European shares kicked off the week on a positive note on Monday, recouping the previous session’s losses, as markets heaved a sigh of relief after U.S. President Donald Trump delayed his threat to impose a 50% tariff on the region.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 1% higher. It had lost 0.9% on Friday after Trump unexpectedly called for sharp tariffs on goods from the European Union, saying that negotiations with the region were not moving fast enough.
On Sunday, Trump extended the deadline for tariffs to July 9 from June 1, after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the 27-nation bloc needed more time to produce a deal.
The automobiles and parts index, sensitive to tariff-related pressures, led broader gains with a 1.8% rise. However, they were limited by a 3.3% decline in Porsche.
Defence companies were among the biggest boosts to the STOXX 600 index, with Rheinmetall and Leonardo gaining over 3% each and the aerospace and defence index advancing 1.7%.
The stocks also pulled up the industrial goods and services sector by 1.5%.
The defence and auto sectors helped German stocks rise by 1.7%, near a record high.
Luxury stocks, highly exposed to the U.S. market, also gained. Shares of Kering, LVMH and Richemont rose about 1% each, as did the broader index
“While more time for EU-U.S. negotiations is good news, the speed of the rebound in stocks suggests that investors may have become too optimistic on the path for trade discussions,” said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management.
The euro jumped along with other risk-sensitive currencies, while euro zone government bond yields were little changed, as Trump backtracked from his tariff threats.
Rising concerns about the U.S. economic slowdown and fiscal woes, underscored by Moody’s credit rating downgrade on May 16, are pushing investors to limit their exposure to U.S. assets.
“If you want to have a low-risk portfolio, the U.S. is where you would go first, but with the trade tensions and geopolitical tensions, this favourable sentiment has shifted,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior market analyst at Swissquote Bank.
Trading volumes were lighter than usual due to public holidays in the U.S. and the UK markets. However, U.S. stock futures were up more than 1% each.
Thyssenkrupp jumped 8.8% after a weekend report said the submarine and car parts maker plans to hold a shareholder meeting on August 8 to approve an expected spin-off of its warship division. Thyssenkrupp was not immediately available for comment.
Zealand Pharma topped the STOXX 600 with a 10% advance.
Nikhil Sharma and Purvi Agarwal, Reuters
A new study paints a promising picture for the ways that digital technology use affects the aging brain.
Published in Nature Human Behavior last month, neuroscientists at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin conducted a meta-analysis drawing on 57 different studies and data from more than 400,000 participants over the age of 50.
A digital brain boost
The new study found that across the board, the use of everyday digital technology like computers, smartphones, and the internet is associated with lower measures of cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults. The strength of that positive association was comparable to established protective factors for dementia like reduced blood pressure, cognitively engaging hobbies, and exercise. The results contradict assumptions that long-term technology use might lead to cognitive decline in old age.
There was no credible evidence from the longitudinal studies, or the meta-analysis as a whole, for widespread digital brain drain or digital dementia as a result of general, natural uses of digital technology, coauthors Jared Benge and Michael Scullin wrote.
The meta-analysis, which aggregated findings across many different pieces of research, included previous studies on digital technology use in adults older than 50 if they examined cognitive performance or dementia diagnosis as an outcome. The average participant age was 68.7 years at the beginning of the study (a third of the studies were longitudinal, collecting data over time). These participants are described as digital pioneers who did not have access to technology and the internet while growing up.
Within the meta-analysis, the three studies that focused on the use of social media showed findings that are more mixed, with inconsistent results for cognitive measures. The authors hypothesize that increased social media use could mean participants had less face-to-face social interaction, which is notable because in-person socializing is believed to protect the aging brain against dementia.
Helping seniors stay social
Beyond social media, technology use could enable a thriving social life for aging adults, who might use video calls, messaging, and email to stay in touch with loved onesdigital tools that share little in common with social medias algorithmic feeds.
Digitally enabled social connections improve feelings of loneliness in some older adults, but they may also increase exposure to socially driven misinformation or reduce the frequency of face-to-face relationships, the authors wrote. Additional work is therefore needed to understand how, when, and for whom digital social connectedness benefits well-being and cognition.
The authors also suggest that future studies should look at the same trends in lower-income countries, where a spike in dementia diagnosis is expected and access to technology is expanding rapidly.
While the studys results show a robust positive trend between the use of technology and a healthy aging mind, figuring out the root cause of those positive outcomes is a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem.
For example, decreased walking speed presages cognitive decline in a host of neurodegenerative diseases, but the reverse causal direction is also present: Regular walking leads to better cognitive performance and slower rates of cognitive decline, the authors wrote. For aging adults, its possible that better cognition promotes technology use, even as technology use promotes better cognition.
While the current meta-analysis showed a consistent, strong positive association between natural uses of digital technologies and overall cognitive well-being, there is no simple answer to whether technology is always good or always bad for the aging brain, the authors wrote. It is unknown whether the current findings will hold in future decades for people who were initially exposed to digital technologies during childhood or as the types of general digital technology exposure change.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he is considering taking $3 billion of previously awarded grant money for scientific and engineering research away from Harvard University and giving it to trade schools.
His comments on his social media platform Truth Social come less than a week after his administration sought to block the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students as part of Trump’s extraordinary effort to seize some government control of U.S. academia.
Trump, a Republican, has frozen some $3 billion in federal grants to Harvard in recent weeks, complaining that it has hired Democrats, “Radical Left idiots and ‘bird brains'” as professors. Harvard, a private university, has sued to restore the funding, saying the cuts are an unconstitutional attack on its free speech rights and unlawful.
Most of that grant money is appropriated by Congress for the National Institutes of Health to disburse to fund biomedical research after a lengthy application process by individual scientists, work that is not typically done at trade schools.
It was not clear whether Trump was referring to Harvard grants his administration has already frozen. Harvard has said it was told that virtually all of its federal grant awards were revoked earlier in May, in a series of letters by the NIH, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and other agencies.
The letters each said the grants were being suspended because they “no longer effectuate agency priorities.”
Harvard did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. The White House did not respond to questions about the specific funds Trump wants to repurpose or how it could be reallocated to trade schools under the law.
On Friday, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from revoking Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, a policy the university said was part of Trump’s broader effort to retaliate against it for refusing to “surrender its academic independence.”
The order provides temporary relief to thousands of international students, who were faced with potentially having to transfer under a policy that the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts called a “blatant violation” of the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws.
It said the move would have an “immediate and devastating effect” on the university and more than 7,000 visa holders.
Harvard enrolled nearly 6,800 international students in its current school year, representing 27% of total enrollment and a significant chunk of its revenue from tuition fees.
The move was the latest escalation in a broader battle between Harvard and the White House, as Trump seeks to compel universities, law firms, news media, courts and other institutions to align with his agenda. Trump and fellow Republicans have long accused elite universities of left-wing bias.
In recent weeks, the administration has proposed ending Harvard’s tax-exempt status and hiking taxes on its endowment, and opened an investigation into whether it violated civil rights laws by discriminating against “white, Asian, male, or straight employees” or job or training program applicants.
Harvard has said its hiring and admissions are compliant with the law.
David Shepardson, Jonathan Allen, Nate Raymond and Jasper Ward, Reuters
Its time to celebrate your favorite singers and musical acts by tuning into the American Music Awards tonight (Monday, May 26, 2025) at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Unlike the Grammy Awards, the AMAs put the power in the hands of the fans. As explained on the AMA website, nominations are based on key fan interactions such as record sales, number of streams, and tour revenue, while the winners are voted on by the public at large.
While most of the polls are closed, there is still time to cast your vote for the Collaboration of the Year and Social Song of the Year. Lets get up to speed so you can enjoy all the music.
Have the AMAs always been on Memorial Day?
For the first time ever, the AMAs are being held on Memorial Day, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. To honor our fallen soldiers, the AMAs are partnering up with the Easy Day Foundation. This nonprofit works to help surviving veterans make the transition to civilian life.
Several segments on the broadcast will focus on veterans’ issues and raise money for various organizations working with the community.
Who is hosting the 2025 AMAs?
Jennifer Lopez is back for her sophomore year of hosting this celebration of music. She previously did the honors in 2015 and opened the show with Waiting for Tonight from her debut studio album, On the 6.
Who is nominated for an AMA?
Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with 10 nominations. Post Malone boasts eight nominations. Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Shaboozey all have seven chances to win.
Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, Taylor Swift, and Zach Bryan will battle it out for Artist of the Year.
New kids on the block Benson Boone, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims, and Tommy Richman will compete for New Artist of the Year.
Beyond the competitive categories, music will honor some of the greats.
Rod Stewart is scheduled to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award and give fans a performance treat. Janet Jackson will receive the Icon Award for her impressive body of work and hit the stage for her first television performance since 2018.
Who is performing at the 2025 AMAs?
Many other performers besides Jackson and Stewart will sing their hearts out.
Benson Boone will give fans a sneak peak of his upcoming album American Heart by performing the single, Mystical Magical.
Gwen Stefani will perform a medley from her 2004 debut solo album Love.Angel.Music.Baby to mark its 20th anniversary.
Gloria Estefan will take to the AMAs for the first time in 32 years to celebrate her 50-year career.
Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, and Reneé Rapp are also getting in on the action.
Whats the Taylor Swift rumor about the AMAs?
The Swiftie rumor mill is working overtime. Many believe that Taylor Swift will announce the release of Reputation (Taylor’s Version) sometime during the broadcast.
Their theory is based on precedentSwift has announced other albums at award shows: the recent addition to the Handmaids Tale soundtrack, a snake necklace, and other easter eggs.
How can I watch or stream the AMAs live?
To see if Swifties are right, youre going to have to tune into CBS.
This is the first time that the network has had the pleasure of broadcasting the ceremony, which was previously on ABC and not on the air since 2022.
If you have a traditional cable subscription, you’re covered: You can watch CBS on your TV or via the CBS website.
Don’t forget, you can also watch CBS for free with an over-the-air antenna.
Cord-cutters can turn to Paramount+ With Showtime to stream the telecast.
Some live-TV streaming services also include CBS, including YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV. Remember, these services have some regional restrictions.
Additionally the websites for Variety, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, WWD, Deadline, Vibe, IndieWire, and Gold Derby will utilize Harmony, Penske Medias livestreaming platform, for your viewing pleasure.
If you were too busy with a BBQ to tune in, never fear. The show will be re-aired on multiple days across a number of different stations.
You can catch it on MTV on Tuesday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, or on CMT on Wednesday, May 28, at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, or on BET on Thursday, May 29, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
A potentially devastating new round of tariffs looming over the European Unions trade relationship with the U.S. will be pushed back for at least a month as negotiations continue.
President Trump on Friday announced plans for a 50% tariff on EU goods, expressing frustration with the 27-country bloc and repeating his talking points about the trade deficit between the U.S. and the EU. After a call over the weekend with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump agreed to a new deadline of July 9 to give the U.S. and EU time to hash out a deal.
I agreed to the extensionJuly 9, 2025it was my privilege to do so, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter! Trumps cooperative comments were a tone shift from his Friday mood toward the bloc, when he described the talks as going nowhere and slammed the EU for being difficult to deal with.
Von der Leyen reiterated that the EU needs until July to sort out the details of a new trade dealand to talk its way out of Trumps threatened 50% tariff, which would devastate existing trade norms between the global powers. The EU and U.S. share the worlds most consequential and close trade relationship, Von der Leyen said on X. Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively.
On Friday, Trump also rounded on Apple, threatening to implement a 25% tariff if the Cupertino, California-based iPhone maker doesnt bring its manufacturing stateside. The passing attack was enough to prompt a dip in Apples shares as investors fretted over the high price tag of a hypothetical U.S.-made iPhone and the logistic impossibility of the company relocating its vast production operation, which is largely based in China.
The fresh trade threats against the EU are just the latest turn on Trumps trade roller-coaster ride, which has thrown global alliances into chaos, upended markets, and raised a new round of red flags that U.S. consumers may again be facing higher prices on everyday goods.
No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawn mower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor’s lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume.The movement has expanded to “Let It Bloom June” and the fall version: “Leave the leaves.” Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes.When Amanda Beltramini Healan moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing.Local authorities apparently didn’t appreciate her natural look: “I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,” she said.But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she’s no derelict, but a participant in an international movement.These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There’s a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses.“I have a lot of insects and bugs and that’s protein, so the birds and the bird’s nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,” she said. “I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It’s just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.”The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife, a conservation organization based in England.American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30% of a U.S. household’s total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA.Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month.A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at Iowa State University, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints.The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking noninvasive plants that fit each region’s climate and precipitation levels.Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, “meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,” said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact.Beltramini Healan isn’t just letting just anything grow she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive.Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors’ kids come over to look for butterflies.It’s about giving them the time “to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,” said Griffith. He said he’s never heard a complaint in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard.“I just enjoy coming out and walking around,” said Griffith. “And looking at it, it’s kind of peaceful. It’s kinda relaxing.”__This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Amanda Beltramini Healan’s name and to correct that Aaron Steil works at Iowa State University, not the University of Iowa.
Kristin M. Hall, Associated Press
Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! Im Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning.
Summer officially starts in a few weeks, but Ive already ordered and preordered the books that will keep me company on airplanes and trips to the beach. The first Modern CEO reading list was heavy on buzzworthy titles. Last years edition was a bit more dutiful, highlighting three works that explored the complexities of capitalism. This year, Im diving into the lives of the ultrarich, whose impact on culture, society, and policy continues to rise.
The Haves and the Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich by Evan Osnos
Thanks in part to social media, consumptionof luxury goods, five-star resorts, rare wines, and the likeis increasingly conspicuous. One place where the ultrarich can avoid prying eyes? Aboard their superyachts. As Evan Osnos, a staff writer and podcast host at The New Yorker, writes of such floating mansions: These shrines to excess capital exist in a conditional state of visibility: they are meant to be unmistakable to a slender stratum of societyand all but unseen by everyone else. Osnoss collection of essays promises to shed light on the excesses but also on how the rich amass and keep their wealth and the power that it affords.
Personal History: A Memoir by Katharine Graham and Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist by Roger Lowenstein
One of the biggest business stories of the yearWarren Buffetts announcement that he will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathawayand the ongoing struggles of The Washington Post under Jeff Bezos (a superyacht owner), are prompting me to reread two great books on my bookshelf. Personal History is Grahams candid memoir of the personal and professional hurdles she had to overcome en route to becoming CEO of The Washington Post Company and one of the most admired executives in media. Lowensteins masterful portrait of Buffett is part biography, part investing tutorial. Graham and Buffett were longtime friends, and Lowenstein seems to credit Graham with leavening some of Buffetts thrifty instincts. Stories of Buffetts frugalityhis primary residence is a home he bought in Omaha in 1958 for $31,500will surely be a good palate cleanser after the Osnos book.
Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altmans OpenAI by Karen Hao
Hao, an Atlantic contributor, is one of the leading journalists covering artificial intelligence (AI), and her book promises to be an unflinching look at the potential and perils of OpenAI CEO Sam Altmans ambitions for generative AI, which seem to mirror the move fast and break things ethos of many tech companies. Luckily for readers, Hao seems willing to explore the unintended consequences of unfettered AI expansion, including the environmental impacts of water- and energy-hungry data centers.
So Far Gone by Jess Walter
Walters latest bookmy one fiction pickhas many of the things I love in novel: a road trip, multigenerational conflict, and a gruff former journalist as the protagonist. In So Far Gone, Rhys Kinnick sets off to rescue his daughter and grandchildren from a radical militia group. Its a world Walter knows well: As a journalist for the Spokane, Washington Spokesman-Review, Walter covered the 1992 standoff at Ruby Ridge in Northern Idaho, which is credited with fueling the anti-government militia movement. Challenging stuff, but an early review from Ann Patchett confirms why I love Walters writing: Jess Walter managed to build such a warm, funny, loving novel out of so many horrible parts.
What are you reading this summer?
Whats on your summer reading list? Please send the name, author, and a sentence or two about why youd recommend it to modern leaders to stephaniemehta@mansueto.com. Ill publish a bonus newsletter with reader suggestions before the official start of summer.
Read more: summer reading roundup
24 books to read this summer, according to The Atlantic
The Economists latest beach friendly reads
The 15 books USA Today says you should read this summer
The Coca-Cola Co. just announced its newest limited-time soda, and its a combination of Sprite and tea that was initially floated by a team of interns six years ago.
Sprite + Tea just hit shelves earlier across the U.S. and Canada, and is expected to remain on the market through October. The soda is available in both regular and zero-sugar varieties, and, according to a press release, it blends the crisp, lemon-lime refreshment of Sprite with the classically refreshing flavor of tea. The new product arrives just a month after Coca-Cola announced better-than-anticipated first-quarter 2025 financial results, logging a 2% year-over-year revenue decline but maintaining its growth forecasts for 2025, unlike rival PepsiCo.
For years now, Coca-Cola has been experimenting with new, unexpected flavor combinations designed to attract younger consumers, ranging from Spiced Coke to last summers Sprite Chill and the ever-popular seasonal rerelease Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry. Most recently, the company introduced Orange Cream Coke, citing growing demand among millennials and Gen Z-ers for fun, unexpected tastes and sensory experiences as the inspiration behind the nostalgic flavor.
[Photo: Coca-Cola]
Unlike these other flavor plays from the company, Sprite + Tea might already be familiar to many fans. Thats because before it became an official product, the soda started as an idea floated by Coca-Cola interns that later became a viral DIY TikTok trend.
TikTok saw it first
In an interview with Ad Age, Coca-Cola Co. senior creative director A.P. Chaney explained that Sprite + Tea first landed on executives radars back in 2019, when a group of interns pitched a combination of the two beverages.
It was an R&D project, and interns were asked to come up with different innovations and marketing ideas for different brands, and Sprite + Tea was an ideation of that, Chaney told Ad Age.
From there, the idea seems to have sat on the back burner until summer 2023, when a DIY Sprite tea started popping up on TikTok. In an initial TikTok by Malaysian chef Hisham Raus, Raus is shown steeping Lipton tea bags in a regular bottle of Sprite and enjoying the concoction with a slice of lemon. The video, which has since racked up 19.8 million views and 1.3 million likes, has spawned dozens of copycat videos across platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
Food influencer @shophocho7798 re-created the concept in a YouTube video with 3.7 million views, calling the result literally a carbonated Arnold Palmer. In another YouTube short with 8.3 million views, creator Jordan Howlett declared the hack delicious and encouraged his 4.4 million subscribers to give it a try.
When [the trend] blew up on TikTok with millions of views, it was a gut check that we were on the right track, Chaney said in the companys press release.
While its unlikely that Coca-Cola is actually using the tea bag hack to mass-produce Sprite + Tea, the release does note that Coca-Colas North American R&D team completed several rounds of consumer testing to fine-tune the formula for the amber-colored sparkling beverage.
For Coca-Cola, Sprite seems to be a reliable base for flavor remixes: In 2024, the limited-time Sprite Chill became the companys best-selling drink innovation, and Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry has returned several times as a holiday fan favorite since 2013. Meanwhile, the recent Spiced Coke experiment was phased out after just six months when it failed to land with customers.
TikTok is already flooded with videos of fans trying Sprite + Tea, with some reviews commending the drinks strong tea flavor,” while others recommend that viewers stick with the DIY version.
A few years ago, a sales executive I worked with found himself in a difficult position. His company was under review for a potential buyout, and his director asked him to present a version of the companys story that, while technically true, left out critical details. The omission would make the company look healthier than it was, protecting its valuation and the leadership teams positions post-acquisition.
He knew this wasnt an outright lie, but it didnt feel honest either. Was this just strategic messaging or something more ethically concerning? And how could he navigate this without jeopardizing his reputation or future at the company?
A third path
He chose a third path. Instead of outright refusal, which might have been career-limiting, he started by asking clarifying questions. What was the real outcome that the leadership team wanted? Was there a way to tell a fuller, more balanced story that acknowledged challenges while highlighting future opportunities?
In the end, he was able to get leadership buy-in to reframe the story to focus on how the company had learned from its struggles and was taking steps to improve. It wasnt a spin. It was honest, forward-looking, and hopeful. The CEO praised the approach, and the executive maintained his integrity without derailing his career.
The Institute of Business Ethics found in a study that one in three employees felt pressured to compromise the businesss ethical standards. Many comply out of fearworried theyll face retaliation, be labeled difficult, or lose opportunities. But there are ways to push back without risking your career.
UNDERSTAND BEFORE OBJECTING
When confronted with a questionable request, most people respond in one of two ways: They comply out of fear or they push back immediately, putting their job security at risk.
Theres a better first step: Push to understand.
Not all uncomfortable requests are unethical. Some are simply poorly communicated or misaligned with your values.
Clarify: Start by seeking to fully understand the request. You may find the issue is one of discomfort rather than unethical intent.
Question: Explore the outcomes they want and whether the request achieves those goals in the best way. Asking thoughtful questions often makes leaders rethink their approach on their own.
Redirect: If appropriate, propose a solution that meets the same business objectives without compromising integrity. For example, rather than omitting challenges, highlight how those challenges spurred innovation or improved future outcomes.
These conversations can reveal that the person making the request is open to alternatives, they just hadnt thought of them yet.
UNETHICAL VERSUS ILLEGAL
If youve clarified, questioned, and still feel uncomfortable, its important to assess whether the request is merely unethical or actually illegal. That distinction determines your next move.
If the request is illegal, you will want to tread carefully. If you feel psychologically safe, it can be helpful to start communicating via email to keep a digital trail (although it is possible that your manager will cover their trail by refusing to engage on email). Further, if your company has an HR department, you can share the request with them along with expressing your discomfort.
One friend who works in compliance found himself in this exact situation. His manager asked him to manipulate data, a clear violation of regulations. He responded by email, explicitly stating why the request was illegal and citing the relevant regulatory code. He was never asked to do it again. Sometimes, simply stating the facts is the most powerful shield you have.
However, if the request is unethical but not necessarily illegal, your next move should be a personal decision that minimizes future regret.
REGRET MINIMIZATION FRAMEWORK
If youre facing this kind of dilemma, its already a bad situation. Theres no playbook that guarantees success or protection. Sometimes, doing everything right still results in backlash or career limitations. This is why I recommend applying whats called the regret minimization framework.
Ask yourself: If I look back on this 10 years from now, will I regret how I handled it?
This is the core of the regret minimization framework, a decision-making tool made famous by Jeff Bezos. It doesnt promise a perfect outcome. But it helps you act in a way that minimizes long-term regret, even if it leads to short-term discomfort.
When you apply this framework, youre not just considering whether youll keep your job next month. Youre asking which version of yourselftodays self or your future selfyou want to protect more. Do you want to be someone who went along to keep the peace? Or someone who held the line when it mattered?
This doesnt mean you have to become a whistleblower or burn bridges. It simply means choosing the actions that leave you at peace with yourself, knowing you did what you could with the power and information you had at the time.
The temperatures are heating up and school’s almost out for the summer. Before we fully dive into the warmer months and vacations, we get a mini-break in the form of Memorial Day weekenda preview of coming attractionsbut it requires some planning ahead because today (Monday May 26, 2025) is a federal holiday.
Lets take a look at a brief history of the day and what business and services will be closed to observe it.
A brief history of Memorial Day
Memorial Day has its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War. On May 30, 1868, John A. Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared the first national observance of Declaration Day, Memorial Days predecessor, on which flowers were placed on Union soldiers graves.
Even before this declaration, there were many similar Confederate customs. Many cities on both sides claim to be the originators of the holiday.
As more battles were fought, the holiday evolved beyond a single conflict to honor and mourn all service members who lost their lives in the line of battle.
It became an official federal holiday in 1971 after a 1968 law, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, was enacted by Congress. This moved the holiday from May 30 to the last Monday in May, giving many traditional American workers a three-day weekend.
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day
Many mix up or confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The former celebrates service members who have died in the line of battle. The latter takes place in November and celebrates all American veterans.
Are banks open on Memorial Day?
No. Major money transactions that require going inside a bank are going to have to wait as these institutions are closed on federal holidays.
Are ATMs open on Memorial Day?
Yes. Luckily, for simpler deposits and withdrawals, automated teller machines located outside of the branch are available.
Is the post office open on Memorial Day?
No. You wont be able to run into a post office on Memorial Day as the United States Postal Service (USPS) is not open for business. Buy stamps and send big packages ahead of time.
Is mail delivered on Memorial Day?
No. Bills and postcards will be delayed a day, as postal mail is not delivered on Memorial Day.
Are FedEx and UPS operating on Memorial Day?
According to the 2025 FedEx holiday schedule, only FedEx Custom Critical services will be available. FedEx Office will have a modified schedule while FedEx, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Logistics are closed.
According to the 2025 UPS holiday schedule, only UPS Express Critical services are available. Limited UPS store locations will be open. UPS Forwarding, UPS Domestic Ground, Air, and International are all closed for the holiday.
Is the stock market open on Memorial Day?
No. You will have to buy and sell another day. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Nasdaq exchange are closed.
Are schools open on Memorial Day?
No. Students and teachers typically get the day off for Memorial Day. That being said, it is a good practice to double check your own schools calendar to verify this.
Are restaurants open on Memorial Day?
Yes. Most restaurants are open and hoping to take advantage of the three-day weekend revenue. This includes fast food chains such as McDonald’s and sit-down chains such as Applebee’s. For smaller mom-and-pop-type places, it’s best to double check that they didnt take the day off.
Are pharmacies open on Memorial Day?
Typically, yes. Most Walgreens and CVS locations will be open, but they may have modified hours. Be sure to check your local location ahead of time, especially if you need your medication in a pinch. Moreover, independent pharmacies may be closed.
Are stores and groceries open on Memorial Day?
For the most part, yes. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target are open on Memorial Day, according to a roundup from USA Today.
If you need a last-minute bottle of ketchup or mustard for your hamburgers and hot dogs, you are covered. Trader Joes, Kroger, and many more have your back. The majority of large supermarket chains will be open for all your family barbecue needs.
Costco, however, will be closed, so buy in bulk ahead of time.
