Pramila Jayapal
The Catalyst
Ideas with a spark, energy, range and the ability to start things.
Pramila Jayapal is a U.S. Representative known for her advocacy on issues like immigration and healthcare. This interview reveals her strategic approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of coalition-building and progressive change within Congress.
“People think it's just a linear path to where you want to go, but there's so much that's gained from not being linear. So, I did. I went to work for a physiocontrol, which was a medical defibrillator company. And I was stationed in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I covered western Indiana and eastern Ohio and eastern Indiana.”
“That's right, David. I was born in Chennai at the time it was called Madras, and I lived in India for about five years. And my mom is a teacher, teaches English, and my dad actually worked for an oil company then called ESO. And back then, this was 1969, 1970, there were very few people that left India.”
“Well, I told him I needed to get a picture. This was when I was having breakfast with him. And I said, Mr. President, this is towards the end of our conversation. I said, would it be okay if we got a picture because I told my mom last night in India that I was having breakfast with you?”
“There absolutely has to be. I can't tell you how awful it is to be going into Congress every day with these threats of violence against our colleagues, against many of us who have received death threats for years now in this environment. And the lack of action by the minority leader, Kevin McCarthy just has to be called out here.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Ep. 467 — Rep. Pramila Jayapal
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