--- title: "AOC calls early progressive rhetoric 'crazy' in interview on Wisconsin candidate" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/aoc-calls-early-progressive-rhetoric-crazy-in-interview-on-wisconsin-candidate" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/aoc-calls-early-progressive-rhetoric-crazy-in-interview-on-wisconsin-candidate" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/aoc-calls-early-progressive-rhetoric-crazy-in-interview-on-wisconsin-candidate.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/aoc-calls-early-progressive-rhetoric-crazy-in-interview-on-wisconsin-candidate" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-10T17:46:23.220Z" source_reported: "2026-08-10T15:03:16.000Z" updated: "2026-08-10T17:46:23.220Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 87 hype_score: 55 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-10T19:30:19.198152+00:00" --- # AOC calls early progressive rhetoric 'crazy' in interview on Wisconsin candidate *Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez distanced herself from past defund-the-police positions while discussing Francesca Hong’s campaign* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Two independent full reports name AOC, Chi Ossé, and the ABC interview, giving 68 trust points. - Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Context explained, AOC quoted, facts separated, and clear writing raise critic score to 87. - Hype 55 of 100, lower is better. Right‑leaning digests use sensational headlines, but core facts are modest, resulting in 55 hype. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on ABC’s “This Week” that “Woke 1 was crazy”, quoting a phrase first used by New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé. - She was responding to questions about Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, who has faced criticism for past social media posts calling to abolish prisons and cancel Thanksgiving. - Ocasio-Cortez stated she has not endorsed any candidate in the Wisconsin race and is focused on winning back Congress. - Right-rated outlets led on Ocasio-Cortez’s remark and her past support for defunding police; left-rated outlets emphasised her defence of evolving positions. US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on 10 August 2026 that the first wave of progressive rhetoric, which she called “Woke 1”, was “crazy”. The remark came during a discussion about Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the state’s primary on 12 August 2026. Hong has faced criticism for past social media posts, including one calling for the abolition of prisons and another calling for the cancellation of Thanksgiving. Ocasio-Cortez was asked by co-host Jonathan Karl to comment on Hong’s positions. She responded by quoting New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé, who had written in a May 2026 social media post that “Woke 1 was crazyyyy”. Ocasio-Cortez said she had not endorsed any candidate in the Wisconsin race and was focused on “winning back the Congress”. She also stated that she is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter, not the national organisation, and does not agree with all of its positions. The national DSA has declined to endorse Hong. ## What the coverage left out No centre-rated outlet ran this story. None of the right-rated digests mentioned that Ocasio-Cortez stated she had not endorsed any candidate in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race. None of the left-rated reports quoted the national Democratic Socialists of America’s refusal to endorse Hong. ## Who covered it Shares of the 22 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 18% (4) - Centre: 0% (0) - Right: 82% (18) 0 of 22 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-10T19:30:19.198152+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-10T20:30:15.591Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The two left-rated reports, both full articles, led on Ocasio-Cortez’s defence of evolving positions during the COVID-19 pandemic. HuffPost’s headline read “AOC Admits 'Woke 1.0 Was Crazy' While Defending COVID-Era Culture Shift”. The article quoted Ocasio-Cortez saying, “I actually think that the discussions that were had in that time were quite fruitful,” and noted her refusal to endorse Hong while focusing on winning back Congress. - Mediaite’s digest, which summarised its own full report, led with Ocasio-Cortez’s remark that “Woke 1 was crazy” and described her distancing herself from Hong’s past positions. The digest noted that Ocasio-Cortez had joked about Hong’s call to abolish prisons and Thanksgiving but did not quote her directly on those points. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right - All ten right-rated digests led on Ocasio-Cortez’s remark that “Woke 1 was crazy” and her past support for defunding the police. WCHS, the only right-rated outlet with a full report, quoted Ocasio-Cortez saying, “I think that during this time and, especially during COVID, there was a huge opening of the Overton window,” and noted her dismissal of her past comments on defunding police. - The Daily Caller’s digest described Ocasio-Cortez as “memory-holing her own madness”. National Review’s digest asked, “Will the Woke Own Up to Their Lunacy?” Newsweek’s digest said Ocasio-Cortez had “distanced herself from some of the policies she once backed”. Spiked’s digest carried the headline “We can’t let AOC wash her hands of woke so easily”. The Post Millennial’s digest quoted Ocasio-Cortez’s remark about the “Overton window” and described her urging voters to focus on what Democrats are saying now rather than their past “anti-white hate”. - TrendingPolitics, ussanews.com, nytimespost.com and Fox News all led with Ocasio-Cortez’s remark that “Woke 1 was crazy”. ussanews.com’s digest said Ocasio-Cortez “wants you to forget that ‘Woke 1’ starred AOC”. nytimespost.com and Fox News both used the headline “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shrugs off past 'defund the police' comments, joking 'Woke 1 was crazy'”. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 3 - mixed: 9 - high: 9 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Epoch Times](https://theepochtimes.com/us/ocasio-cortez-says-she-does-not-support-all-planks-of-democratic-socialists-platform-6073166) — Ocasio-Cortez Says She Does Not Support All Planks of Democratic Socialists’ Platform - [WABC](https://wabcradio.com/2026/08/10/ocasio-cortez-distances-herself-from-defund-police-language) — Ocasio-Cortez Distances Herself From Defund Police Language - [CNN](https://cnn.com/2026/08/10/politics/aoc-woke-democrats) — Democrats like AOC are trying to shrug off their ‘woke’ era. That’s bad for our politics - [Emily in Your Phone](https://emilyinyourphone.substack.com/p/monday-outlook-primary-days-no-deals) — MONDAY OUTLOOK: Primary DAYS, No Deals in the wars and the End of Woke 1? - [The Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/10/woke-1-was-crazy-aoc-francesca-hong-wisconsin-abolish-the-police-memory-hole) — ‘Woke 1 Was Crazy’ AOC Says, Memory-Holing Her Own Madness - [National Review](https://nationalreview.com/2026/08/will-the-woke-own-up-to-their-lunacy) — Will the Woke Own Up to Their Lunacy? - [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/aoc-turns-on-woke-4-positions-she-has-walked-back-12303055) — AOC turns on woke: 4 positions she has walked back - [Spiked](https://spiked-online.com/2026/08/10/we-cant-let-aoc-wash-her-hands-of-woke-so-easily) — We can’t let AOC wash her hands of woke so easily - [Hot Air](https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/08/10/woke-one-was-crazy-n3817837) — 'Woke One Was Crazy' - [The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/article/214147/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-woke-1-comments-good-things) — Actually, AOC, Woke 1.0 Did a Lot of Good Things for This Country - [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/aoc-urges-voters-to-listen-to-what-dems-are-saying-now-not-their-overton-window-pushing-anti-white-hate-under-woke-1) — AOC urges voters to listen to what Dems are saying now—not their Overton window-pushing anti-white hate under ‘woke 1’ - [WCHS](https://wchstv.com/news/nation-world/aoc-dismisses-past-defunding-police-comments-woke-1-was-crazy-francesca-hong-wisconsin-dsa-nyc-covid) — AOC dismisses past defunding police comments: 'Woke 1 was crazy' - [The National Desk](https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/aoc-dismisses-past-defunding-police-comments-woke-1-was-crazy-francesca-hong-wisconsin-dsa-nyc-covid) — AOC dismisses past defunding police comments: 'Woke 1 was crazy' - [TrendingPolitics](https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/aoc-attempts-to-laugh-off-woke-era-in-eyebrow-raising-interview-woke-one-was-crazy-cmc) — AOC Attempts To Laugh Off 'Woke' Era In Eyebrow-Raising Interview: 'Woke One Was Crazy' - [ussanews.com](https://ussanews.com/2026/08/10/aoc-wants-you-to-forget-that-woke-1-starred-aoc) — AOC Wants You to Forget That “Woke 1” Starred AOC - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-woke-1-crazy_n_6a7903b5e4b0a6d70bb20503) — AOC Admits 'Woke 1.0 Was Crazy' While Defending COVID-Era Culture Shift - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-shrugs-off-past-defund-the-police-comments-joking-woke-1-was-crazy) — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shrugs off past 'defund the police' comments, joking 'Woke 1 was crazy' - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/media/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-shrugs-off-past-defund-police-comments-joking-woke-1-crazy) — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shrugs off past 'defund the police' comments, joking 'Woke 1 was crazy' - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/abcs-jonathan-karl-confronts-aoc-dsas-radical-platform) — ABC’s Jonathan Karl Confronts AOC with DSA’s Radical Platform: Abolish Police and Prisons, Amnesty for All Illegals… — AOC Says Americans Are Not Interested in These “Academic Debates” * The Gateway Pundit * by Jim Hᴏft - [NewsBusters](https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/jorge-bonilla/2026/08/09/abcs-jon-karl-sucks-kingmaker-aoc-tries-soften-dsas-hard-edges) — ABC’s Jon Karl Sucks Up to ‘Kingmaker’ AOC, Tries to Soften the DSA's Hard Edges - [mrc.org](https://mrc.org/abcs-jon-karl-sucks-kingmaker-aoc-tries-soften-dsas-hard-edges) — ABC’s Jon Karl Sucks Up to ‘Kingmaker’ AOC, Tries to Soften the DSA's Hard Edges - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/politics/woke-1-was-crazy-aoc-distances-herself-from-anti-thanksgiving-socialists-prior-stances) — ‘Woke 1 Was Crazy!’ AOC Distances Herself from Anti-Thanksgiving Socialist’s Prior Stances - [Twitchy](https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2026/08/09/woke-1-was-crazy-aoc-n2431108) — 'Woke 1 Was Crazy': AOC Tries to Memory-Hole Her Peak Defund-And-Abolish Era ## Questions **What did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez say about 'Woke 1'?** Ocasio-Cortez said on ABC’s “This Week” that “Woke 1 was crazy”, quoting a phrase first used by New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé. She made the remark while discussing Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong’s past social media posts calling to abolish prisons and cancel Thanksgiving. **Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorse Francesca Hong?** No. Ocasio-Cortez stated she has not endorsed any candidate in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race and is focused on winning back Congress. The national Democratic Socialists of America has also declined to endorse Hong. **Which outlets reported on Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks?** Twelve outlets ran the story: two left-rated (HuffPost and Mediaite), ten right-rated (including WCHS, The Daily Caller, National Review and Fox News). No centre-rated outlet covered it. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/aoc-calls-early-progressive-rhetoric-crazy-in-interview-on-wisconsin-candidate. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "AOC calls early progressive rhetoric 'crazy' in interview on Wisconsin candidate", https://mediabias.news/politics/aoc-calls-early-progressive-rhetoric-crazy-in-interview-on-wisconsin-candidate