Joseph Zambon
Angry Constituents Confront Rep. Nicholas Langworthy in Heated Telephone Town Hall
Representative Nicholas Langworthy (R-NY23) held one of his periodic telephone town halls, and the mood among his constituents was not good. The anger and frustration from callers were palpable, reaching a level of intensity that longtime observers of Langworthy’s events say they have never witnessed before. The issues raised were not only reflective of the concerns of voters in New York’s Southern Tier but also echoed the anxieties of Americans nationwide.
The town hall, which was intended to provide a platform for constituents to voice their concerns and receive answers from their elected representative, quickly devolved into a heated exchange. At least one caller was cut off after raising his voice in outrage over President Trump’s pardoning of individuals involved in the January 6th insurrection. This incident set the tone for an evening where Langworthy’s responses were often met with skepticism and outright disbelief.
Evasive Answers and Half-Truths
Rep. Langworthy, known for his tendency to provide incomplete or misleading answers, did not deviate from his usual style during the town hall. His responses were often vague, evasive, or outright contradicted by facts. This approach was reminiscent of his performance during his only re-election debate last Summer, where he was asked about his knowledge of Project 2025, a controversial blueprint for the second Trump administration.
At the time, Project 2025 had already become a major issue in the presidential campaign, and nearly everyone in the political sphere was familiar with it. Yet, Langworthy claimed ignorance, stating, “I’m not familiar with that.” This response, widely seen as a strategic dodge, was clearly at odds with reality. During the town hall, Langworthy’s reliance on Republican talking points further eroded his credibility, with many callers expressing frustration over his lack of substantive answers.
ICE Raids and the Farm Worker Crisis
One of the first callers to voice their concerns over the shortage of farm workers due to the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration crackdown. In Western New York, dairy farms rely heavily on foreign labor. Ironically, the very rural areas that form the backbone of Trump’s MAGA base are now at risk from his policies.
Reports from across the country paint a grim picture: in some California communities, 75% of farm workers are not showing up for work, and in Texas, there are reports that 28% of farm workers are not showing up. These shortages threaten the livelihoods of farmers and the stability of the agricultural sector.
IIn response to these concerns, Langworthy repeated a familiar Republican talking point: that only undocumented immigrants with criminal records are being targeted in the nationwide ICE raids. However, this claim is demonstrably false. Numerous reports, including those from NPR and NBC News, have documented cases of undocumented immigrants with no criminal records being swept up in the raids. For instance, an immigrant in Ohio who had lived in the U.S. for 30 years without incident was arrested and deported
Adding to the controversy, far-right groups like College Republicans United at Arizona State University have taken it upon themselves to snitch on their classmates to ICE. This organization, which has ties to white supremacist groups, recently held a “Report Your Illegal Student” event, framing their actions as “an act of love for the American nation.” Such rhetoric mirrors Trump’s characterization of the January 6th insurrection as “a day of love,” highlighting the normalization of extremism within the Republican Party.
The Elon Musk Scandal
Another caller voiced growing concerns about billionaire Elon Musk’s expanding influence over the nation’s technology infrastructure and his unprecedented access to personal data on hundreds of millions of Americans, including sensitive information tied to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits.
Musk’s ventures, from SpaceX’s government contracts to Tesla’s energy projects and his acquisition of social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), position him as a central figure in both public and private sectors. However, his increasing interference in government operations has sparked significant pushback.
Critics argue that Musk’s control over critical technologies, such as satellite internet through Starlink, grants him power over national security and communication. Recent reports have highlighted instances where Musk’s decisions, such as restricting Starlink access to the Ukraine, raise questions about his role in global connectivity.
Additionally, his public clashes with federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have further fueled concerns about accountability and oversight.
The caller’s unease reflects a broader national anxiety about the concentration of power in the hands of a few tech moguls and the potential for unchecked influence over public infrastructure and personal data.
January 6th Pardons
Perhaps the most explosive moment of the town hall came when a caller named Bob confronted Langworthy over his support for Trump’s blanket pardons of January 6th insurrectionists. Bob, a self-described lifelong Republican, expressed his outrage at the pardoning of individuals who violently attacked police officers during the Capitol riot.
“Yes, so I wanted to ask you as a lifelong Republican … always attracted to the party of law and order, how can you justify the release of people who from January 6th attacked police officers physically,” Bob began, his voice rising with emotion. “And how you can sit by and allow the president to just let everybody out. Obviously, there were many people who, ahhh, maybe shouldn’t have gotten the sentences they did. They have the right to protest. But to not even bother to take the time to separate those who attacked our police officers and our Capitol. How dare you say that you represent law and order. You are a disgrace.”
Langworthy’s response was characteristically unapologetic. He acknowledged the president’s authority to issue pardons but stopped short of condemning Trump’s actions. “I don’t necessarily agree with all the pardons. I would not have issued pardons to those who were violent,” Langworthy said. “I know the president has strong opinions that the hyperpolitical nature of the January 6th investigation led to such a messy situation that he ultimately elected to issue a blanket pardon to anyone involved in that situation.”
This answer did little to satisfy Bob or many other constituents who share Bob’s concerns. For a party that has long touted itself as the standard-bearer of law and order, the pardoning of individuals who participated in an attack on the U.S. Capitol is a betrayal.
A Growing Divide
Langworthy’s town hall showed a growing divide between him and his constituents. While Langworthy continues to toe the party line, his voters are increasingly frustrated by his evasiveness. The issues raised during the call—immigration, the farm worker crisis, the concentration of power in the hands of tech billionaires, and the pardoning of January 6th insurrectionists—are national issues facing the country.
It remains to be seen whether Langworthy and other Republican leaders will heed the anger and frustration of their constituents—or whether they will continue to prioritize party loyalty over the voters. The midterm election campaigns are only 16 months away.
Great report!