Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Dismisses Past Defund Police Support as Crazy

U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dismissed her previous support for defunding the police during an appearance on ABC's "This Week," describing the early era of woke culture, or "Woke 1," as "crazy." She attributed the radical rhetoric of the COVID-19 lockdown period to a wide opening of the Overton window that allowed for the exploration of various policies, noting that such language would not be used today.

During the interview, Ocasio-Cortez argued that voters should assess candidates based on their current stances rather than past rhetoric. This discussion occurred while addressing the candidacy of Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist running for Governor of Wisconsin who has also backtracked on views regarding the abolition of prisons. Ocasio-Cortez declined to endorse Hong, stating her primary focus is winning back the House and Senate.

Ocasio-Cortez further distinguished democratic socialism from communism by emphasizing a commitment to democracy and the ballot box. She clarified that while she is a member of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, she does not agree with all the national organization's positions, including the abolition of police.

The comments drew criticism from various circles. Conservative commentators and outlets like the New York Post suggested the interview was a form of "narrative hygiene" to sanitize her image for a potential 2028 presidential run. Meanwhile, some progressive critics characterized the shift as a betrayal of her base, while others viewed it as a change in communication style.