Latest
AOC doubles down on ‘myth’ of earning a billion dollars, claims fortunes are built on ‘abuse’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., reignited her long-standing crusade against the ultra-wealthy Thursday, arguing that billionaires do not legitimately “earn” their fortunes but instead rely on a “myth” to justify their status.
Appearing on comedian Ilana Glazer’s podcast, “It’s Open,” the prominent “Squad” member suggested that the very existence of a ten-figure net worth is a policy failure rather than a personal achievement.
“You can’t earn a billion dollars,” Ocasio-Cortez told Glazer. “You can get market power. You can break rules. You can do all sorts of things. You can abuse labor laws. You can pay people less than what they’re worth. But you can’t earn that, right? And so you have to create a myth… you have to create a myth of earning it.”
SEN BERNIE SANDERS: TWO AMERICAS, THE PEOPLE VS THE BILLIONAIRES
The New York Democrat’s remarks are a continuation of the rhetoric that propelled her to national stardom in 2018. During the interview, she framed economic insecurity not as a result of individual choices, but as a byproduct of a system that forces working-class Americans to internalize financial hardship.
“It’s not that Walmart pays less than a living wage,” Ocasio-Cortez said, mimicking the mindset she believes is forced upon the public. “It’s that I’m poor and I didn’t work hard enough, so I didn’t earn a better station in my life.”
She further tied the wealth gap to the country’s current cultural divisions, suggesting that economic anxiety is being redirected toward marginalized groups.
“In an era of extreme income inequality, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this xenophobia and anti-immigrant feeling is happening at the same time,” she said.
CALIFORNIA’S HATRED FOR CAPITALISM IS KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG
Throughout the interview, Ocasio-Cortez repeatedly anchored her socialist-leaning worldview in her upbringing as a working-class Puerto Rican in New York. She recalled her experience as a bartender and waitress—a “bootstrap” narrative she uses to contrast with the “corporate myths” she critiques.
“My mom cleaned houses growing up,” she said. “My dad was born in the South Bronx.”
Reflecting on her father’s death during the 2008 economic collapse, she noted that her family “did everything right” but was still nearly ruined by the system. “We could have done everything that they said… and you can get sideswiped and there is nothing here to really support you.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE
The congresswoman’s office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on whether she believes any private sector industry allows for the “legitimate” accumulation of a billion dollars.
When reached for comment, AOC’s office pointed Fox News Digital to an X post from the congresswoman.
“The single largest form of theft in America is wage theft. $50 billion a year are stolen from American workers,” she wrote. “Some people get enraged that I draw attention to this. That’s on them. Let them call me shrill, dumb, inexperienced, girly, uneducated – these folks will say anything to distract from or undercut the truth that working people are getting screwed, and giving people a fair shake means we must have a grown conversation about reigning in abuse of power.”
Latest
Reynolds Launches $3,200,000,000 Investment In US Manufacturing
Latest
TNA Wrestling star Steve Maclin shares why free agents should consider signing with company
Steve Maclin has been through it all since he joined TNA Wrestling (TNA) in 2021.
He’s feuded with major stars in pro wrestling like Nic Nemeth, Josh Alexander, Moose, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin and Mike Santana just to name a few. He’s a two-time TNA international champion and an Impact world champion.
Amid a recent wave of stars joining the free-agent market over the last two weeks, Maclin shared why anyone should consider TNA as a potential landing spot for the future.
“TNA has always been under the radar. It’s kinda been that land of misfit toys where you can go and reinvent yourself or invent yourself as a new character in general and kinda show the world who you are,” he told Fox News Digital. “TNA has always been giving me that opportunity, especially the day that I hit the ground running in TNA Wrestling, I haven’t stopped – becoming the world champion, becoming the first TNA international champion, and now, hopefully coming back and going back after the world title as well.
“It’s a place where you can grow and it’s a place that’s kinda that locker room that everyone has always been looking for and it’s that family orientation. And it’s said a lot in the world of pro wrestling but it’s very family oriented where we all take care of each other no matter how good or bad the creative is or how the upper echelon is, the locker room always takes care of the locker room. They’re the ones that make bad creative look like its good creative on television.”
Maclin has also been afforded the opportunity to run a benefit event with his wife, fellow pro wrestling champion Deonna Purrazzo, to help give back to veteran and first-responders.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Maclin and Purrazzo will host the Battle for the Brave on June 6 in support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Maclin served with the U.S. Marines.
“It’s a great cause just because that entire New York/New Jersey area, the Tri-State area, has really been affected by 9/11. It affected both of our lives,” Maclin told Fox News Digital in a story published earlier this week. “I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005. It just affected everyone. So, especially a lot of the talent that’s on the card as well, everybody has some type of story or link toward 9/11.
“And with Tunnel to Towers, a lot of people in that area love the cause and love what Tunnel to Towers does for the community by giving back to first responders’ families, paying off mortgages, smart homes for veterans who have been wounded and now paying off college tuitions for first responders’ and veterans’ families who have lost some loved ones.”
TNA airs weekly programming Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.
Latest
Arizona State student vanishes during Grand Canyon trip just days before graduation, family pleads for help
The family of a missing Arizona State student is pleading for help after he vanished during a Grand Canyon trip just days before graduation.
Sandarsh Krishna, 26, was last heard from on April 27, when he told relatives he was traveling to Las Vegas with a stop at the South Rim. He was expected back in time for final exams and a job interview, but never returned.
“We haven’t had any success in finding him,” his sister-in-law, Pooja Shivananjappa, told Fox 10 Phoenix.
According to the National Park Service, Krishna’s last known location was along the Rim Trail off Hermit Road, between Bright Angel Lodge and Mohave Point, sometime between 4 p.m. on April 27 and 12 a.m. on April 28.
FAMILY ON LAS VEGAS, GRAND CANYON VACATION VANISHED ON ROAD TRIP, AUTHORITIES SAY
Investigators say Krishna, who had no known vehicle, may have been using a rideshare or taxi service. His cell phone data has not moved since the day he disappeared, according to his family.
“They’re doing the best they can, but unfortunately we do not have the exact location to see where he went missing,” Shivananjappa told the outlet.
Search efforts have ramped up across the South Rim, with more than 30 search and rescue personnel deployed over several days.
SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR COLORADO MAN IN BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK
Crews are also using multiple techniques in the rugged terrain, including rim trail scanning, walk-down routes into the canyon, technical rope insertions, aerial reconnaissance flights and drone operations, park officials said.
Rangers are continuing to focus on the area along Hermit Road and surrounding sections of the rim as the search remains ongoing.
Officials say Krishna was last seen wearing athletic clothing and is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build, weighing about 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
HIKER DISAPPEARS FROM ‘EDGE OF THE WORLD’ CAMPGROUND ON TRIP WITH FATHER
Investigators also say Krishna was believed to be carrying a black backpack before he disappeared. That backpack was later turned in to hotel staff at Bright Angel Lodge early on April 28.
Rangers are now working to identify and speak with the individual who turned in the backpack, saying the person may have information that could help narrow the search area. Authorities emphasized the individual is not considered a suspect.
His family says they have also hired a private investigator as the search continues.
Krishna moved to Arizona from India in 2024 to pursue a master’s degree in computer science at ASU and was set to graduate May 9, the family told Fox 10 Phoenix. Loved ones describe him as bright, kind and deeply connected to his family.
“It’s impossible to not like him,” Shivananjappa said. “He has a helping hand… he has the heart of a kid.”
Anyone who may have seen Krishna or has information about his whereabouts between April 27 and April 28 is urged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch tip line at 888-653-0009.
-
Latest3 weeks agoVance Leaves Meeting, Looks Straight Into Camera, Announces Stunning Arrest
-
News3 weeks agoAdam Schiff Facing 30 Years In Prison After Bank Records Leak
-
Latest3 weeks agoSupreme Curt Sides With Trump — He Can Remove The All
-
News4 weeks agoAll Hell Breaks Loose On Fox When Jesse Watters Asks Fetterman One Question
-
News3 weeks agoNBC Stops LIVE Broadcast — Breaks Big Trump News
-
News3 weeks agoSwalwell Facing Jail Time After Sickening New Video Leaks
-
Latest3 weeks agoTrump Pulls Off Miracle Of A Lifetime — It’s Permanently Open
-
Latest3 weeks agoUT Judge Drops Bombshell In Charlie Kirk Killer Case
