Capitol Hill is a magnet for activists, oftentimes paid operatives, trying to catch elected officials on camera saying something that can be used against them later on. Whether that’s about a policy position or anything otherwise embarrassing, some elected officials react explosively or just don’t know how to get out of the interaction.

Watch how Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt handled one with a woman who tried to trick her into taking a picture together:

Hey @SenKatieBritt , you can run away from climate youth activists but can’t escape the reality of climate change.

Climate change intensifies extreme weather events. In Alabama, the state you represent, the sea level along the coast might rise 18 inches to 4 feet in the next… pic.twitter.com/ISwQ5mGQJ4

— Sunrise Movement ? (@sunrisemvmt) July 8, 2024

“Oh you! Look at how dishonest that was,” Britt said sympathetically.

The activist accused Britt of contributing to the climate crisis. As the elevator doors closed, Britt conveyed her argument without missing a beat: “Listen, we’ve got to be not only energy independent, but energy dominant. We do it better than anybody else.”

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270