According to a Twitter account called @WaitingOnBiden, today is the 38th day that President Biden has not sent $2,000 stimulus payments to Americans, something he promised he would usher out immediately after he assumed office. The last relief bill passed in December, while Trump was still president. The relief bill before that was passed in late March 2020, and now we’re just a few days away from March 2021.

The good news is that the House is finally voting on the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan today, which includes a $1,400 stimulus payment to those who fall within the income limits. It will pass in the Democrat-controlled House, and it is likely to pass in the Senate through a process called budget reconciliation, which essentially allows lawmakers to pass fiscal bills more quickly because it only requires a simple majority to pass, instead of 60 votes. Beyond the stimulus payments, the relief bill also contains a $400 per week federal unemployment boost. The current set of federal unemployment provisions are set to expire by March 14, essentially giving Congress a hard deadline by which to pass the relief bill.

While $1.9 trillion might sound like a lot, economists generally agree that the government should spend as much as it needs to help its citizens — that is its mandate, after all — without handwringing over what-ifs such as inflation or “overheating” the economy.

The bad news, though, is that a key part of the relief bill — a $15 federal minimum wage hike — will likely not be included. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled yesterday that the inclusion of a minimum wage raise broke the rules of what can and can’t be included in a reconciliation bill.

But what is a Parliamentarian, you ask? Turns out, it is not someone who only smokes Parliaments. The Parliamentarian is a non-partisan advisor who interprets rules and precedents within the Senate. It is an appointment and not an elected position. The Senate also doesn’t have to listen to the Parliamentarian’s rulings; the “presiding officer” of the Senate — in other words, the Vice President — can ignore the Parliamentarian. There’s precedent for that.

According to Washington Post reporter Jeff Stein, however, Vice President Harris will not be overruling MacDonough. That means that the minimum wage provision will be removed from the bill in the Senate and return to the House for another vote. It also means that any attempt to raise the federal minimum wage — which has not been raised since 2009 and remains at $7.25 — will need to be introduced in a standalone bill that won’t be able to pass via budget reconciliation, needing to clear the bar of 60 votes.

Top Democrats have already announced an alternate plan that would impose a 5% tax on big corporations if they don’t raise their wages and even tax credits for small businesses that do raise wages. But some economists are concerned that a tax disincentive, or tax credits, would not do enough to actually raise wages for a broad swath of workers. While many conservatives have bristled at the idea of a $15 federal minimum wage, American wages have generally remained at a standstill for decades. If the minimum wage had kept pace with workers’ productivity and inflation, it would be around $20 per hour right now.

We also need to acknowledge the huge impact a minimum wage hike would have on the people who have been most harmed by the pandemic. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) recently released an analysis of wages in the past year and found that average, inflation-adjusted wages in the U.S. had actually gone up in 2020. Great news, right? Wrong. The EPI found that average wages had increased because the makeup of the American workforce had changed so drastically — a huge proportion of those who lost their jobs during the pandemic were those making low wages, or around $14 per hour or less. In contrast, people making $25 per hour and above actually saw job gains overall in 2020.

With so many low-wage jobs having disappeared, we get the illusion that there’s been progress instead of a downslide. A $15 minimum wage would be life-changing to so many Americans, and its exclusion from the next stimulus bill is an enormous disappointment.

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After the most ill-advised vacation of all time, Ted Cruz is getting a warm welcome back to America from his colleagues in the Senate. NBC News reported that, on Wednesday morning, senators entered the Senate gym to find that someone had taped Ted Cruz photos and memes around the locker room. “Bienvenido de Nuevo, Ted!” read one message.

According to NBC, some of the memes showed Cruz walking through the airport in his Texas flag mask. Another depicted Cruz, tropical cocktail in hand, “dragging his luggage across an arctic landscape” in the direction of a popular Bernie Sanders meme.

The most intriguing part, however, is that the gym is only used by current and former senators. This means that at least one member of the U.S. Senate decided to print out memes and hang them around the locker room. NBC reported that they were taken down, and it is unknown whether Cruz saw the prank.

Apparently, Cruz is also ready to joke about his decision to flee the country during an unprecedented, deadly winter storm that devastated his home state. “Orlando is awesome!” he announced in a Friday stand-up routine (I mean, speech) at this year’s Comic-Con For People Banned From Twitter (I mean, Conservative Political Action Conference). “It’s not as nice as Cancún, but it’s nice.”

The memes are funny, but it’s jarring to watch Cruz laugh and make light of his recent trip when, as of Wednesday, more than 20,000 Texans are still without running water. Cruz did admit that he “obviously” made a mistake, after first blaming his children and explaining that he was “trying to be a dad.”

Texans might have power again, but Cruz’s constituents are still struggling. In one county, more than 15 people died of hypothermia, and experts say that fixing the storm’s damage will cost billions of dollars. Congressman Joaquin Castro is calling on utility companies to suspend autopay features, and Cruz’s onetime opponent Beto O’Rourke is currently touring the state to help Texans who lost power and water.

Though Cruz might be aiming for self-awareness, his self-deprecating jokes aren’t genuine pledges to help people, or even real apologies. Before Cancúngate, many people dug up one of Cruz’s old tweets mocking California’s power outages. “I got no defense,” he wrote. “A blizzard strikes Texas & our state shuts down. Not good. Stay safe!” A day later, he flew out to Mexico. 

But don’t worry, everyone: Cruz is just busy mocking CDC guidelines and logging onto Twitter to share his thoughts on Hasbro’s decision to rename Mr. Potato Head. You know, all the things that really matter.

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On Thursday, Former USA Olympic Gymnastics coach John Geddert died by suicide hours after being charged with 24 felonies. The human trafficking charges followed accusations that he abused gymnasts in his care. Police found Geddert’s body at an interstate highway rest stop hours after he was criminally charged in Michigan for his ties to the disgraced former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 10 minors in 2018.

Geddert had agreed to surrender to the sheriff’s office on Thursday afternoon before a scheduled 2:15 p.m. arraignment, but he never showed, ESPN reported. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called Geddert’s suicide “a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved.” A spokesperson for Nessel told ESPN, “We had no indication that Geddert intended to flee or hurt himself or others. We had been in contact with his attorney and were assured of his cooperation.” The investigation into his death is “ongoing; no further details will be released at this time,” police said in a statement.

Of the 24 felonies Geddert was charged with, 20 counts were for human trafficking and forced labor; one was for first-degree sexual assault; one was for second-degree sexual assault, racketeering, and lying to a police officer. Geddert, who led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, was accused of “sexual penetration” of a girl under 16 in January 2012, according to the complaint. The Michigan Attorney General’s office also said Geddert was aware Nassar was sexually abusing gymnasts, and both men lied to police about it during the 2016 investigation. 

Nessel also said that victims of his abuse “suffer from disordered eating, including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and self-harm, excessive physical conditioning, repeatedly being forced to perform even when injured, extreme emotional abuse and physical abuse, including sexual assault. Many of these victims still carry these scars from his behavior to this day.”

USA Gymnastics came under scrutiny in 2016 as 332 survivors of sexual assault came forward with allegations that they had been abused by Nassar in one of the biggest sexual violence reckonings in sports. 

Many athletes spoke out following the news of Geddert’s suicide, including Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, a survivor of Nassar’s abuse who was vocal about her experiences. “Sick to my stomach,” Raisman wrote on Twitter. She added, “Thinking of the survivors out there. Wish there was more I could say to ease the pain & suffering.” 

Sarah Klein, the first-known survivor of Nassar’s abuse, blamed officials at top gymnastics organizations for “enabling” Geddert, whom she described as a “narcissistic abuser,” CNN reports. Klein was one of the 150 survivors to speak up about Nassar’s abuse in 2018.

“The bravery of Geddert’s many victims will stand for all time in stark contrast to his cowardice,” she said Thursday. “As a survivor and a mother of two young girls, my only comfort is in the knowledge that I can rest my head on the pillow every night knowing that John Geddert will never terrorize and abuse another child.”

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Leave it to Cardi B to take voluminous hair to the next level. Yesterday, the rapper gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how her glam for an Interview Magazine spread came together — and if you think it’s just a matter of well-placed hair extensions, think again. 

During the recent photoshoot, Cardi wore not one, not two, but six wigs sewn onto her head. Describing the extensive process on Instagram, she detailed exactly how her ultra-glam look came together, writing: “This has 6 wigs in one !!!! This was 6 wigs together…Sooo nope we didn’t use 30 bundles we used 6 wigs.” Cardi also credited her hairstylist Mia Jackson, known professionally as Tokyo Stylez.

The accompanying two-minute video shows Stylez artfully arranging each wig before sewing it in place; meanwhile, Cardi keeps count. When the wig placement was all said and done, Stylez styled the hair in a dramatic side part with cascading curls.

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This was just one of a few different styles Cardi wore for the Interview shoot (published alongside an interview conducted by none other than Mariah Carey): At the top of the video, the rapper mentions another look that it sounds like they photographed right before reconvening in the styling chair. The second look, which can be seen in the magazine spread, involved an entirely different wig, with three sleek buns styled in a beehive shape to create a half-up, half-down look.

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Cardi B is no stranger to wigs; in fact, it’s kind of her thing. She currently has her hair styled in a pink pixie, but that hasn’t stopped her from changing it up whenever the mood strikes. One of her favorites seems to be a waist-length black wig styled pin-straight with a middle part, but she’s been seen rocking everything from rainbow waves to curls with doll heads woven in. For the rapper, it appears that these wigs are just another extension of her art.

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Rather than put on a runway show during Fashion Week, London-based brand Self-Portrait showcased its fall ‘21 collection with a campaign starring Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor. In the photos, the star, who plays Daphne Bridgerton on the Regency-era Netflix drama, can be seen sprawled out on the floor of a London townhouse, decked out in sparkles, bows, and pearls — accoutrements her character has been known to don on the show. The actress also showcased puff-sleeves, lace collars, corset dresses, and pastels in the campaign. Sound familiar?

Dynevor told British Vogue that working with Han Chong, Self-Portrait’s creative director and founder, was effortless. “It’s funny, I think that it’s completely coincidental that there is this amazing thread that runs through what I wore on Bridgerton and Chong’s collections,” she said. “I think there are some similarities [with Bridgerton] in the softer color palette, and the mood of some of his more delicate, lace designs. But beyond that, I feel like Self-Portrait really has its eye on a much more modern and real way of dressing.”

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Though Chong designed the fall ‘21 collection before Bridgerton entered the hearts (and thirst dreams) of 82 million viewers, you wouldn’t think so upon looking at it. The 28-piece collection includes dresses, co-ords, and separates that resemble 2021 takes on the corsets, gowns, and waistcoats that Bridgerton costume designer Ellen Mirojnick made for the show. 

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If you’re trying to master Regencycore without looking like you’re wearing a costume, look no further than Self-Portrait’s fall ‘21 collection, which will be available in full starting in July. Can’t wait until then? Shop a handful of early release items below.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Earlier this month, the much-loved sustainable activewear brand Girlfriend Collective launched its “For Everyone” collection: a range of outerwear and loungewear made up of baggy joggers and matching sweatshirts, boxy tees, ultra-stretchy leggings (a signature for the label), and retro fleeces — all in an inviting autumnal color palette. The collection, available in sizes XXS to 7XL, is a perfect distillation of the pandemic aesthetic: It’s sofa-friendly, ethically made, simple and unadorned, and its main selling point is that the line works for all people, regardless and inclusive of any gender expression.

The gender-neutral aspect of sweats isn’t the only driving force behind their popularity, but it’s certainly been used as a marketing tool for brands to impressive results. As one of the top-selling fashion items during a time where corporate and commercial spaces rushed to signal their diversity and inclusivity efforts, sweatpant sellers found it useful to highlight all the ways in which their garments may also promote social justice; after all, what’s more inclusive than a product that’s for everyone? Even before 2020, popular brands like Entireworld and PANGAIA used universality as a reason to buy their product (it’s baked into their names). It’s the lack of gender inherent in sweats that is constantly invoked as a reason to shop: The sweats are “to be used as decided by the wearer, regardless of their gender,” PANGAIA said in a statement to Refinery29.

But seeing sweats as representative of a meaningful step forward for gender inclusivity is missing the point. For one, even the most well-meaning companies divide their assortment of products into male and female categories, which defeats the purpose of gender-neutral fashion. But more importantly, in some key ways, this kind of “genderless” aesthetic actually makes it more difficult to achieve real progress for the non-binary fashion movement.

According to Anita Dolce Vita, the editor in chief of queer style magazine DapperQ, choosing to describe sweatsuits as “non-binary” or “genderless” can be damaging for the queer community from which these terms originated because, by associating them with a basic pair of sweats, it implies the absence of any gender signifiers as defined by society. But non-binary fashion isn’t about stripping clothes of the details we’ve been conditioned to understand as either masculine or feminine; it’s about removing the labels that suggest certain clothes can only be worn by certain individuals. 

“This [current moment] is about clothing [upon which] we can’t project any of our traditional notions about gender, when really the conversation should be about why anything is gendered,” Dolce Vita explains. “It’s taking us further away from thinking about a skirt or pearls or heels being genderless, and it’s also reverting to the idea that masculinity is the default for neutral.” Associating genderlessness with apparel that is typically made for men has long been, and still is, common practice in fashion. As recently as last week, Everlane launched its Track Collection, a certified-organic range of “timeless” hoodies, joggers, and zip-ups that is divided into two categories: women’s and men’s/unisex. 

Although it’s certainly a good thing that women’s loungewear options are no longer limited to form-fitting velour tracksuits with the word “JUICY” emblazoned in rhinestones across the backside, society is not yet at a point where if a man wants to wear a tracksuit of that sort, the outfit will be accepted as being anything other than “for women.” Even today, the sight of Harry Styles in a dress can set the internet ablaze with sexist and homophobic comments, making it difficult — and oftentimes incredibly dangerous — for people who want to dress in defiance of rigid gender norms. 

And while pandemic dressing has provided some women with the opportunity to step out of their historically inhibiting office attire, like tight pencil skirts and toe-crushing stilettos, Dolce Vita is quick to draw attention to the fact that, for some LGBTQ people, the disappearance of spaces to actively express and confirm their gender can be devastating. “The performative nature of their gender is what really affirms who they are and minimizes dysphoria,” she says in reference to the psychological distress experienced by someone whose birth sex is not aligned with their gender identity. However, Dolce Vita acknowledges that from a mainstream perspective, the rise and embrace of the sweatsuit illustrates a small shift toward greater inclusion and diversity in fashion — though conversations on the topic within the queer community, she says, are “lightyears ahead.” 

An example of this is the success of gender-neutral brand re—inc which, as stated on its website, was “built to challenge the status quo.” In addition to having add-to-cart-worthy sweatsuits, it also has a highly notable founding team — gender equality activist Megan Rapinoe and her fellow US women’s soccer stars Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, and Christen Press — behind it. Re—inc positions itself as a values-first company, centering the bodies and beliefs of the same queer and POC people that founded it.

“A lot of times, a solution to a problem in the world is created and then companies are built around it. We did it the other way,” Klingenberg explains. Re—inc started as an idea about harnessing the privilege and power that comes with celebrity to champion gender fluidity and diversity in design. What came next was an online hub for self-expression and discovery through apparel, art, or membership to its global digital network that recognizes and engages with the Black and queer communities which have made re–inc’s streetwear-inspired, genderless aesthetic possible. Their sweatsuits are an extension of the brand’s commitment to inclusivity, taking into consideration the bodies and desires of individuals that have been overlooked, and thus devalorized, in mainstream fashion.

“[In the past] things haven’t been made for us, for our bodies, and for who we are,” Klingenberg explains in reference to the wide-ranging athletic builds and unique personal tastes of herself and re—inc’s three other founders. Klingenberg prefers sweats over jeans not only for practical reasons being in a profession that demands ample time spent on the field or in a gym but because she feels most herself when prioritizing comfort while getting dressed. Having options that are available for her needs, irrespective of what’s considered to be specifically “for women,” reflects the guiding principle at the core of the brand: “We want people to feel totally comfortable in their own skin,” Klingenberg says.

In the conversation about gender neutrality as it relates to personal expression, language is incredibly powerful. It’s easy to apply the words “for everyone” to garments that, by nature, don’t fit into traditional notions of masculinity or femininity. But making design truly available to all calls for a categorical un-gendering of fashion that dismantles societal expectations for how people should present themselves. Sweatpants that are simply just sweatpants is a start, but until collections no longer need to be deemed genderless in order to be for everyone, these words demonstrate the limits, not the potential, of the non-binary fashion movement.

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