The Week Evening Review
Biden's 'cocoon,' cruise industry growth, and neurocosmetics

 
Talking Points

How Biden's enablers may have delayed his bowing out

In the wake of President Joe Biden's historic decision to abandon his reelection campaign, nearly everyone has pointed to his disastrous debate performance as the moment when his capacity to run for office truly came into broad public question. His halting, unsteady performance stood in stark relief against the campaign's fervent claims that the president was both physically fit and mentally acute. It prompted many to ask whether Biden's aides and advisers had been publicly denying age-based concerns they privately knew to be true. 

'An increasingly protective circle'
"While it's clear the president had aged in the past year," many White House staffers were taken aback by the "version of Biden, faltering and dazed, that showed up at last month's debate," CNN said. Many of those same staffers "blamed the president's inner circle of advisers and family" for orchestrating a "painstakingly choreographed daily operation designed to prevent him from being in unscripted settings for extended periods of time." 

"It's not like Biden's inner circle didn't know this," said one Democratic strategist to CNN. But many Democratic operatives and donors feel "misled by what they say [was] an effort to tamp down concerns, raised well before the debate, about whether Biden is fit for a second term," The Wall Street Journal said. 

The president's "small clutch of advisers have built an increasingly protective circle around him," Politico said. That his difficulties during the debate "came as such a shock" to so many was the "result of how effectively his top aides" had "kept him in a cocoon."

That alleged cocoon may also have prevented Biden himself from understanding this moment in history. There was a "belief that the president isn't getting an accurate assessment of where the race stands right now," said one member of Congress to Puck weeks before Biden dropped his campaign. 

'The price they will pay'
For their part, Republicans have seized upon the dissonance between Biden's alleged vigor and his apparent frailty. They allege the president and his team colluded to perpetrate a "whopper" of a "cover-up" for which Democrats will ultimately suffer electoral consequences, The Wall Street Journal said. Democrats "underestimate the price they will pay for lying this way," because for "all our willingness to forgive and forget, Americans don’t like being played for suckers." 

 
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QUOTE OF THE DAY

'When it's my time, it's my time. When it's not, I keep swimming, training, trying to do good work.'

Ukrainian Olympic swimmer Oleksandr Zheltyakov on training for the Paris Games during nearby Russian air strikes. With air alarms going off every day, it's "impossible to cry every time," he said to The Guardian. 

 
 
In the Spotlight

The cruise industry is full steam ahead

The Covid-19 pandemic changed many aspects of life, but hopping aboard a cruise ship doesn't appear to be one of them. The cruise industry is booming at record highs in 2024, representing a jewel in a tourism sector that was largely shut down during the pandemic. 

How much bigger is it getting?
An estimated 35.7 million people will embark on a cruise by the end of 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This continues a marked jump in cruising from pre-pandemic numbers. Last year, 31.7 million took a cruise, which represented 107% of the cruise volumes in 2019, and the cruise industry is "forecast to grow to nearly 40 million passengers" by 2027, said the CLIA. 

These numbers will continue to increase as cruise availability soars, with the CLIA estimating that there will be 745,000 cruise ship berths globally by 2028. Ships are also continuing to be built as big as possible. 

Why is it surging despite controversies?
Part of the answer is the increasing ubiquity of destinations and the ships themselves. Cruise companies are "investing in new hardware, notably megaships and private destinations," Matt Boss, the head of leisure and retailing at J.P. Morgan, said on the banking company’s website.

Demographic shifts have also been working to lure in younger generations to cruises. Millennials and Gen Zers "love the fact that everything is included. Think meals foodies would love, tips covered, Wi-Fi to stay connected, and a ton of fitness classes," Nathan Rosenberg, the chief brand officer at Virgin Voyages, said to NBC. 

But environmental concerns remain, and more cruising means "more negative impacts" and a "rise in carbon dioxide emissions," Toronto Metropolitan University Hospitality Professor Frédéric Dimanche and Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Teacher Kelley A. McClinchey said at The Conversation. Cruise lines are responding by "creating a move toward smaller vessels and luxury liners, river cruises and expedition cruising." Implementing these "lesser-known ports that can only be accessed via compact luxury ships offers more mission-driven, catered experiences for the eco-minded traveler."

 
 

Statistic of the day

$50M+: The amount of money Democrats donated online Sunday after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the presidential race, making it the single biggest day for online Democratic contributions since the 2020 election. And Sunday was the third-biggest day in history for online donations through ActBlue, the leading site processing Democratic donations.
The New York Times

 
 
the explainer

Neurocosmetics trend blends mental health and skin care 

Self-care and skin care rituals have long been connected to improving mood and mental health, but what if the products themselves directly affected your emotions? An emerging beauty trend called neurocosmetics may be the answer to taking the relationship between the mind and beauty to a whole new level.

What are they?
The philosophy behind neurocosmetics is rooted in the idea that the "brain and skin are intrinsically linked," and some brands are touting products "formulated to play off that connection," Allure said. Some product descriptions claim their ingredients can communicate with neurotransmitters in the skin to spark certain emotions or sensations. 

Neurocosmetics are focused on improving your skin's health by enhancing sensory reactions by using ingredients that supposedly influence the skin's nervous system, cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos said to Allure. The active ingredients in neurocosmetics can be "any type of ingredient that affects the nerve receptor: topical ingredients, ingredients that we smell (aka aromatherapy), or ingredients we ingest," cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson said to PopSugar.

What do experts say?
Neurocosmetics aren't necessarily new, but they have become more trendy lately. "Some of it is riding the coattails of everything having to do with mental health these days," neuroscientist Claudia Aguirre said to Allure. It's possible that just engaging in self-care through your skin care routine can make you feel good about yourself, and that's a good thing. "Just know that they're not actually changing your brain," Aguirre said. 

Experts say it's best to use so-called neuroboosting products as an "accessory rather than a remedy," Bustle said. "So don't expect topical products to completely shift your state of mind." 

There is also a fine between seeking mood-alteration in your products and falling victim to the appeal of spending more money. "Equating consumerism with happiness may perpetuate a cycle of materialism, whereby fulfillment becomes reliant on external possessions rather than internal satisfaction," psychiatrist Anna Yusim said to Bustle. Enjoying a beauty routine without relying on these products to uphold your well-being can help you "cultivate a healthy and holistic approach to self-worth and self-care" by "prioritizing practices that nourish the mind, body, and soul beyond improving one's physical appearance."

 
 

Good day ?

… for the rich. Apparently, money can buy happiness. A recent study conducted by a senior fellow at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania found a positive association between wealth and satisfaction with life. The data from the study, which was self-published and not peer-reviewed, showed that the happiness gap between rich and middle-income subjects was wider than between middle- and low-income participants.

 
 

Bad day ?

… for tattoo lovers. New research by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found millions of potentially harmful bacteria in sealed bottles of tattoo and permanent makeup ink, including some marked as sterile. Contaminated ink can result in infections or serious injuries because it can "travel from the injection site through the blood and lymphatic systems to other parts of the body,” study coauthor Linda Katz, the director of the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, said to CNN.

 
 
Picture of the day

Political Thrilla in Manila

Protesters in Manila stage a mock fight between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. This follows the disintegration of the pact between the Philippines' two most powerful political clans. Duterte, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was absent as Marcos Jr., the son of a former dictator, delivered his State of the Nation address today. About 22,000 police officers were deployed to contain demonstrations over living conditions.
Ted Aljibe / AFP / Getty Images

 
 
Puzzles

Test your general knowledge with The Week's daily crossword, part of our puzzles section, which also includes sudoku and codewords

 
 
The Week recommends

With heat waves, heat domes and heat warnings across the U.S., many Americans are dreaming of cooler, if not downright cold, refuges. Relief can be found in parts of the Southern Hemisphere, where winter is in full swing and plenty of charming, snow-filled cities and resorts await. 

Bariloche, Argentina
Named the "most charming town" in Patagonia by Travel + Leisure, Bariloche offers "alpine air and knee-buckling natural beauty" like the crystal clear Nahuel Huapi Lake. Nearby Cerro Catedral is the largest ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere, with 75 miles of slopes and 32 chairlifts, cable cars and rope tows. 

Portillo, Chile
So much snow fell at Ski Portillo in Chile during June that the resort had to twice push back its opening day. Take that as a sign to pack your bags and head to this all-inclusive spot in the Andes, where guests have the option of staying for three days or a full week. Skiing feels special here in this picturesque part of the world.

Queenstown, New Zealand
When you go to Queenstown, you can have both a cosmopolitan escape and rugged mountain adventure. Take advantage of the city's dynamic restaurant and wine scene and its close proximity to four ski areas: Cardrona Alpine Resort, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone. Coronet Peak offers a twist to the traditional day of skiing by keeping the fun going after dark, while the aptly named Remarkables boasts a large space dedicated to inexperienced skiers.

 
 

Poll watch

Just 55% of Americans are able to readily access and afford health care, according to a new West Health / Gallup poll. This marks a 6-percentage-point drop from 2022. Adults ages 18 to 49 are the least likely to be cost-secure in health care at 47%, while adults ages 65 and up are the most likely, at 71%.

 
 
INSTANT OPINION

Today's best commentary

'The embrace between Big Tech and Big Government is growing tighter'
John Mac Ghlionn at Newsweek
With the appointment of retired General Paul Nakasone to its board, OpenAI made a major shift in "alignment toward national security issues, a development that should concern us all," says John Mac Ghlionn. Tech giants like Amazon, Google and Microsoft have "increasingly aligned themselves with governmental and military agendas under the guise of 'security' and 'keeping Americans safe.'" But in reality, these platforms have "gradually transformed into tools of surveillance and control." 

'Without Yale Law School, there could be no phenomenon of JD Vance'
Noah Feldman at Bloomberg 
Yale Law's program has played a "vital role in legal conservatism," says Noah Feldman, producing Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh, plus Trump's VP candidate, J.D. Vance. "Admission to Yale was his main accomplishment when he wrote his best-selling memoir, 'Hillbilly Elegy,'" says Feldman. "It framed Vance as an effective source to 'explain' poor white politics" to the public. Yale Law is largely liberal, and these politicians' "rarity is doubtless one reason Yale Law conservatives ascend so quickly."  

'Granting approval to this questionable therapy cannot become the norm'
Liam Bendicksen, Edward Cliff and Aaron S. Kesselheim at The Washington Post
The Food and Drug Administration has frequently fallen short of ensuring that approved drugs are effective, say Liam Bendicksen, Edward Cliff and Aaron S. Kesselheim. The FDA recently approved Elevidys to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but the drug "did not demonstrate a clear benefit for patients," and "giving full FDA validation to a drug with exceedingly limited and uncertain evidence of effectiveness exposes patients to substantial downsides." 

 
 
WORD OF THE DAY

treatonomics

The seemingly inflation-proof urge to prioritize treating yourself by cutting back in other areas while splurging on "fun stuff," said The Times. From fancy coffees to concert tickets, life's little luxuries can feel like a worthwhile indulgence when an underpowered economy means major purchases like a house or new car are out of reach. Some economists say this is one reason inflation remains stubbornly high. 

 
 

Evening Review was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Harold Maass, Joel Mathis, Summer Meza, Devika Rao, Rafi Schwartz, Anahi Valenzuela and Peter Weber, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images; Marco Bello / AFP via Getty Images; Olena Malik / Getty Images; mvaligursky / Getty Images