There's increasing concern that American politicians are growing too old in office. One congresswoman, 68, says she's retiring in part to "set a better example." "I'm just not the best gladiator for it right now," said Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire. As Americans grow increasingly concerned by the advanced age of top politicians, one retiring lawmaker is taking a different tack. Rep. Annie Kuster, a 68-year-old Democrat who's represented a New Hampshire district for 12 years, told the Boston Globe that she's trying to make room for younger people in Congress. "I'm trying to set a better example," Kuster said. "I think there are colleagues — and some of whom are still very successful and very productive — but others who just stay forever." Kuster added that she's "not the best gladiator" to serve as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to reassume office and Democrats gird for at least two years of full GOP control of Congress and the White House. She's set to be replaced by Maggie Goodlander, a 38-year-old Democrat who most recently worked in the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden. According to the 2024 MassMutual Retirement Happiness Study, the average American retires at age 62 , which is when early Social Security benefits become available. Many Americans work past that age, either due to financial pressures or a sense of fulfillment from work. It's different in Washington, where lawmakers tend to be personally wealthy and driven by a sense of mission. They also grow more powerful the longer they stick around, due to the seniority system . In 2022, Business Insider reported that roughly a quarter of lawmakers were over the age of 70 . But while age limits are popular with the general public, they're highly unlikely to happen, owing to the difficulty of enacting constitutional amendments. Democrats in particular have been reckoning with the perils of aging in the wake of their 2024 losses, which many attribute to the 82-year-old Biden's decision to continue running for reelection until a disastrous debate performance forced him out of the race in July. In recent weeks, the party has elevated younger leaders to assume top positions on a series of House committees, replacing older or ailing members in their mid- to late 70s. Still, the perils of gerontocracy continue to emerge. This month, retiring Republican Rep. Kay Granger, 81, was revealed to be living in a senior living facility in her home state of Texas. She had not cast any votes since July. Until she stepped down in March, she was the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees the entirety of the federal government's spending.Key Takeaways Nestled in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri, Maypop is a coffee and garden shop known for its cozy charm and abundant greenery. People from all walks of life gather here to reconnect with nature and each other. Julia Valleroy, Maypop's administrative coordinator, was once one of those customers seeking a garden escape and a good cup of coffee. Now part of the team, Valleroy says Maypop's dual business model still provides that warmth and magic for her and many others. "You really don't see [anything like Maypop] around here in the Midwest at all," she says. "How many places can you go where you can get coffee and also buy some flowers for your front porch or a tropical houseplant that you've been dreaming of having?" Many customers come to the shop to celebrate special occasions, like Yelp reviewer Angela P. , who brought her son's girlfriend to Maypop for her birthday. Both enthusiasts of coffee and gardening, Angela and her guest were thrilled to receive the best of both worlds — even in the summer heat. "Maypop was definitely popping, but the capacity did not affect our experience one bit," Angela wrote in her review. "It was a rather hot day, but the staff did not seem bothered. In fact, they were much more personable than I would have been had I been working in the heat. Kudos to all of the staff, both inside and out, for helping give one of the best birthday gifts that my girl has had." Customer service is a large part of what makes Maypop such a popular destination. The team provides expertise on everything from herbal tea to plant parenting, which Angela said greatly impacted her customer experience . "They're professional, so I trust they know what they're talking about," she says. "I wouldn't just take the word off of the street, but going there, I felt a little more educated. They gave ideas on things that they liked [from the cafe]. The hibiscus tea—I was hesitant on getting that, but it was delicious. It was very refreshing." A knowledgeable team is also an asset when it comes to social media content . For instance, Valleroy recently worked with the garden staff to create an Instagram reel on how to plant a cactus without pricking yourself. She says social media is an opportunity to educate customers while showcasing your brand's personality. "Just make it fun and make it light to start with," she says. "You're going to get better with time. You want to always have your face out there in front of them so you're not forgotten. I just envision whenever I'm typing up a post that I'm speaking to my friends." This strategy is successful online because Maypop's team has also worked to establish friendly relationships on the ground. Community building is always at the forefront of Maypop's mission, from its social media presence to its events strategy — for example, inviting vendors from across St. Louis to join its quarterly Maker's Market. "We thoughtfully select local artisans that like to create and share their passions," Valleroy says. "That is something that really brings the community together, and it lifts people up and brings awareness to small businesses in our area. It just feels good to help support people, support our community and support each other." Not only is Maypop's market a great way to build community, but it also promotes the brand locally . Valleroy creates digital fliers for the event and encourages vendors to share them, bolstering the brand's 22,000+ Instagram followers and proving that many great marketing activations are free. To further enhance community engagement, Valleroy regularly reads and responds to Maypop's reviews on Yelp. Engaging with feedback shows you appreciate both your customers and your team. For example, Valleroy displays reviews in the staff room to inspire and motivate the team to keep innovating and improving. "We like to switch things up," she says. "Every week whenever I come in on Monday, especially in the garden center, they've moved things around and their displays, making it so when you come in, it feels new and fresh. We always evolve around at Maypop, always trying to do better." Since its founding in 2018, Maypop has attributed its blooming business to these core principles: Listen to the episode below to hear directly from Valleroy and Angela, and subscribe to Behind the Review for more from new business owners and reviewers every Thursday. Editorial contributions by Erin Palmero and Emily Moon This article is part of our ongoing America's Favorite Mom & Pop ShopsTM series highlighting family-owned and operated businesses.
Election spending changes scrapped after deal scupperedWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump, making the announcement on his Truth Social account, said, “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The administration has begun urging Ukraine to and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more before Biden leaves office in less than two months. The U.S. has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. Trump has criticized the billions the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine and has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is designed to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Trump's , U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida, tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg featured in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” ___ Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Lolita C. Baldor And Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press
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