Ask a Pol ~ interactive political journalism ~ what should we ask Congress next?

Who?

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Chair, House Freedom Caucus

Date:

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 — eve of President Donald Trump dropping cannabis — or “marijuana,” as Harris calls it — from Schedule I to Schedule III.

Ask a Pol asks:

What do you make of reports Trump plans to reschedule marijuana?

Key Harris:

“I suspect some more reasonable minds may be prevailing over at the White House,” Rep. Andy Harris tells Ask a Pol Drugs, when asked about Trump’s reported plan to reschedule cannabis.

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Who?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

Ask a Pol asks:

We’re hearing President Trump’s going to change cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III via executive order. Wondering why Biden didn’t move on this?

Key AOC:

“I’ve always been saying this from the beginning. It’s such a no-brainer, and I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez exclusively tells Ask a Pol Drugs. “Of course I’m supportive of that move.”

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Caught our ear:

“Speaker Johnson doesn’t have the pen on executive orders,” Ocasio-Cortez tells us.

“So if he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I mean, that’s well within his power and his right. I don’t think that’s going to pass, though.”

TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (12-12-2025)

SCENE: Just off the floor of the US House of Representatives, a gaggle of congressional reporters huddle around AOC, firing away with questions ranging from skyrocketing health care premiums to the 2026 midterm elections.

Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo slides in the back of his colleagues, waits and listens for a bit until the other journalists move on. Once AOC answers their last questions and her staffers start to move her towards an elevator, Laslo — who was (half)jokingly referred to as The Squad Correspondent at VICE News — slides in with an irresistible question for the Bronx progressive…

Matt Laslo: “We’re hearing President [Donald] Trump is going to change cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III via executive order. How disappointed are you [fmr. President Joe] Biden didn’t move on this?”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “I mean, I’ve always been saying this from the beginning. I’ve been saying that this is — it’s such a no-brainer. And I’ve honestly felt that it’s been a race to whoever — I mean, it just feels, it’s inevitable. So, of course I’m supportive of that move.”

ICYMI — Ask a Pol founder Matt Laslo’s wire service, The LCB, first sold this interview to sister cannabis outlet, Marijuana Moment

Laslo: “And we’re also hearing Speaker [Mike] Johnson is opposing it.”

AOC: “Yeah?”

Laslo: “So…”

AOC: “Well, Speaker Johnson doesn’t have the pen on executive orders.”

Laslo: “Yeah?”

AOC: “So if he wants to try to pass some legislation and whip his entire Republican caucus into doing that, I mean, that’s well within his power and his right. I don’t think that’s going to pass, though.”

Laslo: “Yeah? Right? Thank you, ma’am.”

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Who?

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) — Chair, Freedom Caucus

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Ask a Pol asks:

Do you think the train’s already left the station on hemp?

Key Harris:

“Federal law supersedes state laws on scheduled substances,” Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “We are going to limit an otherwise unregulated industry that sells intoxicants to children.”

About Ask a Pol: We give listeners a front row seat to Congress. Transparency matters, so come inside the Capitol with us! Politicians disappoint. Ask a Pol keeps em honest.

Find us on social media:

SubstackXSpotifyAppleDon’t miss our other Ask a Pol sites! Ask a Pol politics.Ask a Pol crypto. Ask a Pol drugs. Ask a Pol ai. Ask a Pol uaps. Find Ask a Pol founder @MattLaslo on social media.