Our live coverage of CNN’s town hall has ended. Read the takeaways here.
Catch up on tonight's CNN analysis of the town hall
The town hall featuring Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has just wrapped up.
You can read the analysis of the 90-minute-long event below.
Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges the polarization in the country and suggests focusing on commonalities
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged during tonight’s CNN town hall that no one likes “the degree of political polarization that we’re all experiencing.”
“It’s not good for our country,” she told a member of the audience who asked about the finger-pointing going on in Congress.
She offered a solution: focusing on commonalities.
She went on to note the bipartisan bills passed in Congress, saying that the country needs to focus more on working together.
“We never hear about the actual common ground that we have and the successes that we have in that,” the lawmaker said.
"What's not to like?" Sanders praises New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders questioned Democratic leaders that have been reluctant to endorse Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate in the New York City mayoral race.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez expressed concern about the precedent that party leaders set by withholding their endorsement, pointing to the next presidential primary in 2028.
“I do worry about the example it sets when our leaders do not support the party nominee, because in the future, we will need folks to rally behind the presidential nominee,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said.
“And if that nominee is more moderate, or if that nominee is more progressive, and we’re setting the precedent of not endorsing the nominee unless we agree with them, I worry about what, what example that that sets,” she added.
Ocasio-Cortez calls hostage release "a tremendous accomplishment" and says she hopes Gaza ceasefire will last
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said President Donald Trump deserves some credit for returning the Israeli hostages, but questioned the permanence of the Gaza ceasefire that made the hostage release possible.
“There’s already indications and questions about whether this ceasefire will hold and I pray that it does for everyone’s benefit,” she told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
She went on to say that Trump was previously “an obstacle to peace.”
The progressive Democratic lawmaker acknowledged that the hostage release “is a tremendous accomplishment.”
Democrats should not accept 1-year extension of health care subsidies, Ocasio-Cortez says
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that Democrats should not accept a one-year extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, and instead press for a permanent extension as a concession from Republicans for ending the shutdown.
“Let me tell you why it’s laughable, because it’s cynical,” the Democratic congresswoman from New York said, agreeing with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ characterization of the proposal for a one-year extension.
Some background: At the center of the shutdown conflict are the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsides that help Americans pay their monthly premiums. Those enhanced subsidies helped propel Obamacare to record enrollment levels.
But the beefed-up subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. And Democrats stress that time is of the essence as they seek to use the shutdown as leverage for an extension. Open enrollment begins November 1 in all states but Idaho (where it starts October 15). Consumers will be able to start viewing the 2026 premiums this month, and many could be deterred from signing up by the much bigger price tags.
“I will not accept a measly one-year extension of the ACA,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that Democrats have to make sure that they are “not falling for the politics around this.”
Ocasio-Cortez says she does not think Schumer is supporting shutdown to prevent a primary challenge
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she does not believe House Speaker Mike Johnson’s recent claim that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is supporting the government shutdown to prevent a primary challenge from his left wing.
“It’s such an insane suggestion and in fact, it speaks to how desperate they are,” Ocasio-Cortez told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins tonight.
She accused Republicans of repeating this claim “because they are refusing to do their job.”
“They’re grasping for straws,” Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that “we’re sick of it.”
White House mocks "Crazy Bernie" at CNN town hall
The White House communications team is posting its reaction to the CNN town hall tonight. It shared a clip of Sen. Bernie Sanders at the town hall, mocking his criticism of their media strategy.
In the clip that was shared, Sen. Sanders responded to an audience member who asked about the effectiveness of Republicans’ messaging tactics on social media, and what Democrats can do to catch up.
“I think the Republicans are effective. They have learned a lot about social media. And by the way, it doesn’t hurt that their friends own all of the major social media platforms,” Sanders said, calling out tech billionaires such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
Ocasio-Cortez rips GOP negotiating tactics: "They need to pick up a phone"
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized negotiations to end the government shutdown, saying that Republicans “need to pick up a phone.”
“They need to pick up a phone, Katilan. They need to pick up a phone,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a CNN town hall on Wednesday, dismissing Speaker Mike Johnson’s argument that Democrats must accept a clean continuing resolution passed by House Republicans last month.
Ocasio-Cortez mocked House Republicans, saying:
And she argued that Republican leaders would have to come to the table to negotiate with Democrats to end the shutdown.
“If Trump wins this fight, our health care system could well collapse," Sanders warns
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said that lawmakers will “do everything that we can to bring an end to this terrible shutdown,” but warned about the risks involved in passing a government funding bill without negotiating on health care subsidies.
When asked if he thinks the president could come out on top, he said “no, we’re going to win it.”
But he said he doesn’t want to approach the conversation as “a political fight.”
“We’re going to win it because the American people are on our side,” Sanders said.
Ocasio-Cortez accuses Republicans of spreading discrimination online
Republicans have been successful in their messaging because they have been “very clear, especially digitally, about what they believe,” Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, accusing the GOP of spreading hate and discrimination.
She alleged the Republicans believe “that women are inferior, and they do not deserve equal rights, that they believe that LGBTQ Americans are subhuman, that they believe and are circulating disgusting racial and White supremacist messaging,” she said during a CNN town hall.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked about working with GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: "On what?"
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed skepticism when asked if she would consider working out a health care deal with GOP Rep. Marjorie Talyor Greene, who has shared concern about the expiration of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
“Is she someone that you could see yourself working with?” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked during the town hall.
“On what?” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez remarked, laughing.
The New York Democrat went on to question the Georgia congresswoman’s commitment to the issue, but opened the door to some collaboration.
“If she actually wants to support legislation, and expanding health care, I’ve worked with plenty of Republicans as well on health care,” she noted, referring to a bill she introduced with GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis on expanding maternal health. “And so in terms of bipartisan legislation on health care, I’m more than open to doing that. But it’s not just about talking the talk. We got to walk the walk.”
Democrats need health care legislation signed by Trump to reopen the government, Ocasio-Cortez says
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she needs to see “ink on paper” and a signature from President Donald Trump before believing the GOP on extending health care subsidies.
“I think we need to see legislation,” she said during tonight’s CNN town hall. “I think we need to see votes, and I think we need to see these things pass on the floor of the House and the Senate, and signed by President Trump.”
Sen. Sanders says no to reopening the government before negotiation
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said he isn’t buying a proposal from some Republicans who have suggested reopening the government first before negotiating on health care issues.
“No. Based on their history, they have had months and months. This is not a new thing,” Sanders told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins at tonight’s town hall. “Ever since Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ was passed, we knew this was happening.”
The senator went on to accuse the GOP of refusing to negotiate.
“And anyone [who] thinks that tomorrow they’ll suddenly start negotiating, I think, is smoking what is illegal in many states,” he quipped to a few laughs from the audience.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez criticizes Speaker Johnson for delaying Rep.-elect Grijalva's swearing-in
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed House Speaker Mike Johnson for delaying a ceremony to swear-in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, the newest elected member of the House.
Asked by host Kaitlan Collins’ about Johnson’s explanation that he wants to afford Rep.-elect Grijalva a formal ceremony, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez scoffed.
More context: Speaker Johnson has said he is not planning to allow Democrats’ newest congresswoman-elect to be sworn-in until her party agrees to end the government shutdown, despite telling CNN earlier that he would swear her in “as soon as she wants.”
The move amounts to an extraordinary power play to deny a sitting member a seat. Grijalva is expected to provide the final signature needed on a petition to force a full House vote on releasing further materials in the Epstein case, but Johnson has insisted the delay in her swearing-in is not related to that issue.
Sen. Sanders says he doesn't think the government shutdown will be the longest in US history
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said he does not think the current government shutdown will break records as the longest in history, as suggested by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“I think the Republicans are catching on that you can’t throw 15 million Americans off of the health care they have,” Sen. Sanders told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins tonight during a town hall.
“Republicans are catching on. They’re playing a losing hand. They are going to come to the table finally and address the health care crisis that they’ve created,” he added.
NOW: CNN's town hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has started
We’re now watching a CNN town hall with progressive lawmakers, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
They will field questions from audience members who have been directly impacted by the shutdown.
Where to watch: The town hall is streaming live for Pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV, and mobile apps. The town hall will also be available On Demand beginning October 16 to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps, and Cable Operator Platforms.
How Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez primed the Democratic Party for a shutdown fight
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, perhaps the two most high-profile voices in the progressive movement, have mobilized their supporters to keep up the pressure on Democratic leaders.
It was, in part, because of that highly visible groundswell from the left that led Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to change course this September and jump with both feet into the current shutdown fight.
In one private strategy session in September on the shutdown, one Democratic member, Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, specifically cited his party’s animated left wing as a reason to hold the line on health care even if it meant a shutdown.
Read more here about how Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez primed the party for a shutdown fight.
How to watch the CNN town hall with Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tonight
Progressive lawmakers Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will take questions tonight at 9 p.m. ET from a live audience at a CNN town hall.
The event will be moderated by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins from Washington, DC, as the government shutdown is in its second week.
The audience will be comprised of Democrats, Republicans, independents and those who have been directly impacted by the shutdown. CNN extended an invitation to Republican leaders to join for a town hall as well and the invitation stands, the network said.
Here’s how to watch:
- The town hall will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps.
- It will also be available on demand beginning October 16 to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN apps and cable operator platforms.
Trump mandates federal employee hiring should align with his priorities as he extends freeze
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Wednesday aimed at ensuring that federal agency hiring aligns with his administration’s agenda and at giving oversight to presidential appointees. The order also continues a federal hiring freeze that’s been in place since he took office, with limited exceptions.
“This Order ensures that Presidential appointees maintain oversight of Federal hiring so that the Federal workforce remains focused on improving essential functions and is fully aligned with Administration priorities,” according to a fact sheet issued by the White House.
The order is the president’s latest effort to overhaul the federal workforce, which he saw as a barrier to accomplishing his agenda during his first term. He’s come under heavy criticism from good government groups and federal worker unions for politicizing the federal employment.
All federal hiring must comply with a merit hiring plan that the Office of Personnel Management released in May. That plan included new guidelines barring federal agencies from considering race or gender in the hiring process.
Also, the plan contained a controversial question that many job candidates would be required to answer as part of their application: “How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.”
Wednesday’s order also directs agencies to establish strategic hiring committees of senior agency leadership to approve the creation of jobs or filling of vacancies and to prepare annual staffing plans. The agencies must coordinate with OPM and the Office of Management and Budget “to ensure that new career appointments in the upcoming fiscal year are in the highest-need areas and aligned with the priorities of my Administration,” the order states.
Agencies will update OPM and OMB on the progress of their annual staffing plans’ implementation each quarter.