Ben Carson misheard a housing term as ‘Oreo,’ and other tense moments at a congressional hearing

When a freshman congresswoman asked Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson at a congressional hearing Tuesday whether he knew what the housing term “REO” was, Carson thought she was referencing the similar-sounding cookie.

“An Oreo?” the secretary asked.

No, said Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), her tone firm. She spelled it back to him, twice.

View the complete May 21 article by Colby Itkowitz on The Washington Post website here.