Today’s Big Story

The Big Booze Debate

Scientists work to understand how much—or how little—you can consume without health problems

There’s always a debate about whether alcohol is good or bad for you. Well, maybe it’s never good for you. But red wine, according to the Mayo Clinic, has long been thought of as healthy for the heart. Then there’s the mental health improvements: A coupe of champagne can add fun to a celebration. A cocktail can take the edge off a tough day. And a cold beer certainly livens up a sports game.

Yet scientists’ warnings about the potential health problems of even small amounts of alcohol are growing more dire. For casual drinkers, it can be hard to know what’s actually OK to consume: Is two a day that much worse than one? Are two drinks over a week the same as two in a single night?

Averaging no more than about one drink a day is relatively low risk, according to scientists who study alcohol. They warn the risk of cancer rises significantly when you exceed that. Studies have suggested that alcohol contributes to about half a dozen types of cancers, including breast and colorectal, as well as heart and liver disease, among other conditions.

Last year, a major meta-analysis that re-examined 107 studies over 40 years came to the conclusion that no amount of alcohol improves health; and in 2022, a well-designed study found that consuming even a small amount brought some risk to heart health. That same year, Nature published research stating that consuming as little as one or two drinks a day (even less for women) was associated with shrinkage in the brain — a phenomenon normally associated with aging. I mean, I love a good cocktail, but damn … I certainly don’t want my brain to shrink. There goes that beloved red wine halo.

Then again, for many wine aficionados, sharing a glass or two with someone they love is one of life’s great pleasures. And it might be the key to a long, happy life. Because there is data showing that couples who share drinking habits stay together and live longer. The good news is that non-alcoholic options abound these days. And as long as there’s tasty options to pour, I’m happy to leave out the booze but keep the ritual of a refreshing drink at the end of a long day.

How the Republican Party Came Around

The GOP is full of people who have changed their minds about the former president

As Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio took the stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night to accept his party’s nomination to be vice president, he also officially completed the final stage in his transformation from foil to acolyte of former President Donald Trump. As Jess Bidgood writes in the New York Times, “his long history of disparaging Trump, whom he has called an ‘idiot’ and ‘cultural heroin,’ does not make him less suited for elevation within his party—rather, it makes him a better avatar for the tale Trump wants to tell.”

Vance, like many other prominent Republicans, is a political convert, whose remaking of image in order to thrive in Trump’s remade Republican Party proves and reinforces the former president’s power. Earlier in the year, Nikki Haley said that Trump was “toxic,” and that he “lacks moral clarity,” but on Tuesday night she told the RNC that “for the sake of our nation, we have to go with Donald Trump.” Last October, Ron DeSantis mocked Trump for losing to Joe Biden and needled him for using campaign funds to pay for lawyers in his many legal travails. But he too, kissed the ring and proclaimed, “Let’s send Donald Trump back to the White House.”

Most who said Trump was dangerous now simply hand-wave it away by saying they were just campaigning. So, you know, they’re out there just saying random stuff to get elected? That’s politics for you. But then again, not everyone is falling in line. There’s a growing group of veterans who embraced Trump’s tough talk in 2016 but feel disrespected and can’t support a convicted felon.

The Medical Tourism Boom

The rise in healthcare costs is sending people overseas for a range of procedures

Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular, as the cost of healthcare continues to rise in Western countries. Patients from the United States, United Kingdom and various European countries opt to travel to developing nations for medical services primarily due to the significantly lower treatment expenses.

Turkey has emerged as a destination of choice for balding American men seeking a cure to their receding hairlines. The boom underscores the extent to which social media and pop culture have normalized cosmetic procedures—and the lengths people are willing to go to achieve their ideal look. More than 1.5 million medical tourists went to Turkey last year, spending about $3 billion, reports Axios.

Flying around the world and staying to recover might sound expensive, but the cost savings of the procedure makes up for it. For example, while the cost of Heart Bypass surgery in the U.S. ranges from $20,000 to more than $40,000, it amounts to approximately $4,000 in India. Some patients travel for personal reasons, like getting access to cutting-edge treatments or privacy for elective procedures like cosmetic surgery. Others are now traveling for treatments that aren’t approved or allowed in the U.S., like stem cell therapy or other experimental procedures.

Emmy Noms (and Snubs)

The good, the bad and the weird for TV’s highest award

A pair of FX series (and two of my favorite shows of the past year), Shogun and The Bear, dominated the Emmy nominations on Wednesday, leading all television series with more than 20 nominations each. Carmy and crew broke a 15-year-old Emmy record, earning the most nominations ever recorded for a comedy in a single year. (But is The Bear truly a comedy??) Another great show, Baby Reindeer, pulled in 11 noms.

As Variety points out, this is a strange year. Officially, it’s the second Emmy Awards in 2024, thanks to the quirks of post-strike scheduling. But unlike past years, the television Academy found the space to recognize a wide range of quality work, not just the huge splashy shows. Which means that Ripley and Reservation Dogs saw some nominations, even Girls5eva got some love.

However, the end of Succession left a noticeable crater in the landscape of TV drama, and it was unlikely any one show would step into its place. But at the point when Mr. and Mrs. Smith, 3 Body Problem, and The Morning Show are filling three slots in Best Drama, Vulture says “we have to ask … are these really what we have for Best Drama? Each series has its good points, sure, but all are notably flawed shows.” And no nominations for Tokyo Vice or Emma Stone’s The Curse performance as a “elf-immolating liberal white woman who convinces only herself that she’s well meaning”? Those seem like mistakes, too.

Keep Your Shades in Peak Condition

Sunglasses are a summertime staple, take care of them

We could tell you that a pair of sunglasses makes for the perfect finishing touch to any warm weather outfit. We could talk about the importance of protecting your eyes from dangerous glares and UV radiation. Or we could acknowledge that they make you look really freaking cool. But you know that already.

What you may not know is how to keep them in good condition throughout the next few months. Especially when you shell out good money for a quality pair, you want to make sure you treat them right, clean them properly and prevent any long-lasting damage. For our Summer Survival Guide, we spoke with some experts for their guidance on how to take care of your shades.

Treat yourself.