Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) sparred with a reporter from Colorado Public Radio (CPR) over local weather change, immigration and the overall tone and content material of his questions throughout an interview printed on the publication’s web site Monday.
Boebert mentioned she was “extremely disappointed in the bias” of reporter Ryan Warner’s questions on a 3rd of the way in which by way of the interview, and she or he later battled with him over local weather change and water, saying “there’s certainly a reason” she would not “listen to CPR news.”
Later, as the 2 mentioned whether or not the Inflation Discount Act, laws that included billions in tax credit for climate-friendly power sources, ought to have that title, Boebert requested “are we having a debate or an interview? I’m just checking.”
“Well, first of all, I get to say things as a journalist to set the record straight, so inflation is easing,” Warner replied.
“Oh, you’re going to fact-check me during the interview,” Boebert answered.
“That’s exactly right, and inflation is easing,” Warner replied.
“OK, this is adorable. Go to your local King Soopers or your City Market and ask the shoppers if inflation is down when they’re buying one dozen eggs for $7, $10,” Boebert replied earlier than giving different examples of excessive costs.
Earlier within the interview, the 2 tangled over immigration when Boebert accused Warner of bias for asking why she thought former President Trump “scuttled” a border deal within the Senate that had been “proposed by one of the most conservative members of the Senate.”
That was a reference to the bipartisan border deal that Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) helped writer. It was submarined by Trump and different Republicans within the Home and Senate who mentioned it didn’t go far sufficient to safe the border. Trump additionally advised that passing the invoice would assist Democrats politically whereas hurting Republicans.
Boebert talked about her disappointment with the “bias” of Warner’s questions at that time. “It’s very unfortunate that we are having this time together to communicate policy and every one of your questions is so far skewed and is so partisan,” Boebert mentioned.
When the dialog turned to water, a difficulty together with immigration that Boebert had recognized as being necessary in her district, Boebert took exception to a different query from Warner.
“How do you see the water needs and what do you see as a representative’s role in Congress to maintain them, to expand them, especially in the face of climate change when we know the hotter weather will actually mean less in the way of water in the West,” Warner requested.
“Wow. That’s certainly a reason I don’t listen to CPR news, and this is,” Boebert mentioned.
“Wait, because I said climate change,” Warner interjected.
“It’s just interesting that we’re talking about water, our most precious resource in Colorado,” Boebert mentioned.
“Water woud be reduced,” Warner said.
“And there has to be something slipped in there that is partisan and it’s not even fact-based,” Boebert mentioned.
“No, I’m going to stop here and say it is … I’m sorry, congresswoman. It is not a partisan statement, to say that warming temperatures —,” Warner mentioned.
“OK, so I will answer your question about water,” Boebert interjected, earlier than going into a solution about how most of Colorado’s water originates within the western slope of the Continental Divide regardless that 90 p.c of the state’s inhabitants is to the east.
Boebert represents the third Congressional District in Colorado however is working for reelection within the 4th District.
To hearken to the entire interview or to learn the transcript, click on right here.
The Hill has contacted Boebert’s press workplace.
CPR, in response to a request for remark, mentioned the interview speaks for itself.
