Shownotes Transcript
Rise and shine, fever dreamers. Look alive, my friends. I'm V Spear. And I'm Sammy Sage. And this is American Fever Dream presented by Betches News. Where we explore the absurdities and oddities of talking to Jasmine Crockett, which we are bringing you to in one second.
Today is the day. I didn't get to sit in on this one. So I am equally excited to hear Sammy's conversation with Jasmine Crockett. She is truly amazing. Like, wow, what a gem. She's a cool lady. What a gem. I remember meeting her when she first got in office and thinking like, wow, is she one, a snappy dresser. Two, she has so much presence.
and is so thoughtful and smart and cool and just like gets it. And I was like, yeah, I love this. But I'm excited to be an audience member today with the rest of the audience members. Yeah. I remember the first time I saw her on TV. It must've been like 2021. I was like,
Damn. Yeah, she's the thing. She's got it. Anyway, listen to her got it. Listen to her have it. I don't know what I'm talking about. Sorry. She's about to give it to you. Anyway, she's about to give it to you. Hello and welcome to American Fever Dream. I'm Sammy Sage. And right now I have the pleasure to be joined with someone who I would say is probably on everyone's list of the top five Democrats who are doing something right now. Representative Jasmine F. Crockett. And the F is really...
Your middle name. It really is. But when you say it that way, that's so funny. No one's ever done that. That was witty. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you should embrace that. I should. It really makes sense for the brand. I will. It really does. It could be like your alter ego. Yes. Like when you're at a DC. Yeah. Or when I'm in DC. Yes. When you're in DC, that's what really needs you.
You've made quite an impact, even in just the three years that you've been in office for? Yeah, I am at two years and one quarter down. Wow. So that is, I mean, and I think about, you know, and the time you've been there, Democrats are obviously going through this transition where, you know, are they going to fight or are they going to be, you know, J.B. Pritzker called out the Democrats are being too timid. And you from day one have been the farthest thing from it.
And, you know, I mean that in the best way. And what I guess, you know, have you always been like that? Like, have you always been someone who kind of walks into a space and like just can't help but have an impact? Like, what's your background? I don't know if I can't help but have an impact. But I will say that I have always been pretty bold and never been described as somebody that's shy.
And when I do something, I do it for more than, say, a title or some recognition. I do it because I believe it. And when you believe something, you go hard. Right. Like it's kind of like any time I've ever had an opportunity to talk to kids about what they're going to do in the future. And.
And to listen to kids talk about what their parents want them to do versus what like they're passionate about. I'm like, listen, just do like what moves you because you will do so much better. Right. And so that's kind of like been my motto forever. And so that's why you get what you get.
with me in elected office or even not in elected office. I mean, people that have had a chance to see me in the courtrooms know that like by the time I'm in trial, baby, it's on. Right. And I am all in and I've studied and I'm
passionate and I know which ways I can go and I miss the courtroom. But you know what? I can tell you for sure because a lot of people always wonder like, oh, were your parents political? No. I mean, they were like one of the things that I say a lot of times now is that there are those that are politically engaged, but we are all politically impacted. Right. And so I won't say that they were necessarily super hyper politically engaged, but they were always voters and that kind of stuff. But
They didn't see me as a politician, nor did I. I'm actually terrible at politics.
Honestly, I think maybe you're terrible at the politics that we maybe thought about it as it was in the 90s or the 2000s and the 2010s. But I think that we're seeing that that's actually quite expired of a way of thinking about it. That's a good way to describe it. But like politics in general, like working in a law firm, like I was just like, I can't do this. Like internal politics. I can't do that.
So then you're like, I'm going to go into real politics. Yeah, I guess. So you didn't always want to run for elected office. No, no, no, no, no, no. But my first race was the only one that I lost. And I was 28. And hopefully forever. I don't know. You know, I believe that everything happens for a reason. And it took me going through that experience for me to be able to be prepared for the next one. And I said I would never run for office again. So my very first race was,
I ran for district attorney at the tender age of 28. And it was in East Texas. Well, you're older than big balls. He's destroying the whole government. So absolutely. I think you could have handled it. Yeah, I could have. And I would have been a great prosecutor. But clearly, it's just not.
what God had in store, but going through the process, learning how to campaign, learning how to raise money, learning how to organize and pull people together. That is what I got out of that. And so 10 years later, because I said I was never doing it again. 10 years later is when I ran for office again and I was successful. I overcame being outspent five to one. I overcame being out endorsed. I mean, everybody endorsed against me. It felt like,
And I won. And here it was. I won the closest race in the entire state of Texas to get to the state house, only winning by 90 votes. And so I was a thank you lotty into the class. And soon thereafter, not even after a full term, here it was. I was being called up by my predecessor to run on the federal level.
How does your faith play into, you know, what you're doing in office or even your motivation to run? Because you said it happens for a reason. Well, first of all, you got to have a lot of faith. You got to have something. Yeah. Especially in these times. Well, not everyone. You got to have an ego. Ego or faith. But ego doesn't necessarily get you anywhere. It doesn't necessarily get you to the point that you...
Can make other people believe in your work. Because ego is about you. Right? I guess it depends what a good con artist you are. That's true too. That's true too.
But I think that and actually what he is, is he is a predator as far as I'm concerned. He has predatory kind of ways. He goes out and he taunts people and he bullies people and he makes people feel like they're
You know what? That's what it took for him to get his name on all the buildings. Like it took being this kind of he's a shrewd businessman is the way that people have characterized him. And I'm like, no, he's just a loser business man. And I don't know what kind of businesses he didn't ran successfully. You can be a businessman and be unsuccessful. And he is the poster child for it. I mean, we are on our seventh bankruptcy and it's the bankruptcy of the United States.
Who could have seen it coming? You know, I try to tell people, especially Democrats, not to beat up on themselves too bad. No, we're going to do that in a second. So, yeah. OK, OK. OK, I'll let you do the beating. Fine. But but I say that about my faith, it grounds me when I am trying to understand why I am going through certain things that.
I am encouraged to kind of just be still and to sit back and to watch and, and really wait on God to kind of like, show me like, this is why you had to go through this. Right. So I truly believe that the work that I'm doing is purposeful. Um, and again, it ain't nothing that I ever wanted to do. Um,
But I always tell people that it's been God that put me on this journey. Every step of the way, when I look back, it's always that 2020 vision when I'm like, now, why did I have to go to Texarkana of all places? Right. Like when I'm like when I'm going through all those, I can see like how it benefited me so much and where I am. And what's so funny is that I'm like, listen, you know, especially when I talk to kids, I'm like half my life has already passed me by.
The work that I'm doing is for you and your generations. And, you know, people look at me and think I'm young. So they just be like, she young. And I'm like, no, I'm not. I remember when I first Googled how old I was. I'm like, what? Yeah, I'm not. I'm not young. But in congressional years, congressional years, I am. You know, I.
I think we talk about age a lot and we talk about, you know, and especially within the party. And I think people talk about age as some sort of like proxy for what they really mean is like old school thinking. Yes. And like lack of originality. But Bernie Sanders is. Yes. Doing laps around the party. So. Yes. I keep telling people because I think there is a perception because I'm in the younger wing in a number of ways by being a newer member as well as a younger member. When we talk about my chronological age, I,
I think that there is this idea that there's like this kind of clash. And I remember when we were dealing with the issues that we had with the Senate and everything. I'm not going to recap that. But when the House Democrats did our part and the Senate Democrats didn't necessarily follow our lead, um,
Um, I remember doing a live and I did this live with Rosa DeLauro and Rosa DeLauro is like a G. I mean, she's like an OG, right? Like, and if you want to know anything about appropriation, she's going to tell you where every dollar and dime and cent has like been spent. Right. And she can teach you and educate you. And when we came in as freshmen, she took it upon herself as the ranking member of appropriations to sit us down as freshmen, to make sure that our districts didn't
did not lack because we were just getting there. And it's a very complicated and fast moving situation. And so like people were like, this isn't the collab that I knew that I needed. Right. And, and the thing is, it's like, no, Rosa has always been someone who was willing to teach and educate and
And she's always also been like one of those champions. It's like, hey, kiddo, get out there and get on social media and tell them this and that. And so she's great at that. And I remember during.
election season, I did this sit down interview and it was done by BET. It was envisioned by BET and it was like black women through the generations. But you saw myself representing the youngest generation of Congress. And then you had Maxine Waters representing the most seasoned generation. And then you had Joyce Beatty that was kind of squished between us. And so there's so many of these amazing champions here.
that I consistently talk to, learn from, and I am always encouraging younger members or newer members to tap into that because one day we won't have them to tap into. And there's always so much value. So I appreciate that the reality of my existence is
is really not one that is as clashy as the outward kind of worlds may think about me and my existence within the party. Now, I don't think people think that you clash with the party. I think I think I think you really your reputation is very much clashing with the other party. Like, oh, yeah. No. Yeah. Which people appreciate. I honestly think like. But I do know that.
Those that understand the inner workings and thoughts of like. Oh, they might think. The party, they know that. Well, you know, here's the thing. They know that there's things still. Look, representative, if they were doing such a great job, would we be here when they just had a trifecta? Some of those individuals? Yeah.
They had a trifecta under Joe Biden and they did not do some of the things that the party now in charge would have very easily had no problem doing clearly. And no comment. Fine, fine. Well, I do want to kind of talk about that because I was just speaking to someone who works in Democratic politics yesterday. And he was saying how like he doesn't think there are really any very few congresspeople who are.
who aren't just trying to get to a higher position of power. And I think, I mean, clearly the way you speak about it is an exception. I think you're very much in the present with what you're trying to achieve and not taking the future for granted. But I find it very annoying that it feels like
or many elected officials sort of seem to see the presidency as this like final boss job that they have to like get to that. It's like when you could be really effective and an amazing leader and, and really make things happen without ever attaining that office. So why is it that people are so like stuck? Like, do they not feel the sense of alarm that America, like Americans feel right now? I don't,
I don't know that that's the thing. I think that just like so many Americans are like, what do we do? I think that there definitely are a lot of members that have kind of got caught like flat footed, like, well, what do we do? Right. And then I also think that there are those that are such institutionalist and, and I don't, you know, hate on them for being that way. Right. But the thing is, if you're so much of an institutionalist that you really don't believe that it can fail, right.
then you fail to recognize the Roman empire. Yeah, exactly. Like, I mean, you fail, you fail to realize it. Right. And so I do think that there are those, it's almost like when you think about like certain deaths, right. That, that happened in your life and you're like,
And it doesn't hit you. Like one day later it hits you like, oh my gosh, they're gone. Right. Right. I think that we still do like, and so that's why, you know, I am curious to see kind of what will, you know, really like shake some people and make them be like, okay, the shit is over. The mob that came for them for years. And I wasn't, and I wasn't there. I know. I know. I know you said them and, and,
I mean, this isn't even just Democrats. The Republicans. Watching that was terrifying. Yeah. It was terrifying. So I can only begin to imagine experiencing that. And honestly, since I've been in Congress, I've had all kinds of interesting things happen. I'll just say that. Tell us. You know, I just, I'm saying as far as like encounters, so I can't imagine an entire mob of these kind of people. What are the Republicans so afraid of?
Why don't they just like get let themselves get kicked out of office and then go work on some donors board like they could literally be fine. Why do they keep doing this? You have to have some sort of a moral compass.
So none of them like I'm not going to say none of them, but a lot of them left. You saw all those exits. Yeah. During all of the chaos of the last session. Right. Yeah. And a lot of the exits came around the time of them trying to replace their speaker.
I remember. It wasn't, you know, because they try to act like, oh, political violence. It's the Democrats and it's the liberals. And it's like, actually, actually, actually, I mean, I'm not going to say that like a left leaning person cannot be violent because that would be like crazy to say that somebody can't be. But baby, baby, y'all got the white supremacists galore. OK, like all of them. You got the proud boys. You got you got the neo-Nazis. You have people that literally are
Should be classified as domestic terrorists because a lot of times that is what they are doing. They are engaging in domestic terrorism. And guess what? They all align with your side. Yeah. Including the KKK. So like, I mean, this is this is who aligns with that. So like inherently in like who you are.
Y'all are violent. Like y'all in most of your violence has to do with people that got a little bit of melanin. But nevertheless, like y'all are a violent group of like you attract violent actors. And like, I'm sorry, I know they try to make Black Lives Matter out to be the most violent. Oh, what about Black Lives Matter? No, no, no. So that's the thing. Like they try to pretend like that. And so we had members that resigned.
Because after they failed to vote for Jim Jordan as the speaker, there were people that got upset and they were texting threats to them and their wives. And, you know, one member, his landlord said, you got to get out. And it was the office for his district. Like they just were like, yo, this is and these were coming from your side.
from your side of the people right so like they're more afraid of their i feel like it used to be that they were afraid of like trump tweeting about them and now they're actually i think fearful of their own constituents they are fearful for different reasons but yes they fearful of the super far right flank and then they're also fearful of answering for doing all of the
crazy things that they're doing. So to the people that have a little bit of sense, right? Like they've got some people that are like, Hey, we're going to lose our farm. Can we talk about this? Right? Like they've got some people that are like seeking answers and they don't want to answer to them either. And then they don't want to lose their seats because there are people. And I'll say when you talked about egos, right?
That's where the egos come in, right? The people that say, no, I am the such and such. Like they believe that the seat belongs to them. And no matter where I am and what I'm talking about, I tell people the seat has always belonged to the people. I'm just occupying the seat right now. This ain't mine. It's the people's seat. And the people have every right to kick me out. I remember when I went through my situation. Yeah.
With Marjorie. And I guess there's been a couple, but you know, like, you know, the one. And I remember some some members being like, oh, yeah.
We don't, you know, we don't know what's going to happen. I mean, do you think that I was like, let me say something. If I got to come to work and be berated by this fool, I don't want this job. Do people not realize how this has made you like a household name? Like, like this is what I'm confused about. This was in the immediate aftermath. The immediate aftermath. This is what they were like saying and questioning. And I went home and,
And even before I could get home, the love was like pouring out. Like they were like, oh, thank God. And they were just like, yes, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But I can't really imagine showing up to work every day and saying, well, maybe I should just hold my tongue when someone is being blatantly disrespectful. And mind you, I did not violate any of the rules whatsoever.
Right. I think that that's like absent from a lot of people's like understanding the situation. Like her comment about like your about your eyelashes. There's very specific rules in those committees about like comments the way you speak to people. It's called engaging in personality. I love that. I'm going to use that outside of that. I'm not going to Congress. So, yeah, obviously. Yeah. She's engaging in personalities. Yeah. It's kind of baffling to me. How does everyone around you not see like
Oh, she just like did what everyone wanted from us. Like she stood up for us. And it's like in standing up for yourself...
there was something very powerful for everyone watching it. Like, I'm not going to like, let you like bring us here. And you were right. Obviously it would be very different if like you were the provocateur, but you weren't. Right. And like, it was really frustrating that like, Oh, you're just supposed to get hit and hit and hit and not, and be like, okay, sure. Keep going. Yeah. And that's what we've experienced within the party though. Yeah. And that is why I think there is this perception that Democrats are weak and
Because they just get hit, hit, hit, hit. And they're like, oh, but I'm going to show you what it's like to be congressional. Right. And it's like, baby, if you want to throw down, we can. We can. If you want to do what we're supposed to do, I can do that, too. Like I can rock either way. Right. But like, don't get it twisted and think that you're going to hit me and then I'm going to sit back and I'm still going to be on my congressional. No, I'm going to slap you back harder.
And then I'll get back on my congressional. And that is actually Donald Trump's philosophy of life. That if someone hits you, you hit them back harder. And I mean, the difference is that it's like he's not afraid to provoke. Yeah. But I do have a question about that committee. So oversight committee. Yes. The big question is who is going to be the ranking member on the Democrat side?
If you if you do end up getting the votes for that spot, what do you want to talk? What do you want to oversee first? I don't know about first, but I will tell you this first tier of. Well, it's everything for me, honestly. I mean, obviously, Doge is a really big thing when you talk.
to everyday working Americans. They are like, what is happening? He has dozed people out of their jobs to the extent that the United States has led in unemployment or firings, I should say, thus far this year, firing over 120,000 people. And we know that there are more people that technically are out
They have done their outs a little differently because they're civil servants and they have protections. We just went through a markup on yesterday and they decided that they want to write out in our reconciliation bill, which is about the budget. They want to write out civil service protections and instead make everyone at will schedule off.
That's basically what it is. Because I actually brought that up and I was like, oh, but y'all say y'all ain't know nothing about Project 2025. It's not exactly the same, but it is in an effort to push Schedule F, right? Because Schedule F is all about making sure that only loyalists exist, right? But when he went through these firings and I pointed out to them as well, I said, hmm.
Seems like y'all are kind of admitting that y'all know that y'all couldn't do this because why are you needing to change the law? Cause you know, it was unlawful. Right. So that's kind of what it is. And it's like, if you still want your civil service protection, then basically you have to take a pay cut. They're making them put more money into some of their benefits and that kind of stuff. So it's,
It's really trashy. And I'm like, I don't know who would want to work for the federal government. We've never paid people their due. Number one. And I'm saying it too for me. You don't get paid your worth. Right. I mean, we've got like leading scientists. It's thankless. Yeah, exactly. But like you do it because you believe in the mission. This is mission work. Right. And so like it's also used to be the most stable job you could have.
It used to be. Up until like three weeks ago. Yeah, it used to be. Now it's like, oh, ever since Trump came in because the last shutdowns we had were under Trump. Yeah.
The longest shutdown we ever had in the history of this country was under Trump. And so that's when the stability of being a federal government worker started to get shaky. And then that's when we started to see the attacks on federal government workers trying to act like they lazy. They don't do anything and they're worthless. And then to people that don't understand our budget, they think, oh, well, fired a bunch of people. We're saving a lot of money. No, we're not.
No, we're not. We're actually losing a lot of money. We're losing a lot of money. And that doesn't even count like the economic stimulus that will not be had for all. Correct. People don't realize how much of our GDP is actually government spending. They have no idea about. I mean, but like you just break it down in small chunks. You think about if those people are not working, say, in D.C.,
then what happens? There aren't just jobs for them to go to per se necessarily in D.C. They may have to move somewhere else. And so now- The housing market. The housing market. And when you start to talk about like the local grocery stores or when you're talking about the restaurants, like everything, everything is impacted, right? Yeah. Because we all, you know, I just did a speech at home this past weekend and it was to black people. So usually when I'm talking to black people, we always go to church.
So we got to have a little church. So there is a song that says, I need you to survive.
And I said, that is what people failed to realize when they went out and voted. And they were like, well, I don't like the trans person or I don't like the black person or I don't like the immigrant or I don't like, you know, the poor or whatever. But the reality is that we need each other to survive. That is the bottom line. And so that is what I talked about with them. But going back to oversight and what I would envision is.
It's a bold vision, if I'm being perfectly honest. Listen, besides the investigations that we can launch and, you know, some of that is going to be pretty limited because we are in the minority. But at a very minimum, as the ranker, we still can require this certain documentation be turned over to us. And so sending off and making those requests. And basically, if you don't give me what I asked for, I'm coming to your door. So FDA, yes.
I'm a need to understand how unsafe our food may be because of the random firings that you let this fool do who don't know nothing about nothing. You know, it was always an oopsie and yeah, there's going to be mistakes here and there and whatever, but these mistakes may cost people their lives, right? So now y'all just don't want to disclose and inform the public. So guess what I'm going to do to work for you. So with oversight, I'm going to require, or it would be my vision to require
that we get with the FDA, we send out, we request those reports. And as we're not getting that information, if we're not getting that information back in, then it's time for a field hearing. We need to pull up to FDA and have some people take some seats. Then we're gonna go and have a field hearing. And we can do shadow field hearings in the minority. So in addition to that, I don't want to...
to make people feel like Congress is just a DC thing because then it becomes so far away, so detached. I want to do some field shadow hearings as well and take oversight into rural America and really let them know and see the amazing talent that we have because it's a young committee and
It's mostly freshmen and sophomores. And they are ready and they are eager. And I know that they would love to go on the road and go into some of these communities and give an opportunity to see that, listen, the fights that we're waging, they're not just for our constituents.
but they're for you too so I want to do that I want to make sure you know every time we get out of a doge hearing you got your home girl this uh doing a gaggle I want to make sure that we are because it's great to do investigations it's great to do um you know to send off and get these documents it's great to even get our amazing team um on the committee our committee staff to do a report
But I got to tell somebody. I got to get out. I got to make sure we communicate. I got to make sure that we communicate in a way that people understand. And so I want to make sure that we are doing probably pressers pretty often. Definitely every time we get out of Doge subcommittee and on some of the more
you know, important or stupid. I don't know. Cause you know, we had to deal with, you know, them trying to get rid of big bird. So, you know, I don't know. I don't know if I call a full press conference for that or not, but it is important, but it's stupid at the same time what they doing. So like, but I want to do that and I want to elevate the education that,
in this country and be able to answer questions from the press about what they've seen because most reporters are intelligent enough to understand and digest kind of what's going on. And when you're in committee, some of it is like, okay, we got to do clips so that people can get it. We got five minutes, but I really think that the way that we win going forward is education because we lost because of disinformation.
I really think you're right about the education piece, because especially as the minority party, you really can't.
do much in terms of the legislation. But what you can do is put on a performance. And what you're talking about, the shadow field hearings, I remember right after Trump was elected or right after he came into office, I think it was Timothy Snyder who was talking about that they should try to, the Democrats should try to create like a shadow cabinet and then be like really disciplined about messaging. And I think that what Trump unfortunately has succeeded at is that he is good at like making a spectacle.
Going to work at McDonald's, you know, the driving the truck, like, because...
because Biden called his people garbage. I forgot that it was. So, you know, you like, I think that we need to do that. And it's not about like making it a spectacle for like to be kind of like trolling people. It's just like bringing attention to things that people actually care about. And I think that that is what is like really lacking. And I think that's what you do really well.
And honestly, would you ever consider producing the oversight committee as like a show? I don't know if I would produce it as a show. It is a show though. I'll be the EP. Lord knows. I'll package it into good stuff. It is a show. And I think that,
as a litigator, we're always taught, you know, as you're going through a trial, especially if it's going to be days and days long, that you should have a theme. So it's really important. And we really are a pretty tight knit group to make sure that we like come up with a theme for like the hearing, like this is going to be the, like everybody hit on this one thing and do those things because that's what makes things memorable. And, you know, I've got to say, you know, I don't know when, um,
you know, Jerry will step down if he will step down. And I can just say that I'm completely grateful for his service. And it's such an honor to serve as his vice ranker on that committee and
You know, I think that the question became because it is such an integral and important committee, especially with this administration. Once he announced that he wasn't going to seek reelection, it was like, OK, because, you know, that there's going to be a vacancy. Right. Like, you know, that like definitely next term, like Jerry isn't going to be in the seat because Jerry is not seeking reelection. Right.
But whether or not, you know, he comes back into the chamber and he resumes or whether he ends up, you know, resigning in the middle of this term, we don't know. And so whenever the time comes, though, I don't want it to be mistaken that I'm not interested. I don't want it to be mistaken that I don't feel comfortable or excited or invigorated.
to be able to really go toe to toe. And as I told somebody the other day, I'm like, now listen, y'all know Trump would be so happy if it's me on the other side.
And so but no, it's there's there's lots to do, you know, as working as a former public defender. One of the things that I remember is they did not have like a federal pretrial facility in East Texas in the town that I was in. And so they contracted with our local jail. So when we started having overcrowding issues that threatened their contract with the federal government. And so you have certain jail standards you're going to have to like live up to.
And so I'm like, so are we checking on the jail standards down in El Salvador? Because if we giving them money. Right. And so these are things that we can do. We can require that they give us reports and like we can expose that they're not giving us those reports. And I want pictures. I want all the things. Don't have me sitting up here trying to get Comer to allow us to fly down every other day. No, but we do this regularly.
all the time with jails that are housing people here. Right. If this, and that ain't even supposed to be a jail. Also, Bukele is like, this is, he wanted proof that these were actually convicted or actually like dangerous criminals or that they were, but I think he said he wanted proof that they're actually members of Trend Air Agua or he doesn't want to take them. And the crazy thing is that the guy who calls himself the world's
best world, best dictator, coolest dictator. That guy has better human rights standards for due process than America. Yeah. It's called, we're living in the upside down, but you're absolutely right. And so, but those are some of the things, if you think it, you know, I, I have a ton of aviation in my district. Um,
Southwest Airlines is based in my district. JSX Airlines is based in my district. American Airlines is right up the street. And so when I think about all these planes and it just seems like there's so many more planes that are going down, like I want to do oversight and I want to figure out what is happening at FAA. Is this because of all the people that you have fired? Like, what are y'all missing? Like, I want to hear the stories. It happens so
quickly. Yeah, no, it did. And I want, and I want reports. I want to know, just like we know that Trump so far has spent $220 billion more at this point in, uh, and in, in 2025, then Joe Biden has spent $220
at this point in 2024. I want the reports. I want to know by this time in 2024, tell me how many fatal accidents we had with plank. Like we don't like, they don't want to produce this data. This is data that people know. So that when they're making decisions, even if you say, when you go to the ballot box, I don't like those gays or I don't like those gays.
I don't like those immigrants. You say, but I do want to be safe. So I'm going to just have to vote the other way. Right. Like I want to give them something to vote for. And I think that there's been this, this hunger for people because they're like, well, you know, for the most part, the Democrats are like vote for me because I'm not them. Yes. There's no, there's no pull. There's no message. And I also think that I think some of the like leadership in the party actually really underestimates how people,
how much distrust there is that goes beyond Biden. Like Biden was a final straw thing for people. But I really think that like the distrust goes back to 08 when they thought they were getting all this change with Obama and they kind of just got more corporate bailouts and, and,
And look, the economy recovered. But so many of these people who became Trump voters that were Obama voters are the ones who felt like they got screwed by that. Yeah. And I think there's this I think there's a lack of appreciation in D.C. in particular for how screwed people feel they were. And I don't know how to like how do you get that across to some people who are like living in this like true bubble? Yeah.
it's tough because for the most part, it's like, well, we need to change our policy. I'm like, ain't nobody reading all that policy. The people you listen, the people that are voting based on policy, they know what they're doing. They, they, they, right. Exactly. I'm like you, you know, trying to get people to, you said that exactly. You said the key word. It's about trust.
And building a rapport. That means you show up more than when you need something from them. You show up when you don't need anything from them. You show up and you give them the education. That is why I see power in doing things such as the shadow field hearings. Right. Because you're going to show up. I remember just this week I was with cotton farmers. I was on the ad committee last term and there was a gentleman. He said, I remember you in Waco, Texas.
because we had a farm bill listing session in Waco. So I was like, well, that's right down the street. I'm going. And everybody was like, and that's not your district. It ain't. Yeah. And they were looking, they were like, you want to wake up, you know, this. Oh, wow. You're going, you're going somewhere. I mean, now that's cult territory. That's the real, you know, but anyway, so literally I went, I was like the only black woman in the rooms and the only Democrat for the most part. Right. Right.
But like being there, my presence and them hearing my understanding and my compassion, it made people be like,
No, she's in. So literally, like when the Texas Farm Bureau brings, you know, their lobby groups through, they always make sure they stop through to talk to me of all people because I'm just be a straight shooter. Yeah, I'm not going to sugarcoat nothing. And they'll say things like we don't necessarily agree on all the policy, but like.
We appreciate you because we know that you are fighting for America. We know that you really believe what you're doing and people can respect that even if they disagree with you. And so I think that's why like Trump and MAGA is so threatened by me because my communication, it doesn't just get through to those on our side.
It gets through to independents. It gets through to Republicans. I was just on my flight here and there was a gentleman sitting next to me. They're probably all wanting to talk to you. That happened to I had bitches. But but he actually is from Scotland. Really? And he was like.
You're from Texas. And I was like, yeah. So I was like thinking, oh, you know, you're like an immigrant, like from Scotland. Like, yeah. Oh, he was just a tourist. No, he was here for like his friends, like wedding. Wow. Literally lives in Scotland, but he's like, I watch you on YouTube. Wow. And I think you're great. And I think you're, and it's like,
That type of impact. Yeah. That is what makes them make up lies about me and come up with all these bootleg websites and videos and talking about the husband I ain't never had and talk about these children I ain't never had and all the mansions that I'm hoping to get one day, but I don't have. And, you know, like that's what makes them. And it's so funny because I'm like,
what would be so bad if I like had a mansion? Correct. Or three, because that's their claim. Like, you don't have a problem with the other people that got. Yeah. I seem to know a president who has a funeral. Right. So why y'all got a problem with me? It is like the worst thing. It's like, lock her up because she's got mansions. I'm like, wait a minute. Then it's like, you know, she cosplays as a gangsta. And it's like, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I ain't never called myself a gangster. And
I don't have the mansion. And there, and yeah, right. Exactly. There's no mansion. Yeah. And so they're like, but she went to private school. I'm like, okay. And so they're like, she's an elitist. Aren't they into private schools? I thought they love private schools. Public schools. Hello school vouchers. Hello school vouchers. So you should like me more. Honestly, you are doing more for the democratic brand than me.
I don't know, 200 plus members combined, truly. And I think that every time you say something and you stand up for yourself or you stand up for anybody, I think what people are seeing is like, oh, that's a shine on the Democrats. Like, oh, she's a Democrat, she's fighting. And I think that's just what people want to see. Like, I think that, I wish you could do some sort of like stem cell transplant to your colleagues, right?
grow the little piece of the spine. I will say that I think that, you know, I, first of all, I have to say the people that have shown love, whether it's with your prayers, whether it's with, you know, you fighting back in the comments on social media or sending, you know, your donations, it makes a difference. I mean, to know that Al Green had a record Q1 in,
And to know that Chris Murphy had a record Q1, to know that Bernie had a record Q1, to know that AOC had a record Q1, to know that I had a record Q1. It's since a message. Well, the thing is, it's not a cap. The party's a little anti-capitalist these days, so they don't they're not going to just try it. They're not going to try to work for the donations. It's just not that. I mean, that's what confuses me. It's like they see that.
And they're not like, I could do that. Like, just pick one thing. But that is the thing. But that is the thing because like, it's kind of like this situation with Marjorie, right? Like they were like, ooh, like don't know about that, right? They have to wait to get their poles back. But then once you see like,
because everything in D.C. is money. Once you see money... It's really a problem. Once you see... Please end on that. You know, my re-election numbers, I have the best re-election numbers of any challenged incumbent in the state of Texas for Congress, Democrat or Republican. So once you see that, it makes some of the people say...
Well, maybe I can relax a little bit, right? Like maybe I can bring out my more human side. Maybe it is okay that I'm not a robot even when I'm sitting in, you know, a committee room and someone is being insulting. Maybe it is okay for me to kind of do it in a more witty way, right? Like maybe I can. I don't think that everybody is going to end up acting just like me. But I do think that the level of authenticity that we start to see is
I feel like I'm starting to see some of that come out where the people that I know when they're not cameras on them, that I'm starting to see them even when the cameras are on. And I think that it does say a lot when we do get the grassroots support, because then it says, OK, the party is with, you know, no poll will.
is better than people actually putting their money down. Like there is no poll better. Yeah, but I think it should, look, I mean, you can't tell everyone what to say. Not everyone can do what you're gonna do the way you do it. But I think it should tell people, like I might as, you know, pick a story. You have probably thousands of constituents calling you about various ways that their lives are affected. Pick one story and make that a thing. Do you do your alliterations off the top of your head? No. You think of them in advance? Kind of.
Well, they're never in advance advance. Okay. They are more so in the moment, but I write them. Okay. So it's not flying out of your mouth the first time you say it, but it's like coming to you. Yes. I love that. Yes. Do some more. No. Thank you so much, Representative. You are just truly a light. Thank you. And thanks for what y'all do. We've got so many assholes online and it's always so fun to see
What ends up being posted by y'all. So, you know, as as a collective, you know, taking it from just being, you know, on I.G., but making sure that you're doing the podcast, like making sure that you are doing comms all over and you're doing it.
For good, right? You're doing it for truth. And that really matters, especially now more than ever. So I just applaud you and honestly, the entire team. Thank you. Thank you. It is all you, all you guys.
And thank you. All right. That is American Fever Dream. I feel she giveth. We promised you she'd give it to you. And I feel like she giveth. She served, she slayed. She gave it. It's giving, as the kids say. Exactly. She did it. We hope you enjoyed that. We're big fans of Jasmine Crockett here. And we will see you next time. Next time. Until next time, I'm V Spear. I'm Sammy Sage. And this is American Fever Dream. Good night. Betches.