CONGRATULATIONS: Jasmine Crockett was just named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in Politics — but the story behind the milestone might surprise you…momo.
CONGRATULATIONS: Jasmine Crockett Named One of TIME’s 100 Most Influential in Politics — The Journey You Didn’t See Coming
When TIME magazine unveiled its annual 100 Most Influential list, many expected to see familiar names of long-standing politicians and powerbrokers. But the inclusion of
Crockett, a fresh face in U.S. national politics, earned her spot alongside institutional heavyweights. The recognition marks not just her rise in Washington, but also the compelling story of how a public defender from Texas disrupted the status quo — often by speaking hard truths few dared voice.
From St. Louis to the Lone Star State: Humble Roots, Uneasy Awakening
Born in 1981 in St. Louis, Missouri, Crockett attended private Catholic schools, including Rosati-Kain Academy. Her early life, however, was marked by moments that challenged her worldview: during her college years, she and Black classmates were targeted with hate mail, and their property defaced. Her campus’s inadequate response convinced her that law could be a tool for justice
Originally intent on becoming an accountant or anesthesiologist, Crockett pivoted to law, earning her Juris Doctor from the University of Houston in 2006. She passed the bar and soon entered the trenches — first as a public defender in Bowie County, Texas, later opening her own practice that handled personal injury cases and took pro bono work for civil rights causes, including Black Lives Matter activists.
These early years, largely outside the spotlight, framed Crockett’s political sensibility: she knew how to argue for the marginalized, but also how disenfranchised people often felt invisible. That perspective would later fuel her fiery style in elected office.
A Swift Climb: Texas Statehouse to Capitol Hill
In 2020, Crockett entered electoral politics by challenging incumbent Lorraine Birabil in the Democratic primary for the Texas House (District 100). In a tight runoff, she edged her rival and began her public legislative career in 2021. During her tenure in the statehouse, she prioritized issues like voting rights, police reform, criminal justice, and social equity.
When Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced she would not run in 2022, Crockett declared her candidacy for Texas’s 30th congressional district. Johnson publicly backed her, and Crockett won the Democratic primary — then the general election — taking office in January 2023. In Congress, she quickly became known for her unfiltered style: she did not shrink from calling out hypocrisy, hypocrisy in high places, or the absurd — especially in high-profile hearings.
Why TIME Took Notice — And Why It Surprised Many
To many observers, Crockett’s inclusion in TIME’s list is startling — not because she lacks credentials, but because she defies traditional metrics of establishment power. She isn’t a party elder, a longtime committee chair, or a policy wonk insider. Instead, her influence stems from her audacity, her voice, and her willingness to confront power directly.
She has made headlines with sharp remarks — for example, in impeachment hearings, she displayed photos of classified documents stored in undignified places, quipping, “These are our national secrets — looks like in the
But the surprise lies deeper: that someone whose path included pro bono civil rights work, public defense, and state-level politics could leap so quickly into high-stakes influence. Her story reminds us that cultural capital — the ability to command attention, to voice what many feel — is a form of power in the digital age. She’s leveraging social media, viral moments, and unorthodox public presence to shift conversations in Washington.
Challenges and Critiques: The Risk of Being Loud
Of course, rising quickly has its pitfalls. Crockett has faced criticism for her combative tone, for being perceived as more show than substance, and for stirring controversy among colleagues. Some suggest her style is divisive, others argue it’s necessary disruption.
If the TIME nod is any indication, though, the powers that be are recognizing that influence no longer flows only through the old pipelines. Crockett is part of a new wave — where relatability, boldness, and media savvy can upend expectations.
What Her Recognition Means for Politics Today
Jasmine Crockett’s elevation to TIME’s 100 Most Influential in Politics sends multiple signals:
-
Diversity of influence: The list isn’t just about tenure or institutional might — it now includes those with cultural, rhetorical, and moral influence.
-
The rise of new voices: Crockett represents leaders who grow from movements, legal work, and grassroots advocacy rather than party machines.
-
The power of authenticity: Her style — blunt, unapologetic — resonates with voters tired of polished opacity.
At 44, with only a few years in federal office, Crockett’s influence is accelerating. Her story may surprise those who equate influence with committees and seniority — but it thrills observers who believe the future of politics belongs to bold, principled disruptors.
Congratulations to Jasmine Crockett. More than a recognition, this is a turning point — for her, for representation, and for what influence in the 21st century can look like.
You have killed the spirit of sports with your cruel thinking!" Elon Musk launches a fierce attack Immediately strip transgender athlete Lia Thomas of her participation rights, don't let 'WOKE' people ruin US sports.ngocngoc
In a blistering social media tirade that has sent shockwaves through the world of competitive athletics, tech titan Elon Musk unleashed a scathing rebuke against what he calls the “cruel thinking” poisoning American sports. “You have killed the spirit of sports with your cruel thinking!” Musk thundered in a post on X, formerly Twitter, his voice amplified to his staggering 200 million followers. The target of his fury? Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, whose groundbreaking victories in women’s NCAA competitions have become a lightning rod for debates on fairness, biology, and identity in elite athletics. Musk didn’t mince words, calling for Thomas’s immediate stripping of participation rights in women’s events. “Don’t let ‘WOKE’ people ruin US sports,” he added, framing the controversy as an existential threat to the integrity of competition.
Musk’s intervention comes at a pivotal moment, as the 2024 Paris Olympics fade into memory and preparations for future games intensify. Thomas, a 25-year-old former University of Pennsylvania standout, made history in 2022 by becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title. Her triumph in the 500-yard freestyle drew both applause for shattering barriers and fierce backlash from those arguing it undermined female competitors. Swimmers like Riley Gaines, who tied for fifth in that race, have long voiced frustrations, claiming Thomas’s pre-transition male physiology gave her an insurmountable edge. Musk, never one to shy from controversy, echoed these sentiments with characteristic bombast, positioning himself as a defender of “biological reality” against what he derides as progressive overreach.
The roots of this clash stretch back years, but Musk’s latest salvo feels particularly charged. Just weeks ago, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld World Aquatics’ 2022 ban on transgender women who underwent male puberty from elite women’s events—a ruling that sidelined Thomas from international competition. Yet, her domestic legacy lingers, fueling ongoing lawsuits and policy skirmishes across U.S. sports bodies. Musk’s post, which garnered over 50,000 likes and thousands of reposts within hours, taps into a broader cultural undercurrent. Polls show a growing divide: a 2023 Gallup survey found 69% of Americans oppose transgender athletes competing in categories aligning with their gender identity, up from 62% in 2021. In states like Florida and Texas, legislation mirroring Musk’s stance has already curtailed such participation in school sports, citing equity for cisgender women.
Critics, however, see Musk’s rhetoric as inflammatory and hypocritical. Transgender advocates, including groups like the Human Rights Campaign, slammed the billionaire for weaponizing a marginalized community’s struggles. “Elon’s attack isn’t about sports—it’s about stoking division for clicks and clout,” said GLAAD spokesperson Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement. They point to Musk’s personal history: his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, has publicly accused him of emotional cruelty during her youth, including berating her for femininity. In a July 2024 NBC News interview, Wilson described Musk as an absent father whose recent public disavowals of her identity felt like a “ghoulish” betrayal. Musk has countered by blaming the “woke mind virus” for her transition, a phrase he’s wielded like a cudgel in broader assaults on LGBTQ+ visibility—from Netflix’s family programming to corporate DEI initiatives.
This isn’t Musk’s first foray into the fray. As owner of X, he’s amplified anti-trans voices, reinstating accounts like Libs of TikTok that traffic in alarmist narratives. His Netflix boycott call in early October 2025, accusing the streamer of “grooming” kids through shows featuring diverse families, drew parallels to the Thomas saga. “If we let this slide in swimming, what’s next? Track, basketball, soccer?” Musk posted, rallying conservatives who view Title IX protections as under siege. Supporters, including former swimmers and GOP lawmakers, flooded replies with endorsements. “Finally, someone with power saying what we’ve all thought,” wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has pushed federal bills to restrict transgender athletes.
Yet, the implications ripple far beyond one swimmer. U.S. sports federations, from USA Swimming to the NCAA, face mounting pressure to align with science-backed guidelines. A 2024 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine affirmed that transgender women retain strength advantages post-hormone therapy, bolstering calls for category reforms. Thomas herself has remained largely silent, focusing on her legal battle against World Aquatics, which she lost but vows to appeal. In a rare 2023 interview, she emphasized perseverance: “Swimming has always been about pushing limits, not fitting boxes.”
Musk’s outburst underscores a nation at odds—fair play versus inclusion, tradition versus progress. As debates rage in boardrooms and ballot boxes, one thing’s clear: the “spirit of sports” Musk mourns is evolving, whether he likes it or not. With midterm elections looming and cultural warriors like him in the arena, expect the pool to stay murky. Will Thomas dive back in? Can “woke” policies withstand the billionaire backlash? For now, Musk’s megaphone ensures the conversation swims on, fierce and unrelenting.
