Today’s Big Story

Get Outta Town

The ‘medical referral’ from Visit Sweden aims to promote physical and mental well-being

I’ve been feeling stressed lately. Then again, who hasn’t?! I wish I had a trip book … because some travel on the horizon sounds like just what the doctor ordered. And in Sweden, that’s just the case. The Scandinavian nation has just become the first country to be offered “on prescription” by doctors as part of a tourist board campaign.

The Swedish Prescription, is rewriting the rules of wellness travel by getting doctors to prescribe a trip to the Nordic nation as part of health treatment. The campaign taps into research-backed benefits of nature immersion, cultural engagement, and classic Swedish habits like sauna-and-plunge therapy or fika breaks.

Yes, it’s part of a clever marketing campaign, but it’s relying on genuine medical experts to make its case. According to the World Health Organization, studies have shown that increased exposure to nature can help reduce stress, improve one's overall mood, enhance cognitive function and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

The BBC points out that the nation is home to more than 265,000 islands, 100,000 lakes, 5,700 nature reserves and famously has a veritable law of wanderlust (allemansrätten) enshrined in its constitution. “Travelers aren’t just allowed to explore Sweden’s outdoors; they’re encouraged to.” Add in the concepts of friluftsliv (literally: “open-air living”) in which Swedes regularly unplug and seek out nature; stress-reducing activities such as forest bathing and deep-sleep retreats; and a holistic approach to life known as lagom, asking your doctor to “prescribe you Sweden”, might make you feel better after all.

Just beware of the hangover when you get back. In the r/Sweden forum on Reddit, one American called the Nordic country the best in the world. “Just got back home with utter depression. Visiting Sweden has taught me what a country ought to look like,” the user wrote.

The Shutdown Wears On

Three weeks into the government shutdown, services are unavailable and federal workers are facing instability

Another day, another missed opportunity to fund the American government … who will blink first? It’s hard to say. But one thing is clear: President Donald Trump is showing little urgency to broker a compromise that would end the government shutdown, even as Democrats insist no breakthrough is possible without his direct involvement.

The House hasn’t been in session for a month, and senators left Washington on Thursday frustrated by the lack of progress. According to the Associated Press, Republican leaders are refusing to negotiate until a short-term funding bill to reopen the government is passed, while Democrats say they won’t agree without guarantees on extending health insurance subsidies. And a bill that would fund the U.S. military during the ongoing government shutdown failed to pass the Senate in a procedural vote on Thursday.

The Wall Street Journal’s Siobhan Hughes says “It’s important to know that the White House is certainly messaging that we are going to surpass that record. And right now, they certainly aren’t putting any pressure on lawmakers to resolve this quickly.” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that Democrats must first vote to reopen the government, “then we can have serious conversations about health care.” Still, frustration is starting to surface even within Trump’s own party, where lawmakers acknowledge little happens in Congress without his direction.

Electric Bills on the Rise

For at least a fifth of U.S. households, the increases have likely been financially burdensome

Have you noticed that you’ve been paying more for electricity lately? Surging electric bills likely stunned many Americans this summer, but maybe they shouldn’t have: The cost of electricity has been trending upward since 2020, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Energy and Information Administration. For at least 20% of U.S. households, the increases have likely been financially burdensome.

Experts recommend that households spend no more than 8 to 10% of income on all utilities, while the U.S. Department of Energy considers households that pay more than 6% of income on energy to be “energy burdened.” Recently released E.I.A. data shows that the average residential electric bill in the month of July was $204—4% of the 2024 monthly median household income, according to the latest census data. This leaves households with roughly 2 to 6% of their income for other utilities, such as gas, oil and water.

Unfortunately, the bills aren’t anticipated to go down this winter. About 43% of homes in the U.S., primarily in the South, are heated with electricity. The E.I.A. estimates the total cost on average in the South will rise to about $1,030. And costs could keep rising. In some areas like Virginia, where many AI data centers are located, estimated electricity and power costs have increased as much as 267% per month, according to one analysis from Bloomberg.

A Weekend Pairing

‘Boots‘ + an Irish Red Ale

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Let it go.