Steve Inskeep

Just before we talk, the situation evolved a bit more. House Republicans approved a budget plan with hardly a vote to spare. Ocasio-Cortez joined every Democrat in voting no.

She focused especially on one large number, $880 billion. That's the amount of savings that Republicans propose to find, much of it likely from Medicaid, which provides health care for millions. When asked this week, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended those cuts.

She focused especially on one large number, $880 billion. That's the amount of savings that Republicans propose to find, much of it likely from Medicaid, which provides health care for millions. When asked this week, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended those cuts.

She focused especially on one large number, $880 billion. That's the amount of savings that Republicans propose to find, much of it likely from Medicaid, which provides health care for millions. When asked this week, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson defended those cuts.

And he told reporters at the Capitol that the change would not affect care.

And he told reporters at the Capitol that the change would not affect care.

And he told reporters at the Capitol that the change would not affect care.

In our conversation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez essentially did disagree, casting doubt that cutting waste could save so much.

In our conversation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez essentially did disagree, casting doubt that cutting waste could save so much.

In our conversation, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez essentially did disagree, casting doubt that cutting waste could save so much.

The erosion of Democratic Party support among working class voters has been pretty well documented. It seems to cross racial and other lines. It's real. And Democrats have talked a lot about what they maybe did wrong and the way that they spoke or the way they approached people or the way that they acted. But I want to flip that around a little bit.

The erosion of Democratic Party support among working class voters has been pretty well documented. It seems to cross racial and other lines. It's real. And Democrats have talked a lot about what they maybe did wrong and the way that they spoke or the way they approached people or the way that they acted. But I want to flip that around a little bit.

The erosion of Democratic Party support among working class voters has been pretty well documented. It seems to cross racial and other lines. It's real. And Democrats have talked a lot about what they maybe did wrong and the way that they spoke or the way they approached people or the way that they acted. But I want to flip that around a little bit.

What do you think President Trump has done right that has appealed to traditional Democratic constituencies?

What do you think President Trump has done right that has appealed to traditional Democratic constituencies?

What do you think President Trump has done right that has appealed to traditional Democratic constituencies?

No tax on tips.

No tax on tips.

No tax on tips.

Some of those promises are things that Democrats themselves would like, capping interest rates on credit cards, to give one example. Has there been some discussion among Democrats that, I mean, you're almost a little envious he's gotten ahead of you on some of these issues?