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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “They're not even here.”

Featuring: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic | U.S. House, New York, District 14

Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown

Published October 16, 2025 | Video Starts at 44:10

They need to pick up the phone. And it's not hostage taking if they refuse to clock in. Right. We're all clocked in. We're all clocked in to do the job. They're not even here. They're not even here. And so it's not hostage taking as much as the fact is they refuse to show up and do the job. Once again, the law is in the senate. (44:10–44:12)

CLAIM

Asserts that [Republicans] are not present to do their job.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

“We do have to make sure that we come together as communities and that we also systemically expand our programming, like the snap cuts that…”
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“This administration was directing everyday federal workers to put in their email signatures partisan, partisan messaging that is likely in…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 32:21-32:35
“Rivers in rural areas were on fire because of corporations poisoning the people who lived in those areas.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 33:32-33:41
“Con Ed bills are set to go up almost another hundred dollars next year because of those cancellations.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 37:34-37:47
“Undocumented people cannot be covered by the ACA, they cannot be covered by Medicaid, they cannot be covered by Medicare.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 50:56-51:06
“A judge has put a temporary restraining order because it is likely illegal what [Russ Vogt] and the Trump administration is doing.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 01:54-02:03
“The only people who are not in Washington, D.C. are the over 200 elected Republicans in the House of Representatives because speaker of the…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 03:12-03:27
“He refuses to also seat Adelita Grijalva because they want to prevent the 218th signature on release of the Epstein files as well.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 03:26-03:35
“Mike Johnson has sworn in several members, Republican members, in pro forma sessions.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 03:46-03:51
“He refuses to seat a duly elected official here in the House of Representatives.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 04:21-04:27
“The speaker of the House and the Trump administration refuses to even have a negotiation.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 05:57-06:03
“A million federal workers are just going to go without [a paycheck].”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 06:23-06:27
“Republicans want to sign on to just a one little extra year of these ACA subsidies.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 11:00-11:07
“They want to extend these subsidies just a year extra so that people don't realize the dupe that they are pulling on everyone.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 11:11-11:22
“We need to make sure, and as a member of the party, we put negotiations in the hands of our party's leadership with Hakeem Jeffries.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 11:47-11:57
“What we will not accept is for these ACA premiums to skyrocket on the American people.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 13:55-14:02
“What we will not accept is the doubling of these premiums.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 14:01-14:06
“I think we need to see ink on paper. I think we need to see legislation, I think we need to see votes, and I think we need to see these…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 15:35-15:50
“I have a bill that I've introduced with Congresswoman Amalia Takis, Republican from New York, on expanding maternal health and reauthorizing…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 18:42-19:00
“Extending this shutdown would be a choice. Mike Johnson saying, we want to make this the longest shutdown. Saying this to prepare for this…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 19:53-20:04
“It's not good for the million federal workers that are out there right now.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 21:02-21:09
“It's not good for people who are traveling and can't get through an airport because TSA workers are not being paid.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 21:11-21:19
“Health care is a human right and that the minimum wage should be a living wage in this country.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 26:34-26:41
“Public colleges and universities should be tuition free.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 26:41-26:46
“No person in this country, in the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, should be too poor to live.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 26:46-26:51
“There is a fear over political retaliation by this administration and a singling out and isolating of career federal workers based on party…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 30:49-31:02
“We're seeing this as, as well at the fda, the cdc, the nih, where people's lives are literally on the line.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 31:31-31:44
“This administration is making a foolish mistake by saying that they think that investments in housing and in energy are so called Democrat…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 33:17-33:27
“They want to eliminate the fda.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 33:54-33:57
“It's a Democratic priority to bring down the cost of housing and mortgages and rent.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 34:09-34:15
“It's a Democratic priority to raise the minimum wage in this country.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 34:15-34:19
“In New York, this administration is targeting some infrastructure cancellations, including large-scale wind energy projects.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 37:03-37:26
“House Republicans have been on vacation.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 41:50-41:52
“Republicans in the House have been on vacation for weeks now.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 43:15-43:19
“We are here in Washington, D.C. we are ready to work.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 43:18-43:22
“We're not here to just Be my way and the highway about everything.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 43:23-43:28
“The Republican Party has decided to take a million federal workers hostage.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 43:34-43:38
“It's not hostage taking if they refuse to clock in.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 44:02-44:07
“Mike Johnson's been saying this, John Thune's been saying this.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 46:42-46:45
“We're sick of leaders who only want to spend their time talking about [political intrigue] instead of talking about real issues.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 47:06-47:14
“The emergency Medicaid program is providing health care to undocumented people. That too is...whole cloth storytelling.”
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“We have a federal law...that any person who walks into a hospital in desperate need of medical attention receives that medical attention.”
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“Republicans and Democrats both championed something known as PBM reform, pharmacy benefit manager reform.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 58:10-58:21
“President Trump, in fact, had endorsed [PBM reform] at the end of December.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 58:50-58:55
“Elon Musk sent a tweet. Donald Trump agreed with it. House Republicans agreed with it. Senate Republicans agreed with it.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 59:04-59:27
“There have been several ceasefire announcements and developments that have happened over the past two years.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:00:14-1:00:20
“The release of the hostages is a tremendous accomplishment and it is providing so much healing to so many people, Israelis and Palestinians.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:00:21-1:00:35
“I don't believe that there's been a history of fidelity to these [ceasefire] agreements.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:01:00-1:01:05
“President Trump was an obstacle to peace previously as well.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:01:20-1:01:27
“Gaza has been flattened, tens of thousands of people are dead, universities gone, hospitals eliminated with American made bombs.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:03:21-1:03:34
“The United States played a role in all of this defense destruction to begin with by enabling Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:04:04-1:04:14
“We cannot be transferring weapons to forces that are engaged in gross human rights violations.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:04:21-1:04:27
“President Biden did it. And I have absolutely said that to him in person as well.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:04:37-1:04:45
“President Trump has absolutely been part of this problem as well.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:04:51-1:04:56
“Democrats have primaries for a reason.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:06:35-1:06:39
“I believe in endorsing the nominee of the party after a primary has resolved itself.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:06:51-1:06:59
“I endorsed Bernie in 2020 when he ran against President Biden.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:07:16-1:07:22
“I do worry about the example itself deaths, when our leaders do not support the party nominee.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:07:34-1:07:42
“Trump believes that if you don't vote for him, he doesn't have to be your leader.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:11:20-1:11:27
“House Democrats also introduced legislation to make sure that [the military and a program that helps low-income women, moms, and babies] are…”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:12:33-1:12:37
“Congress passes bills actually every day, believe it or not, that are bipartisan in nature.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:14:44-1:14:51
“Last year I spent a lot of work doing preventing sexually exploited material generated by AI and protecting women and children.”
Rep. AOC and Senator Sanders Join CNN Town Hall to Discuss Republicans' Government Shutdown | Uploaded October 16, 2025 | 1:15:07-1:15:18