Outgoing Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) says that she is “a little confused” by the rapid rise of incoming Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) In an exit interview with CNN, McCaskill said she wishes Ocasio-Cortez well, but advised the rising Democratic star to walk the walk. "I'm a little confused why she's the thing,” McCaskill told CNN. “But it's a good example of what I'm talking about, a bright shiny new object, came out of nowhere and surprised people when she beat a very experienced congressman."