Katie Porter, Ben Carson, and The Box of Oreos

Katie Porter has made a name for herself as a freshmen congresswoman from California with her tough questions. She asks the kind of questions that an expert might ask. This comes into hilarious conflict with some of the people President Trump has appointed to his cabinet. In this clip from Seth Meyer, she talks about studying under Elizabeth Warren and also trying to ask a complex question about REO (real estate owned, which is a fancy term for bank-owned) and lending practices to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson. However, Dr. Ben Carson, who is a brain surgeon, got confused and thought she was talking about Oreos (the popular cookie brand) in a housing committee meeting. Yes, that is what our government has come to in 2019, no need to be concerned with how the housing market doesn’t work for working families like Katie Porter’s family. Nope, we’re on Oreos right now. Dr. Carson even sent a box to Rep. Porter an hour after the hearing. This is the type of person in charge of major decisions in the federal government relating to housing in a country where a housing crisis is underway. Carson is known for his many gaffes including stepping away from a TV interview to find his luggage or not walking out when his name is called at a Presidential debate. There will be no accountability for Dr. Carson on this matter. At its best, it can serve as fodder for late-night chuckles on a major network show. Most people are little concerned with the reality that we are living in. After all, aren’t most politicians dumb?