INTERNACIONAL
AOC gives major hint about 2028 as Democrat civil war looms
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s political future has remained a topic of discussion within the left wing — and there’s increasing speculation that she could be set for a collision course with Democrats’ top leader in Congress.
The progressive rock star says she’s weighing what to do next, whether it be a 2028 presidential run or a bid for the seat currently held by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow Democrat and New Yorker.
«I know there is a lot of speculation about what I will decide to do in 2028. I get asked about it nearly every interview and event,» Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a recent fundraising email to supporters.
The 36-year-old lawmaker with a massive social media footprint said in a recent New York Times interview that her decision, which could happen sometime after this year’s midterm elections, would come down to answering the question, «Where can I do the most good?»
OCASIO-CORTEZ OPENS UP ABOUT 2028
If she decides on a statewide rather than a national run, it could set up a titanic Democratic Party and generational battle between her and the soon-to-be 76-year-old Schumer, who was first elected to Congress nearly half a century ago and has served in the Senate since 1999.
Ocasio-Cortez, in her interview, made clear that her decision about 2028 would not be dictated by someone else.
«I don’t think that my decisions would come down to deference,» she said.
Meanwhile, a campaign swing the past few days throughout upstate New York by Ocasio-Cortez raised some eyebrows. While the trip was aimed at boosting fellow Democrats on the ballot in this year’s elections, it sparked speculation that it was also a move by Ocasio-Cortez to build relationships far from her base in New York City.
Schumer has left his 2028 plans open and has not announced whether he’ll run for yet another term. When asked about re-election, he’s repeatedly said his «first focus is winning in 2026, getting back the Senate in 2026.»
Digital reached out to Schumer’s office regarding his thinking on a potential 2028 re-election run, but didn’t receive a response by the time this story was published.
DEMOCRACY ’26: STAY UP TO DATE WITH THE ELECTION HUB
But a potential intra-party clash between Ocasio-Cortez and Schumer may never materialize, according to speculation from plugged-in Democratic strategists familiar with the New York state political landscape, who doubt Schumer will seek re-election even if his party wins back the Senate majority in November’s midterms.
«Everyone has an expiration date,» said one strategist, who like the others asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely.
And referring to Ocasio-Cortez, the strategist told Digital, «I think she’s in a good position to win statewide.»
Another operative, pointing to Schumer, speculated, «I think Schumer wants to go out on top and with a good legacy and one way to do that is to hand the reins over to this inspiring generational leader. At the same time, New York politics are insane and there are lots of people gunning for that spot and he may feel like he can’t do that.»
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
«He’s always been pretty smart when it came to her,» the operative noted. «As other Dems were still warming to her… he was one of the first members of the New York delegation to be very welcoming and thoughtful and worked with her on legislation during COVID.»
Schumer’s approval ratings among New York voters are deep into negative territory at 36%-54%, according to a Quinnipiac University poll conducted Sept. 17-20. The senator’s favorable ratings were also underwater, at 34%-51%.
Meanwhile, 41% of Empire State voters viewed Ocasio-Cortez favorably, with 36% seeing her in an unfavorable light.
«He was the supreme retail politician. Once he became leader, he became a swamp creature from Washington and it started to chip away at his popularity back home,» a third Democratic strategist said of Schumer.
MAMDANI SIDESTEPS WHETHER AOC SHOULD CHALLENGE SCHUMER IN 2028
Schumer’s short-term goal is to win back the Senate majority in the midterms.
Asked if that prospect would make potentially challenging Schumer more difficult, Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times, «That would honestly be the best possible problem we could have as a country.»
«We’re working hard to have that problem, and I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it,» she added.
Recent fundraising text messages sent to supporters appeared to take jabs at the Democratic establishment, of which Schumer is a part. She did not name any particular person in the notes, however.
«The establishment believes that there’s only one path to winning: Don’t upset the status quo, don’t stand up to the concentration of greed taking over our country, and instead spend most of your time fundraising from powerful donors,» it read. «But Alexandria’s campaign didn’t win in 2018 by following the establishment playbook.»
Another message said her 2018 victory «represented a threat to the typical D.C. power structure that existed back then and still exists now.»
alexandria ocasio cortez, politics, chuck schumer, midterm elections, democrats elections, elections, new york
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
United Kingdom police are releasing five terror suspects on bail Monday after they were arrested on suspicion of a terror plot targeting a U.S. air base in Britain this weekend.
Laurence Taylor, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, confirmed that investigations into the five men are ongoing, «including that this may be actively committed by proxies or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly working on behalf of a foreign state.» Meanwhile, the Iranian Embassy in the U.K. has denied any connection to the five men.
The Sunday night arrests came after a local resident and farmer in Gloucestershire told the BBC that she had called police late in the evening after coming across three white vans blocking a road near RAF Fairford air base. As she turned her car around, she told the BBC that her headlights illuminated a group of «hooded and masked men» who «panicked» upon being spotted and scrambled into a nearby woods.
IRAN EXPERT BRANDS ISLAMIC CENTER OF ENGLAND IRAN’S ‘UK OFFICE,’ URGES IMMEDIATE CLOSURE
A B1 Bomber at RAF Fairford on July 25, 2026 in Fairford, England. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire a «legitimate target» after U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers used the British base to launch defensive bombing missions against Iranian military targets. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
Authorities identified the five men as «U.K. nationals,» but did not offer any further details.
RAF Fairford plays host to significant U.S. Air Force assets and has been used as a launching point for multiple U.S. operations in the war against Iran in recent months.
US MILITARY RELEASES FOOTAGE OF MASSIVE OPERATION TO RESCUE INJURED AIRMAN STRANDED INSIDE IRAN
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed that the local farmer had at least a «partial picture» of the incident.
«I do want to thank the member of the public who acted quickly and called this in,» Streeting told the BBC.
Police at a road block on the road to RAF Fairford after major incident has been declared, with armed police manning a cordon near the village of Whelford in Gloucestershire, near RAF Fairford which is used by the United States Air Force (USAF). Picture date: Sunday September 27, 2026. (Photo by Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images)
«I would also just say, respectfully, that she has a partial picture. And I won’t go beyond that, in terms of commenting on operational security matters,» he added.
The local, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC that she was astounded it had been her 999 call that «foiled whatever plans they had,» adding that she was surprised the base didn’t have more significant surveillance and security.
Iran’s Embassy vehemently denied any connection with the incident in a public statement on Monday.
WALTZ CALLS OUT IRANIAN DIPLOMAT AT UN FOLLOWING DRONE STRIKES ON BAHRAIN AND KUWAIT
«The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in London categorically rejects and strongly condemns the recent unfounded and malicious speculations published by some British individuals and media outlets attempting to link Iran to arrest of five suspects in the vicinity of RAF Fairford base,» the Embassy wrote on X.
Ground crew prepare to load munitions onto a U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber at RAF Fairford on March 11, 2026, in Fairford, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
«The Circulation of such fabricated speculations, particularly in the aftermath of the criminal acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people, will serve no purpose other than to fuel Iranophobia propaganda in the U.K.,» the statement continued.
«The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to take appropriate legal measures, as necessary, to safeguard the rights and interests of the country and its people in response to misleading and damaging media narratives,» it added.
Reuters contributed to this report.
united kingdom, terrorism, war with iran, national security, counter terrorism
INTERNACIONAL
Reporter’s Notebook: Senate Republicans scrap early exit from Washington as midterm stakes soar
It’s a calculation by Republicans to keep the Senate in session this week.
Yes. The Senate was scheduled to meet anyway over the next few days. But the general consensus early last week was that the Senate would be done then and those facing competitive races would be back home campaigning.
Then Wednesday hit.
Republicans wanted to stay in Washington. For a very specific reason. And many of them told Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., as much at their weekly luncheon.
«Odds are we plan on being here next week,» said Thune.
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: CONGRESS STRUGGLES TO FIND A MESSAGE THAT RESONATES WITH VOTERS AHEAD OF MIDTERMS
One Senate aide compared the Senate’s schedule to a cat chasing a beam of light from a laser pointer.
But the Senate is in fact meeting. There are reasons. Most of them are political.
The Senate wasn’t quite done with the bill to regulate money in intercollegiate athletics last week. And with the affordability question vexing Republicans, they really didn’t want to pass the college sports bill and promptly vacate Washington. That would be an awkward punctuation point at the end of the legislative sentence before the midterms. GOPers wanted something more substantive. Democrats might have presented that opportunity to Republicans on a platter.
Before the House left for the midterms the week before last, it accentuated its session by passing the Ratepayer Protection Act, 417-3. Let me tell you, not much passes around here with 417 votes. Like their Senate colleagues, House Republicans also worry about voters doubting they’re addressing affordability. So this bill hit the mark for them.
The legislation defrays the costs ratepayers fork out for their utility bills if they’re driven up by data centers. This forces the tech companies which run the data centers to foot the bill.
Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is one of the most vulnerable Republicans on the ballot this fall. Husted’s longtime support for data centers is also dragging him down in the eyes of some voters. Husted tried to fix that. He went to the floor and asked for the Senate to pass on the spot the House bill. However, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., objected, blocking the effort.
POLL: ECONOMIC ANXIETY AND CANDIDATE CONCERNS DEFINE OHIO SENATE RACE
Republicans viewed that as an opening. Democrats stood in the way of passing a bill on affordability which 417 bipartisan House Members supported without blinking. Senate GOPers immediately seized this opportunity as a wedge against their adversaries. And, they interpreted this as a chance to assist their Ohio colleague.
«Tell the data centers we’re happy to have you. But you’ve got to pay your own electricity. People are not going to pay for it,» said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.
Republicans were already leery about the uneven political footing when it comes to AI. Even more so with data centers. Voters are not enamored with the results of the Big, Beautiful Bill, passed last summer. But dealing with data centers is more immediate and might resonate with those who soured on the Republican brand.
«In Missouri, people are absolutely scared to death that these data centers are going to take all the prime farm ground of the state. And then they’re going to raise electricity bills so high, no one will be able to afford them,» said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.
The official schedule intended for the Senate to meet this week. But once September hit and no government shutdown loomed, senators from both sides – especially those facing challenging elections – wanted to skip Washington and campaign back home. Yours truly asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., why his party stood in the way of the Senate aligning with the House on that data center/utilities measure.
«Was this blocked in the Senate last week by Democrats as an effort to prevent Sen. Husted from having a win in this competitive race?» I asked.
«Sen. Husted’s bill is a fraud. It’s voluntary. No company has to do it. The bill we have is mandatory. It is much stronger and is what is needed,» replied Schumer.
There is something to Schumer’s argument about how muscular the bill is. The legislation says public utility regulators must only consider a standard for ratepayers. Nothing is required. Thus, there’s wiggle room for tech firms.
HAWLEY TAKES AIM AT ‘CORPORATE WELFARE’ AFTER GOP-BACKED TAX BREAK BOOSTED CONTROVERSIAL INDUSTRY
«What we’re saying is that we can do much better,» said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. «Is it a little step forward? Yes. But it’s not meeting the moment. So our view is we should expand it to make sure that ratepayers aren’t having to subsidize the richest corporations on the planet.»
But a lot of Republicans aren’t buying what Schumer and Van Hollen are saying. The Democratic objections are all about three things: Politics. An endangered GOP senator in the most expensive Senate contest in the country. And, Democrats hoping to flip the seat in their favor.
«Sen. Schumer, what he cares about is the midterm election and politics. And I don’t think he cares about the substance of this,» said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. «Obviously there’s a hot and heavy Senate race going on in Ohio and he doesn’t want to let Sen. Husted have something he can talk about when he goes home.»
Republicans view the opportunity to turn the affordability issue against Democrats – capitalizing on Schumer’s remark and forcing Democrats to take a stand. Either you’re for affordability (especially as it pertains to the toxic issue of data centers) or you’re not. Moreover, this could boost Husted in his competitive contest with former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. In fact, it was the Senate GOP’s campaign arm which specifically flagged vulnerabilities for Republicans generally and Husted in particular over the summer.
Thune tees up a test vote on Wednesday to dare Democrats to either start debate on the bill or block it again. That vote requires 60 yeas. So Democratic cooperation is required. Although there’s skepticism anything happens, some Democrats may vote for it. That means the Senate is on the bill. And it’s open to debate and amendments. Thune would have to forge a bipartisan time agreement to finish the measure quickly.
Otherwise – by the book – this would drag into the weekend. And no one wants that. Especially Republicans with competitive races.
12 RACES SCRAMBLE SENATE BATTLEFIELD AS DEMOCRATS EYE COMEBACK
Thune and Schumer want senators back home campaigning. If Democrats impede the legislation Wednesday, the Senate might hang around Thursday or that’s it until after the midterms. Regardless, Republicans will have engineered a vote which they can boomerang against Democrats. Or, at least help Husted and send him back to the Buckeye State with a win.
While it’s not the best optic for Democrats to oppose this bill, their resistance might not directly wound anyone this fall. The reason: Democrats have a lot of chances to pick up seats. But vulnerable Democrats aren’t on the ballot. None of the Democratic Senate nominees in competitive seats like Maine, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas and Alaska currently hold office. The only sitting Democrat in cycle who has a mild race is Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.
So for the Democrats, this is about playing defense. For Republicans, this is about playing offense. And the GOP is on offense primarily for Husted.
But the willingness of Senate GOPers to spend an extra week in Washington speaks volumes. It underscores how worried they are about the affordability issue. And in particular, their concern about elevating the work of Husted.
politics, senate, republicans elections, chuck schumer, midterm elections
INTERNACIONAL
La muerte de ‘El Mencho’ y el efecto dominó en Guatemala: 252 bloqueos, una bomba y rutas del narcotráfico que cambiaron el mapa
La muerte de “El Mencho”, líder del Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), en una operación militar en Tapalpa, Jalisco, el 22 de febrero de 2026, desató una ola de violencia en México que reveló hasta qué punto Guatemala se convirtió en pieza clave del tablero regional del narcotráfico.
Horas después del operativo, la organización respondió con 252 bloqueos de carreteras en veinte estados mexicanos, la quema de vehículos y un coche bomba en San Juan de los Lagos que mató a un capitán de la Guardia Nacional, según un análisis de CES Intelligence, firma de inteligencia geopolítica.
La disputa por la sucesión del cártel repercute directamente en territorio guatemalteco, donde el CJNG controla o disputa el extremo norte de una de las principales rutas del narcotráfico regional, de acuerdo a un análisis de Diálogo Américas.
Las incautaciones de drogas sintéticas se multiplicaron en 2025
Según la Subdirección General de Análisis e Información Antinarcótica (SGAIA), de la Policía Nacional Civil de Guatemala, citada por Diálogo Américas, las incautaciones de metanfetamina pasaron de 3.4 a 6.13 kilogramos durante 2025.
Las autoridades decomisaron además 500 dosis de fentanilo, mientras continuaban las operaciones contra redes de tráfico de precursores químicos.
“Guatemala es utilizado como país de tránsito para el contrabando de sustancias químicas y precursores destinados a México, donde son empleados para producir fentanilo”, explicó a Diálogo Américas la periodista guatemalteca Julie López, especialista en narcotráfico.
López detalló que en zonas remotas de la frontera con México y en la costa sur se han descubierto laboratorios clandestinos dedicados sobre todo a la producción de metanfetaminas.
Guatemala se volvió estratégica para el tráfico de drogas sintéticas porque su ubicación conecta a los productores asiáticos de precursores químicos con los laboratorios clandestinos mexicanos y el mercado de consumo norteamericano, sobre corredores logísticos que antes servían para el contrabando de medicamentos falsificados procedentes de China.
En mayo de 2025, las autoridades desmantelaron en San José Pinula, en las afueras de Ciudad de Guatemala, el mayor laboratorio clandestino de drogas sintéticas descubierto hasta entonces en el país.
Adentro incautaron 132 recipientes con sustancias químicas, entre ellas ketamina, junto con materiales para elaborar metanfetamina y tusi, la llamada “droga rosa”.
El 21 de septiembre pasado, el Ministerio Público y la Policía Nacional Civil desmantelaron un presunto narcolaboratorio durante siete diligencias de allanamiento, inspección, registro y secuestro de pruebas en el departamento de Guatemala.
El operativo se concentró en inmuebles de San José Pinula y Santa Catarina Pinula, donde las autoridades localizaron paquetes rectangulares con presunta cocaína, cápsulas, piedras de crack, armas de fuego de grueso calibre, municiones, vehículos y dinero en efectivo, según reportó Infobae.
El corredor del Pacífico, ruta central de la cocaína
La presión sobre las pistas clandestinas de tráfico aéreo empujó a los cárteles hacia el mar. Desde principios de 2026, el corredor Ecuador-Guatemala-México se consolidó como una de las rutas marítimas principales para enviar cocaína hacia Norteamérica, según El País, diario español.
El Cártel de Sinaloa y el CJNG utilizan buques de carga, embarcaciones pesqueras, lanchas rápidas y transbordos en alta mar para reducir el riesgo de perder cargamentos completos ante una interdicción. “La principal ventaja del tráfico marítimo es que la droga puede ocultarse en cualquier tipo de mercancía o contenedor”, explicó López al diario.
El 25 de enero de 2026, la policía antinarcóticos incautó en Puerto Quetzal casi cinco toneladas de cocaína ocultas en siete contenedores de harina procedentes de Sudamérica y con destino a México. Fue el mayor decomiso en el país en 12 años, con un valor estimado de USD 85 millones, según CES Intelligence.
En los meses siguientes, las armadas de Guatemala y México interceptaron varias embarcaciones entre Puerto San José y Puerto Chiapas. Una de esas operaciones se registró a 600 millas náuticas (1.112 kilómetros) de la costa el 17 de mayo, de acuerdo con El País.
Los cárteles mexicanos y sus aliados locales
El Cártel de Sinaloa, establecido desde hace años en Guatemala, opera con una estructura descentralizada apoyada en grupos locales. La llegada del CJNG fue más reciente.
“El CJNG, que llegó a Guatemala alrededor de 2021, siguió la ruta y la zona de influencia que anteriormente pertenecían a Los Zetas”, afirmó López a Diálogo Américas. El cártel se asoció con Los Huistas, un grupo de Huehuetenango tradicionalmente aliado del Cártel de Sinaloa.
Una de las rutas del CJNG parte de Honduras, cruza la Franja Transversal del Norte hasta Huehuetenango y continúa hacia Chiapas. El Global Organized Crime Index 2025 identificó también la presencia de organizaciones criminales turcas involucradas en el tráfico de cocaína hacia Europa y en el comercio de fentanilo junto al Cártel de Sinaloa.
En abril, el Departamento del Tesoro de Estados Unidos sancionó al empresario guatemalteco Jaime Augusto Barrientos Camaz por facilitar el abastecimiento de precursores químicos al Cártel de Sinaloa. El caso de Wenshen Xu, detenido en Guatemala en 2025 y extraditado a Estados Unidos, mostró además cómo organizaciones chinas coordinan con los cárteles mexicanos operaciones logísticas y financieras: admitió haber transportado cocaína desde Colombia para el CJNG y lavado millones de dólares.
La captura de “Don Flaco” y la red de precursores desde China
El 22 de septiembre, autoridades mexicanas detuvieron en la alcaldía Cuauhtémoc de Ciudad de México a José Ángel Rivera Zazueta, alias “Don Flaco”, con fines de extradición a Estados Unidos, según el diario Zócalo.
Rivera Zazueta está señalado como coordinador y financiador de una red que trasladaba precursores químicos desde China hacia México y Estados Unidos.
Los insumos importados se destinaban a la fabricación de fentanilo, MDMA, metanfetaminas, 2C-B y ketamina.
La Oficina de Control de Activos Extranjeros del Tesoro estadounidense (OFAC) también sancionó por el mismo esquema al ciudadano guatemalteco Jason Antonio Yang López, socio de Rivera Zazueta en la obtención e importación de precursores, según Zócalo.
El caso confirma el papel de intermediarios guatemaltecos entre proveedores asiáticos y organizaciones mexicanas, un patrón que ya había registrado la desarticulación, en mayo, de una red local que coordinaba importaciones de precursores desde la India hacia laboratorios mexicanos mediante empresas de mensajería, transporte y remesas.
El desafío de seguridad más allá del narcotráfico
Desde el 19 de febrero de 2025, el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos designó al Cártel de Sinaloa y al CJNG como organizaciones terroristas extranjeras, según CNN en Español. La medida se suma a la designación de decenas de grupos criminales de México, Venezuela, Guatemala y Ecuador.
La disputa territorial entre ambos cárteles a lo largo de la frontera con México provocó el desplazamiento de civiles en algunas zonas fronterizas.
En paralelo, el presidente Bernardo Arévalo declaró en enero un estado de excepción de treinta días tras motines carcelarios protagonizados por las pandillas Barrio 18 y MS-13, de acuerdo con el Programa de Datos sobre Conflictos de Uppsala (UCDP).
“La gran evolución del narcotráfico en Guatemala tiene que ver con el cultivo de hoja de coca. En los últimos años se han identificado cultivos principalmente en la zona centro-norte del país y en el departamento de Petén”, advirtió López a la publicación.
Aunque esos cultivos todavía no son comparables con la producción de los países andinos, su aparición sugiere el interés de las organizaciones criminales por incorporar nuevas etapas de la cadena productiva dentro de Centroamérica.
La cooperación entre Guatemala, Estados Unidos y otros socios regionales fortaleció la capacidad para interceptar grandes cargamentos durante 2026, pero el desafío persiste: integrar inteligencia, vigilancia marítima y seguimiento financiero para desmantelar redes cada vez más flexibles.
Guatemala,Marihuana,Narcotráfico,Cultivos ilícitos,Petén,Frontera con México
La cifra de los “20.000 terroristas” deportados que dio Milei choca con los datos del Ministerio de Seguridad
UK airbase terror suspects being released on bail as Iran denies connection
La nueva era del consumo: crece el pesimismo, se recortan gastos y aparece la “bolucompra”
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 cambia para siempre. El gran RPG medieval apuesta por el ‘roleplay’ al estilo GTA Online gracias a un proyecto fan
Reporter’s Notebook: Senate Republicans scrap early exit from Washington as midterm stakes soar
Máximo Kirchner aseguró que CFK tiene la voluntad de ser candidata a presidenta
La pobreza subió al 32,3% en el primer semestre del año y afectó a 15,5 millones de personas
El gesto de Moria Casán con el embajador de Noruega tras viralizarse el video con sus icónicas frases
En fotos: así fue la recepción de Xi Jinping en la Casa Blanca
El oficialismo logró activar en el Senado el debate por la reforma del Banco Central y el régimen de Zonas Frías
INTERNACIONAL2 días agoTrump’s Greenland deal shadows Xi visit after years of Beijing eyeing Arctic influence
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
Mauro Icardi confirmó su infidelidad con la China Suárez a Wanda Nara, mientras estaban casados y recordó detalles muy íntimos: «Qué hijo de p…»
- INTERNACIONAL2 días ago
El secretario de Defensa británico dijo que el Reino Unido está preparado para defender militarmente las Malvinas
