Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett and South Carolina Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who argued during a contentious House Oversight Committee meeting, continued their spat on social media, with one calling the other “Karen.”

Newsweek emailed Crockett and Mace’s offices for comment outside of regular business hours.

Why it matters

The dispute between the two lawmakers began when the House of Representatives voted to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports at federally funded facilities. The GOP has long made targeted transgender inclusion a central campaign issue. In November, Mace introduced a bill that would ban transgender women and staff from using women’s restrooms in the Capitol.

While many polls show that acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights has generally increased over the past 20 years, most Americans are less supportive of transgender girls and women participating in women’s sports. A May 2023 Gallup poll found that 69 percent of Americans believe transgender people should play on teams that correspond to their gender assigned at birth.

What you should know

During Tuesday’s House Oversight and Accountability Committee meeting, Mace asked Crockett if she wanted to “take it outside.”

Mace had objected to Crockett calling her a “child” during her speech and replied, “If you want to take it outside, we can do that.”

Crockett had criticized Mace’s rhetoric about transgender people, claiming that transgender women use female locker rooms and restrooms to sexually assault women.

Since then, the two MPs have continued their exchange on social media.

In a post on such as calling the police on black people for no reason.

Crockett referred to an injury Mace sustained when she was “physically attacked” by a “professional athlete” who shook her hand at the Capitol in December. James McIntyre of Illinois has pleaded not guilty to assault charges following his arrest. Mace was later seen wearing a sling on her arm.

In response, Mace, who was raped at age 16, said she was attacked by a “grown man who was bigger than me” and accused Crockett of being a member of Congress who “fails to protect women and girls ” wool.

In another post, Mace denied wanting to fight Crockett during the oversight meeting, saying she wanted to “take the conversation off the table.”

The Act to Protect Women and Girls in Sports passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday with a vote of 218 to 206.

The bill seeks to amend Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in any school or educational program funded by the federal government, to prohibit schools from allowing transgender girls or women to participate in sports or activities that ” intended for women or girls.”

What people say

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett posted on X: “Nancy Mace loves the ‘uneducated,’ as Trump calls them. Please explain to me how the same damn Karen who called the Capitol Police on a child who shook her hand acted like she wanted to fight me?! ME…the same person who represented real murderers in court. She’s a loser looking for attention and clearly wants to hit some fundraising goals. And to be clear, that’s the only thing she’ll accomplish.

South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace posted on X: “Jasmine, I suffered two injuries when I was attacked in the Capitol a few weeks ago by a grown man who was far heavier than me. Jasmine, I have post-traumatic stress disorder from the abuse I suffered at the hands of a man, including real violence.” And real rape. There’s no way you’re cut out to take on someone like me. And I’ll just keep talking and sit you back. The adults in Congress are here to protect women and girls and their rights, and you are not one of them.

“This evil woman has no place in Congress. She’s lying. She demeans women. She insults rape survivors. She calls the female fear of rape a ‘fantasy’ and ‘dramatic’.”

In another post she wrote: “Let me be clear: I wanted to take the conversation away from the plenary to have a more constructive conversation, not to argue. At no time was there any intention to harm anyone.”

I was attacked by a professional trainer a few weeks ago and am still undergoing physical therapy for my injuries. I know firsthand how the left is capable of causing real physical harm.”

The Congressional Equality Caucus posted on X about the Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act: “Instead of using their majority to actually help Americans, one of the first bills the GOP is debating is a bill that would deny trans students the opportunity to be part of the school community, learn sports lessons, and with to play with their friends.” This law is not about protecting women. In fact, it could force every female student to answer intrusive personal questions about her body and undergo humiliating physical exams to “prove” she is a girl.

Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Florida, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement: “Americans are united in our belief that men have no place in women’s sports, whether it’s breaking records, entering locker rooms or stealing scholarship opportunities. Denying biological truth erases fairness in sports and endangers women’s safety and opportunities.” Today’s passage sends a clear message to the Senate: protecting women and girls in sports is non-negotiable.”

What happens next

The Protecting Women and Girls in Sports Act now heads to the Senate, where it must clear the filibuster with 60 votes to become law.

If the bill passes, it will likely need to be signed by President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. He has expressed support for transgender sports bans.