Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers Walk Back Criticism of Jasmine Crockett's Senate Bid After Backlash
Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers apologized after urging listeners not to donate to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Texas Senate bid, pledging to use platforms more responsibly.
Overview
Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers discouraged donations to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Texas Senate campaign on their Las Culturistas podcast, prompting swift online backlash and public apologies.
On the Jan. 8 episode, Rogers argued Crockett was 'well-defined' and unlikely to win statewide, comparing her unfavorably to Beto O’Rourke; Yang agreed and echoed fundraising warnings.
Both hosts posted Instagram apologies: Rogers said he’d be more thoughtful and affirmed progressive goals; Yang said he 'should not have cursorily weighed in' and will use his platform responsibly.
Critics said the commentary diminished a Black woman in a hostile political environment; some Democrats privately questioned her general-election prospects despite early polling showing strength.
Crockett, who announced her Senate bid in December, remains a high-profile candidate; strategists including James Carville have questioned messaging strategy and statewide electability for Democrats.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by foregrounding criticism and contrition: they highlight listeners’ 'swift backlash', emphasize apologies, and use charged verbs (e.g., 'railed', 'doubled down') to shape perception. They prioritize responses and accusations while omitting voices from Crockett or supporters, steering the narrative toward reckoning over nuance.
Sources (6)
FAQ
Rep. Jasmine Crockett is a Democratic U.S. representative for Texas’s 30th congressional district, a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, and a lawyer who has built a profile as a progressive lawmaker before announcing her 2026 U.S. Senate bid in Texas.
Jasmine Crockett is running for the U.S. Senate from Texas in the 2026 election, having formally announced her candidacy in December 2025.
Some Democratic strategists argue that Democrats have not won statewide in Texas for more than 30 years and contend that Crockett’s progressive profile and messaging may be difficult to sell to a largely conservative electorate, raising doubts about her general-election viability.
Crockett argues that her Senate run will help build a strong statewide Democratic coalition, boost down-ballot candidates, and give Texans a louder voice against policies she describes as harmful, emphasizing that she would not be in the race if she did not believe she could win.
Their podcast remarks were criticized for publicly discouraging donations to a prominent Black woman running statewide in a difficult political environment for Democrats, which many listeners saw as undermining her candidacy and dismissing her prospects without sufficient context.
History
3 sources