Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez push back on Schumer challenge talk at town hall

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took half in a CNN city corridor Wednesday the place the younger New York Metropolis consultant was requested whether or not Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., ought to fear a couple of main problem from her.

Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders rapidly returned to the query, elevating their voices as they criticized its premise and took purpose at Republicans.

“I imply, no, as a result of I do not suppose that is about something… That is what we’re speaking about!” Ocasio-Cortez exclaimed.

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Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders at a CNN city corridor on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. (Screenshot/CNN)

As Ocasio-Cortez started her response, Sanders interjected, saying, “Let me simply tackle this.”

“That is precisely what we’re speaking about…we’ve got a rustic that is falling aside!” he mentioned. “We had a housing disaster, a well being care disaster, an schooling disaster, large revenue and wealth inequality, corrupt marketing campaign funds, and the media mentioned, ‘Are you going to run? What are you going to run for?’ Nobody cares!”

In response to the senator’s declare that the media focuses extra on potential campaigns than nationwide points, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins identified that Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump have just lately puzzled whether or not Ocasio-Cortez may problem Schumer in 2026.

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Sanders argued that Vance and Trump are asking this query to “deflect consideration from the true points” earlier than laying out what he believes are an important points impacting Individuals immediately.

“We dwell within the richest nation within the historical past of the world, proper? Okay, inform me why we’re the one nation that does not assure well being take care of all individuals. The one nation that does not assure paid household and medical go away, why we’ve got a minimal wage of $7.25 an hour, why we’ve got 800,000 individuals sleeping on the streets,” Sanders mentioned.

Senator Bernie Sanders. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)

“Let’s speak about that challenge – not about her political future. She is going to resolve that,” Sanders mentioned.

This is not the primary time Ocasio-Cortez’s aspirations have been questioned throughout the Democratic Get together, amid intraparty infighting over Schumer’s dealing with of the continued authorities shutdown.

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Earlier this month, Ocasio-Cortez appeared on MSNBC to debate the shutdown, telling Republicans, “My workplace is open and you’re free to come back in and negotiate instantly with me,” prompting hypothesis from Republicans about who really leads the Democratic Get together.

Following the consultant’s feedback on MSNBC, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., bought right into a pointed trade with a reporter after being requested whether or not Republicans ought to negotiate with Ocasio-Cortez to finish the shutdown.

Consultant Nancy Pelosi speaks throughout a press convention in entrance of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on November 19, 2024 (Alex Wong/Getty Photographs)

“There was a thought amongst Republicans that AOC is directing this, and she or he mentioned senators are welcome to go on to her workplace. Is she the driving drive behind that coverage?” the reporter requested Pelosi.

“Why would you say one thing so ridiculous?” Pelosi fired again. “She’s nice, she’s an actual staff participant, and all the remainder of that. You began by saying that the Republicans say she’s directing this. She’s not, Hakeem Jeffries is.’

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