It's going to be a very long summer. As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) clashes with fellow Democrats continue to capture headlines, tensions are heating up on the Hill.
Recently, Justice Democrats, a progressive political action committee, announced their intention to back primary challenges against centrist Democrats, and not everyone is thrilled. On Friday, one senior Democratic source reportedly told Fox News' Brooke Singman the effort would be futile. "No one is afraid of those nerds," the source said. "They don't have the ability to primary anyone."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The simmering tensions between career Democrats and new recruits also flared up earlier this week, when Pelosi reportedly addressed congressional Democrats in a closed-door meeting, instructing them to "not tweet," and urging her colleagues to bring concerns directly to her instead of airing grievances online. "You got a complaint? You come and talk to me about it," Pelosi told Democrats, reported Politico.
Her message was interpreted by some as aimed at Ocasio-Cortez and the rest of "the Squad," although Pelosi's office maintains her comments were directed at all Democrats. Ocasio-Cortez shot back at Pelosi, criticizing her for what she called the "explicit singling out of newly elected women of color".
The irony of the senior Democratic source's anonymity notwithstanding, the "nerds" comment left many scratching their heads, mostly because Ocasio-Cortez primaried and won against ten-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley, and Pressley won a similar upset victory against ten-term incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano.
-
The ‘ravenous’ demand for Cornish mineralsUnder the Radar Growing need for critical minerals to power tech has intensified ‘appetite’ for lithium, which could be a ‘huge boon’ for local economy
-
Why are election experts taking Trump’s midterm threats seriously?IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the president muses about polling place deployments and a centralized electoral system aimed at one-party control, lawmakers are taking this administration at its word
-
‘Restaurateurs have become millionaires’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
NIH director Bhattacharya tapped as acting CDC headSpeed Read Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of the CDC’s Covid-19 response, will now lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
