Who?
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
LISTEN: Laslo & Omar
Ask a Pol asks:
Is The Squad on the ropes?
Key Omar:
“I think it’s the same. We’ve always had primaries. I think we’re in a great place. I think this is probably going to be a primary cycle where we all squash, I think, our challengers in a great way,” Omar exclusively told Ask a Pol. “I think our role is still the same, you know, defending democracy, fighting for the advancement of our country through policies like the Green New Deal, Homes-For-All, taking on big corporations. The agenda is still the same. Y’know, many of us have leadership roles within our caucus.”
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On Israel-Gaza policy shift:
“There has to be a real shift,” Omar told us. “If we say we are the party of the people, we have to start listening to the people.”
Caught our ear:
“We are gonna stand up to AIPAC. We’ve always stood up to them, and it’s not going to be any different this cycle,” Omar told Ask a Pol.
Go Deeper:
Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), slightly edited for clarity.
TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Ilhan Omar
Matt Laslo: “How are you, ma’am?”
Ilhan Omar: “Hey, how’re you?”
ML: “I’m miserable ‘cause I made bad choices 20 years ago when I decided to be a political reporter.”
Both laugh.
ML: “But that’s on me!”
IO: “It’s a fun time to be a political reporter.”
ML: “Something like that — no, not if you love America.”
IO: “Yeah.”
ML: “You see her disintegrating...”
IO: “Yes.”
ML: “…and you feel helpless. Is Squad on the ropes? Are you guys under attack? What do you make of these different primaries and all of this?”
IO: “I think it’s the same. We’ve always had primaries. I think we’re in a great place. I think this is probably going to be a primary cycle where we all squash, I think, our challengers in a great way.”
ML: “Yeah? Well, I’m curious, because you’re in the minority this year, your role has changed just ‘cause the role of the whole party has changed?”
IO: “Yeah.”
ML: “Or am I wrong there?”
IO: “No, I mean, I think our role is still the same, you know, defending democracy, fighting for the advancement of our country through policies like the Green New Deal, Homes-For-All, taking on big corporations. The agenda is still the same. Y’know, many of us have leadership roles within our caucus.”
ML: “Yeah?”
IO: “I serve as the Deputy Chair for the Progressive Caucus, which is a first. I'm also the new vice-ranking member of the Budget [Committee]. And the same goes for a lot of my other Squad colleagues. I think there are people who try to make it sound like we are not in a good position, but, you know, we have great fundraising numbers, we have the support and endorsement of all of the [Democratic] leadership. I think we're in a great place.”
ML: “But now, this thing with Israel, you’re starting to hear all these protests over Gaza, it sounds like the people in the party are with you all?”
IO: “Yes, 80% of my constituents support a ceasefire.”
They enter an elevator.
ML: “Does Biden and them need to wake up to that?”
IO: “Oh, of course. Of course. There has to be a real shift.”
ML: “Yeah.”
IO: “If we say we are the party of the people, we have to start listening to the people.”
ML: “Yeah? And you said you’d stand up to big corporations — does that include AIPAC, which seems to run this place?”
IO: “We are gonna stand up to AIPAC. We’ve always stood up to them, and it’s not going to be any different this cycle.”
ML: “Yeah, I’ll be watching. Preciate you, ma’am.”
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Omar says Biden must reverse Israel course: “If we say we are the party of the people, we have to start listening to the people"