Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Fears Nothing

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been the subject of widespread media attention since she won her primary election as a young Democratic Socialist, eager to make life better for the working class. Just a few weeks ago, she won her midterm race to become the representative-elect for New York’s 14th congressional district. Despite not taking office until January, she’s already going to work and she’s not afraid of calling anyone out.

When it was announced that Amazon would be bringing HQ2 to New York, Ocasio-Cortez broke from establishment Democrats, opposing the move. She’s sharply contrasted by Mayor Bill de Blasio, who’s shown staunch support for the headquarters: “I can tell you right here baked into the deal are a lot of great specific efforts to help the residents of Queensbridge—training, job opportunities,” the mayor said, per CNN. “One of the biggest companies on earth next to the biggest public housing development in the United States. The synergy is going to be extraordinary.”

Ocasio-Cortez made an extended statement on Twitter, detailing the reasons why tax breaks for an already hugely successful company would only hurt the city and its people:

Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 13, 2018

Just a few days later, Ocasio-Cortez, along with several up-and-coming congresswomen (all POCs) were displayed in a Fox News infographic, detailing “Radical New Democratic Ideals.” Those ideas, as Ocasio-Cortez would point out, aren’t exactly new or radical, for that matter. She summed it up best in another tweet:

Oh no! They discovered our vast conspiracy to take care of children and save the planet pic.twitter.com/XYWXmi3Xyk

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 14, 2018

Then, Thursday night, issues turned from the people to Ocasio-Cortez herself. A journalist snapped a picture of the congressmember-elect, without her permission while she was on the hill. That photo was then tweeted out by Eddie Scarry, with the caption, “I’ll tell you something: that jacket and coat don’t look like a girl who struggles,” referencing Ocasio-Cortez’s recent difficulty finding an apartment in the D.C. area. Apparently, working-class people can’t have nice things, or perhaps it’s just working-class women. Either way, Ocasio-Cortez predictably wasn’t afraid to hold Scarry accountable, even after he got ratio’d into oblivion and deleted the original tweet.

Oh, does @eScarry think he can delete his misogyny without an apology?

I don’t think so. You’re a journalist – readers should know your bias. pic.twitter.com/2KJuiPsUR2

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 16, 2018

One thing is clear early on in Ocasio-Cortez’s career: She’s not your average Democrat.