Jasmine Crockett Blasts AOC, Bernie Sanders for Self-Serving ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Tour: “Oh, It’s About Them”
In an unexpected escalation of progressive infighting, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has unleashed a blistering critique against fellow left-wing figures Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), calling their newly announced “Fighting Oligarchy” tour more about ego than activism.
The feud erupted on Monday after Crockett appeared on a local Texas radio show, where she was asked about the star-studded progressive speaking circuit set to launch this fall. Instead of offering the usual platitudes about unity, Crockett cut loose.
“Let’s be honest,” she said with audible exasperation. “This isn’t about the people. It’s about them. They’re selling tickets, selling books, selling a brand. And while they’re out there calling it a revolution, communities like mine are still waiting for basic results.”
Her remarks were quickly clipped and circulated on social media, triggering a storm among progressives. While Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have long been considered figureheads of the movement against corporate power and political corruption, Crockett suggested their tour was just the latest example of politics as performance art.
The Tour in Question
Announced last week, the Fighting Oligarchy tour is billed as a coast-to-coast effort to “mobilize grassroots energy against the billionaire class.” According to promotional materials, it will include large rallies, panel discussions, and special guest speakers in cities like New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles.
The event’s branding leans heavily on populist imagery, with posters featuring Sanders’ iconic scowl alongside Ocasio-Cortez’s call to “build a future that works for all of us.” Ticket prices range from $35 for general admission to $250 for VIP meet-and-greet access — a detail Crockett seized upon in her criticism.
“How are you fighting oligarchy while charging working families hundreds of dollars for access?” she asked rhetorically. “You’re not tearing down the system; you’re cashing in on it.”
Crockett’s Rising Profile
For observers of Capitol Hill, Crockett’s comments mark a bold but calculated move. The Texas congresswoman, known for her fiery exchanges in committee hearings and sharp soundbites online, has been steadily carving out her own lane in Democratic politics.
Unlike Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, who lean heavily on sweeping rhetoric, Crockett has positioned herself as a voice of kitchen-table pragmatism, often emphasizing bread-and-butter issues like infrastructure, policing reform, and affordable healthcare. Her criticism of the tour reflects frustration among some Democrats who feel that grandiose campaigns overshadow quieter, incremental progress.
“Jasmine is saying what a lot of folks are whispering,” said one Democratic strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There’s fatigue with the endless rallies and hashtags. Voters want results, not rock concerts.”
Reaction from the Progressive Wing
The backlash from progressives was swift. Social media accounts tied to left-wing activist groups slammed Crockett for “punching left” and accused her of jealousy. Some framed her comments as opportunistic, suggesting she was trying to curry favor with more centrist donors.
Meanwhile, AOC’s office released a short statement defending the tour:
“The ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour is about amplifying grassroots struggles across the country. Any suggestion otherwise is disingenuous. Our focus remains on the people and their fight against corporate greed.”
Bernie Sanders’ team was more subdued, simply noting that the senator has spent decades fighting for working families and won’t be “distracted by intraparty squabbles.”
A Deeper Divide?
Analysts say this clash is more than a one-off spat — it points to a growing generational and strategic divide within the progressive movement. While Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez remain enormously popular, their celebrity-driven approach has opened space for other voices to question whether it’s sustainable.
Crockett, younger than both by decades, embodies a new wave of Democrats who are less interested in symbolic crusades and more focused on measurable outcomes. Her critique — that the movement has become too much about its figureheads — resonates with voters who feel alienated by endless campaign cycles and fundraising spectacles.
“It’s a battle over authenticity,” explained political commentator Rachel Miles. “For years, Sanders and AOC have owned that narrative. Crockett is challenging them on their own turf by saying: if you’re really for the people, prove it in action, not in branding.”
What Comes Next
Despite the uproar, Crockett shows no sign of backing down. In a follow-up post on X, she doubled down:
“Progress means nothing if it’s just a hashtag and a book deal. My constituents can’t eat slogans. They want bills passed, prices down, and safer neighborhoods.”
Her defiance has sparked speculation about her political future. Some see her as angling for a larger national role, perhaps even as a challenger within the progressive wing. Others caution that taking on AOC and Sanders could backfire, given their massive grassroots followings.
Yet one thing is clear: the so-called “Fighting Oligarchy” tour now faces a counter-narrative. Instead of a seamless roadshow of progressive unity, it risks being overshadowed by an internal feud — one that pits icons against insurgents, and raises tough questions about whether the left can truly practice what it preaches.
Conclusion
The fight over the Fighting Oligarchy tour reveals the cracks in America’s progressive movement. For some, it is an inspiring call to arms. For others, like Jasmine Crockett, it is a self-serving spectacle.
As the tour prepares to kick off in New York next month, all eyes will be on whether the crowds come for the message — or whether Crockett’s critique resonates enough to change the conversation. Either way, the spotlight on progressive politics just got hotter.
