The race is officially on. After months of Democrat after Democrat launching their 2020 presidential bids, on June 26 and 27, 20 out of the 25 candidates finally have their first chance at making their pitch to voters nationwide. With the most diverse lineup in history — with more than one woman on the debate stage for the first time ever — it is sure to be a historic couple of nights.

Without opening statements, and with only 60 seconds to answer questions and 30 seconds to respond to follow-ups, candidates are under pressure to stand out and answer, Why should voters pick you as the Democratic presidential nominee?

Whether you're tuning in or not, read on to find out the most important moments of the first Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential election. We'll continue to update this story as the night goes on. (And check out our live blog of the key moments from the second presidential primary debate.)

Is Sen. Elizabeth Warren the first presidential candidate to use the term "Latinx"?

During her first turn, Warren said the economy needs to work "for African-Americans and Latinxs." The term Latinx — an inclusive alternative to Latino and Latina — is not without controversy. But Warren's choice to use this term, a first on the presidential debate stage, signals that she's well-aware young Latinx voters are a growing voting bloc.

The candidates showcased their Spanish skills.

Beto O'Rourke delivered part of his introductory turn in Spanish, a clear pitch to the bilingual Latinxs who are tuning in. However, he didn't answer the question he was asked about whether he supports a 70% marginal tax rate — in either language.

When tasked with answering a question about immigration, Sen. Cory Booker also addressed the Spanish-speaking community directly. Later, Julián Castro briefly spoke Spanish in his closing statement.

Julián Castro came out swinging for the Equal Rights Amendment.

Castro made a strong case for the Equal Rights Amendment, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to include language that guarantees equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their gender. His choice to highlight women's rights so early in the debate made him stand out from the rest of the group.

A divide emerged on Medicare for All.

Warren and Mayor Bill de Blasio were the only ones to raise their hands when moderator Lester Holt asked who is in favor of abolishing private insurance in favor of a Medicare for All plan.

Lester Holt just asked who would abolish private insurance in place of a Medicare-for-All plan

Only Warren and de Blasio raised their hands pic.twitter.com/u7O5cYHWdX

— jordan (@JordanUhl) June 27, 2019

Sen. Amy Klobuchar's retort to Gov. Jay Inslee on reproductive rights.

After Gov. Jay Inslee pointed out that he was the only lawmaker on stage who has signed a law protecting a woman’s right to choose an abortion, Sen. Amy Klobuchar chimed in: "There’s three women up here who have fought pretty hard for a woman’s right to choose." The Minnesota Democrat then added that all Democrats on stage agree women should have full control of their reproductive healthcare.

Castro then promised that he would appoint federal judges who understand Roe v. Wade, while adding that access to abortion concerns not only women, but transgender men and non-binary people. Warren added that she has a plan to codify access to abortion in the federal statute.

Trump weighed in.

BORING!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019

Candidates brought up Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez's death and conditions in border detention centers.

The candidates got heated about the current administration’s immigration policies. Castro, the only Latinx candidate, started with a teary tribute to Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his daughter Valeria, Salvadoran asylum seekers who drowned in the Rio Grande river during their journey to the U.S. He called for policy changes, including an end to “metering” — or the White House’s current practice of limiting the amount of asylum claims per day at the U.S.-Mexico border. He also got into a spar with fellow Texan O’Rourke over decriminalizing border crossings. Castro and Warren have called for the decriminalization of border crossings, while O'Rourke's platform does not call for such a proposal.

.@JulianCastro to reporters in spin room: "I find it very ironic that a senator from Massachusetts and a senator from New Jersey are the ones who understand this border policy and this law better than Congressman O'Rourke."

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) June 27, 2019

As the candidates discussed gun violence, the Parkland activists demanded more than talk about mass shootings.

As the debate turned to the issue of gun violence, Booker was asked about his proposal of a federal buyback program, part of his gun reform plan, and brought up the gun violence that is prevalent in his own New Jersey neighborhood. He said he hears gunshots while in his home, and that seven people were shot just last week.

Meanwhile, Warren cited the statistic that seven children die every day due to gun violence, calling it a “national health emergency.” She also said she wants to “double down on research” to figure out how to address it.

Candidates need to be talking about much more than just mass shootings.

They need to be talking about all forms of gun violence including:

-firearm suicide
-every day shootings
-domestic violence
-Mass shootings
-Police murder of unarmed children

— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) June 27, 2019

Gov. Jay Inslee got his climate change moment.

The Washington governor finally got his moment to speak on his top issue: climate change. “Our towns are burning… Miami is inundated,” Gov. Inslee said, calling climate change both a “crisis” and an “emergency.” He cited the 100% clean energy plan from his home state. “Who’s going to make this the first priority?” Inslee asked. “I’m the only one saying this needs to be our top priority in the United States.”

To make his agenda possible, Inslee said it's important to break Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's iron grip on the Republican-led Senate. "By taking away the filibuster from Mitch McConnell. To start this, we have to do that," he said, referring to Senate rules that require for most bills to be approved by a 60-vote majority.

Sen. Cory Booker brought attention to violence against Black transgender Americans.

Booker emphasized that it's imperative to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, specifically highlighting that Black transgender people in the U.S. face disproportionate levels of violence. This year alone, seven Black transgender women have been murdered.

"We do not talk enough about trans Americans, especially African-American trans Americans, and the incredibly high rates of murder right now," Booker said. "It's not enough just to be on the Equality Act — I'm an original co-sponsor — we need to have a president that will fight to protect LGBTQ Americans every day."

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There's nothing harder than finding that one perfect pair of jeans. Either they have too much stretch, or there’s a gap in the waistband — and don't even get us started on the price. But if there was ever a brand that mastered denim, it'd have to be Universal Standard. Just look at their extensive size range alone (from 00 to 40 to be exact).

Today only, Universal Standard is marking nearly every pair of jeans down to just $65. White jeans in time for the 4th? $65. Classic black skinnies that won't go on sale anywhere else? $65. So, before these jeans inevitably sell out, find your perfect pair in the mix ahead.

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

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Picture this: It's 2001, Britney Spears just released her third album, and low-rise jeans have never been cooler. The only thing you want more than a re-up on your frosted lip gloss is a lower-back tattoo. Unfortunately, your parents probably turned down that request faster than it took to retie a halter top, but we have some good news. That tattoo you desired so badly is officially back — and it's even cooler than it was two decades ago.

Lower-back tattoos may have earned a bad rap in the early aughts, but the backside placement is finally making its way back into the zeitgeist with chic and delicate designs, ranging from tiny minimal flowers to extra-long stems down the spine (see: Lady Gaga and Halle Berry).

The best part about the once-controversial tattoo is that there's no limit as to where you can get inked. Whether you prefer a vertical design on your shoulder or a tiny drawing on the middle of your back, the options are endless — which is exactly why we've tracked down the best designs worth considering in 2019, so you don't have to. Ahead, 12 back tattoos you'll love.

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In February 2018, a gunman opened fire at Delaney Tarr's school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 of her classmates. In the weeks that followed, 18-year-old Tarr became one of the public-facing leaders of the gun-reform movement March for Our Lives, which began with a march in Washington, D.C., and led to Tarr and her classmates touring across America to speak to crowds of thousands. The weight of the past year and a half impacted Tarr in innumerable ways, from her mental health to her sleep schedule, and that stress manifested itself on her skin. Through the trauma, she learned that self-care — and even skin care — are essential to her healing, activism, and fight to change the world.

I started getting acne when I was in 6th grade, a lot earlier than most of my friends. One of the girls in my school was like, "Why don’t you just wash your face?" I was seeing a dermatologist, I was trying so hard — I couldn’t help it. I thought there was something fundamentally wrong with me and it hurt so much. It was before I even understood how to cover it up, so I thought I was stuck with it. I remember thinking, If I had one wish, it’d be to have perfect skin. Now, I'd be like, Girl, pick a better wish.

I stopped caring about what I looked like in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. That was very much thrown to the wayside. I was going on camera all sweaty, like, Screw it, I have a message to deliver. Then, March for Our Lives took a toll: not sleeping enough, not eating enough, eating just junk food for an entire summer. It ruins your skin. I’ve always had stress pimples, and it was really stressful to have all this vitriol thrown at me from media outlets and commenters.

Being on a public platform changed my acne both for the worse and for the better. I’ve had more stress in this year and a half than I’ve ever experienced. A lot of times, my makeup was a lot heavier because it was news-interview makeup. They glob it on you. Then, I was on planes all the time, and that dehydrates you and makes your skin worse. I wasn’t changing my routine at all. I was just thinking, I don’t have time, I’m just gonna keep going, who cares? I’ll cover it up more.

In the beginning, it was very hard to see myself on camera doing interviews and giving speeches. I am my own worst critic. I would see myself and pick out every single thing I didn’t like. Thankfully, that didn’t last forever. After a while, with all these people attacking me online, I got defiant about it. Like, Yeah, you hate me? Guess what? I love myself. I don’t need to cover this up. It was a way of proving the haters and critics wrong. Wearing makeup does make me feel powerful and confident, but so does not wearing makeup.

I’ve martyred myself because I thought that was the right thing to do when you’re trying to change the world, but it’s not.

At a lot of public events, I do feel a need to put on makeup to be ready to be seen by a crowd. But there's also a lot of young people who have told me that they look up to me. Knowing that I’m a role model, I need to be at peace with myself. I need to be conveying the right type of message — and if I’m not being authentic to myself and if I’m not loving myself, then I can’t be conveying that to anyone else.

There seems to be this idea that there’s activism and then there’s self-care, and you can choose one or the other. I reject that, because I have done it. I have tossed aside my self-preservation, I’ve tossed aside my self-care — I’ve martyred myself because I thought that was the right thing to do when you’re trying to change the world, but it’s not. It may not seem as pressing as climate change, as gun reform, as reproductive rights, but we can’t make change if we’re not taking care of ourselves first. Especially young people, especially queer people and women and trans communities and people of color. These are the communities that are attacked the most, and I think you can only put up a strong front if you are caring for yourself.

i’ve had acne since 6th grade. i’m learning now how to embrace my skin, and go out without makeup. acne doesn’t make anyone any less beautiful. it’s normal. pic.twitter.com/IWOVP2dHkS

— Delaney Tarr (@delaneytarr) June 23, 2019

For me, I rely on my ritualistic skin-care routine. I take a lot of pleasure in taking off my makeup every day, washing my face, maybe doing a face mask. I realized that instead of attacking my face with all these products, I should try to be more delicate with my skin. It’s about treating my body like a careful ecosystem to be maintained, rather than something that I can throw anything at.

Right now, my acne is flaring up a little bit. I’m letting it breathe and I’m gonna do a few face masks, but I’m not mad at it. I’m not gonna hide myself away. The idea that I need to be this image of traditional beauty — it’s stupid. Beauty comes in so many different forms. I can have these spots and still be beautiful to myself and others. I’ve realized that there’s a lot more worth to me than what I look like. That helps me go out without makeup and know it does not determine my value or my contribution to the world.

This story was told to Rachel Lubitz and edited for length and clarity.

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“Rebel Dyke.” “Gay Purr-ide.” “I’m A Dyke, I’m French, I’m Fabulous.” These are just a few of the slogans proudly worn by motorcyclists participating in L.A.’s Dyke March earlier this June. Founded in 2017 by Marna Dietch, the Motorcycle Contingent For Equality led both the Dyke March in the evening of Friday, June 7 and the Pride Parade in the morning of Sunday, June 9. “People love the motorcycle contingent,” Dietch, 61, tells Refinery29. “I asked the bikers to put all different Pride flags on their bikes so the cameras could see all different spectrums of Pride, including the American flag.”

Photographer Morgan Lieberman was there to capture the scene. Deitch wore a rainbow-striped blazer and matching tie — an outfit she’d picked out six months in advance but almost decided not to wear. She’d chosen the outfit before learning that West Hollywood's Lesbian & Gay Advisory Board would be presenting her with a Melissa Etheridge Award for community leadership right before the March began. “I thought, I’ve got to change my whole look,” she says. “But I decided to accept my award without the jacket and put the jacket on to ride.”

Deitch has been a leading figure in the lesbian and LGBTQ+ motorcycling community for over three decades. The origin of her interest in motorcycles is, as she says, "a sad story."
As a young adult, Deitch lived in New York and worked as a stage actor. In the five years between 1980 and 1985, her parents and grandparents passed away — her parents and grandfather within a few months of each other — and many of her friends died of AIDS. “The final straw was, in 1985, my best friend disappeared for six weeks, and I was in charge of the civilian hunt for him,” Deitch said. “A missing person is the worst thing you can go through.” When her friend’s body was found, Deitch knew she had to leave New York. “George, his lover of six years, who was also my high school prom date, said, ‘You’re moving to California, aren’t you?’And I said, ‘I’m out of here,’” Deitch remembers. “He said, ‘How’d you like to go by motorcycle?’”

Neither Deitch nor George had ever ridden a motorcycle before, but they embarked on a cross-country ride. “I needed to do something stupid to bring life back into me,” Deitch says. “It was scary as hell.” She and George made it to Texas together, where George decided to stop (he was feeling tired; soon after, he would be diagnosed with AIDS). Deitch decided to continue the ride to California on her own. “For the first hour, I was petrified,” Deitch says. “And then all of a sudden, an exhilaration hit me.”

Once she made it to L.A., she got involved with the lesbian motorcycle community. “I guess word kind of spread about this girl who went cross-country on a motorcycle,” she says. The community at the time, she says, “was a lot of fun. When you don’t have a lot of your rights and you have to be kind of secretive about it, you have private jokes, you get little winks of the eye. It was a dangerous time to be gay — you could lose your home, you could lose your job — but within the struggle, there’s a sense of fun that’s kind of sexy.“

Since that first ride in '85, Deitch has gone coast-to-coast four more times; biked to the Arctic Circle and back twice; and ridden in all 50 states, including Hawaii. She participated in many Dykes on Bikes events over the years, but she never started an official chapter of her own. She didn't need to. “No matter what name we’d use, they’d call us Dykes on Bikes,” Deitch says.

Then the 2016 election happened, and Deitch decided that her group needed an official name: the Motorcycle Contingent For Equality. “Even though Dykes on Bikes is my heritage, my point of view is that if we’re working for equality, I want it to be all,” Deitch explains. She wanted the group to welcome people of all genders and sexual orientations, including straight allies. She also chose a new name out of respect for Dykes on Bikes founder Soni Wolf’s lengthy battle to trademark the name Dykes on Bikes (Wolf passed away in 2018). Now, “the name is actually catching on,” Deitch says.

The newly-dubbed Motorcycle Contingent For Equality’s first event was leading L.A.’s Resist March in 2017, which replaced the city’s annual Pride parade that year. “It’s always been an issue who’s in front in the Pride parades — are the women up front, are the men up front? — and I just wanted it all,” Deitch says. She made sure that the front line included gay men, gay women, trans folks, and straight allies — all on motorcycles. “To everyone else, I said, I don’t care how you set up, but don’t pass this front line,” she adds. “It’s indicative of gender and sexuality across the board.”

The group even welcomes Republicans. “There are gay Republicans, there are gay Libertarians,” Deitch points out. “My point of view is, if you’re going to ride under our banner, you better be for the rights of everyone. Personally, I’m a Democrat, but we need gay Republicans to go back to their party and say, ‘Hey, what about my rights?’” She adds that even though the Trump administration might pay lip service to LGBTQ+ rights, in reality, they are working to roll those rights back. “These past two years since the last election, more of our trans brothers and sisters have been murdered than before,” Deitch says. “Our slogan is, if you come against the rights of any one group, you come against us all. I want the people that ride with me to stand up for their rights, and to stand up for the rights of their trans brothers and sisters and nonbinary friends.”

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When Jove Meyer plans a wedding, he goes all in. He leaves no boutonnière unpinned. No ring stone unbuffed. He makes sure the trains are running, and no one steps on the train of anyone’s wedding dress. (If a dress is involved, that is). But one of the most important parts of his job happens before the big day. As an all-inclusive wedding planner, Meyer serves as the first line of defense between the vendors and couples. He makes sure that everyone involved with each wedding he plans — from the caterers to the calligraphers — supports all races, genders, and sexualities.

Here’s the thing about weddings: They’re always stressful. But there’s an added layer of anxiety and tension if you have to worry about whether the baker will discriminate against you for your sexual orientation.

“I’m a filter, and the couples who hire me know that the vendors they’re going to collaborate with on their wedding are going to be so excited to work with them… whether they’re gay, straight, black, white, Asian, religious, thick, thin,” Meyer says. For him, that’s a non-negotiable. Meyer — the founder of Jove Meyer Events — asks every vendor he works with to sign a form stating that they're “love inclusive” and open to all. If they don’t sign, he won’t be working with them.

“As a gay man, I will not work with any vendor who does not welcome and applaud all kinds of couples, regardless of their sexuality, gender, race, religion, or body size,” Meyer says. “For me, there’s not a world where I would support a vendor who is racist, homophobic, xenophobic — it’s not going to happen.”

Justine Broughal, the founder and lead event planner of Together Events, says there’s still a very strong heteronormative presence in the wedding industry today, and even vendors who don’t blatantly discriminate can take a less than ideal approach to inclusive matrimony.

“There are people who explicitly will not serve LGTBQ couples, and that’s one level of discrimination,” Broughal says. “But there are also people who are quiet about it. It’s behind closed doors — you wouldn’t know at first. They might not explicitly say ‘we won’t do your wedding,’ but say something like ‘we’re not available on that date.’ Some really obvious forms of discrimination are deep-rooted, but less visible." Broughal says you can sometimes spot these kinds of vendors if they don’t have any photos or representations of LGBTQ+ couples on their websites. She says a company using the word “bride” heavily on their website is another red flag, because it doesn’t acknowledge that in some couples there is no “bride.”

Meyer says that even the most accepting companies have a lot to learn about inclusivity. That’s why he gives lectures around the world to folks in the wedding industry about how to be more inclusive. He hopes that he can change the way vendors deal with couples, so they never have to experience “that uncomfortable moment of saying to a vendor: ‘By the way I’m gay — will you still do my wedding?’”

Meyer says that even some of the most accepting companies make careless mistakes that show our society is still entrenched in heteronormativity. “I’ll say: ‘I have two grooms,’ and they’ll be like: ‘Oh, come check out our bridal suite,’” Meyer says. “It’s like, come on guys! I told you. This is not a bridal suite, it’s a private room. Change your language.”

He says every once in a while, he’ll get a contact that will say “bride and groom.” “And I'll say: ‘Hey! Perhaps you were being lazy, or perhaps you were really busy and you forgot, but this is two brides. There’s no groom.’ And so part of the mission of my speaking is to help everyone change their language from bride-centric to couple-centric.”

That’s because the word “couple” doesn’t exclude anyone. Excluding people isn’t just a problem from an emotional standpoint, it’s also bad for business, as Meyer points out.

And although Meyer says there needs to be a space for LGBTQ+ couples to find vendors who make them feel accepted and comfortable, we don’t need a “gay wedding planning industry.” We already have a 72 billion-dollar wedding industry — it just needs to be more accepting of all love.

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It's happy hour, and the air is pregnant with possibility... and humidity. Spritzes abound. Upon entering the bar, your friends beeline for that one vacant table in the back while you stake out a residence in the stool area and try to get the attention of the bartender — effectively rendering drinks on you. Then, with glasses in hand, you close out your tab, retreat to your friends, and indulge in your hard-earned summer Friday. If only it were this simple.

Eventually, you and your pals part ways. Your most considerate friend might say: "Venmo us later! " Others might instead opt to do the math right then and there because they don't trust you not to charge them a single penny over their money's worth. Others more might say nothing, hoping you'll forget that they owe you altogether. Two (three?) roads diverge in a yellow wood, so to speak, when it comes to Venmo etiquette. And this week, Venmo released an illuminating study reflecting what users really think about the how/when/where/what/why's of Venmo requests. TLDR; it's more stressful to owe someone else money than to be owed money (and it's not just me — 65% of users agree)!

As far as requesting etiquette: Of note, 72% of Venmo users polled agree that the appropriate window of time within which you can send someone a Venmo request post transaction is 24 hours, and that after a request is sent, the recipient should fulfill the request within an additional 24 hours. Fair.

But what about the IRL conversation before the request is sent? Need there be any face-to-face discussion, or is it cool to just hit someone up with a request for a meal without any precedent? (I once went on a date with a person who, in my opinion, had been clear about the fact that dinner was on him, only to receive a sobering Venmo request from him the next morning. We never talked again. Unsurprisingly, 66% of Venmo users do not endorse this post-date behavior, which makes me feel validated in my anger.)

To remind or not to remind? According to the same study, 67% of Venmo users think it's appropriate to send a "remind" notification within four days of the original transaction if it hasn't yet been fulfilled. (An aside: I am much too afraid of being this passive aggressive and thusly, have never done this. But maybe that's a me problem.)

The pièce de résistance: Venmo users believe that no amount of money is too small to request. 24% of users believe the request can be between $1 and $5. There were over 3 million transactions of under $1 in 2018, referred to as "penny pokes" by Venmo. Basically, we are all a bunch of cheap-os. And similarly, over half of users who receive a request they think is at least $20 over their estimation of what they owed would ask for a copy of the receipt, while only 28% of users say they'd send the payment so they aren't perceived as cheap. "What's mine is yours" has been replaced with the 50-cent Venmo request.

I will close with the following anecdote, which corroborates the findings of Venmo's study and also horrifies me to this day: At my birthday dinner two years ago, my friend kindly told our waitress that it was my birthday and ordered me a slice of cake while I was in the bathroom. We ate it; it was delicious. But when the check came, my friend proceeded to Venmo request everyone (except for me) 50 cents for the $10 piece of cake. Yup.

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If you couldn't tell, hair fatigue is real among the Hollywood elite as of late. In the past few weeks alone, Zendaya revealed fresh copper strands, Beyoncé went from a golden blonde to a chocolate brunette, Kate Middleton brightened things up with highlights, and Hilary Duff brought back her Lizzie McGuire bangs. Now, it's Alison Brie 's turn — and she's ditching the full head of blonde highlights she just got a few months ago for an entirely new look.

The Glow actress took to Instagram on Wednesday to show off her dramatic hair makeover — which includes a deeper bronde color, just-chopped blunt bangs, and a slightly shorter length that hits just below her jawline. "And just like that...baby was brunette again," she captioned the fresh-faced selfie, tagging her hairstylist and colorist Juliana Hoyos Seyedi to credit her for the change.

View this post on Instagram

And just like that...baby was brunette again. 🖤

A post shared by Alison Brie (@alisonbrie) on Jun 26, 2019 at 4:24pm PDT

So, why the sudden switch-up? For starters, Brie only went blonde for a role in her husband Dave Franco's directorial debut film, The Rental. After the color transformation in April, Brie wrote on Instagram, "When your husband asks you to 'go blonde' for a role... you say yes." According to IMDb, the project is officially in post-production, which means Brie is off the hook, and apparently wasted no time in getting back to her roots.

While they say blondes have more fun, we're betting Brie would beg to differ. With so many celebrities going lighter for the summer, Brie's sunlit brunette color is a nice change of pace — and making us reconsider our next appointment.

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Beyoncé is arguably the most famous entertainer in the world, but even with an empire and three kids of her own, she isn't exempt from embarrassing moments with her mom, Tina Lawson. In a video posted to Instagram, Lawson let the world in on a private moment while she trimmed her "baby's" hair.

"I was trimming my baby’s hair today, and I am mocking Neal!" she wrote in her caption, referring to Beyoncé's longtime hairstylist, Neal Farinah. "Getting on her nerves! Being really annoying."

In the clip — which has since been deleted from Lawson's feed, but lives on in Farinah's (for now) — Lawson combs through Beyoncé's natural hair, showing off her split ends, rogue grays, and all. Though the sweet moment prompted lots of positive reactions from fans on social media, Beyoncé's response to her mom's antics is by far the most relatable. "Mama, that’s really annoying...I mean, like, very annoying, mom," she says in the background.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neal Farinah (@nealfarinah) on Jun 26, 2019 at 8:14pm PDT

The video also reignited the conversation about the performer's natural hair, which Farinah displayed on his Instagram in the past. "Why is it so hard to believe that women of color can grow their hair? We ... can ... retain ... length. Carry on," one commenter wrote. Others begged Lawson to keep sharing Beyoncé's hair secrets, which we wouldn't mind. "Patiently waiting for the bey-hive haircare line!" another fan requested.

We're just trying to decide what's cuter: the fact that Beyoncé's mom still does her hair — or the fact that she still gets annoyed by it.

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Welcome to Hindsight 2020, Refinery29's weekly column reflecting on the women running for president and the lessons learned (or not!) from 2016.

Like pretty much every Democrat in America, I was dreading the first of two debate nights, each featuring a full roster of 10 candidates battling it out for the presidency. The format sounded messy, disorganized, and convoluted from the get-go, and most Americans probably couldn't even name two-thirds of the folks on the stage.

But then, Sen. Elizabeth Warren emerged as the welcome breath of fresh air she's been throughout her whole campaign, positioning herself as the star of the debate, just as many expected her to be. With her bold proposals and proclamations, she immediately distinguished herself from the pack — but you could also argue that the more progressive wing of the Democratic Party was the true "winner" on Wednesday night. In banding together on issues and refusing to battle each other directly, Warren and Julián Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama, scored a victory for progressives, letting their policies shine through rather than giving in to Democratic drama.

The debate was Warren's to lose; she was the top poller by far among all of the candidates on stage (and is in third place overall behind former Veep Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders), and she’s been gaining momentum for months. Castro, after a very small bump of excitement at the start of his campaign, was in the middle of the pack and losing traction, finding himself adrift among a way-too-big pool of male candidates running with little name recognition. His goal was to stand out and make people walk away with an actual impression of him — and hope that it would translate into donors, press, and hype.

On both fronts, Warren and Castro delivered — and gave major visibility to the left wing of the party and progressive policies in the process. For proof, look no further than effusive praise from progressive tone-setter Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "I really do think this was a breakaway night," she told late-night host Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night. "I think Elizabeth Warren really distinguished herself, I think Julián Castro really distinguished himself. I think Cory Booker did a great job in talking about criminal justice."

I asked Julián Castro if he’d talked with or heard from any other candidates since last night. “Sen. Warren texted me saying congrats and you did a good job,” he said. #DemDebates pic.twitter.com/xHmnvDHE2B

— Alexi McCammond (@alexi) June 27, 2019

It’s important to mention that Warren and Castro weren’t necessarily competing against the cream of the crop. Let’s be real: It was hard at times to tell the mediocre white guys apart, and unlike the women, they talked over everyone the entire time. Warren and Castro distinguished themselves in part because they kept it respectful.

Early on in the debate, Castro was assertive and even combative with his opponents, but he pointedly steered completely clear of attacking all three women on the stage: Warren, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Whether the reason was optics (he’s probably aware that people would go wild over a man interrupting a woman yet again) or policy (there were so many other fish to fry), it was a smart move that paid off dividends.

When it comes to policy, Warren and Castro were two of only a few candidates to directly mention abortion when talking about reproductive rights, with Castro going so far as to talk about the importance of reproductive justice and trans inclusion, earning huge applause and praise from advocates. Warren was one of only two candidates, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, to call for an end to private insurance, in addition to giving her explicit support for Medicare for All, once again to audience applause.

Additionally, Warren and Castro were seemingly the only two candidates on the stage to back what Vox called "the most radical immigration idea in the 2020 primary;" decriminalizing U.S.-Mexico border crossings without papers. One of Castro’s hallmark proposals is his extensive plan on immigration reform (which Warren supports), and he took fellow Texan Beto O’Rourke to task for his lack of immigration policy specifics in one of many skirmishes throughout the night. In doing so, Castro made a compelling case for why he is the stronger "immigration candidate," while O’Rourke proved he has trouble standing out against opponents who aren't Ted Cruz (which is kind of a low bar).

I didn’t watch the debates last night. But I can tell Castro did well based on how pundits and politicos are tweeting about his performance. And I can tell Warren did well based on how much bots and trolls are trolling about her. Being a woman is fun!

— Ashley Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) June 27, 2019

Only time will tell whether Castro upped his momentum in the long term after this debate, whether Warren will continue her rise in the polls, and whether both can make waves when they make it to later rounds with the likes of frontrunner Joe Biden and progressive stalwart Bernie Sanders. As the pool narrows and there aren’t as many moderates and centrists to serve as a stark contrast, Castro and Warren may have no choice but to take on one another.

That said, for the first night of debating in a chaotic format among a way-too-crowded field, we got two candidates with much-needed progressive ideas owning a slate of indistinguishable moderates — and given that we’re still roughly 500 days away from Election Day, that’s good enough for me.

Lily Herman is a contributing editor at Refinery29 and the founder of political volunteer network Get Her Elected. Follow her on Twitter. The views expressed are her own.

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It’s the best and brightest month of the year. It's LGBTQ+ Pride Month. It’s time to hit a parade — break out the rainbow flag temporary tattoos, colorful garb, and, if you’re anything like me, multi-colored, eco-friendly glitter. In recent years, the LGBTQ+ population has made some serious strides worth celebrating. In 2015, the U.S. legalized same sex marriage, and this year Taiwan did the same. But no matter how far we’ve come, we still have a long way to go on both a national and global level. As it stands, 70 countries across continents criminalize same-sex sexual activity, as International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Association World reports.

With that said, there are plenty of places in the world that celebrate pride with parades where people can be who they are and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. This year, it's World Pride in New York City, and four million people are expected to come into the city for parades, performances, and other amazing events. World Pride commemorates the 50th anniversary of the protests at the Stonewall Inn. In June of 1969, patrons and employees at the Stonewall galvanized against the common police raids at LGBTQ+ friendly bars. On June 28, police attempted to arrest and badger people at Stonewall — including trans women of color. But they resisted. Four nights of riots ensued, Vox reports. A year later, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Umbrella Committee put on the first ever Pride March.

The tradition of marching has continued throughout the years, despite discrimination and backlash from governments around the world. This Sunday, June 30, millions will march for World Pride in New York City. But it's not the only important march that's happened this Pride Month. Around the world, there have already been important and inclusive parades this month. Here are just a few moments from Pride Parades across the globe.

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Name a piece of clothing more versatile than a pair of leggings — we'll wait. Far from being exclusively worn at the gym, the stretchy, body-hugging garment can be dressed up or down, making them a wardrobe essential for anyone who loves feeling peak comfy at all hours of the day. That said, we know that finding your perfect pair can take some time (and lots of uh, potentially see-through moments), so we're here to talk about leggings with your life in mind.

Speaking of perfect pairs, we've linked up some of Refinery29 's favorite leggings with every occasion on your calendar, fitness related or otherwise. (Raise your hand if you love to rock a pair of Outdoor Voices Springs while parked on the couch.) From your weekend grocery store run to barre class, Sunday brunch to a night out with your friends, these are the pairs of stretchy stalwarts to have in your arsenal. Including some tried-and-true brands — plus newcomers on the cusp of blowing up on Instagram — here are 2o stylish leggings for you to live in.

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

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Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been in office for nearly seven years, but she remains virtually unknown to the general public. That has been a major challenge as she seeks the Democratic presidential nomination and runs against a crowded field of 24 candidates, many of whom have higher national profiles than her.

The first presidential primary debate on Wednesday was an opportunity for Gabbard to cut through the noise and introduce her platform to a nationwide audience. But out of the 10 candidates on the debate stage, Gabbard had the third-lowest speaking time at only 6.6 minutes, tied with former Maryland Rep. John Delaney, The Washington Post reported.

By comparison, the top three candidates with the most speaking time were Sen. Cory Booker at 10.9 minutes, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke at 10.3 minutes, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 9.3 minutes. This even led Gabbard's sister Vrindavan Gabbard to tweet on Tulsi's account, "It's clear who MSNBC wants to be president: Elizabeth Warren. They're giving her more time than all the other candidates combined. They aren't giving any time to Tulsi at all."

It's clear who MSNBC wants to be president: Elizabeth Warren. They're giving her more time than all the other candidates combined. They aren't giving any time to Tulsi at all. -V (Tulsi's sister)

— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) June 27, 2019

Despite this setback, Gabbard was able to make a splash that can potentially help her presidential bid. According to Google Trends, she was the Democratic candidate most people were searching for, followed by Booker and Warren. (Maybe it was her sister who helped out.)

Map: before and after the #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/7y3iNoJR1N

— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) June 27, 2019

So, what do you need to know about Gabbard? She served in the armed forces and was deployed to Iraq twice with the National Guard. After serving in the Hawaii state Legislature, she was elected to federal office in 2012, making history as the first Hindu and the first American Samoan in Congress. Gabbard was considered a progressive rising star, mostly because of her stances on the economy and the fact that she is a veteran who opposes U.S. military intervention efforts abroad. During the 2016 presidential election, she made news when she resigned as vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in order to officially endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign.

However, Gabbard's star has dimmed in the last few years, mostly over issues such as her past anti-LGBTQ+ remarks (she's apologized and has since advocated for LGBTQ+ equality), her conservative stances on Islam, and her willingness to meet with and advocate for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a dictator who has carried out chemical attacks against his own people.

Gabbard launched her presidential bid in early January, but has not been able to break past the 1% average in national polls. Her platform is focused on addressing climate change, criminal justice reform, access to healthcare, and military-nonintervention. Time will tell whether this post-debate Google boost will earn her more attention in the long run, but one thing's for sure: We'll be keeping an eye on her sister's tweets.

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It’s clear that presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a badass. She served in the Iraq War, is a Major in the Army National Guard, is the first Hindu member of the U.S. Congress, and is an avid surfer. Her appearance during the first Democratic primary debate for the 2020 presidential election, also resulted in her being the most Googled candidate of the night. And perhaps her strong showing had something to do with her intense debate prep, which included a vigorous morning workout with her team.

Gabbard posted a video of the early morning sweat sesh on Twitter, where she can be seen doing mountain climbers, jumping jacks, and pikes before the debate. ABC News reported that many members of her campaign staff did the workout , too. They described it as a “team bootcamp.”

After sweating out the nerves, Gabbard gave her staff high fives and words of encouragement, ABC News reported. “Starting out this Wednesday morning, great workout,” she said in a campaign video, covered in sweat after HIIT in the humid, 90-degree Miami heat. “I know we’re running on low sleep, low fuel. Today’s gonna be a big day, an important day... All we’ve gotta do is continue to lead with our hearts and remember who we’re fighting for. Thank you very much.”

Gabbard isn't the only woman in politics known for "fitting it in." Think: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's workout routine.

Morning of first #DemocraticDebate, behind the scenes in Miami https://t.co/n6rAgZ1sH7 #DemDebate #TULSI2020 pic.twitter.com/vdqFzBsjXN

— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) June 27, 2019

She finished her speech saying to her staff: “I want to say thank you because our team is unlike any other.” It’s definitely a different approach to prep for a debate with cardio — but it clearly paid off. Google Trends search for Gabbard spiked during the debate, and Vox reported that her shining moment occurred when she corrected Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan about the fact that it was al-Qaeda behind 9/11, and not the Taliban.

Maybe Ryan should consider joining Gabbard in her next pre-debate workout sesh.

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Anyone will tell you that new motherhood is a joyful experience — colored, of course, with bewilderment, anxiousness, and abject exhaustion. Feeding and clothing a newborn is no simple task — and you’re supposed to get yourself dressed, too? At a time when you’re getting by on so little sleep that you may qualify for insanity, and your body is changing its shape and size practically by the hour, assembling any kind of outfit becomes a Herculean task.

Now, we firmly believe that a new mom should wear whatever makes her feel the most comfortable, and we are in no way advocating that you should dress in some totally reinvented type of way after giving birth. However, here on the Shopping team, we’re students of fashion, and style is deeply connected to our sense of well-being. That’s just us. We have a feeling that if you’re reading this article, you’re in the same boat, and you might be looking for some insight on how to put yourself together during a time when it feels like you have very little energy, and very little control.

In order to figure this out, we went straight to the source: actual moms. We polled some R29ers — including our executive creative director, Piera Gelardi — and some of the most stylish fashion-industry mothers we know, grilling them on what they reached for in those first few chaotic months of motherhood. (Veterans of motherhood also filled us in on some of the pieces they still rely on years later.) Their suggestions ran the gamut from technical maternity gear (a mega-supportive, double-duty nursing/pumping bra) to the unexpectedly kid-friendly (an edgy, oversized button-down offering easy boob access) to the simply genius (a handbag insert that turns any tote into a super-compartmentalized diaper bag). The one thing all these picks have in common? They made these style-inclined new moms feel pretty good about themselves — and that's a tiny luxury everyone deserves.

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

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

Today: a senior HR consulting manager living on a yearly combined income of $255,000 who spends some of her money this week on prenatal vitamins.

Occupation: Senior HR Consulting Manager
Industry: Technology
Age: 29
Location: Seattle, WA
My Salary: $155,000 + $30,000 bonus + $65,000 stock grant
My Husband's Salary: $70,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $4,806.16
Gender Identity: Woman

Monthly Expenses
Mortgage: $2,500 (we pay a little extra toward the principal each month)
HOA: $100
Loans: $0
Cell Phone: $30 (subsidized through work)
Electricity: $150
Water: $150
Garbage: $50
Internet: $65
iCloud Storage: $2
Hulu: $12
Property Tax: $811 (we don't pay this monthly, but this is the monthly value)
Donations: $1,000 ($600/month to a school for young women in India, $400/month to a local homeless shelter. Typically give to other causes through stock or bonus proceeds, but those are more sporadic.)

Day One

6 a.m. — Alarm goes off and I am super groggy. I flew back to Seattle last night from a week-long business trip, and I caught a nasty head cold while I was there. My husband leaves me a bowl of peanut butter oatmeal and honey-ginger-lemon tea next to my nightstand while he packs our joint suitcase for our trip to San Francisco. Bless him. Apparently I picked out my clothing while on NyQuil last night, but it looks weather- and family-appropriate at least. We pack our dog into the car and drop him off to our doggy-sitter before driving to the airport.

7 a.m. — We leave our car in the long-term parking lot and hop on the shuttle to the airport with my in-laws, my sis-in-law, and her babies. Both of them are already crying, and we are just starting. Luckily there are six adults to take turns holding the babies, and they are so sweet it's worth it. I tip the shuttle driver $5 for helping with our bags, car seats, and strollers and off we go to the plane! $5

1:45 p.m. — Land in San Jose and head straight to Costco. We had food on our flight over — my in-laws generously paid for our flights and upgraded us all to first class. Sadly, breakfast on the plane was a not very satisfying egg-and-bacon sandwich, so I grab a few samples from Costco while we gas up the rental car and pick up gifts for the extended family we are visiting — two large bouquets of flowers and two bottles of wine. $65.38

4:30 p.m. — After driving around for a while to get a specific brand of milk for the babies, we finally arrive at the hotel and realize we are starving. I chug a bottle of water and take some DayQuil to head off this cold. I'm determined to not miss this family trip, so I rally and put on a swimsuit for some pool and sun time before dinner. I grab a quick and crazy-expensive plate of chips and guacamole for $18 and a $6 tip — sigh. At least both chips and guac seem to be freshly made. Consider getting a glass of frosé, but decide against it since it's another $18 (!?) and comes from a machine. $24

8 p.m. — Out to dinner at an Italian restaurant, and the babies are in meltdown mode from travel, car time, and no naps. As soon as we sit down, the toddler starts to scream, so the adults alternate taking him for walks around the street. Luckily the food (and drinks!) come quickly — I split a Caesar salad with my husband, and get the branzino with vegetables and steal bites of my husband's pasta. The branzino is great, but the Caesar salad has a bit too much anchovy for my taste. I also get a strawberry-basil cocktail, which is good to start, but I end up walking the toddler around before I can finish my drink. My in-laws grab the check before the babies have a full-blown meltdown.

8:30 p.m. — In order to soothe the toddler, we decide to stop by Happylemon for some bubble tea on our way to the car. I decide to do a split cup of an Oreo bubble tea, and they end up making us two full drinks! Score. $5.50 and tip of $1. $6.50

Daily Total: $100.88

Day Two

9 a.m. — Grab breakfast at the hotel before our full day of family events. I order a chai latte and huevos rancheros and share crème brûleé French toast with my husband. The food is delicious, but my tastebuds are messed up from the cold and the DayQuil, so I keep adding extra salsa. My in-laws put the breakfast on their room tab to make it simple. They are really generous with all of us, so we usually try to pick up at least one tab on these trips.

11 a.m. — We arrive at the family house for the birthday party with the flowers in tow. I spend time chatting with my husband's extended family, while my mother-in-law and the aunts pick up a variety of food from their favorite spots in Chinatown. We end up with a feast — shu mai, har gow, chow fun, bean curd with minced pork, garlic green beans, lychee ice cream, and key lime pie. I eat too much and start to feel groggy as the party continues. I sneak off to take another DayQuil and play with the kids until it kicks in and it's time to go to our second event.

6:30 p.m. — After visiting with some other family members, we decide to swing by In-N-Out for burgers. At this point the babies missed both naps today and are not happy sitting in their car seats, so we grab the food to go and each go back to our hotel rooms. My sister-in-law pays, and we take our animal-style cheeseburgers and animal-style fries back up to our room. I am tired and cranky from so much family time, and have to remind myself that we all like each other and this too shall pass. I only half believe it and go to bed after reading my Kindle for a few hours. I've been reading On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, but I'm having a hard time getting through this book compared to the last book I read, The Hate U Give.

Daily Total: $0

Day Three

9 a.m. — I wake up in a better mood after a good night's sleep. We decide to go outside the hotel for breakfast and end up in a cute brunch spot in San Jose with outdoor seating. They don't balk at the size of our group or the two kids, so again we take turns walking the toddlers to keep them entertained. I order a cold brew and a goat cheese, spinach, and bacon omelet with a side of fruit to share with the kiddos. It is surprisingly good for being so simple, as is the cold brew. I need to make my own cold brew this year — I finally have a French press and coffee grinder, so I at least have the means. I pick up the group's $107.30 tab and tip $27, since they waived the cost of one of our entrees. $134.30

1:45 p.m. — We arrive at the airport, and I grab a water bottle after having a coughing fit at the gate. I'm pretty sure my cold is no longer a cold and has morphed into some form of allergy/sinus infection hell, so I also hand out some Airborne vitamin tablets to my extended family in the hopes they will fend of the sickness. As we are boarding the plane, we encounter a very rude gate agent who scolds us for boarding late (we were trying to tire out the babies before getting on the plane, and we're not bringing bags on board). She is condescending to our party, and then does a complete behavioral change for the white male passenger who gets in line behind us. Encounters like these could be absolutely nothing, but as a POC there is always that nagging question of why we receive different treatment. I confirm the passenger behind us did not get the scolding we did and note the gate agent's name to send feedback to the airline. $4.34

5:45 p.m. — We finally land, get the airport shuttle, and make it back to our car. The flight did not go well with the kids, and I give my sister-in-law MAJOR kudos for her parenting skills and patience, but my husband is on edge after all the family time and dealing with screaming toddlers for several days straight. We pay for parking for both cars with a coupon ($55.02) and hurry back to the dog-sitter to pick up our dog. We pay $100, plus a bottle of wine for the two nights. $155.02

7:30 p.m. — I am on edge after the back-to-back travel, and our fridge is empty, so we decide to grab conveyor-belt sushi near our house for dinner. We grab a variety of plates — seared salmon, avocado rolls, spicy tuna rolls, and tofu rolls. My husband is leaving for his own business trip starting tomorrow, and we both complain about the recent travel and work and decide that next weekend we are going to veg out and do nothing. After dinner we cuddle with the dog and watch reruns of The Office while my husband packs his bag for the work trip. The dog is EXTREMELY suspicious of the suitcase and follows me around before jumping in bed. He is not allowed in there, but I am too tired to fight it and cede him the center of the bed before falling asleep. $37.90

Daily Total: $331.56

Day Four

5:50 a.m. — My alarm goes off, and my husband takes the dog for a walk. My head is throbbing, so I make a bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and soy milk to coat my stomach before the allergy medicine and Advil take charge. I make my husband a latte, and we both get ready so I can drop him off at his office before he takes a Lyft for his flight with his coworkers. We chat about his trip and my OB-GYN appointment later in the day on the drive to his office.

8 a.m. — I swing by Starbucks and get a cold brew with sweet cream and a spinach feta wrap on my way to the office. Since I was traveling and on PTO last week, I am in back-to-back meetings before my doctor appointment, and I have a major meeting this afternoon to prepare for. I multitask during some technical calls in the morning, and my team can cover and pull together a few slides to ground my meeting this afternoon. $8.91

1:30 p.m. — I leave the office at 12:30 to get to my 1 p.m. OB-GYN appointment, only to find out it was actually scheduled for 1:30. I am annoyed with myself, since I left a meeting early to drive here, and I'm anxious for what the doctor is going to tell me today. I had two miscarriages last year, and after extensive testing, counseling, acupuncture, and self-reflection we took a year off from trying to conceive. It was absolutely critical for my mental health, and since I am in a healthier headspace we have just started trying again (though this was a "practice month" due to all the travel around ovulation). Last year I had discussed going on progesterone with my doctor, and I am disappointed that she does not recommend it and hands me some literature to read on the latest study. I pay my $25 copay and cry quietly in my car in the parking lot for a few minutes before driving back to the office. $25

4 p.m. — I make it back in time to print out my slides and meet with the EVP. I am pleased the meeting goes well, and he agrees with all of my recommendations. I love it when that happens! My mood has definitely improved since my appointment, and I finally text back and forth with my husband after his flight lands to talk about the doctor's recommendation and if I should go on progesterone. Since my stomach is now grumbling, I scrounge in the office kitchen and score some green tea, stale blueberry muffins, and the remnants of a fruit salad (e.g. watery cantaloupe). Leave the office at 5:30 to get home.

6:30 p.m. — I get home and take the dog for a long walk while listening to a podcast. I've been listening to White Lies and am disgusted but not surprised at the brokenness of the criminal justice system. I'm feeling pretty bummed by the time I head home, so I do a quick call to my bestie who lives across the country. We chat about work, my day, and the experience with the doctor. She points out that the doctor probably didn't think I was an idiot, since she printed out a research study article to share with me, filled with statistical detail. I appreciate this insight, since I left the appointment thinking my doctor (who I love!) thought I was someone who had WebMD'd a solution to my miscarriages. I heat up a frozen Trader Joe's chicken tikka masala and read the research study before opening up the laptop to prep for my meetings tomorrow. I finish work around 10 and read for 30 minutes before I shoot a quick text to the husband and fall asleep.

Daily Total: $33.91

Day Five

8:15 a.m. — I get up early to drive the dog to daycare. Since my husband usually drives him in, I realize I had the wrong address and waste a bunch of time driving around an anxious dog before getting to work. My dog has separation anxiety, and daycare twice a week is critical to keeping him socialized and tiring him out when I'm working. I get into the office late and decide to take an extra ten minutes to get a tall soy blonde latte and sous-vide egg bites. $9.90

1 p.m. — I attend a company-sponsored panel of LGBTQ+ employees talking about their experiences at our company. I love the company that I work for and our commitment to our values, but that doesn't mean we can't do better, as evidenced by the stories shared by our employees. I get kind of weepy hearing about their experiences and spend 30 minutes debriefing with my employee who attended with me. The event has a few sweet treats, but I want something savory for lunch, so I swing by our corporate deli and get a cup of chicken noodle soup for $5.45 and a tip of $1. $6.45

4:30 p.m. — I head out of the office early so I can go pick up the dog from daycare, drop him at home, and go pick up groceries from Trader Joe's. I grab a few bananas, corn, bell pepper, grape tomatoes, cauliflower gnocchi, kale & cashew pesto, ground beef, and shakshuka starter. After getting home, I make a huge batch of pesto cauliflower gnocchi, toss in some precooked chicken and tomatoes, and eat while I catch up on some work. I am leading a big project at the company, and we have run into technical issues the past month, hence the evening work and recent travel. I think we have a resolution path forward. $40.87

8:30 p.m. — I finish up work, scroll on Instagram, and read the news while I start watching Southern Charm from the beginning. I weirdly enjoy most Bravo shows while not actually liking any of the people, but this one feels like a true (and nice) escape from my West Coast lifestyle. I sip some candy cane green tea and eat half a banana before letting the dog out and getting in bed. My husband calls at 10:30, and we are both cranky that we didn't have a chance to talk all day. I am not my best self when I'm tired, and he cuts me some slack and agrees to chat before he gets to the airport and flies back tomorrow.

Daily Total: $57.22

Day Six

5 a.m. — I wake up early to take the dog for his walk and continue listening to the White Lies podcast. It is surprisingly warm and beautiful today, so I pause the podcast for part of the walk and try to be present, but find my fingers are itching to check my work email...so much for mindfulness. I make myself a Nespresso and add hot water to make an Americano. I prefer a latte, but our milk steamer is not working well. I grab a banana and hit the road.

7:20 a.m. — I get into the office early, since I arranged a breakfast spread for a few of my employees who have recently won some work awards. I ordered veggie and bacon breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, almond croissants, and a massive fruit platter, which I got to expense. I spend the first 30 minutes of work chatting with the team, and I am happy that our EVP decides to swing by and congratulate my team. I am thrilled that my team got the recognition for their hard work after several months of long nights and stressful work. My exec assistant helps set up and tear down the food, so I can make it to my meeting on time — she is the best! ($187.50 expensed)

1:30 p.m. — I grab my Trader Joe's tikka masala from the fridge and heat it up between meetings while I ignore the giant sheet cake in the kitchen. There is constantly food in our kitchen, and I usually will pass on the cake or sweets...unless I am hungry and waiting for my microwaved meal to heat up. I cut myself a small slice and finish it within the four minutes it takes for my food to heat up. No regrets!

4 p.m. — I leave early so I can get to my acupuncture appointment on time. I started acupuncture for fertility reasons, but honestly the stress relief and meditation is worth it on its own. I have a lovely chat with my acupuncturist about my basal body temperature chart (all over the place this month with my travel and cold), as well as the progesterone. She offers a different point of view on that, and I appreciate that she recommends a balance of both Western and Eastern medicine. We spend the last 15 minutes talking about my issues with the insurance company — my health insurance covers up to 25 visits a year with a $15 copay, but the insurance has been kicking back the recent visits, and no one can give either of us an explanation as to why. Currently there are five visits of $100 that have not been approved, so I make a note to follow up. I pay my $15 copay for today and $30 for the herbs she recommends and leave feeling lighter. $45

7 p.m. — I swing by the teriyaki place on my way home to pick up food, since my husband gets home tonight (!!!). I'm a little annoyed that my tofu teriyaki is more expensive than any of the meat options, but it is delicious and worth it. We open a bottle of wine and have a few glasses while catching up on travel, the doctor and acupuncture appointments, and some drama at his work. I should work tonight, but it's important to my mental health to spend time decompressing with him, and it's sweet how excited our dog is to see him. $39.62

10 p.m. — I realize I am almost out of prenatal vitamins, so I make an order at a trusted pharmacy online to get a three-month supply. My doctor advised me to start taking the vitamins before we get pregnant, and in return for daily nausea I have noticed my hair has grown like crazy — at least there is a bright side! I also sneak one last peek at work emails and reply to a few before logging off for the night. $89.11

Daily Total: $173.73

Day Seven

7:15 a.m. — My husband apparently fixed the milk steamer and makes me a "to-go" soy latte and peanut butter and banana oatmeal that I drink and eat once I get to the office. I send off a few emails before I get into my morning block of meetings. We have a team boating offsite this afternoon, so again my calendar is compressed in the morning.

11:45 a.m. — Finished with all of my meetings! There will be food on the boat this afternoon, so I swing by the grocery store to grab a bottle of white wine for our adventures. I drive over to the address on the meeting invite and realize this is a yacht club that probably has a dress code. Oops! Luckily no one says anything about my T-shirt and ripped white jeans or gives me any trouble as I find the boat for our cruise. $23.17

4:45 p.m. — The food spread is pretty epic, but sadly we did not bring enough wine — we run out almost immediately! A glass of wine, a Bud Light, and several hours later, I am very glad that I carpooled. It was great catching up with our broader team and spending time with people I don't interact with frequently, but I am feeling my energy drain quite a bit and know I need to veg out before I go out to trivia night with friends. Luckily we are all down to be quiet on the long drive back to the office, and I use the time to send out some emails and check on the status of some deliverables for my project. Finally get home 15 minutes before we need to leave for trivia...ugh.

9 p.m. — My husband drives us over to the Mexican restaurant for dinner with friends and trivia. My energy level is low, so I decide a house margarita might help (spoiler alert: it does not) and order carnitas tacos. I get a little bit competitive during trivia; luckily my husband knows my triggers and runs interference with our friends. We somehow end up winning second place in trivia and get $10 off our tab. It comes to $62.50 and we tip $12. I read in bed for 10 minutes before my Kindle drops on my face, and I am out for the night. $74.50

Daily Total: $97.67

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The 2020 presidential primary season is well underway. A grand total of 25 Democrats have thrown their hat in the ring in an attempt to beat President Donald Trump, which has led the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to whittle it down to 20 for the first debate. There is a total of 12 primary debates scheduled.

In many ways, the first Democratic primary debate is the first opportunity for the Democratic presidential hopefuls to make their pitch to voters. In such a crowded field, the main question they need to answer is: Why should voters pick you as the Democratic presidential nominee? It's a tough task, if you ask us. But that's something the DNC says it has taken into account.

"The DNC has taken unprecedented steps to ensure that this historically large field of candidates gets the opportunity to make their case on the debate stage to a wide audience," DNC women's media director Elizabeth Renda told Refinery29. "We committed to an inclusive, fair, and innovative approach for all aspects of the 2020 debates, and we're working hard to ensure that our candidates have a meaningful conversation on the debate stage. To make that a reality, we took historic steps, like requiring that all 12 DNC-sanctioned debates feature a diverse group of moderators and panelists that include women and people of color. We're confident that with the standards we've established, our candidates will have a conversation that addresses the concerns of working Americans, not a back-and-forth about hand size."

This can all seem overwhelming, so we're here to walk you through the process. Ahead, everything you need to know about the first presidential primary debate.

When is the first Democratic primary debate of 2019?

Candidates take the stage for the first Democratic primary debates on Wednesday, June 26, and Thursday, June 27, at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, FL. The debates go from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on both nights.

Who are the Democratic candidates who qualified for the first presidential debate?

The DNC decided that candidates must have received campaign contributions from at least 65,000 individuals and hit the 1% threshold in three separate polls in order to qualify for the first debate.

The 20 candidates who made the cut are former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Kamala Harris, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, Gov. Jay Inslee, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Andrew Yang, Marianne Williamson, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, Rep. Tim Ryan, former Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Sen. Michael Bennet.

Who did not make the Democratic debate?

The four candidates who were left out of the first debate are Gov. Steve Bullock, Rep. Seth Moulton, Mayor Wayne Messam, and former Sen. Mike Gravel.

What is the Democratic debate lineup?

The candidates are split into two groups of 10 for each night.

Wednesday, June 26: Booker, Klobuchar, Warren, Gabbard, Ryan, Delaney, O'Rourke, Castro, de Blasio, and Inslee.

Thursday, June 27: Biden, Bennet, Gillibrand, Harris, Sanders, Buttigieg, Hickenlooper, Swalwell, Williamson, and Yang.

Who are the Democratic debate moderators?

As we exclusively reported before, the DNC is requiring for the first time that each debate includes at least one woman and one person of color as moderators. The five moderators for the first debate are Rachel Maddow, Savannah Guthrie, Lester Holt, Chuck Todd, and José Diaz-Balart.

According to NBC, the format is similar on both nights. Holt, Guthrie, and Diaz-Balart are moderating the first hour of each debate. In the second hour, Holt appears again with Todd and Maddow as co-moderators.

What will the debate topics be?

Commentators are pushing the moderators to ask tough questions on topics including immigration, #MeToo, and socialism. There's also a big push among activists and others to talk about the pressing issue of climate change.

According to a poll by Refinery29, 28% of our readers want climate change to be front-and-center in the debate, 19% care most about abortion and reproductive rights, 11% think the economy is most important, 11% care most about immigration, and 6% consider healthcare the most crucial issue. As far as candidates, our readers are most interested in hearing from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, at 55%, while 15% chose Sen. Kamala Harris and 15% chose Sen. Bernie Sanders as the candidate they most want to hear from.

How do I watch the Democratic debate tonight?

Click here for our primer on how to watch the Democratic debate tonight.

Who won the first Democratic debate last night?

According to many pundits, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Julián Castro made the strongest showing in the first Democratic debate on Wednesday night. "In banding together on issues and refusing to battle each other directly, Warren and Castro, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama, scored a victory for progressives, letting their policies shine through rather than giving in to Democratic drama," writes Refinery29 contributing editor Lily Herman.

Warren and Castro set a high bar for discussing immigration, reproductive rights, and more, earning effusive praise from progressive tone-setter Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

What is the Democratic debate schedule?

Here is when and where the upcoming primary debates are scheduled for.

Second Debate: Tuesday, July 30, and Wednesday, July 31, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI.

Third Debate: Thursday, September 12, and Friday, September 13. The location has not been disclosed yet.

Fourth Debate: October 2019. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Fifth Debate: November 2019. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Sixth Debate: December 2019. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Seventh Debate: January 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Eighth Debate: January or February 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

Ninth Debate: February 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

10th Debate: February 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

11th Debate: March 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

12th Debate: April 2020. Exact dates and location have not been announced yet.

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With the first 2020 Democratic presidential debates underway, we wanted to brush up on where the candidates stand on gun reform.

According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, 100 Americans are killed with guns, and hundreds more are shot and injured, every single day. And the gun suicide rate in America is 10 times greater than in other high-income countries. Gun violence is clearly an epidemic in need of not only our attention but also smart legislation that will prevent additional senseless deaths and mass shootings.

“All of the [Democratic] candidates have been really good on [the gun reform] issue and actually are competing to see who can be the best,” Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and author of the recently released Fight Like A Mother, told Refinery29. “Some of the candidates have put together very innovative policy platforms on this issue.”

While they all "flunked out" according to their NRA scores — all of them have Fs — we wanted to track the different ways in which the Democratic candidates are distinguishing themselves on the issue. Read about their positions, ahead.

This is a developing story. We will update it with more candidates, and as more information becomes available.

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An Alabama grand jury charged Marshae Jones, 27, with manslaughter after another woman shot her during a dispute outside a retail store in Pleasant Grove, AL, in December, causing Jones to lose her 5-month-old fetus. On Wednesday, she was arrested and taken into custody, AL.com reported.

The fight was allegedly over the father of Jones’ unborn child, and police originally charged the shooter, Ebony Jemison, 23, for manslaughter. But the case against Jemison was dropped after the grand jury failed to indict her.

Jones’ indictment has sparked an outcry among reproductive rights activists against the treatment of women, particularly women of color, in a state that has very recently passed a law criminalizing abortion at any stage, with no exceptions for rape or incest.

“The state of Alabama has proven yet again that the moment a person becomes pregnant their sole responsibility is to produce a live, healthy baby and that it considers any action a pregnant person takes that might impede in that live birth to be a criminal act,’’ Amanda Reyes, president and executive director of The Yellowhammer Fund, an organization that helps provide women in Alabama with access and funding for abortion services, said in a statement provided to Refinery29.

“Today, Marshae Jones is being charged with manslaughter for being pregnant and getting shot while engaging in an altercation with a person who had a gun,” Reyes added. “Tomorrow, it will be another Black woman, maybe for having a drink while pregnant. And after that, another, for not obtaining adequate prenatal care.”

Officials had already begun blaming Jones for the death of her unborn child at the time of the shooting. “It was the mother of the child who initiated and continued the fight which resulted in the death of her own unborn baby,” Pleasant Grove police lieutenant Danny Reid said. “The investigation showed that the only true victim in this was the unborn baby.’’

Reid said the investigation also showed that Jemison was defending herself by shooting Jones. It doesn’t appear that Jones herself had a weapon. However, Reid argued that the fetus was “dependent on its mother to try and keep it from harm,” and that Jones “shouldn’t seek out unnecessary physical altercations.”

Reyes said Yellowhammer is committed to getting justice for Jones, as well as making sure she is released from jail on bond, assisted with legal representation.

Jones is being held on $50,000 bond at Jefferson County Jail.

"This is what 2019 looks like for a pregnant woman of color without means in a red state," tweeted Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “This is now.”

Today, Marshae Jones was indicted for homicide when someone shot her in the stomach while she was pregnant, ending her pregnancy. They said she "started it." The shooter went free. This what 2019 looks like for a pregnant woman of color without means in a red state. This is now.

— ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) June 27, 2019

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Katie Sturino is having a busy summer. Between running her plus-size fashion blog @the12ishstyle, promoting her product line @megababe, and planning her dream wedding, she found time to add another title to her resume: designer. Working alongside the size experts at Stitch Fix, she created her very first 100% size-inclusive clothing line — and it retails for under $100.

The 21-piece collection, which ranges in sizes from 0 to 24 and XS to 3X, launches this week exclusively on StitchFix.com, the world's leading online personalized styling service. "Stitch Fix is a brand that about a year ago, I didn’t know much about," Sturino tells Refinery29. "But then I went to go visit their headquarters and was blown away by their expertise in fit and really how much they paid attention to the way that a curvy body differs from a straight size body. They had a whole team of people who were actually going into factories and educating on fit. It was so impressive and so different from anything that I’ve seen before."

It was important to Katie to collaborate with a brand that makes size inclusivity a part of their DNA. "I wanted to be able to get clothes out there that I could dress all my friends in. Really, I wanted to be able to say, 'Hey, you’re a size 8, you can wear this.' 'You’re a size 22 and you can wear this.' It was all about diversity, and as we go on in this fashion and sizing conversation, we’re going to see more full ranges of sizing instead of separate sections for different body types."

Refinery29 spoke with the designer and entrepreneur about everything from the modeling industry to her opinion on plus-size mannequins. Read on for more.

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