During the interview, Karl asked Ocasio-Cortez about Hong, a candidate supported by the Democratic Socialists of America who is running in Wisconsin’s primary. Karl noted previous statements by Hong regarding canceling Thanksgiving, as well as past positions supporting the abolition of prisons and police. But these races ultimately are local and all politics are local,” Ocasio-Cortez said. Ocasio-Cortez attributed the shift in rhetoric to the unique circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. I think that, you know, during lockdown, of course, rhetoric in that time is not rhetoric that we would use today.”