<p>U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) emphasized the importance of the working class and criticized a system that allows billionaires to flourish in a talk she gave Friday night at the University of Chicago Friday.</p><p>The New York City progressive began her 90-minute conversation with political strategist David Axelrod by addressing a comment she made on Thursday that “you can’t earn a billion dollars” legitimately.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez declined to directly address questions about running for president in 2028 or challenging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, instead stating at a Chicago political forum that her focus is on changing the country. Speculation persists among observers about her potential higher office ambitions.