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☆ In the Aging Senate, 80-Somethings Seeking Re-election Draw Little Criticism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

While President Biden tries to assuage voter concerns about his age in a presidential race that includes the two oldest men ever to seek the White House, a couple of miles away in the U.S. Senate, the gerontocracy remains alive and well — and little commented upon. The recent news that two octogenarians — Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 82, and Angus King of Maine, 80 — are each running for another six-year term generated little in the way of criticism or worry over age of the kind that Mr. Biden has faced. Their races, which both men are likely to win, are a reminder of how the Senate’s roster is chock-full of lawmakers staying in office at an age when most people are well into retirement. At the start of this Congress last year, the average age of elected officials was 64 in the Senate and 57.9 in the House. “They’re not in short supply around here,” Senator Peter Welch of Vermont, 77, said of octogenarians.

Persons: Biden, —, Bernie Sanders of, Angus King of Maine, “ They’re, Peter Welch of, octogenarians Organizations: U.S . Senate Locations: U.S, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Peter Welch of Vermont

☆ Opinion | Yes, Take Me Back to 2001
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Ross Douthat | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Let me be the bridge to an America that only the unknowing call myth,” he told his audience. “Let me be the bridge to a time of tranquillity, faith and confidence in action. And to those who say it was never so, that America’s not been better, I say you’re wrong. But much of contemporary conservatism believes strongly in Dole’s formulation — in a lost Arcadia and a debased present. But they’re usually couched as a kind of reactionary futurism, where going forward requires first taking several big steps back.

Persons: Bob Dole, ”, America’s, Dole’s, Bill Clinton’s, Donald Trump, Matt Yglesias Organizations: Republican, Trump Locations: America, Arcadia

☆ They’re Not Presidential Front-Runners. But They Played Them on TV.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( James Poniewozik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate” on Fox News was really a work of speculative fiction. In this reality, maybe Joseph R. Biden Jr., president of America-2, decided to pass the baton rather than dig his fingernails into it. Maybe the former president Donald J. Trump gracefully conceded defeat in 2020 and retired from politics to spend more time with his lawyers. In our timeline, Mr. Newsom is not running for president, though his media ubiquity has spurred speculation that, were an opening to come available, he could fit it into his calendar. Mr. DeSantis is running for president, but he has been losing ground in the polls and supporter momentum.

Persons: Thursday’s, Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, Joseph R, Biden, Donald J, Trump, Newsom, DeSantis Organizations: Gov, Fox News, America Locations: Florida, California, America

☆ Hey managers, we should be answering Gen Z's questions, not just complaining
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Tim Paradis | Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

It's easy for older workers to complain about Gen Zers as being lazy or entitled. Yet some Gen Z workers are questioning norms that need to be reconsidered, experts tell Insider. AdvertisementAdvertisementWe've all heard the complaints about Gen Z and how they're rattling older managers . People older than Gen Z created the social platforms some Gen Zers are sounding off on. 1 thing she hears from older workers is that Gen Zers ask too many questions.

Persons: Gen Zers, —, Gen, Gen Z, Zers, TikTok, Kenneth Matos, Matos, who's, Xer, " Matos, Rebecca Fagan, she's, Fagan, Maia Ervin, Ervin, it's, millennials, they're, Z Organizations: Service, Boomers, KPMG, Gen, JUV Consulting Locations: Zaria

☆ Lawmakers are waking up to the realities of 'gerontocracy.' But don't expect them to do anything about it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Age limits remain popular, and lawmakers have begun to wake up to the realities of gerontocracy. "I believe everyone deserves the kind of dignity to make their own choices," said Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. He also opposes age limits, arguing that people should be able to "choose who they want, no matter how old they are." "Different people age differently, you know, somebody at a younger age may have more impacts due to aging than somebody at an older age. "I don't think it's a problem to be old, I think it's a problem to have a lack of diversity."

Persons: Mitt Romney, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Graham, Romney, Strom Thurmond, Democratic Sen, John Fetterman of, Dianne Feinstein's, Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, gerontocracy, Rep, Maxwell Frost, Anna Moneymaker, Gray, Frost, hasn't, Ro Khanna, Khanna, Dianne Feinstein, Saul Loeb, Republican Sen, John Hoeven, Hoeven, Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Gluesenkamp Perez, Feinstein, McConnell, Democratic Sens, Ben Ray Luján, JD Vance Organizations: Service, Utah Republican, Capitol, South Carolina Republican, Democratic, Florida Democrat, Pew Research Service, California, Senate, Getty, Republican, Democratic Rep, Washington, Ohio Locations: Wall, Silicon, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Florida, North Dakota, New Mexico

☆ Even Tucker Carlson thinks Trump is too old to be president again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tucker Carlson also thinks Trump and Biden are too old to be president. "I agree 100%," Carlson told Portnoy in the latest episode of Carlson's Twitter show that was posted on Thursday night. Portnoy, who interviewed Trump at the White House during his presidency, said that while he thinks "both Trump and Biden are too old" that Biden is somehow worse. As for Trump, Portnoy argued that the former president should have participated in the first GOP presidential debate. Representatives for Biden, Trump, and McConnell did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Tucker Carlson, Trump, Biden, Carlson, Dave Portnoy's, Portnoy, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Brian P, Monahan, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Gray, it's Trump Organizations: Barstool Sports, Service, Fox News, White, Trump, Capitol, Republican, California Democrat, Fox, Biden Locations: Wall, Silicon, California

☆ After Wagner's Prigozhin, who will stick their head above the parapet in Putin's Russia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Kremlin has vehemently denied speculation that the Russian state might have been involved in the crash. It’s worth remembering that Prigozhin never had particularly high name recognition in Russia, at least certainly not before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That changed in late June after Wagner’s march on Moscow raised the unsettling possibility of civil war in Russia. Alexey Navalny, who succeeded Nemtsov as Russia’s most galvanizing opposition leader, is currently in a Russian prison colony, along with many others who have peacefully opposed Putin’s war on Ukraine. Killed the leaders.”No evidence has surfaced that points to the involvement of the Kremlin or Russian security services in the crash.

Persons: Yevgeny, Wagner, Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, “, ” Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Joe Biden, I’d, Biden, Prigozhins —, Prigozhin, Prigozhin —, —, Igor Girkin, ultranationalist, Matthew Chance, bouquets —, Boris Nemtsov, Alexander Ermochenko, Alexey Navalny, Nemtsov, Navalny, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, Embraer, Kremlin, Reuters Locations: Moscow, Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, St . Petersburg, Russia’s

☆ Sen. Jon Tester says he's seen senators stay in office too long and become 'just a shell of what they formerly were'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jon Tester said he wants to make sure he does not stay too long in Washington. Without naming names, Tester told NBC, "I've watched it happen too many times in my time in the Senate." Tester said he's seen colleagues "deteriorate to the point where they're just a shell of what they formerly were." "I mean, look, the last thing I want to have happen is stay there too long." Like some of his colleagues, Tester said he prefer the verdict on fitness for office be left up to the voters.

Persons: Jon Tester, Tester, I've, he's, Democratic Sen, Mitch McConnell, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Gray, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, Tim Sheehy, Matt Rosendale Organizations: NBC, Service, Privacy, Democratic, Senate, NBC News, Republican, GOP, NAVY, Republicans Locations: Washington, Wall, Silicon, Montana, Sheehy

☆ Dianne Feinstein has surrendered decision-making on legal matters to her daughter, but the 90-year-old is still one of the most powerful lawmakers in the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein has reportedly granted her daughter power of attorney over her legal affairs. It's unclear the extent to which Feinstein's agreement extends. The New York Times reported Thursday that Feinstein has granted power of attorney to Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge, over her legal affairs. During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Feinstein appeared confused during a roll call vote. Feinstein also serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Katherine, Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, It's, Bryan Metzger, Sen, Patty Murray, Amy Coney Barrett's Organizations: Senate, Service, Privacy, Democratic, New York Times, GOP, Committee, Intelligence, CIA, NSA, Senate Armed Services Committee, panel's, Water, Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Francisco

☆ Sen. Dianne Feinstein's daughter has power of attorney over her
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's daughter has power of attorney over her the lawmaker. It is not clear the extent to which her daughter holds power of attorney. As The Los Angeles Times previously reported, a limited power of attorney agreement can be granted in matters of convenience. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's daughter, Katherine Feinstein, signed for her mother on a lawsuit, indicating the existence of some kind of power of attorney agreement. Braccini also raised doubts about the existence of a power of attorney agreement.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein's, Katherine Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Katherine, Richard Blum, Feinstein, Power, Katherine Feinstein's, Blum's, Steven P, Mark R, Klein, Marc Scholvinck, Braccini, Mitch McConnell's, Gray Organizations: The New York Times, Service, Privacy, Democratic, San Francisco Fire, Los Angeles Times, American Bar Association, Superior, of, New York Times, United, Associated Press Locations: San Francisco, Wall, Silicon, of California, Washington

☆ Even Elon Musk thinks Mitch McConnell freezing on Capitol Hill is 'insane'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Elon Musk called Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell abruptly freezing mid-sentence "insane." The billionaire Twitter boss suggested that there needs to be a constitutional amendment for term limits. This is insane," Musk said in a reply to a tweet of a video showing McConnell suddenly stop speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. At the beginning of Senate Republicans' weekly press conference on Wednesday, McConnell froze up mid-sentence before being escorted away by other senators and an aide. Experts say it would likely take a constitutional amendment to impose such a change.

Persons: Elon Musk, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, —, Musk, Gray, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Service, Elon, Republicans, Republican, United States Congress, Capitol, Wednesday, GOP, SpaceX, Twitter, Florida Gov Locations: Wall, Silicon, Kentucky, Florida

☆ Back-to-back 'senior moments' from Feinstein and McConnell illustrate the peril of a government by seniority
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two of the Senate's oldest and most powerful members had "senior moments" in recent days. Congress currently operates via seniority, meaning members gain more power depending on how long they've served. The back-to-back "senior moments" from McConnell and Feinstein, two of the most senior and powerful members of the Senate, illustrate just how much of a gerontocracy, a society governed by the old, the US has become. While Feinstein has said she's retiring at the end of her term, McConnell has suggested no such thing. In the 2020-2022 Congressional term, an Insider study found that nearly 1-in-4 members of Congress were over the age of 70.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Democratic Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Sen, Patty Murray, Feinstein, she's, that's, Gen Z, Ted Cruz Organizations: Congress, Service, Democratic, Senate Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Nancy Pelosi encourages Biden to 'embrace' being older: 'Age is a relative thing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Biden should "embrace" being older. "I think should embrace his age, his experience, [...] the knowledge he brings to the job," Pelosi, who remains a House Democrat with the title of Speaker Emerita, told MSNBC's "Morning Joe." Pelosi, was the oldest House speaker at 82, before Republicans narrowly retook the chamber in 2022. Pointing to the longevity of some other major figures, Pelosi added that Biden is quite young. Biden is younger than her too, Pelosi, who is now 83, pointed out.

Persons: Nancy Pelosi, Biden, Joe Biden, Pelosi, MSNBC's, Joe, Donald Trump, Gray, Hakeem Jeffries, Norman Lear, he's, Frank Gehry Organizations: California Democrat, Service, Democrat, Republicans, Washington Post, Biden, Trump, House Democratic, Democratic Locations: California, Wall, Silicon, LA

☆ Matt Gaetz blames the 'gerontocracy' for stymieing psychedelics legislation in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gaetz said he's happy the fight is being led by two younger lawmakers, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dan Crenshaw. "Not collecting Social Security," Gaetz told the Post about his colleagues, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, and Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican. But Crenshaw said Gaetz told him that the duo was being dismissed. "He was like, 'I needed you to do this,'" Crenshaw told the Post of Gaetz's pitch. "'Otherwise it's just typical Gaetz, typical AOC.'"

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, he's, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Dan Crenshaw, —, Ocasio, Crenshaw, Gray Organizations: psychedelics, Service, Florida Republican, Washington Post, New, New York Democrat, Texas Republican, Post, National Defense, Pentagon, Senate Locations: Alexandria, Cortez, New York, Texas, America

☆ This Week in Audio: Biden’s Age, Cringe Comedy and Beyoncé’s World Tour
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( New York Times Audio | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

This week, we traveled to Afghanistan and Ukraine, debated gerontocracy and dove into the golden age of cringe comedy. Welcome to your weekly newsletter from New York Times Audio. The app features exclusive shows, narrated articles and much more, and is included for news subscribers on iOS. Download the app here. Every week, the app’s editors select their favorite listens that provided news, depth and serendipity.

Organizations: New York Times Locations: Afghanistan, Ukraine

The New York Times Audio app includes podcasts, narrated articles from the newsroom and other publishers, as well as exclusive new shows — including this one — which we’re making available to readers for a limited time. Download the audio app here. The median age of senators is 65. We’re heading into a presidential contest that might find candidates who are 78 and 82 facing off on Election Day. Background reading(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

Organizations: New York Times, Times

☆ Dianne Feinstein didn't reveal she had complications from shingles like brain swelling and facial paralysis: New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Madison Hall | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Dianne Feinstein was absent from the Senate for nearly three months due to shingles, her office has said. A report from the New York Times, however, noted she was diagnosed with several complications stemming from shingles. According to a New York Times report, which relies on anonymous sourcing, said that Feinstein's shingles moved to her face and neck, leading to balance and vision problems along with partial facial paralysis. As the New York Times noted, post-shingles encephalitis can lead to "lasting memory or language problems, sleep disorders, bouts of confusion, mood disorders, headaches and difficulties walking." Even prior to her shingles diagnosis, reports indicated Feinstein appeared to have mental acuity issues.

☆ Biden, while defending a presidential reelection bid in his 80s, says he's 'acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom' and knows 'more than the vast majority of people'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Biden defended his 2024 reelection bid during an interview with MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle. "I have acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom and know more than the vast majority of people," he said. Biden, who's now 80, would be 82 at the start of a second presidential term in 2025. Ruhle asked: "Why would a 82-year-old Joe Biden be the right person for the most important job in the world?" "I have acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom and know more than the vast majority of people," he told Ruhle.

☆ Opinion: From Woody Woodpecker to Mickey Mouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. The term is credited to animator Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. “While I would love to see a progressive in the White House, I am terrified of another Donald Trump presidency. Mickey Mouse warBill Bramhall/Tribune Content Agency“President Franklin Roosevelt launched a war against the Great Depression,” noted Julian Zelizer. “Women still have less access to the internet, with men being 21% more likely to be online than women globally.

☆ Elon Musk says he wants a 'normal person' for president in 2024 whose values are 'smack in the middle of the country'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The 2024 presidential election is a year away, but Elon Musk already knows who he wants to see in office. Musk has praised and criticized Biden and Trump alike, and he now says he wants a "normal person" as president. He told Fox News he'd like a president "whose values are smack in the middle of the country." Elon Musk says the ideal presidential candidate for him is "just a normal person." Looking ahead, Musk added, "I would prefer, frankly, that we put just a normal person as president, a normal person with common sense and whose values are smack in the middle of the country, just center of the normal distribution and I think that they would be great."

☆ Sen. Bernie Sanders blasts 2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley's call for 'mandatory mental competency tests' for politicians over 75 as 'absurd'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Bernie Sanders blasted Nikki Haley's idea of an age-based mental competency test for politicians. She's the second major Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race, joining former President Trump, who'll turn 77 years old in June. "We'll have term limits for Congress, and mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old." "I think she should test her own mental competency," Hirono said of the presidential aspirant. "Come on, how many times has she said she's fighting Trump, and then the next thing you know, she's kissing his ring?"

☆ Elderly senators have mixed feelings about Nikki Haley's call for 'mandatory mental competency tests' for politicians over 75
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Nikki Haley is calling for "mandatory mental competency tests" for politicians over the age of 75. Over a sixth of the US Senate is age 75 or older. "We'll have term limits for Congress, and mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old." "I think she should test her own mental competency," said Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who recently turned 75. Republican Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho said he'd take a mental competency test Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesSome aging lawmakers expressed general openness to taking the test.

☆ Nancy Pelosi says age is not 'a positive thing' for Biden as the 80-year-old president ponders launching a reelection campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on Biden's presidency in a recent interview. Pelosi added that the Democratic Party had "other great candidates" who could beat Trump in 2024. "He has just done so many things that are so great," Pelosi said in November. Pelosi added that Biden was not the only Democratic candidate who could beat former President Donald Trump in 2024. While Trump has already launched his reelection bid, Biden is in the planning stages.

☆ GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw says it's 'crazy' that Republicans put forward 'two 25-year-olds to be our nominees' in the midterms: 'We lost races we easily should have won'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Dan Crenshaw critiqued some of the GOP candidates tapped to run for office in 2022. GOP voters nominated Karoline Leavitt, 25, and Bo Hines, 27, in two key House districts. However, in a recent Politico interview, GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas said that his party erred in nominating younger candidates in two of the most competitive House districts in the country. That's batshit crazy," the 38-year-old congressman told the publication of two young Republicans who won primaries to serve as their party's nominees. In New Hampshire's 1st Congressional district, Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas defeated 25-year-old former Trump White House assistant press secretary Karoline Leavitt 54%-46%.

☆ House Democrats reject a rules change that could've empowered junior members amid concerns about aging leadership
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

"Six years is a pretty long time," Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia told Insider at the Capitol earlier this month. "I'm not for term limits," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told Insider during a briefing with reporters at the end of November. "I'm not taking a position on any single rules proposal that is before the House Democratic Caucus," he said. Another prominent young lawmaker — 33-year-old Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — has also been vocal in her criticism of the system. "Whatever the mechanism is, we need to have more opportunities for people to bring their leadership to bear in different places," she told Insider.

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