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Opinion: Trump is worried after FBI search -- and he should be

Norman Eisen is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. He was former President Barack Obama's ethics czar and was special impeachment counsel to the House Judiciary Committee in 2019-2020. Asha Rangappa is a senior lecturer at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. She is a former special agent in the FBI, specializing in counterintelligence investigations. Dennis Aftergut is a former federal prosecutor, currently of counsel to Lawyers Defending American Democracy. The views in this commentary belong to the authors. View more opinion at CNN.

(CNN)A week of stunning developments for the possible criminal liability of former President Donald Trump and his circle was capped off with this weekend's news that a Trump lawyer had signed a statement this summer saying that all material marked as classified in the former President's possession had been returned. Together with earlier revelations, this latest piece of the puzzle points us to the direction in which the Department of Justice is headed -- and when.

First, with the search warrant at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence now public, it shows the possibility of alleged crimes that are significant. The warrant is based upon probable cause to believe, first, that taking large quantities of materials to Mar-a-Lago violated the core federal criminal document preservation statute related to presidential records. It forbids the willful concealment, removal, or destruction of documents -- classified or not -- belonging to the government of the United States. The maximum penalty is three years' imprisonment.
More serious still is the possible violation of the federal Espionage Act, also listed on the warrant. Its violation carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Individuals are subject to conviction under the act if they willfully retain and fail to deliver information "relating to the national defense" upon the demand of a federal officer entitled to receive such information that has come into the individuals' possession.
This statute comes into play because the FBI retrieved 11 sets of classified documents from Mar-a-Lago last Monday. Information is marked "secret" if its unauthorized release would cause "serious damage to national security." Information that would cause "exceptionally grave damage to national security" is marked "top secret." If information is marked "TS/SCI," it is even more highly protected -- "top secret/sensitive compartmented information," meaning that it comes from sensitive sources or methods.
In short, while all the material recovered could be considered stolen government property, the classified documents that the FBI retrieved and that were marked "top secret" and "various classified/TS/SCI" are of special concern. Although the Espionage Act does not require that "information related to the national defense" be classified, these highly sensitive documents would likely fall under the definition of "information relating to the national defense" under the Espionage Act.
Finally, there is the offense of obstructing a pending federal investigation by concealing documents relating to that investigation. It carries the heaviest potential penalty: up to 20 years in prison. As grave as violations of the first two statutes are, interfering with a Justice Department investigation is especially serious.
Trump has denied all wrongdoing and claims the investigation is politically motivated.
Reporting has already detailed the concerning pattern of document turnover. It started with negotiations and voluntary requests from national archivists in 2021, resulting in the return of 15 boxes of materials in 2022. That was followed in the spring by a grand jury subpoena evidently compelling production of documents. Then investigators visited in June, taking still more documents with them and at some later point securing the recently reported, evidently false statement that all material marked as classified had been returned.
Neither that subpoena nor the lawyer's June delivery produced the 11 sets of classified information that the FBI said it took from Mar-a-Lago last week.
The warrant's release explains what Attorney General Merrick Garland was talking about on Thursday when he spoke of the "standard practice to seek less intrusive means" than a search warrant whenever possible. He was telling us that the Justice Department tried everything else (and then some) first.
Note that if Trump or others did not honestly comply with the subpoena, that's a separate possible crime. That might be why the department reportedly subpoenaed the surveillance footage of people going in and out of the document rooms. Government officials were also understandably concerned about who had access to classified documents.
Further, if Trump and those around him, including his lawyers, made intentionally inaccurate statements to the government, they may be criminally liable for making false statements.
While this new report on a lawyer's letter casts added light on the situation, gaps necessarily remain. As is standard operating procedure, the Justice Department has not released the FBI agent's sworn affidavit supporting the search warrant. Such affidavits, and the evidence they contain, are closely held until soon after the DOJ files any criminal charges.
Disclosing affidavits prematurely can give away the government's case and inform targets what investigatory routes they need to block, what evidence to destroy and what potential witnesses' cooperation they need to forestall. That is why Garland should hold firm despite demands from some of the former President's allies in Congress to see the affidavit.
The ordinary reasons apply with even greater force in a case involving exceptionally sensitive national security data and a highly confidential informant. In our current, hyper-charged political environment, when an armed follower of Trump's social media site enters a Cincinnati FBI office with an apparent intent to kill, any public information on a reported Mar-a-Lago informant could easily put that person's life in danger.
Still, Garland has adeptly brought the picture into focus with his properly terse statement and release of the warrant -- while complying with the DOJ's stringent rules on what can and cannot be said. We shouldn't take the attorney general's integrity and prosecutorial experience for granted. After all, we just had Bill Barr, whose distortions as attorney general of the Mueller report may have emboldened Trump's belief in complete personal impunity from legal consequences. In the Nixon era, we had enabling Attorney Generals John Mitchell and Richard Kleindienst, both of whom were convicted of crimes
Given Garland's care to follow the rules, we are going to have to be satisfied with his disclosures for a while. We are now in the window Garland laid out in his recent memo about the DOJ avoiding any actions that could be perceived as affecting an election before it takes place. (Although the window is often referred to as a three-month one, the memo is silent as to the actual number of days.)
Trump remains one of the most polarizing characters in American politics, and any action taken could have an impact on the midterm elections. That is so even though Trump has not declared his candidacy for 2024 and is not on any ballot.
The accumulation of allegations adds to the chances that Trump might be charged. It's not just the possible removal of documents, or even the more serious national security ones. It's that documents appear to have been withheld again and again.
Moreover, Garland's moves last week were not necessarily just about potential document crimes. As an earlier overview explained, the DOJ can use anything found pursuant to the search warrant to prove other possible crimes.
There are three fronts on which federal criminal investigations are likely to proceed, quietly before November but perhaps more loudly afterward: alleged document crimes, conspiracy to defraud the United States by seeking to overturn the 2020 election before January 6, 2021, and obstruction of Congress on January 6.
On Sunday, Trump may have dropped a hint that the FBI seized information related to the latter two. He complained on his site, Truth Social, that the FBI "took boxes of 'attorney-client' material, and also 'executive' privilege material which they knowingly should not have taken." We know that attorney-client and executive privilege arguments have loomed large in the January 6 investigations. Time will tell whether the FBI also swept up information relating to additional matters separate from the removal of classified documents.
Trump's groundless caterwauling this past week proves he's concerned about possible prosecution. He should be. There are just too many ongoing investigations to think that he can dodge them all.
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Opinion: I saw the terrifying attack on Salman Rushdie, a man who lives with danger and chooses to thrive

Lydia Strohl is an award-winning freelance writer based in Washington, DC. She has just completed her first novel, "Where I Left Them." Her work can be found at www.lydiastrohl.com. The views expressed in this commentary belong to the author. View more opinion at CNN.

(CNN)Friday, August 12, 10:40 a.m. I park my bike in a gravel patch near the Chautauqua Amphitheater, wedging a rock beneath the kickstand so it will not fall. The woman who checks my ticket at the gate is accompanied today by a state trooper and a police dog -- not usual for this rural arts community, but warranted: today's speaker, Salman Rushdie, has lived under threat since his book, "The Satanic Verses," was published over three decades ago. I zigzag my way down steep stairs to the floor, noticing another trooper standing guard.

Minutes later, Rushdie and Henry Reese walk onstage, set to discuss the US as an asylum for writers and other artists in exile as part of the Chautauqua Lecture Series. The audience rises, clapping. I realize Rushdie will be seated with his back to me, so I move to get a better view, starting down the middle aisle to an empty seat in the third row just as the two take their seats.
Before I take mine, however, a man leaps onstage, hate on two feet, storming Rushdie with lightning speed. The author rises and steps back to evade him, but his black suit and polished shoes are unprepared for the youth in trainers, head wrapped like a ninja, a cyclone of anonymous fury.
Rushdie bends and twists away but the knife is unrelenting, arm raising and falling over and over and over, evading the author's hands and those attempting to intervene. The crowd, gathered at a stage where civil discourse has been practiced for over 130 years, stands watching, frozen not with fear but with shock. After what seems like ages but I later learn was just seconds, the attacker is taken down by a few men and a state trooper. Rushdie and Reese have both fallen. Blood pools on the stage. A man runs by me, filming the chaos on his phone.
"These are not good days for liberty. If you look around the world, you see that the idea of freedom, freedom which contains a sense of carefree-ness, seems everywhere in retreat, hounded by guns and bombs," Mr. Rushdie told an audience at Emory University in 2015.
How ironic, that his attacker moved through tree-lined streets where children run free until peals from a bell tower remind them it is time for dinner, where bicycles are not locked and wallets are often returned with cash intact. This is a place where people let down their guard, only too easily. That is part of the charm, but in the days to come, we will surely grapple with that.
The crowd is mostly silent, except for the jagged cries some cannot, do not, still. The attacker is finally subdued, and the police dog stands over him. I wonder if it's ghoulish to take a picture of the stage at this moment. But the ghoul is already here, I decide. Rushdie lies still on his back; someone has removed his shoes from his feet and lined them neatly beside him, waiting for him to fill them again. No one else can.
I cannot get back on my bike for shaking, so I walk home. Sirens wail.
By around noon, The New York Times has reported Rushdie was stabbed in the neck, with another witness saying he still had a pulse before he was airlifted to a hospital. I am astounded and relieved that he survived. When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of Iran, issued a call for his death in 1989, the author went into hiding, but continued to write his intricate and zany books. He says he must write to survive, or his dreams become increasingly crazy. Waiting for news, I wonder how much crazier a dream can get than this, more nightmare than fairy tale.
Texts pour in: "Are you there?" "Is it true?" A friend tells me she attended a dinner with Rushdie in February, and remembers him saying he was fairly certain someone, somewhere, would get him. Who knew this could happen in this utopian summer community, which tries to combat the dissension in the world with conversation. Words were no match today.
Later in the afternoon, Andrew Wylie, Rushdie's agent, reports he is in surgery but has no other updates.
"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist," Rushdie famously said. In Manhattan, where he now lives, he often appears in public without security. "Oh, I have to live my life," he told an interviewer last year.
I begin to re-read Rushdie's writing, seeing the ways he seeks to prove that our differences do not define us, a thread through my own work. In his words: "This may be the curse of human race. Not that we are different from one another, but we are so alike."
"Are you ok?" reads the text chain. "Not really," I reply. We meet, hug, walk the streets laced with new autumn leaves, documenting the emergency vehicles, the crime scene tape.
Everywhere we pass, people are gathered on porches, refreshing the news on their phones, waiting to hear of Rushdie's condition. It is a gorgeous day, the sun with that almost-fall golden tinge that produces a long shadow. Like 9/11, we say. We will all remember where we were on this day.
Hours later, Rushdie is still in surgery. The world waits. His attacker's name is known. He bought a gate pass to the grounds of Chautauqua Institution.
There I am in a video posted on Twitter, standing in front of the attack in a striped shirt, on my phone. I remember that I dialed 911. I did not know what else to do. I realize I still don't.
That night, his agent says he is out of surgery, but "the news is not good." He is on a ventilator. The nerves in his arm have been severed, his liver stabbed and damaged. And he is likely to lose an eye. Is this really the civilized world? When I think of the terror of this day, I think of living with this danger and choosing to thrive. It's a choice we all have to make, now. Pray -- or whatever gesture you make to your god -- for him. Pray for peace. Pray for us all.
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Opinion: The GOP is taking aim at the FBI

Dean Obeidallah, a former attorney, is the host of SiriusXM radio's daily program "The Dean Obeidallah Show" and a columnist for The Daily Beast. Follow him @DeanObeidallah. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN.

(CNN)Former President Donald Trump's GOP allies in Congress were only too eager to defend their leader after learning last week that the FBI had carried out a court-authorized search of his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.

Echoing Trump's assertions that the search was politically motivated, the former President's acolytes unleashed a tsunami of attacks against the federal officials and agencies responsible for carrying it out.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia demanded that the FBI be defunded. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida equated the lawful search with "something we have seen many times from 3rd world Marxist dictatorships."
Rep. Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking Republican in the House, slammed the search as "un-American." And House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy decried on Twitter what he called the Justice Department's "intolerable state of weaponized politicization" under the leadership of Attorney General Merrick Garland.
McCarthy even vowed that if Republicans regain control of the House in November's midterm elections, Garland would be dragged up to Congress to explain his actions, ordering the attorney general in the same tweet to "preserve your documents and clear your calendar."
But where was the GOP outrage when a body armor-wearing man carrying a firearm and described in some reports as devoted to Trump attempted to attack an FBI field office last week in Cincinnati?
News reports said the man fired a nail gun in the FBI office, but that no one was injured. Officers later shot and killed the suspect during a police chase.
That same individual -- who was also said to be among the Trump supporters at the US Capitol during the violent January 6, 2021, protests -- is believed to have posted angry social media posts toward FBI agents for having searched Trump's Florida home.
Meanwhile, the search warrant released on Friday showed that national security documents were among the items agents were looking for at Mar-a-Lago, leading some Trump backers to mute their criticism of the FBI.
Why aren't GOP leaders as outspoken in condemning those who have contributed to an "unprecedented" number of threats against the FBI -- including the two agents who signed the search warrant -- ahead of last week's search of Trump's property?
The judge who signed the warrant authorizing the search of Mar-a-Lago has been subjected to an onslaught of online antisemitic attacks. Some threats were so alarming that the Florida synagogue where the magistrate serves on the board of trustees canceled its Friday services as a precaution. Where is the GOP outrage about that?
As of Monday, there had been not even one tweet from McCarthy denouncing the attack in Cincinnati on the FBI, the spike in threats directed at FBI agents or the vile death threats against the judge. We reached out to McCarthy's office for comment but didn't hear back.
This silence is in sharp contrast to how the Republican House leader reacted in June after an armed man was accused ofthreatening Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. (The suspect was indicted on a single charge of attempting to assassinate a justice of the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty in the case.)
McCarthy, in his speeches on the House floor, in media appearances and on Twitter, denounced the threats against Kavanaugh and demanded swift action to protect the Trump-appointed justice.
Meanwhile, the baseless and dangerous attacks on the FBI and the federal judge who authorized the search warrant are being alarmingly amplified by the GOP's media allies. For example, Fox News host Mark Levin declared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show last week that the FBI search warrant is "the gravest attack on our republic in modern history."
The potential for political violence is not close to ending, including that fomented by Trump. Despite the attack on the FBI's Cincinnati office, the former President took to his social media site, accusing the bureau of being "corrupt" and suggesting the FBI planted top secret materials and other classified documents found on his property.
Before January 6, we could dismiss Trump's conduct as simply an attempt to distract from allegations or perhaps to give red meat to his base. But we all saw that after the 2020 election, Trump trafficked in nonstop lies that the election was "stolen" -- and a large swath of his supporters believed him. And some of those supporters even went so far as to attack our Capitol on January 6 to interfere with the certification of President Joe Biden's victory.
The silence of GOP leaders sends a message that they are angrier at the FBI for conducting a lawful search of Trump's property than with those making death threats against the bureau. In a post-January 6 America, GOP leaders have an even greater obligation to speak out loudly to denounce any violent acts or even threats from their supporters.
They must call a press conference to denounce threats against the FBI and the federal magistrate, telling people they don't even want the votes of those who engage in such conduct. Anything less would be sending a dangerous message that the once proud law and order party tolerates -- and perhaps even supports -- the use of violence to acquire and retain power.
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Opinion: How a virus seemingly returned from the dead

Syra Madad, DHSc, MSc, MCP is an infectious disease epidemiologist, faculty at Boston University's Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Policy and Research, senior director of the system-wide special pathogens program at NYC Health + Hospitals and is currently responding to the monkeypox outbreak in NYC. She is also a fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She tweets @syramadad. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion at CNN.

(CNN)New York City has detected poliovirus in sewage, according to state and local health officials, suggesting likely local circulation of the virus. This comes as no surprise since last month a case of paralytic polio was confirmed in a resident in Rockland County -- just on the outskirts of the city. As the state health commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, "For every one case of paralytic polio identified, hundreds more may be undetected."

This follows the virus being found in sewage in two neighboring New York City counties -- Rockland and Orange County from samples collected in May, June and July. While no other cases of polio have been reported in the US so far, a senior official with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday that this is "just the very, very tip of the iceberg," suggesting that there "must be several hundred cases in the community circulating."
This is a serious situation. Poliovirus -- a disease eliminated in the US in 1979 is now being detected in three locations in the US. "Polio is entirely preventable and its reappearance should be a call to action for all of us," said the New York CityHealth Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan.
Polio is a vaccine preventable disease and these latest developments should be a warning to us all. Unfortunately, places like Rockland County have an incredibly low polio vaccination rate; 60.5% of two-year-olds are vaccinated compared with the statewide average of 79.1%.
The vaccine to fight the disease has indeed been one of the most celebrated shots in history. Church bells rang out across America and people flooded into the streets to celebrate with parents hugging their children in relief when the vaccine field trial results were announced in 1955 (this is akin to present-day pharmaceutical companies releasing news releases on their vaccine efficacy data).
The celebration was warranted; through vaccination, the US eliminated wild, or naturally occurring, poliovirus more than 40 years ago.
As a parent of three, I can't image living through the daunting threat of polio potentially infecting my children. Before a polio vaccine was made available, some parents were hesitant to even let their child go outside for fear of them being exposed, especially in the summer months when polio seemed to peak.
If we take a trip down memory lane, the worst recorded polio epidemic in the US occurred in 1952 when 58,000 cases were reported. More than 21,000 people were left with mild to disabling paralysis (most victims were children) and over 3,000 people died. What was once a crippling disease was thwarted through mass vaccination.
Polio is a highly contagious virus that spreads through person-to-person contact (most commonly through contact with an infected person's poop). While most people who get infected do not experience any symptoms, about 1 in 4 people develop flu-like symptoms and a much smaller fraction of people (less than one in 100) develop more serious symptoms including paresthesia (feelings of pin and needles in legs), meningitis (infection of the covering of the spinal cord and/or brain) and paralysis. Among those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when the virus affects their breathing muscles.
Back in the day, even those who did recover faced lifelong challenges. The World Health Organization has reported on some of the disease's consequences: Deformed limbs meant many needed leg braces, crutches or wheelchairs, and some needed to use breathing devices like the iron lung, an artificial respirator invented for treatment of polio patients. To add insult to injury, some children went on to develop post-polio syndrome decades later, which can include muscle weakness, joint pain and feelings of mental and physical fatigue.
But then came the polio vaccine, which provided high levels of protection and through our collective herd immunity, we have been able to fend off the virus (though pockets of vulnerability remain in our communities where there are low vaccination rates).
Wild poliovirus remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Though polio cases have decreased worldwide by nearly 99%, the virus remains at large in those two countries and the threat of imported cases of polio continues to exist.
During my trip to Pakistan in 2018, I spoke with officials from Pakistan's National Institute of Health on the importance of biopreparedness for emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. I remember driving through the ancient city of Multan, where more recently, thousands of Pakistani children were vaccinated against polio in 2020, and thinking how difficult vaccination efforts are in many of these remote areas.
So, it comes as no surprise when public health officials are worried when polio is diagnosed or detected in wastewater surveillance, signaling a larger, local outbreak is occurring. The risk to the public is low as most people are protected from their childhood polio vaccinations. However, people most at risk for infection include those who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
London is facing similar concerns to New York's; poliovirus was discovered in the city's sewage in June. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has responded with an unprecedented move, and one highlighting the urgency of the situation: Around 1 million children under the age of 10 in London will be offered polio booster vaccines as a precautionary measure. According to Dr. Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, "The areas in London where the poliovirus is being transmitted have some of the lowest vaccination rates."
These latest polio incidents are not one-off events. Immunization coverage is dropping worldwide, and the immunity wall generations past have built is slowly being chipped away. The vaccine distrust that unwarrantedly grew out of the Covid-19 pandemic is only driving more people to opt out of vaccinations or under vaccinate themselves and their children. Others may have paused or delayed vaccination programs due to disruptions caused by the pandemic. The latest report by the World Health Organization shows global immunization coverage -- including the polio vaccine along with numerous others like measles and rubella -- dropped from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021.
As the WHO puts it, "as long as a single child remains infected with poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. The poliovirus can easily be imported into a polio-free country and can spread rapidly amongst unimmunized populations."
Polio should have been a disease relegated to the pages in our history books. It is human behavior and the choices we make that prevent it from become another lasting public health success story.
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Away launches Teal colorway and Bucket Bag

If you’re getting ready for the last of the summer holidays and find yourself needing some new luggage, Away’s just launched a brand-new color that’ll put you in the mood for seaside vacations and a new packable bag that’s extremely handy for spontaneous market visits.

The new hue is a teal colorway that is very “waves of Corsica” blue, and it’s available in all of the luggage brand’s suitcase bestsellers and hit packable travel accessories: the Carry-Ons, the checked baggage and packable bags. Think highly foldable sling bags, carry-alls…and that brings us to the next launch.

Away’s added a new packable item to its lineup. The Packable Bucket Bag ($75) boasts a 25-liter capacity and an exterior side zip pocket for at-hand items like boarding passes and phones. Straps and clips allow you to choose between carrying it over your shoulder or carrying by hand. It’s available in black, navy and (yes!) teal.

Shop the Packable Bucket Bag and teal collection now at Away.

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Beats and Kim Kardashian launch skin-colored Fit Pro earbuds

By now, it’s no secret that Beats made an excellent pair of wireless earbuds in the Beats Fit Pro. With great sound quality, reliable battery life, excellent active noise cancellation and smart features reminiscent of the high-end Apple AirPods, there’s very little to dislike about these headphones. We even named them our favorite wireless earbuds on the market.

Now, 10 months after their initial release, the Beats Fit Pro have made headlines once again thanks to a collaboration with a familiar face: Kim Kardashian.

Beats

Beats has announced three new colors for the Fit Pro earbuds developed in collaboration with reality TV star, influencer and business mogul Kim Kardashian. The colors — named Moon, Dune and Earth — are designed to be a statement accessory and complement whatever your outfit of the day is. They’re a lot more muted than the other colors the Fit Pro come in, so as to be more versatile and neutral.

“I wanted to break away from the idea that headphones have to be colorful to make a statement,” said Kardashian in a press release. “This collaboration is special because it allows you to blend in or stand out, and Beats is known for creating products that showcase individuality.”

“Kim brought her signature minimalist style to the first-ever Beats Fit Pro custom headphones,” said Eddy Cue, senior vice president of services at Apple. “We’re excited to offer Beats’ most innovative headphones in a whole new, gorgeous color palette to music fans and fashion lovers alike.”

Beats

The new Beats x Kim version of the Beats Fit Pro launched earlier this week on Apple’s website, though they sold out quickly. Fortunately, as of this writing, you can pick up the $199 buds on Amazon in all three colors. Beats has said that these earbuds will be released in limited quantities, so you may want to act fast if you want to bring a pair home.

Beats

Beyond the new colors, Beats isn’t changing anything about the Fit Pro. That means you’ll get the same super-comfortable design with a rubber-coated wing tip shape perfect for working out or everyday use. There’s also IPX4 certification to safeguard you against sweat and rain showers.

Active noise cancellation is also on board as well as Transparency mode for listening to your surroundings whenever you need to. The earbuds offer a custom acoustic platform that delivers well-balanced sound quality, and there’s Spatial Audio support for Apple devices powered by the H1 chip.

That chipset also delivers other smart features like quick pair and voice controls, while the Beats app on Android brings some customization to those who don’t have Apple devices. The battery lasts up to six hours on a full charge, with an additional 18 hours of power, thanks to the case. You can recharge using the included USB-C cable, although there’s no wireless charging. The Fit Pro are some of the best earbuds you can buy, and if you’ve been holding out for a more natural-looking color option for your daily workout or commute, this new collaboration is a great excuse to finally pick them up.

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You can now earn American Airlines elite status entirely with your credit card

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It’s now easier than ever to earn American Airlines elite status. That’s because as of Jan. 1, 2022, you can earn status with your American Airlines credit card — without even stepping foot on an airplane.

In Oct. 2021, American announced its new outlook on loyalty, adopting a currency called Loyalty Points to track customers’ progress toward elite status. The redesigned AAdvantage program allows most earned miles to count toward elite status with the airline — a process that was previously difficult and required time spent in the air.

With the AAdvantage program, for every qualifying AAdvantage mile earned, you’ll earn one Loyalty Point, which includes miles earned with American credit cards issued by both Citi and Barclays. The number of Loyalty Points earned between March 1 and Feb. 28 in a given year will determine your elite status with the airline. Your status will then be valid through March 31 of the following year.

As of Jan. 1, 2022, the number of Loyalty Points required for each elite status level is as follows.

In addition to earning Loyalty Points from spending on your AA credit card, points can also be earned by flying with American or one of its eligible partner airlines as well as shopping online or dining out. And all points earned from each method will be combined into one account.

Currently, American Airlines offers a large suite of credit cards that earn miles on your everyday purchases, including the Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, the Citi®/AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® and the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®. With Loyalty Points, you’ll earn one point for each dollar you spend on one of these AA credit cards.

However, only base miles count as Loyalty Points, meaning that even though you’ll earn two miles for every dollar spent at restaurants, gas stations and on all eligible American Airlines purchases with the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum card, you’ll only earn one Loyalty Point per dollar on these purchases.

Additionally, bonus points earned from an American Airlines credit card sign-up offer do not count as qualifying Loyalty Points. For example, if you sign up for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum right now and earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first three months of opening the account, those 50,000 miles won’t help you earn status — only the miles earned from actual purchases on the card.

Since miles earned from American credit cards now count toward status, in theory, you could earn all the way up to American’s top-tier Executive Platinum status by spending $200,000 on your American credit card. We wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing it this way, as it’d be extremely difficult for the average card holder. More likely, you’ll want to combine the Loyalty Points earned from cards with some actual flying on American flights, as well as points earned from other sources, to earn status.

However, if you’re looking for a lower level of American elite status, spending $30,000 in annual credit card purchases on a card like the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum would get you to Gold status, which is the lowest AA status tier.

Or, if you have a small business and you’re an American frequent flyer, it might make sense to switch to an American Airlines credit card to help earn status with your business expenses, which could be much higher than personal expenses. In other words, you don’t need to step on a plane to earn at least a basic level of American elite status.

Having elite status is a great perk while flying American Airlines. But the benefits differ tremendously depending on whether you have Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro or Executive Platinum status.

For example, having Gold status — the lowest tier — will extend basic perks such as complimentary upgrades on flights of 500 miles or less, a 40% bonus on mileage earned, priority check-in, one complimentary checked bag, same-day standby priority and complimentary preferred seats.

On the other hand, the airline’s top-tier Executive Platinum status will open up a more luxury travel experience, with complimentary upgrades on all American Airlines-operated flights, a 120% bonus on mileage earned, three complimentary checked bags, complimentary same-day flight changes, complimentary alcoholic beverages and snacks in the main cabin and expanded award seat availability on American Airlines.

Of course, the value of elite status will depend on how often you fly American Airlines. But having some status versus no status at all will only help make your air travel experience that much better. So ultimately, if you’re interested in earning elite status easily, the Loyalty Points currency from American is good, since you can earn the airline’s elite status without ever having to step aboard a plane.

Learn more and apply for the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select credit card.

Learn more and apply for the Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite credit card .

Looking for a new travel credit card? Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as our  best travel credit cards of 2022 .

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36 thoughtful anniversary gifts by year from 1st to 50th

Whether it’s your first year of marriage or you’ve been by one another’s side for multiple decades, each wedding anniversary is a major milestone that deserves to be celebrated. What you may not know is that, traditionally, each anniversary year is denoted by a specific gift, beginning with simple and affordable materials — like paper for the first anniversary — and gradually increasing in significance as the years go on.

If you’re in the market for an anniversary gift for your significant other, parents or friends, we created a guide to all of the traditional wedding anniversary gifts by year, as well as our top gift picks for each landmark occasion.

Paper gifts are believed to be a symbol of a blank slate and the start of a new life together. Usually, gifts for the first anniversary are made from paper as it is a relatively affordable material that is meant to reflect the beginning stages of a lifelong relationship. Handwritten cards, personalized journals and even cookbooks are a perfect nod to this tradition.

A handwritten note is the perfect way to express just how much you love your significant other on this momentous first anniversary, and what better way to do so than on a customized card?

Relive the magic of exchanging your wedding vows by making them into a frameable work of art that can be admired for years to come.

Record your most memorable moments from your first through your 60th anniversary with this personalized journal. It’s complete with photo pages, envelopes for mementos and more.

As a celebration of strength and durability, couples traditionally give one another something made of wood for their fifth anniversary. Just like a tree, making it halfway to a decade is a sign of putting down strong eternal roots. Opt for a personalized cutting board to use while cooking together, a luxe wooden tray for the bath or a classic wooden cornhole set for the backyard.

Whether you use it while cooking together or as a charcuterie serving board for date night, this personalized cutting board is a perfect wooden gift for any food lovers.

This handmade acacia wood tray is not only gorgeous, but it’s great for using in the bath, as a cheese board or on display as home decor.

If you and your S.O. enjoy some friendly competition, opt for a wooden cornhole set like this one that’s easy to transport, set up and store.

Reaching a decade-long anniversary is no easy feat! Commemorate it with something made out of tin or aluminum, which symbolizes strength and resilience. Choose from unique gifts like a map of the stars from your wedding night printed on tin, a monogrammed silver-hued serving tray or a fun pair of date night dice.

Add some spontaneity to your date nights with these fun tin date night-themed dice. Roll a mix of 36 different date night ideas including movie nights, a visit to a new town, cooking for one another and more.

Made from 100% recycled aluminum, this beautiful serving tray can also be monogrammed for a special and personalized touch.

Mark the location of your most cherished time together with this ultra-cool and customizable star map that’s printed on a beautiful brushed aluminum sheet.

Delicate yet sturdy, crystal symbolizes clarity and transparency. Toast to this milestone anniversary with a beautiful set of crystal champagne flutes, set the ambiance for a romantic dinner with a stately pair of candlesticks or frame a favorite wedding photo in a sparkling crystal picture frame.

Timeless and elegant, this crystal candlestick from Tiffany & Co. is a romantic piece that’s sure to be admired for years to come.

This diamond-cut crystal picture frame is a stunning way to display your most cherished moments together.

Raise a glass to 15 wondrous years with a dazzling pair of crystal Champagne flutes.

Just like a marriage, china represents the beautifully delicate and fragile nature of being in love. Take this opportunity to refresh your kitchenware with an elegant bone china dinnerware set, a stylish salad bowl or a vintage-inspired teapot.

This beautiful vintage-inspired piece is a teapot, tea cup and saucer all in one. Crafted from bone china and decorated with 24-karat gold accents, it’s just as pretty as it is useful.

You can’t go wrong giving your S.O. a stunning bone china dinnerware set. We especially love the delicate floral design and platinum accents of this Noritake set that are both timeless and chic.

For something equally as elegant but better suited for everyday use, opt for this chic striped salad bowl with wooden serving spoons from Kate Spade. It’s microwave- and dishwasher-safe too.

The 25-year mark is traditionally known as the “silver anniversary” and signified by the brilliance and shine of this precious metal. Opt for a timeless piece of jewelry — like a pair of silver hoop earrings or tie clip — or a sleek and modern picture frame.

A sterling silver tie clip is polished and classy, and will go with any suit already in his closet.

Showcase your favorite photo with this silver-hued wavy picture frame.

Nothing is more timeless than a pair of hoop earrings, and these Dalilah Medium Hoops are lightweight, dainty and gorgeous for dressing up or down.

The 30th anniversary is represented by pearls. Just like a love lasting three decades, pearls are a rare and hidden beauty. Jewelry, such as an ethically sourced pearl ring or set of cuff links, is always a wonderful gift idea. For something more modern, opt for a mother-of-pearl decorative tray.

This unique pearl ring is ethically sourced and crafted with 100% recycled gold. Wear it on its own or stack it with your other favorite rings.

A pair of mother-of-pearl cuff links and matching shirt studs will automatically add a dapper feel to any suit or tux.

This mother-of-pearl floral tray will look gorgeous displayed in a bathroom, entryway, kitchen or on your bedside table.

Coral — like the kind you find at the bottom of the sea — represents longevity and strength, and takes years to form. It’s no wonder that this stone is a traditional symbol for 35 years of marriage. If coral-patterned home decor is not your S.O.’s style, go for a cozy blanket, a pretty vase or a piece of jewelry in a coral hue instead.

Add a pretty pop of color to any room with these coral and gold hand-shaped porcelain vases.

Cozy up together for movie night in this super-soft pom-pom and fringe flannel blanket.

A grown-up friendship bracelet is made even better with a diamond for your 35th anniversary.

Rubies are glamorous, opulent and the traditional gemstone for a 40th anniversary. They’re also known as symbols of protection, wisdom and beauty. Treat your spouse to a luxuriously delicious-smelling candle in a ruby-hued glass jar. Or for something a bit more extravagant, a pair of ruby baguette stud earrings or a ruby and diamond ring are sure to hit the mark.

Not only does this Voluspa candle smell like a delicious mix of mango, orange and goji berry, but its vibrant ruby-hued glass jar makes for a beautiful piece of home decor.

Set in 14-karat yellow gold, this ruby baguette stud is perfect for mixing and matching.

A ruby baguette that’s surrounded by pavé diamonds and set in 14-karat rose gold certainly says “I love you.”

The 45-year marriage is denoted by sapphire. This stunning gemstone is believed to represent wisdom, faith and long-lasting love. Opt for a sapphire-adorned necklace, chronograph watch with a sapphire crystal face or a sapphire-hued glass vase.

If traditional blue sapphires aren’t for you, this sparkling white sapphire necklace from Mejuri is a beautiful alternative.

This Tissot watch is classic and sporty, and the domed sapphire crystal face makes it a perfectly subtle way to include sapphire in a 45th anniversary gift.

If you’re in the market for something sapphire that’s not a gemstone or jewelry, this blue mouth-blown glass vase is bold, eye-catching and a beautiful pop of color in any space.

The golden anniversary! Prosperity, strength and wisdom are all symbolized by this gleaming metal. Commemorate half a century together with a personalized ornament that will serve as a sentimental reminder year after year, a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses for a fashion-loving spouse or a classic signet ring that may even become a family heirloom in years to come.

Remember this milestone anniversary for years to come with a personalized holiday ornament.

A classic pair of gold-rimmed Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses is chic and timeless, and will go with just about every outfit.

Personalize this classic pinky-sized signet ring with your S.O.’s initial. They’re sure to think of you each and every time they wear it.

Sixty years is undoubtedly the most special anniversary and one that should be celebrated in a big way. We’re talking invincible, unbreakable and shimmering diamonds of all shapes and sizes, including a sparkling diamond pendant necklace, a pair of luminous diamond stud earrings and a set of diamond-cut tumblers to toast to your never-ending love.

Commemorate reaching 60 blissful years together with an exquisite brilliant-cut diamond necklace that’s perfect for everyday wear.

Pour one out in a stunning diamond-cut crystal tumbler in honor of this mega milestone. This set of four handcrafted glasses is ideal for whiskey or bourbon lovers.

What’s better than one glistening diamond? Three rows of diamonds, of course. These stud earrings feature nine pavé-set diamonds in 14-karat gold.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review: Are these $229 earbuds worth it?

Less than two years after releasing the Galaxy Buds Pro, Samsung is back with a sleeker, more sophisticated and more expensive sequel to its highest-end wireless earbuds. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are an excellent addition to the company’s ever-growing audio lineup, offering an attractive, comfortable design; good active noise cancellation and lots of extras, including high-fidelity audio support for those on Galaxy devices.

There’s no denying that the Buds 2 Pro are very good, but with so many great noise-canceling earbuds available for cheap these days, are they $229.99 good? I spent a week with Samsung’s new premium buds to find out.

Premium sound and features for Android users

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are ideal for Galaxy phone owners who don't mind paying up for top-notch sound and lots of features. However, most people are better off with the wealth of cheaper (and still great) ANC earbuds out there.

Mike Andronico/CNN

I’ve always felt that Samsung’s Galaxy Buds have been some of the most attractive and comfortable earbuds around, and that hasn’t changed for the Buds 2 Pro. They feature the same sleek, ovular design as last year’s standard Galaxy Buds 2, with only a tiny bit more heft and a new soft-touch matte finish that replaces the glossy coating of their predecessors. I personally like the new material — both the buds and the case feel nicer to the touch and are easier to grip — though the case has picked up some noticeable wear and tear after a week in my pocket.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available in black, white and an especially gorgeous Bora Purple. I wish Samsung had kept the attractive two-tone case design from the standard Buds 2, but all three color options look good up close. Like last year’s model, the Buds 2 Pro’s egg-shape exterior looks slick and unassuming all at once, and doesn’t protrude out of my ear (or hang out like the AirPods do). More importantly, they feel great, with a lightweight design that I often forgot about during long hours of working, walking and taking calls. I found myself occasionally rotating the buds in my ear to get a more stable fit — and I actually find the cheaper Buds 2 to fit more securely — but the Buds 2 Pro are still some of the most comfortable earbuds I’ve worn.

Very good sound quality and battery life

Mike Andronico/CNN

I’ve been using the Buds 2 Pro as my main music headphones for a week, and I’d be happy to do so for longer. Samsung’s high-end earbuds were a great companion for my daily playlists, pumping out satisfying (but not overpowering) bass and crisp guitars while highlighting lots of small sonic details I don’t always notice on cheaper buds. And while I liked how the Buds 2 Pro sounded out of the box, there are a number of equalizer settings that Android users can play with should they want to pump up the bass, up the treble or enjoy a softer overall sound. This level of customization is on par with rivals like the Sony LinkBuds S and Jabra Elite 7 Active, and is something you won’t find on Apple buds like the AirPods Pro and Beats Fit Pro.

One of the big new features Samsung is touting for the Buds 2 Pro is its “24-bit Hi-Fi sound,” which promises clearer, less-compromised audio quality than the 16-bit sound you’ll get from many Bluetooth earbuds. Whether you hear the upgrade in sound quality comes down to a number of different factors — you’ll need a discerning ear and a high-fidelity music streaming subscription, for starters — but I did notice a small difference during side-by-side tests.

When listening to a Master-quality recording of “Follows” by Tigers Jaw on Tidal, I found the overall sound to be louder and fuller on the Buds 2 Pro compared to the standard Buds 2. Subtle background sounds, such as piano melodies and vocal harmonies, were also much easier to hear on Samsung’s newer buds. I’m not sure whether to chalk this up to the 24-bit audio support or the fact that the Buds 2 Pro may just have a bigger, louder speaker, but either way, I do think Samsung’s premium earbuds sound better than their predecessors.

The Buds 2 Pro also support head-tracked 360-degree audio, another feature whose usefulness will depend on which apps and services you use. It works best with Dolby Atmos tracks in supported streaming services (like Tidal and Amazon Music Unlimited), as you’ll hear music coming from fixed points even as you move your head — just like you would at a live concert. The feature can also convert stereo audio to 360-degree sound, as I experienced while watching a YouTube video. It all worked fine and is a neat little trick, though I personally find Apple’s Spatial Audio — which requires an iPhone and a compatible set of AirPods — to be a clearer, smoother experience.

Samsung’s latest earbuds are rated for 5 hours of continuous playback with active noise cancellation (ANC) on and 18 hours total with the case, and that more than lines up with my testing. After nearly a week of on-and-off use — lots of which was done with ANC activated — I only found myself having to charge up the case once.

Reliable active noise cancellation and lots of features (if you’re on Android)

Mike Andronico/CNN

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro’s active noise cancellation has been a huge boon during my daily routine, quieting the sounds of loud construction during my morning walks and significantly dampening my loud bedroom fan when I’m crunching away through the summer heat. I find Samsung’s latest buds to be on par with the AirPods Pro in terms of noise suppression, and a little bit better than the standard Buds 2 and Buds Pro.

When I needed to actually hear what was going on around me, the Buds 2 Pro’s ambient noise functionality was very dependable for amplifying the sounds of nearby cars or allowing me to hold a conversation without having to take them out of my ears. And just like on the previous Buds Pro, there’s a very useful Voice Detect setting that will automatically switch from ANC to ambient sound once the buds detect that you’re talking — perfect for when you need to order a quick coffee or say “hi” to a friend on the street.

While the Buds 2 Pro’s ANC and ambient noise features are both great, it’s a bit puzzling that they’re no longer adjustable. The original Buds Pro offered two levels of ANC and four levels of ambient noise — letting you customize how much noise you block out or let in — whereas the Buds 2 Pro simply lets you toggle the two features on and off. It’s not a huge drawback considering how well the two modes work out of the box, but it is a peculiar omission.

Beyond noise control, the Buds 2 Pro offer a good amount of customization options via the Galaxy Wearable app — if you’re on Android, that is. You can use the app to toggle features like voice detect and 360 audio, summon an equalizer to fit the audio to your liking and take advantage of a “Find My Earbuds” tool that uses Samsung’s SmartThings app to help you find your lost buds if you misplace them. You can also use the Galaxy Wearable app to customize the controls slightly, but most options boil down to simply turning them on and off. I appreciate that you can choose what a long-press of either earbud does — including switching noise control, activating Bixby or opening Spotify — though I was a bit disappointed that if you assign volume up to one ear, the other automatically switches to volume down. It’s a very specific gripe (I’d love to have one touch option for noise control and another for quickly lowering the volume), but it frustrated me nonetheless.

It’s also worth noting that certain features — like 24-bit audio and 360-degree sound — are limited specifically to those with Galaxy devices. Still, if you’ve got the right hardware, the Buds 2 Pro give you some solid options for tailoring your experience.

Mike Andronico/CNN

While the Buds 2 Pro have the same great physical design as previous Galaxy Buds, they also retain my biggest annoyance with Samsung earbuds: The touch controls are inconsistent. While I was able to mostly pause and skip tracks without issue, I frequently activated the touch controls by accident whenever I lightly adjusted the buds in my ear. On the flip side, I also had instances of the buds not registering my taps (or registering them incorrectly). I found the Buds 2 Pro’s touch controls to be a little more reliable than those of previous Galaxy Buds, but they’re still finicky — and a big reason why I usually stick to buds with physical buttons like the Beats Fit Pro and Jabra Elite 7 Active.

Mike Andronico/CNN

As with most other Galaxy Buds, you’ll be locked out of many of the Buds 2 Pro’s key features if you’re an iPhone user. There’s no Galaxy Wearable app for iOS, which means no audio or control customization (you can, thankfully, still use ANC and ambient noise on iPhone via the on-ear controls). And while all Android users can download the Galaxy Wearable app, you’ll specifically need a Galaxy device to take advantage of features like 24-bit Hi-Fi sound and 360-degree audio. The Buds 2 Pro worked just fine with my iPhone 13 Pro when it came to everyday music listening and phone calls, but I would really only recommend these buds to folks with a Galaxy phone considering how much you’ll miss out on otherwise.

In a vacuum, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a very good pair of premium wireless earbuds. They look, feel and sound great, with lots of customization features and Hi-Fi audio support for those in the Samsung ecosystem. If you own a Galaxy phone and don’t mind paying up for high-quality sound, you’ll find a lot to like here.

However, great active noise-canceling earbuds have become much more affordable these days, making the Buds 2 Pro’s $229.99 price tag a major sticking point, especially given some of their drawbacks. If you’re a Samsung user that can live without the absolute best sound quality possible (which you might not notice anyway), the standard Galaxy Buds 2 also offer ANC and can be had for as low as $129.99. For those seeking more robust noise cancellation, last year’s Galaxy Buds Pro are still a great pick and frequently dip below their $199.99 retail price.

And if you want a more platform-agnostic pair of buds with a similarly great feature set, the ultra-adaptive $199.99 Sony LinkBuds S are some of the best earbuds we’ve tested. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are worth keeping an eye out for during sales, but for most people, they’re simply too hard to justify for the price.

Weight

0.22 ounces

0.22 ounces

0.19 ounces

0.17 ounces
Water resistance

IPX7

IPX7

IPX4

IPX4
Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes
Colors

White, Graphite, Bora Purple

Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, Phantom Violet

White

White, Black, Desert Sand
Software support

Android

Android

iOS

iOS, Android
Hi-Fi audio

Yes (24-bit sound)

N/A

N/A

Yes (LDAC)
Price $229 $168 $179 $148
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