Gen Z men think they need to earn about 15% more to be "financially successful" than young women do, per a new study digging into the thorny question of what "making it" really means.

Why it matters: Even at a young age, the gender wage gap is driving very different perceptions of need and success.

• It also speaks to Gen Z's broad shift to the political right, as young men in particular feel disillusioned by the economy and what it offers them.

Driving the news: YPulse, a youth research organization, surveyed 1,000 people ages 13-39 and asked them "How much would you need to make as an annual salary (e.g. the money you earn at a job per year) for you to be financially successful?"

• It was prompted by a widely reported study last year, published by financial services company Empower, that showed a huge gap between Gen Z and other generations in the definition of a success-making salary.

By the numbers: The male respondents to YPulse's survey, on average, estimated they'd need a salary of $69,500 a year to feel successful.

• That's almost 16% more than the roughly $58,600 average response from women.

Between the lines: According to YPulse, the gender pay gap plays a significant role in the disparity.

• Women have suppressed expectations because they know they're likely to earn less in the workforce.
• That gender wage gap is actually widening, per Census data, and matches almost exactly the YPulse findings.

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) on Sunday mirrored ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, when he dodged classifying Edward Snowden as a traitor.

Why it matters: Gabbard's refusal to call Snowden a traitor during her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday reportedly prompted some GOP discomfort.

What they're saying: Schmitt danced around the same question during a Sunday interview on "Meet the Press."

• "I think people are tired of these games, of sort of this 'gotcha' stuff. Look, he's [Snowden] been indicted," Schmitt said when pressed by NBC News' Kristen Welker. "If he ever comes back to the United States he's going to have a trial. But this idea of you trying to disqualify people by using these terms is ridiculous."
• When asked again about Snowden, Schmitt said: "I think it's totally ridiculous to try to smear people who are trying to serve this country because, again, it's sort of 'gotcha.'"

Catch up quick: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said that when he posed the question to Gabbard, for whom he has expressed his support, he expected it to be "an easy softball question."

• But when Lankford asked Gabbard if Snowden was a traitor for leaking highly classified information, the ex-Democrat did not give a yes-or-no answer.
• She instead said she would be "committed if confirmed as director of national intelligence to join you in making sure that there is no future Snowden-type leak."

Between the lines: Schmitt said he is still "100%" a yes on Gabbard and predicted she will "do just fine" when senators gather to cast their votes. The Senate Intelligence Committee vote on Gabbard has not been scheduled.

• Elon Musk and the MAGA masses have also mobilized behind Gabbard, turning the heat on those who could tank her confirmation chances, including Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.).
• Media reports have indicated that Young is reluctant to vote for Gabbard, prompting Musk to accuse the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), an NGO where Young is a board member, of being "RIFE with CORRUPTION."
• An X account, which Musk retweeted, claimed Young's involvement with NED creates a conflict of interest when it comes to opposing Gabbard.

Go deeper: Snowden support threatens Tulsi Gabbard's Senate confirmation

• I compared three premade espresso martinis to determine which was the best.
• I thought the On the Rocks espresso-martini cocktail was bitter and had an odd aftertaste.
• The Ketel One espresso martini was the winner because of its smooth, sweet flavor.

Espresso martinis have been around for decades, but today, they seem more popular than ever.

I recently saw a few bottled and canned versions of the alcoholic drink — usually made with vodka, coffee liqueur, espresso, and simple syrup — at my local liquor store.

Eager to see which was best, I decided to try three brands of premade espresso martinis. To level the playing field, I made sure to prepare each drink the same way — pouring the liquid into a shaker with ice and straining the drink into a martini glass. 

Here's how each espresso martini stacked up.

The On the Rocks espresso-martini cocktail was my least-favorite beverage

A sales associate at the liquor store told me the On the Rocks espresso martini, which has 20% alcohol by volume, was a popular drink.

According to its label, this "rich and dark espresso martini" was made with Effen vodka and espresso-coffee liqueur.

In the glass, the deep-caramel-colored liquid resembled scotch. It smelled neutral, but it had an overpowering flavor when it hit my lips. It started out bold and bitter, then left an odd, lingering, acidic aftertaste well after I finished my sip. 

Overall, I wouldn't purchase this beverage again. 

The Cutwater espresso martini had a tasty, coffee-forward flavor

The Cutwater espresso martini came in a pack of four cans. According to the label on the box, each can contained at least two shots of "real spirits" and 13% alcohol by volume.

When I poured the drink into a glass, the aroma was exactly what I expected: coffee-forward with vodka overtones.

Made with coffee-cream liqueur, it had a nice cold-brew flavor and a light mouthfeel. Because the drink went down easy, the alcohol could definitely sneak up on you.

I think the Cutwater cocktail would be perfect for events like tailgates or fireside sipping.

The Ketel One espresso martini was my favorite of the bunch

The Ketel One espresso martini blended the brand's vodka with coffee liqueur. Though potent at 20.1% alcohol by volume, the Ketel One espresso martini was pretty smooth.

Its subtle chocolaty aroma and strong flavor were a nice surprise. The martini's dark-amber hue gave way to a velvety smooth, sweet drink with slight hints of a flavor that reminded me of hazelnut — mimicking exactly what one expects from a traditional espresso martini.

Overall, the Ketel One espresso martini's coffee-forward flavor dominated the competition, making it my winner.