Warren calls online attacks from Sanders' supporters 'a real problem'


Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) made it clear on Thursday night that she believes political candidates must take responsibility for "people who claim to be our supporters," especially when they say "threatening, ugly, dangerous things."
During an interview with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, Warren's first since announcing her exit from the 2020 presidential race, she was asked about Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) supporters tweeting derogatory messages and snake emojis at her and her backers. "It's not just about me," Warren responded. "I think that's a real problem with this online bullying and sort of organized nastiness."
Warren said she talked to Sanders about the matter, and it was a "short" conversation. Maddow asked if Sanders shares her "view that he's responsible for the behavior of his supporters," and Warren replied, "I shouldn't speak for him. It's something he should speak for himself on." Sanders appeared on Maddow's show Wednesday night, and said there's no need for "ugly personal attacks against Sen. Warren, or anyone else for that matter."
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.
In politics, people do pick sides and will disagree on policy, but "what underlies that is a fundamental human decency and respect for each other," Warren said. She decried those who threaten others and their families, and said Democrats cannot "follow that same kind of politics of division that Donald Trump follows. He draws strength from tearing people apart, from demonizing people. ... It's not who I want to be as a Democrat. It's not who I want to be as an American."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Can US tourism survive Trump's policies?
Today's Big Question The tourist economy is 'heading in the wrong direction'
-
September's books tell of friendship in middle age, teachers versus fascists, and Covid psychosis
the week recommends September books include Angela Flournoy's 'The Wilderness,' Randi Weingarten's 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers' and Patricia Lockwood's 'Will There Ever Be Another You'
-
'Total rat eradication in New York has been deemed impossible'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer