Is AOC Warming Up for a White House Audition?

The buzz in political circles is louder than ever: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., seems to be everywhere these days, and not just in her Bronx district. Teaming up with Sen. Bernie Sanders on the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour, AOC has been hitting stages across the U.S., fueling chatter about whether she’s quietly laying the groundwork for a presidential run.

This week, her campaign account dropped a video on X, stoking even more speculation. Standing in Idaho—a far cry from her home turf—she declared, "We are one," and reminded the crowd she’s "a girl from the Bronx" grateful to find common cause with folks all over the country. If that’s not a campaign-trail vibe, I don’t know what is.

Meanwhile, the rest of the political world isn’t exactly taking a breather. Former GOP Rep. George Santos is facing up to 87 months in prison in a federal fraud case, while Stacey Abrams is reportedly eyeing a third run for Georgia governor despite her previous defeats. Luigi Mangione heads to federal court as the DOJ signals a shift in death penalty policy, and a judge just blocked a Trump election order—even though most Americans back voter ID requirements.

In other headlines, Trump’s taking swings at Harvard, calling the institution 'antisemitic' and a 'threat to democracy' amid a funding fight. He also claims he’d be 'leading the pack' to war with Iran if nuclear deal talks collapse, while confusion continues over U.S.-China trade talks. And in a move that’s less Monet and more Machiavelli, Vladimir Putin reportedly gifted Trump a portrait of himself—now that’s what I call the art of diplomacy.

Overseas, Russia’s foreign minister says the country is "ready to make a deal" on the Ukraine war, and a Russian general has been killed in a Moscow-area car bombing. Back in the Vatican, Pope Francis is being remembered for holding the line on gender ideology while maintaining a welcoming tone towards the LGBT community.

On Capitol Hill, an 80-year-old Democratic senator is suggesting his peers should consider retirement before they're literally carried out, while Schumer and Schiff accuse Trump of exploiting antisemitism to punish universities. ICE is defending a warrantless arrest, and states are finally getting in line with the REAL ID Act ahead of the deadline.

Meanwhile, California is floating a plan to let homeless students sleep in their cars on campus during the housing crisis, and Los Angeles faces criticism for dropping the ball on wildfire victim aid. New York City, on the other hand, just destroyed over 3,500 illegal firearms—goodbye and good riddance, indeed.

The Florida GOP is in full civil war mode, with DeSantis publicly calling out state House leadership for "revolting" against voters. And on a lighter note, DHS chief Kristi Noem revealed her purse was stolen at a restaurant—by what she described as a "professional." Even the political elite can’t escape a good old-fashioned heist.

As all this unfolds, political junkies are glued to every signal coming from AOC. Whether she’s rehearsing for 2028 or just enjoying a national spotlight, one thing’s for sure: the speculation isn’t dying down anytime soon.