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5 Common Credit Card Mistakes To Avoid

Filed Under: Clark Howard, SUCCESS

Do you use a rewards credit card to pay for your everyday expenses?

Used the right way, a rewards card can earn you cash back or travel points and give you better consumer protections than swiping a debit card.

And it has the blessing of money expert Clark Howard, provided that you are following his rules for using credit cards.

But take note: There are some risks associated with using credit cards.

In this article, I’m going to highlight some of the most common mistakes that people make with them and provide some common sense solutions to avoid them.

5 Common Credit Card Mistakes To Avoid

1. Not Paying Your Balance in Full Every Month

It wouldn’t be a proper Team Clark credit card article if I didn’t start with this disclaimer: We only endorse using credit cards as a primary payment method if you’re able to pay your card balance in full by the end of each billing cycle.

With the average credit card interest APR above 20%, it simply doesn’t make sense to carry a balance on a credit card.

Not only does that APR dwarf the cash back you can earn on your purchases, it also washes away any of the benefits or perks that you could receive from the card.

If your spending with plastic is out of control and you can’t pay your full bill, consider switching to a cash-based purchasing method wherever possible.

If you find yourself in a tough spot needing to make a purchase you cannot afford, we suggest exhausting other resources, such as a small fixed-rate loan from your local credit union, to borrow the money you need at a rate much lower than the APR a credit card will charge.

2. Paying Annual Fees on Cards You Don’t Use Often

Most of the “top tier” travel credit cards come with a hefty annual fee. Some of them now charge upwards of $900 per year just for the privilege of carrying them.

The value in paying for these cards is in luxury benefits like airport lounge access, airline or hotel status upgrades, and other statement credit opportunities.

And while frequent travelers may be able to obtain value in the perks and benefits from those cards, it’s much harder for people who travel occasionally to see a positive return on that annual fee investment.

That’s why Clark often recommends that non-frequent travelers stick to cash back credit cards with no annual fee for best results.

3. Leaving Rewards on the Table

If you’re the type of person who carries multiple credit cards in your wallet, you’ll want to make sure that you’re maximizing your rewards-earning opportunities on each purchase.

It may not seem like a big deal on a single transaction, but optimizing the rewards you get on hundreds or thousands of transactions over the course of years can really add up.

For example, if you’re going out to eat dinner, make sure you carry the credit card that earns you the most rewards for dining. Or if you’re going grocery shopping, use the card that rewards supermarket purchases best.

Team Clark recommends using a 2% cash back credit card as a “baseline” rewards mark for everyday purchases. So any card that offers rewards beyond that in select categories should be considered for those purchases.

There are apps out there that can help with this, but Clark also often references a labeling system a listener once suggested as a way to keep things straight.

4. Using Swiping As An Excuse for Ignoring Your Budget

It is easier than ever to pay with a credit card. You don’t even need your actual card to swipe to pay anymore. It can be as simple as tapping your smartwatch at the point-of-sale and you’re on your way with the items you decided to purchase.

This convenience is a great timesaver. But far too many consumers allow that convenience to slip into overspending.

Stick to your budget and earn your rewards with credit cards. If you can’t trust yourself to do that, we suggest instead going to the store with cash to make the purchases you need.

5. Paying Your Bill Without Reviewing Your Transactions Each Month

We all love to pay our bills as efficiently as possible, but credit cards are not something to simply pay blindly when the balance comes due. You really should set aside a few minutes to review your credit card statement each month.

There are a few reasons this is beneficial:

You can flag any fraudulent purchases that you didn’t authorize

You can identify any purchases that you did make but may have been overcharged

You gain a better understanding of your own spending habits and can identify areas you may be overspending

Do you have a credit card lesson you learned the hard way? Want to warn others? We’d love to hear about it in the Clark.com community.
The post 5 Common Credit Card Mistakes To Avoid appeared first on Clark Howard.

Why Frequent Travelers Should Be Using an eSIM

Filed Under: Clark Howard, SUCCESS

If you’re a frequent international traveler, you know how expensive it can be to stay connected abroad. Fortunately, travel eSIM plans are completely changing the game.

In this article, I’ll share how you can save hundreds of dollars on international connectivity by using an eSIM.

Quick Links: 

International Roaming Add-Ons vs. Travel eSIM Plans

International Phone Plans vs. Travel eSIM Plans

How To Shop for a Travel eSIM Plan

eSIM Plans: An Affordable Way To Stay Connected Abroad

If you rely on your regular cell phone plan to stay connected while traveling outside of the U.S., you’re likely overpaying for international service.

Many travelers will add an expensive international package to their phone bill as needed or pay for a more expensive monthly plan with international connectivity included. Instead, you can save money by opting for a cheaper regular cell phone plan and adding a second local line when you travel. 

eSIM-compatible phones make this an easier, more affordable option. 

Physical SIM cards are slowly becoming obsolete. Instead, many of the latest smartphones rely on eSIMs (embedded SIMs), which are built into the phone’s hardware and activated remotely. 

Unlike physical SIM cards, which take up the only available slot in your phone, you can have multiple active eSIM lines on the same device and choose which one to use for data, calls and texts. With this feature, you can keep your regular U.S.-based line active while you travel, but use a cheaper local plan for cellular data instead.

Additionally, travel eSIM plans are shockingly affordable. Depending on your destination(s), you can often find prepaid plans ranging from 7-30+ days for under $30. Team Clark member Laura recently tested travel eSIM plans on two international trips: 

 “I haven’t paid more than $10 for either eSIM, and both worked well for me,” says Laura. “Compare that to $10/day for international service from some carriers and it’s a no-brainer!”

In the following sections, I’ll take a closer look at how much you can save and how to shop for a local eSIM plan.

International Roaming Add-Ons vs. Travel eSIM Plans

Some cell phone plans come with a small amount of international roaming or connectivity, but most require an optional “add-on.” These add-ons typically include roaming data, but the amount of high-speed data you’ll be able to access may be limited based on your provider or destination.

In the table below, you can see the price and data details for an international roaming add-on from a couple of major U.S. providers and more affordable U.S. MVNOs. I’ve compared these add-ons to popular travel eSIM providers’ current prices for a 7-day unlimited eSIM with coverage throughout Europe: 

ProviderAdd-OnData DetailsPrice for 7 Days

AT&T$12/dayUnlimited data
Based on your current plan allotment$84

Verizon$12/day

$10/month for 3 daysUnlimited data
5GB high-speed/day$58-$84

Visible$10/dayUnlimited data
2GB high-speed/day$70

US Mobile$305GB$60 (for 10GB total)

Holafly (Travel eSIM)$27.50/weekUnlimited high-speed data$27.50

Airalo (Travel eSIM)$27/weekUnlimited data
5GB high-speed/day$27

Saily (Travel eSIM)$26.99/weekUnlimited data
3GB high-speed/day$26.99

Vodafone (Travel eSIM)$21/weekUnlimited data
5GB high-speed/day$21

While these are the prices I can see online from travel eSIM companies, know that you’ll likely find even cheaper plans after arriving at your destination. These prices will vary based on your location, plan duration, high-speed data allotments, etc.

As you can see, a week of cellular data throughout Europe costs ~$25 on average from a travel eSIM company. Alternatively, an international add-on from AT&T or Verizon can easily reach $84 for one week. 

Depending on how often you travel and the length of your trips, these savings can quickly add up.

International Phone Plans vs. Travel eSIM Plans

If you travel very frequently, you may have already invested in a cell phone plan that includes international connectivity.For some travelers, these plans are worth the higher monthly price. However, you could be overpaying for an international phone plan if you don’t use the majority of features at home.

Even if you’re out of the country 6-8 weeks annually, are you using enough of your international cell phone plan to justify the cost when you’re home? 

To compare, here are a few of our favorite international cell phone plans:

Provider/PlanPlan PriceInternationalAnnual Price

Google Fi Wireless$65/month- Unlimited data in 200+ countries
(50GB high-speed)
– Free international texting
– Data, calls and texts in Canada and Mexico
– Calls from the U.S. to 50+ destinations$780

Verizon Unlimited Ultimate$95/month- Unlimited talk and text in 210+ countries
– Unlimited data in 210+ countries
(15GB high-speed)
– International talk and text from the U.S.$1,140

T-Mobile Experience Beyond$100/month- Unlimited texting in 215+ countries
– Unlimited data in 215+ countries
(15GB high-speed)
– Unlimited texting in Canada and Mexico
– Unlimited data in Canada and Mexico
(30GB high-speed)
– International texting from the U.S. $1,200

Now, here’s an example of what your annual spending could look like with a more affordable U.S. MVNO alongside a travel eSIM: 

Provider/PlanPlan PriceTravel eSIMAnnual Price
w/ 6 Weeks Travel

US Mobile Unlimited Starter (Review)$270/year$10-$30/week$330 – $450

Visible (Review)$275/year$10-$30/week$335 – $455

Mint Mobile Unlimited (Review)$360/year$10-$30/week$420 – $540

As you can see, choosing a cheaper cell phone plan for most of the year is an easy way to save. Plus, each of these plans still includes unlimited data in the U.S.

Of course, the amount you’ll save will vary based on how much you travel, the plans you’re switching from/to, and the cost of the eSIM you choose on your trips. 

Still, based on these numbers, you could easily save $240-$750+ annually with a travel eSIM compared to an international phone plan.

How To Shop for a Travel eSIM Plan

Bring an Unlocked Phone

Before you purchase a travel eSIM plan, confirm that your phone is unlocked. If your current phone is paid off, it’s likely already unlocked and can be used to activate a second line.

Purchase and Activate When You Arrive

You can buy an international phone plan online before your trip from a travel eSIM company like Airalo, Holafly or Saily. However, you’ll likely find the most affordable options available after landing at your destination. 

While it may seem intimidating to buy cell service when you arrive, it’s actually very simple (and cheap!).

“Some people get intimidated by that and they’ll go buy at a travel website in the United States before they go,” says money expert Clark Howard. “You’re going to be shocked at how much more you’re paying doing that than just doing it when you get to where you’re going. It’s really easy, especially if your phone takes eSIM.”

Typically, you’ll see a few options in international airports as well as at convenience stores and shops along busy streets. As long as your phone is unlocked, you can easily activate an eSIM at one of these locations in major cities in most countries.

Choose a Plan That Will Meet Your Needs

The most affordable local plans will include a set amount of local minutes, texts and high-speed data. You’ll also be able to choose how long you need coverage (ex., 7 days, 10 days, 15 days, 30 days, etc.) 

If you buy an eSIM online before your trip, be sure to read the details. For example, calling and texting vary between travel eSIM plans. Many include local calls and texts, but others are data-only eSIMs.

Finally, make sure you’ll have coverage in all the locations you plan to visit, or plan to buy another local cell phone plan if you visit a different country.

Connect to the U.S. via Wi-Fi-Based Apps

When shopping for a travel eSIM, you don’t necessarily need to find a plan that includes calling and texting to the U.S. Instead, consider staying connected to friends and family back home through a Wi-Fi-based communication app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

If your regular cell phone plan supports Wi-Fi calling, you can even switch back to your regular eSIM to make calls while connected. Just make sure to switch back to your travel eSIM before disconnecting from Wi-Fi to prevent any accidental international usage charges.

Using your hotel’s Wi-Fi and staying connected whenever possible is also a great way to reduce your overall high-speed mobile data usage. This will help stretch your plan and ensure reliable coverage throughout your trip.

To learn more about how to shop for a local eSIM plan while traveling, read our full guide here.
The post Why Frequent Travelers Should Be Using an eSIM appeared first on Clark Howard.

The next big problem for AI agents is identity

Filed Under: SUCCESS, The Street

Meta’s Muse launched three weeks ago. The company’s AI books flights, negotiates bills, processes payments and manages emails, all on its own, without asking permission for each step. Millions of people now have a piece of software acting on their behalf in the real world.

Nobody has figured out what happens when it gets something wrong. That is not a small gap. That is the next big problem in AI.

As agents like Muse move from novelty to infrastructure, a question the technology industry has avoided is becoming unavoidable: when an AI agent shows up to a bank, a payment platform or an e-commerce checkout, who checks its ID? Who verifies what it is, who sent it and whether it actually has permission to do what it is trying to do? The capability arrived before anyone built the system to govern it.

The identity gap nobody planned for

The entire architecture of digital identity was built around one assumption: a person is on the other side. Someone who can log in, give consent and be held accountable. AI agents do not fit that model. They run continuously, move between services and make decisions without the user directly involved at every step.

That is the identity gap. And it is one the technology industry built its way into without a plan for getting out. A 2026 report found that only 28% of organizations can reliably trace agent actions back to a human sponsor, and fewer than a quarter have any formal strategy for managing agent identity at all.

More AI:

Nvidia just made a move Wall Street wasn’t ready for

Microsoft just took sides in AI policy fight

OpenAI just disclosed something genuinely alarming

Animoca Brands’ Moca Network recently took a direct shot at that problem with the launch of Moca Chain, an EVM-compatible Layer 1 built specifically around agent identity. Through its AIR system, businesses can verify who an agent represents and what it has been authorized to do.

Sachi Kamiya, director of venture and growth at Sentient Foundation, told TheStreet that the core of the problem is the absence of any shared standard. “The biggest gap today is that there is no standardized framework for verifying an AI agent: who it represents, what system it is running, and what authority it has been given.”

Not every agent should have the same keys

Knowing who an agent is and knowing what it is allowed to do are two very different things.

Consider the difference between asking an agent to find a restaurant and letting it move money between bank accounts. Both are things an agent could technically handle. The consequences of getting the second one wrong are a different matter entirely.

That is the authorization problem, and it sits on top of the identity problem. A verified agent still needs limits. Those limits need to be clearly defined, easy to enforce and even easier to revoke.

Kamiya compared the challenge to bringing on a new hire. “When you first hire someone, you don’t immediately give them full access to your bank account, inbox, corporate card, and company infrastructure. You start with smaller tasks, evaluate their performance, and gradually increase their authority as trust develops.”

The same principle needs to apply to agents. Start with narrow permissions. Expand them as trust is established. Both the platform building the agent and the person deploying it share responsibility for holding that line.

One person, many agents, no map

The problem goes deeper than what any single agent is authorized to do. Most people will not run just one agent. They will run several, each handling a different part of their life. One for travel. One for shopping. Another for routine financial tasks. Each of those agents will interact with services that have no idea they all belong to the same person.

That creates a problem that is easy to underestimate. A merchant running a promotion capped at two purchases per customer has no defense if one person sends a dozen agents to take advantage of it. Fraud systems built around human behavior may not catch the pattern at all.

Ajay Patel, head of World ID and chief revenue officer at Tools for Humanity, told TheStreet the issue starts at the architectural level. “Everything we use online today was basically built with the assumption that the entity interacting with a service is a human. Agents break that assumption.”

That balance does not yet exist in any reliable form.

Solving the agent identity problem is not a one-layer job.10’000 Hours / Getty Images

Payments will force the issue

Every part of the agent identity problem gets more urgent the moment money is involved.

An agent that gives bad advice is a nuisance. An agent that makes an unauthorized payment is a liability. The difference is accountability, and accountability in the agentic AI space is largely still theoretical.

Patel further argued that the connection between identity and payments has always been tighter than most people realize. “I’ve said for a long time that payments are an identity problem. That becomes even more obvious with agents.”

For machine-to-machine commerce to function, merchants and financial institutions need more than proof that a valid agent is present. They need to know that the agent was specifically authorized to complete that transaction, by a real person, at that moment. For high-value actions, that may mean requiring a cryptographic record of human approval before any money moves.

The infrastructure the agentic economy still needs

Solving the agent identity problem is not a one-layer job.

The first layer is credentialing: cryptographic tools that let an agent prove what it is authorized to do without exposing the sensitive details behind that authorization. Zero-knowledge proofs are one approach being actively explored.

The second is standardized payment infrastructure. Agents need a common way to discover prices, authorize transactions and interact with other machines without relying on a patchwork of incompatible systems.

The third is model verification. A valid credential is not enough if the AI running behind it has been altered or replaced. Confirming that the model powering an agent is actually what it claims to be is a problem that Sentient Foundation, among others, is researching directly.

Kenneth Shek, CEO of Moca Network, further said the core gap is not authentication but authority. “Scalable data sharing is necessary for AI agents to act on behalf of humans, however the trust framework for delegation and authority is lacking. In the past, platforms have compromised user privacy to enable agent automation.”

None of those layers exists in finished form. The technology making agents more capable has moved fast. The infrastructure making them trustworthy is still catching up.

Related: Google set to challenge Meta Muse in the Agentic AI race

Omani Co-Pilot Stabbed Captain, Tried To Hijack Israel-Bound Jet

Filed Under: THE NEWS

Omani Co-Pilot Stabbed Captain, Tried To Hijack Israel-Bound Jet

Summary: 

CNN Sources Say Co-Pilot Tried To Hijack Plane 
Omani Co-Pilot Stabbed Pilot 
Midair Horror: FlyDubai Pilot Reportedly Stabbed, Israeli News Says Incident Treated As “Full-Fledged Terror Attack”
Two Israeli sources told CNN that the Omani co-pilot aboard the Israel-bound Flydubai flight earlier this morning attempted to hijack the plane and stabbed the pilot in the process. 

The outlet said:

The sources said it was not yet clear whether the intention would have been to crash the plane or to land it and take hostages.

Both the pilot and co-pilot were injured in the incident on the flight which was traveling to Tel Aviv but forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

Added:

One of the main questions being looked into is why the flight crew included a pilot from a country with which Israel does not have diplomatic relations, the official said.

One of the pilots on Flydubai flight FZ1073 was Omani, two Israeli officials told CNN earlier. One of the officials said the Omani national was the co-pilot, allegedly the attacker in the violent incident.

Oman and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations. It is not yet clear how the Omani pilot would have obtained clearance to fly to Israel.

A separate headline from Bloomberg cited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the pilot tried to crash the plane. 

Images of flight #FZ1073 at Tabuk Airport appear to show that part of the aircraft’s rudder is missing or damaged.
Earlier in the flight, Flightradar24 data recorded an extreme descent rate of approximately -30,000 ft/min. https://t.co/8N8BLkvpiX
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 30, 2026
The incident comes one week before the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, when Hamas-led militants crossed from Gaza into Israel, killed about 1,200 people and took roughly 250 others hostage.

Midair Horror: FlyDubai Pilot Reportedly Stabbed, Israeli News Says Incident Treated As “Full-Fledged Terror Attack”

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv abruptly diverted to Saudi Arabia earlier today after a reported fight between the pilots triggered a distress alert, sources told CNN.

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 shows Flydubai Flight FZ1073 diverted over Jordanian airspace toward Saudi Arabia and rapidly descended 17,400 feet in just minutes around 0120 ET. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled.

According to Amit Segal of Israel’s Channel 12 News:

Following situation assessments and passenger testimonies, Israel is treating the incident as a full-fledged terrorist attack. It appears that the co-pilot repeatedly stabbed the captain. Once the attack began, several crew members and passengers managed to break through the cockpit door and subdue the attacker.

According to one senior official, the co-pilot is currently being questioned, and indications are mounting that he intended to take control of the plane and crash it with the passengers on board.

Following situation assessments and passenger testimonies, Israel is treating the incident as a full-fledged terrorist attack. It appears that the co-pilot repeatedly stabbed the captain. Once the attack began, several crew members and passengers managed to break through the… https://t.co/BXS4kIjGXk
— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) September 30, 2026
Flydubai confirmed the midair incident and said the Boeing 737 landed safely in Tabuk, with all passengers safe and accounted for. However, the airline did not specify the nature of the incident.

“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the carrier said. “Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available.”

Passengers told Israel’s Channel 12 that they heard shouting near the cockpit and an altercation inside. They also said the aircraft plunged before landing in Saudi Arabia.

 

Tyler Durden
Wed, 09/30/2026 – 09:58

Apple’s $2,000 Foldable iPhone Could Sell 6 Million Units, Counterpoint Says

Filed Under: THE NEWS

Apple’s $2,000 Foldable iPhone Could Sell 6 Million Units, Counterpoint Says

Counterpoint senior analyst Ivan Lam expects Apple to sell about 6 million units of its first foldable iPhone this year. The estimate offers an early sentiment gauge of potential demand for Apple’s first-ever foldable handset, priced at roughly $2,000.

The iPhone Duo sales forecast hinges on Apple’s ability to ramp up production, Lam said, according to Bloomberg News. The new foldable iPhone is scheduled for release in October.

Separately, market research firm IDC expects global foldable shipments to rise 13% to 22.9 million units this year. Without Apple’s iPhone Duo, that segment would slide into a contraction.

Initial iPhone 18 Pro family sales rose 12% compared with the iPhone 17 Pro launch, according to Lam. That performance helped Apple capture a 33% share of China’s smartphone market during the period tracked.

However, iPhone 18 sales signals in China are mixed. Edison Lee, Jefferies’ head of China and Hong Kong technology and software research, commented on the launch on Monday, saying, “Weak 18P/PM resale prices vs. 17P/PM remain our clearest sign of softer demand, despite a weekend rebound in lead times that could reflect tighter supply as DUO ramps.”

Lam pointed out, “Price hikes of over $200 on many Chinese flagship models may have raised the price anchor, strengthening the iPhone’s relative value proposition.” That’s good news for Apple as the price gap between its phones and those of domestic brands narrows, making its premium prices easier to defend in an overall soft market.

For Apple, the US launch clashes with a souring consumer backdrop. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index plunged in September to its lowest level since April 2014, while elevated gasoline and diesel prices continue to squeeze household budgets.

The question is whether cash-strapped consumers can afford $2,000 for a foldable iPhone. Vision Pro’s disappointing launch a few years back offers a cautionary tale.

If the Duo struggles to attract consumers beyond wealthy first adopters, Apple’s new CEO could face an early test of the company’s push further upmarket.

Tyler Durden
Wed, 09/30/2026 – 10:00

Democrats split on AOC as some battleground candidates distance themselves from ‘Squad’ lawmaker

Filed Under: THE NEWS

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is fast becoming a central figurehead in the 2026 midterm election cycle, and a polarizing one at that.Some moderate candidates are shunning the progressive rising star’s endorsement, Axios reported this week, while others in tight races are welcoming her with open arms.Several Democratic strategists who spoke with Fox News Digital said they were not shocked that some on the left are keeping her at arm’s length.”It wasn’t especially surprising, like, her numbers with independent voters aren’t always great, and it’s very circumstantial depending upon where you would want to deploy somebody with that type of background and somebody who, you know, a lot of Americans have an impression of already — sometimes positive, sometimes negative,” Mike Nellis, a former political advisor for former Vice President Kamala Harris, told Fox News Digital. “I always just encourage people, like, you do what you gotta do, cause it’s hard to play coalition politics.”DEMOCRAT CHALLENGING MIKE LAWLER WON’T COMMIT ON CAMPAIGNING WITH AOC, MAMDANI OR REJECTING DSAAnd there are at least two candidates who appear to think the original “Squad” member is more of a liability.HASAN PIKER SAYS HE’D ‘ABSOLUTELY’ CAMPAIGN FOR AOC IN 2028 AS EL-SAYED DISTANCES HIMSELFCait Conley, who is running to unseat Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in a district near Ocasio-Cortez’s, told CNN’s “State of the Union,” “I’m good” when asked if she would campaign with Democratic socialists like her or New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.Conley’s campaign did not return a request for comment by Fox News Digital by publication time.And Sam Forstag in Montana reportedly removed all mention of Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement from his campaign website. He told Axios, “I don’t intend to be having a lot of folks from out of state campaigning with me over these next 40 days.”Forstag’s campaign did not return multiple emailed requests for comment by Fox News Digital.JAMES CARVILLE PREDICTS 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WILL TEST TRUE STRENGTH OF PARTY’S SOCIALIST WING”In the final days leading up to an election, you want to make your message specific and local and repeatable and national celebrities just don’t help with that,” a veteran Democratic strategist who works on House and Senate campaigns told Fox News Digital.The strategist, who asked to remain anonymous to speak more freely, said “AOC is more of a celebrity” than most of the other potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders. “I think AOC is one of the few Democrats who has transcended to just culture generally, which makes her visits heavier in the discourse.”And that celebrity status is being used in other key races. Ocasio-Cortez joined forces with fellow progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders to headline a trio of rallies for left-wing candidate Abdul El-Sayed in July, a couple of weeks before the Democratic Senate primary in the key battleground state of Michigan.El-Sayed ended up narrowly edging more moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., in a nomination battle that highlighted the ongoing battle between the left and the center for the ideological future of the Democratic Party.While Ocasio-Cortez has yet to return to Michigan since the early August primary, El-Sayed’s campaign says they’d welcome her return to the campaign trail.”There are a lot of Michiganders who can’t wait to have AOC back in town,” El-Sayed campaign communications director Roxie Richner told Fox News Digital.AOC BACKS FLORIDA DEM ANGIE NIXON FOR US SENATE: ‘I’M PROUD TO ENDORSE HER’El-Sayed and former House Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., are facing off in the race to succeed Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. The midterm showdown is a must-hold for the Democrats as they try to win back the Senate majority from the Republicans.Ocasio-Cortez also appeared in Florida recently alongside far-left Senate candidate Angie Nixon, who is running an underdog campaign against Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.A Democratic victory there is a long shot, but Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign trail travels come as speculation mounts about her own future political plans.The Democratic socialist is widely seen as a potential successor to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., when he is through in the upper chamber. But there’s also buzz about a potential 2028 presidential campaign — something Ocasio-Cortez has not confirmed nor denied.”I think she’s a unique political talent. She’s clearly got, like, a large group of people in the country who would get behind her, and those are the beginnings of what you need to build an operation to run for president. So I think she’d be stupid not to think about it,” Nellis said. “At the same time, you know, do you take a 5% chance of being the Democratic nominee… or do you take like a much better than 50-50 chance of being the next United States senator from New York? If it were me advising her, I’d probably tell her to run for Senate.”Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign for comment on the Axios report.

HORROR IN HOUSTON: Mother Allegedly Shoots and Kills Her 4-Year-Old Daughter After Custody Hearing, Then Turns the Gun on Herself

Filed Under: THE NEWS

Credit: Houston Police/X
A 4-year-old girl is dead in west Houston after her own mother allegedly opened fire inside a Memorial-area townhome Tuesday evening, then shot herself in the face.
Houston Police say officers were called around 5:45 p.m. to the 300 block of Terra Reserve Place. They found the little girl dead from a gunshot wound. Her 30-year-old mother was also shot and rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Police say she is expected to survive.

Westside officers are at a homicide scene 300 Terra Reserve. Possible suspect detained. 202 pic.twitter.com/Kz0UgelGHx
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) September 30, 2026

According to FOX 26 Houston, a custody hearing involving the child’s father took place earlier that same morning. Investigators believe the mother lost custody and then snapped.
Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department said the mother was at the home with her daughter when the shooting happened. The child’s stepfather and a babysitter were also inside. They heard the gunshots and found the two victims. Neither was physically harmed.
Homicide investigators remain on the scene. The mother has not been publicly identified. No charges have been announced yet as she remains hospitalized.
A 4-year-old girl will never start kindergarten. Her father, who, according to local reports, had just been awarded custody, now faces the unimaginable.
WATCH:

A four-year-old girl is dead after a shooting at a west Houston townhome Tuesday evening.
Police say the child’s mother shot her daughter and then herself following a custody hearing earlier that morning.pic.twitter.com/NplIN1LQTI
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) September 30, 2026

This is the kind of story that should stop the country cold. A preschooler is dead because a custody fight ended with a gun instead of a court order being followed like a civilized society.
The Gateway Pundit reported just weeks ago on another sickening custody-related massacre: a New York mother and grandmother who poisoned and stabbed four children, then killed themselves days before the father was scheduled to finally reunite with them after a six-year fight.

The post HORROR IN HOUSTON: Mother Allegedly Shoots and Kills Her 4-Year-Old Daughter After Custody Hearing, Then Turns the Gun on Herself appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.