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CMO Insider is the podcast where marketing power players share candid takes, career lessons, and the power moves shaping the future of the industry.

Hosted by Business Insider's Lara O'Reilly, each episode goes inside the minds of the leaders behind some of the world's biggest brands, campaigns, agencies, and platforms. From brand strategy and creativity to leadership, culture, media, technology, and the business of marketing, CMO Insider offers an honest look at what it takes to build, grow, and lead in a fast-changing industry.

In this episode, Lara speaks with Raja Rajamannar about the art of marketing and much more.

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• For the past four summers, my family and friends have taken a summer vacation to Colorado.
• But the kids go to summer camp during the day, so we parents get to have fun.
• I think it's important our kids see us be adults outside being parents.

For the past three summers, my friends and I have driven our families to Colorado to work remotely, be playful adults, and, in some ways, mildly neglect our children.

My friends and I work hard to nurture our relationships. Whether it's a constantly changing technological landscape or a precarious job market, the world around us continues to evolve quickly.

Maintaining a sense of interconnectedness in our friend group helps us to feel more stable, but it also allows us to find communal joy, for ourselves, explicitly outside our kids.

To further connect on trips, we take it a step further and send our kids to day camp so we can get some respite from our typical demands.

Sending our kids to camp gives us parents a break

Parental expectations seem endless these days. Under the umbrella of intensive parenting, there seems to be an implicit message: we need to be constantly available to our kids.

There's a steady stream of emails coming from schools, applications to download for every sport, and a birthday party scene that is, at times, unbearable. To avoid burnout, we need to strike a balance; to thrive, we need enjoyment.

To do so, our children attend a very reasonably priced day camp in Colorado while my friends and I take our own vacation.

It is a much-needed escape from commuting to an office, rushing to the school pick-up line, and making it to another early-morning sports game. A lingering benefit of the pandemic is that we are all able to slip into remote work for a short time; we take full advantage of the setup. Consolidating our work so we can enjoy our downtime is the goal for the two weeks in Colorado.

We commit ourselves to having fun and strengthening our bonds, hoping that our kids pick up on the importance of connectedness, friendship, and enjoying life in the face of unpredictability.

It's important our kids see us as real people — not just their parents

It's a nice byproduct that our children see their parents as their own people — adults who pursue fun and find ways to play.

We certainly field many comments about how "it is not fair" that we do fun stuff without them. But this does not deter us.

In fact, last year, during a hike through the scenic Rocky Mountain National Park, we ran into our children while they were on their own camp-sponsored hike.

That evening was full of more demanding questions about how we spend our time.

The fun doesn't end when we pick the kids up from camp

We have been intentional about picking an area where we can also let the kids roam a bit.

After-camp hours are filled with self-guided play and time spent outside. So, our evenings feel like a nice balance between connecting with our kids and giving them time to play with one another.

Through these trips, we also hope to instill a sense of independence and love of nature. The whole experience ends up allowing our kids to learn from each other in ways they won't when we are around, and the grownups get space for uncensored adult time, leaving us with more gas in the tank.

We are all set for our fourth annual trip. While the kids are excited to escape the Texas heat and get to the mountains, we adults have been planning for our own adventures. There has been talk of our favorite pastries for breakfast, tennis, hiking, and white-water rafting…none of which our kids are invited to.

• Michael Burry, the famed investor, says he won't be betting on, or against, SpaceX's stock.
• In a Substack post, Burry said he was "tempted" by options to bet against SpaceX.
• Burry has previously questioned SpaceX's worth, saying its fundamentals don't match its valuation.

Michael Burry, the famed investor behind the "Big Short," says he's staying away from SpaceX's red-hot stock.

SpaceX went public last week in the biggest IPO in market history, and its stock has rallied sharply since, rising from its initial price of $135 per share to $202 at Tuesday's close, a 50% gain in just 3 days of trading.

In a Tuesday post on his Substack, Burry updated followers on his stock portfolio and said he won't be betting on or against Elon Musk's rocket company for the time being.

Burry shared details of several put options that would allow him to bet against SpaceX's stock, saying he was "tempted," but wouldn't get involved.

"No thank you," he wrote.

"I am not involved with SpaceX now. Neither short nor, ahem, long," Burry wrote in a tongue-in-cheek allusion to his long-held misgivings about the company.

Burry questioned SpaceX's potential valuation ahead of the IPO, saying in early June that he didn't believe it was worth $1 trillion.

"Nothing in that S-1 suggests it is worth $1 trillion let alone $2 trillion," he wrote in a subscriber chat on his Substack at the time.

"At $2.8 TRILLION market cap, SpaceX, which is fundamentally a small space company, a niche telecom, a bedeviled social media company, and a Coreweave-light, has less than $20 billion in total revenue," Burry wrote on Tuesday.

While Burry isn't trading options in SpaceX, as Business Insider's Joe Ciolli wrote in his "First Trade" newsletter this morning, lots of investors are.

More than 1.6 million options contracts were traded on Tuesday, the first day options were available. That's almost five times the previous first-day record after Facebook's 2012 IPO.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Burry's SpaceX value comparisons

Burry continued his Substack post by sharing a lengthy list of things that SpaceX is worth more than on paper. These included the whole economies of Russia, Canada, and Italy.

"SpaceX's market cap could buy Page, Brin, Bezos, Zuckerberg, Ellison, Arnault, Huang, Buffett, and Ortega and still have $1 trillion left over. Those are the numbers 2-10 richest people in the world, after Elon," he wrote, continuing that the company's net worth could "buy every single US aerospace and defense company and have money left to buy every gold miner and airline in the world."

He then drew a line between SpaceX and Warren Buffett, noting that Musk's personal net worth is now more than the entire market capitalization of Berkshire Hathaway.

"Berkshire Hathaway has been eclipsed 2 1/2 times over in just three days. Berkshire Hathaway, painstakingly assembled over two century-old lives. The two greatest investors of our time," Burry wrote, referring to Buffett and his late right-hand man, Charlie Munger.

Burry shot to fame after his prescient bet against the mid-2000s housing bubble was turned into the book and movie "The Big Short."

Known for issuing grave predictions about crashes and recessions, he pivoted from running a hedge fund to writing about his personal investments on Substack late last year.

Burry's comments on SpaceX came as part of a wider update on his stock portfolio, in which he told followers he had increased his positions in the Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba and pet pharmaceutical firm Zoetis.

• After traveling to all 50 states solo, I've narrowed down the best cities to visit in the summer.
• Places like Taos, New Mexico, and Anchorage, Alaska, experience milder temperatures in the summer.
• Lubec, Maine, and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California feel like they're straight out of a fairytale.

When the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, I think it's the perfect opportunity to explore new parts of the United States.

After visiting all 50 states solo, I can recommend dozens of places to visit in the summer, but some stand out for their solitude, outdoor activities, accessibility, or great weather.

These are the seven cities and towns I've been telling my friends to visit this year.

Chicago really comes alive in the summer months.

Growing up in Illinois, I spent many summer days in Chicago. But, honestly, it wasn't until I'd visited all 50 states that I understood just how magical the city becomes in the warmer months.

Each summer, Millennium Park hosts a packed calendar of free outdoor concerts and festivals, and the Riverwalk comes alive with outdoor dining and kayakers.

Plus, the lakefront beaches are among my favorites in the country.

Lubec, Maine, is one of my favorite places to visit.

In my opinion, Maine feels like a fairytale in the summer months. With lush forests, rocky coastlines, and quaint fishing villages — you really can't go wrong.

However, the place I find myself recommending most (and dreaming about visiting again) is Lubec. Home to the easternmost point in the contiguous US, this town feels like a Hallmark movie.

I love hiking at West Quoddy Head State Park, staying at The Inn on the Wharf, eating lobster at Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant, and hiking or biking on the Cobscook Shores Trail.

There's so much to do in Taos, New Mexico.

The temperatures in Taos, New Mexico, stay surprisingly mild in the summer months, with highs in the mid-80s and lows ranging from the high-40s to low-50s. This makes it a great destination if you're looking to escape those hot summer nights.

Plus, there's so much to do. I like to visit Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America. Here, visitors can take guided or unguided tours of the Native American village.

When I want to spend some time outside, I hike the Williams Lake Trail, a beautiful 3.8-mile round-trip trek to the lake at the base of Wheeler Peak.

Jackson, Wyoming, is the perfect home base for outdoor adventure.

Summer is absolutely high season in Jackson, Wyoming, but to me, it's still worth battling some traffic to experience.

The town sits right outside Grand Teton National Park, and the outdoor recreation options in the area are almost overwhelming — hiking, fly fishing, rafting the Snake River, and kayaking across beautiful lakes.

Jackson's Town Square is worth an evening of its own for exploring the shops, grabbing dinner or a drink, or attending one of the summer festivals or markets.

Another perk? Jackson Hole Airport is the only commercial airport in the country located entirely within a national park — so you can fly straight into one of the most stunning places in America.

I think Anchorage, Alaska, is a must-visit destination.

I think everyone should experience the magic of Alaska in the summer. The days are incredibly long, the weather is mild, and everything feels more accessible.

Although there are lots of cities I love visiting in the state, Anchorage is my top pick because there's so much to do. I love visiting the Anchorage Museum, hiking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, eating at Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, or grabbing brunch at Biscuitclub.

The town is also a good basecamp for day trips to Seward, the Kenai Peninsula, and Girdwood.

Brevard, North Carolina, is the perfect place to stay if you want to see waterfalls.

I think Western North Carolina is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. However, my favorite town to visit is Brevard.

Located in Transylvania County — known as the "Land of Waterfalls" for its more than 250 cascades — Brevard is the perfect home base for exploring the area.

Within the town itself, I love attending the concerts put on by the Brevard Music Center, a summer training institute for young musicians.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, feels like a fairytale.

Even though I've lost count of how many times I've visited Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, I'm still not tired of it.

The downtown area genuinely feels like stepping inside a storybook, with whimsical cottages built in the 1920s, and 41 hidden courtyards and passageways filled with shops and restaurants.

I love staying downtown and just walking between the 17 wine-tasting rooms — it's one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon.

• A nutritionist uses a simple diet strategy to boost energy, improve gut health, and curb cravings.
• Her 'triple 30' rule makes it easier to get enough protein and fiber without overdoing it.
• It's all about adding healthy foods to your diet, including treats like dark chocolate and popcorn.

Forget proteinmaxxing — a simple three-part rule can help you hit your goals without overdoing it, says a top nutritionist in the UK.

Dominique Ludwig has been helping people eat healthfully for three decades. She said most diet trends offer contradictory advice, wasting your valuable time, money, and energy.

"In a world where nutrition is very confusing, it can actually be really simple," she told Business Insider.

Ludwig's new book, "No Nonsense Nutrition," offers a road map for healthy eating principles that work for both her and her clients.

One of her favorite tips is the "triple 30" rule: eating 30 grams of protein at each meal, 30 grams of fiber each day, and at least 30 different plants in your diet each week.

Ludwig said that within four weeks of following the triple 30 rule, her clients can cut back on processed foods without feeling deprived or relying on complex or strict eating plans.

As a result, they often have reduced cravings and "food noise," better digestion, lower inflammation (which may translate to fewer aches and pains), better mood, and more energy.

"Sometimes you don't need to jump down every rabbit hole. If you just start with the foundation, you suddenly see that food actually can be one of the most transformational things we can do to our health," Ludwig said.

Eat protein at every meal

You're probably already getting enough protein, Ludwig said, but timing it correctly can help you feel full throughout the day.

"It stabilizes your blood sugars. It keeps you feeling fuller for longer," she said. "Having your protein in the morning is really important because if you get breakfast right, it sets the bar for the rest of the day."

She recommends aiming for around 30 grams of protein at each meal through sources like Greek yogurt, fish, chicken, or legumes.

That's about 90 grams of protein per day, although you may need more if you're larger or highly active. Research suggests that adults benefit from around 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (or 0.7 grams per pound) daily.

Getting the right amount of protein is also important for a long, healthy life, and we generally need more as we get older to prevent age-related loss of muscle tissue and promote a healthy metabolism.

"Proteins are not only for our muscles, but they're also for repair, they support our immune system, and our neurotransmitters. They're really important," Ludwig said.

Aim for 30 grams of fiber a day

While protein gets all the attention, Ludwig said fiber is an underrated nutrient that supports gut health, weight loss, and more.

"We're living in this massive fiber gap at the moment," she said. "It's the missing link."

Getting enough fiber helps slow digestion, which can promote steadier blood sugar and energy levels, helping you feel more satisfied after meals.

"Protein and fiber are like this dynamic duo; together they're bulky, and that means they switch on all these satiety mechanisms," Ludwig said.

She recommends 30 grams a day, slightly more than typical dietary advice, based on research from the American Gut Project, a study of more than 15,000 people led by the University of California San Diego, that analyzed health and eating habits.

High-fiber diets — rich in foods like beans, nuts, and whole grains — are also linked to a lower risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and colorectal cancer, making fiber a key nutrient for longevity, too.

Include a variety of plants in your diet

The final 30 in Ludwig's formula refers to including 30 different types of plants in your diet each week, to provide a wide range of nutrients for gut health.

Your digestive system hosts colonies of beneficial bacteria, your microbiome, which play a key role in health, from your mood to your energy levels.

Ludwig compared the microbiome to a zoo: just as giraffes prefer different foods from lions, each type of gut microbe thrives on different micronutrients found in different plants.

Loading up on 30 plants a week is easier than you might think: every little bit counts, from the herbs and spices in your pantry to your morning coffee or tea.

And, she said, don't forget to treat yourself: fresh fruits, popcorn, and dark chocolate all help support a healthier gut in the long term.

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Modern CMOs are getting the promotion they've long wanted: job titles like CGO that reflect their revenue and growth responsibilities. The catch? They're not getting more power.

That's a sharp tension at the heart of a new study shared exclusively with CMO Insider by the brand consultancy Lippincott. The study analyzed a survey of 541 global CMOs or equivalents.

"There is more responsibility but less of that autonomy in terms of getting a strong sense of alignment across the organization," Michael D'Esopo, Lippincott CEO, told me.

Nearly 80% said bureaucracy commonly got in the way of decision-making, while 84% said it was at least "somewhat difficult" to align their management team, senior peers, and other stakeholders around a marketing vision. Fewer than half (44%) said marketing operated with high autonomy.

One unnamed CMO quoted in the report put it this way: "What often happens is that a strong, well-founded idea gets gradually diluted. Someone senior, like a CFO or CCO, adds input that doesn't align with the evidence, and people hesitate to challenge it."

Part of the issue is that many CEOs aren't confident in marketing's ability to demonstrate a financial impact.

"There is a huge trust problem for marketing in the C-suite," former Mastercard CMO Raja Rajamannar told me in a recent interview.

Plenty of studies over the years have suggested marketing has a credibility problem in the corner office. A report released in April from the communications firm Boathouse, for example, found only 13% of CEOs were confident in marketing's ability to demonstrate a financial impact.

Those long-held tensions are being exacerbated by technological shifts, D'Esopo said.

The abundance of AI-powered dashboards and analytics tools has made marketing performance more visible across organizations, D'Esopo said. That can help CMOs appeal to finance leaders by showcasing short-term wins, but it can also reinforce a focus on immediate results at the expense of long-term brand building.

These new tools have also boosted marketing leaders who are steeped in data. Lippincott said 35% of marketing chiefs come from performance- or growth-marketing backgrounds. Around 20% of the senior-most marketing decision-makers don't even have "marketing" in their job title, reflecting the rise of chief growth, chief revenue, and chief commercial officers, per Lippincott.

That can have both good and bad effects.

The rise of performance-minded leaders may bring more analytical rigor to balance out softer marketing metrics. However, Rajamannar said they can use a brute-force approach, likening it to "running constantly on the treadmill." It can lead to chasing the next click, lead, or conversion rather than building the underlying consumer demand.

Short-termism is also creeping into new areas, such as AI search visibility. CMOs surveyed said their companies are spending more on AI while cutting investment in websites and content — the very assets AI systems use to understand and surface brands.

So if that's the diagnosis, what's the antidote?

Lippincott said in the report that CMOs need to use the language of business growth without losing the fundamentals of long-term brand building, which may require translating marketing's impact differently for each separate stakeholder, whether that's the CEO, CFO, or the board. And organizational alignment should be treated as a growth strategy in its own right.

PepsiCo's Jane Wakely, who has possibly the longest job title in the marketing profession — executive vice president, chief consumer and marketing officer, and chief growth officer for international foods — said CMOs should stay focused on the marketing principles that don't change. New technologies such as AI and diverse data sources just give marketers more ways to achieve their goals, she added.

"If I'm reaching a billion people every day, to grow I've got to reach more than a billion — it's quite simple," Wakely said. "That is not going to change."

I've covered enough Prime Day sales to know how this usually goes. You spend weeks waiting for the official event to start, telling yourself the price could drop further. Then the thing you actually want either sells out or goes on backorder, or doesn't arrive until closer to Labor Day.

So when I saw that the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro had already dropped to $319.95 (down from $399.95), I skipped the waiting game and bought one. That's a 20% discount on the air fryer toaster oven that Business Insider Reviews just named one of the best air fryers after testing more than 65 models.

Could it get cheaper when Prime Day officially starts on June 23rd? Maybe. Will it get meaningfully cheaper? Probably not. And for a product this popular, I'd rather lock in an $80 savings — the lowest price we've ever seen on this model — than gamble on inventory.

Why I bought the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

Most air fryers are good at one thing — making frozen food crispy. The Breville does that, but because it's an air fryer toaster oven it's also one of those rare countertop appliances that can actually replace several other kitchen appliances. According to BI Reviews' air fryer testing leads, home editor Jaclyn Turner and culinary tester Jennifer Zyman, it's great for air-frying fries, vegetables, and chicken wings. It also excels at toasting bagels, reheating leftovers like pizza, baking cookies, and handling everyday cooking tasks that would normally require a full-size oven.

That's what sold me.

I live in Los Angeles, where turning on a giant oven in the summer can feel like a personal attack. So I've been looking for a countertop appliance that can toast my breakfast, reheat my lunch, and cook my dinner without heating the whole house.

The other thing that stood out to me was what comes in the box. Breville includes a pizza pan, a broil rack, a roasting pan, a mesh basket rack, and multiple toaster oven racks. The accessories and large capacity make it feel like a more compact second oven.

There were a few cons to consider as well. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro has a larger footprint than most air fryers, and, even with the 20% discount, it's still priced much higher than basket-style air fryers. It's also not ideal for very fatty foods, like chicken wings. Still, it had all of the features I need, and I'm not a big fan of wings.

Other air fryers from our best air fryers guide that are already on sale

Not everyone wants a Breville air fryer toaster oven. If you're looking for a traditional air fryer, several of our top picks are discounted right now.

Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer

The Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer was crowned our Best overall air fryer thanks to consistent cooking performance, sleek design, and ease of use. In testing, it outperformed many other models by delivering evenly cooked fries, crispier wings, and better-browned veggies than most competitors in this price range.

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6QT Air Fryer

The runner-up in our air fryer guide, The Instant Vortex Plus cooks food faster than almost every other competitor we tested. The unique feature window lets you watch your meal as it cooks, which enhances ease of use but is not very common among air fryers in this price range.

Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer

The Ninja Crispi Pro is our favorite glass air fryer. The cooking vessel lets you see your food while it cooks and reduces reliance on traditional nonstick air fryer coatings.

Ninja Foodi DualZone XL

The Ninja Foodi DualZone XL is our favorite air fryer for large families because it functions like two air fryers in one. The dual baskets can cook different foods at different temperatures and finish them at the same time.

Chefman Compact Air Fryer

Named best small air fryer in our buying guide, the Chefman is ideal for apartments, dorms, and small homes or anyone cooking for one. Despite its compact footprint, it performed surprisingly well during testing.

Why an air fryer is the Prime Day deal to buy now

There's an assumption many shoppers make during Prime Day season: The sale hasn't started yet, so the best deals must still be coming. But premium appliances don't work that way.

The products with the deepest discounts often arrive early because brands want momentum heading into the event. Sometimes the price stays the same. Sometimes inventory gets tight. Sometimes shipping dates slide from two days to two weeks. I've seen it all happen.

How Business Insider covers Prime Day differently

I've covered Prime Day for seven years. When it comes to the best kitchen deals this year, I know where to find them, and I have receipts.

Every year, the internet is flooded with thousands of articles claiming to feature the "best" Prime Day deals. Many are built around what's trending in the moment, but our approach is different.

The BI Reviews team has spent years testing products, updating recommendations, monitoring pricing, and analyzing shopping behavior. We look at what readers click on — and what they ultimately buy. That's important because the products generating the most buzz aren't always the same products that deliver the most value. The Prime Day deals on our list do both.

Every air fryer on this list has earned its place for a reason. They have been thoroughly tested by the BI Reviews team and featured in our buying guides. They're also backed by my real Prime Day shopping expertise, not just clicks.

I'll be updating this article regularly as Prime Day approaches and replacing predictions with more air fryer deals as they go live.

• A neuroscientist worries some people are letting AI do too much of their thinking.
• Over time, she says, that could weaken cognitive reserve, a key defense against dementia.
• "How you use AI, not how often, will determine its impact," Vivienne Ming told Business Insider.

AI doesn't cause dementia, but how you use it could weaken one of the brain's core defenses against it.

That's the warning from Vivienne Ming, a theoretical neuroscientist, the chief scientist at the Possibility Institute, a metascience research group, and founder of Socos Labs, an AI and education firm.

"Your chatbot is not giving you Alzheimer's," Ming told Business Insider.

"My worry is the cumulative impact of chronic substitution: when you stop doing the cognitive work because something will do it for you, you stop building the reserve that protects you later," she said.

As AI has swiftly become an integral part of people's lives and careers, AI researchers and some tech leaders have been releasing warnings about its deskilling effect, the slow erosion of job skills, and the decline in independent thinking.

Ming went a step further, saying that repeatedly outsourcing mental effort to AI, especially among young people, could have real implications for long-term brain health.

"That's the group from whom I'm most concerned," she said. "How you use AI, not how often, will determine its impact."

Over the long term, Ming worries that routinely outsourcing thinking to AI could reduce cognitive engagement and make it harder to build cognitive reserve — the brain's ability to adapt and remain resilient in the face of damage or aging.

"The mechanism I'm describing is the classic 'use it or lose it,'" Ming said.

'GPT is the new GPS'

To drive her point home, Ming compared the effects of using GPS and an AI chatbot.

Researchers at McGill University in Montreal found in 2020 that people with greater lifetime GPS experience have worse spatial memory during self-guided navigation.

In a four-month small study conducted over four months last year, MIT's Media Lab found that people who used a large language model to help write essays showed weaker neural connectivity than participants who used search engines or no external tools, and often couldn't accurately quote passages from essays they had written minutes earlier.

These two examples, Ming said, are cases of cognitive offloading and surrender, or, as she put it, "delegating the effortful part of a task to an external system so your own networks never have to do it."

Her concern in both cases is that people may be engaging key brain functions less frequently, including the hippocampus, the part of your brain that is responsible for memory and learning, and the prefrontal brain networks that help with attention, self-control, and decision-making.

"The hippocampus and prefrontal networks doing that work are precisely the systems that matter for cognitive aging," she said.

"GPT is the new GPS," she added, referring to OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT, which she said could erode cognitive skills if people increasingly rely on it to think for them.

A matter of cognitive reserve

Research has consistently linked mentally stimulating activities to higher levels of cognitive reserve and lower dementia risk.

One analysis conducted by the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) in 2020 on 12,280 adults aged 50 and older, found that older people with higher cognitive reserve can expect to have a 35% lower risk of developing dementia compared to those with lower levels.

"The principle that lifelong mental engagement delays cognitive decline is some of the most replicated research we have," Ming said.

Importantly, Ming said no biomarker study linking AI use to dementia pathology has been conducted yet. Most of the data right now is "correlational or short-term," she said.

However, she thinks now is the time to start analyzing this cohort, "while the behavior is still taking shape."

"By the time we have the dementia data, a generation will have already formed the habit," she added.

• Ukraine's fast-moving fight means once-cutting-edge defense tech can quickly lose relevance.
• An official said counter-drone tech no longer ideal for Ukraine could still help allies.
• Partner nations want defenses fast as they prepare for Shahed-style drone threats.

A Ukrainian official said the country's earlier counter-drone technology, even if it's no longer sufficiently cutting-edge for its own fight, could still be useful for partner nations worried about similar threats and searching for good-enough solutions now.

Ukraine is in a constant innovation race with Russia, with both sides trying to rapidly develop drones and counter-drone defenses to beat the other side. Technology that was once key can rapidly become obsolete on the battlefield, yet still be a better option than what many allies have available now to meet the challenge.

Davyd Aloian, the deputy secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said some Ukrainian drone technology, including some early designs for interceptor drones built to shoot down incoming attack drones, may no longer be an ideal solution for Ukraine's needs but could still work elsewhere, where the weapons race is moving more slowly.

In the event of attacks against other countries in Europe, for example, he said "it would be better to have at least the solutions that showed their efficiency months ago."

Aloian's idea aligns with a key lesson NATO nations are learning from the war in Ukraine: having a lot of good-enough weapons available today beats a limited arsenal of perfect ones that come too late.

The deputy secretary said that this dynamic was visible in the Middle East during the Iran war, when the US and its Gulf allies faced attacks by Iran's Shahed drones. Though Tehran used some newer jet-powered one-way attack drones, like Moscow is increasingly deploying, it relied heavily on propeller-driven Shahed designs — the kind that Ukraine had been battling since early in Russia's war.

During the Iran war, Ukraine sent roughly 200 military experts to the Middle East to help nations strengthen their air defenses. It also sent troops and Ukrainian anti-drone solutions, which were used in combat. The fight triggered a sharp increase in interest in interceptor drones.

Aloian said that designs that were a year old and less relevant at home still proved effective in the region.

"We are ready to share our operation, technologies, and experience, and everything that will be needed in order for our partners to achieve the same level of defense deterrence that we have in Ukraine," Aloian said.

A starting place could be gear that Ukraine no longer has use for but could still prove practical for another operator in another kind of fight.

Aloian said it would be useful for allies to have "access to those solutions that are efficient." Even if they're not used in a fight, they could hold value as training tools, he said.

Ukrainian officials have said that Kyiv is willing to send partner nations defense technology, including interceptors, when it can do so without hurting its fight. It is also planning to export some systems, including long-range drones, that are no longer useful on its battlefield but still interest partners.

Aloian said that in the war with Russia, "speed is essential," and the defense industry has to work much faster than what allies are used to. Within months, "solutions will already be outdated."

Ukrainian officials have said that interceptor drone designs can change so quickly that the advantage of a new model may be negated within months. Companies are constantly upgrading platforms while swiftly phasing out obsolete systems. There are possibilities for those systems, though, in regions like the Middle East or elsewhere in Europe.

NATO countries are increasingly concerned about drones, especially after several Russian long-range drone incursions, but they are not under the same immediate pressure as Ukraine, which faces bombardments regularly. Officials have argued that, as they prepare for future drone threats, there is real value in defenses that are available now.

Ukraine has shifted from being a country many expected to be quickly overrun by Russia and urgently seeking help from cautious partners to being a source of new battlefield technology and tactical lessons that many Western militaries now want to study.

Aloian said Ukraine has "the experience, and we have the knowledge, we have the solutions" that it's already sharing "with our, not even partners, but with friends."

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Bose wants a bigger chunk of the music business.

The audio-equipment maker has created Bose Studios, an in-house content studio designed to help it shift from campaign-driven marketing, the company exclusively told CMO Insider.

One key differentiator is the launch of a new record label, Bose Records. Bose CMO Jim Mollica said in an interview that the plan isn't to go toe-to-toe with the "Big Three" label conglomerates, but rather to help break underappreciated or new artists and — crucially — not have to pay for music rights when they feature in Bose commercials. (Mollica said Bose wouldn't look to own the artists' masters, the company wouldn't take a share of their record sales or streams, and that they would be free to sign with other labels.)

Other big projects include commissioning original TV series and films "attached to some legendary Hollywood names," Mollica said. Bose is also planning a YouTube series, podcasts, and live music events — and could perhaps even buy a music media company. Some of those properties will generate their own ad revenue.

The launch of Bose Studios reflects a reality most CMOs face. Ad prices are higher, even though audiences are more fragmented and, in the case of TV, smaller. Consumers are actively avoiding advertising. Social media algorithms and the rise of AI search are disrupting the old ways that brands were discovered. Brands need to entertain to cut through.

"Our category, music, has a bunch of rituals baked into it," Mollica said. "If we have the opportunity, not to sell products, but become part of that ritual, then ultimately Bose is not an audio-equipment business anymore. We're about deepening people's relationship with music."

Much of Bose's prior marketing already focused on forging partnerships with music artists. Last year, for example, it teamed up with Blackpink's LISA to create customized earbuds, which it launched at a pop-up store in Los Angeles. This past February, it collaborated with the Grammy-nominated Twitch streamer PlaqueBoyMax, who created music on the spot during a livestream that aired during the NBA's All-Star weekend.

The record label and film productions signal Bose's expanded ambitions. Other brands, including Red Bull and Starbucks, have launched music labels in the past, though they were eventually retired.

Alexandra Annable, founder of Holl'r Music, an artist management and booking agency, said competition is fiercer than ever for emerging artists. For Bose to succeed, it might want to consider aligning itself with a specific genre, she added, pointing to Wingstop, which created its UK Freestyle Series for emerging drill, rap, and hip-hop artists.

"I think the only way brands can effectively engage with music fans is to create unique, content-led experiences, but these must be really authentic and culturally relevant," Annable said.

Steve Ackerman, a board advisor and consultant to media and entertainment businesses, said Bose Studios needs to ensure the content comes before promoting its products.

"The graveyard of branded content is littered with brands that have gone down this route and not understood what it means to be a content creator," Ackerman said. "They often defaulted to advertising agencies that don't understand how to engage with audiences; they just understand how to create content that gets in the way of the thing that audiences want to engage with."

Mollica, who previously worked at Disney and Viacom, said he understands the assignment. He said Bose Studios is not working with ad agencies and is recruiting and partnering with talent across the film, TV, podcast, and publishing industries.

"This isn't product placement; this isn't a long, 30-minute commercial," Mollica said. "These things are truly about how we are taking this authentic love of music and elevating the content that's out there today for true music fans to experience more."

• Panera Bread CEO Paul Carbone hopes to reverse the chain's slumping sales with a new strategy.
• The effort, named RISE, addresses customer complaints about food value and in-store service quality.
• The chain's latest menu launch, featuring new summer drinks and bowls, builds on the momentum.

As Panera Bread's chief financial officer, Paul Carbone once signed off on a change that looked good on a spreadsheet.

The chain swapped its salad base from 100% romaine lettuce to a mix of romaine and iceberg in the summer of 2024, a move he said was intended to save money.

Now, as CEO, Carbone says Panera is trying to undo that kind of thinking.

"No one really likes iceberg lettuce," Carbone told Business Insider. "No one looks at that white salad and says, 'Now that's worth it.'"

For Carbone, the lettuce decision — which was fully reversed in June 2025, shortly after he became chief executive — has become shorthand for a broader problem at Panera: Years of small cost-cutting moves, menu changes, and operational tweaks chipped away at the experience customers remembered loving.

Panera is now rolling out a summer launch tied to its broader "RISE" transformation strategy, an acronym for the steps of the turnaround effort, which stands for "refresh the menu," “ignite value," "serve guests with excellence," and "expand the network."

The latest evidence of that effort arrives this week in the form of new shrimp-topped bowls, upgraded salads, bacon-and-cheese breakfast frittatas, frozen coffees, and fruit-forward beverages — a menu overhaul intended to remind customers why they fell in love with Panera in the first place.

Carbone said Panera began developing the strategy last year after multiple years of negative same-store transactions. Sales sometimes rose, he said, but that growth was driven by pricing and mix, not by more customers coming in.

"The lifeblood of a restaurant company is transactions," he said. "So that's where we started to develop Panera RISE."

At its core, RISE is Panera's attempt to fix the complaints customers raised most often: food that no longer felt worth the price, fewer affordable options, weaker in-store service, and growing competition for diners' attention. The company spent months talking with thousands of customers to determine its areas of focus.

Carbone said many still had warm feelings toward Panera, but had stopped visiting because the chain had gotten too expensive, removed favorite menu items, or simply fallen out of their routines.

That's a tough place to be in a restaurant market where consumers have become increasingly selective. Business Insider has previously reported that diners are splitting along income lines, with lower-income consumers cutting back while wealthier households keep spending. Restaurants have responded with discounts and limited-time offers to improve value messaging, but analysts have warned that value alone is not always enough to bring customers back.

Panera's own traffic remains under intense pressure. Foot traffic has declined year over year every month from January through May this year, according to data from the foot traffic firm, Placer.ai.

R.J. Hottovy, Placer.ai's head of analytical research, said sandwich chains in particular have seen fewer visits than other concepts as consumers push back on menu price increases and embrace healthier eating habits.

Carbone's diagnosis goes beyond food. Panera also cut labor at cafés to cut costs, he said. The company has since added a front-of-house role, the Guest Experience Champion, to greet customers, answer questions, and help maintain dining rooms.

It is also rethinking how technology fits into the business.

"There was a time that if you talked to folks here, they would tell you that we were a technology company that sold food," Carbone said. "I will tell you emphatically, we are a restaurant company that uses technology to enhance the guest experience. We're not a technology company."

That does not mean abandoning digital ordering, kiosks, or loyalty tools. Only about a quarter of Panera's business is now eaten inside its cafés, Carbone said, but two-thirds of customers still walk into a restaurant, whether they are dining in, picking up, or ordering to go.

That means the in-store experience still matters.

Under RISE, Panera is adding new menu items and drinks, but the bigger bet is that customers will notice when the chain starts optimizing for experience again, not just efficiency.

Carbone said Panera's priorities now are simple: "Transactions, sales, profits — in that order."

After years of trying to drive growth through price cuts and efficiency, Panera is betting that getting more customers through the door again will take something simpler: giving them a reason to come back.

I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of plastic in my kitchen, but I have found that many of the appliances we turn to for modern conveniences are made with a lot of plastic. One such item is the air fryer, a product I didn’t want to love, but ended up using more often than I ever imagined. After testing numerous of the best air fryers, the Ninja Crispi Pro impressed me for many reasons.

What initially intrigued me about the Ninja Crispi Pro was its design, which is different than anything else on the market. It reimagines what you might expect from an air fryer, since most of the vessel is made of glass rather than a traditional basket. Compared with traditional basket-style air fryers, the glass containers make the experience feel more transparent, flexible, and useful beyond cooking. They also let you watch food crisp in real time, which is more satisfying than it sounds.

However, the Crispi Pro is not entirely plastic-free, including the motor housing, and I get into its non-toxic claims later in the review. Still, this baby can crisp nearly anything, and I used it to finish some items other machines could not handle during testing, such as chicken wings.

What makes the Ninja Crispi Pro different

One of the Ninja Crispi Pro’s biggest differences is that it air fries in glass containers. The Pro includes a family-sized 6-quart and individual-sized 2.5-quart basket, and you can purchase additional vessels. Not only can you see everything as it cooks, but the containers also come with plastic lids for storing leftovers. The dishes can also be used to serve or prep food if you’re using a marinade.

Aside from its various applications, which make the workflow feel more, well, seamless, the glass is also a plus because it means less plastic in the kitchen. That’s appealing for home cooks trying to move away from traditional nonstick baskets. However, it should be clear that a ceramic crisper plate is still part of the cooking setup, so this is not a totally coating-free system.

Is the Ninja Crispi Pro non-toxic?

The borosilicate glass containers are a major part of the appeal and marketing claim, since many people are looking to reduce microplastics and are wary of the non-stick coatings found in many air fryers. Ninja capitalizes on these concerns and claims the Crispi Pro is non-toxic and free of PTFE, PFAS, and non-stick chemical coatings.

We could not scientifically verify those material claims during testing. What I can say is that this air fryer uses less plastic and less traditional nonstick cooking surface than most air fryers I’ve tested. If you are trying to reduce plastic in your kitchen, that is a real advantage. If you want a completely coating-free appliance, however, this is not quite that. I’ve seen that some people use the device without the crisping insert or try aftermarket solutions, but I cannot vouch for their safety or effectiveness.

Ninja Crispi Pro vs Ninja Crispi

The Ninja Crispi Pro offers more power, more capacity, and a more traditional countertop air fryer setup. Its stand-style design makes it easier to slide the containers in and out while cooking, and the larger 6-quart vessel is more useful for family meals. However, it is also heavier, more expensive, and less convenient to store.

The original Ninja Crispi air fryer offers the glass-container concept in a smaller, less expensive, and easier-to-store package. The unit comes with 4 quarts and 6 cup glass containers, compared to the Pro's 6-quart and 2.5-quart set up. It is lighter, more portable, and does not need to live on the counter, which makes it more practical for small kitchens or anyone who moves appliances in and out of storage. As it it not mounted on a stand,you can store the components separately, but it can increase exposure to the heated elements.

I'd recommend the original Crispi if space and price are the main concerns and the Crispi Pro if you want the most capable version of Ninja's glass air fryer system and plan to keep it on your counter.

Why I love it

It simplified my weeknight workflow.

Once the air fryer is on the counter, it’s really easy to use and has incredibly intuitive controls. The buttons and dials are easy to navigate, and I simply slide the container into the air fryer's grooves, and it's ready to cook. I appreciate the Max Crisp and recrisp options. I’ve reheated leftovers or re-crisped takeout many times. It might be its best feature and often overlooked on many air fryers. It was especially useful on nights when dinner happened in shifts because of kids’ sports and work schedules. Everyone could still get crispy nuggets, fries, or leftovers, no matter when they sat down to eat.

You can store the glass container with the motor and keep the extra container in your cabinet or nest the smaller container inside the larger one. The glass design actually makes cooking easier, and they’re easy to transfer from the fridge to the counter to the table. Being able to see food through the glass helped prevent overcooking. Mostly though, it was just fun to watch the time-lapse of pale-yellow fries turning golden and crunchy, like my own personal cooking show.

Each comes with a matching plastic lid so you can store prepped ingredients or leftovers in the fridge. I didn’t find that prepping ingredients in the same vessel was a good idea if I wanted things to be crisp, since the added moisture from marinades was a deterrent to crispness.

The glass design drew me in, but the crisping performance is what made me keep using it.

The Crispi Pro did an excellent job of evenly browning and crisping the food. During testing, I often used it to finish foods that other air fryers struggled with. For instance, during a chicken wing test, another brand failed to get the skin as crisp as I wanted, so I moved them to the Ninja Crispi Pro, where they finished beautifully, saving dinner time. Even with the requisite shaking and flipping, some items with more inherent moisture, such as fresh chicken wings, took longer to cook than in the basket-style models we tested.

When it comes to possibilities, I encourage people to think beyond the chicken wings and French fries that these machines are so good for. I used both containers to make a pork tenderloin and Brussels sprouts one night, and Japanese sweet potatoes the next. It can really do a lot more than foods that come in bags meant for the freezer. It is also great for reheating leftovers if you are someone who would rather not use a microwave.

One caveat with the Ninja Crispi Pro is that the glass can sometimes produce too much moisture, which can work against cooking when you want very dry heat. The way to avoid this is to avoid overcrowding the containers. Yet, I do find the containers are sometimes a deterrent, as you can only fit so much into the large container compared to other basket fires with dividers or other mechanisms, like dual baskets, which let you spread out the hot, dry air. So, it’s spacious, but a divider of some sort would help it accommodate more, since you can only fit so much in this style. You get a lot more real estate for chicken wings in a basket style.

What I didn’t love

Cleanup is where the design works against it

While it seems like cleanup would be easier with a glass air fryer, I found it more difficult than with other designs. The glass containers have integrated, non-removable handles, and while they can go in the dishwasher, they never look fully clean. There's always some discoloration.

The integrated handles also make drying more difficult. Moisture can get trapped between the handle attachment and the glass exterior. No matter how well you air-dry it, water lingered, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. I hope Ninja addresses this design issue, which was also a problem with the initial Crispi air fryer — and the reason I gave that one away. This is a real problem the brand needs to address because it affects my overall satisfaction with this product.

The multi-part design makes storage less convenient

This is also much more awkward to pick up and store, with its multiple parts, compared to a basket air fryer. There are multiple pieces to manage, and the unit is heavy enough that I would not recommend it for anyone with mobility concerns or anyone who needs to move their appliances in and out of storage frequently.

Finally, it is much more expensive than standard air fryers, even its little sister. Ninja uses "non-toxic" as a claim, but we are not sure of its validity.

Alternatives to consider

There aren't many other glass-based air fryers, but these are good choices if the Pro isn't for you.

If you are not bothered by plastic or are looking for a glass air fryer, I also recommend the Cosori TurboBlaze, which won our best overall category during my air fryer testing. It is only $120, and the TurboBlaze technology is not false advertising. This air fryer cooks food accurately and quickly. I also appreciated the sleek digital display and how easy it was to move out of the way when not in use. We also like the Instant Vortex Plus, which has a glass viewing window to monitor food progress, and the model we tested has odor-erasing technology that absorbs lingering food smells. Read our Instant Vortex Plus review.

The bottom line

The Ninja Crispi Pro is not just an air fryer for people who want to watch their fries get crispy. It is an air fryer for people who may have concerns about their air fryer basket. The glass containers make air fryer cooking feel more transparent and make leftovers easier to manage. While I would not call it a perfect or completely coating-free solution, it is a genuinely compelling solution for those looking to reduce plastic in the kitchen. Plus, it is super powerful to boot.

Who should buy:

• Those looking to reduce plastic in their kitchen.
• Cooks who want to watch their dishes in progress.
• Someone who wants to prep, cook, and store in the same container.

Who should skip:

• Those with mobility concerns find it awkward to move.
• People who don't want any semblance of a nonstick coating.
• Cooks who need more capacity for larger families.

• Allbirds has been rebranded as Smartbird. Instead of selling shoes, it's an AI infrastructure provider.
• Nadia Carlsten, the new CEO, spoke exclusively to Business Insider about her plans.
• She wants to build custom, single-tenant AI infrastructure for mid-market enterprises.

A few years ago, Allbirds was Silicon Valley's favorite sneaker company. Now it's betting its future on AI infrastructure.

After selling off its footwear business and shedding most of its workforce, the company formerly known for its eco-friendly wool sneakers has reinvented itself as Smartbird, an AI infrastructure provider led by a CEO who has never worn its signature shoes.

The transformation is one of the most dramatic pivots of the AI boom and a test of whether a struggling public consumer company can transition into an AI company.

"I'm more of a high heels person myself," Nadia Carlsten told Business Insider in an exclusive interview. "I'm blissfully unaware of all things Allbirds."

For those unaware, Allbirds launched in 2015 and quickly became one of tech's hottest consumer brands, with its sneakers as much a part of the Silicon Valley uniform as hoodies and Patagonia vests.

After going public in 2021, Allbirds was worth nearly $4 billion. But the brand's cool factor faded almost as quickly as it arrived. By early 2025, Allbirds' market value had fallen below $20 million.

Then, in April, the company announced an only-in-2026 pivot: It would no longer sell shoes and instead become an AI infrastructure provider, going head-to-head with the likes of Amazon, CoreWeave, and Crusoe.

Some ridiculed the move as "bizarre," or even "ridiculous and concerning." Wall Street was more enthusiastic, with the stock briefly soaring 800% on the news, though it has since lost much of its gains.

The transformation became official on Wednesday as the company said that it has completed the sale of the Allbirds brand and footwear assets, changed its legal name to Smartbird, and appointed Carlsten as president and CEO. She replaces Joe Vernachio, who is resigning from the company and the board of directors.

Carlsten was previously CEO of the Danish Centre for AI Innovation. She also managed product portfolios at SandboxAQ and launched the quantum computing service at Amazon Web Services.

With nearly the entire company's staff gone, Carlsten is starting from scratch, except for the same BIRD ticker symbol that trades on the NASDAQ.

Business Insider spoke with Carlsten about her plans. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

BI: Did you ever imagine you would be working at Allbirds, and it would not be a shoe company, but an AI infrastructure play?

Carlsten: I've been around the block in Silicon Valley. It's not that unusual. Slack started as a game. Twitter started as a podcast. SpaceX started as a rocket company and is now doing AI infrastructure. So there's precedent for some of this.

Everybody's trying to be in the AI infrastructure space. This is probably not the most typical way to get into it, but we have a really good plan and strategy.

In a few months, people won't even remember the shoes.

BI: What does the company you're taking over look like at this stage?

Carlsten: The important thing to remember is that the shoe business has been sold, so anybody who was dedicated to the retail business is no longer part of the company. My first task is to hire the team. This is a brand-new company with brand-new people.

BI: Why not just start a new company?

Carlsten: In many ways, it is like a startup. I'm going to be growing a team, developing a new business model, approaching customers, and growing a pipeline of customers.

There are also some advantages to being a public company. One of them is access to capital. We have an easier time as we're looking at acquisitions and partnering with others in the industry. The liquidity makes it a lot easier to recruit.

In AI, speed is key. So why would you want to do things more slowly if you can do it faster?

BI: You're also now running a public company from day one, which brings a lot of scrutiny. Are you worried about that?

Carlsten: AI fluctuates, whether it's public or private. This is a business that is never static. AI is moving incredibly fast.

Customers are demanding things very differently than they were just a couple of months ago. So I don't think that makes much of a difference in how we will build the business.

BI: What exactly is Smartbird going to do?

Carlsten: We are an AI infrastructure company, and what makes us different is that we are focusing on the mid-market, such as enterprises that are in the pharma space or financial services space, and also countries that are interested in sovereign AI or having regional AI infrastructure accessible to them.

All of these players are doing more AI. They have more needs for persistent AI infrastructure, but at the same time, for whatever reason, they cannot use or won't use the public clouds. They are very interested in making sure their proprietary data does not enter a shared multi-tenant infrastructure system.

Right now, their choices are either shared infrastructure or building their own. And most of the people that I talk to in this space want to do more AI, but that doesn't mean that they want to build that AI infrastructure. Right now, they're doing it because they have to.

BI: You're going up against Amazon, Google, CoreWeave, and a lot of other established players. How do you plan to compete?

Carlsten: We're not competing head-on with hyperscalers like AWS or Azure or even large neoclouds like CoreWeave. Those guys are very good at building massive-scale shared infrastructure, which is the opposite of what we want to be doing.

We will focus on customers who need AI infrastructure at a smaller scale. Usually, they want single-tenant infrastructure, something that looks like a GPU cluster that they own and can fully control without having the disadvantages of managing the stack themselves.

BI: Where are you getting the GPUs from?

Carlsten: We'll be sourcing from multiple vendors. One of the things we'll be offering customers is the flexibility to build something specifically for their requirements.

BI: Are you going to buy the infrastructure or lease it?

Carlsten: We will purchase the infrastructure and build it out on behalf of the customer. We're not building ahead of demand. We are building something for specific customers.

We can be a lot more agile than the bigger players.

• As Americans use AI more they're trusting AI companies less, recent Morning Consult surveys show.
• At the same time, the popularity of nostalgic products like Lunchables and Capri-Sun is rising.
• The trend suggests consumers want the comfort of familiar brands in uncertain times.

The faster things change, the more we gravitate toward things that stay the same.

It's no secret that AI is disrupting many aspects of modern life, but recent survey data shows that the more people use the tech, the less they trust it.

The latest numbers from market research firm Morning Consult, released Tuesday, found that AI was one of the least trusted categories among US consumers, with seven out of 10 major AI brands seeing year-over-year declines in their net trust scores.

Google's Gemini managed to buck the trend and improve its score by six points to lead the pack with a net trust score of 24.

At the same time, some of the brands that saw the greatest improvement in consumer trust scores were decidedly low-tech and high-nostalgia: Capri-Sun, Lunchables, Hot Wheels, and Mr. Pibb.

"What unites them is that they belong to a specific register of American memory: the brand landscape of childhood, before adult complexity set in," Morning Consult said in the report.

The company has tracked trust scores for nearly 600 brands since 2018 and found that Americans' overall trust in consumer brands is higher than ever in spite of, well, everything.

Other high-ranking brands — Dawn dish soap, Band-Aid wound care, Heinz ketchup — are "reliable if not particularly exciting" and have "eliminated surprise from the consumer relationship," the report said.

The report also highlighted Gap's return to popularity, which it attributed to a heavy adoption of Y2K aesthetics, harkening back to a comparatively less complicated (or at least slower-moving) era.

Americans' fondness for decades-old standbys stands in stark contrast to their feelings about AI companies, many of which are evolving with head-spinning speed and driving eye-watering financial valuations.

A more detailed Morning Consult report on AI published in May found that more than a third of survey respondents do not trust AI "at all" — roughly matching the share of people who have a positive view of the tech.

Among ten of the leading companies, Meta AI, Perplexity AI, and xAI saw the sharpest declines in overall trust ratings since last year. One in five respondents agreed with the statement that AI companies' products present "a real risk" of ending human civilization.

"In 2026, a significant portion of consumers are in anchoring mode: seeking brands they can count on when other parts of their environment feel unstable," Morning Consult said.

• Options on newly public SpaceX stock started trading for the first time on Tuesday.
• What resulted was a record-setting first day, with more than 1.7 million option lots changing hands.
• Detailed below are the bets — some wild, and some more conservative — that were the most popular.

Are you numb to all the records SpaceX's IPO has broken so far? Does your brain have room for one more?

Elon Musk's rockets-and-AI juggernaut took the market by storm (again) on Tuesday during the first day of options trading since its historic offering last week. SpaceX ultimately saw more than 1.6 million lots of options traded, Bloomberg data showed, shattering the previous first-day record of 364,000 set by Meta in 2012.

Those familiar with the retail-investor exploits of the Gamestop era know that the introduction of options to the trading equation is when things can get especially wild.

Options are the market on top of the market. Sure, they can be used as protective hedges. But they're also a vessel for speculation — a way for traders to add risk and juice possible returns. This is the use case that soared in popularity during the post-COVID retail boom.

Take for example the options that offer two-times leverage for popular — and already-volatile— retail stocks like Tesla and Nvidia. No matter what, the bravest investors will find risk.

While it's far too early to draw any overarching conclusions from the market's first day slinging Spacex options, it's still useful to monitor the activity.

Here are some highlights from day one. All upside percentages were calculated from Tuesday's closing price of $201.80.

The 7 most-traded options

1. Call option betting on SPCX to rise 9% to $220 by June 18: 64,893
2. Call option betting on SPCX to rise 4% to $210 by June 18: 63,425
3. Put option betting on SPCX to fall 1% to $200 by June 18: 55,473
4. Call option betting on SPCX to rise 24% to $250 by June 18: 54,140
5. Call option betting on SPCX to rise 7% to $215 by June 18: 46,199
6. Call option betting on SPCX to rise 49% to $300 by June 18: 41,146
7. Put option betting on SPCX to fall 11% to $180 by June 18: 38,866

(Note: Options volume doesn't show whether contracts were bought or sold, making it impossible to determine overall bullish or bearish sentiment from volume alone.)

All seven of the most-traded contracts expire Thursday. Some are tied to relatively modest moves in the stock over the next two days, while others would require a dramatic rally to pay off.

Other odds and ends:

• SpaceX was the third-most-popular single stock in the options market on Tuesday, trailing just Tesla and Nvidia.
• The 16th-most-traded options contract — and the most popular one not set to expire on Thursday — was a put option betting on SpaceX stock to hit $205 by Sept. 18. This contract, which closed Tuesday in the money, is likely hedging activity around the first tranche of lock-up expiration, Susquehanna said.

Pylon CEO Marty Kausas had to make a difficult choice: scale back token spending, or stomach a $1.4 million bill.

Kausas said that his AI software company was fast approaching 150 employees on its Anthropic plan earlier this month, a point where the bill would more than triple. That realization got Kausas to declare the era of unlimited spending over — and he decided to set ceilings for tokens, the units of data that determine how AI is priced, for some of his non-technical employees.

Pylon's VP of finance is now exploring "where we should set caps," Kausas said. "This is just the start."

Leaders like Kausas are weathering a massive workplace shift, as more workers learn to love improved AI tools. Over the past few months, usage has moved from something bosses felt they had to incentivize to something they had to limit, due to skyrocketing costs and the realization that unlimited spending didn't always yield meaningful results.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said earlier this month he was blown away by how fast the conversation around AI budgets had changed. At the beginning of the year, "people were totally happy with the amount they were spending," he said. Now, these costs are "a huge issue."

It's not just CEOs and CFOs navigating these new corporate dynamics. For rank-and-file software engineers, part of their job now involves advocating for the compute they need to succeed. Meanwhile, some managers have to barter for their team's tokens, pitching like "Shark Tank." And, to poach red-hot AI talent, hiring managers are guaranteeing candidates tokens to spend.

A cutthroat Hunger Games for AI compute is fast approaching, one where everyone — from the C-suite to junior developers — is a player.

Token-fever whiplash

Max Kan's official job title is "tokenomics analyst."

At the data provider SemiAnalysis, Kan helps build token models for hedge funds and hyperscalers. When I called Kan in May, he was bullish on the impact that deep token budgets could have on the workforce. "It's basically true for everyone that, if you have an employee that's making $100,000 a year, you can probably make them 2x more productive with $10,000 worth of tokens," he said.

Those were the days of tokenmaxxing, when companies sent their engineers diving into token pools like Scrooge McDuck. Companies encouraged token leaderboards, where those at the bottom of the rankings felt pressure to use more AI, and executives across a range of industries couldn't stop talking about it.

The word "tokens" was used in 129 earnings calls in Q2 of 2026, up from 57 calls the prior quarter, according to an analysis performed for Business Insider by business intelligence platform AlphaSense.

Within a matter of weeks, the belt-tightening began. Companies began putting AI budgets on a diet and setting token limits. Coinbase set a cap; so did Walmart. Amazon shut down its internal token leaderboard.

Kan still advocates for big per-engineer allowances — and wonders what workers will think of the rapid discourse shift. He worried that engineers would think: "My boss is adamantly pushing me to do one thing, then I did that thing, and now I'm getting yelled at because I did that thing too well."

"I would definitely feel confused and angry if I were an engineer in those positions," he said.

Leaders across industries — from financial giants like JPMorgan to media conglomerates like Disney — are working to develop cohesive, effective AI policies.

Some firms have always been anti-tokenmaxxing. The enterprise software company Pega is one of them. When I hopped on the phone in May with its CFO and COO, Ken Stillwell, he called the trend an "incredibly self-serving" narrative by the AI companies. His company didn't set numerical token caps, but it did throttle requests that would spend in excess.

When we spoke a month later, as the discourse shifted, Stillwell felt vindicated. "We're quite happy that we're one of many talking about this," he said.

AI spending also continues to soar

Technology and media companies spent an average of $66.29 per employee on AI in May, up from $58.84 in April, according to Ramp's AI Index.

Ara Kharazian, its lead economist, told Business Insider he expected this metric to keep rising, but he spotted early signs of tightening, such as increased use of model routers, which can help better manage costs.

Some companies aren't cutting AI budgets just yet, but they are thinking critically about head count. For instance, MindFort, a Y Combinator-backed AI startup, has six employees. Its CEO, Brandon Veiseh, said the company would've needed 20 employees pre-AI to reach its current scale. Where have those funds gone? Tokens.

"We have to weigh our token-to-people ratio," Veiseh said. "It's not something we think is particularly comfortable or a great feeling to say."

Even though token costs are expected to come down as AI companies like Google increasingly compete on price by offering smaller, more efficient models, these sorts of tradeoffs aren't likely to go away. Often, the cheaper a resource is, the more of it is consumed.

For now, companies are thinking more critically and sometimes taking strategic steps back — but they're hesitant to move too quickly. Kausas, Pylon's CEO, said he wants to prioritize making sure there's a return on investment — and avoid engineer backlash.

"If we told engineers that they were not allowed to use AI products, they would not work here," he said. "It would feel like you were in the Stone Age."

Dawn of the token Hunger Games?

As engineers increasingly learn they might have to battle for their token allocation, team infighting could grow.

Some have compared this to a survival-of-the-fittest scenario. "Coding is now cockroach protein bars and we're all fighting for crumbs," said one coder on X, comparing the dynamic to "The Hunger Games."

Developers are also asking more about tokens during job interviews. Kausas said that applicants had asked him about budgets. AI advisor and AWS alum Allie K. Miller had heard of interviewees getting into the nitty-gritty: "What tier of model will I have access to? Do you have partnerships with AI labs that get us relatively early access?"

It's a sign of a new era where tokens — or at least the number workers want — aren't guaranteed.

Max Christoff, the CTO of legal tech company Everlaw, made the case for giving engineers token caps, but letting them negotiate for bigger budgets. He compared it to using cellular data before unlimited plans. Sometimes you need to spend big on the data, but other times you mindlessly scroll, not realizing how much you're wasting. Christoff wanted all of the former and none of the latter.

"We want to make it easy to ask for more if you can actually use it," Christoff said.

If a company doesn't set token caps, it may also set model restrictions. Russ Fradin, the founder of Larridin, a platform for tracking AI use, was emphatic. "Of course, they will limit who gets to use these tools. It's not even a question," he said.

Fradin compared allocating model access to taking a trip on the company dime. Many are allowed to book an economy flight, but few — if any — are allowed to charter a jet, he said. Access to cutting-edge AI models may be equivalent to the private jet: so expensive that only a few all-stars can do it.

Engineers have good reason to fight for their tokens. Having limited AI access could hurt them in the long run, leaving them less skilled or less marketable in future job searches.

Brock Simon advised companies on AI for Bain & Company before he founded his own startup, Native. He watched as some companies were slow to adopt the technology or restricted access to specific tools and agents, leaving their employees behind the curve.

"It really hurt some people's careers," he said.

• Billions of dollars are riding on the promise that artificial intelligence can absorb legal work.
• Crosby, a tech-driven law firm, built a benchmark to measure how well models negotiate contracts.
• Redline Bench is meant to help lawyers answer whether they can trust the technology's work.

Legal technology wants its vibe-coding moment. But first, it has to prove the tools can think like a lawyer.

Taking up the task is Crosby, a startup-meets-law-firm that sells basic legal services to companies, including Cursor and Rogo. On Wednesday, it released the Redline Bench, a tool built to measure how well artificial intelligence models perform real-world legal tasks, starting with contract review.

Software engineers have spent the past few years watching these systems get shockingly good at writing code and debugging errors. Now legal tech companies are chasing a similar prize: artificial intelligence that can review contracts, spot risks, and haggle terms faster and cheaper than lawyers.

But law has a problem that coding does not, says Ryan Daniels, a former in-house lawyer turned Crosby founder. "It's really hard to define 'good' or 'bad,'" he said.

Models can write code that either runs or breaks. Legal work is a murkier target. A sales contract can be edited, or "redlined," in lots of defensible ways, Daniels explains. A change that one lawyer sees as prudent, another might call too aggressive.

That ambiguity has become a headache for companies racing to automate legal work, from the scrappy neofirms to the model labs themselves. Anthropic has spent the past few months courting in-house lawyers with tools built for them. That push has been closely watched by investors. Earlier this year, Anthropic's new legal plugin stirred a sell-off in legal tech stocks.

Benchmarks are one of the main ways companies track progress. The labs building frontier models use them as stress tests, measuring whether a new system is better at tasks than the last one.

Coding has hundreds of benchmarks for evaluating models. But the legal industry still lacks a shared way to answer the question: Is the AI's work any good?

Crosby has been working on a new yardstick. The company pulled its engineers and lawyers into a tactical unit called Crosby Intelligence to build agents for Crosby's law firm and a benchmark to grade them against. That team includes engineer Sharan Ramjee, who worked on transformer models to sniff out fraud at Stripe, and Ross Weiser, a lawyer who joined from elite law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.

Crosby also partnered with Micro1, a company that helps model-makers recruit expert workers, to find more lawyers who could help define what counts as good legal work.

To build the benchmark, senior lawyers simulated software deals and marked the contract changes they considered most important at each stage of the negotiation. Those changes were turned into weighted criteria.

When Crosby runs a new test, it gives models the same contracts and asks them to make their own edits. Then a panel of three judges compares these redlines with the lawyer-built rubric. The judges vote pass or fail on each item, and the final score shows how often the models made the kinds of edits that lawyers considered important.

Redline Bench will be made public so any lab can put its models through Crosby's paces. Crosby also plans to regularly release reports tracking how major models compare.

The first release of the Redline Bench put ChatGPT 5.5 at the top of the heap, with a score of 50.5%, meaning the model's redlines matched half of the edits that lawyers prioritized. Gemini 3.5 Flash followed at 45.1%, and Claude Opus 4.8 scored 44.4%.

Crosby was able to test Anthropic's highly capable new model, Fable 5, only once before Anthropic pulled it off the shelves. The results were promising, with a score of 47.3%. When access is restored, Crosby will run the benchmark again and update it.

Crosby isn't the only company trying to measure how the models stack up. Harvey, one of the best-funded legal startups, has released benchmarks for case law research and contract review.

Anthropic and OpenAI also build their own benchmarks to measure performance on real-world tasks. But Daniels said those results can be hard to trust. Over time, the labs eventually tune their systems to perform well on their own tests, he said.

The stakes are bigger than a scoreboard. Billions of investment dollars are riding on the promise that artificial intelligence can lower legal bills and absorb work that used to pile up on the general counsel's desk.

Lawyers will only use the tools if they trust them. Crosby wants to give them a reason to.

• Ukrainian troops on the front lines can earn up to $10,270 a month based on how much they fight.
• That's nearly 30 times the average salary in the country.
• The bonuses are part of a new push to overhaul Ukraine's pay and contract system.

Ukraine is implementing a new bonus system that rewards frontline troops with cash for feats in battle or carrying out combat missions.

The incentives are part of a salary and contract overhaul announced on June 12, after years of Kyiv struggling with recruitment and reports of absence without leave, or AWOL.

The defense ministry said on Tuesday that the new system would apply to combat missions or tasks from the start of June, with payouts to be received in July.

The highest bonuses vary based on performance, and primarily apply to troops in the most dangerous roles, such as assault infantry, combat medics, and gunners. Each frontline soldier gets a base monthly pay of 20,000 hryvnias, or $446, but could earn up to 460,000 hryvnias, or $10,270, a month based on their service.

The full payout would be nearly 30 times the average salary in Ukraine before the war began; government statistics from January 2022 said the country's average monthly salary was 14,577 hryvnias.

A day at a Ukrainian-held position earns the soldier another 10,000 hryvnias, while each day carrying out more aggressive missions, such as reconnaissance, evacuation, or recapturing friendly territory, nets them 20,000 instead.

The biggest daily bonus is 40,000 hryvnias for each day spent in assault operations that result in a Ukrainian advance. The bonuses don't stack, so a soldier can only earn one per day — whichever is highest.

Then there are bonuses for taking a Russian soldier prisoner, which is 100,000 hryvnias split among all troops involved directly in the capture, and destroying an enemy asset or killing a Russian soldier, which is worth 15,000 hryvnias.

Commanders and their teams can earn an extra 30,000 hryvnias a month for performing combat tasks, and 50,000 hryvnias for running operations from command posts, depending on the time they spent on missions that month.

The grand total of these payments is capped at 460,000 a month, the Ukrainian defense ministry said.

While stationed temporarily in rear areas, troops instead receive a minimum monthly pay of 30,000 hryvnias. Ukrainian soldiers regularly rotate between fighting near or at the front lines and resting in safer towns and strongholds.

Drone pilots' and specialists' salaries are different, with a scale that pays more the closer they are to the front lines, up to a maximum of 120,000 hryvnias. They can also get bonuses of up to 100,000 hryvnias for participating in combat or performing command roles.

The defense ministry said it was also implementing a new system that allows troops who have gone AWOL to return to the military under the best-rated units and immediately receive gear, meals, and clothing.

The measure seeks to fix a loophole that led dissatisfied Ukrainian troops to avoid the bureaucracy of applying for transfers and force a move by going AWOL.

Ukraine's defense ministry has embarked on an aggressive overhaul since January under Mykhailo Fedorov, who was appointed to lead the ministry after a stint as the country's minister for digital transformation.

The 35-year-old has pledged to address many of the systemic issues and gripes that have plagued Ukraine's forces for years, including low morale and lack of command transparency.

"This is only the first stage of the comprehensive transformation of the Defense Forces of Ukraine," the ministry said on June 12.

• UK-based business owner Sean McDonnell relies on AI for his web design business and SaaS website.
• The White House ordered Anthropic to cut foreign access to Fable 5 while McDonell was mid-task.
• McDonnell emphasizes importance of backup plans due to AI tool disruptions like the Fable incident.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sean McDonnell, 43, who lives in England. McDonnell is the founder of the web design company Kaizen and the SaaS website Consigns. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Developing my website would not have been possible without AI.

I started my web design business earlier this year, which also led me to create a website that provides software to help companies track their waste. I run both of these ventures with my partner, and we enlist contractors for some operations and software development.

We're a small team, and AI tools are a big help. Last week, I saw a few posts online showing the amazing things that Anthropic's new Fable model can do.

I was keen to try this new technology, but didn't get much of a chance to use it. A few hours in, I was mid-task when the US government forced Anthropic to cut off foreign access to Fable with little to no notice.

The rug got pulled from under me pretty quickly, but because I was well-prepared, it didn't have a hugely disruptive impact on my business. It's a reminder that you can't rely too heavily on AI as a founder, and you should always have a backup plan in case of unforeseen circumstances.

I was keen to give Fable a try, but it was short-lived

I like using OpenAI's Codex for repetitive, code-intensive work, and Claude for tasks that help design the product's aesthetics. AI has been able to completely change the architecture of our codebase in a day, whereas a task like that would've taken a developer weeks to do manually.

After seeing so much about it online, I wanted to use Fable to conduct a full review of our product for safety and security flags. The model was in the middle of making some key changes to our codebase when it got shut off instantly with a notice saying, "Claude Fable 5 is currently unavailable."

I didn't realize until the next day that this had happened because the US government ordered Anthropic to block foreign access to the model. It's been a bit of a bummer, and I feel bad for the people at Anthropic for making a brilliant product and having the rug pulled from under them, too. I'm also quite annoyed we didn't get to do more with Fable. I think it could've propelled us so much further.

Being prepared helped us avoid a huge disruption

This isn't the first time we've had issues with using Claude. In the past, when we used Opus 4.6, it would stop mid-task because it hit the token limit so quickly. We didn't realize how token-heavy the tool was, and it left our codebase in a bit of a mess.

Because we'd learned this lesson with 4.6, we made sure we were more prepared for unforeseen circumstances with using AI.

When we started our product review last week, I asked Fable to create a guide that both Claude or other AI models could follow. This enabled us to pass the remaining tasks to other agents when we lost access to Fable. We passed some to Codex and others to Claude 4.8. If we hadn't been prepared this way, the Fable issue could've resulted in lots of work being out the window.

Fable getting pulled didn't have a major impact because we were ready for it, but it ruined our momentum. We're working on a deadline, and every minute counts, so delays like this can be quite disruptive.

Always have a plan B

This Anthropic incident has solidified my conviction that you can't depend completely on AI.

If the government were to shut off AI access completely, our business wouldn't end, because we've already built out our platform, but we are quite dependent on AI. A situation like that would likely increase our costs, partly because we'd have to switch to the old-school method of hiring developers.

In today's AI era, it's important to always have a plan B. Don't just rely on one AI tool. It's good to understand the strengths of different models.

Make sure you're documenting things as you go by keeping records that exist outside your AI tool. If Claude knows all about our code base, but it gets pulled tomorrow, would I be able to give that over to a developer? At this stage, I think I could, because I've been documenting everything as I go. It's a fail-safe.

A spokesperson from The White House told Business Insider, "The Trump administration is collaborating with AI industry leaders to balance cutting-edge innovation with national security concerns that affect both the United States and our allies."

Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Do you have a similar story to share? If so, you can reach out to one of the reporters at aapplegate@businessinsider.com and ccheong@businessinsider.com.

• Kevin Warsh will lead his first press conference as chair of the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.
• The market is nearly unanimous that the Fed will hold rates steady.
• Investors look for what's to come within the dot plot and Warsh's tone as stock trade near highs.

Kevin Warsh will take to the podium to deliver his first remarks as Federal Reserve chair on Wednesday.

Investors are nearly unanimously expecting the Fed to hold rates steady, shifting the focus to other signals coming out of the meeting of what's next for the US central bank.

Warsh succeeded Jerome Powell, who is now a Fed governor. He was initially seen as more dovish than his predecessor, since Trump nominated him, but there are some hawkish expectations heading into Wednesday. The press conference marks the new Fed chair's chance to set expectations under his leadership.

Beyond the rate decision itself, here are three things that investors are keeping an eye on during the meeting.

1. A fresh dot plot

Investors will get a look at where FOMC see rates heading going forward as well as an assessment of how divided the members' outlooks are.

The Fed will release its Summary of Economic Projections which includes the dot plot. Each dot represents a FOMC member's outlook for rates in 2026 and beyond.

"It has the potential to be even more impactful than normal given the change in leadership, the change in composition in the FOMC and inflation that is stubbornly above target," Daniel Murray deputy CIO and global head of research at EFGAM said.

The dot-plot could be one official short with Bank of America signaling they don't expect Warsh to partake. Previously he has said he wants to do away with the Fed providing forward looking guidance like the dot-plot.

Investors went from pricing in two to three rate cuts in 2026 to weighing potential rate hikes.

2. Warsh's tone

Since the market is broadly in agreement that the Fed will hold rates steady, the question becomes will it be a dovish hold or a hawkish hold.

Bank of America surveys found that most (55%) fund managers expect a hawkish hold while a third expect a dovish hold.

The new Fed chair's commentary and tone will be a critical part of the meeting for investors assessing what's next for the Fed.

Historically, Warsh has been a hawk and he did come off as more hawkish than many expected in his confirmation hearing.

Interactive Brokers senior economist José Torres flagged that the US-Iran deal helps Warsh with optics heading into to meeting.

"The sharp drop in energy costs immediately prior to the inaugural Warsh-led FOMC offers favorable first-impression dynamics and raises the likelihood of an increasingly patient central bank willing to look through the current short-term inflation as a one-time shock," he wrote.

3. Impact on asset prices

Stocks are near record highs after earnings strength more than offset the Iran war drawdown. The recent relief rally has carried equities further.

The June meeting comes in the lull between the first and second quarter earnings seasons when the market has less data points in the form of corporate reports to digest.

"Depending on the tone and how much this meeting reshapes investor expectations, it could dictate the market's narrative for the next several weeks, at least until earnings season takes over," eToro US investment analyst, Bret Kenwell, said.

Kenwell added: "Warsh takes over with stocks hovering near record highs and the labor market still looking solid, but with inflation reaccelerating. Investors are trying to figure out whether the new Fed chair will use his first major moment to reset expectations."

Last June, fashion models for the fashion retailer Rainbow received a warning: AI was ramping up, and the number of workers needed would be ramping down.

"You may have already seen some changes taking place both within the studio and on the site," wrote Rainbow's studio manager, Phil Caraway. The company had started "styling certain products, and generating avatars, with the assistance of A.I," he explained, and while he couldn't say for certain whether any freelancers would lose their jobs, he wanted them to "plan accordingly."

"Fewer people will be needed in the long term," Caraway wrote in the previously unreported email. "It is very likely that this Fall will see a huge increase in A.I. use."

Thus began what several models described as a year of anxiety and, later, anger. They could see the company using AI to create synthetic models within view of where they worked, the models told Business Insider. At the same time, the models' days in the New York office began to dwindle, they said, leaving many without work. Nearly a year after that June email, Rainbow has begun rehiring some models — though many remain out of work.

In March of this year, the models began noticing Rainbow marketing images that looked like them, but posed in positions or locations that differed from the photo shoots they had participated in. Many suspected the doppelgängers were the result of AI. The lookalike models cropped up across Rainbow's site, social media, and newsletters. A flurry of emails to Rainbow followed, along with a lawsuit by one model.

As AI technologies improve, workplaces across the country are experimenting with how to use them — and navigating the thorny question of their impact on human jobs. Creative industries like modeling are especially exposed as AI-generated photos and videos improve in quality.

AI is growing more common within the fashion industry. In a 2025 study from the Worker Institute at Cornell University ILR School and Data & Society in partnership with the Model Alliance, researchers said that e-commerce gigs were "more vulnerable to displacement by AI technologies."

Business Insider spoke to multiple Rainbow employees and contractors, all of whom requested anonymity, and also reviewed dozens of email exchanges and images, as well as modeling contracts.

"Rainbow is responsibly evaluating emerging AI technologies in the marketplace, and has and is committed to doing so in a proper manner," David Cost, Rainbow's chief digital officer, wrote in a statement to Business Insider.

In a follow-up email, Cost wrote that "Rainbow's dealings with its employees and independent contractors are private" and that the company disagreed with "much of the purported 'facts.'" He declined to comment on specific questions sent by Business Insider. "Rainbow has acted appropriately and in accordance with its commitments, including contracts signed by models," he added.

Here's how Rainbow's AI model experiment got messy, according to its workers — from a slowdown on human modeling work to contract disputes and hiring some of the models back.

Rainbow, founded in Brooklyn over 90 years ago, has over 800 stores nationwide and is privately owned. The retailer caters to thrifty consumers with steep discounts, similar to Fashion Nova or PrettyLittleThing. It also operates the similar brand KissDon'tTell.

For its e-commerce shoots, the Rainbow team looked for models without agency connections, one former stylist who helped recruit models said. Two models said that they were found on Instagram and had little paid modeling experience. Fees varied by model, though many said they made around $50 an hour.

Three models said that one Rainbow employee told them to be available for five days of work a week. The former stylist said that Rainbow asked its freelancers to be available Monday through Friday, but that it wasn't written into their contracts. Two models said they left their prior jobs for the company.

Partway through 2025, the models began to notice something different in the studio: AI training. Employees would lay out the clothes on a flat board, take photos, and upload them to an AI program called Lica, one employee said. Lica generated fully synthetic AI models — not duplicates of human models — for Rainbow, the employee said.

The AI training caused significant anxiety among the models, they said. Trying to lighten the mood, some models said they would crack dark jokes about the system replacing them. Two models said that they recalled instances where the fit of a garment on their body was compared to an AI avatar, pointing out where the avatar needed to be more realistic.

After Carraway's June email a year ago, the models braced for their work to drop off. For months, several models said that they continued to get consistent bookings. Then, they slowed down, the models said, and by mid-March of this year, the work dried up. Some models submitted their availability but said they received no response.

During that period, two Rainbow employees who are not models said that they went weeks without seeing any human models in the studio.

Meanwhile, the models started spotting their doppelgängers on Rainbow's social media.

The models had previously participated in product shots wearing Rainbow apparel, such as a long floral dress, while photographed in front of plain backgrounds.

The doppelgängers they later noticed looked strikingly similar — the same builds, facial features, and outfits they had worn — but were pictured with their bodies in entirely different positions. The models texted these images back and forth in a group chat. Business Insider viewed over a dozen such images.

The second clause of the contracts many of the models had signed allowed Rainbow to use their images "whether intact or in part, composite or distorted in character or form, cropped or altered, without restrictions as to changes or transformations."

One image that sparked conversation in the group chat showed what the models suspected was an AI lookalike that altered the model's original skin tone. The model and the suspected AI lookalike had some similarities — the hairstyle and placement of the hair part, as well as the accessories and shoes — but also some differences, such as the nose shape.

None of the employees Business Insider spoke to had directly seen the creation or editing of these doppelgängers.

Several of the models who suspected that Rainbow was modifying their likenesses with AI raised issues with the company via email.

One of the models, Francheska Pujols, sued Rainbow on May 22, alleging the images defamed her and caused confusion over her endorsement of the company's products, among other allegations.

Pujols wrote in an affidavit that her contract only covered images captured in photo shoots, and "does not in any way authorize the creation of entirely new images, scenes, poses, or compositions that did not exist in the original content."

Rainbow posted photos of what Pujols said is her AI doppelgänger; in one, she straddles a barstool. Another shows her seated, wearing a short skirt, with one leg raised.

Pujols wrote to Business Insider that she would "never pose with my legs open or position myself in a sexualized manner for the world to see."

"I am extremely emotional and have many sleepless nights with the thought of the altered images of me," Pujols wrote. "I sought a professional aide to help with sleep and reconciliation."

Pujols withdrew her suit on May 29 to pursue a private settlement, her attorney wrote in an affidavit. She refiled the lawsuit on Monday.

"As Rainbow has stated previously in relation to this matter, Ms. Pujols' images were used properly and in accordance with the agreement she signed," Joan McGillycuddy, Rainbow's chief legal officer, wrote in a statement to Business Insider. "There is no violation of her rights."

Rainbow's contracts said the models would receive double their day rate for image use outside that second clause. Some models requested compensation for the suspected AI images but were turned down, according to their messages, which were viewed by Business Insider.

Then, the contract back-and-forth began.

On March 10, amid the work slowdown, Caraway sent an email to the models. "To account for today's rapidly-changing technology and expectations of use, Rainbow has come up with an updated Model Release," Caraway wrote.

One clause in the new contract was particularly controversial — one that the models interpreted as granting Rainbow sweeping AI rights.

The new clause allowed Rainbow to use "various technologies, tools, or production methods now known or later developed, including automated or computer-assisted techniques." The clause should be interpreted "broadly" as long as the company was not "materially misrepresenting the model," the contract read.

Some of the models said they refused to sign it. On March 28, Carraway emailed the models that Rainbow agreed to remove a non-compete clause, but the technology usage clause was presented as a dealbreaker.

"Rainbow cannot adjust the AI clause," Caraway wrote. "In order to continue to be hired, this must be agreed to."

It's not clear if the contract negotiations contributed to or prolonged the work slowdown.

Cost, Rainbow's CDO, hyped up the AI program Lica in an April video reposted by the startup's cofounder.

"It's amazing what the people at Lica have been able to do," he said. "We're using them for product photography. We're also using them for editorial or things that you'd see on a homepage or in an email."

Two staffers said the tool was buggy. Some of the synthetic models' legs were too short, one said; the AI repeatedly generated one synthetic model with a white cardigan over her clothes. Creating an AI image would also take long stretches of re-prompting, they said, often around 15-30 minutes.

Rainbow is no longer using Lica, one staffer said. Lica told Business Insider in a statement that it is "focused on foundational AI research for multimodal design models."

"As part of our research efforts, we provided interested enterprise partners with early access to emerging AI capabilities and model technologies," a Lica representative wrote. "We do not direct, supervise, or control our customers' implementation decisions, and we do not publicly comment on specific customer use cases."

Rainbow began bringing some of its human models back at the end of April, employees said.

This time around, some of the models received an agreement with the following clause: "Company will not create digital replicas, train AI on Model likeness, or generate synthetic images not based on original Content."

Rainbow is still producing images of the AI avatars, one staffer said, but not with Lica.

Cost, the company's chief digital officer, referenced the state of AI experimentation at Rainbow in his LinkedIn job description.

"Every experiment designed to replace a person with AI failed," Cost wrote. "Every experiment designed to give a talented person more capability won, and won bigger than expected."

• SpaceX closed Tuesday at about $200, well above Morningstar's fair value estimate of $63.
• Shares have defied doubters and stayed strong since the company's historic IPO last week.
• A Morningstar aerospace and defense analyst details two things that could get him to raise his estimate.

Leading up to SpaceX's IPO last Friday, Morningstar analysts said the company's fair value was about 50% lower than its valuation.

After its first three trading days, which saw SpaceX soar 49% to $201.68 a share, that gap has grown to nearly 70%, with Morningstar pegging SpaceX's fair value at $63 a share.

That doesn't necessarily mean Morningstar is calling for the stock to drop. On the contrary, Nicolas Owens, its aerospace and defense analyst, thinks the stock could continue its surge in the months ahead purely thanks to market economics and investor sentiment.

"The investor enthusiasm could last indefinitely, and I think if you look at the market cap of Tesla over time, it shows that there's likely to be strong demand for these shares over the course of the next year," Owens told Business Insider on Monday.

Still, at these prices, he argues investors are pricing in "moonshot" scenarios for the company's business lines.

For example, he sees SpaceX eventually gaining around 4% of the total data center compute market through launching data centers into space. In his most optimistic scenario, which investors seem to be pricing in and which he assigns only a 7% chance of occurring, the company will capture 21% of the market.

While Owens remains skeptical about SpaceX's valuation, which is now larger than Amazon's, he said there are two things he'll be watching that will drive any potential upward readjustments to his fair value estimate.

Two ways Morningstar could move SpaceX's fair value up

The first is whether having data centers in space — if it proves possible from an engineering standpoint — becomes more cost-effective for companies than simply having their data centers on the ground.

The touted benefits of putting data centers into space are that they could be powered by solar energy without paying for cooling. That would, in theory, be a huge cost relief as data center energy needs are enormous.

But the economics of such a proposition have yet to be laid out plainly.

"If it isn't financially competitive with the terrestrial data center, then there's no point," Owens said.

Second, Owens will be waiting to see if SpaceX's Starship rocket becomes rapidly reusable, allowing it to carry more Starlink satellites, and potentially data center satellites, into space. The company is hoping to launch 350 rockets a year, up from around 165 currently.

The Starship rocket, which has undergone 12 test launches so far, is bigger than SpaceX's Falcon rocket, which will give the company the capacity to launch more satellites per launch, effectively reducing their costs. So far, the rocket's boosters are reusable, but the upper part of the rocket's heat shield tiles are not yet reusable.

"The Starship being reusable is really important because they can't do hundreds and hundreds of launches to get thousands of satellites up in space without a reusable ship, and it's not just reusable at all," Owens said.

If these projects are realized, or simply the probability of them being realized rises, Owens said SpaceX's Morningstar fair value estimate could rise. That doesn't mean, however, that SpaceX shares would necessarily climb, as these upside scenarios are already baked into the firm's stock price.

"The market seems to assume that it's already a done deal," he said.

While Owen's fair value estimate for SpaceX is not a price target nor a call on where its share price will go, he has written in recent Morningstar reports that he expects better entry points for investors going forward.

After pummelling his opponent in a bout sponsored by Truth Social on the White House South Lawn last Sunday, UFC fighter Josh Hokut extolled President Donald Trump for "having the balls to put some shit like this on."

Over 4,000 people watched Hokut and 13 others duke it out at UFC Freedom 250, a $60 million production celebrating America's 250th anniversary and Donald Trump's 80th birthday. Onlookers sat under the Claw, a 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel arch and encircled the octagon festooned with logos for the event's sponsors: Monster Energy, Meta, Starlink, Polymarket, and the Saudi entertainment festival Riyadh Season. (After a few rounds of fights, the signage for munitions manufacturer Anduril Industries was appropriately splattered with blood.)

Seated closest to the action was the first family and Trump's nearest and dearest — donors who had given at least $1 million; David Ellison, whose Paramount+ streamed the fight exclusively; and technocrats such as Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Military servicemembers helped fill the stands, too, though troops on TV "MUST MEET CURRENT WAIST-HEIGHT RATIO," according to a memo reported by the Washington Post. The administration's message: only those sufficiently jacked can attend the state-sponsored cage match.

The White House touted the fight, originally scheduled for July 4, as "one of the greatest and most historic sporting events in history." It was a semiotician's fever dream — a branded, chest-thumping caricature of American carnage, carnivalism, and capitalism. For some fighters, paid in stablecoins from Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial, and for fans, paid in jumbotron bloodshed and Bud Light-backed brotherhood, there was also an American berserk form of catharsis.

"There's only one person more incredible than the Incredible Hok, and that's my lord and savior Jesus Christ," Hokut continued in his victory speech. Then he said he was going to have sex with another fighter's mom. "Lastly, Michelle Obama is a man."

A few hundred yards away on the Ellipse, along with 85,000 gathered for the Fan Fest watch party, I couldn't hear Hokut's last line ("Am I right, America?") over the cheers.

By then, the crowd had been reveling in the humidity and the José Cuervo for more than seven hours.

They paraded in at 3:00 p.m., wearing Uncle Sam hats, rhinestoned minidresses, and t-shirts sporting their favorite fighters and slogans like "I'm Voting for a Convicted Criminal," "I'm Just Here for the Wieners," and "I ❤️ Hot Moms."

Men — many of whom were shirtless, as if they were ready to spinkick anyone who cut them in the energy drink line — outnumbered women at least five to one. One standing by the Boy Scouts Memorial fountain bit into a dumpling and smiled as pork juice squirted onto his chest. "Freedom!" he said. Some did pushups on the lawn to get a pump before posing for a picture at the Total Wireless Weigh-In fan experience. (At the actual weigh-in on Saturday, Hokut appeared to vomit on himself.)

Among those going pecs out for the president was Gaige Dengler, a 22-year-old Chipotle worker from Maryland, who took up mixed martial arts a few years ago to work through his anger. "Therapy wasn't really working," he said.

"I'm punching these dudes super hard in the face. I'm getting punched hard in the face. And afterward, they hug me, and they're like, 'Dude, good job.' It's the most supported and respected I've ever felt."

Dengler, who brought his uncle along on Sunday, he said, was seeking the same kind of camaraderie on the South Lawn. "It's a great opportunity for America to kind of unify again. It's kind of like a renewal for America."

Tommy Bui, a 28-year-old who works in hospitality and who was dressed in a black suit with a gold koi fish brooch affixed to his lapel, told me at the Topps trading card booth that he has lost $200,000 to "predatory" sportsbetting apps and casino games over the last few years. Bui wagered $1,000 on the White House fights. When I met Bui, he was chatting with Benjamin Tran, 27, who had recently sworn off betting apps because he wants to have a family soon.

Nearby, a US Navy mechanic from Kentucky told me he was there for "beer, girls, and the White House."

There were plenty of all three and much more to find sprawled across the Ellipse's 50 acres. For much of the afternoon, Fan Fest was a testament to Americans' insatiable capacity to stand in line — to ride the Nothing Stops Ram mechanical bull; to listen to a Ram Truck rev its engine really loudly; to create fighter characters at the Meta booth; to relieve oneself in the Crypto.com Ram Trucks porta-potty village; to take selfies with the Budweiser Clydesdales or models donning Monster Energy sports bras; to test one's fighting strength at the Bud Light Power Punch, or the Exodus UFC Striking Challenge, or Nitro Circus Power Slap.

I took a few minutes to cool off at the one attraction I managed to find with no line, the Budweiser History Museum. I was dizzy and discombobulated by the uncanny slurry of tech conference, NASCAR tailgate, Trump rally, West Village pop-up shop, prayer circle, and backyard barbecue. Thousands of others seemed to feel the same, lying on the grass, napping, or checking their phones as they waited for night to fall.

The jumbotrons played several AI-generated ads that reminded us that "America is winning" and that we're pioneering patriots at a world-historic event. One compared the night's fighters to the soldiers who'd stormed Normandy, the men and women who'd marched on Selma, and the firefighters who entered the Twin Towers on 9/11. (Earlier in the week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio likened the cage match to the moon landing.) The Army's Down Range band performed covers of "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Man, I Feel Like a Woman." There was a live taping of Logan Paul's podcast. At one point, Paul's cohost Mike Majlak announced, "If you got a small dick, you're smart. We've got some smart motherfuckers out there in the crowd."

Night fell, people took their seats on the lawn, and the broadcast began. Trump and UFC CEO Dana White walked out of the Oval Office and down the aisle to their seats, a fitting start to the culmination of the president and the league's yearslong courtship. Then fighters delivered knockout after knockout until 1:00 a.m., giving each other black eyes and concussions and taking questions from Joe Rogan in the Monster Strawberry Lemonade Unleash the Beast post-bout Q&As. The crowd hooted at hooks and screamed for more every time someone was thrown onto the floor. When the night was still young, and the gnats weren't yet dancing in the klieg lights, a young man, wearing American flag shorteralls and clutching a beer snake as long as George Washington's scabbard as he crossed the Delaware, took in the scene and offered his friends a benediction. "I ain't no snitch,' he said, "but Blake just shat his pants."

"What this fight is really all about, and why we're doing it at the White House, is it's the 250th birthday of America," White told The Hollywood Reporter before the event. "From the first fight of the night until the main event, we will tell the story of America." The story that UFC Freedom 250 ultimately told was a synecdoche of Donald Trump's America, where excess is branded as excellence, where the bag is up for grabs if you bend the knee, where everything from redwood forest fires to wars and annexations across the gulf stream waters can be bet on, where there is nothing the country won't do for a good episode of TV.

Zak Jason is the executive editor of Business Insider's Discourse team.

• Kerry Feeney bid $3,500 to watch the "Summer House" reunion at the house where the show films.
• Feeney split the cost with her longtime friends, who also watch Bravo. She also claimed the biggest bed.
• "We did a lot of laughing, reminiscing, dancing, and staying up late," she said. "It's a chance to relive our youth."

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kerry Feeney, a 44-year-old director of hospital administration from Rockaway, New York. Feeney won one of three nights auctioned off by StayMarquis. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.

I've been watching Bravo for years. I think it started with "The Real Housewives of New York" back in the day. Every new one gets better and better.

I've watched "Summer House" from the beginning. I love it. When I was first out of college, I had a house in the Hamptons for the summer. It brought me back to my own Hamptons experience: the drama, the partying. It made me feel like I was in my 20s again.

I knew my friends were just as big Bravo fans as I was. We all grew up in Rockaway, for the most part, and have been friends since we were kids. Everybody went their separate ways, and now everyone's back in the neighborhood again as adults. I'd have no problem getting 15 other people to come with me to the house.

The week prior, we couldn't be at the house, but one of our friends owns a bar. We met up there and had a watch party. We had a private room in the back area, ordered food, and watched the show. We stayed for drinks and discussion afterward.

We bid $3,500. I knew that wouldn't be too big a deal to split up the cost among friends and family.

We carpooled in multiple cars. One of my friends was in Long Island, so we picked her up along the way. The drive was two hours, during which we talked about the show. (Pretty much everyone is very anti-Amanda.)

When we arrived, we first made sure the door didn't stick. On the show, they have a very hard time getting in and out of that.

We all arrived at different times, but my group arrived first. We put our bags down, brought in all the alcohol and food that we had for the night, and we went on a little tour by ourselves. We went through the house like little kids, going through every inch.

Kyle and Amanda's bedroom is 10x bigger than it appears on TV. The bathroom has a heated toilet seat. I know! Every time anybody came in after us, we made sure that they went and tested out the toilet.

We brought some chips and appetizers. My one friend made baked ziti. We all brought wine or Surfsides, and the place was stocked with a cooler full of Loverboy. I think we drank every single one.

Because I was the one who did the bidding, I got to pick first. I obviously picked Kyle and Amanda's room because of the bathroom, and because it had the biggest bed. It opened right up into the backyard.

People picked rooms as they showed up. Everyone was so happy to be there, so nobody was fighting over accommodations. Then, we made some drinks and hung out by the pool.

Another surprising thing about the house that you don't see on the show is that there's a movie theater room. It had recliner seats and a huge TV. There were 16 of us, so we thought it would be better to watch it in the living room.

It started at 8 p.m., and nobody was allowed to talk until there was a commercial. There was a lot of shushing. We didn't want to miss anything.

During the commercials, it was heated, but it wasn't a debate. It was: "We can't believe what's happening or what they're saying." There were reactions to some of the one-liners from Ciara and Lindsay, and Amanda and West were insufferable.

We discussed it for the rest of the night. Then, we put on some music, went outside, had some drinks, and hung out. It was a beautiful night. There were staggering bedtimes. I think the latest group stayed up 'til around 4 a.m. We were joking that we could have our own version with a cast of 40-something-year-old women.

The following day, some people had to get back to work, but a couple of us went to lunch in Sag Harbor.

It was absolutely worth it. It was even better in person, just because of the memories attached to it. It's easy to understand how the cast has so much fun there every summer. We did a lot of laughing, reminiscing, dancing, and staying up late. It's a chance to relive our youth.

The best part was being able to share it with my friends, who are also such big Bravo fans. We've watched it together over the years and have spoken about it so much that celebrating it in the house made it feel that much more special.

• Russia said one of its warships fired warning shots at a British civilian yacht on Sunday.
• The frigate Admiral Grigorovich was in the English Channel when it opened fire with small arms.
• A retired British couple said they were sailing on the yacht when they encountered the frigate.

A Russian frigate opened fire in the English Channel on Tuesday, firing warning shots with small arms near a UK-registered civilian yacht, London and Moscow said.

The warship Admiral Grigorovich fired several shots — single rounds, not automatic fire — near the Bright Future, a sailing yacht, roughly 20 nautical miles south of the Isle of Wight outside UK territorial waters.

The UK assesses that the Grigorovich was signaling to other vessels that it was drifting instead of maneuvering under power, possibly leaving the warship feeling vulnerable. It sounded warnings before opening fire.

"Following attempts to contact a British vessel in the channel, the Grigorovich fired warning shots," a UK defense ministry spokesperson told Business Insider. "These were not aimed at the vessel and were an attempt to prevent a possible collision."

Russia's defense ministry said the frigate had attempted to contact the Bright Future with radio, signal flares, and sound signals, but opened fire after receiving no response and seeing the yacht "following a dangerous course."

"After closing the distance to 150 meters, the frigate's commander decided to carry out the preemptive fire at the vessel's course with small arms," Moscow said.

A retired British couple on board the Bright Future told the BBC that the two vessels were not on a collision course and that the yacht had adjusted its path after the Admiral Grigorovich issued five horn blasts.

The incident follows the UK's Royal Marines' separate seizure of the MV Smyrtos, a tanker believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, off the southern coast of England on Sunday.

The boarding operation was a first for the UK, involving two British warships, reconnaissance aircraft, and helicopters.

While both events occurred in the English Channel, the UK defense ministry said that the seizure and Tuesday's warning shots from the Admiral Grigorovich were isolated incidents.

"HMS Mersey has been monitoring the Russian vessel, and support has been provided to the crew of the yacht," the defense ministry spokesperson said.

Still, the Russian navy has been repeatedly reported to be escorting shadow fleet tankers in convoys. The Admiral Grigorovich, part of the Black Sea Fleet, was spotted convoying two tankers in the English Channel in April, just after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had given British forces the authority to seize shadow fleet vessels.

Retired Royal Navy Commodore Steve Prest, now an associate fellow at the UK's Royal United Services Institute, said it is possible that the Grigorovich's commanding officer decided to open fire after they got too nervous about an unresponsive yacht near the warship.

However, Prest said in comments shared with Business Insider, given the context of the shadow fleet and the Royal Marines' seizure of the Smyrtos, "I think this is the Russians baring their teeth," adding that Moscow "very rarely will do something like this in an uncalculated, haphazard way."

Prest said Russia may be trying to signal to other ships preparing to go through the English Channel: "Hey, look, we are here, we are serious, and we are prepared to stand our ground, so let's not have any miscalculation."

The 409-foot-long guided-missile frigate is the lead ship of its class and was commissioned in 2016. The ship's main armament consists of eight vertical launch cells for land-attack cruise missiles and a 100mm naval gun.

June 16, 2026: This story was updated to reflect comment from the UK Defense Ministry.

• Vibe coding companies are picking up big money and even some controversy.
• Lovable and Replit are seeing valuations soar even as competition grows. Cursor just sold to SpaceX for $60 billion.
• The space has seen lots of deal activity and interest from Big Tech.

The tech world is both in awe of and fearful of vibe coding.

On one hand, tech giants are all in on these AI-assisted coding tools. They're touting efficiency gains, listing it as a need-to-have in job descriptions, buying their employees subscriptions, and even investing in vibe-coding startups themselves.

In the latest news from the vibe-coding bonanza: SpaceX said on Tuesday that it was officially acquiring AI coding startup Cursor for $60 billion. The deal strengthens SpaceX's position in the AI coding race by helping it compete with top labs building advanced coding tools.

That deal is just the latest in a broader wave of acquisitions and partnerships sweeping through the vibe-coding space.

In July, AI startup Cognition snatched up Windsurf after OpenAI's $3 billion deal to acquire the vibe coding tool maker fell through. Just one month earlier, web design platform Wix bought Base44, a six-month-old startup bootstrapped by a solo founder, for $80 million.

These entrants are competing with far bigger and better-funded players, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft, that make their own AI-powered coding tools.

Yet, the rise of these tools is also rattling the broader market: Some tech giants saw their shares take a hit as investors dumped legacy software stocks over concerns that AI and vibe coding will allow companies to build their own software rather than buy.

Both narratives are driving the valuations of vibe-coding startups such as Lovable and Replit, now well into the billions.

"Our mission has always been that every human with an idea and an internet connection should be able to build any app they want," Amjad Masad, the CEO of Replit, said in a release in March, announcing his company's $9 billion valuation.

Business Insider compiled a list of the startups riding the vibes, detailing their latest valuations, fundraises, and what they're best known for.

Lovable

Based in Stockholm and launched in 2024, Lovable is among the biggest players in the vibe coding world and one of the fastest-growing startups.

In March, Business Insider reported that the Swedish startup's annual recurring revenue had surged by more than 30%, from $300 million to $400 million in a single month. ARR, a key metric used to gauge startup performance, refers to the predictable revenue a company expects to generate over a year.

Lovable, founded by Anton Osika and Fabian Hedin, was valued at $6.6 billion in a December funding round led by CapitalG and Menlo Ventures.

Lovable's chief revenue officer, Ryan Meadows, told Business Insider that the company plans to more than double its head count by the end of the year, from 146 to 350 employees.

He added that Lovable, which specializes in making coding user-friendly, now sees 200,000 new vibe-coding projects created each day.

Replit

Replit, founded in 2016, touts itself as an all-in-one platform that not only generates code but also builds, hosts, and deploys applications in one place.

Over the past few years, Replit has pivoted from a collaborative coding environment to the Replit Agent that can turn plain-English descriptions into working applications, lowering the barrier to entry for beginner coders.

In March, the startup announced it had raised a $400 million Series D round at a $9 billion valuation, led by its previous investor, Georgian Partners. Other investors include Coatue, Andreessen Horowitz, Craft Ventures, Accenture Ventures, and angels Shaquille O'Neal and Jared Leto.

On May 28, Visa announced it had invested an undisclosed amount in Replit as part of a partnership.

Emergent

Emergent, founded out of Y Combinator's startup class of 2024 by twin brothers Mukund Jha and Madhav Jha, is one of the newest but fastest-growing vibe coding platforms. Similar to Replit, Emergent says it allows users to "build full-stack, production-ready applications using just natural language prompts."

The startup said in February that it had 6 million users and had reached $100 million in ARR in eight months.

Its latest funding round, raised in January, raised $70 million in Series B funding from Khosla Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from Prosus, Lightspeed, Together, and Y Combinator. The startup's valuation was not disclosed.

Emergent's $23 million Series A round closed in September, signaling how eager investors are to get in on the growing pie.

"A lot of the other platforms, they're great for prototyping, they're great for demos, but when it comes to really managing the entire lifecycle of software development, they fall short," CEO Mukund Jha told Business Insider. "That's a gap we are trying to fill in the market right now."

Poolside AI

San Francisco-based Poolside was cofounded in 2023 by former GitHub head of tech Jason Warner and software entrepreneur Eiso Kant. The company focuses on selling to enterprises and public sector organizations. It builds models that can write computer software and coding applications.

In October, Bloomberg reported that the company was in discussions to raise $2 billion at a $12 billion valuation, with a potential $500 million to $1 investment from Nvidia.

The company closed a $500 million Series B in 2024, led by Bain Capital, with participation from Nvidia, a Poolside representative told Business Insider. It is raising a Series C, and Nvidia has committed at least $500 million to anchor the round.

Correction: March 13, 2026 — An earlier version of this story misstated Poolside's headquarters. The company is based in San Francisco, not Paris.

StackBlitz's Bolt

StackBlitz, founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, credits its survival to Bolt, a vibe coding platform the company launched in 2024 when it was struggling with dwindling revenue.

Bolt, which uses Anthropic's models to let users build what they want with plain English, generated about $1 million in ARR in the first week it came out, cofounder Eric Simons told Business Insider last year. The week after, it added another $1 million in ARR, and then another.

"I had slept three hours a night for a week straight to get the release out with our team," Simons told Business Insider about Bolt's release. "After seeing it live, and people loving it — beyond anything I had ever created before — I cried, alone at my desk in my backyard shed office."

In January 2025, Bloomberg reported that StackBlitz was in talks with investors to raise $83.5 million at a $700 million valuation.

Cognition

Cognition was founded in 2023 by former competitive programmers Scott Wu, Steven Hao, and Walden Yan. The company is best known for Devin, an autonomous AI software engineer that can plan, write, test, and deploy software.

Devin is an AI teammate capable of managing the entire software development lifecycle, unlike tools that focus only on code generation, said Emily Cohen, who heads people and operations at the AI startup.

The San Francisco-based company has attracted backing from investors including Founders Fund, 8VC, Lux Capital, Khosla Ventures, Elad Gil, and Pear VC. In May, the company raised more than $1 billion at a $26 billion post-money valuation, making it one of the most valuable AI coding startups globally.

Cognition acquired AI coding platform Windsurf in 2025. It established offices in London and Singapore earlier this year.

Kilo

Kilo Code is a San Francisco-based AI coding startup founded in 2025 by Scott Breitenother, Emilie Schario, and Sid Sijbrandij, the cofounder and former CEO of GitLab.

The company offers an open-source AI coding agent that helps developers write, edit, and manage software using natural-language prompts, while supporting access to hundreds of AI models.

"What do you do if Anthropic has a down day? Do you say, 'Hey folks, everybody take Friday off.' I mean, you can't," Breitenother, Kilo's CEO, said in an interview with Business Insider. "That's where Kilo comes in. Sure, you can buy Anthropic, but also buy OpenAI and use them both through Kilo."

In December, Kilo raised an $8 million seed round led by Cota Capital, with participation from Breakers, General Catalyst, Quiet Capital, Tokyo Black, and others.

Elon Musk posted on X in June that Kilo's tools were "not bad for version 0.1" and "good value for money."

SkipLabs

AI infrastructure startup SkipLabs was founded in 2022 by Julien Verlaguet, the creator of Facebook's Hack programming language.

In June, the company launched Skipper, a closed-loop coding agent for back-end services aimed at professional developers.

In March 2025, SkipLabs raised an $8 million seed round led by Amplify Partners, with participation from Tapestry VC and angel investors including Yann LeCun, Spencer Kimball, and Olivier Pomel.

• The Knicks are set to celebrate their NBA championship with a ticker-tape parade in Manhattan on Thursday.
• The event has given rise to a mini gig economy, with people offering to hold spots and others seeking their services online.
• Multiple listings have cropped up on gig-work platform Airtasker, with asking prices ranging from $50 to $800.

One of the hottest pieces of real estate in New York City this week isn't an apartment. It's a piece of Lower Manhattan sidewalk along the Knicks' championship parade route — and some people are charging hundreds of dollars to hold one.

Ahead of Thursday's celebration, would-be line sitters are advertising their services online, offering to secure prime viewing spots as the procession winds from Bowling Green through the "Canyon of Heroes" to City Hall.

On Airtasker, a gig-work platform where users can hire people for tasks and errands, multiple Knicks parade-related listings have cropped up, with asking prices ranging from $50 to $800.

The listings come from both sides of the market: people offering to hold spots along the parade route, as well as fans looking to hire someone to wait in their place.

One listing offered $750 to someone who could secure three spots near Broadway and Barclay Street from midnight Wednesday until 8 a.m. Thursday, two hours before the parade is set to begin. The task had already been assigned by Tuesday night.

The parade comes after the Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought on Saturday, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

"Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks. And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart — just like the five boroughs itself," New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a statement on Saturday.

Following the parade, the mayor will present the Knicks with the keys to the city during a championship ceremony at City Hall Plaza. The city is also giving away 600 tickets to the event through a public lottery that closes at 11 a.m. on June 17.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was fighting a proposed California tax on billionaires.
• The deadline for the measure to appear on the ballot is coming up next week.
• If the measure appears on the ballot, California voters will decide on it in November.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's fight to stop a proposed tax on billionaires in California is coming down to the wire.

The so-called billionaire tax — which would impose a one-time 5% tax on California residents whose assets exceed $1 billion — could appear on the ballot this November if critics aren't able to stop it ahead of a June 25 deadline.

Newsom previously vowed to fight the proposed tax, telling The New York Times in January he believed it would hinder innovation. "I'll do what I have to do to protect the state," he said.

The measure was proposed by SEIU-UHW, a healthcare workers union, which announced in April that it had submitted 1.55 million signatures, nearly double the roughly 875,000 needed. The deadline for initiative measures to qualify for the November ballot is June 25.

With the deadline approaching, several California groups that generally align with Democrats are coming out publicly against the initiative and pressuring proponents to withdraw the measure.

The California Teachers Association — one of the state's largest teachers unions — voted to oppose the tax, saying it would not provide sustainable funding for schools and communities. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California and several other labor groups have also come out against it.

The measure has the support of progressive Rep. Ro Khanna, the labor union Teamsters California, and the California Democratic Socialists of America.

If the measure qualifies, voters would decide in November whether California should impose the one-time tax on its wealthiest residents. Because it's a ballot measure, Newsom would not have the power to veto it.

Supporters say the tax would raise money primarily for healthcare, as well as education and food assistance programs. Opponents say it could drive billionaires — and future tax revenue — out of the Golden State.

Business Insider previously reported that, as of January 1, California had over 200 billionaires who could be affected by the tax.

Some wealthy residents have already made moves out of the state, including Google cofounder Larry Page. However, not all billionaires are in opposition. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said he was "perfectly fine" with the tax.

Newsom's office and SEIU-UHW did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

The race for the knockout rounds gets underway for Austria and Jordan, while the two teams meet in their opening Group J match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With neither side wanting to fall behind early in the standings, the game carries extra importance despite coming so early in the tournament. Keep reading to learn where to watch Austria vs. Jordan from anywhere in the world.

In short, you can watch the countries face off on FS1 via a live TV service in the US, BBC iPlayer in the UK, and SBS on Demand in Australia. We recommend using a VPN to stream the entire tournament (and future sporting events) from anywhere in the world. Follow the full tournament and learn how to watch your team in our where to watch the World Cup guide, or try your chance at scoring tickets with our guide to buying World Cup tickets.

*Local channels, like FOX, vary by region on Sling TV.

Where to watch Austria vs. Jordan for free

Luckily for fans, there are plenty of ways to catch this match at no cost. In Australia, tune in via SBS On Demand; in the UK, via BBC iPlayer. In the US, the best way to see it without incurring a fee is to sign up for a free trial of Fubo or YouTube TV. Or you can use a VPN, as detailed below, to use one of the other free live streams from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Austria vs. Jordan from anywhere

Found yourself away during the match? Don't sweat the details — you can access the Austria vs. Jordan match from anywhere in the world using a VPN (virtual private network). This simple app lets users change their device's location, granting access to their favorite free streaming service from anywhere. It's a helpful tool outside of just streaming the game, especially for avid travelers hoping to access their usual services from abroad and folks interested in cybersecurity.

We recommend NordVPN, one of the top picks in our guide to the best VPNs, for catching the game. Fast, easy to use, and home to a variety of global servers, it'll have you covered for the whole tournament. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Where to watch Austria vs. Jordan in the US

Just like the rest of the World Cup, the Austria vs. Jordan game will air on FS1 in the US (some other matches will be available through FOX). To tune into the channel, you'll need cable, an antenna, or a paid streaming subscription. For this game specifically, you can catch it for free by signing up for a free Fubo or YouTube TV trial.

We also recommend Sling TV, but you'll need to double-check that the service covers FOX in your ZIP code to ensure World Cup coverage. If it does, Sling Select ($25 a month) or Sling Blue ($51 a month) are our suggestions, since both also include FS1. Sling Select plans without local channels start at just $20 a month.

Interested in a streaming service to keep in the long term? You'll be covered for the full World Cup tournament with Fox One ($20 a month), which is also available as an add-on to Prime Video. Alternatively, a live TV package could be the right solution for your home, since it'll offer you more than just Fox — check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services to find your perfect fit.

Fubo Sports + News ($56 a month) is a great choice, offering Fox, FS1, and about 27 other channels. If you're hoping to find a more inclusive service, Fubo's pricier plans are a good choice with even more channels bundled in. All Fubo plans come with a free trial for new users.

YouTube TV is another solid option. Plans cost $83 a month, but a special deal will knock your first five months down to just $68 a month. Fox and FS1 are also available in YouTube TV's cheaper Sports Plan. All YouTube TV plans come with a free trial for new customers.

Viewers looking for Spanish-language tournament coverage will be best served by Peacock. Plans with sports streaming start at $11 a month.

Where to watch Austria vs. Jordan in the UK

ITVX and the BBC have split rights for the World Cup. The Austria vs. Jordan game will be free to stream via BBC iPlayer for UK viewers. You'll just need to create an account.

Where to watch Austria vs. Jordan in Australia

Australian viewers can catch the entire World Cup tournament via SBS On Demand. The free service requires account creation, but no payment.

Note: VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may constitute a breach of the terms of use for some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• Snap unveiled its Specs AR glasses with EyeConnect at a Long Beach conference.
• The internet is balking over the $2,195 price tag on the Specs.
• The AR business has been struggling with profitability, and Meta has already lost billions.

After more than a decade of work, Snap on Tuesday unveiled Specs, a new pair of augmented reality glasses with a price tag more commonly seen on a gaming PC or high-end TV: $2,195.

The launch marks Snap's biggest bet yet on a future where computing moves from smartphones to eyewear, a sentiment frequently shared by Mark Zuckerberg, who made the prediction that smart glasses will become the next major computing platform, much as smartphones displaced PCs as the primary way people access digital services.

Still, Specs cost far more than Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, which start around $350, though they're cheaper than Apple's $3,500 Vision Pro headset.

The usual AR features are expected: wearers will be able to record first-person footage, browse the web, and play games, along with a feature called "EyeConnect," which lets two wearers launch shared experiences simply by making eye contact.

Still, that might not be enough of a differentiator given the massive price tag.

"Snap Specs for $2,195 is an instant nope for 99% people," said Ray Wong, senior editor of Gizmodo, on X.

Raj Nijjer, the CMO of Symmetry Software, called the Specs "out of touch," while Riley Brown, a tech educator and startup founder, posted on X that the Specs would be "dead on arrival."

Each pair of Specs also weighs around 132 grams, nearly twice that of Meta's Ray-Bans, which weigh around 70 grams.

Specs arrive as Meta has established an early lead with its Ray-Ban partnership, while Google recently unveiled its own AI-powered eyewear plans.

A problem dogging the tech is that no one has cracked the economics. Meta's Reality Labs division, the unit responsible for its VR headsets, AR glasses, and metaverse ambitions, has become one of the most expensive bets in tech. Since 2020, the division has racked up tens of billions of dollars in operating losses, including more than $17 billion in 2024 alone.

Snap has also been facing mounting challenges. The company has spent years trying to turn its AR vision into a sustainable business while navigating a volatile advertising market, slowing user engagement in the US, and a stock price that remains well below its pandemic-era highs.

Earlier this year, Snap spun off a separate company focused on bringing Specs to market. In April, Snap also conducted a round of layoffs as it continued efforts to streamline operations and control costs.

If you're convinced Specs are worth the price tag, preorders open on June 16 with a $200 refundable deposit, and shipping will begin this fall in the US, UK, and France.

One of the most highly anticipated World Cup group stage matches kicks off soon. We've done the research and rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch Argentina vs. Algeria around the world, so you can tune in no matter where you are.

Lionel Messi and the rest of Team Argentina will hit the field today in their bid to defend their 2022 World Cup title. They'll face Algeria, who have qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2014. The teams will play at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

You can find full watch options below, but if you don't want to scroll any further, you can live stream the game on FOX via a live TV service in the US, ITVX in the UK, and SBS On Demand in Australia. You can access your watch options from anywhere with the help of a VPN. If you're interested in catching even more FIFA action, you can bookmark our massive guide on where to watch the World Cup.

*Local channel availability (like FOX) varies by region on Sling TV.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Algeria for free

World Cup fans in several countries are in luck this year. There are tons of free options for all of the games, including Argentina vs. Algeria. This match is available to stream for free on ITVX in the UK and SBS On Demand in the UK. US viewers can watch at no immediate cost with a free trial from a live TV service, such as Fubo or YouTube TV.

How to watch Argentina vs. Algeria from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your streaming service works, don't worry. You can access your free option from anywhere with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are easy-to-use tech apps that help people temporarily alter the location on their electronic devices so their favorite websites work from anywhere in the world. They're especially popular among those looking to keep up with their usual services while traveling abroad or hoping to boost their day-to-day cybersecurity and privacy.

NordVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs we've tested. It's fast, user-friendly, and offers an impressive selection of global servers. Plus, it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there's no sweat if you find that it's not what you're looking for.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Algeria in the US

Argentina vs. Algeria, and much of the rest of the tournament, will air on FOX in the US. Other matches will be available through FS1. If you're a cord-cutter looking for a streaming service to watch the rest of the World Cup, you have several options.

Fubo Sports + News offers FOX, FS1, and around 27 other channels in its lineup. Subscriptions also unlock access to ESPN Unlimited. If you're looking for even more channels, FOX and FS1 are also available in Fubo's pricier Pro and Elite plans. Fubo Sports + News costs $56 a month, but first-time customers can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial.

YouTube TV carries FOX and FS1 in both its main and sports plans. The main plan typically costs $83 a month, but a limited-time deal can bring the first five months down to $68 a month for new customers. Similarly, the sports plan typically costs $65 a month, but new users can get $10 a month off their first 12 months. YouTube TV also typically offers a free trial for first-time customers.

Sling TV is another live TV service with World Cup coverage, though you should double-check whether FOX is available in your ZIP code, as Sling's local channel coverage varies by market. If you can get FOX via Sling in your region, you'll want to opt for a Sling Select or Sling Blue plan, both of which also have FS1. When local channels are available, Sling Select starts at $25 a month, and Sling Blue costs $51 a month.

Fans interested in Spanish-language coverage in the US will need to subscribe to Peacock. Sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium and unlock access to all 104 World Cup matches.

FOX also has a direct streaming counterpart, FOX One, which costs $20 a month. You can also sign up for the service as an add-on through Prime Video if you don't feel like downloading another app.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Algeria in the UK

BBC and ITV split coverage rights in the UK, but Argentina vs. Algeria is available on ITV1. This means fans will be able to live stream all of the action for free with an ITVX account. Users just need to create an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start watching.

Where to watch Argentina vs. Algeria in Australia

All World Cup games, including Argentina vs. Algeria, are available to live stream on SBS On Demand in Australia. This is a free streaming service that supports SBS channels and just requires account creation to use.

Who is favored to win Argentina vs. Algeria?

Argentina is the favorite to win today's match. On DraftKings (at the time of writing), Argentina is the -230 favorite, while Algeria is the +700 underdog. A draw is +350.

What teams are Argentina and Algeria playing next?

Argentina and Algeria are in Group J. They'll next face Austria and Jordan in the group stage before potentially advancing to the knockouts. Argentina will play Austria on Monday, June 22, and Algeria will play Jordan later that night.

Note: VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may constitute a breach of the terms of use for some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

If you have plantar fasciitis, then you know how that sharp, stabbing pain in your heel can only be made worse by the wrong shoes.

Especially for PF patients, your footwear choice is crucial. Suzanne C. Fuchs, a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon and founder of LuxePodiatry in Jupiter, Florida, explains that this pain comes from your plantar fascia, a tendon which runs from your toes to your heels. This tendon becomes inflamed as it strains to support your arches, minimize the movement of your foot, or absorb shock as you take steps.

The best shoes for plantar fasciitis come with ample arch support, stiff midsoles, and cushioned heel cups to allow your tendon to rest, eventually helping it heal and become less painful, says Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatrist with Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic.

It's important to wear supportive shoes anytime you're walking, even if it's just around your house. Therefore, it's recommended to rotate through a variety of PF-friendly shoes.

To find the most effective options, we tested 20 pairs of shoes across 10 well-known footwear brands (like Asics and Brooks), logging miles on different surfaces and evaluating fit, support, and pain relief.

How I tested plantar fasciitis shoes

• Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatrist with Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic
• Suzanne C. Fuchs, DPM, podiatric foot and ankle surgeon and founder of LuxePodiatry in Jupiter, Florida

Dr. Daughtry and Dr. Fuchs set the foundation of what features the best shoes for plantar fasciitis should have, such as arch support, a stiff but cushioned footbed, and a rigid heel cup. From there, I researched brands and individual shoes that people with plantar fasciitis like the most, including sourcing from many people I know who suffer from the condition.

I tested every shoe on this list (my husband tested the men's), wearing each pair to run errands, go on long walks, and work at my standing desk. As someone with high arches, I adequately tested for which shoes had significant arch support, in addition to being able to assess the stiffness and cushioning of each shoe's foundation.

Whether you're walking, running, or standing all day, the right pair of shoes can prevent flare-ups — and hopefully even ditch the dull ache for good. I've included more insights from podiatrists, as well as answers to FAQs, at the end of this guide.

Learn more about how the Reviews team tests shoes at BI.

Best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis: Asics

A good walking shoe to support plantar fasciitis has all the same components as a good running shoe: Solid arch support, enough cushioning to absorb the shock of walking, a rigid foundation to maintain structure, and a supportive heel cup. But a good walking shoe should also have a wide toe box so your toes can spread out naturally and a breathable upper.

Asics also has adaptive stability technology to provide the amount of support your foot needs without overcorrecting, which gives you plenty of room to add your own orthotic for more arch support. The Asics Gel-Kayano 31 performed great on long walks, maintaining its rigid but soft support. As someone with high arches who walks 10,000+ steps a day and prefers a higher-cushion walking shoe, I found Asics GEL-Nimbus 28 to be incredibly comfortable and supportive underfoot, even on long days out.

Asics is one of the most highly-recommended brands to help relieve plantar fasciitis pain, including from Dr. Fuchs. Like Brooks, it does an excellent job of providing cushioned support, but the structured sole and heel counters work well to reduce strain on the tendon. Asics also uniquely have a firm midsole, which helps to limit movement — key in relieving pain, Dr. Fuchs says.

Honorable Mention: Hoka

On one hand, both our podiatrists agree that having a well-cushioned shoe is crucial for treating plantar fasciitis, because this helps your shoe absorb the impact of walking rather than your tendons. That said, one of the most common mistakes Dr. Daughtry says she sees in people trying to heal their PF is opting for a shoe with an excessively cushioned or thick sole but not enough support underneath.

Hoka, a brand known for excessive cushioning, can be troublesome if the foundation isn't supportive enough underneath, but part of that is personal biomechanics. I know multiple people with PF who only found relief wearing Hokas, but many others say Hokas made their PF worse. Dr. Fuchs does recommend Hokas for certain people with plantar fasciitis, and, considering Hoka makes some of the best women's walking shoes we've tested, it's worth considering if you haven't found the other walking and running shoe brands on our list to work for you.

In general, Hokas are likely a better fit for someone who overpronates and needs a stability shoe. That's because these are built with more arch support, and you don't want to add in a rigid arch support orthotic overtop a squishy sole.

Best running shoes for plantar fasciitis: Brooks

If you're trying to keep plantar fasciitis flare-ups down as you get back onto the track, it's definitely smart to replace your running shoes. Wearing worn-down shoes makes PF much worse because they've lost all the elements of a PF-supportive shoe, Dr. Daugherty says — namely, the ability to support your arches and absorb the shock of running so your plantar fascia doesn't have to strain to work overtime.

Brooks running shoes hit the perfect balance of what podiatrists recommend in a shoe: A supportive, shock-absorbing amount of cushion alongside a rigid sole and a supportive heel cup. Dr. Fuchs recommends the brand, and as I've been running in Brooks for years, I can attest that, even after 300 miles, they hold their structure well and feel supportive on long miles.

Dr. Daugherty notes that many people with plantar fasciitis find that a small heel lift can help take the strain off the tendon; most Brooks models have a 12mm drop from the heel to the ball of the foot.

Also, while supporting your natural gait is crucial when picking a running shoe, Dr. Daugherty recommends people opt for a neutral shoe that can be customized by adding personal arch support. One reason Brooks is the best running brand for people with plantar fasciitis is that many of its neutral models use a unique adaptable guide rail system ("GTS") to correct your gait as much as is needed without cranking the physical support up. This allows you to add the amount of arch support your foot personally needs while still scoring the motion control individual to your gait.

Best casual shoes for plantar fasciitis: Kuru

Kuru specializes in shoes crafted to alleviate pain — heel pain, back pain, flat feet, and, yes, plantar fasciitis. Its support lies in its unique construction: a lightweight EVA foam outsole; a supportive and elevated heel cup; and a dual-density foam insole for solid arch support.

The brand makes a range of shoes for both men and women, from slip-ons to boots to sandals, but we love its range of supportive sneakers. During testing, Kuru's sneakers were incredibly comfortable — stiff, but cushioned underfoot with the perfect amount of support to minimize pressure across the knees, ankles, and foot.

Best sandals for plantar fasciitis: Fitflop

Like our podiatrists mentioned earlier, if you have plantar fasciitis, you should wear shoes anytime your feet touch the ground. Sandals with adequate arch support are crucial for warm-weather activities when you just want to slide your feet into something breezy and go.

FitFlop is a stylish ergonomic brand that uses smart, impact-absorbing cushioning and a rigid footbed in its shoes. Their bread-and-butter are sandals (hence the name) and offer everything from casual pool-side flip flops to wedge sandals you could wear to a wedding. Moreover, the majority of their sandals have a 1-2 inch heel drop, which both our podiatrists say can be very helpful in reducing strain on the plantar fascia (though any higher of a heel and it'll cause more strain).

I found their RELIEFF Recovery Toe-Post Sandals to be incredibly comfortable to wear all day and found myself slipping them on whenever I needed to run out of the house but still feel supported. Their sandals, across the board, provide very solid arch support for my high arches, but you could easily add an orthotic for more. Mostly, I was very impressed with their range of supportive sandals and quality of style; there's truly a style for everyone, which is great to nix the excuse that you have to wear unsupportive shoes for a certain occasion.

Best plantar fasciitis shoes for women: Dansko

There's a reason the classic Dansko clog is so beloved by nurses and restaurant workers: The brand's backbone is a contoured footbed that provides stiff but well-placed support, alongside a rocker shape that allows for a more natural motion of the foot — both things Dr. Daugthry recommends to help treat plantar fasciitis.

Though best known for its classic clog, Dansko makes a wide range of shoe styles for women, from summer sandals to Chelsea boots to ballet flats to loafers. Pretty much any kind of women's shoe you need, Dansko likely makes one — and a supportive one at that. In the models I tested, the footbed was soft but very stiff with a sturdy heel cup.

The only downside: I found the heels run narrow on some models.

Best recovery shoes for plantar fasciitis: OOFOS

One thing people with plantar fasciitis often overlook is that they should be wearing shoes at all times, including around the house. "I personally suffer with plantar fasciitis, and if I do not wear some type of supportive sandal or sneakers with arch support around home, my pain will flare up," Dr. Daughtry says.

For an around-the-house recovery shoe, in addition to the basics of arch support, well-cushioned, and a stiff sole, you want a shoe that's easy to slip on and off and comfortable to move around in. Recovery footwear brand OOFOS makes shoes that are incredibly lightweight but absorb way more impact than traditional foam footwear.

During testing, I appreciated not only how fatigue-fighting their shoes are — the support feels incredibly rejuvenating on tired feet — but also that all of their styles, from slides to sneakers, are really easy to slip on and off.

Best men's dress shoes for plantar fasciitis: Amberjack

If you have plantar fasciitis and need men's dress shoes, there's really no need to look anywhere else: Amberjack was built for this exact purpose.

With styles ranging from traditional, lace-up dress shoes to sleek Chelsea boots and clean-looking loafers, all of Amberjack's shoes have built-in medium-height arch support, extra thick (removable) insoles that mold to the shape of your foot as you wear them, a custom TPU outsole that's stiff but comfortable like a hiking boot, and a firm heel counter. Most of its shoes also have a 2.5-inch average heel height for less strain on your plantar fascia.

Ergonomic footbeds aside, their shoes are incredibly sleek and professional-looking. The leather is A-grade and full-grain, sourced from top-rated tanneries in Portugal and Italy, while the suede is Italian and water-repellent. No one will ever guess you bought them for comfort.

How to shop for Plantar Fasciitis shoes

• Shock absorption and cushioning: Another major function of the PF tendon is helping with shock absorption. Solid cushioning in your shoe helps absorb the impact from walking or running so your tendon doesn't have to work as hard.
• Stiff soles: A firm sole or a shoe with a stiff bottom can help your foot move forward more easily and keep it from bending or moving too much. This takes pressure off your plantar fascia (the band of tissue on the bottom of your foot). Look for shoes with a solid, supportive base and some cushioning on top for comfort. A good rule of thumb: You shouldn't be able to bend the shoe like a taco.
• Heel stability: A firm heel cup will help prevent excessive movement, keeping your foot aligned and supported.
• Possibly 1-2 inches of heel: While you want to steer clear of high heels, which alter your foot mechanics and put pressure on the forefoot, many people with PR find a slight heel on their shoe — 1 to 2 inches — helps alleviate the strain on their plantar fascia tendon.
• Stability vs Neutral: Many people's foot naturally rolls inward or outward when they walk rather than staying neutral. Running and walking shoes are built to help offset this and keep your foot in a neutral position. If you overpronate (meaning you roll inward as you step), look for a stability shoe, which will have extra arch support. If you supinate, your foot rolls outward as you step — look for a neutral shoe.

FAQs

What shoes should you not wear with plantar fasciitis?

The pain of Plantar Fasciitis comes from the ligament that runs from your toes to your heel, the plantar fascia, becoming tight and inflamed. Every step causes the ligament to tear more, and wearing shoes that don't have proper support will make it worse.

Dr. Fuchs says people with plantar fasciitis should avoid flip-flops that lack enough cushioning or arch support, high heels that increase pressure on the forefoot and heel, and ballet flats that often lack arch support and cushioning.

Instead, our experts advise looking for shoes with arch support you can feel, cushioning in the heel, and a 1-2 inch heel.

What kind of shoes should I wear for plantar fasciitis at home?

Wearing shoes any time you're walking around — even just from the bed to the kitchen — is crucial to help alleviate the strain on your plantar fascia, both our docs agree.

Look for house slippers, slides, or even house sneakers that have arch support and heel cushion. Chances are your regular slippers won't cut it. We love Hoka's Ora Recovery Slide, which is easy to slip on and off and feels like clouds underfoot. They have layers of dense EVA foam to provide both support and keep the shoe lightweight with every step, and Hoka's signature rocker design helps work with your foot's natural movement.

What aggravates plantar fasciitis?

The number one thing that aggravates plantar fasciitis is not giving your feet enough support. This can mean wearing shoes without enough cushion or arch support or standing on hard surfaces, like concrete, for hours without rest. A supportive pair of shoes, like all those included in this guide, can go a long way to avoiding a plantar fasciitis flare-up.

Dog crates are useful for training and a necessity for travel, making them appropriate for both curious puppies and full-grown dogs. These enclosed structures also double as a cozy den where dogs can relax and sleep. And when you're not home, a crate provides a secure space to keep your pup (and your sneakers) safe when you're not around. There are several different styles to choose from, but the best dog crates are, first and foremost, comfortable for your dog and easy for you to use and clean.

Over several years, I've crate-trained my own dogs and used them with foster pups, so I know how important it is to have a crate that's safe, secure, and easy to use. I've also tested furniture-type products, such as beach tents and lawn chairs, evaluating their ease of assembly and construction. For this guide, I evaluated 10 crates and kennels for ease of use, structural strength, security, and portability.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews pet products.

Our top picks for the best dog crates

Best overall: Midwest Life Stages Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate - $45-$149 at Chewy

Best furniture: Frisco Double Door Furniture Style Dog Crate - $167-$197 at Chewy

Best plastic kennel for travel: Petmate Sky Kennel - $49-$140 at Chewy

Best soft: Elite Field 3-Door Soft-Sided Collapsible Dog Crate - $55-$119 at Chewy

Best crash-tested: Gunner G1 Kennel - $550-$900 Gunner

Best overall

Despite its heavy-duty construction and sturdy frame, this wire crate is still easy to fold down when it's time to store it away. Initial assembly took a little more effort than I expected, and I had to do some pushing and pulling to hook the sides and top into place. But after a little practice, later attempts took me less than a minute.

The crate has two doors, one on the front and one on the side. Each door has secure latches that require two movements to unlock, significantly reducing the chances that one could open inadvertently.

The medium crate held up well to my 30-pound pulling test with a luggage scale, and another reporter who tested the extra-large size found it just as sturdy, naming it the top pick for the best large dog crates. However, the crate's durable materials add to its weight. I found the size medium crate, weighing 26 pounds, wasn't the easiest to transport.

Torie Silletto, a certified dog trainer, behavior consultant, and founder of Diamond Dogs, says a wire crate is the most secure and comfortable design. She recommends this model, too, and says the removable divider is a major perk for puppies. You can create a smaller space inside the crate, which is ideal for housetraining.

Best furniture

If you'd like your dog's crate to blend in with your home decor, this wooden crate is a refined choice. Shelby Semel, senior trainer and founder of Shelby Semel Dog Training, says the dual-function design of furniture-style crates makes them a great choice if you don't have a lot of space to work with.

Unlike a utilitarian wire or plastic crate, this one has a finished wood frame that complements other contemporary furniture. Plus, its rock-solid construction can support up to 200 pounds. The crate is extremely sturdy, and even when I pushed, nudged, and shoved it, it didn't wobble or shift.

Be prepared to put forth some serious time and effort for assembly. If you don't have a lot of experience assembling furniture, you'll probably want someone to help position the pieces while you tighten the cam locks into place. You'll also need to supply your own Phillips-head screwdriver. That being said, I never felt confused or frustrated when putting it together. The instruction manual goes through every step and includes clear illustrations.

Best plastic kennel for travel

The Petmate Sky Kennel has a thick plastic body and a four-position metal door lock. There are also extra holes on the top and bottom of the door frame where you can thread zip ties for extra security during air travel. I tested the medium-sized version of this kennel, but we also recommend it in our guide to large dog crates.

Semel says that kennel crates like this are common choices for travel due to their affordability and reliability. When I carried the medium-size kennel with a 20-pound sandbag inside, the top carrying handle never felt like it could fail, break, or detach. Note that only the small and medium-sized kennels are equipped with carry handles. For ventilation, there are wire inserts on each side and cutout holes on the backside. I found the wire inserts shifted around slightly, so it's possible that very long fur could get pinched.

The kennel is approved for cargo by most airlines and comes with a "live animal" and ID stickers as well as a food and water bowl. Assembly doesn't take very long, but threading and tightening the 10 wingnuts is pretty repetitive. I appreciated the extra peace of mind I got from knowing how tight and strong it's put together.

Best soft

If you need a lightweight, easy-to-transport crate, this soft-sided model is a great option. It has a spacious interior: The medium size is a roomy 30 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 34 inches high. But the tubular frame collapses down to just 4 inches in height. These dimensions, combined with its 13-pound weight, make it perfect for storage in a car trunk or closet. The duffel-bag-style carrying handles are really convenient, and it includes a removable storage pouch for keeping treats or other dog accessories handy.

Although the crate's fabric construction isn't as durable as the plastic, wood, or wire crates I tested, I was impressed with the locking frame mechanism. It uses a sliding collar to connect the tubular pieces, rather than plastic snaps like the Frisco Indoor and Outdoor 3-Door Soft-Sided Crate. The densely woven polyester was also relatively easy to clean. I used a basic cleaner and a paper towel to remove wet dog food, and minimal odor remained.

Semel says soft-sided crates like this one aren't practical for everyday use, but they're a great option if you need something more portable for occasional use. "If you are frequently housing other people's dogs or on the go a lot, I highly recommend it," she says.

Best crash-tested

Semel says crates used primarily for transport should meet high safety standards. The Gunner G1 Kennel passed all crash-safety tests conducted by the Center for Pet Safety, an independent organization that conducts rigorous testing protocols to evaluate the safety of pet carriers.

With a thick, double-walled construction, the hard-sided crate provides an incredible amount of protection for your dog — perfect for car, van, or pickup truck travel. If you're doubtful, you can learn more on its testimonial page of crash victims and watch actual lab test videos. In my testing, I couldn't find a single weak point.

The kennel is also about as secure as they come, with a metal clasp lock that can be used as a key lock (two keys are included) and built-in metal pins for tie-down straps. Thick rubber feet also keep the crate from sliding around.

Although this extra protection translates to a heavier weight (the small size I tested weighed 27 pounds), two heavy-duty carrying straps with rubber handles help make this less of an issue. Plus, chances are you'll be leaving it in your truck bed or vehicle of the time anyway. The smooth interior is easy to wipe clean, and it has a handy removable plug, so you can spray it down and drain without much hassle.

Our top dog crate picks compared

What to look for in a dog crate

Not all dog crates are created equal, and certain models or types are better for different dogs and use cases. To help compile this list of key features to keep in mind when shopping for a crate or kennel, I interviewed a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and two professional dog trainers.

Sizing: It's essential that you choose a crate that is the proper size for your dog. "The crate needs to be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably while spreading themselves out," Silletto says. All crate brands provide the internal dimensions of their crates, and some even do the work for you by telling you which size is best for your dog's specific measurements. If you have a puppy, look for a crate with a removable divider. This divider can be moved toward the back of the crate as your dog grows, increasing the size of its living space so you don't have to buy multiple crates for the same dog. Both of the wire crates in this guide include a removable divider.

Security: Your crate should be secure enough to keep your dog from escaping, especially if it's intended for travel use. Look for door locks and latches that are strong and sturdy and aren't easily opened accidentally. For extra security, most plastic travel crates also have holes to slip zip-ties through, and heavy-duty options, like the Gunner G1 Kennel, even have key locks. Keep in mind that soft crates lack the security of hard-sided options: "Soft crates can easily provide an escape route and are not safe for the dog to be left alone in," Silletto says. Safety is also important when considering the security of your crate. "It must not have any sharp edges or spaces where any body part can be caught," says Dr. Katherine Houpt, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Appearance: If you're concerned about aesthetics, look for a crate that better matches your home decor. Wire crates and plastic travel crates all look pretty much the same, but soft-sided options are available in many colors. Wooden furniture crates tend to be the best-looking and, depending on the finish, can add a modern, stylish look to your home.

Portability: Consider how portable you need your crate to be. "If you plan on moving it from room to room or bringing it with you to travel, you want to think about collapsibility and weight," Semel says. Plastic travel crates are designed primarily for transport, and although they're smaller than the average crate, their lighter weight and top-mounted handle make them well-suited for carrying. These are also the only crates intended to be moved with your dog inside. Although soft-sided crates cannot be moved with an animal inside, their light weight and folding design make them convenient to bring to a hotel, the beach, or another room in your house. While wire crates fold up and have carrying handles, they're still heavy and bulky, so not ideal for travel.

Cleaning: If your dog is likely to make a mess with their food or water dish, or you have a puppy that's not yet house-trained, look for a crate that's easy to clean. Opt for plastic or wire over wood and fabric, and look for a crate with a removable floor tray. These plastic trays are convenient to remove without taking apart the crate and can be hosed or rinsed off easily.

How we tested the dog crates

To choose the best dog crates, I put each model through a comprehensive testing process. Backed by extensive online research and expert insights, I evaluated and compared each one based on nine key criteria.

Structural strength: To each crate's overall structural strength and durability, I used a luggage scale with a looped hook to apply a consistent 30 pounds of pulling force to the doors, sides, and top. I looked for any signs of excessive bending, weakness in materials, and loose assembly points, while paying close attention to the stability of the doors and lock mechanisms.

Security and safety: I operated each door lock, latch system, and zipper 30 times to check for signs of wear or vulnerability. I also looked closely for any indications that the door could open accidentally. Additionally, I looked for any sharp corners or other design flaws that could injure a dog.

Portability: To evaluate how easy each crate is to move, I carried each one, except for the heavy wooden models not designed for transport, through my house and into my car. For crates intended for transport with a dog inside, I used a 20-pound sandbag to simulate a pet, paying close attention to the structural stability of the crates and their carrying handles.

Ease of use: To assess overall ease of use, I set up and broke down each collapsible crate three times, noting whether the process was straightforward or complicated. I also reviewed the instruction manuals to gauge how clear and helpful they were. Lastly, I considered whether components like door latches or carrying handles were user-friendly.

Cleaning: To simulate a soiled crate, I smeared dog food on the bottom and the interior walls of each crate, let it sit for an hour, and then cleaned it off as thoroughly as possible. I noted if the surfaces were smooth and easy to wipe down or porous and with lingering odor after cleaning.

Storage: I compared the overall size of each crate along with the folded dimensions, when applicable, to assess how easy it would be to store.

Appearance: While this factor is a bit subjective, I considered each crate's overall look and style. I also took into account the number of color options available for each model.

Functionality: I evaluated each crate's additional features, such as multiple doors for easy access, removable handles, bedding, or adjustable space dividers.

Size options: To ensure people can get the right-sized crate for their dog, I noted the range of sizes available.

Dog crates FAQs

Do vets recommend dog crates?

"Most veterinarians, trainers, and breeders recommend crate training dogs from a young age," according to the American Kennel Club. Veterinary behaviorist Houpt says a crate is useful for house training and travel. "In addition, some dogs seem to feel secure in their crates so will relax there," she says. That being said, it's important to know that veterinarians and dog trainers make it very clear that dogs should not be kept in crates for long periods. Silletto says you should not crate your dog for more than four hours: "It's inhumane to crate a dog for 40 hours a week and will erode the positive association with their crate." And, if you are unable to monitor your dog while they're in the crate, you should remove any collar or harness, which could become trapped in parts of the crate.

What kind of crate is best for dogs?

The best crate depends on an individual dog's unique wants and your needs. A basic wire crate should suffice if you're using it primarily in your home and won't be moving it much. However, some dogs prefer a more den-like environment, so covering it with a blanket may be helpful. If your dog is prone to pulling the blanket inside for chewing, you might want to consider a different type of crate. For dogs traveling to a vet appointment or on an airplane, a plastic kennel-style crate will keep them comfortable and safe while being carried around. The best crate for dedicated car or truck bed travel is one that is crash-tested, like the Gunner G1 Kennel.

What is the purpose of a dog crate?

The purpose of a dog crate depends on your specific needs, but in a nutshell, it's to provide a comfortable and relaxing space for your dog to be confined. By preventing your dog from wandering on their own, you can also productively teach house training and chew training without having to monitor your dog's behavior and location constantly. "Dogs instinctively keep their rest area clean and will not relieve themselves on their bedding," Silletto says. "This allows you to better control when they go to the bathroom (outside) and makes it easier to reward them for it." If you simply want to keep your dog from entering different parts of your home, like the kitchen, one of the best dog gates may be more suitable.

What is the best brand for dog crates?

The best brand for you will depend on your needs. Frisco and Midwest are popular, well-regarded brands for most crates, while Gunner is a phenomenally good brand for vehicular travel.

What type of crates do dogs prefer?

Dogs prefer the type of crate that makes them feel comfortable and relaxed inside. Regardless of whether a crate is wire, plastic, or wood, it's much more important to create a positive association between the dog and the crate. To do so, Houpt recommends placing a dog's favorite toys in it for several days and rolling balls into it for several days until the dog willingly enters. At that point, close the door only part way and wait a few days before closing it completely. Another way to form a positive relationship between your dog and the crate, according to Silletto, is to hide treats in the crate. "This way, the dog is rewarded when they spontaneously go inside the crate on their own," she says.

What is the best crate for a dog to sleep in?

The best crates for sleep are ones that are small enough to provide a den-like environment. Depending on the dog, a more enclosed option, like the Frisco Double Door Furniture Style Dog Crate, could provide an even cozier environment for overnight use. Semel says that the flooring or bedding also affects a dog's comfort. "Some dogs get too warm, so a plush or fuzzy mat may be too much," she says, adding that you may need to try out different options and that some dogs may prefer just a blanket or large stuffed toy.

Can I use a dog crate for travel?

Semel recommends crates for travel, adding that as a "portable bedroom," a crate allows your dog to have the same routine while away from home. Keep in mind, however, that a dog's collar or harness could become caught between the wires of a crate, so you should remove any collars or harnesses for their safety. Plastic, kennel-style options are lighter weight than other models and have handles on top so you can easily carry them with your dog inside. If you frequently drive with your dog or transport them in the back of a pickup truck, the crash-tested Gunner G1 Kennel is a perfect option.

• German broadcaster ZDF tied Elon Musk to unrest in Northern Ireland.
• Musk said he planned to take legal action over "outrageous lies."
• ZDF has now removed the language that angered Musk.

Elon Musk has achieved an initial win in his dispute with Germany's public broadcaster ZDF: The network said it would remove language about Musk's alleged role in the unrest in Northern Ireland from a program that aired last week.

That Musk is a controversial figure for German media is probably nothing new to the tech entrepreneur. But now he appears to have had enough of ZDF. On Monday evening, he announced on X that he would take "legal action" against the public broadcaster over what he called its "outrageous lies."

The trigger was the introduction to the June 12 edition of the program "ZDFheute Live" in which presenter Christina von Ungern-Sternberg stated: "A brutal attempted murder in broad daylight in Belfast. Someone records it, the video goes viral. A racist mob then hunts migrants. The call to action came from a British far-right extremist and tech billionaire Elon Musk."

Musk had not called for a hunt against migrants; he had shared a call for a demonstration posted by a far-right extremist.

On Tuesday morning, WELT reported that Hamburg-based attorney Joachim Steinhöfel had sent a legal warning letter to the broadcaster on Musk's behalf. Around 2 p.m., ZDF confirmed that it had complied with the demand for a cease-and-desist declaration and told WELT: "ZDF has submitted the declaration and removed the passage in question from the introduction. As early as Saturday, ZDF had already added a transparency notice correcting the broadcast."

With the cease-and-desist declaration, the broadcaster avoided a formal injunction lawsuit.

This may be the beginning of a longer dispute between Musk and ZDF. Earlier in the day, Steinhöfel told WELT by phone that he intended to propose that Musk review all ZDF reports about him from recent years—"at least those that are not yet time-barred"—for potential legal violations and pursue claims where appropriate.

"This is not the first case in which ZDF has commented on my client in a questionable manner," Steinhöfel said.

Musk could also demand a correction or seek damages from ZDF. Tobias Gostomzyk, professor of Media Law at TU Dortmund, said he should not expect major compensation.

"Musk would have to specifically demonstrate and prove that the reporting caused him a measurable economic loss and that this loss was causally linked to the contested statement. In practice, such proof would be very difficult to provide," the professor said.

Musk could make a claim for monetary compensation based on a violation of his general personality rights. According to established case law, such compensation is granted only in cases of serious violations that cannot be adequately remedied by other means, such as a correction, a right of reply, or an injunction.

"Even if the requirements were considered fulfilled in this case, any monetary compensation would likely be relatively modest," Gostomzyk said.

Musk could also file suit in the United States.

"Legal action against ZDF in the United States would be conceivable if the report was received there. Given Elon Musk's prominence, that seems likely. Many Germans, including significant investors, live in the United States," Steinhöfel said, adding that he was not personally handling that question.

Hans-Jürgen Homann, who is licensed to practice law in both Germany and the United States, said Musk's legal position as a "public figure" would likely be weaker in the US, where freedom of the press enjoys broader protection than in Germany.

This story originally appeared on WELT and is courtesy of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which harnesses the resources of the company's newsrooms to publish ambitious scoops, investigations, interviews, opinion pieces, and analysis. It allows journalists — including those from POLITICO, Business Insider, WELT, BILD, Onet, and Fakt — to collaborate on major stories for an international audience of hundreds of millions across platforms.

Shopping for a new TV can get overwhelming fast. Between endless spec sheets and flashy jargon, it's tough to know which models are actually worth your money. That's where I come in. I've been testing home entertainment gear for over a decade and have reviewed TVs across every display type. I know exactly what a TV at every price point should deliver to make it worthwhile, and I've used that expertise to highlight the four best TVs you can buy right now.

For most people, the Samsung S90F hits the ideal sweet spot. Its OLED panel delivers high contrast, rich colors, and deep black levels that disappear in a dark room. But if you're trying to spend less, the TCL QM6K is a standout for the money. It doesn't match OLED performance, but it punches well above its price, and with a 144Hz refresh rate, it's a great choice for budget gaming.

My team and I use calibration tools to measure a TV's picture, but we don't stop there. Our philosophy is that real-world viewing matters most. That's why we also watch movies and channel surf just like you would. We also factor in smart features, design, and value to find the best TVs across the board. All of the models I recommend are available in multiple sizes, including big-screen options perfect for the World Cup. Be sure to select the size you want from each retailer's listing.

Our top picks for the best TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90F 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best picture quality: LG G5 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best budget model: TCL QM6K 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best midrange option: TCL QM7K 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best overall: Samsung S90F

What we love: It delivers the best balance between image quality and price of any TV we've tested.

Drawbacks: Samsung's smart TV interface isn't our favorite, and color performance varies depending on the size you buy.

The Samsung S90F offers image quality that outshines most rivals in its price range. It also sports a full suite of smart features and a sleek design.

The TV's QD-OLED panel delivers pixel-level contrast and dazzling highlights that pop off the screen. Colors are brighter and more vibrant than those on midrange LG OLEDs. Black levels are also deep and inky when watching TV in a dark room.

While testing the S90F, our reviewer measured a peak brightness of about 1,460 nits, which is impressive for an OLED. This allows the S90F to reproduce HDR highlights — like explosions and sun flares — with realistic impact. The result is bold, cinematic picture quality with rich color and sharp detail. You can learn more about the benefits of HDR in our HDR TV guide.

Viewing angles are another strong suit. While LED and QLED TVs can fade when viewed off-center, the S90F maintains contrast and color accuracy from nearly any seat in the room. Gamers will also appreciate the TV's 144Hz refresh rate on PC and 120Hz support on PS5 and Xbox Series X, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Samsung's Tizen smart TV interface includes built-in access to the Xbox Cloud Gaming app, allowing Game Pass members to stream Xbox titles without a console. The platform also supports nearly every major streaming service. Navigation speed has also been improved over past Samsung TV models, with faster load times and less lag. That said, our reviewer found the interface's menu and app organization a bit clumsy.

The S90F is available in sizes from 42 to 83 inches, but only the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models use Samsung's QD-OLED panel. Smaller and larger versions still deliver great image quality, but they use standard WOLED panels, so their color range isn't as wide.

A 2026 version of this TV, called the S90H, is also available. However, it costs a lot more than the S90F and, based on initial testing, doesn't offer a big upgrade in image quality. That said, the S90H does use a glare-free screen coating to dramatically reduce reflections at the cost of contrast in bright rooms. If glare is a pain point in your space, the S90H could be worth the extra money. But otherwise, the S90F is the better value. You can learn more in my breakdown of 2026 Samsung OLED TVs.

Read our Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Best picture quality: LG G5

What we love: It delivers an exceptional combination of high contrast and brightness, and its flush design looks stunning hanging on a wall.

Drawbacks: It's expensive and doesn't come with a pedestal stand.

The LG G5 is one of the most impressive high-end TVs I've tested. It offers a brighter image than most OLEDs while maintaining pixel-perfect contrast.

Using an industry-standard 10% test pattern, I measured a peak brightness of about 2,400. That's around 1,000 nits brighter than many midrange models, such as the Samsung S90F.

Of course, what's actually important is how the TV looks when watching real-world content. And in a word, the G5 is stunning. High-brightness HDR movies, such as "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Aquaman," leap from the screen in ways I've rarely seen on an OLED, fully utilizing the G5's nearly unmatched combination of intense peak highlights and infinite contrast.

Viewing angles are also wide, allowing you to sit to the side of the screen without any significant shifts in contrast and color. Gamers even get a high 165Hz refresh rate when paired with a PC.

But while incredible on many fronts, the G5 isn't quite perfect — no display is. The TV initially had issues with banding/posterization (blocky rather than smooth colors), but LG released a firmware update to fix it. Those highly sensitive to spotting posterization may still see some banding here and there, but the G5's overall image quality is hard to beat.

The G5's webOS smart TV interface works well enough, but it isn't my favorite platform. The homepage is a bit barebones in design and features shopping recommendations too prominently. However, you still get access to all the best streaming services, and general navigation and usability are solid. I did run into some errors with hands-free voice search, but it works better when using the remote.

The TV boasts a handsome design, sturdy materials, and a slim profile. It comes with a flush wall mount that allows you to hang the panel with virtually no gap. But the trade-off is that the G5 doesn't include a traditional stand. If wall mounting isn't doable in your room, you'll have to purchase a separate stand.

It's also worth noting that a 2026 version of this TV, called the G6, is now available. I got an early look at the new model, and it offers improved processing to further minimize banding and a stronger anti-reflective coating. However, the G6 costs a lot more. Dedicated enthusiasts might want to consider the latest model, but most are better off snagging the G5 while it's available for less. You can learn more in my roundup of 2026 LG OLED TVs.

Read our LG G5 4K TV review and our guide to the best TVs for picture quality.

Best budget model: TCL QM6K

What we love: It's affordable without sacrificing key picture-quality features, and it's available in many sizes.

Drawbacks: Its image quality degrades from an angle, and it's dimmer than pricier TVs.

The QM6K is TCL's top entry-level QLED TV. The 65-inch size is often on sale for $650 or less, which is an excellent value for a TV in this class.

What sets the QM6K apart from other similarly priced TVs is its use of a Mini LED backlight and quantum dots. These features are typically reserved for pricier sets and enable the QM6K to produce higher contrast and better color than most rivals.

I was impressed by the TV's backlight control, which produced minimal blooming (halos around bright objects). It also delivered a solid HDR image with excellent saturation. However, as a budget-friendly TV, the QM6K has some limitations. The display's black levels are slightly lighter than those of pricier QLEDs, and its brightness is more limited.

I measured a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern and about 736 nits on a larger 50% test pattern. Those are decent numbers for an entry-level Mini LED, but the QM6K is notably dimmer than my other picks. As a result, bright highlights in some movies and TV shows have less impact than intended. And although viewing angles have been improved over older TCL QLEDs, they're still much narrower than those of an OLED TV.

On the plus side, the QM6K offers a significant gaming upgrade over its predecessor, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. This makes the QM6K one of the most affordable TVs that can display 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, enabling smoother motion when playing certain games.

The QM6K's Google TV interface is easy to use and snappy to navigate, with only small hiccups. When reviewing older TCL TVs, I encountered several minor glitches here and there, but the QM6K was free from bugs.

All things considered, the QM6K is the perfect starter TV for anyone who wants a budget set that still offers worthwhile HDR performance.

Read our TCL QM6K 4K TV review and our guide to the best budget TVs.

Best midrange option: TCL QM7K

What we love: It delivers color and brightness that rivals pricier TVs from other brands.

Drawbacks: Its picture quality degrades when you're at an angle, and its large pedestal stand could make placing a soundbar tricky.

TCL's QM7K is one of the best TVs in its price range. It's an especially great midrange set for those who want an extra-large screen, since its 75-, 85-, and 98-inch sizes are often on sale for excellent prices.

Similar to the more affordable QM6K, the QM7K utilizes a Mini LED backlight with quantum dots and local dimming. It also supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and runs Google TV for quick access to numerous streaming services. But what sets this pricier model apart from its cheaper sibling is its peak brightness.

The QM7K can get more than twice as bright as the QM6K. I measured a peak of around 1,800 nits on a 10% test pattern. That's more than enough to give specular highlights (like explosions) ample intensity in HDR movies and TV shows.

The TV's backlight control is also impressive. I didn't notice any major brightness fluctuations or patchy contrast in dark scenes. Likewise, halos around bright objects were almost nonexistent. Similarly, viewing angles have been improved over older models. This is still a QLED, so color and contrast do wash out at extreme angles, but you can veer farther from the center without the TV's quality degrading as much.

However, black levels aren't quite as deep as I've seen on pricier QLEDs, and the QM7K's backlight still can't match the pixel-level precision of an OLED. But given its cost, the QM7K is an excellent midrange TV. The 65-inch model is often available for $1,000 or less, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a bright QLED TV at a reasonable price.

The best TVs, compared

Why do we still recommend 2025 TV models?

For most shoppers, 2025 TVs are still the best value. They're often available at significant discounts compared with newer 2026 models, while delivering very similar picture quality and features. The latest TVs do offer some improvements, but not usually enough to justify paying hundreds more right now. We expect 2025 models to remain in stock through much of the year, but we'll update our recommendations as prices on 2026 TVs come down and older models become harder to find.

Other TVs we reviewed

Though they didn't quite make the cut for this guide, my team and I reviewed several other display models as we sought the best TVs. Here's a rundown of some other notable TVs we tested, along with details on why they didn't make our top four picks.

Samsung R95H Micro RGB 4K TV - See at Samsung

Samsung's R95H is the company's flagship Micro RGB TV for 2026. Unlike typical QLED and Mini LED sets, which use only white or blue backlights with color filters, the R95H uses an RGB backlight with red, green, and blue LEDs. This allows the backlight to produce color, which enhances performance. We measured 91% of the BT.2020 color space, the widest range we've seen on a consumer TV. However, the R95H's brightness is a bit disappointing for a flagship set, and its contrast still can't match Samsung's OLEDs.

Read our Samsung R95H review.

TCL X11L SQD 4K TV - See at Amazon

The X11L is TCL's first SQD TV, which stands for Super Quantum Dot. In essence, this is an advanced QLED set with better color and brightness than a typical QLED. In fact, this TV delivers the best brightness performance I've ever measured. It also has exceptional black-level control for a QLED. That said, it still can't match the pixel-level contrast of an OLED, and its viewing angles are narrower. It's also expensive and only available in large 75-, 85-, and 98-inch sizes. If you're a home theater enthusiast with the funds, this TV is hard to beat, but other models offer a better overall value.

Read our TCL X11L review.

LG C6H OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

LG's C6H is a new submodel in its popular C Series of OLED TVs. It's only available in 77- and 83-inch sizes, while the standard C6 is available in smaller sizes. The C6H is notably brighter than the C6 as it uses the same advanced tandem OLED technology as LG's more expensive G Series. We were impressed by its image quality, and it has the potential to be the top big-screen OLED value of 2026. However, its launch price is a bit high, so we recommend waiting for sales to see if it drops.

Read our LG C6H review.

Samsung S95F OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

The S95F is another excellent high-end TV alternative to the G5. It can't quite reach the same high brightness level, but it can offer slightly richer colors in certain content. However, the S95F uses a divisive matte screen rather than a glossy screen. The matte panel does a fantastic job of reducing reflections, but it can reduce contrast in a bright room. Samsung also sells a 2026 model, the S95H, that can get brighter than the G5 and features a unique metal bezel. But it costs a lot more, and we still prefer the G5's inkier black levels.

Read our Samsung S95F review and Samsung S95H review.

TCL QM8K QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

TCL's QM8K is one of the brand's top QLED models. It delivers excellent performance that's on par with many high-end sets from pricier brands. In particular, the QM8K boasts impressive brightness and superior contrast control compared to similar QLEDs. However, overall image quality is still surpassed by OLED models, such as the Samsung S90F. That said, if you're looking for a high-performance QLED TV for a bright room, the QM8K is an excellent choice. TCL also sells a new 2026 QM8 model, called the QM8L. It costs more but delivers even better color performance.

Read our TCL QM8K review and TCL QM8L review.

Hisense U8QG QLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

The Hisense U8QG is another excellent QLED TV for those seeking a high-brightness screen. It performs similarly to the TCL QM8K, but can get slightly brighter and features a faster 165Hz refresh rate. That said, it's limited to three HDMI ports and suffers from oversaturated reds. Ultimately, we still give an edge to similarly priced OLED displays for overall performance.

Read our Hisense U8QG review.

Samsung Frame Pro 4K TV - See at Amazon

The Frame Pro is Samsung's premium version of its popular Frame TV. Like the standard Frame, the Frame Pro is designed to look like a hanging piece of art when not in use as a TV. It accomplishes this with a matte screen that mimics the look of canvas, a flush wall-mount, interchangeable bezels, and access to a vast collection of art to display on-screen (subscription required). This high-end model can get brighter than the standard Frame, and its black-level control is better thanks to edge-lit local dimming. It also utilizes a wireless connection box, which expands your placement options within the room. However, while this is an excellent option for design-focused buyers, its overall picture quality still lags behind that of the best TVs in this guide.

Read our Samsung Frame Pro 4K TV review.

Amazon Ember Omni Mini LED TV - See at Amazon

The Omni Mini LED is Amazon's flagship TV. This model uses a Mini LED backlight to deliver higher contrast and brightness than the brand's more affordable offerings. It stacks up well against other TVs in its class, like the QM7K, but its list price is a bit high, and we prefer other smart TV systems over Amazon's Fire TV interface.

Read our Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED review.

Amazon Ember Omni QLED TV - See at Amazon

The Omni QLED is a lower midrange Amazon model that uses regular LEDs but still features local dimming. However, its brightness and color performance are underwhelming considering its price. Our reviewer also noted that most of the TV's picture modes are wildly inaccurate. For those reasons, we recommend buyers go with similarly priced alternatives from TCL and Hisense.

Read our Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review.

What TVs are we testing now?

My team and I are constantly reviewing new TV models for consideration in this guide. Here's a rundown of what we're testing right now:

• Sony Bravia 9 II True RGB TV - See at Sony
• Sony Bravia 7 II True RGB TV - See at Sony
• Hisense UR9 RGB Mini LED TV - See at Best Buy
• Samsung S90H OLED TV - See at Amazon
• TCL QM7L SQD TV - See at Amazon
• Amazon Ember Artline - See at Amazon

How we test TVs

To pick the best TVs, my team and I focus on picture quality, smart features, design, and overall value.

Picture quality: My TV testing mixes objective measurements with everyday viewing. Meters and pattern generators are used to measure a TV's brightness and color capabilities using Portrait Displays Calman software. But while test patterns are helpful, they don't tell the whole story. So I also live with each TV for a few weeks, watching movies and shows in both bright and dark environments, just like I would on my own set. This helps me spot performance quirks across different types of content. I also weigh image quality against price, as what I expect from a budget TV differs from what I expect from a flagship model.

Smart features: I spend time with each TV's smart platform to see how fast it is, how well voice search works, how many apps are available, and how intrusive the ads feel. If a TV includes unique features, I dig into those too to see whether they actually make a difference.

Design: I don't hold inexpensive TVs to the same standard as premium ones, but I do call out any major design issues. High-end models, on the other hand, should feel premium, with thin panels, metal finishes, sturdy stands, and thoughtful touches like adjustable heights or backlit remotes.

Value: Ultimately, the best TVs strike the right balance between performance and price. Expensive sets need to earn their premium with truly top-tier picture quality, while midrange and budget options should deliver features that go above and beyond what you typically get at their price.

For more details on our review process, check out our breakdown of how we test tech products.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I've been testing home entertainment gear for more than a decade, and my team and I spend all year getting hands-on with the newest TVs. I also studied film production, so I care a lot about how accurately a TV reproduces a director's intended picture. I use calibration tools, pattern generators, and benchmark discs to measure brightness and color accuracy, but numbers alone only tell part of the story. I also live with every TV I review — watching movies, streaming shows, gaming, and casually channel surfing — to see how it performs in the real world. My goal is to cut through the marketing fluff and help you find a TV that looks fantastic without spending more than you need to.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

TV FAQs

What kinds of TVs are available in 2026?

If you buy a TV in 2026, it will likely be branded as one of four primary display types: OLED, QLED, Micro RGB, or LED. Though performance varies by model, each tech has its own strengths and weaknesses.

OLED TVs (including newer QD-OLED and Four-Stack OLED models) have traditionally delivered the best overall picture quality thanks to self-lit pixels that produce perfect black levels, infinite contrast, and wide viewing angles. They're ideal for home theaters and movie lovers, and newer OLED types are bright enough for most living rooms. Downsides include lower peak brightness than the brightest LED-based TVs, higher prices, limited size options, and a small risk of burn-in with extreme use. You can learn more in our guide to the best OLED TVs.

QLED TVs use an LCD panel with an LED or Mini LED backlight and quantum dots to boost brightness and color. High-end models can get extremely bright, making them great for sunny rooms, and they're available in a wide range of sizes and prices with no burn-in risk. However, even the best QLEDs can't match OLED's contrast, and picture quality varies widely depending on whether the TV includes local dimming.

LED TVs are the most basic and affordable option. They use LCD panels with LED backlights, but lack quantum dots and typically lack local dimming and wide color support. They're best for budget shoppers who want large screens at low prices, though contrast, color, and viewing angles are generally mediocre compared to OLED and QLED.

RGB LED TVs (also called Micro RGB, RGB Mini LED, and True RGB) are an emerging technology that's similar to a QLED TV. But instead of using a quantum dot filter, RGB LED TVs use separate red, green, and blue LEDs in their backlight. This enables purer colors than QLED TVs without the burn-in concerns of OLED. That said, the technology is very new, models are limited, and contrast still can't match an emissive OLED panel. You can learn more in our breakdown of Sony True RGB tech.

And for more detailed comparisons of TV panel technology, check out our QLED vs. OLED and our RGB LED vs. Mini LED TV explainers.

What is 4K?

4K is a screen resolution used on many TVs, as well as certain computer monitors. A 4K TV has 3840 x 2160 pixels, which is four times as many as a 1080p HDTV. More pixels can make an image look sharper and more detailed, especially on larger screens. Most TVs sold today have a 4K panel, and most major streaming services and game consoles support 4K playback.

Why don't we recommend 8K TVs?

Most TV brands have stopped making new 8K TVs, with Samsung being the only major player to release 8K models in 2026. The benefits of 8K over 4K are extremely subtle and hard to notice unless you sit close to a very large screen. It's also essential to remember that 8K content is virtually nonexistent, as nearly all movies and TV shows are still produced in 4K or even lower resolutions. Ultimately, the best 4K TVs provide much better value than the few remaining 8K TVs on the market.

What size TV is best?

TVs range from compact 24-inch models to massive 100-inch-plus screens, and the right size depends on your room, seating distance, resolution, and budget. Larger TVs cost more and require more space, but they also create a more immersive viewing experience.

There's no single best TV size for everyone, but 65 inches is often the sweet spot. It strikes a great balance between cinematic impact, everyday practicality, and value, which is why many manufacturers use it as their flagship size.

If you have a certain size in mind, check out our guides below for more picks in that category:

• Best 100-inch TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs

What smart TV interfaces does each brand use?

Nearly every TV you can buy in 2026 is a smart TV, but brands use different operating systems (OS) to handle streaming apps and features.

• Fire TV: Amazon, Panasonic, Toshiba, Insignia, Pioneer, Hisense, TCL
• Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense, Onn
• Roku TV: Roku, TCL, Hisense
• Vizio OS: Vizio, Onn
• Tizen: Samsung
• webOS: LG

You can learn more about different smart TV systems in our guide to the best smart TVs.

Do you need a TV with HDMI 2.1?

HDMI 2.1 is standard on many midrange and high-end TVs and is most useful for gamers. It enables 4K at 120Hz (and sometimes higher refresh rates with a PC), along with variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) for smoother, lower-lag gameplay.

To use these features, every device in your setup must support HDMI 2.1, including your TV, gaming console or PC, and any soundbar or AV receiver used for passthrough. You'll also need 48Gbps-rated HDMI cables to handle the full bandwidth. Check out our guide to the best HDMI cables for our top recommendations.

When is the best time to buy a TV?

If you're shopping for a new TV, the best time to buy is during deal events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day. TVs often drop to their lowest prices during these sales. You can also find significant discounts in the weeks leading up to major sports events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, as well as during holidays like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

What TV brands should you consider?

The best TV brand for you depends on your budget and priorities. Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic lead the pack for premium build quality and cutting-edge OLED and QLED performance, though their midrange and entry-level models usually cost more than comparable options from rivals.

If you want strong picture quality for less, TCL and Hisense are excellent value brands. Their midrange QLED TVs often rival — or even beat — pricier models from bigger names, thanks to features like quantum dots and local dimming, even if the design and build feel less premium.

Roku and Amazon also sell their own TVs, which can be solid deals during sales but are usually less competitive at full price compared to similarly priced alternatives.

For basic, no-frills TVs, budget brands like Onn, Insignia, and Toshiba are worth considering. They offer affordable HD and 4K sets and are best suited for casual viewing, secondary rooms, or tight budgets, especially when discounted during major sales events.

You can learn more about the top offerings from different TV companies in our brand-specific buying guides:

• Best Hisense TVs
• Best Sony TVs
• Best TCL TVs
• Best LG TVs
• Best Samsung TVs
• Best Roku TVs

Do TVs offer good sound quality?

Generally speaking, TVs offer mediocre sound quality. To keep TVs thin and affordable, manufacturers use small speaker drivers, often placed in areas that lead to poor sound quality. This results in poor sound quality, characterized by muddy dialogue, flat dynamics, and a lack of bass.

We recommend purchasing a soundbar or a full surround sound system to get the best sound quality with your TV. Check out our soundbar and speaker guides to see our top recommendations:

• Best soundbars
• Best budget soundbars
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Best soundbars with subwoofers
• Best Bose soundbars
• Best Sonos soundbars
• Best surround sound systems

For more details on the latest advancements in immersive surround sound technology, check out our guide to Dolby Atmos.

Can I watch free local channels on my TV?

Most TVs include integrated digital tuners that can receive free over-the-air broadcasts when paired with an antenna and a coaxial cable. Reliable digital antennas can cost as little as $20. Check out our guide to the best indoor TV antennas to see our top recommendations.

If you live in an area with poor antenna reception but still want an alternative to cable that provides access to popular channels, check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services.

• Morale at Meta is near an all-time low, chief technical officer Andrew "Boz" Bosworth said.
• The Cambridge Analytica scandal was "probably the worst" time in terms of morale, he added.
• Meta aims to boost morale with career development and other initiatives post-layoffs.

The vibes are off at Meta, its top leadership said internally.

Meta chief technology officer Andrew "Boz" Bosworth said morale at the tech giant is near an all-time low as recent mass layoffs and internal AI initiatives roil many longtime employees.

Morale is "maybe not the worst it's ever been in 20 years here, but it's probably up there. It's definitely up there," Bosworth said during an internal "Tuesdays with Boz" chat on June 2, four people who were on the call told Business Insider.

"I can think Cambridge Analytica was probably the worst," Bosworth added in reference to the scandal about millions of Facebook users' data being used to target voters during the 2016 election.

He then added that morale is "probably one of the worst it's ever been."

Meta declined to comment for this story.

It's been a difficult year for many Meta employees. Meta laid off 10% of staff in May, citing the need to offset its huge AI investments.

Meta reassigned roughly another 10% of its workforce to train its AI models. Some staff referred to joining the mandatory task force as being "drafted" and viewed the work largely as data-labeling, Business Insider previously reported.

In April, Meta also faced employee backlash over an initiative to track their mouse movements and keystrokes to improve Meta's AI models.

Meta leadership said it has begun taking steps to improve morale. On Monday, Bosworth sent a memo to staff about how Meta needs to "be the best place for the best people to do their best work," and that he hoped to "rekindle the best of the culture" that people joined, according to a copy obtained by Business Insider, which was first reported by Wired.

"We must provide our people the support to do things the right way for the long term, including taking smart risks when the situation calls for it and to be recognized for it," the memo read.

Meta will commit to transparency from its leadership and its employees' personal and career development, Bosworth's post added.

Meta will allow people reassigned to the AI task force to reapply for other jobs within Meta if they want to, and it is increasing budgets for travel, events, and snacks, Wired reported.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at crollet@businessinsider.com or on Signal and WhatsApp at 628-282-2811. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Oil prices fell amid peace talks between the US and Iran, but that doesn't mean airfares will drop.
• Analysts say carriers are seeing favorable supply-and-demand dynamics, partly driven by the war.
• Airline CEOs aren't dismissing that lower oil prices may not lower fares.

Flyers hoping for cheaper flights this summer may be disappointed.

Oil prices — airlines' second-largest expense after labor — have tumbled below $80 a barrel from highs above $100 after the US and Iran announced a preliminary agreement to end the nearly four-month war that closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments.

Aviation analysts say airlines won't rush to cut ticket prices or their lucrative checked-bag fees even if the war between the US and Iran ends; another wrinkle is that Israel is not a direct party to the agreement.

Since the US and Israel launched the conflict in late February, carriers have cut unprofitable routes and raised fares and ancillary fees to offset higher fuel costs.

Richard Aboulafia, aviation analyst and the managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, told Business Insider that tight seat supply, combined with resilient demand, has given airlines little incentive to reverse course on pricing.

"Things are pretty good, maybe traffic is down a little, but profits aren't, right?" he said. "So why would you? Inflation is a great excuse to get more pricing power."

Data from KAYAK flight search shows that average domestic airfares are up about 8% since the war started; average international airfares are up about 18%. Fares from the US to Amsterdam and London, for example, have increased by more than $200 roundtrip.

US airlines have also raised checked bag fees by as much as $50 one-way to offset soaring oil prices, with most major carriers now charging between $40 and $50 per bag each way.

Airline CEOs at Delta, United, and Southwest aren't disputing analysts' warnings, saying resilient demand, tight capacity, and durable pricing power are reasons fares are likely to remain elevated even if oil prices ease further.

"We and our competitors are all focused on ratable production of results, steady production of results, sustainable margins, and so I do think that produces a backdrop where we'll certainly not attempt to give some of these fare increases back," Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference in May.

Don't expect flight prices to drop

Raymond James analyst Savanthi Sath told Business Insider that for airline ticket prices to fall, supply needs to increase or demand needs to soften — but she said that's unlikely, especially since oil is still up 50% year-over-year and oil shocks may continue even with a deal.

"Capacity through August is likely mostly finalized by now, so the opportunity to gain confidence to add back more capacity (or get back to the prior plan) would be in 4Q at the earliest," she said, referring to the fourth quarter that begins in October.

The Trump administration has repeatedly announced possible deals to end the war, but many ultimately fell through. The latest agreement is moving to a Friday signing, but may leave key issues unresolved, like the whereabouts of Iran's highly enriched uranium.

Officials have spoken about the deal in broad statements, but its specific terms remain secret. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump warned that if Iran were to acquire a nuclear weapon, "all hell will rain down on them."

Time will tell how durable the US-Iran agreement proves to be, and some airlines may be hedging their bets. United CEO Scott Kirby told Bloomberg at an industry conference in early June that he is not confident any deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would last.

Sath added that airlines in general may also be hesitant to add capacity after a series of shocks over the past two years, including persistent inflation that has driven up operating costs and two government shutdowns that caused mass flight delays and cancellations.

NerdWallet travel analyst Sally French told Business Insider that the pricing picture also has to factor in Spirit Airlines' collapse in May and the loss of its cheaper tickets.

"With fewer seats and one fewer ultra-low-cost carrier, we're generally not seeing the kind of downward pressure on fares that budget-conscious travelers want," she said.

As for checked bag fees, all three analysts say they are unlikely to drop. Data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows US airlines made roughly $5.5 billion in revenue from checked bag fees in 2025.

"Changes there tend to be stickier regardless of the demand environment," Sath said, adding that it should be a while before bag fees increase further if oil prices are lower.

• Microsoft wanted to lease Oracle's cloud, sources say. The deal could have been worth more than $3 billion.
• Oracle didn't want to add a security framework to handle U.S. government data to its public cloud.
• Microsoft walked away from the deal and is exploring other options.

Microsoft was recently in talks with Oracle about leasing the company's cloud infrastructure, but the deal fell through due to security and compliance concerns, according to people familiar with the matter.

One of the people said that the deal could have been worth more than $3 billion.

The failed talks highlight a growing reality of the AI boom: even the world's largest technology companies are running short on computing power. As demand for AI services soars, cloud providers like Microsoft are increasingly competing not just for customers but for the infrastructure and capacity needed to run their own products.

That scramble is driving an unusual wave of partnerships, capacity-sharing agreements, and multibillion-dollar infrastructure deals as companies race to secure enough computing resources to support the next generation of AI.

Microsoft recently projected that its capital expenditures for the 2026 calendar year will reach $190 billion, largely to expand data center capacity. The company has already turned to Amazon to add capacity for its GitHub code development business to address recent outages.

Microsoft is seeking a deal or deals with other cloud providers to prioritize its own Azure cloud computing resources on customers, the people said. "We are shopping for capacity everywhere," one of the people said.

The plan was to move some Microsoft workloads to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, but Oracle's public cloud did not have the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), a standardized security framework that ensures cloud services are secure enough to handle U.S. government data. Oracle was not willing to add this framework, one of the people said.

"The details mentioned in the article are inaccurate," an Oracle spokesperson said, declining to specify the inaccuracies. Microsoft is both an OCI partner and a customer. We have a tremendously collaborative and fruitful partnership, where we often talk about ways we can expand upon our ongoing work together."

Microsoft declined to comment.

An Oracle executive told Business Insider that adding FedRAMP to Oracle's public cloud (versus its government cloud, which already meets it) would be a massive engineering lift.

Microsoft is still evaluating and exploring options for leasing cloud infrastructure, the people familiar with the talks said. Amazon and Google's public clouds have FedRAMP.

Other big tech companies have been making similar deals.

SpaceX and Google recently disclosed a new deal in which Google will pay SpaceX $920 million a month for AI compute capacity from October 2026 to June 2029. That emerged just two months after Google's own cloud business agreed to sell AI compute capacity to Anthropic.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at astewart@businessinsider.com or Signal at +1-425-344-8242. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Jon Gustin is a writer, podcast host, and content creator known for his candid takes on modern fatherhood and burnout.
• "The Tired Dad" offers a relatable portrait of modern fatherhood, blending humor with insight into the realities of raising kids today.
• This is an adapted excerpt from his book, out now.

I'm exhausted by my children who constantly need my full attention.

My full attention watching a monster truck do the same flip 20 times over a cardboard box. My full attention watching the 15th cartwheel or the third puppet show in the last five minutes. I'm exhausted by these children who need me to get them another snack because they didn't like the first one. Who need me to help them burn off energy so they'll finally fall asleep. Who need me to sit beside them through a bedtime routine they're fighting because of nightmares.

When my daughter was 5 years old, she asked me to have a tea party with her. I was running around trying to get some work done on a deadline, so I told her I didn't have time.

I can still see the disappointed look on her face.

Time with kids is fleeting

Some days, I feel like I'm hitting the mark of what it means to be a good dad. Other days, like that tea party day, not so much. These moments of parenthood are undeniably fleeting. There are days when I look at my kids and think about how many times I was busy and missed the little things.

Sometimes I enter a mental spiral of everything I've done wrong, and feel the guilt crushing me. When my daughter asked me to join her tea party, should I have stopped what I was doing, called off work, and joined in? Of course, the answer depends on so many things — if I'm under a deadline at work, if she can wait until later that day, if this is the first tea party I've said no to this week or the 10th.

When I finally take a break, I feel guilty, like I'm selfish for not having infinite reserves of patience and energy. But the guilt dissipates as I realize I'm allowed to feel exhausted by being needed so completely. I'm allowed to want a breather without it diminishing my love for my kids. And what a privilege it is to be needed in this way. They are my everything. And, sometimes, they just need to go to sleep.

If my standard as a good dad is being present in my kids' lives, there are going to be days when I don't meet that standard. And it's true for us all. No matter how much we try to do the right thing, there are times we are going to fall short—at least to our standards. We're never going to measure up. Why? Because we're good fathers.

Dads need rest, too

I played golf when I was a teenager, and one summer, I spent countless hours practicing for a tournament. On tournament day, I was burned out. My mental mistakes stacked up, and frustration consumed me. My coach pulled me aside afterward and said, "Take some time off. Practice, but don't overdo it."

I took his advice, and a week later, I won my first tournament of the season. The difference wasn't skill; it was rest and self-awareness. Golf is hard, just like parenting. Even the professionals make rookie mistakes. But bad games don't make bad golfers, and bad days don't make bad parents.

Parenting is a marathon, not a sprint, and your love for your children isn't measured by how perfect you are on the hardest days. It's measured by showing up, resting when you need to, and coming back ready to try again.

Guilt is a sign of a good parent

Sure, there are going to be those moments when we say, "I messed up. I need to do better." There are days when we're distracted or stressed — we're all humans with responsibilities — and even though we would like to enjoy a never-ending bliss of tea parties, it isn't realistic. Moments will come and go, and there's nothing we can do about it. We snatch at them as they whoosh by, hoping to grab as many good ones as we can.

If you feel guilty in some of these situations, you need to hear that it's actually because you're a good parent. Bad parents don't feel guilty about this. Bad parents don't put their kids first. Bad parents don't wonder whether they're doing a good job or how they could improve.

You're not a bad parent. You're not a bad father. This is the measure of a good dad.

Excerpt adapted from "The Tired Dad. 100 Reflections on Showing Up for What Matters Most." Copyright © 2026 by Jon Gustin. Excerpted by permission of Convergent Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Founder of The Tired Dad and podcast host, Jon Gustin can be found online at @thetireddad.

Why we love this deal

The AirPods Pro have a reputation of their own, iconic in design and known for comfortable audio that you can live in. The latest generation is the top pick in our guide to the best AirPods, and ahead of Prime Day, they're down to an incredible low price.

Though they're listed at $250, the AirPods Pro 3 are most often available for as low as $200. Currently down to $180, this is an absolute steal. There's a chance they may drop even lower for Amazon Prime Day on June 23, but it's very unlikely to be a very substantial difference.

AirPods Pro 3 — $249 $180 at Amazon

Why you'll love them

If you haven't already been influenced by the hordes of AirPods users seen online and around the world, the AirPods Pro 3 are earbuds worth investing in. They're our top AirPods pick for a reason. For iPhone users, they integrate seamlessly into smartphone usage, making the transition between speaker and earbuds as simple as opening the AirPods case. Even if you use a different phone, you'll still be impressed with the device's connectivity and audio quality.

The Pros offer active noise cancellation (ANC) that the cheaper models don't, and as a frequent traveler, I can testify to their effectiveness. On planes, they eliminate the incessant hum of engines or chatter of passersby; in coffee shops, I can focus on work without the distraction of other conversations. It's easy to switch to Transparency mode as well, allowing you to hear your surroundings more clearly without ever pausing your music.

Keep tabs on our Prime Day coverage to prepare for the huge deal event.

Follow our Instagram and WhatsApp channels for more deals and buying guides.

• A Dairy Queen Blizzard is typically made with soft serve and a range of customizable mix-ins
• So far, I've tasted 31 Blizzards from the menu, including seasonal and limited-edition flavors.
• I've ranked the Blizzards from worst to best, and my favorite flavor is still the seasonal s'mores.

Dairy Queen is one of Warren Buffett's most famous businesses — he acquired it for almost $600 million in the late '90s.

Decades later, it's still worth millions and is considered one of the leading dessert and snack chains in North America. And at the core of its success might be one of its signature desserts: The Blizzard, a frozen treat blended with all sorts of mix-ins.

Blizzard flavors come and go, and I'm always hunting for the best one. So, since August 2020, I've been eating and ranking every Dairy Queen Blizzard I could get my hands on. 

Here's how the Blizzards I've tried so far stack up, ranked from my least favorite to my top pick. 

Editor's Note: Availability may vary. This list includes limited-edition and seasonal flavors that don't always return.

Cotton Candy Blizzard

For me, the first problem with this seasonal Blizzard was the texture. It had these chewy, colorful bits of sugar sprinkles that felt a bit off — like they weren't supposed to be there.

However, the almost unbearable sweetness of this Blizzard is what earned it a spot at the bottom of my list. This dessert tasted like pure sugar to me, and my teeth still ache a bit thinking about it.

I could picture younger kids absolutely loving this, but I can't see myself ordering this again.

M&M's Blizzard

Many people picture M&M's candies when they think of a classic ice-cream mix-in. That symphony of crunchy, chocolaty bits with smooth, creamy dessert is a kid's kryptonite on a summer afternoon.

My M&M's Blizzard came exactly as expected — with the bite-sized candies slightly crushed and evenly dispersed throughout the vanilla soft serve. It was a simple yet satisfying option.

Even so, this Blizzard was pretty underwhelming, especially when compared to the other ones on the menu. I think it could've benefited from the addition of brownie chunks to make the chocolate flavor of the candies stand out more. 

Royal Rocky Road Trip Blizzard

Full disclosure: I don't care much for rocky-road ice cream, so I knew I wasn't going to be wild about this one from the start. 

This Blizzard contains all the essential flavors typically found in rocky-road ice cream: chocolate, peanuts, and marshmallow.

This dessert also contained brownie chunks, plus a gooey marshmallow core in the center of the cup. I can see this being a dream for anyone who loves marshmallows, but I felt that the core overpowered the rest of the Blizzard.

At one point, I thought the peanuts were missing, but they'd really just collected at the very bottom of the cup, which made every bite pretty inconsistent.

Very Cherry Chip Blizzard

This Blizzard absolutely lives up to its name. To me, it tasted exactly like a cherry slushie.

It's very, very sweet, but I didn't find that totally off-putting. The bits of cherry in this offered a nice pop of tart flavor that made my lips pucker.

My order also contained plenty of tasty chocolate chunks, which cut through some of that intense fruity sweetness.

I believe this Blizzard will appeal to a lot of people (Shirley Temple fans, looking at you), but it was too sweet for me to find it enjoyable after a few bites.

If I wanted a fruit-forward Blizzard, I'd go with the Raspberry Fudge Bliss instead. (More on that one later).

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party Blizzard

I'm still confused about what the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Party was supposed to be.

I thought it would have chunks of peanut-butter cookie dough, but it actually contained chocolate-chip cookie dough.

Peanut-butter topping was swirled into DQ's signature vanilla soft serve and — even more confusing — it had a crunchy peanut-brittle topping and sprinkles, which, for me, just added an awkward crunchiness.

Still, it wasn't bad. The sauce was blended so seamlessly into the vanilla soft serve that it tasted like peanut-butter ice cream.

However, I think DQ would be better off pairing peanut butter with something that contrasts its nutty flavor more, like dark-chocolate brownies.

Wonder Woman Cookie Collision Blizzard

With such a fun name, I had high hopes for this limited-edition Blizzard. Unfortunately, it underwhelmed me. 

Essentially, it's a hodgepodge of chocolaty flavors. Mix-ins include chocolate-chip and chocolate-chocolate cookie dough, which were pretty much indistinguishable from each other.

This had potential, but the similar toppings didn't add much flavor. I had a hard time distinguishing this from the regular cookie-dough Blizzard, which is disappointing.

Heath Blizzard

I was eager to try the Blizzard because I think Heath is an excellent, underrated candy bar.

The Heath candy bits were finely chopped and distributed well throughout the soft serve. This gave the entire Blizzard a strong toffee taste, which I personally loved.

However, the biggest issue with this one was the texture. Toffee is notoriously sticky and hard, especially when paired with a cold substance.

As I ate my Blizzard, I noticed small bits of the candy getting stuck to my teeth, which made me unwilling to finish it.

Oreo Dirt Pie Blizzard

Although I never attended summer camp myself, I have many fond childhood memories of eating Oreo dirt pies at birthday parties.

Normally, the dessert is made using pudding as a base, but here, DQ is putting its own spin on this with its soft serve.

I appreciate the sentiment DQ was trying to convey here, and I'm sure kids will go nuts for this, but I'm not sold on the idea of gummy worms mixed into soft serve.

As a topping, gummy worms are fine. However, I didn't care for getting random bites of chewy candy in my Blizzard. There was already enough texture from the cookie pieces and fudge. Plus, it's not like the gummies added that much flavor.

On a more positive note, I loved how the added extra fudge crumbles really doubled down on the chocolate flavor.

Ultimately, I'd much rather get the regular Oreo Cookie Blizzard, which tastes similar but has no unpleasant gummy-worm additions.

Nestlé Drumstick with Peanuts Blizzard

This Blizzard brought me back to childhood days at my grandma's house, where I'd often dig in her freezer in search of chocolaty Drumsticks.

And every time, I'd devour the cone in minutes, and my fingers (and the floor) would end up covered in chocolate.

Years later, I'm still a fan of Drumsticks, but I rarely eat them to avoid the mess. Thankfully, DQ has largely solved that issue by creating a Blizzard with Drumstick bits blended right in that I can enjoy with the convenience of a spoon.

And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. As is the case with most of its Blizzards, the vanilla soft serve made for the perfect base, accentuating the peanut-waffle-cone-Nestlé chocolate flavor in the mix-ins.

Peanut was definitely the predominant flavor, but it wasn't so overpowering that I didn't taste the chocolate.

I wish the peanut bits were larger, though, since they kept getting stuck in my teeth. I understand the peanuts on a drumstick are tiny as is, so there was no changing this.

Still, if you're looking for a peanut-butter dessert that's not too chocolaty or sweet, try this Blizzard. 

Picnic Peach Cobbler Blizzard

In my mind, peach cobbler is usually served warm and topped with ice cream, so I was curious about this deconstructed Blizzard version.

Overall, this was so-so. The tiny chunks of cold cobbler were easily the star of the show, offering a buttery flavor that was delicious against DQ's basic vanilla soft serve and a shortbread-like texture that was pleasantly crumbly.

That said, I don't know if the peach-topping swirls worked for me. It could have been how my Blizzard was mixed, but I found the flavor distribution to be wildly inconsistent — I had to dig around before I got any peach flavor. 

Oreo Cookie Blizzard

Although I enjoyed this Blizzard, it seemed super similar to cookies-and-cream ice cream.

On a positive note, DQ's signature vanilla soft serve tasted mellower and had a more delicate finish than what you'd find at the grocery store. I also liked that I could taste the Oreo icing. 

However, I probably wouldn't order this one again unless I was on the go and craving something familiar. For the price, I would rather purchase a pint of high-quality cookies-and-cream ice cream from the grocery store.

Mixing Bowl Mashup Blizzard

Given its name, I expected this would contain a mix of brownie and cookie-dough chunks, but I only found the latter.

The dough provided more texture than flavor under the blend of vanilla and chocolaty brownie-batter soft serve.

More than anything, this tasted like a Wendy's Frosty to me — not bad, just underwhelming.

Ultimate Cookie Blizzard

Introduced in 2024 as June's Blizzard of the Month, this Ultimate Cookie Blizzard is made for people who appreciate lots of texture.

Featuring a blend of vanilla soft serve and Nabisco's finest — Chips Ahoy, Oreos, and Nutter Butters — every spoonful from start to finish contained some bit of cookie chunk. Yum!

Sadly, the Chips Ahoy cookies were barely detectable under the flavor from the Nutter Butter and rich cocoa notes coming from the Oreos.

I'm not complaining because it's all tasty, but I wouldn't call this as memorable or impressive as the Oreo Brookie Blizzard.

Choco Brownie Extreme Blizzard

As a chocolate lover, I was surprised that I didn't like this one as much as I'd hoped. This Blizzard is proof that there can be too much of a good thing.

This comes with brownie pieces, chocolate fudge, and chocolate chunks. I enjoy all those things individually, but it's almost too much when they're all packed together in an 8-ounce cup.

It was clear to me that the chewy brownie chunks were the star of the show, and the other two chocolaty components didn't add much. The brownies were so fudgy that they blended together with the fudge chunks, too.

Part of me feels like the fudge chunks were thrown in just to give this Blizzard its "extreme" name. 

The kicker of this dessert is that it came with vanilla soft serve — not chocolate — but I honestly couldn't taste it underneath all of the toppings. 

Butterfinger Blizzard

This Blizzard consists of vanilla soft serve and a generous amount of nutty, scrumptious Butterfinger bits. I immediately noticed the little orange bits sticking out of the creamy soft serve when it was handed to me.

Taste-wise, this Blizzard was good but not incredible. The candy bar seemed ground to a fine powder, allowing the nutty flavor to blend seamlessly into the soft serve.

However, I felt the candy's chocolate coating got completely lost in the mixing process.

Snickers Blizzard

The symphony of textures makes Snickers one of the US's most beloved candy bars, and the same holds true when it's paired with delicious vanilla soft serve.

Yummy chocolate, smooth caramel, and crunchy peanuts gave this one a pleasant blend of flavors without overpowering the soft serve itself.

Of the candy-themed Blizzards I tried, this was one of the better ones.

Brownie Batter Blizzard

Don't ever try to tell me that brownie flavor and brownie-batter flavor are the same thing — they're not.

This Blizzard is evidence of that, as it had an almost malted flavor, making it slightly sweeter than other chocolate ones I tried. I absolutely loved it.

This tasted like someone froze a bowl of brownie batter. Even better, DQ was not skimpy about the brownie chunks.

I got a bit of chewy, fudgy brownie in every single bite — even as I approached the bottom of the cup.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard

As advertised, this Blizzard came with vanilla soft serve and noticeable chunks of Reese's peanut-butter cups.

As expected, everything tasted great. The Reese's chunks had that familiar melt-in-your-mouth flavor that I know and love. However, the further I got into my Blizzard, the fewer peanut-butter cups there were, and the less enjoyable it became.

Still, if I had to choose a candy-themed Blizzard, I'd probably order this one again over some of the others.

Peanut Butter Puppy Chow Blizzard

Puppy chow — or "muddy buddies" depending on where you grew up — is a common snack at many a childhood sleepover, movie night, holiday party, or school event. It's a treat made using basic cereal like Chex, melted chocolate, peanut butter, and powdered sugar.

I'm not surprised Dairy Queen turned it into a mix-in. Still, I wasn't blown away by this flavor. 

It was tasty, and the peanut-butter flavor came through nicely on every bite.

However, in my order, the few squares of puppy chow in the mix were clumped toward the bottom. When I did eat a piece, though, it was delicious and nicely softened under the weight of the soft serve while still retaining a slight crispiness.

The pieces also seemed to add a subtle salty taste that I felt was missing with the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard.

Oreo Fudge Brownie Blizzard

Like the chain's traditional Oreo Cookie Blizzard, this comes with vanilla soft serve and chewy Oreo bits. The main difference is that this takes the Blizzard to the next level by adding fudge and yummy brownie pieces.

This was good, but it wasn't much of a standout to me because the Oreos seemed to fade into the background.

The brownies dominated the dessert, which wasn't a problem for me as a chocolate lover, but it made me question whether the Oreos were necessary at all. 

Turtle Pecan Cluster Blizzard

The blend of buttery pecans, caramel, and vanilla on this Blizzard was absolutely divine. I also liked that my order contained pieces of whole pecans. 

However, I found the chocolate fudge shavings to be unnecessary because they weren't noticeable at all. That said, this Blizzard earns high marks for its uniqueness and great taste. 

Caramel Drumstick with Peanuts Blizzard

You may be thinking, "Wait a second, Dairy Queen has always had a Drumstick Blizzard with peanuts." Correct. This one is different — it has all that and caramel.  

Visually, it looks no different from the other Drumstick Blizzard. However, as soon as I took that first bite, it was clear this was a huge step above the original.

The caramel topping was blended seamlessly into the soft serve, offering a tasty touch of sweetness that paired incredibly well with the peanuts and chocolaty Drumstick pieces.

In all, it's a wonderful combination of slightly salty, sweet, and nutty flavors.

People who are hoping to get huge globs of gooey caramel might be disappointed. However, if you want something that's delicious and sweet but not quite as intense as some of the candy-flavored Blizzards, this will hit the spot.

Oreo Brookie Blizzard

Just when you think DQ hasn't done enough with Oreo, the chain adds tiny, dime-sized chunks of brownie-and-chocolate-chip-cookie hybrids. The more cookies, the better. 

Upon the first spoonful, I thought this Blizzard tasted like a typical cookies-and-cream one. Once I got a piece of the brookie, though, I understood why this was so special.

The brookie pieces brought a yummy, fudgy chewiness that was absolutely delightful in contrast to the slightly crunchy Oreos.

The chocolate-chip-cookie component brought in a buttery sweetness that popped against the vanilla soft serve. It was kind of like eating chocolate-chip-cookie-dough and cookies-and-cream ice cream with brownie chunks all at once. It was delicious.

Even though the chocolate was the standout flavor here, I didn't find it as intensely cocoa-flavored as the Oreo Brownie Blizzard. Since the chunks of brookie were smaller than a coin, they didn't really overpower the Oreo flavor.

Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard

This Blizzard came with chunks of cheesecake, crunchy fudge pieces, and Oreo cookies.

I accidentally ordered this with chocolate soft serve instead of the default vanilla, but I didn't feel that made too much of an impact on the flavor.

In my opinion, this is a great option for the cheesecake lover who also wants a little bit of chocolate.

The ratio between the two star mix-ins was fairly even, which meant no one taste dominated the other. In fact, they enhanced each other. The cocoa in the Oreos popped each time I got a bite of them with the creamy cheesecake.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard

Cookie dough is one of the most popular ice-cream flavors in the US, and I get why. 

The dough bits in this Blizzard were just the right size — and, best of all, there were so many of them. This Blizzard was heaven with a great ratio of soft serve to cookie dough. 

The chocolate fudge really made this Blizzard stand out from basic store-bought cookie-dough ice cream.

The fudge made the soft serve extra chocolaty, which brought out the sweetness of the doughy bits.

Girl Scout Thin Mints Blizzard

Frozen Thin Mints are a thing for a reason, and I'm glad DQ found a way to harness that perfectly cool, chocolaty deliciousness into a Blizzard.

Here, the soft serve had a delicate minty flavor that tasted like a dead ringer for the iconic cookie. The vanilla soft serve with mint swirled into it created a pleasant, refreshing sweetness.

The bits of Thin Mint cookies were basically the cherry on top here: perfectly chewy, with their smooth chocolate flavor dancing on the creamy, cool vanilla-mint swirl.

This turned out to be one of my favorite Blizzards. The addition of a fudgy chocolate swirl is the only thing that could make this even better. 

Raspberry Fudge Bliss Blizzard

My initial thought on seeing this Blizzard was that it seemed the most "adult" to me because it's got actual fruit in it. 

By far, the best part of this Blizzard was the fresh raspberries. They added a layer of tartness that counteracted the intensity of the chocolate-fudge chunks.

I just wish there were more of them in the Blizzard because once I got a quarter of the way in, all that I tasted was vanilla and chocolate.

Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard

Frosted animal cookie pieces and confetti frosting combine to give this Blizzard the perfect level of sweetness.

The sugary cookies also had a nice chewiness and stood up well to the soft serve without getting soggy. 

Best of all, after a few bites, the colorful icing and sprinkles on the cookies melted into the Blizzard, which made the entire thing taste like a delicious confetti cake.

Royal New York Cheesecake Blizzard

I'm always a fan of a good dessert within a dessert when it's executed well — fortunately, this Blizzard was a hit. 

The creamy cheesecake chunks made for a superb mix-in: They had a slightly chewy yet smooth texture that stood up well to Dairy Queen's soft serve. I also found that they had a pleasant, sweet flavor that didn't taste artificial or overly sugary.

However, it was the strawberry mixture in the center that seriously elevated this Blizzard. As soon as I got to the core, strawberry flavor began to seep into every corner of the cup, giving every subsequent bite a burst of fruity flavor.

Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake Blizzard

Bright, fruity, and delicious, this Blizzard tasted like something you'd pay big bucks for at a creamery.

The cheesecake chunks were plentiful and melt-in-your-mouth soft, and the strawberry topping was blended so fine that it permeated through every corner of the ultra-smooth vanilla soft serve.

I hardly noticed the chocolate chunks mixed into this one, but I didn't mind because the rest was so delicious.

I'd happily take 10 more of this Blizzard.

S'mores Blizzard

When two classics come together, you're bound to end up with something delicious. That's exactly what happened with the S'mores Blizzard, which is why it was my absolute favorite.

Unlike the Royal Rocky Road, which was overpowered by marshmallow, and Chocolate Brownie Extreme, which was too chocolaty, the S'mores Blizzard had just the right amount of everything. 

Instead of mini marshmallows, which can easily turn rubbery when cold, this contains chocolate chunks with marshmallow filling and a marshmallow topping. It also has graham-cracker pieces and dust coursing throughout the entire Blizzard, giving the soft serve that irresistible, toasty flavor.

Because of the graham-cracker dust, every bite tastes like a s'more. In other words, this Blizzard is the perfect summer treat, and I can't wait to order it again soon.

This story was originally published on August 17, 2020, and most recently updated on June 16, 2026.

• Rivian confirmed that it laid off less than 2% of its workforce on Tuesday.
• The carmaker faces a crucial year as it launches the R2 midsize SUV, its most important product.
• The carmaker says it remains confident in the new car after its June 9 launch.

Rivian is doing a small round of layoffs hot on the heels of its latest vehicle launch.

The EV maker is cutting less than 2% of its workforce amid a make-or-break year.

"We recently restructured a handful of teams within Rivian as we work to profitably scale our business," a company spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement.

The cuts affected some teams in Rivian's service and customer organization, which includes go-to-market functions such as sales and marketing, the spokesperson said. The company said the changes are intended to help Rivian scale more efficiently as it works toward building a healthy and profitable business.

A person familiar with the layoffs told Business Insider that some affected employees were notified directly by managers.

The layoffs come as Rivian launches its third — and most important — consumer product, the midsize R2 SUV. The company's two other passenger vehicles, the R1T pickup and the R1S three-row SUV, have helped establish Rivian as a premium EV brand but have not made the company profitable on a net income basis.

Rivian began delivering the first R2s to customers on June 9. The midsize SUV slots into America's most popular vehicle segment and competes with Tesla's Model Y, one of the world's best-selling cars.

The spokesperson said Rivian remains confident in the R2 and the company's ability to deliver and ramp the five-seater to customers.

Affected workers are eligible for rehire and are encouraged to apply for other open roles at Rivian, the spokesperson said. The company is providing severance packages, benefits, and career-transition services.

• Robinhood's CEO says business is thriving and it's cutting jobs to "maximize our talent density."
• "Our ambitions require us to continuously raise our own bar," Vlad Tenev wrote in a layoff memo.
• The trading platform isn't the only company that's drawn connections between worker performance and cuts.

Robinhood has a message for workers losing their jobs: The company isn't struggling. You are.

That's the crux of Tuesday's layoff memo from the CEO of the trading platform. It's the latest example of a high-profile company trimming head count while simultaneously saying it's doing well.

"Robinhood's business has never been stronger," wrote Vlad Tenev while announcing plans to reduce 10% of the company's workforce. Robinhood had 2,900 full-time employees at the end of 2025, according to a February securities filing.

Tenev didn't explicitly call the "Robinhoodies" being let go low performers, as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg did of staff booted from his Facebook parent last year. Tenev did, though, draw a clear contrast between the workforce Robinhood is shedding and the one it wants to keep.

"Our execution is strong today, but our ambitions require us to continuously raise our own bar," he wrote, while saying he was grateful to those departing. "The goal is to maximize our talent density."

Anthony Klotz, a professor at the University College London School of Management, said the memo's subtext is clear: "This was a performance-based decision."

'No job is 100% secure'

Tenev's statement illustrates how the rationale for layoffs has evolved in recent years. Instead of citing weak business conditions, some executives are arguing that cuts are necessary to create leaner organizations staffed by fewer, higher-performing employees. For workers losing their jobs, though, the distinction may offer little comfort.

"The overarching message for everybody is that no job is 100% secure," said Lee Harding, a recruiter for a global search firm.

For those at Robinhood in particular, he expects the takeaway to also be personal: If he were among those let go, he said he'd interpret Tenev's message as meaning "I'm not good enough."

Robinhood declined to comment.

In a securities filing Tuesday, Robinhood said the cuts come as June's month-to-date average daily trading volumes hit record levels across equities, options, and prediction markets. That follows the company's April report that first-quarter cryptocurrency revenue dropped 47% year over year to $134 million, reflecting weaker retail trading amid a slump in crypto markets.

Operating lean

Microsoft, Block, and several other employers have also described their businesses as robust while conducting layoffs. Some have cited AI as a reason for job cuts while also encouraging still-employed workers to embrace the technology.

A common thread in recent layoff memos is a desire to cut down on middle-management layers. The change reflects lessons from companies' overhiring during the pandemic, AI's automation capabilities, and economic uncertainty, said Melissa Swift, founder and CEO of organizational consultancy Anthrome Insight.

"When you operate lean, you can pivot more quickly," she said.

Robinhood framed the job cuts around removing layers, demanding "high performance," and creating opportunities for its "most talented people." Those words appear to be aimed as much at the workers who remain as those who are leaving, said Richard Smith, a professor at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School who runs the Human Capital Development Lab.

"Organizations aren't firing their top talent," he said, meaning that others could be at risk.

Moving forward

On one hand, the memo could create anxiety for those who remain.

"Workers left behind are likely thinking: 'I could be the low performer tomorrow,' " Swift said.

Alternatively, Robinhood's language could reassure workers who survived the cuts that management views them as part of the company's future and believes it has retained its strongest people, Smith said.

Signaling an intent to "take care of the remainder" can ease concerns among workers — and prospective employees — who could worry that more layoffs are coming, he added.

• Yum! Brands has sold Pizza Hut amid declining sales and market competition challenges.
• LongRange Capital and Yum China Holdings will acquire the iconic chain in a $2.7 billion deal.
• Yum! Brands will refocus on its other brands: KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger.

Pizza Hut is getting a new owner after years of weak sales and growing questions about the future of one of America's best-known pizza brands.

Yum! Brands said Tuesday it entered into agreements to sell Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion, splitting the business between two buyers. LongRange Capital, a private equity firm, will acquire Pizza Hut outside mainland China for about $1.5 billion, while Yum China Holdings will buy the chain's mainland China business for about $1.2 billion.

The sale follows Yum's strategic review of Pizza Hut, which began last year after the chain posted its eighth consecutive quarter of same-store sales declines, Business Insider previously reported. At the time, Yum CEO Chris Turner said Pizza Hut needed "additional action" to unlock its full value and suggested that work "may be better executed outside Yum! Brands."

The deal is unlikely to come as a complete surprise to employees, said Kim Cerda, managing director and organizational change and culture practice lead at HudsonLake, a MikeWorldWide company that advises companies during mergers and organizational changes.

"This is really not the beginning, but a continuation of changes already underway," she said. For years, she added, employees have likely "been living under lots of change and pressure" as the chain has struggled.

LongRange is pitching itself as a hands-on operator rather than a financial buyer. In a statement announcing the deal, the firm said it plans to invest in Pizza Hut's growth and build on its franchise system and global footprint. Yum said Pizza Hut would be "well positioned for future growth" under LongRange and Yum China.

That message will be critical for workers and franchisees evaluating the chain's new owner.

"People know it's being bought by private equity, so they already know that means things are going to have to change," Cerda said. The challenge for LongRange, she said, will be balancing those changes with a convincing case that the investment is meant to "re-energize and revitalize the brand."

Across the two transactions, Yum expects to receive about $2.3 billion in net proceeds after taxes, closing adjustments, and transaction-related fees, excluding a potential $75 million earn-out by 2030. The company said it expects roughly $85 million in one-time costs to complete the separation.

The deal comes as Pizza Hut faces challenges beyond slowing sales. Business Insider previously reported that Yum planned to close 250 underperforming Pizza Hut locations during the first half of 2026. In May, a Pizza Hut franchisee sued the chain over its Dragontail restaurant management system, alleging it caused operational disruptions and customer service problems. Pizza Hut said at the time it was reviewing the claims and would respond through the appropriate legal channels.

For Yum, the sale sharpens its focus on its other brands: KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill. For LongRange, it is a bet that operational improvements can revive a chain whose red roof remains iconic while its business has struggled to keep pace with rivals.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert at ktl@businessinsider.com or Signal at byktl.50. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Iraq and Norway are set to face off in a Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both teams looking to gain an early edge in the race for the knockout rounds. The matchup comes just days into the tournament, making it an important opportunity for each side to pick up points before the group stage intensifies. Keep reading to learn where to watch Iraq vs. Norway from wherever you are in the world.

To spoil the story, you can watch the countries face off on FOX in the US, BBC iPlayer in the UK, and SBS on Demand in Australia. We recommend using a VPN to stream the entire tournament (and future sporting events) from anywhere in the world. You can keep tabs on the rest of the tournament and learn how to catch your team in our where to watch the World Cup guide, or try your chance at scoring tickets with our guide to buying World Cup tickets.

*Local channels, like FOX, vary by region on Sling TV.

Where to watch Iraq vs. Norway for free

Luckily for fans, there are plenty of ways to catch this match at no cost. In Australia, tune in via SBS On Demand; in the UK, via BBC iPlayer. In the US, the best way to see it without incurring a fee is to sign up for a free trial of Fubo or YouTube TV. Or you can use a VPN, as detailed below, to use one of the other free live streams from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Iraq vs. Norway from anywhere

Found yourself away during the match? Don't sweat the details — you can access the Iraq vs. Norway match from anywhere in the world using a VPN (virtual private network). This simple app lets users change their device's location, granting access to their favorite free streaming service from anywhere. It's a helpful tool outside of just streaming the game, especially for avid travelers hoping to access their usual services from abroad and folks interested in cybersecurity.

We recommend NordVPN, one of the top picks in our guide to the best VPNs, for catching the game. Fast, easy to use, and home to a variety of global servers, it'll have you covered for the whole tournament. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Where to watch Iraq vs. Norway in the US

Just like the rest of the World Cup, the Iraq vs. Norway game will air on FOX in the US (some other matches will be available through FS1). To tune into the channel, you'll need cable, an antenna, or a paid streaming subscription. For this game specifically, you can catch it for free by signing up for a free Fubo or YouTube TV trial.

Interested in a streaming service to keep in the long term? You'll be covered for the full World Cup tournament with Fox One ($20 a month), which is also available as an add-on to Prime Video. Alternatively, a live TV package could be the right solution for your home, since it'll offer you more than just Fox — check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services to find your perfect fit.

Fubo Sports + News ($56 a month) is a great choice, offering Fox, FS1, and about 27 other channels. If you're hoping to find a more inclusive service, Fubo's pricier plans are a good choice with even more channels bundled in. All Fubo plans come with a free trial for new users.

YouTube TV is another solid option. Plans cost $83 a month, but a special deal will knock your first five months down to just $68 a month. Fox and FS1 are also available in YouTube TV's cheaper Sports Plan. All YouTube TV plans come with a free trial for new customers.

We also recommend Sling TV, but you'll need to double-check that the service covers FOX in your ZIP code to ensure World Cup coverage. If it does, Sling Select ($25 a month) or Sling Blue ($51 a month) are our suggestions, since both also include FS1. Sling Select plans without local channels start at just $20 a month.

Viewers looking for Spanish-language tournament coverage will be best served by Peacock. Plans with sports streaming start at $11 a month.

Where to watch Iraq vs. Norway in the UK

ITVX and the BBC have split rights for the World Cup. The Iraq vs. Norway game will be free to stream via BBC iPlayer for UK viewers. You'll just need to create an account.

Where to watch Iraq vs. Norway in Australia

Australian viewers can catch the entire World Cup tournament via SBS On Demand. The free service requires account creation, but no payment.

Note: VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may constitute a breach of the terms of use for some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

• Some Americans are looking to move abroad amid global and domestic tensions, among other factors.
• These 20 countries are ranked as the most peaceful by the Global Peace Index.
• Iceland topped the list as the world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year.

Amid international conflicts and domestic tensions, some may feel that the US is not the safest place to live right now.

While safety can be a subjective measure, that assessment is not entirely off base: The US is ranked the 134th most peaceful country in the world — falling behind nations like Venezuela, Lebanon, and India — in the 2026 Global Peace Index (GPI).

A Gallup poll released in October 2024 showed that 21% of polled Americans expressed a desire to move abroad, up from 17% in 2023 and 10% in 2011. Some Americans have considered moving overseas due to factors such as crime rates, modern conflicts, work-life balance, the cost of living, and parenting values.

However, Gallup also found that the US was the most desired destination for citizens of other countries.

The 2026 Global Peace Index, which was released in June, evaluated countries across three domains: ongoing conflicts, societal safety and security, and militarization.

For ongoing conflicts, the report looked at both "internal and external conflicts, as well as their role and duration of involvement." Societal safety and security are evaluated by factors such as homicide rates, political terror, violent demonstrations, and perceptions of criminality. Lastly, the militarization domain consists of a country's military spending as a percentage of its GDP, weapons access, and other factors.

Here are the 20 most peaceful countries in the world, according to the 2026 Global Peace Index.

20. Australia

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T34

Societal safety and security rank: 23

Militarization rank: 48

Australia was also ranked 14th in US News & World Report's best countries list, thanks to high scores in its health, governance, and opportunity metrics.

19. Latvia

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 46

Societal safety and security rank: 18

Militarization rank: 51

Latvia was ranked the 12th most peaceful country in Western and Central Europe.

18. Mauritius

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T1

Societal safety and security rank: 60

Militarization rank: 9

The report found that Mauritius was the most peaceful country in Sub-Saharan Africa. The island nation jumped up 11 spots from last year's ranking and saw improvement across all three GPI domains, with the report citing peaceful political competition and institutional stability as factors.

17. Netherlands

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 16

Societal safety and security rank: 12

Militarization rank: 137

Despite ranking 17th overall, the Netherlands' militarization rank of No. 137 is the lowest placement for any of the three factors for any of the top 20 countries.

The Netherlands has the 17th largest defense budget in the world, at $29.12 billion, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

16. Bhutan

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 29

Societal safety and security rank: 38

Militarization rank: 4

Bhutan was the most peaceful country in South Asia, according to the report.

Yet the country has the longest average workweek in the world, with its citizens working an average of 54.4 hours per week as of 2024.

15. Hungary

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T23

Societal safety and security rank: 31

Militarization rank: 13

After serving for a total of 20 years, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost in his reelection bid in April. Hungary's parliament recently passed a constitutional amendment that would impose eight-year term limits on prime ministers, Politico reported.

Orbán remains a controversial figure for his support for Russia and far-right positions, such as his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.

14. Canada

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T34

Societal safety and security rank: T16

Militarization rank: 26

While Canada was ranked the most peaceful country in North and Central America, its score in the societal safety and security domain has dropped by 7.7% since 2008.

13. Czechia

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 22

Societal safety and security rank: 22

Militarization rank: 19

Czechia was also ranked the third-best country for civic health by US News & World Report, thanks to factors such as strong freedom of expression and low income inequality.

12. Malaysia

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 10

Societal safety and security rank: 47

Militarization rank: 2

Malaysia spent just 1% of its GDP on military spending in 2024, per the World Bank. This compares with more than 3% for the US.

11. Denmark

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 20

Societal safety and security rank: 5

Militarization rank: 120

Denmark has previously been ranked the best country in the world for quality of life, based on factors such as cost of living, job markets, and healthcare quality.

10. Japan

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T38

Societal safety and security rank: 4

Militarization rank: 75

Japan also consistently ranks among the countries with the highest life expectancy in the world.

9. Finland

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: T47

Societal safety and security rank: 2

Militarization rank: 53

Finland was ranked as the second-most peaceful country on the societal safety and security domain of the GPI.

As well as being one of the 10 most peaceful places in the world, the country has consistently ranked as the happiest country in the world, attracting expats seeking a higher quality of life.

8. Singapore

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 5

Societal safety and security rank: 6

Militarization rank: 126

Singapore, ranked second-most peaceful in the Asia-Pacific region by the GPI, is another popular destination for American expats, including those seeking entrepreneurial economies like Silicon Valley.

The country was ranked in the top 10 in the societal safety and security and ongoing conflicts domains of the GPI, while falling in the lower half of the militarization rank.

7. Portugal

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 13

Societal safety and security rank: 25

Militarization rank: 3

For Americans looking to move abroad, Portugal has emerged as a recent favorite.

A survey of over 116,000 Americans interested in moving abroad in 2024 showed the country as the most requested destination, according to Expatsi, a website with resources for Americans looking to relocate.

The country was ranked third most peaceful in the world in the GPI militarization domain.

6. Austria

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 11

Societal safety and security rank: 21

Militarization rank: 7

Austria has stayed in the top most peaceful countries since the GPI began measuring global peace in 2008.

Vienna, Austria's capital, has previously been ranked the world's most livable city and one of the best destinations for expats.

5. Ireland

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 9

Societal safety and security rank: 15

Militarization rank: 8

Ireland ranked within the top 10 countries in the militarization domain and was the fifth most peaceful country overall.

Ireland, known for its stunning landscapes and cultural heritage, has also been a common destination for Americans looking to move.

4. Slovenia

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 19

Societal safety and security rank: 9

Militarization rank: 6

Slovenia, first lady Melania Trump's home country, ranked sixth most peaceful in the GPI militarization domain, which considers factors such as military expenditure and weapons exports.

The country is often categorized as a hidden gem in Europe for travelers, thanks to its beautiful landscapes.

3. Switzerland

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 6

Societal safety and security rank: 8

Militarization rank: 25

Housing Geneva, the global "Peace Capital," Switzerland ranked in the top 10 most peaceful countries in the ongoing conflicts and societal safety and security GPI domains.

Quality of life has been one of the factors driving expats to move there in recent years.

2. New Zealand

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 4

Societal safety and security rank: 14

Militarization rank: 11

New Zealand ranked as the most peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region, and received one of the top rankings in the ongoing conflicts domain.

New Zealand transplants have cited its family-friendly towns, natural beauty, and outdoor activities as some of the reasons they love the country.

1. Iceland

Ongoing domestic and international conflict rank: 1

Societal safety and security rank: 3

Militarization rank: 1

Iceland was named the most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year. It ranked first in the ongoing domestic and international conflict and militarization domains of the GPI ranking, but it's also one of the world's most expensive countries.

For Americans looking to relocate overseas, Iceland offers the highest level of safety, as well as breathtaking landscapes.

• Disney isn't currently building a "super app" beyond streaming, a top exec said.
• "There is nothing on the road map about bringing either cruises or the parks into this," he said.
• Instead, he said Disney is focused on integrating Hulu into Disney+.

Disney isn't building a "super app" tying together all its businesses — at least not yet.

Adam Smith, the chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, told employees at a town hall last week that the company isn't planning to turn Disney+ into a hub for buying tickets to parks and cruises.

"At the moment, I can definitively say there is nothing on the road map about bringing either cruises or the parks into this," Smith said in the meeting, according to a recording obtained by Business Insider. Smith was responding to an employee-submitted question about making Disney+ a so-called super app.

Bloomberg reported last month that Disney was exploring turning its flagship streaming service into "the first stop for all things Disney" where fans could buy park tickets, merchandise, and play games in between streaming shows, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Bloomberg report added that conversations about creating this potential app were "at an early stage and no concrete steps have been taken toward developing the product."

Smith said companies "have seen 'super apps' work" in places like Asia, but added that the Mouse House is "a ways off from that."

Instead, Smith said his priority is turning Disney+ into a one-stop shop for streaming by folding in Hulu.

"We really, really want to land this work with bringing Hulu over to Disney+ for our users and creating Disney+/Hulu as a fantastic spot," Smith said.

Disney began adding select Hulu shows to Disney+ in late 2023 and announced last summer that it would fully integrate Hulu into its namesake streamer. The company has also combined the platforms' ad servers.

Disney said last month that there were "no current plans to sunset" the Hulu app.

However, an internal document obtained by Business Insider suggested that the streamer's days as a stand-alone service are numbered.

"The Hulu tech stack and app will be decommissioned after all users have transitioned" from that app into Disney+, the document said.

Disney's plan to integrate Hulu into Disney+ is part of the "One Disney" initiative championed by CEO Josh D'Amaro, who said in his inaugural memo to staffers that aligning teams across the company is a priority for him.

Smith said the Hulu convergence project, which is known internally as "Project Gemini," should "really reinforce Josh's commitment to this cross-Disney work."

Executives like D'Amaro and Smith are focused on how best to serve their die-hard fan base, the product and tech chief said.

"How do we break down the cultural barriers and work as One Disney to make sure that our fans and users are getting the best of Disney, wherever they show up?" Smith said.

The next World Cup match kicks off soon, and it's shaping up to be a can't-miss showdown. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch France vs. Senegal, including free and global live streaming options.

France enters the World Cup as one of the top teams, but Senegal has also had a solid run recently. The two teams famously last met at the World Cup back in 2002, during a shocking group-stage match in which Senegal defeated France, the reigning champions. Will history repeat itself, or will France be able to continue their FIFA hot streak? Only time (and tuning in) will tell.

If you're looking for a quick answer on how to watch the game, we've got your back. You can live stream the match on FOX through several live TV services in the US, BBC iPlayer in the UK, and SBS On Demand in Australia. You can access your favorite streaming options from anywhere with a VPN. If you're hoping to learn about streaming other tournament matches, including today's other games, make sure to check out our where to watch the World Cup streaming guide.

*Local channel availability (like FOX) varies by region on Sling TV.

Where to watch France vs. Senegal for free

World Cup fans in several countries are in luck this year. There are tons of free options for all of the games, including France vs. Senegal. This match is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer in the UK and SBS On Demand in the UK. US viewers can watch at no immediate cost with a free trial from a live TV service, such as Fubo or YouTube TV.

How to watch France vs. Senegal from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your streaming service works, don't worry. You can access your free option from anywhere with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are easy-to-use tech apps that help people temporarily alter the location on their electronic devices so their favorite websites work from anywhere in the world. They're especially popular among those looking to keep up with their usual services while traveling abroad or hoping to boost their day-to-day cybersecurity and privacy.

NordVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs we've tested. It's fast, user-friendly, and offers an impressive selection of global servers. Plus, it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there's no sweat if you find that it's not what you're looking for.

Where to watch France vs. Senegal in the US

France vs. Senegal, and much of the rest of the tournament, will air on FOX in the US. Other matches will be available through FS1. If you're a cord-cutter looking for a streaming service to watch the rest of the World Cup, you have several options.

Fubo Sports + News offers FOX, FS1, and around 27 other channels in its lineup. Subscriptions also unlock access to ESPN Unlimited. If you're looking for even more channels, FOX and FS1 are also available in Fubo's pricier Pro and Elite plans. Fubo Sports + News costs $56 a month, but first-time customers can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial.

YouTube TV carries FOX and FS1 in both its main and sports plans. The main plan typically costs $83 a month, but a limited-time deal can bring the first five months down to $68 a month for new customers. Similarly, the sports plan typically costs $65 a month, but new users can get $10 a month off their first 12 months. YouTube TV also typically offers a free trial for first-time customers.

Sling TV is another live TV service with World Cup coverage, though you should double-check whether FOX is available in your ZIP code, as Sling's local channel coverage varies by market. If you can get FOX via Sling in your region, you'll want to opt for a Sling Select or Sling Blue plan, both of which also have FS1. When local channels are available, Sling Select starts at $25 a month, and Sling Blue costs $51 a month.

Fans interested in Spanish-language coverage in the US will need to subscribe to Peacock. Sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium and unlock access to all 104 World Cup matches.

FOX also has a direct streaming counterpart, FOX One, which costs $20 a month. You can also sign up for the service as an add-on through Prime Video if you don't feel like downloading another app.

Where to watch France vs. Senegal in the UK

BBC and ITV split coverage rights in the UK, but France vs. Senegal is available on BBC One (along with the upcoming Iraq vs. Norway match). This means fans will be able to live stream all of the action for free with a BBC iPlayer account. Users just need to create an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start watching.

Where to watch France vs. Senegal in Australia

All World Cup games, including France vs. Senegal, are available to live stream on SBS On Demand in Australia. This is a free streaming service that supports SBS channels and just requires account creation to use.

Where will France vs. Senegal take place?

The France vs. Senegal match will take place in the US. The game will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. If you're hoping to attend in person, you can check out our World Cup tickets guide.

Who is favored to win France vs. Senegal?

France is the heavy favorite to win the match. On DraftKings sportsbook (at the time of writing), France is the -215 favorite. Senegal is the underdog at +600, while a draw is +360.

What teams are France and Senegal playing next?

This is the first match of the 2026 World Cup for both France and Senegal. The teams are in Group I and will each face two more teams in the group stage: Norway and Iraq.

When will France and Senegal play next?

Both teams will have about a week to recover after today's match. France will play Iraq on Monday, June 22, and Senegal will face Norway later that same night. They'll each play their final group stage match on Friday, June 26.

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• When my husband and I started dating, neither of us expected me to learn his native language.
• I changed my mind when I realized he wanted our future children to speak Dutch.
• We now have a 2-year-old and primarily speak Dutch to him at our home in the US.

When I first matched with my now-husband on a dating app, his profile said he was from Belgium. At the time, I assumed he spoke French.

I had been studying Spanish for a few years, and in the language-learning community, there is a joke that the best way to learn a language is to date someone who speaks it. I had fleeting thoughts that I would finally be able to pronounce the names of high-end French fashion brands. Before our first date, I realized he was actually from the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, and I remember thinking, "Who would want to learn Dutch?"

As our relationship progressed and things became more serious, I asked my future husband if he thought I should learn Dutch. His answer was honest, "It's not very useful."

Dutch is primarily spoken in the Netherlands and the Flanders region of Belgium, where my husband is from. Most Dutch speakers also speak English, so as an English speaker, learning Dutch isn't all that necessary.

We eventually started talking about moving in together, getting married, and having a family one day. I asked my husband if it was important to him that his child speak his native language. Without hesitation, he answered that it was. It was then that I knew that if our yet-to-be-conceived child was going to speak Dutch, their American mother would be the weak link if I didn't learn the language, too.

His family has been encouraging

Shortly after I moved in with my now-husband, I started studying Dutch. I used a language-learning app with him by my side, coaching me on pronunciation and grammar.

Most Dutch language-learning resources I've found are based on Dutch spoken in the Netherlands. Dutch in the Netherlands and Dutch in Belgium are akin to English spoken in England compared to English in the United States. The pronunciation and meanings of some of the words differ. For instance, "lopen" in the Netherlands means "to walk," while in Belgium, it means "to run."

I've been fortunate that my efforts to learn Dutch have been met with enthusiasm and encouragement from my husband's family and friends. Because it's uncommon for Americans to learn the language, the expectations are comically low.

On my first visit to Belgium, my Dutch was still at a basic level. My vocabulary was limited, and I could only speak in the present tense. Even so, my husband's friends joked that I would make a good "buitenlander," meaning a foreigner, because I spoke more Dutch than some people who had moved to Belgium and had lived there for years.

Seeing my son speak Dutch is the greatest reward

My husband and I now have a 2-year-old son that we're raising in the United States. One of my greatest fears of being a multicultural family living in the US was that my son wouldn't have any connection to his dad's culture. Even though my Dutch is at an elementary level, my husband and I primarily speak Dutch with our son.

During a recent visit from my husband's family, my son got to play with his 2-year-old cousin from Belgium, who only speaks Dutch. It made my heart swell to watch my son and his cousin play "keuken," meaning kitchen. My son pretended to make soup in an empty cooking pot and offered a "lepel" (spoon) for his cousin to pretend to drink from. He asked his cousin, "wat denk je?" meaning "what do you think?" to which she responded, "lekker!" meaning "tasty," and they laughed hysterically.

By learning Dutch, I'm honoring my husband's culture and language so that our son can grow up as a Belgian American, no matter where we live.

• Weidmann's is regarded as the oldest restaurant in Mississippi.
• Located in Meridian, it has a tradition of putting peanut butter and crackers on every table.
• The custom dates back to World War II, when regular butter was harder to come by.

Weidmann's restaurant was founded in 1870 by Swiss immigrant Felix Weidmann and has been serving the downtown Meridian, Mississippi, community for over 150 years.

As one of the oldest restaurants in the state — many claim it is the oldest — Weidmann's has survived economic downturns, changing dining trends, and even world wars while preserving many of the traditions that helped make it famous.

One of the restaurant's most distinctive customs is noticeable as soon as customers sit down: a jar of peanut butter and an assortment of crackers on every table.

While it may seem unusual to first-time visitors, the practice has become one of Weidmann's signature traditions and a beloved part of the historic steakhouse's dining experience.

It dates back to World War II, when butter was scarce because of wartime rationing and supply shortages.

According to the restaurant, when a customer mentioned to then-owner Henry Weidmann, Felix's grandson, that they could replace traditional butter with peanut butter, which was more widely available, it took off.

Customers quickly embraced the substitute, and what started as a practical response to a wartime shortage became a beloved restaurant tradition.

Even after butter became readily available again following the war, customers had grown so fond of the combination that the restaurant decided to continue the practice.

Decades later, staff still place a jar of peanut butter and a basket of assorted crackers on every table, preserving a piece of the restaurant's history.

They weren't served in a standard-issue peanut butter jar, either

Back in the 1940s, Henry commissioned a potter in Louisville, Mississippi, to make peanut-butter crocks by hand.

Today, diners are encouraged to spread the peanut butter, which is still served in a handmade ceramic crock, onto crackers while they browse the menu and wait for their food. The pre-meal snack is complimentary.

Weidmann's is also known for classic steakhouse fare, including crab cakes and hand-cut steaks, as well as Weidmann's World Famous Black Bottom Pie, a dessert with a gingersnap crust topped with a layer of dark chocolate, bourbon custard, and whipped cream, introduced by Henry Weidmann.

The famous peanut butter crocks are now handmade by a local potter in Meridian and available for purchase for $27.50, according to the restaurant's website.

More than 80 years after World War II ended, a wartime workaround remains a defining feature of the historic restaurant, proving that sometimes the most enduring — and tasty — traditions begin as simple acts of resourcefulness.