Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) appeared to distance herself from the far-left cultural positions often referred to as ‘Woke 1.’ This has sparked discussion about her past enthusiasm for these ideas. During a recent event, she laughed while mentioning, ‘Woke 1 was crazy,’ drawing from a comment by Chi Ossé, a New York City councilman. Ossé, in the past, made statements like opposing the idea of a white man becoming the next speaker of the City Council.

This casual attitude toward previous positions raises questions. Many progressives have recently stepped back from some extreme ideas, yet skepticism remains about these shifts. Critics argue that referring to ‘Woke 1’ as something unavoidable is misleading. Ocasio-Cortez and Ossé’s remarks echo Ron Burgundy’s infamous ‘that escalated quickly’ from ‘Anchorman,’ implying passivity during that period.

During ‘Woke 1,’ political figures like Ocasio-Cortez faced criticism for not opposing the more extreme notions. For instance, in 2019, Ocasio-Cortez criticized New Yorkers for preferring cauliflower over yuca in community gardens, labeling it complicit in colonization. Meanwhile, debates about the gender-neutral term ‘Latinx’ saw her challenging fellow Democrats despite polling indicating widespread disapproval of the term within Latin communities.

Ocasio-Cortez also recently disputed Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s claim about cowboy culture’s Spanish origins, crediting African enslaved people instead. This statement, from only five months ago, highlights ongoing engagement in woke discourse.

‘Woke’ as a term has evolved from the older ‘political correctness,’ focusing on cultural and speech-related issues like cancel culture. While it covers cultural policing, it extends to far-left policies such as abolishing the police and U.S. government institutions. Specific events, like George Floyd’s killing, led to debates about policing, with some arguing it became a platform for far-left thought-policing.

Observers note a cultural shift away from the stringent enforcement of these ideals. Democratic politicians suggest that the inability to counteract these forces contributed to being out of power. Yet, casually dismissing ‘Woke 1’ with a promise not to repeat it seems insincere. Ocasio-Cortez’s ambivalence might reflect a strategic choice ready to change if the cultural climate shifts.

Robby Soave is co-host of ‘Rising’ on The Hill and a senior editor for Reason Magazine. This column has been adapted from his daily commentary.