• The launch of the Audemars Piguet x Swatch collection unraveled into global chaos on Saturday.
• Fans had to endure long queues, fistfights, and even tear gas deployment to cop the $400 watches.
• Brand and watch experts said Audemars Piguet was walking a fine line with the tumult.

Zerxes Wadia's Saturday morning started feeling like a side quest gone horribly wrong when he realized he was competing with a horde of relentless people, all angling for a chance to cop a watch.

The Indian content creator arrived at the Phoenix Palladium mall in Mumbai at 5 a.m. to buy a piece from the viral Audemars Piguet and Swatch "Royal Pop" pocket watch collection.

He found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of people who had the same idea, all packed into a seemingly endless queue outside the Swatch store.

The rush to get one of the eight colorful pocket watches, priced around $400 each, on May 16 turned really ugly, really fast.

Things quickly took a chaotic turn at around 8:30 a.m., when he said people started jumping barricades, running in, and breaking a security checkpoint.

Because access to the mall had been restricted, some people booked the padel and pickleball courts on-site to try to gain entry.

"People were buying movie tickets to random movies to enter via the cinema," Wadia said, adding that it was fun to see the ingenuity of fans around him.

But Wadia said there were scalpers and resellers in the queue, not just fans. The launch event was eventually canceled because of the chaos. He said he "walked out disappointed."

Wadia was one of thousands of people stuck in snaking queues outside Swatch stores all around the world, from Singapore to New York City. Although the watch companies said the collection would remain available for "several months," fans treated it like a limited-edition drop.

Swatch tried to control the chaos, saying in a press release that queues of more than 50 people would not be allowed and that sales may need to be paused.

"To ensure the safety of both our customers and our staff in Swatch stores, we kindly ask you not to rush to our stores in large numbers to acquire this product," Swatch said after the launch.

An Audemars Piguet spokesperson told Business Insider that given the "scale of public turnout observed in certain markets," Swatch had to delay the launch for safety reasons.

Swatch did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

A collab primed for younger customers

The collaboration was curated for a younger, more fun-loving, and less affluent customer base.

Compared to Audemars Piguet's most popular watches — its Royal Oak line goes for more than $40,000 — the "Royal Pop" pocket watch collection rests snugly in the aspirational luxury category.

The watches feature the octagonal face belonging to Audemars Piguet's iconic "Royal Oak" watch, but with funky color combinations like yellow and pink, and orange and blue.

They come attached to a leather lanyard, making it a bag charm — a Gen Z-favorite accessory. Jade Rasif, a Singaporean DJ and YouTuber, posted a TikTok swapping out the Pop Mart's viral Labubu on her Hermès Birkin for a black "Royal Pop" pocket watch.

Molly Frampton, a strategy director at New York-based brand consultancy Interbrand, said the collaboration is a "bold opportunity for both brands: to stretch, expand, and have a bit of fun."

The collection is tailored for younger aspirational customers who are aware of Audemars Piguet's heritage, but "could not fork out thousands of pounds for one of their watches," said Vicky Bullen, the CEO of London-based branding agency Coley Porter Bell.

Tear gas doesn't scream luxury

In a store in Paris, French police deployed tear gas to break up the crowd. Fights broke out in a Milan store line.

"Nothing says 'luxury horology' quite like police dogs and tear gas, right?" said Eugene Tutunikov, the CEO of secondhand luxury watch retailer SwissWatchExpo.

"While the hype is a marketer's dream, getting pepper-sprayed isn't exactly the premium customer experience anyone is looking for when trying to buy a timepiece," he added.

Tutunikov said selling an accessible watch like the "Royal Pop" collection dilutes Audemars Piguet's brand. Rolex did something similar to appeal to an aspirational customer base, but with a lower-priced product in its stable, the "Tudor," Tutunikov said.

"Tudor" watches typically cost around $5,000. A higher-tier Rolex model, such as a Daytona, starts at $19,000 and can go up to $75,000, according to the California-based watch retailer Bob's Watches.

If Rolex had chosen Audemars Piguet's approach, Tutunikov said it would have been akin to launching a "neon plastic Daytona."

Bullen said that customers queuing for hours only to go home empty-handed would likely "have a bitter taste in their mouth toward Swatch, and possibly AP as well."

Power in scarcity

Chaos can be a valuable brand-building tool in the scarcity economy, Bullen said.

Scarcity has been the name of the game in recent years for collectibles such as watches, toys, blind boxes, and even Trader Joe's tote bags.

In an era when consumers are on the hunt for small luxuries, companies are relying on limited-edition drops to boost their street cred — even if it means long lines and scuffles.

Joshua Ganjei, the CEO of Boston-based watch retailer European Watch Company, said the commotion during Saturday's launch was unfortunate, but drove a lot of coverage toward Audemars Piguet.

"I'm sure AP is quietly very pleased with how the whole thing unfolded," Ganjei said.

• Google and Blackstone announced a new AI company to challenge CoreWeave and Nebius.
• The new AI company will leverage Google's TPUs to offer enhanced compute options for businesses.
• Here's what smart people are saying about the new deal.

Google and Blackstone are launching a new AI company that would rival cloud providers like CoreWeave and Nebius.

Blackstone, the world's biggest asset manager, will invest $5 billion in the new US-based company at the start, the firms said Monday. The company plans to offer data center capacity, operations, and Google Cloud's Tensor Processing Units as a service.

Thomas Kurian, the CEO of Google Cloud, said in the statement that the new company gives organizations more options to access compute.

"This joint venture with Blackstone helps meet growing demand for TPUs, which are optimized specifically for efficiency and performance in the AI era," Kurian said.

Here's how tech analysts and investors reacted to the news:

• Ukraine is finding advanced antennas on Russia's low-priority foam and plywood Gerbera drones.
• A top drone advisor said it's a sign Russia has surged production of the anti-jamming component.
• That's just after Russia was facing a three-to-five-month wait for these antennas last year, he said.

Ukrainian troops are finding advanced antennas with stronger anti-jamming features on Russian decoy drones, a sign that the Kremlin is overcoming a shortage of the key component.

Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, a prominent Ukrainian drone analyst, posted photos to social media on Wednesday of a downed delta-wing Gerbera drone and a 12-element Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna.

"Recently, 12-element Kometa antennas have begun to appear on the Gerberas," wrote Beskrestnov, who is the Ukrainian defense minister's advisor on battle drone tech.

"For me, this is a sign that the plant that produces Kometa has increased its production capacity. A year ago, there were not enough Kometas even for KABs," he added, referring to Russian precision glide bombs. "There was a three-to-five-month queue at the plant."

Antennas with more elements are generally more resistant to electronic warfare, one of Ukraine's main ways to disrupt or take down incoming drones. More basic versions of the Kometa, Russia's family of anti-jamming antennas, have four- or eight-element arrays.

That a Russian Gerbera would be equipped with a 12-element antenna is significant. Moscow typically uses Gerberas as decoys to absorb Ukrainian air defense munitions hunting down the Geran-2, Russia's domestically produced analog of the Iranian Shahed-136 long-range attack drone.

Often made of foam or plywood, the Gerbera is more expendable than the Geran-2, which has an estimated price of between $35,000 and $80,000 each. Gerberas cost about $10,000 each to make, Ukrainian officials estimated in 2024.

Though Russia has, more recently, been seen equipping Gerberas with small warheads or using them as scouting tools, the propeller-driven drones are typically considered distractions or low-priority targets.

Beskrestnov wrote that Russia has traditionally saved heavily on costs for the Gerbera, initially launching them without jamming protection at all.

It later began fitting cheaper, Iranian four-element antennas to the drones, he added.

Russia sometimes equips its attack drones with even more advanced, 16-element antennas — including some of Chinese make — but Beskrestnov said on Wednesday that these were still being reserved for "important products."

Earlier this month, Kyiv said it used its homegrown Flamingo missiles to strike a production facility for anti-jamming antennas, the VNIIR-Progress complex in the Russian city of Cheboksary, about 600 miles from the Ukrainian border.

The plant has regularly come under attack from long-range Ukrainian drones in the past year, with at least four separate reported strikes in 2024. The extent of any lasting damage to the facility, however, is unclear.

• The Long Island Rail Road is set to resume service after the MTA reached a deal with striking workers.
• The strike disrupted up to 300,000 daily commuters traveling between Long Island and New York City.
• The MTA says it will continue to offer alternative travel options, urging commuters to continue WFH on Tuesday.

New York's Long Island Rail Road plans to resume service at noon on Tuesday after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a deal with union leaders.

"Tonight, the @MTA eached a fair deal with the five LIRR unions that delivers raises for workers while protecting riders and taxpayers," New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on X.

About 3,500 LIRR employees walked off the job shortly after midnight on Saturday following a breakdown in negotiations over wages and healthcare costs.

The strike shut down North America's busiest commuter railroad, disrupting travel for about 300,000 daily riders traveling between Long Island and New York City

The MTA said it will continue offering alternative travel options, including shuttle buses, as service ramps back up. Officials also urged commuters to continue working from home on Tuesday.

The walkout marked the LIRR's first strike since 1994.

The development came just days before the Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when many New Yorkers rely on the LIRR to reach the Hamptons — the affluent beach destination at the eastern end of Long Island, about 70 miles from Manhattan.

• As a single mom earning $36,000, my manager said grad school was the only way to earn more.
• When I graduated, I had about $69,000 in student loan debt for undergrad and grad school.
• Once my oldest graduated, I started paying more toward my loans and paid them off early.

The year was 2006. Pluto had just been downgraded to a dwarf planet. I was obsessed with my Motorola Pebl flip phone and iPod. It was also the year I started paying down my student loan balance after completing my MBA.

For 20 years, this student loan was a constant in my life, a staple of my monthly budget. It was older than my youngest child, and it was tied to a career I left in 2023.

Finally paying it off in 2026 was a moment that I couldn't even fathom in 2006.

I was told I need to go to grad school to get a promotion

After earning my bachelor's degree, I landed an entry-level communications job at a large public company. I was young and determined — a single mom making about $30,000.

After a year, that salary increased to around $36,000, but I was eager to get promoted and make even more money.

A manager gave me some advice: I would need a master's degree to have any hope of moving up. I listened and started grad school in 2003.

The loans quickly added up

Three years later, I had my MBA and a bill for over $69,000. This was the combined total of my $20,000 in unsubsidized undergrad and over $49,000 subsidized grad-school loans.

At the time, that was a terrifying amount. After all, it was more money than I had ever made in a year.

But that manager was right. Getting my MBA was the key to getting promoted, which happened in 2006 when I landed a new job with a better title at a new company. My salary and bonuses greatly increased.

For almost 20 years, I made that monthly payment

The amount of my payment that applied to interest varied greatly over the 20 years it took to repay my debt.

I had a standard consolidated 30-year loan. My first loan payment was in December of 2006, and the automatic payments I set up would continue until November of 2036. Every single month, $345.19 was deducted from my checking account.

The first two payments went entirely toward interest, which was hard to stomach. Over the years that shifted to about 50/50 principal and interest, and then the interest got lower and lower.

I eventually started paying more than the minimum amount

When my oldest son graduated from college in 2022, and I was no longer giving him money for school, I was able to make extra payments and put a portion of my annual bonuses toward my loan repayment. I was determined not to be paying my student loans into my mid-50s.

I paid off the loan in early 2026. Rather than the estimated $108,000, the total amount paid was $98,442.88. It worked out to be $69,928.46 in principal and $28,514.52 in interest.

I didn't realize how freeing it would be to pay off these loans

My life changed enormously in the 20 years I had been paying off my student loans. I had another child. I got promotions, changed companies, and helped my son and three stepchildren get through college, all while paying my own student loans.

I made a career change in 2023 and walked away from marketing and Corporate America — the reason I had gone to grad school in the first place. But every monthly student loan payment was a reminder of the investment I made in a career I no longer wanted. Some days, I felt irresponsible, paying for this degree I wasn't really using anymore.

And now, two major life changes — my youngest graduating from high school and my husband retiring — are giving me more time and headspace to do something in addition to being a travel writer, the job I left my marketing career for a few years ago. Yes, I'm considering adding some more lines to my résumé.

I celebrated this milestone with my youngest over coffee

A few days after making that final payment, I received an email from the lender congratulating me that my student loan was paid off.

That was the moment it sank in. This thing that had been a constant in my life for over 20 years — through a second child, promotions, writing a book, even making a career change — is now done.

Paying off my student loans freed me from feeling an obligation to a career path I no longer want to pursue. Finally, my thoughts about what I want to do next changed.

Celebrating over coffee with my youngest, they shared what they think I should do next: teach. I might give that a try.

Time will tell what this next chapter will bring, but I'm glad my student loans won't be following me.

Flip-flops are back again this summer in full Y2K force, and I am here for it. Sliding into these simple sandals instantly feels like peak summer. Plus, flip-flops go with everything: shorts, sundresses, bikinis — they're just easy.

The problem: Most flip-flops feel horrible to wear after 10 minutes. Their soles are often paper-thin, the thong straps barely hold your feet down, and there's no arch support to speak of. That may have been fine when I was in college, but at 36 years old, my lower back has outlawed unsupportive shoes from my life.

I'd mostly sworn off flip flops— until I found the FitFlop RELIEFF Recovery Toe-Post Sandals. These wedge thong sandals have the look of a beachy flip-flop, but are built like a recovery shoe. I wore mine all last summer, and I can honestly say they're the only flip-flops I've found (in the history of time?) that don't make my feet or lower back ache.

They simplify my packing list

I was traveling a lot last summer (Spain, New York, Copenhagen, Virginia). Every year, packing for hot destinations where I'll be walking all day gives me anxiety. I want to plan outfits where I'll feel cute and comfortable — not achy or blistered.

I packed the FitFlop flip-flops more for aesthetic reasons than practicality — they look good with everything from breezy linen fits to bikinis. I figured I'd wear trusty walking sneakers for big travel days, but that these flip-flops would be nice to have for quick pop-down-the-street outings.

Instead, they ended up being my most-worn walking sandals on all my summer trips (including local stops to my neighborhood grocery store).

I wore them on long walks during my summer abroad

In Spain, I wore these flip-flops on a walking tour of Cádiz in the June heat and humidity. Throughout my time there, I was shocked that the anticipated ache in my arches or calves never came.

If anything, my feet felt more cushioned than if I'd worn flat sandals, and were less swollen than if they'd been trapped in sneakers all day. Around hour eight, I started to get a small blister between my first second toes, where the plastic and humidity weren't mixing well. But by this time, I was more impressed than annoyed by these flip-flops.

A few weeks later, I brought the RELIEFF flip-flops to New York, where walking is mandatory and comfortable shoes are non-negotiable — though in the July humidity, comfort has to be balanced with breathability. I wore the flip-flops every day for four days straight — standing in lines, walking across miles of concrete in the city, and at Rockaway Beach. This time, I was smarter and preemptively put Band-Aids on the spots I knew could get rubbed raw, resulting in zero blisters. I didn't even touch my preferred walking sneakers.

The technology behind the comfort

The comfort of these lightweight flip-flops all comes down to their construction. FitFlop is a recovery footwear brand, and the RELIEFF flip-flops feature their proprietary triple-density EVA sole (which the brand calls a "Microwobbleboard"). This targets the heel, arch, and forefoot with different levels of firmness. It provides shock absorption and pressure relief exactly where you need it, and is layered on top with an ultra-soft recovery foam that molds to your foot.

They fit my average-to-slightly-wide feet thanks to a roomy toe box that allows your toes to splay naturally. This feels like a huge upgrade from the narrow straps and rigid footbeds of most flip-flops I've tried. These straps are just slightly textured, so my toes don't have to actively grip down.

They also feature a subtle wedge heel — around 1.5 inches — which can help take pressure off the tendons of your feet. A wedge heel is a feature many podiatrists recommend for people with plantar fasciitis, heel pain, or arch pain. Folks over on the r/plantarfasciitis subreddit agree FitFlops are better built for PF patients than those suede cork sandals (you know the ones I mean).

It's also worth noting that at no point did the wedge cause me to turn my ankle or for my feet to slide out the side — these shoes felt super secure underfoot.

They're stylish enough to wear anywhere

What surprised me most about the RELIEFF flip-flops is how often I reach for them — even when I'm not prioritizing comfort. The design is sleek and understated enough that they don't scream "orthopedic" the way most podiatrist-approved shoes do.

The slight wedge gives them a more put-together silhouette than a standard rubber flip-flop, and the minimal strap keeps them looking modern and understated. It's a subtle platform, but it adds just enough shape to make the sandals feel more like a styled choice than a casual default.

I've worn mine to the beach, with an exercise dress, through airport security lines, at restaurants, and on city sightseeing tours — and they've passed every test (although the humidity is their enemy).

Cons to consider

If you live somewhere with high humidity, the strap may cause friction. It helped when I put on preventative Band-Aids or wrapped the base of the strap in moleskin, but beware of this if you plan to wearing these for long walks in humid climates.

They may be too wide for people with narrow feet. However, since my feet are slightly on the wider side, I found the fit to be perfect.

The bottom line

The FitFlop RELIEFF Recovery Toe-Post Sandals ($60) are hands down the most comfortable flip-flops I've ever worn. They have all the ergonomic features of a recovery shoe — shock absorption, arch support, and a foot-conforming cushion. After months of testing them across different climates and terrains, I'd confidently recommend them to anyone who wants the freedom of a flip-flop without sacrificing foot health.

Shop all FitFlop flip-flops here.

If you're looking for a straightforward phone plan without the long-term commitment (or sticker shock) of big carriers, Metro by T-Mobile is designed for exactly that. Metro is a prepaid wireless service that runs on T-Mobile's nationwide network, which makes it a popular pick for people who want reliable coverage, predictable monthly pricing, and the freedom to leave anytime — no contracts required. It's especially appealing if you've ever felt trapped by confusing bill breakdowns, surprise fees, or promo pricing that disappears after a few months.

Metro's biggest strengths are its simplicity and value. Metro by T-Mobile plans typically include unlimited talk and text, generous data options, and add-ons that matter to everyday users — like hotspot data on select tiers and discounts for multiple lines. It can also be a smart fit for families, students, and budget-minded shoppers who want a phone plan that's easy to understand and easy to manage, without sacrificing the benefits of a major carrier network.

In this guide, we'll break down Metro by T-Mobile's plans, what each tier includes, and how to choose the right option based on your data needs and budget—so you can decide whether Metro is the best prepaid plan for you.

Metro by T-Mobile phone plans and prices

Metro offers three tiers for shoppers, the cheapest of which is available only for online orders. Right off the bat, all options include a 5-year price guarantee, unlimited 5G data, unlimited talk and text, and access to T-Mobile Tuesdays.

*After a user hits this amount of data usage in a month, they may be prone to deprioritization during heavy congestion times.

Metro by T-Mobile keeps its prepaid lineup pretty easy to shop, with three tiers that mainly differ in perks. The baseline option is the web-exclusive $40 monthly plan, which includes unlimited talk/text and unlimited 5G data, plus extras like T-Mobile Tuesdays and Scam Shield, and pricing backed by its 5-year price guarantee. There's also a strong new-customer hook if you bring your own phone: a 6-month unlimited plan for $20/month ($120 upfront).

If that's too barebones, the next step up is the $50 monthly plan with Autopay, which adds 8GB of hotspot data and a 100GB Google One membership, plus phone upgrade eligibility while keeping the unlimited talk/text/data core. The first month costs $55, but drops the $5 if you opt for Autopay.

The top plan is $60/month with AutoPay. It's positioned as Metro's best value if you'll actually use the add-ons: it includes Amazon Prime, HD video, unlimited international texting to over 210 destinations, and the option to add watch or tablet lines for $5 a month when you bring your device.

One caveat worth noting: Metro flags priority thresholds where heavy users may see slower speeds during congestion — 35GB on the $40 plan, 50GB on the $50 plan, and 70GB on the $60 plan. So if you're mostly after a predictable bill and unlimited basics, the $40 plan (or that $20 monthly promo) is the easiest value play; if you hotspot often or want streaming/shipping perks, the $50 and $60 tiers are where the extras start to pay off.

Other plans from Metro by T-Mobile

Metro also offers plans for other devices, including tablets, smartwatches, and hotspot coverage. They can be added to any existing account at an additional cost, with pricing you can customize based on your needs. Luckily, none require yearly commitments or tricky contracts, making them easy for both short-term and long-term users.

To start, Metro's tablet plans all offer unlimited high-speed data and support standard-definition streaming. Here's a breakdown of the pricing and hotspot data allotments you can choose:

• $20 a month with 2GB of hot spot data
• $25 a month with 5GB of hot spot data
• $30 a month with 8GB of hot spot data
• $5 a month when you bring your own device and sign up for a $60 a month cell plan with Autopay — no hot spot data

If you're looking for smartwatch coverage, Metro can also provide. All plans feature unlimited high-speed data, picture and text messaging, and three-way calling for your wearable. Here's the pricing breakdown:

• $10 a month for any smartwatch with any plan
• $5 a month when you bring your own Apple watch and sign up for the $60 a month cell plan with Autopay
• $5 a month when you bring your own Samsung smartwatch and sign up for the $60 a month cell plan with Autopay

For travelers, remote workers, and other folks in need of WiFi on the go, you can also sign up for a Mobile Hotspot plan from Metro. Here's what the carrier offers:

• $30 a month for 10GB of data
• $40 a month for 30GB of data
• $50 a month for 100GB of data

Metro by T-Mobile promotions and deals

Metro also offers a handful of ways to save even more on its mobile plans. If you have a compatible phone, new customers can get their first six months of the brand's top unlimited plan for $20 a month ($120 up front). Or you can get rolling with one-month deals from just $25 a month.

Alternatively, Metro is running additional offers for folks without a device or looking to upgrade to a newer one.

Metro by T-Mobile FAQs

What are T-Mobile Tuesdays?

A perk included with all three of Metro's phone plans, T-Mobile Tuesdays unlocks sweet benefits in the myMetro app. That includes exclusive live event tickets, a free large Slurpee every month, cash back at restaurants, and more.

Does Metro include phone upgrades with cell plans?

Phone upgrades are included with all of Metro's plans, except for the web-exclusive $40 tier. This means that every year, existing customers can take advantage of promotions and deals typically limited to newcomers on select devices. It requires trading in your old device, and you'll need to be enrolled for at least 12 months before you can use this feature.

Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides.

• Elon Musk vowed to appeal after a major loss in a California court.
• On Monday, a jury sided against Musk in his blockbuster suit against OpenAI and Sam Altman.
• Musk downplayed the ruling as based "just on a calendar technicality."

The world's richest man says his fight against OpenAI and Sam Altman isn't over.

"Regarding the OpenAI case, the judge & jury never actually ruled on the merits of the case, just on a calendar technicality," Elon Musk wrote on X, adding he would be appealing the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

On Monday, a jury in Oakland, California, handed a major victory to OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, by ruling that Musk waited too long to bring his lawsuit, which alleged that the Tesla CEO had been scammed out of his early investment in OpenAI when the nonprofit research lab pivoted into a partial for-profit company. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who oversaw the case, quickly accepted the unanimous verdict.

"There is no question to anyone following the case in detail that Altman & Brockman did in fact enrich themselves by stealing a charity," Musk wrote. "The only question is WHEN they did it!"

Musk's characterization of the statute of limitations as a "technicality" belies the fact that such time limits are a cornerstone of almost all American law. Few laws allow plaintiffs or the government an unlimited window to file suit or bring charges.

In a separate tweet, Musk also took a swipe at Gonzalez Rogers, though he did not identify her by name. He later deleted the tweet.

"This illustrates why the ruling by the terrible activist Oakland judge, who simply used the jury as a fig leaf, creates such a terrible precedent," he wrote. "She just handed out a free license to loot charities if you can keep the looting quiet for a few years!"

OpenAI and Altman both faced the potential of substantial losses if the jury and judge found in Musk's favor, including being on the hook for billions in damages, just as the leading AI firm is viewed as approaching a public offering. Musk also asked that Altman, once an ally, be removed as CEO.

In the trial, Altman's and OpenAI's lawyers showed jurors evidence they said proved that Musk knew and supported the company's plans to raise capital by partnering with another major tech company, and that he at one point pushed for OpenAI to form a relationship with Tesla. Musk's lawsuit, the lawyers argued, was a late attempt to hobble OpenAI after it had left xAI in the dust. Both Musk and Altman testified during the trial, with the Tesla CEO telling the jury that he didn't read the "fine print" of an OpenAI term sheet detailing its plan to establish a for-profit entity.

A spokesperson for OpenAI did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

• I grew up running and enjoyed what I learned from excelling at a sport, even when I lost.
• Today, it seems that the main focus for the sports my kids participate in is winning.
• I'm shifting my focus to help my kids appreciate the love of the game, not just when they win.

I'm the kind of mom who wears an outfit themed in the color of my kids' uniform on game days, and I'm always saying things from the sidelines like "you got this," and" and "keep it up!"

For more than 10 years, I've been a sports mom attending basketball, volleyball, and soccer games almost weekly to cheer on my kids. Since they were toddlers, I've been all in, putting in thousands of miles, hours, and dollars to support them.

Through it all, there's just one thing that irritates me: the collective obsession over competitiveness and how it ruins the joy of the game.

Things have gotten out of hand

I was a competitive runner in high school, earning a college scholarship for my efforts. I understand the dedication it takes to thrive and the thrill of accomplishing a goal.

While devoting so much of my life to running, I learned to accept myself with kindness after a bad race. I didn't let a single race define all my effort and potential. I learned that the whole experience matters. I truly loved being a runner, rain or shine, putting one foot in front of the other on the track and cross-country trails, and I chose to do it just for me. Winning was nice, but for me, it wasn't everything. I loved the action of it, being in the moment, I felt happy while running, most of all.

Now that my own kids are 11 and 13 it seems like the fields, courts, and arenas they play in get louder as the years go by. Unfortunately, they're not always filled with the positive energy that pushed me when I was their age. Over the years, I've heard parents and spectators yell aggressively at kids while they are playing, and I've seen parents fighting with other parents during games. Then there are the coaches that I've seen scream wildly with unkind words during and after games, even with elementary-age kids.

I can't help but think that playing a sport and being on a team shouldn't be so intense or stressful for kids, but it seems that way more often than not, no matter what sport my kids are participating in.

It makes my heart ache, and it makes me wonder, where did the love of the game go?

I'm trying to shift the focus for my kids

In recent years, I've put in an extra effort to become a more laid-back sports mom. Instead of getting all hyped up over goals and winning, I want my kids to focus on loving what they're doing while they're on the field or court.

I often look at my kids' trophies and medals on the walls of their rooms and all the jerseys they've worn. As much as winning feels wonderful to watch, I refuse to let my kids' favorite sports become only about this one ultimate thing.

"Some games will be better than others, no one is 100% all the time," I often tell my kids. I want them to know that playing for the love of the game means caring about the act of playing a sport for the pure joy of it, for the love of the experience. It's a feeling of happiness while showing effort, passion, and dedication, not to mention the willingness to overcome obstacles and learning to have a positive attitude. I need my kids to know that the trophies and awards aren't everything.

I'm seeing a difference in my children

Playing a sport should increase your joy, boost your mood, and teach you about teamwork. Once that happens, I believe, other opportunities and successes will follow naturally.

In a culture of hypercompetitiveness, I'm not falling for the pressure to succeed, comparisons, and tears. When I watch my kids give their all, I mostly care about them making positive memories, and I hope this time in their lives will be something good to look back on, not bring flashbacks of distress based on what the score was years ago.

This year, when my daughter was deciding what sport to focus on, I told her to imagine if the team lost, if the team wasn't as strong, if she wasn't a top player, what sport or activity would she choose to do for the fun and enjoyment of it? She chose volleyball.

Now, at my kids' games, keeping the love of the game alive means letting whatever happened during the game stay there, especially when it was a loss. After games, I always keep our walk to the car upbeat. I don't bring up every little detail of my kid's performance. I'll ask them how they feel first, and I'll tell them I enjoyed watching them play, and share a compliment or two. Depending on the outcome of the game, I might simply say "I'm proud of you. Next week will be better," or "You did great. I'm so happy for you," then we pivot to what they want to eat. We carry on to the next day, the next practice, and the next game.

• Tom Colicchio stresses the importance of a manual pepper grinder for fresh seasoning control.
• Gail Simmons values her collection of mini spatulas for their versatility and functionality.
• Kristen Kish prefers flat wooden cutting boards to ensure precision and clean cutting edges.

Most home cooks assume celebrity chefs rely on expensive, high-tech tools, but the reality is the opposite. In reality, the most essential kitchen tools are often simple, tactile, and deeply personal. I visited the Charlotte set of the current season of Top Chef to talk to judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons, and Kristen Kish about cooking and, more importantly, how they cook at home. Their must-haves reveal a common theme: control, precision, and small upgrades make a big difference.

Tom Colicchio

Tom Colicchio loves a lot of things in his kitchens. Yes, as in plural, because he has many homes, as one should with his pedigree and level of success. Although his New York kitchen has his beloved French-made La Cornue stove, he says a good manual pepper grinder is a must because freshly ground pepper is a non-negotiable. "So many people use pre-ground pepper, and it's terrible," he said. "Fresh ground pepper is so important, and so many people don't use it." If you watch the show, you have seen that Colicchio is a stickler for proper seasoning. Colicchio does not own an electric peppermill. He prefers manual styles since you can exert more control over the end product.

Gail Simmons

Gail Simmons relies on small tools that make a big difference and naturally has many collections. "I like mini things like mini whisks. I have lots of whisks," she said. "I have a very large collection of vintage soft-boiled egg cups. I love collecting." Two items she can't live without are her fish spatulas and mini silicone spatulas. "I have a very large collection, much to my husband's dismay, of miniature silicone spatulas and flexible, small spatulas," she said.

Kristen Kish

"I had one sent to me that I don't even remember the name of. It's so beautiful and a perfect size," Kristen Kish said. "I have cupboards of cutting boards, and it's always the one that I'm gravitating towards. It's wood and about an inch and a half." When it comes to features, Kish prefers flat cutting boards without a juice groove, which was surprising. She had a good reason, however. "They mess up my knife, and you can't get clean cuts," she says. "If I need to slice meat or anything with a lot of juice, you put it on a sheet tray that catches any liquid that runs off."

The bottom line

These tools aren't flashy — but they're exactly what chefs rely on under pressure. Top chefs know winning dishes come from execution, not trendy gadgets. Chefs value control over convenience and lean toward tools that improve technique. Top Chef also has its own recommended top tools of items featured on the show if you want to shop more.

Coursera deals aren't uncommon, but it's rarer that they don't require an annual subscription to earn. That's what makes the current discount so great: for a limited time, Coursera Plus is 40% off, bringing it down to $35 a month.

Coursera is an online learning platform that offers unlimited access to more than 10,000 courses (and more) via a paid Coursera Plus subscription. Typically, a monthly subscription costs $59 — through May 25, it's 40% off. Shoppers can take advantage of this price for three months before the service will automatically renew at full price. It's one of the first deals we've seen all year that doesn't require an annual subscription, though technically, it's still cheaper to sign up with the service's typical $399 annual price.

Coursera Plus offers a wealth of courses, Projects, Specializations, and Professional Certificate programs across a variety of subjects, including information technology, business, personal development, and humanities, among others. Some of the most popular courses include lessons from major companies, like "AI Essentials" by Google and "Python for Data Science, AI, and Development" by IBM.

Interested customers can browse additional courses through the Coursera website, where classes included with a Coursera Plus subscription will have a badge. We've broken down everything you need to know about the platform in our full Coursera guide.

Coursera Plus deal: FAQs

When does the Coursera deal end?

The ongoing Coursera monthly deal ends on May 25. Until then, shoppers can get 40% off the monthly service for their first three months.

Can current Coursera Plus subscribers get the deal?

The deal is only valid for new Coursera Plus subscribers, so existing customers won't be eligible. The offer is limited to one per person.

You can learn more about the deal directly on the Coursera website. Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for the latest content from the Reviews team.

The Western Conference Finals tip off tonight, and it's a San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City showdown. We've rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch Spurs vs. Thunder, including live streaming options, a series schedule, odds, venue, and other details.

If you don't feel like scrolling any further, you can live stream the game on NBC via Peacock Premium in the US. We'll break down some of your other streaming options below, along with all the details on the rest of the series.

How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder in the US

The Spurs vs. Thunder series will air on NBC in the US. This means that cord-cutters can live stream every game through Peacock or a live TV streaming service. Peacock's sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium, but you can upgrade to Peacock Premium Plus (ad-free on-demand content and a full NBC live stream) for $17 a month.

If you'd prefer to live stream the games through a service that carries other sports networks (like ESPN, which is showing the Eastern Conference Finals), then one of the best live TV streaming services might be of interest. DirecTV and Sling are two of our favorite options that also carry NBC.

DirecTV offers NBC in its MyNews and MySports genre packs, which cost $40 a month and $65 a month, respectively. New customers can get $20 a month off of MySports during their first two months of service, and all DirecTV plans come with a five-day free trial. NBC is also available in DirecTV's signature packages.

Sling TV offers NBC in its Select and Blue plans. However, local channel availability varies by market, so it's a good idea to see what's available in your ZIP code before signing up. If local channels are in the mix, Select plans start at $25 a month and Blue plans start at $51 a month.

How to watch Spurs vs. Thunder from anywhere

Basketball fans traveling abroad can still keep up with their usual streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy-to-use tech tools that let people temporarily alter the virtual location on their electronic devices, such as phones or laptops. This way, their favorite websites and apps work from anywhere and they don't need to miss out on any games just because they're traveling away from home.

NordVPN is our top pick right now. It's one of the best VPNs on the market, thanks to its fast speeds, massive selection of servers, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

Western Conference Finals schedule

• Game 1: Monday, May 18 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Wednesday, May 20 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 3: Friday, May 22 at 8:30 p.m. ET
• Game 4: Sunday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET
• Game 5: Tuesday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• Game 6: Thursday, May 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)
• Game 7: Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m. ET (if necessary)

Where will the Spurs vs. Thunder game take place?

The first game in the Spurs vs. Thunder Western Conference Finals will be held at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Game 2 will also be held there, before the series heads to the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio for the next two games.

Who is favored to win Game 1 of Spurs vs. Thunder?

Oklahoma City is favored to win the Spurs vs. Thunder match-up. According to DraftKings (at the time of writing), Oklahoma City is a 6.5-point favorite and -245 on the moneyline.

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

Bradley Horowitz, through his venture firm, Wisdom Ventures, wrote early checks to OpenAI in 2023 and to Anthropic in 2024. He's also backed Cerebras, Slack, ScaleAI and many others. That track record has landed him - once again - on Business Insider's Seed 100, a list that recognizes top investors.

He sat down with senior correspondent Ben Bergman to discuss what he looks for in founders, and what companies he's excited about now.

• Helicopters and future air taxis could change the way people commute every day.
• This week, that's changing with a commuter rail strike that's left Long Islanders with few options.
• The company has slashed fares to lure new customers to its air service.

Commuting choppers have a shot this week in New York to prove that they can actually work for everyday commuters.

A railroad strike in the city's suburbs has left Long Island without rail service, and the 8 million people who live there without easy access to New York City.

Enter Blade Urban Air Mobility, which is offering $95 fares during the strike — half off its normal price — to entice people onto its helicopters and towards creating a wider clientele for its move into futuristic flying taxis.

Will people who are used to forking up to $33 for a one-way ticket to the city pay nearly $100 for a helicopter now? And will they, in the near future, pay a similar price to ride a newfangled aircraft with six electric rotors and batteries for power?

Blade CEO Rob Wiesenthal thinks so. One selling point: The trip will take five minutes, not over an hour like it takes in rush hour traffic.

"The narrow arteries around JFK represent 70% to 80% of the overall travel time for the average person by car," he said. "What we've done is leverage that airport, arranged for free parking, and let people see what commuting by vertical transportation is like."

The Long Island Rail Road strike began early Saturday morning over demands for better pay and working conditions.

It's unclear when the strike will end, but Blade is already seeing strong demand. Wiesenthal told Business Insider that a mix of people who typically drive or take the train are booking the short hops, and the company is working to add more seats after quickly selling out.

Even so, Blade can absorb only a tiny fraction of the disruption. The company flew more than 50,000 passengers in all of 2024 on helicopters, while the Long Island Rail Road carries roughly 250,000 riders on a typical weekday.

The situation has inadvertently drawn more attention to urban air mobility in general — think Jetsons-like multi-rotor aircraft buzzing above traffic — and how it may change the typical commute.

Blade is a helicopter charter and service company set to branch out into this new class of electric vertical aircraft that take off like helicopters and fly like turboprops.

"There is a huge cohort of people who drive, because they work on the phone and have their own car, and it ends up being close to $150 a day with parking and gas," Wiesenthal said.

Once the strike ends, Blade flights will return to their usual prices, though Wiesenthal said commuters who want to keep flying can buy a $195 annual commuter pass that unlocks fares starting at $95 each way.

The time savings may be worth it to executives whose organizations provide car service, though more people flying will mean more loud helicopters flying over Manhattan — something locals have long complained about.

There are also only three heliports in Manhattan that Blade can fly to — West 30th, East 34th, and Wall Street — meaning many passengers may have an additional commute after landing.

Plus, nearly $200 roundtrip at the lowest end is pricey for the average New Yorker, and many riders are expected to return to the more affordable rails or roads once the LIRR reopens.

However, Wiesenthal said electrifying aviation could make aerial commuting more accessible. These aircraft could radically reduce noise levels and the cost of commuter flights by eliminating the need for jet fuel — and possibly even the need for a pilot.

Blade's passenger business is owned by Joby Aviation, a company developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOL.

These futuristic aircraft are billed as quieter, zero-emission alternatives to helicopters capable of hopping from airports to city centers in about 10 minutes. Joby expects its eVTOL to enter commercial service later this year.

Wiesenthal previously told Business Insider that a Joby eVTOL ride — which seats up to four passengers — would cost roughly the same per seat as an Uber Black. An Uber Black from JFK to Grand Central cost about $100 on Monday afternoon.

But eVTOLs are still in development, and manufacturers must clear certification hurdles before they can fly paying passengers, including proving the safety of electric motors, rechargeable batteries, and the tilting rotors used for vertical-to-forward flight — all while convincing the public to embrace flying taxis at prices competitive with ground transportation.

Joby is the US frontrunner, valued at around $10 billion; other key eVTOL players include Archer Aviation and Beta Technologies. Joby recently performed passengerless demo flights from JFK to Manhattan to demonstrate how the aircraft flies and sounds.

Wiesenthal said that eVTOL adoption is inevitable, and that flying taxis will "at some point" land on Manhattan rooftops rather than be limited to a handful of waterfront heliports.

"If a city wants to be a 'city 2.0' and be competitive globally, it needs a UAM strategy," Wiesenthal said. "Remember in the 1970s when you could land [helicopters] in Midtown on the top of the old Pan Am building? That will be coming back."

• Meta plans to cut 10% of its staff on Wednesday.
• The tech giant shared more details on Monday with employees about what to expect.
• In addition to the cuts, Meta's HR chief said leaders will announce organizational changes.

As Meta prepares to cut 10% of its workforce on Wednesday, it's trying to provide some clarity to employees who are stuck in layoff limbo.

Meta HR chief Janelle Gale posted a memo on Monday to an employee resource group outlining what employees should expect on Wednesday, according to two employees who viewed the note.

Gale said notifications of layoffs, which are expected to eliminate around 8,000 roles, will be sent in three waves at 4 a.m. local time across different regions.

She also said that managerial positions would be cut across the company to create flatter organizational structures.

"We're now at the stage where many orgs can operate with a flatter structure with smaller teams of pods/cohorts that can move faster and with more ownership," she wrote.

Gale said that Meta will also move more than 7,000 people to work on new initiatives around AI that would be crucial to Meta's future success, and which the company couldn't previously prioritize. She told staff that leaders across the company will announce organizational changes alongside the layoffs.

Some teams within Meta's Reality Labs had already started reorganizing into smaller pods, Business Insider previously reported.

Meta declined to comment. Reuters reported earlier on the memo to staff.

The latest update comes as morale has taken a hit at Meta, current employees have said. One employee told Business Insider that staff are "in a holding pattern" as they wait to find out which jobs will be axed.

Meta is spending billions in the AI race and in April forecast its 2026 capital expenditures to range from $125 billion to $145 billion.

Meta leaders told staff they are not ruling out further job cuts beyond this Wednesday's 10% round, Business Insider previously reported.

If you've ever seen your dog flop down on their belly and spread their arms and legs out on a hardwood or tile floor, they're probably looking for some relief from the heat. Several years ago, as the humid New York City heat closed in on us in late May, I started thinking about ways to keep my sluggish pup, Homer, comfortable. Enter my discovery of one of the best dog cooling mats I've ever tried.

My window AC unit was doing a decent job, but running it at the recommended 75 degrees wasn't always enough for Homer when he'd returned from a sunny, hot walk. I was already familiar with gel cooling mats for dogs. In fact, I'd purchased a generic one many years before for my first pup. However, the Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad had always risen to the top of my search results and had thousands of positive reviews. It was time for Homer and me to see what was so great about it.

Fast-forward five years, and I can always reliably find him lounging on it when the temperature hits the 70s, and the humidity starts to set in. Now that he's in his senior years and the heat is more overwhelming for him, I'm grateful I can give him extra comfort.

Editor's note: After a brief illness in late 2025, I said goodbye to Homer. He continued to use the mat to keep cool and comfortable even during the fall and early winter months.

How the Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad works

This isn't a high-tech gadget — it's a simple mat filled with a nontoxic pressure-activated gel that absorbs heat from your dog's body. When your pup (or even your bare feet) presses down on it, it has an instant cooling effect.

The Cool Pet Pad comes in five sizes, typically ranging from $25 to $85. The blue nylon cover is smooth and durable and holds up well against a dog's nails. The whole thing is about a quarter-inch thick and provides just enough cushioning to make hard floors more inviting.

You may be tempted to place the pad outside on a hot deck or patio, but the manufacturer's directions warn against this. The heat-absorbing gel is no match for extreme heat or sunlight.

After about three hours of use in the shade outside or in your home, the mat needs a break — just put it in a cool space for 15 to 20 minutes so it can release the heat it's absorbed. Then it's good to go again. I let it recharge at room temperature, but if you fold it up and place it in the refrigerator, even better.

My review of the Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad

My dog genuinely loves this mat. He often chooses it over his plush dog bed or the cool floor. Although the Cool Pet Pad isn't as powerful as our top pick for the best dog cooling mats and pads — the Cooler Dog Hydro Cooling Mat — it's about half the cost and requires no assembly. With the Cooler Dog Mat, you have to place the included ice sheet in the freezer before use.

A bonus for me is that the Cool Pet Pad is very portable, and I can easily move it to whatever room Homer is lounging in. The size large weighs 3.5 pounds, and though it measures 35 inches by 23 inches, the flexible material can be rolled or folded up. In fact, the mat is sectioned so I can neatly fold the large size into a compact 9 inches by 11 inches and toss it in a bag when we travel.

I leave it in our bedroom at night and move it to our sunroom where he likes to nap during the day. Even in the sunroom where it can get a little hot and there's some sunlight hitting it, Homer still prefers to lie on it. Other people lay it on top of their dog's bed or in their crate. It can even go in the backseat of a car, but it could slide on smooth upholstery.

If your dog is prone to accidents or slobber, like mine, you can wipe it down with mild detergent and a damp, soft sponge or cloth. With the exception of an oily stain left by a peanut butter-filled Kong, it comes clean every time. I just need to let it air-dry for an hour or so before I put it away or use it again.

Cons to consider

The Cool Pet Pad does its best work indoors. If you're looking for something to keep your pup cool outside, the Cooler Dog Hydro Cooling Mat is a better option. It provides more powerful relief for as long as six hours, even in sunlight. Keep in mind, however, that if your dog is prone to chewing their beds, neither cooling mat will be a good fit for them. The materials are nontoxic, but you should always prevent your pet from ingesting anything other than food, water, or medication.

The mat lacks a nonslip bottom, so it's best to place it on a carpeted surface for extra security. While the nylon cover is smooth, its top surface isn't particularly slippery. Still, if your dog is unsteady due to mobility issues, you'll want to watch to make sure they don't have any issues getting on or off.

The pad cleans up well when I wipe it down, but it would be nice if I could put it in the washer. The Green Pet Shop sells a machine-washable cotton cover in a range of pastel colors. The manufacturer says the cover doesn't affect the mat's ability to cool, but since I haven't tried it yet, I can't say for sure. And because the cover is not waterproof, you'll still need to wipe the mat down from time to time.

The largest size offered is 43.3 by 27.5 inches, and that's not big enough for a giant breed or two medium pups to share. I recommend the Arf Pets Self-Cooling Gel Pad for those scenarios.

The bottom line

For no-fuss, cooling relief that won't cost you a lot, the Green Pet Shop Cool Pet Pad is your best bet. Summers are a lot easier for Homer when he can take a nice snooze on his favorite mat, and I'm thrilled that it has lasted us so long.

• OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, won their legal battle with Elon Musk.
• With the multi-billion-dollar threat gone, the ChatGPT-maker can set its sights on an IPO.
• OpenAI and Anthropic's competition for AI market share takes on fresh stakes in the IPO race.

Hear that noise? It was Sam Altman, breathing a huge sigh of relief.

The OpenAI CEO won a huge victory on Monday morning, with a jury in Oakland, California, rejecting Elon Musk's claims against the ChatGPT-maker after deliberating for less than two hours. A Musk victory could have shaken the industry and possibly ousted Altman. Instead, OpenAI has cleared a major hurdle in its lead-up to a gigantic initial public offering. Now, the race is on with rival Anthropic.

Musk can still appeal. He's argued that Altman, OpenAI president Greg Brockman, and their company "stole" the original OpenAI nonprofit by fusing it with a major commercial business, and that Microsoft helped them do it. The jury closed this round of the legal battle by finding that Musk's claims were barred by statutes of limitations, meaning he waited too long to bring the case. The judge accepted those findings.

The Tesla CEO sought $134 billion in damages and for Altman and Brockman to be kicked from their posts. Those damages could have crushed OpenAI's standing, as the ousters would have left the company without its two most prominent leaders.

In the trial, Musk's lawyers used testimony from Altman's former colleagues to cast him as an untrustworthy leader, chipping away at his credibility. These revelations aside, the suit turned out to be mostly a distraction. And with the win, OpenAI puts the threats of damages "in the rearview mirror," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote Monday.

"OpenAI can shift its strategic focus to capitalizing on the AI Revolution," Ives wrote. He added that the decision removes the "$134 billion overhang on the company's operations" from the threat of damages, freeing it up to pursue the IPO.

The tailwind couldn't have come at a better time. OpenAI is battling its San Francisco rival, Anthropic, on several fronts: for talent, for business customers, and to be the first to go public later this year or early next year. Whichever company comes in last to the market will have to follow its rival's IPO narrative, and billions of dollars in investor capital will have already been absorbed.

The months ahead will see each frontier AI lab keep up torrents of releases, jockey for computing resources, and fight for market share in AI coding. The companies have each been pushing to grow adoption of their coding tools — Claude Code for Anthropic and Codex for OpenAI. Ramp data from April showed that Anthropic had passed OpenAI in business adoption for the first time.

OpenAI-backed chipmaker Cerebras tested the market's appetite for tech IPOs last week and enjoyed a hefty bump in value during its first day of trading. With OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX expecting to go public soon, Cerebras' sub-$100 billion market cap makes it a small fry.

Anthropic and OpenAI could see IPOs valued at over $1 trillion. Now that the Musk lawsuit is over, Altman can focus on getting his company that gigantic windfall first.

LG is well known for its OLED TVs, which routinely deliver some of the best picture quality on the market. That said, not every LG display is created equal. I review TVs year-round, so I know exactly what separates a good display from a mediocre one. To make shopping easier, I've rounded up the best LG TVs you can buy right now, with picks for different budgets.

The LG C5 OLED is my top choice for most people. It's a midrange model that balances price and performance beautifully, delivering great picture quality without the higher cost of LG's flagship sets. But if you're building a serious home theater and want an even better image, the LG G5 OLED is my upgrade pick. It's one of the most impressive-looking TVs I've tested, offering a brighter picture than the C5.

LG also offers cheaper TVs that use basic LED backlights, but they're generally beaten by alternatives from other companies. Based on my extensive testing across TV brands, LG really stands apart with its OLED models, which is why I've focused on OLEDs in this guide.

Our top picks for the best LG TVs

Best overall: LG C5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best high-end: LG G5 OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon

Best budget OLED: LG B5 OLED 4K TV - See at Walmart

Best overall

The C5 is the best LG TV for overall value. It balances price and performance better than any other model in the brand's lineup. It's also available in many sizes, ranging from 42 to 83 inches.

The C5 delivers pixel-perfect contrast and deep black levels thanks to its WOLED panel. Other panel types are prone to uneven brightness, which can lead to elevated black levels and halos around bright objects. But the C5 is completely free from any backlight inconsistencies. It boasts an infinite contrast ratio, resulting in exceptional image quality with inky shadows that disappear into a dark room. You can learn more about OLED technology in our OLED vs. QLED comparison.

Peak brightness is good, though not as high as pricier models. Our reviewer measured a max of around 1,174 nits, which is enough to deliver solid impact in specular highlights (such as explosions) when watching high-dynamic-range (HDR) content. The C5 can produce a wide range of colors, but very bright colors aren't as vibrant as they are on some competing Samsung OLED TVs.

The C5 offers wide viewing angles, so contrast and colors shift only slightly when viewed from off-center positions. This makes the C5 a great choice for rooms where you can't always sit directly in front of the TV.

It's also a good gaming TV thanks to its 144Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth motion. However, some TVs can support a higher 165Hz refresh rate, which could be beneficial for dedicated PC gamers.

Note: A 2026 version of this TV, the C6, is also available. The new model is very similar, except for the 77- and 83-inch sizes. Those larger sizes use a noticeably brighter screen. You can learn more in my LG 2026 OLED TV roundup. While it's in stock at a lower price, the C5 is the better value for most needs.

Read our full LG C5 4K TV review.

Check out our guides to all of the best 4K TVs and best smart TVs.

Best high-end

LG's G5 is pricey, but it's one of the best premium OLEDs I've reviewed. Most will be satisfied with the cheaper C Series, but the G5 is the best LG TV for home theater fans willing to splurge on industry-leading image quality.

The G5 has a much brighter screen than cheaper LG OLEDs. It achieves this boost in performance by using a more advanced OLED panel that LG calls "Tandem" or "four-stack" OLED. I measured a peak brightness of around 2,400 nits using an industry-standard 10% test pattern. That's one of the highest readings I've ever recorded on an OLED TV, enabling the G5 to deliver exceptional HDR performance that surpasses dimmer models like the C5.

The G5's higher brightness is impressive, but it only matters when watching certain content. Many modern movies and TV shows are mastered at a peak of 1,000 nits. Since the step-down C5 can handle 1,000 nits, that kind of material won't look much different on the G5 than it would on the C5. But studios are producing a growing number of HDR titles with higher luminance, and these kinds of videos absolutely stun on the G5.

For instance, "Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Aquaman" are both mastered for brightness well beyond 1,000 nits, allowing the G5 to unleash its full potential. "Fury Road," in particular, is packed with intense explosions and shimmering reflections that pop from the screen. Meanwhile, "Aquaman" is full of vivid colors that carry bold saturation. Both of these titles look noticeably more impactful on the G5 than they would on the C5.

The G5 also outpaces LG's C- and B-Series in refresh rate. Cheaper sets typically max out at 120Hz or 144Hz, but the G5 can handle up to a 4K/165Hz signal when paired with a gaming PC. This allows it to display smoother motion, provided your PC can render high frame rates, and helps cement it as one of the best gaming TVs.

The G5's handsome "Gallery" design is also worth noting. This allows it to be hung flush on a wall with its included mount. That said, the TV does not come with a traditional pedestal stand, so you'll need to buy one separately if you don't want to mount it. The G5 is sold in 55-, 65-, 77-, 83-, and 97-inch sizes. However, the 97-inch model doesn't use a four-stack OLED panel, so it can't get as bright as the smaller models.

Note: A new 2026 edition of this set, the G6, is now available. I got an early look at the G6, and it offers better reflection handling and improved processing. That said, it costs about $1,000 more than the G5 currently sells for. Big enthusiasts may want to consider paying extra for the G6, but most people are better off saving with the G5.

Read our full LG G5 4K TV review.

Check out our guides to all of the best TVs, best OLED TVs, and best TVs for picture quality.

Best budget OLED

LG's B5 is about as close to budget-friendly as OLED TVs get. It's still pricey compared to entry-level LED displays, but the B5 is one of the most affordable OLED models available.

The B5 delivers the same pixel-level contrast, wide viewing angles, and deep black levels as pricier OLED TVs. However, the B5 does have some drawbacks compared to LG's step-up OLEDs. Most notably, its brightness and refresh rate can't match those of its pricier siblings.

The B5 is dimmer than other OLEDs, with a peak brightness of around 700 nits. That's a respectable number, but it's under the 1,000 nit standard that a lot of HDR material is designed for. This means that some high-dynamic-range content may appear dimmer on the B5 than the filmmakers intended. Likewise, the TV's lower brightness means it's less effective at overcoming reflections in rooms with a lot of ambient light.

The TV's refresh rate maxes out at 120Hz, which is solid, but not on par with LG's step-up models. The C5 and G5 can support 144Hz and 165Hz, respectively. A 120Hz refresh rate is still high enough to unlock the smoothest gameplay modes on a PS5, Xbox, or Switch 2, but PC gaming enthusiasts may want to spend extra to get a TV with a higher refresh rate.

But even with those shortcomings, the B5 still offers better picture quality than any of LG's non-OLED TV models. Its contrast control and precise black levels result in better overall image performance than all of the brand's QNED, Mini LED, and standard LED displays. The B5 is available in 48-, 55-, 65-, 77-, and 83-inch sizes.

Check out our guide to all of the best budget TVs.

What else we considered

Though the models highlighted above are our top picks for the best LG TVs, the brand also offers several other worthwhile displays. Here's a rundown of a couple of other LG TVs we tested, along with details on why they didn't quite meet the criteria for this guide.

LG C6H OLED 4K TV - See at Amazon
The C6H is a new submodel in LG's 2026 C6 Series lineup. It's only available in 77- and 83-inch screen sizes, and it can get much brighter than its smaller counterparts. The C6H wowed us during our full review, delivering picture quality that comes close to matching LG's step-up G Series. The only reason the C6H doesn't have a spot in our guide is because you can still find the 77- and 83-inch G5 for around the same price or less. Since the G5 performs a bit better, we give it an edge. However, this will change as the C6H price drops throughout the year. When that happens, it will become the best big-screen OLED value in LG's lineup.

Read our LG C6H TV review.

LG StanbyME 2 TV - See at Amazon
The StanbyME 2 is a unique portable 27-inch TV with an integrated battery and rollable stand. We reviewed the original first-gen model, but it has since been replaced by a second-gen version with a slightly higher-resolution screen, longer battery life, and quick detachability for use like a tablet. It's a cool fit for people who want a space-saving TV that's easy to move from room to room. However, it's expensive for such a small screen, and its use cases are limited to very specific kinds of buyers.

Read our LG StanbyME TV review.

Why don't we recommend LG LED TVs?

In addition to OLED TVs, LG also offers several TV models that use LED backlights, including standard LED, QNED, and Mini LED options. Though these TVs have their benefits, they generally fall behind similarly priced alternatives from brands like TCL, Hisense, and Samsung. For instance, we previously included an entry-level LG LED TV as a budget pick in this guide, but recent price fluctuations make it hard to recommend over better-performing models from other companies. If you favor the LG brand, we generally recommend sticking to their OLED TV models since that's where the company excels over rivals.

For more affordable TV recommendations, check out our guide to the best TVs under $500.

For LED TV recommendations from other companies, check out our other brand-specific TV guides:

• Best Hisense TVs
• Best Sony TVs
• Best TCL TVs
• Best Samsung TVs
• Best Roku TVs

How we test LG TVs

We selected the best LG TVs based on extensive hands-on experience with a range of LG models. We've been reviewing home entertainment products for over a decade, and used that expertise to vet our recommendations and build our testing methodology.

Our review process focuses on key performance metrics, including brightness, color coverage, contrast, black levels, viewing angles, design, and overall value. We also test LG's webOS interface to gauge navigation speed and general smoothness of operation.

When recording a TV's brightness and color, we use a colorimeter with a pattern generator, test patterns from the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc, and Calman calibration software. That said, test patterns can only reveal so much, so we place a heavy emphasis on watching real-world content on each LG TV we review to see how the displays perform with various types of videos in both bright and dimly lit rooms. We've curated a selection of scenes from movies and TV shows to assess HDR highlight quality, shadow detail, posterization, color fidelity, and fine details, using a mix of 4K, high-definition (HD), and standard-definition (SD) samples. We also use a PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch to test gaming performance.

For our guide to the best LG TVs, we paid careful attention to how each LG model performs relative to other TVs in the brand's lineup and to similar rivals from competing brands. This enables us to highlight key benefits and limitations across the company's entire collection.

For more information on our review methodology, check out our breakdown on how we test tech products.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I've spent more than a decade reviewing home entertainment gear, and my team and I get our hands on the latest TVs year-round. I also attend LG's annual reviewer workshops, so I get an early look at the company's newest video and audio tech before it hits stores. I studied film production, which basically means I'm a stickler for picture accuracy, wanting movies and shows to look the way their creators intended. Beyond lab testing with calibration tools and benchmark discs to measure brightness and color, I live with every LG TV I review. That means real-world streaming, movie nights, gaming marathons, and regular channel surfing. My goal is to cut through the jargon and help you find the best LG TV for your budget.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

LG TV FAQs

What smart TV interface does LG use?

LG TVs use the brand's proprietary webOS smart TV interface. Versions of webOS have been used on LG TVs since 2014. The latest iteration is webOS 26, which debuted with the brand's latest 2026 TV models.

Although older versions of webOS used a pop-up menu, newer versions have transitioned to a full-screen homepage design. This homepage is similar to a lot of other smart TV interfaces, with access to streaming apps and various rows of content recommendations.

In general, webOS is a solid smart TV system with support for all the best streaming services, though it's not quite as smooth or intuitive as Google TV or Roku OS. The platform's organization places a bit too much emphasis on sponsored content and shopping recommendations, but we do like that you can disable most of these ads via a toggle in the settings menu.

The best LG TVs with the latest version of webOS also support various AI features, including an AI Concierge search function and personalized picture and sound optimizations based on your viewing preferences. Although we generally recommend leaving these functions off to achieve the most accurate image and audio, they're worth experimenting with if you're unhappy with how the TV looks or sounds. Google Gemini and Microsoft CoPilot AI are also available on newer models.

Top webOS TVs come with LG's Magic Remote, which supports traditional button clicks for navigation as well as motion controls that let you move a virtual cursor on screen by pointing the remote at the display.

What TV sizes does LG offer?

LG offers a wide range of TV models in sizes from 27 to 115 inches.

For TV recommendations specific to certain sizes, check out our size-specific buying guides:

• Best 100-inch TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs

Does LG make 8K TVs?

Though LG has sold 8K TVs in the past, it currently has none in its lineup. The only major brand with new 8K models is Samsung.

Are LG TVs better than Samsung TVs?

LG and Samsung are both reliable brands that make several excellent TV models. In most respects, it's hard to say that one is definitively better than the other. Instead, each has strengths and weaknesses across its lineup, depending on your viewing needs and which models you're considering.

LG was the first TV brand to bring 4K OLED displays to the mass market, and it offers a comprehensive collection of OLED models in many sizes. Meanwhile, Samsung entered the 4K OLED market much later and initially had a more limited lineup. This has started to change in the last two years, though, and now Samsung offers a similar selection of sizes and performance tiers. However, LG is still the only brand that sells a 97-inch OLED.

Both companies use WOLED panels in some of their models, while Samsung also uses QD-OLED screens in certain sizes. QD-OLED panels have an edge in color and brightness, but WOLED panels offer deeper black levels in rooms with ambient light. LG also utilizes a four-stack OLED panel in its high-end G Series OLEDs, which can rival the brightness of Samsung's QD-OLEDs.

Both companies also sell LCD-based TVs, with entry-level options that use standard LED panels and more advanced models with QLED screens, local dimming, and Mini LED backlights. LG brands its more advanced LCD TVs as QNED and NanoCell, while Samsung brands its high-end LCD TVs as Neo QLED. Though LG's newest QNED TVs have gotten a lot better than past models, generally speaking, Samsung's Neo QLEDs offer better backlight control.

In 2026, both brands will also offer Micro RGB TVs that use red, green, and blue LEDs in their backlights to deliver better color capabilities. It remains to be seen whether one company has an edge over the other in Micro RGB performance.

LG and Samsung both use their own proprietary smart TV interfaces, and they both support Xbox Game Pass streaming and similar AI functions. That said, LG's remotes stand out for their motion controls, and Samsung's remotes stand out for their SolarCell technology that works without a battery.

Another important distinction between the two brands is that LG supports Dolby Vision HDR on its mid- and high-end TVs, while Samsung supports the competing HDR10+ format. These formats offer similar performance, but Dolby Vision content is more widely available across streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs. You can learn more in our HDR TV guide.

Should you worry about burn-in on an LG TV?

LG TVs branded as LED, NanoCell, and QNED are not susceptible to burn-in. However, LG's OLED TVs are technically capable of burn-in in extreme situations. That said, burn-in is rare under typical viewing conditions.

Burn-in is an issue that can occur if you leave a static image on an OLED TV for an extended period, such as the CNN or ESPN logo in the corner of the screen. When burn-in occurs, a faint afterimage remains on the display.

Although shoppers should be aware of this risk, LG OLED TVs feature design elements that help prevent burn-in, including pixel refreshers, logo dimmers, and automatic pixel shift modes. Websites like Rtings have conducted long-term burn-in tests with OLEDs, including LG models. Although their results show that burn-in can occur, it requires specific circumstances that don't apply to average use cases.

I owned an LG OLED for more than three years and never saw any signs of burn-in on my display, even after long gaming sessions and all-day football watching. As long as you don't plan on keeping the same cable news channel on nonstop, you shouldn't worry about burn-in when deciding whether to buy an LG OLED TV.

• AI is rapidly building wealth for some techies, but others think that a "permanent underclass" is coming.
• VC Deedy Das sparked debate with an X post about the wealth divide, with critics arguing "underclass" fears are overblown.
• "The anxiety everyone feels is real, both in the Bay or outside of it," Das said in a text to BI, and the lesson is to "be patient."

Act fast, or risk being relegated to the "permanent underclass." That's the latest worry reverberating around the techosphere.

It's no secret that AI is creating massive amounts of wealth for some. The startup space is flush with cash, the AI labs are doling out large salaries to retain top talent, and a series of upcoming IPOs could turn average engineers into millionaires many times over.

For those early to the AI gold rush, that's joyous. For others, it's a sign of growing class disparity.

Menlo Ventures partner Deedy Das described the feeling in his viral X post. Roughly 10,000 people who worked for companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Nvidia can now retire, he wrote. The rest making under $500,000 can work "their whole life and never get there."

Das referenced the talk of a "permanent underclass" that flies around tech circles. It has long been a meme (and a warning) on X, as techies debate how artificial intelligence will reshape the economy and whether time is running out to set oneself up financially before AI outpaces human abilities.

But Das' post clearly struck a nerve. Whether a "permanent underclass" is approaching may depend on who you ask.

Are fears of a 'permanent underclass' overblown?

Founder Tracy Chou compiled a list of words she felt are overused in San Francisco. Among "agency" and "taste," there was the phrase "permanent underclass."

The backlash to Das' post was almost immediate. Replit product lead Amadeo Pellicce created a list of things to do to "thrive in SF as a member of the permanent underclass." They included going to therapy, living with others, and spending time with family. Then, he included a reminder: "X is not real life."

"There is no permanent underclass," Pellicce wrote. "Labor can always create capital. All you have to do is make something people want. AI just accelerates this."

Foundation Capital partner Jaya Gupta wrote that we may not want everything the so-called overclass receives. "They cannot monopolize joy, taste, friendship, beauty, aliveness, or the reasons life is worth living," she wrote.

In a text to Business Insider, Das acknowledged that some people had reacted with some version of "quit your whining" or "touch grass." Das' personal reaction: "The anxiety everyone feels is real, both in the Bay or outside of it."

"This is just a side-effect of capitalism," Das wrote. "Any new technology has ever increasingly faster adoption rates and thus increasingly faster rates of wealth building."

Das' post was specifically about San Francisco. Former Facebook product manager and "Chaos Monkeys" author Antonio García Martínez wrote that it correctly captured the city's "ruthless boom/bust, winner-take-all competition."

Some Bay Area-lovers pushed back. Notion marketer John Hurley fought back with a list of beautiful things you can do in the city. "Be deeply grateful for the heavenscape you live in," he wrote.

"Permanent underclass?" tech PR Ed Zitron wrote on X. "Drive out to the Redwoods, breathe in the air."

Meanwhile, techies have started diagnosing the traits of future members of the underclass, such as using a notetaking app or saying "I think."

Real career concerns beneath the memes

While it might be easy to dismiss the warnings of a "permanent underclass," the memes are also hitting on real fears people have for their careers.

AI leaders keep forecasting how radically the technology will shake up the economy.

It could be a white-collar bloodbath, as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei puts it. Meanwhile, layoffs keep getting blamed on AI. Others talk about the idea that AI will eventually be so capable that we'll all just be collecting universal basic income. Americans' sentiment for AI data center development has nosedived.

One user posted a clip of ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt's commencement speech, where graduates booed his reference to AI.

"These kids are embracing the permanent underclass," they wrote.

It may also be localized in San Francisco (and its famously high cost of living) — and San Francisco alone. One X user wrote that the permanent underclass was real, but that non-tech people should ignore it.

"What SF people consider 'permanent underclass' means something very different than in the rest of the country," they wrote. "But it means 'relative permanent underclass,' and it is real."

In his text, Das wrote that many San Francisco residents had been supportive, and that the common reaction he'd heard from those in the city was: "Thank you for stating plainly the anxiety from conversation we've all been having behind closed doors but too afraid to say out loud."

Another user wrote that AI was both minting checks and threatening the "safe path" — something they said didn't happen during previous technology booms. "You could sit out the dot-com boom & keep your accounting job," they wrote.

Kierra Dotson, author of The Data Digest, suggested there is a middle ground to the discourse.

"I think there's a lot of room between believing you're free of money from money problems and about to be in the permanent underclass(severe). Homes being expensive in the Bay Area is nothing new(esp during the COVID peak) and the median salary is $136k," she wrote.

"Has the goal post moved? Absolutely. Are these people in golden handcuffs? Probably," she added. "But I think they have many more options than they think they do and expectations will have to be reworked…which is something we are all waking up to."

Das wrote in his text that the lesson was to "be patient."

"If you look at the people who were the biggest beneficiaries of the AI era, it is people who were diligently doing research since 2013/4, when their skills weren't 'hot,'" he wrote. "Patience is underrated."

• Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has a warning for consulting firms.
• Palihapitiya said companies like PwC and Accenture should be cautious about working with OpenAI and Anthropic.
• He said such deals are like "letting the fox into the hen house."

Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya said leading consulting firms will come to regret their partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic.

"If you are running a consulting business and you are deploying Anthropic or OpenAI directly into your organization (I'm looking at you PwC and Accenture) you are letting the fox into the hen house," Palihapitiya wrote on X.

Palihapitiya issued his warning days after OpenAI announced that it was forming a new company, OpenAI Deployment Company, "to help organizations build and deploy AI systems." McKinsey & Company is an investor in DeployCo.

"OpenAI and Anthropic are openly funding and starting competitors to you while also using your usage to drive more success for them," he wrote. "This is not a failure on their part but a failure on your part. "

PwC and Accenture have previously announced expansive partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic.

Last week, Anthropic and PwC jointly announced "an expansion of their strategic alliance," including the establishment of "a joint Center of Excellence and a program to train and certify 30,000 PwC professionals on Claude." On the same day, May 14, Accenture announced a partnership with OpenAI to help federal agencies deploy AI calls for the type of forward-deployed engineers that Palihapitiya seems particularly concerned about.

All of this, Palihapitiya said during a recent episode of the "All in Podcast," is about the realization that the low end of the SaaS market is "basically finished," thanks to generative AI. Now, the competition is about the big companies.

"At the high end of the market where all the action is, what people are finding is, 'Hey, hold on a second, this is a lot harder than we thought,'" Palihapitiya said. "It's not like boop, boop, boop, put in a prompt and beep, bap, boop, it all works. It's not how it works."

It's why AI companies need organizations like DeployCo, Palihapitiya said, and why consulting companies should be wary of short-term partnerships.

Otherwise, as he wrote on X, they are just "adopting and accelerating the companies that want to disrupt them."

• Jay Hinson shares career growth tips from his 28-year journey at The Cheesecake Factory.
• Curiosity and adaptability were key to Jay Hinson's rise in restaurant kitchen operations.
• Jay Hinson emphasizes the impact of asking questions and seeking feedback for career advancement.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jay Hinson, the senior vice president of restaurant kitchen operations at The Cheesecake Factory. It has been edited for length and clarity.

People sometimes ask how I stayed at one company for nearly three decades and continued moving up. I think a big part of it came down to curiosity. At every stage of my career, I asked questions, studied the people above me, and tried to make their jobs easier.

I started working in restaurants when I was 14. A friend helped me get a summer job at a local restaurant, washing dishes and shucking clams. Before long, I learned the fryer, then the broiler, and I fell in love with the pace of the kitchen.

I joined The Cheesecake Factory in my early 20s and started as a line cook. Funny enough, I didn't even know what The Cheesecake Factory was when I applied.

My general manager at Ruby Tuesday, where I was working at the time, told me the company had one of the best kitchen management programs in the industry and said I should look into it. My initial thought was, "Why would he tell me to work at a factory?"

A few months later, I saw a "The Cheesecake Factory coming soon" sign at a mall near me and applied on the last day of hiring. I've been with the company for 28 years now and have earned seven promotions along the way.

Today, I'm the senior vice president of restaurant kitchen operations at The Cheesecake Factory, overseeing kitchen support across the company, including training, food quality, kitchen equipment, and financial operations tied to restaurant kitchens.

I never walked into The Cheesecake Factory thinking I'd become a senior vice president. My first goal was to become a manager. Then I wanted to become an executive kitchen manager. After that, I focused on the next role.

I took it one promotion at a time.

The 3 questions I ask in every new role

Every time I earned a promotion, I started studying the next role. I paid attention to how my bosses handled pressure, how they spoke to people, and how they adjusted their leadership styles from restaurant to restaurant.

I was fortunate because some of my bosses let me travel with them to different locations. I could see that one team might need encouragement while another team needed structure. That taught me how important adaptability is in leadership.

I also asked a lot of questions. Looking back, there were three questions I asked over and over again that shaped my career.

The first was: "How is today?"

That question helped me understand how my restaurant and my team were performing day to day. It opened the door for honest conversations and feedback, and it showed the people above me that I cared about more than just my own responsibilities.

The second question was: "How can I be better?"

I always wanted direct feedback. If my restaurant was strong in one area, I'd ask where we were weak. If the kitchen was clean, I'd ask about food quality. If food quality was strong, I'd ask about leadership or development.

Feedback is not always easy to hear, but it's necessary if you want to grow.

The third question was: "What can I do to make your job easier?"

Instead of focusing only on my own performance, I started thinking about how I could reduce problems for the people above me. If a boss had to repeat the same feedback to me twice, I wanted to fix that immediately.

Sometimes, making someone's job easier meant communicating more often. Sometimes it meant solving issues before they escalated. Sometimes it meant becoming dependable enough that they didn't have to worry about my restaurant.

The more detailed the feedback became, the more I improved.

The Cheesecake Factory rewarded people who wanted to grow

One reason I've stayed with the company for 28 years is because I believed the opportunities were real.

When I first joined The Cheesecake Factory, I sat in orientation rooms with people who had started as line cooks and moved into leadership positions. Seeing that made advancement feel possible.

I also connected deeply with the company culture. I felt cared for as a person, not just trained as an employee. That mattered to me early in my career, and it still matters now.

Today, one of my favorite parts of the job is developing younger employees. I love hearing a line cook say they want to become a manager and then seeing them accomplish it a few years later.

I've said this about every role I've had at The Cheesecake Factory: it was my favorite job at the time. I think that happened because I was promoted at the right pace and developed by the right people.

For anyone starting in restaurants today, my advice is to ask questions early, understand the expectations of the role, and look for a company that promotes from within.

Then pay attention to the people doing the job you want next.

• Iran is reportedly planning to use bitcoin to insure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
• According to Iranian media, the government has said the move could generate $10 million in revenue.
• The Strait remains mostly closed to shipping, with the war keeping oil prices above $100 a barrel.

Iranian is turning to bitcoin to insure ships looking for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

As the Iran war drags on toward the end of it third month, Fars News Agency, a Iranian government-affiliated news outlet, reports that the country has launched a shipping insurance service backed by bitcoin for Iranian ship. It cited documents that came from the Iranian Ministry of Economy and Financial Affairs.

"Cryptographically verifiable insurance policies will be provided for shipments passing through the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the surrounding waterways, and payments will be settled in Bitcoin," Fars wrote.

This initiative has been named Hormuz Safe. It is unclear how exactly it would work, though Fars noted that the Iranian government thinks it could generate as much as $10 billion in revenue. A report from Bloomberg stated that Iranian business magnate Babak Zanjani, a billionaire who has been accused of embezzling money from Iran's oil ministry, first began promoting the idea on his social media on May 8.

The development comes as tensions between the US and Iran have yet to cool. President Trump's attempts to pressure Iran into reaching a deal to end the war have failed to yield lasting results, and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains highly restricted.

Oil prices have been severely impacted but so has shipping for many other things, including fertilizer, helium, and petrochemicals.

According to data from digital asset manager Coinshares, bitcoin use in Iran has spiked significantly during the conflict.

"Around 14 million Iranians, roughly one in six, use Bitcoin, with annual transaction volumes growing 11.8% year-on-year and now representing ~2.2% of Iranian GDP," sanalyst Chris Bendiksen said.

However, the feasibility of using bitcoin to ensure a shipping service through a highly restricted chokepoint is far from certain. Traffic through the waterway is still at a near-standstill, and both the US and Iran have said that they will continue to block the passage of ships look to transit the Strait.

On top of that, the possibility of sanctions may also complicate things for ship owners. The risk of violating US sanctions by using a system connected to Iranian shipping may be too high-risk for companies with global networks of shipping routes.

• Week two of Andrew Left's securities fraud trial kicked off in Los Angeles on Monday.
• The defense argued Left shared accurate reports and that the issue seemed to be "timing" of trades.
• Prosecutors have said Left misled investors through his statements and trading activity.

Between all the tweets and trades, timing could turn out to be everything in Andrew Left's securities fraud trial.

A trading expert took the stand for the prosecution on Monday and testified that the prominent short-seller's trading records demonstrated a clear pattern.

"There was a short-term trading strategy in place to take a position ahead of the tweet, to tweet, and then to start closing the position after the tweet has hit the market," said Ross Waller, a former director of trading at Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund.

Left, a frequent TV guest with a large social media following, is accused of manipulating the market and deceiving retail investors with his public statements about companies whose stock he was trading.

Over and over again, Waller told the Los Angeles jury, Left would build a bet up a day or so before a tweet, reaching his maximum position around the time of the tweet, and then make a "U-turn" and immediately start offloading the bet.

"He tweets, and it's like flipping a switch," Waller said.

Several graphs displayed for the jury showed Left's trading actions on a stock over a three-day period that surrounded a tweet or report from Citron Research, Left's firm.

Waller testified that Left would often trade counter to the sentiment he expressed in his tweet, sometimes within minutes.

In some cases, Waller said, Left shared a bearish tweet suggesting it was time to bet against a stock, but then would immediately close his short position within a day or so. In other cases, he said, Left would share a bullish tweet and then quickly sell.

Left would also "always" close his position well before the price of the stock reached the target price he had publicized, Waller said.

Left wasn't ordering these trades only after the market reacted to his statements, the witness said.

In some instances, Left would place a limit order — an instruction to buy or sell a stock if it reaches a certain price by a specific point in time — ahead of tweeting.

For XL Fleet Corp, which was trading at around $25, Left in 2020 placed a limit order for $27.50 four minutes before he tweeted about the company with a target price of $60.

Waller said that meant Left said publicly he expected the stock to go to $60 even though he had already placed an order to sell his own shares at a price far below that.

By the morning after the tweet, Left had closed 98% of his position and profited $2.7 million, Waller said.

Left's defense has said his public statements contained his honest opinions, but that he also traded on his positions to make money and mitigate risk.

The question of Left's timing also came up earlier on Monday, during the testimony of Anna Hallstrom, a US postal inspector who helped investigate Left. His lawyer, Eric Rosen, questioned how the government could argue there was something illegal about the trades based on timing.

"You're saying effectively he closed his position too quickly?" Left's lawyer, Eric Rosen, asked Hallstrom.

"While at the same time telling people he was still in his position and still holding," Hallstrom replied.

A bit later, Rosen asked, "When does 'immediate' end and regular trading begin?"

"I would say when he stops giving misrepresentations to people about what he's doing," Hallstrom said.

All told, Left made more than $20 million in profits on the trades at issue in the case, prosecutors said.

The defense on Monday also echoed its argument that Left's reports on companies were valuable to retail investors and helped expose potential fraud — arguing that his client was "not targeting retail traders, he is warning them."

"He's warning the retail people they will get burned, correct?" Rosen asked.

"Yes, but he was also making money off them, too," Hallstrom said.

• Business Insider asked etiquette experts about the mistakes guests should never make at weddings.
• Guests shouldn't ignore the RSVP deadline or arrive late to the ceremony.
• Overindulging at the bar, bringing an uninvited guest, and taking food home are all major faux pas.

No one wants to be that guest at a wedding. You know, the one everyone is whispering about for walking in during the middle of the ceremony or having a bit too much fun at the open bar.

A lot of time, effort, and money go into planning a wedding, so it's important for guests to be on their best behavior during the festivities.

That's why Business Insider asked four etiquette experts about the mistakes wedding guests should never make. Here's what they said.

Missing the deadline to RSVP

Weddings, especially larger ones, require significant planning and coordination.

That's why Nick Leighton — cohost of the etiquette-centric podcast "Were You Raised by Wolves?" — said it's important to abide by the RSVP deadline on a wedding invitation.

"There are few things more rude than leaving a host hanging, so be sure to RSVP promptly," Leighton told BI.

Arriving late to the ceremony

Although you may routinely show up late to other events, weddings are not a place for tardiness. In this environment, late arrivals can disrupt the flow of the ceremony or reception.

"Arriving late to a wedding ceremony is a social faux pas," etiquette expert Lisa Mirza Grotts said. "Guests should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early."

Ignoring the dress code

Etiquette expert Jamila Musayeva said ignoring the dress code for a wedding is inconsiderate and disrespectful.

"When a guest shows up underdressed, it disturbs the aesthetic and can even make others uncomfortable. It's always better to be slightly overdressed than risk looking out of place," Musayeva told BI.

Wearing white or light-colored styles

Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert and founder of EtiquetteExpert.Org, told BI it's never OK for guests to wear all-white, cream, or pale pastel outfits.

"Do not wear a style that looks remotely bridal. You do not want to come even close to stealing the bride's spotlight," Hayes said.

However, she said white elements in an outfit are OK if they're within reason.

Taking photos during the ceremony without having explicit permission to do so

Nothing can ruin wedding photos like camera flashes and raised arms holding up phones.

To mitigate this issue, many couples now request "unplugged" ceremonies, where smartphones and other electronic devices are kept out of sight.

Musayeva told BI that ignoring the couple's wishes and using a phone are among the most disrespectful things a guest can do during a ceremony.

Bringing an uninvited plus one

Unconfirmed guests — including children — impact headcounts, meal planning, and table dynamics, and cause stress and frustration for the couple and wedding coordinators.

"Bringing someone who wasn't explicitly invited places an unexpected financial and logistical burden on the couple," Musayeva said.

Overindulging at the bar

Open bars are a popular choice for weddings, but Musayeva told BI it's important that guests don't overdo it.

"Drinking excessively shows a lack of self-awareness and puts unnecessary strain on the hosts," Musayeva said. "A guest who becomes disruptive, loud, or sloppy can change the tone of the evening entirely. It shifts attention away from the couple and onto someone's behavior."

Straying from the wedding registry

Although giving the couple a personal and thoughtful gift might seem gracious, Grotts said wedding guests should avoid straying from the provided wedding registry, as it can create more work for the couple down the road.

"A couple's registry is a curated list reflecting their needs and tastes," Grotts told BI. "Disregarding it can result in redundant or unwanted items, hence returns."

Making the day about you

Hayes told BI that claiming the spotlight with any big personal announcement or news is both self-centered and inconsiderate.

"Don't steal the spotlight or make the day about yourself in any way. This includes no wedding proposals or baby news announcements. The day is about the couple, not you," Hayes said.

Assuming you can take food home with you

Leighton said it's never tasteful for guests to bring to-go containers with them, no matter how casual the wedding is.

"The hosts want you to have a nice time, but they probably don't want to cater all your meals for the week," he said.

It's best to avoid banking on the idea of leftovers altogether — and always ask permission before taking anything home.

This story was originally published on June 4, 2025, and most recently updated on May 18, 2026.

• David Ellison's Paramount Skydance hired a former Google exec as its head of consumer AI.
• Paramount is turning to AI to jump-start its streaming services.
• Read Paramount product chief Dane Glasgow's memo to staffers about the hire.

Paramount Skydance just made a key hire to help advance its AI push.

Barak Turovsky, who oversaw Google's AI language product for seven years, is joining David Ellison's company as the head of consumer AI, product chief Dane Glasgow told tech staffers on Monday afternoon.

Turovsky most recently worked at General Motors and has held positions at companies including Cisco, PayPal, SAP, and IBM.

Hiring Turovsky will help Paramount "supercharge" the company's transformation as it uses AI to "meaningfully drive" growth, Glasgow told employees in an email, which was obtained by Business Insider.

Turovsky "will be responsible for growing our AI / ML team," which will "explore ways to leverage AI" across its streaming business, headlined by Paramount+ and free streamer Pluto TV, Glasgow said.

Glasgow then listed the ways AI could help its streamers:

• Personalization
• Content discovery
• Platform intelligence
• Consumer engagement
• Monetization capabilities

The company has been looking to bolster its streaming services with new consumer-facing features. Paramount+ rolled out a short-form video feed, and the company is developing interactive features, including a shopping tool and one centered on sports stats. The company is also looking to put video podcasts on Paramount+.

Paramount is leaning into technology

Paramount software engineers have told Business Insider they're increasingly using AI, and one said they'd used eight to 10 agents at a time to knock out tasks. This AI user said that "Paramount is getting better" at implementing tech, adding that it's still catching up to companies like Netflix and Google.

Paramount's product chief said in the Monday email that the company's goal is to "attract some of the best talent available" as it leans into AI.

Ellison's company recently hired fellow former Google executive Hugh Williams as an EVP and an "Executive in Residence." Last fall, Glasgow joined Paramount from Meta, and revenue chief Jay Askinasi came on board from Roku.

Paramount is looking to hire AI aficionados down the chain of command, based on current job listings for lead software engineers with experience building "intelligent automation systems."

The company will restructure its tech organization when CTO Phil Wiser steps down at the end of the month, Business Insider reported on Friday. The company will not replace Wiser and instead have four key executives report directly to Glasgow.

Turovsky, who joined Paramount on Monday as an EVP, also reports to Glasgow.

Robert Dumoulin, Paramount's SVP of Applied Intelligence, will now report to Turovsky.

Read the full memo from Glasgow to employees here:

Team,

As we see every day, the pace of technological change our industry is experiencing is rapid and we've already made tremendous progress in recent months to evolve our organization and products to remain on the forefront of what's possible. In order to supercharge our transformation, I am excited to announce that Barak Turovsky is joining Paramount as our EVP and Head of Consumer AI, reporting directly to me.

Barak brings deep and highly relevant experience, having contributed to the development of foundational technologies that underpin AI and applying those capabilities at scale across multiple industries. At Google, he led the Languages AI product organization responsible for commercializing AI technologies across Google Search, Ads, YouTube, Cloud, Translate, Android, and other products, and spearheaded the product efforts behind the industry's first large-scale commercial deployment of large language models and Transformers-based technology. Later, he held senior AI-focused roles at both General Motors and Cisco leading research, engineering and product teams to develop cutting-edge solutions and technologies.

He joins at a critical time in our company's evolution as we look to scale AI and ML to meaningfully drive our growth. He will be responsible for growing our AI / ML team and their capacity as we attract some of the best talent available. Barak and team will also explore ways to leverage AI to improve personalization, content discovery, platform intelligence, consumer engagement, and monetization capabilities across Paramount+ and Pluto TV. To drive strong alignment across these efforts, Robert Dumoulin, SVP of Applied Intelligence, will report to Barak.

Technology will always be a creative multiplier and, with Barak's leadership, I'm looking forward to seeing the impact he and the team will make as we drive our technological evolution forward. Please join me in welcoming Barak to Paramount!

Cheers!

Dane

• In 2024, Keara Callahan quit her corporate job to become a full-time social media influencer.
• She said she's working more than before, but she's earning more money and is happier.
• Callahan shared five things she's learned from quitting a corporate job.

Keara Callahan thought she was doing everything right. She went to college, earned a degree in economics, and landed a well-paying government job as a tech consultant.

But she still felt something was missing. Watching endless TikTok videos of young people traveling and living freely only deepened that feeling.

In 2024, after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend and moving back in with her parents, Callahan quit her corporate job — a decision she wasn't too sure about at the time.

"I'm very risk-averse, but I put in my notice and decided to pursue social media full-time," Callahan, 28, told Business Insider. "It was probably the riskiest move I've ever made."

Nearly three years after leaving her job, Callahan is now a full-time content creator with more than 300,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Her content, along with her newsletter and podcast, is geared mostly toward women and focuses on traveling and self-improvement.

Callahan said becoming her own boss was challenging, but worth it. While she's putting in more hours than at her last job, she's making more money and feels fulfilled.

Here are five things she's learned since leaving the corporate world and starting over.

Always have a backup plan

Although Callahan was doing well in her corporate career, she knew better than to get too comfortable.

"We talk about corporate jobs almost as if they're a guarantee that you're going to be OK, but that might not always be true," she said. "There are layoffs, reorganizations, changes in structure, and shifts in the economy."

Before leaving her corporate job, Callahan had already begun building her social media following and making money from brand deals. She said that extra income made the jump more possible.

"Is it risky to do my own thing? 110%," she added. "But one of the biggest lessons I've learned is that I'd rather have something on the side, like I did when I was working in corporate. It's important not to rely entirely on things outside your control."

Don't fear failure or judgment

Callahan said fear of failure had long held her back, both professionally and personally.

"I was pretty young when I entered the corporate world, as most of us are, and I was fearful that if I did anything wrong, I was going to get kicked out or fired," she said. "Fear held me back on both ends: fear of failure at work and fear of judgment outside work for doing something outside the norm."

However, since quitting her corporate job, Callahan said she has found a new confidence in her decision-making.

"Our brains are wired to protect us from scary things, even when those scary things can be fruitful or lead to something better on the other side," she said. "Regardless of fear, just take a step."

Being your own boss takes discipline

While it's nice to imagine not having a boss breathing down your neck to get your tasks done on time, working for yourself requires building your own structure and holding yourself accountable.

"In a job, you have a certain role and certain tasks you have to do on a daily or weekly basis," Callahan said. "When you're working for yourself, you have those same things, but there's no boss above you telling you what to do or checking in to make sure the work has been done."

Callahan admitted she struggled to balance work and free time after she first left her full-time job.

"I had all this time in the world, so I'd tell myself, 'I'll do it later,'" she said. "Then later came, and a week went by, then two weeks."

To get herself back on track, Callahan leaned on her corporate experience to create a more structured daily scheduled.

Now, her days follow a routine: From about 6:30 to 9:30 or 10 a.m., Callahan focuses on herself, doing things like working out, before sitting down to work. Each day of the week is also designated for a specific task. Mondays are for recording content and working on her podcast, client calls happen Tuesdays through Thursdays, and Fridays are usually reserved for time off or half days.

There's no shame in asking for help

Callahan said she struggled to ask for help or raise concerns while working in corporate.

"I felt like I always had to put on an act in corporate," she said. "Depending on where you work in your organization, you might not feel comfortable asking for help because you might be judged or seen as less than."

Now that she works for herself, Callahan has become less focused on titles and hierarchy and more focused on learning from others.

"I've been able to open up 10,000 times more and get the help I need for my business, and learning how to grow and create," she said.

Have faith in yourself

Deciding when to walk away from her job was something Callahan contemplated for a long time. Looking back, she said she wishes she had made the move sooner.

"My biggest thing is timing," she said. "There's never going to be a right time for anything. I know that's so cliché and so annoying, but I'd rather just bite the bullet now and figure it out along the way."

While she used to worry about what her friends, family, and colleagues thought of her, Callahan now knows the only person she has to please is herself.

"I don't care what other people think about me, my journey, or my trajectory," she said. "I'm afloat and making a more livable wage than I had been. It's all working out, and it's going to continue working out from here on out."

It's a good week to be a sports fan, as several popular leagues have marquee games on tap. The NBA Conference Finals kick off this week, featuring Spurs vs. Thunder and Cavaliers vs. Knicks match-ups. The WNBA season is also in full swing, and several of this week's games are nationally broadcast or streamed. You can also catch the NHL Playoffs, the PWHL Finals, and the UEFA Europa League Final on TV the week of May 18-May 24, 2026.

Below, you can find some of the top sporting events this week, including the top five best live sports on TV today. This roundup isn't a full list of all live sports on TV this week, but it covers some of the most notable events across popular leagues. Just keep in mind that some games and leagues (like the MLB) have blackout restrictions in local markets and for nationally broadcast games. Additionally, some fixtures airing on the same network at the same time as another game will be regionally dependent.

Baseball

• Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers (MLB) on Monday at 6:40 p.m. ET on FS1
• Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees (MLB) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. ET on TBS
• Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs (MLB) on Friday at 2:20 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles (MLB) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals (MLB) on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. ET on FS1
• St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds (MLB) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX
• Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers (MLB) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX
• Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET on Peacock
• Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels (MLB) on Sunday at 7:20 p.m. ET on Peacock

Basketball

• Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings (WNBA) on Monday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN/Peacock
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) on Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (NBA) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
• Portland Fire vs. Indiana Fever (WNBA) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on USA Network
• Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky (WNBA) on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on USA Network
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (NBA) on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Golden State Valkyries (WNBA) on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video
• Los Angeles Sparks vs. Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET on Prime Video
• Golden State Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever (WNBA) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ION
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs (NBA) on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
• Connecticut Sun vs. Seattle Storm (WNBA) on Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ION
• Minnesota Lynx vs. Chicago Sky (WNBA) on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium
• New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN Unlimited
• Los Angeles Sparks vs. Las Vegas Aces (WNBA) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium
• Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty (WNBA) on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
• Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs (NBA) on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

Hockey

• Montreal Victoire vs. Ottawa Charge (PWHL) on Monday at 6 p.m. ET on ION
• Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres (NHL) on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche (NHL) on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche (NHL) on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Motorsport

• Indianapolis 500 (IndyCar) on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET on FOX
• Canadian Grand Prix (Formula 1) on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on Apple TV

Tennis

• French Open qualifiers, daily on HBO Max

Soccer

• Arsenal vs. Burnley (Premier League) on Monday at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network
• AFC Bournemouth vs. Manchester City (Premier League) on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network
• Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. ET on Peacock
• Orlando City vs. Atlanta United (US Open Cup) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Paramount Plus
• St. Louis City vs. Houston Dynamo (US Open Cup) on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on CBSSN/Paramount Plus
• SC Freiburg vs. Aston Villa (Europa League Final) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET on Paramount Plus
• Columbus Crew vs. New York City (US Open Cup) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Paramount Plus
• América vs. Gotham FC (W Champions Cup) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes (US Open Cup) on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on Paramount Plus
• Washington Spirit vs. Pachuca (W Champions Cup) on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Boston Legacy vs. Seattle Reign (NWSL) on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video
• St. Louis vs. Austin (MLS) on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET on Apple TV/FOX
• Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Espanyol vs. Real Sociedad (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Celta Vigo vs. Sevilla (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Getafe vs. Osasuna (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Valencia vs. Barcelona (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Girona vs. Elche (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Mallorca vs. Real Oviedo (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Real Betis vs. Levante (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Alavés vs. Rayo Vallecano (La Liga) on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Racing Louisville vs. North Carolina Courage (NWSL) on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on ION
• Minnesota United vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS) on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Utah Royals vs. Denver Summit (NWSL) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET on ION
• Cincinnati vs. Orlando City (MLS) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• DC United vs. Montréal (MLS) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Charlotte vs. New England Revolution (MLS) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Chicago Fire vs. Toronto (MLS) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Nashville vs. New York City (MLS) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Sporting Kansas City vs. Red Bull New York (MLS) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• San Diego vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Colorado Rapids vs. Dallas (MLS) on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo (MLS) on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Kansas City Current vs. Portland Thorns (NWSL) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount Plus Premium
• Villarreal vs. Atlético Madrid (La Liga) on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Select
• Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United (MLS) on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on Apple TV
• Bay vs. Chicago Stars (NWSL) on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN Select
• Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS) on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on Apple TV/FOX
• LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders (MLS) on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on Apple TV/FOX

While some games shown on traditional broadcast networks might have a stand-alone streaming counterpart (like Peacock Premium Plus for NBC or Paramount Plus Premium for CBS), others might require one of the best live TV streaming services to tune in.

Even if you can get a network through a stand-alone service, a live TV provider might be a better fit if you're a cord-cutter looking to stream multiple networks in one place. Below, you can find some of the best ways to live stream popular sports channels, including ESPN, FOX, FS1, ION, TBS, TNT, truTV, and the USA Network.

How to watch ESPN

Several different services allow cord-cutters to live stream ESPN. ESPN Unlimited, ESPN's direct streaming counterpart, costs $30 a month and unlocks full live streaming across all of ESPN's linear networks.

ESPN is also available through top live TV streaming services, like DirecTV, Fubo, and Sling TV. The network is available in the service's main plans and cheaper sports-centric packages.

DirecTV's MySports genre pack costs $65 a month, but new users can get $20 a month off their first two months of service after a five-day free trial. Fubo's Sports + News plan costs $56 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial. Sling TV's Essentials plan costs $20 a month.

How to watch FOX and FS1

FOX and FS1 are both available to live stream through FOX One, which costs $20 a month and comes with a three-day free trial. There's also an option to bundle ESPN Unlimited with FOX One for $40 a month.

Both FS1 and FOX are also available through live TV streaming services, including DirecTV, Fubo, and Sling TV. FOX and FS1 are carried in DirecTV's MySports plan, which costs $65 a month ($20 a month off your first two months after a five-day free trial). They're also available in Fubo's Sports + News plan, which costs $56 a month ($10 off your first month after a five-day free trial).

You can also find both channels in multiple Sling plans, the cheapest of which is Sling Select (starting at $25 a month when local channels are involved). Just keep in mind that Sling's local channel coverage varies by region, so check whether FOX is available in your market before signing up.

How to watch ION

ION is available for free over-the-air and via a few FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) services, including Tubi and Pluto.

ION is also included in most live TV streaming services, including DirecTV's signature plans and Fubo's Sports + News plan. DirecTV's signature plans start at $90 a month for the Entertainment tier, but you can get $5 a month off for two years after a five-day free trial. Just keep in mind that plans might cost a little bit more after any additional required fees. Fubo's Sports + News plan costs $56 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial.

How to watch TNT, truTV, and TBS

Sporting events that air on TNT, truTV, and TBS are available to live stream on HBO Max via B/R Sports. This option is included in HBO Max's ad-free tiers, which start at $18.49 a month.

TNT, truTV, and TVS are also available through live TV services, such as DirecTV and Sling TV. The networks are available in DirecTV's MySports genre pack, which costs $65 a month (although new customers can get $20 a month off their first two months of service after a five-day free trial).

TNT and TBS are also carried in both of Sling's main plans. Sling Orange costs $46 a month, and Sling Blue starts at $46 a month, but the latter sometimes costs more with local channels. Orange is also available in short-term passes, the cheapest of which is $5 for single-day access.

How to watch USA Network

Unlike NBC, USA Network isn't available to stream live on Peacock. Instead, you'll need a live TV streaming service, like DirecTV or Sling TV, to watch the network. DirecTV plans with the USA Network start at $65 a month for the MySports genre pack, but new users can get $20 a month off their first two months after a five-day free trial. Sling TV plans with the USA Network start at $46 a month for Sling Blue.

How to watch from anywhere

If you're traveling away from home, you might find it difficult to tune into your usual viewing options. Fortunately, you can keep up with your favorite services while abroad by using a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are handy cybersecurity tools that let you temporarily alter your virtual location. You can learn more in our guide to the best VPNS, or head directly to NordVPN, our top recommendation.

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

• Delta Air Lines is ending snack service on flights under 350 miles starting May 19.
• The change also means flights over 350 miles get a full snack and beverage service.
• The internet's response is divided, but I don't think it's a big deal.

A small airline Biscoff cookie has split the internet.

Earlier this month, news broke that Delta Air Lines would end free snack service for economy travelers on all flights under 350 miles starting on May 19. Those flights previously had "Express Service," a scaled-down complimentary snack and drink offering.

Cirium data shows the change applies to about 90 routes, most of which are on Delta's regional subsidiaries. Think hops like New York to Boston, San Francisco to Los Angeles, and Atlanta to dozens of smaller cities across the Southeast. Delta First is not affected, but economy flyers will need to bring their own SunChips or sodas — air travel comforts that many are accustomed to.

A Delta spokesperson told Business Insider the affected routes are all under an hour, and that the shake-up actually means 14% more daily flights will now get full snack and beverage service.

That includes a wider drink selection — including beer, wine, and liquor — and four snack options, instead of the more limited express lineup, which included the Biscoff and usually pretzels or chips. The Biscoff will still be available on full-service flights.

Reduced or no snack service on shorter routes is the norm for major airlines, as it saves money on weight and inventory and doesn't strain flight attendants' already limited time. It's not even completely new for Delta — the airline's previous cutoff was under 250 miles, or about 750 daily flights.

But raising that to 350 miles means around 500 more daily flights under that threshold will now go snackless, or about 9% of its total operations. Delta now has the strictest snack cutoff among the Big 3 US airlines — American's is 250 miles, and United's is 300.

Although Delta has said the change is positive for most customers, reactions on social media, including X and Reddit, have been mixed.

In response to the news, one X user equated the loss of snacks to flying low cost: "Spirit's body is not even cold and they're already trying to replace them!"

Another said: "Translation: Delta will operate like a discount airline while charging you full-service prices."

A Senate candidate from Maine, Graham Platner, said on X that the move comes after Delta CEO Ed Bastian brought home a huge compensation package in 2024: "Delta can afford to pay their CEO $27 million," he said. "But a complimentary water bottle is where they draw the line."

Not everyone is upset, though.

An analyst from the Florida Commerce Department, Kyle Lamb, said on X that flight attendants are already pressed for time on short flights. Others pointed out that the new threshold only adds 10-20 minutes of snackless flight time.

Travel analyst Mike Arnot told Business Insider that airlines constantly measure customer satisfaction, and there are more pressing concerns among flyers.

"For most airlines, the biggest driver of customer satisfaction is whether the flight arrived on time," he said. "Everything else falls by the wayside in comparison."

He added the weight savings could actually result in a better performing airline: "Perhaps lower fares, or more destinations to small cities that live and die by air service."

I see both sides. But, as someone who has experienced Delta's express service dozens of times, I don't think it's a huge deal. I can throw a granola bar in my purse and get coffee on the way to my gate (Dunkin' is better than airplane coffee anyway).

Plus, I can imagine that those who frequently take flights just under the 350-mile cutoff — Cirium shows Chicago Midway to Minneapolis is exactly 349 miles, for example — are happy to get more options.

And there are dozens more routes now that will get the full service — effectively moving Delta's better onboard service onto more flights.

But I also see how others perceive it as Delta devaluing the economy experience in favor of its higher-paying premium customers.

Delta has been laser-focused on premium post-COVID as demand for more in-flight comforts soars, including new luxe cabins and fancy airport lounges — but it has simultaneously added restrictions on certain economy tickets, like taking away lounge access and reducing their SkyMiles value.

American and United are similarly all in on premium, and Arnot warned that other airlines may make similar adjustments to their short-haul snack service.

For me, I'll miss the Biscoff, but I think most people will probably stop noticing pretty quickly. I can manage another 15 minutes in the air without a pick-me-up.

• Most of us don't get enough fiber.
• A cardiologist said it's key to add fiber to your diet slowly, to avoid gas and bloating.
• Frozen fruits and veggies make it easier to eat fiber-rich meals without worrying about spoilage.

Fiber has a bit of a reputation problem. Gas, bloating, constipation —Dr. Danielle Belardo has heard it all at her cardiology practice in Los Angeles.

She says getting more fiber into your diet doesn't have to be painful, time-consuming, or expensive, if you know the right hacks. The truth is, most of us could stand to increase our fiber intake a little.

Eating more fiber-rich foods, such as beans, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, offers a range of health benefits. Even the CEO of McDonald's recently said that fiber is "going to be big" in 2026 as consumers gravitate toward foods that may improve their gut health. (In case you are wondering, no, Big Macs don't count as a fiber-rich food.)

Fiber can help lower "bad" cholesterol, support healthy gut bacteria, modestly improve blood pressure, reduce the risk of colon cancer, and reduce inflammation.

Here are Belardo's three tips for amping up your fiber intake, without pain or stress:

Start slow to avoid bloating

Your body needs time to adjust to extra fiber consumption. If you slam a bunch of extra fiber into your diet overnight, you'll likely end up with some pretty uncomfortable gastrointestinal side effects, like bloating and gas.

Belardo suggests starting by adding about 3 more grams of fiber to your diet than you normally eat in a day, choosing small amounts of fruits or vegetables you already enjoy.

For example, "Start out with a quarter of a cup of raspberries in yogurt," Belardo says. Incorporate it in a way that feels sustainable and enjoyable for you.

"Don't go all in eating an entire bowl of Brussels sprouts your first day adding fiber. Maybe do an eighth of a serving at first, and then go up slowly."

Drink lots of water

Fiber is like a sponge: It needs water to do its job properly.

If you consume more fiber in your diet without staying well-hydrated throughout the course of the day, you may suffer from more constipation, cramping, and bloating.

Belardo says she sometimes tracks her daily hydration using the MyFitnessPal app to make sure she's staying on target with her water intake throughout the day. (She is on the scientific advisory council for that company.)

Your freezer is your friend

Belardo says people can easily get discouraged from eating more healthy, fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables because they tend to rot more quickly than ultra-processed stuff.

"People often find there's this stress threshold: they go out, they're super ambitious, they buy all these fruits and vegetables. and then they can't eat it in the time that goes bad, and then you feel like you wasted a huge amount of money," she said.

Just go frozen. Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh. In fact, frozen produce can sometimes be nutritionally superior to fresh fruits and veggies you'd get in the grocery store because it's immediately flash frozen after it's picked, locking in the prime nutritional benefits you'd only get otherwise if you ate it directly off the tree or out of the patch.

"If you buy a bunch of frozen fruits and vegetables, there's so much less pressure to stress yourself out to eat it fast, and it's got the same health benefits," Belardo said.

Vistaprint is a go-to for affordable custom printing, with everything from business cards and flyers to banners, stickers, invitations, labels, and branded packaging. The retailer is especially popular with small businesses, event planners, and shoppers who want professional-looking designs without needing advanced design skills. Plus, using a Vistaprint coupon code can help lower the cost of larger or bulk orders.

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If you haven't had the pleasure of being wowed by a wet-dry vacuum's ability to vacuum and mop floors (and some rugs) simultaneously, let me tell you, these hard floor cleaners have quickly become one of my favorite cleaning tools.

For this guide, I focused on wet-dry vacuum mops — also called vacuum mop combos or hard-floor cleaners — that vacuum and mop sealed floors at the same time. These are different from heavy-duty shop vacs, which are designed for garages, workshops, construction debris, and large liquid cleanups. I tested 24 wet-dry vacuums over the course of three testing cycles in my house, my parent's house, and even my brother's home so that I could try them out on various floor types, including tile, laminate flooring, rugs, and a mix of modern and historic hardwood flooring.

Our top picks for the best wet-dry vacuums

Best overall: Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch Ultra - $599 $499 at Amazon

Runner up: Narwal S30 Pro - $549 at Narwal

Best budget: Bissell Crosswave Omniforce - $279 at Amazon

Best for pets: Roborock F25 - $280 at Amazon

Best for large homes: Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Series - $849 $699 at Amazon

Best lightweight: Shark HydroVac Messmaster Cordless - $300 $270 at Amazon

Safe on carpets: Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 - $300 at Walmart

Best robot: Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro Robot Vacuum - $1,199 $639 at Amazon

How to choose a wet-dry vacuum

Best overall

Tineco leads the way when it comes to the best mop-vacs. The feature that Tineco pioneered early on in its floorcare and continues to prioritize in its models today is the dirt detect technology, which enables the vacuum to recognize dirt and stains and automatically increase suction and mopping power to clean the floor. Not only does the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra feature dirt detect technology, but it also boasts superb dual-edge cleaning technology and an anti-tangle brushroll that is consistently rinsed to deliver clean water. We were impressed by the auto, max, and suction (for liquid spills) modes, as well as how well the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra cleaned all kinds of small and large, dry or wet messes, typically in a single pass.

The Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra differs from our previous top pick, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in a few ways. The LCD screen isn't as large and doesn't feature an animated assistant (great at first, but the novelty wears off), but S7 Stretch Ultra is a great successor thanks to its lie-flat design to reach fully under low furniture like beds and couches, and upgrades like heated drying, features the S7 Pro lacks. The lie-flat ability caused a design change; the clean water tank is now located on top of the vacuum head, and the floorhead is now bulkier and wouldn't fit under kitchen cabinets. It also ditched the LED lights I loved on the S7 Pro. The battery life is advertised at 50 minutes, which is possible on auto mode if your floors aren't that dirty, but in my testing, the battery lasted about 32 minutes. This was still plenty of time to clean my 1,600-square-foot house. In fact, the clean water tank didn't have to be refilled until the 20-minute mark, and the dirty water tank emptied at the 28-minute mark.

My favorite update to the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra has to be the self-cleaning system. It cleans with hot water, and the heated drying feature dries the brushroll in just five minutes. While the debris catcher doesn't work as well as I'd like, I can absolutely say that the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra picked up a lot more dirt than any other vacuum I tested except for the Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Pro (more on that model below), which cleans with hot water and heated dries the brushroll exceptionally and in just five minutes. The Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra's dirty water tank was noticeably darker and contained more dirt sludge than the other wet-dry vacuums.

Read our review of the best Tineco wet-dry vacuums. 

Runner up

The easiest, most hands-off self-cleaning system that makes maintenance a breeze. One of my early gripes with wet-dry vacuums is that after cleaning your floors, you had to dedicate time to cleaning out the machine, which often times meant interacting with some icky debris. The Narwal S30 Pro offers hot water self-cleaning and hot air drying, plus innovative features like a waste separation bag and built-in scissors that cut off any hair that wraps. It also has the ability to lie flat and boasts an auto-detergent dispenser.

The S30 Pro came very close to being our overall pick. There were small nit-picky things that prevented it from being chosen, like the AI smart function not reading a very dirty area near my back door, and I didn't notice any difference in the water output between AI smart mode and wood floor mode.

It cleaned almost every mess on the first pass. Dried ketchup took two passes, but practically no extra effort or time on my part. The S30 Pro features five modes (max, AI smart, suction, quiet, and wood floor modes), a battery that lasts 31 minutes, and the ability to easily pick up all sizes of debris and wet messes, thanks to its dirt and stain detecting technology. Where it shines is with front and edge cleaning, as it cleans within one centimeter of an edge. Amazingly, I didn't have to refill the clean water tank until right before the battery died.

This lightweight wet-dry vacuum easily moves around the house and reaches far under furniture, such as beds, with its lie-flat design. The suction increases when it recognizes that the vacuum is tilted to 180 degrees, ensuring better cleaning in hard-to-reach spaces. The vacuum head doesn't clear under kitchen cabinets sideways, but it slightly fits under the cabinet if approached from the front. To use Max Mode, you have to grip the trigger, a design element the Narwal S20 also features. It would be a lot easier if you could adjust to max mode with a button rather than have to hold the trigger constantly, but this is likely to conserve battery.

The Narwal S30 Pro outperforms other wet-dry vacuums. For one, as you clean, the S30 Pro pushes clean water through the brush and automatically dispenses detergent so the brushroll isn't dirty as you clean your house. When setting the wet-dry vacuum back on the base, the built-in scissors cut any hair that might have tangled on the brush. It's quite fun to watch.

The Narwal S30 Pro has an extremely hands-off cleaning system. It uses hot water and detergent to clean the brushroll and vacuum head as part of the self-cleaning system. It then dries the brushroll at 194 degrees. When complete, the brushroll is very clean and dry. However, my favorite feature is a waste separation bag that clips into the dirty water tank to catch all of the solid waste, making it easy to remove before emptying the dirty water in the sink, as opposed to the standard built-in debris catcher. It works incredibly well and limits my contact with debris, but unfortunately, the bags are not reusable. The S30 Pro comes with 10 bags, and a refill pack of 30 costs $20.

Best budget

One of the most affordable options we recommend, and it is frequently on sale. The Bissell CrossWave OmniForce is a great option for pet owners, considering the tangle-free brushroll does a fantastic job of grabbing pet hair. You can use it on any type of surface, whether as a wet-dry vacuum or a vacuum, which is a rare feature in most wet-dry vacuums. Essentially, you can ensure your rugs and hard floors remain clean and odor-free with the Bissell.

It is easy to maneuver around the house. It fits under cabinets, too, despite not being able to lie flat and operating with a bit of noise. I love that it notifies you with a noise and flashing symbol on the LCD screen when you need to empty the dirty water tank, refill the clean water tank, or charge it. I was able to clean my entire home before the 30-minute battery life expired, although the water tank had to be refilled twice at the 14- and 28-minute marks.

For the most part, the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce cleans well. The Turbo mode, however, quickens the process of lifting stubborn messes, such as dried ketchup or chocolate syrup. Sometimes you just need a little more water for tougher stains. The front and edge cleaning left about an inch of space between the vacuum and the wall. I noticed that if you reverse over large debris or something like coffee grounds, they may get stuck behind the wheels.

The self-cleaning system is a major upgrade to the previous Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro I tested. That initial model which required the extra step of manually pouring water into the base, and it was corded. This one was more automatic, it's self-cleaning system wasn't strong enough to completely remove the dirt and debris that clung to the brushroll's long fibers, so hand washing was necessary, followed by letting the brushrolls air dry overnight. It also doesn't have any drying capabilities.

Read my Bissell Crosswave Omniforce review.

Best for pets

From muddy paw prints to accidents, the Roborock F25 BX fully cleans pet hair, messes, and everyday dirt and debris. The battery lasted for 34 minutes on auto and up to 60 minutes on eco mode. With fantastic edge and front cleaning, it goes within a centimeter of walls for the most thorough cleaning possible. Again, this model was also too thick to reach under the toe kick, but it could lean back flat to go under furniture. Take note that the vacuum doesn’t automatically pause when you lock it upright; in fact, it’ll keep moving if you don’t turn it off.

The dirt detect technology is a game changer for adjusting suction power. It ensures that you don’t miss any hard-to-see dirt, debris, stains, or pet hair. Although it’s not as perfect as I would have liked, since it didn’t indicate that my mudroom floors were dirty, even though I could see dirt on the ground. Max mode yields excellent results on large debris, provided you clean in a forward motion. Coffee grounds and cereal got stuck behind the wheels when we cleaned in reverse. Thankfully, you won’t have to refill the clean water tank constantly. It seems to utilize the water efficiently to the point where I didn’t have to refill it until right before the battery died.

Where the Roborock F25 BX really shines for pet owners is the cleaning system. The self-cleaning system uses hot water that’s heated to 194 degrees to clean the brushroll. I was actually surprised by how clean the brushroll was and that there wasn’t really any dirt, debris, hair, or mess left under the vacuum head after the self-cleaning system was complete. The self-drying system uses hot air to dry the brushroll over the course of about 22 minutes.

Roborock offers several variations of its F25, including the budget basic GT model which matches the cleaning performance, but lacks heated self-dry; Ace, which introduces an automatic detergent dispenser and app connectivity; or the Ultra, which cleans floors with hot water or steam. In our Roborock F25 Ultra review, our tester had never seen her floors look so shiny, thanks to the steam features that cut through grease and erased long-settled stains.

Best for large homes

I was blown away by this wet-dry vacuum's long battery life, quick recharging, and flash drying system. The design — inspired by the Aurora Borealis — makes the Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Pro a standout among wet-dry vacuums, thanks to its aesthetics alone.

If you're willing to splurge or have a large home that requires extended cleaning sessions, the S9 is worth every penny. The S9 lasted an impressive 58 minutes on auto mode, which is about twice as long as most wet-dry vacuums. It even recharges faster than most in only three hours. The larger water tank also ensured I didn't have to refill the clean water tank until the 37-minute mark or empty the dirty water tank until I cleaned for 47 minutes. This wet-dry vacuum maximizes the clean water tank efficiently, and trust me when I say that it does a fantastic job at pulling up unseen dirt, debris, spills, and stains with its dirt-detecting capabilities. Whenever I emptied the dirty water tank, there was always a thick amount of sludge at the bottom, indicating that nothing was left unseen on my floors.

The S9 Artist Pro glides easily with self-propelling technology and can also lie flat to reach under furniture easily. If only the vacuum head weren't so thick, which prevented it from fitting under my kitchen cabinet. Interestingly, the body of the wet-dry vacuum has a 90-degree swivel design, allowing me to twist around furniture as I cleaned. You'll typically only need one pass to pick up any type of wet or dry mess. A rubber scraper, which acts as a squeegee, in the floor head aids in a streak-free clean and picking up all manners of mess, while dual-edge cleaning ensures that there are no gaps between the sides of the vacuum and a wall or piece of furniture. I also didn't detect any space between the front edge of the vacuum and a wall when vacuuming straight on. If all that wasn't enough, dual-layer scrapers prevent hair from tangling around the brush and causing any clogs or interruption in your cleaning.

The self-cleaning system is quick and efficient, utilizing water heated to 185 degrees to clean the brushroll and 185-degree hot air to dry it. The self-drying system is loud, but it only lasts five minutes and leaves the brushroll completely dry.

Best lightweight

At about 8.5 pounds, this is the lightest model we tested. The Shark HydroVac Messmaster is easy to maneuver around your home, and it has LED lights to better see in low-lit areas. However, the Shark HydroVac Messmaster doesn't have a dirt detection system to go harder on a staine and the battery lasts only 25 minutes. I wasn't quite able to clean my 1,600-square-foot house in that time and the clean water tank ran out at the 12-minute mark, making this better suited for smaller homes. At least I was able to recharge the battery enough within 30 minutes to finish cleaning my house.

Cleaning performance was OK, but often required multiple passes. It aptly vacuumed and mopped away debris like leaves, hair, soda, and some bits of cereal on any floor type, but it struggled to clean thicker substances like barbecue sauce, syrup, and dried ketchup from hard floors. I had to go over these substances multiple times so there wouldn't be any leftover residue. I should note that coffee and larger debris like cereal often got caught behind the wheels when vacuuming backward.

It's marketed as safe to use on rugs. When testing the vacuum on my rugs, it didn't leave behind a lot of water, which makes me inclined to believe that it'll only lightly wash your rugs. For a deeper clean, you'll have to go with the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 or a heavy-duty carpet cleaner.

The self-cleaning system is basic, but functional. There is a debris catcher within the dirty water tank, and even though it doesn't catch everything, it does catch most of the debris. A cleaning brush would've made it easier to clean the debris catcher, but one was not provided. At this price point, it has no self-drying features.

Safe on carpets

The Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 can be used on hard floors and rugs, which makes it particularly versatile. It's self-propelled wet-dry vacuum has the right kind of water output that doesn't soak your hard floors or your rugs — even when you're in Max mode. You can always use the extra water trigger if you need more water. Unlike other wet-dry vacuums on this list, Ecowell does not include a cleaning solution to get you started.

The edge cleaning is phenomenal, and the Ecowell Lulu picks up debris just as well going forward as it does backward on all types of floors. To be clear, when used on area rugs, this wet-dry vacuum suctions debris at the same time that it cleans the rug with water. Performance-wise, the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 picked up debris of all sizes with one or two passes on any floor type. Viscous substances took two to three passes, while liquids took one pass for the wet-dry vacuum to suction it up. 

I wish the machine turned off when stood upright and that it had the capability to lean further back so it could reach more areas under beds and shelves. The battery lasted about 30 minutes, and I still had a little bit of water left in the tank by the time the battery died. The Ecowell Lulu has both a self-cleaning system and a self-drying system, the latter of which is a feature typically found on pricier models. You'll have to press two separate buttons at the same time to start them up. Overall, we believe you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05. 

Best robot

For hand-free cleaning, I recommend splurging on a do-it-all device that requires minimal maintenance on your part, like the best robot vacuum and mop. The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro not only automatically vacuum and mops, but can clean and dry the mopping pads so you only need to check in on on the vacuum periodically.

It's an excellent scrubber, uses a single mopping pad that shifts back and forth, using pressure to scrub up spills and stains. It was also very thorough at spot-cleaning, spinning as needed to approach the mess at all angles. As a vacuum, it's also top-notch, having no problem picking up crushed cereal to flour, offering some of the best corner cleaning our tester had seen. The process is very automatic, with technologies that detect the floor type and how much dirt is present to adjusts suction and mopping pressure accordingly. While some other vacuums let you tinker with settings to adjust water flow or pressure, the Shark PowerDetect aims to streamline the settings, especially when the amount of customization can start to feel overwhelming.

The robot also has useful design features, like if you only want to vacuum, it'll leave the mopping portion behind at the base, and lifts adequately to avoid accidentally wetting carpets. On first run, the Shark will also map your home and then in the accompanying app you you can label rooms, set no-go zones, and schedule the cleanings, including whether you want the robot to vacuum or mop and which rooms to clean.

After robot completes cleaning, the base station will wash the mop pad and then dry it with cool air. The base station can also hold up to 60 days worth of debris. The process is pretty hands-off, but between emptying into the base station, and the general cleaning of the mop pad, there is a bit of commotion, perhaps making it ideal to run at night or when you're away from home. The robot's lidar technology makes it easy for the vacuum to navigate the home in the dark; it's also useful for navigating around obstacles and furniture. Since testing, Shark has introduced a ThermaCharged version that washes the mop pad with hot water and dries it with hot air, and the PowerDetect UV Reveal, which introduces a UV light for better stain detection and hypersonic mopping.

Read our full Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 robot vacuum review.

Our top picks compared

What else we tested

What we recommend

• Tineco Floor One S5 ($350): The Tineco Floor One S5 is the more affordable counterpart of the Tineco Floor One S7 — about $200 less. It has many of the same features, including a dirt detection system, voice assistant, app connectivity, and a self-cleaning cycle. The LCD screen may not be as high-tech as the S7 Pro, and the S5 lacks a self-drying system, but it cleans just as well.
• Dyson WashG1 ($770): Dyson's first dedicated floor washing cleaner arrived to lots of fanfare, and yes, it cleans like a dream. It functions less like a vacuum as it does not have suction, and more-so a powered mop with the ability to separate out dry debris. It sports a distinct design with a highly maneuverable dual-brushroll cleanerhead that effectively scrubs up stuck on grime. However, its self-cleaning system and intensive aftercare made us question if its truly worth the $800 price tag. Read our full Dyson WashG1 review.
• Tineco Floor One S7 Pro ($399): The Tineco Floor One S7 Pro is still one of Tineco's greatest wet-dry vacuums thanks to the LCD screen with an animated assistant, four cleaning modes, sensor technologies that can recognize dirt and stains on the floor, automatically increasing the suction when necessary, and LED headlights that illuminate the floor in front of you. The 40-minute battery life is no joke either. It was edged out by the Stretch Ultra model, which can lie flat and introduces heated self-drying. Read our full Tineco Floor One S7 Pro Review.
• Electrolux 2-in-1 Standard ($499): The Electrolux 2-in-1 Standard Wet and Dry Vacuum can uniquely convert into a handheld vacuum, allowing you to clean up quick messes on your couch or in your car without reaching for another device. The Electrolux performed pretty well cleaning our house, but when it came to big messes like coffee, cereal, or egg spills, the wet-dry vacuum appeared to suction everything up, and yet minutes later, such messes would fall off the brushroll and need to be cleaned once again. It has fantastic front and edge cleaning and a decent self-cleaning and drying system.
• Narwal S20 Pro ($500): The Narwal S20 is a favorite, only bested by its successor, the Narwal S30 Pro. The Narwal S20 cleans floors extremely well, thanks to its dirt detect technology and five cleaning modes. Not to mention, it can lie completely flat, boasts a 37-minute battery life, and has a self-cleaning and drying system that works great. Read our Narwal S20 Pro Vacuum Mop review.
• Dreame H15 Pro Carpetflex ($550): I had high hopes for the Dreame H15 Pro Carpetflex, which has a hard floor cleaner brushroll and a separate vacuum-only design to swap in for cleaning carpets, but the suction level wasn't strong enough to make a meaningful impact on my rugs. The hot water self-cleaning and drying system is as impressive as the dirt detect technology. The vacuum will automatically adjust the suction when it recognizes dirt, debris, or a mess on the ground. Oddly, it didn't pick up thicker liquids, such as barbecue sauce, very well and struggled with extra-large debris. The front edge cleaning is also less than impressive, in that it is only able to clean within 1.5 inches of a wall.
• Dreame H12 Pro Wet Dry Vac Mop ($200): Even with favorable features like a dirt detect system and a great battery life of 40 minutes, the Dreame H12 Pro Wet Dry Vac Mop does an average job of cleaning messes and generally requires users to fill up the clean water tank 2-3 times in one session. At least it excels in reverse cleaning and is well-priced. It also offers hot air drying, though it takes up to an hour. I've seen it priced as low as $199.
• HiZero Bionic Floor Cleaner ($699): The HiZero Bionic Floor Cleaner is a futuristic-looking wet-dry vacuum that stands out for its spongy polymer roller that 'licks up' dirt, debris, liquids and solids. Not to mention, HiZero puts dirt and debris into its own trash bin separate from the dirty water tank, which makes clean up a lot easier.
• Roborock Saros 10R ($1,599): Part of Roborocksflagship Saros cleaning series, the Saros 10R is an autonomous and effective robotic option with spinning mop pads. It has an eye-watering $1,600 price tag to match all the bells and whistles you could ever want out of a robot vacuum and mop (like hot water cleaning and warm air drying), plus the ability for the mop to lift off and stay at the dock when cleaning carpets. Read our full Roborock Saros 10R review.
• Roborock Q Revo Series QV 35A ($650): Roborock's Q Revo Series is a great mid-range robot vacuum and mop, especially when found on sale. It has a lower rated suction power than many of today's top models, but it's still a rockstar at vacuuming and mopping, and appeared to get smarter and more efficient with each use. Read our Roborock Q Revo review.

What we don't recommend

• Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac: We previously recommended this corded Crosswave Pet Pro as a great option for pets, but we feel you can get better cleaning performance and enhanced self-cleaning from other Bissell vacs at a similar price and competitors like Shark (our lightweight pick). While you can control how much water and solution you want to use on hard floors or rugs with a trigger, less is more with this wet-dry vacuum because it doesn’t do that well with suctioning water. The pet hair strainer is nice, but the process for cleaning this wet-dry vacuum is more hands-on than we’d like.
• Hoover Streamline Hard Floor Wet Dry Vacuum with Hand Vacuum: Despite being one of the simpler wet-dry vacuums we tested, this Hoover is priced higher than we expected. Not only is it corded, and you have to hold the water trigger the entire time you clean, but you'll likely have to empty the dirty water tank multiple times in one session.
• Black + Decker Wet Dry Vacuum: The Black + Decker Wet Dry Vacuum is a budget buy that doesn't quite live up to what you expect from the brand. Despite cleaning most debris and substances well (besides dried substances like ketchup), the product is clunky, difficult to maneuver, and has poor edge cleaning.

What to look for when choosing a wet-dry vacuum

Multiple cleaning modes: The first thing you want to look for when buying a wet-dry vacuum is what kind of flooring it is designed to clean. Most can be used on any kind of hard flooring, though some may have settings designed for wood flooring. Some can be used on rugs, which is a great bonus. From there, check to see if the wet-dry vacuum is outfitted with different cleaning modes, like a max or boost mode, that allows more water and power output for a deeper clean. Some wet-dry vacuums have eco modes that save battery. In particular, you'll want a wet-dry vacuum that has the ability to suction liquid off the floor.

Power source: While most wet-dry vacuums are battery-powered, some are still corded. Ask yourself if an unlimited power source is most important to you or if you don't want the hassle of a cord. Look into how long the power cord is, and if it's battery-powered, the battery runtime. Be wary of brands that don't provide a battery runtime, as it generally indicates it's on the lower end.

Edge cleaning capabilities: How well a wet-dry vacuum can clean along the edges of the vacuum head is important. During our testing, we noticed that some vacuum heads leave a dry strip of floor half an inch or a full inch between the front of a vacuum head and the wall. Alternatively, if you went along the wall with the side of the vacuum and utilized edge cleaning, that dry strip of flooring might only be a centimeter in width. This is why edge cleaning is such an important element of a wet-dry vacuum. Otherwise, you'd be pulling out your mop to get those tight corners.

Self-cleaning systems: It may seem like all wet-dry vacuums have a self-cleaning system, but some are better than others. The latest trend in these systems is hot water washing and hot air drying of the brushroll in the self-cleaning modes. This is still pretty expensive, with our more budget options typically using ambient water temperatures to clean the pipes and the brushroll and then removing the brushroll once complete to lit it air dry. Also, look for wet-dry vacuums that separate dirt and debris completely from the dirty water tank, like the Narwal S30 Pro, which filters dry debris through its own disposable container, and makes handling the cleanup process easier. Just remember that no matter the wet-dry vacuum, even if it has a self-cleaning and self-drying system, you'll need to promptly empty the dirty water tank, double check to make sure there isn't hair or dust stuck on the brush roll or in the vacuum head (there usually is), clean the air filter, and let the brush roll and air filter air dry for a whole day to avoid mildew growth.

Dirt-detect features: No matter if the wet-dry vacuum has an LED headlight or not, it can still be hard to detect dirt or stains on a floor. This is why wet-dry vacuums with dirt-detecting sensors are the most ideal, but they are a sophisticated feature that costs a premium. Such wet-dry vacuums not only increase the suction or scrubbing when the floor is particularly dirty, but they'll also inform you — usually by colored lights on a digital or LCD display — that the floor is either clean or dirty and requires a few more passes of the vacuum or more water output to clean a stain.

How we tested the best wet-dry vacuums

I tested 24 wet-dry vacuums over the course of three testing cycles in my house, my parent's house, and even my brother's home so that I could try them out on various floor types, including tile, laminate flooring, rugs, and a mix of modern and historic hardwood flooring. I evaluated them according to the parameters detailed below. In addition to my own personal testing experience, I also received feedback from Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, about what to look for in wet-dry vacuums and how to best use and take care of them. 

Vacuuming and mopping ability: We tested each wet-dry vacuum for how well they picked up debris going forward and backward and along the front and edges of the vacuum head on different hard floor surfaces and rugs (if they could be used on rugs). Each wet-dry vacuum was used to clean various items or liquids like ketchup, mustard, cereal, hair, coffee grounds, and liquids. We paid special attention to how many passes it took to clean something off a floor, the suction capability, and the water output.

Battery runtime: Just because a brand says its product has a certain battery runtime doesn't mean that the battery will last that long. With each wet-dry vacuum, we monitored the battery runtime when it was used in the regular auto mode. Through subsequent uses, we also got a feel for how well the battery did on max or eco modes and kept that in mind when writing this guide.

Water tank capacity: Wet-dry vacuums have separate clean and dirty water tanks. According to Mock, it was imperative to test their capacity. "Larger [dirty water] tanks hold more liquid and debris, reducing the frequency of how many times you may have to empty the tank," she said. Not only did we pay attention to how quickly the dirty water tank filled up, but we also took note of how many times we had to refill the clean water tank. While it's not too big of a hassle to empty dirty tanks or refill clean ones, they do interrupt the cleaning process. Dirty water tanks that fill too quickly could also indicate an excessive water output or some other issue with the machine.

Comfort and ease of use: A cleaning tool should be easy and comfortable to use, which is why this was an important feature to consider during testing. We compared wet-dry vacuums that had self-propulsion features and those that didn't, as well as paid attention to the way the vacuum heads swiveled, the smoothness of the wheels, grip, etc. Some were outfitted with apps or voice assistants that could make the wet-dry vacuums easier to use. We made sure that the technology wasn't too complicated for the average user to figure out.

Clean-up and maintenance: Perhaps the biggest drawback to wet-dry vacuums is the clean-up and maintenance they require — even those with self-cleaning and self-drying features. That said, some wet-dry vacuums have designs that make the process easier or at least less gross. We also determined whether the self-cleaning and self-drying features were efficient or not. Heated air drying and hot water washing is also becoming more common and more affordable; it's also more hygienic. Mock reminds us: "If not regularly cleaned, the vac can have a build-up of dirt, debris, etc. which can lead to poorer performance, unpleasant odors, and affect the overall effectiveness of the vac. All this can lead to a shorter lifespan of the wet-dry vacuum."

Meet the expert behind this guide

Alex Temblador, freelance home tester and writer: I've been testing the best wet-dry vacuums for four years now, totaling 24, and I'm very excited about where this technology is headed. I've noticed several meaningful upgrades in their design and performance. Most still rely on the classic setup — separate clean and dirty water tanks paired with a rotating brushroll that uses speed and downward pressure to scrub and suction messes. But newer models now include improved self-cleaning systems that use hot water and airflow to wash and fully dry the brushroll, reducing the amount of aftercare required. This makes them easier to pull out for quick clean ups and routine cleaning rather than waiting for your deep-cleaning day.

Wet-dry vacuum FAQs

Can a wet-dry vacuum replace my vacuum?

According to Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, "Wet/dry vacs and mops are all better suited to clean hard floors, while vacuuming is better suited for rugs or carpets. If it's just a quick clean-up, then wet/dry vacs are better since they combine the functionality of both vacuuming and mopping."

Some wet-dry vacuums can be used on low-pile rugs, but most of them can't be used on carpets. So, if you have carpet, you'll absolutely need to keep a vacuum on hand. Vacuums are also multi-functional and can be used to clean cobwebs from the ceiling or used as a hand vacuum to clean messes on your couch. They're also perfect for cleaning up debris quickly, compared to a wet-dry vacuum that takes time to set up and use.

Do vacuum mops actually work?

As surprising as it may seem, vacuum mops can vacuum and mop simultaneously, thereby cutting your house cleaning time down considerably. Some have more features than others that can assist with cleaning more efficiently, easily, or quickly.

Can I use detergent or a cleaning solution with my vac-mop?

Most of the vac-mops we tested come with a small bottle of cleaning solution. Typically, only a small amount of cleaning solution should be added to the water, such as a cap full. Some vac-mops have lines on the clean water container that showcase how much cleaning solution to add. It is not advised to use cleaning detergent or a solution that is not recommended by the vac-mop company itself. You don't necessarily need to use a cleaning solution to clean your house with vac-mops every single time. Water is sufficient to clean your floors, especially hardwood.

Is a wet-dry vacuum better than a mop?

It's hard to say if a wet-dry vacuum is better than a mop — it's just different. With a mop, you have to expend a lot more energy and strength to remove stains on the floor. With a wet-dry vacuum, it does the work for you. Some, in fact, have ultra or max modes that expel more water and solution to help break down a tough stain. As Mock suggests, look for wet-dry vacuums with "higher wattage or horsepower, [as it] generally indicates better performances when dealing with wet messes."

That said, she advises folks not to get rid of their mop, as she believes it can provide a deeper clean than a wet-dry vacuum. "For a more thorough cleaning, vacuuming first and then using a mop can be more effective since vacuuming removes debris and dirt, and a mop can focus on removing stains and grime," she explains. 

Now to be clear, wet-dry robot vacuums aren't going to give you as deep of a mopping experience as a regular wet-dry vacuum, but they'll keep your house fairly clean between deep cleaning sessions.

Are wet-dry vacuums safe to use on hardwood floors?

Yes, you can use wet-dry vacuums on hardwood floors as long as they're sealed. Some wet-dry vacuums have more water output than others, but among the ones we tested, the water output is not too significant to cause concern. That said, you don't need to mop your hardwood floors more than once a week. Always check to see that the wheels don't cause any scratches on your hardwood floors. That did not occur with any of the wet-dry vacuums we tested. However, we did find some wheels glided more smoothly on our hardwood floors than others, like the rubber wheels on the Tineco S7 Pro. Lastly, some cleaning solutions could damage your hardwood floors over time, so it's probably best to use the cleaning solution provided by the wet-dry vacuum only once a month. 

Can you use a wet-dry vacuum on carpets?

A wet-dry vacuum will not replace the best carpet cleaners, and we don't recommend using the wet-dry vacuum for cleaning medium and high-pile carpets. There are some models that can be used on low-pile area rugs like the Bissell Crosswave, Shark HydroVac Messmaster, and the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05. They're designed to not soak the rug but rather to use water and cleaning solution to clean the top fibers and suction some of the water into the dirty water tank. Quick pro tip: clean the rugs first before using the wet-dry vacuum on your hard floors to ensure that you're not moving dust and debris from the hard floors to the rugs.

• Americans don't agree on much.
• But a majority of them don't want to live near a data center. That's a real problem for AI boosters.
• Analyst Ben Thompson has a suggestion: Cut everyone — everyone — a check.

Kevin O'Leary makes a great villain.

The celebrity investor spent decades honing his image as the least likable rich guy on "Shark Tank," reveling in what he calls brutal honesty. Last year riffed on that persona in "Marty Supreme," highlighted by a scene where he spanks Timothée Chalamet with a ping pong paddle.

So it's not surprising that he's just emerged as the hateable face of the AI Data Center Backlash, as he promotes a massive development in Utah.

Stories about opposition to the O'Leary-backed, 40,000-acre Stratos Project have hit national outlets and social media in the last month. Tucker Carlson, who knows a hot button when he sees one, had O'Leary on his show last week, setting him up as a real-life Mr. Monopoly out to exploit Utah taxpayers.

Now O'Leary is arguing that people who don't like his project are professional protesters, funded via shadowy boogeymen.

But the details about O'Leary's project and the people who hate it are beside the point: Opposition to data centers is a widespread, bipartisan phenomenon throughout the US, as recent Gallup polling shows.

The technocratic backlash to the backlash is to tell people who don't like data centers that they're wrong, and that data centers don't really hog precious water or energy. (Business Insider published a prize-winning series about these claims and counter-claims last year.)

But this one feels like it's broken containment. Data centers are convenient repositories for everyone's fears and anxieties about AI — not just what it may or may not do to our environment, but to what it will do to everything, starting with our economic future.

Again: That anxiety is totally reasonable. Because everyone — starting with the people running the biggest AI companies — predicts that AI will unleash massive changes in the workforce.

We're also told that all of this is inevitable, and that we don't really have a say in it — you can't hold back technology! — and that all we can do is hope to adapt. So pushing back against a data center project in your town seems like a pretty reasonable kind of protest vote. Maybe I can't keep AI from upending my life, but at least I can keep it out of my backyard.

So what if you're a well-meaning AI booster who thinks the backlash is truly misguided, and that fighting against data centers is as dumb as fighting against highways?

Analyst Ben Thompson has a suggestion: Pay off the backlash by cutting checks to people in data center towns.

If data centers are a resource for our AI future, then start paying people for that resource. If that data center up the road weren't sold to my neighbors based on amorphous tax benefits that my local government may or may not spend appropriately, but rather were to result in a check in the mailbox every year, I suspect you could get a lot more people on board!

The sober answer to this, of course, is that AI data centers are already supposed to be paying the people in the towns they're in. They bring jobs in the short term, and are meant to spur all kinds of economic activity in the long term.

But it's one thing to tell someone the ominous-looking building down the street is going to make some electricians a bunch of money. It's another to hand everyone a check. And if it's the Kevin O'Learys and other technocrats writing the check — taking cash from their pockets and putting it in yours — maybe it makes the worrisome future of AI easier to handle, in the present tense.

• The stock market could be headed for turbulence if the recent spike in bond yields extends.
• Morgan Stanley explains that the 10-year yield above 4.5% is historically bad news for stocks.
• Bonds have sold off globally on a new wave of inflation fears and fiscal concerns.

Stocks could be set up for a "meaningful correction" if bond yields don't steady, according to one of Wall Street's top strategists.

Morgan Stanley CIO Michael Wilson has been bullish on US equities for a long time, and he's not completely changing his tune now. However, he thinks surging bond yields driven by the ongoing war in Iran pose a near-term threat to stock gains.

"If bond vol rises with rising back end rates, we would expect the first meaningful correction in equity prices since markets bottomed at the end of March," he said in a note on Monday.

The firm just raised its 2026 year-end price target to 8,000 from 7,800, saying its outlook is based on a hot economy, public to private rebalancing, and a broadening of earnings and performance.

"Bottom line, this is an earnings story, not a multiple expansion one," Morgan Stanley explained.

But, rising bond yields could derail the rally that's taken indexes to all-time highs in recent weeks. Yields continued their upward March on Monday, with the 10-year US Treasury rising to 4.6%, the highest level in a year. In international markets, Japan's 30-year bond has risen to its highest level ever.

"For the last several weeks, we have been pointing out the significantly negative (-0.8) correlation between equity returns and change in bond yields," the strategist wrote.

Morgan Stanley flagged 4.5% for the 10-year yield as "the point at which rates could serve as more of a noticeable headwind for equity multiples."

Christian Hoffmann, Thornburg Investment's head of fixed income, pointed out that the 30-year yield breaking out over 5% is another sign for short term caution.

Morgan Stanley strategists noted, "At the end of the day, the jump in rates and hawkish shift in the Fed's tone is largely attributable to the oil spike and an economy that is running hot.

The firm explained that the market will need to see a resolution to the war in Iran to stop the rise in bond yields. "We may need to see a more durable resolution in the conflict before yields fall," they said.

Thierry Wizman, Macquarie Group's global foreign exchange and rates strategist said the Federal Reserve has an opportunity to stabilize bond rates if the central bank takes a hawkish tone.

"If that doesn't happen, traders will conclude that the Fed is falling behind, and a further rise in US inflation risk premiums and a new steepening of the yield curve may ensue," he warned.

Casper helped popularize the bed-in-a-box mattress category and is still one of the biggest names in online sleep shopping. The brand offers a range of memory foam and hybrid mattresses designed for different sleep styles, along with bedding, pillows, and adjustable bases. With the right Casper coupon code, you can also save big on your next purchase.

Our sleep experts have tested several Casper mattresses, and the brand consistently scores well for support, comfort, and durability. The Casper Dream Hybrid Mattress is our top pick for back and stomach sleepers in our guide to the best cooling mattresses. Check out our full Casper mattress review to read how each mattress performed.

Casper runs frequent mattress sales and limited-time deals, but you can often save even more by applying a valid Casper promo code at checkout (when eligible). Some offers stack for up to an extra 15% off, which can make a noticeable difference — especially on premium Casper models.

Today's best Casper coupons and promo codes

Previous Casper promo codes

Are there any other Casper mattress sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of clearance markdowns on Casper's website at any time. As of the time of writing, Casper is running the following promotions.

• For the latest buying advice updates, follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp

How to use Casper coupons and promo codes

Casper coupons are pretty easy to use. Copy the code you're planning to apply. Add the product you're buying to your cart, then click "Apply promo code" to open the entry field. Paste your discount code there, then click Apply.

Can you stack Casper coupon codes?

Casper coupon codes are not stackable, so you can apply only one per purchase. Therefore, it's important to use the best one available.

Luckily, the coupon codes work with any ongoing Casper sales.

Can I use Casper coupons in-store?

Casper coupon codes vary in whether they can be used in-store. Most often, they are limited to online use, but in-store associates can price-match any discounts you have proof of.

What mattress should I buy from Casper?

Casper offers a full lineup of great beds designed for different sleepers. You can learn more in our full Casper mattress guide, or check out these favorites of ours:

Casper coupons: frequently asked questions

Does Casper offer discounts for teachers, students, or the military?

Casper offers exclusive military, education, and healthcare discounts for verified members. Active-duty service members, veterans, military family members, teachers, students, nurses, healthcare professionals, first responders, and hospital employees can all save 5% on Casper purchases.

If you fall into the education category, be sure to check out our roundups of the best student discounts and best teacher discounts you can score year-round.

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Every mattress order with Casper receives free, no-contact delivery. As the term "bed-in-a-box" suggests, each mattress arrives tightly coiled in a box for you to place on your bed and unfurl.

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Many online bed-in-a-box companies have risen in popularity in recent years, and each has its own merits and drawbacks. Check out our full guide to the best mattress to see how Casper compares to competitors across criteria like price range, mattress types, and delivery options.

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Check out more great bed discounts in our roundups of the latest queen mattress sales.

• Bank of America says that that unprecedented shocks have clouded the economic outlook.
• AI is boosting productivity and GDP, while the Iran war and tariffs are hurting economic stability.
• "There probably isn't any historical precedent for the plethora of shocks buffeting the US economy," BofA said.

If you feel like you can't keep up with all of the competing forces driving financial markets right now, you're not alone.

In a note to clients last Friday, Bank of America said there's never been a macro environment quite like this, and that the myriad forces pushing and pulling on the economy is unprecedented.

"There probably isn't any historical precedent for the plethora of shocks buffeting the US economy," Bank of America said analysts wrote, pointing to positive and negative shocks to the economy right now that are muddying the waters for investors.

Negative supply shocks include the Iran war and its impact on oil prices and inflation; President Donald Trump's tariffs; and restrictive immigration policy. On the positive side, AI technology is increasing productivity.

On the demand side, the bank highlighted two boosts for the economy: the massive amount of AI capex being pumped into the economy, as well as the tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

But that's not all. Increased consumer spending during the FIFA World Cup this summer could mask the economy's true state until later this summer, the bank said. Plus, it may be difficult to know which direction incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will take monetary policy, given his recent dovishness despite a long track record of hawkish views.

It all amounts to what BofA called a "crucible of confusion" for investors.

"Our core view has been that these shocks (particularly on the supply side) fatten the tails of the economic and policy distribution. This means conviction should remain low because the probability of switching between vastly different regimes is high," the note said. "Indeed, the recent data flow has shifted the market narrative from 'stagflation' to 'reflation.'"

What's an investor to do? That always depends on who on Wall Street you ask, but Bank of America's equity strategists see a rocky road ahead for the stock market. High forward earnings growth expectations imply -6% returns for the S&P 500 over the next 12 months, the bank said in a client note on Monday.

On sector level, BofA labeled specialized REITS, metals and mining, interactive media services, healthcare providers, entertainment, and banks as "opportunities" due to their attractive valuations, positive earnings revisions, and stock price momentum.

• Ukraine revealed its first domestically made glide bomb, announcing it's ready for combat deployment.
• The bomb, called Vyrivniuvach, is cheaper than US and Western options, an industry source said.
• The glide bomb adds an inexpensive, precise, and long-range weapon to Ukraine's arsenal.

Ukraine has built its first-ever glide bomb after almost a year and a half of development. The new weapon is much cheaper than US-made alternatives, according to DG Industry information shared exclusively with Business Insider.

The new glide bomb, called the "Vyrivniuvach" in Ukrainian or "Equalizer" in English, is designed to be carried by a range of aircraft, according to industry information shared by Brave1, Kyiv's national platform for developing defense technologies and a key player in Ukraine's push to build more weapons at home.

On Monday, Brave1 released a video announcement that the new DG Industry-made glide bomb is ready for combat deployment after completing "all required trials."

The Vyrivniuvach includes a 250kg warhead, is designed to hit targets deep behind enemy lines, and was built from scratch, "not copied from Western or Soviet systems," Brave1 added.

The weapon was designed with high-precision targeting and compatibility with current Ukrainian aircraft and systems, a Brave1 representative told Business Insider. It's able to be launched from Ukraine's F-16 and Mirage jets, but it'll need additional certification for use. The bomb also has modern guidance algorithms that promote better targeting and accuracy.

Ukraine's "pilots are currently rehearsing combat scenarios and adapting the new weapon system for use in real wartime conditions," Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on social media. "Soon, Ukrainian glide bombs will be striking enemy targets.

The bomb is said to be significantly cheaper than its Western equivalents. The Vyrivniuvach costs approximately three times less than the US-made Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range, which Ukraine also has in its arsenal, the Brave1 representative told Business Insider, relaying DG Industry information.

The Vyrivniuvach can also be deployed regardless of weather conditions or time of day, and preparation to deploy the weapon takes no more than 30 minutes, they said.

Ukraine has previously relied on JDAM-ER kits from the US and European allies. JDAM-ERs are unguided bombs fitted with guidance kits and wings, turning them into longer-range precision glide weapons that let aircraft strike targets from farther outside Russian air defenses.

Russia and Ukraine have both used glide bombs over the course of the war, but Russia, especially, has leaned on them heavily, converting Soviet-era bombs with wings and guidance kits to strike Ukrainian front-line positions and cities from far beyond the reach of Ukraine's air defenses. Russia has built some that weigh 3,000 kilograms, able to devastate an area, and it's expanding production.

Glide bombs are difficult to counter because they have small radar signatures, have short flight times, and fly on non-ballistic trajectories. Taking out the launch aircraft is often the priority, but they tend to fire the weapon from stand-off ranges out of reach.

Ukraine first received JDAM-ERs from the US in early 2023 and has since sought thousands more. Earlier this month, the US approved a potential sale of additional GBU-62 JDAM-ER precision-guided bombs, with the State Department saying the weapons would improve Ukraine's ability to respond to current and future threats.

The new Vyrivniuvach is the latest example of Ukraine's push to develop more of the weapons and technology it needs at home rather than rely on partner nations. Ukrainian companies have shown they can build some of these systems quickly, cheaply, and at scale, drawing growing attention from Kyiv's allies and partners.

• A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
• Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.

Ahead of Nvidia earnings later this week, I suggest you check out an Amazon AI project. The codename is Titus and it reveals Nvidia's true power.

The cloud giant says it's named after the Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who completed the Colosseum, one of history's earliest examples of gigantic modular architecture. The Colosseum's repeating, self-supporting arches enabled rapid construction and scalable design, concepts Amazon wants to apply to next-generation AI data centers.

That's the official explanation. But the name carries deeper resonance. Like the Shakespearean general, Titus Andronicus, Amazon faces a dangerous balancing act between loyalty and self-preservation.

Business Insider's Eugene Kim revealed that "Titus" is an initiative to future-proof Amazon data centers for Nvidia's coming wave of monster GPU systems, including GB200 racks and beyond. Internal documents show Amazon redesigning power systems, liquid cooling, server layouts, and deployment timelines around Nvidia's increasingly demanding hardware requirements.

That's notable because Amazon has been loudly promoting its in-house AI chips, Trainium, as an alternative to Nvidia. That suggests AWS is steadily reducing dependence on Nvidia's ecosystem.

But the Titus project tells a different story. At the AI infrastructure level, where hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake, Nvidia still dictates the future architecture of the cloud in the AI era. AWS may be developing its own chips, but it's still building the empire around Nvidia's roadmap.

There's an almost biblical interpretation here: Amazon as Titus, a trusted disciple helping carry forward the gospel according to St. Paul — in this case, Jensen Huang and Nvidia.

But Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus offers a more nuanced reading. In the play, Titus destroys himself through rigid loyalty to Rome, honoring institutional power so completely that he loses independence, flexibility, and eventually, everything else.

Amazon likely understands that risk. Trainium increasingly looks less like a rebellion against Nvidia than a strategic hedge against over-obedience. AWS may respect Rome's power. But it does not want to be consumed by it.

Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

• A federal jury found Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and OpenAI not liable in Elon Musk's lawsuit.
• They ruled that the Tesla CEO waited too long to bring the case, missing the statute of limitations.
• Musk accused Altman of illegally turning OpenAI into a for-profit venture with Microsoft's help.

A jury on Monday found Sam Altman and OpenAI not liable in a blockbuster lawsuit Elon Musk brought against them.

The jurors in an Oakland, California, courtroom cleared the OpenAI CEO, its president, Greg Brockman, and OpenAI itself of Musk's allegations that they scammed him of early charitable contributions by operating OpenAI as a for-profit venture.

They ruled that the Tesla CEO knew about the details he described in his lawsuit as far back as 2021, but waited too long and missed the legal deadlines to bring his claims.

The jurors also found Microsoft not liable for "aiding and abetting" Altman and Brockman to violate charity laws while profiting from its deals with OpenAI, also because of the timing of Musk's lawsuit. A Microsoft spokesperson said the company welcomed the jury's decision.

US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who oversaw the case, said she accepted the jury's unanimous findings and would not overrule them.

The verdict is a major victory for Altman, who can now say that the world's richest man took longstanding questions about his honesty and management of OpenAI to court — and couldn't make the allegations stick. It is also a victory for his lead attorney, William Savitt of the elite law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, which has forged close ties to OpenAI that continue to solidify as the company approaches an expected IPO.

Outside the courthouse Monday, Savitt said the verdict showed Musk's lawsuit "was a hypocritical attempt to sabotage a competitor."

Savitt also said OpenAI was preparing to bring its counterclaims, which accuse Musk of abusing the legal process through its lawsuit against the company.

The jury's decision scuttled a hearing Monday on potential remedies in the case. When the jury said it had reached a verdict, after less than two hours of deliberation, the judge was listening to expert testimony about how much money the defendants would have owed Musk for violating the law. If the jury had found the parties liable, Gonzalez Rogers would have decided the penalties and weighed Musk's request to unwind OpenAI's for-profit arm.

Because the jurors ruled that Musk missed the deadlines for his claims, they didn't reach a decision on the merits of his allegations.

Following the jury's decision, Musk's attorney Marc Toberoff told journalists that Musk planned to appeal the decision. He said it was a "tragedy" that OpenAI was able to "get away with" developing a for-profit venture after being founded as a charity.

Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015, designing it as a nonprofit to develop artificial intelligence technology that would benefit all of humanity. They planned it as a counterweight to Google's DeepMind, which they saw as a threat if it successfully created general AI technology that would be in the hands of a private company.

The Tesla CEO's lawsuit, first filed in 2024, accused Altman and Brockman of perverting that mission by building a for-profit arm of OpenAI and partnering with Microsoft. They had effectively stolen the nonprofit and used it to enrich themselves off the back of Musk's $38 million in early donations to the organization, Musk alleged.

In their own arguments, OpenAI, Altman, and Brockman said that Musk was simply trying to hobble OpenAI through the litigation as his own AI company, xAI — now renamed SpaceXAI and part of his rocketship company — lagged behind. During the trial, they presented evidence that Musk understood that partnering with a major tech company like Microsoft would be essential to raising the capital needed for the extensive computing power required for AI development. Microsoft had argued that it didn't know about and wasn't bound to any agreements between Musk and OpenAI.

The trial featured testimony from Musk, who accused Altman of looting the OpenAI charity, and from Altman, who portrayed Musk as a power-hungry operator seeking to control the company himself.

It also featured numerous witnesses — including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and former OpenAI board members — who testified about "The Blip," the company's nickname for the brief period where its board fired Altman as CEO.

This story has been updated.

• I saw No Doubt open for David Bowie in Brazil in 1997.
• Almost 30 years later, I went to see No Doubt at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
• It was both a reminder about getting old, but also of still being myself even after all these years.

My family had just moved to Brazil, and I had to beg my parents to let me go to a music festival with all of my new high school friends. It was going to be the first time I'd be going to a show without them supervising me.

They were reluctant, but after chatting with other parents, they all agreed that it was time for my group of 13-year-old girlfriends to experience some independence. So they dropped us off at the stadium's door and told us to be back by midnight.

I was thrilled. I was seeing my favorite band, No Doubt. My friends were thrilled about the main act, David Bowie.

Almost 30 years later, I saw No Doubt again at The Sphere.

I took a solo trip

When I saw that No Doubt was coming back with a residency at The Sphere, I was thrilled. Not only had I been wanting to go to The Sphere for a show, but having No Doubt play felt like a full circle.

I left my three kids and my husband at home and decided to make it a girls' trip with one of my best friends. That alone made me feel like I was a teenager again.

We planned fancy meals and pool hangs to catch up around the main event. It was refreshing not to have to think about snacks, carry water bottles, or deal with meltdowns for a couple of days. It really made me feel like myself again, and not just a mom.

The anticipation had me on edge

On days leading up to the show, my nerves were at an all-time high. I prepped outfits (with checkered Vans included, of course) and looked at prices of merch online to see what I wanted to get.

I also saw online that people were complaining about the set list, but after finding it on Apple Music, I was confused about what the criticism was. This show was OG No Doubt. The same No Doubt I saw back in the 90s.

Of course, some things had changed, though. Gwen Stefani's religious statements disappointed some longtime fans, who felt she was choking on her contradictions. Tom Dumont shared he was diagnosed with parkinson's shortly after the band announced the residency.

There was no doubt (pun intended) that we weren't young anymore.

The show was the first one to make me cry

The Venetian hotel, which connects to The Sphere, was packed with women around my age in their best 90s punk outfits. There were tons of plaid, space buns, checkered Vans left and right, and so much excitement.

The Sphere is a wild experience on its own. Walking into the general admission area took my breath away. It's huge, a little overwhelming, but totally impressive. The screens projected images of the band from decades earlier, along with posters and mementos from their earlier shows.

When the band came on, right on time, and the first chords of the guitars blasted (it is very loud in there), my entire body turned into a giant goosebump. It was happening, all the anticipation, and all these decades had passed; I was experiencing them again, live.

It was the first time ever that I've cried at a show. All the memories of what the band has gotten me through, the heartbreaks, the indecisions, the feeling like I never really fit in, in the expectation that people had of me.

But here I was, married, with kids, with a job, in a country that I never imagined in a million years would give me citizenship, and for a second, I felt like I made it. After all these years, despite going to the beat of my own drum, I became who I was meant to be.

I left the venue with no voice, exhausted legs, but ready to do it all over again the next day. Turns out that 13-year-old me and 43-year-old me are so different, yet so the same.

• Dominion Energy stock spiked 12% on Monday after announcing a deal to combine with NextEra Energy.
• The tie-up will create the world's largest regulated utility, the companies said.
• Surging power demand and consumer affordability were drivers for the deal, both fueled by AI.

The move: Dominion Energy stock opened Monday's trading session up double digits. The stock was up as much as 15.75% in premarket trading before paring the gain to about 12% after the opening bell.

Monday's moves put the stock up 17% year to date.

The chart:

Why: Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy announced the companies are combining to create "the world's largest regulated electric utility business by market capitalization."

Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy have entered a definitive agreement to combine.

NextEra Energy stock saw a slight decline on the news, opening 3% lower.

The all-stock deal leaves NextEra and Dominion shareholders owning roughly 74.5% and 25.5% of the combined companies, respectively, as Dominion investors receive 0.81 sharers of NextEra per share of Dominion.

"The combination will create the world's largest regulated electric utility business, fortified by North America's premier energy infrastructure platform and developer," the release read.

The companies' combined market capitalizations at the time of writing sat at roughly $246.54 billion.

Gabelli Funds portfolio manager Tim Winter said "the deal makes a lot of sense," outlining, "Scale, size, resources-combined company the largest everything."

The transaction has been approved by both companies' boards and is expected to close in 12 to 18 months, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

What it means: The mega merger combines two US energy giants as the AI boom fuels demand for power.

The companies framed the deal as supporting the massive growth in power demand while driving affordability, nodding to the AI era without specifically naming the emerging tech as the driver behind the strategic deal.

"Electricity demand is rising faster than it has in decades. Projects are getting larger and more complex. Customers need affordable and reliable power now, not years from now," NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum said.

"We are bringing NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy together because scale matters more than ever— not for the sake of size, but because scale translates into capital and operating efficiencies. It enables us to buy, build, finance and operate more efficiently, which translates into more affordable electricity for our customers in the long run," The CEO added.

Big Tech is spending billions in the AI race and utility companies have been investing to build out their power supplies to meet the AI-driven demand.

"The NextEra-Dominion deal is less a traditional utility merger and more a bet on AI-driven power demand," West Monroe's M&A Lead, Alex Torgerson, said.

Increased consumer electricity bills have emerged as a key concern of the AI buildout, to the negative public perceptions around AI data centers.

AI data centers are energy intensive, fueling demand for power that outpaces supply. The deal marks a shift in the energy industry in the AI era where scale is key.

• Peter Steinberger posted a screenshot of his $1.3 million monthly token bill — compute provided by his employer, OpenAI.
• In the OpenClaw creator's comments, users questioned the high total and asked for the budget to be reallocated to engineers.
• Steinberger wrote that he was testing the question: "How would we build software in the future if tokens don't matter?"

Peter Steinberger is on a token spending spree.

On Friday, the creator of OpenClaw posted a screenshot of his CodexBar, a tool that shows token spending on different AI coding tools. The image showed his token spending on OpenAI's API at just under $20,000 for the day.

In 30 days, Steinberger had spent $1.3 million worth of tokens on OpenAI's API, according to the image.

Steinberger notably doesn't have to pay out of pocket for the tokens thanks to the fact that he now works at OpenAI. He wrote that the token funds were "perks of OpenAI supporting OpenClaw." In response to an X user asking if OpenAI charged him for tokens, he responded "ofc not."

But Steinberger's AI bill is the latest example of just how costly intensive use of AI can be, and how access to free compute has quickly become a selling point in the AI talent wars.

High token bills are also all the rage as tokenmaxxing culture continues to sweep Silicon Valley. OpenAI is one of many companies to reportedly have a competitive token leaderboard.

Still, for many commenters on X, seeing over $1 million in AI spending for one engineer was shocking.

"Someone's burning through enough tokens to bankroll a small startup," one user commented. Others asked whether his token bill could be allocated to salaries for new engineers.

The majority of his spending is around the development of OpenClaw, Steinberger wrote, the viral AI agent sparked a Mac Mini buying craze and has since become the fastest-growing open-source product of all time. Steinberger also shared a screenshot of his GitHub, which showed dozens of projects from a device sleep tool to a system for AI agents to make phone calls.

Some social media users chalked Steinberger's screenshot up to a form of marketing that could incentivize others to spend more. "You shipped nothing," one user wrote. "You seem to have a very particular definition of nothing," Steinberger wrote back.

He later posted again on X to acknowledge that people were "freaking out over my AI spend." He wrote that he was trying to answer the question: "How would we build software in the future if tokens don't matter?"

Steinberger then listed a variety of skills he spends tokens on. AI agents listen to his meetings and start working based on what he says. They also review comments for spam.

"All that automation allows us to run this project extremely lean," Steinberger wrote.

In the comments, some users said that a project spending $1.3 million in tokens a month couldn't be "lean."

The number may actually be bigger, too. On his original post, one user asked whether the number pictured was actually his usage.

"Yup!" he replied. "At least on this account."

• Tennessee Watt left her dream job at Google in 2021 to pursue an MBA from Wharton.
• She questioned if she'd fit in at a finance-focused school, but her tech background became an asset.
• Watt says getting an MBA helped her start a portfolio career and gave her career options.

I started working at Google in 2021 as an associate product marketing manager in its London office. It was my dream role, and I landed it after interviewing 10 times.

Three years later, I left to pursue an MBA in artificial intelligence from Wharton with the goal of creating a portfolio career. I had no idea what that would look like at the time: only that I wanted to create more career options going forward.

The higher education space is changing with AI and the creator economy, so I understand why some people might feel it's not as valuable as it once was. However, that hasn't been my experience; my unconventional background became my advantage.

Now, as I prepare to graduate this month, I'm building a true portfolio business, and I have the MBA to thank.

I wasn't afraid to leave Google, but there were moments I questioned my decision

I didn't have any fears about leaving Google; however, I wondered how I'd fit in at a finance-focused business school.

Initially, I questioned if this was the right choice. I figured everyone would be doing types of modeling I hadn't really heard of before, and I'd have to spend a lot of time ramping up.

I had some analytical skills from my early career in growth marketing, but I realized the financial metrics were very different. I had to learn cap payrolls, discounted cash flows, and all these things that I'd heard about but never built on my own.

At times, I could've been more social with friends, but I felt like I had to focus and really nail the program.

I started building my new career in grad school

AI skills weren't necessarily something that everybody around me had or really understood, so coming from an unconventional background was an asset to me.

The biggest drawback about grad school was that the focus is on studying how to build products, not actually building them. I wanted to actually ship something with real users.

I addressed these challenges by starting to build Moonlight Club — a newsletter and eventual community for multi-hyphenate women who are trying to build income, audience, and career optionality — in my second year. I learned that working on my MBA didn't have to mean stepping back from building.

This MBA exposed me to paths I never considered

I'm still building Moonlight Club, from a newsletter to in-person events, it's going to be a true portfolio business. It's absolutely possible to pursue business ideas without going to business school, but an MBA taught me the ecosystem.

I got exposed to paths I'd never considered: search funds, newsletter businesses, and fractional consulting models. Hearing classmates and guest speakers talk about how they built these careers expanded my sense of what was possible and helped me get clear on what I wanted.

There are a lot of paths that don't necessarily make sense to your average midlevel professional until you get exposure to them, and that's what my MBA program did for me. It gave me the courage to build my own path

Getting an MBA was worth it for me

Wharton costs about $135,000 a year, including tuition, fees, room and board, and more. I paid through a combination of savings, vested stock from prior roles, family support, and student loans. I'm proud of my decision to get an MBA, and believe it was worth the investment.

I didn't take on outside work during the academic year because I wanted to use my time experimenting with riskier ideas like Moonlight Club, joining the AI product management incubator, doing hackathons, and building a real network.

If you're looking to get an MBA, find a school that fits your values, learning style, and caters to the career path you'd like to take.

Speak to students and alums from the schools you're targeting because the best way to understand the culture, the opportunities, and the exit paths is for you to speak to the community.

Do you have a story to share about pursuing a master's degree? If so, please reach out to the reporter at tmartinelli@businessinsider.com.

• Several manager, tech, and healthcare jobs pay well and could see strong job growth over the next decade.
• Business Insider combined new pay data with employment projections to see which growing jobs also pay well.
• Software developers and financial managers typically make six figures and are projected to be in high demand.

Software developers, who typically earn high pay, will likely still be needed in the era of artificial intelligence.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published new median annual wage data for May 2025, showing how much hundreds of occupations typically pay. Business Insider used these estimates with projected employment changes from 2024 to 2034, previously released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to develop a ranking of fast-growing, high-paying jobs.

Using the two datasets, we ranked occupations with a median annual wage of at least $75,000 and that are projected to experience job growth over the decade. We ranked them using a geometric mean of the two estimates, with the highest mean ranked at the top. We excluded catch-all job groups.

Nurse practitioners and registered nurses are among the high-paying jobs that need more workers in the future.

"Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the large number of older people, who typically have more medical problems than younger people," BLS said. "Registered nurses also will be needed to educate and care for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity."

Below are the results, along with their projected job growth from 2024 to 2034, median annual wage in 2025, and typical education needed.

25. Personal financial advisors

Annual median pay: $105,070

Projected employment growth: 31,200

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

24. Logisticians

Annual median pay: $82,320

Projected employment growth: 40,300

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

23. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Annual median pay: $79,920

Projected employment growth: 49,000

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

22. Industrial engineers

Annual median pay: $102,440

Projected employment growth: 38,500

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

21. Sales managers

Annual median pay: $148,270

Projected employment growth: 29,000

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

20. Human resources specialists

Annual median pay: $75,940

Projected employment growth: 58,400

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

19. Marketing managers

Annual median pay: $166,790

Projected employment growth: 26,700

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

18. Physician assistants

Annual median pay: $135,880

Projected employment growth: 33,200

Typical education needed: Master's degree

17. Computer systems analysts

Annual median pay: $105,850

Projected employment growth: 45,500

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

16. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Annual median pay: $78,760

Projected employment growth: 63,000

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

15. Postsecondary health specialties teachers

Annual median pay: $107,310

Projected employment growth: 50,100

Typical education needed: Doctoral or professional degree

14. Construction managers

Annual median pay: $114,990

Projected employment growth: 48,100

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

13. Lawyers

Annual median pay: $159,670

Projected employment growth: 35,900

Typical education needed: Doctoral or professional degree

12. Project management specialists

Annual median pay: $102,320

Projected employment growth: 58,700

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

11. Accountants and auditors

Annual median pay: $83,680

Projected employment growth: 72,800

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

10. Information security analysts

Annual median pay: $129,180

Projected employment growth: 52,100

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

9. Management analysts

Annual median pay: $101,860

Projected employment growth: 94,500

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

8. Data scientists

Annual median pay: $120,230

Projected employment growth: 82,500

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

7. Registered nurses

Annual median pay: $97,550

Projected employment growth: 166,100

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

6. Nurse practitioners

Annual median pay: $132,300

Projected employment growth: 128,400

Typical education needed: Master's degree

5. General and operations managers

Annual median pay: $105,770

Projected employment growth: 164,000

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

4. Medical and health services managers

Annual median pay: $123,860

Projected employment growth: 142,900

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

3. Computer and information systems managers

Annual median pay: $175,140

Projected employment growth: 101,600

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

2. Financial managers

Annual median pay: $166,570

Projected employment growth: 128,800

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

1. Software developers

Annual median pay: $135,980

Projected employment growth: 267,700

Typical education needed: Bachelor's degree

• Ryanair is putting a bumper bonus on the table for its CEO, Michael O'Leary.
• O'Leary could get share options worth around $300 million if he achieves certain targets.
• He is already a billionaire and owns about 4% of Ryanair, Europe's biggest airline.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is in line for a bumper bonus.

In its annual results released on Monday, Ryanair said it had nearly concluded discussions on extending the outspoken 65-year-old's contract to 2032. He is currently contracted until 2028.

The proposed new contract would give O'Leary the option to purchase over 10 million shares at a discounted price if "very ambitious" profit or share-price growth targets are achieved.

Ryanair didn't say what O'Leary's targets would be, or the price at which he could buy the shares, but said that "a further update will be provided in due course."

It added that the purchase price for O'Leary's options would reflect the company's share price before the Iran war, which has seen Ryanair shares decline by nearly 20%

Ryanair shares closed at 27.42 euros on February 27, the day before the war broke out.

At that price, O'Leary's proposed share options would be worth around 274 million euros, or roughly $318 million.

In his current contract, O'Leary has a similar incentive, which required him to increase Ryanair's share price from around 11 euros to 21 euros, at which point he was eligible to buy share options worth over 111 million euros, or $130 million.

O'Leary achieved the main condition last May, when Ryanair's share price exceeded 21 euros for 28 days. He must now stay at Ryanair until the end of his 2028 contract for the options to vest. If they vested at a price similar to where they're trading on Monday — around 23 euros — he could stand to profit by almost 120 million euros, or $140 million.

If this new pay package followed a similar structure, O'Leary's new options could allow him to realize a profit of around $300 million.

O'Leary, who has led the Irish budget airline since 1994, already owns a 4.1% stake in Ryanair, worth more than $1 billion, according to its 2025 annual report. His current contract includes a basic annual salary of 1.2 million euros, or $1.4 million.

In his three decades in charge, he has helped Ryanair become Europe's biggest carrier by passenger numbers. He also often makes headlines for being outspoken, helping promote Ryanair's low fares and no-frills offering.

In a 2024 interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Ryanair boss said: "The obvious question is, well, is anybody worth 100 million over five years?"

He defended his deal in his customarily forthright style: "If premiership footballers are earning fucking 20 million a year and [Kylian] Mbappé is being paid 130 million to go play football for fucking Real Madrid, then I think my contract is very good value for Ryanair shareholders."

• Leopold Aschenbrenner's fund placed big bearish options bets against some of the top AI hardware stocks.
• The former OpenAI researcher's fund placed bets against stocks including Nvidia and AMD last quarter.
• Long positions and call options suggest the fund is bullish on other parts of the AI infrastructure trade.

Trades put on by a former AI researcher turned hedge funder indicate bearish views on where the stock market's favorite trade could be headed.

Leopold Aschenbrenner, the former researcher on OpenAI's alignment team went viral in 2024 for his paper, "Situational Awareness: The Decade Ahead," which highlighted key concerns about the progress of AI. Three months later, he launched his hedge fund, Situational Awareness, which is now betting against some of the hottest chip plays while turning bullish on other areas of the AI infrastructure trade.

According to the firm's latest 13F filing on May 18, it bought more than $1.5 billion worth of put options on Nvidia and over $2 billion of puts on the VanEck Semiconductor ETF in the first quarter of the year. Puts allow an investor to bet on the price of a stock or ETF will fall, while call options are bets a stock could rise.

Aschenbrenner's fund also has over $1 billion of puts on Broadcom and over $1 billion of puts on software giant Oracle.

Here's a list of some of the firm's bearish put option bets:

• Nvidia: $1.56 billion
• Oracle: $1.07 billion
• Broadcom: $1 billion
• Advanced Micro Devices: $969.2 million
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.: $535.1 million
• ASML Holding NV: $494.1 million
• Intel: $159.1 million

Disclosure of the puts on some major names in the AI trade comes as other big investors have voiced their doubts recently. "The Big Short" investor Michael Burry revealed a short position against Nvidia in late in 2025, and has been broadly bearish on the tech-fueled rally that's boosted the stock market to records.

Last week, meawhile, short seller Culper Research published a short report on Nvidia, flagging it's potential to see shares drop amid problems in China.

Among the stocks it has long positions on or holds bullish call options for, Situational Awareness leaned toward a few other chip makers, but also infrastructure plays like CoreWeave.

Here are some of its call options positions:

• SanDisk: $388.8 million

• CoreWeave: $140.6 million
• CleanSpark: $104.5 million
• Bloom Energy: $55.3 million

Situational Awareness did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Russia attacked the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro with drones and missiles early Monday.
• The attack heavily damaged one neighborhood. Residents quickly moved to clear apartments of debris.
• Dnipro is the latest city to be heavily targeted by Russian strikes.

DNIPRO, Ukraine — Olha Melnychenko heard explosions around 4 a.m. as Russian attack drones circled above the city and the air raid sirens wailed.

"I was sitting and eating in my kitchen, and I saw a flash and something exploded," she recalled. Russian missile fire and falling debris had struck the residential area.

The blast blew out Melnychenko's front door and windows, trapping the 70-year-old inside until rescuers reached her. A girl who lived below her was less fortunate. She was severely wounded, one of nearly two dozen people injured across the city in the bombardment.

"My grandson called me and asked me how I was. What was I supposed to tell him?" Melnychenko said, tears in her eyes, speaking in the stairwell outside a relative's apartment in a nearby building. The unit had been completely charred by fire, leaving a heavy burnt smell in the corridor. 'Thank God, I'm alive," she said.

The Russian military launched more than 540 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones at Ukraine in a large-scale attack that began late Sunday night and lasted several hours into Monday morning. Kyiv said that the bombardment mainly targeted the southeastern city of Dnipro and its surrounding region.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 96% of the Russian drones fired in the attack, but only 18% of the missiles. An Air Force spokesperson said that a cruise missile hit Melnychenko's part of Dnipro and debris from the interceptions also fell in the area, causing additional damage.

In neighborhoods struck by Russian attacks, recovery often begins before the shock has worn off. Residents and volunteers move quickly to clear the immediate hazards, cover exposed windows, and make damaged homes safe enough to stay in while the longer repair work waits.

Business Insider visited Melnychenko's neighborhood late Monday morning and found the residents already trying to make their damaged homes livable again and salvage what they could of businesses — sweeping glass from the streets, hauling rubble out of apartments, and throwing ruined books from windows. Volunteers handed out sheets of plywood so that people could cover the blown-out windows, reducing exposure to the elements.

Dmytro, a specialist with the Ukrainian humanitarian mission known as "Proliska" who asked to be identified only by his first name, said that the neighborhood suffered the worst damage of any in Dnipro during the attack, with dozens of buildings taking hits.

The explosions tore through a small first-floor market in one of the buildings. Its owner said she had already lost her first store and a warehouse earlier in the war. Inside the wreckage, some soda cans still stood upright in a refrigerated case, untouched amid the damage.

Petro Barsuk, a student who lives across the street, said that he was sheltering in the hallway behind several walls — a common precaution against shrapnel — when the windows shattered and sent glass flying into his family's apartment.

Eighteen-year-old Barsuk said he was shocked in the aftermath to see his apartment full of rubble and described the Russian attack as the worst that his neighborhood has experienced in more than four years of full-scale war.

He said that he hopes the government will provide new windows for his unit, but everything else lost in the attack — much of it in the kitchen — will have to be replaced by his family.

Local authorities said at least 22 people were injured in the attack on Dnipro, the latest in a string of attacks over the past week.

Last Wednesday, Russia launched more than 700 drones into Ukraine over multiple waves across the day before firing hundreds more — and nearly 60 cruise and ballistic missiles — overnight. The massive attack killed 24 people in Kyiv and injured dozens of others.

Ukraine retaliated overnight Saturday with hundreds of drones launched into Russia, including toward Moscow, Kyiv's SBU internal security agency said. The strikes hit a facility that makes weapons technology, an oil refinery, and a pumping station, the SBU said. Several people were reported killed and injured.

• The 2026 ACM Awards were held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
• Celebrity attendees both impressed and disappointed with their fashion on the red carpet.
• Shania Twain, Kacey Musgraves, and Keith Urban were just some of the stars who made appearances.

Las Vegas went country this weekend.

Celebrities and musicians visited the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Nevada on Sunday night to celebrate the annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Amid the musical performances and awards given throughout the night, there were also plenty of high-fashion moments.

Some stars looked stunning on the red carpet, while others needed a few outfit tweaks.

From Kacey Musgraves to Shania Twain, these are the best and worst outfits we saw at the ACM Awards this year.

Lainey Wilson was almost unrecognizable without her signature bell-bottoms and cowgirl hat.

Even as her career has evolved, Wilson's style has remained largely the same. She always wears bell-bottom pants, a large cowgirl hat, and statement jewelry.

That went out the window on Sunday night, when the country star arrived at the ACM Awards wearing an orange strapless gown from Marmar Halim.

The pleated piece, with its fitted bodice and floor-length skirt, perfectly suited the musician and was elegantly accessorized with dangling earrings.

Shania Twain's silver dress could have worked without her gloves.

Falguni Shane Peacock designed Twain's eye-catching dress. The strapless piece was covered in silver and black sequins, with the latter arranged in the shape of a panther across its skirt.

It also had satin strips attached at the chest, which flowed beside her as she posed for photos.

The dress could have made for a strong fashion moment, but it was unfortunately styled with above-the-elbow leather gloves. They completely contrasted the gown's elegance.

Kacey Musgraves looked like an old-Hollywood starlet.

She attended the ACM Awards in a black Tanner Fletcher gown that stood out from anything else on the red carpet.

Her strapless dress had white, ruffled lace across its neckline, which matched the lace swirls that extended down its bodice.

The gown was stunning on its own, but even more so with black pumps, diamond and pearl jewelry, and a vintage-inspired hairstyle.

Kelsea Ballerini can do better than a simple, sleeveless dress.

She arrived in a metallic Roberto Cavalli design that was sleeveless, tan, and embellished with gold appliques from top to bottom.

Though Ballerini looked pretty, her gown wasn't memorable.

It would have been more striking with a shorter skirt, a more fitted bodice, and, if worn with an updo hairstyle.

Tucker Wetmore proved that monochrome looks are always fashionable.

Wetmore posed on the red carpet in a powder-blue suit with black detailing, proving he's a power dresser.

Not only did the unique color suit him, but the suit was also tailored to perfection, making Wetmore look sharp.

He wore it with a silver cross necklace, black sunglasses, and a large cowboy hat.

Keith Urban's look was too casual for the awards ceremony.

Urban wore sneakers, baggy cargo pants, a blue T-shirt, and a gray blazer to the ACM Awards.

Not only was the outfit too casual for the event, but it was also entirely mismatched.

He could have swapped his pants for black trousers and his shoes for boots to elevate the look.

Ella Langley let her jewelry do all the talking.

The rising country star attended in a white, strapless gown designed by Andrew Kwon.

The satin design featured a strapless corset bodice over a chiffon skirt that flowed into a short train.

The dress was simple but elegant, and it was made even more fun with Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott jewelry pieces.

Tyler Hubbard should have worn different pants.

The former Florida Georgia Line singer sported a John Varvatos outfit that mostly worked for him. He wore a white T-shirt, a tan blazer, blue jeans, and suede boots.

He also donned a brown leather belt and layered gold necklaces.

His jeans distracted from the look. The light-wash pants were intentionally designed to look dirty, and didn't make sense on a red carpet.

A pair of dark-brown trousers could have made all the difference.

Shaboozey embraced his personal style and had a memorable fashion moment.

You couldn't miss Shaboozey when he hit the ACM red carpet.

He wore metallic pants, scuffed boots, a white button-up top, and a leather duster jacket for the base of his outfit. He also wore a statement belt, diamond jewelry, sunglasses, and a large cowboy hat.

The outfit was unique, on theme, and representative of Shaboozey's daring style.

• I used to drive myself crazy trying to make every aspect of my vacations perfect.
• However, one disastrous experience in London forced me to reexamine my mindset.
• Now, I've realized many of my favorite travel memories were unplanned.

On the last day of my monthlong trip to Istanbul, I sat on the floor of my best friend's apartment, reflecting on our adventures together.

I had missed out on seeing all the top sights — the very reasons people fly across the world to visit Turkey — from the Basilica Cistern to the Grand Bazaar. Still, it was an incredible trip because I shared it with the people who matter most to me.

However, I realized I wouldn't always have felt this way.

My need for control used to take me out of the moment while traveling

Over the years, my best friend, Chanel, my sister Christine, and I have traveled all over the world, from France and Monaco to Turkey, Brazil, and many places in between.

Unfortunately, though, I often struggled to live in the moment during our adventures.

I planned every hour of our trips, trying to cram in every tourist site, Instagram-worthy photo spot, local recommendation, and late-night adventure possible.

But the harder I tried to manufacture the "perfect" trip, the less present I became. Even though I'd been to incredible places, I wasn't actually experiencing what they had to offer.

However, one seemingly disastrous experience in London changed everything. While I was working in the city, Chanel and Christine came to visit me for Christmas break.

We thought we would spend the holiday galavanting across the British countryside with One Direction-esque men in tow.

Instead, Chanel missed her bus from Paris, and Christine's flight was delayed until the following day. When they finally got to me on Christmas Day, the holidays were nearly over.

Even though their travel disruptions were out of my control, I blamed myself for not planning ahead and having a more secure backup plan. They were only in town for a few days, and we hadn't spent time together in months; I wanted everything to be perfect.

But while laughing around a makeshift dinner table filled with random foods from my understocked fridge and cheap wine, I noticed that I didn't want to dwell on what went wrong.

Instead, I just needed to make the most of the time we had together; no planning or itineraries, just going wherever the wind took us. This was the first time it became clear to me that a trip could still be memorable — even if everything went "wrong."

Now, though, I've realized many of my favorite travel memories were unplanned

As I reflect on the many trips we've taken together, I've realized that some of my favorite travel memories were the most chaotic.

For example, on a trip to Ireland, our outlet converter broke, leaving our phone batteries drained. So, we spent the night riding around Dublin on a local bus, charging our phones and gossiping the entire time.

After every little disaster we've faced, we've come together, freaked out, and then laughed until it all felt OK again. Moments like these aren't always glamorous, but they're unforgettable — and more importantly, real.

I realize now that what created my best travel stories wasn't flawless itineraries or picture-perfect moments. Years later, I barely remember some of the attractions we visited.

But I remember laughing all night with my sister and best friend on a beach in Monaco after we locked ourselves out of our Airbnb.

For so long, I thought travel was about seeing as much of the world as possible. Now, I think it's more about who you experience it with.

• Lauren Behfarin lives in New York with her three kids.
• She says it's important that parents don't just default to kids' aesthetics.
• Designing with the next parenting stage in mind can save time and money, she says.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lauren Behfarin, founder of Little Room Supply. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I became a mom 12 years ago, everything changed. I'd been working in IT, but suddenly that career didn't feel like a good fit. I was existing in the world of newborns, and I wanted to be able to work from home with my daughter.

That's when I started my career as an interior designer, focused on children's spaces. As a mom, I understand what works in these spaces and why it's important to design for parents who love it.

Now my kids are 12, 10, and 6. We're transitioning into phase two of parenting: no more bouncy chairs and playmats, but lots of sports. Through the last decade, I've learned a lot about designing a room for parents and kids. Here's how to begin.

Start with one piece you love

Designing can be intimidating. If you're feeling overwhelmed, start with one piece you love. Maybe it's a crib you adore, or a piece of art you've been saving for years. One of my clients used a framed piece of music their grandparents had written, which became the inspiration for the whole room.

If you don't have anything in mind, look at wallpaper prints that can accent a room. From that starting point, you can gather tones, fabrics, and textures to match.

Take your kids' suggestions with a grain of salt

Too often, parents get stuck on what their kids want. Your daughter might tell you she wants everything in her room to be purple. I'm here to tell you, lovingly, that your daughter doesn't yet know what she's talking about.

As parents, we redirect all the time. Don't be afraid to do that when it comes to design. Show your child a few print options, but only offer choices you're happy with. Remember, you can make the kids happy while also redirecting.

Design with the next phase of childhood in mind

Kids grow so fast that by the time you've accepted one stage, they're on to the next. That's a challenge when you're decorating. For more permanent features, like wallpaper, I always guide people away from specific interests. Don't paste the walls with bunnies or horses — shapes, stripes, or tie dye patterns are more likely to stand the test of time.

This works with furniture too. I always select cribs that convert into toddler beds. My son, who is 10, uses a dresser that doubled as a changing table when he was a baby. Choosing items and designing with your next phase in mind will help save you time and money.

Coordinate with the rest of your home

When you're working on a playroom or kids' bedroom, it's easy to think of it in isolation. Yet, I've found the aesthetic flows much better if it's cohesive with the rest of the house. You don't want to walk into one room and suddenly feel like you're in a Gymboree.

Approach this by thinking about your family's tastes. Then, just put a child-friendly twist on it. If that sounds too abstract, try this test: leave the door to the bedroom or playroom open. Look down the hall and think about how the areas you can see compare to one another. While every space can have its own personality, the transition between them should flow rather than be jarring.

• Nearly a decade ago, my wife and I bought our first house, which came with an apartment.
• We've had the same tenants for nine years, and we haven't raised their rent once.
• We planned to make money from the unit, but now we value our relationship with our tenants more.

When my wife and I set out to buy our first house nearly a decade ago, we were looking for a fixer-upper. Something with "good bones."

More than just a house, our first real-estate purchase would be a strategic investment — and as an attorney with a very corporate, back-office career on Wall Street, I'm all about strategic investment. I was buying a house with my head, not my heart.

One listing ticked all of our boxes. Historic and in a perfect location, the house had a fairly large yard, plenty of cosmetic work to do, and the likelihood of increasing in value with the neighborhood.

Plus, it offered a glittering bonus: an income-generating apartment over the detached carriage house. We didn't know how to be landlords, but we bought the house from established residential real-estate investors.

Trusting their judgment, we offered the apartment's existing tenants — a mother-daughter duo — a new lease at the same rate they'd paid the year prior. We figured we'd reassess the situation once their yearlong lease was up.

Our first year went better than we could have dreamed

Of course, we were in a privileged situation. As a white-collar couple living in Maine in 2017, we were able to afford a home in the first place without any financial help from our parents — something that isn't possible for every homeowner, and probably wouldn't be possible for my family in today's economy, either.

Due to our circumstances, we were also positioned well enough that we didn't need to maximize every potential income stream.

Technically, our tenants' rent was below market value from the start, but as far as we were concerned, they were more than paying their fair share. Their rent was more than half our monthly mortgage, and we were building equity. We didn't feel right asking for more from them.

Their house was in our backyard, so we got to know them. We chatted during chance meetings in the driveway and when rolling the recycling bins out together.

In our first year, all of our tenants' rental income and then some went to projects around the house, like painting, landscaping, and doors that kept out the snow.

Our tenants complimented the snow removal, helped weed the gardens, and demonstrated deep emotional investment in our neighborhood. They cheered us as my wife and I got appointed to city commissions and boards and ran for City Council.

All in all, they seemed happy to have us and happy to stay. When their first lease expired, they worried we'd want to move a relative into their unit.

To reassure them and show that we valued their contribution to our little compound, we signed a new three-year lease with no rent increase.

Getting to know our tenants has helped us better understand our values

The more we learned about our neighbors, the more we came to love them. When I found a lost cat, they helped me canvass the neighborhood to find its owner. When my wife got cancer, our tenants brought us food.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I was alone in the house while my wife underwent treatment, our tenants checked in from across the driveway by text. They waved out the window and offered me comfort from six feet away in the garden.

By the time their three-year lease was up, they'd become fixtures in our lives. With my wife now healthy, we were expecting a baby and couldn't fathom the upheaval of finding new tenants.

We never asked whether they could afford a rent increase. We were lucky enough to be financially stable and not need the extra money to pay our own bills — and we valued the predictability and comfort of having fantastic neighbors more than we valued the difference between their rent and the market value.

So, without raising the rent, we extended the lease for another three years.

We plan to keep their rent as-is for as long as we can

When that term was up in 2024, we were about to have our second child, and our tenants were already deeply beloved by our first. So, we're now on our third three-year lease with the same rent.

We fully intended to make money on the apartment, and surely, we've made some. Nine years on, though, our tenants' rent is the same, and we hope they'll never leave.

What we have built with them as our neighbors far and away surpasses the additional money we could have earned as market-rate landlords.

We're invested in each other's lives — and, by extension, in our community. And although maximizing return on investment is in my DNA, I've learned that returns can be so much more than money.