Bernie Sanders Has Intense Moments During Interview
The interview started with the usual political theater—but it almost ended in a dramatic walkout. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was pressed about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) potentially joining him in the Senate, things got heated fast.
It happened on ABC’s This Week. Co-anchor Jonathan Karl asked what seemed like a logical follow-up: after all, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez had just appeared together at a rally in Denver. But when Karl posed the question—“Would you like to see her join you in the Senate?”—Sanders recoiled. His response was curt: “OK, Jonathan, thanks.” Then, with the cameras rolling, he got up and walked off.
The tension hung thick in the air. Karl scrambled to recover the moment. “Wait! I got one more — this is an important one,” he pleaded. But Sanders, clearly agitated, was off-camera, voicing his disapproval: “No, you want to do nonsense? Do nonsense.”
🚨Angry Bernie gets up and threatens to walk out of interview after ABC’s Karl asks him about AOC joining him in the Senate:
“You wanna do nonsense, do nonsense!” pic.twitter.com/lfTjgXMyAX
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) March 23, 2025
This wasn’t just a dodged question—it was a signal. Sanders didn’t want to wade into what he called “inside-the-Beltway stuff.” He redirected the focus to “32,000 people,” presumably constituents or perhaps those rallying around progressive causes, as he tried to pull the conversation away from speculation and political infighting.
Karl tried to justify the line of questioning by referencing their shared appearance at the Denver rally. That was fair—Sanders had, only moments earlier, praised Ocasio-Cortez, calling her “extraordinary” and saying she inspires young people. But talk of her possible Senate bid? Off-limits.
This friction points to larger rumblings within the Democratic Party. Discontent is mounting, especially after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) opted not to fight a GOP stopgap bill, leading to chatter about a potential primary challenge—perhaps from Ocasio-Cortez herself. Though she’s said nothing definitive, the silence is loud.
Sanders eventually returned to his seat, agreeing to continue once reassured that the next topic was about his future. He didn’t mince words when criticizing Senate Democrats, accusing them of failing working people even when they held power.
And when asked about former President Trump, Sanders offered rare credit for strong border measures and efforts to curb fentanyl—a notable shift from his typical rhetoric.