Former President Donald Trump reportedly insulted Milwaukee, setting off a minor firestorm.
Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Images
Donald Trump reportedly called Milwaukee a "horrible city."
The former president is set to be formally crowned the GOP's presidential nominee there in July.
Republicans offered a variety of explanations for Trump's reported remark.
Former President Donald Trump on Thursday reportedly insulted Milwaukee, the site of the Republican National Convention in just a few weeks.
"Milwaukee, where we are having our convention, is a horrible city," Trump told House Republicans during their closed-door meeting, according to PunchBowl News.
The strangest part wasn't even Trump's reported insult for the city whose name is a translation of "The Good Land," as Alice Cooper once helpfully taught us. Rather, it was the apparently contradictory ways that Republicans tried to either deny or clarify Trump's remark.
"I was in the room. President Trump did not say this," Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, wrote on X, quoting PunchBowl reporter Jake Sherman's initial tweet. "There is no better place than Wisconsin in July."
Steil later told a local TV station that Trump "wasn't talking about the city, he was talking about specific issues in the city."
"We were having broad conversation about the challenges we face in as a country, in particular the challenges we've seen in Milwaukee," Steil said mentioning issues with elections, crime, and public schools.
GOP Rep. Bryan Steil on Trump's Milwaukee comments: "He wasn't talking about the city. He was talking about specific issues in the city."
"I don't think that's the context at all. I'm saying we were talking about specific issues, not the city of Milwaukee." pic.twitter.com/KKPKpWCisE
A spokesperson for Steil later told Business Insider that since no one was taking notes, it was not clear whether or not Trump said "Milwaukee" and "horrible" next to each other.
"He's not saying Milwaukee itself is horrible," the spokesperson said. "He was saying the crime and election integrity that the city is facing is what's horrible."
A convention spokesperson told a local TV station that Trump was discussing his concerns about the security perimeter for the convention, which has been the subject of GOP frustration related to whether protests can occur in a park close to the main convention arena.
Both parties have historically hosted their conventions in cities or states that may have different politics than their own. This is especially true for Republicans, who have hosted their conventions in cities like New York. Local officials are known for playing nice though in order to garner the big business and spotlight that comes with hosting one of the two major political parties as they formally nominate their presidential candidate.
Trump's reported insult quickly landed back in Wisconsin where local reporters jumped on the story. The former president's campaign disputed the report.
"Wrong. Total bullshit," spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote on X, quoting Sherman's initial tweet. "He never said it like how it's been falsely characterized as. He was talking about how terrible crime and voter fraud are."
Sherman has stood by his reporting. "Trump absolutely said it - undoubtedly," he wrote later on X. "People hear what they want. This is familiar to all who have covered Trump or Trump-adjacent stories for the last 10 or so years."
Democrats and the Biden campaign were quick to defend the largest city in a key swing state. Democrats were originally set to host their convention in Milwaukee in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to switch to a largely virtual event.
"Once he's settled in with his parole officer, I am certain he will discover that Milwaukee is a wonderful, vibrant and welcoming city full of diverse neighborhoods and a thriving business community," Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, whose district includes most of Milwaukee, wrote on X.
Biden's own account chimed in with an old photo of him celebrating the Milwaukee Buck's 2021 NBA championship at the White House.
"Bridge jobs" are in-person roles in the service industry, many of which pay very low wages.
simonkr/Getty, Tyler Le/BI
Giovanna Ventola was laid off for the third time in three years in November 2023.
After struggling to find another corporate job, she tried to land a "bridge job" in the meantime.
She always thought she could fall back on a bridge job but has been met with rejection or silence.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Giovanna Ventola, a 34-year-old job seeker in South Carolina. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I was laid off three times in three years in the real-estate industry, most recently in November 2023.
Since then, I've applied to around 180 corporate jobs and have only gotten six interviews, none of which have led to getting hired.
I've also applied for 18 "bridge jobs" — in-person roles in the service industry, many of which pay minimum wage or very low wages. I went through two rounds of interviews for one before being rejected for what felt like an arbitrary reason.
Failing to land a bridge job completely changed my outlook on the job market. I knew it would be difficult to land a high-paying corporate job with benefits, a 401(k) plan, and stock options, but not being able to get a job pouring coffee or stocking shelves has made me lose faith.
I've held service industry jobs before
I started my career as a professional dancer in Chicago. To supplement my income, I also worked as a personal trainer, bartender, server, dance teacher, and babysitter.
I got into real estate after one of my personal training clients recommended that I interview for an open role at the real estate development firm he worked for.
I got hired and became the executive assistant to the CEO. I learned the business over the course of the first year, got my broker's license, and became a leasing manager. I worked there for almost five years.
After 2 layoffs, the third came after only 90 days on the job
In October 2019, I left the firm for a better opportunity with a bigger developer. I thought this would be my career path for at least 10 years, but when COVID-19 hit, my job switched from growing the brand to just surviving.
I was unemployed for seven months before joining WeWork as a leasing manager. I worked for WeWork for two years, but in March 2023, I was laid off again.
Four months later, I got a new job but was only there for around 90 days before they laid me off in November 2023.
I've since applied for over 180 corporate jobs
I applied to 11 jobs in December, 30 in January, around 60 in both February and March, and 20 in April.
I applied for jobs I was qualified for in Chicago and elsewhere and to any and all types of roles — in-person, remote, and hybrid. I even applied for jobs I'm overqualified for, with much lower salaries than I wanted.
I was networking and doing everything you're "supposed" to do, but I couldn't get any traction on anything.
I moved on to applying for bridge jobs
In March, I started looking for bridge jobs. I applied to about 18 bridge jobs, like barista, grocery-store shelf stocker, and store manager. I heard nothing back besides some auto-rejections.
Many of these bridge jobs also required cover letters. I explained that I'd lost my corporate job and wanted to change industries. I talked about wanting to learn something new from the bottom and why I was interested in the job. I still got zero responses.
I started wondering, are they not hiring me because my résumé is too corporate? Bridge jobs may not want to hire people they think will leave. I understand that, but I don't know what they can expect if they pay minimum wage.
I applied for a guest itinerary designer role at a luxury resort down the street. There were a lot of requirements, but it paid $18 an hour plus potential commission, and I thought it'd be a great bridge job.
I connected with the interviewer and landed a second interview, which also went great. I was excited for the third interview, sent my availability, and promptly stopped hearing back.
After multiple follow-up emails and calls, I was told they couldn't hire me because I lived too close to the business, and they didn't want to hire anyone living in the neighborhood. I still don't understand why that's their policy.
Being rejected from minimum wage bridge jobs makes me feel even worse than my other job rejections
I'm pretty strong and confident, and I feel very lucky to have an amazing, supportive network of people. Yet, being unemployed has caused me to feel a lot of self-doubt, insecurity, and isolation.
I got my first bartending job years ago because I was watching a football game at a dive bar and mentioned to the manager that I needed a job. It was slammed, and he said, "Yeah, come in on Monday." Now, I have to answer 10 questions about my personality and tell the hiring manager something fun about myself in 120 characters, and I still don't hear back.
One of my friends recommended I share my experience on TikTok. I quickly realized that my For You page was all other people who had been laid off.
When I saw how many people were in the same boat, I started a Slack networking community that now has over 1,500 members. The people who have joined are so smart — there are molecular biologists and people with PhDs. If even they can't get a job, I'm screwed.
It feels like I've gone backward
It feels like everything I've learned and the knowledge I've gained from my amazing mentors is obsolete because nobody will give me a chance.
I'm 34. I've built a career, am educated and smart, and have accomplished many things.
I don't want to work somewhere for minimum wage — I've scrambled and worked five jobs before, and now it feels like I'm taking a hundred steps backward to when I was 22. I don't want to work at a bar until 4 a.m. anymore.
Freelance work is tiding me over
I started an hourly freelance social media job for a construction company, which I heard about through a friend. I'd be willing to take on a second job, but what happened to being able to have one stable job with benefits?
I'm still applying for jobs. I've never worked this hard trying to figure out what to do. I feel like I'll never stop looking for jobs because I'm afraid that any job I get won't last. I'll never approach the job market the same again.
If you have struggled to find a bridge job and want to share your story, email Jane Zhang atjanezhang@businessinsider.com.
Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour in Lisbon.
Andre Dias Nobre/AFP via Getty Images
Forget friendship bracelets — some Swifties are calling Covid-19 their new concert souvenirs.
Some fans who got COVID-10 after attending her Eras Tour are calling it a "gift" from "Mother."
In an informal poll on X after the Madrid show, over 3,700 people said they contracted the virus.
It's been years since the pandemic times of COVID-19 lockdowns and the era of mandated masking. But while the virus is still circulating, some Swifties have become wildly optimistic about what it means to catch an infection at one of their idol's concerts.
So much so that some Swifties on social media are playfully dubbing the COVID-19 infection they think they got from her concerts a "souvenir" and a "gift" from "Mother."
A post on X from a Spanish Taylor Swift fan account asked followers: "Did you go to #MadridTStheErasTour and take COVID, a virus, or a cold with you as a souvenir? I open a survey."
¿Fuiste al #MadridTStheErasTour y te llevaste de recuerdo covid, algún virus o algún resfriado? Abro encuestita:
— Taylor Swift España (@taylorswiftes_) June 3, 2024
Of the nearly 10,800 votes, 35% voted yes. People in the poll's comments section described their symptoms and showed their positive COVID-19 tests — but also raved about how they thought it was worth it.
The poll has been viewed nearly 144,000 times at press time.
One X user commented: "Going to Taylor's concert has meant losing my voice, losing my mental health and, well, my health in general, I'm more dead than alive (but I would go to the concert a thousand more times)."
Earlier in February, an Australian concertgoer posted a TikTok of herself dressed up in her concert outfit and glam makeup. The video then cut straight to her holding up a positive COVID-19 test kit in bed.
The Eras Tour souvenir no ones talking about 🫠 if youre heading to the sydney shows this weekend, wash your hands regularly! 🥲🫶🏼 #erastour#taylorswift#sick#sydney
She captioned the post: "The Eras Tour souvenir no ones talking about. if youre heading to the sydney shows this weekend, wash your hands regularly!"
However, other X users have voiced their disbelief at Swifties calling the virus a souvenir.
One X user wrote: "Taylor Swift's concert attendees are calling their Covid infections 'souvenirs' and 'gifts' from 'Mother,' and I'm supposed to NOT wanna launch myself into the sun???"
Concerts have gained notoriety as COVID-19 superspreader events. In 2021, over 2,200 people caught the virus after going to music festivals in northeast Spain.
And while the virus is treated more like the common flu now, COVID-19 is still circulating — and people are getting infected across the US.
Virus-spreading or not, Swift's Eras Tour has been widely successful, propelling the singer-songwriter to billionaire status. Swift is now in the UK for her next leg of the tour.
Swift's representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Since H5N1 made the unexpected jump from birds to cattle, experts are increasingly worried about human spread.
Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo
The bird flu, or avian influenza, is increasingly worrying public-health experts.
The H5N1 bird flu virus is changing, creeping closer to humans, and getting more opportunities to adapt.
A bird flu pandemic isn't inevitable, but it is possible. Here's why you should know what's going on.
Bird flu is flying wild, and it has many infectious disease experts more worried now than ever.
The H5N1 avian influenza virus has killed tens of millions of birds across the planet and more than 40,000 sea lions and seals. For animals, it's a pandemic.
Still, the CDC says the risk to humans is low. Most people seem to have very little chance, if any, of catching H5N1 avian influenza right now.
A farmer pets the head of his cow during a cow cuddle session at Luz Farms near Monee, Illinois.
Jim Vondruska/Reuters
But infectious disease experts are increasingly concerned that the H5N1 virus could make a sustained jump into humans and start spreading among us. That's not inevitable, but several recent developments suggest it's a growing threat.
"There's a lot going on," Dr. Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine and associate chief of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told Business Insider. "I'm becoming more worried."
You shouldn't panic, but you should probably know what's going on. This virus is a leading candidate for the next pandemic, and four developments in the past month have experts worried.
Here's what you need to know.
Bird flu hospitalized a child in Australia
On Friday the World Health Organization announced that a 2-year-old had become Australia's first human case of H5N1 in March.
After returning from travel to Kolkata, India, the child's symptoms — loss of appetite, fever, coughing, vomiting, and irritability, according to WHO — put them in the hospital for two and a half weeks, including admission to the intensive care unit.
As human cases crop up in different parts of the world, epidemiologists like Christopher Dye become more concerned.
"There's such a vast amount of virus at the moment. And clearly it is changing, and it's doing new and unexpected things," Dye, a professor and senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, told BI.
A researcher prepares milk samples in Sabeti Lab, which is testing purchased milk at area grocery stores for the presence of bird flu.
David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
He recently co-authored a paper, published in the medical journal BMJ, arguing that the risk of a major human outbreak is "large, plausible, and imminent."
"Influenza has always been a concern for decades and decades, and this particular form of influenza for at least two decades," Dye said. "But now, it's risen to a level of concern, I think, which is greater than ever before."
Mice could bring bird flu into homes
A total of 47 house mice have tested positive for H5N1 in New Mexico, the US Department of Agriculture reported on Tuesday.
"Mice are kind of everywhere," Gandhi said. "They're around other animals, they're around humans a lot. And it's a little worrisome."
A mouse sits in the snow in New York City's Central Park.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
The samples were collected from the sick mice in early May. According to The Telegraph, scientists suspect that the mice, as well as some domestic cats, may have gotten the virus from drinking raw milk from infected cows. (Public health experts resoundingly advise that people should not drink unpasteurized, aka "raw," milk.)
"This brings the virus closer to human homes," Rick Bright, former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, told The Telegraph. "This is out of control," he added.
Every new population of animals, and every new exposure to humans, is another opportunity for the virus to mutate and adapt.
One mutation suggests the virus has started adapting
An avian influenza A(H5N1) virion, viewed through an electron microscope.
Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC via AP
When the CDC analyzed a virus sample from the second US farmworker infected, they spotted a mutation in the virus's replication machinery — the way it gets inside its host's cells to make copies of itself.
It's a change "associated with viral adaptation to mammalian hosts," the CDC said in a statement in May. The statement also said that studies in mice indicate this type of genetic mutation in the virus is associated with more severe disease and enhanced viral replication.
That doesn't make it a human virus yet, though.
Other than this one change, H5N1 has mainly "avian virus properties and not human virus properties," Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude and director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, told BI.
That means the virus is better adapted to thrive and spread among birds, not humans.
Still, that could change.
The latest US case had a troubling cough
The first two farmworkers to test positive for H5N1 in the US had pink eye. But the third case, reported in Michigan in May, featured a cough and sore throat.
That means H5N1 was in that worker's respiratory system, which is a scarier place to find a threatening virus than in our eyes.
Coughing can spread respiratory infections such as the common cold or COVID-19.
Stock Photo/Getty Images
The good news is that, as far as scientists can tell, H5N1 is still not adapted to humans enough to transmit between us. The CDC has reported no evidence that the coughing farmworker spread the virus to anyone else.
But that doesn't mean H5N1 can't mutate to achieve human-to-human transmission — which brings us to the second unfortunate reality of this farmworker's respiratory infection.
Compared to the eyes, human lungs are a more convenient place for an avian virus to get more mammalian, according to Webby. In the lungs, the virus is exposed to more of the cell receptors that a mammalian virus would bind to, giving H5N1 more opportunity to mutate and start grabbing onto those receptors — thereby becoming better adapted to infecting and spreading between humans.
Many experts fear the USDA and CDC aren't monitoring cattle and farmworkers closely enough to catch concerning mutations early, and that other human cases may be going undetected.
Talita de Lima Freitas, federal agricultural inspector, works on a sample to test for avian influenza virus at the Reference Laboratory of the World Organization for Animal Health in Campinas, Brazil.
Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
"I think there's enough of a threat here to be very alert so that we have a surveillance system in place that, as soon as this happens, we can find it," Dye said.
Vaccines are in the works
The good news is that bird flu is not COVID-19. Scientists have been tracking this virus and its entire viral family tree, watching for any sign of a growing threat to humans, for decades.
As a result, the key elements of a vaccine are already on standby. The US is beginning to manufacture millions of vaccines using "candidate vaccine viruses" — weakened influenza viruses — that the CDC has developed.
If H5N1 becomes a threat to humans, it could be part of your seasonal flu shot.
Marko Geber/Getty
Though the candidates are not necessarily perfect matches to H5N1, and the vaccines' use of eggs may be a manufacturing roadblock if bird flu is sweeping the chicken population, they may provide some immunity in the case of a human outbreak.
Furthermore, scientists now have proven mRNA vaccine technology at the ready. Vaccines that use mRNA, of which the COVID-19 vaccines were the first approved for use, are more flexible and faster to develop than traditional vaccines — and they don't require eggs.
Bird flu has driven up egg prices multiple times in the past few years.
Terry Chea/AP Photo
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have already developed an experimental mRNA vaccine for H5N1, which they've successfully tested in mice and ferrets.
If H5N1 becomes a problem in humans, a vaccine could be offered with the flu shot you get later this year.
In the meantime, bird flu is a looming threat to keep an eye on.
"As far as I can see, this is not going to go away anytime soon," Dye said.
The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.
In 2020, I abruptly stopped, challenging myself to explore more local options.
Constantly searching for new coffee shops has taught me how to better trust my instincts.
When I first started drinking coffee, I was intimidated by every café that had its own long menu with unique drink names and too many ways to personalize a drink.
Soon, I found comfort in Starbucks: No matter where in the world I was, I could order the exact same thing and know what to expect.
As a travel journalist, I began searching for the familiar logo everywhere, from Bali and Morocco to Barcelona and Buenos Aires. It wasn't hard — Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the world, on track to have 55,000 stores by 2030.
But about four and a half years ago, I was on my way to claim my free Starbucks birthday drink when a lightbulb went off in my head.
I was in San Francisco, and as I passed one adorable little coffee shop after another, I wondered why I was overlooking so many small businesses so I could get coffee from a megacorporation that netted $36 billion in the 2023 fiscal year.
That day, I sipped my last drop of frozen coffee through a green straw (OK, technically a sippy top since the chain had stopped offering plastic straws by then) and quit Starbucks.
It was a challenging transition that meant spending more money on coffee
Smiles written on a Starbucks cup don't bring me as much joy as a meaningful interaction with a local barista does.
Rachel Chang
Though I live a block from a Starbucks, I started forcing myself to walk past it in search of local options.
My self-imposed ban began in 2020 during the peak days of the coronavirus pandemic, so I quickly realized the spending power I had with my daily coffee.
Many independent coffee shops closed during or shortly after the height of the pandemic. Even now, smaller cafés depend on every customer's support.
Starbucks doesn't need my money as much, even though it had actually been cheaper for me. At the time, I'd been spending $3 to $5 for my Starbucks drinks. At local shops, my drinks were closer to $4 to $7.
After happily paying extra for milk substitutes and gratuity at small businesses, the cost of my typical coffee order eventually started inching closer to double digits. Still, I felt better knowing the dollars were going back to my community.
Instead of rotely going to the closest Starbucks, I began to pull up Google Maps to search for a new coffee shop every time. In the beginning, I often landed at mediocre cafés.
But as I started traveling again, I realized what felt like a chore at home started to feel like a delight when I was abroad. After all, traveling is all about discovering new finds.
Every coffee shop has its own menu, system, and style. Instead of being an old pro in a familiar place, I became the constant newbie in a strange setting, asking for WiFi passwords and bathroom keys.
Eventually, trying new spots became a mini daily adventure stirred up into my coffee break.
Now I'm more than 4 years Starbucks-free — and won't go back
I spend more money on coffee now, but I don't mind.
Rachel Chang
The bottom line is that my coffee budget has gone up — I recently paid $12.69 for a vanilla oat latte at a local shop, about $5 more than it would've cost at Starbucks — but now I see more than a cup of joe.
I see coffee time as an experience, a moment to connect with a slice of a community that I wouldn't normally have been immersed in.
Plus, at local coffee shops, I'm one of few customers instead of one of many in a long line. I'm more likely to get doted on with top-notch service instead of just feeling like a name on a cup.
Sometimes, I still end up at coffee chains — but my self-imposed ban means I'll opt for smaller ones like Blank Street or Gregory's Coffee instead of mega-global franchises.
I still feel like a bit of a jerk when I have business meetings scheduled at a Starbucks and ask to go somewhere else. But it's a pretty good conversation starter, and I've even had colleagues tell me they're also steering away from the chain.
I don't have a personal vendetta against Starbucks. It's just that by quitting, my coffee world has opened up beyond the limitations of one company — and forever hunting for a new coffee shop has become my ultimate pick-me-up.
Polls show that no other issue comes close to the economy as voters weigh President Joe Biden's reelection or sending former President Donald Trump back to the White House.
Getty Images
Polls show that the economy is the most important issue in the election.
President Joe Biden has a good record, but Americans are still angry over high prices.
Former President Donald Trump is hoping that inflation-related angst will push him back into office.
No issue looms larger for the 2024 election than the economy.
A May ABC News-Ipsos poll found that nearly 9 in 10 Americans said that either the economy generally or "inflation, meaning raising prices" was the most important issue in determining their vote for this November.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is Europe's largest conflict since WWII. Illegal border crossings are at their highest level on record. The Supreme Court's reversal of Roe triggered a major shift in abortion politics. And yes, a former president, Donald Trump, has been found guilty on felony charges. Despite all of that, political strategist James Carville's axiom "It's the economy stupid" may still hold.
In a traditional election, Biden wouldn't be feeling too much pressure. Unemployment remains low. Inflation has cooled, but prices remain high. Wall Street has hit new records. But voters consistently say they aren't feeling it. One economist coined the term "vibecession" to describe the disconnect between the solid fundamentals and the downright dour outlook.
Here's a look at each candidate's stance on the issue
Where Joe Biden stands on the economy
Biden is proud of his economic record. Many of the core metrics illustrate there's reason for him to be. Unemployment has remained under 4% for the longest stretch since the 1960s. More than 15 million jobs have been created since he took office. The US economy is expected to grow at double the rate of its G7 peers, according to the International Monetary Fund. Trump loved touting new Wall Street records; under Biden, the Dow hit over 40,000 for the first time.
Americans aren't feeling it. Inflation has cooled, but prices on everything from eggs to gas remain high. In 2022, food costs accounted for the highest percentage of household income since the 1990s, according to the Department of Agriculture. Even home repairs are costlier now than ever before.
Inflation is really being driven by rent and services now. Let me highlight a few:
Auto insurance: 20.6% -->Largest increase since 1976
Nonprescription drugs: 9.2%-->Largest ever
Repair of household items: 18.2% -->Largest ever
Sport events: 13.5% https://t.co/qtN5DBOjAS
Biden has pressured companies to cut prices, but the Federal Reserve has far more power to address inflation than presidents. And the central bank typically only cuts rates when faced with the possibility of a recession or the confidence that a rate cut wouldn't exacerbate inflation. Neither condition exists.
The president has outlined an agenda that could help address some pressures. In his 2023 State of the Union, Biden called on Congress to pass tax credits for middle-class home buyers. He also wants existing homeowners who have held off on buying bigger homes to receive $10,000 if they sell a starter home below the median price in their area.
Biden's 2025 budget proposal also outlines other potential policies he could pursue if he wins reelection, though he would need Democrats to retake the House. The president proposed hiking the corporate tax rate to 28%; billion-dollar companies would also face a higher corporate minimum tax. Biden also wants a 25% tax on the wealthiest Americans' unrealized income. Taxing the rich would help cut the deficit by $3 trillion over the next decade, according to the White House's estimates.
Where Donald Trump stands on the economy
Trump has not yet provided many specifics on what he would do with a second term. Polls show that voters view his presidency much more favorably now. Trump has repeatedly pointed out that inflation was far lower (under 2% on average) during his time in office. Some of the stock market and unemployment records that were set under Trump pre-COVID-19 have been surpassed by Biden.
Economists fear that some of Trump's ideas could actually make inflation worse.
He wants a crackdown on illegal immigration, which matches the sentiment that the issue has gotten out of control under Biden's watch. But such actions could worsen labor shortages.
The self-described "Tariff Man" wants to impose a 10% tariff on all imported goods and even higher tariffs on some Chinese products. Trump has falsely argued that foreign countries bear the costs. In actuality, US importers are forced to pay the additional costs, and studies show that sometimes, that is passed on to consumers.
Trump's allies are also looking at ways to expand on his assault against the Federal Reserve and its chairman Jerome Powell. Trump appointed Powell to lead the central bank, but soured on him. Like all presidents, Trump wanted lower interest rates to juice borrowing. Unlike his recent predecessors, Trump applied significant pressure on the Fed, undermining its prized political independence. The central bank is mandated to keep inflation low, which requires raising the benchmark interest rate. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump's allies are considering policies that would give a president greater say over the Fed's moves.
The former president also wants Congress to renew his signature tax plan that passed without Democrats' support. Conservatives often argue that tax cuts and deregulation fuel economic growth. At times. of higher inflation, such cuts can actually raise prices. As NPR previously reported, there's no perfect relationship between cutting taxes and economic growth. Trump has also proposed working with Congress to end the taxation of tips.
Zoomers are starting to tease Gen Alpha tweens, saying they are stunted when it comes to socializing because of what they say is their addiction to screens.
They've also coined the phrase "the blue light stare" to describe a particular blank look they say is given by Gen Alpha kids, who are born from 2010 to 2024.
It references the "lead poison stare" — a blank expression that has become associated with boomers on social media, particularly when complaining or becoming aggressive with service workers.
Nicholas Drake, a content creator, described the blue light stare as a "nonchalant, just unbothered look on their face."
"Almost like they're starting at a screen and they're watching a video, or they're playing a video game," he said. "They're just not all there."
Lighthearted ribbing or something more?
Generational wars are cyclical, and this may just be the latest lighthearted ribbing every cohort goes through.
But the trend may also signify something deeper.
Criticism has long been leveled at children of millennials and Gen Zers. Some say they are hard to control, struggle at school, and are showing signs of developmental distress inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic.
"I personally want us to focus on asking why rather than judging what is," Katya Varbanova, an internet and marketing expert, told BI. "This new generation has the world at their fingertips."
Lyndsey Getty, a mental health researcher and author, told BI there is "no real benefit" to judging someone based on when they were born.
Often, this comes from a lack of knowledge, insecurity, or an "us vs. them mindset," she said.
"In order to stop this destructive habit, we need to stop labeling it as inevitable and see it for what it truly is," she said. "Unhealthy generalizations."
But Zoomers have always seemed to target other generations.
Artificial blue light from screens is the latest turn of phrase to signify bad behavior in public, and Zoomers are quick to point it out.
A TikToker called Hannah said she was recently served by a "Gen Alpha kid" and that the "blue light stare is so real."
She imitated how the young server, who she guessed was around 13 or 14, was expressionless for most of the encounter, dismissive, and kept scrolling on their phone.
Jenny Flora Wells, a licensed social worker and holistic therapist, told BI it is evident Gen Alpha "has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic."
These youngsters were aged 10 and under in 2020, meaning many of their formative years will have been tarnished by lockdowns, global panic, and limited socializing.
Brenda Christensen, the CEO of Stellar Public Relations, Inc., who worked on campaigns for cellphones and GameBoy, says extensive use of technology from a young age could also be influencing children's development and learning.
While social media jabs are mostly lighthearted, they point to a deeper issue, Christensen said, as too much screen time "can affect their attention spans, critical thinking skills, and interpersonal interactions."
"Gen Alpha is growing up with unparalleled access to information and tools that can foster creativity and innovation," she said. "The challenge lies in balancing screen time with activities that promote holistic development."
There is a scarcity of jobs and opportunities for young people, "which is the competition and divide among generations to stay afloat in today's world," Wells said.
Gen Z "has also been cheated of opportunity," she said, so it may feel inclined to pick on those younger than them as a means of self-preservation.
"There is a deeper meaning here that can be tied back to the heavy-hitting issues facing our society," Wells said.
Varbanova told BI that technological advancements will continue to change how we communicate and live in this world, and she doesn't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
"Some skills and behaviors might become extinct," she said, pointing to how much has already changed within our lifetimes with phones and media consumption. It's only going to ramp up more with developments in AI, she said.
Terms such as "blue light stare," Varbanova said, "makes people feel more in control."
"We as a society look for signals through labels," she said. "It's how we survive."
Ikea was facing soaring employee turnover rates coming out of the pandemic.
Executives at the Swedish furniture company set about trying to keep employees happy enough to stay.
The company bumped wages, offered more flexibility, and simplified workflows, according to Bloomberg.
Ikea tackled sky-high employee turnover rates by increasing wages, offering more flexibility, and simplifying staff workflow — seemingly simple changes that have made a world of difference for the Swedish furniture retailer, according to a recent Bloomberg report.
Every time an Ikea employee left the furniture magnate, the company lost $5,000 or more, according to the outlet. Amid a worsening wave of workers quitting in recent years, Ikea executives set about trying to keep workers happy and employed.
Retail has always had higher quit rates than many other industries due to difficult working conditions, unpredictable scheduling, and low pay. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing inflation have only exacerbated the problem in recent years.
By 2022, Ikea was losing about 62,000 workers each year for various reasons — nearly one-third of its workforce, Bloomberg reported. The mounting conflict between the company and a coalition of unions had also left morale low across many of Ikea's 473 stores worldwide, according to the outlet.
Jon Abrahamsson Ring, chief executive of Inter Ikea Group — the overhead entity in charge of Ikea's product design and supply chain — told Bloomberg that retention was a high priority when he stepped into the CEO role in September 2020. Turnover rates were hovering above 30% in stores across the US, UK, and Canada, while employees in India regularly left the company after having children because of lackluster benefits, he told the outlet.
In trying to fix its quitting problem, Ikea went full-steam ahead in addressing the most important issues to workers, Ring told the outlet, including better pay, more flexibility for employees, and integrating new technologies to make employees' jobs easier.
It paid off: Ikea's global quit rate fell from 22.4% in August 2022 to 17.5% in April 2024, Bloomberg reported. In the US alone, voluntary turnover dropped from about a third of employees in 2022 to about a fourth one year later, according to the outlet.
Prioritizing employee wants and needs is a key way to make people stay, Business Insider previously reported. A recent study also found that companies offering robust childcare benefits see increased employee productivity and positive returns on investment.
Ikea's fixes, while major, aren't perfect. Turnover at Ikea stores in Japan is up due to a tight labor market, while labor disputes in France have kept quit rates high, Bloomberg reported.
But the still-rising rates of attrition in the retail sector suggest Ikea has begun to make real change on the turnover front.
LinkedIn Team at Grace Hopper Celebration Conference
Nandita Gupta became an accessibility product manager at Microsoft after starting her career in a factory.
Inspired by her grandfather's loss of sight, she returned to school and paid her way with scholarships.
After connecting with a Microsoft recruiter, she landed a job paying double what she used to make.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nandita Gupta, an accessibility product manager at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I'm an accessibility product manager at Microsoft. I have electrical engineering and human-computer interaction degrees, and my internship experiences were in manufacturing and robotics research. I decided to pursue human-centered computing with a focus on manufacturing as a career.
I worked as a process controls engineer at a factory that made baby wipes for three years before quitting and returning to school in the fall of 2019.
I started working as a product manager on internal tools at Microsoft in March 2021. Since December 2021, I've worked as an accessibility product manager for Accessibility Insights, a suite of products that helps developers code with accessibility in mind. I lead the product direction, plan future initiatives, and work with teams to create enjoyable and accessible experiences for developers.
In 2019, I found myself at a crossroads as a process controls engineer
As a young girl, I saw my grandfather lose his eyesight, which left an indelible mark on my career choices. I yearned for a purpose beyond manufacturing and dreamed of helping people like my grandfather. There came a moment in my manufacturing job when I asked myself, "What am I doing? What happened to helping people like Grandpa?"
I took a leap of faith and left my stable job to pursue my passion for accessibility. I invested my savings into a single semester of graduate school with plans to apply for scholarships and assistantships, a decision that was both terrifying and exhilarating.
I was determined to apply for every scholarship to earn my degree. When my bank balance headed toward zero, I secured a graduate assistantship and received my first scholarship. In February 2020, I earned the Google Lime Scholarship, worth $10,000, which covered the rest of my graduate program.
As they told me I had been awarded that scholarship over the phone, I cried tears of relief. I had been sinking into depression the previous few months and was consumed by financial worries. Receiving this scholarship was one of the most emotional moments of my life.
The COVID-19 pandemic added new uncertainty
My journey to Microsoft was not easy, but I wouldn't change anything about it.
When the pandemic hit, the summer internship I had lined up was canceled, and my job prospects seemed bleak. I tried to connect with companies and finally connected with a Microsoft recruiter at a virtual networking event. I shared my passion for accessibility and inclusion with the recruiter, and they said it was something they needed at the company.
The meeting led to a quick screening with HR, followed by a four-round interview loop and, finally, a job offer. Taking the Microsoft job doubled my earnings from my last job — my annual income was around $75,000 in manufacturing, and the move to Microsoft brought my total compensation to over $170,000. My work schedule is flexible, and I typically work around 50 hours a week.
Accessibility resonates deeply with me
Accessibility is not just personal — it's a fundamental human right. My mission is to inspire others to design and deliver products that are accessible and inclusive, ensuring individuals like my grandfather feel seen and valued.
One of the most impactful accessibility initiatives I've been involved in is my collaboration with Zoo Atlanta as a graduate researcher. Our team crafted an inclusive experience for Zoo Atlanta visitors, particularly emphasizing those with visual impairments.
Another exciting project I worked on was Shifting Left to Get Accessibility Right at Microsoft. The case study showcases the importance of proactive accessibility and how the organization implemented a culture of accessibility.
Don't leave a single stone unturned in your pursuit of your dream
It's important to embrace a life-long learning mindset. When trying to pivot my career, I used resources like TED Talks, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, and MasterClass to gain insights from experts. I then gave my own TEDx Talk through the TEDx Georgia Tech organization.
It's better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all. Every decision you make will teach you valuable lessons, and even if you don't end up where you originally intended, there will be something to gain.
Have you doubled your income by pivoting your career and want to share your story? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com.
Americans aren't happy with flight prices, but they're much more affordable than they used to be.
flukyfluky/Getty Images
Adjusting for inflation, airfares are much more affordable than they were nearly 30 years ago.
But plenty of Americans remain frustrated by flight prices.
BI asked experts why inflation-adjusted airfares have fallen and why some people haven't noticed.
The last time you bought a plane ticket, you probably got a better deal than you realized. That's because, believe it or not, airfares are much more affordable than they were three decades ago.
In 1995, the average US domestic airfare was $292 — excluding optional fees, like ones related to baggage — according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In 2023, the average fare was $382, up over 30% from 1995. However, the story changes dramatically when adjusting for inflation. In 2023 dollars, the average airfare fell from $584 to $382 between 1995 and 2023, a nearly 35% decline.
"There's little doubt in my mind that people think airfare is at historic highs and getting more expensive," Scott Keyes, an airline industry expert and the founder of travel-membership service Going.com, told Business Insider via email. "We are living in the golden age of cheap flights, but few people recognize it."
Additionally, Mike Daher, a transportation expert at Deloitte, said in a report published in May that there's "a perception that airfares and room rates are high, and some Americans are sitting out travel this summer as they look for softer pricing."
It's not just domestic flights that have gotten more affordable. Keyes said international inflation-adjusted airfares for US passengers have also generally fallen over the past decade.
Frustrations over flying costs could be among the reasons the share of Americans with a negative opinion of the airline industry is at the highest level since 2011, according to a Gallup survey of over 1,000 US adults conducted last August. The federal government seems to have taken notice. In January, a federal judge blocked the JetBlue-Spirit Airlines merger after the Biden Administration raised concerns about the impact it would have on flight prices. In April, the Department of Transportation announced a rule it said would protect consumers from "surprise junk fees" — such as the costs of additional baggage and reservation changes — and save fliers over $500 million a year.
To be sure, any frustrations about airfare prices haven't stopped many Americans from flying. When pandemic restrictions eased, Americans unleashed their pent-up travel demand on the airline industry. And that momentum has continued: on May 24, TSA officers screened nearly three million passengers, a record figure.
Still, the overall decline in actual airfare prices over the last two years suggests passenger demand "seems to have subsided" a bit, Kerry Tan, a professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland, told BI via email. He said this suggests demand could be normalizing and that some Americans balked at 2022's uptick in flight prices — even though tickets remained more affordable than pre-pandemic levels when adjusted for inflation.
Going forward, airlines will continue to be impacted by Americans' perception of flight prices. To the extent this perception influences Americans' broader feelings about inflation and the economy, it could play a role in the presidential election this fall.
Business Insider spoke with airline industry experts to learn why inflation-adjusted airfares have fallen over the past two decades — and why some Americans don't seem to have noticed.
Why flights have become more affordable
Airline industry experts told BI that one of the biggest factors driving down inflation-adjusted airfares is the rise of lower-cost, budget airlines.
In 2000, United, American, and Delta flights accounted for 73% of US domestic passengers, according to an analysis of Department of Transportation data by the trade association Airlines for America. By 2023, their share of passengers had fallen to 52% as lower-cost airlines like Southwest, JetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier emerged.
This development led to cheaper airfares through what airline insiders call the "Southwest Effect."
"When researchers have studied airfare, they've found that when a low-cost carrier like Southwest or Spirit begins flying a new route, fares fall an average of 20% on all airlines operating that route," Keyes said. "That's because price is by far the most important factor for leisure travelers' purchase decision, and so competition from new airlines — especially low-cost carriers — drives down fares across the board."
Keyes said another factor that has pushed down fares is "more and larger airplanes."
In addition to having more planes in their fleets than they used to, airlines have retired smaller planes in recent decades and replaced them with larger aircraft. In 2005, 11% of commercial airplanes had at least 151 seats — compared to 48% as of 2023.
"Larger planes, better fuel efficiency, and more seats are lowering the overall flight costs for airlines, and those savings are being passed onto travelers," Keyes said.
Despite the competition of cheaper airlines — and the lower inflation-adjusted fares they helped bring about — airlines like United, American, and Delta haven't suffered for it financially.
"The decline in inflation-adjusted airfares appears to be uncorrelated with the financial performance of the 'big three' airlines," Tan said.
Keyes said the years between 2015 and 2019 were "among the most profitable ever" for US airlines. He said declining inflation-adjusted fares haven't hindered airline profits because their business models aren't as reliant on ticket revenue as they used to be.
"Today, airline revenue comes primarily from sources other than economy tickets," he said. "This includes premium cabin revenue, credit cards, business travel, ancillary fees, cargo, and other sources."
Why Americans don't feel like they're getting a deal on airfares
If airfare prices are more affordable than they used to be, there could be several explanations why Americans remain frustrated.
"Consumers may not always think about inflation-adjusted airfares, so their frustration could be due to the higher nominal level of prices," Tan said. "It could also be that travelers are more frustrated by their travel experience as there's been a slight increase in flight delays since the COVID-19 pandemic."
It's also possible that after airfare prices plummeted due to the pandemic, 2022's swift rise in airfares caught Americans off guard. In September 2022, airfares rose roughly 43% compared to the prior year, the highest rate on record.
Additionally, airfare isn't the only cost of flying — many passengers pay fees for things like extra baggage and seat assignments. These fees can be tacked on well into the booking process, something the Biden Administration is trying to crack down on. Fourty-four percent of Americans said they at least sometimes pay more for airfares than the initial price they were shown, according to a YouGov survey conducted last July. This year, United, American, and Delta have each raised their checked bag fees.
But while these fees may be costly to some customers, Keyes said they haven't done much to offset the decline in inflation-adjusted airfares. The Airlines for America analysis found that including fees for baggage and reservation changes, the average US roundtrip ticket was $406 in 2023. Since 2010, only 2020 and 2021 offered more affordable flights — much of which was due to the decline in demand tied to the pandemic.
It's also possible the rising prices of goods and services across the US economy have left Americans with less money to spend on airfares, which is what's making their plane tickets feel particularly expensive. Some people have stuck with their pandemic habit of booking flights only a few weeks in advance due to uncertainty surrounding their travel plans, Hayley Berg, Hopper's lead economist, told NerdWallet. She recommended booking at least one month in advance to get lower airfares.
For some Americans, plane tickets are among the most expensive purchases they make on a semi-regular basis, something that could make people particularly sensitive to price increases. For others, flying is something they rarely do — which could make them less likely to notice a decadeslong shift in inflation-adjuted prices.
Lastly, the unpredictable nature of airfare price swings could be frustrating for consumers, Keyes said. And when it comes to economic issues like travel costs, it's not uncommon for Americans to have negative feelings that don't jive with the data.
"Airfare is the single most confusing and volatile purchase we regularly make," he said. "Combine that with negativity bias and it's no surprise that even as airfare hits historic lows, people are more likely to think it's at historic highs."
Have you found a creative way to save money on travel or flights? Are you willing to share your story? If so, reach out to this reporter atjzinkula@businessinsider.com.
The author lost all his savings in a financial crisis.
J Studios/Getty Images
In 2020, I quit my career in accounting and decided to focus on my real dream: writing.
I planned on living off my life savings, but I lost it all in Lebanon's financial crisis.
I'm trying to get back to work, but I'm struggling, so I started freelancing.
The year 2020 was supposed to be when I could finally take it easy and focus on myself. Years of odd jobs — which I started in my teens — had taken their toll on my health. I decided to leave my career in accounting behind and finally take a crack at my lifelong dream of being a writer.
By the time I was 23, I had $20,000 saved — thanks to tutoring and accounting — so I knew I could take some time to chase my dreams in Lebanon, where my family is from. I wasn't too concerned about my finances because my mother tucked away my substantial earnings in a local bank in Lebanon. We lived off the interest of our combined life savings.
But Lebanon's banking system collapsed — the World Bank called it a Ponzi scheme — and the country entered a financial crisis. As soon as the headlines broke, access to our accounts was restricted. It became a mess of confusion. We only knew that the Lebanese pound was in freefall, and businesses were closing left and right.
My savings were lost forever — just as I was making headway as a writer.
I didn't have a reentry plan
In late 2020, it became clear that our money was just digits on a screen, and the Lebanese government didn't have a plan to deal with the crisis. I knew I had to return to work but didn't know how. I hadn't planned for this.
Figuring out how to return to the workforce was the real struggle. Call it youthful naivety, but I didn't have a reentry plan in case I needed to return to work. I was prepared to do office work, but the job market in Lebanon was dead. I had to expand my job search to the US; thankfully, I'm also an American citizen.
But I struggled to find a job Stateside, too. My main issue was that I had a few gap years in my work history because of the break I took. I had to touch up my résumé so that hobbies, side projects, and activities were now valuable experiences to an employer, but it didn't help much.
The Lebanese financial crisis continued long after the COVID-19 pandemic. The only way to make ends meet was to crawl into the gig economy.
I'm now burning myself out
I don't have enough cash on hand to relocate to the States, so I have to subsist on odd jobs mixed with commissions from magazines, newspapers, and journals. But it's been a nightmare.
Working freelance is just a relentless hamster wheel. Not knowing where and when I'll find my next gig is demoralizing. I have to constantly search for more opportunities while trying to finish what I already have on my plate as fast as possible.
Being my own boss is also difficult. You can't help but be tough on yourself for fear of losing productivity. Initially, I figured it would be a temporary arrangement until I could use my freelance work as a launchpad for better things, but career development in freelancing is relatively linear compared to the old-fashioned corporate ladder.
Burnout has been a problem I've had to power through so many times that the long-term psychological effects have been debilitating. I must push myself to keep up, but I can only do it for so long.
Since losing my savings, I've been freelancing for five years. I know I can't carry on like this forever, but I have an exit plan in place this time. I'm pursuing a doctorate to access stable work outside a corporate setting. I still have years ahead of me and have all but given up hopes of trying to make it as a writer, considering how slim the opportunities are now compared to only a couple of years ago.
Still, I hold on to the hope that through the same hard work and perseverance that allowed me to shore up my savings in the first place, I can find my way back to financial stability.
Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman moved from New York City to Bali seven years ago with their teenage sons.
During the pandemic, they built a six-bedroom eclectic home for their family.
Now, they're becoming empty-nesters and selling the Canggu villa for $1.895 million.
Seven years ago, Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman packed up their lives and moved from New York City to Bali with their two teenage sons in tow.
It was an idea sparked by a conversation with a friend over coffee on a cold winter morning.
The friend had mentioned his plans to enroll his daughters in the Green School, which is made from eco-friendly bamboo buildings and is known for its sustainability-focused pre-kindergarten through high school curriculum. It's also located in Ubud, over 10,000 miles from New York, near the center of the Indonesian island.
"And while we had traveled to places like India, Vietnam, and China, we'd never been to Indonesia before. So I said, 'Bali, that sounds very warm. Tell me more,'" Bondor told Business Insider.
Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman have been living in Bali for the past seven years.
Gabi Bondor
When they got home, they started researching what life in Bali was like.
"I looked at the school, and it was the opposite of what was happening to my children in high school in New York. When the kids got home that day, I said, 'Guys, we're going to Bali for spring break,'" Bondor said.
The spring break visit came and went, and the couple decided they wanted to experience what it was like to live on the island for longer.
They ended up selling their kids the idea of a yearlong sabbatical in Bali as a break from stressful city life and a chance to see the rest of Asia.
The exterior of the couple's house in Canggu, Bali.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"We told them, 'One suitcase each. Everything else goes into storage because we'd be back in a year,'" Bondor added. "Although they were allowed to bring their Xbox in their carry-on."
But after their year in Bali passed, the couple realized they didn't want to leave. They made a trip back to the US to clear out their storage and have no plans to move back.
The friend who introduced them to Bali didn't make the move in the end, she added.
A narrow walkway, flanked by two koi ponds, leads from the gate to the main building's door.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
Building in Bali
Like many expats, the couple rented a few different homes in Bali before finally building their own house during the pandemic.
"When COVID-19 came, land prices were a lot more affordable than what it is today, so we decided that we were going to purchase a plot somewhere where we could create a space for our family," Bondor said.
Part of the reason they chose to build instead of buying an off-plan property or continuing to rent was so that they could ensure the quality of the build, Kaman, the cofounder of a digital payment app, told BI.
The main hallway features a curved staircase.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"We always had some issue or another with the homes — the pump, the AC — and the landlords don't always care," Kaman said. "We thought, 'Why don't we build something ourselves so at least we can control and make sure that everything is working the way we need?'"
Additionally, they had experience renovating their homes during their time in the US. It helped that they also had a great team of builders — recommended by a friend — to rely on too.
"We love the process," Bondor said. "We enjoy it. I think we're a great team. If he is down or pissed, I pick him up, and vice versa."
The dining area.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
They knew they wanted to stay near Canggu which is known for its beaches and bustling food scene.
"We lived in the neighborhood and we had always scouted around. Many people like the rice field views, while others like the beach views. We are social people — we like our coffee shops," Bondor said.
A stone table.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
When the couple first saw the plot, located at the end of a narrow street that branches off from the main road, they fell in love immediately.
"It was so quiet and peaceful. There was nothing, except for basically seven big mango trees and thick vegetation. It was like a mini jungle," Kaman said.
Part of the dining area cantilevers over a corner of the pool.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
The entire construction process took slightly over a year to complete, and the couple lived in a rented home nearby so they could always be on-site.
The biggest challenge they faced was having to work through Bali's rainy season, which typically runs from November to March.
"We started digging a pool when it was the rainy season, and we were just digging mud," Bondor said. "For weeks and weeks, you didn't see the digger come out of the soil — it felt like we weren't getting anywhere."
An outdoor seating area.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
A cozy, eclectic home
The couple's six-bedroom home sits in a cul-de-sac, next to a rice field that's been repurposed into a plot to grow cucumbers.
The two-story building — which comes with an accessory dwelling unit that the couple calls "the teenager pad" — has a red and gray exterior that stands out in contrast to the surrounding greenery.
Those who step beyond the gate are greeted by a long walkway flanked by two koi ponds that lead to the main building.
The kitchen.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"I like to say that it has a lot of European charm, like Paris with New York dancing a tango kind of thing. I really wanted to incorporate a lot of Balinese elements as well," Bondor said.
The furniture is handmade in Indonesia, and even the terracotta tiles on the building's exterior were crafted by a local family, she added.
Most importantly, it's a house that they designed with their own living habits in mind.
The curved staircase.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
The office.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"I think everything, from the kitchen layout to the lighting, is based on the way we live our everyday life," Bondor said.
Becoming empty nesters
But the couple has decided it's time to say goodbye to their house — they're putting the villa on the market for $1.895 million.
Their oldest son is already studying abroad, and the youngest will start college soon. The couple plans to downsize to a smaller place.
The master bedroom.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"He just graduated last weekend. It's really hit us hard that he's leaving very soon and we're going to have this big, empty house to ourselves," Kaman said.
Moreover, as empty-nesters, they plan to travel a bit more now that they have the freedom to, and a house of this size can't be left empty in tropical weather for too long.
"It's not four seasons, it's always a lot of rain. The sun is always strong. It wears materials out," Bondor said. "We have animals. If one little gecko dies here and nobody cleans for a day or two, the ants will come."
The master bathroom.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"This house needs a lot of care and maintenance. So if you're not here for months, this is not going to work," Kaman added.
However, Bali will always be their home base.
The slower pace of life on the island lets them stop and appreciate the little things in their day, like being able to work out in the mornings or have a nice lunch together.
That aside, Bali is a melting pot of different cultures, and its people never fail to inspire them.
One of the bedrooms in the house.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
"There's a very unique expat community that comes to Bali and I think our friends have very similar mindsets that we do," Bondor said.
The couple has one tip for those who want to build a house in Bali: Don't cut corners.
"Do it the right way, and always respect your team," Bondor said. "Don't use cheap materials because this weather is going to wear everything out. If your roof is not done well, this rain is going to find its way in."
The office.
Amanda Goh/Business Insider
Kaman added that it might not be wise for anyone without any prior experience to take on such an ambitious project.
"If they don't have experience building houses, don't start with Bali," he said. "Just pick the right contractors."
Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If you've got a story to share, get in touch with me at agoh@businessinsider.com.