Rendering of Grand Central Terminal.  Credit: Getty Images

Dear Commons Community,

This article appeared yesterday in Travel + Leisure.

Whether it’s the influx of glamorous luxury train journeys filling our Instagram feeds or the consistent rise of fuel costs for air travel and road trips alike, traveling by train has never looked like a better option than it does right now. 

And travelers are taking note: Amtrak broke ridership records in 2025 and industrywide demand is increasing by double digits year-on-year. 

While the magic of train travel is in both the journey and the destination, travelers shouldn’t overlook the role that the point of departure can play. Beginning your trip from a gorgeous and well-equipped train station can enhance everything that follows—which is why, in April, the travel insurance experts at AllClear released their analysis of the world’s most premium train stations. 

The AllClear team created their report by researching everything from the availability of premium waiting lounges and retail density to fine dining options, proximity to upscale hotels, and overall review sentiment for 40 train stations worldwide. And while Europe and Asia dominated the final list, one special place in the U.S. also made the cut: Grand Central Station, which earned the No. 7 spot. 

“Located in the heart of New York City, Grand Central Terminal is one of the world’s most popular landmarks, featuring in famous movies including ‘Men in Black II’ and the popular American drama series, Gossip Girl,” the team wrote. “The station is renowned for its striking Beaux-Arts architecture and grand ambience. Despite being the only station in our study that doesn’t have at least one premium or first-class waiting lounge, the station offers travelers access to a wide range of high-quality dining options, including the iconic Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, serving delicious seafood, alongside a strong selection of nearby four- and five-star hotels.”

While Grand Central is undeniably worth a visit, it was outranked on the AllClear list by Zürich‘s Hauptbahnhof station, taking the No. 1 position. 

“Switzerland’s largest and busiest railway station, which was built in 1847, offers a premium experience from start to finish,” the team wrote. “With a first-class lounge for weary passengers to wait, over 100 shops for those wanting some retail therapy, and 90 percent of its reviews over four stars, it’s an excellent hub for those traveling by train this summer.” 

Making an impressive showing in the list’s top five is Japan, with not one, not two, but three celebrated stations.

In second place, there’s Osaka Station, which scored highly thanks to its “extensive shopping complex and large number of high-quality fine dining establishments,” along with its “Farm in the Sky, a serene oasis found on the 14th floor, which also has beautiful sunset views.”

Then there’s Kyoto Station in third, a “futuristic station that has over 90 percent of reviews boasting over four stars, VIP lounges with luggage storage, and plenty of high-end hotels nearby if people want to get a good night’s sleep before departure.”

Tokyo Station, “known for its striking red-brick exterior and rich history,” rounds out the bunch. “Inside, travelers are greeted by an array of premium lounges as well as highly rated fine-dining options.”

I have traveled in and out of Grand Central for decades and I never tire of looking around its interior. I also remember that it was Jackie Kennedy who saved Grand Central from demolition in 1975.

Tony

Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News, and the show’s longtime correspondent Scott Pelley.Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Uber, X and The Free Press; Charles Sykes/Invision, via Associated Press

Dear Commons Community,

In an explosive staff meeting, Scott Pelley, a correspondent for the long-running CBS show, “60 Minutes”, blasted Bari Weiss, the CBS editor in chief, and Nick Bilton, the show’s new executive producer.

Turmoil erupted on Monday after Pelley accused Bari Weiss of “murdering” the longstanding Sunday news program.

In an extraordinary exchange, Mr. Pelley, his voice shaking in anger, told Mr. Bilton that he had “slender” qualifications for his new job and questioned the network’s commitment to the future of the program, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by The New York Times.

The 10 a.m. gathering, held at the program’s Midtown Manhattan headquarters, was intended as a formal introduction to Mr. Bilton, a tech journalist and filmmaker who was appointed last week as part of a major shake-up at “60 Minutes.” CBS fired Tanya Simon, the previous executive producer, and her deputy, along with Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, two of the show’s correspondents — an event that Mr. Pelley referred to as “Black Thursday.”

The meeting quickly turned tense — not a surprise after months of strain between veteran journalists at “60 Minutes” and Ms. Weiss, an opinion journalist who was a longtime critic of legacy media institutions before she became the head of one last year. She was appointed by David Ellison, a tech scion who took control of CBS’s parent company, Paramount, in a multibillion-dollar merger.

Mr. Bilton, who had never worked in traditional broadcast news, opened Monday’s meeting by trying to assuage the anxieties of staff members who believed he might fundamentally change the decades-old DNA of the country’s top-rated news program.

“For me, the journalism is the journalism,” Mr. Bilton said, according to the recording. “That is why I am here. That is why we are all here.” He added: “The rumors people are spreading, that I’m going to turn the show into 60 one-minute episodes, that it’s going to be like TikTok, that is not changing. The show is going to stay exactly like it is for now.”

He also warned that the broadcast television industry that incubated “60 Minutes” would soon be obsolete. “Broadcast is an ice cube that is melting, OK?” Mr. Bilton said, saying the show had to adapt. “Bari loves this institution,” he added. “She loves ’60 Minutes.’”

At that, Mr. Pelley interrupted.

“She is murdering ‘60 Minutes,’” the correspondent said. “She does not love this place. She was brought in to kill it, and she’s been doing exactly that.”

Mr. Pelley added: “She has no qualifications for her job; you have slender qualifications for this job. The changes that she’s made at the ‘Evening News’ have been catastrophic, so why should we expect that any of this is going to be any better?”

Mr. Bilton responded: “Well, I will show you. That’s what I have to say. That is my plan over the next two weeks. I’ll be meeting with everyone. I’m very excited to meet with everyone, yourself included.”

CBS News did not respond to a request for comment.

Ms. Weiss did not attend the gathering. A CBS executive at the meeting said that Ms. Weiss had been “prepared to come, and we asked her not to,” citing the staff’s ill feelings surrounding the firings.

Ms. Weiss and Mr. Bilton had reached out to Mr. Pelley several times in recent days for a private discussion, but Mr. Pelley did not respond, according to two people familiar with their exchanges.

In the meeting on Monday, Mr. Pelley pressed Mr. Bilton repeatedly on why CBS had fired Ms. Alfonsi and Ms. Vega. Mr. Bilton said those decisions predated his hiring. Mr. Pelley asked Mr. Bilton why he had accepted a position at a program “knowing that you will never be welcome here.”

“I have no problem taking a job in a place that I am not welcome in,” Mr. Bilton said. “I don’t think that will be the case.” He added: “I have been a journalist for 25 years, Scott. I’ve sat across from incredibly powerful people like you have, and none of it intimidates me. OK? So you are not going to intimidate me in front of this group of people. I want that to be clear.”

Mr. Bilton said that he wanted to help “60 Minutes” avoid the fate of old-media stalwarts that had failed to adapt, citing Time magazine.

“I care so deeply about this institution,” Mr. Bilton said, to which Mr. Pelley interrupted: “Oh, please.”

At one point, Charles Forelle, a top deputy to Ms. Weiss, urged Mr. Pelley not to act “rude” toward Mr. Bilton.

“I’m not being rude,” Mr. Pelley responded. “You know what was rude? Black Thursday was rude.”

Ms. Weiss’s handling of “60 Minutes” has generated internal turmoil for months.

In December, she pulled a segment reported by Ms. Alfonsi, about the brutal treatment of migrants in a Salvadoran prison, saying that it needed more reporting. The segment was critical of the Trump administration, and Ms. Alfonsi said the decision was “political.” The piece ultimately aired with some additional comments from the Trump administration.

On Monday, Mr. Bilton moved to conclude the meeting after roughly 15 minutes. He encouraged the assembled staff members to partake in the food that had been laid out.

“I just want to thank everyone for graciously being so welcoming,” Mr. Bilton said. “I look forward to talking to you in a one-on-one setting as these meetings are scheduled. And enjoy the bagels.”

The “60 Minutes” staff applauded Mr. Pelley after Mr. Bilton departed.

It was reported this morning that Scott Pelley has been fired by CBS.

Tony

Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.

Dear Commons Community,

When we talk about influential figures in tech, Bill Gates is almost always part of the conversation. The Microsoft co-founder has spent decades reshaping his public image, transforming himself from the executive of one of the world’s most successful company’s into one of the world’s most recognizable philanthropists. But that carefully cultivated image is now under controversy following  revelations emerging from the Jeffrey Epstein files.  As reported by MSN and The Wall Street Journal.

Bill Gates has been one of the most prominent names to emerge from the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files. His association with the late convicted sex offender is now reportedly taking a toll on his carefully cultivated public image and his participation in recent high-profile events.

According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, Gates was effectively sidelined from several high-profile events this year. Among them was Microsoft’s annual CEO Summit, where Gates has traditionally played a visible role. Weeks before the event, people familiar with the matter told the publication that Gates’ team was informed it would be better not to host the dinner he usually holds at his Washington home for attending CEOs.

In India too, Gates had been scheduled to deliver a keynote address at an AI summit in New Delhi in February. However, Indian government officials reportedly became concerned that media attention surrounding the Epstein revelations could overshadow the event’s focus on artificial intelligence. Gates ultimately withdrew from the summit at the last minute, with both sides later describing the decision as mutual. Foundation leaders also reportedly removed him from a planned trip to South Africa.

The image built over decades

According to the report, Microsoft carefully crafted Gates’ public image over the years. According to current and former employees cited by the Journal, Gates’ team went to unusual lengths to manage his public appearances. Staff reportedly maintained a custom-sized mannequin to test outfits, kept spare pairs of his trademark glasses on hand, and prepared multiple clothing options for approval before events.

The effort was part of a broader strategy to transform Gates from the tough, aggressive executive who led Microsoft during its antitrust battles into an approachable and thoughtful public figure.

Much of that image makeover is said to be achieved through the work of the Gates Foundation, which helped establish Gates as one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists.

However, following the Epstein controversy, Gates’ team has now reportedly become extra cautious about how the public views him. Internal documents mentioned in the report reveal that both the Gates Foundation and Gates Ventures had been closely tracking public sentiment. One internal analysis reportedly found a more than 40 per cent increase in what it described as “critical news narratives” surrounding Gates and the foundation, highlighting the growing reputational challenges facing the Microsoft co-founder.

What is the controversy around Gates?

The criticism surrounding Gates started following the details contained in Justice Department files that reportedly show he met Epstein multiple times despite concerns raised by then-wife Melinda French Gates. The documents also suggested that Epstein knew about some of Gates’ extramarital relationships and that two close Gates advisers exchanged hundreds of messages with Epstein until 2019.

Gates has repeatedly maintained that meeting Epstein was a mistake and has denied any involvement in illegal activity. A spokesperson told the Journal that Gates supports the release of all Epstein files and is willing to cooperate with congressional investigators.

However, the scrutiny around Gates appears far from over. As he prepares to appear before a congressional committee in June, the Epstein controversy continues to cast a shadow over the public image he spent years building.

Sad!

Tony

Dear Commons Community,

I am happy to announce that the latest edition of the Online Learning Journal (OLJ) was published yesterday. The title of this special edition is, “Higher Education in an AI-Transformed World” and was edited by Patsy Moskal (UCF) and me. I think you will find a number of excellent articles (see table of contents below) on the latest research on AI and higher education.  OLJ is a free, open access journal that has been publishing for thirty years on all aspects of online and digital learning.

Take a look!

Tony

Higher Education in an AI-Transformed World

• Introduction to the Special Issue: Higher Education in an AI-Transformed World Patsy Moskal; Anthony Picciano

• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Learning: Architecture, Hallucinations, Information, Findability, The First Rung, and The Arts of Inquiry Gardner Campbell, Chuck Dziuban, Colm Howlin, Mark Smith

• Understanding the Generative AI Divide: Faculty and Student Perspectives in Higher Education Christine DeStefano, Joshua Hackney; Patsy Moskal

• Graduate Teacher Education Students Evaluate Generative AIA Two-Year Comparison Anthony G Picciano

• Asked & AnsweredUsing AI to Nudge Student Metacognition and Responsibility for Learning John Fritz, Josh Abrams, Sarah Bass, Suzanne Braunschweig, Tara Carpenter, Nancy McAllister, Thomas Penniston

• The Promise and Paradox of AI in Doctoral Education Kelly Brown, Kaye Shelton

• Curriculum Mapping as a Tool for Continuous Improvement of the Business Studies (BS) Curriculum in a Digital-First University Aldin Bellinfantie

• Predicting Online Instructional Design Students’ Intention to Use AI Tools: Value, Utility, and Self-Efficacy Moon-Heum Cho, Ying Chen

• Graduate Students at the Frontier of GenAI: Emerging Trends from a Southwest Borderland University Julia Lynn Parra, Suparna Chatterjee, Eche Okoye, Leanna Lucero

• Transforming Enrollment Management in the Field of Online Learning Vickie S Cook

• Educating the Educators About AI: Strategic Initiatives in a Graduate School of EducationA Case Study Raffaella Borasi, Eric E. Fredericksen

Dear Commons Community,

Manhattanhenge occurs when the sunset aligns perfectly with New York City’s street grid.  In recent years, it has become an attraction with thousands of visitors flocking to main arteries to see nature’s spectacle. 

Crowds Gather in Times Square to Catch Beautiful ‘Manhattanhenge’

Tony

Dear Commons Community,

President Trump on Saturday floated the idea of cancelling all the musical performances at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., after a majority of the musicians pulled out of the event, which has been described as a birthday bash to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.  As reported by CBS News.

Earlier Saturday, Freedom 250, the organization behind the event, had announced that Mr. Trump would “kick off” the state fair on June 24 with an opening ceremony.

“As the visionary behind the Great American State Fair, we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24 in an opening ceremony celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” said Danielle Alvarez, a spokesperson for Freedom 250.

In a social media post later Saturday, Mr. Trump said he would look into holding an “America is Back” rally at the state fair where he would “give a major speech, rallying the Country forward.”

“I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their performance,” Mr. Trump wrote, adding that he was thinking of replacing “these highly paid, Third Rate ‘Artists'” with himself, “the man who some say is the Greatest President in History.”

Then on Saturday night, Mr. Trump took to his Truth Social platform again to suggest that there be no musicians at all at the state fair.

“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post Saturday night, adding that he believed they should “cancel” the state fair.

Freedom 250 announced a slate of artists last week to perform at a series of concerts on the National Mall from June 24 to July 10. But shortly after its announcement, many of the artists canceled, citing concerns that the event would be too political in nature.

Morris Day and the Time, Young MC, the Commodores, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels have all announced they would not be participating.

It sounds like Trump was going to throw a party and no one wanted to attend.

Tony