Tag: News

• Kari Lake has never won an election — but she's quickly become one of MAGA's biggest stars.
• In just the last five months, she made $20,000 from one paid speech and $27,000 from book sales.
• She's also invested between $1,000 and $15,000 in Trump's "Truth Social."

The GOP's hopes of retaking the Senate rest in part on Kari Lake, the former TV broadcaster and 2022 gubernatorial candidate who's poised to become the party's Senate nominee in Arizona.

But Lake keeps spending lots of time outside the state, much to the chagrin of Republicans — including former President Donald Trump.

As it turns out, she's making some extra money by doing it.

Lake was paid $20,000 by to appear at the the St. Joseph County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner in South Bend, Indiana, according to a financial disclosure filed at the end of June.

The Arizona Republican previously filed a disclosure in January, revealing that she had given several paid speeches, totaling $75,000, in the year before she announced her campaign in October 2023. The new April payment appears to contradict her campaign's previous statement that Lake "doesn't [charge] a speaking fee."

In the five months since filing her January disclosure, Lake also brought in an additional $27,738.77 from sales of her book, "Unafraid."

Her June disclosure also included further details of her agreement with the agreement she made with right-wing publisher Winning Team Publishing in 2023: a $100,000 advance, plus $25% of net profits beyond that.

The candidate's assets are largely the unchanged from January, aside from one notable addition to her stock portfolio: Between $1,000 and $15,000 in stock in Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that run's the former president's "Truth Social" platform.

Lake's campaign did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The GOP candidate is all but certain to face Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego this fall in what will be a key race for determining control of the Senate.

Plenty of politicians in both parties have found ways to cash in on their celebrity brands, most often through book sales that can sometimes exceed their official salaries. But Lake has yet to win an election, and some Republicans have grumbled about the fact that she's spent a significant amount of time out of state.

• The Biden campaign enjoyed a substantial fundraising haul in June, taking in $127 million.
• Roughly $38 million came into the campaign's coffers after Biden's poor debate performance.
• Biden's campaign is aiming to use the sustained fundraising figures to calm the nerves of anxious donors.

President Joe Biden's campaign on Tuesday touted a fundraising windfall in June, announcing that it had taken in $127 million in combination with the Democratic National Committee.

Of the significant haul, $38 million came in the four days following the president's disastrous debate against Trump, according to the New York Times.

While Biden is pointing to the cash influx to calm anxieties about his candidacy following his widely panned debate performance against former President Donald Trump, deep-pocketed donors remain on edge.

In an attempt to quell nerves from top Democrats and the party's rank-and-file, the Biden campaign released the June fundraising numbers well ahead of the federal filing deadline later this month.

The June numbers marked Biden's best fundraising month this cycle, though much of that money came from a star-studded Hollywood event last month, which raked in $28 million and is so far the most lucrative single Democratic Party fundraiser to date. Even so, Biden had a higher haul in June 2020, when he raked in $141 million.

Biden campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon on Monday held a call with over 500 major donors in an attempt to ensure them that the president can and should continue his campaign, Politico reported.

But many donors are still seeking more reassure from Biden ahead of next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. One high-dollar fundraiser told The Washington Post that the situation sentiment toward the Biden campaign among donors was akin to "Armageddon."

"Unless he shakes up the campaign and shows leadership, it's going to be a really, really tough time with money," the fundraiser told the newspaper.

Another veteran donor, Whitney Tilson, recently said in a post on X that he felt "deceived" and added that if Biden's performance last week was a true reflection of his abilities than it "would be a waste of my time and money" to continue backing him.

According to the Biden campaign, almost two-thirds of his June donations came from grassroots donors, and nearly half of those who gave money following the debate did so for the first time. These statistics, aides insist, are evidence of continued support for Biden.

Trump has not yet released June fundraising numbers, but he recently erased Biden's financial edge, largely due to a huge stream of donations following his criminal conviction in Manhattan. The ex-president's May fundraising numbers exceeded Biden's June haul, at $141 million compared to $127 million.

To date, the Biden campaign has $240 million in the bank. And much of that money is going toward advertisements and offices in key swing states across the country.

However, despite the strong numbers from the Biden campaign, many elected Democrats and donors are waiting on post-debate polling numbers to decide how to proceed.

• Festival season is in full swing.
• Glastonbury Festival, which typically pours millions of pounds into the UK's economy, ended June 30.
• But while there are more festivals than ever before, they're not a new phenomenon.

It seems like every other week, there's a new music festival promising to be the greatest weekend ever. In addition to all of these new events popping up around the world, there are the staples like Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Hangout.

That's not even mentioning the British mainstays like Glastonbury, which earned around £168 million, or about $212 million, for businesses in the United Kingdom last summer, according to an economic impact summary shared by the festival. Other UK festivals include Leeds and Isle of Wight, which also draw tens of thousands of visitors each year.

But if you find yourself longing for the days of going to a concert without catching people culturally appropriating Native American headdresses, taking selfies every five seconds, or watching the show through their tiny phone screens as they record the whole thing, you might have just been born in the wrong time.

Keep scrolling to see the real glory days of music festivals.

Woodstock Music Festival took place over three days in August 1969.

It was advertised as "Three Days of Peace and Music." Many famous musicians of the time played at the festival, including Santana, the Grateful Dead, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

The people of Bethel, New York, were unprepared for the more than 400,000 people that showed up to the festival.

Bethel is a small town in upstate New York that didn't have the infrastructure to deal with that many people. Apparently, the novice organizers were expecting around 50,000 attendees.

You'd think that in the 21st century, with so many rules and regulations surrounding festivals, it'd be impossible to have another miscalculation like that. But 2017's failed Fyre Festival proved that there are still some kinks in the festival business.

Woodstock attendees were called hippies which, at the time, was considered a derogatory term.

Being a hippie now is trendy — today, flower crowns, tie-dye, and meditation are staples of many an Instagram celebrity. 

They had undeniable style, though.

These looks are timeless.

People drove from hundreds of miles away to check out Woodstock.

In the words of Max Yasgur, whose land was used for the festival, "You have proven something to the world… that half a million kids can get together for fun and music and have nothing but fun and music," Rolling Stone reported.

And climbed sound towers in order to get a better view.

Now, every festival is teeming with security guards — Woodstock patrons would say they ruin all the fun.

Jimi Hendrix's famous two-hour set was delayed for hours due to weather and technical issues. He was supposed to perform at midnight on Sunday but didn't play until 9 a.m. on Monday.

The legendary guitarist's most famous performance, a blistering rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," took place at around 9 a.m. to a crowd of 200,000 people, the History Channel reported. More than half of the festival-goers had to leave before his performance.

Imagine if an artist played nine hours late now — it would never fly. We got a taste of that when Frank Ocean canceled his second Coachella performance after a disappointing first weekend, and it didn't go well.

The organizers of Woodstock provided free food, an unheard-of concept in 2024.

Although … the food originally wasn't supposed to be free. But when the food vendors were overwhelmed by the crowds, the people of Bethel and the rest of Sullivan County banded together to donate food, water, and supplies, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

Compare that to a $17 chicken sandwich, and just try not to roll your eyes.

Woodstock was the beginning of a movement.

Never before (or after) has there been such a peaceful gathering of that many people.

As Rolling Stone put it: "Woodstock pulled off the ultimate magic act of the 1960s: turning utter rain-soaked chaos into the greatest rock festival ever and the decade's most famous and successful experiment in peace and community."

Simply, it was just a really good time.

There were zero reports of violence.

The popularity of the original Woodstock inspired Woodstock '94, in honor of the 25th anniversary.

It's hard to believe that Woodstock will be celebrating its 55th anniversary in 2024.

In 1994, in honor of 25 years, a new festival, Woodstock '94, took place in Saugerties, New York, around two hours from the original site.

The vibe was very similar to the original festival … down to the lack of preparedness.

The New York Times reported the crowds were again much higher than expected, but festival go-ers still had fun seeing classic '90s acts such as Sheryl Crow, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Cranberries.

Plus, there were some repeat guests from the original Woodstock: Santana, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Country Joe McDonald, Joe Cocker, and The Band.

The weather was also the same as the first Woodstock.

It rained at both, which probably contributed to the chaos. Many people and acts alike played in the mud.

It looked like a lot of fun.

If there was this type of rainstorm now, the festival might be canceled or postponed, like the third day of the 2016 Governor's Ball, the 2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or the 2023 Burning Man disaster.

This picture could have been taken in 2024 — both crowdsurfing and overalls are popular today.

The '90s are making a comeback.

Another long-running music festival is the Newport Folk Festival. It's where Bob Dylan made the switch from acoustic to electric, changing the game forever.

The Newport Folk Festival, located in Newport, Rhode Island, is decidedly less wild than many of its music festival counterparts — but that doesn't make it any less cool. It's one of the longest-running festivals in the US, having started in July 1959.

There was no shortage of hippies at the Newport Folk Festival either.

The 1965 lineup included Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, plus Bob Dylan's first electric performance, which resulted in boos and jeers, according to History.

Burning Man is another popular festival that has remained popular since its beginnings in 1986.

Burning Man isn't exactly a music festival. In its own words, it's "A city in the desert. A culture of possibility. A network of dreamers and doers."

 

The festival usually features a lot of characters, like these two attendees at the 2000 festival.

Burning Man is still going strong 38 years later. The 2024 festival is from August 25 to September 2.

Burning Man is named for its very own "Burning Man," a 52-foot-tall wooden man that is burned at the end of the festival.

It's hard to believe that a festival would still be allowed to burn a gigantic wooden sculpture.

The "Man" is burned at the end of the week, but in the days leading up to the "Burn," people take advantage of the structure in many different ways.

Keith Sullivan and Erica Muehsam got married underneath the Man in 1997, and they're not the only ones.

The Burning Man website has a guide on how to legally get married at the festival, since it happens so much. New York Magazine reported in 2015 that the wedding business at Burning Man was "booming."

The UK's biggest festival is Glastonbury Festival, which started in 1970.

As reported by The Telegraph, Glastonbury (affectionately called Glasto) is the largest greenfield festival in the world. Glasto reported 140,000 visitors in 2023. But it wasn't always that large.

The iconic Glastonbury pyramid stage made its first appearance in 1971.

The pyramid stage is still used at the festival to this day.

Why a pyramid? According to the Glastonbury website, "the apex projects energy upwards while energy from the stars and sun are drawn down" — a true hippie answer.

Before e-tickets and the internet, people camped out to get good spots.

Camping has changed a lot, too.

But the camping didn't end there …

This was taken at the Isle of Wight Festival, also in England.

Back then, festival-goers even went without tents. All they needed was the music.

Well, and a blanket.

• Rudy Giuliani has been disbarred in New York over efforts to boost Donald Trump's 2020 election fraud claims.
• The former NYC mayor and personal attorney to Trump was disbarred effective immediately. 
• "The seriousness of respondent's misconduct cannot be overstated," a NY appeals court said in a ruling.

Rudy Giuliani — once heralded as "America's Mayor" and a former federal prosecutor who made his career in going after the mob — has been disbarred in his home state of New York.

A New York appeals court ruled on Tuesday that Giuliani, who served as a personal lawyer to former President Donald Trump, be disbarred "effective immediately" over his efforts to boost Trump's baseless 2020 election fraud claims.

Giuliani, the appeals court wrote in its 31-page ruling, "is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until the further order of this Court, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York."

The former New York City mayor can no longer practice law in New York over his "demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers, and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump's failed effort at reelection in 2020," the appeals court wrote.

"These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent's narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client," the court said.

It added, "The seriousness of respondent's misconduct cannot be overstated."

Giuliani, the court wrote, "flagrantly misused his prominent position as the personal attorney for former President Trump and his campaign, through which respondent repeatedly and intentionally made false statements."

He also "baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this country's electoral process," the court said.

"In so doing, respondent not only deliberately violated some of the most fundamental tenets of the legal profession, but he also actively contributed to the national strife that has followed the 2020 Presidential election, for which he is entirely unrepentant," the court wrote.

Attorneys for Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• The Biden administration proposed the first-ever national heat protection standards for workers.
• The rule targets about 35 million workers in industries like construction and agriculture.
• The proposal comes amid record heat waves exacerbated by the climate crisis.

The Biden administration on Tuesday proposed the first-ever national standards for protecting workers during excessive heat.

The rule, if finalized, would affect about 35 million workers across the country in industries like construction, agriculture, delivery, landscaping, and utility line repair. Workers in restaurants and factories where there isn't access to air conditioning could also be covered by new requirements for employers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has to accept public comments before drafting a final rule in the coming months. Republican-led states and business groups are likely to sue the administration to block the rule, and a string of recent Supreme Court rulings curtailing federal agencies' power could also make it harder for regulations to survive legal challenges. Former president Donald Trump would likely block the rule from becoming final if he wins a second term.

The proposal comes as millions of indoor and outdoor workers have been exposed to record-setting heat waves this summer. On Tuesday, more than 75 million Americans were under heat alerts, according to the National Weather Service. The climate crisis is causing more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting heat waves in major cities across the US, federal climate scientists have found.

"The purpose of this rule is simple," a senior administration official said during a call with reporters. "It is to significantly reduce the number of worker-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses suffered by workers who are exposed to excessive heat and exposed to these risks while simply doing their jobs."

More than 436 workers died on the job due to heat exposure between 2011 and 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nearly 34,000 workers suffered heat-related injuries that required time away from work.

OSHA last year said these figures are "vast underestimates" because the definition of a heat-related illness varies by jurisdiction and there's a lack of recognition that heat is a "causal or contributing factor to illness." That leads to inconsistent reporting by medical professionals and employers also underreport these cases, OSHA said. The agency has been criticized by worker safety advocates for failing to conduct more heat inspections, as well.

What will employers have to do and when?

OSHA is proposing two heat index thresholds that kick in requirements for employers. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when humidity is combined with the air temperature.

Employers with workers exposed to 80 degrees Fahrenheit either indoors or outdoors would have to regularly monitor the temperature and create an injury and illness prevention plan that details how to respond when workers express symptoms of heat illness.

Access to drinking water, a shaded or cool break area, and rest breaks would be required. So would an "acclimatization" plan that ensures new employees can gradually adjust to the heat, such as slowly increasing their workload or giving them 15-minute rest breaks every two hours.

"Notably, acclimatization is the leading killer among the different factors related to heat illness," a senior administration official said. "So 3 out of 4 workers who die on the job due to heat-related heat illness die on that first week and on the job."

At 90 degrees additional requirements kick in, including checking in with workers on the job alone, mandatory paid rest breaks every two hours, and a hazard alert system that reminds employees how to stay safe.

The rule doesn't cover government employees or emergency responders.

Didn't Texas and Florida block heat safety mandates?

Yes, Texas and Florida have blocked local ordinances aimed at protecting workers during extreme heat.

A Florida law that took effect on July 1 bars cities and counties in the state from imposing their own rules on business, like requiring water breaks — something Miami-Dade County considered last year.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last year also signed a law that preempts local labor, agriculture, environmental, and other policies that don't align with state codes. Critics said the law overrode the few protections that construction workers in Austin and Houston were guaranteed, including 10-minute breaks every four hours to drink water and rest in the shade. Abbott said the goal was to prevent a patchwork of different rules that would be confusing for businesses.

A senior administration official said OSHA's proposal, if finalized, would apply to all states including Texas and Florida.

"If you look at the Florida statute, it's expressly notes that this is within OSHA's authority, regardless of your opinion on that law," the official said.

Do any states already have heat protection laws?

Yes. Five states have laws that aim to protect employees exposed to heat: Minnesota, California, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado.

A senior administration official said OSHA's proposal is similar to standards that have been successful in those states.

California has had its law on the books since 2006. Washington and Oregon created worker protections after several farm workers died during a heat wave in June 2021.

A senior administration official said OSHA will review state plans to ensure they are at least as effective as the federal rules.

Are businesses opposed to OSHA's rule?

The Guardian reported that some groups representing agriculture and construction companies have lobbied against state and federal efforts to enact heat protection standards. These groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Construction Industry Safety Coalition, argued that the requirements could be too complex and costly.

But groups that represent farmworkers who pick fruits and vegetables in extreme heat in states like California, Arizona, and Florida have pressured OSHA for years to enact a federal standard.

A senior administration official said OSHA also convened a national advisory committee of construction representatives comprised of management and labor interests.

"That group voted unanimously that we proceed expeditiously with rulemaking," the official said. "So while we may not agree on the contents of the proposal, there are fair number of of employer groups out there that that recognize the importance of a level playing field when it comes to a heat rule."

Are you a business owner or worker who would be affected by heat protection rules? Contact this reporter at cboudreau@businessinsider.com.

• I spent a couple of days in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, for the first time in August 2022.
• I found the reality of visiting Niagara Falls didn't match my expectations from social media.
• I spent much of my time battling crowds, waiting in lines, and standing on my tippy toes.

In August 2022, I took my first trip to Niagara Falls. At the iconic landmark of massive waterfalls on the border of the US and Canada, I expected to take epic hikes and savor breathtaking views and peaceful moments in nature.

But that's not quite what happened.

While I was completely in awe of how massive, beautiful, and loud the falls were, the environment felt more like an attraction than a nature getaway. I trudged through a crowded boardwalk and saw the falls from viewpoints obstructed by glass and other barriers. I spent more time than I anticipated waiting in lines and looking at the backs of people's heads.

Niagara Falls Tourism didn't respond to Business Insider's request for comments regarding crowds and long lines at attractions. 

I visited Niagara Falls on a Monday and Tuesday in August.

According to the Points Guy, this is one of the busiest months to visit. This is probably because kids are out of school in the summer, I thought.

When I arrived, I expected to view the falls from hiking trails since that's how I've seen other waterfalls in the past. However, I was only able to view Niagara Falls from a long boardwalk lining the Canadian side or an attraction.

During the day, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., I went back and forth between the boardwalk, my nearby hotel, and the attractions surrounding the falls.

While on the boardwalk, I found it nearly impossible to squeeze into a spot on the edge where I could see the falls without other people's heads obscuring my view.

The only way I could get a spot on the edge was by waiting directly behind other viewers, like an informal line.

When I got a spot along the edge, people on a zipline, one of the local area attractions to see the falls, dropped into the view every 15 minutes or so.

It was cool the first time, but having my views constantly obstructed by wires and humans got a bit annoying.

After 12 p.m., I noticed the boardwalk was flooded with people, so I decided to try some attractions.

It felt like what I imagine Times Square is like on New Year's Eve.

First, I tried the Journey Behind the Falls, an official Niagara Falls tour that takes visitors in an elevator down to a closer vantage point than the boardwalk. But the line to enter stretched through the entire center it was located in.

I was worried I wouldn't have time for more activities if I waited, so I skipped it.

Next, I went to Skylon Tower, an observation tower in Niagara Falls that offers 360-degree views of the falls and city.

It was about a 10-minute walk from the boardwalk, and I didn't have to wait too long to get to the top — only about 30 minutes.

But while slipping my camera through the fence got me a nice picture, the actual view from the observation deck looks more like this.

Most of the Skylon Tower deck was filled with people, so I had to wait for others to leave to get a front-row spot.

Back down below, walking away from the falls, I thought the town of Niagara Falls felt more like a carnival than a typical city. There was even a Ferris wheel, which I paid $15 for and waited in an hourlong line to ride.

The city was full of arcades, funnel cake stands, and crowds of people.

I thought the Ferris wheel would offer a grand view of the falls. But when I got to the front of the line, I realized the carts were completely enclosed.

Although I thought the view was cool, I ultimately didn't think it was worth the price and hourlong wait to see the falls through a window.

For more of a thrill, I paid $30 to take a boat tour via Niagara City Cruises.

This attraction gets people the closest to the falls, and it's so popular that it was featured on "The Bachelor" in 2022, according to Niagara Falls Review.

I booked a 6 p.m. time slot, which is after peak hours, according to the Points Guy. But I still had to wait in line for almost an hour, while the boat ride itself was only 20 minutes.

Niagara City Cruises didn't respond to a request for comment from BI about the wait times.

When everyone piled on the boat, it was so crowded that I thought it felt like no one else could fit.

On board the boat, I had access to two decks. I went to the top deck for a higher vantage point.

Being within feet of the falls and feeling the mist on my face was epic, but it was tough to fully enjoy it with so many other people on board.

At the same time, I thought the boat had a great vibe because everyone was so excited to be there. It felt like a big party and was worth the price, in my opinion.

While I used a simple ramp to board the boat, passengers had to take an elevator to return to the boardwalk after the ride.

I waited in another long line for my turn in the elevator.

Regardless of the crowds and long lines, I thought seeing Niagara Falls up close was amazing and entrancing.

I think everyone should see them at least once.

To me, it felt like I was witnessing a powerful force of nature commanding people's attention.

According to the Points Guy, Niagara Falls tends to be less busy in early spring and late fall. I would love to go back to Niagara Falls when it's less crowded to enjoy a more peaceful moment to myself in front of the falls.

• I recently stayed in a beautiful, $827-a-night one-bedroom villa at Disney's BoardWalk Inn.
• The accommodations had a split bathroom, a full kitchen, a laundry area, and two sleeping areas. 
• We could walk to two Disney World theme parks and save money by cooking meals in the great kitchen. 

I've been going to Disney World for over 30 years, and I've been lucky to stay at every on-property hotel.

On a recent trip, my parents and I booked a one-bedroom villa at Disney's BoardWalk Inn using our Disney Vacation Club points. We pay an annual fee for a set number of travel points to use across the Disney property.

The flexible timeshare system has allowed us to stay in large villas located everywhere, from Orlando to Disney's resort in Hawaii. The standard-view villas at BoardWalk Inn typically cost about $830 a night, but three nights (two weekend days and one weekday) cost us 84 points.

Disney is refurbishing its BoardWalk Villas, a project that's estimated to be completed in 2025. But we were lucky enough to stay in a newly completed one.

Here's what it was like taking full advantage of everything the BoardWalk Inn offers.

The fun hotel is within walking distance of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

From the moment you walk in, the resort feels like a turn-of-the-century Atlantic City boardwalk.

I was able to check in on the My Disney Experience app a few days before my arrival, and my room was ready when I got to the resort around 1:30 p.m.

The lobby is grand, with miniature models of boardwalk rides, large carousel horses, and plenty of places to sit after a long car ride or plane journey.

The best part about staying here is having easy access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via complimentary boat transportation or walking. We visited both parks while staying here.

Our recently refurbished villa was bright, spacious, and well-thought-out for families.

Our one-bedroom villa was clean and had a charming turn-of-the-century feel. Plenty of themed Mickey and Minnie artwork adorned the walls.

The entrance of the villa had a small foyer with a closet where we put our suitcases once we unpacked.

The entryway led into a large kitchen, dining room, and living room.

The kitchen and dining room were plenty big for my family to make a few meals while staying at the resort. We love to save money by cooking our breakfasts and lunches.

I loved that the kitchen had full-sized appliances, including a fridge/freezer, oven, stovetop, microwave, and dishwasher. There was also a coffee pot, toaster, and all the cooking utensils and serving ware we needed.

The dining space was plenty big for my family.

Just off the kitchen was the dining room, which had a table, two chairs, and bench seating. The table could easily fit four adults.

We ate our meals here, and at night, we played games while we watched the Epcot fireworks out the window.

Past the kitchen was the massive living room.

I loved the living room because it had ample storage for anyone who was sleeping on the Murphy bed (on this trip, me).

Across from the couch that pulled down into the bed, there was also a large TV and a chest of drawers.

The main bedroom was spacious and comfortable.

The main bedroom featured a comfortable king-sized bed.

Across from the bed was a chest of drawers and a TV.

The outdoor balcony ran the length of the room.

I loved that we could access the outdoor balcony from the living room and the bedroom.

The long outdoor space was adorned with a few chairs and a small bistro table. It was a great spot to enjoy my morning coffee.

From the balcony, I could see the Disney Skyliner gondolas, the front of the resort, and a nearby fountain.

Half of the bathroom is connected to the main bedroom.

One of the main reasons we booked a one-bedroom villa was because it had a split bathroom.

Off of the main bedroom, there was a room with a large tub and a vanity. This part of the bathroom could be closed from the bedroom.

Having a second bathroom area made getting ready in the mornings easier.

The second bathroom had a toilet and stand-up shower.

You could access this from the main bedroom or through the kitchen.

The resort has three pools.

I loved that there were three different pools at the resort.

The main pool is more family-centric, with a slide and a nearby bar. There were lifeguards on duty here.

One pool was tucked away from the rest of the resort but easy to find from our room.

Another pool was smaller and quieter, with plenty of shaded loungers. It did not have a lifeguard.

My family hung out by the quiet pool when we weren't in a park.

We never made it to the third pool on the opposite side of the resort from our room.

Outside, the Disney BoardWalk has plenty of entertainment and dining options.

The BoardWalk Inn is located on the Disney BoardWalk, a free dining and entertainment area.

Because we had a full kitchen, my family chose not to eat at any of the restaurants at the BoardWalk, but I have in the past.

One of my favorite places is AbracadaBar, which features a variety of drinks in a cool space themed like a magician's hideout.

Jellyrolls is also a popular spot for adults.

Jellyrolls is also a popular spot to hang out at the BoardWalk, especially on weekends.

The dueling piano bar often has a line to get in.

Overall, this was a great way to spend a few days at Disney World.

My parents and I loved our stay at Disney's BoardWalk Inn. The newly refurbished villas feel fresh and vibrant and provide all of the necessary amenities.

I loved being able to walk to Epcot to ride Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Hollywood Studios to see "Fantasmic!"

I definitely plan on staying here again since we had such a good time — having two theme parks at your fingertips is just so ideal.

• Grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein's first Florida case were released this week.
• In 2006, prosecutors heard testimony that Epstein raped girls as young as 14, according to the documents.
• Epstein cut a deal for 1-and-a-half years in jail, with near-daily work release.

Grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein's first Florida investigation were released Monday.

They show prosecutors cut a lenient plea deal with the disgraced financier even after hearing testimony that Epstein had raped girls as young as 14 and paid them to recruit others.

A detective testified before a grand jury in 2006 that the Epstein investigation began the year prior when a woman reported her high school-aged stepdaughter had received $300 for "sexual activity" with a man in Palm Beach, the transcript shows.

The detective testified he interviewed another teenager who brought six friends to Epstein's house, explaining that "the more you did, the more money you made."

A third teen said in the transcript that she visited Epstein's house hundreds of times starting when she was 16 years old. She said she was paid $200 for nude massages and was given $1,000 when Epstein raped her, according to the transcript.

Even though police thought Epstein's crimes were more expansive, The Palm Beach Post reported State Attorney Barry Krischer made the unconventional choice to convene the grand jury behind closed doors and undermined his own case.

Krischer did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

In 2008, Epstein struck a deal with prosecutors, dodging federal charges and pleading guilty to a lesser state charge. He was sentenced to 1-and-a-half years in jail and was allowed to leave six days a week on a work-release program.

The Palm Beach Post sued the government in 2019 to release the grand jury transcripts.

Epstein was ultimately arrested again in 2018 on wider federal sex trafficking charges after media reports drew attention back to the case.

He died by suicide in a New York jail at age 66, according to a Justice Department report that found jail officials botched Epstein's final hours by not monitoring his cell and skipping inmate check-ups.

Epstein's associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was also arrested and ultimately convicted of helping run the sex trafficking ring.

• Suspected spy bases linked to China are expanding in Cuba, per a US think tank.
• The Center for Strategic and International Studies found a new potential site near a US naval base.
• Cuba's proximity to the US gives China an intelligence window that is unreachable from its own land.

Potential spy bases believed to be linked to China have been found in Cuba, with one near the Guantánamo Bay US naval base, according to a report by the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

CSIS analysts looked at satellite imagery and open-source information and identified four "active" sites in Cuba that they say are capable of conducting electronic surveillance operations.

One of them is a previously undisclosed building located about 70 miles from the US naval facility in Guantánamo Bay, the report said.

"These four sites are among the most likely locations supporting China's efforts to spy on the United States," it said.

Last year, multiple news outlets — citing officials with knowledge of sensitive intelligence — reported that China wanted to set up a spy base in Cuba.

Two unnamed US officials told Politico at the time that Beijing and Havana were negotiating to build a station about 100 miles off the coast of Florida, possibly to gather signal information on military sites there.

Unnamed US officials also told The Wall Street Journal last year that China and Cuba had agreed in principle to a multibillion-dollar project for the development of the base.

CNN and The New York Times also reported on the agreement and planned facilities.

At the time, the Department of Defense and the White House pushed back on the reports.

An unnamed US official also told the Associated Press last year that China had been operating in Cuba since at least 2019.

China's spy bases in Cuba

CSIS analysts say they have located four bases on the island of Cuba: in Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar.

The CSIS provided satellite imagery of each site from March and April 2024, showing how they had undergone upgrades over the past decade.

Bejucal, located south of Havana and identified by CSIS as the largest active Cuban facility, has seen the building of a "mysterious" new radome that CSIS believes may include a radar or ELINT device.

Meanwhile, in Wajay, a compound has "gradually" expanded over the past two decades, from just one antenna and several small buildings in 2002 to 12 antennas of various sizes and orientations, significant operations and support facilities, and even a small solar farm, it said.

Calabazar, a small Cuban military complex, now has two visible pole antenna arrays and more than a dozen dish antennas of various sizes dispersed across a gated area, images suggest.

The antennas' number, position, and direction have shifted significantly, likely in response to changes in the site's mission, the report said.

CSIS analysts also uncovered a new, previously unreported installation in El Salao, south of Cuba, near Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, a vital US military base in the region.

"These are active locations with an evolving mission set," Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow at the China Power Project at CSIS and the report's chief author, told The Wall Street Journal.

A strategic location for spycraft

Some of the systems supposedly set up in Cuba, notably antennas, can gather intelligence by intercepting signals — a practice known in the defense community as signals intelligence, or SIGINT.

These systems' capacities and functions are determined by their size, quantity, orientation, and arrangement, per the CSIS report.

Cuba's proximity to the US provides China with a "significant" intelligence window that is inaccessible from Chinese territory, the CSIS report said.

The White House and the Pentagon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to provide a statement.

• Silversea invited me on a complimentary five-night cruise on its new 728-guest ship, Silver Ray. 
• The ship's cheapest 2024 itinerary is a seven-day cruise for $4,550 per person.
• See all the amenities wealthy cruisers get on Silver Ray, from caviar room service to butlers.

Silver Ray is not where you go to watch travelers in their mid-20s drink cheap margaritas.

No. Silversea's new 728-guest ship is the cruise to go on when you want to be surrounded by 60-some-year-olds who enjoy Champagne, quiet vacations, and $180, 11-course dinners.

In mid-June, the ultra-luxury cruise line's latest and 12th vessel, Silver Ray, set sail on its maiden voyage. At 801 feet long and 54,700 gross tons, it's markedly larger than Silversea's previous ships. And with it, an equally large price tag, starting at $4,550 for a weeklong cruise in 2024.

A vacation that costs $650 per day might sound outrageous, but wait until you see the ship's amenities.

Silver Ray upholds Silversea's long-standing promises of good food, drinks, and service.

In an attempt to capture the next generation of wealthy cruisers, Silver Ray's design moves away from some "stereotypical" luxury ship elements — which Andrea Tonet, Silversea's vice president of product strategy, told reporters in mid-June includes being "very closed and, to some extent, also boring" — in favor of a modern yet understated flair.

The ship is filled with light, and the decor has stylish and contemporary sensibilities without being too unapproachable. Even the elevators have sweeping ocean views.

No need to fear dingy interior staterooms. Every cabin on Silver Ray has a balcony.

The ship's accommodations range from 357 square feet to 1,324 square feet.

The largest suite on Silver Ray, of which there are two, comes with a private hot tub, a library, and a starting cost of $17,000 per person.

However, even the smallest accommodations still have walk-in closets and marble bathrooms.

Most cruise lines offer butlers to guests who've booked the most expensive suites.

On Silversea's cruise ships, every guest has a butler who helps with tasks like booking restaurants, packing luggage, and setting up the dining table for room service caviar.

No need to stay in your cabin to indulge in fine cuisine.

Silver Ray has eight restaurants. Three — the French, Japanese, and chef's table — are up-charged. But if you can't resist a mid-day sushi and sashimi combo, the Japanese restaurant Kaiseki is complimentary during lunch.

It's not the only place that serves up lunchtime sashimi.

The lunch buffet also features raw fish of Kaiseki's quality, as well as stations of pasta, poached seafood, and freshly carved meats, for example.

In the morning, the breakfast buffet includes customizable smoothies blended to order, classic American breakfast items, and even congee.

In the evening, the dining room transforms into the Italian restaurant La Terraza, serving options like whipped mortadella with pecorino chips.

If you prefer more traditional cruise fare (think steaks and lobster tails), there's Atlantide.

But if you want a dinner experience akin to a jazz club, go to Silver Note. There, guests can dine on small plates of beef tenderloin and caviar while being serenaded by a jazz singer and pianist.

(Pro tip: If you forget to reserve a table at Silver Note, you can still enjoy the live music at the restaurant's bar.)

Like the buffet, Silver Ray’s alfresco dining room also wears several hats.

In the morning, the open-air restaurant serves relatively healthy breakfasts. The menu switches to pizzas, salads, and grilled fare during lunch.

In the evening, it transforms into a casual grill-it-yourself restaurant with tabletop hot rocks. Think Americanized Korean barbecue but with shrimp and steaks instead of bulgogi.

Guests in the mood for a more upscale dining experience can pay for La Dame and SALT Chef's Table instead.

For $160, travelers can dine on several courses of fine French cuisine at La Dame.

Or, for $180, they can book one of the 18 seats at the interactive SALT Chef's Table. The 11-course meal showcases regional dishes and ingredients — all plated in front of diners while the chef explains each small course.

During the day, Chef's Table is home to Silver Ray's complimentary cooking class, SALT Lab.

SALT — an acronym for "sea and land taste" — is one of Silversea's prized programs, putting cuisines local to the itinerary's region at the forefront of the cruise.

This means guests who sign up for the cooking class on a roundtrip Portugal cruise could learn to cook Portuguese tarts with almonds, for example.

There's also SALT Kitchen, a more approachable and complimentary answer to SALT Chef's Table.

SALT Kitchen gives guests a taste of local cuisine without a $180 fee.

The menu is divided into two halves: one that remains consistent throughout the cruise and one that changes almost every day depending on the destination.

After dinner, travelers can have a nightcap at the SALT Bar. As you might've guessed, the venue puts a boozy spin on the SALT mentality, leading to cocktails like dry sherry with mint and sparkling lemonade, as an example from the Portugal cruise.

(I promise this is the last SALT-themed venue.)

It's one of eight bars and lounges on the ship, which include a Champagne-focused one and another for whiskey and cigar enthusiasts.

Bars like Panorama Lounge have an alfresco seating area. But if you're in the mood for some live music, head inside the lounge or go to Dolce Vita, both of which have a small stage for entertainers like pianists and violinists.

The bars are a great antecedent to the entertainment at the two-floor, 370-seat Venetian Lounge theatre.

Expect the typical song-and-dance cruise shows on Silver Ray, although the theater also hosts lectures and entertainment reflective of the ship's destinations.

All of the lounges have non-alcoholic cocktails.

But if you want a truly sober experience, go to the Arts Café.

Many new mass-market cruise ships now have a Starbucks. But who needs the coffee chain when you have a café that serves latte art-embellished espresso drinks and tea from TWG Tea?

The observation lounge also has a brew-it-yourself coffee and tea station.

Like any luxury ship, the lounge has sweeping ocean views, literature, and board games like Monopoly and Pictionary.

If none of the books are catching your eye, look for the door to the hidden library. Inside, you'll find a twinkling ceiling reminiscent of Rolls-Royce's Starlight Headlining. It's the perfect, isolated place to curl up with a book and a cup of tea.

You might need that caffeinated pick-me-up after a few hours at the spa.

Massages start at $299 for 75 minutes, while the cheapest facial costs $199 for 50 minutes.

Feeling wrinkly? The spa also offers dermal fillers and Dysport injections.

But if you want to relax without paying, the sauna, steam room, and thermal pool are complimentary for all guests. It's a great way to unwind after a workout at the adjacent gym, supplied with Technogym equipment.

Like any traditional cruise, the largest pool is on an open-air deck.

But unlike most ships, the pool isn't surrounded by lounge chairs. Instead, it's off-centered and closer to the vessel's edge, giving swimmers a panoramic view of Silver Ray's surroundings instead of sunbathers' toes.

Cruise classics like a casino and shopping also appear on Silver Ray.

The casino is notably small. So, if you get bored there, you can spend your money on the stores' perfumes, jewelry, and Silversea merchandise.

But that's assuming you haven't already blown past your vacation budget just by booking the new vessel.

The cheapest Silver Ray cruise starts at $4,550 per person for a seven-day roundtrip sailing from Fusina, Italy, to destinations in Croatia and Italy.

If you want a fare inclusive of shore excursions, it'll be $5,000 per person. (For reference, a spokesperson for Silversea told Business Insider that a SALT cooking class excursion in Lisbon's Time Out Market would be about $219 per person.)

For an additional $1,500, Silversea will also organize your airfare and airport transformations.

But if all you want to do is wine, dine, and relax, the base fare will do. It may be steep, but that's the price of being on a ship filled with fresh-cut flowers, unlimited cocktails, and room-service caviar.