This is the New Yorker Radio Hour, a co-production of WNYC Studios and The New Yorker.

Welcome to The New Yorker Radio Hour. I'm David Remnick.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the most prominent progressives in Washington.

It all started with her shocking defeat of a longtime incumbent in a New York district that

includes parts of Queens and the Bronx. That was all back in the 2018 Democratic primary,

when Acacio Cortez was a strong advocate of the Green New Deal and Medicare for all.

Now, Accio Cortez is not alone among Democrats in those priorities, but as a member of the House,

she's stood out. Her questions during committee hearings often go viral, and she is a real master of

social media. And she's also a lightning rod for criticism from Fox News and other conservative

outlets to an almost frenzied and strange degree.

But with her parties, razor-thin majorities in Congress, now endangered, many of her priorities

seem out of reach. I spoke with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez earlier this month.

Much of the Biden administration's agenda in Congress has pretty much stalled, and there

are razor-thin majorities in the House and the Senate, and a term that began with at least

lofty FDR-like ambitions is now at a standstill. How would you rate the president's performance

after a year?

Well, you know, I think there are some things that are outside of the president's control,

and you simply can't, there's very little one can say about that, you know, with Joe Manchin

and Senator Cinema.

But, you know, I think there are some things within the president's control and his hesitancy around them have also contributed to a situation that, you know, isn't as optimal as it could be politically in terms of policy as well.

My concern is that we're getting a bit into analysis paralysis,

and we don't have much time.

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