Karl Rove angrily criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders on Fox News after clips aired showing Sanders backing a 32-hour workweek and AOC calling for single jobs to meet basic needs without overtime. Rove mocked the idea and argued it would raise payroll costs for small businesses—using a six-person plumbing company to suggest roughly 20% higher expenses—and called the proposal "idiocy." Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano have introduced legislation to guarantee a 32-hour week with no loss of pay or benefits, framing it as a way to share productivity gains from AI and automation more broadly.
‘This Is Idiocy!’ Karl Rove Slams AOC, Sanders Over Push For 32-Hour Workweek
‘This Is Idiocy!’ Karl Rove Rages Over AOC Demand On Worker Wages In America
Karl Rove erupted Wednesday over comments from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) advocating stronger protections and shorter hours for American workers. The exchange aired during an appearance on Fox News' The Brian Kilmeade Show, where host Brian Kilmeade played clips of both lawmakers.
Clips That Sparked the Reaction
The first clip featured Sen. Bernie Sanders explicitly endorsing a 32-hour workweek:
"The sad reality now is that Americans now work more hours than the people of any other wealthy nation … a lower work week, 32-hour work week. This is not a radical thing."
The show then ran a clip of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez saying,
"We, the people of the United States of America, demand that one job with no need for overtime should be enough for our most basic needs, which also include rest."The AOC clip did not explicitly mention a 32-hour workweek.
Rove's Response
Rove reacted with sarcasm and frustration, mocking the idea that lawmakers would dictate how many hours people should sleep or work. He summarized what he understood to be the proposal as "a 32-hour work week with pay for 40 hours," and argued it would raise costs for small businesses.
Using a hypothetical plumbing company with six employees, Rove asked how an employer would cover roughly 20% higher payroll costs if workers were paid for 40 hours but limited to 32. He also warned that reduced hours per employee would lower per-worker output and require firms to hire more staff. Rove called the proposal "idiocy" and defended personal choice on work hours, saying, "I've worked more than 40 hours a week. Don't tell me how many hours you want me to work. I get to decide if I'm going to work."
The Legislative Push
Separately this week, Sen. Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to establish a 32-hour workweek without any loss in pay or benefits. Sanders framed the proposal as a way to ensure that productivity gains from artificial intelligence and robotics benefit working families rather than a small cohort of billionaires and corporate executives.
In a statement, Sanders said:
"A 32-hour workweek is not a radical idea. What's radical is that, despite an explosion in technology and productivity over the last fifty years, millions of workers are working longer hours for lower wages while nearly $80 trillion in wealth has been redistributed from the bottom 90 percent to the top 1 percent. That has got to change. It's time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow workers and their families to enjoy a better quality of life. It's time to pass this bill."
Where The Debate Stands
The exchange highlights a broader national debate over work hours, wages and how to distribute the gains of automation and productivity. Supporters argue that a shorter week with full pay would improve quality of life and share productivity gains; critics warn it could raise labor costs, squeeze small businesses, and reduce per-worker output unless employers adapt their models.
Watch: The segment aired on Fox News' The Brian Kilmeade Show.
Help us improve.
