Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is haunting conservative Republicans’ and establishment Democrats’ dreams Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, is just 31 years old. If she decides to run for president in 2024, she would barely meet the constitutional minimum age to reside in the White House. Now that Joe Biden has just won the presidency, four years from now may sound like eternity – but look beyond this year’s septuagenarian battle for the Oval Office, and you might get a glimpse of progressive America’s future.


Unlike political dynasties such as the Kennedys and Bushes, AOC did not grow up with a certain future in Washington DC ahead of her. Her father died of lung cancer during her studies; her mother was forced to take a second job as a bus driver to prevent home eviction. Cynics will dismiss her humble origins – Puerto Rican roots, parts of her youth spent in the poor New York borough of the Bronx – as an emotional origin story to command sympathy from ordinary citizens. Live-streaming Among Us on Twitch? No more than a cheap PR stunt to attract video game-playing millennials, one could scoff.

All criticism aside, Ocasio-Cortez has proved to be an eloquent politician who genuinely wants to tackle the decades-long demolitionist policies of both Democrats and Republicans. She already has veteran Bernie Sanders’ blessing; now she needs the support of an increasingly younger and more diverse America.

Riffy, general editor at De Correspondent Vanity Fair: ‘Who is AOC: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on her rise to political power’ (reading time: 30 minutes)


A beautiful summary of what universal basic income can do Michael Bohmeyer’s grass-root organisation has sent 650 €1,000 cheques to randomly selected people. He wanted to test a thesis: what people need to thrive is not more money – they need security. Unconditional basic income could provide just that.

Interviewing 24 recipients, Bohmeyer found that few people had quit their jobs. But they had made real changes in their lives – and all of them felt better. For example, one retiree quit her off-the-books job waitressing for an exploitative boss to get a better job.

This article is a beautiful summary of what universal basic income can do.

Rutger, Progress correspondent The New York Times: ‘A monthly basic income cheque changed his life. Now he sends out 650 (reading time: 14 minutes)


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