AOC dares Speaker Johnson to block Trump on cannabis rescheduling: "I don’t think that’s going to pass, though”

Who?Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)Ask a Pol asks:We’re hearing President Trump’s going to change cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III via executive order. Wondering why Biden didn’t move on this?Key AOC:“I’ve always been saying this from the beginning. It’s such a no-brainer, and I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exclusively tells Ask a Pol Drugs. “Of course I’m supportive of that move.”Subscribe for FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE already, fam!Caught our ear:“Speaker Johnson doesn’t have the pen on executive orders,” Ocasio-Cortez tells us.“So if he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I mean, that’s well within his power and his right. I don’t think that’s going to pass, though.”TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (12-12-2025)SCENE: Just off the floor of the US House of Representatives, a gaggle of congressional reporters huddle around AOC, firing away with questions ranging from skyrocketing health care premiums to the 2026 midterm elections.Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo slides in the back of his colleagues, waits and listens for a bit until the other journalists move on. Once AOC answers their last questions and her staffers start to move her towards an elevator, Laslo — who was (half)jokingly referred to as The Squad Correspondent at VICE News — slides in with an irresistible question for the Bronx progressive…Matt Laslo: “We’re hearing President [Donald] Trump is going to change cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III via executive order. How disappointed are you [fmr. President Joe] Biden didn’t move on this?”Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “I mean, I’ve always been saying this from the beginning. I’ve been saying that this is — it’s such a no-brainer. And I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race to whoever — I mean, it just feels, it’s inevitable. So, of course I’m supportive of that move.”ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, first sold this interview to sister cannabis outlet, Marijuana MomentLaslo: “And we’re also hearing Speaker [Mike] Johnson is opposing it.”AOC: “Yeah?”Laslo: “So…”AOC: “Well, Speaker Johnson doesn’t have the pen on executive orders.”Laslo: “Yeah?”AOC: “So if he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I mean, that’s well within his power and his right. I don’t think that’s going to pass, though.”Laslo: “Yeah? Right? Thank you, ma’am.”AI Disclosure:Ask a Pol‘s playing around with as many new AI tools as we can, so this small, unfunded startup can compete in today’s new media landscape.Tips welcome.100% anonymity This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.askapoldrugs.com/subscribe