Democratic policies are ‘crazy,’ Rep. Jim Jordan tells The Lion

Loose border policies, defunding the police and men competing in women’s sports are just a few examples of the “crazy” in the Democratic Party, says Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

“I always say… not all Democrats are crazy, but the left that controls their party is,” the congressman told The Lion’s Chris Stigall in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, in a wide-ranging interview.

Despite the perception of Congress slowing amid the holiday season, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said he’s trying to get several bills passed before the session recesses for Christmas break.

“We’re trying,” Jordan said. “We’re trying to get a bill done this week that we think will help the situation in college sports.”

Jordan has introduced bills to address men competing in women’s sports and reforms to the name, image and likeness (NIL) system, which would seek to protect students. 

The growing healthcare crisis is also on his list. 

“We’re trying to do some things in the healthcare area that will actually bring down premiums versus what the Democrats want to do, which is just another subsidy.” 

Instead, Jordan and the GOP are advocating for measures promoting “choice and competition,” such as health savings accounts, association health plans and the ability to purchase insurance across state lines. 

“We want a bill in the healthcare area that creates more choice, more competition and brings down costs,” he added. 

Stigall suggested the healthcare program passed by Democrats, dubbed “Obamacare,” was designed to create dependency, with today’s crisis pricing and service issues a long-term feature of the scheme. 

“It was always to get to a single-payer system, which we’re opposed to,” said Jordan, noting the Democrats want to have the government take over healthcare as the only insurer. 

He criticized the lack of choice and competition in the current system, which he believes has led to higher costs and frustration among American families. 

Jordan scoffed at Obama-era promises that nothing would change for Americans during the push to pass the Affordable Care Act, the formal name of Obamacare. 

“You like your plan, you can keep your plan,” Obama promised, says Jordan.​ “‘You like your doctor, you can keep your doctor and premiums will go down.’ Well, those are three lies.” 

Stigall also asked Jordan about the Democrats’ drift toward socialism as young people complain the cost of living is increasing. 

“I continue to hear people say, particularly online, whether it’s real or perceived, young people are starting to gravitate toward the AOC/Mamdani attitude of socialism because they feel like the system’s broken,” Stigall said. 

AOC refers to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat, from New York, and Mamdani refers to the newly elected mayor of New York City. AOC is a self-described socialist and Mamdani a Marxist. 

Jordan acknowledged the economic problems facing young families, particularly the high cost of housing and inflation. 

“It’s like $400,000, $300-$450,000 … in certain communities to buy a nice family home,” he said. “So I do think it is a concern.” 

Jordan expressed optimism that Republican policies, including tax cuts and regulatory reforms, would help alleviate economic pressures. 

“We’ve already seen inflation coming down dramatically, but it was so darn high [under Biden], it’s still troublesome for lots of families,” he said. 

Jordan also emphasized the importance of campaigns in presenting Republican solutions and contrasting them with “crazy” leftist policies, such as defunding the police and allowing men to compete against women in sports. 

Jordan said “every position they take” is crazy. 

“My favorite: it’s crazy to let a Chinese spy balloon fly clear across the country and then shoot it down [after] eight days,” he said about the balloon the Biden administration allowed to fly across the continental U.S. “It’s nuts.” 

Stigall also asked about allegations of conflict within the FBI and the Department of Justice. 

“Is there any legitimacy to the idea that there is discord in the FBI and that Kash [Patel] and Dan [Bongino] and, maybe, [Attorney General] Pam Bondi over at DOJ aren’t doing their job?” 

Jordan dismissed claims Patel, Bongino or Bondi were struggling in their roles. 

“We’ve had nothing but a great working relationship with Attorney General Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel and Assistant Director Bongino,” he said.  ​  

He praised their efforts in providing information to congressional committees, which has been crucial in uncovering government surveillance activities targeting Republicans. 

Jordan expressed alarm over recent revelations that the FBI and Special Counsel Jack Smith had been surveilling members of Congress, including obtaining phone records of the GOP under President Joe Biden. 

“​That’s frightening that the government’s getting that information,” he said, describing the situation, again, as “crazy.” 

He acknowledged some elements within the FBI might still harbor institutional hatred towards President Donald Trump, but he commended the current leadership of Bondi, Patel and Bongino for their cooperation.