Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined Jonathan Karl on ABC’s This Week and discussed the rise of progressive Democrats. Karl started by trying to spark controversy by mentioning Hasan Piker, but AOC quickly took control of the conversation, shutting it down before it got traction.
AOC: You know, I think when we look at our elections that have happened, we have lost young people. Much hay was made about the fact that we lost young men in the last election. And many of the same consultants that are wringing their hands today were the same ones talking about how we need to go on Joe Rogan, and we need to be not, not so, you know, willing to engage in cancel culture. And I think that the flip-flopping on this is a tactical debate that they may be having.
I think the fact of the matter is that Democrats can go on Joe Rogan, Democrats can go on Fox News, Democrats have a responsibility to build a winning coalition, and young people are engaging in mediums and conversations that we have a responsibility to attend to and be responsive to. And even right now, when we look at this insurgent wave of what is happening, oftentimes when people are doing that Monday morning quarterbacking and what demographics voted where, the big one that’s being ignored is the generational tidal wave. Tsunami
And millennials are not, you know, punk kids anymore. We’re grown adults with mortgages and kids, and we, that generation, are starting to be decisive at the polls, and there is anger at being ignored, sidelined, having our economic futures mortgaged by the generations that came before us on everything from the economy to climate, and we’re taking the reins.
The whole situation reminds me of the conversations that I had with my grandfather and, later on, my father, when it was time to admit that they were getting older and needed to turn over their car keys and to accept help in the areas they needed help. My grandfather knew that I was right, but he just needed for it to come from someone else. My father, on the other hand, was more stubborn about it until he could no longer deny it, even to himself.
I think that is where the Democratic Party is. The younger people like AOC are telling the older ones that it’s time to turn over the keys. Some of the older guard is recognizing it, but many more are resisting the change, even though it is very much needed.
Karl: Is Hasan Piker somebody that should have a role in the Progressive movement going forward?
AOC: Many of the same consultants that are wringing their hands today were the same ones talking about how we need to go on Joe Rogan and we need to be not so willing to engage in… pic.twitter.com/QJ6Bo8cDjj
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 9, 2026
