'The hood is off': Internet explodes over GOP lawmaker's 'brazenly racist' interview

Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), already one of the GOP's most vulnerable incumbents even after state courts struck down efforts to redraw her district to favor Democrats, landed in hot water on Monday after a clip went viral of her agreeing with a right-wing talk radio host telling Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to "get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia" — a common colloquial phrase, but one with a deeply charged double meaning given that Jeffries is Black.

The moment immediately brought her under fire on social media, including from some fellow members of Congress.

"The hood is off," wrote Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY). "Apologize and get out or you will be shown the door in November."

"First, they gutted the Voting Rights Act," wrote Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA). "Now they are using brazenly racist language to attack Black leaders. @JenKiggans should immediately apologize and resign."

"Hey, so what the f---?" wrote Texas-based Democratic youth activist Olivia Julianna.

"They keep proving Black folks were right all along about what MAGA really means underneath the branding," wrote strategist Christopher Webb.