AOC Calls Pandemic-Era Rhetoric 'Woke 1 Was Crazy' in Interview

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed past controversial statements made by herself and other progressive politicians during an interview on ABC's "This Week" on August 10, 2026. The New York Democrat characterized the intense political rhetoric of the COVID-19 pandemic era as a distinct period, using the phrase "Woke 1 was crazy" to separate it from current political discourse.

The comments came in response to questions about Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist who has faced scrutiny over previous statements calling for the abolition of prisons and the cancellation of Thanksgiving. Host Jonathan Karl asked Ocasio-Cortez for her perspective on Hong's past positions. Ocasio-Cortez stated that Hong has since clarified her present stances to voters and emphasized the importance of evaluating candidates on their current platforms.

"I have a local city councilman that has this saying, 'Woke 1 was crazy,'" Ocasio-Cortez said, laughing. She was referring to New York City Council Member Chi Ossé, who used the phrase in a May 2026 social media post to describe comments he made in 2021. Ocasio-Cortez argued that the political climate during...