All eyes are on Ocasio-Cortez, but what does her brand of politics actually mean for the Democrats as they head into the presidential elections next year? The Guardian’s Lauren Gambino reports from Washington. And Rupert Jones discusses the dangers of the rising number of windowless microflats

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest US congresswoman ever and has quickly become a household name. Renowned for bold challenges in Congress and radical policies such as her “Green New Deal” focusing on climate change, Ocasio-Cortez is not afraid of being heard – or of the backlash that might bring.

There is a lot of excitement around her but, as Democrats start gearing up for the 2020 presidential elections, some are concerned about her brand of politics. She has become a clear target for the far right in America, and for anyone seeking to portray the Democrats as radicals, or even communists.

Lauren Gambino, political correspondent for Guardian US, talks to Anushka Asthana about whether Ocasio-Cortez and her ambitious ideas will help the Democrats to power, or become an albatross around their necks.



Also today: the Guardian’s Rupert Jones on the rise of the microflat. There’s been a boom in office buildings being turned into housing without a proper planning process, creating spaces so small that there are no windows or proper ventilation. In the middle of a housing crisis, can shoebox studio flats really be the answer?