Florida's pension board has sued Target over its DEI practices.The complaint argues that Target misled investors about the impact of backlash to its Pride collection.The suit blames Target's stock price troubles on DEI, rather than other business challenges.The state of Florida has joined the growing legal challenges against Target.The State Board of Administration of Florida, an agency that oversees public pension funds that own Target stock, has sued the retailer, arguing it misled investors about the impact of backlash to its Pride campaign and DEI initiatives.Florida argues Target's handling of its 2023 LGBTQ Pride collection was uniquely harmful to shareholders."The Campaign provoked immense consumer backlash and boycotts that caused Target's sales to fall for the first time in six years and wiped out over $25 billion in Target's market capitalizationleading Target's stock to experience its longest losing streak in 23 years," the complaint says.Target did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.The proposed class action lawsuit is related to an earlier shareholder lawsuit filed in August 2023 against Target, as well as one filed last month by the City of Riviera Beach police pension fund. All three lawsuits were filed in federal court in Ft. Meyers.Target executives did say during an August 2023 earnings call that traffic and top-line trends were affected by backlash to its Pride collection, but added that "it's not possible to reliably quantify the separate impact."The company has also recently struggled to compete for inflation-weary consumers against larger rivals like Walmart and Amazon, among other business challenges.Target may be facing the reverse backlash as well, as numerous employees and customers have told Business Insider they no longer support Target after they feel it has caved to anti-DEI pressure.Last month, Target said it was retiring several DEI initiatives to remain "in step with the evolving external landscape."Many other retailers have similarly been retooling their approach to DEI following President Donald Trump's executive order announcing the termination of these practices in the federal government.The January 22 order directs all government departments and agencies to "take strong action to end private sector DEI discrimination."

Jesse Watters urged Trump and Musk to spare veterans from their federal workforce cuts.Watters said the cuts are hitting home now that he has a friend whose job is on the line.DOGE's cost-cutting affects probationary federal employees, with thousands already laid off.Fox News host Jesse Watters on Wednesday pleaded with the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to spare veterans in their cost-cutting efforts across the federal government.On Wednesday's episode of "The Five," Watters spoke about a 20-year military veteran he met at a shooting event. The veteran is "one of the guys who has killed a lot of bad guys," Watters told his fellow hosts. "Put his life on the line. He punched out after 20 years of working for the Pentagon. And he's only been there a few months, so his probationary period he just found out he's probably going to get laid off."Watters continued, "He's going to get DOGE'd. He texted me and said: 'Jesse, this isn't good. I'm upset. This is really sad.' This guy is not a DEI consultant. This guy is not a climate consultant. This guy is a veteran. So when you're talking about DOGE-ing people, veterans should get priority. Because if you're going to go out there and kill enemies, put your life on the line for this country, you shouldn't be in the same category as people that are doing DEI."As part of Musk and Trump's efforts to trim government spending and reduce the federal workforce, DOGE officials have been looking into the Department of Defense for areas where they can "save taxpayer dollars and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse," according to a post from DOGE on X.DOGE's work at the Pentagon in recent days includes collecting lists of probationary employees typically, staffers who have been in their roles for less than one or two years with the expectation that many of them could soon be terminated, The Washington Post reported.Thousands of federal workers in probationary roles have already been let go across a wide swath of federal agencies, including the Forest Service, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Education, and many others.Several military veterans have told Business Insider they're feeling confused, desperate, and terrified about sweeping cuts to the federal government, which may be disproportionately affecting veterans."I finally found one person I knew that got DOGE'd, and it hit me in the heart," Watters said of his friend.Watters also said that, "besides saving my friend," he wants to see DOGE distribute bigger dividend checks an idea the task force is considering but that would have to clear a number of hurdles to be enacted.Prior to his plea on Wednesday, Watters, a fervent Trump supporter, had frequently praised Musk's cost-cutting work, last week calling the Tesla and SpaceX CEO a "corporate turnaround artist" whose DOGE team is "inspiring every American leader to set their standards sky-high."

President Donald Trump said it'd be "unfair" if Tesla were to open a factory in India.Tesla is looking to build a presence in India, posting job ads for showroom workers this week.It has long been speculated that Tesla may have plans to build a production facility in India.Donald Trump said it would be "unfair" to the US if Elon Musk opened a Tesla plant in India highlighting a rare point of difference in an interview designed to showcase the closeness of the president and his billionaire advisor.Speaking to Fox News in an interview alongside Musk that aired Tuesday, Trump criticized India's tariff policy, under which electronic vehicles face import duties of up to 100% in some cases to shield domestic producers.Trump said it is "impossible" for Musk to sell a car in India because of its duties on some US imports."Every country in the world takes advantage of us, and they do it with tariffs... It is impossible to sell a car, practically, in, as an example, India," he said."Now, if he built the factory in India, that's OK, but that's unfair to us. It's very unfair," Trump said of Musk.Trump went on to say that last week, in discussions with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, DC, he threatened to impose reciprocal tariffs on India if it continues to impose high tariffs on US goods."It's it's like fair is fair," Musk commented approvingly.Tesla has long been seeking to build its presence in India which is projected to be the world's fourth-biggest economy this year. The country's protectionist tariffs, however, have proved a major obstacle.In 2024, India said it'd lower EV tariffs for companies prepared to invest in manufacturing in the country, fuelling speculation that Tesla could build a production facility there. Musk was expected to announce a major investment during a trip to India in April 2024 but postponed the trip when Tesla announced plans to lay off 10% of staff.This week, Tesla posted job ads for openings in showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai. Reuters reported earlier in the week that Tesla had chosen locations in both cities for the showrooms.As of Thursday morning, more than a dozen roles at Tesla were open in India, the company's jobs site showed. Many of the roles listed both Mumbai and Delhi as possible working locations.Musk's ambitions to expand Tesla's presence in India may put him at odds with Trump, who has championed a tough tariff regime to boost domestic manufacturing.As the world's richest man and the force behind firms including Tesla, X, and SpaceX, Musk's closeness to Trump and reported involvement in key administration decisions has sparked concerns about potential conflicts of interest.Musk is among Trump's closest political advisors and oversees the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, which is seeking to slash federal spending.Trump last week said he didn't know if Musk had met with Modi during his US visit in his capacity as a CEO or government advisor, but said he was personally monitoring potential conflict of interest issues."He won't be involved," Trump said of Musk in situations where there's a potential conflict during Tuesday's interview.Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

8. Foodtown sweetened light whipped creamI wasn't super impressed by the Foodtown packaging. Lucien Formichella Everything about this feels generic, but I still want to try it.The packaging has a classic but uninspired feel like someone recreated it from their hazy childhood memory of a whipped-cream can.I didn't like this at all.I wasn't a fan of the Foodtown whipped cream. Lucien Formichella I didn't like the flavor of the whipped cream's artificial sweetener. There was also a bit of a funky aftertaste that didn't make things much better.Unfortunately, trying it on a strawberry didn't mask anything, either. 7. Whole Foods whipped toppingWhole Foods calls its whipped cream a "whipped topping," but it's made with real cream. Lucien Formichella I don't love the look of this can at all. It's bland, and the 365 logo seems out of place.I understand that whipped cream is white, but it's not exactly an exciting color to look at.It was pretty good but much lighter than I prefer.I didn't like the texture of Whole Foods' whipped cream. Lucien Formichella I thought the whipped cream melted in my mouth a little too quickly.The use of cane sugar was a nice touch. I certainly tasted the difference from the Foodtown brand, but it wasn't immense.I put a bunch of this on a strawberry and the consistency left a little to be desired. I think good whipped cream enhances the flavor of fruit, but this struggled not to get lost.6. Dairy Star original dairy whipped toppingDairy Star also refers to its whipped cream as a "whipped topping." Lucien Formichella I don't expect to like this one too much. The can looks a little too sterile for my taste.However, all the other red, cow-themed cans were good, so I'm keeping an open mind.This is delicious.There was a deeper flavor to the Dairy Star whipped cream. Lucien Formichella All I could think about was how this one would be especially good with coffee. It tasted like there was a little hint of cinnamon, which I knew was just in my mind.It wasn't my favorite can overall because I lost a little of the unique flavor when I used it as a topping the berry was slightly overpowering.5. Coconut whipped toppingI threw a nondairy option into the taste test to see how it stacked up. Lucien Formichella The can is unassuming, but I've actually had this before and remember loving it.To further the hype, the Trader Joe's cashier couldn't stop raving about this product when I bought it.I'm not sure I'd want to eat this on its own, but it was delicious.The coconut whipped topping had a great taste and texture. Lucien Formichella I tasted a very fresh coconut flavor, and I love how fluffy it is. It's a great alternative and holds its own against dairy whipped cream.Coconut and strawberry isn't my go-to flavor combination, but they paired nicely without canceling each other out.I think the lightness of the coconut cream gives it great versatility and allows it to work with many flavors.4. Original Reddi-WipReddi-Wip is probably the most recognizable whipped cream. Lucien Formichella The can here is lovely sleek and beautiful. It stands out among all the others on the shelf.I looked it up, and it actually was the first aerosol whipped cream.It's so good.Reddi-Wip is a classic for a reason. Lucien Formichella The cream is light, fluffy, and perfectly sweet. I could eat this out of a bowl with a spoon.I wasn't sure I even wanted to try it with the strawberry. It just melts away so quickly and leaves you with a milky-sweet taste.However, the sweetness of the fruit went well with the cream. If the cream was a little thicker, I would've been even happier.3. Krasdale original dairy whipped toppingI was skeptical of the Krasdale whipped cream at first. Lucien Formichella I don't have a great feel for this one.The can looks like a nicer version of the other generic products I tried. However, the cream looked great coming out of it.This was the closest thing to the whipped cream I remember eating as a kid.I was a big fan of the Krasdale topping. Lucien Formichella The cream was light and airy, with a sweet but not overpowering taste.It got a boost in my ranking for the nostalgia factor.The whipped cream also went perfectly with the strawberries. There was enough sweetness to prevent the flavor from getting lost, but I didn't feel like it was overpowering the fruit.2. Farmland real whipped light creamI like a whipped cream with a fun can design. Lucien Formichella The can looks great. I like the cow logo and the spots.It reminded me a lot of the Cabot can.This was very milky and had a richer flavor than most.I didn't have many complaints about the Farmland whipped cream. Lucien Formichella It actually did remind me a little of Cabot, though less textured and vanilla-y. It kind of tasted like Cool Whip without the tang.This whipped cream brought a bolder flavor than most to the strawberry, but it worked.The topping felt fresh instead of just like an accent, like some of the others.1. Cabot premium natural sweetened light whipped creamCabot definitely won for best can design. Lucien Formichella Now, this is a can of whipped cream. I love the pink it really stands out and you can't get any more classic than cow spots.I can't wait to try it.This was the closest I'll ever come to drinking milk straight from a cow on a farm.Cabot was the clear winner. Lucien Formichella I know the can says light, but this had a thickness to it that I appreciated.It was also far milkier than the others, and though it could've been a little sweeter, I was eager to eat more.The cream and strawberries genuinely went together. The richness of the fruit didn't outmatch the creaminess of the topping.I liked Reddi-Wip more on first taste, but I kept going back for more of Cabot's whipped cream.There were a few standout whipped creams and one I wouldn't buy again. Lucien Formichella Foodtown is the only brand I definitelywouldn't buy again, mostly because I didn't love the flavor. I probably wouldn't get the Whole Foods brand again, either, unless I was in a pinch.I preferred the thicker whipped creams like Reddi-Wip, Krasdale, and Farmland.That said, Cabot was easily my favorite one of the bunch. It was so simple and rich, making the strawberries an experience to eat.I felt like I was enjoying a full-fledged dessert rather than just some berries and cream.This story was originally published in July 2023 and most recently updated on February 20, 2024.

Affordable Chinese electric vehicles are flooding into global markets but not the US.Tesla rivals BYD and Xpeng are bringing their ultra-smart EVs to a host of new countries.High tariffs have locked them out of the US, meaning American drivers may be cut off from cheap EVs.Tesla's China headache might be about to become a global one.Elon Musk's automaker has come under increasing pressure in the world's largest car market from local EV giant BYD and its rivals, who are now competitive with the Model Y manufacturer on both price and technology.In January, BYD sold nearly double the number of EVs as Tesla, with the US carmaker's sales slumping by 11% from the previous year.BYD increased the heat last week with its announcement that "God's Eye" self-driving tech would be offered in nearly all its vehicles, including the $9,500 Seagull. Tesla is still waiting for regulatory approval for its rival FSD system in China.The most concerning thing about BYD's sales for Tesla and other Western automakers is where they're coming from.BYD sold 66,000 vehicles outside China in January, a record figure that suggests the company's efforts to become a global powerhouse are bearing fruit. BYD has found success through more affordable offerings such as the $9,500 Seagull. WuYuan/Getty Images The EV maker, which once received backing from Warren Buffett, beat Toyota to become Singapore's top-selling car brand last month, and overtook Tesla's sales in the UK for the first time.With BYD's affordable electric and hybrid offerings gaining traction overseas, other Chinese EV players are beginning to follow their lead a move that analysts and industry execs fear could export the so-called "hypercompetition" of China's home market globally.European offensiveThe debut of Chinese EV startup Xpeng in the UK was no ordinary car launch.Tech executives and delegates from the Chinese embassy swanned through a grand hall within sight of Tower Bridge that was once a historic fish market, munching canapes and mingling around Xpeng's X2 flying car on display alongside its electric sedans and SUVs.It's a sign of the tech company ethos that Xpeng's executives were keen to highlight as they announced the company's first UK launch: the G6 SUV, priced about 6,000 ($7,500) less than Tesla's Model Y.The UK is Xpeng's newest market. It has also launched in France, Germany, and Italy in recent months. President Brian Gu said the company plans to expand its presence to more than 60 countries and regions in 2025."Our ambition is to be the No. 1 Chinese premium electric vehicle brand overseas," said Gu, adding that he defined "premium" EVs as costing more than $41,000.For brands like Xpeng, which still records big losses and lags well behind BYD in China's highly competitive EV market, international expansion may be a necessity rather than a luxury."The China market is ultra-competitive, so it's going to be really difficult for them to carve out huge market share gains in the short-term because of the price war," Tu Le, managing director of Sino Auto Insights, told Business Insider. Xpeng showed off the company's X2 flying car concept at its UK launch. Business Insider While the UK has not imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, making it a tempting target for expansion, the European Union followed the US last year in imposing import taxes of up to 35% on EVs made in China.That has not stopped brands like Nio and Leapmotor, which has a partnership with Jeep-owner Stellantis, from joining BYD and Xpeng in moving into the continent.Their expansion has put local automakers on notice. Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan told BI that he doesn't believe EU tariffs will stop Chinese EV companies from becoming major players in Europe.The boss of the Swedish carmaker said the influx of Chinese vehicles into Europe, alongside brutal competition in China, will force local automakers to up their game."As the non-Chinese brands lose market share in China, they're going to have to find market share somewhere else. That means they're going to become more competitive in their home markets and global markets around the world," Rowan said.US risks being left behindOne market that China's EV champions are unlikely to target anytime soon is the US, thanks to 100% tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles introduced by the Biden administration.These import levies mean the US has had to watch as other regions like Europe get access to affordable electric models like the $32,000 BYD Dolphin, and local brands like Renault launch their own mass-market EVs to compete.The absence of this trend has helped keep US electric vehicle prices high, with customers paying around $8,000 more on average for an EV compared to Europe. This raises fears that US consumers could be cut off from accessing affordable electric models."On the current trajectory, the US is going to get cut off. There are 95 countries outside China where you can buy BYD cars, and we can't," said Tu Le.Legacy US automakers have been slow to shift to electric vehicles, with companies like Ford and General Motors rolling back ambitious EV strategies over the past year.President Donald Trump has also vowed to remove emissions targets and scrap federal support for electric vehicles, a move that will likely slow the transition to electric vehicles.Tu Le warned that a lackluster EV industry in the US risked making the American auto industry less globally competitive, hurting the ability of the likes of Ford and General Motors to compete with their Chinese rivals overseas."I'm hopeful we can change the culture and bring products to market that are competitive globally, not just in the United States. As things are, it feels like the Detroit two are effectively on their way to becoming single-market companies," he said.

Hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency probationary employees were fired on Friday.But some staff at the EPA were told Wednesday they were fired by accident.Similar scenes have reportedly played out at several other federal agencies.On February 14, hundreds of Environmental Protection Agency staff were notified by email that they were being terminated.Five days later, the EPA emailed some of them to say they weren't being fired after all."This is to provide notification that the Agency is rescinding your termination. You are not being removed from EPA or from federal civil service at this time," read the email, which was seen by Business Insider.The unsigned email apologized "for this inconvenience" and thanked employees for their service. It also informed them that if they had already turned in EPA equipment like laptops and badges, their supervisors would help them get those items back.It's not clear how many employees had their firings rescinded. Business Insider spoke to three. All requested anonymity out of fear of professional reprisal, but their identities are known to BI.One agency employee whose termination was rescinded, a water-quality inspector, said working for the EPA was her "dream job" and said she hoped she could go right back to working on the cases that she was working on last week.Another said she wasn't even sure if she wanted to come back."I'm more on the angry side of grief now," the second employee said. "It's just ridiculous."The second employee told BI they were in a group chat with about two dozen other employees, and "10 or 15" had been told their terminations were rescinded.Two employees said at least some of the people who had their firings reversed had been hired through the EPA's "Pathways" program for recent college graduates.On Friday, an EPA spokesperson confirmed to BI it had terminated 388 probationary employees. According to information on doge.gov, about 1,579 EPA employees have less than a year of tenure, about 9.6% of the agency's workforce.Federal employees typically serve a one-year probationary period when first hired, during which they can be more easily terminated than permanent staff.Media representatives for the EPA and the White House didn't respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.Rescinding termination orders appears to be happening across the federal government.As Business Insider previously reported, some probationary staff at the Small Business Administration were told they were terminated, then not terminated, and then officially terminated over the course of five days.The publication Government Executive reported that terminations have been rescinded for workers in the Department of Energy and the US Department of Agriculture, which is dealing with a massive bird flu outbreak. The outlet reported that at least one Small Business Administration worker was fired twice, with the agency backtracking both times.The federal government fired thousands of probationary workersstarting last week, and more layoffs are expected this week as well.

When my mom had cancer, she moved in with us so I could help with caregiving.At the time, I was a stay-at-home mom with two toddlers, and balancing it all was difficult.I felt like a failure at times; it was nearly impossible to give everyone the attention I wanted.The day my mom moved in, my 3-year-old spun in circles, singing, thrilled that her Gigi was back for what she assumed was just another visit. My newly walking 1-year-old wobbled after her, babbling, unaware of the shift that was about to redefine our home. In the center of the chaos, my mother smiled, her face and body not yet bearing the visible evidence of the lung cancer that was killing her. She had moved across the country to live with us, preparing to start treatment at our local hospital.I had imagined this as a time of reconnection a chance for her to become a steady presence in her grandchildren's lives, for us to truly know each other as adults after years spent living so far apart. Instead, my days blurred into an exhausting cycle of diaper changes, nap battles, and doctor's appointments, torn between being the mother my children needed and the daughter my mother deserved. I thought there would be space to simply be with her to talk, to reminisce, to connect. But caregiving was never still. It was crisis management, the constant triage of needs.Focusing on both my mom and my kids as much as I wanted to was nearly impossibleWhen I was focused on my mom, I worried I was neglecting my children; when I was with my children, I felt I was abandoning my mother. Guilt was the main feeling in those days; I never felt like I was fully taking care of or helping anyone who needed me in the capacity they needed. And certainly, I was not taking care of myself.As the chemo took its toll and my mother grew weaker, my life slowed necessarily, but unexpectedly. Even as she became less able to care for herself, she found ways to remain present for my children. From her bed, she read to them, her voice softer yet steady. She taught my daughter sign language and helped my son stack blocks into towers, cheering and laughing with him when they toppled over. Though I was busier than ever, life took on a new rhythm, one I had never allowed before. We moved at her pace, sitting longer, staying present.Then, something would happen that demanded immediate attention. A broken plate. A toddler's stomach bug. My mom's fever. Decisions had to be made should I call her doctor? Should I call 911? In addition to worrying about my children's sleep, health, and development, I now had to consider what side effects of my mother's treatment warranted an emergency. What should I do if she stops eating?I was still trying to make sense of everything when I found myself upstairs, cleaning crayon off the walls, only to realize my mom needed to be rushed to the hospital, where they diagnosed her with sepsis. Why hadn't I noticed how sick she was earlier? How did I not notice? These questions haunted me for a long time.I worried I was failing at dual caregivingThe weight of caregiving wasn't just in the daily tasks it was in the isolation, the impossible expectations, and the lack of consistent, accessible support. There was no road map for balancing the needs of a dying parent with the demands of two small children. I was fortunate in many ways we had a home large enough to take my mother in, and I wasn't yet working again after having my son. But none of that changed the fact that I was drowning. I became the logistical manager, taxi service, home health aide, and nurse. Dual caregiving was constant, exhausting, unpaid work but because it took place in the home, it was invisible.When she died, I carried the weight of what felt like my dual roles' failures fearing not only that I had fallen short of expectations but that others saw it, too. Was it my fault she was gone? Had I failed to pay enough attention because so much of my focus was divided between her and my children?I saw my children process loss in their own way, and I learned from their ability to accept fragility. It gave me the space and the push to talk to them about the circle of life, about how we care for others, and about mortality, grief, love, and what it means to truly live.This experience changed how I approach parenting and time. I no longer wait for the "perfect" moment to connect with my kids. Love is in simply being present. I've learned that there's no perfect moment for important conversations. There is only now.I still think of that first day my mother moved in, sitting as my children played around her. At the time, I thought we had all the time we needed. I was nervous, stressed, and scared, but also looking forward to the time together and the chance for deeper connection for myself, for my kids, and for her.Over the last nine years, I've let go of much of that guilt, little by little, giving myself the grace my mother intuitively knew to give me when I felt like I was dropping every ball. The weight of caregiving is heavy because it's not meant to be borne alone.

Marianna Sachse, 45, is an American who gave birth to her second child in the Netherlands.She noticed that strangers would intervene to give her advice or help watch her kids.Overall, she liked that the culture was more focused on collectively raising kids.One of my first enduring memories of the Netherlands was a stranger asking to cradle my baby.Months after my family relocated from Philadelphia to Maastricht, a small Dutch city, we went out to eat. I was six weeks postpartum after having my second child. My husband, six-year-old son, newborn, and I shared a communal table with an older couple, who had finished their meals.The woman chatted with her husband, then turned to us. Would we like for them to hold our baby so we could take a break?At first, I thought it was odd. Raising my first infant in the US, I never encountered someone I'd never met before offering to help like this. Still, I wanted to lean into a new culture. It was remembering my own mother, who loved kids and died a few years prior. I thought, "This woman seems just like her." I inherently trusted this woman I'd never met before.I gave her my baby. "I'll hand him back when he gets fussy," she said. My husband and I ate in a moment of peace, with our son staring up at this stranger lovingly holding his brother.In the four years we lived in the Netherlands, we learned that this is more of a parenting norm than a random act of kindness. I regularly witnessed adults intervening to help parents out, whether by watching their kids or giving tips.Now, living in Washington, DC, I miss this part of Dutch culture. It helped me become a happier and more relaxed parent, and my kids become more independent.Raising kids is a collective effortWhen my husband was recruited to work in a Dutch firm in 2016, I was nervous about relocating while I was pregnant. My doctor reassured me: I couldn't pick a better country for childbirth, he said.I learned he was right. The Netherlands is famous for its "kraamzorg" or doula system, where parents can buy doula packages before, during, or after giving birth. For our home birth and eight days of very involved, in-home postpartum care, we paid under $2,000.Doulas in the Netherlands not only care for the baby but also the mother, looking out for medical complications and offering guidance for first-time parents. They also find small ways to make parents more comfortable. Ours also vacuumed our house, walked our dog, and took the baby so I could shower. To me, the lack of privacy was worth getting so much support.I quickly saw that this community-centered attitude toward childcare extends beyond childbirth. I regularly witnessed other parents jumping in to supervise kids on the playground or play with them.Sometimes, they would chime in to give me advice. When I rode bikes with my older son, I learned that the Dutch consider it safest to stay next to your child, not behind them, as I initially did. A stranger taught me that I should ride with one hand on my child to teach them how to stay in the bike lane properly.As a parent in the Netherlands, it's normal to accept help even in the form of mild critique.Fewer screens in restaurantsAnother striking difference I noticed in the Netherlands is how kids seemed to beAlmost every restaurant we went to, including upscale ones with white tablecloths, had a designated corner for kids to play in. It can include toys or coloring books, and sometimes adults even volunteer to play with the kids. It's easy for parents to watch their children from afar while also unwinding at dinner.Everywhere we went understoodOther American parents mitigate meltdowns by giving their kids tablets or phones. In the Netherlands, I saw fewer screens at restaurants because parents had other means to keep their kids happy. It was nice to go out and know that if our kids got tired of sitting with the adults, they could go color and play with other kids instead of watching YouTube.Parents can relax more Marianne Sachse Because raising kids is seen as a community effort, there were times when parents would discipline strangers' kids if they witnessed them being mean to another child or behaving poorly in public. The Dutch will call your kid out if they're being rude or unkind toward others. They might also correct you as a parent.I loved it. As an American, there have been times when I've wondered where a kid's parent is or why they're hitting other children. I would be terrified to say something in the US. It's just not a norm, and I feel like I could put my safety at risk by interjecting.In the US, our self-sufficiency gives us the freedom to make our own decisions, whether we choose gentle parenting or homeschooling. It also comes with downsides.In our small Dutch city, I was laid back when my seven-year-old son walked home alone from school because I knew that if he was in an unsafe situation, an adult would help. In the US, it's not uncommon for parents to be nervous about their 12-year-olds hanging out in the neighborhood by themselves. There's a lot less trust, and with that, kids are less independent.We eventually moved back to the US to be closer to family. During my time in the Netherlands, I learned a great parenting lesson: when we're willing to let others into our parenting space, everybody wins.

United Airlines reported a drop in government employee travel post-Trump inauguration.Layoffs and buyouts led by DOGE are hitting federal travel.Government employee travel makes up 2% of the company's business, United's CEO said.The CEO of United Airlines said that government employee travel "has fallen off" since President Donald Trump's inauguration.Government travel makes up 2% of United's business,said Mike Leskinen at aUnited made almost $52 billion in total passenger revenue in 2024, so even a minor decline in government passengers could set it back by millions of dollars."I don't know how long that's going to be persistent, but it quickly gets filled up with other demand for our business," the CEO said. "But we have seen some slowing in government sales."United's stock has risen 142% in the last year on post-pandemic travel rebounding and a strong international flight slate.Under a law in place since 1974, federal government employees can only travel on airlines owned by an American company, regardless of cost and convenience. American-owned carriers include United, Delta Air Lines, Southwest, and Alaska Airlines.Government employee travel has likely fallen because of the Department of Government Efficiency-led mass layoffs and employee buyouts across US government agencies. Trump and Elon Musk, who heads DOGE, have said the moves are meant to improve productivity and slash federal spending.About 75,000 federal employees accepted the buyout offer, the Office of Management and Budget said last week. That made up 3.75% of the federal government's 2 million people workforce, under the White House's goal of 5% to 10%. Over 9,000 employees from the US Agency for International Development were put on administrative leave earlier this month.The United CEO's comments come as other companies with federal government customers are trying to reassure investors that their bottom line isn't at risk.Earlier this month,Gartner has four contracts, worth around $1 million in total, listed on a DOGE webpage that details cuts made to various federal agencies.United Airlines and Gartner did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Donald Trump tapped Andrew Ferguson to replace Lina Khan as chair of the Federal Trade Commission.Ferguson has vowed to take on Big Tech while paring back the FTC's recent focus on antitrust.Here's what we know about Ferguson and his priorities so far.Andrew Ferguson is in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission. As the new leader of the government's key consumer protection agency, he'll oversee cases involving unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices and have a major role in the future of Big Tech.The commissioner, who once clerked for Clarence Thomas, was nominated to the commission by Democratic President Joe Biden in 2023. The staunch Republican has vowed to uphold President Donald Trump's agenda as Chair, saying in a December statement that, under Trump's leadership, "American businesses will become stronger and more competitive, and will better serve workers and consumers, than ever before.""At the FTC, we will end Big Tech's vendetta against competition and free speech," Ferguson said in his statement, thanking Trump. "We will make sure that America is the world's technological leader and the best place for innovators to bring new ideas to life."Representatives for FTC declined to comment when reached by Business Insider. Here's what we know about Ferguson and his priorities as he leads the commission.FTC moves under FergusonWhile the FTC's agenda under Trump is just getting underway, Alden Abbott, a former general counsel of the Federal Trade Commission who is familiar with Ferguson's thinking, told Business Insider he expects the commission under Ferguson's leadership to focus on traditional enforcement approaches at the agency and, in most cases, stop pursuing former chair Lina Khan's expansive rulemaking arguments about consumer harm, which were seen by some as pushing the limits of established antitrust legal precedent and drew ire from some conservatives."He's smart," Abbott said. "I think he views himself as a conservative lawyer who believes in a strong executive reading in the text of a statute, textualism, and separation of powers. He fits the mold of the elite Federalist Society type of lawyer. So I think you're going to get a pretty aggressive FTC on things like antitrust consumer protection, maybe, but I think you'll you'll see less rulemaking."Since Trump took office, the FTC under Ferguson has moved to block Tempur Sealy's proposed $4 billion acquisition of Mattress Firm, proposed a $4.9 million fine against a payment processing company, accusing it of deceptive business practices, and filed a lawsuit against the three largest prescription drug benefit managers for "engaging in anticompetitive and unfair rebating practices that have artificially inflated the list price of insulin drugs," according to case proceedings.Under his tenure as chair, Ferguson will oversee the illegal monopolization claims against four major US tech companies Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta brought by the FTC and the Department of Justice.Abbott said he expects Ferguson to continue pursuing these cases, though he doesn't anticipate the FTC under his leadership will seek major breakups of the big firms as potential remedies. Instead, Abbott said, he expects Ferguson to seek policy or contract changes to remedy antitrust concerns."One unknown is that Ferguson has said he's concerned about the politicization of these platforms and concerned about the government coercing platforms or working with platforms to engage in political censorship; stuff like that," Abbott said. "Those would be rather novel cases under existing antitrust laws. And I don't know how he'd want to pursue those, but I do think he's going to he said he wants to be a vigorous enforcer."Keen alignment with the Trump administrationSince Trump announced Ferguson's appointment as chair of the FTC, Ferguson has made clear his willingness to advance the Trump administration's priorities.In posts on X, Ferguson praised Trump's nomination of Mark Meador to fill an empty commissioner seat at the FTC, and highlighted his readiness to "implement President Trump's agenda" at the agency.Do you work for the FTC? Contact the reporter with tips at ktangalakislippert@businessinsider.comShortly after Trump's inauguration, Ferguson announced that the FTC, under his leadership, would enthusiastically comply with Trump's order to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in government offices."DEI is a scourge on our institutions," Ferguson said in a post on X in late January. "President Trump promised the American people that he would end it. He has done so in three amazing executive orders. Under my leadership, the FTC is doing its part to end the DEI plague. We are done with DEI at the FTC. No DEI office, no DEI influence on hiring, no DEI programming. It is over."Ferguson led the FTC in closing the commission's DEI office, placing all employees within that office on administrative leave, and removing materials promising DEI on the commission's website. He also ordered a review of all FTC contracts, an internal audit of the commission's office, and a review of previous commission orders "to ensure that the Biden Administration's DEI dictates did not make their way into formal Commission decisions," an FTC press release related to the decision read.Ferguson's alignment with Trump has already ruffled the feathers of the democrat appointee on the commission. Commissioner Alvaro M. Bedoya, another Biden nominee, dissented from Ferguson's anti-DEI initiative with a statement that criticized Ferguson's first official move as chair, reading: "Chairman Ferguson could have done any number of things to actually lower the cost of living and create opportunities for American businesses and workers. He did none of them. Instead, he cancelled 'DEI.'"Former Supreme Court clerk turned solicitor generalAccording to his FTC biography, the Virginia native earned his undergraduate degree and law degrees from the University of Virginia, one of the top 10 law schools in the country.After law school, Ferguson served as a clerk for Judge Karen L. Henderson on the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and, from 2016 to 2017, for US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He also practiced antitrust law at several prominent Washington D.C. law firms, where he represented private clients in litigation, before pivoting to more prominent roles in government.Ferguson served as chief counsel to Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky from 2019 to 2021, before being selected in 2022 to serve as a solicitor general of Virginia. There, he oversaw appellate litigation, represented the southern state before the Supreme Court, and defended Virginia's laws from constitutional challenges.After his 2023 nomination to the FTC by the Biden administration as part of Biden's initiative to include bipartisan nominations to key offices Ferguson was unanimously confirmed to serve as one of the agency's five commissioners. He took office in March 2024, with a six-year term scheduled to end in September 2030.

Funding U student loan review: Is it the right student loan for you? Funding U; Rachel Mendelson/Insider Business Insider's personal finance team compared Funding U Undergraduate Student Loans to the best private student loans and found them to have some significant drawbacks when it comes to loan types, repayment terms, and availability throughout the U.S. However, it could be a good option if your credit score is too low to qualify with other lenders.Funding U only offers undergraduate student loans for amounts of $3,001 to $20,000 per school year without a cosigner a lower maximum than some other lenders.Before taking out private student loans, be sure to explore your federal student loan, scholarship, and grant options first. Federal student loans come with protections that private student loans don't offer, such as lower fixed interest rates and student loan forgiveness.Funding U Student Loans Pros & ConsFunding U Student Loan ProsNo fees. Funding U doesn't charge application fees, origination fees, prepayment penalties, or late fees.Merit-based student loans. Loans aren't based solely on creditworthiness and don't require you to find a cosigner.Generous referral program. Existing Funding U borrowers can earn a $200 Amazon gift card when a new student successfully receives a Funding U loan using the existing borrower's referral link.Graduation Reward Program. Funding U will send you a $100 Amazon gift card if you previously received a Funding U and have since graduated with your Bachelor's degree.Funding U Student Loan ConsLow maximum loan amount. You can only borrow up to $20,000 per academic year.Relatively high interest rates. Fixed interest rates for Funding U student loans are slightly higher than average.Limited repayment terms. Funding U only has five or 10-year repayment terms available.Not available in every state. Loans aren't available for residents of Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, or Wyoming.Only available to undergraduates. Funding U does not currently offer graduate student loans or student loan refinancing.No variable-rate loans. This lender only offers fixed interest rates.Apply for a Student LoanFunding U Undergraduate Student Loans Learn more On Funding U's website Insiders Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 2.5/5 Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 7.99% - 13.99% fixed (with AutoPay) Fees No fees Recommended Credit Undisclosed Loan Amount Range $3,001 $20,000 ProsCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No prepayment, origination, or late feesCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No cosigner neededCons con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Low maximum loan amount con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Relatively high APRs con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. One repayment term option con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Loans unavailable for residents of 19 states con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only fixed-rate loans con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited customer support options Product Details Apply through your computer or mobile deviceCustomer service available via email10-year repayment termLoan minimum of $3,001, maximum up to $15,000Residents of AL, AK, DE, ID, KY, LA, MA, MN, MS, MO, NV, NH, ND, OK, RI, SD, UT, WA, and WY ineligible for loansNo cosigner allowedLoans made through Funding University Compare Funding UCollege Ave Undergraduate Student Loans Apply now lock iconAn icon in the shape of lock. On College Ave's website Insiders Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.5/5 Icon of check mark inside a promo stampIt indicates a confirmed selection. Perks 0.25% discount on regular rates with AutoPay Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 4.54% - 17.99% variable and 3.47% - 17.99% fixed (with AutoPay discount) Fees late payment of 5% of the amount due, capped at $25 Recommended Credit mid-600s Loan Amount Range Minimum of $1,000 ProsCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No prepayment or origination feesCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. International students eligible with an eligible cosignerCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Low APRCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Multiple options for repayment term lengthCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Many ways to contact customer supportCons con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Credit check required con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Late payment fee Insiders Take College Ave is a great lender for borrowers who want multiple options for repayment term lengths and are after a low APR. College Ave also offers many options for contacting customer support. Product Details Apply through your computer or mobile deviceCustomer service available via phone, text, email, and live chatFive, eight, 10, or 15 year repayment terms availableLoan minimum of $1,000, maximum up to 100% cost of attendanceRepayment options available:Deferred: No payments for up to six months after leaving schoolInterest only: Only make payments on the loan's interest while in schoolPartial payments: Pay $25 per month while in schoolFull repayment immediately: Start making full payments while still in schoolLoans made through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC SoFi Undergraduate Student Loans Apply now lock iconAn icon in the shape of lock. On SoFi's website Insiders Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4/5 Icon of check mark inside a promo stampIt indicates a confirmed selection. Perks Earn up to $250 if you have a GPA of 3.0 or higher Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 4.64% - 15.99% variable and 3.54% - 15.99% fixed (with AutoPay discount) Fees N/A Recommended Credit Undisclosed Loan Amount Range Minimum of $1,000 ProsCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No origination fees, prepayment penalties, or late feesCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Solid APRCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Several options for repayment term lengthCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Quick application processCons con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Credit check required Insiders Take SoFi is an excellent lender for borrowers who want a competitive APRs. It's also a great lender for those who don't want to worry about fees. Product Details Apply through your computer or mobile deviceCustomer service available via phone, mail, and social mediaFive, seven, 10, or 15 year repayment terms availableLoan minimum of $1,000, maximum up to 100% cost of attendanceLoans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp. or an affiliate Ascent Undergraduate Cosigned Credit-Based Loan Apply now lock iconAn icon in the shape of lock. On Ascent's website Insiders Rating A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.5/5 Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 5.09% - 14.10% variable and 3.39% - 14.21% fixed (with AutoPay discount) Fees None Recommended Credit Undisclosed ProsCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No prepayment or origination feesCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Low minimum fixed rate APRCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Many options for repayment term lengthCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Multiple ways to contact customer supportCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. May be eligible without a cosignerCheck mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cashback reward after graduationCons con iconTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. Higher rates for non-cosigned loans Insiders Take Ascent provides a variety of repayment term lengths on its student loans and low minimum interest rates on fixed-rate loans. You may also qualify for a 1% cash-back reward that will be paid to you after graduation. Product Details Apply through your computerCustomer service available via phone, email, and physical mailProvided you are eligible, you'll receive 1% of your initial loan balance as a cashback bonus after graduationFive, seven, 10, 12, 15, or 20-year repayment terms available (20-year term only available for variable loans)Loan minimum of $2,001*, maximum up to 100% cost of attendance per term*The minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.Overall maximum loan amount of $200,000Loans made through Bank of Lake Mills, Member FDIC Funding U Student Loan Application ProcessEligibility RequirementsTo be eligible for a Funding U student loan, you must meet the following requirements:You're a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA recipientYou're at least 18 years old at the time of applicationYou're a full-time undergraduate student at a participating partner schoolsYou are a resident of an eligible state (not a resident of Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, or Wyoming)Step-by-Step Application Process for Funding U Student Loans1. Get preapproved. Fill out the form on Funding U's website to determine if you are eligible and get preapproved for a loan.2. Upload any additional documentation as needed. Funding U may request additional information before preapproving your loan application.3. Talk to a Funding U loan advisor. The lender will assign a loan officer who will assist you with details like your loan offer, repayment options, interest rate and terms.4. Review and sign your loan offer. Carefully review all the details in the final loan offer Funding U sends you. Then sign your loan offer documents. The loan details will be sent to your school for final approval.Required DocumentationTo apply for a student loan with Funding U, you must have specific documents including your driver's license or other identification, school transcripts, financial aid award letter, and tuition bill.Funding U Student Loan Interest Rates and FeesCurrent Interest RatesFunding U's interest rates for undergraduate student loans in the 2024 to 2025 school year range from 7.99% - 13.99% fixed (with AutoPay). Rates are slightly higher without Autopay.Currently, the average private student loan interest rates range are around 10%, so Funding U's rates are in line with or slightly higher than average, depending on where your exact rate falls within the range.Fee Structure and Loan TermsBorrowers won't need to worry about prepayment fees, origination fees, disbursement fees, or late payment fees. However, Funding U requires monthly payments from borrowers while they are still in school. Repayment terms range from five to 10 years.Available Repayment PlansFunding U offers fixed and interest-only repayment options. Traditional repayment begins six months after graduation, but borrowers can start earlier if they leave school or drop to part-time status. Extra payments are encouraged and can lower your balance without prepayment penalties.Deferment and Forbearance OptionsFunding U offers various forbearance options for students facing financial hardship and for those hoping to continue their education post-graduation. It offers forbearance options for both students in school and graduates who are in repayment.Borrowers still in school will have the opportunity to apply for a forbearance applied in 90-day increments, based on the following reasons:Medical residencyEconomic hardshipMilitary deploymentTotal permanent disabilityTemporary hardshipNational disasterBorrowers in repayment will have the opportunity to apply for a forbearance in 90-day increments based on the following reasons:UnemploymentPursuing further studies for a graduate degree at an eligible schoolAny medical residencyEconomic hardshipMilitary deploymentTotal permanent disabilityLate School NotificationTemporary hardshipNational disasterFunding U Student Loans OverviewFunding U Undergraduate Student Loans are a worthwhile option if your credit score is too low to qualify with another student loan lender because it takes academic factors into account when making loan approval decisions. But you can't apply with a cosigner and are likely to pay a higher rate than you would with a lender that offers that option.This lender may be helpful if you're trying to build your credit because Funding U will report your in-school payments to credit bureaus, which could help increase your credit score over time.Funding U Student Loan Key Features and BenefitsFunding U don't have the best rates, with higher minimum APRs than other private student loan lenders. The company also doesn't offer variable-rate loans, so you'll have to take a fixed-rate loan.Funding U doesn't make lending decisions solely based on creditworthiness. It will also consider factors like your academic performance and potential career success when deciding whether to offer you a loan.Funding U won't charge any origination, prepayment, late, or application fees. You must take out a loan with a five or 10-year repayment term.You should go after federal student loan options before considering private student loan, including one with Funding U, as you can usually get better terms and protections through the government.If you want to contact Funding U's customer support, you must reach out during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET. You can schedule a phone call with a loan advisor or use the chatbot on the Funding U website. Another option is to email Funding U at info@funding-university.com. The lender claims to respond to emails within two business days.Types of Funding U Student LoansFunding U Undergraduate Student LoansFunding U offers undergraduate student loans but no graduate loans. You can't apply with a cosigner, and your loan eligibility is based on a proprietary system developed by Funding U that takes into account your collegiate academic success, likelihood to graduate on time, and credit history, among other factors.Funding U Student Loan RefinancingFunding U doesn't currently offer student loan refinancing. However, you can join the waitlist on the Funding U website to be notified of when Funding U Refinance becomes available.Funding U Student Loan AlternativesFunding U vs. Earnest Student LoansFunding U student loan APRs range from7.99% - 13.99% fixed (with AutoPay), compared with a range of 4.99% - 16.85% variable and 3.47% - 16.49% fixed (with AutoPay discount) for Earnest student loans. You can only get fixed-rate loans with Funding U, while Earnest also offers loans with a variable rate.Funding U offers student loans ranging from $3,001 $20,000, while Earnest's loan amount range is from $1,000 to the total cost of attendance. Neither lender charges any additional fees. Earnest allows cosigners while Funding U does not.Earnest Student Loans ReviewFunding U vs. MPower Student LoansMPower student loan APRs range from 13.74% to 14.75% fixed (with AutoPay discount), compared with 7.99% - 13.99% fixed (with AutoPay) at Funding U. Both lenders offer only fixed-rate student loans.MPower charges a 5% origination fee and undisclosed late fee. You won't pay any additional fees with Funding U. You can borrow from $2,001 $100,000 lifetime from MPower, compared with $3,001 $20,000 at Funding U.MPower Student Loans ReviewFunding U Student Loan Customer ExperienceWhile there aren't many online reviews of Funding U, the customer reviews we did find generally have negative things to say about the lender. A few customers on Reddit claim it took several weeks for their loans to be disbursed to their school, and they often struggle to get in touch with Funding U.However, this does not mean that you will also have a bad experience with this lender. It's important to do your own research and get firsthand reviews from family and friends when possible.Is Funding U Trustworthy?Funding U received an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, which suggests it is a trustworthy company. This means the company frequently responds to customer complaints and concerns. There are no notable lawsuits pending against Funding U at this time.Why You Should Trust Us: How We Rated Funding U Student LoansWe rate all student loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is a weighted average that takes into account seven different categories, some of which are judged more heavily than others. They are:Interest rate (20% of rating)Fees (20% of rating)Term lengths (15% of rating)Repayment options while in school (15% of rating)Borrower accessibility (15% of rating)Customer support (7.5% of rating)Ethics (7.5% of rating)Each category's weighting is determined based on its importance to your borrowing experience. As you can see, Funding U fell short in certain categories, such as term lengths and interest rate, while it scored higher when it came to fees and borrower accessibility, since it's an option for those whose credit scores may be too low for other lenders.Read more about how we rate student loans FAQs What are the interest rates for Funding U student loans? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. The interest rates for Funding U student loans vary based on the type of loan and the borrower's credit profile, but they tend to be higher than average. Check its website for the latest rates. How do I apply for a Funding U student loan? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. To apply for a Funding U student loan, you can complete an application online through the Funding U website. Follow the step-by-step process and submit the necessary documents. Can I refinance my existing student loans with Funding U? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. No, Funding U does not currently provide student loan refinancing options. What repayment options are available with Funding U student loans? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Funding U offers various repayment options, including fixed and interest-only, with terms of five or 10 years. Are there any fees associated with Funding U student loans? Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Funding U does not charge origination fees or prepayment penalties. Review the loan terms for any additional charges.

Microsoft unveiled Majorana 1, a quantum chip the company says is powered by a new state of matter.The new chip allows for more stable, scalable, and simplified quantum computing, the company says.The development is "just as revolutionary as the silicon transistor," a quantum expert told BI.Microsoft on Wednesday unveiled Majorana 1, a quantum chip the company says is powered by a new state of matter.CEO Satya Nadella described it as a "breakthrough" in the advancement of quantum computing."Most of us grew up learning there are three main types of matter that matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Today, that changed," Nadella said in a post on X. "After a nearly 20 year pursuit, we've created an entirely new state of matter, unlocked by a new class of materials, topoconductors, that enable a fundamental leap in computing. It powers Majorana 1, the first quantum processing unit built on a topological core. We believe this breakthrough will allow us to create a truly meaningful quantum computer not in decades, as some have predicted, but in years."Quantum computing is a rapidly evolving field of technology that combines the disciplines of computer science, math, and quantum mechanics to solve more complex calculations more quickly than is possible through classical computing. The foundation of quantum computing relies on units of information called qubits, rather than the binary bits used in classical computing.Qubits exist in multiple states at once, like a spinning coin appearing to show both heads and tails simultaneously. They behave differently when observed, and require specific conditions such as low light or extremely cold environments to replicate results reliably and without errors, which has made advancement in the field slowgoing.However, when they behave predictably at a large enough scale, qubits enable quantum computers to quickly calculate equations with multiple solutions and perform advanced computations that would be impossible for classical computers.Researchers in the field agree that computations solvable through quantum computing could help discover new drugs, promote sustainable food growth in harsh climates, and develop new chemical compounds that break down plastics or break our current encryption methods, among other outcomes.NadellaIn an appearance on the Dwarkesh Podcast, Nadella said quantum computing will be most useful for exploring how various compounds work in different states, like advancements in chemical physics and biology, rather than the data-heavy processing that AI is best at."The way I think of it is, if you have AI plus quantum, maybe you'll use quantum to generate synthetic data that then gets used by AI to train better models that know how to model something like chemistry or physics or what have you," Nadella said in the podcast. "These two things will get used together."Microsoft said in a press release that its topological superconductor isa new material that isn't solid, liquid, or gas,Nature that its topological superconductor is a path forward for quantum computing to produce more stable qubits.Troy Nelson, the Chief Technology Officer at Lastwall, a cybersecurity provider of quantum resilient technology, told Business Insider that, since the behavior of quantum systems is often hard to prove due to the unstable nature of qubits, he'd like to see more real-world testing to confirm Microsoft's findings, but he's "more on the optimistic side of cautiously optimistic" about the company's announcement."What they've done is they've created a new foundation that we can build off of," Nelson said. "Now we need to solve the production problems like the economies of scale and bringing costs down. But I see what they produced here as a new road map."Microsoft's new topological architecturewasused to develop its Majorana 1 processor, offeringwhat the company, in its press release, called"a clear path to fit a million qubits on a single chip that can fit in the palm of one's hand." Microsoft's Majorana 1 chip is the first quantum computing chip powered by topological qubits. Microsoft "This is a needed threshold for quantum computers to deliver transformative, real-world solutions such as breaking down microplastics into harmless byproducts or inventing self-healing materials for construction, manufacturing or healthcare," Microsoft's press release reads. "All the world's current computers operating together can't do what a one-million-qubit quantum computer will be able to do."Nelson said Microsoft's topological breakthrough, if it can be replicated by other researchers in the field, will be a turning point that shortens the timeline for developing fully functional quantum computers to just years."If we really can print topoconductor to chips the size of your hand, that's just as revolutionary as the silicon transistor," Nelson said.Microsoft's stock rose 1.25% on Wednesday following the announcement of its new quantum chip.While Microsoft's Majorana 1 chip doesn't mean commercially useful quantum computing is right around the corner, it is the latest in a series of significant advancements in the field that leads some researchers to believe more widespread, commercial adoption will come sooner than previously expected.In December, Google unveiled Willow, its new quantum chip, which the company says can perform a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes a task that would take the current fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years to complete; a timeframe that exceeds the age of the universe.But not everyone is convinced. Quantum stocks tumbled in January after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested we're still 20 years away from the technology being "very useful."

October 2017: Christina Haack and Ant Anstead started dating.Ant Anstead and Christina Haack in 2019. Noel Vasquez / Contributor / Getty Images In December 2016, Haack and Tarek El Moussa, 43, her first husband and "Flip or Flop" costar, announced they were separating. During their marriage, Haack and El Moussa had two children: Taylor, 14, and Brayden, 9.Eight months later, a mutual friend introduced Haack to "Celebrity IOU: Joyride" star Ant Anstead, House Beautiful reported. Anstead, like Haack, had two children from a previous marriage.They initially kept their relationship private.January 1, 2018: Haack and Anstead announced they were a couple.Christina Haack and Ant Anstead went public with their relationship in January 2018. Noel Vasquez / Contributor / Getty Images After dating privately for three months, Haack and Anstead shared that they were in a relationship through an Instagram post.Haack posted a now-deleted photo of the pair biking together, congratulating him on the new season of "Wheelers and Dealers" in the caption, People reported.Haack and El Moussa's divorce was finalized later the same month.December 22, 2018: Haack and Anstead tied the knot.The pair got married in December 2018. Noel Vasquez / Contributor / Getty Images Haack and Anstead got married at their home in Newport Beach, California.They didn't make their engagement public before saying "I do," but Anstead said he and Haack were "celebrating something special" in the caption of a photo he posted of Haack on December 17."We pulled off the perfect surprise wedding," Haack toldPeople of the nuptials at the time.March 22, 2019: The couple announced they were expecting a baby.The couple during Haack's pregnancy. Tommaso Boddi / Stringer / Getty Images Haack and Anstead shared that they were pregnant in a now-deleted Instagram post."The kids are all so excited to meet their new sibling," Haack captioned the post.April 8, 2019: Tarek El Moussa accidentally announced the gender of Haack's baby.Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack. Jerod Harris/Stringer Haack's ex accidentally shared that Haack and Anstead were having a son on TMZ Live.A representative for Haack and Anstead then confirmed the news to People in a statement."While Christina and Ant wished they could have shared the news themselves, they are very excited to welcome a baby boy in the fall," the representative said.September 6, 2019: Haack gave birth to their son Hudson.Christina Haack had a son. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Haack took to Instagram in another now-deleted post to share that she had given birth to her third child."Ant and I are so excited to welcome Hudson London Anstead into the world. Our hearts are SO full of love and joy," she captioned the post.Haack also documented Taylor and Brayden meeting their brother for the first time in her docuseries, "Christina on the Coast."September 2020: Haack and Anstead announced they were separating.The couple announced they were separating just a year after Hudson was born. Haack shared the news in a now-deleted Instagram post, according to People."Ant and I have made the difficult decision to separate. We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority," she said."We appreciate your support and ask for privacy for us and our family as we navigate the future."Anstead also announced the separation on his Instagram. His caption seemed to indicate Haack had initiated the separation."Anyone who really knows me knows that I don't like to share private matters publicly. I have remained silent while holding on to hope," he captioned a selfie of the pair. "I never gave up on us. I pray Christina's decision brings her happiness."January 2021: Anstead told People he and Haack were co-parenting amicably.Christina Haack and Ant Anstead. Allen Berezovsky / Contributor / Getty Images Anstead told People that he and Haack weren't struggling to share custody of Hudson at the time."There's never been a scenario where I've asked for him and not had him and vice versa," he told People.June 2021: Haack and Anstead's divorce was finalized.Their divorce was finalized in June 2021. Amy Sussman / Staff / Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer / Getty Images A representative for Haack confirmed the marriage was officially over toUSA Today.By the time the divorce was finalized, Haack had alreadystarted dating Josh Hall, and Anstead began seeing Rene Zellweger in June 2021.Haack went on to marry Hall in April 2022.April 28, 2022: Anstead filed an emergency motion for full custody of Hudson.Ant Anstead filed for emergency custody. Michael Kovac / Contributor / Getty Images Anstead said in court documents reviewed by Business Insider that he was Hudson's "primary parent" and that Haack only spent an average of "9 full days each month" with their son.Anstead also said in the court documents that Haack had put Hudson in "dangerous" situations, including a sunburn so severe it made him cry.On another occasion, Anstead said Haack returned Hudson to him without telling him her family had COVID. "At the time, my partner was filming her new project and her covid diagnosis placed the whole production on pause," he said in the filing, referring to Zellweger.The filing also said that Haack used her time with Hudson to post him on social media, sometimes for sponsored content. Anstead requested that a judge block Haack from posting Hudson in any "commercial endeavor" until they reached a new custody agreement.Anstead requested a "regular" custody schedule that would give Haack visitation rights on "alternating weekends, Friday at 4 p.m. until Sunday at 6 p.m. commencing May 6, 2022, in California only, and except for vacations," according to the court documents."This will allow Christina's time to be stepped-up over the next several months to match the schedule she has with her other children," the filing said.Anstead declined to comment on the matter when contacted by BI.April 28, 2022: Haack spoke out against Anstead's motion in a statement to BI.Christina Haack. HGTV "What Ant is doing deeply saddens me," Haack said. "If this was really about Hudson, as he says, this should have been handled privately with a private judge or mediation, as myself and my attorney have suggested.""I have had my share of ups and downs, but I am a good mom, and I love my children with all my heart, and I will always protect them," the statement said.April 28, 2022: A judge denied Anstead's custody request.The request was denied. Amy Sussman / Staff / Getty Images A judge denied Anstead's ex parte custody application on April 28, 2022, both because he did not give Haack enough notice and he did not provide sufficient evidence that Hudson was in danger, according to People.The judge's ruling scheduled a hearing for June 28 to determine whether Anstead's custody request should be granted.Representatives for Anstead did not respond to a request for comment from BI on the ruling. Haack declined to comment on the judge's decision.April 29, 2022: Haack filed a response to Anstead's emergency motion.Christina Haack filed a response. Jerod Harris/Getty Images In a response reviewed by BI, Haack said she was "shocked to see the false allegations against me" and Anstead's "belief that he has been failing to protect our son by sharing custodial time with me."She denied multiple allegations Anstead made against her in the response, saying he was "misleading" the court about their custody arrangement."Mr. Anstead has now taken the position that he is the defacto primary parent of our son, which is not accurate," she said. "Anstead does not count any day wherein we exchange our son as a custodial day for me. He also counts days where I made an accommodation or gave a right of first refusal to him as his day.""That is why there is a huge discrepancy in his mind from our accurate schedule. His attempt to mislead the court is transparent when presented with the true facts," Haack went on to say. "I do not count my accommodations as decreasing my custodial time, but as me being a supportive coparent."Representatives for Anstead and Haack did not respond to requests for comment from BI at the time.April 29, 2022: Josh Hall said he would protect Haack's kids from "unnecessary trauma" in a since-deleted Instagram post.Christina Haack and Josh Hall with her children in January 2023. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment In a now-deleted post, Hall shared a photo of himself, Haack, and her three children, saying he would "always protect her.""Never did I think taking on 3 kids from 2 other males would be easy. What I was sure of, the woman connected to them was worth it all," Hall captioned the post."I am not these kids biological father, they have those. What I will be is the best example of a quality human being, always show them how to treat their mother with respect and support them in any way I can during their development.""Christina and I will always remain unfazed by any outside noise and save the kids from any unnecessary trauma," his caption said."I will always protect her, keep her safe and no one will hurt her with me in the picture," he said. "She doesn't bother anyone, she deserves the same in return. I will ensure that's the case."May 15, 2022: A judge ordered the exes to attend mediation.The exes were ordered to attend mediation. Michael Kovac / Contributor / Rodin Eckenroth / Stringer / Getty Images According to court documents reviewed by BI, themediation was scheduledfor June 15, 2022, and their custody hearing was later postponed to March 2023.September 26, 2022: Anstead accused Haack of "exploiting" Hudson.Ant Anstead accused Christina Haack of "exploiting" their son. Gareth Cattermole / Staff / Getty Images Amid the custody battle, Anstead filed a supplemental declaration on September 26, which BI reviewed. He said he and Haack had "resolved" their custody issues "without the need for court intervention" and maintained their son's 50/50 custody schedule.However, in the declaration, Anstead also reiterated his assertions aboutHaack's social media posts about Hudsonand requested that a judge grant him full legal custody.In the declaration, Anstead said Haack had "already exploited Hudson in numerous paid promotions on social media" and that he had a "fear she also has footage of him, to be used in one of her 'reality' TV shows, without my knowledge or consent, and continues to film him despite my objections.""l do not believe it is in Hudson's best interests to be exploited by his mother for professional and financial gain," he said. "As she insists that he should be, I ask the court to give me legal custody so I can make the decisions to protect Hudson and prevent this from happening."Representatives for Anstead did not respond to a request for comment from BI on the matter at the time.September 27, 2022: Haack called Anstead "hypocritical."Christina Haack in 2025. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images In her supplemental declaration, which BI reviewed, Haack said, "From the start, Ant's intention was not to resolve this matter privately and amicably.""I have never exploited our son Hudson," Haack's declaration said. "He appeared in a few of my own Instagram ads that each took less than minutes to film. I have all the footage and they were all fun activities that he enjoyed doing, such as playing with toys or making cookies."Haack also said Anstead wanted to be able to post Hudson on social media and tag his brand Radford, while she had "repeatedly taken the position that I will agree that Hudson shall not appear on television or on social media.""Ant insists that he be allowed to post Hudson on his social media, while tagging products and businesses," Haack said. "Ant admits in his supplemental declaration that he will usually 'tag' his business 'Radford.' It is Ant who insists that he be able to use Hudson in social media posts to promote the post and expand its 'organic' reach.""If it is in the best interest of Hudson to be clear of public scrutiny, I feel Hudson should be off all public social media until he is old enough to make his own decisions," Haack said in the declaration.In the same document, Haack also said Anstead "never had a problem" with Hudson appearing on Instagram or their HGTV shows until 2021, calling his declaration "hypocritical."Haack noted that Anstead also refused to resolve their issues in mediation in her declaration, making their custody disagreement public record."We agreed to resolve this custody matter privately, and yet he continues to file publicly, proving his desire and need for the public's attention," Haack said. "It is all quite disturbing, and now that it is out in the public, it will be far more damaging to Hudson in the long run when he is old enough to see how this matter played out publicly."Representatives for Haack declined to comment on the matter when contacted by BI at the time.November 18, 2022: Anstead and Haack reached a new agreement maintaining joint custody.They reached an agreement. Michael Kovac / Contributor / Getty Images A stipulation to modify a judgment signed by a California judge on November 18 and reviewed by BI states that Haack and Anstead will continue to have joint legal and physical custody of Hudson.Their March 2023 hearing was canceled as a result of the stipulation.Haack's lawyer filed the papers, but both Haack and Anstead signed them.The stipulation altered the former spouses' holiday schedule for Hudson, with the pair switching off for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, July 4th, and Halloween annually, depending on whether the year is even or odd.The stipulation did not mention how Hudson may appear on Anstead and Haack's social media platforms or television shows.Representatives for Haack and Anstead declined to comment when contacted by BI at the time.August - September 2024: Haack made some friendly gestures to Anstead on Instagram.Christina Haack in 2025. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images Haack and Hall filed for divorce in June 2024, less than three years after they tied the knot.In the months following her separation from Hall, Haack's relationship with Anstead seemed to be on better terms based on her Instagram.She refollowed Anstead on Instagram in August, which he reciprocated in October. The pair then occasionally interacted on the platform, tagging each other in photos of Hudson on their stories and commenting on each other's posts of their son.December 2024: HGTV announced Ant Anstead would appear on Haack's show "The Flip Off."Christina Haack stars on "The Flip Off" with the El Moussas. HGTV In May 2024, HGTV announced that Haack and Hall were filming"The Flip Off"with Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa. The series would be a competitionto see who could profit most from a home flip.Haack and Hall were competing against the El Moussas on the series, but Haack competed on the show solo after she and Hall split.In November, Anstead was spotted on the set of the series with Haack, and a month later, HGTV announced Anstead was one of the guest judges who would evaluate spaces in Haack's and the El Moussas' homes for the series.February 19, 2025: Anstead debuted on "The Flip Off."Ant Anstead in October 2024. Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Newport Beach Film Festival Anstead judged the guest bedroom and bathroom transformations on the show.When Haack told the El Moussas on the phone that she selected Anstead as a judge, they both expressed shock, saying, "What?" and "Oh my gosh."The El Moussas told People they were surprised when Haack picked Anstead, as Heather Rae El Moussa thought they "weren't talking."

Sarah Lesselbaum joined the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement in 2018.Last year, she made over $70,000 by working part-time and owning a business.She said saving and investing gave her peace of mind to spend on the things and people she loves.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Lesselbaum, a 44-year-old in Delray Beach, Florida. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her financial and career history.I first heard about FIRE the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement when I went down a Reddit thread rabbit hole in 2018.I've always been a saver, and I had an emergency fund, but discovering FIRE helped me identify my next financial goals. Most importantly, I hated my job and how few days I had to myself. I wanted to quit as quickly as possible. I never thought it was possible before this and was convinced I would have to work into my sixties.I began tracking my net worth and spending. I also started investing more seriously. I had gotten poor investment advice from my bosses at work I was invested in a lot of different things and the expense was high. One of my first steps was putting my savings into broad index funds.I started my own businessMy parents were not the most financially responsible people. My father worked in real estate and his income was sporadic he never saved during the great months to handle things during slower times.I never considered freelancing or starting my own business because of the anxiety of not having a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks.But meeting people who had retired early and understanding the calculations behind early retirement gave me the confidence to start my own business as a mobile notary in Florida. When I told my workplace about wanting to quit in 2022, they asked me to stay on part time.Understanding the math helped me realize that retiring early is not just for people making six figures. I make five figures working both jobs-time job.I work my part time job two days a week, or about 16 hours, and spend three to four hours a week on my business.Last year was the first time I came close to earning as much as I did when I worked full time. Having half my income come from my own business gives me the freedom to take more days off and travel for longer.My retirement saving planSince exploring FIRE in 2018, I have accelerated my savings and investments.As a small-business owner, my income is sporadic, but I have put between 20% to 40% of my annual income into my retirement account. I only had $33,300 in my retirement account in 2018. Since 2020, I have put a total of $145,000 toward my retirement.I hit $300,000 in investments this year, and I celebrate each milestone in small ways. I have a paper tree I get to color in every time I get $10,000, and I text my friends when I get to color in the next section.In my bathroom, I have a piece of paper taped up that says I will retire with at least $1 million in savings by my 55th birthday. I still want to retire by 50, which I will hit in the next six years.delay retiring, which I am OK with.I'll be able to live on somewhere between $40,000 and $60,000 a year, which I extended from a strict $40,000 because I want to be more flexible.Any changes to the Affordable Care Act would also set my FIRE goals back, and I would have to return to a full time job. My medications cost $12,000, and I can't afford them without insurance.FIRE changed my mindset on spendingI'm always worried about not having enough money. I lost my job in 2013. After that, I became obsessed with saving.But having a savings and investment strategy helped me open up my purse strings for things I love. In November, I flew to Bali, Indonesia, for a five-day FIRE retreatIt also changed my mindset toward prioritizing comfort over frugality. I recently remodeled my whole kitchen and bought four new tires for my car on a whim instead of temporary fixes because of an upcoming road trip. I unexpectedly spent $1,200 on my car in the last few days without freaking out or crying. Having separate accounts, like one for emergency expenses, gave me a piece of mind I did not have before I got on the FIRE path.It's given me the ability to care for the people I love. I've been able to help my father plan his finances and have started investing for my special needs niece so she has a lump sum to get her started in the event that her single dad dies. Having savings means I'm able to take her kid brother to Disney World and other parks each year, an experience he would not get otherwise.I'm still frugal and make sacrifices to keep my savings rate high, like spending 45 minutes on Amazon comparing prices and skipping frequent pub visits with my friends. Instead, I have shifted to spending on what I really value.

An investment banker floated paying some of DOGE's savings back to taxpayers in the form of checks.Elon Musk said he'd "check with" Trump about it.Lawmakers on Capitol Hill would need to approve it, and it's facing some skepticism.What if some of the money saved by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency could be paid back to Americans as checks from the government?That idea, promoted by investment manager James Fishback, gained significant traction online on Tuesday after Musk said on X that he would "check with" President Donald Trump about it. "Obviously, the President is the Commander-in-Chief, so this is entirely up to him," Musk later added.After the initial publication of this story, Trump acknowledged the idea at an event in Florida, saying that a "new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens" is now "under consideration.""I literally had a dream about this," Fishback told BI during a Wednesday phone interview about how he and a colleague at his firm came up with the idea. "Then we woke up and started working on it, and put it on paper over the course of about two and a half hours."Fishback told BI that he's meeting with a variety of House and Senate offices in Washington, DC this week, and that he's emailed the proposal to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.In any event, the idea still has a long way to go. It would take an act of Congress to enact the proposal, which is already encountering some early skepticism from lawmakers in both parties.Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told BI that he believes "sending checks is not the smartest way to spend savings" and that he'd rather use the savings to "drive down the debt.""I have three grandchildren, all under the age of eight years old," Tillis said. "Their fractional share of the national debt is about $100,000. I think maybe it makes sense to help pay down that debt obligation."Responding to the proposal on X, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin wrote that he'd be "happy" to entertain the idea "once we balance the budget.""The first use of that money needs to actually be reducing spending, so we can have a balanced budget, so Americans can keep their hard earned dollars," Johnson told BI. "Not only from a standpoint of not having to pay taxes, but so we don't inflate them away."Fishback said he welcomes the conversation and agrees that paying down the debt should be a top priority. But he said that the checks would be a crucial way to generate public interest and buy-in to DOGE's goals and he suggested that public pressure could push potential critics to back his populist proposal."I don't see how you can go to a town hall meeting, when you go back to your district, and say you voted against President Trump's DOGE dividend," Fishback said. "You're going to have a lot of questions to answer from a lot of angry, aggrieved taxpayers."How the 'DOGE Dividend' would workUnder the rosiest version of Fishback's proposal, some Americans would receive a one-time $5,000 check in 2026, paid for the savings generated by DOGE.There are a couple of caveats.For one, Fishback's plan is based on an assumption of $2 trillion in savings, the goal that was originally set for DOGE. Musk and Trump have since halved that number, telling Sean Hannity in a Tuesday night interview on Fox News that "the overall goal is to try to get a trillion dollars out of the deficit."Additionally, the checks funded by 20% of DOGE's overall savings would only be sent to net payers of federal income tax, which Fishback estimates to be 79 million households.Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who said he generally supports "the principle of taking that money and returning it to the people," said he wants to see those savings put toward a child tax credit."That's what I prefer to do," Hawley told BI, pointing to the costs borne by families with multiple children. "We ought to direct relief to them, and this would be a great way to fund it."Fishback countered that his proposal is "not an economic stimulus package" and is about paying "restitution" to taxpayers whose money has been misused."The only criterion that we care about is whether or not you have paid federal income tax. If you have, then you deserve restitution. If you haven't, then you haven't been aggrieved," Fishback said. "The people who get restitution are the people who paid, and did not feel like they got a good value out of it."Meanwhile, Democrats largely want nothing to do with DOGE, owing to the recent shuttering of federal agencies and mass firing of federal employees."It's just a con. It's not about saving money. It's about stealing from people," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut told BI, referring to DOGE broadly. "This is all a pretty simple effort to steal from regular people to enrich the very wealthy."This story has been updated to reflect Trump's acknowledgment of the idea later on Wednesday.

Job cuts at the National Parks could make the parks less safe and less accessible, advocates say.NPS employees who had positions terminated included a wide range of roles.Advocates say the cuts could cause "disarray," especially during the busy summer season.Though they may be called "America's Best Idea," the national parks could be in trouble due to job cuts made by the Trump administration, National Park Service employees and advocates told Business Insider.Thousands of employees have been terminated between the National Park Service and the US Forest Service, both of which manage public lands, according to media reportsandDemocratic lawmakers who criticizedthe moves."These cuts are completely non-strategic," Neal Desai, pacific regional director for the National Park Conservation Association, or NPCA, told BI. "Frankly, they're an attack on the notion of 'America First.'"The White House did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment about the reason for the terminations. Previously, President Donald Trump has defended widespread cuts in the federal government, saying they're part of an effort to reduce fraud and waste.An NPCA spokesperson told BI that several parks have lost significant portions of their staff, including fee collectors and administrators who process and train seasonal staff that keep the parks running in the busy season.Workers targeted for termination represent a wide range of roles, including employees who collect entry fees, maintain park facilities, educate park visitors, and work on search and rescue operations, the spokesperson said.The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.Desai said the cuts show "a lack of awareness of how these things play out on the ground," adding that the parks were already understaffed. According to the NPCA, park staffing has already been down 20% since 2010 despite a 16% increase in visitors.At the end of 2018, when the government shutdown affected staffing at national parks, bathrooms were locked, but because people could still enter many of the parks, visitors reported seeing piles of toilet paper near the facilities and pileups of trash. Destinations such as Joshua Tree National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park closed temporarily due to "human waste" issues, staff said on their websites at the time. Trails left unmaintained were deemed unsafe, and there were fewer emergency services to help visitors."People visiting are going to find their parks in disarray if the cuts are not reversed," Desai said.The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, comprised of current and former NPS employees and volunteers, said in a statement that the busy season is coming for many national parks and that now should be the time to recruit, hire, and train seasonal staff."The consequences will be severe: visitor centers will close, lines will grow longer, and basic maintenance such as cleaning restrooms and facilities will suffer," Phil Francis, chair of the group's Executive Council, said. "Millions of Americans who cherish their national parks may find them inaccessible, poorly maintained, or unsafe."Beth Pratt, the California regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation, also told BI the cuts seemed "arbitrary" and could have cascading impacts on the parks and the surrounding local communities.She said the administration could've at least chosen to ask park managers to make budget cuts that would allow them to prioritize roles as needed, but instead opted for "indiscriminate" cuts.Without staffing, the impacts could be swift and long-lasting, she said. For instance, park staff helps deter vandalism and prevent trash from overflowing, which can attract bears that can become a nuisance or danger to humans and must be put down."They need a lot of managing to ensure they stay natural," Pratt said of the national parks.Felicia Jimenez, who worked seasonal jobs with the National Park Service from 2021 to 2023, said it's been "devastating" to witness these job cuts and see friends terminated."Quite honestly, I think it is so incredibly short-sighted to cut staff at these parks because they are so necessary to run them," Jimenez, who worked as a ranger at Katmai National Park and Muir Woods National Monument, told BI.She said not only is the park service losing hardworking and highly skilled staff, but that "the public is also losing so much too."Have a news tip or a story to share? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com or via the encrypted messaging app Signal @kelseyv.21 from a non-work device.

Extravagant influencer marketing campaigns are sparking online backlash.Poppi drew some criticism for loaning out vending machines to influencers for the Super Bowl.We spoke with marketers about how over-the-top campaigns could hurt a brand's image.A wave of anti-extravagance is afoot within the influencer marketing space and it can be a minefield for brands.Prebiotic soda company Poppi caused an online firestorm earlier this month when it made dozens of influencers an extravagant loan: Poppi-branded vending machines over Super Bowl weekend to promote its commercial during the big game.Wasteful PR packaging has been a conversation in the beauty space for years, said social media consultant Rachel Karten. Now, campaigns by brands that could be interpreted as financially or environmentally wasteful are not resonating broadly in part due to the macroeconomic climate, said Olivia McNaughten, the senior director of product marketing and partnerships at Grin.Those sensitivities can be heightened when it comes to influencers, who are supposed to be relatable, McNaughten said."It looks like the brand is essentially wining and dining an influencer for their attention," Karten added. "And the customer's like, 'well, hey, we actually buy your product. Why aren't you giving us that same treatment?'"Poppi told Business Insider that the machines were loans for Super Bowl viewing parties and would be rolling out more broadly.commented on TikTok that the machines cost $25,000 a figure Poppi said had been inflated by 60%.But even the appearance of extravagance can turn off consumers in the current polarizing cultural landscape.Tarte Cosmetics, which has thrownadditional scrutiny this year for a trip that coincided with the Los Angeles fires.'You go through the list of all the reasons why you might be canceled'In addition to the perceived wastefulness, the backlash against Poppi also stemmed from the campaign's focus on mega influencers, rather than incorporating a mix of creators with varying follower sizes, McNaughten said. A lack of diversity in the influencers Poppi tapped also played a role, said Nathan Jun Poekert, chief marketing officer of General Idea."It's really, really hard to avoid criticism on the internet right now, no matter what you do," Jun Poekert said.Brands should still enter the ring in a polarized climate, but be prepared. Before reaching out to talent, Jun Poekert said, "You go through the list of all the reasons why you might be canceled."Companies are making shifts to democratize access to influencer campaigns.Poppi told BI it would be rolling out vending machines "via events, social giveaways and nominations in the weeks to come," echoing an online apology from cofounder and chief brand officer Allison Ellsworth.In response to the California wildfires, Tarte is hosting a trip for firefighters, first responders, EMTs, police, search and rescue, volunteers, and others impacted."Everything we do is rooted in making beauty more fun, inclusive, and accessible not just for influencers, but for everyone," Tarte told BI in a statement.It's also possible that, on another level, the Poppi campaign was a win. Any visibility could be a plus for a nascent player in a market dominated by legacy brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi that are increasingly encroaching on its territory."If I am Poppi on the brand side, to be completely honest, I am very excited about the overall results of this," Jun Poekert said. "As much as the media cycle has accelerated at a rapid pace, they are getting tons of visibility and optics from this."

Ina Garten's chicken chili features bell peppers, onions, and plenty of spices.Ina Garten demonstrated how to make her chicken chili in an early episode of "Barefoot Contessa." Mike Smith/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images To make Garten's chicken chili for six, you'll need:4 split chicken breasts, bone-in, skin on2 (28-ounce) cans of whole-peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained4 cups of chopped yellow onions (3 onions)2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced2 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large diced cup of minced fresh basil leaves cup of good olive oil, plus extra for chicken cup of minced garlic (4 cloves)2 teaspoons of kosher salt, plus more for chicken1 teaspoon of chili powder1 teaspoon of ground cumin teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes, or to taste teaspoon of cayenne pepper, or to tasteFreshly ground black pepperChopped green onions, for servingCorn chips, for servingGrated cheddar cheese, for servingWhile these are Garten's recommended measurements, I should note that I doubled some of the seasoning and added 2 teaspoons of chili powder, 2 teaspoons of ground cumin, teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes, and teaspoon of cayenne pepper.I wanted the chicken chili to pack a punch, and doubling these spices turned up the flavor without making things too spicy.First, I prepped my ingredients and preheated the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.I chopped my yellow and red bell peppers first. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I chopped my onions, diced my bell peppers, and minced my garlic.I misread Garten's recipe and diced my bell peppers a bit smaller than she recommended, but their shape still held up well in the chili. I think larger pieces might actually be too chunky for this dish because there's so much chicken in the chili, so I recommend going with a smaller dice for the bell peppers instead.Then, I began to cook my onions.I cooked the onions for about 15 minutes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I added the olive oil to my pan and threw in the onions.I cooked the onions for 15 minutes, until they turned translucent, then added the garlic.After adding the garlic, I cooked my onions for an additional minute. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I cooked the garlic for an additional minute, per Garten's instructions."You want to cook the garlic for just a minute so it doesn't get really bitter," she explained in a "Barefoot Contessa" episode while demonstrating the recipe.Then, I added the bell peppers and seasoning.I doubled the seasoning for this recipe to add more flavor. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I threw in the chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, and salt and cooked everything for one minute.It was time to add the tomatoes.I crushed the tomatoes by hand and threw the leftover juice into the pot as well. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider "I always make this with canned tomatoes; life's too short to peel a tomato," Garten said in the episode.According to the recipe, you can crush the tomatoes by hand or throw them in a food processor. If you opt for the latter, Garten recommends adding them in batches and pulsing the processor six to eight times.I don't have a food processor, so I crushed the tomatoes by hand. I also threw the leftover juice into the pot.After adding basil, I brought my chili to a boil and then reduced the heat to a simmer.I tore the basil in chunks and threw the leaves in the pot. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I left my pot uncovered as my chili began to simmer.Then, I started prepping the chicken.I rubbed my chicken with olive oil and seasoned each piece with salt and pepper. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider During the "Barefoot Contessa" episode, Garten said she cooks the chicken with the skin on because she found it "really keeps it moist." She noted that she also roasts the chicken instead of boiling it because it makes the meat taste more delicious.I rubbed my chicken breasts with olive oil and generously sprinkled salt and pepper on each one. I then threw them in the oven and set the timer to 35 minutes, per Garten's instructions.Garten recommends simmering the chili for 30 minutes, but I let it go for about an hour and a half.I simmered my chili for longer than Garten's recipe called for. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider I love making chili and believe it always tastes better the longer it is left on the stove, so I was happy to wait a little longer.But Garten's recipe is designed for the chicken and chili to be ready at the same time, so you can always finish this quicker, depending on how soon you need dinner.After 40 minutes, my chicken was ready.My chicken breasts after I took them out of the oven. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Garten said the chicken breasts should be "just cooked" when you take them out of the oven.Once my chicken had slightly cooled, I separated the meat from the bone and started chopping.My chopped chicken pieces. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider "Tear off the bone with your hands; it's the best way to do it," Garten said in the "Barefoot Contessa" episode.Garten then recommended cutting the chicken into -inch chunks so the meat can be "really delicious and chunky."I added the chicken to the chili and continued to let it simmer uncovered.I let my chili simmer for another 45 minutes after adding the chicken. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Garten's recipe calls for the chili to simmer with the chicken for 20 minutes. I wanted to maximize the flavor, so I let it simmer for 45 minutes.I also made sure to stir the chili occasionally so the flavor could seep into all that chicken.While the chili was simmering, I prepped my toppings.My chopped green onions. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Since I bought pre-grated cheese, all I needed to do was chop my green onions.It was time to eat! And Garten's chicken chili made for a fantastic dinner.Garten's chicken chili is perfect for fall and winter. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider Garten's chicken chili is so hearty and comforting. The rich tomatoes paired really well with the tender and juicy chicken, which soaked up so much delicious flavor, and the bell peppers added great texture. The green onions on top also helped brighten each sip and added some nice crunch. And I recommend pairing this with sour cream for that extra hit of acidity and creaminess.I made this chili for my friend Kayla, who immediately declared that it was the "best shit ever.""This chili is reminiscent of a chicken tortilla soup, but it's so much heartier!" she added. "It makes you feel so warm and cozy."As temperatures continue to drop, Garten's recipe will definitely satisfy your chili cravings.

Ron Vachris moved to Arizona as a teen after his father, a utility lineman, relocated the family from New York.Vachris now lives in Sammamish, Washington, with his wife. Kyle_Graff/Shutterstock Ron Vachris was born in Staten Island, New York, but moved to Arizona with his family as a teenager, South Sound Business reported. Today, the CEO lives in Sammamish, Washington, a city on the outskirts of Seattle, where Costco was founded.Vachris is a father to three adult kids two sons and a daughter with his wife, Kim. He also has one granddaughter, whom he has pictures of all over his cubicle.His free time is family time, he told South Sound Business."I'm pretty transparent," Vachris said. "It's about my family and my career."In 1982, Vachris got a job with Costco's predecessor while attending community college.Vachris majored in business at the college but said that he learned more working at Price Club. Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Vachris joined Costco's predecessor, Price Club, as a part-time forklift driver during his winter break in 1982. He was studying business at Glendale Community College in Arizona at the time.Price Club, which was founded in 1976 by Sol Price, was a wholesale supplier for small businesses. Customers paid a membership fee to access bargain prices, a strategy that remained when Price Club and Costco then a fast-growing wholesale retailer that Sinegal founded in 1983 joined forces and began operating as PriceCostco in 1993.After getting the job, Vachris decided to build a career at the retailer.He thought, "I'm learning more here in real life than I am at school about business," he told South Sound Business in 2024.He spent 28 years in warehouse management positions.The now-CEO specialized in warehouse operations. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images Over the next 28 years with the company, Vachris wore a lot of hats.Growing within the company in the Arizona and Colorado regions and then rising to regional management roles in the Northeast, Vachris specialized in merchandising and operations, according to Costco's website.He worked in multiple different executive roles under then-CEO Craig Jelinek.Craig Jelinek worked with Costco for 28 years before taking over the CEO role from Jim Sinegal. Nati Harnik/AP Jelinek joined Costco in 1984, when he got his start in operations. He was named executive vice president of merchandising in 2004, helped the store expand in Nevada and California, and oversaw areas of the company like e-commerce, food, and pharmacy.He took over as CEO in 2012 and in less than two years, Costco's share price had gone up by 30%.During this time, Vachris served as the company's senior vice president, general manager of the northwest region between 2010 and 2015, senior vice president of real estate development between 2015 and 2016, and executive vice president of merchandising from 2016 to January 2022.In February 2022, Vachris was appointed president and chief operating officer.Vachris worked closely with Jelinek to ensure a seamless transition. Scott Olson/Getty Images The move signaled the company's plans for succession.From February 2022 until the end of Jelinek's tenure as CEO in 2023, Vachris worked hand-in-hand with Jelinek in his role as president "and for many years before that," Costco said in a statement.The statement, released in October 2023, announced Vachris would take over Jelinek as CEO at the start of 2024. It added that Vachris' ascension to the role was "the culmination of the long-standing succession plan" executed by Jelinek."I have total confidence in Ron and feel that we are fortunate as a Company to have an executive of his caliber to succeed me," Jelinek wrote in the same statement.Vachris took over as CEO on January 1, 2024.In Vachris' first year as CEO, the company earned $7.367 billion. Costco Vachris became CEO of the company when Jelinek stepped down on January 1, 2024, just over two months after his succession plan was publicly announced.Per SEC filings, during his last year in the role, Jelinek earned a total compensation of $16.8 million, Business Insider reported at the time. This was an increase from a compensation package of $9.9 million in 2022 and $8.8 million in 2021.Jelinek's pay was about 336 times what the median employee at Costco made in 2023, a lower CEO-to-worker compensation ratio than Walmart (933-to-1) and Target (680-to-1) that year.In his first year as CEO, Vachris earned $12.2 million and the company continued to grow.Costco's CEO took home a lower compensation package than competitor retailers. Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images In 2024, Vachris received a compensation package of $12.2 million, according to a proxy statement the company filed with the SEC. It was a decrease from his predecessor's and less than the average compensation for S&P 500 CEOs in 2023, which was $15.5 million.Vachris' pay ratio was 262 times what the median worker at Costco made that same year. The average S&P 500 CEO pay ratio in 2024 was 312 times the median employee.In the 2024 fiscal year, Costco reported $254 billion in revenue compared to $242 billion in 2023 and $227 billion in 2022.As customers' concerns about grocery price hikes continue, the bulk-buying experience has remained popular and the company continues to grow in 2024, sales per warehouse went up by 3% on average. The company has steadily opened around 30 new warehouses a year and plans to open 29 more during the 2025 fiscal year, Vachris said in December. During Vachris' tenure as CEO, Costco negotiated with unionized workers and raised wages.Earlier this year, the company faced some pushback from unionized workers, resulting in pay hikes. Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images On January 31, the company announced it would raise hourly pay for most workers to more than $30, with an extra $1 raise coming in each of the following two years. The raise came after union members voted to approve a nationwide Costco strike ahead of the January 31 contract expiration deadline.During a quarterly earnings call in December, Vachris said the company was focused on reaching an agreement with the Costco union through a "fair and timely process.""We're going to do everything we can to take care of those employees as we do all of our employees," Vachris said, referring to the 18,000 Teamsters-affiliated workers.Costco has recently come under fire for its commitment to DEI initiatives.How Costco responds to new political challenges is "definitely being watched," experts say. John Gress/REUTERS After returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending DEI programs in the federal government, which prompted some companies to pull back on their DEI efforts, as well.In January 2025, Costco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think-tank and Costco shareholder, suggesting that the company prepare a report outlining the potential risks of its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives."We have always been purposefully nonpolitical, and a welcoming workforce has been integral to the company's culture and values since its founding," board chairman Tony James said.Days after shareholders shut down the anti-DEI proposal, a group of 19 attorneys general led by Iowa's Brenna Bird and Kansas' Kris Kobach filed a letter to Vachris urging Costco to end its DEI practices, which it called "divisive and discriminatory."The attorneys general also gave the company a 30-day deadline to either announce the end of DEI initiatives or explain why not.In response, Vachris said, "The overwhelming support of our shareholders' vote really puts an answer to that question."As the February 28 deadline approaches, business leaders and consumers will be watching Vachris and the company's response to the letter as companies continue to consider Costco's example of standing with DEI.

What's it like being neighbors with Silicon Valley's elite?Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young has some fond memories from his time living in Palo Alto.He talked about being neighbors with the late Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison on a recent podcast episode.Steve Young made a big name for himself in pro football, but on his old block in Silicon Valley, his neighbors were the talk of the town especially on Halloween.The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback used to count the late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison as neighbors while previously living in Palo Alto, California."Everywhere you went you were around people that were transforming the world, and so as a player, as an athlete, you always feel like you're a little bit of an impostor in that world because I don't have a product, I don't have this great idea, I just go play a game," Young said on an episode of the "In Depth with Graham Bensinger" released earlier this month.Surrounded by a who's who of Silicon Valley, Young said he felt a sense of "appreciation and kind of honor for the amazing things that are happening around me and seeing if I could play a small role in catching up and learning about it."Young recalled an interaction where he ran into Ellison and Jobs in the neighborhood.Ellison remembered Young from their time playing pickup basketball together, but Young didn't immediately recognize Ellison. And Jobs didn't remember Young, though they'd met five or six times before, Young said."I just thought it was a funny interaction where nobody knew each other, we're all neighbors, and that's the insanity of Silicon Valley in 1995 and 1998 and 2000," he said. "It was a crazy, crazy time. The whole world now spins off of what happens here in many ways in technology."Young talked about walking around the neighborhood and seeing Jobs at work in his home office."He'd just be working, doing his thing, and that's what I mean that's the neighborhood," he said.As for Zuckerberg, he "lives in a normal little house," Young said.Zuckerberg years ago spent over $30 million to buy four homes near his Palo Alto house for privacy. He's also snapped up property at Lake Tahoe and has a massive compound in Hawaii.Young remembered Zuckerberg showing him up on Halloween."He used to give out huge, giant Nestl Crunch bars," he said. "You're like bro, why are you making me look bad, quit trying to shame me, this is like neighbor shame."Throughout the neighborhood, "Halloween night here is happening," Young said."This whole block shuts down," he said. "It's a block party, and thousands of people come from all over the peninsula, and really all over northern California, to be in these four, five blocks."Jobs, former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, and late casino magnate Sheldon Adelson's stepdaughter are among Silicon Valley's wealthy residents who have hosted Halloween parties for the public.After Jobs' passing in 2011, his widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, carried on their tradition of putting on a Halloween show for trick-or-treaters.Young no longer lives in the same house but looks back on his residence there as a pivotal time for tech."In Palo Alto, if you play football, pretty much nobody knows," he said. "A number of times, people have knocked on my door and say, 'Hey, does Mark Zuckerberg live nearby?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, yeah, just keep going that way.'"

Apple launched the new iPhone 16e on Wednesday.It offers the company's new Apple Intelligence technology and costs $599.It's an "on-ramp" for consumers to enter the Apple ecosystem, one analyst says.Apple just put its AI within reach of a lot more people. The move could be what it needs to reinvigorate sales of iPhones after several years of struggles.The new iPhone 16e the cheapest of the iPhone 16 lineup makes Apple Intelligence available for a fraction of the cost of its older cousins.Apple announced the new device on Wednesday after CEO Tim Cook teased a new "member of the family" in the week leading up to the launch. Starting at $599, the iPhone 16e is half the price of the $1199 iPhone 16 Pro Max.With pressure on iPhone sales mounting, this launch represents its strategy to "compete more aggressively" with rival entry-level smartphones, Jacob Bourne, an analyst at Business Insider's sister company EMARKETER, said."It's about expanding its ecosystem reach at a crucial moment when it's rolling out Apple Intelligence and revamping Siri," Bourne added.As Apple enters its AI era with Apple Intelligence previously only available on its priciest models, the new iPhone 16e gives more consumers a chance to test the new tech. Although the software has yet to move the needle for iPhone sales, lowering the price would encourage people to hop on the bandwagon, Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee said."Apple's brand of accessible luxury gets a little more accessible for people who don't want to settle for anything less than the real thing," he told BI.Revenue missed analyst estimates in Apple's first quarter for fiscal year 2025. A more affordable iPhone will be especially crucial in key regions, like India, "where iPhones are out of reach for most people" and Android competition is fierce, Chatterjee said.Some "leakage" from the sale of pricier models in the iPhone 16 lineup is to be expected, but Chatterjee said he doesn't expect it to "cannibalize the crown jewels" the Pro and Pro Max models."This is about growing its market share, which becomes increasingly vital as Apple shifts toward a services-led growth strategy that depends on exposure," Bourne said.Apple's services business, which includes paid subscriptions, is performing well. It grew revenue 14% year over year to reach a record $26.3 billion in Q1 FY25. Preorders for the iPhone 16e start Friday and it'll be available for purchase on February 28.The iPhone 16e is the "on-ramp" for customers who want the status symbol of an iPhone without spending up to $1000, Chatterjee said.The iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch display the same size as the $799 iPhone 16. For hardware, it has Apple's own in-house cellular modem and the A18 processor, and a USB-C charging port.Last week, the iPhone 14 and SE models were the last phones with the Lightning port available on Apple's website, but it looks like the site has been updated to offer only USB-C compatible models. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the models were discontinued signaling the end of an era of new phones without Apple Intelligence or USB-C chargers.

Donald Trump endorsed a House GOP budget plan.Republicans' outline would likely lead to billions in Medicaid cuts, which insures over 70 million Americans.In an interview alongside Elon Musk that aired Tuesday night, Trump said he wouldn't touch Medicaid.President Donald Trump on Wednesday endorsed a House Republican budget plan that could cut billions from Medicaid, just hours after pledging that the healthcare program for millions of disabled and low-income Americans would not be touched.Republican leaders have called for massive spending cuts to finance trillions in tax cuts and other provisions. House conservatives won a major concession last week, passing a budget blueprint that ties the size of the proposed tax cuts to the size of spending cuts. If Republicans don't cut enough spending, their outline would not likely allow for all of Trump's promises, including ending taxes on tips and overtime pay.During an interview alongside Elon Musk, Trump said he would not touch Medicaid. He has pledged not to cut Social Security and Medicare, the largest federal government programs, though his administration has recently gone after Social Security for suspected fraud."Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview that aired on Tuesday night.Trump previously said he would "love and cherish" Medicaid, which insures 70 million Americans. The federal government covers most of the cost of the $880 billion a year program, which was first created in the same 1965 law that birthed Medicare, a separate program for Americans 65 and older.Last week, the House Budget Committee released its budget draft that outlined about $2 trillion in spending cuts. These included a proposed $880 billion in spending cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which would extend for a decade.It's likely these cuts would target Medicaid, a program with over 72 million people enrolled, according to October 2024 data. Medicaid supplies healthcare services coverage for lower-income Americans of all ages, accounting for about $872 billion in spending in 2023.Some GOP leaders have suggested implementing per-capita caps on Medicaid, which could save up to $900 billion per a House Budget Committee Proposal. It's likely cuts to Medicaid would reduce Medicaid services or search for other funding methods, which could impact millions of recipients.Trump's statement comes as congressional Republicans tussle over how to best proceed with the special budget process that will allow them to extend Trump's 2017 tax plan, fund stiffer immigration enforcement, and potentially pass a no-taxes-on-tips plan, all without requiring the support of a single Democratic lawmaker. Known as reconciliation, the process will likely be Trump's best avenue to pass the bulk of his domestic agenda, given Republicans' thin majorities in Congress.Senate Republicans have a competing plan, which does not include tax cuts. Under their proposal, the GOP would return to extending tax cuts and passing additional ones later this year. Senate Republicans were expected to move forward with their proposal before Trump's announcement later this week.The White House did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Netflix has released the first trailer for Shonda Rhimes' new show, "The Residence."The series, starring Giancarlo Esposito and Uzo Aduba, is a murder mystery set in the White House.Since 2020, Rhimes has produced three hit shows for Netflix, including "Bridgerton."After the success of the "Bridgerton" franchise and true crime drama "Inventing Anna," Shonda Rhimes' latest collaboration with Netflix is a murder mystery: "The Residence."The whodunnit, set during an important state dinner at the White House, will feature a fictional US President, his staff and a cameo from the Australian pop star Kylie Minogue.The trailer released on Wednesday shows that the White House chief of staff is murdered during the event, and a renowned detective is brought in to solve the case before it turns into a crisis. As the detective dives deeper into the investigation, she learns about the tense divisions between the White House staff, the President, and his allies.Rhimes is an executive producer, and the show was created by Paul William Davies, a writer on previous shows by Rhimes' production company, Shondaland.Here's what to know about "The Residence," which premieres on March 20.'The Residence' stars Giancarlo Esposito, Uzo Adubo, and Randall Park Kylie Minogue will make a cameo as herself in "The Residence." Erin Simkin / Netflix Like "Bridgerton," "The Residence" has an ensemble cast led by Uzo Adubo, who previously starred in "Orange is the New Black," one of Netflix's first hits.Adubo plays the fictional detective Cordelia Cupp as she works with the Washington Police Department to help solve the murder.Giancarlo Esposito plays the murder victim, A.B. Wynter,Randall Park plays Edwin Park, an FBI agent assigned to help Cupp with her investigations.Most of the cast, including Jane Curtin, Ken Marino, and Susan Kelechi Watson, will be playing the 157 suspects, ranging from White House staff members to the President.Minogue plays herself as a guest at the White House.'The Residence' is loosely inspired by a 2015 non-fiction book. Giancarlo Esposito plays A.B. Wynter and Bronson Pinchot plays Didier Gotthard in "The Residence." Jessica Brooks / Netflix The series is not a true story, but it is inspired by the nonfiction bestseller "The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House," written by Kate Andersen Brower, a former White House correspondent.The book shares insight into the lives of US Presidents, their families, and White House staff.'The Residence' is being released during a turbulent time for US politicsIt's an interesting coincidence that a show set at the White House will air weeks after Rhimes resigned from the board of the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center over President Donald Trump appointing himself as the new chair. He also ousted board members appointed by former President Joe Biden.Rhimes first mentioned "The Residence" in an interview with The New York Times in 2018 about her new deal with Netflix.In 2017, Rhimes, and her award-winning production company Shondaland, entered a multi-year deal with Netflix, which was estimated to be worth millions of dollars, though the details were not confirmed.In the interview with the Times, Rhimes shared ideas for eight shows she wants to make a Netflix. Three were developed into "The Residence," "Bridgerton," and "Inventing Anna.""Bridgerton" is the biggest success so far, becoming one of Netflix's hit recurring series and inspiring the spin-off "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," also produced by Shondaland.

I've fallen in love abroad and moved to different countries for a partner.I had my heart broken a few times then, I met the love of my life on vacation in Nicaragua.We're now married. I'm glad I kept my heart open and kept traveling. I love love. I love the full experience of it, from falling hard for someone you want to glue yourself to 24/7 to maturely navigating the ups and downs of a relationship. I love the give-and-take, the blending of safety and passion, and the idea of growing old with someone. As with many things in life, though, love isn't always meant to be. It can dry up or end in flames, sometimes leaving you to pick up the pieces. The heartbreak that follows a breakup is my (and perhaps most people's) least favorite part about falling in love.However, I'm thankful that never stopped me from looking for love again, again and again. I'm familiar with falling in love abroad and having it not work outWhen I was 21, I left my home in Austria to spend a year in Madrid studying a different language and culture. Not long into my year abroad, I met a handsome Spaniard and fell madly in love with him.Our relationship was filled with passion, from declaring our love to each other every chance we got to smashing plates in the kitchen of my shared apartment in the middle of the night.However, the semester ended, and our love didn't last. I still remember two air hostesses trying to comfort me as I uncontrollably cried into my orange juice during the flight home. At 24, I spent a summer in Barcelona with a friend and fell for a Dutch guy I met there. We soon became inseparable. After the summer, he moved back to the Netherlands while I had to finish my studies in Copenhagen, Denmark.We navigated a long-distance relationship for over a year, then moved in together in Amsterdam. We were so proud we'd been able to keep our love alive.In our seven years together, we matured as a couple and as individuals. However, as we both approached the age of 30, we realized we'd morphed into roommates not lovers.It was incredibly sad when we split and went our separate ways.Eventually, falling in love in a new country worked out for me My husband and I met while traveling and now live in Portugal. Alix Campbell It took me a while to pick myself up from that last breakup but when I did, I decided it was time for a change of scenery.By then, I was 33. I'd been working as a freelance writer for a few years, which meant I could work from anywhere. To escape the dreary winter months in my compact studio apartment in Amsterdam, I picked a warm destination in Central America: Nicaragua.Unbeknownst to me, my future husband was heading toward the same hostel as I was. After we bumped into each other one night, I knew I had to postpone my bus to Panama. Leaving the next day was suddenly out of the question.We stayed put in our love bubble for six weeks and watched the sunset together every night. When he left Nicaragua, I followed him to Australia to meet his family. From there, we flew to Europe. After introducing him to my friends and family in Austria, we decided to move to Portugal.We got married in 2018 at the very hostel where we'd met and purchased our home on the Portuguese Algarve coast two years ago. We still live there with our two rescue cats.Although falling in love abroad didn't always work in my favor, I'm glad I didn't let the heartbreak close off my heart. And, reader, if you have the chance to go on a getaway after a breakup, do it.Healing feels way more pleasant lying in a hammock on a sunny beach while sipping a cocktail and you never know who you might meet.

Broadway stars like Mary Kate Morrissey of "Wicked" are turning to influencing as a side gig.At the same time, social-media creators are making their way to the stage.Influencers have also become a marketing asset for some Broadway shows.Mary Kate Morrissey, the current star of Broadway's "Wicked," didn't set out to become an influencer.But her TikTok page began to grow wildly last year as anticipation for the movie adaptation mounted.On TikTok, she started showing all the gadgets she uses to perform the demanding role of Elphaba, from mouth tape to vocal steamers to neck massagers. That's when fans requested she make an Amazon Storefront, where influencers can compile products and earn a commission on subsequent purchases.Morrissey told Business Insider that the amount of business the Amazon Storefront did was "insane."As her social following grew, brands came calling directly to hire her for influencer marketing. "Wicked" is protective of its brand, but she's threaded the needle by focusing on her offstage persona.In one ad, Morrissey de-greenifies using a cleanser from Farmacy. She's done other deals with companies like the footwear brand Bared, antihistamine Allegra, and hotel giant Hilton."To have a gig that feels creative, that feels like it complements what we're already doing, that can keep the lights on, is totally worthy of attention," she said.When her "Wicked" contract ends in March, she said she foresees influencing taking more of a "front seat" as she sets out on auditions.Morrissey's not the only Broadway performer carving out a niche on TikTok, which has also been a boon for the dance industry. Performers like JJ Niemann, Julie Benko, and Meg Doherty have cultivated sizable followings by showing their pre-show routines and backstage antics.As these Broadway stars are becoming influencers, some social-native creators are making their way to the stage. TikTok superstar Charli D'Amelio has an ensemble role in "& Juliet," which resulted in a ticket sales bump, while Trisha Paytas starred in a one-night show with Broadway veterans Sutton Foster and Ben Platt. Before them, influencers Colleen Ballinger, Todrick Hall, and Cameron Dallas appeared onstage. Trisha Paytas at the premiere of her Broadway show. Bruce Glikas/Getty Images Celebrity casting transcends the influencer realm. Shows like "Grease" and "Chicago" have nabbed TV and movie stars over the years to generate buzz. Still, there's been stigma surrounding influencers by some within the Broadway community in the past, said the talent manager Paul Luckenbaugh of Select Management Group, who reps Morrissey and Niemann. However, he said producers are increasingly seeing it as a marketing asset."I'm adding value because people are going to feel like they're seeing their friend in a show," Morrissey said of building her social profile.Newer shows like "The Great Gatsby" are also turning to influencer parties and collaborations to generate buzz.Influencer earnings vs. Broadway wagesLuckenbaugh signed Niemann, his first client in the theater space, in 2020 after Broadway went dark. Grosses plummeted during the pandemic, and while the industry has been trending back up, it still hasn't completely recovered. Broadway star and influencer JJ Niemann attends the Tony Awards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Luckenbaugh saw a financial opportunity, particularly for out-of-work actors. The minimum salary for a Broadway actor is $2,638 per week, and Luckenbaugh said influencers can make multiples of that amount in a single sponsored TikTok.Select reps about 10 clients in the theater space, including current and aspiring performers. Niemann, for his part, has 1.1 million TikTok followers and has done partnerships with Raising Cane's and Lionsgate.'Posting a TikTok doesn't even compare to standing on a stage'For some influencers, being on Broadway isn't about money.Jess Val Ortiz studied musical theater in college and became an influencer with 10.5 million TikTok followers. One day, she hopes to make it big on Broadway and get the role that Morrissey is currently playing.She said she's grateful to make a living as a creator, but it can get lonely compared to the give-and-take of live theater and working alongside a cast."Standing in my living room and posting a TikTok doesn't even compare to standing on a stage and getting an applause," Ortiz said.She just booked her first show in several years, a Los Angeles production called "One for My Baby.""I want to be able to prove myself in the theatrical space," she said. "I want to earn it."

I bought my kids everything they wanted and gave them a $400 allowance.When they started to seem complacent about money, my wife and I decided to cut their allowance.They had to get after-school jobs to make extra money, and it showed them the value of hard work.Growing up in an African household with tough parents meant you had to work to earn your keep. Don't get me wrong, my parents were loving, but they didn't play around when it came to teaching us work ethics and the value of money. My five siblings and I stayed in school, and when school was out in the summer, we got jobs from as early as 12. Around this age, our parents required us to stay proactive and explicitly said that we had to work.Of course, as a young man, there were things I wanted, like the latest shoes and clothes to keep up with my friends. My parents didn't really have any room in their budget for "extras." If I wanted anything that wasn't a basic need, I had to buy it myself. So I worked hard to afford what I wanted. These experiences shaped my money mindset and helped me become the financially responsible adult I am today.I used to buy them everything they wantedI didn't understand at the time why my parents wouldn't just buy me the things I wanted, and it was tough for me to have to work so hard while other friends and classmates of mine had more time to just be kids. I swore my kids would have a different experience. I wanted to provide everything they needed without them having to struggle for it. I chose to over-compensate for the things I lacked growing up.My son and two daughters, now 11, 13, and 15, got whatever they wanted, and things they didn't even ask for sometimes. They would often ask for new clothes and the latest tech gadgets, which I always bought. I would take them on trips and always purchased school supplies ahead of the new year. True to this, my son and two daughters knew the best life. They never lacked anything, at least not in a material sense.I also gave each of them a $400 monthly allowance, just in case they needed anything else I wasn't giving them directly. I liked knowing they were well-catered to and didn't have any financial concerns. While I provided for them, I also wanted them to learn positive lessons in life and develop the best values.I tried to instill in them that hard work was important and promised to give more if they helped with chores around the home or ran errands for my office. I told myself that although I was giving them most things money could buy, they were still learning important lessons along the way. However, all good things come to an end, and their good attitudes did the same, eventually.Over time, they stopped being gratefulOne thing my kids taught me was that when given everything, you become complacent. They no longer had the desire to work harder and achieve things.My son's grades started slipping, and he told me he wasn't worried because he had everything he needed and knew I would hire him to work for me. That was a very disappointing answer.Both of my daughters also developed a bad attitude and often put up a fight before helping their mother with chores around the house. They started giving me a hard time about picking up school activities and earning extra credit. Sometimes, we volunteered at our local church, which I thought they enjoyed, but they started turning down these opportunities. Soon, I worried that they would go down the wrong path.We cut their allowance and they had to start workingAfter reflecting on our situation and how hard it was for me growing up, I had a change of heart. I sat down with my wife, and we decided to cut our children's allowance from $400 to $100 to help them find the right path and inner motivation. If nothing changed, we would revoke the allowances completely. After all, they say that you never know the value of what you have until you lose it.This decision was met with a lot of resistance, yelling, and screaming, but we stood our ground. To make up the difference in their allowances, the kids had to find after-school jobs. They had to work if they needed extra shoes, clothes, and necessities. Although this drastic change was unwelcome, it was necessary.I wanted my kids to learn about financial responsibility, develop a work ethic, and understand the importance of savings. These were critical lessons that would take them through every step of life.It was hard at first, but our dynamic has shiftedAs you can imagine, change is never easy, and my kids didn't appreciate the new rules I was enforcing. Helping them stay on track was challenging, especially while they were finding jobs. It felt harsh, but sometimes tough love is needed. Today, my son and daughters have been working for close to a year. Jobs are the new norm, everyone is earning their keep, just as I did when I was younger.For the most part. They have a better attitude toward money and are not wasteful because they finally see how much it takes to make it. We cut them some slack at times, though, and get them a few things here and there. We answer all their questions about money and urge them to do better. Financial responsibility is an important topic in our home. The next step is getting our kids savings accounts, as we want them to understand how to save for a rainy day.

Punit Soni worked at Google, Motorola and as the chief product officer at Flipkart in India. He couldn't shake the desire to build a company of his own and launched a health tech startup.Sonit said life as a founder can be lonely and has extremes, but feels his work is meaningful.This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Punit Soni, the CEO of Suki, an AI voice solution for healthcare professionals valued at $295 million. Business Insider has verified Soni's employment with documents. The following has been edited for length and clarity.Born to a nuclear scientist father and a psychologist mother in Mumbai, my early life was steeped in academia. I got a degree in engineering at the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra in 1998 and a master's in electrical engineering at the University of Wyoming in 1998.I worked as a quality assurance engineer in semiconductors before pursuing an MBA at The Wharton School in 2007. After my MBA, I considered private equity or consulting, but Silicon Valley's siren call brought me back to tech.My career in Big TechIn June 2007, I applied to Google as a product manager. At Google, I spearheaded Google+ Games and mobile initiatives. I helped grow the mobile team and launched features like Mobile Hangouts and Instant Upload. Over those five years, I learned about scaling products and seeing failure as an opportunity.I left Google in August 2012 for an executive role at Motorola as VP of product management. While at Motorola, I gained insight into the e-commerce market in India, which prompted me to eventually leave and move to Bangalore. I began my role as chief product officer at Flipkart in India's tech hub.After a decade in the Bay Area, I felt like all the roles at the time were the same, and I wanted to exercise a different part of my brain. Being in India and adjusting to a different workforce was an interesting challenge. At Flipkart, I was responsible for all product initiatives and helped scale the company. I left in 2016, and Flipkart was acquired by Walmart in 2018.I couldn't ignore the entrepreneurial itch After working at tech giants and successful startups, the entrepreneurial itch I'd had since my early days in Silicon Valley could no longer be ignored.While at Motorola, I was trying to build Moto X, which had its first always-on voice interface. Building this software made me aware that voice was going to be the default for most devices. At that time, conversations around the artificial intelligence were just starting, but these insights helped me develop my company Suki. I wanted to build something that made healthcare tech assistive and invisible, so doctors could focus on patients.Many of my former Google colleagues who were leaving the company were going into education or healthcare. I saw healthcare as an area where I could make an impact. I came up with the idea for Suki and started building the foundational elements while in India. My family was sick and tired of me complaining about starting something new and encouraged me to leave Big Tech to do it myself.It was a big shift going from employee to founderI left Flipkart in 2016 and returned to the States to spend the next six months settling down. We moved houses, and I had to adjust to a new area and new schools for my kids. I was lucky enough to have saved resources that helped me launch Suki, so I didn't have to change too much of my lifestyle. I was also mentally prepared, knowing that there were not going to be that many incoming resources or revenue at the start of a new business venture.Becoming a founder impacts your emotional and mental health. For the first few years, I worked off fumes and juggled many hats. No day was the same. Whereas in Big Tech, I had more of an established work routine. At Google and Flipkart, I was a senior executive with many people reporting to me, but at Suki, I had to start from the bottom to reassess the skills I was good at and learn new ones to help move the company forward.The best part of starting my own company is the pride I feel in building something that has a real impact. Over 350 healthcare systems are using Suki to help doctors focus on patient care.I also really value the control and autonomy I have now compared to my prior careers in Big Tech. I want to create a drama-free environment at Suki with no internal political hierarchies. I care about our combined collective success. I want Suki to be a workplace where we give each other feedback and improve each other's work.Financially, I didn't have any dramatic changes moving from being an employee to a founder because I always maintained a middle-class lifestyle. However, it's still uncomfortable building something because you have to use more money than you're making.Life as a CEO has extremesSome days being a CEO is empowering, while others are exhausting and frustrating. It can feel like you're on a treadmill that never stops.Entrepreneurship is also lonely, and early on, I had to face failures and overcome them. I was a poor CEO for the first two or three years because I couldn't manage my emotional state.I've made every founder mistake because of my challenges with regulating my emotions. I've had countless sleepless nights, lost my temper, let go of people, people have let go of me, and even lost friendships. The key lesson I learned was how to react to these situations constructively while moving forward.I've learned that a good CEO knows how to channel their energy, learn relationship management, and invest in the right operations and people. One of my major challenges was finding the right people. My advice is to hire candidates who are better than you in every area. People romanticize startup life. Building a company is not a financial or professional decision it's a romantic one. You need to love your idea and have the emotional intelligence and energy to see it through.Ironically, I don't wish entrepreneurship on anybody. It's a risky financial decision to leave a stable job. But I love what I'm doing most days. The idea of building something meaningful from the ground up was incredibly important to me.

Bosses are running low on empathy and some companies are cutting roles.It's an employers' market, and some are using tactics to get rid of low performers.It might be time to work harder and not seek extra flexibility, says HR consultant Suzanne Lucas.Bosses are running low on empathy. Some want their workers back in the office more often, and are becoming less interested in the demands of mental health-conscious Gen Zers wanting work-life balance.They have a good enough reason: an era of revenge quitting may be on the horizon, but right now it's an employer's market.Meta, Microsoft, BP, and Boeing are just a few companies laying off staff in 2025.Some employers are also getting more creative about how they're letting low-performing staff go, engaging in tactics such as "stealth firing," where they implement strict return-to-office mandates to make employees' roles increasingly uncomfortable and less appealing.Others are cracking down on what The Wall Street Journal described as "little sins," terminating workers for small indiscretions. Meta fired some workers who used food vouchers improperly, while some EY staff met the same fate for watching multiple training videos simultaneously.Joe Galvin, chief research officer at executive coaching platform Vistage, told Business Insider that bosses are under more pressure to ensure their employees are top performers.Workers, on the other hand, are wrestling with what pandemic-era flexibility they're prepared to give up."Maybe bosses are saying, I don't have to put up with this millennial or Gen Z stuff," Galvin said. "There's a common thread underneath it all, and that's the tension between the boss and the worker."Employers' marketThe power dynamic between employers and employees is a constant pendulum, and it can swing at any moment."When it's an employers' market, which it is right now, companies are much more picky than when it's an employees' market," Suzanne Lucas told BI. She's a human resources consultant and writer who became known for her blog, The Evil HR Lady.Many highly skilled and experienced people have lost their jobs recently. Google has offered buyouts to 25,000 employees, and at least 65,000 federal workers have opted into President Donald Trump's deferred resignation program.The volume of talent entering the jobseeking pool is means "companies can be really choosy right now," Lucas said. "If you're a slacker, I can find someone to replace you. In other words, employees better be working hard." Suzanne Lucas wrote a blog called The Evil HR Lady. Suzanne Lucas Meta fired about two dozen staff last year for using their $25 meal credits to buy things other than food, but Lucas said it was never really about the actual purchases."Once somebody breaks that barrier, then everybody else starts breaking that barrier," she said. "It's really not a matter of punishing someone for buying toothpaste it's a matter of making sure everybody knows that there is a line that you don't cross."Protecting yourselfMona Mourshed, the CEO of the employment nonprofit Generation, told BI that workers can protect themselves in a turbulent environment by investing their time in new skills, particularly in learning about AI tools."What's very clear is that within every company, there are some people who are power users, and everyone else is dabbling or not really using it," she said. "We all need to figure out how to make the most of it."Mourshed also recommended getting exposure to different parts of the business with projects or teamwork."Do that because, essentially, it enables you to have cross-functional skills," she said. "In your team, there might be some disruption, but maybe that creates an opportunity for you in a different team of the same organization, or potentially another one."What's very clear, Mourshed said, is that "doing the same thing for a decade is a pattern of the past."Lucas said not all companies will fire workers for small indiscretions, but if an employer is looking to let people go, those making minor missteps could be first on the list."My advice to the employees is to realize that you need to be a good worker it's called work for a reason," Lucas said. "Maybe work harder. Maybe now isn't the time to be asking for extra benefits and extra flexibility."

Chef Heena Patel of Besharam in San Francisco shared her tips for finding a great Indian restaurant.Patel said you should always try an Indian restaurant that makes their roti and naan in-house.Okra, bitter melon, and opo squash are green flags on any Indian restaurant menu.When Heena Patel first moved to the Bay Area in California, she started selling her homemade Gujarati food at the local farmers market. She'd often come home without making a profit, but she refused to give up on her dream or her cuisine.Patel is now the James Beard-nominated owner and chef of Besharam, a regional Gujarati restaurant in San Francisco that pays tribute to the dishes of her heritage and childhood."Just as my guests step outside their comfort zones, I do the same with them, trusting they'll embrace my menu with an open mind," Patel told Business Insider. "That's how I hope to put Gujarati food on the map."Patel also hopes to help diners expand their perception of Indian cuisine. Here are her tips for finding a great Indian restaurant.Look for a variety of regional dishes Heena Patel is the owner and chef of Besharam in San Francisco. Sarah Felker "India has so much to offer, and each dish is rich with history," Patel said. "Growing up, we tried foods from many different regions that have enriched my palate and helped shape me as a chef.""If you see menus that highlight different dishes from various regions in India, it is a good indication that the chef is focused on authentic regional cuisine," she added.When it comes to Gujarati dishes, Patel recommends trying rotla a traditional flatbread which, unlike naan, is unleavened and dhokla, a savory sponge cake. The malai kofta dish at Besharam. Eric Wolfinger For North Indian cuisine, Patel loves sarson ka saag a Punjabi dish of mustard greens cooked with spices and the lamb kebabs of Uttar Pradesh.You can't go wrong with vindaloo, a spicy and tangy curry dish from Goa in western India, or sambhar, a lentil-based stew from Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state. Bengal's mishti doi dessert will give you a taste of the east, while chana samosas from Chhattisgarh will take you to India's central region.Okra and bitter melon are green flags"Produce like okra, bitter melon, and opo squash are common in Indian cooking," Patel said. "So if you see these ingredients on a menu, you're in for a treat."One of Patel's favorite okra dishes is bhindi masala, which she said "allows okra to shine with its crisp texture."And don't forget about the bread Patel's parathas with raspberry dip at Besharam. Eric Wolfinger "It is definitely worth trying an Indian restaurant that makes rotis and naan in-house," Patel told BI.Indian cuisine also features a variety of flatbreads popular in different regions. Patel recommends trying rotli, paratha, and bhakri.And once you've found a great restaurant, don't play it safe and always stick to the same dishes."Indian food isn't just about individual dishes; it's about building each bite with different flavors," Patel said. "A curry or a dal on its own is just one part of the experience.""The real magic happens when you layer flavors by adding chutneys, pickles, rotis, and rice," she added. "My advice? Trust your server."

KFC is moving out of Kentucky.Yum Brands said that it would shift its brands into offices in Texas and California.It said that it would also ask 90 of its US-based remote employees to return to the office.KFC is shifting its US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas.KFC's parent company Yum Brands said in a press release on Tuesday that the group would designate two brand headquarters in the US one in Plano, Texas, and one in Irvine, California.The relocation marks a shift away from the fried chicken chain's roots in Kentucky. Yum Brands' current headquarters is in Louisville, Kentucky.The group said in the release that the shift in headquarters was to "foster greater collaboration among brands and employees."However, Yum Brands and the KFC Foundation would maintain corporate offices in Louisville, the release said.The company said it would also ask KFC's US-based corporate office employees who are currently working in Louisville to relocate to the Plano headquarters.About 90 remote employees will also be called back to the office. The release said that they would be relocated to "the campus where their work happens.""The relocation of approximately 100 KFC U.S. corporate roles will occur over the next six months, while the relocation of 90 remote positions will take place over the next 18 months," the release read.Yum Brands is the parent company of four food and beverage chains KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill.There are over 4,100 KFC stores in the US. KFC's website wrote that globally, the store count exceeds 30,000 in more than 145 countries.The group released its fourth-quarter earnings on February 6, reporting an 8% sales growth globally, with KFC's sales growing 6%.Yum Brands' stock is up about 10% from the start of the year.Representatives for KFC did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside regular business hours.