Quick Hit:

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard continues to draw bipartisan fire for refusing to conform to Washington’s demands. As Sasha Stone writes, her unwillingness to label Edward Snowden a “traitor” led to yet another congressional witch hunt against her.

Key Details:

• Gabbard, who famously challenged Kamala Harris in the 2020 debates, remains a threat to the political establishment.

• Lawmakers pressed her repeatedly to denounce Snowden, but she stood firm, stating only that “Edward Snowden broke the law.”

• Stone describes the spectacle as “a grotesque circus” designed to force Gabbard to betray her principles.

Diving Deeper:

Tulsi Gabbard’s political career has been defined by her refusal to play by Washington’s rules. Whether taking on the Democratic establishment in 2020 or resisting pressure from the Right, she has remained defiant. In a recent hearing, Gabbard once again found herself in the crosshairs—this time over her stance on Edward Snowden.

Sasha Stone, writing in What Really Bothers Them About Tulsi Gabbard, describes the congressional inquisition as “yet another Cotton Mather tribunal,” an attempt to break Gabbard’s will. Lawmakers demanded she call Snowden a “traitor,” but she refused, instead stating, “Edward Snowden broke the law.” As Stone notes, “She does not believe him to be a traitor, OBVIOUSLY, because she believes his intentions were not to hurt Americans but to inform them that their rights were being violated.”

According to Stone, the goal was clear: force Gabbard to submit. “What they wanted from her was a lie. They wanted her to prove to them that she would bow down, that she was afraid of them, and that she wanted the job enough to do what they told her to do.” When she refused, frustration boiled over, particularly from Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), whom Stone describes as “by far the most shrill.”

The scrutiny against Gabbard is nothing new. Stone reminds readers that establishment figures have long tried to discredit her, even labeling her a “Russian spy” and placing her on a “terrorist watch list.” Her authenticity makes them uncomfortable. “She makes them nervous because she is a rare, honest politician. They’re just not used to seeing it.”

Stone acknowledges her own change in perspective over the years, noting that she once mocked Glenn Greenwald when CitizenFour won an Oscar. “I was coming from a place of ignorance—what else is new? I wish I could take it back.” Now, she places trust in Greenwald and Gabbard, rejecting the establishment’s narrative.

Despite the attacks, Gabbard has allies in conservative circles. Stone highlights Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) as a counterbalance to the hysteria. “But then, we got to watch Ted Cruz smack the Democrats around, which is always fun.” Meanwhile, Adam Schiff (D-CA) delivered yet another “horrific episode of hysteria,” and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) embodied “the typical Democrat locked away in the Doomsday Bunker with only MSNBC to watch.”

Gabbard’s unwillingness to bend to Washington’s demands may prevent her from advancing in traditional political spaces, but her independence continues to earn her respect outside the establishment. As Stone concludes, “I doubt they’ll vote yes. I hope she can find another way to serve.”