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AOC, Bernie Sanders 'fighting oligarchy' tour called out for massive carbon footprint

By Stephen KokxMay 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
AOC, Bernie Sanders 'fighting oligarchy' tour called out for massive carbon footprint
Mario Tama/Getty Images | U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) hold hands during a stop on their ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour at Grand Park on April 12, 2025, in Los Angeles, California

Per an energy watchdog, the pair's 16 rallies in 8 states over the last 3 months have burned through an enormous amount of fuel, seemingly contradicting liberal orthodoxy on climate change.

(LifeSiteNews) -- Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and socialist U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders have egg on their faces.

A report released by an energy watchdog group has found that their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has left a massive carbon footprint.

Power the Future alleges that the pair’s 16 rallies in eight states over the last three months have burned through an enormous amount of fuel, which would seemingly contradict liberal orthodoxy on climate change.

“60.7 tonnes of CO₂ were emitted from just five private flights where commercial travel was viable. That’s 45 times more CO₂ per leg than flying commercial, per passenger. To absorb that carbon would require 2,892 mature trees working for a full year,” the group found.

The “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has served as a shot in the arm for the depleted Democratic Party, which has been in disarray since the November elections last fall. The party’s latest controversy stems from recently-installed Vice Chair David Hogg, a former anti-gun activist in his 20s who has been perceived as being in over his head. The party is seeking to remove him from the post after abysmal appearances on Bill Maher and ABC.

The central theme of the tour is that Trump has been surrounding himself with “oligarchs” like Elon Musk and others, and that this is contrary to democracy.

While Musk is indeed the richest man in the world, conservatives are quick to point out that uber-wealthy persons have supported the Democratic Party for decades, including George Soros and his son Alex, Bill Gates, and more.

Fox News Digital has also found that Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez “were spotted using a private jet worth up to a staggering $15,000 an hour for several West Coast stops” on the tour.

Ocasio-Cortez’s social media team has used the rallies to build up her public profile. She was asked by a reporter last month if she was going to run for president given the high-quality production value of the videos.

She did not answer the question directly, prompting speculation on social media that she has not ruled out a 2028 bid of the White House. She may also run for the U.S. Senate should current New York Senator Chuck Schumer retire.

During a Fox News interview, current Vice President JD Vance, who is widely rumored to run for president in 2028 as well, told Bret Baier than an AOC presidency would be “the stuff of nightmares.”

Health & Science
May 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
SK

Stephen Kokx

Stephen Kokx is a journalist for LifeSiteNews. A former community college instructor, Stephen has written and spoken extensively about Catholic social teaching, politics, and spirituality. He previously worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago under the late Francis Cardinal George. His essays have appeared in a variety of outlets, including Catholic Family News and CatholicVote.org. He is the author of two books, Navigating the Crisis in the Church: Essays in Defense of Traditional Catholicism and St. Alphonsus for the 21st Century: A Handbook for Holiness.
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Article At A Glance

  • Per an energy watchdog, the pair's 16 rallies in 8 states over the last 3 months have burned through an enormous amount of fuel, seemingly contradicting liberal orthodoxy on climate change.

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