a feels trip meaning

A Feels Trip

An emotional train you'll want to get on, about feels trip.

“When someone is overcome with emotion or a special feeling that can’t necessarily be explained”

This is the rough definition of what the term “feels” is and what this blog is all about. It’s safe to say that everyone has at least been in this state of emotion at least once or many times in their lives and the triggers for this can range from many things. Whether it’s a sad song that makes you think or a movie that moves you to tears or makes you want to stand up and cheer, a commercial that sticks with you, I mean the list goes on. It doesn’t necessarily even have to be something you see on TV or anything digital. It can be a big moment in your life that makes you overcome with emotion. Like reuniting with that best friend you haven’t seen in forever and reminiscing about all the good times you guys had. It can be getting accepted into that dream college, grad school, or job. It can sad, happy, funny, or anything in between. I hope this blog encourages you to post, share, comment on anything that puts or has put you or anyone you know in the “feels.” Buckle up everyone, it’s time to take a Feels Trip.

Below are just some examples of scenes, moments, and pictures that have been known to have put over countless of people in the feels.

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How to recognize a guilt trip & respond when it happens.

If someone has ever tried to make you feel bad about something without directly saying it, you may well have been a victim to guilt tripping. This behavior isn't uncommon, but if you don't know what to look for, you might not realize it's happening. Here's how to spot guilt trip signs, plus how to deal with it, according to experts.

What does "guilt trip" really mean?

Guilt tripping is a type of behavior that involves making someone feel guilty for something rather than directly expressing your displeasure. As therapist and relationship expert Ken Page, LCSW, explains to mbg, it's a form of manipulation designed to either make the person feel bad or to get them to do something you want by evoking guilt.

According to both Page and licensed marriage and family therapist  Shane Birkel, LMFT, guilt tripping is classic passive-aggressive behavior because it indicates an inability—or at least an unwillingness—to communicate in a healthy and constructive way.

This kind of behavior can be seen across all kinds of relationships, from romantic to parent-child relationships to friendships, and even in the workplace between bosses or co-workers.

Why it's not OK to guilt trip someone.

It's not a bad thing to express when you feel hurt or upset by someone else's behavior, Page notes, but when you start to become passive aggressive and manipulative about it, that's when it becomes a problem. "Guilt tripping is indirect and manipulative, [and] it works by making people feel bad about themselves," he says.

Birkel adds that guilt tripping also doesn't require the same vulnerability as directly sharing your hurt and how you're feeling. "It's shaming the other person, making comments that make the other person feel bad, sort of blaming and attacking—and so in that way, I don't think there's ever an appropriate or OK situation to guilt trip. It's always going to be a harsh way of treating the other person," he notes.

Open and vulnerable communication, such as saying, "Hey, I understand we all run late sometimes, but it makes me feel like you're not prioritizing our time together when you show up late," for example, would not be guilt tripping, Birkel adds.

Is guilt tripping a form of gaslighting?

Gaslighting and guilt tripping are not the same, though they have "large areas of overlap," according to Page. He notes that gaslighting is all about denying someone's reality to make them question themselves, which is a "deep form of manipulation."

Guilt tripping is more about making someone feel bad or guilty for their behavior. That said, dark personality types like narcissists and other toxic people will often use both of these manipulation tactics freely and without remorse, Page explains.

Common signs to look out for:

• Behavior and comments meant to make you feel guilty or bad
• Making you feel like you owe them something
• Refusal to say what's wrong but acting upset
• Expressing negative feelings about you in indirect ways
• Comments like "I must not mean that much to you," "I'm glad you could finally squeeze me into your busy schedule," or, "I do so much for you," etc.
• Talking about you as a bad person, partner, friend, etc.
• Withholding affection and/or attention as punishment
• Passive-aggressive behavior

The main things you want to look for when it comes to someone guilt tripping you are an inability to express negative feelings directly and behavior that makes you feel guilty. As Page explains, "When you feel that sharp pang of guilt, ask yourself, what is happening? Are you being made to feel that you are less of a good person, or were they actually bothered appropriately by something you did that you need to fix and correct?"

When you become aware of how guilt feels in your body and the thoughts it makes you think, that's the quickest way to identify guilt tripping behavior, he adds. And if you're noticing a trend that this person has a hard time expressing when you've done something that bothers them, that's a telltale sign too.

Reasons for guilt tripping.

There are plenty of reasons that people resort to guilt tripping, whether subconscious or very much conscious. A lot of the time, Page explains, it's simply the "easiest" option, compared to actually being vulnerable and stating your needs and feelings in a direct way.

Sometimes people want sympathy, sometimes they want to manipulate your behavior, and sometimes they may just be looking for attention. But the key is they're not willing to be outright about what they're wanting from the interaction.

According to Birkel, guilt tripping someone can also be "a twisted way of trying to get compassion." They're trying to make you feel bad about what you did because they want you to understand how it hurt them, he says.

"Often, when we feel that something is wrong but we don't feel that we have a right to ask for what we want, we use guilt tripping or other passive-aggressive behavior instead," Page explains. "In other words, our guilt around our own needs makes us guilt trip other people."

Birkel also notes this kind of behavior can stem from having this behavior modeled for you growing up, as well as not having your needs met as a child. "If someone grew up in a family where they weren't allowed to have a voice, or their wants and needs were shut down by a parent, they might start guilt tripping others because they never learned how to communicate directly," he explains.

How to respond to a guilt trip.

How you choose to respond when someone guilt trips you will depend on everything from your communication style to how much patience you have in the moment and how serious the situation is. In extreme cases, especially in situations where you're being unfairly blamed for something, you always have the option to set a boundary and walk away from the conversation.

With all that said, Page and Birkel both recommend extending compassion when you can. "Underneath the guilt tripping is a request, hidden in blaming, passive-aggressive behavior," Page explains. And as Birkel notes, that hidden request is often compassion and understanding.

For starters, there might be an apology you can and should make if you did actually hurt this person (intentionally or not). Birkel suggests starting there, and to emphasize that you understand why they're feeling the way they do. That can sound like "I understand why you're upset, and I apologize for X."

Then, once the apology is made earnestly and accepted, perhaps a couple of hours later, he says you can bring up that you didn't appreciate the way they approached the conversation, saying something like, "Again, I understand why you were upset, and I felt like you were trying to make to feel guilty, so I'm hoping you could communicate with me more directly about what's going on for you in the future."

Ultimately, Page says, it's important that you and the other person both get to speak your mind about how you're really feeling. In some cases, for instance, you might be letting somebody down and disappointing them, but that doesn't mean that you have anything to feel guilty for; you just might not be able to meet their expectations, he explains. "On the other hand, when you listen to what they want and need, if it feels valid, you might want to reconsider your actions," he adds.

It comes down to honest, open, and vulnerable communication, which is a skill that can take time to cultivate. But the good news is, the more you practice healthy communication , the easier it becomes over time.

The bottom line.

Guilt tripping can range from small, rare instances to extreme cases of manipulation. If things escalate to the point of emotional abuse , remove yourself from the situation as best you can. Otherwise, guilt tripping is a behavior (albeit a frustrating one) that can be worked on and improved with healthy communication and vulnerability.

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What Is a Bad Trip?

Editorial Policy | Research Policy

Psychedelic drugs such as LSD, mushrooms, and Molly can cause hallucinations known as a “bad trip”. Learn what causes a bad trip, how to identify warning signs, and how to stop it.

A trip refers to the intoxication from a drug that causes hallucinations. It is called a trip because the sensations that a psychedelic ( hallucination-causing ) drug causes can be so strange that it feels as if you are in a whole different world. A bad trip, also sometimes called a bad  acid  trip, occurs when the trip a psychedelic drug causes is negative.

Bad trips can lead to excessive fear, agitation or emotionally disturbing situations. Someone who is having a bad trip may feel as if time is standing still and may have disturbing hallucinations that cause extreme fear or mood swings.

What Causes a Bad Trip?

There are several things that can  increase the probability of a bad trip , but anyone who is using psychedelic substances is at risk of having a bad trip. Some of the things that can increase the risk of having a bad trip include:

• Taking higher doses of a psychedelic drug
• Being in a negative emotional state before using or while using psychedelics
• Being in settings with excessive stimulation
• Using  alcohol  at the same time as using a psychedelic drug
• Not having someone stay with you while using psychedelic drugs
• Not drinking enough water

While avoiding these risks can reduce your chances of having a bad trip, anyone can have a bad trip at any time while using psychedelics. Someone who has been using psychedelic drugs for years and has never had a bad trip can have a bad trip while using, even if they have not changed anything about how they use.

Drugs That Can Cause a Bad Trip

Any drug that can cause hallucinations and lead to a trip can cause a bad trip. These drugs are called psychedelic drugs and are often used for the hallucinations they create. Some common psychedelic drugs include:

• LSD  – Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), also known as  acid , is primarily taken for the hallucination that it creates. LSD is probably the best known psychedelic drug.
• DMT  – N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a powerful psychedelic drug that can lead to a bad trip. Because of how strong the effects of  DMT  are, it is more likely to lead to a bad trip than many other psychedelic drugs.( See More:  What is DMT
• Mushrooms  – Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “shrooms” or “magic mushrooms,” are hallucinogenic fungi that can lead to a bad trip. A bad mushroom trip may also be referred to as a bad shroom trip.
• Molly  – Molly, a slang name for the drug  MDMA , is a psychedelic drug that is commonly used in parties or raves. Bad molly trips are more common in situations where people become dehydrated from over-partying.
• Salvia  – Salvia, also known as “sage of the diviners,” is a hallucinogenic drug that is shorter-acting and more potent than many other psychedelic drugs. Bad trips while using  salvia  are reported to be more terrifying than those experienced while using other psychedelic drugs.
• Marijuana  – Bad trips while using  marijuana  are uncommon, but can definitely still occur. Some of the most common bad trip symptoms occurring with weed are anxiety and facial numbness.

Symptoms of a Bad Trip

Bad acid trip symptoms are highly individualized and may be different from previous bad trip symptoms for the same individual. Some common bad trip symptoms include:

• A sensation that time is standing still
• Negative thoughts or interpretations of events around you
• Extreme paranoia
• Extreme and sudden mood swings
• Negative hallucinations that may include sensations, sounds or sights

If you are with someone who is experiencing these symptoms and they have recently been using a psychedelic drug, they could be having a bad trip. If you are with someone who is having these symptoms and you are not sure if they have taken any drugs, you should take them to the nearest hospital or call 911.

How to Stop a Bad Trip

Stopping a bad trip may not be possible, but there are things that can be done to  help someone who is having a bad trip . If someone is having a bad trip, they should be moved away from noise and stimulation, as this can make a bad trip worse. A bad trip guide can also help. This involves having someone who is sober stay with the person having the bad trip and talk them through the trip. Not everyone will benefit from a bad trip guide, and some people may develop a paranoid attitude towards the guide or even become aggressive.

Some medications may help to stop a bad trip, but these can only be given in a hospital. Calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency room can help provide someone who is having a bad trip with these medications.

Related Topic:   Treatment options for LSD

Carbonaro, T.M., et al. “ Survey Study of Challenging Experiences […]egative Consequences .” Journal of Psychopharmacology, August 20, 2016. Accessed August 14, 2019.

Davis, Kathleen. “ Salvia: What Are the Effects? ” Medical News Today, January 16, 2019. Accessed August 14, 2019.

Sturtz, Rachel. “ Refinery29: 7 Ways To Help Someone Who’s Having A Bad Trip .” Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, 2019. Accessed August 14, 2019.

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Slang dictionary

What does feels mean.

Cute puppy dogs, a bad break-up, some really good pizza: These things give us all the  feels . The slang term describes an overwhelming emotional reaction, often with a humorous tone in the phrase  all the feels .

Related words:

• 😭 loudly crying face emoji

Where does feels come from?

Taking off in the 2010s, the slang  feels is a shortened plural of feeling , as in “emotion.” It’s said to come from what’s called the I Know That Feel Bro  meme, showing two hairless human figures embracing.

Meme origins get hairy though (unlike those guys above), so strap yourself in. In July, 2009, users on a Polish humor website, Demotywatory, created funny motivational posters. The posters used the Polish phrase  to uczucie , “that feeling (when),” to comment on some small but relatable accomplishment, like beating a boss in Super Mario Bros .

Know your meme

To uczucie was picked up by the Polish imageboard Vichan, which made ironic versions of these motivational posters. One user, identified as Wojak or Voyack, posted on a German imageboard, Krautchan, in 2010 an image of a bald man (since called  Wojak ) complaining that he did not have a girlfriend.

In response, an anonymous apparently user mixed together the then-popular  to uczucie   with the emerging Wojak to create the I Know That Feel Bro meme, posted to 4chan in January, 2011 and expressing a mocking empathy.  To   uczucie , it seems, was translated as the humorously ungrammatical “that feel,” pluralized and spread in subsequent memes.

While feels originated with a bro-ish irony, so true of many internet memes, it shed those connotations as it spread in the mainstream. By 2012, feels  had caught on as a playful way to express any powerful emotion, from heartbreak to happiness.

Examples of feels

Who uses feels.

All the feels , right in the feels , gives me feels :  Feels  is used in a variety of expressions as a playful form of feeling , sometimes imagining feels as a physical part of the body.

This hit me right in the feels. pic.twitter.com/Xy2UwMoNu8 — Arzu. (@aarzaldo) May 20, 2018

In online writing,  feels gets used in a wide variety of contexts for moving, touching, excited, or overjoyed feelings.

All the feels. Ready for our 4th straight trip to the #NBAFinals ! #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/s4qaBJ54o9 — Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 28, 2018

The Prime Minister of NZ has just instagrammed a photo of her dad putting on her shoes for her – presumable because she’s well along in her pregnancy- and it’s giving me all the feels. pic.twitter.com/LtaRfVH2n6 — Angela Cuming (@AngelaCuming) May 23, 2018

Give me all the feels and curls… #oneluckymama pic.twitter.com/vh9QoT6Yjq — Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) May 13, 2018

Feels has become so widespread people use it in everyday speech. The phrase all the feels has also apparently inspired another common construction used to express hyperbolic excitement,  all the X’s . For instance, Let’s go out to eat. We’ll have tacos. We have all the tacos!

This is not meant to be a formal definition of feels like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of feels that will help our users expand their word mastery.

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Definition of field trip noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• We went on a geology field trip.
• Delegates at the conference were taken on field trips to see the devastation.

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

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Definition of field trip

Examples of field trip in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'field trip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1926, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near field trip

field trial

Cite this Entry

“Field trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field%20trip. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of field trip, more from merriam-webster on field trip.

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for field trip

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What Is Guilt Tripping?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

damircudic / Getty Images

• Getting Help

Frequently Asked Questions

A guilt trip means causing another person to feel guilt or a sense of responsibility to change their behavior or take a specific action. Because guilt can be such a powerful motivator of human behavior, people can wield it as a tool to change how others think, feel, and behave. 

Sometimes this might involve leaning on something that someone already feels guilty about. In other cases, people might induce feelings of unjustified guilt or responsibility to manipulate the other person's emotions and behaviors.

If someone has ever made you feel bad about something you’ve done (or didn’t do) and then used those bad feelings to get you to do something for them, then you have experience with guilt tripping.

This article discusses the signs, types, and impact of guilt trips. It also covers some of the steps you can take to cope with this type of behavior.

Signs of a Guilt Trip

Guilt trips can be intentional, but they can also be unintentional. There are chances that you have even guilt-tripped people into doing things before.

Sometimes guilt tripping behavior can be easy to spot, but it can also be much more subtle and difficult to detect.  Some key signs that others may be guilt-tripping you include:

• Making comments suggesting that you have not done as much work as they have done
• Bringing up mistakes that you have made in the past
• Reminding you of favors they have performed for you in the past
• Acting as if they are angry but then denying that there is a problem
• Refusing to speak to you or giving you the silent treatment
• Making it clear through their body language , tone of voice, and facial expressions that they disapprove of what you were doing
• Suggesting that you “owe” them
• Engaging in passive-aggressive behavior
• Making sarcastic comments about your efforts or progress

It is important to note that this type of indirect communication can occur in any interpersonal relationship. Still, it is more likely to take place in relationships that are marked by close emotional connections.

It can show up in romantic relationships, but guilt trips may also be utilized in family relationships, parental relationships, and even work relationships.

Types of Guilt Tripping

There are many different types of guilt trips that people may utilize depending on the ultimate goal or purpose of the behavior. Some of the different purposes of a guilt trip include:

• Manipulation : Sometimes, the primary goal of a guilt trip is to manipulate someone into doing something that they normally would not want to do.  
• Conflict avoidance : In other cases, people may use guilt trips to avoid directly talking about an issue. It allows them to get what they want without having to engage in direct conflict.
• Moral education : Guilt trips can also be a way of getting someone to engage in a behavior that the individual feels is more moral or “right.”
• Elicit sympathy : In some cases, guilt-tripping allows the individual to gain the sympathy of others by casting themselves in the role of someone who has been harmed by the actions the other person is supposed to feel guilty about.

Guilt isn't always a bad thing. While often troubling and unpleasant, it can serve an important role in guiding moral behavior. When people experience guilt, they can fix their mistakes and avoid repeating the same errors in the future.

Researcher Courtney Humeny

A guilt trip does not appear to induce the benefits of guilt, such as making amends, honesty, and mutual understanding.

Impact of Guilt Trips

Invoking feelings of guilt to change someone’s behavior can have a wide variety of effects. Whether guilt is wielded intentionally or not, it prevents healthy communication and connections with others. Some of the most immediate effects of this form of covert psychological manipulation include:

Damage to Relationships

Research suggests that guilt trips can take a toll on close relationships. One study found that people hurt by their partner's criticism were more likely to use those hurt feelings to make their partner feel guilty and offer reassurances.

However, the study also found that the partner who had been guilt-tripped into offering assurances was more likely to feel significantly worse about the relationship.

In other words, inducing feelings of guilt may work to get your partner to do what you want—but it comes at a cost. It can impair trust and cause the other person to feel that they are being manipulated. 

One of the reasons why guilt trips can poison relationships is because they can lead to lasting feelings of resentment.

"A guilt trip imposes aversive states associated with guilt, along with feelings of resentment from feeling manipulated," Humeny suggests.

A single occasion of someone using a guilt trip to alter your behavior might not have a serious impact on your relationship. Repeated use of guilt trips can leave you feeling bitter.

If you feel that your partner is always going to guilt you into something that you don't want to do, it can decrease intimacy, reduce emotional closeness, and ultimately make you start to resent your partner.

Research suggests that appeals to guilt are a common type of persuasion technique . However, while guilt can compel people to take certain actions, it can also sometimes backfire.

Low-level guilt tends to motivate people to act on the persuasive message. High levels of guilt, however, often fail due to what researchers call "reactance." 

"An individual in a state of reactance will behave in such a way as to restore his freedom (or, at least, his sense of freedom), for example, by performing behaviors that are contrary to those required," explain researchers Aurélien Graton and Melody Mailliez in a 2019 article published in the journal Behavioral Sciences .

In other words, guilt trips can backfire and lead people to behave opposite how someone else wants them to act. For example, someone guilt-tripping you into calling them more often might actually result in calling them less.

Poor Well-being

Feelings of excessive guilt are associated with several mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression , and obsessive-compulsive disorder . Being subjected to guilt trips may contribute to the development or worsening of such conditions.

Experiencing guilt can also lead to many immediate and unpleasant emotions and symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, regret, worry, muscle tension, and insomnia.

This type of covert manipulation may also sometimes contribute to the development of a guilt complex , which is a persistent belief that you have done (or will do) something wrong.

Over time, guilt can lead to feelings of shame. Shame can affect your self-image, which can then contribute to social withdrawal and isolation.

How to Cope With Guilt Tripping

There are a number of tactics that can be helpful when dealing with a guilt trip. Some steps you can take include:

• Acknowledge the request. Let them know that you understand that it is important to them. Responding with empathy and showing that you see their needs may help them feel that they are not simply being ignored. Validating their emotions may help lessen the intensity of those feelings.
• Share your feelings . Explain that you also see how they are trying to make you feel guilty so that you'll do what they want. Then tell them how that type of manipulation makes you feel. Suggest that interacting in that way will lead to resentment and that more direct communication forms would be more effective. 
• Set boundaries . Boundaries help set limits on what you will and will not accept. Even if you do end up helping them with their request, make sure you clearly articulate your limits and explain the consequences of crossing those boundaries. Then be sure that you enforce those limits if they are crossed.

Other things that you can use include protecting your self-esteem and distancing yourself if needed. You're more likely to fall for a guilt trip if you already feel poorly about yourself, so find strategies to build up your sense of self-worth. 

If the other person keeps trying to manipulate you with feelings of guilt, reduce your communication with them or even consider ending the relationship.

Protecting your own well-being should be a top priority. A person who tries to manipulate you with toxic feelings of shame and guilt does not have your best interests at heart.

Getting Help for Guilt

If you are experiencing feelings of guilt or related symptoms of anxiety, stress, or depression, talk to your health care provider or a mental health professional. They can recommend treatment options such as psychotherapy or medications that can help manage symptoms and improve the quality of your life.

Your doctor or therapist may suggest a type of therapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) , which may help reduce inappropriate guilt feelings. This type of therapy can help you identify and change the negative thoughts and cognitive distortions that can contribute to feelings of guilt.

Your therapist can also help you learn to recognize the signs of a guilt trip—and help you practice strategies to cope with this type of emotional manipulation.

An example of guilt tripping might be your friend calling you and saying, "I know you are too busy with work to hang out. I'll just spend the evening by myself. I just thought that since I helped you get that job you would make sure to make a little more time for me." This type of comment is designed to induce feelings of guilt and bring up the idea that you "owe" them in some way.

Guilt tripping is often designed to manipulate other people by preying on their emotions and feelings of guilt or responsibility. This can be a form of toxic behavior that can have detrimental effects on a person's well-being as well as their relationships.

While both behaviors are destructive and toxic, they differ in key ways. Gaslighting is a type of emotional abuse that involves denying another person's reality and making them question their own experiences. Guilt tripping, on the other hand, is about causing another person to feel guilty in order to get them to change their behavior.

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Tilghman-Osborne C, Cole DA, Felton JW.  Definition and measurement of guilt: Implications for clinical research and practice .  Clin Psychol Rev . 2010;30(5):536-546. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.007

Miceli M, Castelfranchi C.  Reconsidering the differences between shame and guilt .  Eur J Psychol . 2018;14(3):710-733. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i3.1564

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Cleantis T. Boundaries and self-care . Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Hedman E, Ström P, Stünkel A, Mörtberg E. Shame and guilt in social anxiety disorder: effects of cognitive behavior therapy and association with social anxiety and depressive symptoms . PLoS One . 2013;8(4):e61713. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061713

Johnson VE, Nadal KL, Sissoko DRG, King R. "It's not in your head": Gaslighting, 'splaining, victim blaming, and other harmful reactions to microaggressions .  Perspect Psychol Sci . 2021;16(5):1024-1036. doi:10.1177/17456916211011963

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Meaning of field trip in English

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• break-journey
• circumnavigation

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field trip | American Dictionary

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relating to the scientific study of animals, especially their structure

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Why do people feel like they're being watched, even when no one is there?

The causes range from innocuous media exposure to severe mental illness.

You're alone, and you suddenly have the sneaking suspicion that someone's there. Maybe you watched a scary movie or read the latest thriller novel and wonder if there's a killer lurking in your room. You look around and open the closet door, but no one's there. So why does your mind make you feel as if you were being watched?

According to Leslie Dobson , a clinical and forensic psychologist, there are a number of reasons why someone may feel as if they are being watched. These causes span a broad spectrum, including exposure to scary books, movies or news; hypervigilance following a stressful or traumatic event; and serious mental health conditions.

"In more extreme cases, a person may experience paranoia and hypervigilance, often related to an underlying mental health condition or physical brain ailment," Dobson said in a written message.

Of course, sometimes we really are being watched. People likely evolved to be sensitive to another person's gaze, and it's been suggested the human brain has a neural network dedicated solely to processing gaze, according to an article written by Harriet Dempsey-Jones , a postdoctoral research fellow in cognitive neurosciences at The University of Queensland in Australia. It's possible that our attentiveness to gaze arose because it can support cooperative interactions between humans. This ability usually isn't difficult to master; it's fairly easy to see where a person is looking because we can see where their pupils are focused, and with our peripheral vision we can pick on cues, such as body language, indicating that a person is looking at us.

But sometimes, even if no one is watching, outside stimuli can make us feel afraid and look around to see if we're being watched. This could include watching or reading a thriller in which a protagonist is being stalked by a threatening figure, or hearing a random noise when home alone.

Related: Why do people dissociate during traumatic events?

For people who have experienced traumatic events, hypervigilance becomes a defense mechanism that is meant to prevent us from experiencing future stress by avoiding danger, according to a 2023 study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology . Symptoms like paranoia and anxiety that usually come after stressful events can occur in a similar region of the brain, Dobson explained.

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"The amygdala processes our emotions such as stress and anxiety," she told Live Science. "If it is overactive or harmed from physical damage or ongoing trauma stressors, it may lead to heightened emotional responses such as perceiving threat."

It's not uncommon for people to feel watched, Dr. Alice Feller , a clinical psychiatrist based in California, told Live Science. So how do you distinguish reasonable caution from a more serious issue?

The problem arises when someone constantly feels watched or paranoid about being watched for a long period of time.

"[With] mental illness, what happens is you lose that ability to wonder if it's just a feeling, you know, you kind of lose insight into your own bodily and mental process," Feller said. "You can do a reality check, but it doesn't necessarily stick."

For example, symptoms of schizophrenia include hypervigilance and paranoia, which can include the delusion that someone is watching you . Research suggests that in people with schizophrenia, paranoia is associated with abnormal activity in the limbic system, a part of the brain that includes the amygdala and controls our emotional and survival-based behavioral responses , such as the fight-or-flight response .

A 2022 study explained that in patients with schizophrenia, paranoia has been associated with increased blood flow during resting state in the amygdala. Moreover, unusual connectivity between the amygdala and other areas of the brain, such as the visual cortex , hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex , has been linked with paranoia, suggesting that "current paranoia is linked to aberrant connectivity within the core limbic circuit" suggesting "amplified threat processing and impaired emotion regulation."

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Regardless of the cause, Feller and Dobson both said that it's worth seeking mental health support if you experience persistent paranoia. This is especially true if the feeling of being watched happens despite physical evidence that no one else is there, or if the anxiety of being watched becomes worse.

"I encourage people to seek mental and medical intervention when they begin to notice they are struggling, rather than trying to wait it out," Dobson said. "Early intervention is key. If a person is struggling more days a week than not, or if their job, education, or relationships are beginning to struggle, it is important to seek out a professional."

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Angely Mercado is a freelance science writer and fact-checker based out of NYC. She has a master's degree from the CUNY graduate school of journalism. Angely's work has been featured in Gizmodo, Grist, Vogue, The Guardian and more. She focuses on environmental justice, environmental science and culture.

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Mindful travel: 14 ways to have a more meaningful trip

Mindful travel is an increasingly popular form of travel as folks everywhere are eager to hush the noise and connect with the environment, other people, and their inner world. We suggest 14 ways to make your travels more meaningful through mindfulness.

If you know anything about mindfulness, you know that mindful travel is having a moment .

Naturally, more mindful people means more people wanting to engage in mindful travel.

With that in mind, here are 14 simple ways to incorporate mindfulness into your next trip and so have a more meaningful experience.

1. Practise mindful habits ahead of your trip

There are three things you can do at home, before you even leave on your trip, to make it more mindful.

The first is to practise mindful habits, because mindfulness is a muscle that needs to be developed. If you've never practised mindfulness before in your daily life, it's less likely you'll manage it on a trip, where you're outside of your comfort zone and there are many possible distractions.

We encourage you to practise mindfulness when you're on your balcony or in your garden, and when you're next out and about doing your errands. Pause in the busyness of the day to take in your environment – what do you see, smell, hear?

How often do we really study familiar nature to find the unfamiliar?

Some other ideas to incorporate into your daily routine are to slip off your shoes in the garden or park and walk on the grass. Take time to touch a leaf, smell a flower, watch a beetle. And when you bump into someone you know, try to focus on them fully when you chat, even if it's just for a couple of minutes.

2. Set your mindfulness intention

Next, decide that you want a mindful holiday, and set that as your intention. We make all sorts of other plans for a trip, so why not also plan to slow down and be more mindful in the way you engage with people and your environment?

Depending on where you're going, you could even look into pre-arranging a mindful activity or two.

• Is there an outdoor stretching, yoga or pilates class you could join?
• Could you take a class to learn a traditional dance or how to cook a local dish?
• Could you volunteer to plant a tree or help teach a lesson in computer literacy with a local NGO?
• Is there a safe trail you could walk by yourself for a moment of solitude if you're travelling in a group?
• Is there something special about the environment to be visited (like a rare plant or endangered species or historic building) that you can research beforehand so that when you're there you can more fully appreciate the encounter?

Find something that you know will help you to enter a more mindful head space, and then factor it into your travel plans and preparation.

3. Pack light

Travelling with just a few essential belongings is a great way to set yourself up for a mindful trip.

Firstly, packing light frees you from any worries relating to possessions (starting with wondering if your luggage will even appear on the airport's conveyor belt!). Remember: what you own, owns you.

When you travel light and carry little of importance, you don't need to keep an eagle eye on anything. So leave expensive gadgets, kicks or jewellery at home. And then if your luggage gets delayed or lost? No real biggie – your excited travel mood is still in tact!

Here's another thought: If you're someone who's sensitive to fashion and trends, this could be a chance to have a break from that – to not think of what matches, but to just pull on the one outfit you have for this weather, and fly out of the door into the adventure outside.

When you bring only the essentials, there's also no vague sense of frustration that you need to get around to wearing or using x because you carted it half way around the world.

Packing light helps us to travel with a light mind, as it were

Finally, we've all had that realisation when we travel of how little we actually need, right? It's an illuminating experience, highlighting what's really important and needful to us. This is a great chance to slim down the items you surround yourself with on a daily basis, and just focus on having experiences and connecting with your inner life.

4. Silence your devices

While on your trip, make the choice to disconnect from the internet and social apps. It's hard to be mindful when you're receiving notifications, or thinking about how you'll curate the moment to share on social media.

Most of us spend more time on our smartphones and other devices than we like. But those apps are designed to draw you in, so of course we struggle to temper our digital habits even when the desire is there.

Know yourself, and remove the temptation for stretches of your trip. Disconnecting from the online world can be for the whole trip, or even just for a part of it – for a day here and there, or at least a few hours at a time.

Make a conscious decision to disconnect from the digital world in order to free you up to live more fully in the present moment.

You could actually consider carrying only an old phone that doesn't connect to the internet, but still offers the safety of being able to make phone calls. Or if you're in a group, have just one person carry a phone each day. Also consider bringing a camera along so you don't need to use the camera function on your phone.

5. Use all of your senses

We're mostly very good at keeping our eyes wide open in a new place. But be sure to also listen carefully.

Also touch some of the natural objects around you. Yes, often we know what things feel like, but adopt the curiosity of a child and be open to a fresh revelation of the roughness of a tree trunk, or the cold smoothness of frozen water. And does that thick petal have a velvety touch? You'll only know if you stop and touch it.

Be sure to also smell things, not just taste them. The scents of a new place are a core thread in the fabric of a travel experience. Really smell that coffee, tea or cocktail before taking a sip. When visiting a market, lean in to really appreciate the smell of unknown foods, herbs and spices.

When you tap into all of your senses, you make space for your inner child's sense of wonder.

6. Ditch the to-do (or to-see) list

Many travellers have a frenetic energy about them, as they're blasting through sites and activities in a drive to do and see as much as possible.

But how much can you really get out of an experience when you're rushed? It's better to see and do less, we believe, but to really savour those moments. When you deeply connect with a person or place, the experience is more profound.

If you know you're geared towards a less mindful approach to travel, perhaps pop a few "Slow down" notes in strategic places, like in your wallet, to help remind you of your intention to travel more mindfully.

7. Eat more mindfully

Mindful eating refers to both what goes on your plate as well as how you approach the act of eating. We encourage you to be curious about the local cuisine and try new things. Eating local, seasonal food is not only a sustainable way of eating, it also offers a deeper travel experience.

When actually having meals, try to be present in the moment. Don't look at your phone, don't even read a book. Really focus on the smell of the food, its texture, its taste. If in company, enjoy the food while also really just appreciating the people around you. It's unlikely you'll be in that space, with those particular people, ever again. Cherish and honour the uniqueness of the situation by giving it your full attention.

8. Take fewer photos

Photos are lovely, and we all enjoy looking at them and reliving the adventure. But if you take too many photos, your holiday memories will be of you taking snaps!

The joy of travelling is that for once you don't need to see certain things and places on a screen. So be sure to remove the device between you and the view, and simply take it in with your own eyes.

Remember that often our very best memories are of moments when we felt fully alive or truly connected to another. These moments don't happen when posing for a photo or fiddling with a lens. Instead, such beautiful memories have no pictures to go with them, and are simply imprinted in our mind's eye.

Life's best moments don't happen with a camera in hand.

Another idea for a more mindful trip is to take a separate camera with you so that you can sometimes leave your phone (and its attendant distractions) at your accommodation.

Even better, why not take a spool-based camera, as it makes you more deliberate in your photo choices? You also then get to enjoy the old-school charm of developing your photos after the trip to see how they came out (instead of being sucked into checking on the quality of your pics when you could be present in the moment).

A final idea: if you really like having lots of photos to scroll through at the end of a trip, why not split the photo-taking 'duties' between yourself and your fellow travellers? For instance, each of you takes a turn to be responsible for taking photos for a day. After all, you don't need to have what's essentially the same photo on everyone's phone – rather, you just take that one snap and then it's shared with everyone else later on.

Remember, just because you don't have a photo of something, doesn't mean it didn't happen! 😉

9. Give others your full attention

We encourage you to be open to the conversations and interactions you have with locals on your travels in order to make your trip more meaningful.

When talking with someone, give them your full attention. And give your best, most positive energy even to the conversations hampered by a language barrier.

Don't be too eager to receive the answer to a question and then move on. Is there more forthcoming? Does the person perhaps want to share some further insight? Or do they want to tell you a story? You might be the one person willing to give a little listening time, which could mean so much to them.

Sometimes just being open to genuine conversation can lead to really lovely, deeper encounters. And while we're not suggesting that this be your goal, you might find that you end up being invited into someone's day in a really wonderful way. Perhaps you're invited to share a coffee with them and look at each other's family photos, or walk around the person's farm, or see behind the store curtain to where the magic happens ...

When you invest time and attention in others, you just never know what lovely or important experience might arise.

10. Keep your eyes open for mindful activities

A good way to have a mindful trip is to do things that will help you to be present in the moment, appreciate where you are, and unwind. While we mentioned earlier that you could pre-arrange some of these things, also be open to ones that suggest themselves to you while you're on the trip.

Here are some ideas, which you could tweak to suit you:

• If you're feeling like you need to slow down for a moment, then spend some time in the morning breathing deeply, meditating or praying.
• Step outside and walk barefoot on grass, earth or sand. Close yours eyes and focus on what your other senses are noticing.
• Go for a stroll and observe what's around you. Perhaps look for pretty shells or interesting stones. Are there patterns in the architecture or nature that you missed?
• Sit in a café, really savour your drink, and observe the street life.

11. Be curious and try something new

Part of being a mindful traveller is being open to new things – new experiences, new people, new foods, new anythings .

Try to adopt the attitude of a child during your travel. Children are generally more open to new things, rather than being nervous or suspicious of the unknown. A strange-looking fruit could be a moment away from becoming your new favourite treat! And a dour-looking stranger could break out into a smile and be ever so helpful when approached with a greeting in their language.

If you have a tour guide, be sure to make the most of this great opportunity to chat at length with a local – ask lots of questions and learn as much as you can about the region's culture, history, customs, landscape and more.

12. Write or draw in a journal

Seneca wrote:

We learn a lot while travelling. And while occasionally something is so profound that it stays with us forever, other revelations and insights can easily be forgotten. Even when we think they won't! So why not record your thoughts in a journal to ensure you can enjoy them again and again?

If a journal is too daunting (and not everyone is a journaller, which is 100% okay), perhaps just take down a few bullet points? Or maybe poetry is more your thing, and you could pen some lines each day?

Alternatively, do another form of craft that works for you. Sketch the scene in front of you. Or paint it. Or take a photo with an instant camera, and stick the picture into a journal and write a caption for it. Or pick the odd fallen leaf or flower and press it into your journal.

The idea is not to burden yourself with a daily chore. Rather, look for a medium that suits you and that you know will add to the meaningfulness and rhythm of your trip.

13. Take time to pause

The mindful traveller knows that it's worthwhile to pause regularly in the midst of a trip to take stock of the moment.

• If you're trekking, for instance, be sure to pause not just for water and a rest, but to also really look around you and appreciate where you are. Maybe take time to thank or celebrate your body for getting you to that spot.
• If rock climbing, lean back into your harness and really see the view that few others ever do.
• If touring a museum, perhaps take off the headphones or step away from the group to really look at an artwork that evokes a response in you.

Whatever it is you're doing, work in the odd pause to help you appreciate the experience on another level.

Note that pausing while on a holiday isn't about setting an alarm to ensure you stop what you're doing and be mindful, darnit! Rather, it's about developing a habit that gifts you quiet moments amidst the adrenalin, chatter or other excitement. You want these moments precisely because you know that they're so often truly revitalising, personal and special.

14. Let go of expectations

We've all been to see a movie that has rave reviews only to come out disappointed. We expected the moon and stars, and it couldn't deliver.

While we naturally need to make plans for a trip to make it as nice as it can be, try to then be open-minded when you actually go on your trip. Don't cling too tightly to what you think should happen or – perhaps more importantly – what you think you should feel.

Expectations are lethal. They rob you of the joy of what is because you're hung up on what you thought should be.

Mindful travel is about opening yourself up to the vagaries of travel, from a turn in the weather to a change in itinerary. If we set our hearts too fixedly on something, we can be too upset when it doesn't happen to embrace what has taken its place.

So what do you think? Are you inspired to plan and enjoy mindful travel on your next trip? We hope so!

We wish you a beautiful, mindful trip that's full of meaning and connection.

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Why Taylor Swift Fans Think 'The Manuscript' Is About Finding Closure on Jake Gyllenhaal Romance After 'All Too Well'

Here's a breakdown of the most-telling lyrics from the song, which seemingly recounts Swift's relationship with Gyllenhaal and finding closure with the 'All Too Well' short film

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Dave Benett/WireImage

Taylor Swift is reflecting on past heartbreaks with her new album The Tortured Poets Department , and the closing track “The Manuscript” is among the most poignant.

While much of the album seemingly recounts Swift’s previous relationships with actor Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy (as well as, on a happier note, her current relationship with Travis Kelce ), fans believe “The Manuscript” may actually be about Jake Gyllenhaal, whom she dated briefly in 2010 .

As fans have decoded the song, they have noted that the lyrics seem to reference various aspects of the autumn romance that Swifties have long felt inspired her hit breakup ballad “ All Too Well .” (The singer has never confirmed who the breakup ballad was written about.)

Notably, the bridge seems to reference how Swift was able to find healing when she re-recorded the song for Red (Taylor’s Version) and created the All Too Well short film starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien, which ends with her character turning the heartbreak into a bestselling book, aka a manuscript. 

Read ahead for a lyrical breakdown of “The Manuscript” and why many believe it’s about Gyllenhaal.

"Now and then she re-reads the manuscript / Of the entire torrid affair"

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Swift begins the song by noting how she sometimes goes back and reads the manuscript of the “torrid affair.” This could reference how Swift quite literally relives the story by singing “All Too Well” during the Eras Tour each night. Additionally, she previously referred to the relationship as a “love affair” in the lyrics for the 10-minute version of the song. 

"They compared their licenses / He said, 'I'm not a donor but / I'd give you my heart if you needed it'"

As Swift continues with the first verse, she makes reference to her and her former lover comparing drivers licenses and making jokes about giving their hearts to each other. Taking car rides together is a major theme of “All Too Well” ; she sings about them taking a trip to upstate New York together. Additionally, the 10-minute version of the song features the now-iconic lyric about her ex tossing her car keys (with that memorable "F--- the patriarchy" keychain).

"In the age of him, she wished she was thirty / And made coffee every morning in a French press"

Taylor Swift/YouTube

In this lyric, Swift seems to be calling out the nine-year age difference between her and Gyllenhaal, who was approaching 30 when they dated. An age gap is also addressed in the “All Too Well” 10-minute version (Swift sings, “You said if we had been closer in age, maybe it would've been fine / And that made me want to die") as well as in another song thought to be about Gyllenhaal, "I Bet You Think About Me," in which she pokes fun at an ex who was constantly acting superior to her due to her lack of culture (it memorably winds down with "Now you're out in the world, searchin' for your soul/ Scared not to be hip, scared to get old").

Meanwhile, the coffee lyric could be in reference to the viral paparazzi photos that showed them sipping on maple lattes in Brooklyn . 

"Afterward, she only ate kids' cereal / And couldn't sleep unless it was in her mother's bed / Then she dated boys who were her own age"

In the following lyric, Swift sings about how she stopped trying to act more mature than her age to impress someone, and instead dated people her own age after her relationship with her older beau ended. Notably, after splitting from the actor, she dated Conor Kennedy , who is a few years younger than her, and Harry Styles , who is about four years younger than her.

"And the years passed like scenes of a show / The professor said to write what you know / Looking backwards might be the only way to move forward"

As with most Taylor Swift songs, the most striking lyrics appear in the bridge as she recounts slowly moving on from the relationship as the years went by, only to write about it again years later. This seems to be a nod to her re-recording the original song for Red (Taylor’s Version) , while also releasing the 10-minute version of the song as a vault track. 

"Then the actors were hitting their marks / And the slow dance was alight with the sparks"

Taylor Swift/Youtube

After making a quick reference to the years passing by like scenes of a show, Swift further hints at the All Too Well short film as she notes how “the actors were hitting their marks” and “the slow dance was alight with the sparks.” This seems to be a reference to the scene of Sink and O'Brien dancing in the kitchen in the refrigerator light during the short film, which Swift directed . 

"And the tears fell in synchronicity with the score / And at last / She knew what the agony had been for" 

These lyrics seem to indicate that reliving the relationship through the song and the short film helped to be cathartic in achieving closure. She also notes how her pain was turned into art that affected so many fans, noting that she finally realized what the “agony had been for.” 

During the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022, Swift further opened up about creating the emotional short film, noting how it was initially really hard for her to perform the song live . 

"I needed 10 years of sort of retrospect in order to know what I would even make to tell a version of that story visually,” she explained. “And I'm so grateful that I was able to do that with some crazy stroke of all these different twists of fate. I can't believe it."

"The only thing that's left is the manuscript / One last souvenir from my trip to your shores / Now and then I re-read the manuscript / But the story isn't mine anymore"

Swift ends the song by indicating the story has gotten bigger than it ever was on the page. Swift has made similar comments like this when discussing “All Too Well,” specifically noting how her fans’ love for the song helped her overcome the pain that came from writing it. 

"The most important thing about this particular project is that this is a song that would not be a special song in every setlist I do, in every single list where someone says, 'These are the best songs she's done’ — that was all because of you,” Swift told fans about the All Too Well short film at its N.Y.C. premiere. "A record label didn't pick this song as a single. We never made a video for it. This was a song that started out as a song on the album, just a simple track 5. And you went and turned it into what it is now. 

“It started out as a song that was my favorite,” she continued. “It was about something very personal to me. It was hard to perform it live. Now, for me, honestly, this song is 100 percent about us, and for you."

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Congress approved a TikTok ban. Why it could still be years before it takes effect.

TikTok’s fate in the U.S. has never been more in doubt after Congress approved a bill that gives its parent company two options: sell it to an approved buyer or see it banned.

President Joe Biden signed the legislation into law on Wednesday. 

But it could take years for the TikTok ban to actually go into effect, since its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, is likely to challenge the statute in court. 

And even if it survives a legal challenge, no one is quite sure what would happen next. 

How soon could a potential ban take effect?

It would probably be several years from now.

According to the statute’s language, ByteDance would have nine months to divest and find an American buyer for TikTok once the bill is signed into law. 

On top of that, the president can push back the deadline by an additional 90 days. 

That means, without a sale, the soonest TikTok could shut down in the U.S. would be more than one year from now.  

But it’s more complicated than that. 

If ByteDance sues to block the implementation of the statute — which it has said it would do — the bill will be taken up by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, according to Isaac Boltansky, director of policy for the financial services firm BTIG.

Boltansky said ByteDance would file a suit no later than this fall. And while the case is under judicial review, the “clock” on any ban is effectively paused, he said. 

Once the D.C. court issues its ruling, whichever side loses is likely to request a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

That would forestall the ban by another year — meaning nothing would go into effect until 2026, Boltansky said.

TikTok will argue that the ban is unconstitutional and that it’s also taken steps to protect American users’ data. The app has already launched an aggressive lobbying campaign, featuring a number of small-business owners and influencers who say it's their lifeblood.

“We have got to make enough noise so that they don’t take away our voice,” TikTok user @dadlifejason, who has 13.8 million followers, says in a TikTok ad shared on social media.

What about finding a buyer?

The bill stipulates that TikTok can continue to operate in the U.S. if ByteDance sells the app to a U.S.-approved firm. 

While large U.S. tech companies would love to get their hands on the platform, Boltansky said that Biden administration regulators — not to mention GOP critics of Big Tech firms — have no interest in expanding the power, reach or influence of such companies.  

Some other outside groups might emerge. At least one led by Steve Mnuchin, who was Treasury secretary in the Trump administration, has already sought to make a bid, telling CNBC in March that he was putting together an investor group . The Wall Street Journal has also reported that former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was looking for potential buyer partners. While ByteDance, which owns other companies, is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, TikTok would fetch less than that, experts say — especially if it is sold without its powerful recommendation algorithm.  

But Boltansky believes ByteDance is unlikely to agree to any kind of sale. The Chinese government has said as much, arguing that it regards the algorithm as a national security asset. And without that, TikTok becomes much less appealing to potential buyers.    

So is TikTok in the U.S. going away?

It might — but the ultimate impact may be limited. The fact is, most TikTok users already have a presence on other platforms, so the impact on their livelihoods to the extent that they operate businesses on TikTok could be limited.

According to a survey from the financial services group Wedbush, approximately 60% of TikTok user respondents said they’d simply migrate to Instagram (or Facebook) in the event of a sale, while 19% said they’d go to YouTube. 

Analysts with financial services company Bernstein arrived at similar estimates. In a note to clients, they forecast that Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, would take over as much as 60% of TikTok’s U.S. ad revenue, with YouTube gaining 25%. Snapchat would also benefit, they said. 

Why did lawmakers feel they needed to take this drastic step?

Boltansky said many political pundits remain surprised that the bill got over the finish line. But a wave of anxiety about both Chinese influence and the impact of social media on youth converged to get it passed.

“This has been noteworthy,” Boltansky said. “Everyone is so conditioned to D.C. doing nothing or the bare minimum to keep the lights on.”

As tensions with Beijing have grown, congressional lawmakers, along with top law enforcement officials, have warned that TikTok is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is a national security threat to the United States.

“It screams out with national security concerns,” FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Capitol Hill last year

U.S. officials fear that the Chinese government is using TikTok to access data from, and spy on, its American users, spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories.

It felt like a TikTok ban was moving slowly, then quickly. What happened?

The House passed its standalone TikTok bill on a big bipartisan vote in March. But the Senate appeared in no hurry to take up the measure as Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., drafted her own legislation.

That all changed when Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., working with the White House, rolled out his $95 billion foreign aid supplemental plan last week that included billions of dollars for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. 

Included in that sweeping aid package: the House’s TikTok bill, with some minor changes. Johnson pushed the package through his chamber, then sent the House on a recess, forcing the Senate to take it or leave it.

Rather than further delay the critical, long-stalled military and humanitarian aid, the Democratic-controlled Senate is moving to quickly pass the package — including the TikTok bill and other Johnson priorities.

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Scott Wong is a senior congressional reporter for NBC News.

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Prosecutors Want to Ask Trump About Attacks on Women

Prosecutors are seeking to cross-examine the former president, should he take the stand, about lawsuits he has lost, including a civil jury’s finding last year that he was liable for sexually abusing the writer E. Jean Carroll.

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By Jonah E. Bromwich and Matthew Haag

• Published April 19, 2024 Updated April 23, 2024

If Donald J. Trump takes the stand at his criminal trial in Manhattan, prosecutors want to cross-examine him about recent lawsuits he’s lost, attacks he’s made on women and a judge’s opinion that his sworn statements in a civil case rang “hollow and untrue.”

In a hearing on Friday afternoon, prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office who want to ask those questions sought permission from Justice Juan M. Merchan, the state judge presiding over Mr. Trump’s trial on charges that he falsified business records to cover up reimbursements for a hush-money payment made to a keep a sex scandal quiet.

The proceeding, known as a Sandoval hearing, was a high-stakes affair for all the parties: the prosecutors, the defense team, Mr. Trump and Justice Merchan himself. Whatever the judge decides will inform whether the former president decides to testify and, if he does, what prosecutors can ask him.

Though Mr. Trump has said he would testify in his own defense , there have been plenty of signs that he is not fully committed to doing so. This week, his lawyers asked prospective jurors to assure them that they wouldn’t hold a failure to testify against Mr. Trump.

The arguments, held in front of Justice Merchan in the afternoon, went quickly, with little indication of which way the judge was leaning. The judge said he would rule on Monday.

Chief among the topics prosecutors asked to discuss were the civil fraud trials that Mr. Trump lost in quick succession in recent months. In one, the New York attorney general accused him of having conspired with others to inflate his net worth. In the other, the writer E. Jean Carroll accused him of defamation for remarks he had made in 2019 after she accused him of raping her decades earlier.

The aim of a Sandoval hearing is to let a defendant decide whether it is in his or her best interest to testify. In the hearing, which typically takes place before a trial, prosecutors are required to outline a defendant’s past crimes and misdeeds that could be brought up on cross-examination.

Defense attorneys can ask a judge to prohibit prosecutors from asking the defendant about previous incidents, on the theory knowing about those events would unfairly prejudice the jury.

Prosecutors are also asking to bring up a civil jury’s finding last year that Mr. Trump was liable for sexually abusing Ms. Carroll.

Emil Bove, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, said that introducing questions about the civil fraud trial would take the criminal trial down a “rabbit hole,” and confuse jurors. And he fought tooth and nail against the admission of any evidence related to Ms. Carroll’s lawsuits.

Prosecutors fought back, maintaining that the judge’s finding that Mr. Trump had not been credible when he testified at the civil fraud trial was relevant to the current criminal case, and that his defamatory statements about Ms. Carroll, determined to be false by a civil jury, would give jurors in the criminal case crucial context.

“That is critical to assessing the defendant’s credibility if he testifies,” one of the prosecutors, Matthew Colangelo, said.

There was only one issue on which Justice Merchan seemed to be clearly indicate that he was inclined to side with the prosecution. Prosecutors asked whether they could cross-examine Mr. Trump about a lawsuit he filed against Hillary Rodham Clinton and others that a federal judge in Florida, Donald Middlebrooks, determined was “frivolous.”

Justice Merchan read aloud from Judge Middlebrook’s decision, which said that Mr. Trump was a “sophisticated litigant who is repeatedly using the courts to seek revenge on political adversaries,” and a “mastermind of strategic abuse of the judicial process.”

The Sandoval hearing is unique to the New York State criminal court system, and it takes its name from a 1974 case, the People of the State of New York v. Augustin Sandoval. Mr. Sandoval was charged with murder. His lawyer asked a judge to forbid mention of Mr. Sandoval’s past crimes, which included driving while intoxicated, saying they would create prejudice. The judge ultimately limited what prosecutors could ask.

Sandoval hearings have arisen in other prominent New York cases. Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced movie producer, declined to testify in his criminal trial in 2020 after the presiding judge said he would permit prosecutors to question Mr. Weinstein about 28 allegations of other crimes and previous “bad acts.”

But that case also points toward the danger for a judge: Mr. Weinstein’s lawyers have appealed that decision, which legal experts consider one of the most credible challenges to his conviction. His lawyers have taken their arguments all the way to New York’s highest court, which has yet to issue a decision.

Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in New York, with a focus on the Manhattan district attorney’s office and state criminal courts in Manhattan. More about Jonah E. Bromwich

Matthew Haag writes about the intersection of real estate and politics in the New York region. He has been a journalist for two decades. More about Matthew Haag

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan is off to an ominous start for the former president, and it might not get any easier  in the days ahead. Here’s why.

The National Enquirer was more than a friendly media outlet  for Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. It was a powerful, national political weapon that was thrust into the service of a single candidate , in violation of campaign finance law.

As prosecutors argued that Trump had repeatedly broken a gag order , they called one episode “very troubling”  — his sharing of a commentator’s quote disparaging prospective jurors as clandestine operators for the left.

More on Trump’s Legal Troubles

Key Inquiries: Trump faces several investigations  at both the state and the federal levels, into matters related to his business and political careers.

Case Tracker:  Keep track of the developments in the criminal cases  involving the former president.

What if Trump Is Convicted?: Could he go to prison ? And will any of the proceedings hinder Trump’s presidential campaign? Here is what we know , and what we don’t know .

Trump on Trial Newsletter: Sign up here  to get the latest news and analysis  on the cases in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.