President Joe Biden has emphatically said he's remaining in the 2024 race.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
The Times' editorial board is once again calling on President Biden to forgo his reelection bid.
The board first made the plea after Biden's widely panned debate performance last month.
In a new piece, the board wrote that Biden "is no longer an effective spokesman for his own priorities."
President Joe Biden has emphatically said in recent days that he's not abandoning his reelection bid, a decision that continues to divide Democrats eager to stave off former President Donald Trump.
Biden's poor debate performance against Trump has set off major alarm bells with many Democratic voters, lawmakers, and donors — a scenario that they didn't envision in the lead-up to the party's August convention in Chicago.
For more than a year, The New York Times has extensively covered issues tied to voter concerns about Biden's age, often pointing to polling which showed that a majority of the 81-year-old president's 2020 supporters felt as though he was too old to seek reelection.
After last month's debate, The Times' editorial board, which operates separately from the newsroom, called on Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee.
And this week, the board once again urged Biden to leave the race, arguing that the president was seeking to "defy reality" by remaining the Democratic Party's standard-bearer.
"For more than a year, voters have made it unquestionably clear in surveys and interviews that they harbor significant doubts about Mr. Biden's physical and mental fitness for office," the board wrote. "Mr. Biden has disregarded the concerns of those voters — his fellow citizens — and put the country at significant risk by continuing to insist that he is the best Democrat to defeat Mr. Trump."
The board criticized Biden's dismissal of poll numbers showing him trailing Trump in most national surveys and holding no major advantage in critical swing states, writing that the president has "adopted a favorite theme of the floundering politician" by doing so.
And the board also pleaded with Democrats — from grassroots organizers and top leaders within the party — to have heart-to-heart conversations with Biden about his candidacy.
"They need to tell him that he is embarrassing himself and endangering his legacy," the board wrote. "He needs to hear, plain and clear, that he is no longer an effective spokesman for his own priorities."
When Biden won in 2020, many Democrats assumed that he would only serve for one term and would be a "bridge" to younger leaders within the party. But as Biden defended his reelection bid, he leaned into his age as an important part of his life experience.
The president in recent days has sought to squelch any idea that he'll forgo his reelection bid. However, several House Democrats have asked him to step aside, and if there's a noticeable slide in his swing-state numbers in the coming days, there will likely be more vocal pressure on the White House as lawmakers eye their political futures.
Business Insider has reached out to the Biden campaign for comment.
Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum.
FABRICE COFFRINI/Getty Images
A former employee has accused Davos organizers of pregnancy and race discrimination.
The lawsuit arrives on the heels of a WSJ investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace.
"The falsity of these claims will become evident" in court, the World Economic Forum told BI.
A former employee at the World Economic Forum — the organizer of the illustrious Davos summit in the Swiss Alps — has accused the NGO and its founder, Klaus Schwab, in a lawsuit of pregnancy and race discrimination.
In her lawsuit, Topaz Smith, a Black woman who worked as community lead for aviation, travel, and tourism, said she was not given the same opportunities as white colleagues — including not being invited to attend Davos in person.
Smith also said in the lawsuit she was told by one of her supervisors — who is a white South African woman — to consider her "her master."
Additionally, Smith said that after she announced her pregnancy in 2023, her position at the Forum "began deteriorating," according to the lawsuit. She said that when she returned from maternity leave, the role she was slated to begin — partner lead for aviation, travel, and tourism — was eliminated and later filled "with a white woman who was not pregnant."
"While it's disappointing to see such false claims being made, now that these matters are in court, the falsity of these claims will become evident," a spokesman for the World Economic Forum told Business Insider in a statement.
An attorney for Smith didn't immediately return BI's request for comment.
The lawsuit arrives on the heels of an expansive Wall Street Journal investigation, which described allegations of a toxic workplace at the Forum, including discrimination against women and Black employees.
The roughly fifty-year-old summit convenes top business and government leaders to hash out global issues. The Forum, which organizes the annual event, says its mission is to improve the state of the world — and has also published a Global Gender Gap Report since 2006.
But the Journal reported in June that several female staffers saw their careers suffer due to pregnancy. Others said they experienced sexual harassment by senior managers at the Forum as well as Davos VIP attendees, according to the Journal.
Black employees also raised complaints at the organization when white colleagues used the N-word in front of them, and when they did not receive promotions, the Journal reported.
In May, 86-year-old Schwab told staff in a memo he was stepping aside as the Forum's executive chairman as part of a planned transition. The Journal reported the announcement came after Schwab wrote to the paper expressing his concerns about its reporting.
The Forum previously called the Journal's report "demonstrably false assertions to mischaracterize our organization."
In 2018, at age 40, Kenneth Ferraro decided to pursue a college degree for the first time. It didn't go according to plan.
Ferraro, who's based in Texas, had worked as a truck driver for decades, he told Business Insider via email. While the job provided a stable income, he said he long desired a different career — and he thought going back to school was the best way to make this a reality.
"I traveled across the country, worked long hours, and was more than a little burned out," he said. "This was not a career I had chosen, but like many people, I happened into it. Going to college out of high school was not financially possible."
Ferraro began his studies by attending a local community college part-time, but he said he enjoyed the experience so much that he quit his truck driving job to focus on school. After completing his associate degree, he went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in political science from New York University.
"I knew it would be financially crippling, but I believed the prestigious credential would bolster my employment opportunities after graduation," he said.
However, despite applying for countless jobs over the past few years, Ferraro's had little luck. He said the only role he's been able to land is a delivery driver position for a large beverage company — and he's stuck with over $100,000 in student loan debt.
"After all my hard work and sacrifice, the only work that I have been able to secure is the same type of work that I have been doing my whole life," he said. "My education and dedication to bettering myself have cost me financially and emotionally."
The US male unemployment rate is low compared to past decades, but Ferraro is among the men who have struggled to find work or have stopped looking altogether. In 1950, about 97% of American men ages 25 to 54 had a job or were actively looking for one, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of June, this figure had fallen to about 89%.
Among the several explanations for this trend is that in recent decades, it's become difficult for some men to land a well-paying job without a college degree — a development that's contributed to some men leaving the labor force. These challenges persist today for men even as more companies have started hiring candidates without a degree.
The perceived benefits of a college degree have led more Americans to go back to school later in life. About 34% of college undergraduates and 44% of community college enrollees are age 25 or older, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
But as Ferraro and many recent college graduates can attest to, having a degree doesn't guarantee success in the job market. Last November, the unemployment rate of US college graduates between the ages of 22 and 27 was 5% compared to the 3.7% overall US unemployment rate. That was the most the "recent graduate" unemploymentrate had exceeded the overall rate in the over three decades of New York Fed data. Factor in the cost of college and pursuing a degree might not be worth it for some people.
Ferraro shared the biggest challenges he's faced in his job search, including why he thinks having a college degree has sometimes worked against him.
Being an older college graduate could make it hard to land certain types of jobs
Ferraro always knew that pursuing a new career wouldn't be easy. At age 42, he was happy to spend six months interning for a local congressperson.
However, Ferraro's struggles to find a full-time government job left him frustrated. While having a college degree improved his credentials, he thinks his age has held him back in the job market.
Ferraro recalled applying for an entry-level position in the office of a government official, a role he thought would be the "perfect" job for him to kick-start his new career.
The early stages of the interview process seemed promising, but he said things changed when he had an in-person interview.
"As soon as the hiring manager saw me, his whole demeanor changed," Ferraro said. "He ran through the questions and never truly engaged with me."
A few weeks later, Ferraro learned that he was no longer being considered for the role. The only explanation that made sense to him was that the hiring manager wasn't interested in candidates as old as him.
"A man in his forties, who is the perfect candidate on paper, willing to work, willing to learn, and willing to apply himself to any task, is still a man in his 40s," he said. "Therefore, not a valid candidate."
Ferraro needed an income, and after struggling to land jobs in his field of study, he reluctantly decided to expand his search to the truck driver jobs he'd hoped to escape.
But despite his decades of prior experience, Ferraro said he struggled to land an interview for driving jobs — a development that baffled him. But then he had an idea: What if he removed his college education from his résume when he applied?
"I did not start receiving interviews until I removed the education section on my application," he said. "My degree was holding me back."
Despite Ferraro's challenges, truck drivers have generally been in high demand in recent years, in part due to the e-commerce boom tied to the pandemic. But as online shopping trends have begun to normalize, some drivers have had a harder time finding work.
Ferraro eventually landed a job similar to the one he had before his schooling began in 2018, but he said he's earning about 20% less per hour than he used to. He said his employer prioritizes experience at the company over experience in the broader trucking industry.
As things stand, Ferraro said he regrets going to college. However, he still hopes that his education will eventually help him secure an entry-level government role.
After working as a driver during the day, he said he attends graduate school at night. He's working toward his master's in public administration and is continuingto apply for jobs.
"This situation is very frustrating," he said. "It feels like I am putting in so much effort, without any return."
Have you given up looking for work or are you struggling to find a job? Have you gone back to college later in life? If so, reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com.
Harvey Weinstein in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Manhattan prosecutors said he may face at least one additional "violent sexual assault" at his retrial this fall.
Andrew Kelly/AP
Harvey Weinstein, in court Tuesday, heard he may face at least one new Manhattan sex accuser.
The defense cited his failing health in pushing back against delaying a retrial until November.
The DA is trolling for new accusers through a '1-800-GET-HARVEY' hotline, one lawyer angrily joked.
At least one woman has come forward with new, "violent sexual assault" accusations against Harvey Weinstein, prosecutors said as both sides gathered in court Tuesday to discuss next steps for his Manhattan retrial.
No details of the new accusations were revealed as the disgraced film producer — who is being held at New York's Rikers Island jail — listened from his wheelchair at the defense table, with his lawyers beside him and a courtroom full of reporters behind him.
But the allegations — involving a woman or women who say they were attacked in Manhattan — are timely and serious enough that prosecutors said they may lead to a grand jury and new charges.
Any new charges would be tacked onto a retrial of Weinstein's now-overturned 2020 conviction for attacking former aspiring actor Jessica Mann, who has publicly accused the producer of rape and who attended Tuesday's court date.
The retrial, previously scheduled for September, is now on track for November, said Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg.
"Do we have two complainants or one?" defense lawyer Arthur Aidala demanded impatiently at one point, referring to the retrial.
He accused prosecutors of dragging out the retrial in order to troll for additional victims. Prosecutors are "out there with a hotline — 1-800-GET-HARVEY," Aidala joked bitterly.
"We are ready to go to trial in a week if necessary," the lawyer said.
Much of Tuesday's hearing involved Aidala detailing why a speedy retrial must be held given what he described as his 73-year-old client's downward-spiraling health issues.
Weinstein calls his attorneys "in excruciating pain," Aidala told New York Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber, who will preside over the retrial.
"Mr. Weinstein has fluid on his heart," the lawyer said. "Mr. Weinstein has fluid in his lungs," he added, giving the most detailed description of Weinstein's condition to date.
Weinstein suffers from spinal stenosis, macular degeneration, and "his diabetes is going through the roof," Aidala told the judge.
The food at Rikers is mostly carbohydrates, and since these carbs are converted to sugar, "his blood sugar levels are off the charts," Aidala said, citing a doctor's examination that was not shared with reporters or entered into the record.
Weinstein had been serving a 23-year sentence on his New York conviction when that verdict was overturned.
He is still being held in New York due to his 2022 rape conviction out of Los Angeles, for which he was sentenced to 16 years. Weinstein is also appealing that conviction.
Before being moved to Rikers in May, Weinstein had always been held in a hospital setting, Aidala said, asking the judge to help get him returned to a secure city hospital pending his retrial.
"I'll take an active role in it," the judge promised.
Weinstein is getting no treatment at Rikers, where he is kept alone all day in a cell in the notorious jail's West Facility, which houses ill inmates, his lawyer said.
The former chief financial officer for Donald Trump's real estate empire, Allen Weisselberg, is also currently serving a perjury sentence in the West Facility. His release date is July 19.
Weinstein is essentially held in "solitary confinement," Aidala told the judge. "The only recreation he gets is when a nice corrections officer chats with him."
Asked after court whether Weinstein's life is in danger due to his health issues, Aidala answered, "This isn't a hangnail."
In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on June 25, Russian soldiers fire the 152 mm howitzer "Msta-B" in an undisclosed location in Ukraine.
Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
Russia's "war-stage" economy has been rebuilt very fast, a NATO defense chief said Tuesday.
Moscow is now making artillery ammunition at a much higher annual rate than before the Ukraine war.
"They are moving quite fast," Lithuania's minister of national defense warned.
Russia has successfully rebuilt its "war-stage" economy much faster than expected, and it is now cranking out far more artillery ammunition than it was prior to the beginning of the Ukraine war, a NATO defense chief said Tuesday.
Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow was producing up to 400,000 152mm rounds per year. These can be fired from Soviet-era towed howitzer cannons. But that figure has since swelled to 2 million rounds annually, according to Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Lithuania's minister of national defense.
"They are moving quite fast," Kasčiūnas said during a roundtable discussion hosted by POLITICO and German television outlet Welt on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, DC.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken significant steps to move the country's economy onto what experts have described as a "Soviet-style" war footing. This past spring, for instance, he reshuffled Moscow's military leadership to boost defense-industrial base output and support the mass production of weaponry.
In this photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on July 3, Russian soldiers fire from their 152 mm "Giatsint-B" howitzer from their position at Ukrainian troops at an undisclosed location in Ukraine.
Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
Despite international efforts to inflict economic pain on Russia over its war, through actions like sanctions, Kasčiūnas said Moscow's "war-stage economy" has recovered "faster than we expected." Top US officials and generals have offered similar assessments about the country's military power.
Increased artillery shell output is a key indicator. Moscow's output of 152mm shells dwarfs production estimates for the NATO-standard 155mm shells. In Europe, for instance, the annual production rate for this type of artillery munition is less than 600,000 rounds, and in the US, it is lower than 350,000.
Kasčiūnas said Putin has heavily invested a lot of the country's GDP — reportedly nearly 7% — into military spending but will need to keep the economy on this track because resorting back to what it was before the war would lead to a "crisis."
"For that, he needs to have an enemy — to have challenges," Kasčiūnas said. "Now, it's Ukraine. Maybe after that, somebody else."
Ukrainian troops fire a 155 mm FH70 howitzer in the Zaporizhzhia Region of southeastern Ukraine in October 2022.
Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Kasčiūnas delivered his remarks alongside Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur and Latvian Defense Minister Andris Sprūds. On NATO's front line, the three Baltic nations have been staunch supporters of Ukraine and persistent advocates on security assistance to Kyiv, fearing that Russia may target them in the future.
Having also been the target of hybrid attacks by neighboring Russia, the Baltic countries have long pushed for increased defense spending among NATO members and are vocal in ensuring that the military alliance has the necessary capabilities to deter and defend against a broader Russian assault against Europe.
Kasčiūnas said that in order to build a credible defensive regime that can effectively deter Russia, it's necessary to fill capability gaps like air defense and long-range munitions. The Baltics already have several initiatives underway to help address these shortcomings and are among NATO's top defense spenders as a share of GDP, but there's still more to be done, the officials noted on Tuesday.
"We are moving forward, but only little by little," Kasčiūnas said.
David Livingston/Getty Images; Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images
The reality show "Dance Moms" first premiered on Lifetime in 2011.
One of the stars, JoJo Siwa has gone on to gain a massive social-media following.
Maddie Ziegler made it big when she danced in Sia's music video and is now an actor.
"Dance Moms" first premiered on Lifetime in 2011.
The dance docuseries followed controversial dance instructor Abby Lee Miller as she runs Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC). It followed the routines, the drama, and, of course, the dancers' parents.
"Dance Moms" eventually became a massive franchise with multiple spinoffs, from "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition" to "Dance Moms: Miami." The original series ended in 2019 and produced a few stars who are now reportedly worth millions.
And with Hulu dropping the reboot "Dance Moms: A New Era" in August, you may find yourself wondering where the original cast is now.
Maddie Ziegler was 8 years old when "Dance Moms" started filming.
Maddie Ziegler on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
On the first episode, Maddie's mom, Melissa Gisoni, proudly declared that her daughter was the favorite student of Miller, the controversial and strict owner of ALDC.
The dancer kept that title for most of her ALDC career.
The 21-year-old is one of the most famous dancers to emerge from the show.
Maddie Ziegler at the 2022 Oscars.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
In 2014, Maddie hit it big when musician Sia tapped her to appear in the "Chandelier" music video. The two have continued to work closely together, and Maddie starred in Sia's 2021 movie "Music," which has been criticized for casting an able-bodied actor to play a disabled character.
The dancer also played Velma in the 2021 "West Side Story" remake.
In addition to dancing and acting, she judged Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance?" in 2016, released a memoir titled "The Maddie Diaries" in 2017, and launched a makeup collection with Morphe in 2020.
In 2023, she starred in the movie "Fitting In."
Maddie's younger sister, Mackenzie, was one of the youngest ALDC dancers.
Mackenzie Ziegler on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
Mackenzie was around 6 years old at the start of the show, so she competed in a lower age bracket than the rest of the team.
She was known for her comedic quotes like when she said she didn't need to be a Broadway dancer, she just wanted to stay home and eat chips.
She's now focusing on an acting and singing career.
Mackenzie Ziegler at the premiere of the "Barbie" movie.
MIKE BLAKE/Reuters
After leaving "Dance Moms," Mackenzie released music under the stage name Kenzie.
With a growing presence on YouTube and TikTok, Kenzie's also branched into acting by starring on the Brat web series "Total Eclipse" and voicing the main character in the US version of the film "Ice Princess Lily" (2019).
More recently, Mackenzie competed as Tulip on Fox's "The Masked Dancer" and came in third place. She also played Ivy in "Let Us In" (2021).
In September 2021, she marked a new era of her music career with her single "Happy for Me," and she also released her collaboration with NOTD, "Worst Thing," in May 2022.
In 2023, Kenzie released more music, including the single, "Paper."
Chloé Lukasiak often played second fiddle to Maddie.
Chloé Lukasiak on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
Chloé was 9 years old when she first appeared on "Dance Moms," and she was one of Maddie's biggest challengers.
Every week was a battle to see which one of them would win the solo at the competition.
Now, she's a published writer.
Chloé Lukasiak at the season-one premiere of "The Patient."
Additionally, Chloé has appeared in various movies like "Center Stage: On Pointe" (2016) and "Loophole" (2019).
Nia Sioux was 10 when her "Dance Moms" journey began.
Nia Sioux on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
Although Lee seemingly didn't consider her one of the top dancers, Nia held her own and even learned how to perfect a difficult signature move — the death drop, in which the dancer falls to the ground in a split-legged pose.
Nia enrolled at UCLA.
Nia Sioux at the world premiere of "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" in Singapore.
Matt Jelonek/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures
The dancer has posted about attending UCLA while also staying busy with a budding singing and acting career.
She's worked on shows like CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful" and Brat's web series "Sunnyside Up."
In 2021, she started the podcast "Adulting With Teala and Nia" alongside Teala Dunn. She also played Hanna Brooks in the TV movie "Imperfect High" and appeared in the film "I Am Mortal" (2021).
Recently, had a cameo in the 2024 "Mean Girls" movie.
Brooke Hyland was the oldest member of the team when the show started.
Brooke Hyland on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
At 13 years old, Brooke had already been dancing for years and seemed, at times, to be getting tired of it.
Throughout the series, she would say that she was missing out on regular high-school activities because she was so focused on dance.
Brooke eventually got the normal school experience she wanted.
Brooke Hyland at a Coachella event before the 2022 music festival.
Gaining popularity on social media, Paige has almost 4 million followers on Instagram and over 2 million on TikTok, where she'll sometimes show off her dance moves.
In 2023, several "Dance Moms" stars, including Chloé and Nia, got together again to celebrate Paige's 23rd birthday.
Kendall Vertes joined the show on season two.
Kendall Vertes on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
Dancing since she was just 18 months old, the then-9-year-old stayed on the show through season seven.
The 20-year-old also branched into acting, appearing in the movies "Rapunzel: A Princess Frozen in Time" (2019), "Santa in Training" (2019), and a live-action version of "Anastasia" (2020), about the Romanov royal family.
In 2021, she started hosting "The Kendall K. and Friends Show" on CBS-TV.
She also regularly posts on her Instagram page, which has over 11 million followers.
Asia Monet Ray joined the show during season three.
Kalani Hilliker joined the elite dance team during season four.
Kalani Hilliker on "Dance Moms."
Lifetime
Kalani gained attention on Lifetime's "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition," a "Dance Moms" spin-off in which young performers compete for $100,000 and a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School.
Recently, she starred in Nickelodeon's dance flick "The J Team" (2021), and is set to costar in the slasher flick "All My Friends Are Dead."
She also competed and got second place on season 30 0f ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," though she earned the first perfect score of the season for her and dance partner Jenna Johnson's foxtrot.
In recent years, JoJo has also been vocal about her sexuality and coming out as queer. Most recently, the singer announced she was launching a "New JoJo," which includes a new look and new sound for her music.
Her EP "Guilty Pleasure" is set to debut on July 12. According to Variety, the singer is also working on an unscripted docuseries with "Dance Moms" creator Jeff Collins.
An earlier version of this story was published on February 2, 2021, and it was most recently updated on July 9, 2024.
The Greek government defended its six-day workweek policy after receiving backlash.
George Pachantouris/Getty
The Greek government defended its new six-day workweek policy amid backlash, according to CNBC.
The policy allows extra hours in specific industries as "an exceptional measure."
Employees will receive 40% more pay for extra hours worked under the new regulation.
The Greek government responded to backlash about its new six-day workweek policy and said the regulation doesn't change the current workweek, according to a CNBC report published Tuesday.
"It is important to note that this new regulation does not in any way affect the established 5-day/40-hour working week mandated by Greek law, nor does it establish a new 6-day working week," Greek Minister of Labour and Social Security Niki Kerameus told CNBC.
Instead, Kerameus said it provides the option of working an additional day "in limited circumstances" and as "an exceptional measure," according to the report.
The new regulation gives employees in some industries the option to work 48 hours a week. Employees can do so by working an extra two hours daily or adding an eight-hour shift to their week.
Kerameus said the businesses impacted are only those that operate 24 hours a day, five to seven days a week, with rotating shifts. The policy will apply to industries like agriculture, retail, and some service industries. Food and travel businesses are excluded from the policy.
The Greek government has said a 48-hour workweek could boost productivity as the country struggles with a worker shortage and an overall population decline.
But the policy has been controversial since it was approved in September, especially as other countries experiment by going the other way with a four-day workweek. After it was proposed, thousands of workers went on strike to protest the package of new labor laws.
Even though the policy is voluntary, labor unions and other critics have expressed concern about it expanding to other industries. There are also concerns about it leading to employees being overworked and compensated unfairly.
But Kerameus said the extra working day is only applicable in situations of increased workload, the report said. She also said the new policy would allow employees to declare extra time legally so that they can be compensated fairly. Employees who work the extra hours will see a 40% jump in pay for that time.
Kerameus said the law also provides more protection for workers, like guaranteed days off, set working hours, and measures to prevent wrongful termination, the report said.
Although six-day workweeks are uncommon in Europe, the European Union has similar guidelines. According to its website, employees shouldn't work more than 48 hours a week on average. In the US, there are no federal limits on the total hours an employee can work so long as they receive overtime pay after working more than 40 hours.
The Greek government did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Business Insider's travel reporter took her first European cruise through the Mediterranean Sea.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
I embarked on my first European cruise through the Mediterranean Sea in July 2023.
Looking back, I wish I had booked more time on the continent before or after my voyage.
An extended trip would have given me more time to explore, making the long flights worth it.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" A fellow passenger asked me on the last night of my first European cruise.
I was on a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on the luxury, adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise line. Starting and ending in Barcelona, I sailed to ports in Italy, France, and Spain last summer.
"Flying home," I replied.
My fellow cruisers told me they'd be in Barcelona for a few more days to explore. Immediately, I realized what a mistake I made, especially as it was my first time visiting Spain.
While it never seemed like a must to extend my Caribbean cruise to spend more time sunbathing on additional beaches, I recognized that flying to Europe from the US and not leaving time on either end of the cruise to see more of it was a missed opportunity.
Although I'd never departed from an international port, the Mediterranean cruise wasn't my first journey at sea.
In the past, I cruised on one other sailing in the Caribbean, which left out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
One thing I realized I love — and hate — about cruises from that experience is that port stops give me just a short preview of each destination. At every stop, I was allotted only a few short hours to explore, sometimes just a half day, and was left longing for more time.
This was especially true in Barcelona, where I boarded and disembarked my Mediterranean cruise.
I flew in the night before my voyage and went straight to the cruise terminal the next day. When we returned, I headed to the airport as soon as I got off the ship. I had no extra time to sightsee in the city I had never visited before or anywhere else in the surrounding area, like Madrid or Montserrat Mountain, where I've always wanted to go.
Once I was on the cruise ship overlooking the city from my balcony, I saw a wide view of the landscape and was mesmerized by the architecture. I longed to see the historic buildings up close.
"Next time," I thought.
The author's view of Barcelona from her balcony.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
An extended stay would make flying a long distance feel more worthwhile — and it's better for the planet
I took a seven-hour red-eye flight to Barcelona from New York. The return trip was even longer, with a layover.
Long-haul flights are taxing for me. I struggle with motion sickness and sitting still for long periods. Additionally, flying can cause dehydration, a flight attendant previously told Business Insider.
To me, more time in Europe would have made the long, difficult flight more worthwhile.
The author, exhausted, after a red-eye flight to Barcelona.
Joey Hadden/Business Insider
A longer stay also may have made my trip more sustainable. Flights made up 8% of transportation carbon emissions in 2021, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
And because of transportation carbon emissions, sustainable travel experts previously told BI that taking fewer, longer trips is better for the environment than shorter, more frequent trips.
In 2023, I went to Europe twice. Combining those trips would have been more sustainable since I would have taken fewer flights.
If I could do it all again, I'd book a few extra vacation days in Barcelona to explore the European city on the front or back end of the cruise — or better yet, both.
Donald Trump is in the final stretch of determining his running mate.
The former president is facing competing pressures to find his new vice presidential nominee.
Trump has a lot of choices, from old rivals or MAGA allies.
Former President Donald Trump will have a new running mate in less than a week.
Ultimately, no one but Trump knows how this ends. He is famously mercurial. According to multiple reports, his final shortlist is likely down to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.
"I haven't made a final decision, but I have some idea of where we're going," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity during an interview on Monday night.
Trump added that President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance "might make a difference" in who he chooses depending on how Biden moves forward amid calls from some Democrats to drop out of the race.
Trump is facing a deadline with the Republican National Convention set to kick off in Milwaukee next week.
Each one of the trio would offer something different to a ticket.
Rubio, 53, has focused on foreign policy since his 2016 primary run. He is the top Republican on the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee and would be the first person of color on a GOP ticket in nearly a century.
Vance, 39, has fashioned himself in Trump's populist mold. As a New York Times best-selling author, the Ohioian is not new to the national stage. Having cut his teeth in venture capital, Vance has key relationships with influential players in the tech world.
Burgum, 67, is a billionaire who only got into politics after establishing himself in the private sector, a similarity he shares with Trump. He leads one of the nation's smallest states but is familiar with issues that resonate with the former president's base. Most importantly, Burgum has the backing of some powerful names, including The Wall Street Journal's editorial board.
Here's a look at the shortlist and those who may have just missed the cut :
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida
Former President Donald Trump campaigned for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a former 2016 GOP arrival, ahead of the 2022 midterms.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Rubio once viewed as the GOP's future, is reportedly gaining attention as a possible pick.
Rubio, like DeSantis, endured significant taunting and attacks when he opposed Trump during the 2016 primaries. But the pair have moved beyond the "Liddle Marco" jabs.
The Florida senator was a key ally during Trump's presidency, though Rubio did not support overturning the 2020 election results. After the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, Rubio delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor, arguing that it was "a terrible idea" to continue to raise objections to the results.
Like many on this list, Rubio has given combative answers on whether he would accept the 2024 results.
"'No matter what happens?' No, if it's an unfair election, I think it's going to be contested by each side," Rubio told "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker in late May.
Now a third-term senator, Rubio would also have more experience in federal office than Vice President Kamala Harris did when Biden tapped her to be his running mate.
Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota
Former President Donald Trump has hinted that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum would be in his next administration.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was virtually unknown nationally before his brief GOP primary run. It's not even clear if his campaign changed that status. Arguably, one of the biggest news days of his campaign was whether he would attend a primary debate after he injured his leg.
But since ending his campaign, Burgum has maintained a ubiquitous presence as a top-level surrogate all over TV. He's now a serious contender to be Trump's running mate.
If he doesn't get picked, Trump has already suggested including Burgum in his potential cabinet.
Burgum also shares the former president's background of parlaying business success into a political career. He sold his software company to Microsoft for $1.1 billion.
In late June, The Wall Street Journal editorial board, often considered the voice for establishment Republicans, endorsed Burgum out of the potential final three of Burgum, Rubio, and Vance.
"Mr. Burgum would be loyal to Mr. Trump, while also unafraid to offer hard advice or speak an unhappy truth when the moment demands it," the editorial board wrote.
Sen. JD Vance of Ohio
Vance at the Capitol on November 14, 2023.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Despite having just been elected to the US Senate last year, Vance has repeatedly been floated as a vice-presidential candidate for Trump.
And he's not saying no. In fact now, he's admitting that he would be disappointed if it doesn't work out.
"I'm human, right?" Vance recently told Fox News. "So when you know this thing is a possibility, if it doesn't happen, there is certainly going to be a little bit of disappointment."
A former venture capitalist and the author of the bestselling book "Hillbilly Elegy," Vance was once a "NeverTrumper" and a fierce critic of the former president. But he has since morphed into one of his staunchest acolytes in the Senate, and he's at the vanguard of a movement that seeks to reorient the party more towards the working class.
Vance and some other top VP contenders made it a point to attend Trump's Manhattan criminal trial. Trump later became the first former president to be convicted of a felony.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina
Scott on stage with Trump in Laconia, New Hampshire on January 22, 2024.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The 58-year-old three-term senator endorsed Trump shortly before the New Hampshire primary. The South Carolinian also largely avoided criticizing Trump in a way that may have foreclosed him being on the ticket.
According to Politico, Scott talks with Trump or texts with the former president nearly every week.
Scott previously stoked speculation that he could be picked by telling the Wall Street Journal that he found his and Trump's contrasting styles "to be very complementary."
It's worth noting that while the former president has a growing list of congressional allies, the Senate has repeatedly been an issue for him.
Scott's fellow South Carolinian, Sen. Lindsey Graham, has continued to pitch his potential even as reports center on other hopefuls.
"[I]f I were president Trump, I would make sure I pick somebody that could add value in 2024," Graham said on "Face the Nation" in early July.
Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida
Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, shakes former Donald President Donald Trump's hand
Michael M Santiago/Getty Images
Donalds, currently in just his second term, has risen rapidly in Congress. Conservatives opposed to Kevin McCarthy's leadership put the Florida Republican forth as an alternative to the then-longtime House GOP leader. Donalds was later added to the powerful House Steering Committee after he switched his support to McCarthy and McCarthy went on to become speaker.
That wasn't his only major flip. Donalds, who had previously been DeSantis' close ally, endorsed Trump last April, part of a string of Florida Republicans that snubbed their governor to back the former president. Donalds has also been floated as a potential successor to DeSantis, who cannot run for reelection in 2026 due to consecutive term limits.
Donalds was also among the six potential names Ingraham suggested to the former president. Trump responded by saying, "They're all good, they're all solid."
Like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Donalds would also have to deal with potential concerns of sharing the same home state as Trump.
Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York
Stefanik at the Capitol on September 13, 2023.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The chairwoman of the House GOP Conference, Stefanik is the highest-ranking official who is seen as a potential Trump pick.
The New York congresswoman, who ascended to her leadership position on the heels of Liz Cheney's ouster, has notably undergone a sharp shift when it comes to Trump, beginning with the 2019 impeachment hearings.
Trump has reportedly described Stefanik as a "killer" and a potential pick in private, and the congresswoman recently said she "would be honored to serve in any capacity in a Trump administration."
Stefanik has raised her national profile by grilling college presidents over their handling of students who have protested the Israel-Hamas war. The New Yorker has drilled into administrators whom she has accused of being too weak in their response to antisemitism.
Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has stayed in Trump's orbit
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has remained in Trump's good graces. It likely helps that he's one of the few Trump Cabinet veterans to endorse the former president wholeheartedly.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney told Sky News Australia in early June that Carson will likely get tapped.
"The one element I think Ben Carson has that none of the other six people on the list have is I don't think Ben Carson wants to be president; I don't think he wants to run for president," Mulvaney said.
Carson is much more conservative than Trump on a key issue: abortion. Carson has previously said he supports a nationwide abortion ban, a position that Trump has strenuously tried to avoid.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida
DeSantis in Derry, New Hampshire on January 17, 2024.
Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Trump and his allies spent over a year ruthlessly attacking DeSantis. It was only toward the end of his disappointing primary that the 45-year-old began to return fire.
DeSantis did endorse Trump immediately after dropping out before New Hampshire, but the question remains if either side would want to repair their political alliance.
There appeared to be a brief peace, but that was thrown into after a top Trump campaign official tore into DeSantis. The public attack was in response to a report that DeSantis privately expressed concern that Trump might resort to "identity politics" when selecting his vice president.
Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy
Ramaswamy at an event in Des Moines, Iowa on January 15, 2024.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Like some other candidates on this list, Ramaswamy is unlikely to be chosen as Trump's next VP. But that doesn't mean there aren't people out there who would like to see it.
Ramaswamy was perhaps the only candidate in the race who never dared to issue substantive criticisms of Trump, choosing instead to run as a staunch supporter of the former president who would carry that mantle forward.
He dropped out immediately after coming in 4th in Iowa, endorsing Trump and likely securing himself some sort of future position in MAGA world, if not Trump's actual cabinet.
But while Ramaswamy would be popular with some of Trump's most devoted followers, his penchant for conspiracy theorizing would likely be a liability in a general election.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia
Greene at the Capitol on January 11, 2024.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Greene, the fire-breathing conspiracy-minded congresswoman from Georgia, wouldn't exactly be a tent-expanding choice for the former president.
But that hasn't stopped her from talking up her own prospects.
"It's talked about frequently and I know my name is on a list," Greene told The Guardian in August. "But really my biggest focus right now is serving the district that elected me."
A second-term legislator with no major policy accomplishments, Greene wouldn't bring much to the equation when it comes to policy chops or broadening Trump's appeal. In fact, it could damage the ticket, given her extremely poor polling.
Greene has also alienated top party leaders over her push to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. Trump has repeatedly praised Johnson as he tried to navigate Greene's challenge.
Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama
Sen. Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Britt quickly built her profile before delivering the Republican Party's official response to Biden's State of the Union address.
Britt's response was widely panned, including by some Republicans. NBC's "Saturday Night Live" enlisted Scarlett Johansson to impersonate the freshman senator.
At just 42, Britt could become one of the youngest vice presidents in recent memory. Only Dan Quayle, then a US senator from Indiana, would have been slightly younger. Quayle was 41 when he began his vice presidency under President George H.W. Bush.
Britt has made her age and the fact she is a mother of school-age children a key selling point in her political career.
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley
Haley in Hampton, New Hampshire on January 23, 2024.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Haley offered a limited endorsement of Trump in late May, ending speculation about who she would vote for in November.
"I will be voting for Trump," Haley said at an event after listing off her disagreements with Biden. She added, "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they're just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that."
Trump, who previously shot down an earlier report that he was considering Haley to be vice president, said Haley is "going to be on our team in some form."
Toward the end of her primary challenge, Haley repeatedly said she's not interested in being anyone's vice president. She praised Trump when she served as his UN ambassador, but was highly critical of him during the GOP primary.
Biden has also shown greater interest in bringing Haley's voters than Trump.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas
Sanders delivers the GOP response to the State of the Union address on February 7, 2023.
Al Drago/Getty Images
No one on this list knows Trump like Sanders. As his second White House press secretary, Sanders turned her turn at the podium into a governorship. As Arkansas governor, she's pursued an array of conservative policies.
She has endorsed Trump's campaign, but she has hinted that she wouldn't be interested in returning to the White House as vice president.
"Look, I absolutely love the job I have. I think it's one of the best jobs I could ever ask for, and I am honored to serve as governor, and I hope I get to do it for the next seven years," Sanders previously told CBS News.
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii
Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard
Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was once the most surprising name under Trump's consideration. The former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate may now have her eyes set on a different Cabinet post.
In early June, Gabbard said during an interview that serving as either Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense would be one of the ways she could best serve the country under a possible second Trump administration.
Her politics have changed drastically since then. In 2022, she announced that she was formerly leaving the Democratic Party. Over time, the four-term former congresswoman became a fixture on Fox News and at political events. According to The Washington Post, Gabbard has also advised the former president and his team about defense policy.
She was also among the six names Ingraham asked Trump about in terms of potential running mates.
Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota
Noem at a rally in Rapid City, South Dakota on September 8, 2023.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
The second-term South Dakota governor was once, perhaps best known nationally for flouting COVID restrictions during the pandemic. That was until Noem decided to include a story in a forthcoming book about her decision to kill the family's 14-month-old dog after she claimed it proved to be untrainable and overly aggressive.
Since then, the consensus is that Noem has greatly damaged her prospects of becoming Trump's running mate.
Noem may have even confirmed that her chance is over after she admitted that she had not received any vetting paperwork that others on this list did.
"I've had conversations with the president, and I know that he is the only one who will be making the decisions on who will be his vice president," she said.
I tried vanilla ice cream from Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, and Costco.
Ted Berg
I tried vanilla ice cream from Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, and Costco to find the best one.
The 365 vanilla ice cream from Whole Foods was tasty, but nothing about it stood out to me.
Costco's Kirkland Signature vanilla ice cream, which had a great flavor and texture, was my winner.
My family consumes a lot of ice cream, as it's one of the best treats to help us through the muggy New York City summer.
But with practically every supermarket offering its own house brand of ice cream, there seems to be countless options out there. According to market intelligence company Skyquestt, the ice-cream market, worth just over $82 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to nearly $120 billion by 2031.
To find the tastiest option, I compared store-brand vanilla ice cream from Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, and Costco. For consistency's sake, I chose what seemed like the most basic version of vanilla ice cream at each store.
Here's how the vanilla ice cream stacked up, from worst to best.
The 365 vanilla ice cream from Whole Foods had a distinctive yellow color when I opened it.
I was excited to try the 365 vanilla ice cream.
Ted Berg
When I opened the 365 carton from Whole Foods, the dessert had a distinctive, eggy-yellow color that set it apart from the other ice-cream brands I tried. The 1 ½-quart container (48 ounces) of ice cream was $5.50.
The 365 ice cream was pretty good, but there wasn't anything special about it.
I thought the 365 vanilla ice cream was a little bland.
Ted Berg
Choosing a last-place ice cream wasn't easy because all four were tasty — I wouldn't regret buying any of the store brands I tried. In fact, my kids proved incapable of ranking them, declaring them all equally delicious.
The 365 vanilla ice cream wasn't bad, but it was a bit on the bland side, with a much less noticeable vanilla flavor than the other three brands I had. On the bright side, it had a good, pleasantly creamy texture.
Wegmans' Madagascar vanilla ice cream came in the smallest container of the four.
The pint of Wegmans' Madagascar vanilla premium French ice cream was the perfect size for a single dessert.
Ted Berg
According to Wegmans' packaging, this ice cream is made with vanilla from Madagascar, where 80% of the world's vanilla is grown. However, I didn't see any noticeable flecks of vanilla bean in this ice cream.
The pint-sized container I bought was the smallest of the options I found, which wasn't necessarily bad. Sometimes, you don't need that much ice cream, and a pint is the right size for one person.
Unsurprisingly, the small portion size meant this ice cream had the highest cost per ounce, at $4.50 for one pint (16 ounces).
Wegmans' ice cream was pretty tasty.
I thought Wegmans' Madagascar vanilla premium French ice cream had a nice, buttery texture.
Ted Berg
I liked the buttery texture of Wegmans' vanilla ice cream because it reminded me a lot of the Häagen-Dazs brand. It had a nice level of sweetness, though it wasn't overwhelming.
There wasn't anything distinctive about the vanilla flavor, which was warm and pleasant but fairly mild. I wouldn't seek this ice cream out again, but I might pick it up if I was shopping at Wegmans and needed a dessert.
Trader Joe's French-vanilla ice cream looked a little less creamy than the others.
Trader Joe's French-vanilla ice cream came in a quart-sized container.
Ted Berg
Trader Joe's ice cream looked fairly similar to Wegmans' — white and solid, with no visible flecks of vanilla bean.
It seemed a touch less creamy than the other desserts I tried, but I probably wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't comparing them side by side. The $4.50 quart (32 ounces) seemed reasonably priced.
Trader Joe's ice cream had a very strong vanilla flavor.
The flavor of Trader Joe's French-vanilla ice cream would likely stand out in a sundae.
Ted Berg
Trader Joe's ice cream had the strongest vanilla flavor out of the four I tried. However, I thought the rich flavor was possibly a touch too reminiscent of straight vanilla extract.
I liked it, but I could imagine it being a bit much for anyone who doesn't especially like the taste of vanilla. This is your best option if you want to taste the distinct flavor of vanilla ice cream buried among hot fudge, whipped cream, and sprinkles.
I shop at Trader Joe's frequently, so I'll likely pick this up again. It's a good size for entertaining and could anchor a make-your-own-sundae station if my kids have a couple of friends over.
The Kirkland Signature super-premium vanilla ice cream came in a large box.
I knew the Kirkland Signature super-premium vanilla ice cream would require lots of freezer space.
Ted Berg
The Kirkland Signature ice cream came in a large box containing two half-gallon cartons (64 ounces each). If you choose this option, you'll need to be willing to buy a ton of ice cream at once.
When I opened a carton, I noticed this brand shined a little differently in the container and was visibly less icy than the other versions I tried.
The entire box of ice cream cost $14, so per ounce, it was priced similarly to the 365 carton.
The Kirkland Signature ice cream was my winner.
My wife and I enjoyed the Kirkland Signature super-premium vanilla ice cream.
Ted Berg
I didn't expect there to be such a clear winner in a taste test of four vanilla ice creams. But from the first spoonful of the Kirkland Signature vanilla ice cream, I could tell it was the best of the group.
It had a nice, familiar vanilla flavor, but its texture set it apart. It was extremely creamy but not too heavy — almost like a soft serve. I talked my wife into taste-testing all four brands the day after I did, and she also identified Kirkland Signature's ice cream as the best.
If you're planning a summer barbecue and looking for an easy dessert, this is the ice cream I'd recommend. It would work well independently or in a sundae, and there's definitely enough to please a crowd. Whenever freezer space allows, we'll keep this ice cream stocked moving forward.