'Freakin' take control': Rep. Crockett on House dysfunction

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Oct 20, 2023 View in browser   By Anna Canizales POLITICO illustration/Photos by Getty Images, iStock Hi Rulers! Anna Canizales, POLITICO Magazine intern here, filling in for Sophie this week. As the House Speaker race continues to drag out, I spoke with freshman representative Jasmine Crockett about the role progressive lawmakers play in mediating the chaos. Any feedback or tips? Send them to acanizales@politico.com. Let’s get to it: Before Jasmine Crockett became a U.S. representative in January, she had already had one taste of viral fame: She was one of at least 51 Texas House Democrats to flee the state for Washington, D.C., in July 2021 in order to break quorum and block Republicans from passing restrictive voting laws. Those lawmakers went viral for posting a selfie of themselves en route to the capital with a case of Miller Lite tucked into one of the seats on their bus. Now, as a U.S. representative, Crockett went viral again recently, and this time, she was the star. In September, a video of Crockett discrediting Republicans’ articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden at their first hearing into Biden’s alleged corruption had her trending on X and drawing praise from progressives. “When we start talking about things that look like evidence, they wanna act like they blind. They don’t know what this is,” she told House Republicans, holding up photos from Donald Trump’s indictment of classified documents stored in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago. “These are our national secrets, looks like in the s***ter to me.” The New Republic called it an “epic takedown.” The video was widely shared on TikTok, where users shared it with captions such as “jasmine crockett read them the filthy truth” and “this woman is a queen.” Many admirers seemed to like her authenticity, and in an interview this week, Crockett told me, “I am me in all rooms.” Whether or not there is a camera and regardless of who is present, Crockett says her values and actions do not change. I had a conversation with Crockett about that viral moment, being a newcomer in Congress, how Democrats can take advantage of the current disruption in the House and the way Black women are disproportionately expected to “fix” so many problems in politics. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Canizales: Videos of you refuting House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden recently went viral on social media. Being relatively new to Congress and already having gone viral several times, do you think that internet exposure is necessary to get things done or achieve recognition these days? Crockett: I don't think you need it. I think that you need to have effective communication skills, whatever that is. It's been interesting because I've been asked a couple of times about going viral and I'm like, there is no special sauce. Like I don’t really know. You know, I sit in agriculture and got darn it, I give good statements when I'm in agriculture, and not one of them will ever go viral. Canizales: As one of the more progressive members of Congress, are you feeling any kind of pressure to speak out or take a certain stance publicly on the Israel-Hamas war? Crockett: I’m gonna be clear. I am me in all rooms. The ones when the cameras are rolling, and the ones when the cameras aren’t. As a freshman class, a number of us went to Israel in August, and even in those closed-door meetings, I was still me. No one will pressure me to do anything from any side that I don't feel is right. And while I’m probably better known for my activism, not just in the courtroom, but also in the streets, I have better access now. When you become one of the 435 and recognize the power that exists in our words alone, it’s important that when I say something, people can trust what I say. I’m on the side of all people, that’s for sure. But I’m mostly on the side of right versus wrong. And just like I can weep for and mourn the Israelis that have lost their lives, I have every right to weep for any and every Palestinian, but I cannot point fingers when I don’t have the information. I did receive a text yesterday from someone — it’s quite annoying, but nevertheless — who was like “you should be saying something.” I don’t do what people want me to do because they think I should. I can’t be a sitting member of Congress, progressive or not, and go out and say things and not have the information that I need. Canizales: Do you think people look to Black and brown women politicians to “fix” America’s ills? Do you feel that yourself? Crockett: Yeah, it is the burden that we bear. Black women specifically have been saving this country for years. While we have to fight for a seat at the table, we usually have very few people fighting with us. But once we get here, we’ve got to take on everybody’s fight. I don't know that white men ever get treated that way. Something tells me that they don’t. So yes, they do always want us to be the saviors. But, you know, I’m okay with the fight that I signed up for. And I understand that it kind of comes with the territory. It’s not necessarily fair. I have a colleague who is Palestinian, who has family members that are stuck over there right now. There’s no reason that I should be the face of the fight in the first place. There are times when you have to understand that you need to stand in solidarity and have the people that have the experience be the ones leading the charge. I need people to just understand, know and trust that my moral compass has never been out of alignment. It has always been in check. If there’s a hard vote that is required in this circumstance, then I may have to take it. If there’s not, there’s not. I don’t see an aid package passing, though, that doesn’t include aid to the Palestinians. Canizales: Do you think House Democrats have a responsibility to put an end to the internal chaos around the speaker fight? Crockett: No. I don’t. Call me a hardliner. Because if we juxtapose this, and we flipped everything around, and Nancy Pelosi was struggling, no one, no one would even ask, “why are y’all not helping me?” But it’s always the default for the Dems to fix everything for the Republicans. Stop electing them if they need help from the people across the aisle, because they are not trying to get our help. The Texas House was psychotic, and it still is, in so many ways. But one of the very first lessons that you’re taught as a new member, period, is your word is your bond. It is an honor, an honor that they need to recognize that they have, when the American people decide that you will be the party in control. If you’re going to be the party in control, then freakin’ take control. That is what leadership is. And the fact that y’all can't find one among the pack of over 200 to lead is a whole problem. Canizales: Do you think Democrats are in a position to take advantage of the chaos in the House and win back the majority? Crockett: I pray we’ve already won this election. I pray that the American people do not forget anytime soon what they saw happen in January [2021]. But nevertheless, I absolutely believe that we will be in a better position. Number one, because there has been a reversal of some of the maps. We’re gonna take the House back. I think that moderates and independents alike are fed up with it, and while moderates and independents may not agree with everything that Democrats do, I think the one thing that has been made clear is that Democrats are ready to govern. And the one thing that has been made clear about Republicans is that they are unable to govern. 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