INSIDER TODAY: Gen Z’s finances are tanking

Hello, Insiders. Young Americans always get crushed by economic downturns.?The Great Recession , for example, hit millennials with a tough job market, wage stagnation, and rising costs of living. Some are still reeling.

?Now, as inflation takes its toll,?young Americans are once again feeling the squeeze . They’re still spending, but their savings are going down and their debt is going up. The rate of delinquency on credit card bills and car loans is rising faster than it has since the 2008 financial crisis.

?If you’re a Gen Z or millennial with a growing credit card balance or the inability to pay your bills, and willing to share your story, please let us know at?[email protected] .

And a quick programming note:?Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! We’ll still be in your inbox with a shorter edition, and back with our regular newsletter on Friday. Hope you have a great holiday.

This is the LinkedIn version of "Insider Today," If you want it in your inbox?sign up here.

The latest

• Trump Org's outside accountant testifies he “would have had a heart attack”?if he'd seen the "secret" Christmas bonus lists.?Get the details.
• At least six people, plus the suspect, were killed in a shooting at a Walmart?in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Tuesday night.?Read more.
• Kanye West showed Yeezy staff an explicit video of his then-wife Kim Kardashian,?per a bombshell Rolling Stone report.?More here.

The big story

If Gov. Ron DeSantis doesn’t get his 2024 decision right, he risks peaking too soon — or wasting his time.

?DeSantis often gets compared to ex-President Donald Trump. But as he faces a decision over whether to run in 2024, he shares far more similarities with two other ex-GOP frontrunners: Former Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Chris Christie of New Jersey.

?Both once seemed inevitable for the White House.?Walker seized the moment, while Christie let his moment pass. They both lost.

?Walker was a darling of the right when Barack Obama was president. But his campaign?crashed so badly , he never even made it to the voting stage. As for Christie, he was brash, populist, and had a big personality. If he had run in 2012, maybe he would have been sitting in the Oval Office. But he got?dragged down by Bridgegate ?in 2013.

?DeSantis could trip up early in a 2024 contest, or he could lose momentum if he waits until 2028. Per top GOP strategists, both approaches carry risks that could torpedo his chances.

Read the full story here.

Top reads

• A professional baker compares pumpkin pies from four grocery stores.?Molly Allen knows how to make a solid pumpkin pie — but sometimes grabbing one from a local store is the best option. So she compared pies from Safeway, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart. Safeway's was her favorite, because of its well-balanced taste and good structure.?Read all her reviews here.
• Women in unconventional service jobs are making thousands a month as showgirls, bikini baristas, bottle girls, and shot girls.?For some, it's a side hustle. For others, a full-time job. But they all make a killing in tips — often dealing with loud, aggressive, or drunk customers. Five women shared their?most bizarre and frightening experiences at work.
• “My 6-year-old daughter threw up all over the man sitting next to us on a plane.”?At the start of a long flight, Sarah Gundle's daughter ate an entire bag of candy while her mom was distracted — and threw up all over the man’s fancy shoes. That led to a moving conversation Sarah will never forget.?Read the essay here.
• Tesla employees called Elon Musk an “unapproachable tyrant” in an internal 2018 survey.?The survey, which Insider obtained and is publishing in full for the first time, was conducted during a trying period for the company — and revealed employees voiced concerns about Musk's leadership.?See the full survey here.
• “Dakota Johnson’s trainer taught me how to do squats.”?They’re one of the best, most efficient exercises, but the common advice to sit back when performing squats is wrong for many people, according to celebrity personal trainer Luke Worthington. He worked out with reporter Rachel Hosie — and showed how to properly do the exercise.?Here’s his best advice for squats.