Trump said this week it would be a "total victory" if high tariffs are still around in a year. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 2025-04-26T02:34:05Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Trump considers high tariffs a "total victory" if they remain in place next year. He believes tariffs will encourage US production and reduce trade deficits with other countries. Despite claims of trade talks, China denies ongoing negotiations with the US. President Donald Trump said if the US still has high tariffs on foreign imports a year from now, he would consider it a "total victory."Trump made the comment in an interview with "Time" magazine published Friday about the first 100 days of his term, which he will reach on April 30. The interview took place at the White House on Tuesday.During the interview, which was conducted by senior political correspondent Eric Cortellessa and editor in chief Sam Jacobs, "Time" asked the president if he'd consider it a victory if "high tariffs, whether it's 20% or 30% or 50%," were still in place in a year."Total victory," Trump replied, adding, "Because the country will be making a fortune."Trump said that having zero tariffs "would be easy" but that it would not incentivize companies to produce their goods in the US.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Trump has said his sweeping tariff policy would encourage companies to build and invest in the US. The tariffs currently include a universal 10% tariff on most countries and a 145% tariff on China. Higher tariffs on other countries are currently under a 90-day pause that Trump announced earlier this month.Trump's tariff announcement on April 2 tanked stock prices and financial markets around the world. Though there's been some recovery, markets have remained volatile as the uncertainty around tariffs continues.Trump has said he wants to lower or eliminate US trade deficits with other countries and that he has been in talks with leaders around the world to strike deals on trade. He has also said Americans could feel "short-term" pain as a result of tariffs.On Tuesday, the same day Trump gave the interview to Time, he told reporters at the White House that tariffs on China would "come down substantially," but not to zero.Markets also reacted positively on Wednesday after The Wall Street Journal reported Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there was an "opportunity" for a big trade deal with China.But Chinese officials on Thursday denied Trump's claim that China and the US were in talks on a trade deal.Trump also told "Time" he has made 200 trade deals, though as of Friday none had been announced.He declined to elaborate on the deals when asked, but said they would be finished "over the next three to four weeks." Recommended video

Bryan Myers, the president and CEO of Solidcore. Courtesy of Bryan Myers, Ava Horton/BI 2025-04-25T23:53:59Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Bryan Myers, the president and CEO of fitness company Solidcore, starts his days at 6 a.m. His days often involve eating a big breakfast, leading his team in workouts, and attending meetings. He values being more than just a CEO and leaves the office around 5 p.m. to spend time with his family. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bryan Myers, the president and CEO of fitness company Solidcore, who lives in Washington, DC. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I always knew I had a passion for business. It was very present, even in my childhood. I tried to start businesses like door-to-door fruit sales and a babysitting agency — I had that entrepreneurial bug. I followed that passion and went to college for business, but when I graduated, I still couldn't answer the question of what I wanted to be when I grew up.I decided to kick the can down the road and go into consulting, thinking it would be a great way to see a bunch of different functional areas within a business and help me decide. I had an amazing experience as a consultant at Boston Consulting Group for nearly five years.But working with the largest companies in the world showed me what I was missing — the opportunity to help build a company. In 2014, I decided to leave my cushy job and join the leadership team at Sweetgreen as director of financial planning. During my time there, the team and I grew the brand and refined what the company would become.I also discovered Solidcore. It was where I went when I was stressed at work and when I wanted to be reminded of home while traveling. Myers used to attend Solidcore classes when he was stressed at work. Photo courtesy of Bryan Myers A few years later, when a former consulting colleague introduced me to the founder of Solidcore, I left my role as vice president of new store development at Sweetgreen to join Solidcore as COO. Now, seven years later, I'm the president and CEO.Here's what a typical day in my life looks like.I usually wake up around 6 a.mThe first thing I do is walk my dog for 20 to 30 minutes. It's a great way for both of us to get some movement in. While I walk, I catch up on two things — my Whoop stats and the business. Myers and his dog. Bryan Myers I like to check out my Whoop stats to see how I slept, my resting heart rate, and my heart rate variability (HRV). It gives me a baseline for the day and helps me determine how my body is feeling and what I need to do to make sure I'm showing up at my best.Then, I look at Solidcore's real-time dashboards to see things like cash sales, studio visitation, and membership growth. It allows me to walk into the day knowing what our opportunities and challenges might be.When I'm back from my walk, we're thrust into family get-ready timeI have a toddler, so my husband and I get him and ourselves ready. We're usually all out the door by about 7:15. My husband is an elementary school principal in northern Virginia, so he heads to school, and on the way, we split up drop-off duties with me usually taking our dog to and him taking our toddler to their respective daycares. I'm usually at the office between 7:45 and 8 a.m. to get the day started.Even with the busy mornings, I'm a big breakfast eater. I eat in our office's communal kitchen — it's also a nice way for me to greet our team members as they arrive. My typical breakfast is a frozen bag of broccoli — the entire bag steamed — with four hard-boiled eggs and an English muffin. I believe it's the most important meal of the day and opt for something that gives me energy.During the day, I do the typical things you'd expect a CEO to do — go to meetings and spend time with the teamRight now, we're growing a lot, and it's exciting to see the impact we're having as we enter more communities and see new people walk through our doors. When I joined the company, we had 25 locations, and now we're almost at 140 in 26 states. When I first started at Solidcore as COO, a lot of my role was about 'doing.' I was negotiating deals with landlords or hiring. Now, my role is much more oriented toward vision. It's focused on questions like, "Where are we going to be in five years?" or "Who are the team members or functions we need to add to this company?"I also spend a lot of my time on the road, seeing our teams and helping them feel connected to the mission and the vision of our company, as well as making sure they feel seen, appreciated, and inspired. Myers at a dinner with Solidcore coaches. Photo courtesy of Bryan Myers I'm also finding ways to continue the magic our founder created while creating my own legacy and strategyAfter I became CEO, we made a big push to get people better pricing in exchange for their locking in and being a part of the community as members.We've also thought about race, age, body type — everything that can make people feel excluded from a fitness experience. We want people to look at our coaching wall and see themselves in a coach. Myers with Solidcore coaches Bryan Myers We're also thinking about how we build products to help all people, whether they're super athletes or at the start of their fitness journeys. One of the ways we've done this is by introducing new class formats for those at different fitness levels, like our Starter50 and Advanced50.I love working out with my teamOne of the amazing things about working at a company like Solidcore is that we have a lot of flexibility; it's not uncommon for the folks who work at HQ to hop out and do a team sweat together. It might be at Solidcore — because, of course, we love Solidcore — but it might also be at another studio around our neighborhood. It breaks up the day and re-energizes us for what comes next. Myers with team members and clients after coaching a class. Photo courtesy of Bryan Myers I love working out with our teams and often coach multiple times a week when I travel. A lot of business leaders take their teams out to dinner or happy hour, but coaching a class is another way for me to connect in a way that feels authentically Solidcore.Another way I connect with people is through my social media presenceI'm very intentional in showing people that I'm more than just the title of CEO — I'm a father, I like to travel, I lip sync to Beyoncé, and I enjoy hosting dinner parties with my friends. I think that helps people relate to me and realize that you don't have to be stuffy or robotic to be a CEO. Myers and his husband on a bike ride around Mexico City. Bryan Myers I also take time to get involved in organizations and philanthropic causes I care aboutI'm a strategic advisory council member for the Health & Fitness Association (previously known as IHRSA) because I believe that industries don't advance without people doing the work to help advance them.I also support The Ridley Scholarship Fund, which paid for my university experience and changed my trajectory by allowing me to be involved with extracurriculars and the student experience instead of thinking about work or having to pay off loans. Myers with members of the Health and Fitness Association lobbying on Capitol Hill for the PHIT ACT. Photo courtesy of Bryan Myers I usually head home from the office around 5 p.m., and then jump into family timeMy husband and I make and eat dinner, catch up on the day, and play with our son. We really soak it all in before he goes to bed at 7 p.m.Once he goes to bed, my routine includes a combination of a few different things. Our mantra at Solidcore is to be the strongest version of yourself, and one of the ways I do that is by being a continuous learner. Sometimes it's reading — I've been reading "Strength to Strength." Other times, it's taking a Spanish lesson, which I've been doing with a tutor for the last three years.I also take time to catch up with friends through text, FaceTime, or Zoom. It's also a time to tap back into work and finish all the things I didn't get done before I left the office. I try to limit working in the evenings to no more than two hours so I can be ready to attack the next day.I end my day between 10 and 10:30 p.m.I wind down like a typical millennial — by scrolling through TikTok and catching up on funny trends as I decompress from the stress of running a growing business.It takes a village for me to stay energized and excited about my work. My husband, our family, my executive coach, and my assistant all support me. Myers with his family. Photo courtesy of Bryan Myers. A lot of people look at successful people and think they do it all, but no one can do it all. The only way you can get to those levels of success is with an incredible community.If you're a CEO and would like to share your daily routine, contact this editor, Jane Zhang, at janezhang@businessinsider.com. Recommended video

F/A-18s can carry the StormBreaker bomb. US Navy photo 2025-04-25T21:35:31Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? The US Navy appears to be using new "StormBreaker" glide bombs against the Houthis. What appeared to be one of these guided munitions was spotted in the sand in Yemen this week. Fully intact wreckage could be exploited by US adversaries, including Iran. US fighter jets appear to be using advanced "StormBreaker" precision glide bombs in combat against the Houthis, part of the intense bombing campaign against the Iran-backed rebels.An image of what looked like an unexploded, US-made bomb half-buried in the sand began circulating on social media Thursday. Open-source intelligence accounts geolocated the image to Yemen's southern Shabwah governorate.Trevor Ball, a former US Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, identified the munition as the GBU-53/B StormBreaker, a relatively new munition in the American arsenal. He told Business Insider that the discovery of the bomb, seemingly fully intact, highlights a problem: it could fall into the wrong hands. The GBU-53/B, known as the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II, is an air-launched standoff weapon with precision guidance and pop-out wings. The 200-pound bomb is made by US defense contractor Raytheon, now RTX, and can be released from carrier-based fighter aircraft like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.The weapon can be used against moving and stationary targets and is capable of operating in inclement weather, according to Naval Air Systems Command. The bomb can also receive updated target coordinates mid-flight.In October 2023, the Navy declared early operational capability for the StormBreaker and said its Super Hornets would be the first platforms to carry the bomb.US Central Command, which oversees Middle East operations, published footage last month appearing to show the StormBreaker among other ordnance aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, which has been at the forefront of the Houthi conflict. In a screengrab of this March 21 video, the StormBreaker bomb can be seen with the yellow stripe at the bottom of the frame on the USS Harry S. Truman. US Central Command The War Zone, which first reported on Friday on the StormBreaker's discovery in Yemen, spotted evidence last month that the Navy had used the munition for the first time in combat.The image of the apparent StormBreaker looks to be the clearest sign that the US is using this weapon against the Houthis. That the munition is fully intact suggests air defenses did not take it out. A defense official declined to answer BI's questions about the incident or provide further details.Ball, a researcher at Armament Research Services, said the risk in this situation is that Iran, which has long supported the Houthis, could get its hands on the StormBreaker."The Iranians are notorious for reverse engineering weapons systems and creating their own versions," Ball said. "The quicker Iran can acquire weapons to exploit relative to the US fielding them, the more Iran can try to narrow gaps in their capabilities."This could even go on to benefit Russia, which has enjoyed increasingly close defense ties with Iran since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The carrier-based F/A-18E Super Hornet can carry StormBreaker bombs. US Navy photo Ball explained that although the StormBreaker was reportedly found in an area of Yemen that the Houthis don't control, "it highlights the risk of unexploded munitions ending up in Iranian possession," especially given that there are likely highly classified components in the munition. "The greater the scale of airstrikes and use, the more likely this becomes," Ball said, adding that the same risk applies to the AGM-158, which the US has been using against the Houthis.The AGM-158, or Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), is a stealthy, long-range cruise missile developed by Lockheed Martin. The JASSM and StormBreaker are standoff weapons, meaning that aircraft can release them from a distance and avoid Houthi air defenses, unlike conventional gravity bombs dropped directly over a target.The US also appears to be using the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), among other advanced munitions, against the Houthis.The US has been bombing the Houthis for six weeks straight to get the rebels to stop their attacks on Red Sea shipping. The military has publicly disclosed very few details about the intense campaign since the early days, though it acknowledged striking a major Houthi-controlled oil terminal last week. Dozens of people were reportedly killed in the attack.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the US has attacked hundreds of Houthi targets since the campaign began and decimated its leadership. However, analysts have cast doubt that the strikes will effectively eliminate the rebels' capabilities; previous stikres haven't. Just a few days ago, for instance, they fired missiles at Israel. Recommended video

James Clare, Zhi Han (Anthony) Yao, and Flint Mueller. Clark Hodgin for BI 2025-04-25T18:51:40Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Three teenagers in New York designed a cardboard, called Kiriboard, to replace plastic packaging. They got the idea when a box of motors for their robotics hobby arrived damaged. Their invention won the $12,500 Earth Prize. Now they plan to buy a machine to make more Kiriboards. Three teenage boys in New York City have invented a clever packaging material that they hope will replace toxic plastics and make plastic-free shipping a reality.Zhi Han (Anthony) Yao, Flint Mueller, and James Clare are planning to pursue a patent and eventually pitch their product to Home Depot, as well as traditional shippers like Amazon, FedEx, and the US Postal Service.They call their geometric, cardboard invention Kiriboard, since it's inspired by Japanese kirigami, which is the art of cutting and folding paper."Something like this is the wave of the future," Jerry Citron, the teenagers' environmental-science teacher, told Business Insider.Yao, Mueller, and Clare won the Earth Prize on April 8, making them one of seven winning environmental projects by teenagers across the globe. The award comes with $12,500, which they plan to use to buy a cutting machine, called a CNC router, and test more prototypes.Plastic-free shipping could change the worldJust like any plastic, Styrofoam and other plastic packaging can shed microscopic bits of plastic into homes and the environment.Microplastics have been detected from the oceans to the top of Mount Everest, in animals' and humans' body tissues and blood, and even in rain all over the planet. They're associated with heart attack and stroke risk. Some researchers suspect they could even be contributing to the recent rise in colon cancers in young people."I didn't realize it was as big of an issue as it was," Yao told BI. "I mean, companies have made sustainable initiatives and greener initiatives, but they haven't really fully replaced plastic packaging."Enter the Kiriboard: Kiriboard is cut into lattice-like shapes so that it can bend to fill the space between an item and the wall of its box. The cuts give the cardboard a three-dimensional structure that makes it sturdy and allows it to bend and absorb impact, protecting what's inside, similar to bubble wrap but without the plastic. A Kiriboard prototype the trio built out of cardboard from a jump rope box. Clark Hodgin for BI Once perfected, the three teens hope their design can help ship packages of sensitive or heavy equipment even more securely, at a competitive price. Please help BI improve our Business, Tech, and Innovation coverage by sharing a bit about your role — it will help us tailor content that matters most to people like you. What is your job title? (1 of 2) Entry level position Project manager Management Senior management Executive management Student Self-employed Retired Other What products or services can you approve for purchase in your role? (2 of 2) Advertising / Marketing Client / Account Management Company strategy HR / Training / Office support Managing budgets IT / Telecoms / Tech Recruiting new employees Sales Software development Financial Other None of the above By providing this information, you agree that Business Insider may use this data to improve your site experience and for targeted advertising. By continuing you agree that you accept the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Thanks for sharing insights about your role. Broken motors and crumple zonesClare, Mueller, and Yao are all on the same robotics team at Stuyvesant High School in New York City. Clare is a junior, and Mueller and Yao are seniors.The idea for Kiriboard started when they opened a shipment of Kraken X60 motors, which are about $200 a pop. They found that the brass pins, which connect the motors to a robot, were damaged and unusable. They assumed the pins had been damaged in transit."We're like, well, we should do something about this packaging, because clearly the packaging wasn't good enough," Mueller said.Clare thought about how cars are engineered with crumple zones, meant to absorb the energy of impacts to protect the people inside. Clare, Yao, and Mueller in their high school robotics lab. Clare is holding a Kraken X60 motor. Clark Hodgin for BI Similarly, he said, "you can make strategic weak points in your packaging so that the package warps and deforms," sparing the package's contents.With help from the Earth Prize program and Citron, they built and tested their first Kiriboard prototypes.The matrixIt was a scrappy effort, with cardboard scavenged from their school.After some research and consulting various teachers, Yao said they drew up eight or nine different designs, and narrowed down to four to build and test. Then, came the fun part: dropping heavy stuff on their creations.To test their prototypes' durability, the teens slammed them with a roll of tape, a stapler, a can of soda, and a metal water bottle — "which did the most damage, but not as much as we thought it would," Clare said.They dropped each item onto the Kiriboard prototypes from various heights, so that they could calculate and study the physical forces of each impact."Basically, we want to see what's the most amount of force it can take before it snaps," Yao said.The results were promising, the trio said. The Kiriboard prototypes A screenshot of the trio's design for Kiriboard packaging. Zhi Han (Anthony) Yao, Flint Mueller, James Clare In the design pictured above, four triangular "legs" hold the Kiriboard in place inside a box."This middle section, we call it the matrix. This is supposed to be flexible," Yao said. Once you place an item for shipping inside the box, the matrix "is supposed to form to the product."Once they've purchased a CNC router to automate cutting the cardboard, they plan to test prototypes by actually shipping them in boxes."Right now, we want to perfect our product," Yao said.When it's ready, they said they might also pitch it to the electronics company AndyMark, which shipped them the robotic motors that arrived broken."No shade to them," Clare said, adding that their robotics team frequently orders from AndyMark with no problems."We're on the brink of, like, this could become a reality, and it's just up to us to put in that final effort," Mueller said. Clare chimed in: "All from a broken package." Recommended video

We tried chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Fields, Crumbl, and Insomnia. Ted Berg 2025-04-25T16:07:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? My kids and I tried chocolate chip cookies from Mrs. Fields, Crumbl, and Insomnia. All the cookies were good, but the one from Mrs. Fields was our least favorite. The Crumbl option was good, but the one from Insomnia Cookies was definitely my favorite. Few desserts are more classic than a warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. It's a sweet treat that's not too messy, rich, or indulgent, and it's easy to whip up a batch at home.However, I have 7- and 4-year-old children, and keeping up with the cookie demand can be extremely labor-intensive. Sometimes, home-baked desserts just aren't possible.So, I was curious to see which dessert chain serves up the best-tasting chocolate chip cookies. To find out, I bought cookies from three national brands: Crumbl, Insomnia Cookies, and Mrs. Fields and took them home to taste-test with my kids.Here's how we'd rank them from worst to best.The cookie from Mrs. Fields was our least favorite The Mrs. Fields cookie wasn't bad, but I preferred the others more. Ted Berg Mrs. Fields is the most established of the cookie brands we sampled. The company was founded in Palo Alto, California, in 1977 by Debbi Fields. Today, the company has 250 locations around the world.The cookie from Mrs. Fields was the smallest of the three I tried but also the least expensive ($2). Perfectly round and evenly cooked, I thought it looked like a slightly larger version of a chewy Chips Ahoy cookie. Nothing was unappetizing about its appearance, but it was easily the least exciting of the three.When I took a bite, I noticed it had a bit of crunch around the outside. Nothing about the flavor was unpleasant — it was sweet, probably the least salty of the three cookies, and soft on the inside.However, I found the inside was soft and a bit gummy, which I didn't love. It also had the smallest portion of chocolate chips of the three we tried.My kids were careful to note that they loved all three cookies, but we all ranked this one as our least favorite.The Crumbl cookie was good, but I prefer the brand's other flavors The cookie from Crumbl was huge. Ted Berg Of the three cookie brands I stopped at, Crumbl is the newest. Founded in Logan, Utah, in 2017, the chain now has over 1,000 locations across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.I have a lot of experience with Crumbl cookies, so I knew what to expect: an enormous, soft cookie served warm and loaded with thick chunks of chocolate.The semi-sweet chocolate chunk cookie cost $5, but it was big enough for several people to share. Most of Crumbl's offerings are visually compelling, and this one certainly would've made for the best Instagram post of the three.My 4-year-old, who values softness in a cookie, called this her favorite of the group. It was so thick that, to me, it seemed more like a blondie than a proper cookie.It was also so soft and mushy inside that it felt like it bordered on being underbaked. There was a ton of chocolate, and the creamy, melty, semi-sweet chunks seemed like the highest-quality chocolate in any of the three cookies.However, the cookie itself was a bit bland — sweet with a touch of salt — and the size was not much of a draw for me.My 7-year-old and I agreed that this was the second-best of the three we tried. Overall, it was good, but I've enjoyed other Crumbl cookies more than this one. The version from Insomnia Cookies was my favorite I loved that the version from Insomnia Cookies had a nice crunch to it. Ted Berg The first brick-and-mortar Insomnia Cookies location opened in Syracuse, New York, in 2006. True to its name, Insomnia caters to night owls, offering cookie delivery until 3 a.m.The brand now has over 300 locations in the US, Canada, and England.I made semi-frequent late-night stops at Insomnia after one opened up in my old neighborhood about 15 years ago, before I had children. However, it had been a long time since I had tried one, and I didn't know if it would match my memory.The $3 price tag seemed reasonable, and this cookie looked a bit darker than the others, making it seem richer and more appetizing.Insomnia's chocolate chip cookie was easily my favorite of the three we tried. It had the best flavor, with an almost caramel-like combination of vanilla and brown sugar, and hefty chocolate chunks.It also had the best texture, with a nice crunch on the outside and a soft and gooey center. I'd definitely order from Insomnia Cookies again. Recommended video

One of the top things that travelers love to do when they visit the United States is to embark on a great American road trip, filled with plenty of stunning national parks. From Yellowstone's thundering herds of bison to Yosemite's towering granite walls, there's no shortage of natural wonders inside the millions of acres of American parkland.Of course, with 63 different parks to visit, it's inevitable that some won't be a slam dunk for every single visitor. I spent the entirety of 2020 visiting all of the US national parks, and although most were absolutely spellbinding, there are several that I won't be rushing back to anytime soon.Below, I'll get into four of my all-time favorites — plus three let-downs that some travelers might want to skip. I truly love Grand Teton National Park. The landscapes in Grand Teton National Park are incredible. Emily Pennington Rising up from the Snake River Valley like a gaggle of shark's teeth, the Teton Range is one of the most impressive landscapes on the planet. Plus, the park is just a stone's throw from Jackson Hole, Wyoming's famed cowboy-town-turned-ski-haven. As such, there are loads of phenomenal restaurants nearby and chic lodges to bed down in when you're not hiking its hundreds of miles of trails.In summer, grab your bear spray and spend a day hiking to Trapper Lake. If you're visiting when it's snowy out, book a wildlife-viewing trip with Jackson Hole Eco Tours for a chance to photograph moose and wolves. Gates of the Arctic National Park is unlike any place I've ever been. Visitors can get to the Gates of the Arctic National Park via bush plane. Emily Pennington Yes, it's one of the most remote national parks of the bunch, but Alaska's massive Gates of the Arctic is one of the few places on earth that completely upended what I thought a wilderness area could be. Home to thousands-strong caribou migrations, wild rivers, and the imposing peaks of the Brooks Range, this far-north site is well worth the time it takes to get there.Alaska Alpine Adventures is one of the few tour operators that'll bring guests to this Arctic Circle expanse. Choose between a backpacking trip to the Arrigetch Peaks or a river-rafting tour — either way, you'll be privy to the park's otherworldly solitude and miles of verdant tundra. Big Bend National Park truly offers something for every kind of traveler. Big Bend is in Texas near the Mexico border. Emily Pennington Tucked away in remote West Texas, Big Bend offers a scenic escape from the state's mostly flat landscapes. It's also a fantastic park for those of us with short attention spans — choose between scenic drives (like the boulder- and cactus-strewn Ross Maxwell), riverside hikes (like Santa Elena Canyon), or rafting adventures along the Rio Grande. When you're not out adventuring, be sure to take a dip in the park's steamy Langford Hot Springs. There's a good reason Yosemite National Park is so popular. Lembert Dome is one of many peaks in Yosemite National Park. Emily Pennington Made even more famous by films like "Free Solo," Yosemite has always been renowned for its roaring waterfalls, stellar Sierra Nevada hiking, and sky-high cliffs of glacially-polished granite. Yosemite National Park is surrounded by striking, mountainous landscapes, forested hillsides, and quaint gateway towns.Sure, it's one of the more crowded national parks, but I've always found it easy enough to escape the throngs by trekking in the area's high country, road tripping over to Hetch Hetchy, or visiting in autumn (when most kids are back in school). On the other hand, Indiana Dunes National Park left me feeling underwhelmed. I didn't feel transported into nature in Indiana Dunes National Park. Emily Pennington It can be fun to spend half a day tottering around on Indiana's famed lakeside sand dunes — unfortunately, I found this site to be small and city-bound. While exploring Indiana Dunes National Park, hikers are routinely greeted by views of power plants and Chicago's copious skyline. Also, the dunefield used to be much larger than its current sprawl — sadly, much of its mass was carted away by glass companies and manufacturers in the early 1900s.I found the park itself to be a reminder of why we need to preserve important landscapes before they are overly developed by corporate interests. To me, this park is more of a symbol of Western industrialization than a pristine piece of nature. Gateway Arch National Park hardly feels like a real park. Gateway Arch National Park feels more like a monument than a park. Emily Pennington More glorified cityscape than nature preserve, Gateway Arch was established as a national park in 2018, after a Missouri senator sponsored a bill to redesignate the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. The move followed a $380 million renovation of the site, refurbishing the arch and adding an underground history museum to the downtown St. Louis property.Although the space-age architecture of the arch itself is impressive, I found this to be the most surprising national park of my quest. With its manicured lawns and paved pathways, it doesn't feel like a typical national park. Even an acting deputy director of the National Park Service has said that the small site fits the department's definition of a national monument much more than a park. Unlike most public lands, Gateway Arch charges additional funds for important attractions once guests enter the premises, like going up inside the arch, which can feel like a Disneyland-style cash grab. I wasn't very impressed by Dry Tortugas National Park. Dry Tortugas National Park felt like more of a monument than an escape. Emily Pennington Maybe I just got a bout of bad weather on the choppy boat ride out to Florida's Dry Tortugas, but I found this to be the least impressive of America's beachy national parks.Its snorkeling areas felt small and relatively uninhabited by marine life during my visit. Although the park's Civil War-era fort is an impressive feat of engineering, it feels much more like a national monument dedicated to our country's history than a blissful island escape.Like most of my least-favorite national parks, access to Dry Tortugas is largely controlled by a private tour operator, meaning that most travelers will have to pay for a ferry ride from Key West to this small cluster of islands.In my opinion, you could visit nearby Biscayne National Park or jet set to the Virgin Islands for a more immersive tropical park experience.

The author enjoys spending time with her family outside. Courtesy of Melissa Noble 2025-04-25T10:07:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? My husband and I have three kids, and in recent years, things have gotten more expensive. We've figured out ways to make our money stretch further for our family of five. I buy generic brands at the grocery store and we spend time outdoors for entertainment. As a family of five, we have definitely felt the pinch in recent years. It feels like so many things are getting more expensive, including the cost of groceries, daycare, utility bills, insurance premiums, and more.In order to make ends meet, we've had to make a few adjustments to our spending habits. Our lifestyle has definitely changed, but I wouldn't say that it's necessarily a bad thing. In fact, reining in our spending has meant that when we splurge on nice-to-haves, we appreciate them more.Here are the tweaks we've made that have worked for us.I meal plan and buy generic brand groceriesI try to meal plan as much as possible in such a way where we're using up all the ingredients we buy. For example, if I buy sour cream for a Mexican dish, I use the rest up up in a dessert as well, rather than letting it go bad.I don't let anything go to waste at home. If vegetables are starting to wilt or go soft, I throw them in a soup or stew. If meat is about to turn bad, I freeze it and use it later in the month.I've always been a thrifty shopper, but I am even more budget-conscious nowadays. I buy the generic brands and check what's cheapest according to the unit price at the grocery store. Sometimes, I'll buy in bulk if it means saving money per unit and it's something we'll use up eventually.We also eat what's in season or on special. If blueberries are $8 a basket and apples are $2 a pound, apples it is.We rarely eat out at restaurantsWhen we only had one child, my husband and I used to love eating out. We ate out once or twice a week, but now that we're a family of five, it's just too expensive.We probably only eat out at a restaurant once every few months now. Often, we'll make it a date night and leave the kids at home, so that my husband and I can enjoy the outing in peace (and it's also cheaper that way).Funnily enough, I don't miss going out to restaurants at all. Not only are we saving money, but we're also eating more wholesome, home-cooked food. When we do eat out, it feels like a real treat, too.We cut back on subscriptions and spend our free time outside or with friendsThree years ago, we moved to Bright in regional Victoria, Australia. Living in the country, we had to get better at making our own fun and discovered that free entertainment is actually a joy.Nowadays, most of our weekends are jam-packed with picnics and nature walks, bike rides and dinners at friends' houses, or friends coming over to ours. We also invest in quality "toys" that will last the distance and provide entertainment in years to come. For example, all of us have mountain bikes that we ride most weeks.One of my favorite hobbies is reading, and to save money, I've started using the library rather than buying books. Libraries are such a great resource, even in a small town like ours.We've also cut back on subscriptions we don't need, like streaming services. The author and her family invest in items that will provide entertainment for a long time, like mountain bikes. Courtesy of Melissa Noble I swap clothes with friends or buy secondhandI used to love buying nice clothes, but my priorities have shifted. When I do buy something, I love buying secondhand. It's a great way to find quality clothing (sometimes even designer brands) for a fraction of the usual cost.My friends and I lend each other clothes for special occasions in order to save money, and I also hosted a swap party with a bunch of my friends recently. Everyone brought clothes, jewellery, perfumes, and books they no longer wanted, and went home with a bag of goodies at the end of the night. It was a great way to reduce, reuse, and recycle.Budgeting has been key, and every little bit adds upOverall, adjusting our spending habits has helped us stay afloat during what has been a challenging time financially for many families. Having a clear understanding of where our money is going has been crucial, and has allowed us to identify areas to save. It's easy to forget that every little bit adds up, but it definitely does! Recommended video

Lip-Bu Tan is trying to engineer a turnaround at Intel. Dibyanshu Sarkar for AFP via Getty Images 2025-04-25T06:04:28Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Intel's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, announced layoffs and a stricter RTO mandate in a Thursday memo. The company also reported flat revenue and a significant loss. Its stock was down after hours. Other tech companies are similarly directing employees to focus on efficiency. Intel's new CEO promised big changes within weeks of taking over the chipmaker. Now, he's laying out steps that echo how Big Tech companies have changed their workforces.In a Thursday memo to employees posted on the company's website, Lip-Bu Tan detailed his plan for the company's culture: more time in the office, less admin, and leaner"The most important KPI for many managers at Intel has been the size of their teams. Going forward, this will not be the case," Tan wrote, referring to key performance indicators. "The best leaders get the most done with the fewest people."Tan said the company will lay off employees over the next few months, starting this quarter. It is not clear how much Intel plans to reduce its head count. As of December, the company employed 108,900 full-time people, a decrease of more than 12% from the previous year, after a round of cuts under the prior CEO.Tan said that by September, the company will mandate four days in the office, up from three days now. He's making the company's goal framework, called OKRs, optional, and cutting down on administrative tasks.The CEO also took aim at meetings, which have long been a pet peeve of top executives, including JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon."I am instructing our leaders to eliminate unnecessary meetings and significantly reduce the number of meeting attendees. Too much valuable time is being wasted," he said.Tan, an electronics veteran, took over as Intel's CEO last month. His appointment comes after former CEO Pat Gelsinger's sudden departure in December and during a tumultuous time for the once-dominant chipmaker, which has been struggling to compete with Nvidia and Taiwanese players.On Thursday, Intel reported its first-quarter earnings. Its revenue was $12.7 billion — flat compared to last year — and it reported a loss of $800 million.Intel's stock fell 5% after hours on Thursday because of weaker-than-expected earnings guidance for the second quarter. Intel's stock is down nearly 39% over the last year.Intel did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider 'Lean, fast, and agile'Tan's 'do more with less' memo reflects a broader cultural crackdown across tech.Younger companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, and TikTok are rethinking a US tech culture known for pandemic-eraIntel also joins the rest of Big Tech in embracing the "great flattening." Companies, including Meta, have cut middle-level management in favor of more streamlined teams and fewer tiers of hierarchy, which they think should lead to less bureaucracy.Across the industry, free massages and pet day care services have been replaced with memos filled with words such as "efficiency" and "scrappiness and frugality." Tan, too, in his letter wrote: "Our competitors are lean, fast and agile — and that's what we must become to improve our execution."Tan's note echoes memos that the CEOs of Amazon and Shopify sent to their employees."We want to operate like the world's largest startup," Amazon's Andy Jassy wrote in a September letter. "That means having a passion for constantly inventing for customers, strong urgency (for most big opportunities, it's a race!), high ownership, fast decision-making, scrappiness and frugality, deeply-connected collaboration."In a memo to employees that Shopify's Toby Lütke shared on social media earlier this month, he wrote: "In a company growing 20-40% year over year, you must improve by at least that every year just to re-qualify." Recommended video

"I know who I am and I know what I am doing and I know what my values are and why I am giving back," Melinda French Gates said. Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images 2025-04-25T04:07:56Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Melinda French Gates said she ignores the criticism she gets from tech bros on her philanthropy. "If that's how they want to act? Fine, but it doesn't bother me," French Gates said. Elon Musk has criticized French Gates and MacKenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, for their work in charity. Melinda French Gates said she isn't bothered by the nasty things tech bros have to say about her philanthropic work.French Gates was asked about the criticism billionaires like her and MacKenzie Scott have received for their philanthropy during an interview with Scott Galloway on his podcast, which aired Thursday."I ignore it," French Gates said. "I know who I am and I know what I am doing and I know what my values are and why I am giving back.""I'm not sitting on the sidelines. To me, it's so easy to sit on the sidelines and, as Roosevelt used to say, criticize from the sidelines. I'm in the arena doing the work," French Gates continued.French Gates has received criticism for her charity work. In June, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said it "might be the downfall of Western civilization" after French Gates endorsed President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. Musk was responding to an X post by the Babylon Bee staffer Ashley St. Clair about French Gates' endorsement."Many super villain arcs being pursued under the guise of philanthropy," St. Clair wrote in an X post."Yeah," Musk replied.Earlier, in March 2024, Musk criticized Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, Scott, for her charitable giving."'Super rich ex-wives who hate their former spouse' should filed be listed among 'Reasons that Western Civilization died,'" Musk wrote in a now-deleted post on X on March 6, 2024.French Gates told Galloway that attacks and criticism will not stop her from continuing with her philanthropy."I think when you're not doing the work and you're not in the arena, it's easier to criticize others and to project onto others or make them look bad because you don't want to go do that work," she said."That's up to them. If that's how they want to act? Fine, but it doesn't bother me. My work goes ahead," she continued.French Gates announced her divorce from Microsoft cofounder, Bill Gates, in 2021. The couple had been married for 27 years.In May, French Gates said she had left the Gates Foundation, a philanthropic foundation she started with her now ex-husband in 2000. Her giving efforts are now mainly led by Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company she launched in 2015.French Gates wrote about her decision to leave the Gates Foundation in an op-ed for The New York Times published in May. In that op-ed, she said she would give $1 billion over the next two years to causes relating to reproductive rights, women, and families."Many years ago, I received this piece of advice: 'Set your own agenda, or someone else will set it for you.' I've carried those words with me ever since," French Gates wrote.Representatives for French Gates did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Recommended video

Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images 2025-04-25T00:18:02Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Take a look at any Gen Z or Gen Alpha's bag — chances are, multiple charms are hooked onto it. The hottest trend of late is bag charms: Cute keychains and figurines that can be hooked on zips and straps. From showcasing personality to being a marketing tool for brands, here's why everyone's crazy about them. Gone are the days when the clickity-clack of stilettos used to signal a woman's entrance into a room. It's now replaced by the clickity-clack of the dozen charms she's hooked onto her handbag.Bag charms — small, decorative keychains — are quickly making their way onto the clasps of Gen Zers' bags. From miniature stuffed toys and cute figurines to beaded chains and even tiny framed pictures of their favorite artists, bag charms vary dramatically in size and form.For some, the charms just help to spice up an otherwise boring bag. For others, the importance of the charms goes much deeper — they are an extension of their personality, as much a fashion choice as their clothing."Whether they're adorning the 'it bag' of the moment or a thrift store find, Gen Zs and Gen Alphas see their bags as a blank canvas to display their personalities and personal style," said Carol Davidson, an NYC-based image consultant."It's adornment, sure, but also a way of sharing oneself with others," she added. "A cluster of charms gives others a snapshot of how someone sees themselves and how they want others to see them."Retail brands are hopping on the trend, with everyone from KFC to Balenciaga releasing bag charms to get the Gen Z buy-in. Celebrities at Paris Fashion Week had charms swinging from their bags.Here's a look at the hottest Gen Z trend of late.A modern take on 'Birkinifying' bagsDavidson said one likely origin of the bag charm trend was the death of Jane Birkin, the late British actor and model who was the muse and namesake of Hermès' most popular luxury bag, the Birkin."'Birkinifying' is officially a thing, originating with Jane Birkin herself. She was admired for her unique sense of style and love of fashion, but also for not taking it all too seriously," Davidson told BI."She was one of the first — if not the first - to adorn her large, well-worn bags with charms, scarves, and trinkets. Since her death in 2023, we've seen the re-emergence of this '00s trend," she added.Gregory Scott Angel, an assistant professor of fashion at Parsons School of Design, said the punk style of the 1980s could have been a predecessor to the bag charm trend, a style characterized by a "number of piercings, jewelry, and visible identity."Angel likened charms to emojis."The charms are a big identifier with people's personality. These charms could be associated with comfort, but for the most part, I see them as identifiers, the same way we use emojis to communicate with people," Angel said.A new way to vibe checkLow Zhi An, a 23-year-old tutor and avid charm collector from Singapore, put it bluntly: "If you have no bag charms, you have no personality."Low said she probably has over 50 charms in her collection. Although she's spent up to 40 Singaporean Dollars, or about $30, on a single charm, her favorite is one she got for free at Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour concert in Singapore."I got this small keychain from this little girl, and I just thought it was really, really cute. It just happened to have my favorite song on it, Gold Rush," Low, 23, said. Low Zhi An said she's collected about 50 bag charms to date, the most expensive being SG$40. Low Zhi An Low, who is also a die-hard K-pop fan, said that her most expensive charm was a green star plushie keychain tied to an album from her favorite group, NCT.The charm has a Near Field Communication tag, which, when brought near a phone, immediately lets the user browse and stream the album online.She also has several charms with photos of her favorite K-pop celebrities, like Yeonjun from the boy band Tomorrow X Together.Yeo Wen Qing, a recent communications graduate, said her journey collecting bag charms started young, when she kept the small keychains and knickknacks she got from Kinder Joy sweets or McDonald's meals.Now, Yeo says she has more than 10 charms, at least one on each bag she owns.For Yeo, seeing what bag charms a person has is a litmus test of their personality and whether she'll be able to "vibe well with them.""If I see that person has a bag charm of a Labubu, I will know that person buys into trends, maybe buys a bit too much into trends," she said. Labubu, a furry plushie toy with serrated teeth made by Chinese toymaker PopMart, has taken Asia and, increasingly, the West by storm.She added that if she sees someone with a charm of an "obscure" cartoon or anime character that she loves, she finds it easier to approach them.Gwen Lim, a Gen Zer who works in campaign marketing in Singapore, collects bag charms on her travels. She said they serve as souvenirs of her trips and remind her of good times with her friends. Gwen Lim's bag, with fresh charms from her recent trip to South Korea Gwen Lim Lim, 23, said charms also serve a very utilitarian function for her.In Singapore, where a handful of bag brands like Charles & Keith and The Paper Bunny reign supreme and trends spread like wildfire, many people carry similar bags. Hanging charms are her way of differentiating her bag from the masses.Lim's charms are also little vehicles for her beauty products. She said beauty brands in South Korea often package their products into bag charms. Lim is a fan of bag charms that house beauty products, like the Fwee Pudding Pot blush in the blue case. Gwen Lim Even fashion stylists are getting in on the bag charm trend.Edith Chan, a Madrid-based stylist, said she's gotten her clients, who are mainly entrepreneurial women in their 30s, to get in on the bag charm trend. She said even tying a scarf onto their bag helps them make their bag unique to them.Major retail brands are hopping on the bag charm bandwagonRetail brands, from fashion to food from across the board, are making bag charms to get the buy-in of the younger consumer base. In Singapore, KFC debuted limited-edition bag charms of the beloved Japanese cat character Mofusand wearing hats shaped like egg tarts, chicken drumsticks, and an upside-down fried chicken bucket.Over to haute couture, in November, Balenciaga introduced a "Charms Bar" in some of its stores worldwide, which allows customers to personalize their bags. One of the charms it sells is the $895 "Le City Micro Bag Charm," a tiny replica of its $2,900 Le City Medium bag.Angel, the professor from Parsons, said charms are "free marketing" for big brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier."In a competitive market, it helps luxury brands solidify brand loyalty with their existing base while providing an accessible entry for aspirational consumers," Davidson, the image consultant, said.Chan, the stylist, said the charms are a big way brands are drawing in younger customers."These brands always go to the young people," she said. "It's one way to nurture this generation to make them brand loyal." Recommended video

I haven't always loved having the name Lynda — but at least it's not Linda. Courtesy of Lynda Rucker. 2025-04-24T21:45:02Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? I'm a Gen X woman with a name beloved by baby boomers, but often misunderstood by my peers. Today the name Linda is often associated with a frumpy archetype, as seen in TV shows and memes. The unique "y" in the spelling of my name helps me stand out from the Lindas of the world. "Linda? That's my aunt's name!"I probably wasn't even out of my teens before I'd lost count of the number of times a cute boy said this to me. "You have an old name because you had old parents," my older sister flatly told me once. My friends more tactfully insisted that "No, the 'y'But my sister wasn't wrong: I'm a Gen X Lynda with a name beloved by the parents of baby boomers and even the silent generation. These days, the name has been reduced to a frumpy archetype. How did a name that was the equivalent of a TikTok sensation of its day become so relentlessly uncool?Lindas are getting a bad rapThe "y" is the only thing standing between me and the Lindas of the world. As a Linda, I'm an episode-long joke on "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" in which everyone is confounded by a baby named Linda because Lindas are adult women who work in HR. There's also the bossy busybody of the "Listen Linda" meme (there but for the grace of Karen go I), which originated with a Linda recording her three-year-old son repeatedly insisting "Listen, Linda" with all of the exasperated patience he can muster faced with the implacable bureaucracy that a Linda embodies. As a Lynda, I have plausible deniability.The comedic success of both the TV show and the meme relies on the confidence that we've all noticed certain things about people named Linda and that we'll all get the joke, and we do. "Who's Linda? Your mom's friend?" Linda is the type of person who carries SlimFast in her purse and gets mad when she can't find her keys. Linda says things like "Mondays," with that little rueful head shake, you know the one. Of course she does.We all know this Linda, but why? How did this extraordinarily popular name become this frumpy archetype?The name isn't poised for a comeback — yetOne thing all the characters in the Kimmy Schmidt episode agree on — including the five middle-aged Lindas who all work in HR at the same company — Linda definitely can't be a baby.These days, they aren't wrong. In the US, the name Linda began its sharp rise in popularity in the late 1930s, peaked in the late 1940s, and declined dramatically throughout the 1960s and 1970s to become one of the unlikeliest names given to babies today.This is my name, and I'm keeping itOf course, we Lyndas with a "y" were always somewhat rare, which is why I've always side-eyed HR departments, try not to make everything my business, and can solemnly swear not a sip of SlimFast has ever passed my lips. I do get mad when I can't find my keys though. I try not to think much about the fact that I was almost an Elizabeth as I'm convinced my life would have taken a completely different trajectory. Elizabeth surely would have been several inches taller than my five-foot-one-inch frame and would probably have had a decent sense of direction. She'd have published a novel in her twenties and probably landed on one of those "30 Under 30" lists.However unenamoured I have always been of my name, I've also never considered changing it. Wouldn't that just leave me with another name I'd also get tired of, only I'd have no one but myself to blame?There's another reason I'm kind of attached to Lynda though. My father loved the name and had always wanted a daughter named Linda. My mother suggested the "y" addition just so it would be a little different. The name meant something to them even if it seems slightly ridiculous to me. Now that they're both gone, it feels like a lasting thread of connection with them both.That and the fact that it's Lynda with a "y." I'm not one of those Lindas other people talk about — at least not as long as I can find my keys. Recommended video

Google says Gemini has 350 million monthly active users. Jaque Silva/NurPhoto 2025-04-24T18:31:30Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Google's AI chatbot Gemini has seen massive user growth. It's still trailing behind rivals like ChatGPT and Meta AI, data Google displayed in court showed. Google revealed the data during the remedies phase of the company's search antitrust case. Google's artificial intelligence chatbot Gemini has seen a massive spike in its user numbers, but its usage levels are still way behind rivals like ChatGPT and Meta AI, data revealed in court this week showed.As of late March, Gemini logged 350 million monthly active users and 35 million daily active users, according to a slide displayed by Google attorneys on Wednesday during day three of a court hearing to determine how to remedy the tech empire's illegal online search monopoly.The user data was shown by Google in a Washington, DC, federal courtroom during testimony by Sissie Hsiao, who until earlier this month served as the head of Gemini and led the effort to create the chatbot. The Department of Justice called Hsiao as one of its witnesses in the antitrust case.Google showed the data as a way to highlight the competitive nature of the generative AI space. Gemini launched in 2023 and though its daily usage has nearly quadrupled from the 9 million daily active users it recorded in October of last year, OpenAI's ChatGPT and Meta AI were still leading the pack, the slide showed.The Google slide estimated ChatGPT's monthly active users at 600 million and Meta AI's at 800 million. Google displayed this slide during the remedies phase of the company's search antitrust case. Google In a January earnings call, Meta CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg — who testified last week in his company's own antitrust trial — said that Meta AI's usage "continues to scale" with more than 700 million monthly active users."I expect this is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant," Zuckerberg said.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said this month during a TED interview that ChatGPT had 500 million weekly active users and added that the chatbot was "growing very rapidly.""You told me that like doubled in just a few weeks," head of TED Chris Anderson told Altman. "I said that privately, but I guess…" Altman replied, before trailing off."It's growing very fast," he added.While on the witness stand in Google's antitrust case, Hsiao testified about the fast-changing pace of the generative AI world.The so-called remedies phase of the court battle between Google and the DOJ kicked off on Monday and it could result in a massive shake up of the $1.8 trillion tech behemoth.US District Judge Amit Mehta will ultimately determine Google's fate after he ruled in August, following a 10-week trial, that Google violated US antitrust law in maintaining a monopoly with its online search business.If the DOJ gets its way, Google could be forced to sell off its prized Chrome web browser, end its exclusive deals with Apple and others to make Google the default search engine on web browsers and smartphones, and share search data with competitors.Justice Department lawyer David Dahlquist said in his opening statement on Monday that the court must prevent Google from using its search monopoly to dominate the AI market.Google lawyer John Schmidtlein argued ChatGPT is doing just fine.The court hearing is slated to run three weeks. The judge is expected to issue his remedies ruling by the end of the summer.Google has vowed to appeal Mehta's ruling that declared the tech giant a monopolist. Recommended video

"Harry Potter" is a phenomenon that continues to this day, 28 years after "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" was first published in the UK. That book series has turned into a behemoth that contains theme parks, a studio tour, multiple giant stores, a VR experience, conventions, a Broadway play, reality shows, and more.But at the center of that media giant are the eight theatrical films, which began with a group of young preteen actors whose lives were completely transformed when they became pupils at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.And now, a new set of actors are about to have their lives changed. HBO just released the first round of casting announcements for its upcoming adaptation of the novels, although we don't know who's playing our core trio yet.Ahead of a new crew of child actors joining the Wizarding World, we've ranked the child stars from the original film series from least to most successful, taking into consideration factors including subsequent film appearances, awards, and social media followings.Keep scrolling to see how your favorite "Harry Potter" actor stacks up. 17. Chris Rankin Chris Rankin. C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Getty Images Chris Rankin played the prefect Percy Weasley in four films. He now works behind the scenes.Rankin, 41, has had a few minor acting credits since "Deathly Hallows Part 2," and he has 52,700 followers on Instagram.He has been credited as a production coordinator on successful shows like "Downton Abbey" and "A Discovery of Witches," however, so while he doesn't have the same level of traditional Hollywood success, he's been busy. He did not appear in the Max reunion, "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts," in 2022. 16. Devon Murray Actor Devon Murray attends the London Comic Convention at Earls Court on July 9, 2011. Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage via Getty Images Devon Murray played Seamus Finnigan in all eight movies, but he hasn't done much outside "Potter." In general, he seems to be more interested in crypto than acting.Murray, 36, has only one movie appearance to his name after "Potter" ended in 2011, an uncredited role in 2018's "Damo & Ivor: The Movie." He was also in a music video in 2017, for "Every Time You Need Me," by Simonna.On the social media front, Murray has about 162,000 followers on Instagram and 251,200 on X, but overall, Murray is still known mostly for blowing stuff up as Seamus. He also did not appear in the Max reunion. 15. Josh Herdman Josh Herdman. John Phillips/Getty Images for EA Sports Josh Herdman played Goyle in all eight films, and he has continued to act.Herdman, 37, is also a professional MMA fighter as well as an actor. Since "Potter" ended, he's secured a few acting credits in the series "Marcella," as well as "Alex Rider" in 2020. He also appeared in the 2018 film "Robin Hood" starring Taron Egerton.Most recently, he appeared in two episodes of "Andor" and two episodes of the Starz adaptation of "The Man Who Fell to Earth."Herdman has fewer social-media followers than Murray (128,000 on Instagram), but his continued acting career and fighting career put him in front.Herdman did not return for the reunion. 14. Oliver and James Phelps Oliver Phelps and James Phelps. Noam Galai/Getty Images Oliver and James Phelps, who played the Weasley twins in all the films, are too much of a unit to separate.The Phelps twins, 39, have sporadically continued to act together, rarely appearing in things without each other. While they haven't acted much since the end of the films, they've capitalized on their "Potter" fame, and each has over 2 million followers on Instagram, (James has 2.5; Oliver has 2.4).Their onscreen appearances include 2021's psychological horror film "Last Night in Soho," directed by Edgar Wright. The two also appeared as themselves in the docuseries "The Cars That Made Britain Great" and hosted the "Potter"-themed baking show, "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" on Food Network in 2024.The twins also cohosted a podcast together, "Normal Not Normal," that saw them "talk to a star-studded selection of friends, colleagues, and personal heroes who stepped into the limelight at a young age, and find out what 'normal' means to them." It ended in 2023.Hilariously, the Phelpses did appear in the Max special, but their name labels were swapped. 13. Bonnie Wright Bonnie Wright. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for the Environmental Media Association While Wright, 34, hasn't appeared in any blockbuster films lately, her clout has only grown since playing the youngest Weasley. In addition to the multiple indie films she's acted in, ("The Sea," "After the Dark," "Before I Sleep"), she's also become a director and founded her own production company, BonBonLumiere. She also has a cool 3.9 million followers on Instagram.Her directorial debut, a short called "Separate We Come, Separate We Go," starred her "Potter" costar David Thewlis and received positive reviews at its debut during the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. Most recently, she's focused on directing music videos. She's been less busy since 2018, however, so we can't put her higher than some of her costars who are still working constantly. Wright had a small role in the "Potter" reunion in 2022. 12. Evanna Lynch Evanna Lynch. Tristar Media/Getty Images Evanna Lynch played the lovably loony Luna Lovegood for four films.Lynch, 33, has found the most fame on social media — she has 3.8 million followers on Instagram — but she keeps busy with other projects as well. She hosted "The ChickPeeps Vegan Podcast" until 2023, and began a Substack in 2025 called "Penfriendship."She also competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2018, finishing in third place. Acting-wise, she's appeared in a few indie films, but her main focus seems to be on other ventures.During the 2022 reunion, Lynch shared the fascinating story of how she was cast as Luna — for years, she was a pen pal of author JK Rowling. 11. Matthew Lewis Matthew Lewis. Scott Garfitt/BAFTA/Getty Images Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, is, of course, the man behind the phrase "Longbottoming," thanks to his drastic post-"Potter" glow-up — the cultural impact of that alone places him above some of his costars.The 35-year-old is also still acting regularly, however. He appeared in the 2020 series "All Creatures Great and Small," as well as the 2024 series "Avoidance." "Ripper Street," "Happy Valley," "Me Before You," and even an episode of "Drunk History" are among his other credits.Lewis also hosts "The Official Leeds United Podcast," and he has 2.4 million Instagram followers and 1.3 million X followers. He reunited with his fellow Hogwarts classmates during the Max special. 10. Clémence Poésy Clémence Poésy. Marc Piasecki/WireImage/Getty Images Clémence Poésy played the half-Veela, half-human Fleur Delacour in three films.Poésy, 42, has appeared in more than one iconic property — besides "Potter," she had a small arc during season four of "Gossip Girl" as Chuck's French girlfriend Eva, and she was in the 2020 Christopher Nolan film, "Tenet."Poésy also starred in the Apple TV+ miniseries "The Essex Serpent" alongside Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes. From 2023 to 2024, she played Isabelle in "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon."Up next is another Apple TV+ series, "Neuromancer," which also stars Callum Turner, Peter Sarsgaard, and Mark Strong, and the BBC series "King and Conqueror," which costars James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.So, what she lacks in social media (143,000 Instagram followers), she has made up for with parts in prestige projects — she also appeared in "127 Hours" and "In Bruges" in between her "Potter" films. 9. Freddie Stroma Freddie Stroma. Desiree Navarro/WireImage/Getty Images Freddie Stroma played the annoying Cormac McLaggen for three films.Yes, Stroma's appearance in "Bridgerton" bumped him up a few spots — how could it not? It was a major hit, and he played a literal prince.But the 38-year-old has been steadily acting for years outside "Bridgerton." He starred in "Unreal," had a role in "Pitch Perfect" (phenomenon), and appeared in an episode of "Game of Thrones" (the third phenomenon he's been involved with to date). A fourth came in 2022: He plays Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante, in the Max series "Peacemaker," a spin-off focusing on John Cena's character from "The Suicide Squad." Season two is expected in August 2025.He also starred in "Time After Time" as HG Wells and starred in "The Crew," a Kevin James-led sitcom on Netflix, which was canceled in July 2021. 8. Tom Felton Tom Felton. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images While Felton, 37, is still best known for Draco Malfoy, he's been able to capitalize on that in a way few other "Potter" stars have.Whenever he posts a throwback from the set, it makes headlines. It's helped him gain a massive 11.9 million Instagram followers and 2.9 million X followers.Felton does still act though — he had a sweet arc on "The Flash" as Julian, appeared as Laertes in "Ophelia," and has been in other indie films in the past decade.In 2022, Felton published his memoir "Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard," which was a New York Times bestseller.Felton was also a large part of the 20th anniversary special, sharing anecdotes about shooting scenes with his on-screen dad Jason Isaacs, remembering his on-screen mother, Helen McCrory, who died in 2021, and even talking about his special bond with Emma Watson.Next up, he's set to appear in a series depicting the life of Gandhi as English lawyer Josiah Oldfield. 7. Katie Leung Katie Leung. Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty Images Katie Leung played Cho Chang in five films, starting with "Goblet of Fire."It's taken Leung, 37, a few years, but she's seriously poised to become one of the more successful members of the "Potter" cast.In the past few years, she's appeared in "T2: Trainspotting," the Prime Video series "The Peripheral" and "The Wheel of Time," and the BBC series "Nightsleeper."Leung also had a voice role in the Netflix animated series "Arcane," which is part of the "League of Legends" universe. It wrapped its two-season run in 2024.Most exciting, though, is that she's set to star in the coming fourth season of "Bridgerton" as Lady Araminta — as book readers know, that's a big deal.She also has an impressive 408,000 followers on Instagram.It's only up from here for Leung, although she did not return for the 20th-anniversary special. 6. Harry Melling Harry Melling. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI Harry Melling is unrecognizable from his days as Dudley Dursley. You might've seen him in "The Queen's Gambit" and not even realized.Melling, 36, has become quite the actor since leaving "Potter" behind. After his last appearance in "Deathly Hallows Part 1," he's appeared in "The Lost City of Z," "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," "His Dark Materials," "The Old Guard," "The Devil All the Time," "The Queen's Gambit," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "The Pale Blue Eye," among other projects — a very impressive résumé for someone who used to be known as the annoying, evil cousin.Melling is also going costar with Alexander Skarsgård in the romantic comedy "Pillion," so it's safe to say we'll only be hearing more from him — though we only got a glimpse of him in old footage in the reunion. 5. Alfred Enoch Alfred Enoch. Dave Benett/Getty Images Alfred Enoch's run on "How to Get Away with Murder" was popular enough that there's a significant number of people who know him better as Wes Gibbins than Dean Thomas — and that's saying something. The Emmy-winning show wrapped up its six-season run in May 2020. That puts him in the upper echelon of "Potter" child stars.The 36-year-old continued his TV success in the Apple TV+ series "Foundation," which costars Jared Harris and Lee Pace. He was on the first two seasons.In 2025, he appeared in the BBC/PBS series "Miss Austen."Enoch was one of two fellow Gryffindors from Harry's year that returned for the special, though he didn't have a huge part. 4. Rupert Grint Rupert Grint. Dave Benett/Hoda Davaine/Dave Benett/WireImage/Getty Images Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, is most successful in his native country of England.Grint isn't as mega-famous as his costars, but that seems to be the way he wants it. He joined Instagram only in 2020 ... and now has over 5.3 million followers.The 36-year-old hasn't appeared in many films since the saga ended, but he has been successful on TV. He starred in (and executive produced) the Crackle series "Snatch" alongside the future "Bridgerton" star Phoebe Dynevor and the "Skins" heartthrob Luke Pasqualino.He also starred in the Apple TV+ series "Servant," which the horror icon M. Night Shyamalan produced, from 2019 to 2023. He teamed up with Shyamalan for his 2023 film, "A Knock at the Cabin," too.During the anniversary special, Grint shared that he actually thought about quitting the movies, as did Emma Watson, because of the pressures of fame.Fun fact for 2010s teens: Grint has been in a relationship with Georgia Groome of "Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging" since 2011. They have one daughter together. 3. Emma Watson Emma Watson. Arnold Jerocki/GC Images/Getty Images Emma Watson, who turned 35 on April 15, went from "Harry Potter" to a Disney princess in the live-action "Beauty and the Beast," an infamous criminal in "Bling Ring," a beloved manic pixie dream girl in "Perks of Being a Wallflower," and the eldest March sister in "Little Women," among other roles.She also graduated from Brown University, was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador, launched the HeForShe campaign, is part of the G7, and has done extensive modeling.Her impact will still be felt around the world, whether or not she retires from acting — her Instagram has a staggering 73.4 million followers.It's no wonder she almost quit the series, as she revealed in the special. 2. Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Radcliffe. Jamie McCarthy/WireImage/Getty Images Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter himself, has become quite the actor since leaving Hogwarts.He's shied away from big-budget films, instead focusing on bonkers films such as "Guns Akimbo," "Swiss Army Man," and the interactive finale of "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt."He also appeared in the magical film "Now You See Me 2," in which he pointedly is not a magician. Per IMDb, he'll be returning for the sequel later this year, "Now You See Me: Now You Don't."He starred in the TBS anthology series "Miracle Workers" from 2019 to 2023 — a clip of Radcliffe performing "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain" in drag went viral in 2020.In 2022, Radcliffe co-starred with Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, and Sandra Bullock in "The Lost City" and played Weird Al Yankovic in the biopic "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story."The 35-year-old has also had a successful theater career. He famously starred in "Equus" and the musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," which earned him a Grammy nod. He also has two Drama Desk nominations under his belt, and in 2024, he won a Tony for his performance in the revival of "Merrily We Roll Along."Radcliffe, of course, had lots of screen time in the reunion, having special moments with not only Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, but also with Gary Oldman, Helena Bonham Carter (whom he had a crush on), and director Chris Columbus. 1. Robert Pattinson Robert Pattinson. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Robert Pattinson, who appeared only in "Goblet of Fire," is easily the most successful child star to come out of "Harry Potter."Pattinson, who does not have an Instagram account, spun his one-movie role into the leading man of one of the other biggest franchises of the 2010s: "Twilight." Today, he's the most successful star from that franchise, too.After a decade of distancing himself from big blockbusters by starring in films like "Good Time" and "The Lighthouse," Pattinson, 38, officially had his mainstream comeback. He starred in "Tenet," "The King," and is Batman, for crying out loud.After recently starring in Bong Joon Ho's follow-up to "Parasite," "Mickey 17," Pattinson has a busy couple of years coming up. Next for him are: Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey," "Die, My Love" alongside Jennifer Lawrence, "The Drama," alongside Zendaya, and, of course, "The Batman 2."There's no one else who compares, honestly.

After 12 years of serving as the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88.Francis' body will lie in state at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City before his burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome on Saturday. World leaders, including President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are set to attend.A new pope will be chosen by the College of Cardinals in a papal election known as the conclave.Photos show powerful moments from the late pope's funeral proceedings. After Pope Francis' death was announced on Easter Monday, mourners assembled for an evening rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square. A rosary prayer in suffrage of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images Visitors left flowers, candles, and photos of the late pope. A memorial for Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square. Christoph Reichwein/picture alliance via Getty Images Francis lay in state in an open wooden coffin on Tuesday at Casa Santa Marta, his papal residence. Cardinals prayed at the Chapel of Santa Marta. Simone Risoluti Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images On Wednesday, his body was transferred to St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest sites in the Catholic church, for three days of public viewing. Pope Francis' body was transferred to the Basilica at St. Peter's Square. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images His coffin was placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, which sits above what is believed to be the tomb of Saint Peter, one of Jesus' Twelve Apostles. Pope Francis' coffin at St. Peter's Basilica. Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images After leading the procession to the Basilica, the Cardinals conducted a service featuring liturgical readings and hymns. Cardinals paid their respects to Pope Francis inside St. Peter's Basilica. ALESSANDRO DI MEO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Tens of thousands of people waited in line to enter St. Peter's Basilica and pay their respects to Pope Francis. Pope Francis lay in state inside St. Peter's Basilica. Picture Alliance via Getty Images

First jobs for college grads are becoming more elusive. Open roles for entry-level software engineers have dropped. Generative AI is writing more code, and Big Tech companies are boasting about how AI is making their workers more efficient. The number of entry-level management consulting and finance jobs began declining last year, and several big firms considered offering lower salaries — reasoning that AI would take on some of the workload.Gen AI isn't Gen Z's only problem. Today's erratic economy has employees deeply worried about their jobs. That can mean fewer positions with new vacancies. Employers have been wary about bringing on fresh-faced hires in need of training.All of these roiling changes have left many Zoomers extremely nervous. In a new survey of college seniors from the career site Handshake, 62% of those who said they were familiar with AI tools expressed at least some concern about how those tools would affect their job prospects, up from 44% in 2023. Computer science students seemed the most worried about their overall prospects; 28% said they were "very pessimistic" about starting their careers in the current economy, up from 18% a year ago. As of March, soon-to-be grads had submitted 21% more job applications on Handshake than seniors did the year before — all while job postings on the site declined by 15%. And according to Indeed, internship postings across all sectors, which peaked in 2022, have fallen to below 2019 levels.If AI replaces entry-level work, new grads will have to learn the skills they need to work some other way — and lots of those practical, workplace skills aren't taught in the college classroom. A collapse of the career ladder and increasing automation could create more inequalities in skills, pay, and job satisfaction, says Matt Beane, a professor of technology management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There are already cracks beginning to form in some white collar industry pipelines. "It's too late for us to completely and perfectly avoid this problem," Beane says. "Some damage has been done."Gen Zers are already deeply uncertain about the value of a college degree, with about half saying they felt higher education is a "waste of money" in a March survey from Indeed. In March, nearly 6% of college graduates 27 or younger were unemployed, compared with 2.6% of all workers with college degrees, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Four percent of all workers were unemployed, and nearly 7% of young people without college degrees didn't have jobs.A Brookings Institution analysis of OpenAI data concluded that some entry-level jobs, like preparing legal documents and reviewing legal data, were at high risk of automation. About half of the tasks for a marketing research analyst were similarly thought to be at risk, compared with 9% of the work for a marketing manager. There were similar findings for sales representatives versus sales managers. AI tools may unevenly affect different industries: An Anthropic analysis of its tool Claude.ai found that 37% of queries were related to computer and mathematical work, like developing and maintaining websites or debugging computer systems, while other categories like education, business and finance, sciences, and administrative were less common.Bosses might have their eye on the benefits of putting gen AI and agents into the workforce, but it's not a silver bullet for efficiency. Three in four workers surveyed last year by the freelancing platform UpWork said AI tools had made them less productive and put more work on their plate. "It seems like there's savings and productivity gains on the surface, but then when you really dig in, there's potentially longer review periods or more going back to double-check or correct mistakes that don't seem obvious," says Tim Herbert, the chief research officer at CompTIA, a nonprofit trade association for the US IT industry."New grads are entering an environment where they are going to have to wait for the downstream implications to emerge" from the AI revolution, says Frank Fusco, the CEO of Silicon Society, a company focused on educating workers through job shadowing. He believes some roles will be destroyed or consolidated but new ones will emerge from AI — ones we can't yet envision or predict. Ultimately, companies will realize they can't render people obsolete. But for Gen Z, "the timing is very unfortunate," he says. "We are at the very start of that curve if we zoom out." While they love young people, I think they love robots more. Maureen Wiley Clough, host of “It Gets Late Early" Meanwhile, companies are also more cautious about hiring workers as they face economic uncertainty and the prospect of a recession. "We're in a period where we're frozen," says Allison Shrivastava, an economist at Indeed. Workers and bosses are moving cautiously to see the fallout of President Donald Trump's tariffs. "We're all a little bit of a deer in the headlights, unsure of what's going on." But, she says, that can't last very long — companies eventually have to make moves, whether by laying people off, or as people quit and move jobs.The tech industry in particular has faced uncertainty for the past two years, with the number of job postings falling from about 625,000 in January 2023 to 467,000 this past March, according to a data analysis performed by CompTIA. Entry-level jobs in early 2023 made up 24% of those roles, down to 21% now. Those looking for workers with seven or more years of experience have increased by 3% in that same time. These shifts come in part after tech companies rapidly hired during the pandemic and then laid thousands off in 2023. But it's a tough reality for those starting their careers in an industry that was known for high salaries and trendy perks.It's a hard pivot for tech, an industry that has long been accused of favoring young talent to move fast and break things over older, experienced workers. "While they love young people, I think they love robots more," says Maureen Wiley Clough, the host of "It Gets Late Early," a podcast about ageism in the tech industry. In a 2023 survey from Intelligent.com, a higher education research resource, nearly 40% of bosses across industries said they thought recent grads were not prepared for the workforce. In a 2024 survey of 800 HR leaders sponsored by Hult International Business School, 37% of HR leaders said they would rather have a robot or AI do a job than hire a recent graduate to take it on; another 30% said they would prefer to just let the job sit open.But it's not Gen Zers' fault that they don't fully get workplace etiquette and norms yet. Young workers graduating in the past five years have sometimes started their college courses or careers remotely. That can mean missed opportunities to find close mentors and learn the culture and norms of an office. Zoomers largely seem more likely to want to work hybrid schedules over remote when compared with older workers, and they're looking for in-person connection. "Those things have just left the equation," Wiley Clough says. "It's kind of like, well, good luck, sink or swim."Some junior workers are teaching themselves to use AI, finding it helpful when looking for a job. Meelah Harkness graduated from Loyola University Chicago last May after studying communications and started applying for jobs. She filled out applications on LinkedIn for roles that already had more than 100 applicants, and upgraded her account to premium so she could send messages to people she didn't know. Amid her frenzy of applications, Harkness spent a few weeks studying for a certificate in AI in advertising and public relations. She was wary of the rapidly developing tech, and wondered whether her newly minted marketing skills would be easily replaced by generative AI. Taking the course actually made her feel more confident. "A robot can't sell to a human the way a human can sell to a human," she says. About four months into her search, she landed a job as a marketing coordinator at Bartesian, the maker of a cocktail mixing machine, using some of what she learned in that AI course to generate mockup images in a sample work test.Christine Cruzvergara, the chief education officer at Handshake, is more optimistic that young workers won't be pushed out easily. She says that while the tight job market and developments in AI are changing the world young people are graduating into, entry-level jobs are still out there and vital to companies. "You have to be able to actually grow your talent pipeline, and to be able to advance people into your midlevel or later on senior-level roles," Cruzvergara says. "To do that, you are likely to have to hire from entry-level, to have more flexibility and ability to shape that in the ways that you want." If automation truly took over entry-level work across an entire industry or among white-collar workers, Cruzvergara says, "there would be a recalibration of what is considered an entry-level job."The top college grads should look for work at firms where they'll get hands-on training, says Beane, who wrote the book "The Skill Code: How to Save Human Ability in an Age of Intelligent Machines." It will become a flex to work for companies that see the value and invest in educating young workers. And companies looking to hire will have to take on "promising but undertrained" applicants, he says. Without an entry-level role, it will fall more to midlevel and senior-level workers to train these workers like apprentices — or young people will be pushed to teach themselves. "The onus of the responsibility falls on both the employer and the employee to upskill in this new digital age," says Danielle Farage, a speaker and Gen Z work expert, who is also a Gen Zer. "There's no way you can keep up unless you make it part of your role to continuously be learning and upskilling."Students are already taking notes. Julia Fedorin, a student at the University of Waterloo, decided to scrap the traditional job application process. She made a video and posted it to X last week, asking Shopify to hire her as a marketing intern — even though the role didn't exist. Her video was viewed more than 1 million times and also caught the eye of Shopify, which has already offered her an internship for the fall. "I think AI should 100% be a tool that you use," she tells me. But it can't write experience. "Now more than ever, we value authenticity," Fedorin says. "I think there's only so much that AI can show."Amanda Hoover is a senior correspondent at Business Insider covering the tech industry. She writes about the biggest tech companies and trends.

An advertisement for Cluely shows how the app can help users "cheat" on dates. Chungin Lee/LinkedIn 2025-04-24T07:11:14Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Cluely is an AI tool built for cheating in live conversations, and it has raised $5.3 million. The startup is founded by Chungin "Roy" Lee, who was suspended from Columbia. I put the app through a mock interview to see if it could help me land a job. A Ivy Leaguer just released an AI app to feed live answers to users. I put it to the test to see if AI could interview as well as I did.Chungin "Roy" Lee — the Columbia student who went viral for creating an AI tool to "cheat" on job interviews — was suspended in March for posting content from a disciplinary hearing, the university said.His new app, Cluely, helps users by analyzing what's on their screens, hearing audio, and suggesting answers to questions, all without detection from the other side. In a LinkedIn post, Lee said Cluely is a "cheating tool for literally everything."Lee said on Monday that San Francisco-based Cluely has raised $5.3 million, backed by Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.Speaking to Business Insider on Wednesday night, Lee said that Cluely has gained about 70,000 users since its launch on Sunday."It is pretty crazy. And this is just a lot more than we expected," he said.Lee said the concept of "cheating" needs to be rethought in the AI era."Using AI is just inevitable and something that we should just all embrace," he said.I put Cluely to the test, and I saw promise — but also huge privacy concerns.First impressionsI tested Cluely on Tuesday morning and paid $20 for the Pro version — a monthly subscription — since the free tier doesn't offer much.The interface is slick and minimal: a thin bar on the top of my screen. With one keyboard shortcut, Cluely scans my screen, then generates answers. I could also speak to it through my mic.It only works with what's already on my screen — it doesn't crawl the internet like ChatGPT.It also reads everything. I kept my Signal group chats closed.That's what makes it powerful — and also kind of terrifying.Lee told BI that Cluely doesn't save any data, and if it does, it's "heavily censored.""If there's something that you don't want to be seen, then you shouldn't use the tool, and it shouldn't be up while you're on sensitive information," Lee said.I deleted it right after writing this story. Flopping my mock interviewCluely's killer pitch is real-time assistance.I let it scan my LinkedIn profile and kept it open while my editor put me through a mock interview with the same questions I answered to land this job.First up: What is my media consumption like? Could I share what I like to read or watch? What keeps me interested and busy?The app starts "thinking." Five seconds later, it gave me a summary of the question, not an answer.My editor tried again, more succinctly: "What media outlets do you read?"This time, Cluely came through:"I enjoy staying up to date with a mix of international and local news — typically from outlets like the New York Times, BBC, and CNA. I love longform journalism from The Atlantic and Wired, especially on tech and social issues. I also listen to 'The Daily' and 'Planet Money' during my commute."Not bad, though I don't listen to podcasts on my way to work.My editor asked me to talk about a difficult story I've worked on. 10 seconds of awkward silence later, Cluely offered: "One difficult story I worked on was about the impact of layoffs in the tech industry."I never wrote that story.The second hallucination came when the app said I had a "working knowledge of Malay." My editor congratulated me on my surprising — including to me — third language skill. It completely missed the elementary Korean listed on my LinkedIn.When my editor asked if I had questions for her, Cluely suggested a few basics: What do you enjoy most about working here? What's the team culture like? What does success look like in this role?Not worth the $20 — yet.Cluely's biggest flaw is speed. A five to 10-second delay feels like forever in a live interview.The answers were also too generic, occasionally wrong, and not tailored enough to me.It did generate decent answers to common questions. When I read them aloud, my editor said the biggest clue I had help was the delay, not the substance. She also said my real answers were better than Cluely's.Lee told BI that Cluely is in "a really raw state.""Our servers are super overloaded, so there's a lot of latency," he said.But there have been "significant performance updates" since the app went out on Sunday, he added."We've upgraded all our servers, we've optimized the algorithms, and right now it should be about three times faster, which makes it much more usable in conversations."Lee said hallucinations will "exist insofar as the base models that we use allow for them.""The day that the models get better is the day that our product will get better," he added.There's definitely potential. If Cluely got faster, smarter, and could pull info from beyond just my screen, it could become a game-changing AI assistant. If I were hiring, I might think twice about conducting remote interviews because of these sorts of apps.But between the privacy risks, laggy performance, and random hallucinations, I'm keeping it off my computer. Recommended video

Jay Leno and his wife, Mavis Leno, have been married since 1980. Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix 2025-04-24T07:35:15Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Jay Leno says he enjoys caring for his wife, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2024. "I mean, that's really what love is. That's what you do," the former late-night show host said. The number of caregivers in the US rose from 43.5 million in 2015 to about 53 million in 2020, per the CDC. Jay Leno, 74, says caring for his wife, Mavis, after she was diagnosed with dementia is just part of what love is all about.During an appearance on today'sIn Depth with Graham Bensinger," the former late-night host spoke about the challenges he faced being a caregiver to his wife."When I got married, you sort of take a vow: 'Will I live up to this? Or will I be like a sleazy guy if something happens to my wife, I'm out banging the cashier at the mini-mart?'" Leno told podcast host Bensinger. "No, I didn't. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV, and it's OK."They still do many of the things they did before, he said. Only now, he has to help her with daily tasks."But, I like it. I like taking care of her. She's a very independent woman, so I like that I'm needed," Leno said.The couple met in the '70s at a comedy club in Los Angeles and married in 1980. They do not have any children together.Leno was granted conservatorship over his wife's estate in 2024, according to court documents."Well, that's the challenge, isn't it? When you have to feed someone and change them and carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day," Leno said. "It's a challenge. And it's not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it."At the end of the day, it's a testament to his commitment to her and their marriage vows."At some point in my life, I'm going to be called upon to defend myself. I think that's really what defines a marriage. I mean, that's really what love is. That's what you do. I mean, I'm glad I didn't cut and run. I'm glad I didn't run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I would rather be with her than doing something else," Leno said.Leno isn't the only celebrity who has spoken about the experience of being a caregiver to a loved one.In a 2019 opinion piece for USA Today, Rob Lowe reflected on the experience of stepping up with his brothers to care for their mother after she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer."I often felt overwhelmed, and that was even with all the support I had from my brothers and colleagues," Lowe wrote.Emma Heming Willis has also been open about her journey caring for her husband, Bruce Willis, after he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023."You know, I have my moments. It just depends. I'm hanging in there and doing the best that I can. And, turning my pain into purpose," Heming Willis said in a 2023 Instagram Live.As the population ages, more and more people will likely need help with tasks at some point in their lifetime.According to the CDC, the number of caregivers in the US increased from 43.5 million in 2015 to about 53 million in 2020.A representative for Leno did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular hours. Recommended video

You don't have to spy from space to know Elon Musk is growing his business empire in Texas, but it shows just how massive his impact is becoming.This week, Musk announced he plans to step back from the DOGE office in May to focus more time on Tesla. Before Tuesday, Tesla stock was down 44% this year.Musk has said that he's led his companies "with great difficulty" during his time with DOGE. His stepping back might give him more time to refocus on his other core companies, too, all of which have a growing footprint in Texas.In the late 2010s, Musk had grown increasingly discontent with California laws and regulations and decided that Texas offered a more business-friendly environment.So, in 2020, Musk's tunneling firm, The Boring Company, moved its headquarters from California to Texas, followed by Tesla in 2021 and X and SpaceX in 2024. Musk's smaller companies, Neuralink and X.AI, also have ties to Texas.The satellite images below show his business's exponential growth across the Lone Star state over the last few years, and what Musk has in store next. Musk did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. To make way for its new rocket launch site — Starbase — SpaceX tried to buy out locals, telling some it was "not safe" to live there anymore. Many took the buyout, some stayed. Boca Chica in 2020, several years after SpaceX began building its launch facility. Maxar SpaceX is testing the world's largest rocket at Starbase. Potential pollution from launches and explosions has some environmentalists concerned for nearby water systems and wildlife habitats. Before and after satellite images of Boca Chica Village, Texas, in 2002 before SpaceX moved in and in 2023, showing a well-developed Starbase with Starship prototypes. Maxar / Business Insider About 500 people now live in Boca Chica, even Musk has a home there. On May 3, its residents are scheduled to vote on whether to make Starbase its own city. Before and after satellite images of Boca Chica in 2002 (left) before Starbase existed and in 2025 (right). Maxar / Business Insider About 350 miles north is Bastrop, which has gone from featureless farmland to a massive corporate campground for several of Musk's companies. Satellite images of Bastrop, Texas in 2021 (left) and 2024 (right). Maxar / Business Insider Recently, Texas awarded SpaceX a $17.3 million grant to expand its Starlink satellite manufacturing facility in Bastrop. Headquarters for X and The Boring Company are also here. Satellite image of Bastrop, Texas and facilities for Starlink, X, and The Boring Company. Maxar / Business Insider Satellite images suggest that The Boring Company's machines are building tunnels under the road. Satellite image of The Boring Company in Bastrop, Texas, in 2024. Maxar / Business Insider Musk's brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, is also planning to expand in the Austin area by building a $14.7 million facility in Del Valle. Musk founded Neuralink to developing brain-computer interfaces. Future Publishing Musk is also planning on building 110 homes on a plot near the Ad Astra school. He's calling the housing development "Project Amazing." Satellite image of Bastrop, Texas, with a sketch outlining what "Project Amazing" plans to look like. Maxar / Business Insider Texas isn't the only place where Musk is expanding his business. Tesla has a gigafactory in China… Satellite images of Tesla gigafactory in China before it was built in 2014 (left) and after in 2024 (right). Maxar / Business Insider …and another in Grünheide, Germany. It's Tesla's first manufacturing plant in Europe. Satellite images show Tesla gigafactory in Germany in 2021 (left) and 2025 (right). Maxar / Business Insider Watch this video for more on Musk's growing global empire.

Anastasia Mills Healy celebrated her 50th birthday during a trip to the Middle East with her sister. Anastasia Mills Healy 2025-04-24T00:14:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Growing up, Anastasia Mills Healy's dad saw travel as a key part of her education. As an adult, she continued traveling with her sister, but that stopped in her 40s when she had kids. To celebrate her 50th birthday, she went on a trip with her sister to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Growing up with an adventurous dad, my sister and I had seen most of the US and several other countries by the time we finished college. He saw travel as a key part of our education — we wrote book reports on the places we visited, went on historical walking tours, and hit what felt like every museum from Kentucky to Cornwall.My sister and I don't have any other siblings, and both our parents were only children, which meant no aunts, uncles, or cousins. It was just the four of us growing up. My mom, as a bit of a reluctant traveler, sometimes skipped our trips.When our parents passed, I was married, had two young children, and worked part time while being the primary caregiver.My sister and I lived across the country from each other — she was in California and I was in Connecticut. My sister, who doesn't have children, visited us several times a year. I had kids late, at 40 and 41. In my single years, my sister and I traveled together and encountered a leopard in our South African safari lodge, parasailed above Key West, and pogoed at a Ramones gig in Brixton. Over the years, our time together had morphed from tapas bar hopping in Barcelona to taking my children to a nearby playground. We were never able to finish a sentence without an interruption from a toddler. Sister time For my 50th birthday, I was determined that we should go on another adventure together. I convinced my then-husband to watch the kids for a week during their spring break, while my sister and I finally embarked on another adventure. I lobbied that he wouldn't have to worry about homework, packing lunches, or getting them to and from school. Despite the reasonably priced trip to the Middle East I had found, my sister took a bit of convincing — she wasn't as eager to explore that part of the world. The travel package I booked included eight countries in one trip: all seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates — Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah — plus a stop in Oman. I paid $1,100 for airfare and four nights in Dubai. The other stops, plus a rental car, and seven nights of hotels added on about $1,900 more. 100 country goalAfter checking off all 50 US states by my 30th birthday, I set my sights on a new goal: visiting 100 countries.I follow the criteria set by the Traveler's Century Club, a group I hope to join one day. The club recognizes 330 "countries and territories," including all seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates as separate destinations. I mapped out a driving route that added Oman, which helped me get one more country.Once I've visited 100 countries, I'll be eligible to apply. The author's sister floated near the tour boat in Oman. Anastasia Mills Healy Kid-free travel blissAs a travel professional and penguin lover, two experiences from the trip stood out as the best: a tour of the extraordinary Burj Al Arab hotel, with its gold lamé wallpaper and helipad, and the pure joy of having a tiny penguin hop across my lap.The second experience took place at an indoor ski area in Dubai, located inside a mall. It was complete with a ski lift and resident penguins.Other highlights included a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a stroll around the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and a ride up Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. That's where we had a quiet cocktail to celebrate my half-century, overlooking the spouting fountains 122 floors below. The author celebrated her birthday with a cocktail at the top of Dubai's Burj Khalifa. Anastasia Mills Healy A lot of the trip would have been too complicated with my children. For example, the spa day wouldn't have been possible with kids. I also explored the Dubai Design District, shopped in souks, walked through the Al Fahidi Historic District, and spent a day on a boat in Oman. Throughout the trip, I knew that had it been a family trip, the kids would have complained about the heat and the food. Freedom made this trip possiblePut on your own oxygen mask before helping others, the airlines say. I concur. Women give so much, and we need — and deserve — the time to breathe and recharge. I've taken my children on as many trips as I could.Now, I'm 57, divorced, and we — my kids, my sister, and I — just explored my 72nd country. In a few years, when my kids are grown and flown, my sister and I will embark on more far-flung adventures.My plan is for her to accompany me to my 100th country. It only makes sense — she's been there for all the pivotal moments in my life. Recommended video

Being invited to the Met Gala is one thing, but being named a co-chair of the annual event is an even bigger honor.In 1995 — 30 years ago! — Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour began cohosting the event alongside fellow editors, socialites, and even European royalty.She then began passing the job on to designers, actors, musicians, and even athletes in recent years.But what do the Met Gala co-chairs do, and who's previously held the title?While Wintour has never revealed their exact role, it's rumored that co-chairs help plan the event's dress code, dinner, and performances.They're also some of the first stars to arrive on the red carpet each year, helping to exemplify the night's dress code, and their names are used to promote the annual event in the months leading up to it.The 2025 Met Gala co-chairs are Lewis Hamilton, PharrellHere's a look back at who's held the honor in the past. 2024: Wintour, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Chris Hemsworth, and Bad Bunny Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Zendaya, and Chris Hemsworth onstage during the 2024 Met Gala. Kevin Mazur/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue The theme of 2024's celebration was "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion," which brought back vintage looks and styles that hadn't been seen in years. 2023: Michaela Coel, Dua Lipa, Roger Federer, and Penélope Cruz Co-chairs Michaela Coel, Dua Lipa, Roger Federer, and Penelope Cruz pose at The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 Cindy Ord/MG23/Getty Images The theme honored Chanel icon Karl Lagerfeld, with "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." 2022: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Regina King The 2022 Met Gala theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." John Shearer/Getty Images; Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images The 2021/2022 Met Gala was a two-part event, with the first part held in September 2021 and the second in May 2022.In 2022, the Met Gala returned for the culmination of the American-themed two-part celebration.Lin-Manuel Miranda, who missed out on the chance to co-chair in 2020, helmed the event alongside husband-and-wife duo Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds and overall icon Regina King, who didn't walk the carpet at the big event. King's son died in January 2022, so she was likely still mourning the loss. 2021: Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, Timothée Chalamet, and Naomi Osaka The Met Gala returned from its pandemic hiatus in September 2021. Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Part one of the two-part Met Gala, which was held in September 2021, was sponsored by Instagram and themed in "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion." 2020: Meryl Streep, Nicolas Ghesquière, Emma Stone, and Lin-Manuel Miranda The 2020 Met Gala was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then returned in September 2021 for the first of a two-part event. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images The 2020 Met Gala was, of course, canceled due to the pandemic. But had it taken place as scheduled on May 4, the theme would've been "About Time: Fashion and Duration," sponsored by Ghesquière's Louis Vuitton. 2019: Serena Williams, Harry Styles, then-Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele, and Lady Gaga The 2019 Met Gala's dress code was "camp." Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue 2019's theme was "Camp: Notes on Fashion," and it was sponsored by Gucci. 2018: Donatella Versace, Amal Clooney, and Rihanna The dress code for the 2018 Met Gala was "Sunday best," prompting celebrities to don Catholic-themed attire. Dimitrios Kambouris/MG18/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Rihanna's Met Gala looks had long earned her the title of "Queen of the Met Gala," and in 2018, she added the title of co-chair. The year's theme was a bold one: "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination." It was sponsored by Versace and Christine and Stephen Schwarzman, who also served as co-chairs.Stephen Schwarzman is a cofounder and CEO of The Blackstone Group, a private equity firm that has a stake in Versace. 2017: Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, Pharrell, and Katy Perry As the theme was based on her designs, Rei Kawakubo was an obvious choice for honorary chair, along with Caroline Kennedy. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; Karwai Tang/WireImage The 2017 theme was "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between," celebrating the Japanese brand, and was a joint sponsorship between Apple, Condé Nast, Farfetch, H&M, and Maison Valentino. 2016: Idris Elba and Taylor Swift The evening's third host was Apple Chief Development Officer Jonathan Ives. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Larry Busacca/Getty Images The event, fittingly sponsored by Apple, was themed "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology."The evening's honorary hosts were returnees Nicolas Ghesquière, Karl Lagerfeld, and Miuccia Prada.It's believed that Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn met at the 2016 Met Gala. A lyric in Swift's song "Dress" describes each of their looks from the event. Swift and Alwyn's relationship would last for six years. 2015: Jennifer Lawrence and Gong Li The 2015 Met Gala theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass," and it was sponsored by Yahoo. Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Jamie McCarthy/FilmMagic; Larry Busacca/Getty Images In addition to the actresses, then-CEO of Yahoo Marissa Mayer and entrepreneur/movie producer/third wife of Rupert Murdoch, Wendi Murdoch, also hosted the event, plus honorary chair and Hong Kong billionaire Silas Chou. 2014: Bradley Cooper and Sarah Jessica Parker The 2014 Met Gala was sponsored by Aerin Lauder's lifestyle brand, AERIN. Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Larry Busacca/Getty Images The other hosts for the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion"-themed night were Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch, Aerin Lauder, and Oscar de la Renta. 2013: Former Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci, Rooney Mara, and Vogue editor Lauren Santo Domingo The evening was sponsored by Modus Operandi, which Santo Domingo co-founded. Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Karwai Tang/FilmMagic This year's theme, "Punk: Chaos to Couture," remains one of the most iconic Met Gala themes. In addition to these four, Beyoncé was an honorary co-chair. 2012: Carey Mulligan As Amazon was the sponsor of the 2012 Met Gala, Jeff Bezos was an honorary chair. Randy Brooke/WireImage; Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" was the theme of 2012's Met Gala, which was also chaired by Miuccia Prada. 2011: Colin Firth and Stella McCartney Also in 2011, Salma Hayek got to join her husband, François-Henri Pinault, as an honorary chair. Dimitrios Kambouris/FilmMagic; Larry Busacca/Getty Images; Kevin Mazur/WireImage That year's theme was "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" to honor McQueen after his death in February 2010. 2010: Former Gap Vice President Patrick Robinson and Oprah Winfrey In honor of the "American Woman" theme, many of the outfits for the 2010 Met Gala incorporated reds, whites, and blues. BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The night, which was sponsored by Gap, was themed "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity." 2009: Justin Timberlake and Kate Moss Marc Jacobs served as honorary chair and also sponsored the 2009 Met Gala. BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The 2009 Met Ball was themed "The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion." 2008: Julia Roberts and George Clooney The 2008 Met Gala was sponsored by Giorgio Armani, who also served as honorary chair. BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The gala's theme was "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy." 2007: Cate Blanchett and Nicolas Ghesquière, Balenciaga's creative director Balenciaga sponsored the 2007 event. BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images The evening was themed "Poiret: King of Fashion," dedicated to legendary designer Paul Poiret. 2006: Burberry design legend Christopher Bailey and Sienna Miller The honorary chairs were former Burberry CEO Rose Marie Bravo and Peregrine Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire. Burberry sponsored the 2006 Met Gala. Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Fittingly, the Burberry and British-heavy night was themed "AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion." 2005: Nicole Kidman and Karl Lagerfeld In addition to Lagerfeld, Caroline, Princess of Hanover, was also an honorary chair. Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Of course, as the night's theme was "House of Chanel," no one but Lagerfeld could've been a chair. 2004: No co-chairs Anna Wintour hosted the 2004 Met Gala on her own. Evan Agostini/Getty Images The 2004 Met Gala had no co-chairs beyond Wintour. The year's theme was "Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century." 2003: Tom Ford and Nicole Kidman At the time, Ford was the creative director of Gucci, which sponsored the 2003 Met Gala. Gucci via Getty Images The evening's theme was "Goddess: The Classical Mode." 2001: Oscar de la Renta and his wife Annette, and designer Carolina Herrera As the 2001 Met Gala was centered on her, Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and her husband, Edwin A. Schlossberg, were honorary chairs. Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Evan Agostini/Getty Images; George De Sota/Newsmakers L'Oréal CEO Lindsay Owen-Jones and his wife, Cristina, also chaired the "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years"-themed event, as L'Oréal was the night's sponsor.The Met Gala was canceled in 2002 in the wake of 9/11, and next occurred in 2003. 1999: Estée Lauder's style-and-image director Aerin Lauder and Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Hilfiger was flanked by Aerin Lauder (left) and Vogue editor Anna Wintour at the 1999 Costume Institute Gala. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images The last Met Gala of the 20th century was themed "Rock Style." There was no Met Gala in 2000, so the first Met Gala of the 21st century wasn't held until 2001. 1998: Designer Miuccia Prada and socialite Pia Getty. They also shared chairing duties with actor and socialite Paula Cussi. Rose Hartman/Archive Photos/Getty Images; Jim Spellman/WireImage; Steve Eichner/Getty Images The theme was "Cubism and Fashion," and it was sponsored by the Prada brand. 1997: Socialite Julia Koch, and W and Women's Wear Daily editorial director Patrick McCarthy Wintour resumed Met Gala co-chairing duties in 1997, after skipping 1996. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images; Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images That year's theme was "Gianni Versace," dedicated to the designer after his death in July 1997. 1996: Harper's Bazaar editor in chief Elizabeth Tilberis, Marie-Chantal, the Crown Princess of Greece, and philanthropist and socialite Helene David-Weill David-Weill is the wife of powerful New York investment banker Michel David-Weill. Evan Agostini/Liaison/Getty Images; Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images; THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images The theme of the 1996 Met Gala was simply "Christian Dior." 1995: Annette de la Renta and Clarissa Bronfman 1995 was the year Wintour became the chairwoman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images The first Met Gala chaired by Anna Wintour occurred on December 4, 1995. Legendary designers Gianni Versace and Karl Lagerfeld were honorary chairs that year, and the theme was "Haute Couture."Annette de la Renta was the wife of the late designer Oscar de La Renta, while Bronfman is the wife of Edgar Bronfman Jr., a legendary businessman, producer, and former CEO of Warner Music Group.

 Trump's approach to foreign policy has caused transatlantic tensions. Win McNamee/Getty Images 2025-04-24T01:01:02Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Trump has strained US-Europe ties, prompting allies to seek some independence. Europe is considering reducing reliance on US defense, tech, and economic ties amid tensions. Allies are considering counter-tariffs, defense diversification, and tech independence from the US. President Donald Trump has spent the first three months of his second term imposing his will on the rest of the globe, telling longtime allies that they "don't have the cards."But in capitals across Europe and elsewhere, debates are raging over the hands they could play.Proposals under consideration range from minor irritants to extreme actions that could sever defense and economic relationships that have cemented alliances for nearly a century.Those include finding alternative suppliers of military equipment and munitions from US-based defense contractors, enacting stronger counter-tariffs, rolling"There's a change in mindset. We've moved on from seduction to strategy," one EU diplomat said about dealing with Trump. "We'll take decisions to protect ourselves."The diplomat added: "We need to strike a path that works without Washington."Less than three months into Trump's term, his pursuit of a transactional, mercantilist, and imperialist foreign policy has rattled leaders across the globe. It started with the president's persistence in talking about annexing Canada and Greenland, his eagerness to end the war in Ukraine largely on Russia's terms, and Vice President JD Vance's caustic comments describing Europe as freeloaders. But Trump's market-cratering move this month to impose massive tariffs on nearly all US trading partners — based on a formula scores of economists found bizarre — caused many longtime allies to shed any last remnants of magical thinking that they could manage or contain this predictably unpredictable American president as they did during his first term. On April 2, Trump announced "Liberation Day" tariffs. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Leaders from London to Warsaw, Helsinki to Rome, are continuing efforts to de-escalate and maintain productive relationships with Washington, while considering how to "de-risk" by protecting themselves from Trump's havoc. Their initial moves could be the first cracks in a dam that could break wide open, unleashing a torrent of increasingly punitive actions that, ultimately, could unravel a transatlantic alliance that has tied America to Europe for eight decades and refashion the global order.The White House, however, downplayed the potential for a rift, asserting that Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine — which he has undertaken with little input from NATO allies — are aimed at making Europe more secure, even though many of the continent's leaders fear that any potential concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin will make their collective security even more precarious."The President has led in an effort to bring the biggest conflict since WWII in Europe to a peaceful resolution, and he is helping restore international shipping lanes in the Red Sea that will also benefit European markets," said National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes. "We will continue to work with our European allies on ways to improve security cooperation — be that through foreign military sales, encouraging our allies to increase their defense budgets, and holding our adversaries like the Houthis accountable."Of course, private Signal messages during the attack on the Houthis laid bare how some of the president's most senior aides view Europe as "free-loading," with Vance lamenting that he "hated" bailing the continent out. Trump officials "seem to think Europe is this dying continent that has no future and is not capable of independent action, that Russia is the more formidable power," said Minna Ålander, a fellow on transatlantic defense and security at the Center for European Policy Analysis. "They may soon find out that the opposite is true."Shifting defense dollars away from AmericaFew countries across Europe are more indebted or unconditionally loyal to the US than Poland. And yet, posters are now showing up around Warsaw merging two silhouettes: Putin and Trump.It's an indication of the extent to which two months of direct threats and challenges from Washington are rapidly changing public opinion — and the private calculations of government officials — in Warsaw and in other European capitals.Trump has been pushing NATO members to increase their spending on defense, saying that the alliance's requirement that nations allocate 2% of GDP should be raised to 5%. But the result of his pressure may well be that NATO allies shift their defense investments away from American contracts, shrinking a lucrative financial arrangement upon which the US relies.Poland, which borders Ukraine and Russia-aligned Belarus, is already spending 4.7% of its GDP on defense, the most of any NATO member. And it buys more American defense equipment than any other country in the world. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have praised Poland as an exemplary ally. But Warsaw is reconsidering that partnership. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has ruled out the cancellation of any existing contracts, but there are qualms in Warsaw about entering new ones."Confidence in the USA has been severely shaken," said Pawel Kowal, the Ukraine envoy in Tusk's office. "I don't think we will be placing any more major orders with the American arms industry for the time being after analyzing our experiences with what is happening now."That's no small statement given how much Poland's procurement of American defense equipment, Kowal added, has helped to solidify relations with Washington, and the Trump administration in particular. Poland plans to spend $47.1 billion on defense in 2025, more than half of which will go to US contractors. But Kowal says Poland now needs "to diversify our arms purchases" and "to buy in Europe or rely more on our own Polish arms industry."Cezary Tomczyk, Poland's deputy defense minister, said that maintaining strong ties to the US remains important, noting that Trump has encouraged Europe to be more self-reliant and saying investing more in production in Poland is part of that. But Tomczyk offered a word of caution, noting that the US has tangible interests in Poland as well. "If the US alienates Poland, it would not be good for the US," he said.As Trump prepared to take office for the second time, European leaders strategized that they could keep him engaged with NATO by meeting his demand that they increase defense spending with commitments to direct most of their outlays to American companies. Now, they're moving in the opposite direction."Europe is now going to heavily increase its investments to defense. And it will be very logical that Europe is turning this money to its own economy," said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, who also referred to the sudden questions about the reliability of American-made weapons systems. "There must be a political trust that if you buy something, you must be sure that you can use them as well."Many of the countries determined to boost defense spending are loath to invest in America's defense industrial base — and newly aware that placating Trump isn't as simple as it was during his first term."In previous years, under Trump 1.0 and even afterward, we said, yes, we can appease him. He wants to make deals, he wants us to go on a big shopping spree from him: Buy F-35s, Patriots, liquified natural gas, and all sorts of other things … and then he'll be appeased," said Peter Beyer, a member of Germany's Bundestag from the conservative Christian Democrats, the party expected to lead Germany's incoming government. "I think that's a much too simplistic calculation. It all doesn't add up, at least not today. It won't work."Trump's willingness to use US-controlled weapons systems as leverage over Ukraine in the midst of a war has given rise to new worries. Canada, Portugal, Denmark and Germany have publicly expressed reservations about continuing to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the US given that Trump, in the event of a political disagreement, could block access to spare parts and software upgrades needed to keep the aircraft flying and combat-ready. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said Berlin will honor its F-35 contracts. Sean Gallup/Getty Images German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has asserted that Berlin will continue to honor its F-35 contracts, calling the US "an important ally for us." But he has also made clear that's at least partly due to a lack of other options when it comes to upgrading a current fleet that is about to age out.Beyer, a former transatlantic coordinator for the German government, said that even if concerns about an F-35 "kill switch" aren't reality-based, it would be "daft" for Berlin to continue relying so heavily on America's security backing given the administration's approach."If we purchase weapons systems, be it Patriot, F-35 or whatever, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, we have to be aware that it's like a Damocles sword that a shutdown could occur," Beyer said. "This thought is now there in people's minds, also in connection with Starlink, Elon Musk and the data for Ukraine — this discussion is in full swing."Given that Europe is so integrated into America's defense industrial base after decades of procurement, finding European alternatives to US systems won't happen overnight.But even the US-made Patriot system has its challengers. The French-Italian SAMP/T, which takes only two years to produce, is now going through upgrades to put its range on par with Patriots. And confidence about it being a viable alternative has grown after its widespread usage by Ukraine over the last few years.Targets on specific productsOn April 2, Trump levied 20% tariffs on the EU as part of a sweeping policy shift aimed at erasing trade deficits, only to abruptly hit the pause button less than a week later to halt a global economic panic that was starting to affect even America's bond market.Some countries — and their citizens — are now looking at how to hit back at individual companies or industries to cause pain or grab headlines in the United States.Some EU governments are considering weaponizing agricultural and environmental standards to discriminate against American products. They could ban specific products from certain Trump-supporting states, like Kentucky bourbon or Florida orange juice.As boycotts of Tesla have already shown — European sales were down 45% in January — public sentiment alone could drive people to stop buying American products on their own.Across the continent, Facebook groups devoted to organizing boycotts of American products have amassed tens of thousands of followers. In Denmark, a survey showed that roughly half the population has avoided buying American products since Trump's inauguration. And the country's largest grocery store operator now marks whether products sold are from European companies on its electronic price tags. Price tags marked with a black star help consumers identify and buy European-produced groceries as some activists call for a boycott of goods and services made in the US to protest against Trump's policies. Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images There's also tourism. Canada is among a handful of countries that have issued advisories warning about traveling to the US, going as far as to ask citizens to "reconsider" visiting the States. Passenger bookings on airline routes between the US and Canada are down 70% compared to the same period a year ago, a shift that industry analysts believe will cost $2 billion in lost travel and business revenue. Similarly, travel from Europe to the US has dropped by 35% in the last two months. If Trump imposes tariffs he is weighing on pharmaceuticals coming into the country, the EU might decide to add export controls on top of that — making Americans pay even more for popular drugs like Ozempic, Novo Nordisk's obesity and diabetes drug, which is largely produced in Denmark.Disrupting supply chainsSome countries are also looking at ways to limit — or make more costly — essential products or services the US depends on.The EU could impose export tariffs on EU-produced machinery, electrical equipment or pharmaceuticals — creating immediate price pressure on US supply chains. That would come at a high cost for European countries, but some officials and analysts aren't ruling it out."Europe can have some chokepoints vis à vis America. Europe trades in machinery and optical equipment, we can effect a standstill of American production," Swedish economist Frederik Erixson said. "These products are not easily substitutable."For instance, Europe could impose export controls on products made by Dutch company ASML, the world's biggest provider of photolithography machines which are used to produce computer chips. This would force US manufacturers that use ASML technology — American consumers — to pay more. Other choke points could be highly advanced technology products made by Nokia and Erikson that are essential to network operators.Erixon described such moves as "the nuclear option" in a transatlantic trade war, given how intertwined their supply chains are. But, he said, "America is in a predicament because it wants to impose general tariffs, whereas the EU has the possibility of rearranging trade flows."Some European companies have taken to disrupting supply lines on their own. A Norwegian fuel supplier refused to refuel the US Navy warships and submarines after Trump and Vance berated Ukraine's president in the Oval Office. It was an isolated incident, but illuminated how much American interests rely on and benefit from strong alliances — and what stands to be lost if relationships deteriorate.And allies closer to home have other levers to pull. Canada supplied 27,220,531 megawatt hours of electricity to the US last year, not to mention 59% of the crude oil America imports — a point of leverage, some leaders have noted, in the event of a protracted trade war. The premier of Canada's largest province threatened last month to shut off the electricity that powers much of New England and the Great Lakes. states, vowing that Americans "need to feel the pain" from Trump's trade war.At the same time, the premier of Nova Scotia said American companies would no longer be able to bid on provincial procurement contracts and could see their existing contracts cancelled, remarking that "some people need to touch the hot stove to learn."Sticking it to Silicon ValleyMusk's involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency and the presence of a raft of tech CEOs at Trump's inauguration have highlighted the extent to which US tech leaders are increasingly in league with Trump. The EU had already been in the lead on regulating tech companies and attempting to curb the spread of misinformation on privately owned platforms like Musk's X. But there had been a sense of wanting to work together with the US on policies and standards.That's changing.In the Netherlands, lawmakers last month approved funding for a new Dutch-controlled cloud services platform to reduce the country's reliance on US tech companies.That followed a call from Dutch Prime Minister Alexander De Croo for the EU to "take action" in response to Musk's involvement in recent European elections where he advocated for far-right candidates. The EU has been investigating X, the social media platform Musk owns, for nearly a year and a half over suspected breaches of Europe's Digital Services Act, which requires platforms with over 45 million monthly users to comply with a raft of stringent rules designed to keep users safe and curb the spread of illegal, harmful content.Cutting against the grain, Britain is considering a cut to the digital services tax levied on tech giants, although the optics of doing so would be extremely uncomfortable at a time when the government is also drawing up plans to reduce welfare payments for disabled people.In a sign of how countries can leverage their own tech markets and companies that are important to the US, China is harnessing its control over TikTok's future in the US. Trump has been forced to delay the enforcement of a law requiring that TikTok find a new owner in the US or be banned over security concerns. That's because Beijing, upset about being hit with additional tariffs, scuttled a tentative deal giving a group of American investors a 50% stake in the company.Going it aloneWhether allies in Europe or the Americas end up implementing some of the more aggressive responses they're now discussing, Trump's unilateral approach and disregard for the interwoven economic and security interests at the core of longstanding alliances has heightened the urgency of lessening their dependence on Washington.No one put it in more stark terms than Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney, responding to Trump's tariffs: "The old relationship we had with the United States, based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over," he said in late March.Increasingly, Europe's sudden seriousness about defense spending isn't driven by the idea that placating Trump will help maintain American hard power as a backstop for the continent's defense — but by the realization that in many ways Europe is already on its own.That's a message Hegseth and Vance have conveyed directly both in private meetings and public statements.Following his election two months ago, Germany's new chancellor, Freidrich Merz, declared his top priority to be strengthening Europe to "achieve independence from the USA," lamenting that Trump has made clear that "the Americans … are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe."To that end, Merz succeeded in winning the Bundeswehr's approval to skirt Germany's "debt brake" and dramatically boost defense spending, a striking about-face for a country that has been wary of greater militarization since the end of World War II.And as more countries follow suit, there is growing interest in forming new coalitions. Several countries in Europe's north and east appear interested in joining the six-member Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, or OCCAR, which manages armament programs on behalf of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Belgium. Denmark has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative to create a multi-layered air defense system in Europe. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is seen aboard the Danish Navy inspection vessel Vaedderen. Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP Denmark, which has long contributed more to NATO defenses than many larger member countries, has joined the European Sky Shield Initiative to create a multi-layered air defense system in Europe."In three to five years, we need to be totally able to defend ourselves in Europe," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told POLITICO last month.Similarly on the trade front, allies are eager to insulate themselves from Trump's erratic approach by replacing trade with the US with new partners. French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said last week that Paris was suddenly re-thinking its opposition to a massive EU trade pact with several South American nations, calling on leaders in Brussels to address French concerns so that the "Mercosur" deal could be finalized. Trump's "Liberation Day" announcement, Saint-Martin said, was "a wake-up call."After Trump's reversal on tariffs left China as his primary target under an increased 145% tariff, Beijing opened negotiations with the EU to abolish the bloc's tariffs on imported vehicles from China. Those discussions, if successful, could dramatically reduce the volume of American-made vehicles sold in the European market.In the long run, Trump's belief that he has better cards could weaken America's hand, reducing its leverage over longtime allies once they're more independent from Washington."We need to take advantage of the crisis with the US, to rebuild our economic, defense and energy sovereignty," said a former French minister. "And we need to carry on hitting back."Stokols reported from Washington; Fritz reported from Warsaw; Caulcutt reported from Paris and Schultheis reported from Los AngelesNicholas Vinocur in Brussels and Esther Webber in London contributed to this report.This text is a collaboration of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network. It has been edited and condensed from its original version. Recommended video

ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott Ralph Orlowski/Reuters 2025-04-23T21:54:03Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Ahead of ServiceNow's earnings, Wall Street worried about DOGE hitting government software spending. The company won six new US government customers in the first quarter. ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott tells Business Insider the company remains "un-DOGE-ed." When I got on the phone with ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott on Wednesday, one of the first things I asked was, "Have you been DOGE-ed?"The White House DOGE Office has made an ambitious effort to slash federal spending. The US government buys a lot of software, and since this efficiency drive kicked off in January, Wall Street has worried about which tech companies might lose valuable contracts.ServiceNow was among those in the potential firing line, helping to push its stock down by more than 20% this year. Ahead of ServiceNow's first-quarter results, TD Cowen analysts wrote about "ongoing DOGE concerns." The company gets roughly 10% of its revenue from the US federal government, so "risks are more acute," the analysts wrote in a preview.On Wednesday afternoon, ServiceNow reported Q1 numbers, and these concerns seem to have been unfounded, at least for now. The company beat Wall Street expectations and raised guidance for subscription revenue. More importantly, ServiceNow said its US public sector business grew more than 30% year-over-year, and it added six new government customers in the first quarter. The stock jumped 11% in after-hours trading."Un-DOGE-ed," McDermott said.Avoiding DOGE carnageI asked him why ServiceNow has managed to avoid the DOGE carnage. The CEO said the company helps organizations save money by providing cloud software that automates many humdrum, but important tasks. ServiceNow's software can also make it easier to consolidate multiple different IT tools and services under one roof, another way to save.With DOGE on the prowl and tariff risks denting confidence, if organizations can use software to cut costs, be more efficient, and reduce duplicative services, it might be less painful to keep paying ServiceNow.  That last point may be particularly pertinent to government agencies, which often have many older, less efficient, legacy software systems."We're working with agencies to replace costly legacy systems," McDermott said. "They realize this is the moment where the software industrial complex has to be collapsed onto ServiceNow. It's grown in cost and complexity over time due to maverick buying. We're here to help reduce and simplify that." Savings in RaleighMcDermott cited the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, which uses ServiceNow to auto-populate personnel forms so different teams, such as HR, IT, Facilities, and Payroll, don't have to enter the same information more than once. That saves city employees more than 1,302 hours annually, according to a ServiceNow case study.ServiceNow software also helped Raleigh replace six legacy service-management solutions and reduce the number of employees in the city's IT call center from eight to two. Those six staffers now work in other areas with the city. Raleigh estimates that it still saved $315,000 a year. That seems small, though such savings add up over time and across multiple customers. And when Elon Musk goes around demanding agencies cut spending, every little bit helps. "I like to say that everyone wins in this business, and I still believe that. However, the customer wants some losers now and is looking to consolidate software systems and services," McDermott said. "In uncertain times, we help organizations consolidate their legacy technology spending." Recommended video

Tingshu Wang/Reuters 2025-04-23T22:05:23Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Banning Nvidia chips won't halt China's AI progress, analysts say. Chinese firms are reducing reliance on Nvidia, finding alternatives like Huawei. Banning H20 chip exports would 'make no sense,' according to Bernstein. Banning the export of Nvidia chips is unlikely to stymie China's development of advanced AI, according to Bernstein analysts.Nvidia notified investors in a new regulatory filing last week that it expects the Trump administration to require a license for exporting the type of powerful semiconductors used to build AI products to China. Analysts widely interpreted the license requirement as an export ban.The US chip firm said it would incur $5.5 billion in charges related to inventory, purchase commitments, and reserves for its H20 chip model in the first quarter, which ends on April 27.Nvidia designed its H20 chip to exactly fit with Biden administration limits on the power of chips that could be sold to Chinese companies, the aim of which was to curb China's AI progress. (A new congressional inquiry takes issue with this reaction to the regulations.)"Banning the H20 would make no sense as its performance is already well below Chinese alternatives; a ban would simply hand the Chinese AI market completely over to Huawei," Bernstein analysts wrote in a note to investors Wednesday.How Chinese AI progressed despite chip limitsChinese companies have been reducing their reliance on Nvidia chips, according to the analysts. To do so they have found ways to perform model training on unrestricted edge devices, like personal computers and laptops. They've also moved much of the inference workloads, the AI-generated responses and actions, to Nvidia alternatives.Chinese companies have also engineered ways for chips designed by their homegrown tech giant, Huawei, or other locally made chips, and Nvidia chips to be networked together, though software remains a challenge in fully converting from chip to chip."Our channel checks have shown that most companies are able to carry on without H20 chips," the analysts wrote.Chinese companies with revenue from foundation model subscriptions — similar to US firms OpenAI or Anthropic — will have the hardest time converting from Nvidia chips to alternatives, since training models is more dependent on Nvidia's proprietary software CUDA.One Chinese company required 200 engineers and six months to move a model from the Nvidia platform to Huawei chips, and it still only reached 90% of the previous performance, according to Bernstein.Huawei presents the most formidable challenge to Nvidia in China."In the longer run, expect Huawei to keep closing the gap in performance and Chinese foundational models making up for compute deficiency with Deepseek-like innovation," the analysts wrote.Chip supply, though, is likely to be constrained for the foreseeable future, they added, as Huawei, like most major players in the AI chips game, is somewhat dependent on production from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

McManus and Komori opened the Boise-based restaurant in 2020. Leslie Scott for BI 2025-04-23T19:04:57Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Kin is an Idaho prix fixe restaurant with a work culture rooted in collaboration and equality. The business, owned by Kris Komori and Remi McManus, offers salaries to all full-time staff. This article is part of "Made to Order," a series highlighting the business strategies driving today's food industry. At Kin's prix fixe restaurant, the menu changes every five weeks, and it's always a group project.Having five or more staff members work together to brainstorm a tasting menu, divide up the cooking, and gather ingredients may seem like a recipe for disaster, but Kris Komori and Remi McManus, the co-owners of Kin, don't mind the challenge. Collaboration is integral to their restaurant, even if it requires some trial and error."We don't necessarily have general managers and things like that," McManus said. "We all work as an entity and as a unit."This mindset even extends to how Komori and McManus tackle payroll and prioritize pay equality. The owners offer all full-time staff a salary with benefits like paid time off and health insurance. This differs from the typical restaurant model in which some staff receive the minimum wage for tipped workers, while mainly relying on optional gratuities.In a rapidly changing industry known for burnout and top-down management, Kin's approach to work culture might be less common. But Komori, who's also Kin's head chef, said the Boise restaurant had always been an outlier."We're not trying to change an entire restaurant industry or even Boise itself, but we did know that we could create something a little bit different," Komori said.Their efforts have paid off. In 2023, Komori won a James Beard Award, and in 2024, Food & Wine listed the restaurant as one of the top 20 restaurants in the country.On separate calls, Komori and McManus spoke with Business Insider about how they foster employee well-being at Kin — and how other restaurants can adopt a better workplace culture, too.This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Some staff members take on different responsibilities in the restaurant, like graphic design and bookkeeping, based on their interests. Leslie Scott for BI Business Insider: Tell me a bit about Kin's work environment. How do you try to set yourself apart when it comes to employee well-being? Remi McManus: For years in the restaurant industry, there's been a big discrepancy in pay, especially from the front and back of the house. We try to develop equality through equal pay for all staff members. Our goals have been to develop more professionalism in the industry in Idaho and provide for our staff and our community more than we used to at my previous restaurant, State & Lemp.Kris Komori: Part of the core competency of the business is connecting to our guests and community, but it's mostly about connecting with our crew. It's still long hours and stressful at times, but if we can have people be excited to come to work instead of dreading it, it's just a happier place to be. Staff members often take inspiration from their own life experiences when brainstorming menu themes and dishes. Leslie Scott for BI How have you developed a sustainable business model that can account for having staff on salary?McManus: It's important for employees to take ownership of their duties. This means engaging them in different responsibilities that play to their strengths and discussing things they would like to see done in the restaurant. We have a graphic designer who is a service staff member and helps us to do social media posts and graphic design for menus. We've had a bartender who moved on to be our full-time bookkeeper. We have individuals who have experiences outside the restaurant that we can utilize to change the dynamic of what this space really is. While most people see us as a restaurant, we see ourselves more as a community engagement center with food and beverage as the vehicle.Komori: Since our tasting room is reservation-only, we know how many people are coming in and what their allergies or dietary restrictions are. Based on our capacity, we also know how much to order and prep. We can be efficient on the cost of goods and then put that into the payroll. McManus and Komori try to limit staff members to 45 hours a week to reduce burnout. Leslie Scott for BI Why do you think a community-focused work culture is a less common approach in most kitchens and restaurants?McManus: It's very expensive. Restaurants are fairly transient, and other owners don't potentially have the time or desire to invest as much into their employees. We're called Kin for many reasons, but one is because 100% of the staff that was with us at State & Lemp came over to Kin. It felt like we were a family creating a new establishment.Komori: One reason why a lot of places don't do it is because you have to also get a lot of buy-in from the team in terms of rotating schedules, knowing that everyone deserves the time off. Sometimes that requires stepping in. If someone's on vacation, then everyone's got to pull a little bit more, but then you yourself go on vacation and the other people do that for you.It's a compromise to staff saying you can have a career, sustainable finances, and days off in a restaurant. Because we have more people on staff, we can rotate schedules. As long as everyone has buy-in and supports each other, it works really well. The crew collaborates on each tasting menu from conceptualization to preparation. Leslie Scott for BI How does prioritizing collaboration and creativity help foster a more welcoming workplace?McManus: Any employee wants to feel like they're valued at work. Because we are a small staff, we're able to engage with them on a day-to-day basis. Whether it be collaboration on a dish or activities outside the workplace, developing these intimate relationships is baked into our ethos.When we come up with menu ideas, it's not necessarily just Kris or myself. Being able to rely on the individuals that have been here for years and also some of the new individuals for ideas is probably the best thing that we can do. People who have been doing something over and over and over again for years — they need new ideas. The collaboration process is probably one of the most effective things that we have in the restaurant right now.Komori: Everyone that comes in here wants to create. What's cool about our tasting room is that it starts with one dish, but over time, the staff is creating dozens of dishes, and they start to notice their own style. They're also learning how to plan, order at a cost, and write a prep schedule. It's really important because probably a quarter of the kitchen will want to have their own place, or at least become a chef with their own team. It's a lot to change the menu, but it's also fun. McManus and Komori started working together at State & Lemp before opening Kin. Leslie Scott for BI How can other chefs and owners adopt this workplace culture and sustain these practices?McManus: We accept gratuities, but we use them to fund the salaries. I believe, in some larger cities, there are restaurants that have gone away from optional gratuities and just added them to the bill or increased the pricing so they can have a similar pay structure.Komori: We're always wondering if the way that we're doing things is the best way to do it. You just have to be wanting to change. You ask your staff, "Hey, we want to try something to benefit the business and to benefit you. Are you willing to experiment with it?" And then you course-correct.We have good retention, and our guests are happy to support a place trying to healthily and sustainably support its crew. So we get loyalty from customers, which stabilizes the revenue and helps sustain the system. Kin's communal dining style expands on the restaurant's core concept of connection. Leslie Scott for BI How do you think restaurants can be more than just places to eat and places to work for guests and staff?McManus: It just comes down to culture. If you take the time and energy to learn more about the staff, have those conversations, communicate, and give ownership, then that shows in the staff members and that shows to the guests and community.Komori: Partly the reason we're named Kin is not only because we try to be like a loose-knit group of people that really align with each other, but also we want to have a feel like we're inviting people into our home. Because of that, we know a lot about our regulars. Sometimes we feel like a restaurant, but other times, we're more than a restaurant — we just happen to have our product be food and beverage. If we're going to work so hard, we want to feel good about it, and just cooking for someone over and over and over behind a wall, you lose that connection. Recommended video

Enterprise search centralizes access to a company's data, making information from multiple platforms searchable through one hub. Photo courtesy of Super.com 2025-04-23T19:17:08Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Super.com had its internal information scattered across several workspace platforms. The company built an artificial intelligence search tool to make a tool hub. This article is part of "Build IT: Connectivity," a series about tech powering better business. The tools meant to streamline work can leave businesses stuck in a maze of messages, documents, and dashboards.Super.com, a travel and finance platform on which customers can book hotels and earn cash and rewards, depends on various workspace platforms, including Slack, Confluence, and GitLab, to keep the business humming.Hussein Fazal, Super.com's CEO, told Business Insider that juggling systems often slowed down day-to-day tasks. Documents, datasets, and message exchanges were scattered across platforms, which made it difficult for teams to access what they needed when they needed it.During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company decided to permanently switch to remote work, which Fazal said added an extra challenge to information retrieval.As a result, Super.com needed a central system to access information from all of its platforms."It's hard to just pick up information, and it can sometimes even be hard to get information," he said.Super.com decided to build a hub that its employees could access from home. In 2022, the company teamed up with Glean, an AI startup in Palo Alto, California, to create a search platform that pulls information from across Super.com's software programs. Hussein Fazal is the chief executive officer at Super.com. Courtesy of Super.com A personalized search toolEnterprise search is software that allows users to look for information across various platforms and databases. Glean's platform uses ranking algorithms and generative artificial intelligence to make it easier for users to find what they're looking for."Glean will find the right information and produce an answer in natural language, à la ChatGPT, but with the information in the context of your enterprise," Tamar Yehoshua, the president of product and technology at Glean, told BI.She said that it's not as straightforward as putting all the information together into one big pot. Different employees have different access permissions, so each search needs to be customized for whoever is using it.Super.com integrated the company's most-used apps and tools, such as Slack, Confluence, GitLab, and Google Drive, into one hub. "It's personalized," she said. "It will find the information that is more relevant to you, as opposed to me, if we're in different roles and in different teams."Yehoshua said the setup process could be challenging since some companies struggle with managing who has access to which tools. This means that the software could give out confidential information to employees.To fix this, Glean built a data-governance layer into the search platform, which ensures rigorous access permissions. Fazal said Super.com had never had an issue with Glean's search tool giving people information they shouldn't be allowed to see.Yehoshua added that while everybody knows how to search Google, not everyone knows how to write a good AI prompt. Glean also launched a prompt library for Super.com, which she said helped educate people on how to use the tool.Fazal said he uses the platform multiple times a day. He added that an internal company survey found the search platform has saved employees an average of 20 minutes a day, which adds up to more than 1,500 hours saved each month across the team. The employee survey also found a 20% reduction in onboarding time for new hires.Next steps for AI agentsSince their first partnership, in 2022, Super.com and Glean have added features to the platform. A generative-AI tool embedded into the platform, for example, helps employees draft emails and prioritize tasks using real-time company data.For instance, if an employee asks, "What are the 10 most important things I should be working on right now?" the AI assistant will use information from Slack and Google Docs to give a customized answer to that employee.Looking ahead, Fazal hopes to incorporate AI agents into the platform. He said the next step after prompting AI to generate a task list would be getting an AI agent to go do those things. For instance, the AI assistant might suggest arranging a meeting as an important task. The agent would then draft emails and book a meeting room to help complete that task."We're excited to test it out and implement that once it's ready," he said.

People walking by JPMorgan Chase's Manhattan office tower Momo Takahashi/BI 2025-04-23T16:11:16Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? JPMorgan promoted 118 people in global banking and markets to managing director. The bank began announcing the new MDs internally on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said. Business Insider obtained the full list in global banking and markets — take a look. JPMorgan Chase this week promoted 118 people in global banking and markets to the rank of managing director, the firm's highest designation outside of the C-suite.The number is up slightly from the 116 executives the firm elevated to managing director in these business lines last year. The new MDs sit within JPMorgan's commercial and investment banking unit, which advises companies with mergers and stock sales and facilitates trades for large investors. In addition to bankers and traders, the company also elevated people who work in functions like legal, risk, and compliance.The bank began internally announcing promotions across the company on Monday, a person familiar with the matter said. It's part of an annual investment banking ritual the bank engages in each April.Eighty-six of this year's new MDs in the division sit within banking, including M&A advisory and corporate lending; another 32 are in markets. An analysis of the new managing directors' LinkedIn profiles shows they stem from all over the world. Some are based in New York or Dallas; others in London, Frankfurt, or Singapore. As of press time, many members of this year's MD class had not updated their LinkedIn pages with their new roles, leaving the title of "Executive Director," one rung below MD, in their profiles.The commercial and investment bank generated roughly $19.7 billion in revenue for the first quarter of the year, according to the bank's most recent earnings figures; that's up nearly 12% year over year. Banking and payments revenue of $8.7 billion was up 4% year over year; markets and securities services revenue was up 19%. (Markets-specific revenue of $9.7 billion was up 21%, the firm said, amid heightened equities activity.) Overall, JPMorgan said this month that it produced $14.6 billion in net income for the quarter."Clients have become more cautious amid an increase in market volatility driven by geopolitical and trade-related tensions," Jamie Dimon, the company's CEO, said in a statement accompanying the release. He also recently addressed a variety of issues facing the economic and US democracy, including stagflation and the specter of a possible recession, in his annual shareholder letter.Last year, JPMorgan was the third-ranked M&A advisor globally (after Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley) and second-ranked in the US (after Goldman), according to the deal tracking firm Dealogic. Globally, the firm advised on 403 transactions with a total deal value of about $760 billion; in the US, specifically, it worked on 228 deals with value of roughly $481 billion, Dealogic found.JPMorgan's MD promotions in the division come as investment banking, generally, has confronted headwinds under the Trump administration. The chilling effect of tariffs and trade wars roiled markets and spooked investors in recent weeks, contributing to a global selloff that has stalled the M&A and IPO pipelines.In addition to its commercial and investment bank, the firm also conducts promotions in its other businesses, ranging from tech to asset management.Here's the full list of names of 118 new managing directors in global banking and markets.Global BankingDaniel Adams, global investment bankingBrent Ballard Jr., global investment bankingAlex Bilichenko, global investment bankingHenry Capper, global investment bankingHenri de Branche, global investment bankingJon Edwards, global investment bankingJason Gorak, commercial bankingJeanne Ho, commercial bankingEd Johnson, commercial bankingSid Lahiri, global investment bankingJustin Look, global investment bankingMithil Mehta, global investment bankingGabor Pogany Ritter, global corporate bankingSebastian Rodriguez, global investment bankingMahesh Ahlawat, global investment bankingJeff Barker, commercial bankingLisa Bono, commercial bankingMei Chang, global investment bankingIngrid Deroubaix, commercial bankingOmar El Amine Fichtali, global investment bankingBen Grant, global investment bankingMatt Holdaway, global servicesTucker Kaufmann, commercial bankingYing Li, global corporate bankingLouis Magraner, global investment bankingStephen Molloy, global investment bankingMatt Renna, commercial bankingVictor Ruiz, commercial bankingMarc Andersen, global investment bankingGina Baumgartner, global servicesChiara Bovo, global investment bankingZuriel Chavez, global investment bankingPaul Drayton, commercial bankingMarc Epstein, commercial bankingJulia Grinshpun, commercial bankingGraham Holden, global investment bankingSonam Khare, global investment bankingStephanie Little, global corporate bankingBrandon Mallette, global investment bankingCharlie Oakes, global investment bankingMichael Rhodes, commercial bankingLy-Yen Sacco, global corporate bankingIsabela Bacchi, global corporate bankingLouise Bennetts, global investment bankingGauthier Brizard, global corporate bankingLorenzo Colonna di Paliano, commercial bankingAnjali Dubey, product & experienceHideo Fujimoto, global investment bankingTiffany Hatchett, commercial bankingSaiko Hoshino, global investment bankingJaewon Kim, global corporate bankingNiklas Ljungquist, global corporate bankingHasan Mannan, commercial bankingViraj Patel, global investment bankingMike Rhodes, global investment bankingJay Sanghani, global investment bankingKeats Baldwin III, commercial bankingBruno Biagini, global investment bankingJason Campbell, commercial bankingAly Cunningham, commercial bankingJonty Edwards, global investment bankingLisa Gomez, commercial bankingAaron Hilton, global servicesParul Jhunjhunwala, global investment bankingArjan Kreischer, global investment bankingDoug Loftus, commercial bankingBen McNulty, global investment bankingBryan Payne, global investment bankingEric Rinder, global investment bankingEric Schwarzbach, global corporate bankingDuncan Sennott, commercial bankingJames Summer, global investment bankingAbel Thai, global servicesJim Tomtania, commercial bankingHaley Trethaway, global investment bankingManoj Vemula, global investment bankingAnastasia Volnova, global investment bankingTeresa Walker, commercial bankingSheria Washington, commercial bankingGregor Weber, global corporate bankingPhillip Wiginton, commercial bankingFlorian Will, global corporate bankingDaisuke Yoshizumi, global investment bankingPeck Yuen Yong, global servicesChristine Zhang, global corporate bankingFei-Fei Zhang, global investment bankingMarketsShalabh AgrawalMark AmlinTaoufik BounharAaron CasdenPatrick ChuAmelie DarrortAlex DaumCyprien DecouxIrina DushkevichKer Lih GanSarah GangFelix GrimauSiddharth GuptaAndrew Hart-FoxMoulay JaidiManish JainJason KendallAlexander KueblerElisa LassMatt LegerEmma MaAnnie MarinaroChristopher J McCannYasuhiro NishikawaMeghan O'KeefeRuchira PatelWill PeakMatt PennellaJohn SchlegelMichael SistoRob Tanna-SmithShilong YangHave a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ralexander@businessinsider.com or SMS/Signal at 561-247-5758. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Recommended video

Albedo, which is building satellites to map and monitor the Earth with powerful precision and detail, is raising a Series B funding round that would value the startup at $285 million before the additional funding, according to documents seen by Business Insider.Investment firm General Innovation Capital is leading the round, which will bring in close to $100 million in new financing to the startup, according to the documents.Albedo and General Innovation Capital didn't respond to requests for comment.Albedo's very low earth orbit (VLEO) satellites collect visible and thermal imagery at the highest resolution commercially available for use in agriculture, insurance, energy, mapping, utilities, and defense.Albedo was previously valued at $150 million pre-money in 2023, according to Pitchbook. Investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures (the investment firm of Bill Gates), Initialized Capital Management, Y Combinator, AWS Startups, and Booz Allen Ventures.The new funding comes as the company has seen considerable momentum in recent months. The startup announced in March that it had signed a US Air Force contract worth up to $12 million and successfully launched its first satellite, named Clarity-1."The launch of Clarity-1 is a pivotal moment for the space industry," Chris Bogdan, an Albedo investor and executive vice president at Booz Allen and leader of the firm's Space business, said in a press release after the launch. "The ability to collect ultra-high-resolution data at a fraction of the cost and timeline of traditional satellites is a transformational shift in space technology."Based in Colorado, Albedo was founded in 2020 by CTO AyJay Lasater and CEO Topher Haddad, both of whom formerly worked at Lockheed Martin, as well as CPO Winston Tri, a former Facebook software engineer.Albedo's imagery is so clear that it has raised dystopian privacy concerns about using satellites to track people from space."This is a giant camera in the sky for any government to use at any time without our knowledge," Jennifer Lynch, general counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told the New York Times last year. "We should definitely be worried."Haddad told the Times he is "acutely aware of the privacy implications," and Albedo's technology will image people but cannot identify humans.

The B-21 Raider being unveiled during a ceremony in California, in December 2022. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images 2025-04-23T13:06:55Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Northrop Grumman posted a drop in profits in the first quarter of 2025. It said higher manufacturing costs for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber were to blame. The plane is the first new stealth bomber designed for the US military in 30 years. Northrop Grumman posted a drop in first-quarter profits, blaming higher manufacturing costs for its B-21 Raider stealth bomber.Sales totalled $9.5 billion in the quarter, down 7% compared to last year, the company said. Reuters reported that the figure was below the analysts' average expectation of about $9.92 billion.The company said it recorded a pre-tax loss of $477 million on its B-21 programs, and that investments to boost future B-21 production and higher-than-expected material costs were to blame.In a conference call, Kathy Warden, Northrop Grumman's president, said the drop was "largely relating to higher manufacturing costs" for the B-21, per The War Zone.She said it was "primarily resulting from a process change we made to enable a higher production rate, as well as increases in the projected material cost."She said Northrop Grumman had "underestimated the amount of consumption of both materials as well as the price increase that we are seeing."The B-21 is the first new stealth bomber to be developed for the US Air Force in 30 years, and took its maiden flight in November 2023.Business Insider reported last year that the plane is expected to form the backbone of the US bomber fleet, and that its state-of-the-art stealth capabilities are designed to evade sophisticated air defense systems.A low rate initial production contract — a contract for the manufacture of a small batch of B-21s for testing — was signed in January 2024.Gen. Anthony J Cotton, head of US Strategic Command, said last month that he wanted to see the Air Force boost the number of B-21s it plans to deploy from 100 to around 145.He said the plane's initial low production rate was set "when the geopolitical environment was a little bit different than what we face today."The B-21 is expected to enter service by the end of the decade.In the conference call, Warden said that the company was taking a financial hit now in order to be in a position to ramp up production of the plane going forward. Recommended video

Spirit Airlines jets at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Joe Cavaretta/Tribune News/Getty Images 2025-04-23T13:22:59Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Spirit Airlines is cutting some 12,000 flights through May and June compared to last year. Just four airports are losing service from Spirit, but others will see up to 84% fewer flights. The budget airline is continuing its turnaround, having emerged from bankruptcy last month. Finding a Spirit Airlines flight is looking a lot harder this summer.According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, the budget airline has scheduled 12,000 fewer flights through May and June compared to the same period last year — a decline of around 24%.Research from Deutsche Bank analysts places the June decline for Spirit's domestic flights as high as 27.5%.However, only four airports are no longer being served. Manchester, New Hampshire, the only one in the US, had just seven flights scheduled across the period last year. Two of the airports are in Haiti, where several airlines stopped flying after a Spirit plane was shot at last November.Still, some cities are facing huge drops in service since May and June 2024.Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Boise, Idaho, have seen their scheduled Spirit flights drop 84%, down to just 18 from 111 and 115, respectively.Flights from Portland, Oregon, have more than halved, falling from 357 to 124. Boston's service has plunged from 1,272 to 710.The only three airports to lose more than 1,000 flights — Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, and Orlando — have between 20.5% and 28% fewer Spirit flights than last year.The cuts come as Spirit continues its turnaround.It filed for Chapter 11 protection last November as it worked to restructure its debt and business model, before emerging from bankruptcy last month.Last Thursday, Spirit announced that Dave Davis, the former president and chief financial officer of Sun Country Airlines, would be its new CEO.Budget airlines have had a rough time since the pandemic, as higher costs and overcapacity forced them to rethink their business models.Spirit, Frontier, and Southwest all added premium seating options.They now also face a potential downturn in travel demand across the board due to economic uncertainty from Donald Trump's tariff plans.Travel is typically one of the first things people can cut when purse strings tighten, which has seen airline stocks become especially volatile over the past month. Recommended video

My husband and I (not pictured) each enjoy kid-free nights to decompress while the other takes over parenting and household duties. Pilea House/Getty Images 2025-04-23T10:31:01Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? My husband and I take full nights off to recharge and enjoy some kid-free time. The parent who isn't on gets to skip dinner prep and bedtime routines, whether they are home or not. These breaks have improved our personal wellbeing and strengthened our family's relationships. Parenting, especially in a neurodiverse family, can be all-consuming. A few times a month, my husband and I each take a full night off. No dinner prep, no bedtime routines, no negotiating who's handling bath time or the last-minute "I need water!" requests. One of us is completely off duty while the other runs the show.It's not always seamless, but this simple practice has been essential to our marriage, friendships, and personal wellbeing.This practice reduces the risk of burning out from constant caregiving by giving us the time to reconnect with ourselves and do the things that will give us more peace of mind and more margin, whether that's seeing friends, working late occasionally to catch up, or just sitting in silence.The result? We are showing up better on the nights we are on. Our friends have marveled at the idea, and some have even tried it out themselves.The idea presented itself naturallyWe didn't start this intentionally. At first, I just noticed we were worn down — always on our phones, short with each other, and generally drained. I was juggling homeschooling our kids, consulting, writing, and leading peer support groups for other parents of autistic kids. My husband had his own work stress, plus obligations to our community and family. We were stretched thin. We were managing logistics, but rarely connecting.One night, I told him to take some time to himself. Not in a passive aggressive way, but compassionately. I could tell he was burnt out, and I wanted him to find a way to recharge. I knew he needed time to feel more like himself.Then it became something biggerThat small gesture turned into a bigger question: What if we structured this? What if, instead of squeezing in decompression time sporadically, we planned for it? We started with set nights—I took Thursdays, and he took Mondays. At first, we would each make sure to leave the house, and we didn't stray from these set days. It helped us draw the lines between being "off" and "on" more clearly. Over time, our actions became more flexible. When he was in a busier work season, I adjusted to give him more margin, sometimes taking time on the weekends instead of Thursday nights. Now, we can simply check in. He'll text, "Hey, I need a late work night," and I'll say, "I need a friend night this week," and we make it work.These nights off have made us better together. I won't pretend it has all been smooth. Giving each other space meant we also had to face some hard conversations. Being autistic and parenting autistic kids is intense. So is being an extrovert married to an introvert.When we were dating, my husband needed alone time between our dates. Early in marriage, I'd go out with friends while he stayed home. But once parenting entered the picture, especially with all the extra needs in our household, it became harder to carve out that space.Structured time off gave us permission to bring that rhythm back into our lives and to offer it to each other without guilt. It made us more patient, more communicative, and more appreciative.I needed this more than I realizedThis arrangement also shifted something in me. As the parent who's home most often, I'm usually the one deep in the research — therapies, evaluations, how to best support our kids. That sometimes made me feel like I knew the "right" way to do things. But stepping away helped me release control. I don't need to micromanage my husband's parenting. He's an incredible father. He and the kids have their own relationship and they need that time without me hovering.In letting go, we've all gained something. And we're having more fun.These nights off have given me room to rediscover myself. One night, I took a book of poetry to a bar. I ended up playing '90s music bingo with two moms out on a girls' night. We laughed and swapped stories. As an extrovert, most of my social life revolves around parenting, whether it's homeschool groups, playdates, or autism support groups. It felt good to connect with people outside of that context, just as me.Since starting this, I've also picked up pastels for the first time since I was a teenager. I've started writing more. I've deepened friendships. My husband and I use the time differently, but we both return to our family more grounded.These breaks help our whole family thriveFriends often ask how we make it work. The truth is, we're lucky to have some flexibility in our schedules but out structured time off doesn't have to look like a full evening. Sometimes, my "night off" is a Saturday morning while my husband takes the kids to breakfast or the park. It's less about the format, and more about the intention. It's about getting curious about what you need, talking with your partner, and building a rhythm that supports both of you.In our marriage, we believe that if one of us isn't thriving, neither one of us is. When we realized we were both barely holding it together, we decided to try something different. At first, it was just a few nights to give each other a break. Then it became a habit. Now, it's a rhythm we trust.We communicate. We adjust. And because we've built that foundation, there's no resentment, just mutual care. If I need space, I ask. If he needs time, he takes it. We support each other so we can show up fully for our kids and for ourselves.This weekly break isn't about perfection. It's about intention. And that has made all the difference. Recommended video