• Rick Rubin says AI could give more people a way to make art, even if they lack traditional artistic skills.
• The Def Jam cofounder said the final product is only a small part of the creative process.
• Rubin compared prompting AI to the way artists and Hollywood greats have long brought their visions to life.

Def Jam cofounder Rick Rubin said he sees AI as a tool that could help people who don't consider themselves artists make art, including those who can't draw or play instruments.

On Monday's episode of "Diary of a CEO," Rubin shared his thoughts on the role of human creativity in AI art and how prompting fits into the creative process.

"I don't have any talent. I have no way to express my creativity. But I could talk to the AI, and maybe I could prompt the AI into making something beautiful, through iteration and prompting," Rubin told podcast host Steven Bartlett.

He said AI could enable more people to be creative, calling it "a beautiful thing."

However, the finished work, or even the process of making something, is only a small part of what creativity is, Rubin said.

"The things that we make are the reminders that we're creative. They're just the output. The real creativity is the idea that allows this thing to be made," Rubin said.

The record producer drew parallels between prompting AI and the storyboarding process used by filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock and Wes Anderson, who plan their films frame by frame before working with actors to execute their ideas.

"AI could be a great tool to assist in this mocking up, but it's the prompt. The prompt is where the creativity is. The prompt is what Wes is using, and what Alfred Hitchcock is using, to tell the artist what to draw in each frame," Rubin said.

"The creativity is there. It's not in the drawing. It's not in the finished movie," he continued.

When asked how great artists would stand out if anyone could learn to prompt, Rubin said it comes back to "the same thing" it always has: whether their work moves people and makes them want to return to it again and again.

Still, Bartlett said the human element affects how he experiences art. He recalled liking a Spotify song less after learning it was AI-generated because it no longer felt tied to a real person's experience.

Rubin then pointed to Andy Warhol's screen-printed celebrity portraits, many of which involved collaborators.

"He said, 'We're going to use this shot of Marilyn, and we're going to treat it in this way,' and he prompted the people in the studio to screen print these things, and they're not less Andy Warhol," Rubin said.

He added that kind of collaboration was nothing new: Renaissance painters often worked with assistants, and modern musicians still rely on studio players to perform on recordings.

"The art's always in the ideation. That's where the art is. It's not who put the paint on the canvas," Rubin said.

Rubin has shared his thoughts on the use of AI in the past. In a May 2025 episode of "The Ben & Marc Show", hosted by A16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, Rubin called AI "just another tool" to help artists bring their visions to life.

Hollywood remains divided over AI. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, for example, has said AI could help filmmakers make movies better and more efficiently, while Tim Burton has said AI copies of his work lack the "humanity" and "soul" of art made by humans.

Several top movie directors have also raised concerns about what AI could mean for artistic craft, the next generation of filmmakers, and the creative workers whose jobs could be replaced.

• Philip Su was promoted to distinguished engineer at Meta before seeking a demotion.
• Su said higher levels brought pressure that left him exhausted and under scrutiny.
• Su said that accepting a career ceiling can lead to more enjoyable work.

A top engineer for Big Tech asked for a demotion at the peak of his career.

Philip Su, who reached the prestigious "distinguished engineer" or IC9 level at Meta and OpenAI, said on "The Peterman Pod" podcast that promotions lost some of their shine as his career progressed.

"The thrill of the promotion itself was no longer the same as when I was younger," Su told show host Ryan Peterman. "When I was younger, because I sought after those grades, those measurable metrics, I very much felt great every time I got promoted."

By level seven, however, advancement no longer felt like an unqualified win.

"It wasn't all roses to me anymore, the idea of getting promoted, because I realized that each promotion also came with much higher expectations," Su said. "Expectations that I was no longer positive that I was going to deliver well."

Su, now the CEO and founder of Superphonic, an AI-powered iOS and iPadOS podcast player, ultimately sought a demotion at Meta from IC9 to IC7. He said that operating at a higher level left him exhausted and like the "Eye of Sauron" was constantly scrutinizing his performance.

"The higher level you are, the more that you feel that intensity all the time," Su said, adding that companies are entitled to question whether highly paid employees are delivering enough value.

At Meta, an IC9, also known as level E9, is one grade above a Principal Engineer and one promotion away from being a Meta Fellow. According to Levels.fyi, a compensation estimate platform, an IC9 engineer at Meta can earn roughly $4.3 million annually, including about $404,500 in base salary, $3.8 million in stock grants, and a bonus of at least $110,000. By comparison, Levels.fyi estimates that an IC7 Meta engineer could make around $1.63 million a year in total.

Stepping down was not painless. Su said it was difficult watching people who had once been below him rise past him. Still, he said had come to recognize that a lower-level role could offer work he enjoyed without requiring him to perform indefinitely at the edge of his abilities.

Su said people chasing a major career goal should ask themselves a simple question: What will they do once they achieve it?

"Now pretend you've just reached it. What do you do next?" Su said. "If you have a good answer for that, then you're fine."

Su's reversal reflects a broader retreat from the traditional corporate ladder. A late 2024 Randstad survey found that 42% of US workers would decline a promotion if offered. An Apple engineer also previously told Business Insider that she burned out and needed a career break after being promoted to a manager role.

For Su, he said the lesson was that every career has an upper limit, and reaching it need not be the goal.

"You know what?" Su said. "Like maybe this ultimately is my final level."

• California and Texas are both limiting data center development.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new regulations, while Gov. Greg Abbott has paused new permits.
• Data centers have drawn bipartisan backlash due to concerns over water use and energy prices.

Often used as shorthand for two opposing sides of America, California and Texas have finally found common ground — on data centers breaking ground.

The two most populous US states announced limits on data center development on Monday. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed a package of new laws regulating data centers. The laws require data centers to disclose information about electricity and water use, make data centers ineligible for environmental exemptions, and aim to ensure consumers aren't saddled with rising energy costs, among other measures.

"While the Trump administration moves toward deregulation, communities are left to deal with the consequences — higher electricity demand, grid constraints, water use, and pollution," Newsom said in a statement, adding, "With these laws, we are ensuring that Californians remain in the driver's seat — and that those profiting from data centers aren't doing so at our expense."

Meanwhile, in the Lone Star State, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to halt all new permits for data center development while the group that operates the state's electrical grid carries out an audit.

"Simply put, Texans must come first," Abbott said in a statement, adding that "data centers must pay their own way, protect our grid and water, and complete the ERCOT and TWDB audits," referring to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Texas Water Development Board.

"Until they do, TCEQ will issue no permits sought by data center projects," he said.

The latest order expands on a moratorium that Abbott issued last month on new data center connections to the state's electric grid.

It's not exactly surprising to see the two political adversaries set their sights on the same target, given that it's become a nonpartisan political issue. Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns about the impacts of data centers, and Americans across the country have turned out to protest proposed developments.

Critics say data centers consume too much water, drive up electricity bills, and add noise pollution to the communities where they are built. Business Insider's reporting previously found that the data center boom was contributing to water scarcity and rising electricity bills.

A spokesperson for the Data Center Coalition said the industry trade group was "disappointed" to hear Newsom had signed the California laws and that the impacts for the industry in the state would be "sweeping and significant."

"Legislation such as these create significant uncertainty and introduces potentially duplicative requirements that make doing business in California an unattractive proposition for data centers and other industries," Khara Boender, director of government affairs in the West for the Data Center Coalition, said. "These bills are likely to further limit data center development in California—an already declining market—which pushes job creation, clean energy deployment, and tax revenue to neighboring states."

The group also said in response to the permit pause in Texas that its members operating in the state were complying with the audit and shared the governor's "goal of ensuring state agencies have the complete and accurate information they need to make fully informed decisions," according to Cameron Poursoltan, Texas director of energy policy for the Data Center Coalition.

• British Columbia filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over the Tumbler Ridge school shooting.
• The province alleges ChatGPT reinforced the shooter's violent ideation.
• The lawsuit seeks recovery costs, including for replacing the demolished school.

British Columbia is taking OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman to court over the company's alleged role in a mass shooting that shattered a small Canadian community.

Niki Sharma, the Deputy Premier and Attorney General of British Columbia, filed a lawsuit Monday in California to hold OpenAI "accountable for designing a dangerous product, distributing it to every home with internet access, ignoring the warnings of their own safety team, refusing to notify authorities when they knew the shooter was planning gun violence."

"OpenAI has confirmed that the conversation between ChatGPT and the shooter was so alarming that it triggered an internal review by OpenAI employees," Sharma said in a press conference earlier on Monday.

"This threat was not reported to the RCMP and was subsequently dismissed," Sharma added. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is Canada's federal police force.

According to the lawsuit filing, the February 10 Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting killed five students and an education assistant and injured more than 25 people. The 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The lawsuit said that ChatGPT's features "encouraged, elaborated, and reinforced violent ideation instead of interrupting it or directing the user to real-world help."

Sharma said that she had not personally reviewed the conversations and said OpenAI is withholding them from the province.

"Publicly, OpenAI has paid lip service to regret, and has promised to make changes," the lawsuit said.

"Neither OpenAI nor Ms. O'Leary have followed up on these promises, despite public efforts by the Attorney General of British Columbia to engage with them," the lawsuit added of Ann O'Leary, the vice president of global policy at OpenAI.

According to the lawsuit, British Columbia is seeking to make OpenAI pay for the cost of replacing Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which was demolished after the attack.

In a statement to Business Insider, an OpenAI spokesperson called the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy."

"OpenAI remains committed to working collaboratively with government and law enforcement officials, and continuing to advance our ongoing safety work," the spokesperson said.

The provincial lawsuit is separate from cases brought by survivors and victims' families. More than 30 such lawsuits had been filed against OpenAI by early September.

• Airports across the Northeast experienced disruptions after an air traffic control outage on Monday.
• A construction crew accidentally cut a backup fiber line, leading to the outage.
• The line was repaired, and airport operations were resuming as of Monday evening.

A construction mishap affecting air traffic control equipment in New Jersey on Monday caused chaos for travelers flying through the Northeast.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the equipment outage was caused after a construction crew "accidentally cut into a fiber line." In an update shared around 6 p.m., Duffy said the lines had been fixed and that all impacted airport operations were resuming.

"It will take some time to clear all existing delays, so please check with your airline for the latest information," Duffy said.

New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport was put under a ground stop at around 10 a.m., when a nearby air traffic control center experienced an equipment outage, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to halt inbound flights.

The outage also affected Philadelphia and New York's JFK and LaGuardia airports, with hundreds of flights delayed, diverted, or canceled. Newark has been hit hardest, with more than 500 departing and arriving flights canceled — nearly half of all scheduled operations — and over 200 delayed.

LaGuardia and JFK have seen 20 and 16 flight cancellations, respectively, with over 400 flights delayed at each. About 180 flights have been canceled in Philadelphia, with another 386 delayed.

As of Monday at around 7 p.m., LaGuardia and JFK were still under ground delays due to the equipment outage, while Newark and Philadelphia were no longer under delay.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told CBS News around 1 p.m. that the primary circuit, which was old and due for replacement, failed, and that about 600 feet of the backup fiber was accidentally cut out by a construction crew.

The affected ATC facility was the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, or TRACON, which manages arriving and departing aircraft in the area.

Duffy said earlier on Monday that an "Amtrak construction crew" cut the fiber line, causing the outage. Amtrak told Business Insider that the "incident occurred on New Jersey Transit property and involved a New Jersey Transit contractor," not Amtrak.

New Jersey Transit confirmed to Business Insider that a construction crew working near the line "accidentally" cut the fiber-optic cable, but said they were working about 10 feet from the markings indicating the location of underground utilities.

"NJ TRANSIT staff is currently on site working to determine the status of the repairs, while also determining whether it was Verizon or the contractor who made the utility markings at the site," a spokesperson said earlier on Monday. "Thirty-six out of the 56 fiber cables are done. They should be coming back online shortly. The rest should be done and tested shortly."

Flightradar24 shows that several Newark-bound flights were diverted to destinations such as Pittsburgh and Detroit due to the ongoing outage. A United flight from Bogota to Newark diverted halfway through to Orlando. Flights from Europe on Lufthansa and Swiss were seen turning around over the Atlantic.

Verizon told Reuters that it was their fiber cable, but that it was not their technicians who cut it. "We immediately deployed our technicians to the scene," a spokesperson said. "We and our partners are actively working to repair the damaged cable and restore connectivity as quickly as possible."

While the line has been repaired, it's unclear how long the disruptions will last. It's also unclear if airlines — who would not be considered at fault for the disruptions — will offer any accommodations or compensation for those stranded.

Flyers should continue to monitor their flight status, and those who booked with travel credit cards may have options for delays or trip reimbursement.

• Meta's AI agent Muse dominates the App Store, surpassing ChatGPT in downloads.
• Muse offers a potential new platform for developers, attracting services such as Shopify and Stripe.
• Muse competes with other AI agents for the "top of the funnel."

Meta's new personal AI agent, Muse, gives Mark Zuckerberg another chance to build the kind of technology platform he has chased for years.

Muse jumped to the top of the App Store last week and remained the most downloaded free app on Monday, beating ChatGPT.

If enough people use Muse as their main way to get things done online, developers could flock to the nascent platform, and businesses may have little choice but to engage with it.

Meta surged 11% on Monday, getting the stock within striking distance of a record it hit last summer. Investors appear to be betting the company has found a new way to sit between consumers and the businesses trying to reach them.

This broad idea has been driving Zuckerberg for years.

Meta spent tens of billions of dollars trying to build the next major computing platform through virtual reality and, more recently, smart glasses. Part of that ambition came into focus in 2021 when Apple made it harder for Meta to track people across apps and target ads, reminding Zuckerberg how much power platform owners have over companies that depend on them.

Developers invited

Muse offers a different path. Its swift climb up the app charts gives Meta the kind of early consumer momentum that attracts developers.

Last week, the company opened Muse to outside developers through a new connector platform that lets businesses plug their services directly into the AI agent. Those connectors help Muse do useful work on a person's behalf. A travel service can book flights. A calendar app can manage appointments. An email service can send messages.

Developers can create their own Muse connectors and submit them to Meta's agent platform for review. No coincidence: The company describes this in very similar terms to how Apple guards its mobile platform.

"We'll review your connector for functional, security, and legal requirements, and complete end to end testing," Meta wrote on the Muse developer website. "Once approved, users will be able to find your connector in Muse. Editors will review connectors for featured placement."

Adding to the allure for developers: On Monday, Shopify announced support for shopping on Muse through its Shop Pay service, sparking a jump in Shopify stock. Meanwhile, Stripe is providing the payment technology that lets Muse complete purchases across much of the web.

Top of the funnel

The platform strategy is tried and true, but difficult to pull off. If millions of people begin asking Muse to shop, book appointments, compare products, and manage subscriptions, businesses will increasingly want their services available through the agent.

That is how internet platforms become valuable. By controlling the starting point of online activity — the top of the funnel — they can become very powerful and lucrative.

Google Search is one of the most profitable businesses in internet history because it became the starting point for finding information online and taking valuable actions afterward. Apple's App Store became indispensable because developers wanted access to hundreds of millions of iPhone users.

In both cases, businesses adapted because that was where the customers were. Meta hopes Muse can become a similar starting point.

"Being early could be as valuable as being early to the App Store in 2009," tech entrepreneur Greg Isenberg wrote on X. "Every business will need an agent strategy, just like every business needed a mobile strategy."

He thinks Muse connectors could become "the new app listings," with businesses competing for visibility inside AI agents instead of app stores or search results.

In that world, a company's API could become more important than its app because AI agents, not people, would increasingly decide which services to use, he explained.

Amazon blocks, Shopify embraces

Whether Meta gets there is far from certain. Amazon has already blocked Muse from parts of its shopping site, showing that some companies may resist handing customer relationships to another tech giant.

That's a stark contrast to Shopify's reaction to Muse. And it shows the potential risk of not engaging with a potential new platform like this.

If millions of users embrace Muse, Amazon could miss out on selling to this large customer base. For instance, Amazon could just as easily block Google Search from its online store, too. But it doesn't because Google is used by billions of consumers to search for products.

"If Instacart embraces agents while Amazon blocks them, the agent will increasingly route demand to Instacart. Customers will be happy, and Amazon will eventually face the dilemma: keep protecting the relationship, or match the better value proposition," Nicolas Bustamante, who works on AI at Microsoft, wrote on X.

Muse also has competitors that could grab this new spot at the top of the funnel. OpenAI, SpaceX, and others are racing to build AI agents that become consumers' default assistants.

Still, Muse may represent Zuckerberg's clearest opportunity yet to build the kind of platform he has been pursuing for years.

If AI agents become the primary way people get things done online, owning a leading agent platform could prove every bit as valuable as owning a mobile operating system or a search engine.

Sign up for the AI Insider newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com

• My mom dreamed of visiting Switzerland for years, but the high cost kept us from going sooner.
• We chose to stay in Thun over Interlaken for its affordability and convenience for day trips.
• Our time in Thun also gave us scenic views, a quieter pace, and easy access to Interlaken.

A trip to Switzerland had been my mother's dream long before it was mine. She'd seen the destination in movies and travel videos for years and always said she wanted to see it in person someday.

Every few years, my family would talk about going, compare flights, and then let the idea go. The timing was never right, and the cost was hard to justify for a family of four from India.

When we finally planned a trip for December 2024 as a gift for my mom's birthday, I knew I wanted to make the most of it. It was one of the most expensive vacations we'd ever taken, so I spent a lot of time thinking about where we'd stay, knowing our base would shape the whole trip.

I had to make some tough decisions when it came to where to stay and what to do to make sure the trip was worthwhile and met all of our expectations, especially my mom's. I'm happy with the choices I made, especially when it came to which town to stay in.

We didn't want our dream trip to feel rushed

Like most first-time visitors, I started by looking at tourist hubs like Interlaken and Lucerne. Both seemed like obvious choices — close to the attractions we'd planned to visit and easy to build an itinerary around.

But we were going to spend most of our days out exploring, not sitting in our hotel, and I wasn't sure it made sense to pay high rates to stay in such a busy tourist town.

We looked for a quieter base without giving up convenience

Through travel articles, Reddit threads, and Instagram, I discovered Thun, a lakeside town in the canton of Bern that many visitors recommended as a day trip from Interlaken.

I mapped out how easily we could reach the places we'd planned to visit from Thun. We had a week in Switzerland, with the final two days already set aside for Zurich, so I wanted to make sure we weren't losing too much time commuting.

Thun fit our itinerary perfectly.

It turned out to be the more affordable choice, too. We found a hotel overlooking the Aare River, which runs through the historic town, with two rooms for around CHF 1,500 (around $1,800 USD) for four nights — almost half what similar places cost in Interlaken and Lucerne at the time.

Thun gave us the same access, just at a slower pace

Interlaken is the main hub for the Bernese Oberland region, and many places we wanted to visit were easiest to reach from there. From Thun, it only took us 30 minutes to reach Interlaken by bus.

We'd bought the Swiss Half Fare Card in advance, which gave us 50% off most public transportation, which also saved us some money. Our hotel also provided a local travel card with free transportation to Interlaken, making day trips even easier.

One day, we were up in the mountains, riding the world's steepest cableway from Stechelberg to Mürren; the next, we strolled through the tiny village of Wengen. We also explored Lauterbrunnen Valley, a familiar backdrop from many Bollywood films we'd grown up watching. Seeing these places in person felt surreal.

Thun offered plenty beyond being a convenient base

During our stay, we wandered through the old town, walked along the Aare, and made our way up to Thun Castle. A small Christmas market right beside our hotel meant our evenings often ended with a walk through the stalls before heading in.

One rainy afternoon, we visited the St. Beatus Caves above Lake Thun. The path through the forest followed waterfalls rushing down the cliffs beside us. Despite the rain, we stayed much longer than planned, stopping along the way to take in the views of the Bernese Alps.

Later, we took a two-hour cruise on Lake Thun, passing historic lakeside towns and castles along the shore. My family still talks about that afternoon, it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.

By the end of our stay, I understood why Thun had felt like the right choice. We saw the Switzerland we'd imagined for years, but Thun gave us the time to slow down and enjoy it together. After waiting so long for this trip, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Nearly two years later, my mom still watches videos of Switzerland. She'll recognize a village or a lake we'd seen on our trip and immediately start talking about that day. It seems the trip gave her exactly what she'd wanted all those years: not just a picture of Switzerland, but memories of being there.

Apple's latest iPhone generation is officially up for grabs, and the new device looks sweet for fans of the iOS ecosystem. As you might expect, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max aren't cheap, so a good deal goes a long way to making the smartphone accessible. Luckily, new and existing Verizon customers can save now on their new iPhone with these sweet deals.

One of the best offers features a free iPad A16 and Apple Watch Series 12 (or previous generation) with iPhone orders and eligible Verizon Plans. It's an incredibly sweet deal, perfect for students and newcomers to the Apple universe. The devices pair seamlessly, creating a stress-free setup for one user or a value-packed trio to be shared among family members.

Keep reading for more details on how to get Verizon freebies with your iPhone 18 Pro purchase. I've also broken down some of the provider's other ongoing offers for new iPhone purchases, in case you're interested in a different discount.

How to get a free Apple Watch Series 12 and iPad A16 with iPhone purchases

To get your free devices with your Verizon order, you need to have an iPhone Service plan. Here's how to get started:

1. Head to the Verizon website and choose the iPhone you want — it doesn't have to be the newest generation to count.
2. Select the color and storage size you want, specify whether you're a new or existing customer, indicate whether you'd like to include a trade-in, then click "Order."
3. Select the iPad and Apple Watch you'd prefer in the pop-up that appears after adding the phone to your cart.
4. Click "Next steps" after adding all three items to your cart.
5. Select your preferred Verizon cell plan and proceed through account enrollment and checkout.

This specific promo covers your additional devices through bill credits. Put simply, you'll pay up front for the iPad and Apple Watch, but Verizon will discount your monthly bill to offset the total cost.

If you already have a smartwatch and a tablet, Verizon is also offering other great promotions on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

What devices are eligible for the Verizon iPhone 18 Pro deal?

The Verizon deal isn't limited only to the latest devices — it actually applies to a handful of different Apple devices. Any iPhone purchased with a Verizon Service Plan can be bundled with a free iPad A16 and any of the following smartwatches:

• Apple Watch Series 12
• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch SE 2

If you're unsure how those exact models compare, see this table for a quick glance at their different specs.

Aside from these hardware differences, the pricier options also offer better software features, such as Siri AI, 5G compatibility, more robust health tracking, and more. It's a big difference worth paying for, if you can afford the upfront cost of the Series 12. After all, Verizon will refund you the amount with monthly bill credits anyway.

Verizon plan options

Verizon keeps things blissfully simple with only a few plan options to choose from. Not all of the tiers are compatible with the Phone 18 Pro deals I've mentioned above, but here's a list of what the provider offers:

• Simplicity Plan: 5G Ultra Wideband plus freebies starting at $30 a month when you switch and bring your number
• Unlimited Welcome: Unlimited 5G starting at $65 a month for one line
• Unlimited Plus: 5G Ultra Wideband plus 30GB hotspot starting at $80 a month for one line
• Unlimited Ultimate: 5G Ultra Wideband with enhanced video calling and streaming, plus unlimited hotspot starting at $95 a month for one line

Prices get cheaper per line if you buy a plan with multiple users. Signing up for only a single cell line can get pricey, so we recommend teaming up with friends and family to get the best Verizon price.

See more: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max offers | iPhone 18 Pro cases | iPhone 18 Pro Max cases

Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for the latest deals, reviews, and buying guides.

Another year, another Google Pixel Fold. This time, it's the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and Google is absolutely aiming for the top spot in the foldable market. And the company makes a good case for the crown. The phone is visually stunning and looks just as premium as competing phones in the space. It's even managed to slim down a touch, making it Google's thinnest, lightest Fold ever. But that beauty belies the most durable foldable in the business, as the only device with an IP68 rating (until the iPhone Duo launches, that is).

Running Android 17 and powered by Google's new Tensor G6 chip, the Pro Fold isn't after benchmark supremacy. Instead, it's putting all that performance into speedier interactions, whether it's multitasking or some AI functionality. And speaking of AI, Google has crammed every AI trick under the sun into this thing, with an attempt to make you wonder how you ever lived without such convenience. Need to make a dinner reservation? Gemini's got it. Need to book a flight? Gemini's got it. Want to watch your favorite Korean drama in English? Gemini's got it.

And then there's the cameras. Some incremental changes from last year, but those changes greatly expand what the Pro Fold's capable of. And that's before you throw in all the software tricks, old and new, that Google has up its sleeve.

But the brakes get severely pumped when we start talking about the Pro Fold's price. I reviewed the 256GB version of the phone, which costs $1,899 (or $1,299 with an eligible trade). For that price, you can get a reasonably specced laptop and a budget tablet. The 512GB model costs $2,019, and the 1TB version is priced at $2,246. Each iteration is $100 more than last year's model. And that's nothing to sneeze at for an already expensive phone.

However, if you're looking for one of the best foldables on the market and want the full Gemini Intelligence experience, the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the only way to go.

Design: Google's thinnest, lightest Fold ever is also its most durable

I have to hand it to Google; they made a visually stunning device. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold radiates the elegance you expect from a phone priced at $1,899. The Olive matte rear, paired with a satin composite finish and the gold spacecraft-grade aluminum frame, is a sophisticated colorway. The phone is also available in all black for those seeking a more understated look. But I would have loved to see the Fold 11 in Canyon Pink with a gold frame like the Pixel Pro XL and Pro 11.

Aside from the colors, at first glance, you'd be hard-pressed to find any differences between the Fold 11 and its predecessor. Once again, the power button also doubles as the fingerprint reader. It's not my favorite, especially when there's a nice big exterior screen where my finger would be better placed. However, the Fold 11 also features Face Unlock if you find the power button too cramped.

But the differences, like the devil, are in the details, starting with the smaller bezels of the exterior screen, providing that edge-to-edge glass look you love to see in smartphones. Google used that extra real estate to slightly expand the screen to 6.5 inches from last year's 6.4 inches. The camera module also got a slight remix from last year's design and now protrudes a bit more than the previous model. The lenses, flash, and sensor sit in a pair of raised glass ovals, so the phone doesn't lie flat.

On the camera module, you'll find the new HiLight feature. It essentially lets you designate colors for incoming phone calls (including WhatsApp calls) from chosen contacts, or indicate that Gemini is active for voice commands via LEDs in the flash module. I set my Mom's calls to pulse pink, which came in handy when I had the phone face down. Right now, the feature is more of a kitschy gimmick than a must-have, but Google says it could expand HiLight's functionality down the line. Not launching with any functionality for incoming texts seems like a poor decision, though.

The Fold 11 is also thinner than the previous model by 6.48% (0.7mm) when folded, and 3.85% (0.2mm) unfolded. The latest model is also lighter at 8.43 ounces, down from 9.1 previously. The Fold 11 is still heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (7.1 ounces), but it's all relative, as I barely noticed the phone when I slipped it into my pocket. In this case, it's all about the thinness, as I frequently found myself reaching for my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, only to find the Fold 11 in my hand. The only surefire way to make the distinction was by the camera housing.

There's no denying the Fold 11 looks nice, but it's also pretty tough. Google claims the Fold 11 is three times more durable than last year's device. And just like the Fold 10, the 11 is one of the few foldables with an IP68 rating, indicating the phone can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. An IP68 rating also indicates dust resistance, and while that seems to have you covered for dust getting under the screen, the hinge remains a weak point where dust, gravel, and other particles can get in and cause issues. Otherwise, the phone is pretty durable, with a ceramic cover glass on the front that can withstand a few light scrapes, a strong frame, and a glass/plastic hybrid rear that is much less likely to crack on drops. Durable or not, if you're planning to spend at least $1,899 on a smartphone, make sure to check out our best Pixel 11 Pro Fold cases guide.

A new gearless hinge design, made of the previously mentioned space-grade aluminum, can withstand hundreds of thousands of opens over multiple years. However, recent tests have revealed the return of a glaring flaw: the phone cracks along the antenna line when it's folded backward. It's not something many people would do to a $1,900 device, but it's worth being aware of. I learned that opening the Fold 11 can still be a bit of a hassle if you don't have nails that can slip between the seam. A deeper lip or divot could alleviate this problem, but that's a design problem for another generation of phones. A decent case would likely give you extra purchase to make opening the phone easier, too.

Performance: Flexing a different kind of power

You know what really grinds my gears? Using the same chip to run three different phones. For the price, I absolutely hate that the entry-level device has the same horsepower as my super-premium foldable. The only real difference is in the RAM. The baseline Pixel 11 and Pixel Pro 11 only have 12GB of RAM, while the Pixel 11 Pro XL (well, the 512GB/1TB versions at least) and 11 Pro Fold have 16GB. C'mon, Google, at least give me a souped-up clock speed, so I feel marginally special. Alas, every phone in the Pixel 11 lineup is powered by Google's new Tensor G6 processor, which has the new Titan M3 to handle your security needs.

I'll admit that I'm a power-for-the-sake-of-power kind of girl. So I was a little bummed out that Tensor G6 can't really go toe-to-toe with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU. It's not a slouch, by any means, but Google didn't create the Tensor G6 with face-melting performance in mind, at least not in the way you're used to. Instead of a shootout for benchmark supremacy across its CPU, TPU, and GPU, the Tensor G6 is focused on optimizing Gemini and camera functionality. Google claims that Tensor G6 offers 25% faster web browsing speed and 20% better battery efficiency.

All that's to say, Google doesn't think synthetic benchmarks should count against it. And judging by how quick and responsive the Pro Fold actually is in real life, I'm inclined to agree. Switching between apps, rotating the orientation, and multitasking were fast enough that I never noticed any lag. And speaking of multitasking, foldables like the Pro Fold were made for it. I'm never going to get tired of having the space to work in Google Docs while watching a video or researching a topic in Search, all while chatting with Gemini. Still, I wish Google would allow for more than two apps to be used in split screen, as Samsung has offered for years now with its Fold series.

That said, it is nice to see Google taking a page out of Samsung's book with the new Bubbles feature. If you have an app you're not using at the moment, instead of minimizing it, you can long-press and select the option to turn it into a Bubble. From there, it'll float fairly unobtrusively until you're ready to bring it back into the mix. Just tap it, and you're right where you left off. You can create a maximum of five Bubbles at one time.

Gaming was also smooth. Even with visuals cranked to Very High and the frame rate to 60 frames per second, the Pro Fold didn't drop a single frame, even after playing for almost two hours. And when I wrapped up my session, scrolling through websites felt zippy.

A bigger screen usually means higher battery consumption, which is why I was surprised to learn that the 11 Pro Fold (4,806mAh) has a smaller battery than the previous year's model (5,015mAh). It's not that much smaller, and Google claims the 11 can deliver all-day battery life. But still, every little bit helps. The Tensor G6's promised efficiency allows Google to make such a confident claim. And while 24 hours of battery life is great, it's less than the 30 hours Google notes for every other phone in the Pixel 11 lineup.

I immediately started putting that 24-hour claim to the test. Video calls, gaming, watching "Poppy Playtime" theory videos on YouTube, streaming music from Spotify, doomscrolling on Threads and Instagram, and yeah, doing a little bit of work. I made sure to keep taxing the Pro Fold to the best of my ability, starting at 9 a.m. Despite all that, the Pro Fold tapped out before me, as it still had 16% left in the tank at 4 a.m.

And when it was finally time to charge, the 11 Pro Fold could be charged faster than its predecessors. The phone boasts both 30W wired and 25W Qi2.2 wireless charging. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is one of the few smartphones available that offers the newish wireless charging technology. That translates into a claim of only taking 30 minutes to get 50% charge. The claim is spot on: the phone reached 49% in 30 minutes when I charged it after finally draining the battery. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 charges faster on wired at 40W, but slower on wireless at 20W.

Displays: Bigger, brighter, and built for multitasking

The displays, both external and internal, are a joy to behold. It's to be expected with OLED panels. The colors are rich and not overly saturated with deep blacks, which made watching the latest episode of Lanterns a real treat. But man, I wish that Google could find a way to minimize the seam on that ultra-thin glass that makes up the 8-inch internal display. And yes, I know every foldable has it to some extent, but Google's is definitely the most noticeable. It's a minor, but noticeable quibble that I want Google to address in future Folds.

Both displays boast a brightness of up to 3,600 nits, which means I never had to worry about the color washing out in direct sunlight. And whether I used the internal display or the 6.5-inch external screen while playing "Honkai: Star Rail", the variable refresh rate (1-120Hz) kept the action looking smooth.

I was disappointed to learn that with a screen that large, Google has yet to add pen functionality. As a Galaxy Ultra and Note fan, I yearn to take notes, color, and journal on this thing. It's a missed opportunity in my opinion.

AI features: The phone was built for Gemini, not the other way around

But as nice as the hardware and as smooth as Android 17 are, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, just like the rest of the Pixel 11 lineup, is just a vehicle for Gemini Intelligence, a set of Google AI features spread across work, content creation, and play. As someone who's constantly talking to myself, brainstorming ideas, or attempting to rattle off things on my to-do list, Rambler quickly became one of my favorite features. Instead of capturing my out-of-joint mutterings word for word, Rambler crafted them into potential text for my next articles. My favorite part, since I tend to think faster than I speak and use fillers like "um" and "uh," was that it cleaned all of that up, creating a clear representation of my thoughts. And since I've been rewatching "Betty La Fea" as of late, I took Live Translate for a spin, and suddenly those soapy antics became much more entertaining without me having to concentrate on translating. Live Translate also works in tandem with Google Lens to translate signage and text in a near-instantaneous fashion.

But the most intriguing part of Google's translation utilities is the live transcription for American Sign Language. When selected, the camera immediately turns on to capture video of the person signing for real-time translation. It's a really cool feature that shows the company's commitment to accessibility.

Then there's Proactive Assistance, which, once enabled, allows Gemini to access Gmail and Google Messages to scan and anticipate your needs. For instance, based on my proximity to my favorite supermarket, Gemini launched my loyalty card. Or if you're chatting with someone in Messages and mention you want to go out for Thai, Gemini will surface a card with suggestions and link to make reservations via OpenTable (if you have it installed). Or I was casually chatting with my partner about my dream vacation to Bora Bora. Suddenly, there was a helpful little card with potential flights for a trip that I'm woefully too poor to take.

It's pretty cool if you're cool with giving Gemini all that access. And even if you are, you have to find Proactive Assistance, which is buried deep in Settings. It's an annoying trend with many of the AI features. I found myself asking Gemini where to find everything, and I'm a technology journalist; I can only imagine how frustrating this could be for a layperson. Other helpful AI features include smart call screening and blocking.

Cameras: Slight tweaks make a big difference

Aside from the AI, Google is making a lot of noise about the Pro Fold's cameras, but do they live up to the hype? At first glance, the Pro Fold's camera setup is practically identical to last year's. The rear cameras are still made up of a 48-megapixel main shooter and a 10.5MP ultrawide. A 10.8MP telephoto with the 5x optical zoom rounds out the bunch. The telephoto remains one of the best in the foldable category, offering the longest reach of any book-style foldable.

But while the cameras haven't changed, one of the sensors has. The main sensor has been bumped up to 48MP, which Google says will capture up to 56% more light for better results when using Night Sight mode or just taking shots in darker conditions. The telephoto lens also got some razzle dazzle via a software update and now sports a 30x Super Res Zoom. As for the external and internal cameras, they're the same old 10MP shooters we saw last year. It's not a bad thing, but it would have been nice to have an upgrade.

Now for those camera claims. I have to say, outside of a few instances with low-light shots and a couple of where I took the telephoto to the limits, I'm pretty impressed with what Google's laying down.

Let's start with the main camera. The shots I took of my burger and fries were very visually appetizing. The color accuracy was on point; you can see the different shades of red across the ketchup, the tomato on my burger, the Tabasco sauce, and the upholstered sofas in the background. Details were crisp, as evidenced by all the individual sesame seeds on the burger bun and the ridges on the lettuce leaves. If you zoom in, you can see the parsley on my crinkle cut fries and the individual foam bubbles in the head of my beer.

I also took quite a few shots of my girls. The camera accurately captured the slight brindle coloring on both dogs. A quick zoom shows off the individual hairs, their whiskers, and the folds in their tongues.

Now onto some ultrawide shots. And I'm enamored with the colors and the details of this street. You can clearly read the Grillpoint Deli signage, as well as the Feel The Vibe call to action on Vibe Gym. Speaking of the gym, it's a cavalcade of color that you don't want to take your eyes off.

I tested the 30x Super Res Zoom on the telephoto camera across various shots and lighting conditions. I had the best results with daytime shots. I took several shots of a nested sculpture atop a Broadway theater. While they're all relatively good shots despite my shaky hand, I was really impressed with how clean the details were at max zoom. Aside from the individual pieces of synthetic wood that make up the nest, you can clearly see the sculpture's clasped fingers. Even more impressive is that the beige-gray brick face behind the structure is clearly visible.

I also took pictures of a cross at the top of a massive church. The shots aren't the clearest, which is probably more due to my lack of a good gimbal or stabilizer than anything else. However, the pictures are clear enough to show that some of the gold tiling has fallen off due to the elements.

Night photos were a mixed bag. The maxed-out, zoomed-in photo of the Empire State Building's spire isn't as clean as I would like. However, the camera still did a good job capturing the vivid blue LEDs illuminating the night sky.

I also took photos with Night Sight mode enabled and disabled. The shots I took of a deli mural looked great. Despite minimal lighting, the colors were still vibrant, and you could see the individual bricks under the paint. I really liked how good the blues and reds came out.

An ultrawide shot of Manhattan looked OK initially, but the more you zoom in, the fuzzier the detail becomes, especially all the lights, which look more like bright little globs.

My favorite night shot without Night Sight is of the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The cobalt-blue lighting highlights the seams on the individual dome, and the city lights in the background make for a great picture.

My worst low-light shots were of my dog Jade before we went on a food run. The camera overcompensated for the sky's lighting at my girl's expense. You can barely make out any of her features, making her look like some amorphous nightmare creature.

Now on to Night Sight proper and that shiny new sensor. I have to say that the sensor definitely makes a difference. That muddy shot of my dog? I tried it again with my other pup, Natasha. And while it's not as bright as I'd like, plus some unwanted blur, at least you can see more of her features, including her cropped ears, her brindle coat, and a hint of her eyes and nose.

The colors of a random stained glass window were vibrant without oversaturation, and the clear demarcations between each piece of glass were visible. You can also see the traces of grime on the white lintel above the window.

I also tried my hand at some astrophotography. And, like the previous picture of the cross, the result probably would have been better if I had followed Google's advice and used a gimbal or something to hold the phone steady. But still, I managed to get an OK shot of the moon with some seriously heavy lifting from Gemini.

And finally, there's the selfie cams. If it's an individual selfie, the external camera is the way to go, as it provides a more flattering angle; group shots and more composed shots are best captured with the internal camera. Either way, I liked both results. Each camera did a bang-up job of capturing my skin tone, my green hoodie, and the myriad colors in my hair.

But Google didn't stop with the cameras; the company added new software to help you get optimal performance from your stills and videos. As a tech journalist, I'm used to making videos on the fly. They're not the cleanest thanks to my aforementioned problem with filler words. The Teleprompter feature in Google's Creator Suite could make my job so much easier. And as anyone who's shot video can tell you, I have a pretty loud voice, so much so that my audio levels are constantly in the red if left to my own devices. That's why the Audio Visualizer is nifty: it lets you monitor audio levels. For editing, there's Folder & Storyboard. The former saves your clips to a folder, while the latter lets you watch them in order, then trim and rearrange them for a quick rough cut.

Plus, you have upgraded Speech Enhancement, which can reduce background noise. Finally, there's Social Media Grid, which adds helpful gridlines to help keep whatever you're shooting in the proper social media proportions, depending on the platform.

Google also added Magic Capture, a new camera feature that captures video while taking stills, so you don't have to worry about missing anything. It's essentially a mashup between video and burst shot, but when you're done, Gemini steps in to parse out what it thinks are the best stills. I got the best use out of Magic Capture with my two dogs as they played and rolled around in the dirt.

Other features like Made You Look, which displays funny animations in an attempt to get you to smile, make a return, as does Instant View, and one of my favorites, Add Me, which lets the photographer get in the picture too by stitching two photos into one.

Should you buy the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold?

I'm a little on the fence with this one. On the one hand, I absolutely love the Pixel 11 Pro Fold's design, cameras, and multitasking capabilities. Hell, even the AI features won me over. The displays are vivid and bright enough for outdoor use. And I love the multitasking abilities, but I really wish Google would add pen support. It's not the most powerful phone on the block because it's uber optimized for AI. However, I never had any problems playing games, watching videos, or jumping between apps.

And as much as I hate to admit it, Gemini Intelligence streamlines so many things. I can absolutely see myself letting Gemini take over some of the more tedious tasks on my plate. If I need to order groceries, I can ask Gemini to do it. Near my favorite store, and I want to pick up a snack? Gemini's already pulled up my loyalty card. And the cameras can compete with those of any other flagship foldables.

However, I can't wrap my head around that $1,900 starting price, especially when you can get the Pixel 11 Pro XL for $700 less (and even less if you qualify for a trade-in). Outside of the nifty multitasking and extra features that come with a foldable, you're essentially getting a phone with nearly identical internal specs and a longer battery life.

If you aren't squeamish about the price and aren't a spec-stickler, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold is a great foldable. It's stylish, durable, and offers great functionality that translates to work, play, and everything in between.

At Insider Reviews, we've tested plenty of essentials for our full Quince review over the years, from workwear basics to leather totes, so we were especially curious to see whether the brand's silk pieces lived up to the hype. For this Quince silk review, we wore and washed a range of items from the brand's washable silk collection — including dresses, separates, and pajamas — to find out whether they're actually worth buying.

Quince's 100% mulberry silk clothing is notably less expensive than similar styles from many other retailers, and the promise of machine-washable silk makes the line even more appealing. If the brand's claims hold up, these pieces could offer an easier, more affordable way to add silk to your wardrobe without the usual dry-cleaning hassle.

After over two years of testing, we found that Quince's silk clothing feels soft, looks polished, and delivers strong value for the price, but durability was inconsistent. Some pieces held up well with repeated wear and washing, while others developed tears at the seams. Overall, we think Quince silk is best for occasional wear, not everyday heavy rotation.

For our thoughts on where to get the best silk, see our article on the best silk pajamas.

Washable Stretch Silk Tiered Maxi Dress

This dress has become my most-reached-for item of clothing this summer. While elegant enough to dress up with some heels and a clutch for dinner, I mostly pair it with sneakers for an elevated and comfortable daytime look. (The sneaker look works for me because, at 5-foot-7, the dress hits me right above the ankles, but if you're shorter, it may fall closer to the floor.)

I particularly love the tiered A-line silhouette, which is very flattering, and the forgiving elastic high waist. The v-neckline is fairly deep (which I like, because it adds a feminine touch to balance out the baggier silhouette), but I was still able to wear it with a bra. It's not see-through at all. 

On particularly hot days, I did sweat in this dress (usually I pick sleeveless items when I think I may sweat), and the sweat was fairly visible through the silk fabric. That's the only downside I found to this dress. I washed it cold on the delicates cycle and hung it to dry. I steamed it to remove wrinkles (ironing silk is not recommended). Each time I wore the dress after washing, I found it as soft and shiny as before.

100% Washable Silk Slip Dress

This midi length, bias cut slip dress is crafted from mulberry silk with a satin finish. It has adjustable spaghetti straps, and the brand claims the fabric is naturally thermoregulating to help maintain body temperature. It comes in nine colors in sizes XS through XL.

"Trust me, nothing feels better than coming home from a long day of wearing restrictive clothing and putting on this buttery-soft slip. In the summer, this is the ultimate at-home outfit. And it's so incredibly chic to lounge around in a silk slip," says Samantha Crozier, style and beauty editor at Insider Reviews.

Sam's update after a year of wear: Even though it's a flattering, classic style that I washed and wore for about 9 months, the dress finally tore at a corner seam. You're likely to get a lot of use from this dress before you experience the same disappointment. However, its shelf life puts it in the fast-fashion category, so we can't call it a sustainable option.

Sam's update after two years of wear: After getting another silk slip dress to replace the torn one (it's just so dang comfy!), I continued to wear it as a lounge piece and a casual throw-on garment. This kind of frequent wear (with cycles through the washing machine as often as twice a month) isn't what I would recommend anymore. The second slip dress tore in the same spot as the first within a similar timeframe.

I would only recommend buying this dress if you're planning on wearing it to formal occasions or taking it out of the closet a few times a year. Otherwise, I'd recommend getting a similar dress from a brand that specializes in silk  (which is, albeit, much more expensive) or sticking with Quince's cotton or linen dress options.

"I love a gorgeous slip dress, perfect for dressing up or down, depending on my mood. Make it washable, and I'm in love. This silk dress has a nice bias cut down the side seam with extra room in the hips, showing that it was designed with curvier bodies in mind. It hits right below the knee. Adjustable straps helped me position the dress comfortably across my chest. Being in between sizes, I preferred the slightly roomier fit of the 2X to the 1X. The 1X felt too tight and pulled in the back, while the 2X was a little large under the armpits but nothing too noticeable. I'm not wearing shapewear in either of the photos," says Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor, Insider Reviews.

Read more in our full Quince plus size clothing review.

Washable Silk Skirt

A silk skirt is such a versatile wardrobe staple. It pairs well with sneakers and a t-shirt or slouchy sweater for a casual ensemble or can be worn with heels and a matching silky camisole for a dressy evening look. I was super excited to try Quince's version, which comes in an impressive range of nine colors.

This skirt, which hits just below the knees, did not disappoint. I'm currently between a medium and a large in bottoms, and sizing up to a large ended up being the right call. The elastic waistband falls loosely at my hips and the skirt is plenty flowy, so it doesn't show any panty lines.

100% Washable Silk Halter Top

I absolutely love this halter top as a comfortable and breezy option for an evening out. My favorite way to wear it is tucked into ripped jeans and paired with heels. It looks elegant and dressy. I think it would look equally good tucked into a pencil skirt and topped with a cardigan for days in the office. 

Just like the tiered maxi dress, the halter top washed well (in the delicates cycle and hung dry) and remained soft and shiny. The black version isn't see-through at all, although I'm not sure if the lighter champagne color would be (there's also a navy option).

Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse

"I'm forever on the hunt for a good button down and I wanted to love the Washable Stretch Silk Blouse. I typically size up in button-down blouses because I have a large chest. Sadly, the silk blouse in a 2X pulled at my chest and around my middle, making me feel a little too self-conscious. The ivory color was also quite sheer, and the slight stretch of the fabric only accentuated the parts that I didn't want to show off more. Ironically, the model in the product photo wears the bottom half of the shirt unbuttoned, as a foreshadowing of my experience, while another model wearing the blouse in wine appears to be swimming in it. If the shirt would fit me right, I think it looks very classy and sophisticated and a great workwear, or day-to-night piece; just the sizing is off, in my opinion," according to Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor, Insider Reviews.

100% Washable Silk Pajama Tee and Pants

With a super roomy silhouette, this cooling pajama set is comfy and elegant for both sleeping and lounging around. You could totally get away with wearing the T-shirt out with a pair of jeans as well. 

One huge benefit of this combo (both pieces available in sizes XS through XL) is the mix and matchability since the top and bottom are sold separately. You can pick different sizes, but you can also interchange the styles (there are also a button up shirts, a tank, or shorts available). The pants, shorts, tee, and tank are available in seven colors (sizes XS through XL), while the button up top only comes in five colors. 

I picked a medium in my top, which fit perfectly. For the bottoms, I picked a large since I often wear large bottoms from other brands and have previously tried other Quince medium sweats, which were snug. The large was very big on me, and I wished I had sized down to a medium. I would recommend sizing down in the bottoms, if you're between sizes. 

I washed these in the gentle cycle and hung them to dry. The smoothness and softness of the fabric did not change due to laundering.

How do you wash washable silk?

As per the instructions on Quince's website, we washed the garments in cold water in the delicates cycle and hung them to dry. We steamed the garments because they wrinkled easily, but this caused no damage.

Is Quince silk real silk?

Yes. Quince's silk clothing is made from 100% mulberry silk, which gives it the smooth, soft feel and glossy finish you'd expect from genuine silk pieces.

Does Quince silk hold up over time?

Our experience was mixed. Some Quince silk pieces stayed soft, shiny, and in good shape after repeated washes, but others eventually tore at the seams after months of regular wear. Based on our testing, durability was not consistent across the line.

Is Quince silk worth it?

Quince silk can be worth it if you want the look and feel of real silk at a more affordable price. We think it makes the most sense for occasional wear or lower-rotation pieces, but we wouldn't count on every style holding up to frequent washing and everyday use.

Cons to consider

If you wear and wash your silk casually, your Quince washable silk may not last you very long. We also found the sizing to be a little inconsistent with this line. While sizing up was a good choice in the halter top and tiered dress, it led us astray for the pajama pants, where sizing down would have fit better. Thankfully, though, Quince has a generous return policy with a full refund on unworn items with the tags on available for 365 days from the purchase date. So, you can feel comfortable to take your best guess at a size and return it if the fit isn't perfect.

The bottom line

We found that Quince's washable silk line looks great, but one piece only lasted nine months before tearing, so we don't qualify it as high-quality. We also found some flaws in the fit of its extended size silk collection.

Quince's silk products are much more affordable than traditional retailers, and you earn extra savings by avoiding dry cleaning. It may be worth a try if you intend to wear it for special events, but everyday wear proved too much for its weak seams.

The next Monday Night Football game kicks off soon. We've rounded up everything you need to know about how to watch the Giants vs. Rams, including global streaming options.

If you don't want to read any further, you can live stream the New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams game on ESPN Unlimited in the US, DAZN in Canada, and the DAZN NFL Game Pass in the UK and most other regions. You can access your usual streaming options from anywhere with a VPN, like NordVPN.

What channel is the Giants vs. Rams game on?

The Giants vs. Rams Monday Night Football game will air on both ABC and ESPN in the United States. The game will officially kick off on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET, but Monday Night Football Countdown coverage will be available on ESPN beginning at 6 p.m.

How to watch Giants vs. Rams in the US

The most direct way to live stream tonight's game, along with every other Monday Night Football game this season, is via ESPN Unlimited in the US. The streaming service carries live streams from every ESPN network, along with ESPN on ABC programming and streaming-exclusive content. Subscriptions cost $32 a month.

If you'd prefer a platform that offers more than just ESPN networks, but you don't want to commit to cable, a live TV streaming service might be of interest. YouTube TV is one of our top recommendations right now. The month-to-month streaming service carries ABC and ESPN in both its Main and Sports plans. The Main plan (100+ channels) normally costs $83 a month, but a limited-time deal will discount your first five months by $15 a month. The Sports plan (30+ channels) typically costs $65 a month, but a similar deal will discount your first six months by $20 a month. Both plans offer ESPN Unlimited live streaming and come with a free trial for new customers.

Fubo is another top-rated platform and ranks as one of the best live TV streaming services we've tested. ABC and ESPN are available in all plans, starting at $65 a month for Sports + News (~30 channels). Fubo Pro subscriptions (200+ channels) cost $89 a month, but new customers can get $25 off their first month. All English-language US plans unlock access to ESPN Unlimited. Fubo offers additional introductory savings and a free trial for new customers.

How to watch Giants vs. Rams in Canada, the UK, and other regions

In the UK, the game will air on both Sky Sports and be available to live stream through DAZN NFL Game Pass. The DAZN NFL Game Pass holds comprehensive NFL live stream rights in most regions outside the US and China. Subscriptions vary by region and contract length. In Canada, NFL coverage is available through regular DAZN subscriptions, which start at $25 a month on a 12-month contract. There are also slightly more expensive flexible monthly plans.

How to watch Giants vs. Rams from anywhere

Football fans traveling abroad can still access their usual streaming options with the assistance of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let people temporarily alter their virtual locations. This way, their favorite websites and apps work from anywhere, just like they would back home. Since the services we've highlighted today require country-specific payment methods, this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home right now.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's fast, reliable, and user-friendly (even for beginners). It's no sweat if you find that it's not what you're looking for since the service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Where is the Giants vs. Rams game held?

The Giants vs. Rams game will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. The Rams have the home-field advantage.

Who is favored to win the Giants vs. Rams game?

The Rams are favored to win tonight's game. On DraftKings (at the time of writing), the Rams are -298 on the moneyline, while the Giants are the +240 underdogs.

Who won the last Giants vs. Rams game?

The Giants and Rams haven't played each other since 2023. The New Year's Eve match-up was tight, but the Rams ultimately pulled ahead 26-25.

How are the teams doing so far this season?

The Rams and Giants have only played one game each so far this season. The Giants beat the Cowboys 28-20, and the Rams lost to the 49ers 27-7.

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

• US presidents have boarded the Marine One helicopter from the White House South Lawn for decades.
• The White House got a new granite helipad, funded by Lockheed Martin, bearing the presidential seal.
• Trump said the helipad is to protect the grass on the South Lawn from the Marine One helicopters.

The White House has a new helipad on the South Lawn.

President Donald Trump took off in Marine One from the helipad after an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday.

Trump previously said the White House would receive the granite helipad, paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft — a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin — to support the new fleet of helicopters used as Marine One.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson confirmed the contribution and told Business Insider it was being made to the National Park Service.

Trump previously said the permanent fixture would help protect the South Lawn's grass.

The newer helicopters from Sikorsky are about "two and a half times more powerful than the old ones," Trump said.

"When you land on the grass, it's not that the grass gets discolored. It gets ripped out," he said.

The helipad bears the White House seal and cost between $5 million and $6 million.

"Sikorsky is paying for it. You know why? Because they didn't tell us how powerful these helicopters were," Trump said. "And they felt a little bit guilty."

A Sikorsky spokesperson said that the new model for presidential transport — the VH-92A Patriot — delivers "increased performance and reduced maintenance costs and time over the current fleet of presidential helicopters."

A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

Photos have shown the helipad being built amid other massive construction projects the administration is undertaking to transform the White House in line with Trump's vision.

The helipad faced at least one setback when Trump ordered contractors to redo portions of the work, resulting in crews having to dismantle the nearly 100-foot-wide granite seal that was already in progress, The Washington Post reported.

During construction, Marine One relied on the Ellipse, the park south of the White House, as its landing zone.

Below are photos tracing the history of presidential helicopter landings at the White House and the results of the new helipad.

Aviation pioneer James Ray landed an autogyro, an aircraft with a spinning rotor on top, on the White House South Lawn for the first time in 1931.

James Ray parked a Pitcairn-Cierva PCA-2 autogyro on the South Lawn as part of an award ceremony, according to the National Air and Space Museum. It was the first recorded instance of a rotary-wing aircraft landing on the lawn.

In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first US president to use helicopter transport from the White House lawn.

The first documented instance of Eisenhower boarding a helicopter from the South Lawn was on July 12, 1957, according to The History Channel.

The Marine Corps website states that helicopter transport helped turn a two-hour motorcade into a seven-minute helicopter ride.

Helicopter transport for the US president to and from the White House South Lawn later became standard operating procedure for short-distance travel.

The White House helicopter transport was named Marine One, a call sign for a Marine Corps aircraft carrying the president.

The fleet is operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One, known as HMX-1 or the Nighthawks.

Marine One has become one of the most visible symbols of presidential travel, next to Air Force One.

Instead of a permanent helipad, White House personnel would place large landing disks on the South Lawn for Marine One helicopters.

The landing targets provide the aircraft with a stable contact point and could reduce turf damage.

The South Lawn is no match for the new Sikorsky aircraft.

In 2024, Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky formally delivered the VH-92A helicopter to the US Marine Corps to replace the older fleet of aircraft used for Marine One.

The government spent $5 billion on the new fleet.

Bloomberg previously reported in 2024 that issues with the VH-92A scorching the South Lawn have delayed the aircraft's ability to transport the president.

Trump says construction of the presidential helipad is underway.

Photos show that the grass on the South Lawn has been removed to make way for the construction of the permanent granite helipad.

"For 50 years, we've been landing helicopters on grass," Trump told reporters in July. "The grass is wet, soggy."

The helipad design features a 100-foot-wide presidential seal.

A massive granite presidential seal was set to be the centerpiece of Trump's helipad project.

The nearly 100-foot-wide design was taking shape on the South Lawn, intended to be embedded into the helipad surface, marking a highly visible presidential emblem at the heart of the landing zone.

The most eye-catching part of the White House helipad project is already being torn apart.

In early August, contractors were photographed removing the roughly 100-foot-wide granite presidential seal.

According to reporting by the Washington Post, the redesign came after Trump questioned the helipad's appearance and the South Lawn's slope.

It's unclear how much the revisions will add to the project's price tag.

Trump has repurposed the Ellipse until the helipad construction is completed

While construction continues on the White House's new helipad, Trump has temporarily shifted Marine One operations to the Ellipse, a park south of the White House.

The Washington Post reported that Trump has pushed to have the helipad finished before China's leader, Xi Jinping, is expected to visit later in September.

The helipad is only one of the construction projects the White House is going through under Trump 2.0.

Other renovation projects pursued under the second Trump administration include the demolition of the East Wing to make room for a 90,000 square-foot White House ballroom.

The project is estimated to cost $400 million.

The administration also hosted a UFC fight at the White House in June, temporarily turning the South Lawn into an arena.

By September, the granite presidential seal of the helipad was in full view.

The construction project began around June, according to The Washington Post.

On September 6, Trump announced in a Truth Social post that the helipad was completed.

Trump departed from the White House helipad after a ribbon-cutting ceremony

Trump boarded Marine One en route to New York following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 21.

Trump's remarks from the ceremony were largely drowned out by the helicopter and other background noises. Major TV networks also pulled coverage of the event after some news outlets were banned from the White House, making it nearly impossible to hear what Trump was saying.

• We surveyed and spoke with professionals in their 50s about job searching and career pivoting.
• Over 100 people left comments and responses about their biggest challenges.
• Ageism, AI, and ghosting have taken an emotional toll on many 50+ job seekers.

For our Still in the Game series, Business Insider has been interviewing and surveying people in their 50s who are navigating career changes. As we've shared their struggles and triumphs through unemployment and career pivots, we've heard from more than 100 readers via emails and comments, many expressing the same sentiment: "Thank you for showing me that I'm not alone."

While looking for work or starting over at any age comes with challenges — especially after spending decades building a career and in the current difficult job market — some of those challenges may come as a surprise.

One surprise this age demographic seems to share is the sudden realization that their job experience doesn't hold as much weight as they expected. As these Gen X job seekers go through the growing pains of starting over at 50, they reflected on that reality, plus the other challenging headwinds they're experiencing.

Here's what they told us.

Fifty is, apparently, old

When responding to our survey, one 55-year-old mentioned they're having trouble finding work because companies think people in their 50s are old now. "They forget that my generation is the one that, much like cockroaches, don't seem to age and are really hard to kill," they wrote.

Almost all of the Gen X workers and job seekers we spoke with feel that age discrimination is a major challenge in their current career journey. At the same time, they say it's difficult to prove. "It feels obvious to me that age is a factor in why I can't find a job," 56-year-old job seeker Kymm Dracup told BI.

Read more about Dracup's story.

Getting past AI isn't as easy as they thought

Some of the people we spoke with also mentioned concerns about how AI might be keeping their applications from reaching recruiters.

They also have fears about how their limited AI knowledge is making them weaker candidates. "There's AI now, and having been out of the tech loop for almost five years, catching up at 52 is a minefield," Jodi Lynn Karpes said.

Thankfully, there are workarounds for the AI issue. For example, Karpes, similar to the other non-tech job seekers who responded to BI, is taking courses and educating herself about AI tools.

Read more about Karpes' story.

Most companies lack hiring etiquette. The ghosting is out of control.

It might be hard to believe, but there was a time when companies would inform candidates if they weren't selected.

Job seekers who have been gainfully employed for the last 25 years and have found themselves in today's tough job market said they are shocked by the lack of etiquette companies have shown.

"The number of times I've heard about friends of mine in their 50s being ghosted — it's such a slap in the face to people," 56-year-old Michael Shmarak said. "I don't care how senior or junior a role is; there's a lack of decency, and I'd love to see that come back."

Shmarak has also experienced being ghosted.

Read more about Shmarak's story.

Job hunting can take a serious emotional toll

While the feeling of rejection isn't unique to job hunters in their 50s, it was one of the most common challenges shared in our interviews and surveys.

Frustration. Low self-worth. Panic. Desperation. These feelings consistently surfaced in various interviews. "Rejections are all part of the process, but it's taken a big toll on my self-esteem and contributed to situational depression," 57-year-old Gregory Brooks told BI. "My job was a big part of my identity, and leaving it was a big blow."

Read more about Brooks' story.

Job seekers in their 50s have to remind themselves that their age and experience are strengths, not weaknesses

After quitting her job of 15 years, 54-year-old Nicole Cicero landed a new one in a few months. Her best advice? Go into interviews with confidence, saying, I know what I can do. "It's a mindset shift that I've really embodied in my 50s," she said.

Cicero also relied on her connections and her network to quickly pivot into a new role.

Similar to Cicero, Shmarak shared how his mindset shift has kept him motivated, despite the ghosting and rejection in his job search, "50-somethings can learn to stop resting on the laurels of what we've done, and start focusing on the value we continue to deliver," he said.

Read more about Cicero's story.

Are you navigating a career change in your 50s? Contact this editor, Manseen Logan, at mlogan@businessinsider.com to share your story.

Abercrombie has come a long way from its mall-brand roots, and these days it's a go-to for polished basics, flattering denim, and easy everyday outfits. Its lineup covers everything from tailored trousers and dresses to sweaters, outerwear, activewear, and casual staples for men and women. If you're planning to shop, it's worth checking the latest Abercrombie promo codes, coupons, and sales before you check out.

Our style editors have tested plenty of Abercrombie pieces firsthand, and the brand continues to stand out for its broad range of fits, inclusive sizing, and modern takes on wardrobe staples. Its denim is a particular favorite, with styles featured in our guide to the best jeans for tall women. Our full Abercrombie jeans review also takes a closer look at several popular fits, including how they compare on comfort, sizing, and overall quality.

Abercrombie runs sales and limited-time promotions throughout the year, so there are often multiple ways to save. We've rounded up the latest Abercrombie coupon codes and deals below, including tested offers you can try before placing your order.

Today's best Abercrombie promo codes

Previous Abercrombie discount codes

Are there any other Abercrombie sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of sales and markdowns any time on Abercrombie's "Sale" page. As of the time of writing, Abercrombie is running the following promotions.

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

How to use Abercrombie discount codes

Start by adding qualifying items to your cart. Once you're on the "Shopping Bag" page, you can apply a promo code by clicking the "Promotions" dropdown, pasting the code into the "Promo Code" text box, and clicking "Apply." From there, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Abercrombie promo codes?

Abercrombie does not allow discount codes to be stacked together. Only one code may be applied per purchase.

Abercrombie discount code frequently asked questions

Does Abercrombie offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

At this time, Abercrombie does not offer special discounts for students, teachers, or the military, so your best bet is to take advantage of their other coupons and deals.

If you're a student or educator, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and best teacher discounts to save more from your favorite brands.

Can Abercrombie promo codes be used in-store?

Abercrombie discount codes can be used both online and in-store. To use one in person, simply show the cashier the promotion offer on Abercrombie's website.

Does Abercrombie offer free shipping?

Abercrombie offers free shipping on all orders over $99. However, gift card-only orders ship for free with standard shipping. For other orders that don't hit the $99 threshold, standard shipping costs $7. If you need faster delivery, you can pay higher shipping fees. Learn more about shipping rates and times on Abercrombie's website.

What is Abercrombie's return policy?

Shoppers can return items in-store or by mail within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. VIP members of the myAbercrombie rewards program can return items for a full refund within 60 days of delivery. Learn more about how to make returns and exchanges on Abercrombie's website.

Can I reuse an Abercrombie promo code?

Most Abercrombie promo codes are designed for a single use only. That said, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific promo code you want to use.

Still shopping? Check out our guide to the best work dresses. Also, read our roundup of the best Spanx coupon and promo codes for more style deals.

• TikTok users are debating whether you should bring an iced coffee to a job interview.
• A career expert said it highly depends on the role you want and how much risk you can take.
• A tech recruiter called beverage policing a distraction from performance-based hiring.

Iced coffee has become the latest unlikely subject of workplace controversy.

TikTok users are debating whether bringing iced coffee to a job interview is a harmless caffeine fix or a frosty professional faux pas.

The discourse became heated enough to reach LinkedIn News on Friday, where LinkedIn news editor Rachel Kleinman described it as a "fiery debate lighting up social media."

While some recruiters said arriving with a drink in hand could appear distracting or disrespectful, others questioned why a simple attempt to remain caffeinated should have any bearing on a candidate's ability to do the job.

Three career experts told Business Insider that the answer depends on whom you ask, and perhaps how much condensation is dripping from the cup.

Dr. Colleen Batchelder, founder and CEO of Indiviti, a consulting firm that helps Gen Z break into the workforce, told Business Insider that if iced coffee is really a dealbreaker, a recruiter may need to make it clear in the interview invitation.

"This generation is pushing for workplace boundaries, fair pay, and work-life balance. For them, bringing iced coffee to a job interview isn't a sign of disrespect. It's just a beverage," Batchelder said of Gen Zers in the workforce.

"There's a huge gap right now between what Gen Z sees as normal and what hiring managers expect, so the tension is high," Batchelder added.

Job hunting professionals have mixed opinions

Amanda Augustine, a career expert at Careerminds, where she also serves as the company's spokesperson, told Business Insider she would finish the drink before walking inside, partly because it introduces several avoidable risks.

"You don't want it to be distracting," Augustine said. "Your hand's going to be cold, your hand might be wet. That's not a great impression when you're shaking somebody's hand. You might have the coffee breath. And if you're clumsy and nervous, you could spill it."

The blanket advice of never bringing a beverage, however, feels "a little outdated" to Augustine, and the expectation highly depends on what kind of job you're applying for.

"I've worked in a lot of startups, and the coffee and the various machines we had were ridiculous," said Augustine. "The first startup I worked at, we had a taste-testing competition to decide which power drinks we were going to keep in the kitchen for the tech guys and gals that were working all night."

Still, candidates with doubts should leave the latte behind, Augustine said. Instead, Augustine said her advice would be to accept the interviewer's drink, which could create an opportunity to visit the break room, observe the office, and gather clues about the company's culture.

Steve Levy, the principal talent sourcing partner at Form Energy, was far less concerned.

"Are you so fixated on whether somebody drinks iced coffee that you're losing sight of the fact that your role's still unfilled 90 days later?" Levy told Business Insider. "It is such a non-issue. Do you hire people to get stuff done, or do you spend your time policing their beverage choices?"

Levy said employers have long rejected qualified people over criteria that have little to do with performance, from tattoos to academic credentials. Treating iced coffee as disqualifying is simply another bias, he said.

"Is your goal to be the keeper of the corporate morality, or is it to hire people who can create amazing things and deliver incredible performance?" Levy said, adding that a "homogenous office culture" would "malform" the genetics of a workplace.

Levy said that workplace norms evolve with society, such as the fact that few employees wear three-piece suits to the office anymore.

As for iced coffee, Levy said he would only have one question for an applicant walking in with one: "Did you bring some for me?"

• A viral TikTok sparked a debate over whether bringing iced coffee to a job interview is a bad look.
• Some say employers shouldn't care; others say small things can make a bad first impression.
• A tough job market has job seekers sweating the small stuff that could tip the scales against them.

To avoid getting iced out by hiring managers, you might want to leave your iced coffee at home.

In a viral TikTok video, recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen discussed Gen Z candidates arriving at interviews with iced coffees and lattes. She thinks this comes across too casually, as though the interview is "a stop on your list of errands for the day."

The video prompted plenty of reactions. Some questioned why an iced coffee should factor into a hiring decision at all.

"I wanna vomit watching this take and seeing this kind of stuff," one TikToker said. "This is why I left the corporate world three and a half years ago and have never looked back."

Others said the debate plays into perceptions of Gen Z as entitled, arguing that younger workers may disagree with corporate America's unspoken rules but still have to navigate them. One TikToker said that candidates who believe things unrelated to job performance shouldn't matter should try showing up to an interview with a plate of chicken wings.

"If you want the job, you do have to kind of play the game," another TikToker said.

The debate highlights the reality of today's tough job market. Slower hiring has allowed many employers to be more selective as they sift through candidates. For struggling job seekers who often don't know why they were rejected, every little choice can feel consequential.

Maybe an iced coffee didn't cost someone a job, but it's easy to wonder whether some other small misstep did.

An ice-cold hiring market

The job market has been as frozen as a Zoomer job candidate's ill-advised latte. Both hiring and firing have been low for the last couple of years. There are 1.1 job openings per unemployed person, up slightly in recent months, but well below the 2022 peak of 2.0.

That ratio doesn't include people who have given up looking for work. Labor force participation has tumbled from the November 2025 rate of 62.5%, partly due to an aging population.

Hiring has been comparable to the slow recovery from the 2008 financial crisis in the early 2010s. Workers' confidence is low, as suggested by the measly quits rate compared to the Great Resignation a few years ago.

While employers have their pick of talent, job seekers have told Business Insider that looking for work can be exhausting and a full-time job of its own. Some have moved on to self-employment; others are upskilling and trying strategies that may or may not give them an edge.

Thomas Heep, a Denver job seeker in his 60s, has been looking for full-time work since he was laid off from his operations manager role last year. In the meantime, he's working part time delivering prescriptions and collecting Social Security early to help make ends meet. He thinks the job-search system is "broken."

"Companies are looking for people who fully match every skill they list and don't need any training," he said. "That's just not going to happen."

Kymberly McClain struggled to find work for nearly two years after leaving her nonprofit job in 2024. As the rejections piled up, she wondered whether her race, age, lack of a college education, or something else was holding her back.

"I started questioning everything," said McClain, who's in her 40s and lives in Las Vegas.

The low-fire, low-hire job market amid decent economic growth doesn't indicate a recession. Persistent low unemployment and layoffs have been two bright spots, but some white-collar sectors have been losing jobs.

What iced coffee tells us about the job hunt in 2026

Hiring experts had a long menu of opinions on the Great Iced Coffee debate, ranging from viewing it as a non-issue to warning that the condensation from their takeout cup could be a devastating interview distraction.

"If a hiring manager told me the reason they were declining someone was due to them bringing an iced coffee to the interview, I would simply need to coach them through this silliness," Bonnie Dilber, recruiting leader at Zapier, said on LinkedIn.

Wehniainen followed up her viral video with a LinkedIn post, writing that job candidates and employers are convinced that they don't understand each other. "Nobody is actually arguing about coffee," she wrote. "Candidates hear: 'Be perfect. Don't be human.' Employers hear: 'Be prepared. Take this seriously.'"

She added that she wasn't saying bringing coffee to an interview automatically means someone is a bad job candidate. "Part of my job is helping job seekers understand how something may be perceived in certain environments," she said.

Career coach Courtney Hartman said in a LinkedIn post that she doesn't have an issue with someone showing up with iced coffee and doesn't think it takes away from being "the best version of your professional self." However, she still thinks it's best not to bring one.

"Just really picture the scenario: You get to a job interview, coffee in hand, and you're asked for your resume," Hartman said. "Now you're scrambling to find somewhere to put your coffee so you can put your bag down and take it out."

She goes on to talk about what happens when you eventually put the wet cup on the desk. "Are you leaving a puddle on their desk that they're thinking about while you're trying to look your most professional self?" Hartman said.

With competition for roles fierce, some job seekers on TikTok had a message for their rivals: Bring the iced coffee, even if it could sabotage your chances.

"Let them bring it. Let them not get hired," one millennial TikToker said. "Because we need the jobs too."

Let us know your thoughts on the iced coffee debate in the comments.

• Taylor Swift is supporting her husband, Travis Kelce, during the Chiefs' 2026 football season.
• She's been photographed at 25 football games since they began dating in 2023.
• Swift tends to wear Kansas City Chiefs gear and dress up in the team's red-forward color palette.

Already known as a gifted songwriter, chart-topping singer, and billionaire businesswoman, Taylor Swift has recently added WAG to her list of identifiers — an acronym used to describe the supportive wives and girlfriends of high-profile athletes.

Since Swift began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the summer of 2023, she has been spotted cheering for the team at 25 games, including Super Bowl LVIII.

Swift's presence has been wholeheartedly embraced by the NFL, whose commissioner, Roger Goodell, has credited Swift with an increase in interest among female fans.

"I'm just there to support Travis," Swift previously told Time. "I have no awareness of if I'm being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads."

The megastar is now back in action for her third consecutive NFL season, supporting Kelce and the Chiefs during the 2026 season — their first since Swift and Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden.

Here are the best photos of Swift from each appearance so far.

Swift attended her first game at Arrowhead Stadium in September 2023.

Swift's enthusiasm at her first Chiefs game seemed to confirm her then-rumored romance with Kelce.

Swift later said they were already an official couple before she watched the Chiefs beat the Chicago Bears.

"This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell," she told Time. "We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I'm grateful for, because we got to get to know each other."

"By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple," Swift continued. "I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date."

For her second appearance, she brought her longtime pal Blake Lively.

Swift and Lively watched the Chiefs defeat the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — where Swift had performed three sold-out concerts just a few months prior.

The October game drew the highest viewership for a Sunday TV show since the Super Bowl, NBC Sports reported.

Indeed, Swift's newfound interest in football has been credited with bumping merch sales and enticing more female viewers.

Swift cheered with Kelce's mom, Donna Kelce, during a home game against the Denver Broncos.

Shortly before her third game-day appearance, Kelce accused the NFL of "overdoing it" with its wall-to-wall coverage of Swift.

"I think it's fun when they show who all is at the game. I think it brings a little more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you're watching," Kelce said during an episode of his "New Heights" podcast.

"But at the same time, I think they're overdoing it a little bit," Kelce continued. "For sure, especially for my situation. I think they're just trying to have fun with it."

Swift has struck up a friendship with Brittany Mahomes, who's married to Kelce's teammate.

Just a few days before the release of "1989 (Taylor's Version)," Swift watched the Chiefs take down the Los Angeles Chargers.

She spent the home game cheering with Mahomes and showing off their secret handshake.

Swift wore a black turtleneck and a red teddy coat in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Swift spent most of November 2023 on the road for the South American leg of the Eras Tour. Kelce even flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to watch Swift perform — and received an onstage shout-out in return.

She returned to Kelce's side in early December when the Chiefs took on the Green Bay Packers. It was her first time watching Kelce's team lose.

She wore a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt for the team's next home game.

Swift purchased the '90s sweatshirt from Westside Storey, a secondhand clothing boutique in Kansas City.

The store's owner, Chris Harrington, told Business Insider he originally thought Swift's order — which totaled $1,200 for curated vintage pieces — could be fraudulent.

Instead, she wore one of those pieces at Arrowhead Stadium in December, causing a surge of traffic to Westside Storey's website.

"We've had hundreds of orders over the last 48 hours," Harrington told BI. "Sometimes our online store lights up after a Chiefs game when we win, but this is 100 times more than that, and we lost the game. It was the Taylor effect."

She brought her dad and friends to cheer for the Chiefs in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Swift hit the road to watch the Chiefs defeat the New England Patriots on the latter's home turf. She even convinced her father, Scott Swift, to swap his traditional Philadelphia Eagles gear for a Chiefs sweatshirt.

Several friends accompanied Swift, including Alana Haim, stylist Ashley Avignone, and backup singer Melanie Nyema.

Swift spent Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium.

Even though the Chiefs lost to the Las Vegas Raiders on December 25, 2023, Kelce praised Swift and her family for making the day special.

The singer's brother, Austin Swift, dressed up as Santa Claus and gave Kelce a VHS copy of the 1994 film "Little Giants."

"He actually made me feel like a child because his gift to me was straight out of the bag," Kelce said on his podcast "New Heights.' "Whipped it out and handed me a VHS of my favorite football movie of all time."

She also spent New Year's Eve cheering for Kelce in Kansas City.

Swift wore a Chiefs varsity jacket for the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which the home team won.

For her first game of 2024, Swift braved freezing temperatures to high-five fans.

The Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins during the fourth-coldest game in NFL history, per CNN.

That same day, the Chiefs owner praised Swift and Kelce's "purely organic" relationship.

"It's been a very interesting, very fun year having the two of them dating, the attention that's been focused on the Chiefs," Clark Hunt told CNBC. "Our female audience has grown leaps and bounds."

Kelce scored two touchdowns in Buffalo, New York, with Swift in the stands.

Swift joined Kelce's family to watch the Chiefs advance through the NFL playoffs — including his brother, Eagles center Jason Kelce, who lost his shirt in the frenzy.

She saw Kelce and his teammates become AFC champions.

Swift watched the Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 AFC Championship Game, securing their spot in Super Bowl LVIII. She even joined Kelce on the field to celebrate the win.

Swift flew from Tokyo to watch the Chiefs play in Super Bowl LVIII.

Swift was widely expected to attend the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas, despite having an Eras Tour stop scheduled in Tokyo the night before.

Sure enough, she made the trip in time to watch the Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers, with friends like Lively, Lana Del Rey, and Ice Spice in tow.

The superstar geared up for her second NFL season in September 2024.

Swift was back in Kansas City on the evening of September 5, 2024, as the Chiefs took the field for their first game of the season against the Ravens.

She donned an all-denim getup and thigh-high red boots.

Swift wore a vintage Chiefs T-shirt for Kelce's second home game of the season.

Just a few days after attending the MTV Video Music Awards in New York (and giving her then-boyfriend a shout-out onstage), Swift was back in Kansas City to watch the Chiefs defeat the Bengals.

She also watched the Chiefs beat the Saints at Arrowhead Stadium.

After skipping two of Kelce's games in Atlanta and Los Angeles, Swift returned to Kansas City in style — wearing over $50,000 worth of jewelry and designer clothing — to cheer for the Chiefs against the New Orleans Saints.

The home team won 26-13, their fifth consecutive win of the season.

Swift cheered when the Chiefs beat the Buccaneers with a touchdown drive in overtime.

One day after Swift wrapped the final US leg of the Eras Tour in Indianapolis, she was back in Kansas City to watch the Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite a touchdown from the Buccaneers in the final minute of regulation play, the Chiefs rallied in overtime to score a winning touchdown.

The singer was on duty again to watch the Chiefs defeat the Broncos.

Swift wore her typical black-and-red combo for another home game at Arrowhead Stadium, pairing a Victoria's Secret corset with a Versace tweed two-piece set. She was joined in the VIP box by her mother, Andrea Swift.

Swift saw the Chiefs beat the Raiders at home.

Swift arrived at Arrowhead Stadium with Kelce's mom, Donna. The pair cheered as the Chiefs clinched a narrow defeat against the Raiders.

A few weeks later, she watched the Chiefs win again at Arrowhead Stadium.

Swift wore her boldest gameday outfit yet for the Chiefs vs. the Houston Texans, pairing a statement red coat with a faux-fur lining from Charlotte Simone and a vintage Chanel bucket hat.

Kelce and the Chiefs beat the Texans 19-27, adding another win to their dominant season.

Swift sat with Caitlin Clark during the divisional round of the playoffs.

Swift and WNBA star Caitlin Clark were spotted celebrating together when the Chiefs defeated the Texans again, 23-14, advancing to the AFC Championship Game for the seventh straight season.

For the second year in a row, Swift celebrated on the field with Kelce and the Chiefs when they became AFC champions.

The Chiefs took down the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the 2025 AFC Championship Game, sending the league's top-seeded team to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Like she did the previous year, Swift joined Kelce, his mom, and his teammates on the field for their post-game celebration. Unlike the previous year, however, Swift wore a loud-luxury outfit covered with Louis Vuitton logos.

Swift traveled to New Orleans for a rare Chiefs loss at the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs faced the Eagles at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Serendipitously, Swift's trusted collaborator Kendrick Lamar headlined the halftime show.

As opposed to her usual Chiefs getup, Swift wore an agnostic white-and-denim outfit — perhaps to avoid rooting against her hometown team, who beat the Chiefs 40-22. (To date, the Chiefs have only lost four times with Swift in the stands.)

Swift skipped the Emmys to watch the Chiefs' first win of the 2026 season.

During the 2026 Emmys, Swift appeared in a prerecorded sketch with host Mariska Hargitay and the rest of the "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" cast to explain her absence from the awards show. (Swift's latest Disney+ concert movie, which was filmed during her final performance of the Eras Tour, was nominated for outstanding variety special.)

As Hargitay's Olivia Benson pieces together, the Emmys overlapped with the Chiefs' first game of the 2026 season — playfully described in the scene as Swift's husband having a "work thing."

Indeed, Swift was spotted celebrating the Chiefs' win over the Broncos alongside her mom, Andrea; Kelce's mom, Donna; and Kelce's brother, Jason.

Swift celebrated Kelce's first touchdown of the 2026 season with a nod to their marriage.

The Chiefs won their second game of the 2026 season against the Indianapolis Colts.

When Kelce scored his first touchdown of the season, Swift was filmed cheering and pointing to her wedding ring, apparently yelling, "That's my husband!"

Samsung's TV lineup covers everything from affordable LED models for everyday streaming to premium OLEDs designed for serious home theaters. But with so many options, not every model offers the same value. The best Samsung TVs combine good picture quality, practical smart features, and a price that makes sense for what you're getting.

My team and I review TVs year-round, including all of the latest Samsung models. Based on our extensive testing, I've picked the best Samsung TVs you can buy right now. My top recommendation is the Samsung S90F, an OLED TV that aced our tests with deep contrast and rich, punchy colors. But shoppers looking to spend less should consider the Samsung U8000H. Its picture performance is basic, but it's an affordable choice for casual viewing or a secondary room, and it's available in a bunch of sizes.

Samsung also sells several TVs with anti-reflective screens, which can make a noticeable difference in living rooms with lots of sunlight or overhead glare. Many of the models in this guide are also available in extra-large sizes, making them a good fit for sports watch parties and big-screen entertainment.

Our top picks for the best Samsung TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90F OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best entry-level: Samsung U8000H LED TV - See at Amazon

Best high-end: Samsung S95H OLED TV - See at Samsung

Best RGB LED: Samsung R95H Micro RGB TV - See at Samsung

Best for your wall: Samsung LS03F Frame QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best overall: Samsung S90F

What we love: It offers the best balance of performance and cost among Samsung TVs.

Drawbacks: Its color capabilities vary by size, and its screen isn't the best at reducing reflections.

When it comes to overall value for your money, the S90F is the best Samsung TV available. In fact, it's my pick for the best TV you can buy from any brand.

The S90F's OLED panel enables an infinite contrast ratio and excellent color performance. The 55-, 65-, and 77-inch sizes also feature quantum dot technology, which enables them to produce a wider range of colors than standard OLEDs. When watching HDR (high dynamic range) content, highlights leap off the screen, while deep, precise black levels fade into a dark room. Wide viewing angles make the TV equally impressive for movie nights and group watch parties, since the picture looks great from any seat.

Brightness is also good for a TV of this type. Our reviewer measured a peak of around 1,460 nits, which gives the S90F solid impact in dark home theaters and average living rooms. However, it's worth noting that Samsung does sell brighter TVs, including the premium S95H OLED, which offers more pop in certain HDR videos.

The S90F uses a glossy screen rather than the anti-glare matte coating used on some of Samsung's other models. While matte screens handle reflections much better, glossy panels maintain better contrast. If combating reflections is a priority and you're willing to spend more, you can opt for Samsung's newer S90H model, which offers similar image quality but now uses a matte rather than glossy panel. However, the S90H's color performance is actually slightly worse than the S90F's.

All things considered, the S90F offers the best balance of price and performance in Samsung's TV lineup. Its picture quality is close to that of pricier models from other brands, and it frequently goes on sale. Since this is a 2025 model, inventory is getting more limited as the year goes on, but while it remains in stock, the S90F is still the best Samsung TV for most people.

Read our full Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Best entry-level: Samsung U8000H

What we love: It's one of the most inexpensive TVs in Samsung's lineup, and you can choose between many sizes.

Drawbacks: The TV's image quality is notably worse than that of the other models I recommend, and the included remote doesn't support voice control.

In general, Samsung's entry-level TVs tend to fall short compared to TCL and Hisense's offerings at the same price. But if you want a Samsung TV on the cheap, the company's U8000H is its most competitive budget option.

This 2026 model replaces my previous pick in this spot, the 2025 U8000F, which is now harder to find in stock. Both TVs offer nearly identical specifications, but the U8000H adds a new DLG 120Hz feature on 55-inch and larger sizes. This mode enables smoother motion in video games, but at the cost of lowering the screen resolution and sharpness.

The U8000H features a standard LCD panel with a direct-lit LED backlight. This is fine for casual viewing, but the TV lacks the step-up picture-quality features you'd get on Samsung's pricier models. Most notably, the U8000H lacks local dimming and quantum dots. This means the TV's color range is limited and its black levels aren't very deep. As a result, dim scenes will appear cloudy and washed out in a dark room.

Brightness is also much lower than most of Samsung's other TVs. The U8000H technically supports HDR10 and HDR10+, but it can't get bright enough to fully showcase HDR's benefits. Still, the U8000H can play standard dynamic range (SDR) content in both 4K and high definition with sharp detail, so HD cable channels and all the best live TV streaming services look solid. 

This is a decent entry-level model for casual viewers who just want a basic smart TV and don't care about paying extra for better picture quality. It looks best in a room with moderate light, rather than a sunny space or dark home theater. However, keep in mind that if you're willing to look outside Samsung's lineup, you can find TVs with better contrast and color performance, such as the TCL QM6K, for a bit more money.

For affordable display recommendations from other brands, check out our guides to the best budget TVs and best TVs under $500.

Best high-end: Samsung S95H

What we love: It offers the most impressive image quality of any Samsung TV, its screen is great at reducing reflections, and its unique metal bezel looks great on most walls.

Drawbacks: The anti-glare screen lifts black levels in bright rooms, the metal frame looks odd on a stand, and the TV is pricey.

The S95H OLED is the most impressive Samsung TV I've ever tested. It's expensive, but it delivers some of the best image quality you can get on any consumer display.

This model replaces my previous pick, the S95F, which remains an excellent TV, especially now that it's heavily discounted. However, the S95F is getting hard to find in stock, and if you're truly seeking Samsung's top high-end set, the S95H is unmatched.

Like the S95F, this new model uses an OLED panel to produce an infinite contrast ratio and wide viewing angles. But the S95H takes OLED brightness to another level. Using a 10% test pattern, I measured an incredible peak of 2,600-2,800 nits. That's around 30% brighter than the S95F and the highest number I've ever recorded on an OLED TV, beating even the LG G5.

The TV's color performance is also stellar thanks to the panel's use of quantum dots in the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models. (The 83-inch size likely uses four-stack OLED technology to achieve similar results.) When watching actual content, this high brightness, wide color gamut, and perfect contrast deliver gorgeous HDR images, with a level of intensity that's a clear step above Samsung's midrange S90 series.

Samsung also takes a more premium approach to the S95H's design, which it calls its "FloatLayer." The TV has a metal frame-like bezel, and the screen appears to almost float in front of it. Some might prefer the older S95F's more subtle design and thinner bezel, but I think this unique style looks fantastic when mounted on a wall. That said, I don't like how it looks when placed on a media console.

To complement its frame-like design, the S95H is the first OLED to support Samsung's Art Store. You need to pay a subscription fee to access the store's full selection, but users get 30 free pieces that rotate monthly.

The S95H features Samsung's latest anti-glare screen technology, which uses a matte-like finish. This could be a pro or con depending on your viewing needs. This feature significantly reduces reflections in rooms with ambient light, making it a perfect fit for people who struggle with glare. Sports fans, in particular, should consider the S95H, as it's great for watching games during the day.

However, this glare-free coating has one downside: it can make black levels appear a bit elevated in a bright room. This was evident during testing with the lights on, but I found the effect less bothersome than on previous S95 TVs. I generally prefer glossy OLEDs, but if reflections are a headache in your room, the S95H's anti-glare screen is a significant perk.

Read our Samsung S95H 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best TVs for picture quality.

Best RGB LED: Samsung R95H

What we love: Samsung's Micro RGB tech delivers some of the best color performance of any consumer TV, and the screen features the brand's impressive anti-glare coating.

Drawbacks: Brightness, contrast, and viewing angles can't match those of Samsung's S95H OLED, and it's not available in smaller sizes.

The Samsung R95H is the brand's first mainstream RGB LED TV, or Micro RGB TV, as Samsung calls it, and it's a solid showcase of what this new display technology can do. While standard LED, QLED, and Mini LED TVs use either a white or blue backlight, Micro RGB TVs use red, green, and blue LEDs. This allows the backlight to produce a purer, wider range of colors than other TVs. And in my initial testing, the R95H did just that.

I measured around 91% coverage of the BT.2020 color range, which is the most I've recorded from any TV so far. Now it's important to note that it's rare for content to actually use such an expanded color gamut, but that could change in the future. As it stands, the R95H gives bright, highly saturated movies a punchy look, but it doesn't make reds, blues, and greens appear cartoonish or unnatural. Color gradients also looked clean rather than blocking in my testing, which helps the picture maintain a smooth quality during demanding scenes.

The R95H's backlight control is also good for a non-OLED TV. Dark sequences have good depth, and the set avoids many of the distracting halo effects that can appear on lower-end LED models. It's not perfect, though. I could still spot some light bleed on very difficult shots, and the black levels didn't have the same pixel-level precision as you get from a Samsung OLED.

Likewise, the TV wasn't as bright as I expected. I measured a peak of 1,600 nits on a 10% HDR window, which is respectable but not flagship-level. I'm going to test more settings to see if I can optimize the screen's brightness when I get more hands-on time with it in the near future.

Thankfully, the R95H's design feels appropriately upscale. The TV has a slim profile, narrow screen borders, and a stylish stand with a mirror-like finish. Like the S95H, this model also has an anti-reflective screen, which is especially useful in rooms with lamps or windows that cause a lot of glare. You also get four HDMI 2.1 ports on the TV itself, plus compatibility with Samsung's wireless One Connect Box for more input flexibility.

But as impressive as the R95H is, it isn't the best Samsung TV for everyone. Its biggest selling point is color, not contrast or brightness. Samsung's S95H OLED still delivers a more impactful HDR image overall, especially in a dark room. The R95H is the Samsung TV to buy if you want the brand's most advanced color tech, but OLED remains the better choice for shoppers who want the strongest all-around picture quality.

Read our first-look Samsung R95H TV review.

Best for your wall: Samsung LS03F Frame

What we love: Its frame-style design looks fantastic hanging on a wall, with a matte canvas-like screen, flush mount, and swappable bezels.

Drawbacks: The TV's picture quality is secondary to its design, with low contrast and limited brightness.

Samsung's Frame TV is an excellent choice for anyone planning to mount their display on a wall. This unique TV is designed to resemble a piece of art hanging in your living room.

The Frame has a black border by default, but you can pay extra to choose a different bezel color for the exact picture-frame look you want. Options include white, brown, teak, red, beige, and more. The add-on bezels magnetically snap onto the display for simple installation.

This version of the Frame TV utilizes an external One Connect Box to house its video ports, allowing the panel to maintain a one-inch profile from top to bottom. When paired with the included slim-fit wall mount, the TV can be hung flush on your wall, just like a framed work of art.

The display uses a matte finish similar to the anti-glare filter featured on several other Samsung TVs. This finish helps prevent reflections and also gives the screen a more canvas-like appearance. When you're not watching TV, you can turn on "Art Mode," which cycles through various paintings and photographs from Samsung's Art Store (subscription required) or a connected USB drive. A built-in motion sensor can even toggle the Art Mode to activate only when people are in the room.

While the Frame's unique design is its main selling point, the TV also benefits from a QLED panel, though it lacks the bells and whistles of Samsung's top QLED models. The Frame can't hit the same peak brightness levels as my high-end picks, and it lacks local dimming for precise contrast control.

I don't recommend this TV to anyone focused on picture quality, but it still delivers a decent image for casual viewing. The Frame is specifically geared toward individuals who want the best Samsung TV that can also serve as an attractive design piece to hang in a living room, and in that sense, it excels.

Samsung also offers a slightly revised 2026 version of the Frame. The most notable difference is that the 2026 model has its ports built into the panel rather than housed in a separate connection box. This could be a pro or con depending on your setup needs, but since the older model is often on sale for less, I still recommend it for most people.

Check out our guide to the best frame TVs.

What else we considered

Samsung S90H TV - See at Amazon
The S90H is the 2026 successor to our favorite Samsung TV of last year, the S90F. The new model is similar overall but offers a few changes that could make it more or less attractive, depending on your priorities. Most notably, it now uses Samsung's anti-glare screen, which is great at reducing reflections. However, the TV no longer uses quantum dots in any size, so color performance is slightly downgraded compared to the S90F's. For now, I still give the cheaper S90F an edge in overall value, but the S90H is an excellent alternative for those who prefer an anti-reflective screen or can't find the S90F in stock.

Read our full Samsung S90H TV review.

How we test Samsung TVs

Our picks for the best Samsung TVs are based on a combination of hands-on testing and research informed by over a decade of experience covering the home entertainment market. Our testing encompasses several key evaluation points that we use to assess a TV's overall performance and value, including HDR quality, brightness, color gamut coverage, contrast, local dimming performance (if applicable), viewing angles, gaming capabilities, navigation speed, design, and price. 

When measuring a TV's brightness and evaluating other technical picture-quality attributes, we use a colorimeter with test patterns made by a pattern generator and the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc. 

However, test patterns only show one part of the equation, so we rely on real-world content and day-to-day viewing to see how Samsung's TVs look when watching typical programs in bright and dark rooms. Our material is carefully selected to showcase scenes that demonstrate test black levels, highlights, color fidelity, and fine details across 4K Ultra HD, high-definition (HD), and standard-definition (SD) material. We also use various sources, including streaming services, cable channels, a 4K Blu-ray player, and game consoles. 

General usability and design are also taken into consideration. We get a feel for living with a TV for a few weeks while using its basic functions and smart TV features. If a TV has slow navigation or is missing key functions, that affects our assessment, but we set expectations for each model within its price range. 

For more details on our testing methodology, check out our breakdown of how we review tech products.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I've been reviewing home entertainment gear for over a decade, and my team and I spend all year getting hands-on with the latest TVs. I also attend annual reviewer workshops for an early look at Samsung's newest video and audio tech, so I'm always up to speed on what it's rolling out next. I studied film production, which makes me especially picky about picture accuracy, so I want a TV to display movies and shows the way their creators intended. In addition to using calibration tools and benchmark discs to measure brightness and color performance, I live with every Samsung TV I review. That means streaming, movie nights, gaming sessions, and everyday channel surfing to see how it actually holds up at home. My aim is to cut through all the tech buzzwords and help you find a Samsung TV that delivers great picture quality at a good price.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

Samsung TV FAQs

What kind of TVs does Samsung make?

Samsung's TV lineup is divided into four main categories: OLED, QLED, Micro RGB, and Crystal UHD.

OLED models use self-illuminating pixels, so they don't need a backlight and can deliver perfect black levels with infinite contrast. Some Samsung OLEDs also use quantum dots to achieve a wider color gamut. The trade-offs? OLEDs can be vulnerable to burn-in in extreme cases, and midrange models can't reach the same peak brightness as top QLED TVs.

QLED models use LCD panels with LED backlights and quantum dots. They can't match an OLED's pixel-level contrast, but high-end models can get brighter and don't carry the risk of burn-in. Samsung's best QLEDs — its Neo QLED lineup — add Mini LEDs with full-array local dimming, bringing them closer to OLED-level contrast performance.

For a deeper breakdown of how these two technologies compare, check out our full QLED vs. OLED guide.

Micro RGB models are the latest advancement in Samsung's TV lineup. These TVs are similar to QLEDs in that they also use LCD panels with Mini LEDs and full-array local dimming. But rather than use quantum dots in conjunction with white or blue LEDs, Micro RGB TVs use red, blue, and green LEDs to produce some of the richest, brightest, and most accurate colors available on a consumer display. However, contrast still can't equal the pixel-level precision of an OLED. You can learn more in our RGB LED vs. Mini LED guide.

Crystal UHD and Mini LED models are Samsung's entry-level LCD TVs. They use basic LED backlights and offer limited color, brightness, and contrast compared to other display types. They're best suited for casual viewers who simply want an affordable smart TV without advanced picture features.

All of Samsung's displays are available in multiple sizes. The smallest options start at 32 inches, while the largest models can reach 130 inches. For TV recommendations at various screen sizes, check out our size-specific 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 Samsung sell 8K TVs?

Yes, Samsung makes 8K TVs, and we've featured them in this guide before. But given the current gap in price and performance between Samsung's 4K and 8K models, we recommend most shoppers stick with 4K.

Samsung's 8K TVs are impressive, but the real-world benefits of 8K are minimal. There's virtually no native 8K content beyond a few YouTube clips, so everything you watch will be upscaled 4K or HD. On very large screens, an 8K set can look slightly sharper if you sit close, but the difference isn't big enough to justify the price premium. You'll get better overall value by choosing one of Samsung's higher-end 4K TVs.

If you're determined to go 8K, the Samsung QN990F is our top pick. We've tested that model, and it delivers excellent picture quality. Still, most people will be happier with Samsung's more affordable 4K OLEDs, which offer superior contrast — a factor that makes a far bigger impact on image performance than 8K resolution.

Does Samsung make soundbars?

Yes, Samsung offers a range of soundbar models across various budgets, including the highly rated Q990 series of Dolby Atmos soundbars. You can learn more in our full Samsung Q990F soundbar review.

Some Samsung soundbars support a feature called Q-Symphony when paired with certain Samsung TVs. Q-Symphony enables the soundbar and TV speakers to work in tandem, enhancing sound quality.

For more soundbar recommendations from Samsung and other brands, check out our home audio buying guides:

• Best soundbars
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Best surround sound systems
• Best budget soundbars
• Best soundbars with a subwoofer
• Best Bose soundbars
• Best Sonos soundbars

Are Samsung TVs better than LG TVs?

Samsung and LG both make excellent TVs, and it's hard to crown one brand as universally better than the other. Each has strengths and weaknesses depending on what you need and which specific models you're comparing.

For LCD-based sets, Samsung has traditionally branded its top models as QLED, while LG's are branded QNED. The underlying panel tech differs slightly, but performance is broadly similar. That said, Samsung's high-end QLEDs have held an edge over LG's top QNEDs thanks to higher brightness and more effective local dimming.

In 2026, both companies also launched advanced LCD-based TVs branded as Micro RGB, which deliver even better color performance. Based on our testing, Samsung's flagship Micro RGB TV has an edge in contrast control, while LG's is much brighter.

Both brands also produce some of the best OLED TVs on the market, and the competition is even closer here. Samsung's top OLEDs use quantum dots, boosting brightness and color compared to LG's midrange OLEDs. However, LG's flagship G5 OLED and G6 OLED use a four-stack design that enables them to rival Samsung's brightest OLEDs. Likewise, LG's OLEDs maintain deeper black levels in bright rooms. LG also offers OLEDs in more sizes, making the lineup more flexible for different budgets.

One important difference between LG and Samsung TVs is their support for HDR (High Dynamic Range) formats. LG's mid- and high-end TVs work with Dolby Vision, while Samsung supports HDR10+. Both formats use dynamic metadata to optimize contrast and color scene by scene, but Dolby Vision is more widely adopted across streaming apps and 4K Blu-rays.

You can find LG recommendations in our guide to the best LG TVs.

What smart TV interface does Samsung use?

Samsung uses a proprietary smart TV interface built using the Tizen operating system (OS). Unlike other interfaces, such as Roku OS, Android TV, Fire TV, or Google TV, Samsung's Tizen platform is not available on smart TV models or streaming devices from other brands.

For many years, Samsung's Tizen OS featured a pop-up screen that displayed apps across a horizontal bar at the bottom, but Samsung updated its interface in 2022. Now, Samsung smart TVs use a full-screen homepage that organizes your favorite services and displays content recommendations. Most Tizen TVs feature support for Alexa or Bixby voice control, and newer models also support Microsoft Copilot AI. There's also a Gaming Hub section that lets you access cloud gaming services, including Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna.

Samsung's smart TV interface works well across its TV lineup and offers access to all the best streaming services, but it's not the smoothest OS we've used. Even high-end models have been prone to hiccups and slight lag in the past. However, the brand's latest TVs have made notable improvements in this regard.

Most buyers should be satisfied with Samsung's smart TV performance, and no major services or features are missing. But if you prefer a different interface with slightly snappier navigation, we recommend checking out our guide to the best streaming devices for other options.

For display recommendations that use other systems, check out our full guide to the best smart TVs.

Do Samsung TVs support Dolby Vision?

No, not even the best Samsung TVs support Dolby Vision. However, they do support a similar format called HDR10+. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are both dynamic metadata high-dynamic-range formats. This means that compatible content can be encoded with specific instructions that tell your TV how to handle HDR contrast and color on a scene-by-scene basis.

This contrasts with the standard HDR10 format, a static metadata format that can include only a single set of instructions for the entire video, rather than providing scene-by-scene details. In practice, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ can deliver a more refined HDR experience, with video quality that better matches your TV's specific capabilities. However, these benefits over standard HDR10 are often subtle.

Although Dolby Vision and HDR10+ offer similar capabilities, Dolby Vision is supported by more streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs, making it the more desirable format.

Check out our HDR TV guide for more information about how these formats stack up.

Are matte screens better than glossy ones?

Some Samsung TVs use a glossy or semi-glossy screen, but the company has started to release more models that use a matte-like finish instead. They both have pros and cons that make them better suited for specific types of viewers.

Glossy screens are great at preserving high contrast and deep black levels, but they're prone to mirror-like reflections. This can be a problem if your room has lots of lights or windows. On the other hand, Samsung's anti-glare matte screens significantly reduce reflections. On the downside, the matte filter causes black levels to appear slightly elevated and washed out in a bright room.

The right style for you depends on your personal preferences and viewing needs. We tend to favor glossy screens for most uses, as high contrast plays a big part in overall picture quality. However, matte screens are better suited for spaces where ambient light cannot be controlled.

Notable Samsung TVs that use matte screens include the S95F, S95H, S90H, QN90F, R95H, and Frame models.

Casper is one of the better-known mattress-in-a-box brands, with foam and hybrid beds designed for a range of sleep styles and comfort preferences. The company also sells pillows, sheets, mattress protectors, bed frames, and other bedroom essentials, so it's easy to build out your entire bedroom setup in one place. Before you buy, check the latest Casper promo codes, coupons, and sales to see if you can bring the price down.

Our sleep team has tested several Casper mattresses over the years, evaluating factors such as support, pressure relief, cooling, and overall comfort. One standout is the Casper Dream Hybrid, which pairs foam with coils for a balanced, responsive feel. We particularly like it for back and stomach sleepers, as well as people who tend to sleep warm. You can find more detailed testing notes in our full Casper mattress review.

Casper runs promotions throughout the year on mattresses, bedding, bundles, and other sleep essentials, and an extra coupon can sometimes help you save even more. We've rounded up the latest Casper promo codes and deals below so you can quickly see what's available before checking out.

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.

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.

Do Casper mattresses have a warranty?

Casper offers a 10-year limited warranty that automatically comes with mattresses purchased on Casper.com. It covers defects, including abnormal deterioration, physical flaws in the foam, and manufacturing errors in the zipper assembly. If you bought your bed from another retailer, you can register your bed here.

Final sale and clearance items receive a shorter warranty than other purchases.

What is Casper's returns/refunds policy?

Casper's return policy aims to be as painless as possible, offering free returns anytime after the 30-night adjustment period. Just reach out to support within the first 100 nights of your purchase to have the brand remove the mattress from your home and provide a full refund.

Other products, like pillows, sheets, and accessories, can be returned by printing out a given shipping label and sending it back for free.

Does Casper offer free shipping?

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.

Other items, such as headboards and bed frames, may incur a shipping fee depending on where you live. Learn more about the specific costs here.

Does Casper offer white-glove delivery?

Casper offers an in-home delivery and setup service starting at $199. After placing your order, you can schedule a delivery date for two to four weeks in the future. From there, you'll receive a four-hour delivery window the day before to prepare for your new product's arrival.

Will Casper remove my old mattress?

If your order includes in-home delivery and setup, Casper will offer disposal options for your old mattress. If your order does not include in-home delivery, check Casper's website or contact their customer support team for suggestions.

Does Casper only offer mattresses?

In addition to mattresses, you can shop for pillows, bedding, and furniture on Casper's site. You can even purchase dog beds from Casper to show your pets some love.

How does Casper compare to other online mattress companies?

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.

Can I reuse a Casper coupon?

For the most part, Casper promo codes can only be used once per person. However, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

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

• A US Army training command is updating its drone warfare courses every 60 days.
• The curriculum changes based on takeaways from soldiers and changing tactics.
• Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine also impact how soldiers learn drone warfare.

The US Army's training command in Germany is updating its drone warfare curriculum every 60 days in response to changes in this technology and the way it's used on the battlefield.

These changes reflect what soldiers are learning from using drones, as well as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, and include electronic warfare, or EW, and counter-drone technologies to better replicate the challenges troops could face in future wars.

During a media roundtable last week, Army leaders discussed efforts to modernize the force for uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, including the curriculum for troop training courses, called programs of instruction, or POIs.

Brig. Gen. Terry Tillis, the head of 7th Army Training Command, said the command developed drone-related programs of instruction based on its experience.

"We iterate every sixty days to update those POIs, primarily focused on UAS operations," Tillis said on the call, per a transcript, "whether it's a planning course, an instructor course, or an employment course, and also with EW and other effects."

Tillis added that the command syncs with the different Centers of Excellence routinely to share updates. The 7th Army Training Command is the Army's largest overseas center for training soldiers. Located in Germany, the command oversees the instruction and courses for soldiers across Europe and Africa and works with Army partners and allies as well.

Army officials also shared details on how the 173rd Airborne Brigade, elements of which were involved in the Unmanned Assault Battalion experiment focused on uncrewed systems, and other units had gained experience in drone warfare at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany.

Tillis said that "over the last three iterations, each rotational unit, including the opposing force, has grown significantly. We have observed units grow in proficiency, lethality, depth, range, and ideas of how to task-organize and employ capability across the depth of the battlefield" to support combined-arms maneuver and achieve objectives.

The Army stood up the Unmanned Assault Battalion last fall and is now phasing it out after the recent Saber Junction exercise in Germany. Army leaders have said the unit was never intended to be a permanent thing; rather, it was a temporary role. The unit's takeaways on drones will be disseminated across the Army while it returns to its airborne infantry role.

Tillis said that lessons were being applied from the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, sharing that the Army is learning lessons from its partnership with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, honed "in a very tough, demanding, relevant operational environment."

The leaders of several Ukrainian drone schools told Business Insider late last year that they were updating their curriculum constantly, sometimes as often as every other week.

Earlier this month, Capt. Allan W. Watson, the commander of Blackhawk Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, wrote an op-ed describing what his troops learned from a combat exercise against Ukrainian forces. US forces saw clearly the threat that drones pose from a surveillance and attack perspective, but the training also gave them a chance to experiment with solutions for armored vehicles.

• California Attorney General Rob Bonta has settled an antitrust suit that sought to stop Paramount from buying Warner Bros. Discovery.
• That suit gives Larry and David Ellison all but the final go-ahead to finalize the $110 billion deal they started pursuing a year ago.
• The Ellisons had two key advantages when they started out: Nearly endless money, and a line to the Trump White House. It's not a surprise that they got their way.

One of the world's richest men, and his son, wanted to buy one of the most prestigious assets in the media world.

Now they have gotten their wish.

That's the important part about Monday's news: Larry and David Ellion's Paramount has settled a lawsuit brought by California and several other states, which sought to hold up Paramount's planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. With that out of the way, there are no longer any serious regulatory challenges to the deal. So the Ellisons can start finalizing their $111 billion acquisition in the very near future.

That means the Ellisons will have combined control of major media assets, including two movie studios, HBO, and TV networks, including CBS, CNN, and dozens more.

If you want to, you can dig into the details of the settlement to see what the Ellisons gave up to make this go away. The TLDR: Not much.

A little longer: Rob Bonta, the California attorney general who led the antitrust case, repeatedly said he wanted "structural" changes to clear a Paramount/WBD deal — something that would have required the Ellisons to jettison some part of their combined businesses. He didn't get any of that.

Instead, Bonta's main selling point is that he now has an "enforceable commitment" that the Ellisons' studios will make at least 30 movies a year — which is a pledge Ellison has been making publicly since April.

Perhaps that's why Bonta spent much of his press conference explaining why he was working hard on other antitrust suits, while conceding that he didn't get the outcome he wanted here.

"I didn't believe these two companies should merge," he said Monday. "I still don't."

It's happening anyway. And it reinforces why many observers thought a year ago that Larry and David Ellison would end up owning Warner Bros. Discovery before they'd even formally announced their plan to buy WBD.

The logic was:

• Larry Ellison was one of the richest men in the world (he's currently worth an estimated $200 billion — down considerably from $400 billion last fall, when his Oracle stock was flying on an AI-fueled spree, but still enough to be ranked No. 7 on Bloomberg's list of the world's billionaires).
• Larry Ellison is close to Donald Trump: "We have a good relationship with the administration," his son David acknowledged a year ago — and Donald Trump treats federal agencies like the Department of Justice as an extension of himself. So if Donald Trump wanted regulators to sign off on a Paramount-WBD deal, they would.

We saw both of those dynamics play out over the course of the last year. Last December, for instance, Netflix convinced WBD to sell some of itself to the streaming giant, instead of Paramount's buy-the-whole-thing deal. But a few months later, Netflix walked away from the deal —possibly because it saw regulatory issues in its path, but at least as likely because Paramount had signaled that money really wasn't an object, and that it was willing to keep raising its price to get the deal done.

Netflix shareholders definitely didn't want the company in a bidding war. The Ellison family doesn't have to answer to anyone but Larry Ellison, who is personally guaranteeing financing for the purchase.

And not surprisingly, Trump's DOJ signed off on the Ellisons' deal, in June, reportedly before staff attorneys skeptical of the deal were allowed to weigh in. This month, the DOJ went further to signal its support of Paramount via a filing in the states' suit.

The one advantage Bonta seemed to have was time: The longer the deal took to get done, the more pressure the Ellisons would be under, for various reasons. But David Ellison countered with tactics that put Bonta and his state under pressure: chiefly, a series of news stories asserting that Ellison was just about to move at least part of Paramount outside California.

Whether Ellison was ever truly serious about that — or how he'd square his professed love of Hollywood with plans to leave Hollywood, which might make it much harder for him to make deals with Hollywood talent — remains unclear. Bonta says would-be-moving plans didn't impact his decision to settle — but he also said his settlement with the Ellisons doesn't include a promise to stay in California. So maybe we get a repeat performance someday.

Could Bonta have played his cards better and gotten something truly meaningful out of Paramount in exchange? Maybe. But just because Bonta was able to slow the deal down for a few months doesn't mean he was ever likely to derail it completely — something he says he would like to do in an ideal world.

But regulators and politicians around the world — not just ones close to Donald Trump — approved the deal. The Ellisons have nearly all the money in the world. Rob Bonta and some other states' attorneys weren't going to get it stopped, either.

• As an American who went to Oktoberfest for the first time, I encountered lots of surprises.
• Chugging beer and standing on tables will get you kicked out, but dancing on the benches is OK.
• I was surprised to find there was a full carnival outside the tents.

As a beer aficionado, I've been to my fair share of brew festivals throughout the US, several of which were "Oktoberfest" themed.

So, when I booked a trip to visit Oktoberfest in Munich a few years ago, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. However, after just a few steps into the roughly 100-acre festival, I realized just how special it really is.

Oktoberfest was first held in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Louis I (the crown prince of Bavaria) and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, and is now celebrated every year in September and October.

Today, people from around the world travel to the festival to celebrate German culture and, of course, beer. In fact, last year's festival approximately 6.5 million people.

Here are the five things that surprised me most when I attended Oktoberfest for the first time.

The locals wear vests with their lederhosen, not suspenders

Nearly everyone at Oktoberfest dresses the part — wearing traditional Bavarian lederhosen outfits for men and dirndls for women.

My husband was sporting the lederhosen we'd always seen with leather suspenders. However, we quickly noticed that many of the men were wearing vests with their leather shorts instead.

A friendly German local later told us that while suspenders are fine to wear, they tend to signal that you're not local.

The tents are actually temporary wooden structures

When I hear the word "tent," I tend to think of the big tops at the circus. However, the ones I saw at Oktoberfest put those to shame.

In reality, the huge tents at the festival are temporary wooden structures, some of which have two floors.

In total, there are 17 "large" tents and 21 "small" ones throughout the festival, each with its own unique theme. Each tent also serves the beer of the affiliated brewery.

Chugging and standing on tables will get you kicked out

There's a misconception that chugging is a common thing at Oktoberfest. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.

Locals warned us early on that chugging is a surefire way to get kicked out of a tent. And before long, we saw a bachelor party escorted out for this very reason.

Another no-no is standing on the tables. It's common — and encouraged — however, to stand on the benches to sing along to fan favorites like"99 Luftballons," "Sweet Caroline," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

But getting atop the tables is a step too far and will get festivalgoers kicked out.

People were snorting a mysterious white powder

When our tablemate poured some white powder onto the table at 1 p.m., I have to admit, I was a little shocked by his boldness.

But then, he explained that it was Wiesn Koks (aka Oktoberfest cocaine), a drugless, totally legal substance.

Festivalgoers snort the powder, which is a combination of glucose and menthol, to wake up between steins.

There's a full carnival outside the tents

"Family friendly" and "beer fest" aren't usually words you hear together. But for Oktoberfest, it's true. Children under 6 are allowed inside the beer tents before 8 p.m., and some venues even offer special kid-friendly food menus.

Outside the tents, we found an entire carnival, including roller coasters, games, and the famous Devil's Wheel, where a small group tries to stay on a rotating platform for as long as possible.

However, I recommend hitting the rides earlier in the day. Even if you've been pacing yourself, you never know how the glassy-eyed guy across the Tilt-A-Whirl will fare.

Overall, while I knew Oktoberfest was going to be fun, I was blown away by its sheer scale and the friendliness of everyone we met.

Although I'm hanging up my dirndl for now, it might be coming back out sooner rather than later.

This story was originally published on September 30, 2024, and most recently updated on September 21, 2026.

• Paramount Skydance has gotten the green light to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
• The plaintiffs suing to stop Paramount's WBD mega-merger agreed to settle their cases.
• Read the full memo from Paramount CEO David Ellison below.

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison just confirmed to employees that the company had settled the lawsuits that were holding up its deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

"We have complete clearance for this merger and can move toward closing," Ellison said in a Monday memo, which was obtained by Business Insider.

Ellison said that Paramount is "tentatively planning" to complete its $110 billion acquisition of WBD in "approximately two weeks."

After completing this deal, Paramount will be a Hollywood behemoth that owns Paramount Pictures, the Warner Bros. studio, CBS, HBO, HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and TV networks like CNN, TNT, TruTV, and MTV.

Paramount's WBD deal was put on pause in July after lawsuits brought by 12 states and the Writers Guild of America, which argued that the merger would reduce competition and harm consumers.

On Monday, the plaintiffs announced that they had settled the lawsuits. Paramount agreed to boost US production spending, adhere to a minimum theatrical film release requirement, not sell its movie lot or the Warner Bros. lot, and make a few other concessions.

Paramount was in a hurry to close its deal since it had agreed to pay WBD shareholders a so-called "ticking fee" of $650 million per quarter — roughly $7 million per day — starting on October 1 if the deal didn't close. The judge overseeing the case had scheduled the trial date for March, which meant that Paramount would have owed about $1.3 billion in fees if it hadn't settled the lawsuits.

The uncertainty surrounding the deal had some Paramount staffers wondering about their jobs, employees previously told Business Insider.

"I know it's created real uncertainty, and for some of you, real anxiety — that's not lost on me," Ellison said in his memo to employees.

Read Ellison's full memo here:

Team,

Just a few moments ago, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, on behalf of himself and 11 other State AGs, announced a settlement that clears the path forward on the lawsuit blocking our merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. We have also reached a settlement with the Writers Guild of America.

With both groups' concerns now addressed, we have complete clearance for this merger and can move toward closing. There's still work ahead to get this deal across the finish line, but we're excited to bring these two iconic companies together, as it means more opportunity for our creatives, production crews and employees across the business, and more great entertainment for audiences everywhere.

We're grateful to Attorney General Bonta and his fellow AGs, and to the WGA, for engaging in good faith to reach this resolution. The agreement includes a number of commitments, including 30+ films annually and expanded U.S. film production — meant to help revitalize our industry and support the people behind it, here at home. Since we launched this bid, our goal has been to build a stronger Hollywood: more stories told, greater choice for consumers, stronger competition. Combining these companies gives us the opportunity to do just that.

This is an exciting moment for our company and our industry. If you're like me, you're in this business because you love the art of visual storytelling — the chance to entertain, unite and inspire the world through extraordinary stories.

Together, Paramount and WBD can do more of that, for audiences everywhere.

And we can't wait to get started.

I know you have questions about what happens next - your role, your team and how we will work day to day. We don't have all the answers yet, and I won't pretend otherwise. We are tentatively planning to close in approximately two weeks. That said, closing is really just the starting line. Bringing two companies this size together takes time, and we'll share information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, please visit the Integration Hub, reach out to your manager or HR representative, or email internalcomms@paramount.com.

Thank you for your patience, commitment and hard work throughout this process. I know it's created real uncertainty, and for some of you, real anxiety — that's not lost on me. Our people are what make this company one of the best in the world, and I'm truly grateful for your dedication and support. I'm confident we're going to build something special together in the years ahead.

Let's go!

David

• Detroit's Big Three are going back to their roaring V8 roots.
• V8s were on death's doorstep as federal emissions regulations bore down on automakers.
• Now, as Washington pulls back on climate rules, the V8 trucks and muscle cars are making a comeback.

For years, the growl of a big, manly V8 engine had been fading from US auto assembly floors.

No longer.

A V8 is a gas engine with eight cylinders arranged in a V-shape. It has long been a go-to choice for Americans who want the power to tow, haul, or go very fast — though it generally uses way more fuel than smaller engines.

Now, even as gas prices rise, the V8 is getting a new lease on life. Washington has relaxed emissions rules, eliminated companywide fuel-efficiency fines, and ended the federal EV tax credit. Automakers are responding with new and revived V8-powered trucks and performance cars, betting that Americans' appetite for big vehicles still has plenty of runway.

Data suggests demand for big, gas-powered vehicles — particularly trucks — remains strong. According to Cox Automotive, US consumers spent about $15 billion on full-size pickup trucks in December alone.

"Consumers wanted these cars," Kevin Roberts, the director of market intelligence at CarGurus, told Business Insider. "It was just a challenging economic choice because of the regulations that previously existed. But there are different rules now."

America's V8 obsession

Detroit's Big Three are leading the way.

On Thursday, GM announced two new V8s for the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. That's after the company invested roughly $830 million in US propulsion plants.

Ram Trucks brought back its Hemi V8 engine in August after discontinuing the motor just last year. This month, it relaunched the TRX, a V8-powered sport-oriented pickup the company markets as an automotive "apex predator."

Last May, General Motors stopped producing electric-vehicle batteries at its Western New York propulsion plant and restarted V8 engine production for trucks instead — a shift that required an $888 million investment.

Ford is making a different sort of V8 bet. The company's updated 2027 F-150 still offers the 5.0-liter V8, even as a turbocharged V6 replaces the outgoing four-cylinder as its base engine. The company also previously told Business Insider it plans to add a new, faster trim to its V8-powered Mustang Dark Horse lineup, called the SC.

The history of America's big engines

V8s are essential to American car-making culture.

First developed for US consumers in the early 1900s by Cadillac, V8s became synonymous with postwar expansion, cheap gasoline, and a domestic auto industry built around size and power. Ford helped popularize the engine in the 1930s, offering dramatic horsepower gains over smaller powertrains.

That popularity launched generations of American nostalgia.

"What customers actually want is more horsepower and more torque," said Dave Mann, a classic Ford Bronco owner and the president of motor oil company Performance Oil Technology. "That's where the money is, and that's the bread and butter for American automakers."

Sales dominance didn't last forever.

As fuel prices surged and emissions rules tightened in the 1970s and 1980s, consumer preferences shifted. Smaller, more efficient vehicles — many built by Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda — surged in popularity. By the early 2000s, V8 engines, which had once powered more than half of all American vehicle sales, accounted for less than 20%.

The engine never disappeared. Instead, they just powered full-size trucks and enthusiast-minded racers.

"What makes V8s superior is the instant response when you hit the gas pedal," Justin Goldsberry, an enthusiast and author of the Automobile Innovations newsletter, previously told Business Insider. "Everything is immediate and highly responsive."

A big shift is on the horizon

Big trucks — including the best-selling Ford F-150 and second-best-selling Chevy Silverado — still remain wildly popular.

Those trucks have long been Detroit's best profit-makers. They've taken on new importance for car companies, especially as they announce billion-dollar write-downs after their EV transitions have gone slower than expected.

Whether they're reaching the market at the right time is an entirely different question.

As US pump prices keep rising, gas-saving mild hybrids, which pair electric motors with a standard gas-powered engine, are gaining popularity. JD Power told Business Insider that hybrids represented 15.9% of all vehicle sales in July, up 2.5% compared to the same month in 2025.

"We've seen a large increase in hybrids," Roberts said. "The US is starting to shake some of its gas-guzzler mindset."

• President Donald Trump suggested there are existing ways to "rein" in AI.
• "That's why we have the Department of Justice, and other Law Enforcement bodies," Trump wrote.
• Trump has repeatedly expressed a preference to use a light touch when it comes to AI regulation.

President Donald Trump said the Justice Department has the ability to "rein" AI if need be.

"We will be careful, and that's why we have the Department of Justice, and other Law Enforcement bodies, that will rein things in if we have to," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday.

While Trump mentioned the possibility of federal intervention in AI, he reiterated his long held-belief that it's best to have a light touch.

"I will only encourage AI or, SI (SUPER INTELLIGENCE)!" he said.

One potential regulatory area could center around liability. Earlier Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration would not grant frontier AI labs protection from such risks.

"These labs need to take responsibility for themselves," Bessent said during an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "They can slow down any time they want to."

Trump and his administration are being closely watched to see how they respond to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's renewed push for federal regulation.

Amodei already has some buy-in from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk for his broader point that frontier AI labs should "pace" their development and use the time they buy to ensure the safety of their most cutting-edge models.

In the US, states including California and Illinois have led AI regulation efforts as Congress has struggled to reach consensus. Trump has issued multiple AI-related executive actions, but there are limits to what he can do.

After Amodei renewed his request, Trump and Vice President JD Vance both expressed skepticism that AI companies would ask the government to impose regulations that would slow parts of the industry.

In his post on Monday, Trump reiterated his view that the current conversation around AI safety is a "hoax" akin to his stated opinions on climate change, questions about his 2016 campaign's relationship with Russia, and the circumstances of his first impeachment.

"This is more of a Hoax than even that of RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE, and Climate Change!" Trump wrote.

Previously, Trump suggested that the only guardrail the US needed was himself because he was smart enough to know how to manage the technology.

"The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on September 17.

Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon recently brought fears around AI potentially wiping out humans back to the forefront with his viral resignation, which warned that workers at AI labs privately fear the technology could one day kill all humans.

• Billionaires are getting richer — and it's no different for the women.
• The richest among them are heiresses and own stakes in some of the world's biggest companies.
• Here is a ranking of the 20 richest women in the world, according to Forbes.

Whether they're founders or heiresses to some of the world's biggest companies, most of the world's richest women saw their wealth grow over the past year.

The sources of their fortunes span a range of industries, from cosmetics to building supplies, and most of the top 20 hail from the US.

This ranking and additional information were compiled from Forbes' World's Billionaires List. It shows a snapshot of wealth from March 1, 2026. Women comprised 14% of the Forbes' World's Billionaires List.

Forbes estimates net worth using assets such as stakes in public and private companies, real estate, and other holdings; it also accounts for factors including debt and charitable giving.

In some cases, Forbes also counts wealth held by a founder or heir's immediate family, identifying those entries with "& family."

"Source" refers to the main source of the individual's wealth. "World rank" refers to each woman's placement on the 2006 World's Billionaires List.

With a combined wealth of $886 billion, including that of some immediate family members, here are the 20 richest women in the world:

20. Diane Hendricks — $22.3 billion

Source: Building supplies

Country: US

World rank: 113

Diane Hendricks, 79, cofounded ABC Supply in 1982 with her husband. After the death of Ken Hendricks in 2007, she has been the chair of ABC Supply and has led the company on its two biggest acquisitions.

19. Christy Walton — $24.3 billion

Source: Walmart

Country: US

World rank: 106

Christy Walton, 77, inherited a stake in Walmart after her husband, John Walton, died in 2005. She also inherited about one-sixth of his estate.

18. Gina Rinehart — $25.5 billion

Source: Mining

Country: Australia

World rank: 101

Gina Rinehart, 72, rebuilt her father's financially distressed company, Hancock Prospecting, following his death. Since 1992, she has been the executive chair of Hancock, whose biggest asset is an iron ore mining project.

17. Vicky Safra & family — $27.1 billion

Source: Banking

Country: Greece

World rank: 94

Vicky Safra, 74, inherited her fortune, along with her children, from her late husband, Joseph Safra. The family's financial empire includes J. Safra Sarasin in Switzerland, Safra National Bank of New York, and Banco Safra in Brazil.

16. MacKenzie Scott — $28.6 billion

Source: Amazon

Country: US

World rank: 84

MacKenzie Scott, 56, gained a 4% stake in Amazon following her divorce from founder Jeff Bezos. An author and philanthropist, Scott shares details of her donations on the website Yield Giving.

15. Susanne Klatten — $29.7 billion

Source: BMW, pharmaceuticals

Country: Germany

World rank: 79

Susanne Klatten, 64, owns about 19% of BMW, which she inherited from her parents. Klatten is the sole owner and deputy chair of Altana, a global specialty chemicals company.

14. Lyndal Stephens Greth & family — $30 billion

Source: Oil and gas

Country: US

World rank: 77

Lyndal Stephens Greth, 51, became chair of Endeavor Energy Resources after her father, who founded the firm, died. Endeavor, an oil and gas exploration and production company, was acquired by Diamondback in 2024.

13. Melinda French Gates — $30.3 billion

Source: Microsoft

Country: US

World rank: 74

Melinda French Gates, 62, is the founder of Pivotal and former cochair of the Gates Foundation. She spent the first decade of her career at Microsoft and is known for her philanthropy.

12. Elaine Marshall & family — $30.9 billion

Source: Koch Inc.

Country: US

World rank: 71

Elaine Marshall, 84, and her two sons inherited an estimated 16% stake in Koch Inc. from her late husband.

E. Pierce Marshall's father, J. Howard Marshall II was an early partner of Fred Koch.

11. Marilyn Simons & family — $32.5 billion

Source: Hedge funds

Country: US

World rank: 66

Marilyn Simons, 75, is the widow of Jim Simons, who founded hedge fund firm Renaissance Technologies. She is the cofounder and chair of the Simons Foundation, which funds research in mathematics and the basic sciences.

10. Zheng Shuliang & family — $33.2 billion

Source: Aluminum products

Country: China

World rank: 63

Zheng Shuliang, 80, was vice chair of one of China's largest aluminum producers, China Hongqiao Group, until May 2026. Her late husband, Zhang Shiping, founded the company.

9. Abigail Johnson — $33.2 billion

Source: Fidelity

Country: US

World rank: 63

Abigail Johnson, 64, is the chair and CEO of Fidelity Investments, which was founded by her grandfather in 1946. Johnson took over from her father as CEO in 2014.

8. Miriam Adelson & family — $37.5 billion

Source: Casinos

Country: US

World rank: 56

Miriam Adelson, 80, and her family own over half of the casino company Las Vegas Sands. Her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, was the founder and former CEO of the company. Adelson acquired a majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks in 2023.

7. Savitri Jindal & family — $39.1 billion

Source: Steel

Country: India

World rank: 51

Savitri Jindal, 76, is the chair of O.P. Jindal Group, a conglomerate with business interests spanning steel and power. The group's businesses are independently run by her four sons after the death of Jindal's husband in 2005,

6. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant — $44.5 billion

Source: Shipping

Country: Switzerland

World rank: 44

Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, 81, owns half of MSC, one of the world's largest global shipping and logistics companies. Aponte-Diamant and her husband joined the industry together in 1970.

5. Jacqueline Mars — $49.1 billion

Source: Candy, pet food

Country: US

World rank: 38

Jacqueline Mars, 86, is the granddaughter of Franklin Clarence Mars, who founded the confectionery, food, and pet care manufacturer Mars. She owns an estimated one-third of the company.

4. Iris Fontbona & family — $52.6 billion

Source: Mining

Country: Chile

World rank: 35

Iris Fontbona, 83, and her children control Antofagasta Plc, a Chile-based, London-listed copper mining company. When her husband, Andrónico Luksic, died in 2005, she and his heirs inherited his businesses.

3. Julia Koch & family — $81.2 billion

Source: Koch, Inc.

Country: US

World rank: 24

Julia Koch, 64, and her children inherited a 42% stake in Koch, Inc. after her husband's death in 2019. Koch is one of the world's largest privately held companies and operates across a range of industries, from energy to healthcare.

2. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers & family — $100 billion

Source: L'Oréal

Country: France

World rank: 20

As the granddaughter of the founder of L'Oréal, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, 73, is a philanthropist and the reigning heiress of the world's largest cosmetics company. Bettencourt Meyers and her immediate family hold a stake of more than one-third in L'Oréal.

1. Alice Walton — $134 billion

Source: Walmart

Country: US

World rank: 14

Alice Walton, the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is the richest woman in the world. Since last year, her wealth has increased by $12 billion after a jump in Walmart's stock, Forbes reported.

Walton is an arts patron and philanthropist, and has not taken an active role in the family-owned business.

• I was offered more than $1 million in scholarships from over 20 colleges.
• I spent hours every night searching for scholarships and financial aid.
• I ultimately earned a full ride to NYU, but getting there was a job in itself.

When I was 18, local headlines and social media posts about me all focused on the exact same number: I was accepted into more than 20 colleges and offered over $1 million in combined scholarship funding.

I'm sure that to people reading the news, that seven-figure total sounded like a lottery win. What the headlines missed was the invisible labor it took to get there.

People saw the final funding amount. They didn't see the unpaid late-night hours I worked every single night, completely on my own, just to afford my future.

No manual, no guidance counselor, and no road map

I grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, determined to become the first person in my family to graduate from college. My goal was to study film and television at New York University. Getting accepted was one hurdle, but figuring out how to pay for it was the real wall.

My family did not have extra money for tuition, and my mom had never navigated higher education. When I asked for help at school, my guidance counselor had no answers for an out-of-state dream. On top of that, I was trying to figure this out during the COVID-19 pandemic, isolated at home and staring at confusing college portals, financial aid pages, and scholarship search engines I had never seen before.

Nobody explained how to navigate the Common App, the single online application platform that allows students to apply to hundreds of different colleges at once. Nobody showed me how to find legitimate scholarship databases or how to request application fee waivers, so I wouldn't go broke just applying. Having internet access gave me a starting point, but it didn't give me a map. I realized early on that if I didn't hunt down the answers myself, nobody was going to hand them to me.

Working the late shift at home

High school schedules are already full. My days consisted of seven hours of school followed by homework. After that came my responsibilities at home: since age 10, I had been helping care for my grandmother and my disabled uncle while my mom worked two jobs to pay our bills.

Between classes, schoolwork, and family caretaking, my daily bandwidth was entirely tapped out. But I couldn't afford to wait for a miracle.

Starting in my junior year and carrying straight through senior year, my second shift began the moment my family went to sleep. From 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., I managed college portals, tracked deadlines on spreadsheets, searched for scholarships, and drafted essay after essay.

The process behind the funding

The hardest part wasn't keeping track of dates on a spreadsheet. It was learning how to write about myself for an audience while building a strategy from scratch.

Because I was applying mostly out-of-state, I couldn't rely on local state grants. Instead, I had to secure the maximum federal financial aid I could through the FAFSA, hunt down fee waivers to eliminate costs across more than 20 colleges, scour online databases for independent corporate grants, and apply directly to universities for institutional merit and need-based packages.

I spent hours tailoring my story to different prompts, explaining to review committees who I was, what my life was like at home, and why my experiences mattered. Doing that over and over was exhausting, especially when my 15-hour effort sometimes ended in rejection or, worse, total silence. But because I needed options, I had to brush it off, log back in, and apply to the next opportunity.

The hidden cost

When college admissions became a second job, my life stopped being about learning and growing. It became about performing and surviving. Balancing school, caregiving, and hours of nightly application work left zero room for rest. It triggered chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and the constant fear that I wasn't doing enough.

I completely missed out on the typical high school experience. While most of my classmates went to football games, hung out on weekends, and enjoyed their senior year milestones, my world looked very different. I had one close friend in high school who was also helping care for her grandmother.

Outside of our shared understanding of what it meant to have real responsibilities at home, I was glued to my computer screen. Every spare hour that wasn't spent on family care was sacrificed to finish another essay or track down another deadline.

The process also stripped away my authentic voice. To win aid, you're asked to package your lived experiences into a polished pitch. Sitting at a screen at 2 a.m., unpacking my family's financial struggles for committees of strangers, forced me to sound older and more corporate than I actually was.

The outcome and what came after

After dozens of applications and months of late nights, the work paid off. The cumulative value of the financial aid and scholarship offers I received across those 20-plus acceptance letters passed $1 million, and I ultimately accepted a full ride to NYU.

When my mom saw the official financial aid package, she cried in relief. For the public, that million-dollar stat made a great headline. For my family, it meant I could attend the school I chose without taking on crushing debt.

I graduated from NYU in 2026 with my degree in film and television. Looking back, that experience taught me how to navigate complex systems and advocate for myself when no road map existed.

We talk a lot about the American dream, the idea that hard work opens every door. But my experience has shown that the playing field isn't level from the start. For students without wealth, getting good grades is only half the battle. The other half is surviving an exhausting second job just to pay for the chance to compete.

I reached my goal, but no 18-year-old should have to work an unpaid graveyard shift every night just to earn a seat at the table.

• Actors James Van Der Beek, Hayden Panettiere, Robert Duvall, Chuck Norris, and Tim Curry died in 2026.
• So did musicians Dolly Parton and Duncan Sheik.
• Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, activist Gloria Steinem, and media mogul Ted Turner also died this year.

Below, we look back at the celebrities we lost in 2026, listed in alphabetical order.

Scott Adams, 68

Scott Adams worked at a telephone company in the 1980s. The experience inspired his beloved comic strip, "Dilbert."

By the end of the decade, the character and his satirical office humor began appearing in comic strips.

At its peak, "Dilbert" was syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers. A cartoon series debuted in 1999, running for two seasons.

Adams gained notoriety when he began writing blog posts praising Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential run. In 2023, "Dilbert" was pulled from newspapers across the US following racist comments made by Adams.

Adams died on January 13 from metastatic prostate cancer.

Brad Arnold, 47

The lead singer of 3 Doors Down, Brad Arnold launched the group into fame with the 2000 rock anthem "Kryptonite," which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year.

The success led to other hits like "Loser," "Here Without You," and "When I'm Gone." Arnold's vocal range and lyrics focused on love and love lost, which fueled the group to stardom.

Arnold died on February 7 from a type of kidney cancer.

Afrika Bambaataa, 68

A hip-hop pioneer during the 1970s and 1980s, Lance Taylor, known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa, first gained attention as a DJ in the Bronx.

He signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and released landmark songs like "Jazzy Sensation" and "Planet Rock." He would go on to influence the likes of Queen Latifah and A Tribe Called Quest throughout his career.

Bambaataa founded the hip-hop awareness group, Universal Zulu Nation, in the 1970s to steer kids away from gang life. Bambaataa stepped down as the head of the organization in 2016 after accusations of sexual abuse.

Bambaataa denied all claims.

He died on April 9 due to prostate cancer.

Rob Bass, 59

One of the icons responsible for bringing hip-hop to the mainstram, Rob Bass crafted the iconic track "It Takes Two" alongside DJ E-Z Rock.

The track, released in 1988, reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Songs chart and later went certified platinum. In 1989, it was voted the greatest single of all time by Spin magazine.

Bass died on May 22 following cancer.

Nicholas Brendon, 54

Nicholas Brendon was a television actor, best known for playing Xander Harris in all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

He also starred in "Criminal Minds" and "Kitchen Confidential."

Brendon died in his sleep on March 20 due to natural causes, according to his family's statement.

In 2023, Brendon suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He also had cauda equina syndrome, which led to several spinal surgeries.

"While it's no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis, and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing," the statement to The Hollywood Reporter read. "Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart."

Peabo Bryson, 75

Two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson is best known for his classic love ballads.

Bryson began releasing music in the late 1970s, but one of his first major hits was opposite Roberta Flack on the 1983 duet, "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love." He continued hit-making a year later with the smash "If Ever You're in My Arms Again," and in 1991, he topped the R&B charts with "Can You Stop the Rain."

Bryson found global stardom with his renditions of two Disney classics. In 1991, he released the pop version of "Beauty and the Beast," alongside Céline Dion, and a year later, he duetted with Regina Belle on "A Whole New World" from the 1992 release of "Aladdin."

Bryson died on June 2. No cause was given.

James Burrows, 85

An 11-time Emmy winner and co-creator of "Cheers," director James Burrows helped shape modern TV comedy through his work on iconic sitcoms including "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "Frasier."

Known for his comedic timing and elaborate blocking, Burrows got his start directing episodes of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Throughout his career, he directed episodes of "Frasier" (winning an Emmy for the pilot episode), "Will & Grace," "Friends," and "The Big Bang Theory." He directed over 50 pilot episodes.

Burrows died on June 19. No cause was given.

Kyle Busch, 41

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Busch was considered one of the greatest racers of all time.

Busch was hospitalized on May 21, before two upcoming races. Hours later, he was pronounced dead.

Busch died from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.

Robert Carradine, 71

Robert Carradine was best known for his roles as Lizzie McGuire's dad and as the iconic geek Lewis Skolnick in the 1980s franchise "Revenge of the Nerds."

As a member of Hollywood's famed Carradine family, Robert was destined for an onscreen career.

He received one of his first screen credits starring in his brother David Carradine's popular 1970s TV series "Kung Fu" and went on to land roles in everything from Samuel Fuller's World War II classic "The Big Red One" to the "Lizzie McGuire" series.

Carradine's family shared statements with Deadline that emphasized being open about his struggles with mental illness.

"We are bereft at the loss of this beautiful soul and want to acknowledge Bobby's valiant struggle against his nearly two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder," Carradine's family said. "We hope his journey can shine a light and encourage addressing the stigma that attaches to mental illness."

Carradine died by suicide on February 23.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or has had thoughts of harming themself or taking their own life, get help. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is also available through the Crisis Text Line — just text "HOME" to 741741. The International Association for Suicide Prevention offers resources for those outside the US.

Bud Cort, 77

Most famous for his role as Harold in the 1971 cult-classic "Harold and Maude," Bud Cort became the epitome of 1970s counterculture thanks to his baby-faced looks, wit, and sophisticated persona.

The dark comedy starred Cort as Harold, a man in his 20s who is obsessed with suicide until he meets 79-year-old eccentric Maude (Ruth Gordon).

Before that, Cort scored bit parts in Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H*" (1970) and "Brewster McCloud" (1970).

After "Harold and Maude," Cort worked steadily for the rest of his life, occasionally showing up in hit movies like Michael Mann's "Heat" (1995) and Wes Anderson's "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004).

Cort died on February 11 following a long illness.

Tim Curry, 80

Curry is best known for playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the cult-classic musical "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," after originating the role in the original stage production.

Over six decades, Curry carved out a niche playing outlandish villains like Rooster Hannigan in the 1982 film "Annie" and Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries "It." Other notable roles include Wadsworth the Butler in "Clue" (1985) and Mr. Hector in "Home Alone 2: Escape from New York."

Curry suffered a major stroke in 2012, which required brain surgery. He said in 2025 that he was "still recovering."

Curry died at his Los Angeles home on August 26. No cause was given.

Eric Dane, 53

Long before becoming one of TV's most recognizable heartthrobs, Eric Dane was building his career with guest roles on series like "Saved by the Bell" and "Married… with Children."

He later gained wider attention with appearances on "Charmed" before landing his breakout role as Dr. Mark "McSteamy" Sloan on "Grey's Anatomy." He most recently starred in HBO's "Euphoria," where he played Cal Jacobs, the father of Jacob Elordi's character, Nate Jacobs.

Dane has two children with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart. In April 2025, the actor said that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Dane died on February 19 at age 53, his publicist confirmed in a statement to Business Insider.

"He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world," his publicist said.

Clive Davis, 94

A legend in the music world, Davis was responsible for elevating pop music to unthinkable heights by discovering talents like Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, and Alicia Keys, to name a few.

Over his 50-year career, along with being an executive behind millions of album sales, he also won five Grammys, including two for Album of the Year ("The Bodyguard" soundtrack and "Supernatural" by Santana).

Davis died on June 22. No cause was given.

Robert Duvall, 95

Robert Duvall starred in a plethora of timeless classics, including "The Godfather," "The Godfather Part II," "Apocalypse Now," "THX 1138," "The Natural," "Days of Thunder," and "The Apostle."

Duvall will be best remembered for starring in three of director Francis Ford Coppola's iconic films: playing Tom Hagen in the first two "Godfather" movies and Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now," in which he delivers one of the most memorable lines in movie history: "I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

Duvall was lauded for his acting talent, from not saying a word while playing Boo Radley in his first big screen role in the 1962 classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" to his portrayal of a country singer dealing with alcoholism in 1983's "Tender Mercies," which earned him an Oscar.

He died on his ranch in Virginia on February 15. No cause was given.

Brenda Fricker, 81

This Irish actress was a fixture on the stage and screen for six decades. But she's most known for showing up in the "Home Alone" sequel.

As The Pigeon Lady in 1992's "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," Fricker has become a fixture for families during the holiday season for decades (and in 2020 became the subject of a popular meme).

But Fricker's acting talents go beyond playing a spooky wanderer of Central Park.

In 1990, she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, as she was given the best supporting actress Oscar that year for her performance in "My Left Foot."

Fricker died on July 16; no cause was given.

Mark Fuhrman, 74

Fuhrman cemented his place in popular culture as one of the lead LAPD detectives on the 1995 murder case of O.J. Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.

Fuhrman found the famed bloody glove on the Simpson estate, and during the trial, he gained infamy when Simpson's defense team used his past racist language to discredit him as a witness.

Fuhrman retired from the LAPD after the Simpson trial and moved to Idaho, where he wrote true crime books.

Fuhrman died on May 12 of throat cancer.

Valentino Garavani, 93

For over six decades, one name has been synonymous with women's high fashion: Valentino.

The Italian designer launched his fashion business in Rome in 1960 and never looked back. Soon, every star wanted to be seen in his creations. They've been worn by icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Sharon Stone, and more.

Though Garavani retired from designing in 2008, his label is still a red carpet staple, as is his famous shade of bright red dubbed "Valentino Red."

Garavani died on January 19. No cause was given.

Donald Gibb, 71

No one defined a bully for a generation more than Gibb's hulking fraternity character Orge in the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies of the 1980s.

Since the original raunchy comedy was released in 1984, Gibb's intimidating size and loud yells of "NERDS!" have become as memorable as the pocket protectors worn by the movie's geeks.

Gibb went on to star opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in his classic 1988 action movie "Bloodsport." He also landed guest star roles through his career on shows like "Quantum Leap," Magnum P.I.," "MacGyver," "Night Court," and "Cheers."

Gibb died on May 12 following health complications.

Chad Gilbert, 45

Gilbert was the guitarist and backing vocalist for the punk band New Found Glory.

The band's hit albums include 2002's "Sticks And Stones" and 2004's "Catalyst." Both showed up in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Gilbert died on September 20; no cause was given, but Gilbert told People in April he was battling stage 4 adrenal cancer.

Glen Hansard, 56

Irish singer-songwriter Hansard was the frontman of the rock band The Frames and one-half of the band The Swell Season. But he was perhaps best known for writing and starring in the hit 2007 indie film "Once," in which he and his Swell Season bandmate Markéta Irglová play two struggling musicians who fall in love. The duo won an Oscar for best original song for the film's standout track, "Falling Slowly."

Hansard also embarked on a solo career; his 2015 album, "Didn't He Ramble," was nominated for a Grammy for best folk album.

Hansard died on July 29 in a motorcycle crash in Dublin.

Anthony Head, 72

Rising up through the UK stage scene in the 1980s, Head found fame when he was cast as Rupert Giles, who became a father figure to Sarah Michelle Gellar's Buffy Summers in all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Most recently, he played the bitter former owner of AFC Richmond on "Ted Lasso."

Head's death was announced by his family on June 5. They stated the cause was "complications due to pneumonia."

David Hockney, 88

British painter David Hockney was renowned for his striking portraits and figurative pop art. Many of his best-known paintings, including 1966's "The Splash" and 1972's "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)," were inspired by the bright colors and sun-dappled pools of Los Angeles.

Hockney moved to Los Angeles in the late '60s, and his work became synonymous with the warmth and leisure of Southern California. He was also one of the few popular artists at the time to depict openly gay scenes, and Hockney was outspoken about anti-gay censorship.

Throughout his career, Hockney split time between California, England, and France. He died at his home in London on June 12 at age 88, his publicist confirmed to The New York Times. No cause of death was given.

Jesse Jackson, 84

The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, a minister, and an activist icon who twice ran for president.

Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson experienced Jim Crow segregation on public buses and at school firsthand. It would shape the rest of his life.

His fight for civil rights began in the 1960s, when he helped organize protests and demonstrations across the US and worked closely alongside civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

His decadeslong career as a leading civil rights activist included support for modern national movements, such as the push for voting rights, the fight against racism, and a higher minimum wage.

Jackson ran for president twice, both times as a democrat. He placed third for the party's nomination in 1984 and second in 1988. This marked the most successful presidential runs of any Black candidate prior to Barack Obama.

Jackson announced in 2017 that he'd been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In November 2025, Jackson was treated in a Chicago hospital after complications from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative condition.

Jackson died on February 17.

Yayoi Kusama, 97

Kusama was a famed Japanese pop artist who often used polka-dot motifs in her work, initially rising to prominence in Japan in the 1950s.

In 1959, Kusama presented her first solo exhibition in New York: a collection of abstract paintings that an ARTnews review praised as "strong, advanced in concept and realized."

Kusama later branched into sculptures, performances, and immersive installations. She continued to expand her influence and relevance into the social media era, when her mirrored "Infinity Room" installations became Instagram-friendly attractions that inspired many copycats.

Kusama died on August 14 in Tokyo. She was 97.

Bob Mackie, 87

As one of Hollywood's most renowned costume designers, Bob Mackie's eye set the style for decades.

Known as the Sultan of Sequins, the Rajah of Rhinestones, or the Guru of Glitter, a signature of Mackie's work was its use of sparkle, which made everyone from Cher to Elton John to Dolly Parton to Sabrina Carpenter shine on stage.

He also was the costume designer on "The Carol Burnett Show" for all eleven seasons through the 1970s. He won nine Emmys, a Tony Award, and was nominated for three Academy Awards for his work.

Mackie died on September 14; no cause was given.

Patrick Muldoon, 57

In the 1990s, you couldn't escape the piercing eyes of Patrick Muldoon.

He played Austin Reed on "Days of Our Lives" for most of the decade, and when he wasn't on the soap, he was over on "Melrose Place" playing the villain role of Richard Hart.

If being on two iconic shows wasn't enough, he also showed up on "Saved by the Bell" and had a role in the cult classic movie "Starship Troopers."

Muldoon died on April 19 after a heart attack.

Sam Neill, 78

With a career spanning more than five decades and including countless memorable performances in movies and television, Sam Neill was one of the most versatile actors of his generation,

The New Zealand actor starred opposite Nicole Kidman in the 1989 thriller "Dead Calm," played the loyal first officer opposite Sean Connery in 1990's "The Hunt for Red October," played the lead in John Carpenter's 1994 horror "In the Mouth of Madness," and most recently starred in the hit series "Peaky Blinders."

But Neill will be best known for playing the brave and all-dinosaur-knowing Dr. Alan Grant in the "Jurassic Park" franchise.

Neill died on July 13; no cause was given. Neill was battling a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer, but was cancer-free at the time of his death, according to a post on his Instagram account announcing his passing.

Tom Noonan, 74

Standing at a towering 6' 5", Tom Noonan was born to play the bad guy. And he did just that, starring as the villain in movies like "Manhunter," "RoboCop 2," and "Last Action Hero."

But this actor had more to show off. He showcased his comedy chops as Rodney Dangerfield's degenerate gambling friend in the 1983 comedy "Easy Money," and set up the heist for Robert De Niro in Michael Mann's 1995 classic "Heat."

His knack for storytelling also translated behind the camera. Noonan wrote, directed, and starred in the drama "What Happened Was," which won the grand prize at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.

Noonan died on February 14; no cause was given.

Chuck Norris, 86

Few action stars have Chuck Norris' credentials.

Before he ever stepped in front of a camera, he was a martial arts champion and a black belt in Karate, judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Tang Soo Do.

His talents would become known the world over in 1972, when he faced off against Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon."

Through the 1980s, Norris became one of the biggest action stars in the world thanks to movies like "A Force of One," "The Octagon," and the "Delta Force" and "Missing in Action" franchises.

In the 1990s, he took over the small screen, playing the lead in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" TV show, which aired in over 100 countries during its run from 1993 to 2001.

Norris was hospitalized on March 19 in Hawaii and died the following day, according to his family. No cause was given.

Catherine O'Hara, 71

O'Hara, who was best known for her roles in "Beetlejuice" and "Home Alone," got her start in the Canadian comedy scene, appearing in the now-legendary cast of "SCTV."

It would mark the beginning of a fruitful partnership with fellow actor Eugene Levy, who became her frequent costar and collaborator in memorable appearances in Christopher Guest films like "A Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show" and television series like "Schitt's Creek," which earned her an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in 2020.

O'Hara's representation confirmed her death to Business Insider on January 30. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed in a death certificate viewed by People that O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as an underlying cause.

Hayden Panettiere, 36

Panettiere began acting as a child, landing one of her earliest major roles as Sarah Roberts on the ABC soap opera "One Life to Live," on which she appeared from 1994 to 1997.

As her career progressed, she became best known for portraying Claire Bennet on "Heroes" and Juliette Barnes on "Nashville."

Over the years, Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles with alcoholism and postpartum depression. She detailed those experiences in her memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," which was released in May.

Her representative confirmed to Business Insider on August 17 that Panettiere had died at 36 but did not disclose a cause of death.

Dolly Parton, 80

Parton released her debut album, "Hello, I'm Dolly," in 1967 and went on to pen country hits like "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene," both of which were released as singles in 1974.

In addition to her music, Parton was beloved for her flamboyant style and her philanthropy. She founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988, a charitable organization focused on education and community initiatives in her home state of Tennessee. She continued to fund scholarship programs and donate to hospitals, public health initiatives, and disaster relief programs throughout her life.

Parton is known as the best-selling female country music artist of all time. She was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Parton's 49th and final solo studio album, "Rockstar," was released in 2023. The tracklist included both original material and covers of classic rock songs, featuring an array of guests like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Sting, Joan Jett, and Parton's goddaughter, Miley Cyrus.

News broke on August 25 that Parton died following unspecified health issues. She was 80.

Vincent Pastore, 80

This character actor found fame appearing in a string of mob movies in the 1990s, like "Goodfellas," "Carlito's Way," and "Men of Respect." But Pastore truly became a star when he was cast in the hit HBO series "The Sopranos."

As Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, Pastore was part of the main cast for the first two seasons of the show, playing Tony Soprano's mob enforcer-turned-FBI informant. Bonpensiero's shocking death was one of the most famous in the show's history and proved that no one was safe from getting whacked.

Pastore died on August 1. No cause was given.

Valerie Perrine, 82

Perrine found herself cast alongside the biggest stars of the 1970s.

She played the love interest opposite Jeff Bridges in 1973's "The Last American Hero" and Robert Redford in 1979's "The Electric Horseman." She earned an Oscar nomination for starring alongside Dustin Hoffman in 1974's "Lenny."

For most, she'll be remembered best for sharing the screen with Gene Hackman as the secretary to his evil Lex Luthor in 1978's "Superman." She also starred in the sequel. As Ms. Teschmacher, her loyalty to Luthor is questioned when she rescues Superman (Christopher Reeve) after he's chained with Kryptonite.

Perrine died in her home in Beverly Hills on March 23. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015.

Sonny Rollins, 95

One of the most influential jazz musicians in history, Rollins recorded more than 60 albums over his seven-decade career.

His live album, "A Night at the Village Vanguard," is considered one of the greatest jazz albums ever made.

Rollins died on May 25; no cause was given.

Neil Sedaka, 86

Sedaka is responsible for some of the biggest pop songs of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Brooklyn native wrote over 500 songs, including classic hits like "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "Bad Blood" and the Captain & Tennille song, "Love Will Keep Us Together."

Sedaka died on February 27; no cause was given.

Gene Shalit, 100

Before there was Rotten Tomatoes or even Siskel & Ebert, movie lovers got their recommendations from Gene Shalit.

The iconic movie critic could be seen sporting his signature look of glasses, bushy hair, and big mustache as a staple on the "Today" show from 1973 to 2010. If he wasn't interviewing the biggest movie stars, he was reviewing movies with incredible puns ("'Ishtar' is Ish-terrible.")

His larger-than-life presence left a mark on pop culture: he was parodied as a Muppet and on countless episodes of "SCTV" and "Saturday Night Live."

Shalit died on June 12; no cause was given.

Duncan Sheik, 56

Sheik found success in the late 1990s with his hit song "Barely Breathing." He later pivoted from alt-rock to a career on Broadway, composing the music for the Tony-winning musical "Spring Awakening." His other stage credits include "American Psycho" (2013) and "The Secret Life of Bees" (2019).

Sheik died on September 17 after a cardiac arrest.

Kiki Shepard, 74

In her 15-year tenure as a co-host on "Showtime at the Apollo," Kiki Shepard was considered royalty at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater.

Known in the building as "Apollo Queen of Fashion" thanks to her dazzling outfits, Shepherd was a fixture on the show from 1987 to 2002.

Throughout her career, Shepard also appeared on TV shows like "Baywatch," "A Different World," "NYPD Blue," and "Grey's Anatomy."

Shepard died on March 16 after suffering a heart attack.

Gloria Steinem, 92

An icon in the women's liberation movement of the 1970s, Steinem dedicated most of her life to fighting sexism.

Starting her career as a journalist, she became a columnist for the newly founded New York Magazine in 1968. She cofounded Ms. magazine in 1971, which focused on women's issues. She also helped launch the Women's Action Alliance, which focused on tackling sexism.

Steinem was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

Steinem died on September 2, according to a post on her social media. No cause was given.

Béla Tarr, 70

Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr became a legend in the arthouse world for his unflinching work featuring several-minute-long takes.

With movies like "Family Nest" (1979) and "The Turin Horse" (2011), Tarr showcased his slow cinema style while focusing on marginalized characters living bleak lives. Tarr pushed the envelope with his style when he made "Sátántangó" in 1994, which had a run time of 450 minutes.

His work influenced several arthouse filmmakers, including Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant's "Death Trilogy" ("Gerry," "Elephant," and "Last Days").

Tarr died on January 6 following a battle with a "long and serious illness."

James Tolkan, 94

You might not recognize the name, but if you're a movie fan, you know the face.

Tolkan's tough-guy persona made a mark on movie history in films like "Top Gun" and the "Back to the Future" franchise.

In "Top Gun," he played Commander Tom "Stinger" Jardian, who famously gives Tom Cruise's character a tongue lashing, saying, "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash."

In "Back to the Future" and its sequels, he played Principal Strickland, who had zero tolerance for "slackers."

Other credits include "Serpico," "WarGames," "Masters of the Universe," and "Dick Tracy."

Tolkan died on March 26; no cause was given.

Ted Turner, 87

Ted Turner changed the television landscape thanks to his maverick maneuvers to harness the 24-hour news cycle.

After taking over his father's advertising company in the 1960s at the age of 24, Turner embarked on a path to change the media landscape by buying up radio and TV stations around the South. He even bought sports teams including the Atlanta Braves MLB team and the Atlanta Hawks NBA team.

All of that programming would eventually become part of TBS, a "super station" that showed old movies, reruns, and Braves and Hawks games.

Turner then set his sights on the news. He founded CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, in June of 1980.

Over the decades, Turner gained celebrity status, particularly after marrying with Jane Fonda, a union that lasted from 1991 to 2001. In 1991, he was named Time's "Man of the Year." He sold his networks to Time Warner for $7.5 billion in 1996.

Turner died on May 6; no cause was given.

Bonnie Tyler, 75

Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler became one of the biggest artists of the 1980s thanks to her legendary power ballads.

Tyler was behind hits like "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero," which was also featured on the 1984 "Footloose" soundtrack. Both songs were chart-toppers that have since become two of the best-selling singles of all time.

Over her career, Tyler was nominated for three Grammys and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

Tyler died on July 8 in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness, according to a statement posted on her social media.

James Van Der Beek, 48

Van Der Beek was beloved all over the world for his role as the titular teen Dawson Leery on the WB series "Dawson's Creek."

The series, which ran from 1998 to 2002, turned Van Der Beek into a star and a teen heartthrob. While "Dawson's Creek" was still airing, he'd cement his stardom playing the lead role of high school quarterback "Mox" Moxon in the 1999 coming-of-age drama "Varsity Blues."

Van Der Beek found steady work the rest of his career in movies like "Texas Rangers" and "The Rules of Attraction, and memorably played a fictional version of himself on the TV series "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," and performed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2019.

Van Der Beek learned he had stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, and publicly announced his diagnosis in late 2024.

Van Der Beek previously told Business Insider that the news came as a shock, given the subtleness of his symptoms and his efforts to stay as healthy as possible.

"I was doing everything," he said. "I was doing sauna, cold plunge, weightlifting, Pilates. I would dance and also do football training."

Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11.

Bob Weir, 78

Weir was one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead.

The singer-songwriter wrote and/or sang on songs like "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," "Truckin,'" "I Need a Miracle," and "The Other One."

After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir went on to form several other bands, including Kingfish, Bobby and the Midnites, RatDog, The Other Ones, and, alongside John Mayer, Dead & Company.

In the summer of 2025, Weir was diagnosed with cancer.

Weir died on January 10.

Victor Willis, 74

Willis was the lead singer of the iconic disco band the Village People.

Along with being the lead vocalist and dressing as the police officer (and sometimes naval officer), Willis was also the cowriter on many of the band's hits, including "In the Navy," "Macho Man," and the song that will keep the Village People in pop culture lore until the end of time, "Y.M.C.A."

Willis left the band to embark on a solo career in 1979, then re-formed the Village People in 2017.

Willis died on June 30 following a "short but aggressive illness," according to the Village People Facebook page.

Frederick Wiseman, 96

For over five decades, Wiseman's brand of non-fiction storytelling put a spotlight on everyday people.

From high schoolers to hospital workers to Air Force cadets training for nuclear war, Wiseman's close to 50-film catalogue is an unvarnished reflection of America over the last half century.

Wiseman died on Februay 16, no cause was given.

• Paramount Skydance settled an antitrust lawsuit that was holding up its merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.
• Paramount agreed to raise US production spending by at least $1.5 billion over five years.
• Buying WBD would make David Ellison's company a Hollywood giant.

David Ellison's Paramount Skydance has cleared the last major hurdle to closing its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Paramount has settled the antitrust lawsuit brought by 12 states, California's Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Monday.

"We have complete clearance for this merger and can move toward closing," Ellison said in a Monday memo to staffers, obtained by Business Insider.

A key part of the settlement: Bonta said Paramount agreed to release 30 movies in theaters each of the next two years, followed by 32 movies in each of the next three. At least 20% must be "tentpoles," defined as movies with a budget of at least $50 million (adjusted for inflation).

If Paramount doesn't meet its annual film release commitments, it will have to pay $30 million per movie. It will also be given six additional months to meet the quota, after which it will be forced to divest the film studio Miramax.

Bonta said that Paramount agreed to increase its production spending in the US by at least $300 million a year for the next five years. He added that Paramount had pledged not to sell either its movie lot or the Warner Bros. lot.

Bonta said that as part of the settlement, Paramount would establish a board to support CBS News and CNN's continued editorial independence and ensure objective, fact-based reporting. Paramount will also negotiate rates separately for its own cable TV networks and those owned by WBD for the next five years.

Paramount settled a separate lawsuit brought by the Writers Guild of America, the WGA said Monday.

Ellison said in his Monday memo that Paramount is "tentatively planning" to complete its acquisition of WBD in "approximately two weeks."

Buying WBD will create the Hollywood behemoth that Ellison, Paramount's CEO, believes will have the size and strength to compete with giants like Netflix and Disney.

Ellison's Paramount will soon control the Warner Bros. studio, HBO, HBO Max, and TV networks CNN, TBS, and HGTV. The 114-year-old media company already owns the Paramount Pictures studio, CBS, streaming services Paramount+ and Pluto TV, and cable networks like Comedy Central.

In February, Paramount agreed to buy WBD for $31 per share. The agreement followed a monthslong bidding war with Netflix, which had planned to buy WBD's studio and streaming assets for $27.75 per share.

Paramount was pushing to close the WBD deal by the end of September to avoid paying WBD shareholders a so-called "ticking fee" of about $7 million per day, or $650 million per quarter, which it would have owed starting on October 1 if its deal wasn't finalized.

Ellison's company suffered a setback in July when 12 US states and the Writers Guild of America sued to block the acquisition, arguing that the merger would give Paramount too much power over the distribution of theatrical movies, big-budget films, and basic cable channels.

Paramount denied those claims and said its deal would improve competition in Hollywood and benefit consumers, while noting that the deal had been approved by every other major regulatory authority, including the US Department of Justice.

High-profile actors and directors like Mark Ruffalo and JJ Abrams also opposed the Paramount-WBD deal, saying in an open letter that consolidation would result in "fewer opportunities for creators."

In July, a federal judge granted the plaintiffs in the antitrust case a temporary restraining order, which put the deal on pause.

Paramount then agreed not to close its WBD deal until either June 1, 2027, or five days after the resolution of the antitrust cases, whichever came first. The trial was set to begin in early March.

Inside Paramount, employees previously told Business Insider they were torn about whether a deal with WBD would put their jobs at risk or keep them safe as their company grew stronger and better positioned to compete with streaming giants.

Pairing Paramount+ with HBO Max would create a larger streamer with far more content, though consumers are concerned it could lead to higher prices, said Mike Proulx, a media-focused research director at Forrester.

"Regulators spent months debating theatrical output, production commitments, and market structure," Proulx said. "But consumers are simply asking, 'Will this merger improve my entertainment experience without increasing my monthly bill?'"

• Forbes published its 2026 list of the top 400 billionaires in the US on Tuesday.
• Many of the US' youngest billionaires owe their fortunes to artificial intelligence startups.
• Steven Hao, cofounder and CTO of Cognition, is the Forbes 400's youngest billionaire.

New money is in for America's young and rich.

Forbes released its annual list of America's 400 richest billionaires in September, and a record $4.4 billion net worth was required to make the cut.

Just 10 of those billionaires are under 40, up from four on last year's list. And most of them didn't inherit their wealth. The majority of the US' youngest Forbes 400 billionaires — seven of them — got their money from the AI boom as founders.

Of those seven, four come from one company: Anthropic, the AI company founded only five years ago and now valued at $1.5 trillion in the secondary market. Anthropic's seven cofounders all vowed earlier this year to donate 80% of their personal wealth to philanthropic causes.

The other three are founders of Surge AI, OpenAI, and Cognition.

Only one billionaire on the list — Lukas Walton — inherited their wealth from a family fortune. Walton is the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton and is also one of two young billionaires who do not live in California. The other, Edwin Chen, lives in New York.

Here are the 10 youngest billionaires in the US.

Lukas Walton

Age: 39

Net worth: $44.4 billion

State: Illinois

Lukas Walton, Illinois' richest person, also runs an impact-investing group called Builders Vision and is chair of the Walton Family Foundation's environment program committee.

As of 2024, Walton has donated at least $150 million of his own fortune to his family's environmental program foundation.

After his father, John T. Walton, died in a plane crash in 2005, Lukas inherited roughly a third of his fortune. Forbes' data shows that the Walton family has a combined net worth of $475.6 billion.

Tom Brown

Age: 39

Net worth: $15.5 billion

State: California

Tom Brown is one of Anthropic's seven cofounders and serves as the company's chief compute officer.

He recently mediated Anthropic's standoff with the US over Claude's AI models Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Claude is Anthropic's conversational AI assistant.

Before Anthropic, Brown worked at OpenAI as a research engineering lead and helped introduce the company's GPT-3 language model.

Brown graduated from MIT in 2010, having studied computer science and cognitive science. He cofounded his first company, social club Grouper, in 2011.

Daniela Amodei

Age: 39

Net worth: $15.5 billion

State: California

Daniela Amodei is Anthropic's president and board chair.

Amodei, like Brown, left her job at OpenAI in 2021 alongside her brother, Dario, to found Anthropic.

Amodei also worked at Stripe, the financial services company, and graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2009 with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in politics.

She's previously stated that she doesn't regret her college major, arguing that artificial intelligence will only increase the importance of humanities majors.

"The ability to have critical thinking skills will be more important in the future, rather than less," she said in an interview earlier this year.

Vlad Tenev

Age: 39

Net worth: $7.1 billion

State: California

Vlad Tenev, who was born in Bulgaria, co-founded stock trading app Robinhood in 2013 with Stanford colleague Baiju Bhatt, who is also on Forbes' 400 list this year.

Robinhood went public in 2021 and is now leaning much of its business toward prediction markets, where participants buy and sell contracts on future events related to the weather, sports, elections, Federal Reserve decisions, and more.

The company has a market cap of $107.7 billion. According to Forbes, Tenev owns about 6% of the company.

Tenev is also the cofounder and executive chairman of Harmonic, which builds AI systems that excel at advanced mathematical reasoning.

Edwin Chen

Age: 38

Net worth: $18 billion

State: New York

Chen is the founder of Surge AI, a data labeling and AI training company with an annual revenue exceeding $1 billion. Chen owns about 75% of the company and counts customers such as Google and Anthropic.

He is an MIT graduate, having studied math, linguistics, and computer science. Before founding Surge AI in 2020, he worked at Google, Facebook, and Twitter.

He is the son of Taiwanese immigrants and is from Florida.

Greg Brockman

Age: 37

Net worth: $25.5 billion

State: California

Greg Brockman is a Harvard and MIT dropout.

Before completing his studies, he traded in schoolwork for the role of Stripe's chief technology officer at 25.

Three years later, in 2015, Brockman cofounded OpenAI alongside Elon Musk and Sam Altman. He currently serves as the company's president, overseeing its models' infrastructure.

His stake in the company is nearly $30 billion, he said earlier this year.

Jack Clark

Age: 37

Net worth: $15.5 billion

State: California

Jack Clark was first a Bloomberg reporter covering artificial intelligence before becoming one of the industry's best-known founders.

Clark joined OpenAI as its policy director in 2016. Five years later, he cofounded Anthropic and now runs the company's in-house think tank operations, studying AI's effects on society.

He is a widely respected advisor on AI safety, and also writes the email newsletter "Import AI," which many field researchers follow. Clark has coauthored several AI research papers.

Sam McCandlish

Age: 36

Net worth: $15.5 billion

State: California

Sam McCandlish is another Anthropic cofounder who first worked at OpenAI.

There, he worked on scaling laws, the idea that AI systems become more capable as they are trained with more data and computing power.

Now, as chief architect at Anthropic, he oversees how its models are built and trained. He previously served as Anthropic's chief technology officer.

McCandlish earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Stanford in 2017.

Palmer Luckey

Age: 33

Net worth: $5.9 billion

State: California

Palmer Luckey got his career head start as a teenager when he built a virtual reality headset and, in 2012, founded a company to sell it. He sold the company, Oculus, to Meta two years later for $2 billion in cash and stock.

Meta fired Luckey in 2016 after he made a political contribution to a pro-Donald Trump group. Meta denied that his departure had anything to do with his politics.

Since then, Luckey co-founded Anduril, a defense-tech company that builds AI software and autonomous military hardware. As of May, the company is valued at $61 billion.

Steven Hao

Age: 30

Net worth: $5.8 billion

State: California

Steven Hao, the youngest billionaire in the US, left Scale AI, a data-labeling startup, to found Cognition in 2023.

Cognition makes AI software that writes and repairs code. Its customers include Citibank and fintech Ramp, and the company is valued at $48 billion.

Hao, alongside fellow cofounders Scott Wu and Walden Yan, is a former competitive programmer, having won a gold medal at the International Olympiad in Informatics, the global competitive programming championship.

• At 50, I left my full-time job as a pharmacist in the US and retired abroad in Mexico.
• I wish I'd tested living in my new city for a long period and learned more Spanish before I left.
• Those trying to retire abroad early should get their finances in order as soon as they can.

In 2023, at 50 years old, I left my career as a pharmacist in California and moved to Ajijic, Mexico.

Three years later, I'm waking up to bird calls and watching avocados grow in my backyard. It hasn't been an easy journey, but it's been a worthwhile one.

Here are a few things I'd tell any American who's also hoping to retire abroad in their 50s.

Start stress-testing countries (and neighborhoods) as soon as you can

Before I moved, I treated Mexico like a vacation destination rather than a place I'd actually live in. And if a place looked nice in pictures or on a quick tour, I believed I'd found "the one." This thinking turned out to be a big mistake.

For example, in late 2022, I was vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, a trip I'd planned long before I decided to retire in Mexico. But by the time I flew out, I'd bought my one-way ticket to Ajijic and was actively hunting for a place to live.

Since I was already in Mexico, I figured I could just squeeze in a quick visit to Ajijic and line up rentals. One by one, my viewing appointments were canceled. The only house available during my short trip was much larger and more expensive than I'd budgeted.

It was beautiful, and I loved it so much that I ended up signing a yearlong lease — something I'm confident I would've resisted if I'd taken the time to know the area first.

Soon, I discovered the frequent, loud block parties in front of the house that lasted until early morning. Eventually, I broke the lease at a loss and moved to a quiet neighborhood away from all the action in the town center.

Looking back, I needed months in Ajijic, not days, to explore different neighborhoods and find the one that fit my needs.

No matter where you go, a short resort stay won't show you what it's like to live somewhere full time. Seasons and tourist cycles change traffic, noise, and prices.

After researching your dream retirement country, plan an extended stay during a less favorable season and rent in local neighborhoods rather than popular tourist areas.

Build a financial cushion that's more than what you think you need

To cover my living expenses and prepare for emergencies, I set up high‑yield savings accounts, CDs, bonds, and money‑market funds while working with a financial advisor to grow my long‑term investments before I left.

However, in the first months of my early retirement, the lack of a paycheck felt jarring. I was anxious watching money go out but not come in.

On top of that, the US-dollar-to-Mexican peso exchange rate dropped sharply in 2023, so my money didn't go as far as I expected. Inflation and surprise expenses, such as large repair costs and frequent flights home for family emergencies, also added to my financial concerns.

As I settled in, I learned to reduce expenses by finding better-priced stores and services. I set up a dollar‑to‑peso exchange-rate alert and converted money in batches when rates were favorable, so I felt less at the mercy of rate fluctuations.

Working with a financial advisor also keeps me grounded. I know exactly how much I can spend each year until my pension and Social Security kick in, and I put what's left toward travel in Mexico and beyond.

Have the hard conversations with your loved ones early on

I sat down with my mom before I moved to Mexico. She wanted to stay near her friends in San Francisco; I needed a lower‑cost, comfortable environment to pursue creative work.

She worried I wouldn't be around to help out. I promised weekly calls and twice‑yearly visits, and I kept managing her medical appointments and medications from afar.

Before I left, I helped her move into an independent senior-living apartment building with a staffed front desk and around-the-clock on-call support.

We message each other almost daily, sharing things we find online. We talk more now than we did when I lived 20 minutes away, and our bond has grown stronger because of the distance.

If you're thinking of retiring abroad, bring your family into the conversation early so they have time to understand your plans and stay connected.

Don't wait to build the life skills you'll need — or to prepare for the identity shift that comes with retirement

Moving abroad often means learning a new language. I wish I'd started learning Spanish long before my move.

Since Ajijic is a popular town for American expats, I can get by on basic phrases. Once I venture out, though, Spanish becomes essential.

So I began taking lessons on Baselang, an online tutoring platform with native Latin American instructors. I'm still far from fluent, but I've talked soccer with my gardener, been invited to weddings, and gained a deeper understanding of Mexican culture.

Language is one thing, but identity is another.

With early retirement, my identity as a health professional disappeared overnight. I had moved with a clear intention to write, but it was still a shock to lose the role I'd held for years.

I used to counsel patients on weaning off potent medications to ease withdrawal symptoms. Now I suggest "weaning off" your old profession by reducing your reliance on work for your identity while building your new one through classes, communities, or side projects.

Start with one thing that energizes you or a skill you've always wanted to learn, and build your daily structure around it before you retire, not after.

Retirement is a big change, and so is living in a new country. When you combine both things, uncertainty is inevitable, but patience and resourcefulness go a long way.

Treat the first year as an experiment

Even with meticulous planning, things will go differently than you expect. Instead of trying to make everything right, focus on the big pieces — housing, healthcare, legal status — and accept that smaller decisions might not work out perfectly.

I made plenty of mistakes during my first year in Mexico, but each one made me wiser. What helped was treating them as learning curves and character-building opportunities rather than permanent realities.

I came to Mexico for a new life, and now I have a brand-new perspective that goes with it as I let go of the need to control everything and learn to live in the moment.

Despite all the imperfections, I feel happier and more peaceful here. And I'm OK with the fact that I am still learning.

• Cybersecurity stocks have surged recently amid AI doomsday fears.
• Société Générale predicts continued growth in cybersecurity stocks amid strong EPS trends.
• The bank shared 9 stocks offering exposure to the trade.

Cybersecurity stocks have rebounded sharply after AI doomsday scenarios sparked panic in markets earlier this month, and Société Générale thinks the rally can continue.

The Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) rose 10% last week, while big names in the industry like Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and CrowdStrike (CRWD) rose 10% and 15%, respectively, over the period. The gains add to strong year-to-date gains.

Manish Kabra, the chief US equity strategist at Société Générale, said in a client note on Thursday that even with the recent appreciation, the trade has improving fundamentals that suggest further upside ahead.

"EPS growth has compounded at roughly 16% per annum since 2020, versus 10% in the previous decade," Kabra wrote, referencing earnings-per-share growth. "Importantly, valuations remain broadly in line with historical averages despite the rally."

He added: "As governments and industry align on AI safety, spending is expanding beyond compute into the infrastructure needed to secure and govern AI systems."

Société Générale has a basket of stocks that offer exposure to the cybersecurity theme. The basket has a 12-month forward PE ratio of around 25, well below its average of 30.2 going back to 2018.

It also offers some diversification away from the traditional AI trade, as it has had a low, and sometimes negative, correlation with semiconductor stocks in 2026.

While the bank did not make the full list of companies public, it shared with Business Insider the top 9 stocks in its cybersecurity basket.

The stocks are listed below:

Palo Alto Networks

Ticker: PANW

Year-to-date returns: 101.6%

CrowdStrike

Ticker: CRWD

Year-to-date returns: 107.3%

Cloudflare

Ticker: NET

Year-to-date returns: 67.2%

Fortinet

Ticker: FTNT

Year-to-date returns: 116%

Zscaler

Ticker: ZS

Year-to-date returns: -13.3%

Check Point Software Technologies

Ticker: CHKP

Year-to-date returns: -27.6%

Okta

Ticker: OKTA

Year-to-date returns: 120.2%

Gen Digital

Ticker: GEN

Year-to-date returns: 11.4%

Akamai Technologies

Ticker: AKAM

Year-to-date returns: 22.1%

• Ukraine is building out its fleet of new high-speed interceptor drones.
• The interceptors are designed to engage Russian jet-powered drones like the Geran-5.
• Russia has significantly ramped up its use of these drones, posing a challenge for Kyiv.

Ukraine is building and fielding a growing fleet of new high-speed interceptors to hunt down Russia's fastest attack drones as Kyiv looks to fill gaps in its air defenses.

Ukrainian company Wild Hornets said on Monday that a tactical air defense unit used the firm's new Sting S interceptor to shoot down a Russian Geran-5 jet-powered drone.

A Wild Hornets spokesperson told Business Insider that it was one of several Geran-5 drones shot down over the last few days, along with roughly a dozen slower Geran-4 jet-powered models.

The interceptions mark the first results from combat testing for the new interceptor, an evolution of Wild Hornets' popular bullet-shaped Sting drone, the spokesperson said. They added that the company will begin mass production after the trial period wraps up.

Most of the Russian drones destroyed during combat testing were eliminated by interceptors that were operated remotely through the company's "Hornet Vision Ctrl," the spokesperson said. This technology allows Sting pilots to work hundreds of miles from the launch point in a safe location.

The upgraded Sting interceptor is one of several systems that Ukraine is pursuing. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared footage of what he characterized as a new interceptor developed by an unnamed manufacturer and "successfully deployed" by the SBU, the country's main internal security agency.

This interceptor features a delta-wing airframe similar to older Geran models, such as the Geran-2. This shape profile distinctly differs from that of the Sting family.

The SBU said the delta-wing interceptor shot down a Geran-5, one of Russia's most advanced attack drones that can fly at speeds of nearly 375 mph and carry a 200-pound explosive warhead, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

Russia frequently used the piston-engine Geran-2, a domestically produced version of Iran's Shahed-136, to attack Ukrainian cities earlier in the war. However, after Kyiv found effective ways to counter the drones, Moscow developed three variants powered by mini turbojet engines that cruise at speeds exceeding 200 mph.

The Geran-5, the newest and fastest variant of the Geran family, more closely resembles a cruise missile than its predecessors.

Russia has expanded the infrastructure at its air bases to support the launch of jet-powered drones, and Ukrainian intelligence warned in May that Moscow planned to start using them in attacks more often.

Ukraine's air force said that Russia launched 2,800 jet-powered drones in August, compared to 350 in June. Defending against these jet drones has proven challenging for Kyiv; interception rates fell from at least 90% for propeller models to 60% for jet models.

Ukraine has used fighter jets and surface-to-air missiles to engage the jet-powered drones, and is now prioritizing the development of faster interceptors to strengthen its arsenal.

It's unclear how fast the interceptors will fly once they enter mass production or how expensive they will be. Older generations typically cost several thousand dollars — a fraction of their target's value.

• Meta lets Muse users opt out of their chats being used for training data.
• In recent days, Meta's AI agent has surged in popularity.
• How are you using Muse? Are you comfortable sharing your data?

Meta's Muse AI agent is the talk of the tech world.

As you're using the popular new AI agent, there's an easy way to keep your questions about reservations, managing your calendar, or searching your emails to yourself

Muse offers users a way to opt out of having their data used to improve the company's AI models.

It takes just three steps:

Click the bottom button on the sidebar and then click again on settings:

Once you're in Settings, you'll click on "Data Controls"

And finally, you'll switch the toggle for "Help improve our AI models" off.

Meta also offers other ways for users to control their data. By hitting "Reset Muse," which is on the same screen as the toggle, users can "permanently delete all information including chat history, files and active tasks," according to the company.

You can also delete individual side chats. To do that, click the chats in the sidebar, and then the individual chat, and select "delete."

What Meta has said about privacy

Meta said that even if users have the training toggle enabled, it takes steps to scrub user data of "personally identifiable information like names, email addresses, phone numbers and Social Security Numbers" before training on user interactions.

"We think this is a good default — every Muse user gets a better personal agent as we all collectively use the product and help the model understand the intricacies of human life," the company wrote in a post explaining Muse's safety features. "If you do not want your data to be used in model training at all, you can opt-out via a simple switch in Muse settings."

Meta also said that it doesn't share "Muse conversations or data in the user's Virtual Machine with Meta ad systems." The company did say there are instances where your Muse usage could affect the ads you see.

"When Muse browses the internet, it will appear as your activity, so if you ask Muse to buy a shirt from a clothing designer's website, that designer might use your visit to show you an ad on Instagram," the company wrote. "Similarly, if Muse makes a restaurant reservation for you or helps you find a great product on Facebook Marketplace, that may also indirectly influence the ads you see."

Muse's privacy offerings contrast with those of Instagram and Facebook, where Meta uses public content from adult US users for training purposes. Only users in the European Union have an actual opt-out feature.

• The highly anticipated "Practical Magic 2" was released this month.
• It came nearly 30 years after the first film, but was it necessary?
• A legacy sequel takes many years to be made and often stars beloved original characters.

As you might've heard, nostalgia is a powerful thing.

In Hollywood, legacy sequels are on the rise, especially after the successes of films like "Twisters," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and "Top Gun: Maverick." However, not all legacy sequels are created equal — for every boundary-pushing film like "The Matrix Resurrections," there are abysmal films such as "Independence Day: Resurgence."

But what Hollywood is learning from these films is that sequels sell, sometimes regardless of quality.

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has made nearly $2.5 billion and is now the highest-grossing film in the US ever, while "Top Gun: Maverick" became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's career, earning $1.5 billion, per Box Office Mojo data. It could be argued that almost no one liked any of the "Jurassic World" films, yet they each made over $1 billion.

This year's legacy sequels include "The Devil Wears Prada 2," a movie that picks up 20 years after Miranda Priestly memorably schooled Andy Sachs (and us) on cerulean belts and florals for spring, and "Practical Magic 2," which follows Sally and Gillian Owens and a next generation of Owens witches, cursed by love.

Here are some of the best and worst legacy sequels in recent history.

Watching "The Devil Wears Prada 2" felt like coming home — if home was a toxic workplace we just can't seem to get enough of.

"The Devil Wears Prada" is one of the most quotable movies of the last 20 years and has become a cultural touchstone since its 2006 release. It earned Meryl Streep her 14th Oscar nomination, cemented Anne Hathaway as a movie star, and introduced us to the icon that is Emily Blunt. Need we say more?

So when news of a sequel that would pick up 20 years after Andy left Runway and Miranda Priestly behind, fans were understandably nervous. However, those fears are unfounded.

A worse movie would make endless references to the original, pretend that the media landscape is the same as it was in 2006, and reduce Miranda to a quip machine.

Instead, this movie tackles the issues that are facing journalism in 2026 head-on, with sometimes depressing accuracy. Besides a few subtle references at the beginning, the film also shows restraint in deploying what some reviewers have termed "key-jangling" — showing the audience little references and Easter eggs to the first film as if to say, "Look, remember this thing? You loved it in 2006, and you still love it now!"

All in all, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" is the best-case scenario for a film like this.

There's an argument to be made that "28 Years Later" is just as good as "28 Days Later."

Upon its release in 2002, "28 Days Later" changed the zombie genre forever — even though, yes, we know, they aren't technically the living dead — with the introduction of running zombies. It was also a brutally entertaining thriller, with a talented cast, solid jump scares, and a somewhat hopeful ending.

"28 Years Later" (the less we say about "28 Weeks Later," the better) cancels out the hopeful ending of the first film, but for some reason, we don't mind. Instead, it's a bleak and mournful tale of a young boy, Spike (Alfie Williams), learning that his dad, Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), isn't as heroic as he thought, and that the Rage Virus isn't the only thing that can kill you.

Its sequel, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," continues the story of Spike. We don't want to spoil anything, since this movie only came out earlier this year, but we'll say that the Ralph Fiennes Oscar campaign starts anew for his bittersweet performance as a former doctor just doing his best.

While there aren't any returning characters from the first two films, fear not: Cillian Murphy's Jim returned briefly as a tease for a coming third film in this sequel series.

"Twisters" is just as fun as the original.

"Twister," released in 1996, is the definition of a theme park ride in movie form. The stunts and practical effects are mind-blowing, as were the visual effects for the time. Remember when the cow flew across the street in front of a bewildered Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt?

Somehow, it took 28 years to bring storm-chasers back to the big screen, this time played by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell in 2024's "Twisters." Once again, it's best to sit back, relax, and watch the tornadoes blast across your screen.

None of the original characters from "Twister" appear in "Twisters" — unless you count a reference to Dorothy, the original tech from the first film — though James Paxton, the son of Bill Paxton, makes a cameo to pay tribute to his late father, who died in 2017.

2022's "Top Gun: Maverick" was much better than it had any right to be.

The first "Top Gun," released in 1986, was a hyper-masculine fairy tale about US Navy pilot Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) getting sent to Top Gun (the flight school for the best of the best) while learning lessons, making friends, finding love, experiencing loss, and playing a lot of beach volleyball in jeans.

"Top Gun: Maverick," released a whopping 36 years later — after many COVID-related delays — somehow improves upon every aspect of the original. The action is indelible, the new characters are exceedingly charming (we see you, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, and Lewis Pullman), the love story is better (thank you, Jennifer Connelly), and Maverick is somehow the same old Maverick some 30-odd years later, taking risks up in the sky where he belongs.

"Maverick" was not only the second-biggest movie of 2022, but it also overtook "Titanic" as Paramount's highest-grossing domestic film, has a staggering 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is now the highest-grossing film of Cruise's storied career. It's the gold standard of all legacy sequels from now until the end of time.

We hope that the recently confirmed "Top Gun 3" can live up to the standard set by this film.

When "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" brought back Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher for the first time in 32 years, '70s and '80s kids were overjoyed.

The saga of Luke Skywalker, his twin sister Princess Leia Organa, their corrupted father, Darth Vader, and their dashing, roguish friend Han Solo ended in 1983 with "Return of the Jedi." Or so we thought.

But 32 years later, in 2015, Ford and Fisher came back to a galaxy far, far away in "The Force Awakens" (Mark Hamill wouldn't appear really until "The Last Jedi" in 2017. But this time, they brought new friends in the form of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac).

Whatever your thoughts are on how the rest of the trilogy played out, "The Force Awakens" is a delightful space romp, very respectful of the original '70s and '80s trilogy while also adding new characters, planets, and lore for new fans to sink their teeth into, as well as the old.

The fifth installment of the "Scream" franchise made us care about new characters while also paying homage to the OGs.

The first "Scream" was released in 1996, and three more films followed in 1997, 2000, and 2011, before the franchise took another decadelong break. Eleven years after Sidney and the gang took down yet another Ghostface Killer in the town of Woodsboro, California, the fifth installment, also titled "Scream," dropped in 2022.

"Scream" introduced us to a whole new generation of horror movie fanatics/residents of the world's most cursed town. However, this installment also brought back our faves like Sidney (Neve Campbell), Gale (Courteney Cox), Dewey (David Arquette), Judy (Marley Shelton), and even the first-ever Ghostface, Billy Loomis (a de-aged Skeet Ulrich), to bring down the latest masked serial killer.

"Scream" was successful enough that a sixth installment was released in 2023 (without Campbell), and a seventh — with Campbell returning — was released in 2026 and became the franchise's highest-grossing film.

Another horror franchise that got a legacy sequel bump is "Halloween," which saw the 11th installment in 2018 wipe the slate clean.

The very first "Halloween," released in 1978, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and influential horror movies of all time, catapulting director John Carpenter and star Jamie Lee Curtis into the horror hall of fame. The same cannot be said for the nine ensuing sequels.

Perhaps that's why, after 40 years, the 2018 film wiped out all the sequel films from its continuity and picks up with a traumatized Laurie Strode (Curtis), still at the ready in case her arch-nemesis Michael Myers returns to the town of Haddonfield.

It became the highest-grossing slasher film upon its release, breaking a 22-year-old record set by "Scream," and spawned two more sequels: 2021's "Halloween Kills" and 2022's "Halloween Ends."

Even though neither of those sequels was good, we can't let it cancel out the success of the 2018 installment.

"The Matrix Resurrections" was polarizing when it was released in 2021, but we enjoyed seeing Neo and Trinity together.

When the first movie in your series was as genre-defining and iconic as the original "Matrix," it's always going to be hard to live up to expectations. And after the 2003 double-whammy of "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," many thought the story of Neo (Keanu Reeves), a messianic figure who brought about the end of a war between humans and machines, was over.

But 18 years later, Lana Wachowski (one-half of the duo behind the original trilogy) returned to the Matrix to explain what happened after Neo saved the world: The machines captured him and his dead girlfriend Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and stuck them both in their newest version of the Matrix, a simulation of the real world.

The movie was polarizing, to say the least, but after Trinity's fate in "Revolutions," it was cathartic to see the two of them reunited and to see old faces like Jada Pinkett Smith's Niobe, as well as new characters like Neil Patrick Harris' Analyst.

"Creed" combined the powers of director Ryan Coogler and star Michael B. Jordan with our nostalgia for everyone's favorite boxer, Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone.

The final "Rocky" film was released in 2006 and was titled "Rocky Balboa." Arguably, that might also be a legacy sequel since it came out 30 years after the 1976 original, but it definitely wouldn't make our best list.

"Creed," however, proved that just because Rocky wasn't slugging it out in the ring anymore didn't mean audiences wouldn't be interested in the Philadelphia boxing scene. Instead, "Creed" shifted the action to Adonis "Donnie" Creed, the son of Rocky's friend Apollo, who died in a boxing match during the events of "Rocky IV."

The film followed him as he struggled to build a legacy for himself without his father's name, bonded with Rocky, and fell in love with Bianca (Tessa Thompson).

Both a box-office and critical success, with Stallone even getting nominated for an Academy Award, "Creed" has become a franchise in and of itself. "Creed II" was released in 2018, and "Creed III" was released in 2023.

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" technically served as a legacy sequel for both 2007's "Spider-Man 3" and 2014's "The Amazing Spider-Man 2."

The original trilogy of Spider-Man films concluded in 2007, with Tobey Maguire's version of the web-slinger burying his best friend, Harry, and potentially reconnecting with his love, Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst). There was supposed to be a fourth movie, but it never materialized, leaving fans of that trilogy with little closure.

Instead, Sony rebooted Spidey in 2012 with a new guy at the lead, Andrew Garfield. The responses to his movies were middling at best, and his saga ended after "Amazing Spider-Man 2," which left his version of Peter in a dark place, mourning the death of his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy. Fans of that would-be trilogy didn't get any closure either.

That is, until the Tom Holland version of Spider-Man got himself in a little multiversal trouble and accidentally brought the two past versions of Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with some of their most famous villains in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," aka the highest-grossing film of 2021.

Seeing all three of them interact on-screen would've been worth it, but we also got to see Maguire reconcile with two of his villains, and, most importantly, we saw Garfield's Peter Parker save MJ (Zendaya) from falling, redeeming his mistake from eight years prior.

Fans returned to the Overlook Hotel after 39 years in the 2019 sequel to "The Shining," with "Doctor Sleep."

"The Shining," the beloved Stanley Kubrick adaptation of the Stephen King novel, ended with young Danny Torrance escaping from the Overlook with his mother (Shelley Duvall), as his father Jack (Jack Nicholson) slowly froze to death and then had his spirit absorbed into the hotel.

"Doctor Sleep" picks up decades later with an adult Danny, now played by Ewan McGregor, who must return to the Overlook to help save a little girl who has the same psychic powers as he does.

It was satisfying to see Danny confront his demons head-on, including peeking his head through the same door his father smashed with an axe, and even conversing with the spirit of his father (now played by Henry Thomas, who has an eerily accurate Nicholson impression).

We shouldn't have been surprised that "Top Gun: Maverick" was good — director Joseph Kosinski's directorial debut, "Tron: Legacy," was also a solid legacy sequel.

"Tron: Legacy" was released in 2010, 31 years after the original "Tron" was released in 1982. The original stars Jeff Bridges as Flynn, a video game developer who gets sucked into the mainframe of a computer and must battle his way out with the help of two computer programs, Ram and Tron. Flynn is trapped inside the game as part of his attempts to reveal that his coworker has been taking credit for his work.

In "Tron: Legacy," Flynn has been missing since 1989, and his son Sam (Garrett Hedlund) is determined to find him and is subsequently sucked into the grid, reuniting with his father.

While "Legacy" didn't get the best reviews, its stunning visuals are what earn its place on this "best" side of this list. Director Kosinski established his talent with this movie, and we might not have "Maverick" without it.

Unfortunately, we can't say the same positive things about "Tron: Ares."

"The Color of Money," released in 1986, is arguably the first legacy sequel ever.

"The Color of Money," starring Tom Cruise and Paul Newman, is actually a sequel to the 1961 film "The Hustler," in which Newman played pool hustler Eddie Felson.

Twenty-five years later, Eddie has moved on from pool hustling and is now a liquor salesman. But that doesn't stop him from noticing the new kid on the block, Vincent Lauria (Cruise), and his talent for hustling, and Eddie decides to mentor him.

"The Color of Money" set the stage for Cruise to become one of the biggest movie stars of his generation, while also serving as a lovely late-stage role for Newman. The film finally won him his Oscar after a decadeslong career in Hollywood.

"Blade Runner 2049" is another beautifully shot (but polarizing) legacy sequel.

In fact, its polarizing nature makes it just like its 1982 predecessor, which confounded critics and didn't make that much money. But the Harrison Ford-led sci-fi epic found its audiences after many years and many re-cuts of the movie, so much so that director Denis Villeneuve got his crack at the world of replicants 35 years later with "Blade Runner 2049."

"Blade Runner" and its sequel take place in a future where synthetic humans, called replicants, have been created to work in space colonies — but when a group of fugitive replicants escape to Earth, blade runner Rick Deckard (Ford), is tasked with tracking them down. He finds out, though, that replicants aren't exactly what he's been led to believe.

"Blade Runner 2049" picks up 30 years later, focusing on a replicant named K (Ryan Gosling) who is a blade runner himself, and is tasked to find a human-replicant baby and "retire" it, in case the public finds out that replicants can reproduce like humans can. It's revealed that the baby's father is, in fact, Deckard, who has been in hiding for years.

"2049" ended up being as polarizing, thought-provoking, and beautifully shot as the original.

A new miniseries in the "Blade Runner" universe, "Blade Runner 2099," is set to premiere in November this year, so we'll see how it compares to the original and "2049."

Now, time for some of the worst legacy sequels. First up, "Jurassic World" and its two follow-ups.

To be fair, this isn't totally "Jurassic World's" fault. "Jurassic Park," upon its release in 1993, completely changed the game for special effects and was a rip-roaring good time, but even its two immediate sequels, released in 1997 and 2001, had diminishing returns.

That's probably why they should've left well enough alone — instead, we got 2015's "Jurassic World," which essentially re-told the story of "Jurassic Park" but added in new (forgettable) characters played by Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and a fateful pair of high heels.

Its two sequels, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" and "Jurassic World Dominion," released in 2018 and 2022, brought back beloved characters from the original film, but even that just felt like fan service instead of closure.

Even though these movies made billions of dollars, "Dominion's" franchise low on Rotten Tomatoes shows that it's probably time to move on — even if another reboot ("Jurassic World Rebirth") hit theaters in 2025 and made another $870 million.

No amount of midnight margaritas could make "Practical Magic 2" good.

If the first "Practical Magic" missed you in theaters in 1998 — and it might've; it didn't crack $100 million at the box office — you almost certainly caught it on cable at some point during the last 28 years. It's become a fall staple alongside "Gilmore Girls" and "Hocus Pocus."

But is the original a good movie? As someone who only saw it for the first time as an adult, I have to say no. While it's entertaining to watch Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play sister witches, it's a deeply bizarre movie.

So, when "Practical Magic 2" was announced, my expectations weren't high, and, sadly, the film just about met them. The plot is not that interesting, and the dialogue veers into cringe territory almost immediately.

It seems that no one has undergone any character growth since the last film. Gillian (Kidman) and Sally (Bullock) act exactly the same as they did in 1998. Sally's daughters were made to forget the events of the first film, so we're basically in the exact same spot we were in nearly 30 years ago, confusing timeline and character-age questions aside.

This movie was worth it for the press tour alone, though, so we can't be mad it happened.

Harrison Ford has participated in three legacy sequels; not all of them could be great. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is his miss.

Indiana Jones (part-time archaeologist, part-time treasure hunter), as played by Ford, made his debut back in 1981 with "Raiders of the Lost Ark," and returned for two more sequels, 1984's "Temple of Doom" and 1989's "Last Crusade." Many thought that was the end for Indy, his hat, and his trusty whip.

Except ... it wasn't. Nineteen years after "Last Crusade," Ford suited up once again for "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which reunited Indy with his love from the first film, Marion (Karen Allen), and their son Mutt (Shia LaBeouf).

As David Denby of The New Yorker put it, "the unprecedented blend of comedy and action that made the movies so much more fun than any other adventure series is mostly gone."

That's probably why they gave it one more try in 2023 for a fifth "Indiana Jones" installment, once again starring Ford: "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" (which was, once again, not very good).

It's time we face facts: Neither 1996's "Space Jam" nor its 2021 sequel "Space Jam: A New Legacy" are very good.

In the case of "Space Jam 2," the legacy characters are, in fact, the Looney Tunes (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Lola Bunny, Porky Pig — the list goes on). Original basketball star Michael Jordan did not return for the 2021 sequel, although Michael B. Jordan does make an admittedly cute cameo.

Instead, LeBron James steps into Jordan's cartoon shoes for this soulless Warner Bros. IP-fest, which is basically a commercial for Tune Squad merch and HBO. Not even the original film's director liked it.

"Independence Day: Resurgence" is missing one key ingredient from the original: Will Smith.

Instead, "Resurgence" casts Jessie T. Usher to play Smith's character's stepson, Dylan, while substituting Liam Hemsworth as the film's actual leading man.

"Resurgence" was released in 2016, 20 years after the release of "Independence Day," and brings back Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman as scientist David Levinson and former president Thomas Whitmore, respectively — and they're the best things about this forgettable sequel about another alien invasion attacking the Earth.

Don't just take our word for it: Trust the 29% critics' score and 30% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Zoolander 2" is the definition of a long-awaited sequel we really didn't need.

Was anyone really clamoring for a sequel to the 2001 supermodel comedy "Zoolander"? No? Well, we got one anyway, 15 years later, with "Zoolander 2," bringing back Ben Stiller's himbo icon Derek Zoolander, his frenemy Hansel (Owen Wilson), his arch-nemesis Mugatu (Will Ferrell), and the ghost of his wife Matilda (Christine Taylor).

The sequel also throws Zoolander's estranged son into the mix, played by Cyrus Arnold, as well as a slew of other characters, cameos, and a truly troubling performance by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Plus, it barely broke even at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo.

If "The Force Awakens" is a good example of a legacy sequel, "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" is the epitome of a bad one.

In retrospect, it would've been impossible to craft a solid ending to this new trilogy after the polarized reaction to "The Last Jedi" — either "Rise of Skywalker" could respect the events of its predecessor, angering a very vocal group of fans, or it would ignore the events of "Last Jedi" completely, angering the other half of fans.

And in the end, Lucasfilm went with the latter, ignoring the events of "The Last Jedi," but somehow also failing to live up to any fans' expectations. From the non-explanation of Palpatine returning after getting defeated 36 years prior, to the fake-out death of Chewbacca, to the total sidelining of Rose and Finn, "Rise of Skywalker" finally united "Star Wars" fans in hatred.

Just watch "Andor" instead.

Editor's note: This story was first published in July 2022 and most recently updated in September 2026.

• Taylor Swift has been stealing the show at NFL games since she began dating Travis Kelce.
• She first embraced the girl-next-door look by wearing fun, vintage football gear.
• Now, Swift has leaned into luxury looks with $70,000 outfits.

Taylor Swift is now an NFL staple.

She made her gameday debut in September 2023, revealing her romance with Travis Kelce in dramatic fashion by supporting him at a Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri.

She continued sitting in the stands for over a year, even supporting Kelce as he went to the Super Bowl for the third time in a row. All the while, the singer's gameday fashion continued to make headlines.

Now, Swift and Kelce are married — and the musician remains a fixture at her husband's games. Naturally, her gameday style is still going strong.

From standout $70,000 outfits to overly simple athletic looks, here's a look at everything she's worn in her WAG era, ranked from least to most stylish.

Taylor Swift's gameday debut look was cute but ultimately forgettable.

She made her Arrowhead Stadium debut in studded $190 Ksubi shorts, a white $105 Dôen tank top, and $192 New Balance sneakers.

She also sported a vintage Kansas City Chiefs jacket and a $1,305 crescent-shaped earring from Jacquie Aiche.

She didn't make much of a statement in the tank top and shorts she wore in February 2025, either.

Swift attended a game in New Orleans, wearing a basic white tank top with sparkling Monday Denim denim shorts.

Though there was nothing really wrong with the outfit, it didn't stand out either. Even her ruby necklace from Lorraine Schwartz couldn't save it from being a bit forgettable.

The same can be said of the leather-and-denim look she wore in October 2023.

As the Chiefs battled the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Swift cheered the team from a box suite.

Her simple outfit for the occasion included $528 denim shorts with crystal detailing from Area, a black long-sleeved shirt, and a leather Gant jacket.

She also accessorized with a $9,250 diamond choker and $1,795 Christian Louboutin boots.

She could have tweaked the red-and-black outfit she wore to a November 2024 game.

Swift entered Arrowhead Stadium that day with Donna Kelce, who arguably wore a better outfit than the pop star.

Swift sported black denim jeans, a red $4,900 Louis Vuitton quarter zip, and platform leather heels from Alaïa.

Unfortunately, the boots were too odd in shape to pair with skinny jeans, and her top was a little too bright to match the deep red of the football team.

Her for a December 2023 game had lots of team spirit, but it would have been better with more interesting details.

Her Chiefs pullover, for example, was a light-gray shade that didn't stand out in the audience. Her plaid skirt was also understated.

The most interesting aspects of her outfit were the accessories. Swift wore a $598 Mejuri ring with a red stone in the middle and a $35 handmade hat from a local Kansas City artist.

Swift quickly became intentional with her outfit choices for Chiefs games, as she showed in October 2023.

For a game in October 2023, Swift arrived wearing a red, white, and black jacket covered in Kansas City logos. The $130 piece, which is now sold out, was the work of Wear by Erin Andrews.

Though the jacket wasn't part of her flashiest outfit, Swift undeniably left her mark on the sports anchor's clothing business.

"I started screaming and freaking out and singing all my favorite Swiftie songs. And then yeah, we restocked, and we sold out. And thank you, thank you, Taylor Swift," Andrews told Seth Meyers during an appearance on his show.

Swift paired the outerwear with a $3,190 Balenciaga corset and sold-out Prada boots.

The simple outfit formula has remained a signature part of her gameday style, as she showed in September 2026.

On September 20, 2026, Swift supported Kelce alongside their parents and friends at Arrowhead Stadium. She kept her outfit simple but festive for the occasion.

Swift wore a $40 Wear By Erin Andrews tank top tucked into denim bottoms. She also wore a black belt with gold hardware and an assortment of gold jewelry.

Her vintage sweatshirt for an October 2023 game had a bit more personality than some of her other looks.

Swift paired a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt from Ellie Mae Studios with a black pleated skirt and loafers.

As usual, she added an assortment of jewelry to elevate her look, including Cartier's $13,400 Juste un Clou necklace. She also wore the $3,600 Heavy Belcher bracelet and the $1,050 Enamel Miniature Medallion from Foundrae, as well as Jacquie Aiche's $5,775 evil-eye bracelet and $4,675 7 Diamond Kate Smooth Bar bracelet.

Swift completed her look with a $21 custom friendship bracelet featuring an 87 in a sweet nod to Kelce, who wore a red plaid shirt after the game that coordinated with Swift's gameday look.

Swift has seemingly drawn fashion inspiration from her partner on occasion, as she did in September 2026.

On September 14, 2026, Swift was photographed wearing a $295 red gingham polo dress from Guest In Residence.

The garment was perfect for a fall football game and resembled the polo Kelce wore back in October 2023.

The designer jacket Swift wore to a game in January 2024 screamed luxury.

Rather than wearing team gear, Swift arrived at the sporting event in a white varsity jacket from Gant's collaboration with Kilo Kish.

The high-fashion piece featured stars and other shapes in the Chiefs' signature red, matching Swift's winter beanie and lipstick.

The jacket, which retailed for $1,800, is now sold out.

There was no missing Swift when she arrived at Arrowhead Stadium for a November 2024 game.

She was photographed wearing a vintage, leather Chiefs jacket — a fan said her parents sold it on eBay for $169 — and black shorts from Agolde.

Other pieces included $2,195 Louboutin boots, a $3,900 Dior saddle bag, and a $630 belt from The Row. But it was her gold and diamond accessories that stole the show.

Swift wore $575 Louis Vuitton earrings, a $4,475 Chanel necklace, a $3,150 Louis Vuitton ring, and a $4,150 ring from Retrouvai.

She wore one of her most memorable game day looks on Christmas Day 2023.

She attended the holiday Chiefs game alongside her brother Austin, who was dressed as Santa Claus.

Though Swift wasn't in costume, she was dressed with holiday spirit. To complement her Santa hat, which was embroidered with Kelce's jersey number, Swift wore an $895 bomber jacket from Guest in Residence, which has since sold out.

She also sported a now-sold-out Hill House skirt, $35 Sheertex tights, and heeled Prada loafers.

A red jacket initially stole the show for her 2024 Super Bowl look.

Swift arrived at the 2024 Super Bowl — which the Chiefs won — in all black. She paired Dion Lee's crochet corset top with Area's $695 crystal slit jeans and $1,195 suede ankle boots from Christian Louboutin.

She also added a Chiefs bomber jacket from WEAR by Erin Andrews, which cost $129, to the look.

The red jacket popped against the black, adding a much-needed flash to the simple look.

Her symbolic accessories made all the difference for the 2024 Super Bowl.

Although the jacket was fun, Swift's accessories took the ensemble to another level.

First, she added a Judith Leiber's red football clutch to the look in red. The color isn't available online, but brown, gold, and pink versions cost $3,995 on the brand's website.

Her $3,325 necklace from Stephanie Gottlieb featured an 87, a nod to Kelce's jersey number. She also wore a diamond tennis choker from the brand, which cost $7,995.

Swift adorned herself with other red jewelry, including two rings from Shahla Karimi, Retrouvai's $4,550 Ruby Magna ring, and The Last Line's $695 diamond-studded Heart Twist earring, which is sold individually.

She also turned to Shay Jewelry for several red pieces, including a $6,800 necklace, the $5,600 Ruby Eternity Band, and a $19,950 bracelet. Jacquie Aiche's $7,150 Sophia Diamond Chain Pavé Ear Cuff and $715 Pavé Diamond Letter Mini Hoop completed her look. Swift wore a "T" hoop, naturally.

Swift's Super Bowl ensemble was simple, but her accessories filled the look with team spirit.

Swift attended the 2025 AFC Championship game dripping in Louis Vuitton.

Rather than mixing high-end designers, Swift's look for the 2025 AFC Championship was almost entirely made up of pieces from Louis Vuitton.

The brand's $5,000 monogram jacket was the star of her look. It was black and covered in the gold LV logos on the bodice and sleeves. She paired the statement jacket with a flared miniskirt, which looked very similar to the skirt she wore to the 2024 AFC Championship.

Swift added red tights to the skirt as a pop of color for the Chiefs and Louis Vuitton's $1,760 Star Trail Ankle Boot.

She also embraced Louis Vuitton accessories, including a $2,850 purse, $495 gloves, a $550 beanie, a $3,950 ring, and a $18,500 bracelet.

Swift completed the look with her Cartier watch and an ancient coin necklace from Steven Battelle.

Swift's glamorous spin on her NFL style was a hit when the Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers in December 2023.

Instead of wearing a sweatshirt or jersey with the Chiefs logo, Swift donned Stella McCartney's $2,400 belted teddy coat for an away game in Wisconsin. The red color was perfect to support the Chiefs.

The rest of Swift's look was black, including her Louis Vuitton mini wrap skirt, which retails for $3,400. She also wore a black mock-neck top with Cartier's Agrafe Herringbone Twisted necklace atop it. The $27,250 necklace featured gold and diamond detailing, matching Swift's $1,400 linked tennis earrings from Vrai.

Stuart Weitzman's $995 thigh-high Vidaland boots completed her ensemble.

She went high fashion for an October 2024 game, wearing a coordinating Vivienne Westwood look.

The $1,875 off-the-shoulder Sunday corset and $1,010 Meghan kilt from Vivienne Westwood featured a plaid pattern with maroon detailing that subtly nodded to the Chiefs.

Vivienne Westwood also designed Swift's $1,270 Grace boots and $590 Belle Heart-Frame Jacquard bag.

She didn't hold back on her jewelry for the game, wearing over $46,000 worth of it with the look, including her Cartier necklace and $5,680 custom diamond TNT bracelet from Wove that Kelce gave her as a gift.

Jacquie Aiche designed Swift's bracelets: the $4,675 Seven-Diamond Kate Smooth Bar bracelet and the $5,250 evil-eye bracelet. She also wore various rings, including Shahla Karimi's $3,490 Cloud Offset Pear ring and two custom-made ruby-studded rings from Effy Jewelry.

Glitter freckles from Fazit completed her ensemble.

Swift's jacket for the Chiefs' 2023 New Year's Eve game coordinated with a piece that Kelce wore the same week.

Swift's look for the game between the Chiefs and the Bengals was simple: black pants, a belt, and a black top.

But a white-and-black varsity jacket designed by Jeff Hamilton brought a pop of team spirit to her look. The jacket featured an assortment of patches, including the "KC" arrowhead logo on the front and back, the NFL logo, and a football helmet. Swift's jacket also said "Chiefs" in red lettering.

Her statement jacket was almost identical to a Jeff Hamilton jacket Kelce wore to arrive at the Chiefs game on Christmas 2023, just a week earlier.

Kelce and Swift's jackets were custom, but Hamilton sells a similar jacket for $850 on his website.

Swift nodded to Kelce with a gold and diamond bracelet at the 2024 AFC Championship.

After Kelce and his teammates won the 2024 AFC Championship, Swift joined him on the field to celebrate. There, fans got a closer look at her red and black outfit.

It included a $695 red sweater from Guest in Residence, $2,830 earrings from Wwake, a $6,250 diamond ring from Jacquie Aiche, and $35 Sheertex tights.

But the gold, diamond-embellished tennis bracelet from Wove seemingly had the most sentimental value to Swift.

The brand's founder, Kendall Junck, previously told Business Insider that the bracelet was part of a jewelry collaboration with pro golfer Michelle Wie West, who is friends with Kelce.

She said that when West reached out to gift Kelce some of the pieces, he requested matching bracelets with the letters "TNT" for Taylor and Travis.

Swift's oversize T-shirt dress offered a fun spin on Chiefs merchandise for their September 2024 game against the Bengals.

Swift's oversize 1995 Salem shirt hit her mid-thigh, allowing her to wear it as a dress. The red piece featured the Chiefs logo and the team's name.

Swift did not reveal where she bought the shirt, though Kansas City business Westside Storey, which sells souvenirs and curated vintage items, told BI it was selling the same piece a week before she was spotted wearing it.

Swift paired the top with Giuseppe Zanotti's $1,650 Frannie boots and Louis Vuitton's Coussin bag, which retails for $4,800.

She wore several high-end jewelry pieces, including Louis Vuitton's $625 My LV Chain earrings. Swift also stacked two necklaces, Vitaly's $120 Shimmer Chain and Melinda Maria's $118 Julian Loves Diamonds Necklace 16, which features diamondettes.

Swift rocked a vintage sweatshirt at a Chiefs game in December 2023.

Swift attended the Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills in December 2023 wearing a $250 vintage sweatshirt, which said "Chiefs" in large letters and featured the team's logo on one sleeve.

She bought the sweatshirt from Westside Storey in Kansas City. The store's owner, Chris Harrington, told BI he initially thought her purchase was fraudulent.

Swift dressed up the casual sweatshirt by pairing it with a $2,100 leather miniskirt from Khaite, which she wore backward, Larroudé's $500 Kate Hi boots in black leather, and GANT 240 Mulberry Street's $1,700 tailored coat in black.

She also added Mejuri's Heirloom Ring, which costs $648, and Mazin Jewels Open Rivet Ring, a $64 piece.

Her custom jacket for the Chiefs' playoff game against the Miami Dolphins in January 2024 was one of a kind.

Swift attended the playoff game in a custom red jacket made by Kristin Juszczyk, a designer married to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.

Kristin made the oversize puffer jacket using one of Kelce's jerseys, as she documented in a TikTok, so it featured his number, 87, on the front and sleeve, as well as his name. She also embroidered "Chiefs Kingdom" onto the jacket.

Swift focused her look on the jacket, pairing it with a black top, Paige's $249 Gemma pants, and $1,395 Christian Louboutin combat boots.

She also wore Anine Bing's Waylon belt, which retails for $200, and carried the $525 Ilda Bag from Manu Atelier.

She wore all denim at the 2024-2025 season opener.

Swift fully stepped into her WAG era at the September season opener, arriving at Arrowhead Stadium in an all-denim look. She paired a Versace's Medusa corset in denim, which retails for $1,325, with $174 mom shorts from Grlfrnd.

Swift also wore Giuseppe Zanotti's $1,650 burgundy thigh-high Frannie boots. The shoes were more affordable than her Louis Vuitton side trunk bag, retailing for $3,950.

Swift completed the look with an assortment of high-end jewelry, including her TNT bracelet and a 1970s-inspired coin necklace from For Future Reference. The brand's founder, Randi Molofsky, previously told BI that the necklace was created in collaboration with Swift's stylist.

"We were so lucky to work directly with Taylor's longtime stylist, Joseph Cassell Falconer, on last night's look for Taylor," he said. "He came to us specifically for the vintage coin necklace because he really had a vision of that bold, glam '70s style to pair with the denim-on-denim and over-the-thigh boot."

The priciest element of her outfit was a $29,100 ring from Retrouvai, paired with Howl's $4,800 Ruby Cocoon ring. Lizzie Mandler's $13,200 three-row Cleo bracelet adorned her wrist, while she worre a two different earrings in her ears: EF Collection's $895 diamond and prong chain earrings and Three Stories Jewelry's $590 Love Explosion Starburst Charm earrings.

Swift wore $66,970 worth of jewelry for the look.

Swift elevated her gameday style in November 2024.

Swift arrived at a Chiefs home game wearing a red-and-black checked Versace blazer and skirt, costing $3,350 and $1,695, respectively.

She wore the blazer atop her shoulders, showing off the $34.99 Victoria's Secret corset Swift wore as a top.

She also chose Versace accessories for the look, including the $1,650 Medusa 95 Leather Knee High Boots and the $2,190 Medusa 95 Small Tote Bag.

Swift's standout jewelry piece for the game was a Louis Vuitton Tambour Watch in gold. The luxury timepiece retails for $54,000, and Kelce has a coordinating version.

Still, the Ruby and Diamond Heirloom Bezel Ring from Retrouvai that Swift wore on her hand was nearly as pricey at $32,970. She complemented the ring with Effy Jewelry's $2,167 Ruby Royale Ruby and Diamond Crossover Ring.

The luxurious look was stylish and sleek, making her stand out in the stadium filled with sports fans.

Swift's Chanel ensemble for a January playoff game was both sporty and chic.

Swift continued to play with plaid during a January 2025 game at Arrowhead Stadium, in a look straight from Chanel's Cruise 2024/25 collection.

The outfit comprised the brand's $9,600 black-and-white tweed coat, $4,650 wool jersey jumpsuit, and $2,250 chain belt. Swift wore opaque tights underneath it and added Chanel's knee-length cuffed boots.

For accessories, she toted Chanel's $5,000 mini flap bag, wore $1,150 pendant earrings, and donned Canada Goose's $195 leather gloves.

The outfit felt sporty and stylish, striking the perfect balance for Swift.

In December 2024, the superstar wore her best gameday look to date.

Swift was extremely hard to miss when she arrived at Arrowhead Stadium in December 2024, wearing a fuzzy coat and a designer hat.

The singer's vibrant red outerwear from Charlotte Simone had a faux-fur lining, while her Sheertex tights were in plaid. Swift also wore a vintage black Chanel bucket hat, $1,595 Manolo Blahnik boots, and a red Tods handbag.

The outfit was fashionable, festive, and perfect for a winter game.

• I didn't expect my first night on a cruise ship to feel like an emergency.
• The window in my cabin was much bigger than the ones I'd seen in movies.
• I definitely didn't think taking the stairs would be quicker than the elevator.

I had traveled by car, bus, train, and plane, but the only boat I'd ever been on was a ferry.

In fact, I had never seen a cruise ship in real life before April 2022, when I boarded Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships.

During my seven-night Caribbean voyage, the ship sailed round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private Bahamian island, CocoCay.

Since this was a new form of transportation and a new type of vacation, my time at sea was full of surprises. I found that cruising is a lifestyle in itself, and while it's not necessarily for me, I can see why people love it.

While I'd seen cruise ships on TV and in movies, I couldn't fathom the sheer size of these vessels until I saw one myself.

I thought Wonder of the Seas looked like a skyscraper on its side, floating in the water. The 18-deck ship is 1,200 feet long and 210 feet wide,

On board, I felt like I was in a small town in the middle of the ocean.

For $2,000, I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom on deck 8. The cruise was on sale, as it was originally priced at $3,000.

The ship has 2,867 staterooms.

I booked a mid-tier room — a step above windowless interior staterooms, a step below staterooms with a balcony, and two steps below suites.

My 179-square-foot cabin had a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and an ocean view.

I was surprised by how big the discount was. To me, $1,000 feels like a huge price difference for the same vacation.

I was prepared to feel cramped in my room since it was only 179 square feet, but once inside, I felt like I had plenty of space.

I thought the stateroom made great use of a small space with plenty of storage for my clothes and other belongings. There were two closets for hanging space and more drawers than I used. 

I assumed I'd have a small porthole window as I've seen on ships in TV shows and movies, but my rectangular window was much bigger than I expected.

An electronic shade over the window could be lowered to reveal grand views. I loved waking up after a night at sea to a front-row view of the place I'd be visiting that day. 

While windowless rooms are cheaper, I couldn't imagine staying in one. My ocean-view stateroom cost about $300 more than an entry-level room.

I didn't realize booking a room at the front of the ship would result in a bumpier ride.

I booked a stateroom at the front of deck eight and felt constant motion in my room. Some nights were rockier than others.

On the roughest nights, I heard and felt a similar sensation to thunder beneath me every few minutes. Loud thumps and heavy vibrations in my room sounded like large pieces of furniture falling.

The first night this happened, I feared the worst, but over time I realized it was a normal aspect of cruising — one I would likely never get used to. 

After talking to seasoned cruisers on the ship, several told me that the front of the ship is one of the worst places to be for feeling motion. Higher decks in the middle of the ship feel calmer and more stable, they said. 

Next time, I'd choose a room in the middle of the ship. 

All cruises mandate a training session for guests on what to do in an emergency. I was surprised that mine was available to watch in my cabin.

All I had to do for safety training was watch a couple of videos — either on my room TV or on the Royal Caribbean app — and then check in at my assembly station, the area I was assigned to in case of an emergency.

At the assembly station, an attendant checked the Royal Caribbean app to confirm that I had completed the mandatory training.

I was expecting to attend a large safety training session once I got on the ship, so this alternative was a breeze. 

The ship has 24 elevators, but taking the stairs was often faster.

Since there were so many elevators on the ship, I expected them to be a pretty efficient way to get around, but they were often so crowded and slow that I took the stairs instead.

By the middle of my trip, unless I was going all the way up to the pool decks, I always opted for the stairs to save time. 

The ship was harder to navigate than expected, and I often got lost on my way to specific venues.

The ship has 16 guest decks; each deck is divided into three sections — forward, middle, and aft. 

It took me a few days to get used to the sections, and I often found myself heading to the right deck but the wrong section of the ship. Luckily, there were maps on every floor, which I used until the morning I left. 

In the communal indoor spaces, I was surprised that I didn't even feel like I was on a ship.

If I woke up on deck five of Wonder of the Seas with no memory of my cruise, I'd think I was in a shopping mall. 

Aside from the slight movement of the ship, the indoor decks were so big that, as a cruise newbie, it was hard to believe that I was on a gigantic boat in the middle of the ocean.

Everywhere I looked, I saw shops, stands, restaurants, large sculptures, and a unique ceiling structure that reminded me of the malls I've visited. 

Throughout the trip, I heard more live music than I thought I would, often in the background of the ship's activities.

Aside from music festivals, I've never heard more live music on a trip than on this cruise. On the communal decks, musicians played for hours while people relaxed and played around them. I was also surprised by the eclectic mix of genres I heard, from rock to jazz to classical. 

In addition to the music hall, where concerts were regularly held, live bands performed on indoor and outdoor communal decks. Some people watched, while others listened while swimming, relaxing, or walking around. 

I thought formal nights would be enforced more.

I like to be comfy, so I was dreading formal nights going into this cruise. 

I brought one fancy dress with me to wear whenever I needed, but on the first formal night, I realized that the dress code wasn't strictly enforced. People wore a range of outfits, from evening gowns to T-shirts. 

For the rest of the trip, I also relaxed my interpretation of the dress code. 

Some of the best meals I had were included in the rate.

One of the unique things about cruising is that most meals, snacks, and drinks are included in the cruise rate.

However, on large ships like Wonder of the Seas, more than a dozen restaurants with specialty offerings, such as sushi, are not included and incur additional charges, either as a one-time fee or per dish.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of the most delicious and satisfying meals I had were in the restaurants included for guests.

There were a handful of buffets with a variety of food, and the main dining room served a three-course meal with different menu items each night. These complementary options satisfied every single one of my cravings. One of my best meals was in the main dining room, where I was seated alone. 

I found that reservations for restaurants and shows on the ship fill up fast, so it's important to plan ahead to do exactly what you want.

The cruise ship was full of activities and restaurants I could visit at any time, but some restaurants, like the specialty ones, and all the shows on board required reservations made through the Royal Caribbean app.

However, getting reservations for the show and meal times I wanted on the day of was often hard. So, I started making reservations days before each event, depending on its popularity.

For example, the circus-like acrobatic water show in the Aquatheater seemed to be the most popular and hardest to reserve. I tried to get one on the day of the event, but couldn't find any availability until a show two nights later.

Even with extensive preparations, planning anything on a cruise ship was subject to change.

The excursion I was most thrilled about — a hot-air balloon ride over the Bahamas — was canceled the day of because the winds were too high.

It was on the last day of my trip, and with only one day in port, it could not be rescheduled. It was the experience I was looking forward to most, so I was disappointed.

On a cruise ship, I learned that all plans are subject to change based on things outside the crew's control, like the weather. 

I thought the port stops would be longer.

Since we traveled such a long way to each port, I wrongfully assumed we'd spend more time in them. The ship usually docked around 8 a.m. and left in the early afternoon. 

I thought I'd have time to explore the port for a while after each excursion, but some of my excursions took the entire day, getting me back to the boat just in time for departure. I also hoped to see what these places looked like at night, but we never departed after sundown. 

Although I got a taste of the Caribbean, I didn't have enough time to get a sense of each place, which made me realize that I would probably prefer to vacation in just one place and have time to truly explore it. 

I'm so glad I finally know what it's like to cruise on a giant ship, but I'll probably take a plane next time.

Overall, my trip left me in awe. I learned there's nothing like looking out from the top deck and seeing only the ocean surrounding you.

But next time I want to visit the Caribbean, I'll take a plane to one destination and explore it deeply. 

• Educational attainment varied across the US and across educational levels.
• While some states prioritize advanced degrees, others have a higher share of associate degrees.
• Massachusetts had the highest share of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher in 2026.

Access to higher education varies widely across the US.

Some states and cities have an abundance of prestigious schools and universities, while others rely on a smaller number of large public institutions to educate their populations.

The importance given to a college degree also varies by state, region, and individual career path.

For some, graduate degrees are a symbol of success and a gateway to high-earning careers. Others may prioritize technical education or trades programs, especially in places where local labor demand is less centered on fields that require advanced academic credentials.

Business Insider analyzed the latest US Census Bureau data on the percentage of adults 25 and older in all 50 states who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. We used that measure to rank the states by educational attainment for this list.

Associate degrees were not included in each state's ranking, but Business Insider also reviewed those figures to highlight where two-year credentials are more common, helping show how residents in different states may prioritize different levels of education.

In some cases, states with low shares of bachelor's and graduate degree holders have higher rates of adults with associate degrees. The trend is also evident in the inverse: Some of the most educated states, in terms of bachelor's degrees or higher, also have some of the lowest rates of associate degree attainment.

Here's every state, ranked from the lowest share of adults with at least a bachelor's degree to the highest. See how the states compare.

50. West Virginia

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 24.4%

West Virginia ranks last in bachelor's attainment, and its 9.6% share of adults aged 25 and older with graduate or professional degrees is also the lowest among states.

Additionally, 8.4% of adults 25 and older in the state hold an associate degree, ranking 14th-lowest among states.

49. Mississippi

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 27.0%

Although Mississippi ranks as the second-lowest US state for educational attainment at the bachelor's degree or higher level, it also has the fifth-highest share of adults 25 and older with an associate degree, at 11.8%.

48. Arkansas

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 27.1%

Arkansas also has the second-lowest graduate or professional-degree share among states, at 10.0%.

47. Louisiana

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 27.8%

Louisiana has some of the lowest educational attainment rates for both associate degrees and graduate and professional degrees, with 7.4% and 10.5% of adults 25 and older holding those degrees, respectively.

46. Kentucky

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 27.9%

Kentucky ranks the 12th-lowest state for adults aged 25 and over with graduate or professional degrees, while it ranks near the middle for attainment of associate degrees.

45. Nevada

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 28.5%

In Nevada, 10.1% of adults aged 25 and older in the state hold a graduate or professional degree, the third-lowest rate in the nation.

44. Oklahoma

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 29.3%

Oklahoma ranks among the lowest states across degree categories, ranking 11th lowest for associate degree attainment and 4th lowest for graduate or professional degree attainment among adults 25 and over.

43. Alabama

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 29.9%

Alabama ranks as the 18th-highest state for attainment of associate degrees, with 9.7% of adults having associate degrees, which is higher than the US average.

42. Indiana

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 30.7%

While Indiana has the 9th-lowest share of adults with bachelor's or graduate degrees, it also ranks above the US average in attainment of associate degrees.

41. New Mexico

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 31.8%

Along with a 31.8% share of bachelor's-or-higher degree holders in the state, New Mexico ranks below the US average for both associate and graduate or professional degree attainment among adults 25 or older.

40. Iowa

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 32.1%

Iowa has low attainment for bachelor's and graduate or professional degrees — ranking eighth-lowest among US states — but a high rate of adults with associate degrees, the third-highest in the nation.

39. Wyoming

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 32.3%

Wyoming ranks among the lowest states for educational attainment in bachelor's and graduate degrees, but the state ranks eighth-highest in associate degree attainment.

37. (tie) Ohio

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 32.4%

While Ohio's educational attainment for graduate and professional degrees ranks near the bottom, its attainment of associate degrees is higher than the US average.

37. (tie) Tennessee

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 32.4%

Tennessee ranks among the lowest 15 states for attainment of both graduate and associate degrees.

36. Alaska

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 32.8%

Alaska ranks in the top half of US states for attainment of associate degrees despite low attainment in higher education levels.

35. Idaho

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 33.0%

Idaho has a gap in educational attainment across higher education levels, ranking in the bottom 10 states for graduate and professional degrees but 15th-highest for attainment of associate degrees.

33. (tie) South Carolina

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 33.3%

Ranking ninth-highest among states, in South Carolina, 10.4% of adults 25 and older hold an associate degree.

33. (tie) Michigan

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 33.3%

Michigan ranks slightly above the US average in associate degree attainment, with 9.9% of adults holding an associate degree.

32. Missouri

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 33.5%

Missouri is below the US average on both associate degrees and graduate and professional degrees.

31. North Dakota

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 34.0%

North Dakota has the highest share of adults 25 and older with an associate degree among US states at 14.2%, although relatively low educational attainment for bachelor's degrees or higher.

30. South Dakota

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 34.2%

South Dakota ranks ninth-lowest among US states for graduate degree attainment, but it has the second-highest share of adults with an associate degree in the US.

29. Wisconsin

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 34.6%

Wisconsin also leans associate-heavy in its educational attainment, with 11.6% of adults 25 and older having an associate degree, ranking sixth-highest among states.

28. Arizona

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 34.7%

Arizona ranks slightly higher than the US average for associate degree attainment but slightly below the average for graduate and professional degrees.

27. Texas

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 35.2%

Texas has one of the lowest associate-degree shares among states, at 7.6%, and its graduate or professional-degree share is also below the US average.

26. Nebraska

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 35.4%

Despite having below-average graduate or professional degree attainment, Nebraska's associate degree share is relatively high at 11.3%, ranking seventh-highest among states.

25. Florida

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 35.8%

Florida's 10.2% associate degree share ranks in the top 10 among states, while its graduate/professional-degree share ranks slightly below the US average.

23. (tie) Delaware

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 36.0%

Delaware ranks 12th-highest in graduate and professional degrees, with 16.0% of adults 25 and older holding one.

23. (tie) Kansas

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 36.0%

Kansas has above-average educational attainment in associate degrees, with 9.6% of adults aged 25 and older having one.

21. (tie) Montana

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 36.3%

Montana has relatively high educational achievement for associate and bachelor's degrees, but it ranks as the 14th-lowest state for educational attainment of graduate or professional degrees, with 12% of adults being advanced-degree holders.

21. (tie) Georgia

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 36.3%

Georgia ranks 15th lowest in its share of adults with associate degrees, but shows a strong commitment to higher education, ranking above the US average for graduate and professional degree attainment and placing 17th-highest nationwide.

20. Pennsylvania

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 36.4%

Pennsylvania, which ranks slightly below the US average for associate degree attainment, also shows high shares of adults with graduate and professional degrees, ranking 14th-highest nationwide.

18. (tie) Maine

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 37.1%

Ranking in the top 20 nationwide for bachelor's degrees and higher education, Maine also ranks high in associate degree attainment, placing 11th-highest nationwide.

18. (tie) North Carolina

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 37.1%

Ranking 12th highest for associate degree attainment, North Carolina pairs a high bachelor's-and-higher attainment rate with a similar emphasis on two-year degrees.

16. (tie) Oregon

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 37.8%

Oregon's high national ranking is largely driven by its bachelor's and advanced degree attainment, rather than associate degrees, in which it ranks below the national average. It ranks 15th-highest among all states for graduate and professional degree attainment.

16. (tie) Hawaii

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 37.8%

Hawaii ranked 13th highest in associate degree attainment, but ranked below the US average in graduate and professional degree attainment.

15. California

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 38.1%

Like other states in the top spots for attainment of bachelor's degrees and higher, California pairs its high achievement in advanced degrees with a lower emphasis on associate-degree attainment, ranking 7th-lowest in the country.

14. Rhode Island

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 39.0%

With over a third of its population aged 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, Rhode Island ranked 11th in graduate and professional degree attainment, while ranking low in associate degree attainment.

13. Utah

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 39.1%

Utah has some of the highest educational attainment levels in the nation, ranking 13th for its bachelor's-and-higher share and 17th for its associate degree attainment.

12. Illinois

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 39.2%

Illinois ranks 13th-highest in its attainment of graduate and professional degrees in adults aged 25 and older. The state ranks 16th-lowest for associate degree attainment.

11. Minnesota

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 40.0%

Despite falling slightly below the US average for its share of adults aged 25 and older holding graduate or professional degrees, Minnesota ranks fourth-highest in the nation for associate degree attainment, with 12% of adults in the state holding an associate degree, and 40% holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

10. Washington

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 41.0%

Washington ranked above average in educational attainment across all levels. It also ranked ninth-highest in the nation for its share of adults aged 25 and older with a graduate or professional degree.

9. New York

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 41.2%

New York ranked among the most educated states in the nation, largely helped by its share of graduate- and professional-degree holders, which ranked 7th-highest nationwide.

8. New Hampshire

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 41.5%

New Hampshire ranked in the top 10 for both bachelor's-or-higher attainment and graduate/professional-degree attainment, while also ranking 18th-highest for associate degrees.

7. Connecticut

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 42.6%

Connecticut has the third-highest share of adults aged 25 and over with a graduate or professional degree, at 19.3%, which is a major factor in its high nationwide ranking. In terms of associate degrees, the state ranks sixth-lowest nationwide.

6. Virginia

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 43.3%

Virginia's 19.2% share of adults 25 and over with a graduate or professional degree ranks fourth-highest among states, while its share of adults with an associate degree is among the lowest in the nation.

5. New Jersey

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 44.5%

New Jersey ranks among the top 10 for graduate and professional degree attainment, while also tying for the lowest share of adults aged 25 and over with an associate degree.

4. Maryland

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 44.7%

Maryland has the second-highest share of adults aged 25 and over with a graduate or professional degree, at 21.5%. It is also tied for the lowest associate-degree share.

3. Vermont

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 45.1%

With over 19% of its adult population holding graduate or professional degrees, Vermont ranks fifth-highest in graduate degree attainment and third nationwide for bachelor's degrees and higher.

2. Colorado

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 47.8%

Colorado ranks second nationwide in bachelor's-or-higher attainment and sixth in the share of adults aged 25 and over with a graduate or professional degree.

1. Massachusetts

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 48.3%

With nearly half of its adult population holding a bachelor's degree or higher, Massachusetts ranked as the most educated state in the US by educational attainment.

The state also has the highest share of graduate-degree holders, at 22.6%.

• Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour is at the center of a controversy.
• Opening act Macklemore was dropped after delivering a pro-Palestinian speech, sparking backlash.
• Sheeran addressed the situation during his Philadelphia concert on Saturday.

Ed Sheeran and Macklemore have been all over the headlines — and no, you didn't somehow wake up in 2013, listening to "Thrift Shop" and "The A Team" on the radio.

The two millennial musicians are at odds after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour on September 14, a little over a week after his performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium drew headlines — and both support and condemnation — due to his support for Palestinians.

Here's what went down at the shows, how Sheeran and Macklemore responded, how fans of both artists reacted, and where the tour stands now.

What did Macklemore say at the Ed Sheeran concert?

Macklemore joined Sheeran's Loop Tour as an opening act on September 4, with his first show taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During his set, Macklemore expressed his support for the Palestinian people.

"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free Palestine,'" Macklemore said before performing his song "Hind's Hall" about the student protests at Columbia University. The song was named for Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in 2024.

He added, "I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom."

After some backlash online, which ranged from calling the rapper antisemitic to saying that an Ed Sheeran concert wasn't the right place for his speech, Macklemore stood his ground at his show the following day, September 5, though he did make it clear he wasn't criticizing all Jewish people.

"Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality," he said.

On September 12, Pink shared her response to Macklemore's comments on her Instagram, which garnered a lot of coverage. She felt compelled to speak out after fans noticed a repost of hers on Instagram that apparently called out the "Thrift Shop" rapper.

In her post, Pink said, "Last Sunday I reposted somebody else's post about Macklemore's set at Ed Sheeran's show. It said things in words I didn't write, and I wouldn't have chosen all of them."

Instead, she was choosing to share her own words, especially because, as a Jew, people had assumed her beliefs.

Calling Hamas "a terrorist organization," she said Palestinians "deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations" and that "protecting innocent life comes first, everywhere."

But she also criticized Macklemore, writing that he "took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn't about them. You don't get to decide that for us." Pink added that she wasn't calling for him to be silenced, but wanted to be able to say "that scared me, and it scared people I love" without having those fears dismissed.

Macklemore was dropped from the tour 10 days later

On September 14, the promoters behind the tour, Messina Touring Group, issued a statement that announced Macklemore would no longer be part of the tour.

"As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran's US Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming US tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates," the company said in a statement provided to Variety.

While some people online had criticized Macklemore for the stadium performance, others took to the internet to support him after he was dropped from the tour.

What did Macklemore say about being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour?

Macklemore responded later that day with a multi-slide post on Instagram.

"I am not a victim," he wrote. "Ed Sheeran is not a victim."

He added, "Ed is my friend. I've known him for 13 years. We've shared late nights, studio sessions, and stages. He has this infectious magic about him that I've grown to love. I consider him a brother."

Macklemore cited "media attention surrounding Pink" and his own comments as reasons Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, told Sheeran he would not let him play there if Macklemore remained part of the Loop Tour. He added that Kraft told Sheeran he had "rallied some of the other stadium owners" who would follow suit.

He wrote that Sheeran's "typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before," and that he "couldn't get past his public facing 'I don't take sides.'"

"I hope this isn't the end of my relationship with Ed," he added. "My door will always be open to continuing that conversation."

Some fans were outraged that the rapper was dropped, even if they weren't the biggest fans of Macklemore's music.

Robert Kraft confirmed he barred Macklemore from performing at Gillette Stadium

In a statement to Rolling Stone on September 14, Kraft confirmed that he told Sheeran and his promoters that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette.

He said that the stadium is focused on "providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that all events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech," and said Macklemore had "crossed that line."

Kraft added that the rapper had a "broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."

It appeared to reference an incident more than a decade ago, when Macklemore was criticized for performing while apparently dressed as a Jewish caricature. At a 2014 show in Seattle, he wore a black wig, a large, hooked prosthetic nose, and a fake black beard.

He apologized, writing on his website, "The character I dressed up as on Friday had no intended cultural identity or background. I wasn't attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one. A 'Jewish stereotype' never crossed my mind."

"I acknowledge how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to a Jewish caricature," he wrote.

Ed Sheeran responded on Instagram the next day

Sheeran wrote on Instagram that he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine," and called the "suffering and pain on both sides" a "human tragedy."

In Sheeran's version of events, Macklemore asked to join his tour, and Sheeran agreed because he "respects him as an artist."

The two have had a long working relationship, releasing the collaboration "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)" in 2015. As recently as 2023, Sheeran called Macklemore "an old friend" and brought him out at a performance in Seattle. "I reached out on Twitter back in the day, and we got to be friends, and now we've been friends for about 10 years," Sheeran said at the time.

The "Shape of You" singer said that after Macklemore's performances, venues for coming dates said "they would pull shows" if he continued to be an opener. He tried to "build a bridge" between venue owners and his team, but the "venue's and promoter's decision was final."

"Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me," he wrote.

Sheeran added that his shows have never been political, that he is "not complicit," and that he has his own "personal views on this devastating conflict."

Notably, Sheeran is one of our least "online" pop stars, who famously hasn't had a cellphone since 2015, making this statement rare.

Some people online weren't impressed with his statement, with one user criticizing his "tactical approach," saying it "makes him look even more complicit."

Others rejected this idea — British TV presenter Richard Bacon wrote on X, "Anyone who's met Ed Sheeran even for five minutes knows he's a good person with a good heart."

Macklemore, Sheeran, and Kraft shared plans to support humanitarian aid

On Wednesday, September 16, Macklemore announced on Instagram that he would donate "the entire $1 million of [his] net earnings" from the tour to six Palestinian aid organizations, and he invited Kraft to do the same.

Later that day, Gillette Stadium's Instagram account shared a statement from Kraft, saying Sheeran had already reached out to him about making a donation.

"Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis," it said in part.

The statement did not identify the recipient, or recipients, of any forthcoming donations.

Kraft's statement added that Sheeran also plans to contact other venue owners, "and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges."

He added that he has, for years, "supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians."

The opening acts and backing band dropped out of the tour

Following Macklemore's and Sheeran's initial statements, the rest of the opening acts for the Loop Tour fell like dominoes.

First, Aaron Rowe, an Irish musician who had been on the tour since February, dropped out at around 2 p.m. on September 15.

"I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this," he wrote, but he added he can not stand and "allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up."

"I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal," he wrote.

Around an hour later, Finneas, who's best known for his work with his sister, Billie Eilish, also dropped out. He was supposed to join the tour's November and December dates.

"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," he wrote.

At around the same time, Sheeran's backing band, the Irish group Beoga, also left the tour.

Then, the final remaining opening act, Lukas Graham, pulled out of the tour later that day.

Notably, almost all of them said that they were friends with Sheeran and that wouldn't change.

Fans began demanding refunds

Some fans on social media demanded refunds after all the opening acts dropped out.

However, Ticketmaster's refund policy doesn't explicitly allow for refunds in a situation like this. It says: "All sales are final. Refunds are only available in limited circumstances, based on policies set by the Event Organizer."

In this case, since the "event organizer" is the one who dropped Macklemore in the first place, a refund seems unlikely.

Ticketmaster told Business Insider that "event organizers determine refund policies," and referred us to Messina Touring Group or AEG regarding refunds. They have not responded to a request for comment.

Sheeran said he was 'so, so sorry' and 'never wanted to be an activist musician' during his concert on September 19

The show did go on as planned at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, amid protests from fans outside the stadium's gates.

During his concert, Sheeran spoke about his views on the situation. He referred to the October 7 terror attack as "horrific," and called what is happening in Gaza "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate."

He also took a moment to thank his new backing band, who had "three days" to learn the music and "said yes with the knowledge that the world may hate them too."

Regarding donations, which Kraft alluded to, Sheeran said he was speaking with people "across the spectrum" to decide where to donate. He added that he doesn't know enough about the situation in general.

At the end of his speech, he thanked his fans for showing up, and toward the end of the show, he told the crowd this had been one of the worst weeks of his life, but this was "the best show of my life." He also called America "a scary place right now," but said that crowds like this one gave him hope.

He also apologized to parents who brought their kids to the show who weren't expecting the earlier speech, but he felt it "was something I felt like I needed to say."

The next show is on September 25 at Gillette Stadium, the venue owned by Kraft, so it remains to be seen if Sheeran speaks about the situation again.

Editor's note: This story was first published on September 16, 2026, and updated on September 21, 2026.

• Oil prices are back below the $100-per-barrel mark.
• The latest decline in crude has been triggered by stronger-than-expected oil flows in the Middle East.
• Markets are also feeling more optimistic about US-Iran diplomacy as Iran's president arrives in New York.

The oil market's rollercoaster ride shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

That's evident in the recent swing lower in oil prices this week. Crude has slid as investors survey the situation in the Middle East and assess the likelihood of a soon-to-come resolution between the US and Iran, an issue that has upended the crude market for most of 2026.

Oil prices recently spiked above $100 per barrel, a key psychological level that suggests the crude market is facing significant distress about supply. But Brent crude, the international benchmark, pulled below the threshold on Monday, dropping as much as 4% to trade around $99 a barrel.

The US's West Texas Intermediate crude also fell as much as 5%, trading around $95.

The move lower in oil reverberated throughout markets, with Treasury yields cooling while US stocks jumped.

The benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield stood around 4.96%, pulling back from the critical 5% threshold.

All three major benchmark indexes ticked higher, with the Nasdaq 100 rising more than 2%.

Here's where US indexes stood shortly after 3:00 PM ET on Monday:

• S&P 500: 7,774.11, up 1.62%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 52,113.17, up 0.83% (+430.53 points)
• Nasdaq 100: 30,475.96, up 2.81%

Chip stocks rebounded after a week of volatile trading, driven largely by optimism stemming from Meta's AI assistant, Muse. The AI model has drawn more attention on potential demand for CPUs as opposed to GPUs in the AI race, leading Meta shares to climb 12% higher.

Here were some of the biggest moves in the tech sector:

• Meta: +12%
• Intel: +11%
• AMD: +8%
• Samsung: +8%
• Nvidia: +2%
• Micron: +2%
• Broadcom: +1%

The US-Iran war, though, is still on, with no signs of a resolution to come anytime soon. The Iran-backed Houthis said they launched a fresh attack on Saudi Arabia over the weekend. The US State Department also warned of the potential for escalating conflict in the Middle East on Saturday, advising Americans to reconsider any travel plans to the region.

So, what's behind the latest slide in oil prices?

1. Oil flows remain strong for now

The market has serious reservations about supply coming out of the Middle East, particularly after a key Saudi oil pipeline was attacked last week. But so far, oil flows coming out of the region remain "surprisingly strong," analysts at JPMorgan wrote in a note last week.

The bank estimated that oil flows from the region averaged 17.1 million barrels a day over the 10 days leading up to September 18, about 6.1 million barrels a day below last year's average.

Over the weekend, the US Central Command said oil and liquefied natural gas shipments coming through the Strait of Hormuz had also reached a six-month high over the last two-week period.

"Clearly, momentum is building," Brad Cooper, the head of CENTCOM, said in a video message published Saturday.

Oil demand is also being fulfilled from strategic stores, which, while dwindling rapidly, still act as a substantial buffer for the crude market. Stores in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to their lowest level since 1982 last week, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. The nation still has over 284,000 spare barrels of crude in storage.

2. US-Iran diplomacy in sight

Traders are once again mulling possible progress toward a US-Iran peace deal.

Speaking to Fox News over the weekend, President Donald Trump said he would "probably be open" to meeting with Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who is in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly.

Trump suggested the US could take further military action if both sides didn't come to a deal soon.

"My question is, if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave," Trump said.

HFI Research, a contrarian research firm specializing in energy, said it believed the next few weeks may represent the US's "last chance" for diplomacy with Iran. The firm has warned of dire economic and market consequences of higher oil prices, and previously flagged a worst-case scenario where oil prices spiral back to their 2008 peak.

"I believe the diplomacy meetings this week will create a lot of opportunities for the Trump team to 'leak peace deals,'" the research firm wrote in a chat message to clients on Substack.

Other forecasters are flagging the risk that oil may tread back higher.

Matt Smith, the director of commodity research at Kpler, said he expected oil prices to move higher, pointing to supply constraints in the Middle East.

"I think that we see oil prices just grinding higher," he said, speaking to CNBC last week. The firm has said it's possible for oil prices to rise as high as $150 a barrel in 2027, Brent's peak around the Great Financial Crisis.

Oil supply pressures will likely persist through the end of the year, Amrita Sen, the director of research at Energy Aspects, said.

"We're getting a little bit of a pullback right now," Sen told CNBC on Monday. "But every time we're getting a pullback, the floor for prices is higher and higher," she added, pointing to Brent's historical trend since the start of the year.

• The Ocean Photographer of the Year awards announced the winners of its 2026 contest.
• Winning photos show wildlife such as sharks, turtles, dolphins, and ribbonfish.
• A photo of a seahorse with newborn juveniles won the top prize.

There's more to the world's oceans than meets the eye.

Presented by Oceanographic and Blancpain, the annual Ocean Photographer of the Year awards highlight photographs taken both above and below the water's surface, raising awareness of ocean conservation and the scientific research that helps preserve its delicate ecosystems.

The winning photos of the 2026 competition, revealed in September, were chosen from 15,000 submissions across categories including Wildlife, Human Connection, Fine Art, and Adventure. The contest also gave out a Female Fifty Fathoms Award, created to recognize the work of female ocean photographers.

Take a look.

The winner of the Ocean Unseen: Hidden Worlds category was Mitsuna Kawai, with a photo of a ribbonfish.

Mitsuna photographed the ribbonfish during a winter blackwater dive in Osezaki, Japan.

Rui Duarte captured a group trying to push a stranded short-finned pilot whale back to the water, winning the Human Connection category.

Duarte took the photo in Boa Vista, Cape Verde.

Matty Smith's photo of a tawny nurse shark won first place in the contest's Fine Art category.

Smaller fish called remoras swam beneath the shark.

Jenny Stock received the Female Fifty Fathoms award, which celebrates women in ocean photography.

Stock's image collection included one of a green turtle, which she photographed as it approached her camera, curious about its reflection in the dome port.

A photo of divers and snorkelers surrounding a whale shark in the Maldives by James Ferrara won in the Conservation Impact category.

"With almost 50 people visible in the frame, this image captures the reality behind some popular wildlife encounters: an animal seeking space while people compete for a closer view," the contest captioned the photo.

The winner of the Conservation Hope category was Thomas Pavy for his photo of a great hammerhead shark in French Polynesia.

Pavy photographed the shark during a population survey, when researchers use laser-calibrated video photogrammetry to track sharks.

Gergo Rugli captured a snapshot of dolphins riding the waves in Sydney, which won first place in the Adventure category.

The pod of dolphins swam with surfers at Sydney's Tamarama Beach.

The Ocean Portfolio category winner was Miguel Serrano Ruiz with his photos of a conservationist and an olive ridley sea turtle.

Ruiz photographed a conservationist protecting the eggs from the rising tide in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Julien Anton won the title of Ocean Photographer of the Year with his photo of an adult seahorse with newborn juveniles in French Polynesia.

Anton's image also won first place in the Wildlife category.

"My hope is that this image can serve as a bridge between science, conservation, and a world that deserves to know what is at stake," Anton said in a statement released by the contest.

• AI was meant to help engineers make coding faster.
• Instead, one engineer says it has turned them into button-pushers.
• The post stirred up reactions from tech figures: "Yikes," replied Elon Musk.

A software engineer's viral post about AI coding has set off a debate over whether the technology is making developers more productive — or reducing them to button-pushers.

An X user with the handle "v0xium," who asked not to be named for fear of getting in trouble with his employer, said his new role at an undisclosed company had become "soul-sucking" because Claude Code generated everything from product specifications and tests to tickets and reports.

"Nobody knows anything here," v0xium wrote in an X post on Sunday, which has been viewed nearly 5 million times as of Monday morning. "People are working 12 to 13 hours a day just to press enter."

He said employees were pressured to ship as much as possible, with little time to review the work or understand what was happening under the hood.

"Nobody is thinking anymore," he wrote.

The post drew reactions from high-profile tech figures.

Elon Musk replied: "Yikes," while venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, co-host of the "All-In Podcast," said companies risk turning an entire generation of technical experts into people "pushing a button in front of casino slot machines."

"The value of automated software is not making the software faster," Palihapitiya wrote. "It is understanding your intention and making the software BETTER."

GitLab CEO Bill Staples wrote that "the human has become the orchestration layer for the machines."

'If everything is automated, what remains?'

Coding became AI's first big breakthrough use case in the workplace, with tools from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and others generating code, debugging programs, and handling multistep assignments.

Business Insider's Great Coding Reset series chronicled how that shift is forcing developers to rethink their agency and what remains satisfying about a job rooted in problem-solving. Some say AI removes tedious tasks and lets them focus on building, while others fear being relegated to overseeing, correcting, and validating machine-generated work.

v0xium told Business Insider via email that the core problem is corporate leaders' fixation on shipping more features. Management, he said, treats sprint cycles, pull requests, and the volume of features shipped as the key measures of success — even when those features may not improve products for users.

"Writing code was never the bottleneck; it was the systems around it," he said.

That creates pressure to use AI for everything, he said, from product-requirement documents and system designs to user interfaces and backend code.

"If everything is automated, what remains? Human meat proxies," v0xium said, referring to a slang term for someone who sends outputs straight from AI without analyzing them.

The debate echoes comments from Menlo Ventures partner Deedy Das, who previously said that some engineers face an "identity crisis bordering on depression" as experienced workers are left reviewing a growing flood of AI-generated code.

Similar anxieties are playing out globally. Liu Shengyu, an AI developer at DeepSeek, recently wrote that AI could soon outdo him at the specialized work he loves, leaving him to steer agents rather than write code himself.

v0xium said that corporate leaders cannot treat AI as a "magic wand" for producing worthwhile features without engineers who understand the code, architecture, and users — or without leaving developers room to solve difficult problems.

"If you take that away from us, there is nothing left," he told Business Insider.

"Not even our soul. There will be no purpose."

How have AI coding tools changed your work? Tell us in the survey below.

Are you a software engineer who feels AI coding tools are making your work less meaningful, or turning you into a reviewer of machine-generated code? Contact this reporter via email at tspirlet@businessinsider.com or Signal at thibaultspirlet.40. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• The US's new Greenland deal sparked a rally in American rare-minerals stocks.
• Shares of Critical Metals, which has a Greenland mining project, soared as much as 43%.
• Other companies getting a lift include USA Rare Earth and MP Materials.

The move: US-based rare-earth mining stocks climbed on Monday, led by a rally in Critical Metals that reached 43% at intraday highs.

Critical Metals is in focus because it owns the Tanbreez Rare Earth Project, a large rare-earth mine, in southern Greenland.

The why: On Friday, Trump revealed that the US had reached an agreement with Denmark that grants it permanent security control over Greenland. The deal is expected to be officially signed next week.

While Trump's post announcing the deal did not mention mining or natural resources, many rare-earth mining stocks surged in premarket trading on Monday. Here are some of the sector's top movers:

• Critical Metals: +38%
• USA Rare Earth: +9%
• MP Materials: 6%
• TMC The Metals Company: +9.5%
• Ramaco Resources: +1.5%

What it means: President Trump has been highly focused on strengthening American rare-earth metals supply chain since he returned to office. His strategy has primarily centered around taking equity stakes in miners, such as Critical Metals and USA Rare Earth.

This comes just as rare-earth shipments from China to the US are dropping ahead of Trump's meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Up to now, the US has been highly dependent on China's rare-earth mining industry, something that Trump has repeatedly stated the nation needs to change.

Now Wall Street is reading the Greenland deal as an indicator that the US is moving away from its dependence on China's supply chain.

• AI optimizes supply chains by automating complex tasks, saving time and improving efficiency.
• Supply chain leaders are surprised by workers' openness to AI, easing its integration and use.
• AI boosts sustainability by making supply chains more efficient and improving inventory management.

AI has been transforming functions across the supply chain.

Seaports are exploring AI to plan complex movements from water to land, warehouses are flying AI-powered drones to reduce backorders and boost worker satisfaction, and logistics companies are using AI's predictive capabilities to alleviate the headaches of last-mile deliveries.

We asked eight supply chain management leaders who oversee manufacturing, technology, logistics, and sustainability, and more, to share what has impressed and surprised them most about AI in their fields.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Their favorite use of AI

J-Ann Tio Toles, chief strategy officer at Arrive Logistics:

"The one that still excites me is simple in concept and was very hard to execute before AI: we take whatever a customer sends us, in whatever format and through whatever channel they prefer, and turn it into something our systems can act on."

"Email tenders build straight into our platform. A bid arrives however the customer built it, and AI reshapes it so our pricing platforms can act on it directly. Work that took hours takes minutes; work that took minutes takes seconds. And no customer had to change a thing."

Matt Yearling, CEO at YMX Logistics:

"For a large grocery retailer, we recently leveraged our AI-powered gate automation services to help them investigate a potential cargo theft case."

"With computer vision at the gate, they had indisputable video footage of the carrier and driver, which meant they could make a claim to recover $60,000. That's the kind of thing companies used to have to write off."

What surprised them about workers' attitudes toward AI

Mantej Singh Randhawa, global growth leader of supply chain at Genpact:

"A lack of shared understanding around what it actually means in practice. You can ask 10 supply chain employees to define agentic AI and get 10 different answers."

Toles:

"The resistance I expected never materialized. Digital transformation isn't foreign to supply chain or the third-party logistics sector, so the adoption curve here started further along than it did in the app era — the conversation skipped past 'should we' much faster than I anticipated."

"There is also a new wave of talent coming into our space. We hire nearly 1,000 collegiate professionals each year, and this incoming class spent their entire college experience using AI tools. That makes them early adopters of whatever we roll out, but the more valuable part is that they ask us questions. That's pressure I welcome."

Where they find AI is making a meaningful difference

Ben Massie, vice president of global supply chain, servers, and storage at Lenovo:

"Planning and decision support are among the most advanced areas. What impresses me is both the speed and the breadth of information AI can consider at once."

"Take a tariff change. You need to understand where a product can be manufactured, available capacity, logistics costs, lead times, and compliance requirements, and how changing one part of the network affects everything else. With iChain — Lenovo's AI-powered supply chain platform — analysis that would historically take weeks can now happen in hours."

Chap Achen, senior director analyst at Gartner Supply Chain Practice:

"The clear early winner is demand forecasting and planning, with 82% of retailers surveyed by Gartner having implemented or currently implementing AI solutions in this area. Retailers are using AI to get a better read on what customers will want, where and when, so they can make smarter inventory and replenishment decisions."

How AI is influencing sustainability

Saskia van Gendt, chief sustainability officer at Blue Yonder:

"We're working closely with our customers' sustainability leaders. These leaders are optimistic that AI will have a net benefit by making supply chains more efficient, improving manufacturing operations, generating more accurate inventory plans, and in areas like recycling and material innovation."

"At the same time, sustainability leaders are considering the growing footprint of data centers, which require vast amounts of energy and water."

The big AI transformations coming next

Bob Loycano, vice president of supply chain at FDH Aero:

"I'm excited to explore AI's ability to source products to the appropriate manufacturers, then, taking the next step, sending out a request for quote to the supplier without human oversight."

"If AI can successfully do all of that, it is not much of a leap to expect AI to evaluate the responses and suggest the best option. I will, however, stop short of allowing AI to place the purchase order without a human approving it."

Monique Murfield, director of the Center for Supply Chain Excellence and associate professor of supply chain and operations management at Miami University's Farmer School of Business:

"I am excited for companies to incorporate AI into reverse logistics for a more circular supply chain approach."

"Reverse logistics does not have the clean data that AI systems in forward fulfillment or warehouse operations may have, and decisions about what to do with returned products (refurbish, resell, recycle, scrap) are complex and nuanced, often involving human judgment. AI could be used to match these product flows with appropriate buyers in the secondary markets."

• Amazon blocked Meta's Muse AI agent from shopping on its website for users.
• The online retailer says Muse did not identify itself and raised concerns about credentials.
• It is not the first time that the company has moved to stop AI from using the website.

Meta's Muse is ready to shop. Amazon isn't buying it.

People who send the personal AI assistant to Amazon are seeing a warning that "continued access by an unauthorized AI agent" violates the retailer's conditions of use.

A spokesperson for the e-commerce giant said in a statement that Amazon has requested that Meta remove its marketplace from Muse.

Unlike chatbots, which primarily answer questions, AI agents are designed to take actions on a user's behalf — including buying things. Amazon's block shows that even a widely used personal agent can't assume all of the internet is open for business.

The move has been flagged by some Muse users on X. Startup founder Jonathan Wegener shared a screenshot of the warning, writing: "Muse vs Amazon bot detection. Uh oh."

A spokesperson for Amazon said: "Third-party applications that offer to make purchases on behalf of customers from other businesses should operate openly and respect service provider decisions about whether or not to participate."

"Agentic third-party applications such as Muse have the same obligations," they added.

Amazon said it was not told in advance that Muse would access its store and did not authorize the activity. The company said Muse does not identify itself, appears to capture and store customer credentials, and scrapes account data, raising questions about how sensitive information is handled.

Amazon also said agents can bypass the personalization built into its shopping experience, potentially showing users products that do not reflect their history or recommendations. It expects agents to be transparent, allow retailers to opt out, and offer a mutual exchange of value.

Meta did not immediately respond to a Business Insider request for comment.

GeekWire first reported Monday that Muse users were encountering Amazon's bot blocker.

No bots here

Amazon's conditions of use do not explicitly mention AI shopping assistants. However, the site-access license excludes the use of "data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools."

Amazon has been trying to keep third-party agents off its marketplace for some time. It sued Perplexity over shopping activity conducted through its Comet browser and has also moved to restrict agents from Google and OpenAI.

Meta launched Muse on September 8 as a general-purpose assistant that can perform multistep tasks across email, calendars, dining, payments, and shopping. It reached the top of Apple's US free-app chart within a week.

In the Muse's launch announcement, Meta says Muse cannot see users' passwords or payment details. It says credentials are stored securely, allowing the agent to use them without viewing them.

Amazon's stance carries a commercial risk. As Business Insider's Alistair Barr previously reported, blocking ChatGPT bots could mean missing purchases from OpenAI's roughly 1 billion monthly users.

Amazon and OpenAI's recently announced advertising partnership also suggests the companies may ultimately need to find a way for agents and retailers to work together.

• I love visiting Stowe, Vermont, every fall for leaf-peeping, maple-flavored treats, and corn mazes.
• The New England town is about three hours away from Boston and four from my home in Rhode Island.
• I always tell first-time visitors to take a gondola ride and eat at von Trapp Brewing Bierhall.

When some people think about Vermont, they might picture skiing down picturesque slopes and unwinding their tired legs after a long day on the mountain … only to do it all over again the next day.

As a lifelong New Englander, though, I believe that the time before the snowy season is often overlooked. I prefer to head up north when the leaves are changing from green to fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow.

Once I'm in the Green Mountain State, my favorite town is Stowe, a dreamy hub for leaf-peeping, everything maple-flavored, and great autumn vibes.

Stowe is a quick trip from other parts of the Northeast

Located in northern Vermont, Stowe is the perfect escape for a romantic getaway or group trip, especially if you're on the East Coast.

It's just a three-hour drive from Boston and only six hours from New York City. For those who live a bit farther away, the town is also less than an hour from Burlington International Airport.

I live four hours away in Rhode Island and prefer driving so I can stop at cute pit stops throughout Vermont.

My personal favorite is the Vermont Country Store in Rockingham. This iconic gift shop sells nostalgic penny candy, local cheeses from nearby farms, and — of course — the best maple syrup.

My perfect weekend includes a gondola ride, a corn maze, and a downtown stroll

Situated at the bottom of Mount Mansfield, Stowe has a quaint downtown, perfect for strolling the streets with a hot pumpkin latte in hand. There's no shortage of cute shops and cozy cafés.

The town center is walkable, but Stowe's other attractions — such as the famous Gondola Skyride and my favorite corn maze — are a quick drive away.

Just a few miles from Stowe's downtown, the Percy Farm Corn Maze allows groups to get lost in the rows of corn. If you're lucky, you'll even see some baby cows grazing.

I also firmly believe that a fall trip isn't complete without a red gondola ride up the mountain. Sitting back and taking in the kaleidoscope of colorful fall foliage while gliding through the air is truly unlike anything else.

The mountain's peak provides the perfect photo op. Once you're at the top, swing by the concessions stand for a waffle covered in chocolate syrup.

My favorite restaurant is the iconic von Trapp Brewing Bierhall

After exploring the top of Mount Mansfield and soaking in the views, it's time to decide what's for lunch.

The von Trapp Brewing Bierhall, also outside the town center, offers quality brews and Austrian-influenced dishes — and yes, it's run by a member of the von Trapp family who inspired "The Sound of Music."

I love the pretzels with house mustard, which is also available for purchase in their gift shop. Additionally, if you've never tried German sausages, I highly recommend sharing the bratwurst, knackwurst, and bauernwurst with all the fixings.

It's easy to access other quaint, nearby towns, such as Killington and Waterbury

One of the best parts of Stowe is its proximity to other postcard-worthy fall destinations.

Only 15 minutes away in Waterbury Center, Cold Hollow Cider Mill is a historic dairy farm that's been owned by the same family for generations. Browsing the store's aisles will leave you hungry as you watch the team press apples and fry doughnuts.

Drive another 10 minutes south, and you can indulge in Vermont flavors at Ben & Jerry's and Cabot Creamery in Waterbury. Pro tip: Book a reservation in advance for the factory tour at Ben & Jerry's, as it can sell out fast.

If you're open to venturing a little farther, about an hour south of Waterbury is Killington, a famed ski town that's beautiful in the fall. Here, you can take another gondola ride up Killington Peak at Killington Ski Resort and enjoy a cocktail at the top.

This story was originally published on September 23, 2025, and most recently updated on September 21, 2026.

• Top TV networks are refusing to film President Donald Trump's press conferences and other "pool" events.
• Trump has barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from attending White House events.
• Other members of the White House pool — ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News — are standing with CNN.

Top TV networks are declining to film President Donald Trump's press conferences after the White House barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.

The White House TV pool — made up of ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News — has suspended filming of Trump's press briefings and other pool events related to the president, according to an email from Bryan Boughton, the Washington bureau chief for Fox News who serves as the pool chair, obtained by Politico.

"The TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President," Boughton wrote the Monday email.

"This follows the White House's position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties," Boughton said.

CNN was scheduled to cover the president on Monday and share the TV feed with ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News. The networks in this so-called pool rotate coverage duties, including providing video feeds to one another and to other news organizations. Clips gathered by the White House pool are used by websites and newspapers worldwide.

"The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government," members of the White House pool said in a joint statement on Monday. "No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting."

The networks will continue their agreed-upon pool duties for events not related to the president, such as those involving Congress.

Trump announced a ban on CNN, MS Now, and Politico journalists from the White House in a social media post on Friday, saying that they "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States."

The decision immediately set off alarm bells among press advocates. CNN, MS NOW, and Politico said on Monday that they're suing Trump and three of his top advisors, alleging the ban is a "direct assault on the First Amendment."

Politico shares a parent company with Business Insider.

• I don't recommend taking a big solo trip until you've practiced at home.
• I've gotten used to traveling by myself, but I wasn't always comfortable on my own in new places.
• Playing tourist in my own city prepared me for unaccompanied adventures in the US and abroad.

When it comes to seeing the world, some people don't want to wait for someone to go with.

Burned out by the stresses of work and life, more and more individuals are traveling solo to take a break and reconnect with themselves, especially millennials and Gen Z, as Business Insider previously reported.

From startup founders and finance bros to parents and social workers, individuals across backgrounds are getting in on the solo travel trend.

I've been at it for a while. Since I began working as a reporter in NYC seven years ago, I've traveled to 10 countries, three Canadian provinces, and dozens of cities and suburbs across the US all by myself.

Traveling solo is my norm, and I love it, but it certainly took some getting used to. Being alone in a new place can be daunting for first-timers. That's why I recommend one thing to everyone who is even considering traveling by themselves — practice.

Be a tourist in your own city

So, how do you practice for a solo trip? Treat your city like a destination. Explore it on your own. Get used to planning and executing days of activities and excursions without anyone else to rely on.

You can start small by visiting ticketed tourist attractions, so most of the planning is done for you. For example, before I started traveling solo, I visited observation decks atop New York City's tallest buildings.

Then I started planning more independently. I'd spend a whole day exploring one neighborhood. I even got creative by mapping out my own themed walking tours. I spent one day visiting the skinniest homes in the five boroughs, and another photographing historic carriage houses across the city. One December, I visited the iconic shooting locations from my favorite Christmas movie, "Elf."

I've also taken day trips to nearby off-the-beaten-path attractions, like an abandoned castle on the Hudson River and a Civil War fortress in Queens.

All of these excursions prepared me for weeklong solo trips in the US, Canada, and Europe, which included visiting multiple cities and traveling by train.

If you live in a suburb or rural area, your solo practice trip may look a little different than mine.

Maybe you'll visit a roadside attraction you pass by every morning on the way to work but have never seen up close. Perhaps you'll look up local events in your area, like a poetry slam at a coffee shop or a fitness class in the park. Or maybe you'll finally get to things you've never had time for, like a stroll through a farmers market or community garden. Rural residents may want to explore a nearby state or national park on a weekday, when the trails are less busy.

Try out new restaurants, visit quirky museums, or get a day pass to a country club, resort, or spa. If you're anxious about staying in hotels alone, book a stay so close to your house that you could drive there in the middle of the night if you really wanted to.

Whether you are intimidated by planning itineraries, navigating new neighborhoods, or simply spending time by yourself, facing your solo travel fears locally will prepare you to handle these challenges anywhere.

• Bitcoin looks like it's turning over a fresh page.
• The crypto broke above the $85,000 level for the first time in eight months.
• Investing pros say the crypto winter may be over, given the token's recovery from $58,000 this year.

The signal bitcoin investors have been waiting for may finally be here.

After months of losing, market pros say bitcoin could finally be back on a long-term uptrend, with the cryptocurrency seeing a sharp rally in the last week as digital asset investors piled back in from the sidelines.

The token, which had plunged as low as $59,000 this year, surged another 5% on Monday, topping $85,000. It's the first time bitcoin has surpassed the level since late January, around the time its sell-off began in earnest.

To investing experts, it's the latest sign that the monthslong crypto winter may finally be over.

"It's crypto spring, the crocuses are blooming," Matt Hougan, the chief investment officer of Bitwise Asset Management, said, speaking to CNBC on Monday. "I think this will actually be the strongest and longest-running bull market in crypto's history," he added.

Speaking to The Block at a summit in New York last week, Zach Pandl, the head of research at the crypto firm Grayscale, also said bitcoin's "bear market phase" was likely over, with the token having hit a cycle low around the $58,000 mark in late June.

"We are certainly giving the green light to our clients," Pandl said at the event.

Here are four forces driving the latest surge:

1. Regulatory optimism

Bitcoin first got a boost when President Donald Trump touted the CLARITY Act when speaking at the White House's crypto summit last month. The landmark bill aimed to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets, further cementing its use by institutional investors.

The bill failed to pass the Senate last week, but investors got a win on the regulatory front on Thursday when the Securities and Exchange Commission authorized limited trading of tokenized shares on some blockchain platforms for a period of five years.

On Friday, the Commodity and Futures Trading Commission also submitted a new proposal to regulate crypto markets and transactions.

"The failure of the CLARITY Act to advance in the US Senate might ordinarily have been expected to weigh on crypto prices. Instead, the market largely looked through it," Alice Liu, the head of research at CoinMarketCap, wrote in a note. "The implication is that traders have not abandoned the prospect of clearer US rules."

2. Strong retail and institutional demand

US spot bitcoin ETFs drew $593 million in inflows over Thursday and Friday, counteracting strong outflows recorded on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Bloomberg data. Net inflows were $6 million for the week.

Investors sold bitcoin earlier in the week as they anticipated the Fed to hike rates, which would hurt risk assets like crypto. The selling may also have been fueled by the Senate's vote on the CLARITY Act on Wednesday.

Open interest in bitcoin, a measure of the value of outstanding derivative contracts, like options or futures, is also rising. Over the last seven days, open interest in bitcoin has climbed 8% to $55.7 billion, ranking in the 92nd percentile over the last 90 days, CoinMarketCap data shows.

"Traders are adding leverage into strength rather than being squeezed into it. That is a healthier composition than the market had during this year's failed rallies," Liu said.

3. Oil prices and yields are falling

Treasury yields, a major constraint on risk assets in recent weeks, have started to pull back as investors take in lower oil prices.

Crude prices have tumbled over the last week as concerns about Middle East supply disruptions have abated, particularly since flows coming out of the region remain "surprisingly strong," JPMorgan analysts wrote in a note last week. Brent, the international benchmark, traded around $101 a barrel on Monday, down 7% from its earlier peak of $109.

The benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield also stood around 4.96% on Monday, having pulled back from the critical 5% threshold that markets have generally interpreted as a negative for risk assets.

Fading inflation worries and expectations for looser financial conditions over the long run have helped support bitcoin demand, Konstantinos Chrysikos, a director and the head of customer relations at the brokerage Kudo, wrote in a note.

"Bitcoin advanced to its highest level in several months a broad retreat in global bond yields improved the backdrop for risk assets," Chrysikos said.

4. Improving technical signals

Investors had been watching to see if bitcoin would rally above the $80,000 mark, a key technical level the token has struggled to meaningfully break above for most of the last year.

Earlier this month, the coin also flashed a bullish golden cross, a widely watched technical signal that has historically preceded further upside in an asset's price.

"The underlying setup had already been signaling the potential for higher prices. Our technical and on-chain indicators had been improving," analysts at 10x Research wrote in a note on Monday, adding the firm had called for a "cycle low" back in August.

Bitcoin could still face challenges on the path higher. The token, which remains 32% below its October 2025 peak, is likely to be pressured by rising yields, reflecting higher interest rate expectations, Chrysikos said.

"Markets still expect the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates once more before year-end and several times in the months that follow," Chrysikos said, adding that "firmer" inflation readings going forward could limit bitcoin's rally.

"The risk of sharp pullbacks remains," Alex Kuptsikevich, the chief market analyst at FX Pro, wrote in a note.

• I worked as a flight attendant for years, and there are things I still do when I fly as a passenger.
• I always book a window seat and never sit by the restroom or the bulkhead.
• I change into loungewear on the plane to stay cozy, and pack hotel slippers to wear during flights.

I've worked as a flight attendant for over a decade. In that time, I've picked up a few habits I can't shake even when I fly as a passenger.

Here are some things I always do on commercial flights. 

I always book a window seat ...

Everyone has their own preferences, but for me, nothing beats a window seat.

Yes, you may need to squeeze past your fellow passengers to get to the bathroom, but that may not be often, depending on your bladder. Still, asking to exit the row is worth it to have a place to rest my pillow and an armrest of my own (the middle seat always loses out).

Plus, by skipping the aisle seat, I can protect my elbows from the carts and people passing by me throughout the flight. 

... and I make sure my seat is far from the restrooms and bulkhead

You don't always know who you're going to end up next to when you pick your seat, but there are ways to make your journey more enjoyable during the booking process by looking at the map ahead of time.

For instance, I'll never book a seat by a restroom or galley (where food is prepared) as I know just how noisy and busy those areas will be. I also avoid bulkhead seats — people with babies often book this area because it's where bassinets for infants can be placed. 

It's hard for me not to look polished when I board, so I change into loungewear after I get on the plane

I spent years having to look my best to go to work on a plane, and it's hard to break that habit as a passenger.

I always get on the plane in an immaculate outfit with my hair and makeup done, but once I'm on board, I head to the bathroom to change into my loungewear.

It's hard to predict how hot or cold a flight will be, so I tend to bring lightweight, comfy pieces I can layer in my carry-on bag. I avoid tight waistbands and choose fabrics that won't wrinkle easily.

I also try to get into the plane bathroom before everyone else does so it's still nice and freshly cleaned while I get changed.

Hotel slippers are a must-have travel item, so a pair is always in my bag

I love bringing the complimentary slippers from hotels with me on long flights. 

They're perfect when you don't want to sit in an uncomfortable pair of shoes but refuse to subject your fellow passengers to your socks, no matter how cute they might be. They're also easy to slip on and off.

I also wear slippers when I walk two and from the bathroom. After being flight crew, I'll never ever go into a plane restroom without something more substantial than socks on my feet.

Plus, the slippers can be thrown away at the end of a flight. 

On every flight, I count how many rows I am from the nearest exit

Take note of your nearest exit and touch the headrests as you count the rows back to your seat. If the worst should happen and the plane crashes, this can help you navigate your way to an exit in low visibility.

It's an unlikely scenario, but I've sat through countless hours of safety training to know what may help save my life in an emergency.

Bringing my own food and drinks comes in handy 

I don't rely on airplane food, which isn't always the tastiest. The added salt and sugar typically used to make airplane food taste better aren't helpful for avoiding dehydration and bloating, either.

I bring my own meal on the plane, usually something simple like airport sushi. I also like to bring some healthy snacks I can enjoy throughout the flight.

In terms of drinks, I skip alcohol. To stay hydrated, I always take a lot of water on a plane, add electrolytes to it, and drink as much as I can.

By bringing my own food and drinks, I don't have to wait for the service and can eat on my own schedule. This is especially helpful if I want to keep my body in a particular time zone. 

My SPF must be applied for any flight

Having spent years battling the effects flying has had on my skin, I always give myself a mini facial on long-haul flights. I use an intense hydration sheet mask and under-eye gel patches, then apply my moisturizer and SPF 50.

For shorter flights, I just ensure I'm already wearing a long-lasting and nourishing facial moisturizer, vitamin-C serum, and — most importantly — a strong SPF.

Lastly, I avoid pressing the call bell at all costs

I know all too well how busy crew members can get during a flight — and they're sometimes dealing with stressful situations most passengers aren't even aware of. 

With that in mind, hitting the call bell isn't helpful unless there's a medical emergency or someone needs urgent assistance. I won't be pressing it if I want to ask a question or get something out of my bag in the overhead. 

This story was originally published on August 22, 2023, and most recently updated on September 21, 2026.