Main content

Ocasio-Cortez: the first millennial political icon?

She’s 29, very left-wing, and taking American politics by storm.

Politics on both sides of the Atlantic feels a bit stuck. The government in the US has been shut down for the longest period in its history and politicians here can’t agree on how to make Brexit work. But there are people challenging existing power structures. Last week we heard from Gina Martin, the 27 year old who has got a law banning upskirting through Parliament. And today we’re talking about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She’s only been in office for a few weeks, but she’s already using her social media superstardom to shape political conversation in the US. WNYC political reporter Brigid Bergin and Jon Ossoff, who ran for Congress in 2017, consider whether AOC is an anomaly or part of a wider movement of change.

Producer: Harriet Noble
Mixed by Nicolas Raufast
Editor: John Shields

Release date:

Available now

22 minutes

Featured in...

Upskirting: How one woman fought back and changed the law

Upskirting: How one woman fought back and changed the law

Five things Gina Martin found out about getting her upskirting law passed.

Ten things you might not know about Stacey Dooley

Stacey took a break from Strictly to talk to Beyond Today.

The darker side of apps we all have on our phones

How the apps we all use can have far-reaching consequences for some users.

Don’t Tell Me The Score

Don’t Tell Me The Score

Simon Mundie finds out what sport can teach us about life.

Podcast