The Case for a More Progressive Politics with Pramila Jayapal

She has been in congress for less than 3 years, but Pramila Jayapal is already shifting the conversation in the other Washington. As the co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus at the dawn of newfound Democratic power, the Seattle-area representative has been instrumental in persuading Democratic leadership in the House to more fully embrace its more left-leaning contingent. She has raised the profile of Medicare for All and the Green New Deal while continuing to champion the immigration issues that she first worked on prior to her political career. Crosscut political reporter Melissa Santos asks the U.S. Representative what it means to be a powerful progressive in the Trump era and a woman of color in this new congress. This conversation was recorded on May 4, 2019 at Seattle University as part of the Crosscut Festival.