highlighted Ocasio-Cortez’s 2019 assertions that the world would end within 12 years due to climate change, contrasting those statements with her recent comments about starting a family in the 2030s.

Republican officials amplified the conservative critique. Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas stated that progressives cannot abandon their agenda after years of pursuing institutional transformation and then dismiss previous rhetoric as misunderstanding. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis positioned his state’s opposition to progressive initiatives as vindication, framing the movement as a “mind virus” requiring rejection.