Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has discovered the perfect escape hatch for a decade of radical advocacy. It wasn’t wrong, you see. It was just a season of television. On ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, the New York congresswoman laughed off her own defund-the-police record and the abolish-everything rhetoric of her fellow socialists by borrowing a line from New York City Councilman Chi Ossé, telling host Jonathan Karl that “Woke 1 was crazy.”
Karl laughed right along with her, which tells you everything about how seriously the press intends to interrogate this rebrand.
The occasion for the joke was Wisconsin state Rep. Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist running in Tuesday’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. Hong spent 2020 and 2021 calling for the abolition of police and prisons, and she once argued in a since-deleted post that Thanksgiving should be canceled.
When CNN asked her about it last week, she fumbled through a non-answer. Two days later she told Politico that Thanksgiving is actually her favorite holiday. That is not a change of heart. That is a candidate who saw a poll.
Ocasio-Cortez was invited to say whether any of this went too far, and her answer deserves to be read carefully, because it is the template the entire left will use between now and November. The extreme positions, she explained, belonged to the lockdown era, a strange moment when everyone was rethinking everything.
“And I think that the doors were really open in trying to entertain any and every policy that was going to get us to a better place. And I actually think that the discussions that were had in that time were quite fruitful.”
Fruitful for whom? The cities that gutted their police budgets watched murder rates climb while the officers who remained fled for the suburbs. The residents of those neighborhoods, disproportionately the poor and working-class people AOC claims to champion, paid the price for those “fruitful” discussions.
Nobody who lived through the consequences remembers 2020’s policy experimentation as an open-minded seminar. They remember it as the year their leaders abandoned them to prove a point on Twitter.
Notice, too, what Ocasio-Cortez did not say. She did not say defunding the police was wrong. She did not say abolishing prisons was a bad idea. She said the rhetoric of that time “is not rhetoric that we would use today,” which is a statement about marketing, not conviction.
When Karl noted that the Democratic Socialists of America’s national program still reportedly lists abolishing the police among its goals, she retreated to a technicality, explaining that she belongs to the New York City chapter rather than the national organization and doesn’t endorse every plank.
This from the woman the DSA propelled to Congress, before the group reportedly yanked its endorsement in 2024 because she wasn’t sufficiently hostile to Israel. The radicals think she’s too moderate, and she wants the rest of us to believe she was never radical at all.
The whole performance rests on a bet, and the bet is that American voters have the memory of a goldfish. Call the old positions “Woke 1,” chuckle about it on a Sunday show, and pray nobody pulls the tape. But the tape exists.
The votes exist. The consequences are still visible in every city that took this movement at its word. A rebrand only works when the customer forgets the original product, and the original product is still on the shelf in Wisconsin, where Hong may be days away from a major-party nomination for governor.
Scripture warned about exactly this kind of shamelessness. “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall.”
The prophet Jeremiah understood that the danger is not the sin so much as the refusal to name it, and a movement that laughs at its own record has confessed nothing.
If Woke 1 was crazy, the honest follow-up is obvious. What made it crazy, who pushed it, and why should anyone trust the sequel from the same writers’ room? Jonathan Karl didn’t ask. Voters should.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
