• Fei-Fei Li said running her own startup makes her feel like a 'tiger mom.'
• World Labs, cofounded by Fei-Fei Li in 2024, focuses on AI's interaction with 3D environments.
• Fei-Fei Li has previously said that she feels like she becomes a mentor even in job interviews.

Fei-Fei Li says running an AI startup has brought out her "tiger mom" side.

In an interview with Bloomberg released on Wednesday, the Stanford professor, known for creating ImageNet and often called the "Godmother of AI," said that her seniority at the startup has put her in a bit of a parental role.

Li cofounded World Labs in 2024. The startup is developing "world models" designed to help AI understand and interact with 3D environments. Earlier this year, the company announced $1 billion in new funding from investors including AMD, Autodesk, and Nvidia.

"I'm by far the most senior in the company," Li said. "From my co-founders to my engineers, and researchers, and scientists, they're so talented, but they're also young."

"I do feel like a mom," she added. "And oftentimes I feel like a tiger mom. I do run this shop as, I would say, high standard."

The term "tiger mom" generally describes a highly demanding and strict parent who pushes their children to work hard, be disciplined, and strive for high achievement. It was popularized by American author and Yale Law School professor Amy Chua in her 2011 memoir, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," which detailed her strict approach to raising her daughters, including demanding top grades and intensive music practice.

Li previously said she finds herself taking on the role of a mentor with younger people — and she's shared some anecdotes about AI's impact on students and early careers.

In a 2025 podcast, she said it was a privilege to receive job applications from young AI and engineering talent, but she found that they overfocused on the small details of their career decisions.

"Sometimes I do want to encourage young people to focus on what's important because I find myself constantly in mentoring mode when I talk to job candidates," she said. "Not necessarily recruiting, but just in mentoring mode."

She said she encourages them instead to think about where their passion lies, whether they believe in a company's mission and team, and what kind of impact they could make.

Still, Li said that being a founder or senior leader is not an invitation to think you know more than everybody else.

"As a CEO, as an entrepreneur, our founding premise is we are here to contribute to society and to empower people," she said. "I don't think having a God complex is constructive, and I wouldn't want to do that myself."

• Robinhood, the official broker of Trump Accounts, said it wants to keep them "as simple as possible."
• The accounts currently offer only a State Street S&P 500 ETF.
• The Treasury previously said that more investment options would be added in the coming months.

Trump Accounts will focus on the S&P 500 to keep investing "as simple as possible," said Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev.

In an interview with CNBC released on Wednesday, Tenev was asked whether Trump Accounts users will only have the option to invest in the S&P 500 via the platform in the long term. Trump Accounts are investment accounts for children, launched by the Trump Administration in July.

"That's correct," Tenev replied. "Right now, you can get the S&P 500 through a low-cost ETF provided by State Street." State Street is a financial services and investment management company based in Boston.

"And we wanted to make it as easy as possible for every American, starting at birth, to get access to the great American economy, to get ownership of these companies from birth and see the magic of compound interest," he added. "So we wanted to make it as simple as possible."

The executive said that "over time," there has been discussion about adding more investment options. But the S&P 500 index, which he called "a diversified portfolio of the most prominent companies," is an effective way to start investing.

In April, the US Treasury designated The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation as the financial agent supporting the rollout of the Trump Accounts. The BNY partnered with Robinhood, a California-based financial services company, which would serve as the official broker for the accounts.

The accounts officially launched on July 4, and the Treasury has pledged to deposit $1,000 into the accounts of children born between 2025 and 2028.

The Treasury said in a press release on July 1 that while the State Street ETF would be the default product for all Trump Accounts, it had selected a lineup of four other low-cost index ETFs: the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF, the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF, and the iShares Core S&P total US Stock Market ETF.

Parents and guardians will be allowed to allocate funds to these other investment products once they become available "in the coming months," the Treasury wrote in the release.

The Trump Administration has encouraged US companies to match the government's contributions for their employees' children, and many, like Goldman Sachs, Micron, Bank of America, and BlackRock, have done so.

Private investors, like SpaceX's president, Gwynne Shotwell, and her husband, contributed SpaceX stock to the accounts. Dell CEO Michael Dell and his wife, Susan, also contributed $2.6 billion.

• While concerns about Taiwan's defense often center on beaches, one of its major vulnerabilities is a river.
• The Tamsui River cuts into the heart of Taipei, where its government and military headquarters.
• Taiwanese forces drilled earlier this month to defend it in multiple urban scenarios.

TAIPEI — In the dead of night, scores of masked military police moved a medley of defensive gear beneath flickering traffic lights and store signs. Hemmed in by rows of shophouses, they laid metal barricades, land mines, and sandbags along an intersection just a mile from Taiwan's presidential office.

Behind them, Clouded Leopard infantry fighting vehicles prepared to roll out and open fire on incoming enemy forces.

This flurry of activity along a critical approach into the capital came toward the end of Taiwan's 10-day annual Han Kuang military exercise. In this scenario, the simulated fight had made its way into central Taipei. The blockaded roads led to the Guangfu Bridge, a four-lane crossing that spans the river dividing New Taipei City and the capital proper.

The Tamsui River, snaking through northwest Taiwan, was at the heart of many of this year's Han Kuang drills. Although concerns about an attack by Beijing often center on a massive, D-Day-style landing across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwanese forces have spent considerable time practicing their defense of the Tamsui.

The strategic waterway, fed by some of the island's largest tributaries, converges in the capital and then spills into the strait, where the Chinese province of Fujian lies some 100 miles across the water.

That could provide Beijing with a direct route into central Taipei, with the presidential office — a major invasion objective — positioned less than a mile from the river.

Though the Tamsui gets far less public discussion than Taiwan's beaches, it's a "real geographic vulnerability" that Taiwanese forces have been training to defend for years, said Tristan Tang, a nonresident fellow at the US think tank National Bureau of Asian Research.

"China has Zubr-class air-cushion landing craft that can move at more than 50 knots, and PLA air assault troops could also come in by helicopter," he told Business Insider. "So from a capability standpoint, the PLA does have ways to potentially use the Tamsui River corridor to get into Taipei."

That makes the Tamsui part of the "iron triangle," a trio of features centered on the estuary that are considered vital to Taipei's defense. Next to the river's mouth are Bali Beach, one of the more plausible landing areas near the capital, and Taipei Port, which would allow an invading force to offload troops and supplies quickly.

Crippling Taiwan from the river

Preventing a "surprise thrust" by way of this river is key to the island's defense, said Tang, who designed a high-profile war game focused on a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

The Han Kuang exercise featured several drills to prepare the island's forces for that possibility. During one drill held early in the morning on the third day at the mouth of the river, which is up to 4,500 feet wide at the opening, Taiwanese divers and army soldiers placed dozens of pontoons strapped with explosive barrels while CM11 Brave Tiger tanks kept watch.

Delaying measures such as this could prove crucial for Taiwan. A common view among American and Taiwanese analysts is that the island's defense depends heavily on its ability to hold out long enough for outside forces to intervene.

Lin Ping-yu, a former Taiwanese special forces paratrooper and now a city councilor for New Taipei City, said defending the river is aimed at preventing decapitation strikes or surprise attacks by the People's Liberation Army.

"China has studied decapitation scenarios for many years," Lin, an advocate for Taiwanese defense issues, told Business Insider, arguing that "recent incidents of Chinese nationals entering Taiwan illegally underscore why the Tamsui River is the front line against such strikes."

Taiwan's coast guard said earlier this month that it was holding two Chinese nationals suspected of infiltrating the island with a rubber boat, potentially exposing a security gap.

It's clear Taipei is thinking about the risks. On the first evening of the Han Kuang, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and members of his staff responded to a mock decapitation strike, evacuating from their offices in an armored vehicle to a fortified command center.

Tang said Taiwan's emphasis on the Tamsui is especially evident in how it has placed the Guandu Area Command, one of the key army formations defending the capital area, along the river. Its marine corps and military police, responsible for guarding Taiwan's leaders, have bolstered their presence in the area in recent years.

"The Taiwan military understands this and has been preparing for it for a long time," he said.

Taiwan's new strategy

Drills from the last two years have seen Taiwan moving troops from multiple brigades in the south to reinforce the island's capital area, Tang noted.

Those added forces, he said, would make "a successful PLA surprise attack against northern Taiwan more difficult" while filling the capital region with more forces to deny Beijing's even if China seizes other regions of the island.

The Tamsui plays another essential role here, too. Chinese forces seeking to enter the reinforced capital from the south would need to cross the river. During the Han Kuang drills, Taiwan's troops practiced that defense on a local bridge infrastructure.

At the Danjiang Bridge, a new, 3,020-foot suspension bridge opened in May, engineering troops and volunteers set up a three-layer defensive barrier of Hesco barriers, barbed wire, and Czech hedgehogs, a kind of pronged anti-vehicle defense.

"The Han Kuang exercises also show how seriously the military takes this scenario, including the preparation of actual defensive positions and field fortifications," Tang said.

Taiwan's defense ministry did not respond to queries from Business Insider about the defense of the Tamsui River.

• Mary J. Blige said she entered the music industry knowing little about the business side.
• She said people around her benefited from her lack of financial knowledge early in her career.
• She has since learned from the experience and isn't afraid to ask questions or seek help.

Mary J. Blige said her early success came with a steep learning curve when it came to money and contracts.

On Wednesday's episode of the "IMO" podcast, the singer said her lack of financial knowledge left her vulnerable early in her career.

"We signed a contract in the kitchen, on the washing machine. My mom didn't know anything. She didn't even know anything about reading a contract, nor did we care," Blige told podcast hosts Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.

Having grown up in poverty in the housing projects of Yonkers, New York, Blige said all she and her mother could think about was that they were "getting out of here."

To them, whatever the contract contained was better than their circumstances at the time.

Looking back, Blige said she wasn't equipped to understand the financial side of the music business. She hadn't finished high school or gone to college, and knew little about contracts.

"I didn't know how much money I had. I didn't know when I was broke or whatever," Blige said.

She added that she put her trust in people she later realized she couldn't trust.

"I don't want to start labeling things, but everybody was looking out for themselves, and they were benefiting off of the fact that I was unaware," she said. "And that happened for a long time."

Blige, now 55, said her mindset began to shift around the time she released her 2001 album, "No More Drama."

She realized she needed to better understand her business, but also take responsibility for her own mistakes. Blige said she used to "get upset and curse everybody out" when things didn't go as planned, such as when a record didn't sell.

"I was ignorant of a lot of things and blamed it on everybody else," she said.

Blige said she has learned from the experience and now makes sure she understands the business decisions around her. "I've never been afraid to say I need help, and I've never been afraid to say I don't know," she said.

To this day, she turns to her lawyers and people who have her best interests at heart to help her understand anything she's unsure about.

Blige said her experience has also shaped the advice she gives others about money.

"Get your education. Take some accounting classes, some business school, do something," she said.

Blige has spoken openly about the financial difficulties she's faced over the years.

In 2023, Blige said she had once owed "hundreds of millions of dollars" in unpaid taxes and feared she would never get out of debt. She said she was debt-free by then and had gained the financial wisdom to better manage her money.

"My taxes are not my money, so I'm like, 'Pay my payroll, pay my taxes, pay my tithes.' All of that money, I don't even wanna see it because it doesn't belong to me," she said.

Other celebrities have similarly opened up about having to learn how to manage money after their careers took off.

In a 2017 interview with Business Insider, Shaq O'Neal described receiving his first $1 million at age 20 and immediately spending it as though the full amount were his, without accounting for taxes or agent fees.

"It was me being overly happy-slash-irresponsible," he said.

In 2024, Chris Pratt says he blew through $75,000 in two months after getting his first big paycheck. "I didn't know what to do with money. It was like, it would come in, I would spend it," Pratt said.

• Madhur Mehta moved to the US in 2021. The last five years have taken a toll on him.
• After the government changed the H-1B lottery selection process, he made Plan B's in case he wasn't picked.
• His H-1B petition was approved in 2026, but he still feels like he can't plan ahead.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Madhur Mehta, 35, an Indian national living in Seattle and working at Amazon. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

When I came to the US for my master's degree in August 2021, my goal was to have a stable career and join a good company. I wanted to grow professionally and personally, and support my family back home in India.

After five years in the US, I've achieved a lot, including landing a program manager role at Amazon. But the journey has taken an emotional toll I never expected, from being far away from family to dealing with visa uncertainty.

From the day I landed in the US, it felt like I was in a race I didn't want to come last in. I've been in survival mode ever since, and I don't feel like I've rested once.

Getting an H-1B was a big relief

I graduated with a master's in science and business analytics from UT Dallas in 2023. My course was in STEM, which meant I was eligible for three years of student work authorization through Optional Practical Training.

I struggled to find an employer to sponsor my visa beyond those three years, until I joined Amazon in 2025. While the company was trying to get me an H-1B visa, I found out the government was changing the lottery system for H-1B registrations. Candidates would now be placed into four wage-level categories, with those in the higher categories having a greater chance of being selected.

I didn't know what would happen with this new rule, and I was concerned that other candidates would have a better chance of getting selected. I started making Plan B and C in case I didn't get picked. I explored "extraordinary ability" visas, such as the EB-1A, and opportunities in other countries, including Canada and Australia.

When I got the email saying I'd been selected in March, I couldn't believe it. As someone who'd already put down roots in the US, built a career, and met my fiancée, it was a big relief to get the chance to work and stay in the US another three years.

It was like someone had taken a 100-pound weight off my mind.

The current visa climate comes with a lot of uncertainty

I still plan to pursue the EB-1A, and I'm glad the H-1B visa is giving me more time to build up my profile for the application. But there's still uncertainty. If the government decides to change the visa rules, it could flip my life.

If you lose your job on the H-1B, you generally have 60 days to find a new one. For couples who are both immigrants, that uncertainty can affect both careers.

I got engaged in July 2025. My fiancée is also from India and has one remaining attempt in the H-1B lottery before her work authorization expires. If she doesn't get picked, she might have to become my dependent on an H-4, which doesn't automatically include work authorization. She could enroll in another program, but recent changes to student visas make that more complicated.

Until we're both clear on our visa statuses, we can't plan ahead. Last year, we explored buying a house, but couldn't commit. I have friends who've been here for more than 10 years but are still renting apartments because of uncertainty.

Being away from family in India is also difficult. God forbid there's an issue back home; my parents have to handle it alone. Traveling outside the US can be complicated.

If I get my EB-1A, I'll be able to think about starting a family and buying a house. I'll be able to travel back to India without worrying about stamping, and I won't have to worry so much about what happens if I lose my job.

It's not the dreamy American life I expected

Up to now, I'd still say living in the US has been worth it. In the tech field, the US houses some of the best companies to work for, as long as you're able to cross the visa hurdle. While Amazon has offices in India and elsewhere, it wouldn't be the same. The network, exposure, and credibility that come from working in the US compound over time.

I imagined a very dreamy life in the US. I know people probably see my life on Instagram and think everything is going well. They see the job and the happy photos, but that's only half the story.

Canada and Europe, where the visa pathways seem more stable, have also come up in conversations between my fiancée and me. But it's difficult to imagine packing up my life in two or three suitcases and leaving.

I've put so much effort into building a life in the US that it's hard to imagine walking away from it and starting from zero somewhere else.

Business Insider confirmed that he is employed by Amazon. Amazon did not reply to a request for comment.

• Hyundai's Genesis unveiled a new full-size SUV packed with amenities.
• The company said the standard variant has a range of 310 miles and comes with massage seats.
• The "Executive Suite" variant has coach doors and a heated floor in the second row.

Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand, has a new big SUV stuffed with the kind of perks typically associated with fancy Chinese EVs.

On Wednesday, it unveiled the GV90, the automaker's first full-size electric SUV. The new flagship puts Genesis in the same big-luxury-EV lane as the Cadillac Escalade IQ, Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV, and Lucid Gravity.

If your lifestyle calls for heated wood floors and coach doors, look no further than the Genesis.

Along with the standard GV90, Genesis revealed the more opulent GV90 Neolun, which features rear-hinged coach doors and eliminates the conventional fixed B-pillar between the front and rear doors.

The front seats can also swivel 180 degrees while the car is parked, turning the cabin into a face-to-face lounge.

The Neolun "Executive Suite" configuration is even more extravagant. It's a four-seater SUV that comes with a refrigerator, tables, privacy blinds, and a glass roof with adjustable transparency across six zones.

The second row is also furnished with a real wood floor that features radiant heating. Genesis said the feature was inspired by Korea's traditional underfloor heating system known as "ondol."

This kind of amenity-rich electric car is fairly common in China's luxury EV market.

NIO's ES9 SUV, for example, comes with massage seats, a refrigerator, and a "private tea lounge" thanks to a magnetic table that keeps teaware in place.

Zeekr, another Chinese brand, has the 009 Grand, which places a 43-inch smart screen on a partition separating the front and rear cabins.

The seven-seat GV90 still comes with the basics expected in a luxury EV. It has an estimated range of 310 miles based on the company's internal testing and can charge from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes at a 350-kilowatt fast charger.

And yes, Genesis says the GV90 gets massaging seats, too.

One advantage the Genesis likely won't share with some of its Chinese counterparts is competitive pricing. The NIO ES9 Executive Premium Edition starts at RMB 498,000 — about $74,000 at Wednesday's exchange rate.

At that price in the US, you're looking at a well-equipped Toyota Sequoia Limited or a Ford Expedition. Not an executive-lounge cabin with heated floors.

Genesis hasn't yet announced a US price for the GV90. A spokesperson for Genesis Motor North America said pricing will be announced closer to the start of sales.

• YouTube is punching back at Netflix, offering creators millions to stay away from the streamer.
• YouTube recently began exclusivity talks with a select group of creators.
• It's YouTube's biggest move yet to defend itself as Netflix and others license creator content.

YouTube is in talks to offer select creators millions in payments if they keep their videos exclusively on its platform for a set period, two people familiar with its efforts told Business Insider.

The move is a direct shot at Netflix, which has been ramping up its licensing of creator videos for its platform.

Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw broke the news on YouTube's outreach.

One person familiar with YouTube's efforts told Business Insider that talks were underway with a handful of creators. They added that the deal specifics varied by creator and that YouTube hadn't set a deadline to complete them.

A second person, who's had direct conversations with YouTube, said the talks had gotten underway in the past few weeks. This person said that in one case, YouTube approached a creator with an offer "in the millions" in exchange for posting exclusively on YouTube for a certain period. The offer was verbal, and talks hadn't gotten into the details yet, this person added.

This person said that, along with YouTube's offer, the company suggested creators who didn't take an exclusivity deal could lose out on perks like marketing support and access to brand deals.

These talks are the most tangible sign yet that YouTube is reacting to defend its turf as the place where top creators build their careers.

YouTube has been rolling out new features to help creators make money and grow their audiences. However, it has historically been reluctant to directly pay creators outside its usual ad-revenue-split model — though it has done so in particular moments in the past.

The dangling of direct additional payments suggests YouTube is feeling the heat from Netflix and other streamers. Netflix has looked to beef up its catalog with videos from superstar creators like Ms. Rachel and Salish Matter. These videos have generally appeared on both Netflix and YouTube. The industry's leading paid streaming service has recognized creators' growing impact on popular culture and YouTube's increasing share of TV watch time in the US.

Netflix also embarked this year on a major push into video podcasts, another area where YouTube has dominated. The streamer signed deals with shows like "The Bill Simmons Podcast" and "The Breakfast Club." In many of these deals, Netflix mandated that the video podcasts be removed from YouTube.

Now the big question is how hot the market will get. Will we see a bidding war for top creator talent?

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the UK.
• They will live in a private residence and enroll their children in a school in the UK.
• The news comes after years of strain in the couple's relationship with the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to the UK.

On Wednesday, People reported that the couple would be moving back to Britain "for an extended period of time" with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex won't return to their royal duties, which they stepped back from in January 2020, but they plan to live near London. The move will put them in proximity to King Charles, Prince William, and the rest of the royal family for the first time in over six years.

Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, have had a strained relationship with the royals since they decided to step back from their royal duties. Meghan has largely focused on her As Ever brand in the US in recent years, but Harry has visited his father a handful of times since the king was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024.

Here's a timeline of Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family.

Prince Harry appeared close to his brother growing up, though his relationship with his father was more complicated.

Prince Harry and Prince William appeared close in childhood photos.

When Princess Diana died after a run-in with the paparazzi in August 1997, the brothers seemed to grow tighter than ever, sticking to each other's sides in the years following her death.

William said he and Harry were "uniquely bonded because of what we've been through" in a video released by Kensington Palace in 2017.

Charles became Harry and William's primary parent after their mother's death, but according to royal reporter Katie Nicholl's book, "The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown," he was often too "busy" to spend time with his children.

"With a busy work schedule and Camilla now very much a priority in his private diary, Charles placed too much trust in William and Harry to look after themselves," Nicholl wrote of the king's approach to parenting his teenage sons, which led them to get into trouble.

As an adult, Harry served as the best man at William and Kate Middleton's 2011 wedding, and the trio often attended royal events together, suggesting a close relationship. Harry once called Kate "the big sister I never had."

Harry and Meghan Markle started dating in July 2016.

A mutual friend brought Harry and Meghan together in 2016, and they became a couple almost immediately.

Harry confirmed his relationship with Meghan on November 8, 2016, via a statement through his spokesperson because "his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment."

It went on to say Meghan had been subjected to harassment in news articles, comment sections of articles, and in person as people tried to gain access to her home.

Following the release of the statement, reports surfaced that William did not approve of Harry going public with his relationship. He then disputed those claims in a statement issued by Kensington Palace.

"The Duke of Cambridge absolutely understands the situation concerning privacy and supports the need for Prince Harry to support those closest to him," the statement said.

Harry and Meghan announced they were engaged a year later.

Harry and Meghan got married on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle.

At the time, Harry and Meghan's wedding seemed to be a joyous, family affair.

Charles walked Meghan down the aisle, Prince William was Harry's best man, and Princess Charlotte and Prince George were among the bridesmaids and page boys.

However, there was controversy in the weeks leading up to the wedding because of Meghan's family.

Meghan's father, Thomas Markle, and half-sister, Samantha Markle, repeatedly spoke to tabloids about Meghan, and Thomas posed for staged paparazzi photos in exchange for money, according to the Daily Mail.

The Sussexes moved out of the property they shared with Prince William and Kate Middleton in November 2018.

In the early months of their marriage, Meghan and Harry lived in Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where William and Kate lived with their children.

However, shortly after Kensington Palace announced Meghan was pregnant with her first child, the Sussexes shared that they would move to Frogmore Cottage — 18 miles from Kensington Palace, on the grounds of Windsor Castle — on November 18, 2018.

Meghan gave birth to Prince Archie in May 2019.

In March 2019, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex split their office with the Cambridges.

Until the spring of 2019, Harry and Meghan shared a royal office with William and Kate.

In March of that year, Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been appointed their own royal household.

Soon after the palace announced that the couple would have their own household, The Times reported that Harry and Meghan had originally requested "entire independence" from Buckingham Palace, which the Queen had denied.

The Sussexes cut ties with the Waleses' charity in June 2019.

Although their offices had already been split, Meghan and Harry further separated themselves from William and Kate by resigning from The Royal Foundation, which Harry and William had founded together in 2009.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the separation in a statement in June 2019.

"Later this year, The Royal Foundation will become the principal charitable and philanthropic vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge," the palace's statement said. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation."

"In addition, both couples will continue to work together on projects in the future, including on The Foundation's mental health programme, Heads Together," the statement added.

In October 2019, Meghan hinted in an interview that she was unhappy, and Harry seemed to confirm his rift with William.

In the ITV documentary "Harry and Meghan: An African Journey," Harry said he and William were "on different paths at the moment," which appeared to confirm their rift. 

"We don't see each other as much as we used to because we're so busy, but I love him dearly. The majority of this stuff is created out of nothing, but as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days," he said.

In the same documentary, Meghan became emotional when interviewer Tom Bradby asked how media attention was affecting her mental and physical health, particularly after she gave birth to Archie.

"Look, any woman, especially when they're pregnant, you're really vulnerable, and so that was made really challenging," she said. "And especially as a woman, it's really — it's a lot."

"Also, thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I'm OK," she said to Bradby. "But it's a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes."

Meghan and Harry announced they were stepping back as senior royals on January 8, 2020.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping back from royal life in a statement on Instagram.

"After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the statement said. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen."

Meghan and Harry also announced on their website that they would no longer participate in the royal rota system.

In response to the duke and duchess' announcement, the royal family said there were "complicated issues that will take time to work through" in a statement from the royal communications office.

On January 13, 2020, William and Harry released a joint statement addressing allegations that Harry and Meghan had been "bullied" out of the family.

The brothers released a statement to royal reporter Rebecca English in response to an article from the Times of London that said Harry and Meghan had been "bullied" out of the royal family.

"Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of Cambridge," a statement from a spokesperson for the princes said. "For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful."

"It's clear from my conversations this morning that BOTH brothers are deeply, deeply unhappy about suggestions that Harry feels he has been 'bullied' out of the Royal Family by William," English added in an X post.

On January 18, 2020, Queen Elizabeth said she supported the Sussexes' "wish for a more independent life."

"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," a statement from the Queen said.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," the Queen continued. "I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life."

Buckingham Palace also shared a statement clarifying that Harry and Meghan would be completely stepping back from their royal duties beginning in the spring of 2020. It also said they would no longer receive public funds and would repay the Sovereign Grant for their Frogmore Cottage renovations.

The statement said Buckingham Palace would not comment on the details of the Sussexes' security arrangements. "There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security," it said.

Meghan and Harry didn't speak to William and Kate at their final engagement as working royals on March 9, 2020.

Meghan and Harry attended a Commonwealth Day event alongside Charles, William, and Kate Middleton.

The Sussexes and Cambridges were near each other throughout the event, but they did not speak and barely made eye contact.

Harry and Meghan moved to California shortly after the event, and they bought their first home in Montecito in July 2020. They became fully financially independent of the royal family in September 2020, when they repaid $3 million in taxpayer money they had used to renovate Frogmore Cottage.

Meghan's legal team said she was "unprotected by the Institution" in court documents in July 2020.

At the time, Meghan was suing the Mail on Sunday over the misuse of private information, infringement of copyright, and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 after it published a letter she wrote to her father following her wedding in 2018.

In July 2020, Meghan's legal team filed a court document that said she felt "unprotected by the Institution."

"The Claimant had become the subject of a large number of false and damaging articles by the UK tabloid media, specifically by the Defendant, which caused tremendous emotional distress and damage to her mental health," a legal spokesperson for the duchess said in the document.

"As her friends had never seen her in this state before, they were rightly concerned for her welfare, specifically as she was pregnant, unprotected by the Institution, and prohibited from defending herself," they added.

Days before Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey was set to air, reports surfaced that Buckingham Palace was investigating claims Meghan bullied palace staff.

Four days before the Sussexes' interview with Winfrey aired on CBS, Buckingham Palace announced it was investigating allegations that Meghan bullied two senior royal staff members, which was first reported by The Times of London.

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex denied the allegations in a statement to The Times and said it was "no coincidence" that the palace announced it was investigating the allegations ahead of the couple's interview with Winfrey.

"Let's just call this what it is — a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation," a spokesperson for the couple said, adding that Meghan was "saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself."

Harry and Meghan's interview with Winfrey aired on March 7, 2021, and they made multiple bombshell allegations about the royal family.

During their tell-all interview with Winfrey, the duke and duchess opened up about their experience in the royal family.

In the interview, Harry and Meghan said members of the royal family made racist remarks about Archie's skin tone before he was born. Harry later clarified that his grandparents didn't make the comments.

They also said the firm disregarded Meghan's mental health issues, with Meghan saying she had suicidal thoughts and that when she asked a senior member of the institution for help, the staffer told her she could not seek help because it would not look good for the monarchy.

In addition, Meghan said that Kate made her cry during the week of her wedding over a disagreement about Princess Charlotte's dress, disputing reports that Meghan made Kate cry.

Prince Harry also said his father stopped taking his phone calls before he and Meghan stepped back.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement about the interview two days after it aired.

"The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," the statement from Buckingham Palace said.

"The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning," it went on to say. "While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members," the statement added.

On March 11, Prince William told Sky News North of England correspondent Inzamam Rashid that he hadn't spoken to Prince Harry following the interview but that he would.

"And can you just let me know, is the royal family a racist family, sir?" Rashid responded.

"We're very much not a racist family," William said.

Prince Harry and Prince William spoke briefly at Prince Philip's funeral on April 17, 2021.

Harry reunited with his family after Prince Philip died on April 9, 2021.

He attended the funeral at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021, though he and William did not walk side by side during the processional. Instead, their cousin, Peter Philips, walked between them.

Harry was also spotted briefly walking and speaking with William and Kate after the ceremony, but according to royal historian Robert Lacey's book, "Battle of Brothers: William, Harry and the Inside Story of a Family in Tumult," the couple didn't speak to Harry after the funeral because they feared the conversation would be "leaked."

According to royal biographer Katie Nicholl's book "The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown," William and Kate also didn't attend an impromptu wake with Harry and other royals, including Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, and Zara and Mike Tindall.

Prince Harry revealed new details about his and his wife's mental health struggles when "The Me You Can't See" premiered on May 21, 2021.

In the third episode of the Apple TV+ series, which premiered on May 21, 2021, Harry spoke candidly about his relationship with his father, revealing that Charles often told him and Prince William when they were children, "Well, it was like that for me, so it's going to be like that for you."

"That doesn't make sense," Harry said of his father's refrain. "Just because you suffered doesn't mean your kids have to suffer."

"In fact, quite the opposite," he went on to say. "If you suffered, do everything you can to make sure that whatever negative experiences you had, that you can make it right for your kids."

In episode five, Harry shared that he woke up to Meghan crying before their interview with Winfrey aired because of a "smear campaign" from British tabloids and the firm, the institution that supports the monarchy.

"Before the interview, because of their headlines and that combined effort of the firm and the media to smear her, I was woken up in the middle of the night to her crying in her pillow because she doesn't want to wake me up because I'm already carrying too much," Harry said of Meghan.

"That's heartbreaking," he added. "I held her. We talked. She cried, and she cried, and she cried."

Members of the royal family congratulated Harry and Meghan on their daughter's birth in June 2021.

Meghan and Harry welcomed their daughter in June 2021. She was named Lilibet Diana after her grandmother and great-grandmother; Lilibet was Queen Elizabeth's family nickname.

Members of the royal family offered their congratulations online.

"Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of Lilibet Diana!" the royal family wrote on its official Instagram on behalf of Queen Elizabeth, her son, Camilla, and William and Kate.

Charles and Camilla, as well as William and Kate, also congratulated the Sussexes in their own Instagram post, in which they didn't use Meghan and Harry's royal titles.

Prince William and Prince Harry reunited to unveil a statue for Princess Diana on July 1, 2021.

For Princess Diana's 60th birthday, William and Harry came together at Kensington Palace to unveil a statue made in their mother's honor.

The brothers released a rare joint statement for the occasion.

"Today, on what would have been our mother's 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength, and character — qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better," the brothers said. "Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy."

Harry and William attended the event without any royal family members, including their wives, though they were joined by Diana's siblings, Charles Spencer, Sarah McCorquodale, and Jane Fellowes.

Charles said he was proud of Harry in January 2022.

In a personal essay about the climate crisis published by Newsweek on January 4, 2022, Charles honored William and Harry's conservation efforts.

"As a father, I am proud that my sons have recognized this threat," he wrote. "And my younger son, Harry, has passionately highlighted the impact of climate change, especially in relation to Africa, and committed his charity to being net zero."

Nigel Cawthorne, the royal biographer who wrote "Prince Philip: I Know I Am Rude," told Business Insider that Charles' comments about Harry indicated he was working toward a resolution.

"Charles is clearly realizing that he has to take on the conciliatory role of the grown-up that Prince Philip used to have," Cawthorne said.

"Like his father, he is realizing that letting emotions fester will be the downfall of the Windsors. Prince Philip used what the Queen called his 'cheeky humor' to unruffle feathers, even with Harry and William's mother, Diana," Cawthorne added. "Charles will have to find his own way in keeping the family together rather than let it grow apart over quibbles."

Harry and Meghan privately visited Queen Elizabeth during a trip to Europe on April 14, 2022.

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed to Business Insider that Harry and Meghan visited the Queen in April 2022 while they were in Europe for the Invictus Games, a competition for injured service personnel founded by Harry.

Katie Nicholl's "New Royals" revealed that the Duke of Sussex also saw Charles and Camilla during the visit.

"Harry went in with hugs and the best of intentions and said he wanted to clear the air," a friend of the royal family told Nicholl of the prince's approach to his meeting with his father and stepmother. "He actually suggested that they use a mediator to try and sort things out, which had Charles somewhat bemused and Camilla spluttering into her tea."

"She told Harry it was ridiculous and that they were a family and would sort it out between themselves," the same friend said, according to Nicholl.

After the visit, Harry said he wanted to ensure the Queen was "protected" and avoided a question about his brother.

On April 20, 2022, Harry discussed his visit with his grandmother during an interview with NBC for the "Today" show.

"Being with her, it was great, it was just so nice to see her," Harry said of the Queen. "She's on great form. She's always got a great sense of humor with me, and I'm just making sure that she's, you know, protected, and got the right people around her."

"We have a really special relationship, we talk about things she can't talk about with anyone else," he added.

In the same interview, Hoda Kotb asked Harry if he missed his father and brother since moving to the US, and Harry seemed to avoid the question by talking about the Invictus Games.

"For me, in the moment, I'm here, focused on these guys and these families and giving everything that I can — 120% — to them to make sure they have the experience of a lifetime," Harry responded.

In June 2022, the Sussexes attended the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, reuniting them with the royal family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew to the UK with their children for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

On June 3, 2022, they made their first joint appearance at a royal event since 2020 for the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in honor of the Queen's 70 years on the throne.

Although they attended the service, they didn't attend a luncheon for the royals after the event. Charles and Camilla also met Princess Lilibet during the trip.

Prince Harry reunited with the royal family after Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022.

Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Buckingham Palace said she "died peacefully at Balmoral" in Scotland.

Members of the royal family, including Harry, rushed to Balmoral after the Queen's doctors said they were concerned about her.

Harry was unable to see the Queen before she died. The palace announced she died at 6:30 p.m. local time, and Harry's flight did not arrive in Scotland until 6:46 p.m., according to flight-tracking data published by The Daily Beast and Mail Online.

The Duke of Sussex was reunited with the new King Charles, Prince William, Princess Anne, the former Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, at Balmoral.

Meghan and Harry stayed in the UK for the Queen's funeral events.

King Charles voiced his love for Meghan and Harry in his first address as monarch on September 9, 2022.

King Charles gave his first address to the UK as monarch the day after his mother's death.

In the speech, he paid tribute to his mother, bestowed the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales on William and Kate, and expressed his love for Harry and Meghan.

"I want to also express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas," Charles said after announcing William was taking over his title.

Harry and Meghan made a surprise appearance with Kate and William on September 10, 2022, their first in over two years.

On September 10, Meghan and Harry joined William and Kate for an impromptu walkabout at Windsor Castle to greet well-wishers.

A spokesperson for the new Prince of Wales told The Times of London that William personally invited Harry and Meghan to join the walk, which marked their first joint appearance as couples in years.

Royal expert Marlene Koenig told Business Insider the moment of unity likely wasn't a sign of a permanently mended relationship.

"I don't think there's been a reconciliation," Koenig said. "I'm sure it was insanely uncomfortable for all of them."

Meghan and Harry were later spotted with King Charles at Buckingham Palace.

King Charles granted Harry an exception to wear his military regalia to stand vigil for his grandmother on September 16, 2022.

In the days after the Queen's death, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex told Business Insider that Prince Harry would wear a morning suit to all funeral services for his grandmother, not military attire, since he was no longer a working royal.

On September 12, The Telegraph reported that only working members of the royal family would be permitted to wear military attire to the Queen's funeral events. However, an exception had been made for Andrew, who would be allowed to wear military dress at a final vigil held at Westminster Hall, despite being stripped of his military titles earlier that year.

Then, on September 16, ahead of a vigil at Westminster Hall attended by Queen Elizabeth's eight grandchildren, royal reporter Rebecca English said that both William and Harry would wear their military attire to the service "at the King's request."

The stunning reversal seemed like an indication that the royal family was making amends in the wake of the Queen's death, but Roya Nikkah reported for The Sunday Times on September 18, 2022, that Harry's uniform was missing an "ER" pin, Queen Elizabeth's initials.

The missing pin meant that Harry was initially not meant to wear his uniform for the ceremony, despite serving for over 10 years in the British military.

When "Harry & Meghan" premiered on Netflix on December 8, 2022, the streaming company and unnamed royal sources disagreed about its production.

The Netflix docuseries premiered in two volumes, with three episodes dropping on December 8 and three dropping on December 15.

At the beginning of episode one, two screen cards appeared with disclaimers about the production.

"This is a first-hand account of Harry & Meghan's story, told with never before seen personal archive," the first card read. "All interviews were completed by August 2022," a month before Queen Elizabeth's death.

A second disclaimer then appeared: "Members of the Royal Family declined to comment on the content within this series." The disclaimer did not note which royal family members were contacted before the show's release.

After the premiere, multiple outlets, including People, The Independent, and Page Six, reported that unnamed sources said Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace were not asked for comment on the series' content. The palaces did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the matter.

A Netflix source told Business Insider that Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace were contacted specifically about the show and given the opportunity to comment on its content.

In the series, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they had been trying to leave the UK since 2018.

Harry and Meghan moved away from the UK in March 2020 after stepping back as senior royals.

But in episode five of "Harry & Meghan," they shared that they had considered moving to three Commonwealth countries to continue working for the Queen outside the UK.

Harry and Meghan said they presented the royal family with a plan for them to move to New Zealand in 2018, South Africa in the spring of 2019, and, finally, Canada at the end of 2019.

"The family and their people knew that we were trying to find a different way of working for a minimum of two years," Harry said.

Harry said the Queen's, Charles', and Prince William's offices approved their plan to move to South Africa, and each office signed off on an "internal document" regarding the move.

However, Harry said the document was leaked to The Times in April 2019, so the move was canceled.

"Then that whole plan was then scrapped because it's now become a public debate," Harry said. "Once plans like that become public debates, nine times out of 10, it's gonna fail."

The plan to move to Canada was also leaked in January 2020, which frustrated Harry because he had asked his father if he could avoid putting the plan in writing. Charles said he couldn't make the move happen without it being written down.

Harry said he sent his father details about the move on January 1, 2, and 3, 2020, and The Sun published a story about it by January 7. Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior royals the next day.

Harry also said he had nothing to do with a joint statement released by the palace with his and William's names on it after he and Meghan stepped back as senior royals.

In episode five, Harry addressed the "joint" statement a Kensington Palace representative gave Rebecca English about allegations that William had bullied the Sussexes out of the royal family.

Harry said no one asked his permission to add his name to the statement, and he was shocked to hear about it.

"I couldn't believe it," he said, adding that he called Meghan to tell her about the statement after he heard about it.

"She burst into floods of tears," the prince said of Meghan's reaction. "Within four hours, they were happy to lie to protect my brother, and yet for three years, they were never willing to tell the truth to protect us."

Harry said William yelled at him during the Sandringham Summit in January 2020.

After Harry and Meghan announced their step back on social media, senior members of the royal family gathered at Sandringham House in January 2020 to discuss what their futures as members of the royal family would be.

In episode five of "Harry & Meghan," Harry said the conversations were not productive, particularly because of William's reaction.

"It became very clear very quickly that that goal was not up for discussion or debate," Harry said. "It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me."

"I mean, the saddest part of it was this wedge created between myself and my brother so that he's now on the institution's side," he said. "And part of that, I get. I understand, right? That's his inheritance."

"So, to some extent, it's already ingrained in him that part of his responsibility is the survivability and the continuation of this institution," he added.

In January 2023, Harry released his memoir "Spare," which included intimate details about his relationship with his father and brother.

Penguin Random House published Harry's memoir "Spare" on January 10, 2023, and it became the publisher's fastest-selling nonfiction book to date.

In the memoir, Harry shared intimate details of his life and relationship with other royals. For instance, he shared that Charles didn't hug him after Princess Diana died and that he and William tried to convince their father not to marry Camilla.

His recollections of his relationship with William were particularly shocking, as Harry described him as his "beloved brother" and "arch nemesis." Harry also wrote that William physically attacked him during an argument in 2019 and that they barely spoke at Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

Harry attended Charles' coronation without Meghan on May 6, 2023.

King Charles III's coronation took place at Westminster Abbey, and both Harry and Meghan were invited.

However, Harry came on behalf of the Sussexes, while Meghan stayed with their children in California, which royal experts told Business Insider was a "brilliant" PR strategy.

The Duke of Sussex was only in London for 28 hours, and although he was not seen interacting with the king or Prince William, he chatted with his cousins and aunt, Princess Anne.

Harry visited his father briefly after King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.

King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer on February 5, 2024.

The following day, Harry visited the king for 45 minutes at Clarence House, seemingly the first time they had seen each other since Charles' coronation in May 2023.

"The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I'm grateful for that," Harry told Good Morning America of the visit on February 16.

Harry also said that the king told him about his cancer directly.

Harry said he wanted "reconciliation" with the royal family in May 2025.

On May 2, 2025, Harry lost his legal challenge requesting automatic security for his family when they visit the UK.

In a statement, Harry said "this legal action has been a last resort, but one that has uncovered shocking truths," pointing to the role the royal household plays in decisions made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC). He also said he, Meghan, and their children continue to be the subject of "neo-Nazi and extremist threats," putting them in danger without ample security.

"The UK is my birthplace and will always be part of who I am," he said. "It is a place I love, and the country where my son was born. I've only ever wanted to continue my charitable work in supporting the causes and people that mean so much to me, and for my children to know the beauty of my homeland."

Harry also discussed the ruling and how his security issues have affected his relationship with the royals in an interview with BBC News, saying he "can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point."

He added that he "would love a reconciliation" with the royal family but that his battle for security in the UK is "the sticking point" in their relationship.

"Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. They will never forgive me for lots of things," he said, adding that King Charles isn't speaking to him "because of this security stuff."

"Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he said.

Charles and Harry reunited for the first time in 19 months at Clarence House on September 10, 2025.

Four months after Harry said King Charles wasn't speaking to him, the pair reunited in September 2025. Their last publicly known meeting was in February 2024, marking 19 months since the father and son had last seen each other.

Harry was photographed arriving at Clarence House in an SUV on September 10, 2025, where he apparently had tea with his father. People reported that the duke was inside Clarence House for just under an hour.

Neither Buckingham Palace nor representatives for the Duke of Sussex shared information about what went on between Harry and the king during the meeting.

Harry said his "conscience is clear" over sharing details about his family in "Spare."

During a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, to promote his Invictus Games in September 2025, Harry spoke to The Guardian's Nick Hopkins about his relationship with his family and decision to speak publicly about elements of his life in "Spare."

Harry told Hopkins he hoped to spend more time in the UK with his children, and that his recent visit, during which he met with his father, "has definitely brought that closer." He also said that "the focus really has to be on my dad" over the next few years.

Addressing "Spare," Harry referred to the book as "a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out, and it needed to be corrected."

"I don't believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public," he told Hopper. "It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear."

He went on to say that he didn't regret sharing his story in "Spare" or in his legal battles in the UK, saying, "You cannot have reconciliation before you have truth."

Harry and Meghan brought their children to the UK for a visit in July 2026.

In July 2026, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex brought their children to the UK for the first time since 2022. Meghan shared photos from the trip on her Instagram, showing the kids playing at Althorp, where Princess Diana grew up.

During their time in the UK, Harry and Meghan brought Archie and Lili to see King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House, as outlets like People and the BBC reported.

The details of the visit were kept private, but it seemed to mark a turning point for the thawing of the royals' relationship.

William, Kate, and their children did not attend the reunion.

In August 2026, news broke that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were moving back to the UK.

On August 19, People and The Telegraph reported that Harry and Meghan were moving back to the UK.

People said the couple would be moving to London "for an extended period" with their children. Archie and Lilibet will also be attending school in the UK starting in September.

The couple will not live at a royal residence, and they are not selling their homes in Montecito or Portugal ahead of the move. They have not shared where their private residence will be, nor where their kids will attend school.

The outlets reported that King Charles learned of the move on Sunday and that he "welcomes the opportunity to see more of the Sussex family in a private and personal capacity." William and Kate have also been made aware of the move, though they had not publicly commented on Harry and Meghan's return.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not share details about what their security detail will look like in the UK, despite Harry repeatedly voicing safety concerns about bringing his family back to his home country since he and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties.

• A slow cooker or Crock-Pot can be a valuable yet underutilized tool in your kitchen.
• A slow cooker can make many cozy comfort foods, from stews to simple soups and roasted meats.
• Meats like brisket and short ribs become tender when made in a slow cooker.

As the first hints of fall arrive and temperatures begin to cool, it's a great time to dust off your Crock-Pot or slow cooker and ease into the season with warm, comforting meals that practically cook themselves.

Business Insider spoke with chefs and cookbook authors about their favorite comforting slow-cooker meals, from hearty beef stews and chowders to tender brisket, and researched celebrity chefs' go-to Crock-Pot dishes.

Here are 17 cozy comfort-food dishes you can make in a slow cooker, according to chefs.

Short ribs become extra tender when slow-cooked.

Short ribs are one of cookbook author Kim Laidlaw's favorite things to make in a Crock-Pot, and they're a go-to on a chilly fall day.

In her cookbook, "Everyday Slow Cooking: Modern Recipes for Delicious Meals," Laidlaw offers several recipes for short ribs and recommends serving them with other sides.

"If you do them in a slow cooker, then the meat is out of the way," she told Business Insider. "Then, you can focus on other side dishes like polenta or risotto."

Stew is one of those slow-cooker meals where you can practically toss in the ingredients and walk away.

Beef, turkey, or chicken stew is the kind of stick-to-your-bones comfort food that feels made for fall.

Packed with tender meat, hearty vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth, a warm bowl of stew makes an especially satisfying meal as temperatures drop and chilly evenings set in.

"Beef stew is really nice in the slow cooker," Laidlaw said. "That's something I grew up on with the slow cooker, and it's just as good today."

Corn chowder is another simple meal you can make with a few inexpensive ingredients.

If you make this chowder in late summer or early fall, you can use fresh, in-season corn, as suggested in this celebrity chef-approved Martha Stewart recipe on the chef's website.

However, you can also take the easy route by choosing canned corn from the store. The chowder is flavorful yet light, using heartwarming ingredients like heavy cream, bacon, and baby red potatoes.

Brisket is another meat that becomes super tender in a slow cooker.

Brisket isn't reserved just for holidays or special occasions.

Laidlaw's recipe for slow-cooked braised brisket includes garlic, onion, dry red wine, carrot, and chicken or beef stock, with a chimichurri sauce.

"Brisket is a natural partner for the slow cooker, as a gentle braise renders it meltingly tender," Laidlaw writes in "Everyday Slow Cooking."

Sticky barbecue ribs can also be made in a Crock-Pot.

Whether it's for game day or just a slow Sunday with the family, crock-pot barbecue ribs make everything unbelievably easy.

"Ribs do really well in the slow cooker, and you can always stick them under the broiler in the end to crisp them up," Laidlaw said.

Laidlaw's recipe recommends cooking the ribs on a low heat setting for five to six hours and marinating them in ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, wine, lemon zest and juice, brown sugar, and other seasonings for maximum flavor.

Bolognese sauce is another great way to use your Crock-Pot.

There's nothing quite like a big pot of Bolognese in the early fall or winter, and it's easy to make in the Crock Pot.

"Bolognese is great because you can cook it for a long time," Laidlaw said. "You just have to remember that the sauce doesn't evaporate the same as it would if you were doing it on the stove. You definitely need to compensate and put less liquid in the pot if you're using a slow cooker."

There are tons of recipes out there for slow-cooker Bolognese — one recipe by The Pioneer Woman recommends browning the meat first before adding it to the Crock Pot for enhanced flavor and texture.

You can also make mac and cheese in a slow cooker.

Celebrity chef Martha Stewart's recipe for slow-cooker mac and cheese is not only easy to make but super delicious and perfect for the fall and winter seasons.

"It is important to use pungent cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, mixed with a little Gruyere or pecorino Romano for extra bite, since the white sauce and pasta will absorb a lot of flavor," Stewart writes.

Chicken stock and broth are two kitchen staples you can make in a Crock-Pot.

Hugh Acheson's slow-cooker chicken broth is pretty simple — all you'll need is a whole chicken, salt, garlic cloves, white onions, carrots, celery, and a few seasonings to taste. 

You can find the full recipe for Acheson's chicken broth in his book, "The Chef and the Slow Cooker."

You can also make chicken soup in a slow cooker.

"A simple soup with Thai chilis, coconut milk, and lime is just wickedly good," Acheson said.

The recipe for Acheson's slow cooker chicken soup with chiles, coconut milk, and lime can be found here on Garden & Gun. Or, if you're feeling a little more adventurous, Acheson also said a slow cooker is a perfect way to make delicious chicken and dumplings.

Meatballs are another warming meal to make in a slow cooker.

Acheson points out that not only are meatballs, like the veal meatballs he includes in his book, easy and delicious to make, but they're a comforting, kid-friendly option you can make in a slow cooker.

"Slow cookers are not necessarily the best tool for cooking for one — they work so much better for nourishing an entire family," he said.

Acheson said his go-to slow-cooker meal on a cool day is lentil soup with a little sour cream.

"I usually go for something that won't take too long," Acheson said. "Usually, I go for a lentil soup with Tuscan kale and a little sour cream and herbs on top. To me, that's the type of food you want as you're watching the snow fall down."

The recipe for Acheson's lentil soup with Tuscan kale can be found here on Cup of Jo.

Acheson also points out that large batches of soup are great for the next day.

Braised and pulled chicken is another great way to use your Crock-Pot.

One of the benefits of using a slow cooker is that you can start with a basic protein and jazz it up.

From Mexican food-inspired spices to Indian simmer sauces, there are tons of ways to transform simple braised or pulled chicken dishes into something show-stopping.

This recipe from Delish tells you how to make slow-cooker barbecue pulled chicken.

Pork shoulder is a slow-cooker staple you can use in a number of dishes.

"One dish I think is so versatile is pork shoulder in a slow cooker with broth and a little salt and pepper," Laidlaw said. "I just braise that and then you can turn into so many different things."

Laidlaw said that using a pork shoulder, you can make everything from pulled-pork sliders to carnitas tacos or burritos.

You can also slow-cook a leg of lamb, but you might want to sear it first.

"Leg of lamb is so good as it breaks down in the slow cooker," Acheson said. "Cooking in the slow cooker and then finishing another way is going to make sure your meat is at its best. Whether that means re-searing the meat or throwing it under the broiler, you might want to think about other steps to really finish off your meal."

Laidlaw added, "Recipes that have you throw everything in without any prep ahead are not nearly as good or as flavorful as the ones that do. Taking 10 minutes to brown the meat before you put it in or getting the onions started goes a long way to making your meals more delicious."

You can also make poached or braised fish in the slow cooker.

"It's really about rethinking recipes and figuring out how to do it in the slow cooker," Acheson said.

One of the best recipes Acheson said he uses from his book is one for a braised catfish stew, the recipe for which can be found on Garden & Gun.

"It's got this long-cooking, beautiful broth that's just a vision at the end," he told Business Insider. "It's got chilies, peppers, and mace — big flavors. It just works perfectly. When slow cooking, you really want to choose a dish that works well simmering potentially all day."

Goat shoulder is another delicious meal you can make in a Crock-Pot.

"These days, goat shoulder doesn't have that gamey taste it might have had before," Acheson said. "When you're talking about cooking a large piece of meat, a slow cooker is a great place to start."

You can even make a comforting dessert like cheesecake in a Crock-Pot.

One of the desserts Laidlaw includes in her book "Everyday Slow Cooking" is for gingersnap-brandy cheesecake, which would be perfect as a treat on a cold day or a holiday dessert.

• I made the Pioneer Woman's creamy one-pan pasta with Italian sausage and mascarpone.
• The simple recipe used pantry staples and took less than an hour to make.
• I made enough that, as a single person, I could eat leftovers for multiple days.

There's nothing quite like a simple, no-fuss pasta dish that requires minimal ingredients, one pot, and easy-to-follow instructions.

Ree Drummond, better known as the Pioneer Woman, has built a following around her simple, hearty recipes that often make enough to feed a whole family or have leftovers for days.

As someone who typically cooks for one, I've found that many of her dishes make easy, satisfying weeknight meals, with plenty of leftovers to reheat throughout the week. However, their simplicity and convenience also make them a great option for busy families.

On one particularly hectic evening, I tried her one-pan Italian sausage pasta and found it to be the ultimate easy comfort meal for busy nights.

Here's how to make the Pioneer Woman's one-pan pasta with Italian sausage.

Ree Drummond's recipe for creamy Italian sausage one-pan pasta requires basic ingredients, including some pantry staples.

To make Drummond's recipe for one-pan creamy sausage pasta for six, you'll need:

Drummond recommends using fusilli pasta for this dish, but you can substitute any pasta shape you prefer or have on hand.

And while this may look like a long list of ingredients, you may already have most of them in your kitchen.

I started by dicing a medium-sized onion and a few cloves of garlic.

This pasta dish required very little prep, which also meant cleanup was a breeze. Aside from a few utensils, I only had to wash the cutting board and skillet I used to prepare the meal.

After prepping my vegetables, I heated the olive oil in a pan and added the sweet sausage meat.

I let the sausage brown slightly in a large nonstick skillet before breaking it into smaller pieces with a wooden spatula, a task that became easier as the meat cooked.

It took about five minutes for the sausage to lightly brown.

I then added the diced onion and cooked it until it became translucent.

It took another five minutes for the onions to cook and fill my kitchen with a heavenly scent.

I then added the seasonings and the garlic.

The recipe calls for fennel seeds, oregano, and red pepper flakes — all pantry staples I already had on hand, making the prep process even easier.

I stirred the seasonings into the sausage, allowing them to toast slightly in the rendered fat to bring out their flavors. I also added salt and pepper for an extra boost of flavor.

I then added the ingredients for the tomato sauce and the uncooked pasta noodles.

The recipe calls for low-sodium chicken broth, tomato puree, and tomato paste to make the sauce. When I first added the ingredients, I was nervous the sauce would end up too liquidy.

After cooking the pasta noodles in the sauce for about 20 minutes, the sauce thickened.

I loved that I didn't need to use an extra pot to boil water or cook the pasta separately. Everything came together in a single pan, which made the whole process incredibly efficient.

Not only did this save me time, but it also meant fewer dishes to wash — no extra pot or colander required.

After a long day, I really appreciated how simple the whole process was. It took a lot of the stress out of getting dinner on the table on a busy weeknight.

After the pasta had fully cooked, I removed the pan from the heat and added a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and the mascarpone.

This is how Drummond's "creamy" Italian sausage pasta gets its name — after adding in the cheese and mascarpone, the sauce became even creamier, with shreds of cheese pulling and swirling throughout the pasta as I stirred it with my spatula.

The final result was a comforting, unbelievably easy pasta dish that I'll make time and time again.

Drummond recommends garnishing the dish with shaved Parmesan cheese and basil leaves for added brightness.

The pasta was creamy and savory, making it the perfect one-pan meal for a busy weeknight.

The sauce, which was creamy and strongly flavored with cheese and mascarpone, clung to the noodles, while the hints of fennel seeds and red pepper flakes brought out the savory flavor of the Italian sausage.

I loved the ease of this one-pan recipe — cooking the pasta noodles in the same pan saved me time and cleanup, and I was impressed by how simple the instructions were to follow.

In fact, it was so simple I'm sure I could recreate this dish from memory next time.

With its rich flavors and effortless cleanup, this recipe proved that a weeknight dinner can feel indulgent without being complicated.

"The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" brought crowds of movie fans to theaters this summer. Does this signal a true rebound for an industry that's been struggling for years? Business Insider Today's Dan DeFrancesco gets the scoop from Stacy Spikes, CEO of MoviePass.

• Stripe said the singularity, when AI surpasses human intelligence, has already arrived.
• Stripe executives told investors in a letter that it was already affecting their business.
• Other tech leaders have also said the singularity is here, but not everyone agrees.

Stripe says the singularity already arrived — more than eight months ago.

Executives at the payment processing giant told investors Wednesday in a letter obtained by Axios that they decided the singularity, roughly defined as the point at which artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, arrived at the start of 2026 and that they've been acting accordingly.

"It's a fuzzy and perhaps already overworked term, but we decided that January 1st marked the beginning of the singularity, and we have since been operating on that basis," the letter said.

"The singularity is often invoked alongside millenarian forecasts, but, in our case, we simply saw a large inflection in long-run trends (for example, a huge increase in the rate of new firm creation), and we decided that we ought to take the phase change seriously," the letter from Stripe CEO Patrick Collison, president John Collison, and president, technology and business, William Gaybrick, continued.

The letter makes the Stripe leaders the latest tech execs to declare the singularity is already here.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in July that we were in the singularity, adding, "I've been waiting for this my whole life, and I think it's going to be incredible, hugely positive, awesome for the world." In January, Tesla CEO Elon Musk declared on X, "We have entered the Singularity."

Not everyone agrees. Several AI experts previously told Business Insider that they did not agree with Altman's take.

Stripe's letter to investors came as the company announced Wednesday it was acquiring OpenRouter, an AI model marketplace startup. Stripe did not mention the singularity in the public statement about the acquisition.

The investor letter said the company has two goals as AI reshapes society: speed up AI adoption across the economy and ensure that AI deployment gives people more control over their economic lives.

"The singularity appears to be accelerating our core business," the executives wrote, adding that the company's revenue for the first half of the fiscal year rose 41% year-over-year.

"Stripe is, of course, a private company today. We view this as a growing advantage as we venture into the vicissitudes of the singularity," the letter said. "The world is becoming harder to predict and we expect that deft helmsmanship will be required of every company. We're fortunate to have a corporate structure that helps us steer the right long-term course."

Stripe declined to comment when reached by Business Insider.

La Liga is back, with several players fresh off World Cup runs. We've rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch La Liga, including global streaming options.

Lamine Yamal, who helped lead Spain to win the World Cup last month, will return to FC Barcelona in an attempt to defend the team's La Liga title. If you're hoping to tune in, you've come to the right place. You can live stream La Liga via ESPN Select in the US, Premier Sports and Disney Plus in the UK, and beIN Sports in Australia, among other global streaming options.

Where to watch La Liga in the US

Unlike other sports leagues, La Liga streaming options are simple in the US. Fans can live stream every single game with an ESPN Select subscription. Plans cost $13 a month, but if you're looking for even more programming (including full live streams from all ESPN networks), then the pricier $30 a month ESPN Unlimited tier might be of interest.

Where to watch La Liga in the UK

Most of the La Liga season will be available through Premier Sports in the UK. Premier Sports subscription prices range depending on your exact plan and contract, but fans can also get it as an add-on through Prime Video. However, select Saturday games will be available through Disney Plus, which starts at £5 a month.

Where to watch La Liga in Australia

Australian La Liga fans can catch all of the action through beIN Sports. Subscriptions cost $16 a month right now, but plans will renew at $17 a month. There's a one-week free trial for new customers. The streamer also offers a deal on annual plans, which have been cut down to just $130 a year right now (with a $170 renewal rate).

How to watch La Liga from anywhere

Football fans traveling away from home can still keep up with all of the action with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are handy tech tools that let people temporarily alter their virtual locations. This way, their usual websites and apps work from anywhere the same way they would back home. They're also strong ways to improve cybersecurity.

NordVPN is our top recommendation. It's fast, easy to use, and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not what you're looking for. You can learn more in our guide to the best VPNs.

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

If there's one thing that can ruin a great trip, it's the wrong travel shoes. I learned this the hard way while vacationing in Rome about 10 years ago. I was wearing sneakers that always served me well in New York City, but walking for hours on cobblestone streets in the Eternal City was another story. My feet ached, and the back of my heels chafed. I ultimately had to stop and buy Band-Aids and a new pair of sneakers to make it through the remainder of my vacation.

That's when I really started paying attention to the walking shoes AI chose for travel. It wasn't just about finding ones that looked good and were the right size. They needed to be built for comfort, with cushioning and padding in all the right places, and appropriate for specific activities and climates. A travel shoe I'd wear to London to go to dinners and the theater with friends would be quite different from one I'd wear for a 40-minute uphill walk to Italy's beautiful city of Ostuni.

To find the best travel shoes for men, I tested 20 pairs in a range of styles, including sneakers, dress shoes, slip-ons, and sandals. The final picks are both soothing and stylish, and most are versatile enough that you won't need to pack multiple pairs. Whether you're exploring a new town, attending a destination wedding, going on a beach getaway, or heading somewhere where there's always a chance of showers, these are the travel shoes that will keep your feet in fine form.

For more of our extensively tested men's shoe coverage, see our articles on the best men's dress shoes, best men's sandals, and the best men's boat shoes.

Advice from your tester

When choosing the best travel shoe, start with your destination. Consider the terrain — paved, rocky, or hilly — along with the weather and whether you'll need something dressy for dinners or other occasions. These factors will help determine the right style.

Comfort is just as important, so pay attention to fit and construction. Look for enough room in the toe box to prevent blisters without excess space at the heel, which can cause chafing. Supple leather, canvas, or stretchy mesh uppers offer some give and help prevent pinching, while a shock-absorbing foam midsole adds cushioning, and a flexible rubber outsole provides reliable traction.

Lastly, the best men's travel shoes are versatile and should work with most of the wardrobe items that you've packed. I'm all about the carry-on, so I travel light, with just a few pairs of travel pants and a mix of long- and short-sleeved shirts. Whatever shoe I'm wearing has to pair well with everything, so I try to stick with one in a solid color and minimal design.

"Fewer design details mean more pairing options," agrees men's personal stylist Turner Allen. "Instead of working against your look, minimal sneakers will help support it." If you're wearing dress shoes, oxblood or burgundy-leaning tones work with black and brown accessories. "This enables you to pack one less pair of shoes and have one less thing to think about," says Allen.

There are many brands that make excellent travel shoes, but here are three that stood out in my testing:

• Kizik: The sneaker brand specializes in hands-free footwear for work and play, and has a collection of travel shoes in a range of styles. The Vegas 2 is one of its best. It's sleek, comfortable, and has an understated design that suits casual and smart occasions.
• Diadora: The Italian sportswear brand is known for athletic shoes like the Nuceleo 2. The running shoe is actually the best walking shoe in this list because it's light, breathable, and provides a springy, soft landing with every step.
• Keen: Based in Portland, Oregon, Keen knows a thing or two about rainy climates. So it's no surprise that it excels at making fantastic water-repellent footwear like the Hightrail Waterproof Hiking Shoe. Available in six cool colorways, the athletic shoe uses waterproofing technology on the exterior and interior to guarantee that feet stay dry.

How I tested the best travel shoes for men

I have a wide foot and typically wear a standard size 10. To determine the best travel shoes for men, I did a lot of walking over the course of two months in sneakers, walking shoes, dress shoes, slip-ons, sandals, running shoes, and trail shoes.

I gave each pair a run-through at least two times in New York City, testing them on smooth sidewalks, cobblestone streets, grassy and uneven park terrain, and subway stairs. A few even journeyed with me on a two-day business trip to Seattle.

After testing the shoes, I evaluated them using several different criteria. First and foremost, how comfortable they were. I considered whether the upper felt stiff or flexible, and if the outsole was rigid or moved with my foot. More importantly, I noted how much cushioning the shoe offered and whether walking on rough or uneven ground took a toll on my feet.

Since the shoes would be worn in different climates, I included some that were breathable and water-resistant. Durability and quality were also key factors. I ruled out any shoes that weren't well-made or not made for the long run. And finally, I looked at their versatility. Does the design and colorway work with casual and polished looks or should you pack a second pair of shoes? If so, how much space will they take up in a suitcase?

Best overall travel shoes for men: Kizik Men's Vegas 2

The Kizik Vegas 2 is everything you could ask for in a travel shoe. Right out of the box, the shoes were extremely comfortable — to the point that I let out a happy "Ohh!" when I slipped them on. The toe box had room for movement, and the supple leather upper needed no breaking in. Despite being shockingly lightweight, the Vegas 2 offered plenty of support and cushioning. The rubber outsole also provided excellent heel-to-toe traction as I walked the rocky, uneven path of a nearby park.

But here's where it gets better: The Vegas 2 has a sleek design that works with casual and smart looks. You can wear it with jeans and a tee for a day of sightseeing or chinos, a dress shirt, and a jacket for dinner. It comes in five colors (I like Mole/Whitecap Gray, pictured above) and two suede styles that can easily be incorporated into any wardrobe. In other words, this is the only shoe you need for your trip.

Another reason Kizik's Vegas 2 is a standout is its hands-free, "step-in" design for people with limited mobility or flexibility. Slide your foot in, and the heel compresses and springs back for a secure fit.

Whether you're hitting the road or roaming one in your hometown, the Vegas 2 will have you striding in style.

Best budget travel shoes for men: Quince Italian Leather & Suede Lifestyle Trainer

Quince's $95 sneakers are inspired by the ones worn by German soldiers for military training in the 1970s. I tested a similar pair that cost triple the price for our best office sneakers guide, and I can honestly say that Quince's gives them a run for their money. The Italian Leather & Suede Lifestyle Trainer is an elevated everyday shoe with a padded collar and removable foam insole. The leather upper was somewhat stiff out of the box but began to stretch and soften immediately as I started walking. Pro tip: Take them for a spin at least one day before you travel.

This is not a traditional "bouncy" walking shoe, so the rubber outsole has some rigidity, but my feet felt fine as I walked for hourlong stretches at a time. Quince's budget-friendly trainer comes in classic white with contrasting leather and suede, as well as a sophisticated all-black version, which I tested. Each can be worn with laid-back and smart outfits, but I find that the black hides dirt better and works with evening looks.

Best walking shoes for travel: Diadora Nucleo 2

Let's get this out of the way: Diadora's Nucleo 2 shoes are chunky. And they're technically a running shoe. But they were hands-down the best walking shoes of all the pairs I tested. In fact, during a 40-minute stroll, they left me so gobsmacked that I had to stop and text my friends, telling them, "I feel like I'm walking on two mini mattresses!" Seriously! The thick, high-density foam insole had me bouncing—in a good way—as I walked the cobblestone streets of the Meatpacking District then climbed four flights of stairs to my apartment. The shoes were so ridiculously comfortable that I didn't want to take them off, but out of respect for my downstairs neighbor, I did.

Diadora's lightweight shoe has a breathable nylon upper, and comes in 12 colors that range from lime green to light gray. I went with all black, but if you want something more zippy, you've got lots of options. The Nucleo 2's athletic design definitely leans casual, so if you have plans that call for smart or business casual attire, add a dressier pair of shoes to your suitcase.

And if the Nucleo 2 is just a little too chunky for your taste, try Teva's Hurricane Trailsetter Trail Running Shoe, which deserves an honorable mention in this category. It has most of the same attributes that I love about the Nucleo 2, with a more streamlined profile and more subtle colorways.

Best slip-on travel shoes for men: Vans Premium Slip-On Shoe

Vans's iconic footwear has long been a favorite of the skate community and has since become a streetwear staple. The Premium Slip-On Shoe takes one of the brand's classic styles and gives it an upgrade, with an upper crafted from sturdier canvas and an enhanced foam insole for all-day comfort. I sometimes have trouble getting my wide foot into slip-ons and loafers, but this shoe went on easily thanks to its elastic side panels. The cushy kicks delivered both flexibility and support, making them ideal for the streets, beachy boardwalks, and long plane or train rides.

The Premium Slip-On is lightweight and packable, with a simple, sleek design that goes with shorts, jeans, and chinos. The all-black version, which I tested, can also work with a well-tailored suit for occasions with a more relaxed dress code, like a casual outdoor wedding. I wore the slip-ons with dark denim jeans to grab coffee with a friend, who told me multiple times during our catch-up how much she loved my Vans. Same here!

Best dress shoes for travel: Johnston & Murphy Conard 2.0 Cap Toe

If you're traveling for a wedding or a special occasion that requires a suit, you're going to need a dress shoe. Thankfully, Johnston & Murphy's Conard 2.0 Cap Toe, which we named one of the best business casual shoes, is just about as comfortable as a sneaker. But I'll admit that when I first unboxed these oxfords, I was concerned. The shoes looked like they'd be narrow and stiff, much like the type that typically make my feet throb and give me blisters.

Once I took the Conards out of the box, however, I realized that they were actually very lightweight and pliable. I didn't struggle to get them on, and they didn't cut into my feet. Since they're cushioned at the footbed, tongue, and heel, I experienced no pain, just bliss. The Conard 2.0 Cap Toe has beautiful brogueing at the toe box, vamp, and counter, and comes in a Tan Full Grain color that works with a suit, jeans, and chinos. It's a very attractive dress shoe for travel, at a very attractive price point.

Best sandals for travel: G.H. Bass Reed Fisherman Mini Lug Sandal

G.H. Bass's Larson Weejuns are one of the best loafers you can buy, and its Reed Fisherman Sandal is also superb. The caged upper is made from shiny leather with a buttery-soft lining. The straps of some sandals I tested irritated my feet, but the Reed Fisherman's were silky smooth. The sandal's fit is true to size and my toes didn't feel squished or restrained. Its whale-tail buckle kept my foot securely in place and prevented it from sliding up and down in the heel cup. I also found that the thick rubber lug sole was wonderfully flexible—moreso than some of the open-toe sandals I tested. Personally, I prefer a cage sandal over an open-toe because it just looks smarter, whether you wear it with shorts, linen pants, or denim.

Business Insider Reviews writer Adam Mansuroglu also tested the Reed Fisherman Sandal and is a big fan. "The plush leather footbed also has more memory foam cushioning than I expected, giving it a more premium feel," he said. "They're polished, durable, and built to wear in nicely with every summer scuff."

While the Reed Fisherman sandals aren't flat like open-toes, they are easy to compress and fit into a suitcase.

Best waterproof travel shoes for men: Keen Hightrail Waterproof Hiking Shoe

I love visiting London in the spring but the weather is always a gamble. It can be chilly and rainy one day, and sunny and rainy the next. Either way, it will rain, which is why I'm wearing Keen's Hightrail Waterproof Hiking Shoe on my next trip. It has the cushiony comfort of a sneaker, a waterproof, mud-repelling leather and mesh upper, and an all-terrain rubber sole for stability and traction. The interior also features a proprietary "bootie" that seals out moisture and keeps feet dry. I wore the Hightrails on a rainy day in New York City and even stepped in a puddle to see if they lived up to the hype. I'm happy to report that they repelled water nicely and my socks didn't get soaked.

The Hightrail fits true to size and has a more solid and structured sole than other men's travel shoes I tested. For a hiking shoe, it's surprisingly slick. It comes in six rich earth tones and the upper utilizes contrasting colors that add character without looking busy. The Hightrail is strictly a casual shoe and not the right fit if you're traveling for a business meeting or dining at a Michelin Star restaurant. But if you're spending a lot of time outdoors, going someplace where it's always rainy season (hello, Seattle!), or hiking the trails, these shoes will take you far.

• President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged the backlash against data centers.
• Trump said the benefits of data centers remain vast.
• Politicians across the spectrum are increasingly channeling the data center backlash.

President Donald Trump says data centers might need a new image.

"I would say that maybe it could use a little public relations help," Trump told reporters on Wednesday after an event focused on cryptocurrency.

Trump made clear that, whatever the vibes might be, he remains a staunch supporter of the AI industry and the facilities AI companies will need to train and serve the expected demand of their future models.

"If I were a governor or a mayor, I would want that plant in my community, and many of them are designed in a very beautiful way," he said, adding that "the jobs are enormous, and the money paid, the taxes paid, are just enormous."

Trump's comments come as governors across the political spectrum rein in incentives for data center construction amid a mounting backlash.

Tuesday illustrated just how much the conversation has shifted.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro rolled out what he deemed the "strictest" standards for data center development due to what he said were "speculators" who he accused of "bullying" local officials to secure approval for data centers. Earlier in the day, former NFL star and "New Heights Podcast" co-host Jason Kelce starred in an ad for his and his brother Travis' beer company, Garage Beer, in which he asked people to mail their pee to data centers. (Garage Beer, which partnered with the canned water brand Liquid Death on the campaign, cautioned it did not actually want people to mail their pee.)

In the lead-up to November's midterm elections, being labeled pro-data center is quickly becoming a go-to attack line for both parties.

Trump said that communities and states that opt against data centers will be "left out," a message similar to his response earlier this summer when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the nation's first statewide data center moratorium.

Data centers can generate significant tax revenue. In Loudoun County, Virginia, data centers generated over one-third of the county's entire general fund revenue in the last fiscal year. States and localities have also historically offered financial incentives to the industry. A sales tax exemption in Virginia saved the industry $1.9 billion last fiscal year, according to the state's tax department.

Data centers have been around for decades. What's different now is that AI data centers are often significantly larger and require more power to run them.

In March, a Gallup survey found 7 in 10 Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their area.

The AI and tech industry has taken notice of its declining popularity and specifically the growing opposition to data centers.

In January, Microsoft President Brad Smith outlined the tech giant's commitment to being "a good neighbor in the communities where we build, own, and operate our datacenters." Earlier this month, Meta announced the creation of a $1 billion "Future Is For Everyone Fund" that will boost communities that host its data centers.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he'll be meeting with AI leaders next week.

• Moderna stock surged 177% on Wednesday on news of a successful late-stage cancer-drug trial.
• The drugmaker is developing a personalized mRNA vaccine with Merck that targets melanoma.
• Moderna has been looking for its next blockbuster drug after a wildly successful COVID era.

After making its name as a vaccine-maker during the COVID era, Moderna has been looking for its second act as a major drug developer. Investors seem to think it's landed on something.

Moderna stock surged 177% to $174.38 on Wednesday after reporting successful results in a late-stage trial for a melanoma drug, in partnership with Merck.

"These Phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research," Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said in a press release on Wednesday. "For many years, the idea of creating an mRNA treatment designed specifically for an individual patient's cancer was aspirational. We are now helping turn that vision into a reality."

The vaccine's effectiveness is in reducing the recurrence of melanoma and is given alongside Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug from Merck.

The jump in Moderna's stock price comes after a difficult five-year stretch following COVID-era heights. Even after the triple-figure surge on Wednesday, shares are still down roughly two-thirds from a peak of $484 reached in August 2021.

Still, Wednesday's gain brings the company's year-to-date gain to 445%. Things are moving in the right direction for the vaccine giant.

Google's newest line of smartphones is here, and though they bring a fresh generation of design durability, a case is always a worthwhile investment. Whether you're commuting to work, sitting at home, or engaging in extreme sports, it only takes one drop to irreparably damage the camera lens or aluminum frame. To help keep your new device safe, I've gathered the best Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro cases below.

Thanks to their identical measurements, many cases designed for one will fit the other. That said, you should always double-check the product listings and your phone to make sure that you get a case intended for your model. While OtterBox's highly protective models work for both the base and Pro models, other brands like Spigen may not. I've divided the recommendations below into sections to help make browsing easier.

The best Google Pixel 11 Pro cases

• See more cases: Amazon | Dbrand | OtterBox

The best Google Pixel 11 cases

• See more cases: Amazon | Dbrand | OtterBox
• Order the Google Pixel 11 and Google Pixel Watch 5 now.

What is the best Google Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro case?

All of the cases I've highlighted above are worthwhile investments for the right kind of user, but different Pixel owners will definitely have different needs. Especially clumsy owners should really consider investing in the top-tier protection of an OtterBox Defender Pro or Commuter case; tight budgeted shoppers can instead look into the cheap yet reliable cases from Fntcase.

If you're stuck in the middle, I always recommend Spigen's cases (particularly the Tough Armor Case or Ultra Hybrid Clear Case) for striking the ideal balance between quality and affordability for most users.

Will Pixel 11 Pro XL cases fit the Pixel 11 Pro?

As the name suggests, the Pixel 11 Pro XL is larger than the Pixel 11 Pro. Because of that, cases designed for the former won't fit the latter, and vice versa.

If you're shopping for the larger device, I recommend checking out my guide to the best Pixel 11 Pro XL cases instead.

Will Pixel 10 cases fit the Pixel 11?

On paper, the Pixel 10 and Pixel 11 have the same dimensions, but unfortunately, cases designed for one will not fit the other. There are slight differences in the camera bar and button placements, so putting a case designed for a 10 on an 11 could block the lens or create awkward gaps.

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Peacock and Apple TV are the latest streaming services to get in on bundling. Streaming fans can bundle Peacock and Apple TV under one price, which is significantly cheaper than paying for the two services separately each month.

There are two Apple TV and Peacock bundle options, and the only difference is which tier of Peacock you're signing up for (since Apple TV only offers one monthly plan). The standard bundle combines Peacock Premium, which carries ad-supported programming across the full Peacock on-demand library, and Apple TV. This tier also has select Peacock sports live streaming. The Apple TV bundle that includes Peacock Premium Plus offers ad-free on-demand streaming, sports live streaming, and a 24/7 live stream of your local NBC station. All plans include ad-free on-demand programming from Apple TV and applicable Apple sports streaming options.

• Explore the Peacock and Apple TV bundle options

Both apps have always had a stellar slate of original content, making the cut in our guide to the best streaming services. Peacock's massive back catalog of NBC and Bravo shows is particularly impressive. Apple TV and Peacock have become increasingly major players in the sports streaming scene, taking the apps from nice-to-haves to must-haves for sports fans. Peacock streams the Olympics, Sunday Night Football, Premier League soccer, and several other sporting events, but it recently upped its game by nabbing the rights to several NBA games (including some that won't air on NBC). Apple TV has found similar success with Friday Night MLB games and MLS matches, and it has continued to become a pivotal sports streamer with its acquisition of Formula 1 broadcast rights, which kicked off in 2026.

The bundles cost $15 a month (Premium) or $20 a month (Premium Plus), which is 39% to 42% less than what you'd pay for the two services each month when subscribed separately. Apple TV normally costs $13 a month, and Peacock costs $13 a month for Premium or $20 a month for Premium Plus following a recent price hike. Keep reading to learn more about the bundles, including how to sign up.

FAQ

How do you sign up for the Apple TV and Peacock bundle?

You can sign up for the Apple TV and Peacock bundle directly through the Peacock or Apple TV websites. You'll be billed by whichever service you decide to sign up through.

Is there a free trial of the Apple TV and Peacock bundle?

There is no free trial for the Apple TV and Peacock bundle. Apple TV offers a seven-day free trial for new customers, but this only applies to a stand-alone Apple TV subscription. Once you sign up for the bundle, your payment method will be charged immediately.

Can existing subscribers get the bundle?

Existing subscribers should be able to upgrade to the bundle through their current streaming subscription. We've tested this through the Peacock app, although we've been unable to find this option through the Apple TV app so far. If you're subscribed to both services separately already and hoping to bundle, you'll most likely need to cancel one account and then upgrade to the bundle through the other service.

Can you watch content from one app through the other?

The two services remain separate apps, and you'll need to use each app to watch the majority of its exclusive content. However, when the bundle initially launched, each streaming service carried up to three episodes of select shows typically found on the other streaming service. This crossover has since been phased out.

What other shows are on Peacock and Apple TV?

As we mentioned above, both streaming services are known for their wealth of original television series. Peacock is the home of Love Island USA, The Traitors (US), Poker Face, Based on a True Story, Dr. Death, The Burbs, All Her Fault, and Long Bright River, among other programs.

Apple TV is perhaps best known for its science fiction shows. In addition to the aforementioned Silo and Foundation, the streamer is behind TV hits like For All Mankind, Severance, Invasion, and Pluribus (from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan). Apple has also made a significant dent in the comedy scene, featuring series like The Studio, Platonic, Widow's Bay, and Ted Lasso.

Are there other streaming bundles?

The Apple TV and Peacock bundle is just the latest streaming bundling opportunity. The Disney Plus bundles are some of the most popular bundle options on the market, as they combine Disney Plus and Hulu for more than 40% off, with the possibility of adding HBO Max or one of the ESPN plans. ESPN Unlimited is also available to bundle with FOX One or NFL Plus Premium. You can find a full rundown of all of your options in our guide to the best streaming deals and bundles.

• Jason Kelce's viral ad pokes fun at data center water usage and tells people to "pee on computers."
• The ad ends with a chorus of supposed pee-ers handing over yellowish jars to a post office worker.
• USPS rules say most people aren't allowed to mail their urine.

Former NFLer Jason Kelce is jokingly telling people to send their urine to data centers over the mail.

USPS rules say most people should just flush.

On Tuesday, Kelce, the co-owner of Garage Beer, starred in a now-viral ad campaign featuring the canned water brand Liquid Death. After standing next to a toilet, he turns to the camera, revealing a glass jar containing a (concerningly) dark yellowish liquid.

"AI data centers waste millions of gallons of water," he says, before launching into a song with lyrics like, "Let's pee on computers together."

The ad ends with a chorus of supposed pee-ers at the "Post Office," complete with an American flag, handing over jars of their "data center coolant" to a postal worker. (Those jars are now available for $18 on Liquid Death's site, with a description that reads, "Mailing your pee to AI data centers has never been easier with these limited edition resealable jars.")

"The suits want us to tell you to please don't actually send your pee," small print at the bottom of the ad says.

That's probably good advice.

USPS rules do, in fact, allow some urine to travel through the mail. Human "excreta" sent for certain routine tests — such as drug or alcohol testing — can qualify as an "exempt human specimen." The mailing service requires those samples to be carefully packaged, including in leakproof containers with absorbent material and rigid outer packaging.

A mason jar of pee destined for a data center is another matter. The exemption applies to specimens being transported for routine testing, not bodily fluids being mailed as a prank or as an unconventional computer-cooling system.

USPS rules also say nonhazardous liquids must be properly packaged, and that anything producing an "obnoxious odor" is nonmailable.

USPS declined to comment on this story.

Data center back(sp)lash goes viral

Garage Beer previously told Business Insider that the campaign was designed to tap into an area of common agreement.

"There are many things that Americans can't agree on, but opposition to AI data centers is the one thing almost everyone can agree upon across the political and cultural spectrum," Andy Pearson, Liquid Death's vice president of creative, said.

Opposition to data centers has become a potent issue across the political spectrum, with communities raising concerns about their water use, power demand, and impact on local infrastructure. That backlash has continued, even as the AI industry argues that developers have responded to criticism by improving water efficiency, investing in communities, and trying to reduce their strain on electric grids.

Drew Pusateri, a communications officer at OpenAI, highlighted that tension Tuesday in a post on X featuring an image of Kelce holding his jar of supposed urine.

But the ad and its online virality point to a long road ahead for AI labs on the public-persuasion front.

• Kristi Hemric began decorating her Manhattan stoop after scaffolding covered her townhouse.
• Her changing displays have featured Lego, the Knicks, flowers, and interactive installations.
• She says the project unexpectedly created connections throughout her neighborhood.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kristi Hemric. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I had always dreamed of buying a townhouse in Manhattan, and when I did, I knew I had to decorate my stoop. I'm from Dallas, and everyone decorates the front of their houses for every single holiday.

But soon after moving in, the building next door had work being done, and scaffolding had gone up and crossed onto my property line, covering my skinny townhouse.

Instead of complaining about it, I decided to make it as pretty as I could — less ugly — with pink flowers. I thought my neighbors wouldn't like it, but they loved an injection of color through the sunless months of January, February, and March.

This was the start of my stoop creations. Three years later, I'm still decorating my stoop, and the themes have attracted a lot of attention — both organically, with people passing by, and through social media.

I decide last-minute what to do next

As a creative, my theme turnover isn't well organized. After the pink flowers, I decided lemons would make a great summer theme. When the Knicks started winning, we decorated with basketballs, and as the World Cup started, we strung up country flags and soccer balls.

The decision about what to do next and when to do it is often made at the last minute, but I like it this way. It means that it doesn't feel like work — that it is purely creative fun. It's easy to get stuck in our day-to-day jobs, and learning something new — for me, working with flowers — is a way to switch off for a bit.

My husband (the organized one) and I (the creative one) work as a team, and my four kids, ages 6 and under, like to help too.

We have storage units in the Bronx where we store used items so we can recycle decorations for future themes. We don't buy anything that we can only use once. If we can't buy it, we make it ourselves.

In the past three years, we've given away decorations too — to the restaurants down the street and the hair studio nearby.

Someone proposed on our stoop

One Mother's Day, we had used real flowers — something we don't typically do because they don't weather well — and when it was time to take them down, we gave them away to children to give to their moms. They'd tell me the color their mom loved most, and we'd find a flower of that color.

One of my favorite stoops was our first Lego theme — we built every single Lego botanical flower. A guy who had planned a date around Lego asked if he could propose to his fiancé on our stoop. They ended up inviting us to dinner and to their wedding.

For a later Lego-themed stoop, a local boys' school sent some of their 8^th graders to help build the sets. The parents messaged us to say how amazing it was that the boys were away from screens.

When we decorated with a Knicks theme, the whole city was enamored, and people kept passing by our house in jerseys to take pictures. That was a magical month.

Who would have thought that my stoop — initially just to beautify scaffolding — would have brought community cohesion and joy?

• Demand for "Dune: Part 3" tickets overwhelmed AMC's ticketing systems on Tuesday.
• AMC CEO Adam Aron said its IT department was instructed to "take whatever steps are needed."
• "We thought we were ready, but we weren't," Aron said on X.

Some fans of the "Dune" franchise had to duke it out like Paul Atreides to snag tickets during AMC's latest ticket launch.

In an X post, AMC CEO Adam Aron said high demand for "Dune: Part Three" temporarily slowed or "glitched" its online ticketing system on Tuesday.

"Ticketing traffic across AMC's website and mobile app reached levels approximately three times higher than what we experienced during the Spider-Man: Brand New Day ticket launch, which itself followed strong advance sales for The Odyssey ticket launch before that," Aron said.

Aron said the ticket issues plaguing customers were "intolerable and inexcusable."

"There was much discussion internally ahead of and preparing for the Dune 3 launch. We thought we were ready, but we weren't," he said.

In response, Aron said AMC has instructed its IT team to "move at a whirlwind speed to take whatever steps are needed so that our ticketing systems are — in all situations and in all quantities —again top shelf."

AMC initially released a small batch of tickets for "Dune: Part Three" in April, which quickly sold out, disappointing many fans. Tuesday marked AMC's second ticket drop for coveted IMAX 70mm screenings and other premium large formats.

AMC experienced similar fan hysteria earlier this year for "The Odyssey," which debuted in theaters this July and also had a staggered ticket release. Fans of the Greek epic rushed online ticket drops, causing platform crashes, while resellers hawked tickets for as much as $600.

Now "Dune: Part Three" is whipping up similar hype among fans, some of whom camped outside theaters on Tuesday. Business Insider's Juliana Kaplan reported that fans began forming a line at New York City's AMC Lincoln Square 13 around midnight, and the queue stretched around the block. The Lincoln Square theater is home to the largest IMAX in the country and shows films in 70mm, making it one of the most in-demand theater experiences of the summer.

Some of those waiting in line for "Dune: Part Three" were likely resellers. Tickets almost immediately landed on eBay, where they were going for outrageous prices. One listing on Wednesday morning was selling IMAX 70MM tickets for $600.

Ticket resellers are major players in the entertainment and events industries, despite pushback from artists, studios, and the US government. They've caused ticketing drama for high-profile events like the 2026 World Cup and concerts for Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour."

Timothée Chalamet is reprising his role as Atreides in "Dune: Part Three," which explores the consequences of his reign after he took power of the empire. Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Robert Pattinson, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, and Anya Taylor-Joy are among its star-studded cast.

The QM6K is TCL's most affordable Mini LED TV, and it delivers a significant performance jump over most budget TVs. This set boasts impressive contrast control for the money, as well as a high refresh rate for gamers.

The QM6K launched in 2025, but TCL has carried it over to 2026, and it remains a highly competitive option in this tier. The 65-inch model typically sells for $698 but sometimes drops to around $530, which is a great deal for this level of performance. Even the massive 98-inch model is often sold at a very reasonable $2,200, with occasional drops to $1,798.

Given these typical street prices, I still recommend the QM6K as the top budget pick in my guide to the best TVs. It does have some new competition from Hisense's latest entry-level Mini LED TV, the U6SF Pro, but it's not yet clear how consistently that model will be discounted. Here's why the QM6K is such a great value for anyone who wants an entry-level HDR TV.

Setup is simple, as long as you use your Google account

The QM6K launched in 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, and 98-inch screen sizes, and a new 50-inch option is now available as well. Generally, buyers can expect small differences in brightness and contrast across sizes, but the core specifications are the same. For this review, I tested the 65-inch model.

The TV's design is basic yet perfectly serviceable for this class. The build quality and aesthetics aren't as sturdy or elegant as those of pricier models that use heftier metal materials, thinner bezels, or flush wall mounts. Still, I don't have any specific complaints. Though pedestal stands look nicer, the QM6K's simple left and right feet work well and provide ample space to place a soundbar.

At 2.2 inches, the screen is a bit thicker than the super-slim panels on pricier OLED TVs, but this depth is in line with many Mini LED sets. This type of panel typically has a deeper profile than others to accommodate the components required for its advanced backlighting.

The QM6K's setup process is straightforward. Since it runs on the Google TV operating system, it's especially easy to get up and running if you use an existing Google account. The TV displays a QR code that you scan to open the Google Home app on your mobile device. This process automatically connects the QM6K to the same WiFi network as your phone without entering any network details or passwords. The mobile app then guides you through some other housekeeping items.

Setup can also be done manually on the TV without the app or a Google account, but it's a bit more cumbersome and requires typing in more details. Likewise, without logging in to your Google account, you won't be able to use any of the display's Google services, such as the Google Play Store. So, though technically functional without a login, I don't recommend buying a Google TV unless you plan to sync it with a Google account.

Once the setup is done, I suggest using the TV's Filmmaker Mode picture preset for the most accurate out-of-the-box image. I also recommend disabling Auto Brightness, which is turned on by default. This feature adjusts brightness levels based on the ambient light in your room, but you can get a more stable picture by manually choosing a brightness level you like and sticking with it.

The QM6K delivers good entry-level HDR performance, but it's dimmer than pricier TVs

The QM6K is positioned as the entry-level model in TCL's premier lineup of Mini LED QLED TVs. And within that context, its picture quality is impressive. Brightness and contrast can't match that of the brand's step-up QM7L or QM8L series, which both use new "SQD" technology for enhanced color — but for this tier, the QM6K is a great performer.

I evaluated the QM6K's image performance using a mix of test patterns and real-world content from 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming services, all curated to highlight features like contrast, local dimming, black levels, color, and upscaling. I also used a colorimeter to measure the display's peak brightness, an essential component of a TV's high-dynamic-range (HDR) capabilities.

With the TV set in Filmmaker Mode, I recorded a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern (a white box that takes up 10% of the screen). The brightest the TV got was on a larger 50% test pattern, which measured about 736 nits.

Those are both decent numbers for an entry-level HDR TV like this, and they're a nice step up from TCL's older Q65, which could only hit about 400 nits. However, the QM6K's brightness is still notably lower than that of midrange TVs, which are capable of about 1,000 to 2,000 nits, and high-end sets that can offer 2,000 to 4,000+ nits.

In practice, the QM6K's brightness yields good, but not great, HDR image quality. Vivid movies like "Aquaman" appear relatively vibrant, with rich colors, but highlights like explosions, shimmering armor, and sunsets lack some of the boldness and overall pop they have on pricier TVs with higher brightness.

"Mad Max: Fury Road" reveals similar limitations. Lightning bolts and rippling flames look duller than on step-up TV models, lacking the extreme impact that the movie's exaggerated style demands. Don't get me wrong, the QM6K still offers a good HDR picture, especially for this tier, but the set's dimmer image is noticeable when watching high-contrast HDR movies.

The QM6K uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming to control its light output. This enables the TV to brighten and darken specific areas of its screen across multiple zones. Though the QM6K doesn't have as many zones to work with as pricier models, TCL's dimming algorithm works well, producing solid black levels and minimal blooming (halos around bright objects).

The TV's dimming behavior favors slightly raising black levels to avoid halos and preserve shadow detail. While this means that black levels rarely blend completely into a dark room, it does help create a more even image free from the patchy brightness that plagues dark scenes on TVs with more aggressive dimming.

The burning church scene in the film "1917" is a great example. Though I've seen deeper black levels and brighter highlights on other Mini LED TVs, those displays tend to create a vignetting effect around light sources. The QM6K has lighter black levels and dimmer highlights overall, but it presents more seamless transitions between this sequence's dark and light portions.

The QM6K isn't completely free of blooming; I did notice faint halos around lights during panning shots in "The Matrix" and an episode of "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina." But these instances are subtle, and the QM6K actually handles blooming a bit better than some brighter Hisense Mini LED TVs I've tested.

Overall, color smoothness and stability are also great. I didn't encounter any egregious signs of banding or false contouring (blocky and pixelated colors) when watching various sources. I ran into this problem when testing the older Hisense U6N, which offers similar specs, so it's nice to see a TV in this class avoid this issue.

The QM6K slightly improves upon another area where many QLED TVs falter: viewing angles. The TV's colors and contrast still noticeably fade and distort when you sit off-center from the screen, but this effect is less severe than I've seen on some other entry-level sets. However, OLED TVs and even TCL's pricier SQD TVs still have an edge with viewing angles, so this remains a factor to remember when deciding between a budget-friendly TV and a more expensive model.

On the plus side, the QM6K's gaming capabilities are a nice upgrade from previous-generation models in this class. Sets in this tier used to max out at 60Hz, but the QM6K supports up to 144Hz with variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). This means the TV can receive 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, enabling you to enjoy the smoothest gameplay possible on those systems. All things considered, this is an excellent budget gaming TV.

The TV's interface works well, with fewer glitches than previous TCL models

The QM6K runs Google TV, and its interface has become one of my favorites. It does a nice job of highlighting your downloaded apps at the top of the homepage while still offering useful rows of content recommendations below. Unlike some other platforms (like Fire TV), which put too much emphasis on sponsored content, Google TV does a solid job of curating picks you might actually want to watch.

Though Google TV used to be a bit sluggish on entry-level displays, that's not the case here. The QM6K offers smoother navigation and snappier app selection than competing Hisense Google TVs that I've tested in this class. I also ran into fewer glitches than I have on older TCL sets. In the past, I've run into odd quirks like incorrect picture modes activating and certain settings applying incorrectly on some TCL TVs. But on the QM6K, none of those issues popped up.

That's not to say the system is completely without hiccups. I encountered lag when playing 4K HDR videos on YouTube (a common issue on many entry- and mid-tier smart TVs), and navigating through various services and menu screens isn't as seamless as on the best streaming devices. But in general, most people should be more than satisfied with the built-in interface.

The included back-lit remote supports Gemini voice search with a button press, and the TV also supports hands-free commands after speaking the wake phrase "Hey Google." For those with privacy concerns, hands-free control can be manually disabled via a physical switch at the bottom of the TV's front bezel.

What are your alternatives?

Since the QM6K's launch last year, a few rival TVs have been released, putting it in steep competition. Most notably, there's the new Hisense U6SF Pro. Though the U6SF Pro technically has a higher MSRP, it's sometimes on sale for about the same price as, or even less than, the QM6K.

The U6SF Pro offers similar contrast and black-level performance but can reach higher brightness than the QM6K, peaking at around 1,200 nits. The 55-, 65-, 75-, and 85-inch sizes also feature a matte-like screen that's better at reducing reflections than the QM6K's glossier panel.

However, I much prefer the QM6K's Google TV interface over the U6SF Pro's Fire TV platform, which is clunkier and more intrusive. The QM6K is also available in a 50-inch size, while the U6SF Pro isn't.

Since the U6SF Pro's pricing tends to fluctuate, the QM6K is still the more consistent value of the two. But if the 65-inch U6SF Pro can maintain a regular street price of under $700, it's on track to be a better budget buy for people who favor brightness and anti-glare performance over Google TV smarts. You can learn more in our Hisense U6SF Pro TV review.

Should you buy the TCL QM6K?

The TCL QM6K remains my pick for the best budget TV on the market. It offers a big upgrade over the older TCL Q65 and rivals direct competitors in this performance tier.

The QM6K does have new competition from Hisense's brighter U6SF Pro, but it's not yet clear if that model's attractive deal pricing will be as common as the QM6K's. The U6SF Pro's Fire TV platform also lags behind Google TV in overall ease of use, and it's not available in a 50-inch size.

All things considered, if you want a budget-friendly Mini LED TV, the QM6K is still the display to beat. Most cheaper sets make big sacrifices in picture quality, with washed-out contrast and lower brightness. The QM6K, however, leverages its local dimming backlight to deliver some of the best entry-level HDR performance on the market.

For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best TCL TVs.

• Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard veterans had higher ALS rates than Army veterans.
• Male officers had a 64% higher ALS rate than enlisted veterans, a study found.
• The study points to possible service-related exposures but does not identify them.

Veterans who served in the Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, rates 15% to 29% higher than Army veterans, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Neurology last month, analyzed records for nearly 10 million veterans receiving Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare between 2000 and 2024, including nearly 14,500 with an ALS diagnosis.

Officers were found to face a 64% elevated risk of developing ALS, compared with their enlisted counterparts. The researchers did not determine whether particular military jobs or exposures were responsible for the difference.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a degenerative disease that damages the nerve cells that control voluntary movement. Over time, patients lose the ability to control muscles that needed to speak, eat, move, and breathe independently. It is often difficult to diagnose and is fatal.

"Military service is a known risk factor for the development of ALS, but little is known about what factors may contribute to that risk," Marc Weisskopf, an environmental epidemiologist at Harvard and one of the study authors, said in a Harvard announcement.

Weisskopf cautioned that ALS is rare and the overall risk of developing it remains small, "so even statistically significant increases associated with branch and rank represent only modest increases in risk among military personnel."

Previous studies have also found ALS is more common in veterans, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, perhaps because veterans face exposure to risk factors like lead, pesticides, and other toxins. While ALS can affect all populations, it's more frequently found in older white men.

What could explain the branch and rank differences remains unclear. Weisskopf said in an American Academy of Neurology press release that officers and enlisted personnel may face different work conditions.

"Officers tend to experience more psychosocial stress, with pilots experiencing high G-forces, noise and vibration as well as circadian disruption, while enlisted personnel usually experience more extreme physical exercise, heavy weapons use and handling of fuels and solvents," he said.

Around 46% of veterans with an ALS diagnosis served in the Army, roughly in line with the Army's share of the overall veteran population examined,

After accounting for age, sex, race, and ethnicity, male Air Force veterans had a 29% higher ALS rate than male Army veterans, while male Coast Guard veterans had a 26% higher rate and male Navy veterans had a 15% higher rate. Male Marine veterans had a 22% lower rate than Army veterans, researchers found.

Differences were more pronounced among men under age 61 than among those over 75.

The researchers said they had limited ability to assess differences among women because ALS is so rare and women make up a smaller share of the military population, just 18%. But among the women who were included, female officers faced a 72% higher risk compared with enlisted women.

"Our findings suggest that officers and those serving in the Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard may have been exposed to military environments that increase risk for ALS," Weisskopf said in a release. "Future research should aim to identify these exposures."

The North American hardcourt season continues with the last 1000-level Masters stop before the US Open. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the Cincinnati Open, including live streaming options around the world.

If you don't want to scroll any further, we've got you covered. Fans can live stream the tournament on the Tennis Channel in the US, Sky Sports in the UK, beIN Sports in Australia, and BlastTV in the Philippines. Keep reading to learn the best streaming options and other important info about the Cincinnati Open.

While it originally looked like Carlos Alcaraz might be back for the Cincinnati Open, the defending champion is sitting out this year's tournament. No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who lost to Alcaraz in the final last year, has also withdrawn from the tournament. Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Frances Tiafoe are some of the top remaining men's players as the Round of 16 plays out.

Iga Świątek, the defending women's champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals, fresh off a win at the Canadian Open last week. No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Amanda Anisimova are some of the top players remaining in the women's tournament.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open for free

Certain regions offer free coverage of the Cincinnati Open. In the Philippines, BlastTV carries free coverage of select men's and women's matches on Premier Sports and Premier Sports 2. Fans just need to create an account, and then they're all set to start streaming. BlastTV will naturally prioritize Alexandra Eala matches, too.

In the US, tennis fanatics can stream for free, for at least a few days, with a free trial from a live TV service, such as YouTube TV or Fubo.

How to watch the Cincinnati Open from anywhere

Tennis fans who are away from the location where their streaming service works don't need to worry about missing out on any of the action. You can access your streaming options (including the free one) from anywhere with the aid of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy tech tools that let people change the virtual location on their electronic devices. They're especially popular services among those looking to boost their cybersecurity or access their favorite websites and apps while traveling abroad.

Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, reliable, and has a large selection of international servers. Plus, the app comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you find it's not helping you out.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open in the US

Cincinnati Open coverage is available through the Tennis Channel in the US. Fans can watch directly through a Tennis Channel subscription or via a live TV streaming service, which carries other channels, including those needed to watch the US Open in a couple of weeks.

Two of the top services with the Tennis Channel are Fubo and YouTube TV. The channel is available in Fubo's budget-friendly Sports + News plan, which carries around 29 popular sports networks. The service also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited (which will carry the entire US Open) at no extra cost. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month after a free trial. The Tennis Channel is also available in Fubo's pricier, more comprehensive tiers.

YouTube TV is another popular live TV service. To access the Tennis Channel, you'll need to get a base plan along with the Sports Plus add-on, which costs an extra $11 a month. YouTube TV's main plan is currently running a special deal, which will knock your first five months down to just $68 a month (down $15 from the standard $83 a month). New users are also eligible for a free trial.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open in the UK

Sky Sports will carry Cincinnati Open coverage in the UK. You can watch via a Sky TV plan, which varies in price based on your exact contract (you can learn more in our best Sky TV deals guide). Sky Sports coverage is also available to stream through Now, which offers access starting at £15 a day.

Where to watch the Cincinnati Open in the Philippines

With the rise of WTA star Alex Eala, the Philippines has begun to offer an impressive slew of free coverage via BlastTV. Select WTA and ATP matches are available for free through Premier Sports and Premier Sports 2. You'll just need to create an account if you don't already have one, and then you're all set to start watching the tournament.

Where is the Cincinnati Open held?

The Cincinnati Open is held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio. The tournament has taken place at the same location for over 40 years.

When is the next major tennis tournament?

This is the last major event before the US Open, which starts on August 30 (August 23 for qualifying) and marks the final Grand Slam of the year. An ATP 250 event, Winston-Salem, and a WTA 500 event, Abierto GNP Seguros, will take place between the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.

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

• Amazon Prime Air is expanding its drone delivery service to almost 500 US cities and towns.
• That's a major ramp up. Amazon now offers drone delivery to 11 US locations.
• Customers can check whether they have access to Amazon's drone delivery service on its website.

The sight of Amazon's delivery drones buzzing over their homes could soon be the norm for a growing chunk of Americans.

Amazon said Prime Air is expanding its drone delivery service to almost 500 US cities and towns by the end of this year. The company plans to make the service available to customers in Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, Idaho, and New York.

That's a major ramp up. Seven states, including Nebraska and Florida, already have access.

The company says that any items that weighs 5 pounds or less, and that can fit in a large shoe box, can be delivered by a drone. That's the majority of the millions of packages ordered on Amazon every day.

"Orders arrive in as fast as 30 minutes, with most orders arriving around 60 minutes after checkout," Amazon sad in a press release.

Amazon said it uses "multiple" independent systems to keep the autonomous aircraft performing safely, including its "Detect-and-Avoid" system that monitors airspace and the environment. "It's similar to a trained pilot who scans the surrounding airspace, and it allows the drones to independently see and make real-time decisions while in flight."

Although Amazon hasn't shared the full list of locations, customers can check if they're currently eligible for the service through the company's website. On the homepage, customers can click into the drop-down menu and find "Drone Delivery" under the "Programs & Features" section.

Once a customer selects "Drone Delivery," they'll be taken to the drone delivery webpage, which includes a map of current and future locations. Additionally, clicking the "Shop Now" button in the drone delivery section will reveal a customer's status.

Launched in 2022, Amazon is positioning Prime Air as the next horizon in delivery services. Customers can order everything from groceries to medications and electronics.

Walmart has also ramped up its own drone delivery service over the last year, bringing it to 100 more stores in places like Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa.

While that sounds convenient, the sounds of the drones themselves might prove an issue for some residents — as anyone who has tried to chill on a beach while someone flies a consumer drone to get that sweeping shot for Instagram can attest.

Are you worried about the noise from delivery drones? Privacy issues? Something else? Share your thoughts about delivery drones in the comments.

A little over a year since its last price hike, Peacock is once again raising prices across all stand-alone plans.

The NBCUniversal streaming service announced the price increase on August 18, 2026, with the changes taking effect immediately for new and returning customers. Existing subscribers will see the price hikes reflected in their next bill on or after September 17.

Peacock Premium has gone from $10.99 a month to $12.99 a month ($109.99 a year to $129.99 a year), while Peacock Premium Plus has faced the most significant hike, increasing from $16.99 a month to $19.99 a month ($169.99 a year to $199.99 a year).

Peacock Select, the platform's pared-down and budget-friendly option introduced after last year's price hike, has also increased in price. Monthly plans have risen from $7.99 a month to $8.99 a month, and annual plans have gone up from $79.99 a year to $89.99 a year.

This is just the latest price hike from Peacock, following annual increases in July 2025 and 2024. First launched in 2020, the streaming platform initially served as an easy way to stream NBC favorites, including "The Office" and "Law & Order: SVU." Over the years, Peacock has made an effort in the original TV scene with shows like "Poker Face," "The Traitors (US)," and "All Her Fault." The platform has also acquired the rights to live stream several sporting events and has become an absolute hub for Bravo programming, as well as select films.

Peacock isn't alone in hiking prices as its catalog grows, and most comparable streaming services have also raised subscription fees at least once over the past couple of years. The most recent increases came from Paramount Plus and Netflix earlier in the year. However, the latest round of price hikes makes Peacock's ad-free tier one of the more expensive options on the market.

Ad-free Netflix plans cost $19.99 to $26.99 a month, while ad-free HBO Max plans cost $18.49 to $22.99 a month. Disney Plus and Hulu's ad-free tiers are $18.99 a month each (or $19.99 a month when bundled together in one of the Disney Plus bundles). Paramount Plus, which is the most similar option to Peacock in terms of breadth of offerings, has plans ranging from $8.99 a month (ad-supported) to $13.99 a month (ad-free).

Peacock is also available in a bundle with Apple TV, which didn't receive a price hike. The Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle costs $14.99 a month, and the Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle costs $19.99 a month. Given that the latter hasn't seen a price hike yet, it's an excellent deal, since customers can get two ad-free streaming services for the same price as stand-alone Peacock Premium Plus.

• "Big Short" trader Michael Burry warns that Nvidia faces big competition from Etched.
• He pointed to key details about the AI startup, citing public reports and information he got from an insider.
• The company could spark a broader reaction across the AI trade, Burry speculated.

Michael Burry has fired another shot at AI kingmaker Nvidia.

The investor, who rose to fame in "The Big Short," took aim at the Jensen Huang-led chipmaker in a new Substack post on Tuesday. This time, he flagged what he sees as "serious competition" for the GPU firm, pointing to reports about Etched, an AI startup that has nabbed top talent at Nvidia and just secured a $700 million funding round with Jane Street, putting its valuation at a reported $21 billion.

Burry pointed to key details about Etched's recruitment and the deployment of its AI chips, citing the Journal's report and information he received from an unnamed company insider.

1. The firm is efficient. Etched said it took only 44 days to have its AI chips running inference workloads. That process generally takes six months or longer.
2. The firm hires from Nvidia. Etched also has a large group of staffers who previously worked at Nvidia, making up around 15% of its total workforce, the Journal's report said.

"This is serious competition for NVDA," Burry wrote on Tuesday. "I am told by a semi insider this is looking at 10x performance at lower cost per die. That it came up so fast is a tell that disruption is in the pipeline, I am told," he added of the broader ramifications for the artificial intelligence trade.

Burry, a vocal skeptic of the AI rally, has repeatedly bashed Nvidia since returning to social media late last year. In the past, he's raised alarm on the circular nature of Nvidia's deals and troubling technical signals flashing in Nvidia's stock. He's also placed bets against Nvidia and other stars in the AI trade, like Oracle and Nebius, which fall within his larger thesis that AI is a market bubble that's poised for a large correction.

• Back-to-school shopping is in full swing at Target, representing a key moment to win back shoppers.
• A successful season requires overcoming several challenges the retailer has struggled with recently.
• The retailer's turnaround continues, with second-quarter sales up 5.3% and comp sales rising 3.8%.

Target's bid to win back shoppers is gaining momentum as it tackles one of the most important shopping seasons of the year: back-to-school.

The Bullseye retailer said Wednesday that the early response to the annual stock-up on school and college supplies has been strong with several weeks still to go.

"It's encouraging to see a strong consumer response to change where we've made it, but there's a lot to come," CEO Michael Fiddelke said during a call with reporters on Tuesday.

Fiddelke, who took over as CEO earlier this year, is working to get Target back into the good graces of shoppers after several years of lackluster company performance.

The retailer beat analyst expectations for its second quarter earnings, with net sales up 5.3% from the same period last year to $26.5 billion. Earnings also benefited from a nearly $1 billion tariff refund.

Comparable sales were up 3.8%, driven by higher customer visits, which the company attributed to refreshed merchandise, sharper store execution, and price cuts.

"This might be my favorite time of the year to be out in stores," Fiddelke said on Tuesday's call. "Back to school, back to college is our second biggest season, next only to holiday."

Like the winter holidays, a successful back-to-school season depends on several complicated factors that Target has struggled with in recent years, such as fresh merchandise, well-stocked stores, and competitive pricing.

"It's a place where executing the fundamentals so well matters so much," Fiddelke told investors during Target's earnings call on Wednesday. "We know we don't win in a season where every school peaks at a different time if we don't have inventory at the right place at the right time, and if we aren't providing a great guest experience."

The company said 95% of its back-to-school assortment this year is priced at or below last year's retail prices.

But this period comes as US shoppers are increasingly out of cash and looking for value.

A survey from EY-Parthenon found that more than half of households didn't save any money in June, while one-fifth of households tapped savings or took on debt to cover expenses.

"Target has a fighting chance to do well in back-to-school, but the season is looking quite tight and consumers are still very focused on value," Global Data retail analyst Neil Saunders told Business Insider. "A win here is important as Target has said it wants to win with families — so back-to-school will be a real proof point."

Target's larger competitor Walmart reports earnings on Thursday, and will shed further light on how US shoppers are searching for value this year.

• The US is looking for ways to source rare and obsolete parts for Ukraine's Bradley fighting vehicles.
• The Army flagged specialized components affected by "vendor obsolescence."
• It is interested in firms that can immediately access the parts or show how they would source them.

The US Army is taking stock of industry's ability to source rare or obsolete parts needed to keep Ukraine's Bradley infantry fighting vehicles running, according to a recently posted notice.

The M2 Bradley, an armored combat vehicle, first entered service with the US military in the 1980s and has seen action in several major wars since. In Ukraine, these American-made vehicles have repeatedly proven their worth by transporting assault infantry, engaging Russian armor, carrying out ambushes, and serving in a light-tank role, though they have also suffered losses.

The US Army is surveying industry to see which companies can effectively access, source, or potentially reproduce hard-to-find parts for the vehicles. US Army Contracting Command - Detroit Arsenal issued a sources-sought notice last week seeking out defense firms that could support the ongoing repair, parts procurement, and delivery of the M2A2 ODS-SA Bradley.

The Army said firms would need either immediate access to the components or a viable plan to source them and asked companies to explain how they would "navigate severe supply chain bottlenecks and vendor obsolescence for legacy defense systems."

The M2A2 ODS-SA is a modernized variant of the M2 Bradley. Ukraine received these via arms transfers, but not the newer M2A3 or M2A4 variants.

The notice said that interested parties "must demonstrate immediate access to, or a viable plan to source, highly specialized, legacy, variant-specific components currently impacted by supplier obsolescence," including turret drive control units and transmission control modules.

It identified ammunition chutes, specialized target-acquisition-system hardware, military-grade lens lights, and vehicle fasteners among the parts contractors might need to be able to find or reproduce.

The Army is also looking for a contractor that can train Ukrainian mechanics and provide the equipment, tools, and materials required for relevant training.

Bradleys first arrived in Ukraine in 2023 and have been praised as a success, even as other armored vehicles, which arrived in smaller numbers, struggled. Some analysts have said that their performance in Ukraine has improved their reputation.

The US Army said vendors need to be able to provide the repair and sustainment capability required to restore the vehicles to fully mission-capable and safety standards to fulfill the US government's "foreign assistance requirements for the defense of Ukraine."

US Army Contracting Command - Detroit Arsenal said that the source must be able to sustain legacy hardware and manage the supply chain for the Bradleys, and it indicated some urgency.

"Due to immediate operational timelines, vehicles must be processed under a phased delivery approach: achieving 'Move, Shoot, and Communicate' capability for immediate shipment, followed by the management and fulfillment of delayed or back-ordered non-mission-essential parts," it said.

It said the notice was not a solicitation for bids and that no contracts would be awarded, describing it instead as "a market survey for information and planning purposes only." It said the government intends to negotiate a sole-source extension but that "all interested parties may submit a capability statement which shall be considered by the agency."

It asked companies to detail how long they have been in business, their experience in restoration and training mechanics, their experience with this variant of the Bradley, and to show how they would take over the production, testing, and delivery to meet production capacity and deadlines.

Keeping Bradleys in the fight has been important for Ukraine, which tries to repair damaged vehicles whenever possible. Ukraine has specialized mobile maintenance teams for its Bradley fighting vehicles within the Logistics Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

And there have also been other external repair and support initiatives. For instance, defense company Rheinmetall was awarded a $31-million contract late last year to develop and demonstrate ways to repair Ukraine's Bradleys faster, including by doing maintenance closer to the front lines.

• Pocket is an AI notetaker hardware startup that went through Y Combinator this year.
• It told Business Insider it reached a $100 million run rate eight months after launching its product.
• The tech graveyard is already littered with failed AI devices, but Pocket hopes it can endure.

AI hardware has had more misses than hits. Pocket wants to change that.

The AI notetaker hardware startup says it has reached a $100 million run rate eight months after launching. While the tech graveyard is already littered with failed AI devices, Pocket is betting its thin recorder, which snaps onto the back of smartphones and transcribes conversations, is not just a fad.

"It's only going to go up from here," cofounder and CEO Akshay Narisetti told Business Insider. "We have so much money coming in from subscriptions."

Run rate is a popular way for young startups to describe growth, but it is not the same as actually generating $100 million in revenue over the previous 12 months. Instead, it takes a company's current revenue pace and projects it over a full year.

Narisetti said Pocket is growing roughly 50% a month and believes it could reach a $1 billion run within two years. He said the company has only 12 employees and has sold more than 200,000 devices.

Pocket was part of this year's Y Combinator accelerator class. Its two cofounders, Narisetti and Gabriel Dymowski, first met at The Residency, a San Francisco hacker house backed by Sam Altman.

They initially built an app for taking meeting notes, but later found that users, such as busy doctors and salespeople, preferred dedicated hardware so they could seamlessly record back-to-back appointments and meetings.

"Every single time they tried to unlock their phone, they could rather press a simple button," Narisetti said.

After trying glasses and pendants, some similar to the $700 pin that Humane AI released in 2024 and discontinued after poor reviews and sales last year, Pocket landed on a credit card-sized device costing as little as $129. A basic subscription is free, while premium plans offering more advanced AI models start at $16.59 a month.

Criticism in Silicon Valley

Pocket and other AI notetakers have become so popular that they have led to criticism that people no longer ask for permission to record every conversation in Silicon Valley

Narisetti argued that a visible device is preferable to a covert recording on a phone because the Pocket has to be placed on a desk and requires pressing a button to start recording. He contrasted that with always-on wearable devices, which he said people "inherently hated" because they are constantly listening.

Pocket faces plenty of competition. Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other major platforms increasingly offer AI-powered note-taking, while startups such as Granola compete for users seeking automated meeting notes. OpenAI is planning to release a much-anticipated device as early as next year, designed by former Apple legend Johnny Ive.

Narisetti believes Pocket's advantage lies in offline conversations, where no single platform automatically controls the experience.

Pocket says most growth has come from direct-to-consumer sales, referrals, and word of mouth. Amazon represents less than 5% to 10% of revenue, Narisetti said, and roughly 85% of its business still comes from the US. The company plans to expand into retail and international markets and move beyond conversation notes into personal note-taking and dictation.

In the first half of 2026, global venture funding in physical AI totaled $47.4 billion across 521 deals, according to new Crunchbase data. That's a fourfold increase compared to the second half of 2025, when physical AI startups raised $12 billion across 470 deals.

Pocket last raised $11 million of venture funding in a deal led by Accel in June, according to Pitchbook data. Other backers include Y Combinator and Guillermo Rauch, cofounder and CEO of Vercel. Narisetti declined to put a new valuation on the company, but said Pocket prefers raising based on where the business is today rather than pricing in years of expected AI-driven growth.

"We don't like to grow into valuations," he said.

Google's newest line of Pixel smartphones is here, and the Pixel 11 Pro XL looks to be a promising upgrade on previous iterations. Even as durability improves generation by generation, I always recommend investing in a case to keep your device safe and scratch-free. With that in mind, I've rounded up the best Google Pixel 11 Pro XL cases you can buy now.

Unlike other new releases, there is a plethora of options to choose from right now, making it overwhelming to sort the good from the bad. Tons of no-name brands are saturating the market, hoping to snag your money with subpar designs and sparkly product photos. Based on research, product reviews, and our team's personal testing experience, I've compiled a list of Pixel 11 Pro XL cases I'd actually buy, spanning a range of prices, designs, and feature sets.

The best Google Pixel 11 Pro XL cases

• See more cases: Amazon | Dbrand | OtterBox
• Order the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL and Google Pixel Watch 5 now.

What is the best Google Pixel 11 Pro XL case?

As with any smartphone, the best case for the Google Pixel 11 Pro XL depends on your priorities as a user. The most protective option you can invest in is OtterBox's Defender Pro, while the most budget-friendly option is a Spigen clear case or an Fntcase frosted-color shell.

The overall best balance of price and protection is the Spigen Tough Armor Case. We also love the brand, having tested it multiple times on older devices.

Will Pixel 11 Pro XL cases fit the Pixel 11 Pro?

As the XL name suggests, the Pixel Pro XL is larger than the Pixel 11 Pro. Because of that, cases designed for one cannot fit the other. Pixel 11 Pro cases often do fit the Pixel 11, though.

Will Pixel 10 Pro XL cases fit the Pixel 11 Pro XL?

Despite their identical measurements, Pixel 10 Pro XL cases are not a perfect fit on the 11 Pro XL. Some options may make the cut, leaving a small gap around the camera bar, but for the most part, it's better to buy a case designed for the new generation to ensure a snug fit that'll protect your device.

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• Miami is experiencing a billionaire boom, with wealthy individuals and companies relocating there.
• Coconut Grove is very popular because of the schools, a real-estate broker told Business Insider.
• Ransom Everglades School and Gulliver Preparatory School have state-of-the-art facilities.

Miami's billionaire boom has pushed up housing prices — and intensified competition for the city's elite schools.

State-of-the-art facilities, strong athletics, and impressive college matriculation lists are just some of the features that define Miami's most expensive schools.

Michael Light, Miami-based luxury real estate broker and founder of The Light Group at Douglas Elliman, told Business Insider that a lot of families won't commit to a property until their child is accepted into a school.

"A lot of these titans of industry are moving to South Florida, bringing their employees with them. And it's not stopping," Light said. "They want their kids to go to what is perceived as the best — and that is private schools."

He said the leafy, family-friendly Coconut Grove neighborhood has become the first place clients look to buy because of its elite schools.

These include the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Ransom Everglades School, Gulliver Preparatory School, and St. Stephen's Episcopal Day School.

Billionaires who have recently purchased properties in Coconut Grove include Citadel CEO Ken Griffin and Google cofounder Larry Page.

Here's a look inside three of Miami's most sought-after schools.

Founded in 1926, Gulliver Preparatory School is a private PK-12 school.

Admissions to the Gulliver Prep can be a multi-step process. That includes recommendations from English and mathematics teachers, an admissions test for grades PK to 5, and an interview for grades 6 to 12.

For 2026-27, Gulliver Prep tuition fees cost $36,400 for PK to SK, $40,200 for grades 1 to 4, and $56,100 for grades 5 to 12.

But $15.2 million in financial aid was awarded in 2025-26.

Sports are a big deal at Gulliver Prep.

With over 40 athletic teams known as the Gulliver Prep Raiders, Gulliver Prep says that 60% of its students participate in sports.

"If you want your child to go private and you want them to play sports, Gulliver is the school," luxury real-estate broker Light told Business Insider.

Famous sporting alumni include Sean Taylor, Patrick Robinson, and George Lombard Jr.

The campus has state-of-the-art sporting and academic facilities.

Gulliver Prep's upper school campus has facilities, including an aquatic center and newly renovated athletic fields for sports like soccer and lacrosse.

Academically, Gulliver Prep is strong, too.

Gulliver Prep offers the International Baccalaureate program, a balanced yet rigorous curriculum recognized by universities worldwide.

The class of 2026, consisting of 247 students, had 125 acceptances to colleges that Gulliver Prep categorized as most competitive, highly selective, or Ivy Plus.

The school also offers a digital mass media academic program, complete with a broadcast control room, student shows, and publications.

Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades is a private college prep school.

Ransom Everglades says on its website that it seeks "students who demonstrate above-average ability and interest in a broad and challenging educational program."

Spear's named Ransom Everglades as one of the top private schools in North America in its 2026 index.

Tuition fees are $57,300 for 2026-27, with 17% of the student body receiving financial aid.

College prep is not taken lightly at Ransom Everglades.

With multiple college counselors on staff, college prep is serious business.

College admissions prep begins in the 9th grade with a series of seminars to familiarize students with the process. By the 12th grade, counselors assist students with their applications.

"The children are going basically to an Ivy League school that is really a high school — that's what Ransom is," Light said.

Ransom Everglades has a state-of-the-art STEM center.

The Constance & Miguel Fernandez STEM center is a 45,000-square-foot facility equipped with classrooms, an assembly hall, and labs for students.

Ransom Everglades is now building a $45 million humanities center, which will include a rooftop terrace and flexible classrooms.

The school offers many extracurricular activities, from athletics to academic clubs.

Though it has a strong academic track record, Ransom Everglades also prides itself on its athletics.

The school says that over half of its students play on one team or more every year, with 15% of the athletes going on to play at the college level.

For families living in the north of the city, Miami Country Day School is popular.

Miami Country Day School is a private PK3-12 school located farther north of the city.

Tuition fees for 2026-27 start at $43,600 for the early childhood program and rise to $56,400 for grades 9 to 12. The school offers financial aid.

The school prides itself on its arts programs.

Miami Country Day School offers programs in dance, drama, music, and the visual arts.

For students interested in the dance industry, the school offers the Miami Dance Experience, a three-day professional performance intensive, while for drama, students are coached on auditioning.

But its athletics programs are also important.

Miami Country Day School has 36 Spartan teams in sports such as water polo, cross country, and baseball.

The teams have won two national championships, six state championships, and 19 regional championships.

Some students in the class of 2026 were accepted at Ivy League and international colleges.

Miami Country Day School offers a personalized college application service, with counselors assigned to each student.

Students in the class of 2026 are attending a range of colleges, from Ivy League schools such as Harvard and other elite schools like Stanford to colleges outside the US — including those in the UK and Europe.

• We were invited to a destination wedding and decided to meet up with my in-laws, who live in Europe.
• I enjoyed spending time as a family of 10, but our travel styles are very different.
• Once they left, my family of three explored the Dolomites, a bucket-list destination of mine.

When my husband, brother-in-law, and I were invited to our mutual friend's destination wedding in Tuscany, we promptly RSVP'd "yes!"

My husband, brother-in-law, and I all live in the United States, but my husband's parents live in Belgium, so we don't see them often. We invited my mother and father-in-law to join us in Italy so they could spend time with our 1-year-old son. My mother-in-law suggested that my sister-in-law, her partner, and their 1-year-old daughter, who also live in Belgium, join the trip.

Before I knew it, our trip turned into a multi-generational family vacation with a group of 10 ranging in age from 1 to 71.

I was grateful that we were able to coordinate getting so many family members together at once, but I'm also glad my husband and I planned dedicated time for our family of three after the festivities.

Traveling with a large group was an exercise in logistics

We looked for accommodations that were large enough to comfortably house all of us but also within our budget. We found an agriturismo, or traditional farm stay, in a small town called Santa Fiora. The town was cute, but it was about an hour away from our friend's wedding location and most of the region's attractions.

We had to plan strategically about transportation. The few options we found for a vehicle that would seat 10 people were more expensive than renting two normal-sized cars that seat five people. Once I saw the narrow, winding cobblestone roads throughout Tuscany, I was glad we didn't choose a large van, which would have been challenging to maneuver in medieval towns.

My husband and I are "get out early to beat the crowds and heat" type of travelers. Our son regularly gets up at 6 in the morning and doesn't care if we're on vacation.

On this trip, the rest of our family woke up hours after us and were lackadaisical about getting out the door. We often didn't leave the house until around 11 in the morning. By the time we arrived at a town, it was time for lunch, and it was the heat of the day. This isn't how our family of three usually operates.

Then there was the food

My father-in-law doesn't eat pizza, pasta, or sauces — and we were in Italy. Another member of our group was lactose intolerant. On the other hand, my husband, son, and I are adventurous eaters and love experiencing a culture through its cuisine. We sometimes had to pass several restaurants before we found one with a menu diverse enough to satisfy everyone's dietary preferences.

On one occasion at a pizzeria, I had already requested a table for 10. The wait staff was rearranging the tables to seat our group, while I awkwardly asked in broken Italian whether the pizzeria only served pizza. Answer: yes. We moved on to another restaurant that offered more options. It turned out to be the unexpected universal favorite meal of the trip for the entire family: donkey stew.

Extending the trip without the extended family was the right move

After a week, the rest of the family headed back to their respective homes. My husband, son, and I stayed for another week to explore the Dolomites in northern Italy, a bucket list destination of mine.

During this time, we had the freedom to get up as early as we wanted to hit the hiking trails. Our active family hiked over 20 miles in 3 days without having to account for the rest of the family's stamina levels.

We loved stopping at a refugio, a mountain hut with a restaurant and sleeping accommodations along the hiking trails. In the middle of our hike, we could sip espressos, eat a warm meal, and use a bathroom with indoor plumbing. The Dolomites have been one of my favorite hiking trips to date.

I'm glad we did a big family vacation while my in-laws are still healthy and active enough to travel. Because we live far from my husband's family, I cherish the time my son gets to spend with them. I'm also glad we reserved part of the trip for our smaller family unit. It gave us a chance to choose activities we enjoyed without compromise.

• Danni Duncan, 40, had IBS since early childhood. Her symptoms improved when she changed her diet.
• When she started experiencing changes in her bowel movements, she assumed it was due to her IBS.
• She was diagnosed with colon cancer after experiencing extreme fatigue caused by severe anemia.

From a very young age, Danni Duncan struggled with IBS symptoms.

"I remember being maybe around 5 or 6 and really being in so much pain, literally on my hands and knees in the bathroom," Duncan, 40, told Business Insider. She was put on elimination diets throughout primary school and diagnosed with IBS when she was around 11.

Duncan, who lives in the Gold Coast of Australia, said she grew up eating McDonald's, frozen pizzas, and Pop-Tarts. As an adult, her IBS symptoms improved as she filled her diet with whole foods and cut back on alcohol. She also began training for marathons and became a fitness and nutrition coach.

Then, in her late 30s, she struggled to go to the bathroom again. She chalked it up to IBS and started taking Metamucil, a fiber laxative, to reduce constipation. She also felt persistent bloating for months after giving birth to her fourth child in September 2024.

Eventually, at 39, she was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer.

"It was like I was coming out of my own body," Duncan said. "I kind of giggled and said, 'This can't be true. I'm supposed to live to be 100. That's how healthy I am.'"

Severe anemia got her diagnosed

When Duncan was about 20 weeks pregnant with her fourth child in 2024, her iron levels were the lowest they'd ever been. Even after an iron infusion, her levels remained low. Still, she said her doctor explained it away as a pregnancy symptom and suggested iron supplements.

In early 2025, about five months after giving birth, Duncan started training for a marathon that March. She felt winded like never before.

Even when she had slept and fueled well, she couldn't get her speed up. Come marathon day, she dropped out of the race when she was three-quarters finished. At the gym, she couldn't finish her sets and experienced dizzy spells in her kitchen.

The breaking point was a month later, in April 2025, when she sensed she was going to faint one morning and stumbled onto her couch.

A blood test at the doctor's office revealed she had a hemoglobin level of 70 g/L, indicative of severe anemia (a normal level is considered 120 to 160 g/L for adult women). She was scheduled for another iron infusion the next day and a colonoscopy two weeks later, in May 2025, to rule out colon cancer.

The colonoscopy showed a tumor in her colon.

Duncan, whose 37-year-old friend died from colon cancer the year prior, initially thought of her kids growing up without her. "That thought broke me — I had a tear for a second, and then my mind just switched to like, 'What are we doing?'" Duncan said. "'I have to fight this because I have children.'"

Exercising through chemo side effects

Less than two weeks after learning she had colon cancer, Duncan underwent surgery to remove the tumor, including a right hemicolectomy in which part of her colon was taken out. She also had 17 lymph nodes removed outside her bowel wall, the tissue structure that forms the small and large intestines.

While cancer wasn't found in her lymph nodes, it was found in the lymph node channels, leading to her stage 2B diagnosis. It put her at higher risk of recurrence because she was closer to stage 3, when the cancer would have officially spread to the lymph nodes. Her doctor wanted her to do four rounds of chemotherapy, considered a standard amount of chemotherapy for earlier-stage cancers, to reduce that risk.

She tried to stick to her routines, including regular walks, light bodyweight exercises, and runs on the weeks she didn't have chemo. Still, extreme fatigue and nausea sometimes wore her down.

She also developed cold sensitivity, a common side effect from oxaliplatin, her chemo medication. "Everything seizes up," she said. "Your throat seizes up, you can't breathe; your face seizes up like you're having a stroke." She wore gloves to open her fridge door or hold weights at the gym.

The hardest part, she said, was not being able to breastfeed, as chemo drugs can be passed on to the baby through breast milk. Duncan was diagnosed when her daughter was 7 months old and had planned on breastfeeding for far longer.

"I just loved it and we had such a great connection," she said. "It's broken my heart and it still breaks my heart."

A major marathon to celebrate the end of treatment

As of November 2025, Duncan's CT scans and colonoscopy no longer showed signs of cancer. Going forward, she has three more monthly blood tests and will have yearly CT scans and colonoscopies every two years.

In some ways, Duncan said life after cancer has been more challenging than the treatment itself. "When you're in the throes of cancer, you've got such a focus," she said. "Once it's finished, people stop checking in because you're cancer-free now. That's when the mental struggle is probably harder."

Duncan, who turned 40 during treatment, is now training for the New York City Marathon, which she planned to run in 2025 but was forced to postpone. It's a longtime dream of hers because she found out she was pregnant with her first child in New York City.

Duncan will run it with her husband on behalf of the Jodi Lee Foundation, a colon cancer organization in Australia.

From both her personal experience and advocacy work, Duncan said she's become more aware of the rising rates among young people and the importance of getting symptoms like changes in bowel movements checked out if they're unusual for you.

"Stand up for yourself. Be like, 'I'm not too young,'" she said. "If you've got symptoms, push, find another doctor."

• Elon Musk has long wished to have Warren Buffett as a shareholder.
• Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway now holds an indirect stake in Musk's SpaceX via Alphabet.
• Berkshire owned nearly 1% of Alphabet, which in turn owned about 4% of SpaceX, recent filings show.

Elon Musk has wanted Warren Buffett as a shareholder for years. His wish has finally come true, in a sense.

As of June 30, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway indirectly owned about 0.04% of SpaceX, a stake worth over $800 million, according to Business Insider's calculations.

This "look-through stake" — a term coined by Buffett — is based on Berkshire owning part of Alphabet, which in turn owns part of SpaceX.

Berkshire reported a roughly 0.9% stake in Alphabet, worth about $38 billion, in its second-quarter portfolio update on Friday.

Alphabet revealed in its portfolio filing that it owned about 4%, or $94 billion worth, of SpaceX on June 30.

Berkshire's stake in Alphabet represents a proportional claim on Alphabet's assets, including its SpaceX holding.

Its piece of the $94 billion position was worth about $815 million at the end of June, but closer to $700 million at Tuesday's market close, following share-price declines for both Alphabet and SpaceX this quarter.

That's a tiny financial interest for Berkshire, which owned about $1.3 trillion of assets at the end of June, including $324 billion of stocks.

But Alphabet's stake in SpaceX is worth about $79 billion today, or roughly 2% of Alphabet's market value, making it a material asset for the search, advertising, and AI giant. Berkshire will be monitoring the holding closely, given how much money it has riding on Alphabet.

Buffett — who stepped down as CEO at the turn of this year, but remains Berkshire's chairman and largest shareholder — established the Alphabet stake during the third quarter of 2025. Less than 12 months later, on June 30, Berkshire counted Alphabet as its third-biggest stock holding after Apple and American Express.

Tesla, SpaceX, and Berkshire didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

'Maybe Buffett should invest in Tesla haha'

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been clamoring for Buffett's backing on X for years.

"He should take a position in Tesla. It's an obvious move," Musk posted in 2024.

"Too bad he didn't invest in Tesla when it was 0.1% of today's value lol," Musk wrote in 2023.

"Munger could've invested in Tesla at ~$200M valuation when I had lunch with him in late 2008," Musk said in another post that year, referring to Buffett's late business partner, Charlie Munger.

"Maybe Buffett should invest in Tesla haha," Musk tweeted in 2021.

Yet Buffett refrained from buying into Tesla, preferring to back the EV maker's Chinese rival, BYD, for about 17 years, from 2008 to 2025.

There's also no sign that Berkshire has directly invested in SpaceX, which had its blockbuster public-market debut in June.

Buffett's restraint isn't surprising, as he's a renowned bargain hunter known for investing in mature, predictable businesses that he understands deeply.

Tesla and SpaceX both trade at punchy valuations, and between them, they're racing to build everything from humanoid robots and self-driving cars to spaceships capable of transporting people to Mars.

Even with Buffett out and Greg Abel in as Berkshire CEO, a direct SpaceX bet looks unlikely anytime soon, as it would mark a huge departure from Buffett's school of investing.

Buffett and Musk go way back

Over the years, Musk has praised Buffett's work, recognized his expertise, and quoted him multiple times on Tesla earnings calls.

But he's also questioned some of Buffett's investing principles, and championed his own focus on building businesses and products, while dismissing Buffett's focus on studying companies and allocating capital as "super boring."

Buffett has also jabbed at Musk in the past. But he's also applauded him for Tesla's success and for taking on momentous challenges.

"It's a dedication to solving the impossible, and every now and then he'll do it," Buffett said about Musk during Berkshire's shareholder meeting in 2023. "But it would be torturous to me or Charlie."

Munger also hailed Musk's taste for difficulty, joking, "Warren and I are looking for the easy job."

Musk welcomed the pair's comments in an X post: "Appreciate the kind words from Warren & Charlie."

Betting on SpaceX

Berkshire's indirect bet on SpaceX doesn't carry the usual weight of Buffett's vote of confidence, given it's an unavoidable product of its Alphabet investment, and neither Buffett nor his team has publicly acknowledged the look-through stake.

But Musk's company was clearly an attractive play for Alphabet when it originally invested $900 million in 2015, and Alphabet was evidently a compelling wager for Berkshire given how quickly it has amassed a big stake in the business.

For now, assuming Alphabet and Berkshire haven't altered their stakes since the end of June, Musk can at least say Buffett is one of the biggest shareholders in one of his biggest shareholders.

• Prices for TV sports deals almost always go up.
• That's the rationale for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner paying a record amount for the LA Lakers.
• But over at the NFL — the dominant force in TV — there are signs that the rise won't go on forever.

Bob Iger and Josh Kushner plan to buy the Los Angeles Lakers at a record-setting price of $12.5 billion. The best argument for that price: The value of sports TV deals is the one thing that keeps going up, even as the rest of TV contracts.

But even though that's been true for years, it doesn't mean it will always be true. One hint that things might be changing: The all-powerful NFL — the thing that keeps TV afloat — is starting to see some pushback from its TV partners, led by Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch's Fox.

In 2026, it is very hard to imagine a world where the NFL isn't the most powerful force in media. But John Ourand, who covers sports media for Puck, makes a case that its power could at least be checked in the years to come.

You can listen to our entire conversation, which also includes a look at Apple's sports strategy, and the WNBA's approach to media deals, on my Channels podcast. The following is an edited excerpt of our chat:

Peter Kafka: If Bob Iger and Josh Kushner are buying the Lakers at a $12.5 billion valuation, that means they think it will be worth even more in the future. What's the argument for that?

John Ourand: In the past, all the valuations of [pro sports] teams were heavily weighted by the fact that media rights deals keep going up by 10%, 20% per year.

But media executives I talk to say, "If they're basing [the Lakers] valuation on future media rights deals, that's a mistake."

The Lakers make $200 million a year from their local rights. And the NBA just got a new deal (for national rights) that pays $7.6 billion a year.

Their point is those numbers aren't going to go up anytime soon?

They're saying, "The NFL will get more money. Cord-cutting's still happening. Broadcast TV is in distress. They're not seeing nearly as much money coming from streaming. So the media companies are saying, you know, "We could be at the apex of it."

But when you talk to bankers and PE folks — this won't surprise you — they say, "No, it's still going to keep going up."

This is the question people have been debating for years — how much longer can sports rights go up, when everything else in TV is contracting? But they have continued to go up.

It is still mainly an advertising play. Sports is the last bastion of people watching live. It's been that case for a while, and it's the reason that broadcast networks and even cable networks are still profitable right now.

So the bull case for sports rights continuing to move forward is … maybe the broadcast networks don't stay healthy, but they still exist. And they have to have sports.

We're seeing another version of this debate right now with the NFL, where Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch recently made news by saying he's not currently negotiating a new deal with the league.

As of a few months ago, most people in the media world thought the networks were going to renegotiate their existing deals with the league and pay more per year, for more years, so they could keep the NFL locked up.

What Lachlan finally said was, "You know what? We're gonna see this through to the end. So we can negotiate now, but we're not opening our deal up early. It's gonna run through to the end of the decade."

That seems like a pretty reasonable stance, but it's being treated like a bombshell. Is the NFL's grip on media rights weakening?

There were some early numbers of, like, an [rights fees that would cost an] extra billion per year per network that were floated. That number would put some of the networks out of business.

Look: The NFL is still No. 1, and none of the networks want to live without the NFL.

But one thing that's interesting is that the NFL is talking to Paramount/CBS about their deal because of the change of control.

So let's say the NFL says, "OK, you know what? We can't come to a deal with CBS. This package is open for bidding." And it's a package of Sunday afternoon games with up to six games each afternoon.

Who's stepping up for that package? There aren't a lot of other networks.

Every single broadcast network has a package, and there's nobody else that's bidding it up. And even as powerful as the NFL is, that's a problem.

You need more than one bidder for the price to go up. They have just enough bidders for just enough packages. And I think right now we're seeing where the limits of that power lie a little bit.

It almost feels like a détente. Is that the right analogy?

The NFL is still going to get what it needs to get. It just isn't going to get its reach goal, I think.

After the NFL did $110 billion in TV deals in 2021, the networks were crying poor. But then they paid the NBA $76 billion.

And the NFL said: "Wait, I thought you were crying poor?" And then they see that Fox finds like a couple quarters in the cushion to buy Roku. So they're like, "Wait: How can you be crying poor on one hand, and then, then on the other hand, you do have this money?"

So the NFL wants to test those limits.

• Gwyneth Paltrow is investing in AI startups and embracing the tech at Goop.
• Even Goop's podcast, once mostly about wellness, is increasingly focused on AI.
• The actor and wellness tastemaker appears to have found her latest obsession.

Gwyneth Paltrow, who is synonymous with wellness, at-home coffee enemas, and jade yoni eggs, is making a name for herself in another, very different world: AI.

She is investing in AI startups, lending her voice to an AI product, and making it a recurring theme on The Goop Podcast. On Tuesday, Puck reported Paltrow is planning a "private, off-the-record al fresco dinner" at her home in honor of Sam Altman. Paltrow's representatives didn't immediately respond to an out-of-hours request for comment from Business Insider.

It is perhaps no coincidence that Paltrow is among the celebrities cashing in on AI after a rocky period at Goop marked by layoffs and strategy changes. And for an actor who reinvented herself as one of the earliest celebrity wellness influencers, her pivot into AI isn't entirely out of character. Silicon Valley's fixation on optimization and longevity feels Goop-adjacent.

Gwyneth Paltrow has invested in AI for years

Paltrow's interest in AI goes back to at least 2021, when she invested in the customer service automation startup Forethought AI, which she later joined a $25 million funding round for. That year, she and the beauty industry entrepreneur Moj Mahdara launched their VC fund, Kinship Ventures, which lists "AI-enabled tools & consumer tech" as one of its current investment areas.

Since 2023, the text-to-speech platform Speechify, which she is invested in, has used her voice. Her other bets include investments in the beauty-tech startup Potion AI, and the AI-powered meditation app Moments of Space, which she became a co-owner of in 2024.

Nowadays, Paltrow's interest in AI has extended beyond her investment portfolio and has become increasingly public.

Last year, following the Coldplay kiss-cam scandal involving Astronomer, the company hired Paltrow to front a tongue-in-cheek online video promoting its latest AI products.

Goop's fast-casual dining offshoot, Goop Kitchen, meanwhile, moved closer to AI's center of gravity this year by signing a lease for a ground-floor space at San Francisco's 405 Howard Street, which makes up part of Anthropic's HQ. Soon, Anthropic workers won't need to leave the building to get their fix of Goop Kitchen's organic turmeric-spiced chicken bone broth.

The Goop Podcast, which once mostly focused on topics like motherhood, holistic medicine, and careers, has taken on an unexpected AI flavor, too. Of its 11 most recent episodes, five have featured AI in the title or episode descriptions.

While her interviews with the psychotherapist Esther Perel about AI and dating, and with the chief medical officer of an AI-powered longevity clinic feel on brand, her June conversation with the cofounder of the AI-powered defense company Anduril raised some eyebrows online. The outlet Mother Jones said Paltrow had "goopified drone warfare."

Paltrow also uses AI to run Goop itself. In May, she said during an interview at the Meltwater Summit in New York that AI tools were driving efficiency at the company, from managing workflows to creating media assets. She said her own suite of AI tools had effectively become a "chief of staff" for Goop.

"The train's left the station," she said of AI at the summit. "We're in a time of incredible upheaval."

• Heena Patel is the James Beard-nominated chef of Besharam in San Francisco.
• Patel shared the underrated Indian dishes she believes everyone should order.
• Khandvi is a popular savory snack, and khichdi is a classic comfort dish.

Naan and butter chicken are undoubtedly delicious, but there's so much more to explore in Indian cuisine than these menu staples.

That's what James Beard-nominated chef Heena Patel set out to prove with Besharam, her regional Gujarati restaurant in San Francisco.

"Just as my guests step outside their comfort zones, I do the same with them, trusting they'll embrace my menu with an open mind," Patel told Business Insider. "That's how I hope to put Gujarati food on the map."

Patel believes the biggest mistake people make at Indian restaurants is playing it too safe. So, if you're looking for a little inspiration, here are three underrated dishes Patel thinks you should order the next time you're craving Indian food for dinner.

Bhindi masala 'allows okra to shine'

One of Patel's favorite okra dishes is bhindi masala, which typically features okra cooked with tomatoes, onions, and herbs.

"This dish is very special because it allows okra to shine with its crisp texture," Patel said.

When Patel sees okra and bitter melon on the menu at an Indian restaurant, she knows she's found an authentic spot.

"Produce like okra, bitter melon, and opo squash are common in Indian cooking," Patel said. "So if you see these ingredients on a menu, you're in for a treat."

Khichdi is a classic comfort dish

Patel said khichdi is typically made with rice and lentils, adding that "one bowl is never enough."

She recommends pairing khichdi with a "swirl of warm ghee and a drizzle of sour pickle" on top of a crunchy papadam.

"Indian food isn't just about individual dishes; it's about building each bite with different flavors," Patel said. "A curry or dal on its own is just one part of the experience. The real magic happens when you layer flavors by adding chutneys, pickles, rotis, and rice."

Khandvi is a popular Gujarati savory snack

"Khandvi are spiced and seasoned tight rolls served with yogurt," Patel said. "It's a simple yet elegant dish, full of technique that truly showcases a chef's skill."

If you want to explore more Gujarati-specific dishes, Patel also recommends…

• Dhokla: A savory sponge cake. Patel has made it with lentils and a cranberry chili glaze at Besharam.
• Kadhi: A spiced yogurt-based dish similar to curry that can be used as a sauce with rice or fritters.
• Ladoo: A sweet treat in the shape of a ball. There are many versions, but the classic variety is made with chickpea flour fried in ghee with cardamom and sugar.

No matter what you decide to order at an Indian restaurant, Patel advises you not to stick to just one dish.

"Mix and match textures, spice levels, and accompaniments," she said. "You'll walk away with a meal that's not just delicious but full of depth and surprises."

• I've traveled to over 70 countries and have spent time in some truly incredible places.
• However, there are a few cities I always tell friends and family members to visit.
• Some of my favorites include Valletta, Malta, and Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Every few months, I get an irresistible urge to pack my backpack and send myself to a new environment.

Having grown up between multiple cultures and countries, travel awakens a part of my identity that stays dormant at my home base in New Jersey.

My love of travel has brought me to over 70 countries during my 33 years of life, and some places have really stuck with me. Here are five of my favorite cities around the world that I always tell my friends and family to visit.

Valletta, Malta, transported me to a fairy tale.

I visited Malta without knowing much about the country, and left with a new favorite European destination. Nestled between North Africa's coast and Italy's southern islands, I've found that Malta too often gets overlooked by tourists.

The capital, Valletta, is an enchanting seaside maze of cobblestone streets that transported me to the Baroque period. It was a great city to explore on foot.

I loved starting my mornings here with a coffee from Coffee Circus, a cozy café that looks like a cave. At the end of the day, I spent time watching the sunset from windswept clifftops in St. Elmo Bay.

Taipei, Taiwan, really comes alive at night.

As a former New Yorker, I thought I'd lived in the ultimate 24-hour city — until I visited Taipei. After the sun sets over the humid subtropical capital city of Taiwan, Taipei really comes alive.

The Ximending Walking District's bustling neon-lit pedestrian-only streets are lined with restaurants, street performers, and stores. Strolling through Ximending, sipping on bubble tea, and grabbing street food became my nightly routine.

I loved spending time in beautiful Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Almaty's walkable city center allowed me to hit multiple cultural landmarks with a single stroll around beautiful tree-lined streets.

The most memorable sites I visited were Ascension Cathedral, a colorful Russian Orthodox Church primarily built out of wood, and the Memorial of Glory, a powerful sculpture commemorating World War II (known locally as the Great Patriotic War).

But in my opinion, the best part about Almaty lies about an hour outside the city center at Shymbulak Mountain Resort. I visited in October and was blown away by the fall colors during the 20-minute scenic cable car ride to the resort base.

Ilulissat, Greenland, is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.

"Ilulissat" means "icebergs" in Greenlandic, and as soon as I arrived and saw the massive iceberg-filled Disko Bay, I understood where the city gets its name.

On my first day in town, I ventured down three hiking trails, all of which were a short walk from the city center. On them, I found some of the most spectacular views of my life.

As I hiked, the Ilulissat Icefjord slowly revealed itself, until I reached the cliff edge where it felt like I witnessed two worlds meet — one a sheet of ice across the bay, and the other a lush moss vegetation that I stood on.

After my hike, I enjoyed local halibut and mussels at Inuit Café, a cute family-run restaurant.

In my opinion, Helsinki is the perfect summer destination.

If you're looking to visit a place that just feels like vacation, summer in Helsinki is for you.

I may be biased, having spent my childhood summers in Finland, but in my opinion, nothing beats cycling under the near-constant sun, eating fresh berries, and enjoying a sauna.

After enduring the cold and dark winter months, Finns often take several weeks off work in the summer to make the most of the extra daylight.

My favorite part about about the city is how urban life exists in harmony with nature. In the same day, you can catch me hiking in Nuuksio National Park, located about 40 minutes outside Helsinki by car, and attending Helsinki Festival, an arts festival typically held between mid-August and early September.

• I was born and raised in London, where I've seen tourists make mistakes and waste money.
• Instead of spending a ton on taxis, navigate the London Underground or walk (when it makes sense).
• Prepare for all types of weather, and don't forget to order a Sunday roast at a local pub.

As someone who was born and raised in London, I've seen tourists make their fair share of mistakes — from unwittingly missing out on one of the best British dishes to clogging up traffic on escalators.

However, with some planning and strategizing, newcomers can make the most of their time in London — and save some money while doing so.

Here are the major mistakes I see visitors make when exploring my home city, along with how to avoid them.

Paying to see panoramic skyline views that they can find for free

Whether you're paying for admission to an observation deck or a rooftop bar, going to the top of a skyscraper in any major city will probably cost you money. For the most part, London is no exception.

Many people go to The Shard, a 1,016-foot skyscraper with panoramic views of the city. Tickets start at £32, or about $44.

However, visitors can get a similarly fantastic view at the Sky Garden, which is right across the River Thames from The Shard. London's highest public garden offers some of the best views of the city's skyline and comes complete with an indoor garden, restaurants, and bars. The best bit? Entry is free. 

Time slots for Sky Garden can book up quickly, so plan ahead if you want to see the breathtaking views.

Standing on the left side of escalators — especially in London Underground stations

If you have no intention of walking down or climbing an escalator, make sure you stand on the right side. That way, those who don't want to stand still have the option to pass you on the left, keeping you from running into a scorned Londoner.

It's an unwritten rule in this city (and many other cities), and everyone — visitors and locals alike — should follow it. 

Keep this in mind when you're getting on the London Underground (also known as the Tube), especially if you want to avoid strangers angrily telling you to move as they rush to make their train.

Preparing only for rain and not other types of weather

One common misconception about London is that it always rains. It isn't entirely wrong, but it isn't exactly correct either. 

The reality is that you need to prepare for all four seasons, regardless of the time of year.

You probably don't need to bring a winter jacket if you're visiting in July, but pack versatile clothing that will give you options in case you encounter unexpected temperatures.

If you're planning to go out at night, note that the temperature tends to drop a fair bit, even in the summer, so bring a layer.

Taking the Tube around Central London instead of walking short distances

When you're in Central London, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to take public transit everywhere you go. However, it can be a waste of time and money. 

Take Leicester Square and Covent Garden, for example. They're one Tube stop apart, so the ride between the two takes about one minute. 

However, that doesn't account for the time it takes to get in and out of the stations, especially since Covent Garden has stairs and an elevator instead of an escalator.

If you're willing and able to walk, I recommend avoiding the chaos inside two of London's busiest stations and instead enjoying a five-minute stroll down Long Acre, a street home to numerous shops and restaurants.

Overpaying for airport taxis and cars

Tourists often spend a fortune on taxi rides from the airport to wherever they're staying, which is a big no-no.

Sadly, London's iconic black cabs are usually overpriced, and rideshare apps tend to be no different when it comes to the trek from the airport to the city. 

Alternatives — such as coaches (buses) and railways, including the Heathrow Express, Gatwick Express, and Elizabeth line — are cheaper and will usually get you where you need to go in less time than a car.

Local tip: The Elizabeth line is an air-conditioned rail service that leaves from the same platform as the Heathrow Express and costs about half the price.

Only shopping on Oxford Street

Oxford Street is one of the best places to shop in London, but it's also one of the city's busiest streets. It's often a bit chaotic, but the activity level really ramps up on weekends. 

For a more peaceful shopping experience with options just as good as those on Oxford Street, visit stores on King's Road in Chelsea or Marylebone. You can also explore the high streets in areas like Camden Town and Hampstead. 

Branching out beyond Central London will increase your chances of finding local, independently-owned businesses selling goods you can't get outside the UK.

Overlooking London's free museums and galleries

From the Tate Modern to the British Museum, London is home to some of the world's finest museums and galleries, and many of them are free to visit. 

Visiting the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum is a great way to spend an entire day, as all three museums are within walking distance of each other.

They're also located right by the Royal Albert Hall, meaning you can end a day of museum-hopping by watching a fabulous show at the historic concert hall. Just make sure you book tickets in advance.

It's also worth noting that some museum exhibitions, even the free ones, require you to reserve a time slot in advance. So take a look at the places you're interested in visiting before your trip to ensure you don't miss out.

Splurging to stay in the center of London

It can be tempting to book a luxurious hotel right in the heart of Central London, but in my opinion, that's not the best way to spend your travel budget.

Thanks to London's amazing public transportation system, almost anywhere you stay will have excellent connections to most parts of the city. 

Staying in areas such as Camden, Islington, and Stratford will give you a more authentic experience and get you a lot more value for your money. 

Leaving London without ordering a pub-made Sunday roast

Going to the pub is a rite of passage during any trip to the UK, let alone a visit to its capital city. It is steeped in history and home to some of the country's oldest and finest watering holes.

But many tourists don't realize pubs serve some of the best food in London, too. 

No trip to London is complete without trying a Sunday roast, a traditional meal typically made up of roasted meat (or a meatless alternative), roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, and a variety of vegetables.

This story was originally published on May 12, 2023, and most recently updated on August 19, 2026.

• Tuomas Malinen thinks the next US recession could be just around the corner.
• The Finnish professor says two of the three economic variables he analyzed are flashing warnings.
• His view is in the minority on Wall Street, where most forecasters expect growth to hold up.

A professor who has spent years studying financial crises thinks the US economy is on the verge of trouble.

Tuomas Malinen, an economist who specializes in geopolitics and and financial crises, is laying out a grim outlook for the US. In a post on Substack this week, the Finnish professor said he analyzed several key barometers in financial markets and the economy. The findings ultimately supported the idea that the US is precariously close to another downturn, despite booming stocks and strong surface-level growth.

Malinen said he didn't have a concrete timeline for when a recession could start.

"But we need to acknowledge that the bottom can fall beneath the US economy, practically, in any minute," he warned.

Here are the three variables that Malinen analyzed:

US bankruptcies: Corporate bankruptcies remain well below their peak in the years following the Great Financial Crisis and the dot-com crash, but have climbed significantly since their post-COVID low.

In the 12 months leading up to June, the US recorded more than 600,000 new bankruptcy filings, up 12% from the 12 months leading up to June 2025, according to the US Courts office. It also marks the highest number of new bankruptcies the US has seen since the pandemic.

Bond yields: Corporate bond spreads are also flashing a potential warning for the US, Malinen said. He pointed in particular to the private sector yield curve, which he measured as the spread between Baa-rated corporate bonds with maturities of at least 20 years, and the bank prime rate, the interest rate that banks charge their most creditworthy institutional clients.

The private sector yield curve is close to uninverting, which means that corporate yields are close to suprassing the bank prime rate. That can happen if investors demand a higher yield due to perceived risks of holding corporate debt, or because overall interest rate expectations are rising, which can hurt risk-asset prices.

The curve is now signaling "an imminent onset of US recession," Malinen said, referring to how the private sector yield curve turned positive leading up to the COVID-19 recession, the Great Financial Crisis, and the recession of the early 2000s.

Manufacturing new orders: The ISM's manufacturing New Orders Index rose to 56.7 in July, marking its seventh straight month of expansion. This is the only variable flashing a positive signal for the economy, Malinen said, which he said may be attributable to the boom in data centers.

Even then, the signs are pointing to two troubling things about the US economy, Malinen said: 1), that only a small corner of the US economy is thriving, and 2) that the success of this area could "break suddenly," he said, referring to fears that AI is the latest market bubble.

"If the above holds, it would indicate that the US economy is very close to the onset of a recession, which can start abruptly from the collapse of the AI-trade (little like after the implosion of the Dotcom bubble)," Malinen wrote.

Malinen, who has issued bearish warnings for the US economy for the past several years, is in the minority on Wall Street, where most forecasters are expecting growth to hold up and the AI boom to last for at least several more years. Economists at the Atlanta Fed are estimating that GDP will expand another 4% over the third quarter, indicating the US is far from tipping into a technical recession.

• My husband and I moved into a condo when we became empty nesters, but we started craving more space.
• We moved into a home in a suburban cul-de-sac — but worried we'd be much older than our neighbors.
• Surprisingly, we built beautiful friendships with our younger neighbors.

When my husband and I first became empty nesters more than 20 years ago, we moved from our suburban Maryland home to a two-bedroom condo in Arlington, Virginia. We hoped to make some new friends as we started this chapter of our lives.

The city itself was fun, and the living environment was pleasant, but the proximity made it hard to connect with neighbors; it felt like everyone was protective of their privacy and space.

Fast forward 17 years, and our family looked a lot bigger with in-laws and four grandchildren. Family gatherings at our condo started to feel tense and stifling: Aside from our small, not-toddler-friendly terrace, there was nowhere to comfortably escape if someone needed space.

Add retirement to this picture, and we started to realize we needed more breathing room — both for ourselves and our hobbies, and to host sleepovers with our youngest family members.

So, we moved to a four-bedroom home in the suburbs of Maryland near where we had previously resided, and closer to where our children and grandkids lived.

We weren't sure how we'd fit in with our neighbors

My immediate fear was that we would be outsiders, just the "old couple on the block."

With the exception of a few homeowners who had held onto their property despite being longtime empty nesters, everyone else on our cul-de-sac — and many people in the community itself — seemed closer to our children's ages. (In fact, we'd later discover that one neighbor was in our daughter's high-school class.)

I didn't expect to befriend our neighbors, and instead focused my energy on renewing relationships we'd had when we previously lived nearby. I also started playing mah-jongg and pickleball to try to cultivate new ones.

We quickly discovered, though, that our immediate community members were very friendly. We had just adopted a cock-a-poo, so when we noticed neighbors going on long morning walks, we started casually joining them.

I was surprised by how natural it felt to spend time together. Regular dog-walking outings eventually graduated to happy hours and dinners.

Not only are we from different age groups, but we also have different cultural and ethnic backgrounds — some of the best times we've had include sharing foods from our different cultures.

Together, we've eaten Dominican stewed meat, arroz blanco, and habichuelas, Trinidadian roti, and New York-style matzo-ball soup and potato pancakes, all while having long talks about politics, movies, family relationships, travel, and more.

Of course, as adults of different ages, we don't always share the same outlook on every topic — but we've learned to listen, appreciate, and respectfully disagree when our opinions diverge.

About 3 years later, these are some of my closest friendships

Naturally, as neighbors, our friendship has benefited from the proximity. We can get together on short notice, and my husband and I have been able to count on our neighbors for help with dog walking, snow shoveling, and more.

We've also become close with our neighbors' kids. One of them plays piano beautifully, and used to come to our house to practice before his family bought a piano of their own. Another shoots hoops with my husband.

One of our grandchildren has become a good playmate of one of our neighbors' children, and runs to her house whenever she comes to visit us.

Many people in our age bracket might choose to spend retirement in a homogenous, 60-plus community where everyone's a bit more generationally appropriate. I'm glad we decided otherwise.

I don't believe "age is just a number," but I do believe it's rewarding to put yourself out there. My husband and I have learned we can communicate with people of all different ages and backgrounds if we stay open and willing to connect.

• Without adjusting for inflation, 17 superhero movies have made at least $1 billion at the box office.
• Using data from Box Office Mojo, we compiled the highest-grossing superhero movies worldwide.
• "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" became the latest addition to this list in August 2026.

Did someone say "superhero fatigue"? Because after the record-breaking smash success of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," we don't see any signs of audiences giving up on comic books just yet.

Since "The Dark Knight" became the first billion-dollar grosser to star a hero wearing a mask and tights, it's been a steady stream of caped crusaders, super-powered beings, and web-slinging spider-men.

However, it's still no easy feat to make seven figures at the box office. As Marvel and DC have seen over the last seven years since "Avengers: Endgame," audiences won't show up for just anything that's ripped from the pages.

But "Brand New Day" proved that some masked vigilantes still have the juice. It made $1 billion in six days — and $2 billion in 19 days — proving that your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has worldwide appeal.

Here are all 17 superhero movies to cross the billion-dollar threshold.

17. "The Dark Knight" (2008)

Worldwide gross: $1,008,480,203

16. "Joker" (2019)

Worldwide gross: $1,078,958,629

15. "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012)

Worldwide gross: $1,085,429,532

14. "Captain Marvel" (2019)

Worldwide gross: $1,131,416,446

13."Spider-Man: Far From Home" (2019)

Worldwide gross: $1,131,927,996

12. "Aquaman" (2018)

Worldwide gross: $1,152,028,393

11. "Captain America: Civil War" (2016)

Worldwide gross: $1,155,046,416

10. "Iron Man 3" (2013)

Worldwide gross: $1,215,577,205

9. "Incredibles 2" (2018)

Worldwide gross: $1,243,225,667

8. "Deadpool & Wolverine" (2024)

Worldwide gross: $1,338,073,645

7. "Black Panther" (2018)

Worldwide gross: $1,349,926,083

6. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)

Worldwide gross: $1,405,018,048

5. "The Avengers" (2012)

Worldwide gross: $1,520,538,536

4. "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021)

Worldwide gross: $1,921,426,073

3. "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (2026)

Worldwide gross: $2,022,543,660 (as of August 18, 2026)

2. "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018)

Worldwide gross: $2,052,415,039

1. "Avengers: Endgame" (2019)

Worldwide gross: $2,799,439,100

Editor's note: This story was first published in October 2022 and most recently updated in August 2026. Kirsten Acuna contributed to a prior version of this story.

• There have been 89 theatrically released movies based on a Marvel comic property to date.
• From "Howard the Duck" to "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," the quality has ebbed and flowed.
• Here's how all the Marvel movies — so far — compare.

It's been 40 years since audiences saw their very first theatrical movie based on a Marvel comic — would you believe that 1986's "Howard the Duck" was the first major motion picture based on a character from Marvel?

Since that inauspicious start, Marvel has become one of the most recognizable and successful brands in the movie business (though the studio was going through a rough patch until "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" was released this summer).

The Marvel Cinematic Universe alone has grossed over $30 billion worldwide, and that's not including mega-hits like "X-Men," "Men in Black," or the "Spider-Verse" films.

While most of these movies made significant chunks of change at the box office, not all were beloved by critics. Here's how each film was received by critics, from worst to best, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

89. "Fantastic Four" (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 9%

"Fantastic Four" is the second on-screen iteration of the famed Marvel family consisting of Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Miles Teller), his love interest Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Kate Mara), her brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Michael B. Jordan), and their friend Ben Grimm/The Thing (Jamie Bell).

After they travel to a different dimension and acquire fantastic, if gruesome, powers, they face off against Doctor Doom, played by Toby Kebbell, a former friend turned homicidal maniac.

"A poorly constructed, ineptly executed, flatfooted piece of Branded Product that plays as though it were written by a piece of software fed every superhero movie script to date and instructed to synthesize them," wrote Flavorwire's Jason Bailey.

88. "Madame Web" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%

"Madame Web" stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb, a paramedic living in New York City who somehow gains clairvoyance.

She teams up with three young women — Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Anya (Isabela Merced), and Mattie (Celeste O'Connor) — who each have spider-powers in their future to take down a mysterious foe, Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim).

"Even Johnson has her limits, and 'Madame Web' blows so far past them that you can practically guess which scenes were shot last based on the degree to which its star has given up," wrote Allison Wilmore for Vulture.

87. "Elektra" (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 11%

After dying at the end of "Daredevil," Elektra, played by Jennifer Garner, is revived by her mentor, Stick, to become a force for good. Eventually, she abandons this lifestyle and becomes a contract killer until an evil organization known as The Hand attempts to kill her.

Tim Robey of The Telegraph called the film "Studio dross of the lowest grade."

86. "Howard the Duck" (1986)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 14%

As you might've guessed from the title, Howard is a duck. Specifically, a resident of the planet Duckworld, which is like Earth, but inhabited by ducks. When Howard finds himself on Earth in the state of Ohio, he must team up with a woman, Beverly Switzler (Lea Thompson), to try to get home.

"Sound the horns, light the speakers, and cue the marching band, because 'Howard the Duck' is here ... and bad movie historians could not ask for a more mallard-droit venture than this," wrote Michael Burkett of the Orange County Register.

84 (tie). "Morbius" (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

In "Morbius," Jared Leto stars as Dr. Michael Morbius, a highly intelligent doctor dying from a rare blood disease. In his quest to find a cure, he accidentally turns himself into a "living vampire," a being with enhanced strength, sonar capabilities, a psychic connection with bats ... and the unending desire to drink blood.

"'Morbius,' at best, will be remembered as the latest effort on Sony's part to make its nascent Sinister Six franchise happen. And, like 'fetch,' it's hard to see that happening," wrote Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence.

84 (tie). "Kraven the Hunter" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 15%

What seems to be the final film in Sony's ill-advised SSU (Sony's Spider-Man Universe) is "Kraven the Hunter," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular Kraven. In the film, Kraven works to free his brother Dmitri (Fred Hechinger) from the villainous Rhino (Alessandro Nivola).

"'Kraven the Hunter' is a terrible movie, but you almost feel sorry for it," wrote Peter Howell of The Toronto Star.

83. "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 18%

Nicolas Cage returns as stuntman-turned-flaming-skeleton Johnny Blaze, who has been in hiding since the events of the first film. When he finds out that the devil himself has fathered a child and is planning to raise him, he rides again as the demonic Ghost Rider in exchange for getting his soul back.

With the announcement of Ryan Gosling as the star of a new "Ghost Rider" film, this is officially the last appearance of Cage's bizarre (but fun!) turn as Johnny.

"Cage appears to find his role as this second-tier Marvel Comics antihero alternately silly, tremendously fun, and the means to a decent paycheck for not all that much work," wrote the Austin Chronicle's Marc Savlov.

82. "Dark Phoenix" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 22%

Sophie Turner plays Jean Grey, who begins to lose control of her psychic abilities, unleashing what's called the "Phoenix Force." The rest of her mutant teammates and some enemies assemble to try to help Jean control her powers, leading to tragedy.

As the recent D23 announcement confirmed a new version of the X-Men, this is the last we'll see of this version of the team of mutants, which is a shame, since it's such a bad final note.

"Outgunned on the action front by box-office rivals and too nervous to tell a more intimate story, 'Dark Phoenix' leaves the franchise running on empty," wrote Michael Hale of Sight & Sound.

81. "Men in Black: International" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 23%

Yes, the "Men in Black" franchise is based on the Malibu Comics run of the same name. Malibu was then acquired by Marvel in 1994.

The 2019 stand-alone sequel sees Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson take over for Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, playing two new agents, Agent H and Agent M, who are paired up in London to uncover a mole within the agency.

"For all its oddball aliens and fantastical technology, the most unbelievable thing about 'Men in Black: International' is just how thoroughly it wastes Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth," wrote Mashable's Angie Han.

79 (tie). "Blade: Trinity" (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

Until Mahershala Ali's "Blade" film is released (whenever that may be), Wesley Snipes will be the only big-screen version of Blade, a human-vampire hybrid who has dedicated himself to hunting vampires. In the last film of the trilogy, Blade, played by Wesley Snipes, teams up with two new vampire hunters (Ryan Reynolds' Hannibal King and Jessica Biel's Abigail Whistler) to defeat Dracula.

"This has all the appeal of reheated, congealed blood," wrote Time Out's Nigel Floyd.

79 (tie). "The Punisher" (1989)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%

Not long after "Howard the Duck," the next Marvel movie was released: "The Punisher." In it, Lundgren plays Frank Castle, a presumed-dead former detective whose family was blown up by a car bomb placed by the Mafia. However, Castle survived the bombing and has now dedicated his life to getting revenge on everyone involved.

This film never got a theatrical release in the US, but it was released internationally, thus qualifying it for this list.

Time Out's Suzi Feay called the film "destructive, reprehensible, and marvelous fun."

77 (tie). "Fantastic Four" (2005)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%

Years before he became Captain America, Chris Evans took on the role of Johnny Storm, better known as the Human Torch, in "Fantastic Four." He was joined by Jessica Alba as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing.

Instead of traveling to a parallel dimension, this version of the Fantastic Four's origin story sees them interact with a cosmic cloud in space, giving them their powers. But, like in the reboot, their primary nemesis is Doctor Doom, this time a former classmate of Reed and Sue's, played by Julian McMahon.

On the AV Club, Keith Phipps simply called the movie "A garish mediocrity."

77 (tie). "Ghost Rider" (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%

In "Ghost Rider," viewers watch as Cage's Johnny Blaze descends into hell as the literal devil's bounty hunter, a power he received after trading his soul to spare his father's life. Now, when he's around an evil spirit, he becomes the Ghost Rider, a flaming skull demon who rides a motorcycle. He gets into a race against the son of a demon to prevent him from unleashing hell on Earth.

"Nic Cage seems comfortable in the role of the flaming-skulled biker, but the plot holes are too deep even for his Herbie-like arachnid motorcycle to negotiate," wrote David Jenkins for Time Out.

76. "Punisher: War Zone" (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 29%

"War Zone" saw its titular role re-cast with Ray Stevenson, whose version of Frank is now five years into his career as the vigilante, The Punisher.

This time, Frank goes up against one of his most famous adversaries in the comics, Jigsaw (played by Dominic West), while evading the police, who have created a "Punisher Task Force" dedicated to bringing him in.

"You couldn't call it shoddy, exactly, and the actors take it painfully seriously; it's just dispiriting to see all this endeavor in the service of something so humorless and disgusting," wrote Andrew Pulver of The Guardian.

75. "The Punisher" (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 30%

"The Punisher" stars Thomas Jane as Frank Castle, a former FBI agent whose entire family is murdered after his cover is blown by the vengeful Saint crime family, the head of which is played by John Travolta. Frank then dedicates his entire existence to getting revenge on those who were involved in the death of his wife and children.

Nev Pierce of the BBC called it a "comic-book action movie with an unpleasant edge."

74. "Venom" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 31%

In "Venom," Tom Hardy plays journalist Eddie Brock, who loses his job, his fiancée (played by Michelle Williams), and his reputation after he steals confidential documents and confronts a powerful CEO, played by Riz Ahmed. Simultaneously, he is exposed to an alien symbiote who calls itself Venom, and the two bond together to protect the Earth.

"Not since 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' has a Marvel Comics adaptation centered on such a splendidly weird lead performance," wrote the Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs.

73. "Kick-Ass 2" (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%

"Kick-Ass" and its sequel are based on the series of the same name, which was initially published by the Marvel imprint Icon Comics. It has since moved to Image Comics, the third-largest comics brand behind Marvel and DC.

Specifically, "Kick-Ass 2" reunites viewers with the vigilante duo of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Dave Lizewski/Kick-Ass and Chloë Grace Moretz as Mindy Macready/Hit-Girl as they once again face off against Christopher Mintz-Plasse's Chris D'Amico, who has an NSFW alter ego.

"Although the film has the cheap veneer of female empowerment that comes from having a girl assassin, it is rotten with misogyny," Jenny McCartney for The Telegraph.

72. "The New Mutants" (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%

Now that Disney officially owns Fox, the next X-Men movie we get will likely be an entirely different continuity. For a franchise with high highs and low lows, it's just unfortunate that this was the last hurrah.

"New Mutants" stars Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga, and Adam Beach as a group of teenage mutants living in a hospital. They were all sent there after causing horrible accidents (or even deaths) with their powers, only to discover that things at the hospital are not what they seem.

"The concept behind 'The New Mutants' is a solid, intriguing one that could've reinvigorated the familiar origin superhero story. Instead, Boone opts for genericism, ending the 'X-Men' franchise with an angsty-teen whimper," wrote Meagan Navarro for Bloody Disgusting.

71. "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" (2009)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 37%

The 2009 film focuses on Logan, or Wolverine, as played by Hugh Jackman, and what his life was like before he became the X-Man that we knew and loved in the three previous movies. It follows him from the Civil War to the 1970s.

"'Wolverine' starts with a roar before sliding into a chaotic, preachy mess," wrote The Irish Times' Donald Clarke.

69 (tie). "Men in Black II" (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%

After the events of the first film, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) has retired and subsequently had his memory wiped of all things alien, but Agent J (Will Smith) drags him back into duty to confront their biggest threat yet.

"This is effective button-pushing sci-fi entertainment, but you won't need to be neuralized to forget it," wrote Andy Jacobs for the BBC.

69 (tie). "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%

The cast from the first film all return, joined by Doug Jones and Laurence Fishburne, who provide the physical form and voice, respectively, of the Silver Surfer, a herald from outer space who serves to warn a planet of its incoming destruction at the hands of the planet-killing Galactus.

"An off-brand superhero movie, the cinematic equivalent of one of those generic breakfast cereals with a badly drawn squirrel for a mascot," wrote Slate's Dana Stevens.

68. "Venom: The Last Dance" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 40%

"Venom: The Last Dance" is exactly what it sounds like: a trilogy-capping film. It stars Tom Hardy as both the human reporter Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote best frenemy, Venom. In "Last Dance," Eddie and Venom must make difficult decisions regarding their relationship and the safety of the planet.

"At least the film ends with a fittingly poignant/ridiculous tribute to the greatest love story ever told about a man and his symbiotic alien goo," wrote Indiewire's David Ehrlich.

67. "The King's Man" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%

"The King's Man" is based on the Icon Comics series "Kingsman" (originally titled "The Secret Service"). It tells the story of the very first members of the Kingsman, including Ralph Fiennes' Orlando Oxford, his son Conrad (played by Harris Dickinson), a maid/spy Polly (played by Gemma Arterton), a butler/spy Shola (played by Djimon Honsou), and more as they go up against Russian sorcerer Rasputin, as played by Rhys Ifans.

"It is downright diabolical for Vaughn to make audiences even imagine a sequel to this unnecessary prequel simply to see if can be as outlandish as promised," wrote the Los Angeles Times' Mark Olsen.

66. "Daredevil" (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%

Affleck plays Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with preternaturally sensitive senses and a healthy helping of Catholic guilt who decides to save Hell's Kitchen by becoming Daredevil, the Man Without Fear.

He's joined by Jennifer Garner as Elektra, an assassin with a heart, and Jon Favreau as Foggy Nelson, his best friend and fellow lawyer. They go up against the crime boss Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin, played by Michael Clarke Duncan, and the unstable assassin Bullseye, played by Colin Farrell.

Joe Morganstern of The Wall Street Journal wrote, "It isn't a great film, or even a greatly original one. Still, it has many grace notes, and interesting oddities."

64 (tie). "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

It's been a tough time for the MCU over the last couple of years, and "Quantumania" seems to be a nadir for the long-running franchise.

In this film, Ant-Man (or Scott Lang), played by Paul Rudd, travels to the microscopic Quantum Realm to save his daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), who was sucked in there by a mysterious device. Along for the ride are his girlfriend Hope/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), her mom Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), her dad Hank (Michael Douglas), and various other citizens of this new plane of existence.

Kyle Smith of The Wall Street Journal called it "another lackluster blockbuster."

64 (tie). "Captain America: Brave New World" (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

We may never know what, exactly, went wrong with "Brave New World," which follows the new Captain America, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as he goes up against President Thunderbolt Ross (Harrison Ford), who just so happens to turn into Red Hulk.

We do know, though, is that this movie was plagued by reshoots and was more than likely hacked to pieces in the editing room.

"If 'Brave New World' is a sign of things to come, then the MCU is in more trouble than we thought," wrote the Chicago Reader's Ben Kaye.

63. "X-Men: Apocalypse" (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%

"Apocalypse" is the ninth "X-Men" film overall, and the third installment in the prequel trilogy that stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult as younger versions of mutants from the original three films.

In "Apocalypse," the team must unite to defeat the world's first mutant, En Sabah Nur, or Apocalypse, as he tries to remake the world when he is awoken after thousands of years.

"This is one of the big dangers for the extended franchise model of filmmaking, that characters and series will be kept alive not because there's a story to tell, but because the franchise must be kept alive," wrote Peter Suderman for Vox.

62. "Eternals" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%

"Eternals," directed by the Oscar-winning Chloé Zhao, attempted to introduce an entirely new team of superheroes, an alien race called the Eternals, to the MCU and followed them from prehistoric times through the present day. Your mileage may vary on how successful she was, but "Eternals" did introduce Harry Styles to the MCU, so there's that.

"Zhao ultimately robs the artist's comic of its sweep by constantly turning a space opera into a repetitive character drama," wrote Ed Gonzalez for Slant Magazine.

61. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone reunite as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, and his doomed girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, in this over-stuffed sequel that sees Peter going up against Jamie Foxx's Electro, Dane DeHaan's Green Goblin, and Paul Giamatti's Rhino.

"Over-stuffed with plot and consequently struggles to invest the audience in any of it, since there's so much to get through and so many future films and spin-offs to set up," wrote The Atlantic's David Sims.

60. "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

"The Golden Circle" stars Taron Egerton once again as Eggsy, a newly minted member of the secret spy organization, the Kingsman. After many of its members are wiped out, Eggsy and his colleague Merlin (Mark Strong), travel to the US and meet their American equivalents, the Statesman.

David Edelstein simply wrote, "What a mess it is" in his review for Vulture.

59. "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%

"The Last Stand" is another interpretation of the "Dark Phoenix Saga," this time focusing on Famke Janssen's version of Jean Grey after she's resurrected following her death in "X2." Like the 2019 version of the story, Jean is unable to control her powers and kills people that she cares about until she is ultimately taken out by Logan.

"'The Last Stand' pretty much looks and plays like the first films, though perhaps with more noise and babe action and a little less glum," wrote Manohla Dargis for The New York Times.

58. "Blade II" (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%

"Blade II" might be a little tough to watch post-2020, as its plot focuses on a pandemic that turns vampires into Reapers, aka rabid vampires, but the additions of Ron Perlman and a young Norman Reedus are worth the watch. 

Plus, it was directed by horror visionary Guillermo del Toro, which means, at the very least, that it's never boring.

As the AV Club's Nathan Rabin wrote, "The world can always use another entertainingly trashy B-movie, and 'Blade II' fits the bill."

57. "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 58%

"Venom: Let There Be Carnage" is a lean, mean, killing machine. Ostensibly, the movie is about Venom and Eddie working together to defeat the serial killer Cletus Kasady, played by a dialed-in Woody Harrelson ... but, in actuality, it's a romantic comedy between Venom and Eddie trying to figure out how to live together in one body.

"A love story written in blood, sweat, and the slime of half-eaten brains," wrote The Independent's Clarisse Loughrey.

56. "Blade" (1998)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 59%

Wesley Snipes makes his debut as Blade, a vampire-human hybrid who has dedicated his life to hunting down vampires in the seedy underworld of his home city, using his unique advantages, like the ability to walk in the daylight.

"'Blade's' stomach-turning special effects, bone-crunching martial arts and cynical humor will more than satisfy any action-film addict's need for a fix of eye-popping escapist adrenaline," wrote the Washington Post's Michael O'Sullivan.

55. "Spider-Man 3" (2007)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 62%

"Spider-Man 3" made the mistake of trying to cram too many villains into one film, a mistake that "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" replicated a few years later. In the film, Peter, as played by Tobey Maguire, faces off against his best friend Harry Osborn (James Franco) as the new Green Goblin, Flint Marko/Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), and Eddie Brock (this time played by Topher Grace), aka Venom.

He also infamously dances down the streets of New York City with the most emo haircut of all time, which is later referenced in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" a decade later.

"Too many villains, too many pale plot strands, too many romantic misunderstandings, too many conversations, too many street crowds looking high into the air and shouting 'oooh!' this way, then swiveling and shouting aaah!' that way," wrote Roger Ebert.

53 (tie). "Hulk" (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 63%

Eric Bana took on the role of Marvel's not-so-jolly green giant in Ang Lee's version of "Hulk" in one of the most faithful comic-book movies, at least aesthetically speaking, even if the character's origin wasn't exactly the same as on the page. A supporting cast of Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, and Nick Nolte also elevates this movie.

"Where so many comic-book movies feel as disposable as Kleenex, the passionate, un-cynical 'Hulk' stamps itself into your memory. Lee's movies are built to last," wrote Newsweek's David Ansen.

53 (tie). "The Marvels" (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 63%

After saving the universe, Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) has once again left Earth to continue saving the rest of the galaxy — but when her powers get entangled with her best friend's daughter, Monica (Teyonah Parris), and a Captain Marvel superfan who has nicknamed herself Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani), she must return to her home planet to see what exactly is going on, and confront the mistakes of her past.

"It's silly and makes little sense, but it's such a fun time at the movies. And isn't that why we go to see movies in the first place?" wrote Kristen Lopez for The Wrap.

52. "Thor: Love and Thunder" (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%

The follow-up to smash hit "Thor: Ragnarok" and the first-ever fourth solo film for an MCU hero didn't live up to expectations, at least according to critics.

But we did get to see Natalie Portman return to the MCU as her version of the Mighty Thor, a couple of screaming goats, and a jaw-dropping post-credits cameo.

"Though Chris Hemsworth, as usual, has a lot of fun in the title role, the film around him too often strains to provide excitement and laughs," wrote Wall Street Journal's Kyle Smith.

50 (tie). "Men in Black 3" (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%

A decade after we last saw Agents J and K, viewers were once again treated to the comedic duo of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, but with a twist.

The film focuses on an alien who travels back in time to kill a young Agent K (Jones) in the 1960s, leading Agent J (Smith) to also travel back and team up with the young Agent K, played by Josh Brolin, to fix the future.

"The movie represents at least a partial return to form, not as inventive as the first, but surely better than the recycled materials that made up the second," wrote The Atlantic's Christopher Orr.

50 (tie). "Thor: The Dark World" (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 67%

"Thor: The Dark World," the 2013 sequel to the 2011 film, stars Chris Hemsworth as the titular Norse god, Tom Hiddleston as his mischievous brother Loki, and Natalie Portman as Thor's Earth-bound love interest Jane Foster. It wasn't as well-received as its predecessor, but it has its defenders.

"This feels like a really, really, expensive episode of 'Doctor Who.' In a good way," wrote Larushka Ivan-Zadeh for Metro.

49. "The Incredible Hulk" (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 68%

Edward Norton took over for Eric Bana in "The Incredible Hulk," which was plagued with rumors of behind-the-scenes drama, including that Norton rewrote much of the movie while it was shooting, and that there were many clashes between Norton, director Louis Leterrier, and Marvel Studios.

Those dueling visions led to a moderately received comic-book film.

"The climax is a bit of a yawn, but most of what precedes it is vigorous and sharp," wrote Tom Charity of CNN.

48. "The Wolverine" (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 70%

"The Wolverine" separates Hugh Jackman's Wolverine from the rest of the X-Men for his own little side quest in Japan. In it, he wrestles with the consequences of his actions (aka killing Jean Grey in "X-Men: The Last Stand") and with his "curse" of immortality.

"Director James Mangold's film features some breathtakingly suspenseful action sequences, exquisite production and costume design and colorful characters, some of whom register more powerfully than others," wrote Christy Lemire for RogerEbert.com.

47. "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 71%

Released just five years after Tobey Maguire hung up his spider-suit in 2007, "The Amazing Spider-Man" had its work cut out for it. And, largely, the movie succeeds at introducing a new take on our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and his second-most iconic love interest, Gwen Stacy (played by a luminous Emma Stone), while attempting to introduce new lore regarding Peter's parents' disappearance.

"The casting is just right. As if moving back in time, Andrew Garfield is the Spidey Sean Connery, as opposed to Tobey Maguire's Roger Moore," wrote The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw.

46. "Iron Man 2" (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%

In retrospect, "Iron Man 2" had an impossible job: to build upon what is still regarded as one of the finest superhero films of all time.

Perhaps that's why critics weren't too kind to "Iron Man 2," which focused on Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, being rude to everyone around him while covering up his impending death. Oh, and Mickey Rourke is there playing Whiplash, a Russian villain who loves his bird.

"Casting the likes of Downey and Rourke and then imprisoning them in jointed refrigerators is resource-squandering of the highest order," wrote Dana Stevens for Slate.

45. "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%

After the events of the Disney+ miniseries "WandaVision," Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff has been taken over by the dark forces of the Scarlet Witch, putting her on a collision course with Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Stephen Strange as he works to protect a new teenage friend, America Chavez (played by Xochitl Gomez), from Wanda's plans.

"It might be Marvel's multiverse, but 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' is [director Sam] Raimi's plaything. And we wouldn't want it any other way," wrote Kristy Puchko for Mashable.

43 (tie). "Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

"Kingsman," based on the Icon Comics run of the same name, is a far bloodier and funnier movie than anything viewers have seen from a comic book movie in some time. Taron Egerton stars as Eggsy, a petty criminal and Royal Marines dropout who is turned into a super-spy with the help of his mentor, Harry, played by Colin Firth.

"On Day One of filming, they must have thrown away the moral compass and taken a group vow to splatter our sensibilities with stylish, gratuitous violence and one 'Wait, what?!' moment after another," wrote Richard Roeper for the Chicago Sun-Times.

43 (tie). "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 75%

The Avengers team up once again in "Age of Ultron" to take down the nihilistic AI known as Ultron, designed as a "suit of armor around the world" by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, aka Iron Man and the Hulk, who is hell-bent on destroying the planet at all costs.

"The sharp, interpersonal dramedy that made the first movie such a delight is again present in flashes, but not infrequently it is drowned out by the noisy, inevitable need to Save the World," wrote Christopher Orr for The Atlantic.

41 (tie). "Thor" (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%

Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston were both essentially unknowns when they were cast as Norse gods Thor and Loki (as evidenced by their casting announcement in Deadline), and this movie catapulted them both to the A-list almost immediately.

Both Hemsworth and Hiddleston still have a future with the MCU in 2026 — both have been announced as part of the cast of "Avengers: Doomsday." Seeing their chemistry as brothers in this first film explains why we still love them, 15 years later.

"The new Marvel Comics movie 'Thor,' directed by Kenneth Branagh, is equal parts trippy, tacky, and monumental, the blend surprisingly agreeable, a happy change from all those aggressively down-to-earth superhero flicks like 'Iron Man,'" wrote David Edelstein for Vulture.

41 (tie). "Deadpool & Wolverine" (2024)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 77%

"Deadpool & Wolverine" was released on July 26, 2024. Eleven days later, it had made $852 million worldwide, out-grossing the $782 million of the first film and the $785 million of the second film, according to Box Office Mojo. It eventually topped out at $1.3 billion.

Besides being a team-up between Deadpool, the Merc with a Mouth, and Wolverine, the best-known X-Man by a mile, "Deadpool & Wolverine" is a love letter to the 20th Century Fox era of superhero films, with cameos from Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes, Chris Evans (as Johnny Storm!), Dafne Keen, and more.

"Dotted in among the quips and Easter eggs is the superhero equivalent of 'Toy Story 2,' a mournful goodbye to the things we once held dear, even if some of those things weren't that great to begin with," wrote Slate's Sam Adams.

40. "Kick-Ass" (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 78%

Some of our current beloved antiheroes predate this Icon Comics character, but without the on-screen success of "Kick-Ass," it's hard to tell when those adaptations would've come to pass.

"Kick-Ass" stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson — who suited up for his third comic-book movie as Kraven the Hunter in 2024 — as Dave Lizewski, a normal teenager and comics super-fan who decides to become a vigilante called Kick-Ass. He inspires a movement and teams up with other vigilantes like Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) to take down organized crime.

"Everything you've likely heard about 'Kick-Ass' is true, providing you've heard it's profane, outlandish, ultra-violent, shocking, funny and wildly entertaining," wrote Tom Long of The Detroit News.

37 (tie). "Iron Man 3" (2013)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%

"Iron Man 3" focuses on Tony Stark dealing with his PTSD after the events of "Avengers," like his near-death experience flying a nuclear bomb through a wormhole in space. But the big twist of this movie, the bait-and-switch identity of the Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley, remains this movie's biggest legacy.

"A thrilling film and a somewhat satisfying conclusion to the 'Iron Man' trilogy," wrote Nicolás Delgadillo for Discussing Film.

37 (tie). "Captain Marvel" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%

Brie Larson stars as Carol Danvers, a former US Air Force pilot who is exposed to a blast of cosmic energy in the '90s, experiences memory loss, and is taken in by an alien race called the Kree. As Carol tries to remember her past, she's introduced to a young(er) SHIELD agent, a digitally de-aged Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

"The main strength is a core of female friendship: Carol Danvers is the only Marvel hero you could imagine getting hammered and belting out songs by No Doubt," wrote The Observer's Wendy Ide.

37 (tie). "Black Widow" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 79%

Set between the events of "Captain America: Civil War" and "Avengers: Infinity War," and exactly a decade after her introduction as Natasha Romanoff in "Iron Man 2," Scarlett Johansson finally stars in her own solo film with "Black Widow."

The film also introduced actors Florence Pugh and David Harbour to the MCU, and we're so happy to continue seeing them on screen.

"In all the ways that matter to an MCU fan, 'Black Widow' the film meets or exceeds all expectations. It is a killer action flick, and a unique viewing experience... in that I loved it, and the fact that I loved it also makes me livid," wrote Salon's Melanie McFarland.

36. "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

Simply put, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is the role that Chris Evans was born to play. Audiences see Evans first as a digitally altered scrawny kid from Brooklyn who, against all odds, is chosen to receive a "super soldier serum" and become Captain America due to his pure heart. With anyone else, it'd be unbearably cheesy, but Evans sells it.

"No clever messages here, just bang-on romance and action, with another fresh twist on 20th-century history woven in for the kids to dive into after the credits have rolled," wrote Ed Gibbs for The Sydney Morning Herald.

34 (tie). "X-Men" (2000)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

"X-Men" gave us Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Halle Berry as Storm, Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, James Marsden as Cyclops, Anna Paquin as Rogue, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique ... the list goes on.

While the film is a pretty straightforward origin story/team-up film, the action set the template for what the next 20-plus years of movies would look like.

"The 'X-Men' comic books have spawned a cottage industry of mutant characters, and the movie helps make sense of these legions while offering the established fan base something new to cheer," wrote Jami Bernard for the New York Daily News.

34 (tie). "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 82%

After the galaxy-saving stakes of the first two "Guardians" films, it was refreshing to watch our favorite rag-tag group of heroes come together to just save one of their friends, Rocket (Bradley Cooper), after he was gravely injured by a new threat, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter).

Of course, the film also deals with Peter/Star-Lord's (Chris Pratt) trauma of having to see a new version of his dead ex-girlfriend Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) — a sentence that only makes sense if you've seen "Infinity War" and "Endgame" — but if this is the last we see of our nice space friends, it was a great run.

"Now that nearly every other cinematic release reads like a holding pattern until they finally get around to mutants, 'Guardians Vol. 3' is the first sign in a while that Marvel might actually have some genuine enjoyment left in the tank," wrote Jackson Weaver for CBC News.

32 (tie). "Ant-Man" (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

Rudd plays Scott Lang, a white-collar criminal who is enlisted to take on the mantle of Ant-Man, a shrinking superhero who used to be Michael Douglas' Hank Pym.

But, as Pym is too old to suit up, he and his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) teach Lang how to control ants, shrink and grow at will, and later break into Pym's lab to take down Darren Cross (Corey Stoll).

"Paul Rudd stars in a formulaic but consistently entertaining and likable Marvel summer blockbuster," wrote NME's Nick Levine.

32 (tie). "Deadpool 2" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%

"Deadpool 2" expanded the universe of Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, a mutant mercenary who has a tendency to break the fourth wall. In addition to bringing back Teenage Negasonic Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Colossus (Stefan Kapičić), and Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), "Deadpool 2" adds Josh Brolin as Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino, two welcome additions.

In "Deadpool 2," Deadpool teams up with an X-Force (of sorts) to find young Russell Collins, a mutant with fire capabilities, who is the target of the time-traveling assassin Cable, who wants to kill Russell as a teen before he becomes a serial killer in the future.

"'Deadpool 2' goes bigger than the first, but the shockingly touching family theme pulls all of the new characters and big set pieces together well. Another wild, hilarious ride for the character with just enough honesty and heart," said Perri Nemiroff in a Collider video review.

31. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%

After the tragic (and unexpected) death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020, the highly anticipated "Black Panther" sequel was rewritten to be a story of grief and mourning, while also setting up the future of Wakanda in the MCU for years to come.

Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright, and Winston Duke all put in stellar performances, while Tenoch Huerta introduced viewers to the underwater king Namor with a bang.

"A thoughtful and mature exploration of communal grief in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Chadwick Boseman," wrote Chicago Reader's Sheri Flanders.

27 (tie). "X2: X-Men United" (2003)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

The whole gang reunited in 2003 for "X2," which sees the X-Men go up against Brian Cox's William Stryker, an anti-mutant military scientist who is planning to commit genocide against all mutants.

"'X2' is pretty much all that you'd ever want out of a comic book movie. It's smart, it's breathlessly paced, the characters have at least 2 1/2 dimensions, and the action sequences are jaw-droppers, even on the small screen," wrote The Advocate's Alonso Duralde.

27 (tie). "Deadpool" (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

After playing Deadpool in the 2009 "X-Men" spin-off "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," Reynolds was determined to do the character justice in his own film with a completely redesigned version of him.

Seven years later, Reynolds starred in "Deadpool," which tells the story of mercenary Wade Wilson, who embarks on a journey to cure himself of terminal cancer with some unintended consequences, like when he becomes immortal and scarred across his entire body.

"'Deadpool' is obnoxious and puerile and infantile and has an irritating meta tone so snide that it's constantly in danger of nullifying the entire movie, and I still got a pretty big kick out of it," wrote Will Leitch in The New Republic.

27 (tie). "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

"GOTG Vol. 2" delves into the true parentage of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, as played by Chris Pratt. In addition to the rest of the stellar returning cast, Kurt Russell was added to play Peter's biological father, Ego the Living Planet, and Pom Klementieff joined the team as the empathic alien, Mantis.

"In Marvel lingo, 'Guardians 2' feels like a great six-issue arc, the kind of storytelling that used to be the backbone of superhero comics," wrote The Atlantic's David Sims.

27 (tie). "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%

"Avengers: Infinity War" is the first part of the culmination of the first 10 years of the MCU, which concluded one year later in "Avengers: Endgame."

"Infinity War" follows Thanos, an alien who is dedicated to erasing half of the universe's population, as he scours space for the six Infinity Stones. Meanwhile, the Avengers stop at nothing to prevent him from getting all six with disastrous consequences.

"The conclusion of 'Infinity War' is so shocking because it doesn't feel like a cliffhanger, more like a drastic wiping clean of the slate before the whole cycle starts again, with whatever reversal of fortune or comprehensive reboot it may be," wrote Film Comment Magazine's Jonathan Romney.

25 (tie). "X-Men: First Class" (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

"First Class" will go down in history as the film that introduced audiences to young Professor X and Magneto, played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, respectively.

The film takes place in the '60s, as a young Magneto tracks down the Nazi scientist who killed his mother, and a young Professor X has yet to be confined to his wheelchair.

"For reasons arising from the way the 'X-Men' film franchise has developed, this is the first Marvel movie set in the period when the characters were created, and thus able to embrace the Rat Pack cool that was part of their original charm," wrote Kim Newman of Sight & Sound.

25 (tie). "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%

Third time seems to be the charm with Marvel's First Family, as the MCU's version of the Fantastic Four has been the most popular with critics by a mile.

This interpretation of the team stars Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing. In this story, our heroes go up against Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds (Ralph Ineson), and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

"It's probably not easy to make a good 'Fantastic Four' movie. The newest version has enough actor-based charm to distract from its jankiest effects, plus a damn cool Silver Surfer," wrote The AV Club's Jesse Hassenger.

24. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 87%

By adding the Wasp to the title of the film, Evangeline Lilly is the true first woman to play a titular superhero in the MCU, though she still shares top-billing with Paul Rudd as Ant-Man.

In "Ant-Man and the Wasp," the two insect-themed heroes reunite to rescue Hope's mom, played by the radiant Michelle Pfeiffer, from the mysterious quantum realm after an accident decades prior.

"Its intent is limited to amusing and diverting for a couple of hours of high-summer fun. That it does," wrote Matthew Norman of the London Evening Standard.

23. "Thunderbolts*" (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%

The Thunderbolts (or should we call them the New Avengers?) are a ragtag team of antiheroes and rejects — but we love them anyway, right? With standout performances from Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Sebastian Stan, and Lewis Pullman, it only took us one movie to get invested in these losers.

A plot that hinges on conquering depression and loneliness, instead of a giant beam in the sky, also helps this movie stand out from the crowd.

"'To my shock, 'Thunderbolts*' is the best thing Marvel has put out in ages — a well-acted piece of popcorn entertainment that balances zippy humor with actual depth. Is it a cinematic masterpiece? No. Will it restore your faith in the franchise? Maybe yes," wrote Esther Zuckerman for Bloomberg News.

22. "Doctor Strange" (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%

Cumberbatch joined the MCU to play Dr. Stephen Strange, a hot-shot surgeon who loses the use of his hands after a brutal car crash and seeks out sorcerers who can help him regain his strength.

As Richard Bailey wrote in The New Yorker, the film "lives up to its title, in mostly good ways."

16 (tie). "Spider-Man" (2002)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

For a generation of movie fans, Tobey Maguire will forever be their Spider-Man, and director Sam Raimi's trilogy, beginning with 2002's "Spider-Man," will always be the best on-screen representation of the most famous wall-crawler in movie history.

"Spider-Man" stars, as previously said, Maguire as Peter Parker, and he's supported by an all-star cast of Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris, and more. The story watches Peter go from a gawky teenager to the super-powered, spandex-clad Spider-Man as he faces off against the Green Goblin (Dafoe), who is determined to take away everything that matters to Peter.

"At its best, 'Spider-Man' takes the adolescent yearning at the heart of most superhero sagas and gives it a lovely swing. The script, by David Koepp, isn't inspired, but it keeps the emotional beats clean, and director Sam Raimi treats his hero tenderly: He gives him space to watch and think as well as act," wrote Slate's David Edelstein.

16 (tie). "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

If "Captain America: The First Avenger" was Marvel's take on a WWII drama, "Winter Soldier" is the MCU's version of a tense, political thriller as Cap uncovers multiple layers of conspiracy within the US government, and must go on the run from his presumed-dead best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), now brain-washed into the murderous assassin the Winter Soldier.

"'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' delivers the superhero movie goods, but it does so with a grin and a wink, and that seems more and more like the right way to approach these things," wrote Jason Bailey for Flavorwire.

16 (tie). "X-Men: Days of Future Past" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

"Days of Future Past" reunites the original "X-Men" cast from the first three movies with the younger versions of themselves introduced in "First Class" by taking Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and sending him back in time to prevent a great tragedy in the present day.

"A pleasingly coherent, plot-driven action movie, positively streamlined by the standards of today's superhero blockbusters," wrote The Independent's Laurence Phelan.

16 (tie). "Big Hero 6" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Yes, "Big Hero 6" is based on the Marvel team of the same name, which began in the late '90s. When Disney purchased Marvel in 2009, it was only a matter of time before the House of Mouse merged their two powerhouses, animation and Marvel.

And, with the success of "Big Hero 6," there's a strong argument for more Disney Animation comic-book movies. This one focuses on Hiro Hamada, a teenage robotics prodigy living in San Fransokyo.

After the death of his older brother Tadashi, Hiro connects with Tadashi's invention, a healthcare robot named Baymax, to save the city, along with Tadashi's friends Fred, Go Go, Wasabi, and Honey Lemon.

"An origins story ripe with innocence and loss, this anime-inflected treat harks back to Disney's big-hearted heritage even as it looks forward towards new worlds of innovation," wrote The Observer's Mark Kermode.

16 (tie). "Captain America: Civil War" (2016)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

Essentially an "Avengers" movie, "Captain America: Civil War" sees Captain America team up with his friends Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) to save his friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) from getting wrongfully convicted for a bombing at the United Nations.

Cap goes up against Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Vision (Paul Bettany), and War Machine (Don Cheadle) to save his friend.

Of course, this movie is also famous for introducing Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, aka Black Panther, and Tom Holland as the MCU's version of Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man.

"It is one of the best movies to ever come out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, balancing engaging action set pieces and witty dialogue with intelligent character studies and ethical debates," wrote Salon's Matthew Rozsa.

16 (tie). "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (2026)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%

The fourth installment in Tom Holland's "Spider-Man" saga was a huge hit with both fans and critics. So far, it's made over $2 billion at the box office — only the seventh movie in history to do so— and has a high critics' score.

The film picks up with Peter after he convinces Doctor Strange to cast a spell that makes everyone forget who he is. Now, he's fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man, while dealing with a new, shall we say, mutation that's causing him to lose control of his powers.

"Beneath the MCU obligations and superhero spectacle lies something surprisingly heartfelt: a Spider-Man movie about loneliness and the struggle to be an adult," said Adam Kempenaar on his podcast, "Filmspotting."

12 (tie). "Men in Black" (1997)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

"Men in Black" follows Will Smith as James Edwards, an NYPD officer who becomes convinced that aliens are real, leading him to join the Men in Black, a secret government organization dedicated to monitoring and protecting alien refugees that live on Earth. He's partnered with Agent K, played by Tommy Lee Jones.

It's a loose adaptation of the Malibu comic series of the same name.

"'Men in Black' is the wryest, sharpest, most entertaining special effects film in recent memory, a simultaneous participant and mocking parody of the more-bang-for-your-buck behemoth genre," wrote CNN's Paul Tatara.

12 (tie). "The Avengers" (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

After four years of teasing out the six main Avengers (Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hawkeye, and Hulk), they all met up on the big screen for the first time in "The Avengers."

Under the watchful eye of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, viewers saw Earth's mightiest heroes team up for the first time to take out Thor's brother Loki as he attempted to conquer the world on behalf of a mysterious purple alien.

"A mega-budget action extravaganza that succeeds on just about every level, and it's one you should certainly go and see as soon as possible," wrote Luke Holland for NME.

12 (tie). "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

At the time, it was a huge swing for Marvel to entrust writer/director James Gunn with bringing one of the lesser-known superhero teams into the MCU. But, as we know, it was one of the smartest gambles Marvel ever made.

"Guardians," led by the ever-charming Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, combines hilarious jokes with a genuinely sweet story about found family: In this case, Peter finds Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Rocket the Raccoon (Bradley Cooper).

"Blessed with a loose, anarchic B-picture soul that encourages you to enjoy yourself even when you're not quite sure what's going on, the scruffy 'Guardians' is irreverent in a way that can bring the first 'Star Wars' to mind," wrote Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times.

12 (tie). "Spider-Man: Far From Home" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%

Picking up a few months after the events of "Avengers: Endgame," Peter Parker/Spider-Man must figure out how to balance his life as a web-slinging superhero and a simple teenager with a crush on his friend MJ, played by a delightful Zendaya.

Add in a truly unhinged Jake Gyllenhaal performance as Quentin Beck/Mysterio, and you have the makings of a solid Spidey film.

"The stakes this time turn out to be considerably lower, and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Teen is arguably just the guy to bring things down to Earth and reestablish a human scale," said NPR's Bob Mondello.

10 (tie). "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

Simu Liu tweeted Marvel back in 2018 asking if they were "gonna talk or what #ShangChi." Three years later, Liu debuted as Shang-Chi in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."

In it, Shang-Chi comes to accept his past as a member of his father's (played by the always wonderful Tony Leung) criminal organization, the Ten Rings, while protecting his mother's village from the attacks of a demon known as the Dweller-in-Darkness.

"It's a good movie. It's got a plausibly fearsome villain by way of Leung, a nice ensemble of heroic personalities, and a dose of actually-poignant family drama undergirding all the rest," wrote K. Austin Collins for Rolling Stone.

10 (tie). "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" was the third reboot of Spider-Man in 15 years, but somehow, once again, the powers that be managed to find a third actor who was just as qualified as his predecessors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield to bring Spidey to life.

After his introduction in "Civil War," "Homecoming" focuses on Peter Parker's sweet bond with Tony Stark/Iron Man, and his realization that being a hero is about more than a cool suit.

"The youthful vibe of this character reset, with its sense of humor and its light touch, makes 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' one of the most enjoyable Marvel movies in years," wrote Chesapeake Family Magazine's Roxana Hadadi.

6 (tie). "Spider-Man 2" (2004)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

For many years, "Spider-Man 2" was considered, at least by critics, to be the best Spider-Man movie. From the iconic subway fight against Alfred Molina's Doc Ock to the tear-jerking hero speech by Aunt May to an almost exact replication of one of Spider-Man's most iconic comic panels, "Spider-Man 2" remains genuinely enjoyable, even 21 years later.

"It's unusual and gratifying to find a multimillion-dollar movie that's been put together with some thoughtfulness, that doesn't neglect subtlety in between delivering the smash-bang-wallop," wrote Anthony Quinn of The Independent.

6 (tie). "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

"Ragnarok" was one of the most impressive feats in MCU history. After all, two "Thor" movies are among some of the lowest-rated MCU movies, while "Ragnarok" is in the top 10 of all Marvel movies, period.

This comes down to director Taika Waititi, who was able to infuse his signature style and tone into the MCU in this cosmic adventure that's also a straight-up comedy, following Thor on his journey to prevent the destruction of his home world, Asgard.

"Beautifully filmed with serious kinetic energy by director Taika Waititi, with a crackling script, 'Thor: Ragnarok' is a heap of fun. Cue 'Immigrant Song,'" wrote Kristen Lopez for Culturess.

6 (tie). "Logan" (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

At this point, you've probably heard that "Logan" is more of a Western than a traditional superhero movie, which is correct.

"Logan" follows a beaten-down Logan whose powers are leaving him, all his friends are dead or dying, and he's living in secret as a limo driver. But when a mysterious young mutant with powers like his shows up, he musters his strength one last time to help her escape.

This was supposed to be Hugh Jackman's last hurrah as Wolverine, but you might have heard of a little movie called "Deadpool & Wolverine," which made Jackman change his tune.

"Make no mistake, 'Logan' earns its tears. If Jackman and Stewart are serious about this being their mutual 'X-Men' swan song, they could not have crafted a more heartfelt valedictory," wrote Rolling Stone's Peter Travers.

6 (tie). "Spider-Man: No Way Home" (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" now has the distinction of sharing the third-best Spider-Man movie crown with "Spider-Man 2" (more on the top Spidey films later). But "No Way Home's" charms are impossible to deny, even if the plot has more holes than Swiss cheese.

For Marvel movie fans, it's hard to imagine something more satisfying than seeing Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire together on screen, discussing their rogues' galleries, Tobey's weird web situation, or how with great power comes great responsibility.

"Throughout all of it, the weird and complex history of Spider-Man as a cinematic icon isn't a hindrance to the story; instead, it's an enhancement, using the quirks of the character's legacy as a source of illumination into why he has endured so long," wrote Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence.

4 (tie). "Iron Man" (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

The reason that pop culture is what it is today can be boiled down to the mega-success of this movie, which set up an entire cinematic universe, revived Robert Downey Jr.'s career and boosted director Jon Favreau's status so high that he's now basically one of the auteurs of the entire "Star Wars" universe.

But this film is simple: Billionaire weapons manufacturer Tony Stark (Downey) is kidnapped by a group of terrorists, which leads him to discover his weapons are landing in the wrong hands. So, he builds a suit of armor and becomes a superhero.

"Led by Downey's career-resurrecting performance as billionaire weapons peddler Tony Stark, it proves just as indispensable to the movie's giddy escapist appeal as the seamless CGI effects and eye-popping pyrotechnics," wrote Craig Outhier of the Orange County Register.

4 (tie). "Avengers: Endgame" (2019)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%

"Endgame," as a movie, is a magic trick. Somehow, this movie crams in 11 years of MCU storytelling and every major character from all of the films, and travels back in time to essentially walk through the universe's greatest hits, has real stakes, and makes a three-hour movie fly by.

When the Avengers decide to try to undo Thanos' universe-shattering snap, the original crew from the 2012 movie (with a few notable additions like Karen Gillan's Nebula, Paul Rudd's Ant-Man, and Don Cheadle's War Machine), travel through Marvel history to find the Infinity Stones.

"Eleven years of Universe building, and this is the crescendo. It really pays off, I've never seen anything quite like it," said James Luxford on the BBC.

3. "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 95%

"Across the Spider-Verse," the sequel to "Into the Spider-Verse," takes the story of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and levels it up in every way.

Now, Miles is up against not just an extra-dimensional villain known as the Spot (voiced hilariously by Jason Schwartzman), but also an entire society of spider-people, including his old friends Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), as they are told by Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac) that Miles isn't even meant to exist.

"'Across The Spider-Verse' truly explodes the idea of what a comic book movie can be. This is thanks to the boundlessly exuberant and adventurous way it both constructs and captures its world(s) during this jaunt through the multiverse," wrote Uproxx's Jason Tabrys.

2. "Black Panther" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%

After Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020, was introduced in "Captain America: Civil War" as Black Panther, fans were waiting with bated breath for his solo film, and they weren't disappointed.

"Black Panther" is a riveting story in which the "villain" (a supremely cast Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger) has a compelling point and even gets the hero, T'Challa, to change his mind.

Supported by all-stars like Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, and Sterling K. Brown, along with newer finds like Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, "Black Panther" is special.

To date, it's the only Marvel movie to be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards.

"'Black Panther' is a revelation, the first film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that truly feels like an of-the-moment masterwork that also happens to be a comic-book movie," wrote Roxana Hadadi of Chesapeake Family Magazine.

1. "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%

"Into the Spider-Verse," which took home best animated feature at the 2019 Oscars, is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. Spider-Men (and -Women!) travel from all over the multiverse to help teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) grow into his own as his universe's new Spider-Man.

It proves you don't have to be Peter Parker to be Spider-Man, anyone can wear the mask, as Miles says. The coming two-part sequel has a lot of hype to live up to, but we'll always have the greatness of "Into the Spider-Verse" to fall back on.

"Maintaining a breathless pace, the filmmakers pile up sci-fi conceits, one-liners, and a melange of animation styles; as opposed to lots of other comic book adaptations, this actually captures the sensation of getting absorbed in a comic book," wrote the Chicago Reader's Ben Sachs.

• Concorde, the first and only supersonic commercial jetliner, operated from 1976 to 2003.
• Flown by royals, celebrities, and executives, it was discontinued because of high operating costs.
• A Concorde plane is open for public tours at the Intrepid Museum in New York City.

Supersonic passenger air travel is a thing of the past, but you can still tour the plane that made it possible.

In 1962, the governments of Britain and France signed the Anglo-French Agreement, pooling their money and resources to develop a supersonic commercial jet. The name "Concorde" was chosen because it means unity or harmony in both English and French.

The first test flight was conducted in 1969, and Concorde flew commercially for the first time in 1976.

Concorde's ability to cross oceans at twice the speed of sound attracted high-profile passengers, including celebrities, business executives, and members of the royal family. But its high operating costs and a deadly crash led to its retirement in 2003.

Modern aviation startups are working to revive supersonic passenger air travel with new technology, but they also face challenges around economic viability and safety.

Since Concorde jets are no longer operational, the planes have become museum pieces, providing visitors with a taste of the luxurious flight experiences they once provided.

In May 2024, I toured a Concorde jet at the Intrepid Museum in New York City. The sea, air, and space museum is housed on a 900-foot-long aircraft carrier. Take a look inside.

The last Concorde flight took off in 2003, and the Intrepid Museum added one of the jets to its collection that same year.

A total of 20 Concorde planes were built, and 14 flew commercially through British Airways and Air France, with most routes flying between New York City and London and New York City and Paris. Concorde's supersonic speed caused loud sonic booms upon breaking the sound barrier, which limited its routes to those above water.

Concordes were ultimately discontinued because of high operating costs and safety concerns. British Airways spent about £1 billion a year on its fleet of Concorde jets, which proved unsustainable, according to the Intrepid Museum.

In 2000, a Concorde flying from Paris to New York burst into flames and crashed shortly after takeoff when a blown tire ruptured the plane's fuel tanks, killing 113 people. All Concordes were grounded for a year and rebuilt with stronger fuel tanks, but the business never recovered, contributing to Concorde's retirement.

Concorde's record flight time from New York City to London was 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 59 seconds, making it a popular choice for frequent travelers.

Celebrity passengers included Queen Elizabeth II, Christie Brinkley, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, and the British oil executive Fred Finn.

Touring Concorde's cabin at the Intrepid Museum requires a separate timed reservation.

Regular admission to the Intrepid Museum costs $38 per adult, and the Concorde tour costs an additional $15. Tickets can be purchased on the Intrepid Museum's website.

I didn't realize that Concorde tickets were sold with timed admission for tours every 30 minutes, so I missed my slot while exploring the USS Growler, the only nuclear-missile submarine in the US open to the public. A manager was able to rebook me on the next Concorde tour at the museum's box office.

Boarding the plane at the Intrepid Museum felt just like boarding a regular flight, except without the noise of a busy tarmac or jet engine.

Before boarding, Concorde passengers would relax in a special Concorde lounge with an open buffet.

The overhead bin space on the Concorde looked standard to me.

Concorde passengers would drop their luggage off in the Concorde lounge.

On the tour, I got to sit in Concorde class, which was a tier above first class.

At 204 feet long and with a fuselage that was 9 feet 5 inches wide, Concorde planes held up to 100 passengers, though full flights were rare. For comparison, a Boeing 737-700 measures just more than 110 feet long with a 12-foot-4-inch-wide fuselage and seats 149 passengers, according to Boeing.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, tickets cost up to $12,000 round-trip, which would equal about $20,000 today when adjusted for inflation.

Queen Elizabeth always sat in seat 1A.

As the window seat in the first row, 1A was one of the most private seats on the plane.

My seat felt more like a comfortable armchair than a plane seat.

The seats used on the tour were covered in plastic to help preserve the luxurious leather.

Concorde's cruising speed was Mach 2, or about 1,350 mph.

Each of the Concorde's four engines featured 38,000 pounds of thrust and could take the plane from zero to 250 mph in under 30 seconds, our guide said.

The Concorde's windows were smaller than other aircraft to prevent them from cracking under the pressure of the plane's supersonic speed.

I was surprised by how small the windows were compared with the windows on commercial flights I'm used to.

Our tour guide passed around scans of Concorde artifacts, such as a ticket from 1997.

Dolores Peterson paid $6,703.04 for an Air France Concorde flight from New York to Paris in 1997.

The guide also shared a 1976 refueling sheet showing how much fuel a Concorde plane used, contributing to its exorbitant costs.

"Upon takeoff, this plane weighs about 408,000 pounds. More than half of that, 209,000, is in fuel alone," our guide said. "It burns about 2 tons of fuel, about 1,800 kilos, just taxiing. It's an extremely thirsty bird."

After the short presentation concluded, we were free to wander the cabin.

Concorde's logo was displayed near the door of the plane.

A set of custom Concorde china dishes was on display — no plastic cutlery here.

Food was prepared by a gourmet chef. Seasonal menus included beef Wellington, venison, and quail with wine pairings chosen by a sommelier.

The lavatory looked like a standard airplane bathroom with a bit more space and a few extra amenities.

The bathroom was decorated with faux-marble finishes and extra toiletries.

For me, the highlight was peeking inside the flight deck once occupied by a captain, a first officer, and a flight engineer.

Before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Concorde passengers could mingle with the pilot and crew in the cockpit as part of the exclusive flight experience.

The flight engineer sat in the seat on the right in front of the large instrument panel.

The flight engineer was responsible for every system on the plane, including fuel management and landing gear, and had the most extensive training of any crew member.

"He's forgotten more about Concorde than most people will ever know," our tour guide said of flight engineers.

After my tour of the Concorde concluded, I climbed higher on the USS Intrepid to get a better view of the historic aircraft.

While many contemporary celebrities and executives opt to fly on private jets, Concorde offered record-setting flights across the ocean at twice the speed of sound, seemingly making it worth their while.

• Some states, like Florida, California, and Hawaii, are known for their beautiful beaches.
• Others have lesser-known but equally breathtaking beaches, including Michigan and New Hampshire.
• If you're looking for a beach getaway before summer is over, check out some of these options.

Temperatures are high, everyone's tanned or out of town, and the end of summer is knocking at our door: If you haven't gone to a white-sand beach yet, it's about time you do.

If a big all-inclusive trip to the Caribbean or a European getaway just isn't in your cards this summer — as they aren't for many US travelers this year — it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a sunny beach day while the summer lasts.

More than half of the US states lie on at least one of the country's coasts, with domestic spots featuring all kinds of coastal sights, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and even the Great Lakes, which offer ample seascapes.

While beaches in Florida and California attract tourists from across the world, many other states are home to shores with stunning views, offering ample opportunities for waterfront relaxation.

Here are some of the prettiest beaches in the US.

Sand Beach in Acadia National Park in Maine

Sand Beach in Maine doubles as the perfect day and nighttime getaway, where visitors can swim seaside all day and then lie back, relax, and stargaze by nightfall.

The beach is also close to three of the park's most popular hiking trails: The Beehive, Great Head Trail, and Ocean Path.

Cannon Beach in Oregon

Famous for its expansive shoreline and the towering Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach in Oregon offers spectacular views and a serene atmosphere.

Visitors can explore tide pools brimming with marine life, stroll along sandy stretches, or hike the nearby Ecola State Park trails for panoramic vistas. If you visit the nearby town, check out the boutique shops, art galleries, and cozy cafés.

Kā'anapali Beach in Hawaii

Hawaii's "postcard perfect" Kā'anapali Beach is the "crème de la crème of beaches," according to Hawaii Magazine, which named it the state's No. 1 beach this year.

Thanks to its crystal clear waters, this Maui beach is perfect for underwater exploration, making it a snorkeling hot spot. It's home to a variety of sea creatures, including Hawaiian green sea turtles, colorful corals, and, in winter months, humpback whales.

Marconi Beach in Massachusetts

The beach, located on the shores of Cape Cod, has stunning natural surroundings, including a 50-foot ridge with stairs leading down to the shore.

It was named after Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian inventor who successfully communicated a message via wireless connection from President Theodore Roosevelt in the US to King Edward VII across the Atlantic in 1903.

Shackleford Banks in North Carolina

Shackleford Banks is well-known for its crystal-clear waters and picturesque views. The island is also home to a herd of wild horses that roam freely along the beach, grazing on the shoreline grass.

It's an ideal spot for anyone hoping to escape the daily hustle for some seaside quiet.

Kiawah Island in South Carolina

In 2024, US News & World Report called Kiawah Island "the closest you'll come to paradise in South Carolina." This year, the beach was ranked as the seventh-best in America by Dr. Beach.

Kiawah, which overlooks the Atlantic, is a barrier island that's popular for its 10-mile coastline, wildlife, and golf resort. Visitors can spend the day at either its East or West beach, where they can birdwatch or, in summer, spot sea turtles.

Siesta Key Beach in Florida

Previously ranked as the best beach in the US by outlets like TripAdvisor and US News & World Report, Siesta Key Beach is a peaceful and unique beach to visit if you're looking to stay cool under the Florida sun.

The beach, located on Florida's Gulf Coast, features pure quartz sand that remains cool even on hotter days. This white-sand beach is also family-friendly, as the waves are calm and visitors — mostly families or older local residents — aren't as rowdy as they might be in other destinations.

Driftwood Beach in Georgia

Driftwood Beach in Georgia offers a one-of-a-kind landscape, with weathered trees scattered across the shore.

The beach, famously featured in "The Walking Dead" and "X-Men: First Class," was shaped by decades of erosion. It transformed from a lush maritime forest into a sand-lined shore with sun-bleached tree trunks and branches.

Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut

Nestled along the shores of the Long Island Sound, Hammonasset Beach State Park features 2 miles of pristine beachfront.

From walking trails and a nature center to areas for fishing and camping, the park has something to offer every type of traveler.

The beach's incredible views, combined with well-maintained facilities, make it a favorite for families and outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore Connecticut's coastline.

Cape May in New Jersey

On the southern tip of New Jersey sits Cape May, a seaside city that's well known for its striking Victorian-era architecture.

Notable landmarks include the Emlen Physick Estate, a preserved Victorian house museum, and the iconic Cape May Lighthouse, which offers views of Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Sandbridge Beach in Virginia

The remote Sandbridge Beach in Virginia is one of the state's most gorgeous beaches.

Its peaceful surroundings and stillness make it the perfect place to visit when you wish to slow down. Other activities that you can indulge in include fishing, kayaking, and hiking in the nearby False Cape State Park.

Sandy Point State Park in Maryland

Sandy Point State Park is one of Maryland's best beaches because of the gorgeous views of the bay.

It is located on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay and is a popular spot for swimming, picnicking, and lounging. For those who prefer outdoor activities, the park also offers plenty of hiking trails and fishing spots.

Laguna Beach in California

Lined by the Pacific coast on one side and acres of wild trails on the other, the 7-mile-long Laguna Beach is best for surfing, swimming, and, on sunny days, sunbathing.

A popular beach spot in California, the beach is full of beautiful coves, one of the reasons US News & World Report named it one of the state's best beaches.

Biloxi Beach in Mississippi

This white-sand beach, situated by the 26-mile-long Mississippi Gulf Coast, offers a refreshing getaway during Mississippi's hot summers.

In Biloxi, water sports enthusiasts can paddleboard or canoe, while those who prefer to relax can picnic by the shore. There are also plenty of restaurants where you could sample some delicious Southern-style seafood, or if you prefer, take a shrimping trip for a live catch of your own.

Ruby Beach at the Olympic National Park in Washington

Named after the red mineral almandite, which is found in the sand here, Ruby Beach is among the country's most famous yet unspoiled beaches.

Located in Kalaloch, a three-hour drive from Seattle, unlike traditional sand beaches, the shore at Ruby Beach is covered in stones and sea stacks. Those visiting should stay until sunset for stunning views of the Olympic Peninsula.

Rotary Beach in Alaska

Ketchikan's oceanfront is home to varied sea life and has an average temperature of 56 degrees, which means that kids — and adults — wishing to swim had to find an alternate source.

According to Alaska.org, until the 1970s, the city did not have a swimming pool, so Rotary Beach became the go-to spot for kids — and adults — to learn and enjoy swimming. Visitors stopping by this pond can take a dip in the waters or picnic by the shore while enjoying views of Nichols Passage.

Zoni Beach in Puerto Rico

Located in Puerto Rico's Culebra Island, which is full of breathtaking beaches, Zoni Beach is a perfect travel destination if you're hoping to avoid big tourist crowds. The peaceful beach features turquoise water and is surrounded by Caribbean nature.

The beach is also a major turtle nesting site, so you might be able to spot a few wild sea turtles on your visit.

Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware

Cape Henlopen State Park, where the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean merge, is home to pine forests and more than 6 miles of coastline.

The park is also home to many marine animals, shorebirds, and scenic bike trails, with access to quiet and buzzy areas. History enthusiasts can enjoy a guided tour of nearby Fort Miles, an important World War II site.

Mohegan Bluffs in Rhode Island

Secluded and serene, Mohegan Bluffs in Rhode Island provides stunning views from 150-foot cliffs that line its shore.

Getting to the beach involves a bit of a hike, but it is worth the effort — as you will see — once you step onto the sandy shores and watch the gentle waves of the Atlantic glide back and forth. Nearby, the Southeast lighthouse is also worth visiting.

Park Point in Minnesota

Park Point, with beautiful views of Lake Superior, is Minnesota's No. 1 beach, according to TripAdvisor.

A popular summer destination, the beach offers more than just a space to relax or swim. It also includes access to volleyball courts, grill stations, and pavilions for picnics.

Harris Beach State Park in Oregon

Located on Oregon's south coast, the Harris Beach State Park offers beautiful sights along various trails. The beach's soft sand and rocky views give visitors a unique taste of the Pacific coast.

The park is also home to the largest island off Oregon's Pacific coast, as noted by Oregon State Parks. The island houses rare birds and marine animals, making the beach a perfect spot for nature watching.

Weirs Beach in New Hampshire

A visit to New Hampshire's Lakes Region is incomplete without a trip to Weirs Beach by Lake Winnipesaukee.

One side of the beach features a boardwalk, where visitors can explore the entire beach on foot, while the sandy areas closer to the shore are perfect for those looking to unwind or dip in the water. Across the boardwalk, on Lakeside Avenue, there are a variety of game shops and food outlets, including a mini-golf station.

Key Biscayne Beach in Florida

The drive to Key Biscayne is just as scenic an experience as spending time there.

The coast, which extends 4 miles across Barrier Island, is popular among tourists for its soft sand and crystal clear waters. It's shared by two main beach parks, Crandon Park to the north and Cape Florida Beach to the south.

This year, Travel + Leisure named Crandon Park one of Florida's best beaches in Key Biscayne.

Kohler-Andrae State Park in Wisconsin

Kohler-Andrae State Park in Wisconsin has dunes, clear blue water, and over 2 miles of sandy beaches.

Set along the shores of Lake Michigan, this park offers abundant natural beauty and activities for visitors to enjoy. Spend the day hiking, swimming, or exploring nature trails, and as evening falls, try stargazing, camping, or attending wildlife presentations.

Gulf Shores in Alabama

Florida might be the go-to for a seaside vacation, but if you're looking to switch it up this year, Alabama's palm-lined and pristine Gulf Shores are a hidden gem worth exploring.

Named one of the top beach destinations in the US and the No. 1 spot in Alabama by US News & World Report last year, this beach offers something for everyone. It's conveniently located near a boardwalk and has plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. It is also ideal for activities like beach volleyball and bodyboarding.

Honokalani Beach in Hawaii

Known as the Black Sand Beach, Honokalani Beach in Maui is one of the island's most distinctive spots.

The sand is made of eroded lava pebbles, and the beach is surrounded by hiking trails and volcanic sights, making it the perfect adventure for those looking to explore the island's breathtaking nature.

McWay Falls in California

California's Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park features some of the state's best views of the Pacific coast, including a unique beachside waterfall.

The 80-foot waterfall at McWay Falls gives visitors a one-of-a-kind view.

While the park does not allow beach access, visitors can enjoy the view of the waterfall and the beach's fragile environment while hiking the Big Sur trails.

Washington Park and Beach in Indiana

Washington Park and Beach in Indiana is home to 2 miles of sandy shoreline, a historic lighthouse, and a zoo.

With its soft sand, clean waters, and a space free from crowds, the beach offers a serene respite from everyday city life. It's close to restaurants and charming boutiques, and if you're up for more adventure, a short drive west will take you to the Indiana Dunes National Park, where you can explore even more natural beauty.

South Padre Island in Texas

Situated in southern Texas, close to the Mexico border, South Padre Island is "beloved by generations of spring breakers," Travel + Leisure reported earlier this year.

The island has space for both people who love dining at buzzy beach bars and restaurants and those who prefer to be left undisturbed in a quiet corner while on vacation.

Grand Haven State Park in Michigan

In 2024, Thrillist described Grand Haven State Park in Michigan as "arguably the grandest Michigan beach town of all."

Just west of Grand Rapids, Grand Haven has a stretch of soft, sandy shoreline and a picturesque lighthouse pier. There's a dog-friendly section of the beach and the town features several quaint coffee shops, rooftop bars, and family-run restaurants.

Huntington Beach in Ohio

Visitors to Ohio's Huntington Beach can swim in the vast, beautiful Lake Erie.

Known for its clean shoreline and stunning lake views, this beach offers a peaceful retreat for visitors. It's perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or picnicking with family and friends. The walking trails nearby are ideal for those who wish to explore the natural beauty of the area, while the picturesque sunsets over the water make for the perfect photo backdrops.

Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania

Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania is a natural escape on the shores of Lake Erie.

This 3,200-acre peninsula is home to a collection of beaches, offering plenty of space for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. It's also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with opportunities for kayaking, hiking, and biking along scenic trails. Birdwatchers will love the park's diverse wildlife, as it's a key stopover for migratory birds.

Grand Isle in Louisiana

A "perfect getaway for camping, picnicking, and surfing," Louisiana's Grand Isle offers beautiful views over the Gulf of Mexico, according to Travel + Leisure.

Alongside classic beach activities like swimming, this barrier island has also become a hot spot for surfing enthusiasts.

Jones Beach State Park in New York

With over 6 miles of white-sand beaches, Jones Beach State Park is the perfect spot for seaside strolls and swimming.

The park features a 2-mile boardwalk lined with snack stands and shops, where visitors can eat on the go while enjoying beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Other outdoor activities like mini golf, fishing, and biking are also easily accessible.

Marble Beach State Recreation Area in Iowa

Marble Beach State Recreation Area in Iowa is a peaceful retreat on the shores of Big Spirit Lake.

The park is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with a beach nearby, designated spots for fishing, and shaded campsites for overnight stays. Boaters can enjoy easy access to the lake, while nature lovers can explore scenic trails, including one that covers the whole park.

• Unwell and fearing burnout, Tina Bonnano considered retiring from KPMG after 10 years in the job.
• However, she wasn't ready to "jump off the cliff" and proposed a "soft retirement" plan to HR.
• The IT specialist works 20 hours a week for half her old salary. She has time to relax and reflect.

This story is based on an interview with Tina Bonanno, 68, a KPMG information architect, from Northern New Jersey. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was seriously ill in 2022 and 2023, which led me to having a knee replacement removed and a revision after being treated for an infection.

It meant five months of disability leave from my IT job at KPMG, but I pushed through and returned to my position.

However, the sickness had taken its toll. I suffered extreme brain fog and was unable to concentrate. It became harder to manage up to 10 projects at a time during my typical 50 to 60-hour workweek.

I was heading toward burnout and considered full retirement when I reached my Social Security age of 66.

Still, I had to acknowledge that I was woefully unprepared monetarily and had no one else's income to rely on.

I'd talked to my financial advisor at the end of 2024 and said, "How do I look for a retirement?" We came up with a number of what I'd need in replacement income plus Social Security.

He said I'd be good as long as I didn't live past 87. Longevity runs in my family, and I was reluctant to take the risk.

I retained my benefits

I didn't feel comfortable jumping off the cliff after 10 years at KPMG, so I said, "I need a ladder." That ladder came in the form of a so-called "soft retirement."

I'm a great believer in putting forward solutions, rather than complaining to your manager. And after a lot of research, I found that my company would keep on someone who wanted to reduce their hours to about 20 hours a week.

I bothered HR more times than I can admit. They told me I could earn half my regular salary and receive half of my PTO while retaining my benefits.

So I devised a career plan by demonstrating my continued value to them. I'm a subject-matter expert in several areas and have legacy knowledge. I framed the change as meeting the firm's needs.

My proposal was reasonable and gave a lot of thought to business continuity. I said I'd work eight hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a half-day on Wednesday in the afternoon.

If they needed me for meetings outside those times, I'd be willing to attend, within reason.

My hobbies included DIY projects

They agreed to my terms in January 2025, which coincidentally lined up with my house move to an adorable place that needed some TLC.

My newfound four-day weekends allowed me to unpack pretty quickly. Three months in, people were asking how many years I'd lived there because I seemed so settled.

The yard was completely bare with 14ft hedges. I'm really into gardening, and the landlord was delighted. "Go crazy, and do whatever you want to do," he said.

One of my other hobbies was DIY, specifically woodworking, and I made little tables and shelves. The house really took shape.

The half-in, half-out arrangement has mostly been embraced by my clients and colleagues. I typed my working hours in red under my email signature, and people usually respect them.

We rarely have meetings outside those designated times.

Recently, I started my pet project of writing a book. It's early days, but I'm disciplining myself and enjoying the challenge.

I needed to decompress

The dramatic change in my schedule had allowed me to breathe again. My anxiety levels have diminished, and I've found peace.

I have a zero-gravity lounge chair where I sit out on my deck. I look up at the trees and use an app to identify bird song. It makes me happy.

Working five days a week no longer suited me because I needed more than Saturday and Sunday to decompress. I get stimulation and a decent wage from my job Tuesday through Thursday, and the rest of the time is mine.

• Last year, I moved back home to Australia after living in New York for five years.
• I thought my familiarity with Sydney would make returning easy, but it's been harder than expected.
• I'm still getting adjusted, but I'm embracing the slower pace of life and being closer to my family.

When I moved from Australia to New York City in my mid-20s, I had no idea it would be the best five years of my life.

I couldn't have scripted my time living in the city if I'd tried. I'd lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, learned a lot about my professional craft in communications, and made new friends who have truly cemented a place in my life.

During my time there, I'd stood beside a best friend as her maid of honor, watched others welcome their first children and navigate a new season of parenthood, and built a day-to-day that was ordinary in the best sense — weekly pickleball matches, dinner parties, and girls' nights watching "The Bachelorette."

In the summer evenings, I'd frequently take walks to Brooklyn Bridge Park from my apartment. Looking out at the Lower Manhattan skyline from the pier, I'd always feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and awe — that this was really my life, a dream I had for over a decade, finally coming true.

As great as it was living there, after five years of soaking in the city, I made the tough decision to return to my hometown of Sydney.

Even though I loved New York, I was finding it hard to plant roots, especially since my work visa was tied to my employment, which made settling down long-term feel risky.

I thought going back home would be relatively simple. Unfortunately, settling back in has been more complicated than moving away.

I thought the familiarity of Sydney would be enough to help me immediately feel at home

When I returned to Sydney in 2025, I wrestled with a quiet unease for many months. I was home, but it didn't quite feel like I was yet.

I knew it would be difficult coming back, but I had hoped that the familiarity of Australia — and all the memories of growing up there — would make this transition effortless on its own.

Even though it was challenging to stay in touch with people in Sydney while I was in New York — the 14-hour time difference did not help — I hoped it would be easy to reconnect once I started living there again.

But after years away, reaching out to old friends felt strangely transactional, like I was asking for something rather than picking up where we'd left off. And because many people in Sydney move in the same circles they had formed in high school and college, making new friends has been tough, and it's become tricky for them to relate to what I experienced while in New York.

When friends or extended family did ask about my time in New York, their questions mainly revolved around how much my rent cost or whether the city had the same food as Sydney.

The surface-level chats and lack of curiosity frustrated me, as if that formative period of my life just didn't exist. At times, it made me wonder if I'd made a mistake in coming home.

Aside from the logistical elements, like needing to drive more often to get to and from destinations, the emotional and mental parts of adjusting have been the hardest.

Returning to Australia presented me with a paradox: a slate that wasn't completely blank, but not worn with its own grooves either. I found myself see-sawing between the hopeful possibility that accompanies new beginnings and the pragmatic cynicism that comes with having lived this story before.

I wanted a life here that felt as deliberately built as the one I'd left, but I wasn't sure if that was possible in Sydney.

I worried whether I would need to form a completely new social circle or if I could find a workplace that would enable me to thrive in the same way as my roles in New York.

Overall, one question kept flooding my mind: Was I holding on too tightly to a chapter of my life that had closed?

I still haven't adjusted to being back, but I've learned to embrace the in-between

Even though I haven't returned to Australia as a completely new person, holding both the me that was and the me that I am now has been a humbling, eye-opening journey.

I had previously assumed that the familiarity of coming home would be enough for me to adjust. Turns out I needed to put in the hard work, grit, and follow-through — all qualities that had served me well in New York — to rebuild the kind of life I wanted in Sydney, which didn't look the same as it had when I'd left.

Now, I'm being more intentional with my friendships, seeking out communities to rebuild a professional network, and taking the time to consider which neighborhoods I could actually see myself in for the long term.

On the bright side, there's a slower pace of life here that allows me to breathe, along with the elimination of stressing over the unpredictability of my visa.

Plus, I'm now a short drive away from my family and can celebrate milestones together instead of just hearing about them over FaceTime.

It hasn't been easy, but I'm giving myself the time, space, and grace this new chapter requires and embracing the messy, in-between realities that come with it.

Most of all, I'm learning to carry both places with me at once: the pieces of myself shaped in New York, and the ones still taking shape here.

• Tech workers are showing off rare watches customized for their companies.
• Employees at OpenAI, Uber, and Palantir all flexed their limited-run Tudor watches on X this week.
• Watches from Tudor, a Swiss brand, tend to retail for around $4,500.

Some Silicon Valley workers are taking their résumés off LinkedIn and putting them on their wrists, showing off rare, customized watches from Swiss manufacturer Tudor.

The latest round of wrist-flexing began when a post highlighting custom watches made for Googlers circulated on Monday. The post attracted other tech workers sharing their own customized timepieces.

Boris Power, OpenAI's head of applied research, responded with a picture of the custom OpenAI version, complete with the phrase "Good Research Takes Time," engraved on the back.

Eliano Younes, Palantir's strategic engagement head, jumped in to note that some of the data giant's staff got customized Tudors, saying they were a limited run of 468.

The watch face in the image shared by Younes features an inconspicuously small Palantir logo.

Uber software engineer Alex Feng also posted Uber's custom model. The caseback is marked '1/100,' indicating it is the first watch in a limited run of 100.

Sebastian Speier, a former Instagram employee who now works for Perplexity, also shared a picture of a customized watch. Nate Lorenzen, who worked at Facebook for six years, said employees had custom watches made while he was at the company, adding that he was "dumb to not buy every single one of these.

The watches aren't typical corporate swag handed out by management, like Wall Street's once much-vaunted Patagonia gilets.

Instead, they are generally commissioned by employee-run collector groups, whose members organize enough interested buyers to meet Tudor's minimum order.

Tudor's customization program requires a minimum order of 40 watches, and production can take about six months, according to Powerfunk, the managing editor of Grey Market, a luxury watch news site.

Buyers generally pay full retail price. The Pelagos model, used for Google's custom watches, retails for about $4,500.

Tudor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Each customized Tudor watch design is rare by default and often available only to members of the group that commissioned it, meaning the watches can become valuable collector's items once they reach the resale market.

A Google-themed Tudor featuring the Chrome dinosaur sold for more than $10,000 at auction earlier this year, while an Apple "pirate" edition attracted a $13,500 bid.

Comparable standard models typically resold for a fraction of those prices, Business Insider previously reported.

Luxury watches have become increasingly visible status symbols among tech's biggest names. Mark Zuckerberg owns rare pieces worth millions, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been spotted wearing an ultra-limited-edition $480,000 Greubel Forsey, produced in a run of just 33.

• The team behind livestreaming platform Kick is launching a new app for creators.
• Called Club, it offers creators direct payment and community-building tools.
• Social media analysts said it'll be tough for Club to get users to come over to a new platform.

The team behind the livestreaming platform Kick, which has become a haven for controversial creators, is launching a new app. On Club, creators can earn money through direct payments and build fan communities.

The pitch: At a time when social media has become riddled with bots and AI slop, Club can help creators — particularly livestreamers — build stronger relationships with their fans and diversify their businesses.

"We launched Club to create a more human form of social media," said Henrik Pohlmann, Club's 30-year-old CEO.

Club, which is launching out of beta this week with iOS and Android apps, is entering a crowded market, with big players like Patreon, Substack, and adult-focused OnlyFans.

Club is betting that its emphasis on community and discovery features can help set it apart. For example, fans have profiles, can earn rewards such as participation badges, and can interact with creators and fellow fans.

Club plans to be ad-free, Pohlmann said. It makes money by taking a 20% cut of the payments creators collect, the same percentage that OnlyFans takes (Club doesn't allow explicit sexual content). That's higher than Substack's 10% take on paid subscriptions, and Patreon's 10% platform fee (though Patreon has other fees, including for processing).

Club has been operating in beta for a few months and said it's signed up roughly 3,000 creators, mostly livestreamers from Kick.

Club comes from founders Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, who also operate Kick and the crypto gambling site Stake.com. Australia-based Kick, established in 2022, has earned a reputation for having lighter content moderation than some of its rivals. The content moderation approach, along with big payouts, has made it a destination for some inflammatory personalities like looksmaxxer Clavicular. Kick has said it has increased its human moderation team over the past few years, and it has just opened up to advertising.

"If they're trying to attract mainstream creators, they're going to ask, 'What is the philosophy behind the platform?'" Matt Navarra, a social media industry analyst, said of Club.

Pohlmann said Club was created with livestreamers in mind. He said the member overlap between Club and Kick is significant now because Club did only limited marketing while it was in beta, but that the platform has ambitions beyond Kick livestreamers. He added that Club is independent of Kick, with its own mission and content moderation policy.

"We are focused on building a platform that supports creators across all types of content and communities," he said.

Social media analysts say it'll be tough for Club to get users to come over to a new platform.

Creators are multiplatform now, so there's less incentive for fans to follow them from one platform to Club unless it can offer a better experience than YouTube, Twitch, and the like, said Ben Woods, head of creator economy at Enders Analysis.

"If it's the same type of thing, I have a question mark as to how effective that can potentially be," he said. "It's got to have a defining feature."