RGB LED is the newest advancement in TV technology, enabling a wider, purer range of colors than ever before. But certain RGB LED TVs perform better than others. I put top models from brands like Sony, Samsung, and Hisense to the test, and the Sony Bravia 7 II stands out as my favorite of the bunch. It's a great showcase for RGB tech's biggest strengths while still coming in at a reasonable price. And ahead of Black Friday, it's an even better deal at up to $1,000 off.

What sets the Bravia 7 II apart from other TVs is its use of Sony's True RGB backlight. True RGB tech relies on separate red, green, and blue LEDs to create a wider range of colors than you'd get on a typical QLED, Mini LED, or even OLED TV. It also features excellent local dimming and solid viewing angles for a backlit display. The 65-inch model is an especially great value at $1,000 off via Best Buy and the Sony online store.

I’ve covered TVs for more than a decade, and the Bravia 7 II is easily one of the best values Sony has ever offered. The brand is known for charging top-tier prices for top-tier performance, and though the Bravia 7 II still costs a decent chunk of change, its price is surprisingly competitive for such new technology — especially with these savings.

Looking for more TV discounts? Check out my full roundup of all the best early Black Friday TV deals.

Why I love the Sony Bravia 7 II True RGB TV

The Bravia 7 II is the best Sony TV for most shoppers. It uses the same core RGB backlight technology that powers the higher-end Bravia 9 II, but costs considerably less.

Its wide color performance is impressive. In my testing, the TV reproduced about 87% of the BT.2020 color gamut. Though it's still rare for content to take full advantage of such a wide color space, that extra coverage helps future-proof the TV. It also covers close to 100% of the P3 gamut used in most HDR videos today, giving movies and shows natural yet rich colors.

The Bravia 7 II gets plenty bright, too, hitting around 2,243 nits in my tests. More impressively, Sony's local dimming harnesses that brightness better than most backlit TVs in this price range. I noticed some subtle light bleed in letterbox bars while watching widescreen movies, but otherwise the TV's black levels often disappear into a dark room, completely avoiding the cloudy, washed-out look that plagues cheap LED sets.

Viewing angles are another pleasant surprise for a backlit TV. In one of my regular test clips, bold red shades stayed rich when I watched from an off-center seat at my desk. On many competing displays, those same tones lose their punch and start to look orange.

Sony also nails the day-to-day experience with the snappy Google TV interface, Gemini voice controls, and a clever "Mirage Stand." The stand's transparent front panel uses optical refraction to make cables routed behind it almost appear to vanish. It's a small design flourish, but one that just makes you smile when you see it.

I’ve tested other RGB LED TVs with strong results, but the Bravia 7 II is the value leader. The Samsung R95H offers an even wider range of colors, but it's more expensive and measured a little dimmer. Meanwhile, the Hisense UR9 is competitively priced and actually a bit brighter than the Bravia 7 II, but Sony still pulls ahead with more precise dimming and image processing for a cleaner, more consistent-looking picture.

The Bravia 7 II does miss out on a few premium perks that you'd get with the more expensive Bravia 9 II, including higher brightness, an impressive anti-reflective coating, and a rechargeable backlit remote. But considering the price gap, the 7 II comes remarkably close to Sony’s flagship-level performance.

Looking for more TV recommendations? Check out our guide to the best TVs. And learn more about RGB tech in our RGB LED vs. Mini LED comparison.

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

If you don't want to read any further, you can live stream the game on ESPN Unlimited in the US, DAZN in Canada, Sky Sports in the UK, and the DAZN NFL Game Pass in most other international markets. You can access your usual streaming services from anywhere with the help of a VPN.

What channel is the Bills vs. Vikings game on?

The Bills vs. Vikings game will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN in the United States. The game will kick off on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET

How to watch the Bills vs. Vikings in the US

Just because you don't have cable or a good antenna doesn't mean you need to miss out on tonight's game. There are several easy ways to live stream Monday Night Football in the US.

ESPN Unlimited is ESPN's direct streaming counterpart, offering full live streams from every ESPN network (and ESPN on ABC programming) in one place. The streaming service costs $32 a month, but it can be bundled with multiple other services to save some money each month. The ESPN Unlimited and NFL Plus Premium bundle costs $42 a month.

If you're looking for a more comprehensive streaming option that lets you watch popular networks beyond the ESPN family, a live TV streaming service is the way to go. These month-to-month platforms function as cable alternatives, eliminating hefty equipment and long-term contracts.

YouTube TV is one of the most popular options available. ESPN and ABC are available in multiple tiers, including the flagship Main plan. YouTube TV's Main plan normally costs $83 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first five months after a free trial.

Fubo is one of the best live TV streaming services we've tested. ESPN and ABC are available in multiple plans, including Fubo Pro. Pro costs $89 a month, but new users can get $25 off their first month after a free trial.

How to watch the Bills vs. Vikings in other regions

In most countries outside the US and China, you can live stream the entire NFL season (including the regular season and postseason games) via DAZN's NFL Game Pass. Subscription prices vary from region to region.

Select countries might have special broadcast agreements for certain games. Often, these games are still live-streamed on DAZN's NFL Game Pass. As with several NFL games, tonight's match-up will air on Sky Sports NFL in the UK. In Canada, NFL games are available with a standard DAZN subscription.

How to watch the Bills vs. Vikings from anywhere

Football fans traveling abroad can still access their favorite streaming services with the help of a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let people temporarily change their virtual location. This way, their usual websites and apps work from anywhere — just like they would back home. The services we've recommended require country-specific payment methods, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling away from home.

NordVPN is our top recommendation right now. It's one of the best VPNs on the market, thanks to its fast speeds, impressive server variety, and 30-day money-back guarantee.

• See also: Where to watch the WTA Finals | How to watch Texas Longhorns college football | How to watch NFL games

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.

• The fallout from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's scandal continues.
• On Monday, Nvidia shares and Huang's net worth took a dive.
• More questions about Huang's relationship with a Chinese business executive are arising.

The fallout from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's admission of an affair continues.

On Monday, shares of Nvidia fell roughly 5% a day after Nvidia's board said it was investigating reports that Huang was the target of a Chinese spy campaign.

The woman at the center of the allegations is Alice Huang, who has been an executive for Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer. The New York Times reported in late October that US intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, who developed a close relationship with the Nvidia CEO, was passing information to Beijing.

Several news outlets, including Business Insider, have since reported on other major developments.

Here are the highlights:

• The Commerce Department stopped an investigation into Megaspeed after receiving an email from Nvidia's general counsel asking about the monthslong probe, The New York Times reported. The case was abruptly transferred to the Justice Department, the outlet reported.

• In early 2025, Alice Huang and a business partner were pitching China-based investors on a Southeast Asia data center project "worth several hundred million dollars," The Financial Times reported. The pair told investors they would have "no problem securing GPUs," one investor who was present for the pitch told the publication.

• The Nvidia CEO started working with Heller, a PR firm known for guiding leaders through sex scandals, as early as October 2025, Wired reported. Risa Heller, the crisis communications specialist who founded the firm, has previously worked with the likes of former Rep. Anthony Weiner and chef Mario Batali. Wired noted that Heller also handles corporate communications that are unrelated to scandals.

• Jensen Huang is no longer expected to appear at Anthropic's CEO forum on Monday, and his name disappeared — and then reappeared — from the speaker lineup for ElevenLabs' conference on Wednesday, Business Insider's Henry Chandonnet and Geoff Weiss reported.

• Similarly, Madison Huang, Jensen's daughter and a senior Nvidia executive, abruptly dropped out of an AI-focused event in Seoul, Bloomberg reported.

• Jensen Huang's affair raises the question of whether a star CEO can be too important for a company to lose.
• Trump and tech insiders defended Huang, saying his leadership is crucial to Nvidia and US interests.
• Others warned the scandal raises national security concerns and said it should cost Huang his job.

Jensen Huang helped make Nvidia indispensable to the AI boom. Now, amid an investigation into his personal conduct, the company must confront the question of whether he is indispensable to Nvidia, too.

The cofounder and CEO has long been credited with steering the chipmaker's extraordinary rise, helping to turn it into the world's most valuable company and himself into one of the most powerful figures in tech.

Yet on Sunday, Huang admitted to having an affair. The woman at the center of the controversy is Alice Huang, who has been an executive for Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer. The New York Times reported that US intelligence officials believe she was passing information to Beijing. Nvidia's board said it is looking into whether he was a target of a foreign-intelligence effort.

The company now faces an awkward dilemma: Is its star CEO too important to step down?

Some tech leaders, investors, and other executives say Huang's track record and importance to Nvidia make him impossible to replace. Others say that no CEO should be indispensable, particularly when a board is examining whether his or her personal conduct created risks for the company.

Here's what they're saying:

President Donald Trump

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump praised Huang's work and said he hopes "everything's fine."

"He's done such an incredible job," said Trump. "He's a fine person, in my opinion."

Asked whether he wished he had acted on intelligence alleging the woman Huang had an affair with was a spy, the president said he did not.

"No, I don't think so," Trump said, adding that he thinks Huang is "an honorable guy."

"I think he probably has an excuse for it," said Trump. "You have to hear it."

Gavin Baker, managing partner and CIO of Atreides Management

Baker is in the "stay" camp. He said on X on Sunday that he has known Huang for nearly 30 years and does not believe Huang would knowingly disadvantage the US or Nvidia.

"The only thing he has ever said to me about China is the absolute importance of keeping the American hardware ecosystem, led by Nvidia, ahead of China. That's it," wrote Baker. "I have never known him to be anything other than patriotic and deeply pro-American."

Baker said that Huang should remain CEO because he sees Nvidia's China strategy as advancing US national security interests rather than undermining them. He said on X that Huang has consistently advocated for giving China less powerful versions of the company's chips, and Baker warned that removing Huang could benefit China.

"I'm not sure what China hoped to gain from this espionage operation given they are restricting sales of Nvidia GPUs inside of China but it is worth considering that having Jensen removed as the CEO of Nvidia might serve China's own national security goals," Baker wrote.

Ben Thompson, founder of Stratechery

The founder of Stratechery, a subscription-based newsletter and podcast, is also in favor of keeping Huang put and urged Nvidia leaders' detractors "to do some reflecting of their own."

In a post on Stratechery, Thompson said that Huang is essential to Nvidia's success. He said AI is the most important industry to the US, and that Nvidia is one of the most important companies supporting it.

"I do not subscribe to the idea that anyone could do his job; there are great men, and Huang is one of them. That he is flawed does not change this reality; indeed, great men always are," Thompson wrote.

He added that he hopes Huang can keep his job amid the turmoil.

"Yes, conduct the investigations; yes, demand better controls. At the end of this, however, absent evidence of any sort of clear betrayal of U.S. interests, it is in the interests of the U.S. that Huang continue to be CEO of Nvidia," wrote Thompson. "I very much hope that is where this ends up."

Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund

Black doesn't expect Huang to stick around.

"I doubt Jensen Huang will be able to remain as $NVDA CEO," he wrote on X on Sunday. "While Huang has not committed any crime or tort, his code of conduct and judgment will be called into question which will likely result in his removal by the NVDA Board."

Still, Black said he thinks Huang lacks a natural successor within the company. He told Business Insider Nvidia will likely bring in someone from the outside or pick a board member to be interim CEO.

Ryan Fedasiuk, senior fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation

Ryan Fedasiuk, a senior fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation, a technology think tank, anticipates broader fallout.

"I don't believe this personal affair will remain an isolated event," he wrote on X on Monday. "I also don't believe it can be separated from the company's broader PR crisis in DC: selling advanced chips to China, including through unscrupulous measures."

Fedasiuk said the affair could invite congressional scrutiny in part because it involved one of Nvidia's customers.

"I don't see how it's possible for him to survive," Fedasiuk told Business Insider.

Dan Ives, partner and senior managing director at Yorkville Ives

In an X post on Sunday, Ives called the saga a stain on Huang's reputation. "This is a black eye moment for Jensen and will spark multiple congressional inquiries at a minimum and will create an overhang," Ives wrote.

Ives later said in a follow-up post that investors largely expect Huang to remain CEO but are factoring in a small chance that the board investigation could lead to his removal or departure. Ives added that Huang was not replaceable in investors' eyes, which he said was a worry for Wall Street.

• Jensen Huang is no longer set to attend a Monday Anthropic CEO forum, according to a person familiar with the matter.
• Huang's name also disappeared from the speaker lineup for an ElevenLabs conference set for Wednesday.
• Nvidia's board opened an investigation into whether Huang was the "target of a foreign intelligence effort."

Jensen Huang was scheduled for two tech events this week. Then the CEO disclosed he had an affair, and Nvidia's board opened an investigation.

Ahead of its expected IPO next week, Anthropic is hosting a private CEO forum this week in Montecito. Huang was set to be interviewed by an Anthropic executive on Monday evening, a person familiar with the event told Business Insider. He is no longer expected to attend, according to a second person familiar with the matter.

Anthropic declined to comment.

Huang's name and image have also disappeared from the speaker list for the ElevenLabs Summit in New York. The Nvidia CEO was scheduled for a fireside chat with ElevenLabs CEO Mati Staniszewski on Wednesday, where the two would have a "conversation on the future of AI."

The slot previously held for Huang now shows a "closing keynote" from Staniszewski alone.

ElevenLabs, an AI startup that specializes in voice technology, and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a Sunday note to staff, Huang said that he had been "unfaithful" to his wife. He apologized to his wife and kids, and said that his Nvidia colleagues deserved better.

"I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence," Huang wrote.

That same day, Nvidia said that its board of directors opened an investigation into whether Huang had been the target of a "foreign intelligence effort."

The investigation followed an October report by The New York Times, which said that Megaspeed executive Alice Huang had developed a close relationship with Nvidia's CEO. US officials believed Huang was a Chinese intelligence asset, the Times reported.

In his memo to staff, Huang said that he intended to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Other speakers at ElevanLabs' Wednesday conference include several of the AI company's other executives, as well as leaders from Ramp, McKinsey, and AWS.

• On Friday, Singapore Airlines unveiled new cabin designs for every class, from economy to first.
• The new seats and other enhancements will begin rolling out on select aircraft in 2027.
• The innovations are designed to offer passengers more space, storage, privacy, and comfort.

Singapore Airlines was named the world's best airline by Skytrax in 2026 — but they're not resting on their laurels.

The airline is investing over S$2 billion, or around $1.5 billion, to overhaul its long-haul experience across all cabins, from economy to first class, including its in-flight entertainment system, Starlink WiFi, food and beverage offerings, amenity kits, and more.

"When we set out to do this, our vision is to redefine long-haul travel, to create a journey that's more comfortable, personal, and intuitive for the customers," Ong Wah Li, vice president of product experience at Singapore Airlines, told Business Insider.

Starting in the second half of 2027, the new seats and cabin products will be introduced on select Boeing and Airbus jets in Singapore Airlines' fleet. Its future Boeing 777-9s — which are set to deliver in 2027 but are still awaiting certification from the Federal Aviation Administration — will feature all four redesigned cabins.

The Airbus A350-900 and the A350-900ULR (ultra-long-range) will be upgraded with the new business class, and the A350-900ULR will also get first class for the first time.

"While each cabin has been designed individually, they are united by the same ambition to make the experience more comfortable, flexible, and rewarding for our customers," Lee Lik Hsin, Singapore Airlines' chief commercial officer, told reporters at a media preview on Thursday.

The upgrades, which go beyond the cabin to also include enhancements to Singapore Airlines' airport lounges, come as an increasing number of airlines pivot toward premium offerings that customers are willing to pay more for.

"We have seen rising travel in premium classes from non-corporate segments, whether it is leisure travel, whether it is family travel, even student travel — parents sending their kids to college on business class," Hsin said.

On Friday, Singapore Airlines unveiled its first look at the new cabins. Here's what passengers can expect.

The new and improved economy seats on Singapore Airlines will feature more knee and shin clearance and multiple storage options.

The economy seats will have 31 to 32 inches of legroom, up to 6 inches of recline, and a four-way adjustable headrest.

Economy passengers will also have access to a cupholder, coat hook, and under-monitor seatback pockets with separate compartments.

The cupholder will give customers a place to keep their drink without having to fold down the tray table.

Singapore Airlines' new premium economy seats will feature more legroom and a deeper recline.

Legroom in the new premium economy seats, co-designed by Factorydesign, will increase from 38 inches to 40 inches. The recline will also deepen from 8 inches to 9 inches.

Like the economy seats, premium economy will also have four-way adjustable headrests.

Premium economy will also include more storage.

Premium economy will feature a water bottle holder, an additional compartment under the armrest, and a cocktail tray for keeping snacks and beverages without deploying the tray table.

"All of these will help customers to keep their things organized and within reach," Li said.

Business class is getting a whole new look co-designed by Designworks, a BMW Group company.

Singapore Airlines' current business-class offerings feature a color palette of gray, plum, and mauve. The redesigned business-class seats will also include gray, with new yellow, silver, and blue-black touches.

"Many cabins are going warm and more traditional right now, but we wanted this business class to stand on its own with its own attitude," Designworks CEO Julia de Bono said.

She added that the "automotive-inspired seat" offers both structure and comfort, allowing passengers to "feel held without being constrained." Passengers can save their preferred seat-positioning settings, similar to some cars.

For the first time, Singapore Airlines' business class will include privacy doors.

Central seats configured next to each other in the cabin's 1-2-1 layout will have electronically adjustable privacy dividers between them.

The footwell was relocated from the seat side to the center, allowing flyers to keep their legs straight instead of sitting or sleeping at an angle.

Li told reporters that moving the footwell to the middle of the seat was a highly requested change in the airline's survey of 5,000 frequent flyers, which helped inform the overall design principles.

The new first-class suites can be configured as two separate spaces, or as one room with a two-seater sofa for people flying together.

Co-designed by PriestmanGoode, the suites' central dividers span the full height of the room and can be adjusted to either partially or fully divide the space.

Singapore's previous first class also had the option to combine two suites into one.

The two-seater sofa can fold out into the largest double bed in commercial aviation.

The full-flat double bed, which Singapore said is the industry's largest, measures 60 inches wide and 80 inches long.

First-class cabins will also get new mattress toppers from the luxury bedding brand Paradies.

The new first-class seats allow passengers to sit across from each other at mealtimes.

The table can double as a workspace with a wireless-charging station.

First class will also feature a personal wardrobe and numerous storage spaces for luggage and personal items.

All cabins, from economy to first class, will be enhanced with a new KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.

The new KrisWorld system will offer 4K high-resolution touchscreens, spatial audio, and Bluetooth audio pairing. Passengers will be able to access flight maps and wellness planners while continuing to watch their movies and TV shows from theaters and streaming services.

Singapore Airlines was already renowned for its luxury, but the award-winning carrier continues to innovate.

Singapore Airlines' senior vice president of customer experience, Yeoh Phee Teik, said the airline is "continuously upping our game so that we stay a leader in this industry."

• NASA says it's heading back to the Moon and has its eyes on Mars — so it's hiring.
• The job comes with a six-figure salary and some demanding work requirements.
• The last time the agency hired, 8,000 people applied. Only 10 people made the cut.

Are you looking for a new job and OK with a work commute of 140 million miles?

On Saturday, NASA announced that it had opened applications for its next astronaut candidate class — the first time the space agency has accepted applications for prospective astronauts since 2024.

The agency said it will help usher in the "Golden Age of innovation and exploration," including missions to the lunar South Pole and, potentially, the red planet.

"The people we select could walk on the Moon, live and work at the Moon Base, and help pioneer the systems and operations that will ultimately carry crews to Mars," Jared Isaacman, the agency's administrator, said in a press release.

The bar is high: Applicants must be a US citizen with a completed Master's degree in a STEM field — or an equivalent background, such as medical degrees, doctoral work, or test-pilot training. They also need three full years of relevant work experience.

"NASA seeks astronaut candidates who represent the best of American ingenuity, skill, and determination," Anna Schneider, NASA's Public Affairs Specialist, said in a statement. "They must demonstrate strong technical expertise, operational judgment, leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and the ability to perform demanding missions safely and effectively."

NASA said it received over 8,000 applications during its last talent search. Only 10 applicants made the cut.

Successful applicants must pass drug tests, a background security investigation, vision testing, and other medical and psychiatric exams. They'll also need to pass a water survival test and be willing to spend long stretches in hazardous and confined spaces.

They'll get two years of training — and will be subject to "irregular hours," receive an annual salary of $164,395, and can't work remotely.

The agency expects to announce its new class in late 2027.

If you're planning on applying, godspeed.

• Disney tech execs unveiled a list of streaming priorities for the year ahead in a town hall.
• The Mouse House is planning to add creator content to Disney+ and is working on a free offering.
• A leaked presentation gives a clear view into CEO Josh D'Amaro's streaming vision.

Disney has plans to make big changes to its namesake streamer, Business Insider has learned.

Disney+'s priorities for the next year include uploading more vertical video clips, adding creator content, and working on a free tier, according to screenshots of an internal presentation viewed by Business Insider.

Tech leaders told employees how they're planning to boost engagement on Disney+ in a town hall late last week. In the meeting, execs, including VP of product management Dave Lindsay, unveiled Disney's streaming strategy and priorities for the 2027 fiscal year, which began in October. In the town hall, some tech employees also pressed management for details on a possible next round of layoffs.

The leaked slide deck gives one of the clearest views yet into CEO Josh D'Amaro's plan to have Disney+ be the "digital centerpiece" of the company, while making its flagship service more competitive with paid streamers, YouTube, and social media. According to Nielsen, Disney's streamers accounted for 4.8% of US TV viewership in August — well behind YouTube at 15.8% and Netflix at 7.7%, but more than twice the share of rivals Paramount+ and Peacock.

Here's what's in the works for Disney+ in the next year, according to the presentation:

• Ramping up to adding 500 new vertical clips per day, and introducing creator content in early 2027
• A free tier with always-on FAST channels and content sampling

• 4K livestreaming for the Super Bowl
• Fully unifying Disney+ and Hulu into one app

Inside Disney's streaming priorities

Like other Hollywood giants, Disney is betting on short videos to boost engagement and attract younger viewers hooked on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

The Mouse House plans to ramp up to adding 500 vertical clips per day on its streamer by the end of next quarter, which concludes in early April. The effort is starting this quarter with a goal of about 150 clips a day, the slide deck said.

Disney is planning to add "new content types every quarter," the presentation said. These include clips of sports, news, and short-form "micro series" (including micro dramas). It's aiming to integrate creator content starting next quarter, the presentation said. The company announced a deal with TikTok in early August that would put a curated feed of user-generated content on its streamer.

Disney's forthcoming free offering, which Business Insider first reported on in July, was referenced several times in the streaming presentation. The deck mentioned a "Free Plan" and "the free experience," which it said would include "FAST channel creation" and "content sampling."

FAST channels are free, always-on streaming feeds — supported by advertising — popularized by services like Pluto TV and The Roku Channel. Disney+ already has a few always-on channels for paid subscribers, including ones for Disney princesses and Pixar films. Viewers join in the middle of a show or movie instead of starting on-demand from the beginning.

As for "sampling," Disney has discussed making some Disney+ content available without a subscription, Business Insider previously reported.

Other media giants, including Paramount+, are considering free streaming tiers to reach new viewers. Audiences have flocked to free services like Tubi and YouTube as streamers have raised prices.

Disney+ will livestream the Super Bowl in the US for the first time in mid-February, which the presentation called a major "tentpole" moment. Peacock, Paramount+, and Tubi have streamed Super Bowl coverage from NBC, CBS, and Fox, respectively.

The company's livestreaming priorities include "live 4K HDR, lower latency, scale, live event monitoring and live content security" to deliver the Big Game to millions of viewers in high-quality, lag-free picture, while protecting against piracy.

Disney+ and Hulu are joining forces

Disney is still working toward merging Hulu with Disney+, as part of a multi-phased plan known internally as "Project Gemini." The yearslong project of adding Hulu's content and features to Disney+ will "deepen engagement" and "increase lifetime fan value," D'Amaro said in August.

While the presentation didn't give a target date for the complete Hulu integration, its road map said "One App Milestones" are scheduled through Disney's fiscal fourth quarter, which runs from early July to early October. It's unclear what those milestones are, or what finishing them would mean. (Project Gemini had been scheduled to conclude by the end of 2026, Business Insider reported in May.)

Putting Hulu and Disney+ under one roof is part of Disney's plan to build a super app, where users can play games and buy merchandise without leaving the streamer. The company hopes that an interactive experience will increase time spent and make customers less likely to cancel, D'Amaro told employees in August, while shopping features could drive revenue to other parts of its business.

D'Amaro told employees in August that Disney planned to "introduce elements of this expanded ecosystem" in the spring.

• Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss became inseparable after the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
• They road-tripped through Big Sur, posed for a joint Vogue cover, and shared sweet posts online.
• Kloss has denied a falling-out. They were recently seen together for the first time since 2018.

The mythic bond between Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss dates back to 2013, when the musician and the supermodel met backstage at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The pair quickly became inseparable; they road-tripped through Big Sur, posed together for a joint Vogue cover, and frequently shared photos of their adventures on social media. Kloss even had her own bedroom in Swift's New York apartment.

However, around 2018, whispers of a schism began to circulate.

Although Kloss has maintained that Swift is a "close friend," they weren't seen together for years. When Kloss married Josh Kushner, Swift didn't attend either of their wedding events. Instead, Kloss' guest list included Katy Perry and Scooter Braun, both of whom Swift has feuded with.

Below is a comprehensive timeline of their friendship. 

January 2012: Swift mentions the model in her Vogue cover story

While walking around Prabal Gurung's studio during her 2012 Vogue interview, Swift noticed a framed photo of Kloss hanging on the wall. 

"I love Karlie Kloss. I want to bake cookies with her!" she told the interviewer. 

Kloss, an avid baker who teamed up with Momofuku Milk Bar's Christina Tosi to launch her own line of treats, "Karlie's Kookies," in 2012, accepted Swift's invitation the same day the article was published.

"Hey @taylorswift13 love the @voguemagazine cover!" she wrote in a since-deleted tweet. "Your kitchen or mine?"

November 13, 2013: They have a playful interaction on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway

Swift performed her hit single "I Knew You Were Trouble" at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. 

Kloss, the second model to walk during the "Snow Angels" portion of the show, pointed at Swift and lip-synced her lyrics as she passed by, stopping again to dance with the musician before exiting the stage. 

They also held hands while Swift was singing "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" with Fall Out Boy. 

On December 10, 2013, Kloss shared a photo of herself pointing at Swift on the runway, calling it her "favorite #VSFashionShow moment."

Kloss also shared a behind-the-scenes photo with Swift, captioned with lyrics from "Love Story."

"'We were both young when I first saw you..' favorite Taylor song xox," Kloss wrote.

The introduction left a mark on Swift as well. 

In their joint March 2015 Vogue interview, Swift revealed that she has a Polaroid with Kloss, taken backstage at the show, hanging in her New York City apartment. The photo is labeled, "BEST FRIENDS FOREVER VS2013."

March 2014: They take a road trip through Big Sur together

When the duo met up at the Oscars after-party in 2014, Kloss suggested they do something "spontaneous," they said in their 2015 Vogue interview. 

"I'd been to Big Sur once before, and I was like, 'We should just do it,'" Swift said. 

Kloss shared several memories from their time on the road, which she described as the "adventure of a lifetime with my girl." They frolicked in front of a sunset, wrote their names in the sand with a heart, wore daisies in their hair, and cuddled among the elephant seals.

In one of the posts, fans noticed that Kloss was wearing Swift's sweater, which said "Genius" on it. 

As they drove home, Kloss shared a photo of a yellow daisy in the car, tagging Swift as the center of the flower. She captioned the shot, "best. road trip. ever."

Two years later, Swift would allude to the road trip during her "72 Questions" interview with Vogue.

Asked where someone should take their wife for a wedding anniversary, she replied, "Congratulations, and you should take her to Big Sur."

April 2014: Kloss and Swift are spotted together in New York City

The pair were spotted walking around Manhattan several times throughout the month.

May 4, 2014: They take a photo together at a friend's birthday party

Kloss shared a photo with Swift and Kate Bosworth at a party for hairstylist Harry Josh. The event took place at the Jane Hotel in New York City. 

She captioned the post, "I had fun with these Lovely Ladies last night at #HarrysParty."

May 5, 2014: Swift and Kloss get ready for the Met Gala together at The Surrey Hotel 

The theme for the annual event was "Charles James: Beyond Fashion," and both Kloss and Swift wore gowns designed by Oscar de la Renta. Kloss even shared a behind-the-scenes selfie of the pair getting ready together, captioned, "Pre #MetGala glam party."

When they arrived at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the duo stayed close to each other while posing on the red carpet. 

July 2014: They're frequently seen spending time together in New York City

From brunching at the famous restaurant Serafina to strolling through SoHo, Swift and Kloss enjoyed the city throughout the summer.

Later in 2014, Swift would release her album "1989," which began with the song "Welcome to New York." She's previously cited the Big Apple as an "important landscape and location for the story of my life in the last couple of years."

September 8, 2014: Swift reveals that Kloss frequently sleeps at her New York City apartment

During the singer's interview with Rolling Stone, Swift gave a brief tour of her $15 million apartment. 

Swift walked into one of the guest bedrooms and said, "This is where Karlie usually stays."

According to the outlet, multiple photos of Kloss were hanging on the walls, and Swift had prepared a basket of the supermodel's favorite snacks to sit beside the bed. 

October 29, 2014: Kloss and Swift sit courtside at a New York Knicks game

They drank beer, cheered, and posed for photographers while watching the Chicago Bulls play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. 

Kloss and Swift, who matched in black turtlenecks, also sat next to Ben Stiller and his son Quinlin.

November 12, 2014: They go shopping together in SoHo

Both in plaid, Swift and Kloss stopped in several stores during an outing in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.

November 23, 2014: Swift brings Kloss as her date to the American Music Awards

It was a big night for Swift; she won the Dick Clark Award of Excellence and delivered an energized performance of her song "Blank Space."

Even when Swift was sitting down in the audience, the camera didn't stray for long. Kloss was right by her side. 

They also joked around backstage, playing musical instruments while Swift sat on Kloss' lap. 

December 2, 2014: Swift performs at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show again

Kloss was the first model to walk out during Swift's performance of "Style" at the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. 

Hand-in-hand, the pair strutted down the runway together in lace lingerie. 

After the show, Kloss shared a black-and-white photo of herself and Swift holding hands, captioned with lyrics from the song ("Cause we never go out of style / We never go out of style").

"We met at the show, we never met before but we're BFFs now. It's nice to meet another American girl, we're the same age and she's so inspiring — she's so talented and she's true to who she is," Kloss told Hollywood Life in December 2014. "She's a cool girl and I'm glad she's in the show this year, she rocked it."

December 4, 2014: A fan claims they saw Swift and Kloss kissing at a concert 

Swift and Kloss attended a concert for The 1975 at Terminal 5 in New York City, alongside model friends Lily Aldridge and Martha Hunt.

The next day, a fellow concertgoer posted two photos of the pair on the VIP balcony, holding hands and leaning toward each other.

Although the photos were blurry, they sparked rumors that Swift and Kloss were kissing: "exclusive taylor and karlie making out #confirmed," the fan who took the photos wrote on social media.

However, a representative for Swift called the story "crap."

"It's sad that on the day it's announced Taylor has three Grammy nominations for 'Shake It Off,' I have to shake off this crap," the rep told Us Weekly.

Swift also seemed to respond to the rumors in a since-deleted tweet (although she may have been referring to media coverage of her relationship with The 1975 front man Matty Healy).

"As my 25th birthday present from the media, I'd like for you to stop accusing all my friends of dating me. #thirsty," she wrote. 

December 10, 2014: Kloss compliments Swift's cooking skills

During an interview with Yahoo, Kloss called Swift a "great cook" and said she handles clean-up when they eat together.

"I'm more the baker," Kloss said, adding, "She's a great cook."

December 13, 2014: Kloss attends Swift's star-studded 25th birthday party

The party took place at the musician's New York City apartment, according to Marie Claire. Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Sam Smith, and other celebrities were all in attendance for the occasion.

January 10, 2015: Ingrid Michaelson speaks about her interaction with Swift and Kloss

Swift and Kloss were spotted together at Michaelson's July 2014 concert. When the indie singer was asked what it was like to spend time with them, she joked that she "dragged" Swift onstage with her "supermodel best friend," whom Michaelson didn't recognize at the time. 

"I took a picture with the two of them. I was in six-inch heels, and they're still like this," Michaelson said while raising her arms up. 

She recalled asking Swift and Kloss if they were planning on attending her after-party. 

"They were like, 'No, we have — I have an early shoot,'" Michaelson said, adding that Swift introduced Kloss as a "Victoria's Secret supermodel angel woman."

January 18, 2015: Swift invites Kloss and several other friends over to her house

Kloss, Hunt, Ashley Avignone, and Gigi Hadid all posed with Swift in the singer's house, identifiable by the singer's cat, Meredith, who was perched on the couch.

Kloss shared a photo of the group on Instagram, writing in the caption, "I'm convinced, blondes definitely have more fun."

February 1, 2015: Kloss visits Swift in Nashville

The model shared a photo of one of Swift's cats, Olivia, and tagged the location as Nashville, the singer's adopted hometown. 

Kloss also shared a photo with Swift and Aldridge, writing in the caption, "Such a Wonderful weekend surrounded by such Wonderful friends."

February 13, 2015: They both graced the cover of Vogue

In the joint cover story, Swift and Kloss opened up about their first time meeting, their road trip through Big Sur, and their friendship.

"People had been telling us for years we needed to meet," Swift said. "I remember makeup artists and hair people going, 'Doesn't she remind you of Karlie? God, she and Karlie would be best friends. They're the same.'"

They revealed that Aldridge, who was friends with both Swift and Kloss, made the introduction.  

"We were just like, 'You. My friend. Now,'" Swift joked.

Kloss then attributed their friendship to the fact that they're both "normal people."

"We're real girls," Swift agreed. 

They also faced off in Vogue's "Friendship Test," in which Swift revealed that Kloss listened to her entire "1989" album before anyone else had heard it. As of August 4, 2023, the video has been listed as private on YouTube.

February 16, 2015: Kloss gushes about her friendship with Swift

During an appearance on "Good Morning America," the model was asked about her Vogue cover with Swift. 

"For me, what's significant about that cover, is that it's all about power friendships. Taylor and I are really close, but we also have very different jobs in very different industries. We also are twentysomething-year-old women working very hard and very focused to pursue our dreams and goals, and I think we both are very supportive of one another," Kloss said.

"I think that kind of friendship, whether it's with a sister or a friend, that kind of friendship is really powerful, and it's been a huge part of my success," she added.

February 17, 2015: Swift and Kloss sit in the front row for Oscar de la Renta

Women's Wear Daily covered Peter Copping's debut at Oscar de la Renta, noting that Swift and Kloss were "giggly" together in the front row. (Kloss had walked for the designer the previous year.)

When WWD asked why she attended the show, Swift curiously declined to comment: "My publicist would get mad at me," she said.

Kloss later shared a selfie with Swift from the event, posing with another close friend, Derek Blasberg.

"Front row selfie with my best buds," she wrote. "(My best friend and my big brother. So how are they related? Step friends?)"

February 18, 2015: Kloss shares a shout-out to her 'buddy'

After Swift appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," the model posted a photo of their interview on Instagram. 

"So proud of my buddy killing it on the #TonightShow with @jimmyfallon," she wrote. 

February 24, 2015: Swift supports Kloss at her charity event in London

Kloss cohosted an event called The World's First Fabulous Fund Fair to benefit The Naked Heart Foundation, Natalia Vodianova's charity aimed at helping Russian children. 

Several of the supermodel's friends — like Cara Delevingne, Ellie Goulding, and of course, Swift — attended the event in London to support her. 

February 25, 2015: They pose with Kim Kardashian at the Brit Awards

The 2015 Brit Awards were a sweeping success for Swift. She won best international female solo artist and performed her hit song, "Blank Space."

She also seemed to set her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian aside for the night, though it would soon be reignited; Kardashian shared a photo with Swift and Kloss at the event. 

May 8, 2015: Kloss posts a side-by-side picture of herself matching with Swift

Kloss shared a photo of herself next to one of Swift wearing the same black-and-white dress from separate photo shoots.

She originally captioned the photo, "Missing my girl," but later changed it to, "Missing my BFF."

In fact, throughout their friendship, fans noticed how the duo often borrowed each other's clothes and rocked similar looks, even in Swift's music videos.

May 18, 2015: Kloss stars as 'Knockout' in Swift's 'Bad Blood' music video

Swift assembled her best friends to play superheroes — and villains, in Selena Gomez's case — in her "Bad Blood" music video. Kloss was featured as Knockout, a character that takes on Swift in the boxing ring.

Mariska Hargitay, Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Alba, Serayah, Zendaya, Kendrick Lamar, Lena Dunham, Hailee Steinfeld, Hayley Williams, Hadid, Hunt, Delevingne, Goulding, and Aldrige also made cameos in the video. 

"Bad Blood" was widely believed to be about Katy Perry, who the "1989" singer had been feuding with at the time. (They've since buried the hatchet.)

June 27, 2015: Kloss makes a cameo at the 1989 World Tour in London

Kloss was one of several of Swift's friends who attended her "1989" tour stop in London.

At one point, the group joined Swift onstage and waved a British flag.

Kloss shared a photo on Instagram of herself onstage with Swift, Hadid, and Delevigne, writing in the caption, "somehow, this picture captures the spirit of last night perfectly." She also shared a photo of the group backstage, including Kendall Jenner and Martha Hunt.

June 30, 2015: They tour London with a larger group

Joking that she was the "5th wheel" on a boat tour of the River Thames, Kloss shared a photo of herself with Swift and her then-boyfriend Calvin Harris, along with Hadid and her then-boyfriend Joe Jonas (whom Swift also dated in 2008). 

"That moment when you realize you're the 5th wheel on a romantic double date river cruise...." Kloss wrote in the caption.

July 11, 2015: Kloss appears at another of Swift's concerts in New Jersey

Kloss, Aldridge, Hadid, Uzo Aduba, and Behati Prinsloo cheered for Swift at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, once again making a surprise cameo onstage.

August 30, 2015: Swift brings the 'Bad Blood' cast to the MTV Video Music Awards

Swift was front and center as she walked down the red carpet at the 2015 VMAs with her "Bad Blood" crew.

xLater in the evening, "Bad Blood" won awards for best video and best collaboration. Kloss made sure to congratulate Swift on Instagram.

The next day, she also shared a group selfie with the caption, "So much fun last night at the #VMAs with the #BadBlood babes."

November 20, 2015: They celebrate Aldridge's birthday 

The crew seemed to remain tight toward the end of 2015, when both Kloss and Swift celebrated Aldridge's birthday with a cake. Kloss shared a photo of the occasion on Instagram.

December 20, 2015: Kloss shares a highlight video from Swift's 1989 World Tour

The montage showed Kloss heading to her first Swift concert in June.

"I've never seen Taylor perform, and I get to be onstage with her," she said in the video.

Kloss also included several behind-the-scenes moments, like when she and several of Swift's other friends joined the singer onstage.

December 30, 2015: The model shares her 'best nine' photos on Instagram, and Swift was in nearly all of them

With the exception of Kloss' photo with Delevingne and a photo of herself standing in front of New York University, Swift appeared in seven of Kloss' most-liked Instagram photos from 2015. 

"If each like was a mile, I'd get to the moon and back 107 times. Can't thank you enough for the love," Kloss wrote. 

April 18, 2016: They hang out at Coachella

The day after she posted a video from Coachella with her now-husband, billionaire venture capitalist Joshua Kushner, Kloss took a selfie with Swift at the music festival.

June 13, 2016: Swift rents a Manhattan apartment less than a mile away from Kloss' property

While her Tribeca apartment underwent renovations, Swift rented a West Village property on Cornelia Street, reportedly costing $40,000 per month, according to TMZ.

At the time, Kloss was living in a $2.75 million apartment on Charles Street, half a mile away from Swift's rental. The supermodel was frequently seen coming and going from Swift's place.

July 4, 2016: Kloss attends Swift's annual Independence Day party in Rhode Island 

Swift hosted a star-studded Fourth of July party at her 11,000-square-foot Rhode Island mansion, which was built in the '30s and reportedly cost $17.75 million.

The group — which included Swift's then-love interest Tom Hiddleston, Hadid, Delevingne, Kloss, and more — was photographed celebrating the occasion wearing red, white, and blue attire.

They even enjoyed a massive inflatable slide and fireworks, which Kloss showed off on social media. 

August 3, 2016: Kloss celebrates her birthday with Swift over FaceTime

On the evening of her 24th birthday, Kloss shared a photo of Swift's face on her iPad screen. She'd propped up the device next to a bouquet of sunflowers.

"When you're halfway around the world & your best friend still finds a way to celebrate 24 with you," she wrote, tagging Swift.

Based on behind-the-scenes footage from "Reputation" studio sessions, Swift recorded "King of My Heart" the very same day.

August 14, 2016: Kloss says that Kim Kardashian is a 'lovely person' amid the reality star's feud with Swift

During an interview with The Sunday Times, Kloss was asked to share her thoughts about Kim Kardashian, who was in involved in a heated feud with Swift at the time.

"I think she's been a lovely person to me in the past. Look, I really don't know her that well," she said. 

After people accused her of siding with the reality star instead of sticking up for her friend, she defended herself on Twitter.

"I will not allow the media to misconstrue my words," she wrote. "Taylor has always had my back and I will always have hers."

October 13, 2016: Swift and Kloss are seen in SoHo during one of their last public outings

The pair was spotted with Serena Williams and Dakota Johnson leaving Bowery Ballroom in New York City. 

October 28, 2016: Kloss shares a Polaroid of herself and Swift at Drake's 30th birthday party

The pair was seen walking into Drake's birthday party together at Delilah, a club in Los Angeles, several nights prior — the last time they were photographed together in public.

Kloss shared a Polaroid photo of herself with Swift from the same night, captioned, "Happy belated @champagnepapi."

November 8, 2016: The model wishes Swift's close friend Lorde a happy birthday 

Kloss shared a photo of herself and Swift kissing Lorde on either cheek.

Swift and Lorde, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor, had previously become close friends.

"Happy Happy 20th bday Ella," Kloss wrote. "Looking forward to the epic adventures ahead and memories to be made over the next 20!"

December 13, 2016: Kloss calls Swift her 'friend, sister and partner in crime' on the singer's birthday

"Happiest of Birthdays to my ride or die @taylorswift," Kloss captioned a photo of Swift kissing her cheek.

"I feel blessed to count you as my friend, sister and partner in crime," Kloss wrote. Can't wait to celebrate together very soon."

December 13, 2017: Kloss posts a simple birthday message to Swift on social media

"Happy happy birthday @taylorswift!" Kloss captioned the selfie.

January 1, 2018: Swift's fans speculate a rift in their friendship after Kloss captions a photo with Katy Perry's song lyrics

Kloss played basketball in a black-and-white video she shot for LOVE's advent calendar.

She originally captioned the photo, "Swish Swish," which is the title of Perry's song widely believed to be a response to Swift's "Bad Blood."

Fans began accusing Kloss of taking a side in the feud by writing Perry's lyrics on her Instagram and flooding the post with comments.

Others defended Kloss, saying that she was merely using a common basketball term. 

She eventually changed the caption, which now reads, "Nothing but net."

February 8, 2018: Kloss goes to dinner with Perry in Los Angeles

Slightly a month after the model was accused of dissing Swift on Instagram, she was spotted out to dinner with the "Swish Swish" singer in Los Angeles. Two mutual friends were present as well.

Several days later, Jennifer Lawrence joked that Kloss and Swift's distance "keeps her up at night" during a live interview with The New York Times.

When asked to choose one secret that she could know the answer to, Lawrence responded, "Honestly, I'd like to know what's going on between Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift, like that's the honest-to-god truth. Is nobody else curious? It's keeping me up at night. What happened?"

March 16, 2018: Kloss lists Swift as one of her closest friends during an interview

Despite rumors that her friendship with Swift had ended, Kloss said she was still close with the songstress during an interview with The New York Times.

The outlet reported that Kloss and Swift speak frequently, even though tabloids claimed otherwise. 

"Don't believe everything you read," Kloss said.

August 26, 2018: They share their final selfie together at the Reputation Stadium Tour

Kloss attended the "Reputation" tour stop in Nashville, where she snapped a selfie with Swift backstage.

"No one puts on a show like @taylorswift," she wrote. "#ReputationTour Nashville was out of this world, I am SO proud of you."

At the time of writing, this is the last photo Kloss or Swift have shared together on social media.

October 11, 2018: Kloss says she and Swift are 'still really good friends'

During her "73 Questions" interview with Vogue, Kloss was asked if everything was "cool" between her and Swift.

"The world needs to know? Well, Jennifer Lawrence was interested," Kloss replied. "Jen, don't worry. Taylor and I are still really good friends."

October 18, 2018: Kloss gets married, and Swift doesn't attend the wedding

The supermodel exchanged vows with Kushner in an intimate private ceremony in upstate New York. The wedding had about 80 guests, according to People.

Swift shared an update on her Instagram Story shortly after news of the wedding broke, confirming she was on tour in Australia at the time.

December 13, 2018: Kloss gives another birthday shout-out to Swift

On the afternoon of Swift's 29th birthday, the model shared a photo of the pair at the 2015 AMAs.

"Proud of you always," Kloss wrote, adding, "Happy Happy Birthday @taylorswift."

The post has since been deleted.

March 2019: Swift seems to disavow her 'squad,' but Kloss brushes it off

In anticipation of her 30th birthday, Swift wrote an essay for Elle titled "30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30."

She cited the importance of acknowledging the difference between "friendships" and "situationships" in her 20s.

"Something about 'we're in our young twenties!' hurls people together into groups that can feel like your chosen family. And maybe they will be for the rest of your life. Or maybe they'll just be your comrades for an important phase, but not forever. It's sad but sometimes when you grow, you outgrow relationships. You may leave behind friendships along the way, but you'll always keep the memories," Swift wrote.

Swift also admitted that she began to feel like her so-called "squad" had become the "living embodiment" of her childhood insecurities — like being ostracized and mocked at school.

"In my twenties I found myself surrounded by girls who wanted to be my friend. So I shouted it from the rooftops, posted pictures, and celebrated my newfound acceptance into a sisterhood, without realizing that other people might still feel the way I did when I felt so alone," Swift wrote. "It's important to address our long-standing issues before we turn into the living embodiment of them."

Kloss appeared on "Watch What Happens Live" several days after the essay was published, and Andy Cohen asked what she thought about the essay. 

"Taylor is incredible, and I feel really lucky to call her a friend, and she's one of the hardest working women, and I loved her essay," Kloss said. 

June 20, 2019: Kloss and Kushner have another wedding, but Swift doesn't attend that one either

Months after their first wedding, Kloss and Kushner threw a larger celebration with friends at Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming.

While Swift didn't appear in any of the photos from the event, Perry did. 

Scooter Braun, who was at odds with Swift even before he purchased her former record company, was also photographed the event with his then-wife Yael Cohen. At the time, Braun had been Kloss' manager for years.

A source close to both Kloss and Swift told Page Six that Swift was invited to both events.

A representative for Kloss told the publication that Swift couldn't attend due to prior commitments. 

August 10, 2019: Kloss vacations with Braun in the midst of his feud with Swift

Braun purchased Big Machine Label Group — an acquisition that included Swift's masters — for a reported $300 million in June 2019. After news of the acquisition broke, Swift aired her grievances in a Tumblr post. 

"I learned about Scooter Braun's purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world," Swift wrote. "All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I've received at his hands for years."

The singer explained that she "pleaded for a chance to own my work" for years before the sale but was instead offered to "sign back up to Big Machine Records and 'earn' one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in."

Following Braun's purchase, celebrities and friends began to take sides, but Kloss stayed quiet. And just months after the acquisition, Kloss went on vacation with the music executive. 

Braun posted a photo with Kloss and her husband on a boat. He wrote in the caption, "Week of laughter." It has since been deleted.

July 23, 2020: Kloss shares a photo with an eerie resemblance to Swift's 'Folklore' photo shoot on the same day as the album announcement

Swift surprised fans by announcing the release of her eighth studio album, "Folklore," on July 23, 2020. Swift also shared black-and-white images of herself in the woods on Instagram, one of which served as the album cover.

Shortly after the musician's announcement, Kloss shared two photos of herself in the forest that looked similar to Swift's pictures.

She captioned the pictures: "happy place."

Given their history, fans wondered if the supermodel's photo was a nod to Swift's album, though she never directly mentioned "Folklore" or Swift in her post.

January 7, 2021: Swift may reference Kloss in her 'Evermore' song 'It's Time To Go' 

Swift surprise-released her ninth album "Evermore" on December 11, 2020. Like its sister "Folklore," the tracklist is packed with sly winks and Easter eggs that hint at Swift's emotional state.

One month later, Swift released two bonus tracks for the deluxe edition of "Evermore." One of the songs, titled "It's Time to Go," sparked speculation about her relationship with Kloss.

In the first verse, Swift sings, "When the words of a sister come back in whispers / That prove she was not in fact what she seemed / Not a twin from your dreams / She's a crook who was caught."

The words "sister" and "twin" led fans to wonder if Swift was referring to Kloss, a fellow tall blonde. (Throughout their friendship, the media also referred to them as "sisters separated at birth.")

Fans also theorized that "whispers" and "crook" meant that Swift felt betrayed when their friendship ended; the song is about knowing when to leave a situation that's no longer serving you, or actively hurting you ("Sometimes giving up is the strong thing").

The other "Evermore" bonus track, "Right Where You Left Me," is the inverse narrative. Swift sings about feeling abandoned and alone, unable to get over a past relationship.

The opening line, "Friends break up, friends get married," could refer to her apparent "break up" with Kloss, who got married to Kushner shortly after.

"I swear you could hear a hair pin drop / Right when I felt the moment stop / Glass shattered on the white cloth / Everybody moved on, I stayed there," Swift sings in the chorus.

The image of glass shattering against white cloth could reference a well-known tradition in Judaism, in which newlyweds stomp on a glass that's covered by a napkin. According to People, Kloss and Kushner had a Jewish wedding ceremony.

August 9, 2023: Kloss is spotted in the crowd at Swift's Eras Tour in Los Angeles

Nearly five years after they were last photographed together, Kloss shocked fans by attending the final show on the US leg of the Eras Tour.

According to photos and videos from the event, Kloss was seated in a regular section, as opposed to the VIP tent with other celebrities like Halsey and Sadie Sink.

She was also filmed singing along to hits like "Shake It Off" and "Bad Blood." Serendipitously, this was the same night Swift chose to announce the recorded version of "1989" — the very album that Kloss heard before anyone else back in 2014.

April 23, 2024: Kardashian shares a photo with Kloss amid renewed speculation about her feud with Swift

Swift released her 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," on April 19, 2024. The deluxe edition includes a song called "Thank You Aimee," which fans have interpreted as a Kardashian diss track.

Amid rumors and headlines about the song rehashing Swift and Kardashian's longtime feud, the reality star decided to share an old group photo of herself with Kloss. (She didn't tag Kloss in the post, only Derek Blasberg.)

July 3, 2026: Kloss received a surprise invite to Swift's wedding

Swift married Travis Kelce in a star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden.

Although guests were reportedly required to sign NDAs, and no photos have been released from inside the event, paparazzi caught many celebrities heading to the New York City venue in black-tie attire — including Kloss, who was photographed in SoHo wearing a gold gown.

A few weeks later, Kloss was asked about the wedding during an appearance on the "Today" show.

"Listen, I try to protect the privacy of my friends' personal lives," Kloss said. "But what I will say is that they're an amazing couple and I'm so happy for them."

November 8, 2026: Swift and Kloss publicly reunite at a Chiefs game

Over eight years since Swift and Kloss were last seen hanging out, Kloss materialized in Swift's VIP suite at Arrowhead Stadium, where Swift often cheers for Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs alongside friends and family.

Swift and Kloss were photographed chatting and hugging during the game. The pair also sat with Swift's parents, Andrea and Scott Swift.

• TikTok Shop's US operations are primarily run by executives from China, a leaked org chart reveals.
• The company's shift away from local US leaders has led to some friction, insiders say.
• ByteDance sold much of its stake in the US division of TikTok, but kept a full grip on its e-commerce business.

Earlier this year, the e-commerce team at TikTok announced a policy change that sent some of its sellers into a frenzy.

The company told all US merchants they needed to switch to TikTok Shop's in-house fulfillment and shipping program by the end of March. They could no longer send out their products independently and would have to pay TikTok's service fee.

The mandate drew backlash, with some sellers threatening to leave the platform, a Shop agency partner said. The company scrapped the proposed policy in February.

Company insiders say the incident speaks to how leadership within TikTok Shop in the US has changed over the last few years. TikTok has elevated executives with backgrounds in Chinese e-commerce — many of whom are now based in the US — and shed American e-commerce leaders through layoffs or voluntary exits. TikTok Shop's US operations are now largely led by staffers who were previously or are currently based in China, according to an org chart viewed by Business Insider, conversations with company insiders, and a review of executives' verified LinkedIn accounts.

TikTok Shop is ByteDance's bet on social shopping, a new form of e-commerce in which consumers buy products through influencer videos or livestreams. The platform offers everything from phone chargers to houseplants, enlisting content creators to help sell goods in exchange for a commission.

The e-commerce platform has gained market share in the US, capturing about 2% of total online retail spend in July, up from about 1.2% a year ago, according to Consumer Edge, a customer-intelligence firm that analyses US credit and debit card transactions. At the same time, the company now has fewer leaders with US e-commerce experience to flag potential issues, more than a dozen current and former staffers said.

TikTok Shop's operations team is overseen by Mu Qing, a former e-commerce executive for Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Mu, who goes by Mason, reports to Bob Kang, ByteDance's e-commerce lead. Six out of the seven US product category leaders who report to Mu previously worked in China at ByteDance or other companies. The person overseeing TikTok's US Shop creator team previously ran Douyin's creator team.

A TikTok spokesperson said its Shop US leadership team "has remained largely unchanged for more than a year, and the entire organization is focused on helping American businesses of all sizes grow and succeed on the platform."

They pointed to a May and June survey the company commissioned from PF Global, which found that 85% of businesses using TikTok Shop said it had increased sales and revenue, while 81% said it had helped them reach new customers they couldn't access via a physical or online store.

TikTok's increased reliance on Chinese leaders in the US arrives after Congress and two presidents spent more than half a decade pushing its owner, ByteDance, to sell its US business, fearing its parent could be compelled by the Chinese government to change its algorithm or hand over access to US user data. In January, ByteDance sold off a large chunk of TikTok US to a consortium of investors to comply with a divestment law. It passed along oversight to those investors of parts of its operations, such as data management, but did not relinquish control of its US e-commerce or advertising businesses.

Having leadership with connections in the Chinese market has helped the company grow revenue in the US. Some of TikTok's executives have brought seller and agency relationships from the country, which have helped boost US sales on TikTok Shop. Many of Shop's foreign sellers are based in China, though they often set up entities in the US. Still, company insiders said the changing of the guard has led to some strategy missteps when local nuances are lost.

"Leadership from China is used to consumers or sellers adjusting quickly, but in the US, customers have alternatives, and if they don't like an experience they will not usually stick around," said one former Shop staffer who worked on TikTok's shipping strategy.

TikTok's evolving US structure

Organizational shake-ups within TikTok that have unseated local leaders haven't been confined to TikTok Shop's operations team. Last year, the company reorganized its global e-commerce governance and experience team, handing greater oversight of new markets like Latin America to executives from China and Singapore. In March 2025, it replaced its top US advertising leader, Blake Chandlee, with Will Liu, known in China as Liu Xiaobing, an executive who worked on monetization products for ByteDance's Chinese apps and TikTok. In April, North America advertising exec Khartoon Weiss, who had served as Chandlee's on-the-ground replacement, also left the company.

Companies that want to expand into a new market often do so because they believe they have a competitive advantage they can replicate in a foreign country, said Z. John Zhang, a Wharton professor and founding director of its China Center.

"This means that you do have to bring your own people in to implement whatever is working in your own home country," he said.

He added that these leaders often make assumptions about a foreign market based on experience in their home one. That can lead to strategic mistakes, he said.

TikTok hired Amazon talent to kick off Shop

TikTok's US e-commerce operations team wasn't always led by Chinese executives.

In 2023, it went on a hiring spree from Amazon and other US companies as it prepared to get its e-commerce business off the ground.

Among its early recruits were Nicolas Le Bourgeois, a nine-year Amazon veteran, and Marni Levine, a former Meta and eBay executive, who were brought on to help run US operations. Some product category executives came from Amazon, too, like food and beverage head Cameron Gould-Saltman.

Enlisting Amazonians to help navigate the US market was strategic, as Amazon is the country's dominant player, controlling about 35% of US online retail spend in Consumer Edge's July analysis.

Hiring local experts when entering a new market is a common strategy among international firms, Zhang said.

"You rely a little bit more on the locals, but hold onto the more technical and sophisticated jobs for your own home country and executives," Zhang said.

In 2024, ByteDance's e-commerce executives pushed the US team to try to replicate strategies that had worked well on Douyin, such as live shopping. It issued a companywide training program for livestream commerce, encouraging brands to adopt live selling and asking TikTok employees to try selling products on camera.

In the Chinese market, live commerce drives hundreds of billions of dollars in annual sales. It's much more niche in the US, where it's expected to drive just under $20 billion in sales this year, according to a forecast from EMARKETER, Business Insider's sister company.

"They wanted 'Live' to be the thing like it is in Asia, but organizationally it was the big push, and then they moved everything back," said one former Shop staffer who worked with partners on their live selling strategies and was laid off last year.

Top leadership "eventually got smart to this not being something they could brute force," they said.

"Being in China and having a successful model that works in that market, they tried to just apply it in the American market," said another former staffer who worked with TikTok Shop creators.

Top leadership became disappointed with US growth

In early 2025, ByteDance leadership told staffers it was unhappy with TikTok Shop's US performance. Through a series of performance review cycles, team reorgs, and layoffs, it lost many of its US operations leaders, including Le Bourgeois.

As local leaders exited, the company in May 2025 appointed a US staffer, Patrick Nommensen, to a new role as "external ambassador to represent US TikTok Shop in external engagements," per a company memo sent by Mu and viewed by Business Insider. Nommensen serves as the local face of the business externally.

Shop has continued to gain traction as more Americans get acclimated to buying in the social feed. In December, TikTok said it crossed $500 million in product sales during the four-day holiday stretch from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, for example.

Internally, current and former TikTok Shop staffers say the shift from US to Chinese leadership has changed office culture in e-commerce hubs like Seattle, Washington.

Three insiders felt that elements of "996 work culture," a workplace philosophy popularized in China that encourages staffers to work 12-hour days and on weekends, had ramped up at TikTok in the US.

The workplace mindset has shifted, a current Shop staffer said.

"There's people who are hungrier, used to the long hours, more prepared for the chaos of moving quickly," they said. "That's something that I battle with."

• Marian Leitner-Waldman invested her savings to start Archer Roose, a fast-growing canned wine brand.
• She and her husband worked with Chilean winemakers and a Cornell scientist to perfect their wine.
• They plan to add more low-ABV options to their portfolio and continue supporting the industry in 2027.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Marian Leitner-Waldman, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Archer Roose Wines, based in Boston. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I was young, I really wanted to make the world a better place. After graduating with a degree in international studies, I worked at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and later at the Global Partnership for Education, which was based at the World Bank.

I'd always had side hustles, and I've always loved wine. My husband, David Waldman, had previously founded his own winery in the Republic of Georgia, but he was no longer involved with it by the time we started our business. I really wanted to answer the question of how to have a glass of wine without opening a bottle.

We've turned that answer into Archer Roose Wines, a business that generates eight-figure revenue.

We wanted to break a dynamic in the wine industry

While still working at the World Bank in 2013, I found research indicating that packaging and distribution account for a substantial share of wine's carbon footprint. By tackling the format, we would also have an opportunity to lower the carbon footprint.

For bottles under $25, you're typically paying more for shipping and packaging than for the wine inside. We set out to flip this dynamic so that when a consumer purchases the product, they're really paying for the wine.

We looked at bag-in-box, but cardboard and the bag inside were not recyclable everywhere. It's very hard to enact change on issues like recyclability and waste management. I wanted to leverage the existing infrastructure.

Aluminum cans can be recycled repeatedly and are accepted by almost all local recycling programs. What really pushed me over the edge was looking at trends more broadly and seeing more beverage categories expanding into cans.

I realized that the consumer had changed, and the emphasis was now on individual serving size and convenience.

I worked on Archer Roose on the side for a while

I was constantly pressure-testing the idea because canned wine was still pretty shocking. I couldn't get any distributor to sign us on for a while. Finally, a sorority sister who worked for a wine importer and distributor in New York agreed to start working with me.

I quit my job to go all in on Archer Roose in the summer of 2015. By then, we had our first supply chain in place and had signed our first distributor. Cans actually came a little later. We initially launched as a boxed wine.

We funded the first three years with friends and family

I had just gotten married, and my husband had just graduated with his MBA. We were moving to Boston for his job, and I was planning to get my MBA. I realized I would rather take the money that we saved for my degree and put it toward the company because this was going to be my education.

We used that money to start the business and then raised $350,000 in a friends-and-family round in 2016.

We knew early on that we wanted to source from Chile

The idea of partnering with winemakers around the world, shipping the wine to the US in flexitanks, and packaging and distributing it here was my husband's idea.

The quality of wine in Chile is outstanding, and the country sits in roughly the same time zone as we do, which made working together a lot easier. We bought nearly every Chilean wine we could find under $25 and tasted them all, taking careful notes. Then we worked backward on the ones we liked: who made the wine, where the grapes came from, who the winemaker was.

We started reaching out from there. Most of them had no interest in working with an alternative-packaging brand. Then we met Luca Hodgkinson. He connected with what we were trying to do and agreed to take a chance on us.

Investors criticized me for spending too much money on product development

I got criticism for how much time and energy we put into making sure the wine tasted right, but fundamentally, I believe wine is a treat, and if it doesn't taste great, it's not worth it.

I wanted to be the brand you go to on a Wednesday night when you don't want to open an entire bottle. It's about a ritual: a repeat purchase that becomes a habit. That means mass distribution and volume.

I asked myself who had a similar account universe and route to market, and would be incentivized to learn a different way of working. That's when it hit me: beer distributors. We met with a brewer who told us that you have to brew beer differently for cans than for bottles.

We started to dig into the chemistry behind the can liner

We saw a gap in research on how different wines interact with can liners over time. We collaborated with Cornell food science professor Gavin Sacks, first by providing cans for existing research and later by helping to fund dedicated studies.

We also began collecting our own research. We learned that we needed to approach each wine variety differently.

We started selling cans in 2017.

In 2022, Constellation Brands invested in us

They took a minority stake, and they brought validation to the table. I'm not from the industry. I was a wine company distributed through beer distributors in cans. I think people didn't know what to make of us.

By then, the business had changed enormously. After our first fundraising round, we learned fast that boxed wine made from the grapes we wanted to use was too expensive for people who had never tried the brand. We continued to refine our product-market fit and our go-to-market approach.

The important lesson I've learned in category and company building is that you constantly need to look beyond what you can afford to what your company will need next.

The business is kind of an extension of our family life

I'm the CEO, and my husband is the chairman of the board. Early on, we decided that only one of us was going to be full time in the business, mostly because we didn't want anybody working for us to be reporting to two married people.

We have 15 to 20 employees and work with five winemakers around the world. We're a fully remote company.

During the pandemic, I reached out to Elizabeth Banks, and she joined in 2021 as a chief creative officer and co-owner.

Most of our plans for the coming years are to scale up what we're doing

We'll be adding to our portfolio in 2027 with more lower-ABV options in response to customer feedback.

We also want to continue supporting the wine industry at large as its interest in alternative formats grows, and figure out how we can share the IP we've developed so that we can build this category together.

I want to compete on the quality of our wine, on our brand, and on our route to market. I don't want consumers to ever feel like buying canned wine is a gamble.

• Russia has begun using a new missile, the K5-K, which is based on its Geran-5 jet-powered drone.
• Ukrainian intelligence said the K5-K is smaller than its predecessor, but can fly faster and higher.
• One of the missiles, which was found nearly intact, was armed with a deadly thermobaric warhead.

Russia has begun fielding a new variant of its most dangerous attack drone, which more closely resembles a missile and can fly faster and higher than its predecessors, Ukraine said Monday, a development that could further challenge its air defense operations.

Several weeks ago, Russia began using a variant of its Geran-5 drone known as the K5-K to attack Ukrainian cities, the GUR, Kyiv's military intelligence agency, said, adding that its experts recently found a nearly intact munition in the middle of a field.

Considering the K5-K's aerodynamic and technical characteristics, it "can already be classified as a small-sized cruise missile," the agency said. The GUR noted that Ukraine discovered hundreds of foreign-made electronic components inside the munition, as has been the case with other Russian weaponry, highlighting the ongoing challenge of restricting access to foreign components.

Like the Geran-4 and Geran-5 attack drones, the new K5-K is powered by a mini turbojet engine. The missile's airframe is slightly smaller than the Geran-5; however, its fuselage has been improved for greater speed and altitude.

The K5-K can reach an altitude of nearly 20,000 feet, up from 16,000 feet, and cruise at speeds over 280 mph, though it can fly faster than 600 mph during certain maneuvers, the GUR said. The missile has the same range and warhead size — 620 miles and 200 pounds, respectively — as its predecessor.

However, the GUR said that the K5-K found by its experts was armed with a TBCH-90 thermobaric warhead. These munitions are also known as vacuum bombs and disperse an aerosol cloud of explosive material, then ignite it, causing a large fireball and high-temperature blast wave while drawing out the surrounding oxygen.

Their blasts, which can be hotter than 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit, last longer than typical warhead explosions and are highly destructive and deadly, especially in enclosed spaces. Russia has armed some of its older drones with thermobaric warheads, and Ukrainian first responders and air defenders have previously characterized them as a serious issue.

Neither Russia's defense ministry nor its US embassy responded to a request for comment on the GUR's findings.

It's unclear how often Russia has launched the K5-K cruise missile since the first attack earlier this fall. But its development comes amid broader efforts to field weapons that blur the line between drone and missile.

Russia has invested heavily in jet-powered drones in recent months, building out air bases to support their launch and attacking Ukraine with thousands of them since June. As defenders struggle to counter these weapons, Kyiv's defense industry is racing to develop faster interceptors.

At the same time, Russia is increasingly using "quasi-cruise missiles," weapons that are somewhere in between cheap attack drones and expensive cruise missiles, according to conflict analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank.

"Russian forces began integrating inexpensive, highly maneuverable quasi-cruise missiles into their missile strike packages in mid-2026 — marking a concerning shift toward low-cost, cruise-missile-like weapons that can strain Ukraine's scarce air defense stocks," analysts wrote in an October battlefield assessment.

ISW's analysts said that quasi-cruise missiles like the Banderol S8000 have larger warheads and fly at greater speeds than even the fastest jet-powered drone, the Geran-5. Both of these weapons are estimated to cost up to $100,000 — much cheaper than a $2 million Kh-101 cruise missile.

"Russian forces likely aim to use quasi-cruise missiles to augment the devastating effects of the ballistic missile and jet-powered drone combined strikes, which have been exploiting and exacerbating Ukrainian interceptor missile shortages," ISW's analysts said.

• Elon Musk envisions a world where anyone can "wish for a castle," and AI will make it for them.
• The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also predicted "extremely high income" and amazing healthcare for all.
• Musk spoke about productivity gains from AI and robots, and responded to data center backlash.

A world where everyone gets a castle sounds like Oprah wrote a fairy tale. Elon Musk says that's what the future holds thanks to AI.

"Super intelligence will saturate all human needs by far," the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said by webcast at Baron Capital's annual conference on Friday.

"You could wish for a castle, or whatever you want basically, and the digital superintelligence can make it for you as a side project," he added.

There will also be "universal extremely high income," and "universal medical care that is better than the best medical care available on Earth today," Musk said.

The world's richest man has repeatedly predicted that advances in AI, robotics, and energy will slash costs, supercharge productivity, and boost economic growth.

He's suggested that could usher in an age of abundance where goods and services are no longer scarce, money ceases to matter, and "everyone can have a penthouse if they want."

Speaking to Ron Baron, one of his biggest shareholders and most steadfast supporters, Musk said tech advances will enable humans to harness so much energy that it will "completely saturate anything anyone could ever wish for on Earth."

Describing the superintelligence era, he said: "Our economy will seem quaint, and our money system will seem like exchanging seashells for currency."

Musk predicted that digital superintelligence will rapidly expand the global economy by 20% to 30% as it promises to "double the productivity of white-collar work."

He also envisioned humanoid robots being five times as productive as people. They'll work faster, he said, and can be on the job 24/7 as they don't "take vacation, or bathroom breaks, or need to eat food, or anything like that." He estimated that 20 million to 30 million robots could match the current output of working Americans.

During the conversation, Musk addressed the public backlash to the data centers powering the AI boom, which has centered on the water and power they consume and the noise they make. He said that Memphis is "booming" because of SpaceX's presence there.

"The restaurants are full, the hotels are full. We're paying at times twice the prevailing wage that people were earning before," Musk said. "We've also helped out with local schools, and the tax revenue that the county and the city are earning is tremendous."

Musk has faced intense skepticism over his past claims of future abundance, particularly his recommendation that people stop saving for retirement because their wealth will be "irrelevant," and his proposal of government checks for all as the best response to job losses from AI.

Several of his peers have made similar projections. Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates recently said AI will usher in "true abundance," and robots will be able to "build houses, grow food, do surgery."

But Gates also warned the 20-year transition to get there will be hugely "tumultuous," as people won't be needed to make most goods and services.

Similarly, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has said AI promises to "raise the quality of life for everyone," but there will be "unprecedented" disruption before it does.

• The vibes on Wall Street are bullish again after a nasty sell-off in the AI sector after the midterms.
• Strategists see a year-end rally in stocks now that valuations have been reset.
• JPMorgan and HSBC are among the banks taking a bullish stance heading into 2027.

The sell-off that ripped through the market's AI trade after the midterms already seems like a distant memory for Wall Street's forecasters.

Stocks were surging on Monday, and whispers of a year-end stock rally are again percolating as investors use last week's swoon to buy the dip in beaten-down names.

Analysts and strategists say that the tech bloodbath looks to be over, at least for the time being. They cite signals such as the latest drop in valuations and the market's general tendency to end the year on an upbeat note, especially in the aftermath of an election.

Here's where major indexes stood around 11:30 a.m. ET:

• S&P 500: 7,518.61, up 1.92%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 52,204.17, up 1.79% (+918.44 points)
• Nasdaq 100: 27,733.87, up 2.76%

Here's what analysts say could prop up a fresh rally into year-end.

AI demand is still strong

Luke Lango, an independent tech analyst, said it was possible the latest recovery was a dead cat bounce, a short-lived recovery before stocks make new lows. Even so, the market's fears that AI capex is about to sputter appear overblown, he said, pointing to how any data-center slowdown would be forced by politics, not sparked by falling AI demand.

"Spending gets stretched out, not cut off. It's a transition, not an ending, and it leaves us more bullish than ever on the next three to five years, even as we stay cautious on the next three to six months," Lango wrote in a client note last week.

Seasonal patterns are positive

There's also a seasonal case for stocks to move higher through the end of the year. In the six months following a midterm election, the S&P 500 has gained an average 14% since 1970, compared to an average 6% gain in a non-midterm year, according to an analysis from BlackRock.

Independently, stocks also tend to see their best gains in November and December. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has gained an average 1.85% in November, the best month of the year by average return, according to an analysis from Knode Wealth Management. The index has gained an average 1.4% in December, making it the third-best performing month of the year.

The S&P 500 has the highest chance of ending December on a positive note. December was a winning month for the index 70% of the time since 1928, with the index more likely to gain in December than any other month of the year, according to an analysis from Yardeni Research.

Ned Davis Research, a macro research firm, said it was looking for negative short-term momentum to reverse soon. The firm said its proprietary gauge of momentum indicators had flashed a sell signal as the AI sell-off picked up steam on Thursday, but pointed to the underlying trend for stocks to head higher through year-end.

"This suggests more potential for rocky trading ahead, but the speed of this model means any rebound should be caught quickly with a new buy signal," London Stockton, an analyst at the firm, said, adding that NDR would be looking for wider market breadth in large growth stocks.

De-leveraging appears to be over

In a note to clients, JPMorgan said it remained bullish on stocks through year-end, reiterating its 8,000 price target for the S&P 500. The bank said its view was partly influenced by its positive view for AI, even when considering the impact of a Democratic sweep and potentially tighter regulation on data centers.

Last week's sell-off was likely a "de-leveraging event," with investors and institutional buyers unwinding some of their leveraged positions as valuations declined.

Leverage was hovering near a record high this summer, a risk Wall Street strategists have flagged in markets due to the potential that investors get hit with margin calls, pushing them to deposit more money into their margin accounts or liquidate their positions. Leverage also tends to be "at-risk" in the summer, due to declining liquidity in markets, Dubravko Lakos-Bujas, JPMorgan's head of global markets strategy, wrote in a note.

"The positioning flush has created an attractive entry point. While hyperscalers have less upside in the near-term, their medium-term prospects are attractive with room to re-rate higher," Lakos-Bujas said, noting that tigher computing capacity could also benefit pricing power, profit margins, and operating cash flow for hyperscalers.

Valuations look cheap

Rick Rieder, BlackRock's global fixed income chief investing officer, said valuations looked attractive after last week's big drop. He discounted the idea that the market's AI boom is a bubble, describing last week's sell-off as an "unwind" and a "rebalancing" in equities triggered by the market's large concentration in tech stocks as well as hedge funds closing some of their positions in the sector.

"I think some of these equities now are really cheap, particularly intact," Reider said, speaking to Bloomberg on Friday. "Even if you assume some haircut of forward growth and AI spend, I think these multiples are pretty reasonable today."

Year-end catalysts

In a note to clients, HSBC said it was increasing "tactical exposure" to stocks after the sell-off last week. The bank cut its maximum "overweight" exposure to equities several weeks ago, but said it was now overweight in US stocks again, pointing to a handful of catalysts that face stocks into the end of the year, including Nvidia's earnings report and Anthropic's IPO.

"We're dipping our toes back into equities today," Max Kettner, the chief multi-asset strategist at the bank, wrote in a note. "For this, the sell-off in October has been too much of a rotation than a broad-based sell-off."

Markets are looking ahead to several new catalysts this week. Top of mind is the October inflation report on Tuesday, which will shape the Fed's policy path heading into year-end and beyond. Investors are also waiting on key earnings, comments from a roster of Fed speakers, and producer price index data due Friday.

• I'm a journalist turned stay-at-home mom.
• I've always been an ambitious, hard worker, but I'm learning that looks a lot different as a parent.
• I'm learning to value a toddler's slow pace, and what happens along the way, over completing tasks.

I had to message the swim instructor four times to actually get my son scheduled for lessons.

Then, even though she was chronically late, sometimes canceled on short notice, and had to switch pools midway through the summer because her HOA told her she was not legally allowed to teach swimming in her neighborhood (true story) — we still kept going to those lessons. After all, I made a commitment; I was going to see it through.

When I quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom, I was working just as hard as I'd ever worked in the corporate world — but no one cared. I needed a new outlet for my identity as someone who got things done. So I began to channel my perseverance into my children's childhoods. But the older they get, the more I started to wonder: Is this the right outlet for my ambition?

My old identity was hard to let go of

I worked in journalism for a decade before I had kids. I had an identity as a hard worker, and I was proud of it, even when it meant I was called on to do things like teach a man how to save a file as a PDF, what seemed like every single day for a year (another true story).

I gave my job my all, and I thought doing the same for my kids would make their childhoods meaningful — and bring me a similar satisfaction. But I often feel as though I'm just hurrying us along from one activity to the next or repeating the same phrases ad nauseam. I no longer see the tangible efforts of my job in print the next morning. Instead, it can take literal years for the work I'm putting into my kids to come to (visible) fruition. (And no one ever says thank you!)

I started to slow down

When my son started back at preschool this fall, my daughter and I found ourselves with three uninterrupted hours together every weekday morning.

During the first week, I treated our mornings like something to tackle: I signed us up for a nature class. I made a list of small house projects I could complete with her in tow. We ran the errands I'd needed to do over the summer but felt less complicated now that I only had to unbuckle one car seat.

One morning, I decided we should walk to our neighborhood garden, an enriching activity that I thought would take us precisely one half hour to complete. We would walk there — exercise! — check on our plants — education! — and walk home — accomplishment!

We were gone for an hour and a half. And I was as proud of myself as I was when I finally taught that old coworker how to save the Word doc as a PDF.

It's hard for me to go at an 18-month-old's glacial pace. I struggle to spend that much time doing something that doesn't seem to fully benefit her, my son, or our home. Do you know how many towels I could fold in an hour and a half?

But when I turn off the running commentary in my brain that says we should be doing more, faster, better, I see her stop to feel the dirt between her fingers or watch her boot splash over and over in a puddle. And I see that the accomplishment is actually in slowing down enough to let her do those things without me rushing her on to the next task.

I'm rethinking my role

I'm trying to do more of this, to get less done, which may actually be achieving more.

We are still going to the nature class, where I am the obnoxious mom repeating my daughter's toddler babble back to her with the correct animal name. And I am still hustling us out the door for library storytime every week, where I am the obnoxious mom checking out every Arthur book on the shelf.

I am also reminding myself that the true way to be the hardest worker in this stage of parenthood is to go at her pace. To grit my teeth and let her put on her own shoes and wipe up her own spilled milk.

And I'm channeling my ambition into researching kindergarten for my son, who will start elementary school next fall. Do you think it's too soon to sign up for the PTA?

• I made chive biscuits from scratch using Ina Garten's recipe. 
• The recipe takes less than 30 minutes and couldn't have been easier for a novice baker.
• Garten's chive biscuits are buttery, light, and fluffy — perfect for Thanksgiving. 

When it comes to the holidays, there's no celebrity chef I turn to more than Ina Garten. She is, in my eyes, the queen of Thanksgiving cooking.

Whether it's a "grown-up" mac and cheese or the perfect potato gratin, Garten has a recipe for all of your holiday needs.

So when I decided to try making homemade biscuits for the first time — despite being a very amateur baker — I put my faith in the Barefoot Contessa.

Garten's chive biscuits only require a few ingredients.

To make a batch of eight chive biscuits, you'll need:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• ½ cup of chopped fresh chives (Garten says you can also swap for fresh parsley)
• ¾ cup of half-and-half
• ¼ pound of cold unsalted butter, diced
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon of sugar

First, I preheated the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and mixed my dry ingredients.

I added the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar to the bowl of my electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

Then I added the diced butter and began to mix on low speed.

Garten says you should mix the butter until it becomes the "size of peas."

With the mixer still on low, I added the half-and-half.

I stirred until everything was just mixed, per Garten's instructions.

Then I added the chopped chives.

Garten says to beat the mixture until it's just combined.

My dough was ready in mere minutes.

I'm not much of a baker and had never made dough before trying this recipe, so to see it transform in a few minutes was, honestly, pretty exciting for me.

I felt like I was in the "Great British Bake Off" tent!

I placed my dough on a well-floured board and began to knead it lightly.

Although I've seen people kneading dough on TV countless times, I've never actually done it myself. But I found some helpful tips on The Spruce Eats with a quick Google search.

If you're a baking novice like me, it's probably helpful to know why we even need to knead the dough. Kneading helps develop the gluten, which gives biscuits (or bread) both structure and softness.

I used the heels of my hands to push the dough down, then outward. Then I folded the dough in half, toward myself, and used the heels of my hands to push it down and out again. I also made sure to add flour whenever the dough felt sticky as I repeated the steps.

I kneaded my dough into a rectangle, per Garten's instructions.

I attempted to knead the dough to about ¾-inch thick, although my kneading was a bit uneven, and some biscuits came out a tad thinner.

I'd make sure to keep the dough on the thicker side — it results in fluffier biscuits.

Then I cut out my biscuits.

Garten recommends using a 2 ½-inch round cutter for this step, but using the top of a mason jar also worked well in a pinch.

After shaping my biscuits, I prepped the egg wash.

I mixed one egg with one tablespoon of water and voilà, it was ready.

I brushed each biscuit with the egg wash — which helps give the biscuits a golden-brown color — before throwing my pan into the preheated oven.

My biscuits were ready in 22 minutes.

Garten recommends baking the biscuits for 20 to 22 minutes. You'll know they're done when the "tops are browned and the insides are firm," she said.

Garten's chive biscuits were really easy to make.

Garten's chive biscuits looked fantastic with their lovely golden hue, and the tops had a satisfying crisp that gave way to the buttery and fluffy middle.

There was a hint of saltiness in the biscuits, while the chives added a nice pop of color. And what I loved most about the recipe was that the biscuits were actually fun to make — even for a novice baker! This would be a fun recipe to whip up on Thanksgiving with any younger family members who want to help in the kitchen.

Sure, store-bought is fine, but why not try homemade? It might just make you feel worthy of a Paul Hollywood handshake.

• Mark Zandi says newly elected Democrats have tools to address the affordability crisis.
• The Moody's Analytics economist doesn't anticipate relief immediately.
• But, Zandi sees a path to end the Iran war and reverse spending cuts to things like Medicaid.

There's an all-important question hovering over Democrats' sweeping midterm election victories: what can they actually do to address the affordability crisis that caused Americans to turn on the GOP?

According to Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Analytics, the options are few, but Democrats do have tools they can use to ease some of the forces putting upward pressure on prices when they get into power in Washington next year.

"The new Congress has some levers," he wrote in an X post on Sunday. "Expect Democrats to use hearings, oversight, and a war powers resolution vote to build pressure to end the war in Iran, which we estimate has cost the typical household $2,200 so far."

First, Zandi flagged the cost of the Iran war on US households throughout this year as the war has dragged on. The figure has steadily risen as oil prices have crept up, pushing up costs for US households and businesses.

After last week's election, Zandi sees the possibility that war ends soon. though he acknowledged that most of the necessary legislative changes would require Donald Trump to be on board.

The second way for Democrats to address affordability is largely dependent on what the current Congress does between now and January, when newly elected members are sworn in.

"If Republicans can pass a budget and raise the Treasury debt limit on their own through reconciliation, Democrats will have less leverage," Zandi added. "But if they fall short, the President will need Democratic votes, and Democrats could use that clout to restore enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and reverse cuts to SNAP and Medicaid."

Zandi said it would be a long shot for Republicans to achieve both of those things before January, giving Democrats an opening to pursue their own agenda when the new Congress convenes in the new year.

Voters delivered resounding victories for Democrats in the midterms, driven partially by negative views of the economy and affordability during Donald Trump's second term. Zandi said that incoming lawmakers will have opportunities early on to deliver on campaign promises of bringing down the cost of living.

"Given the Rs' paper-thin House majority, and just how demoralizing the midterm results were for them, odds are reasonably good that they will fall short," he said. "The Ds would then be able to make some progress on addressing the nation's affordability crisis."

• Fashion had a big Saturday night at the 2026 LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles.
• Nicole Kidman, Kylie Jenner, and other celebrities attended the fundraiser in daring looks.
• Some stars, like Paris Hilton, probably should have reconsidered their outfits.

Saturday saw one of the most fashionable events of the year.

No, I'm not talking about the Oscars or the Met Gala. I'm referring to the 2026 LACMA Art + Film Gala.

The glitzy event is hosted each year at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to fundraise for new exhibits, acquisitions, and other museum needs. It also aims to merge the art and film communities.

This year, stars including Kylie Jenner, Andrew Garfield, and Nicole Kidman came out to support. And naturally, they all attended in notable looks.

These are the best and worst outfits we saw on the red carpet.

Anya Taylor-Joy looked like a walking sculpture, which was perfect for the event.

The "Lucky" actor's vintage Pierre Cardin gown perfectly blended Hollywood glamour with the whimsy of art.

Her sleeveless dress was silver with a lightly beaded floral pattern, which matched her diamond necklace.

She also wore a gemstone ring and a ruffled, metallic duster jacket that reached the floor.

Paris Hilton over-accessorized, which distracted from her gorgeous gown.

Sparkles are the entrepreneur's signature, so her Jenny Packham gown should have worked. It was sleeveless, mint green, and embellished beautifully with sequins in butterfly and teardrop shapes.

Unfortunately, Hilton also wore sequined gloves, layered diamond necklaces, and a thick crystal choker.

The latter pieces, as well as Hilton's long, straight hairstyle, were too strong to complement the already powerful gown.

Andrew Garfield perfected pinstripes.

From afar, Garfield appeared to be wearing a standard black tuxedo. Up close, though, you could see the Gucci suit was actually patterned with subtle, all-black pinstripes.

"The Uprising" actor wore the three-piece set with leather dress shoes and a colorful orchid attached to his lapel.

The outfit worked for him in fit, color, and accessories.

Tyriq Withers was dressed too casually for a gala.

The "Reminders of Him" star attended the 2026 LACMA Art + Film Gala in a Gucci ensemble. It comprised wide-leg trousers, a black polo top covered in transparent sequins, and leather dress shoes.

Without a jacket, the outfit looked too casual and as if it were missing something.

Even his Cartier ring and earrings weren't enough to elevate the look.

Viola Davis looked like royalty in a shimmering white gown.

Gucci designed her shimmering white dress. It had a single short sleeve, a peplum waist, and a floor-length skirt. It was also covered in sequins that sparkled in the light.

The "How to Get Away With Murder" star completed the look with silver pumps, a glitter-covered clutch, and a stunning curly hairstyle.

Kim Kardashian's burgundy gown looked restrictive.

The Skims mogul, who is known for her daring fashion, wore a burgundy Gucci gown — and it was relatively simple.

The dress had a high neckline, a floor-length skirt, and a form-fitting bodice. There were also waist and back cutouts that sat above her backside.

Still, it wasn't Kardashian's strongest look. The tight fit felt restrictive, and its open back was awkwardly placed.

Kylie Jenner's gown was unique and artistic.

Ashi Studio designed the brown dress worn by the Kylie Cosmetics founder. It had a fawn-like print, a high neckline, and a low back. It also had a thick tassel that hung from its halter strap.

The gown fit Jenner like a glove and stood out from other sparkling looks on the red carpet.

Elements of Nicole Kidman's gown didn't work together.

The film icon wore Chanel for the museum gala. Her dress had a structured tan tweed top with long sleeves and a thick, white ruffled tulle skirt that was higher in the front and longer in the back.

The two fabrics didn't suit each other in color or texture. Her shoes, black strappy sandals, also didn't complement the outfit.

A different dress might have been a better choice for Kidman.

• An internal list shows Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's 36 direct reports.
• Huang is known for having many direct reports and said he had 55 last year.
• Huang has previously said that having more direct reports helps with information flow.

Editor's note: In November 2026, Nvidia's board announced it was initiating an investigation after recent reporting that CEO Jensen Huang had been the "target of a foreign intelligence effort." He also admitted to having an affair. A spokesperson said that Huang is "committed to continuing to lead Nvidia as CEO without interruption."

It's unclear what will happen to his role as a result of this investigation. Huang is known for having more direct reports compared to other tech leaders. Here's what Business Insider previously reported in October 2025 about his org chart.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had 36 direct reports as of October 2025, according to an internal list obtained by Business Insider. Nvidia's top leadership team has seen some executive departures, including Jay Puri and Laura Fay, since then, though this list offers a glimpse into the inner circle at the top of the world's most valuable company.

Huang is known for having more direct reports compared to other tech leaders. Previously, in an interview at Stanford in March 2024, Huang said he had 55 direct reports, adding that many were paid the same amount.

Huang has 36 direct reports as of October 2025, according to an internal list obtained by Business Insider. Nvidia's top leadership team may have seen some executive changes since then, though this list offers a glimpse into the inner circle at the top of the world's most valuable company.

Some of the executives reporting to Huang, according to the list, include Ian Buck, the architect behind Nvidia's breakthrough software Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA), as well as CTO Michael Kagan and chief scientist Bill Dally.

"The more direct reports the CEO has, the less layers are in the company," Huang said at The New York Times DealBook Summit in 2023. "It allows us to keep information fluid, allows us to make sure that everyone is empowered by information."

Nvidia's workforce has grown massively in recent years thanks to the AI boom, and Huang's notoriously fierce work ethic has helped shape its hardcore culture.

It's unknown whether Huang's smaller fleet of direct reports signals a shift away from the horizontal structure.

Tech leaders have varying views on direct reports. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said he prefers not to have too many and instead runs the social media giant with a "core army" of 30 lieutenants —not all of whom he manages directly. CEO Elon Musk has 19 direct reports at Tesla as of August, and five at xAI.

A Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment.

Huang also said at Stanford that he doesn't schedule one-on-one meetings with direct reports so that information can spread more easily throughout the organization — unless a meeting is requested, in which case he'll "drop everything."

Here is the list of Huang's direct reports, according to the list Business Insider obtained. These include senior and executive vice presidents of key organizations at Nvidia.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at gweiss@businessinsider.com or Signal at @geoffweiss.25. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• I've been to all 64 US national parks and ranked them from my least favorite to my top pick.
• I think parks like Congaree, Petrified Forest, and Channel Islands are best suited for a day trip.
• Visiting Badlands, White Sands, and Olympic national parks feels like stepping onto another planet.

Ranking all 64 major US national parks feels like an impossible task because each one offers something uniquely beautiful.

However, as a solo traveler who's visited them all, I've learned that not all parks leave the same impression.

Some are grand and awe-inspiring, embodying the vision of what a national park likely looks like in your mind. Others, although still worth visiting, don't quite reach that same iconic standard.

That said, all of the major national parks are undoubtedly some of the most scenic and unique places in the US, so even a bottom spot on my ranking is not a dig.

Here's how I'd rank all the US national parks based on personal preference and things like scenic beauty, accessibility, and crowd sizes.

64. Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas

In the grand scheme of things, coming in last on a list of what I consider to be the most beautiful places in the US is not too shabby — and I had to pick one.

That said, I don't dislike Hot Springs National Park at all — in fact, I'd love to visit again. However, it's last on this list because it doesn't have the same natural scenic beauty and outdoor opportunities as the other parks.

Hot Springs is in the middle of a town, where the main attraction is Bathhouse Row — eight historic bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923.

Although it's a fun and interesting place, I think it would be better suited as a national historic park.

63. Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri

Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis is another place I love visiting. I just don't think it makes sense as a "national park."

Once known as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, this spot was designated a national park and renamed in 2018. It's also the smallest of the 64 national parks.

Like Hot Springs, I ranked it lower because the main attraction, the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch, is man-made. In my opinion, the park would be better designated as a National Monument.

62. Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky

I'm not a fan of caves, so national parks primarily focused on cave tours are not for me. However, if you're fascinated by caves and underground passageways, Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky should be higher on your list.

The park has over 400 miles of underground passageways and is truly unique. It was even designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981.

61. Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico

New Mexico, home to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, is one of my favorite states to visit. Unfortunately, though, I think this park's location works against it, as I prefer many other spots in the state.

I'm not a fan of caves — which is the draw at this park — and it's more remote and secluded from other major tourist attractions in the state.

However, one thing I love about the park is the nightly bat flight that happens from April through October, where thousands of bats emerge from the caverns at sunset.

60. Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana

Indiana Dunes National Park, which is just about an hour's drive from Chicago, is an excellent escape for Midwestern day-trippers and city dwellers.

The dunes are incredible, and visiting the beaches feels like being transported to another world.

The only reason this park is ranked lower on my list is because one side is adjacent to a power plant, and another has views of Chicago. Unfortunately, this brings me out of the more natural landscape I enjoy at other parks.

59. Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota

Unsurprisingly, another park with "cave" or "cavern" in its name is low on my list.

Although the surrounding scenery and wildlife at South Dakota's Wind Cave National Park are quite stunning, I still rank it lower because I'm not as interested in the main attraction.

There are also many other state and national park sites nearby — like Custer State Park and Badlands National Park — that, in my opinion, are more impressive above ground.

58. Congaree National Park in South Carolina

Congaree National Park, just outside Columbia, South Carolina, is home to one of the country's most extensive old-growth bottomland hardwood forests.

Some trees are estimated to be over 500 years old and over 100 feet tall, making walking the trails and raised boardwalks feel magical.

Although I've enjoyed this park and have visited several times, it's much smaller than many others and is best suited for a day trip.

57. Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio

Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio offers a unique blend of history, natural beauty, and recreation. For these reasons, I think it's a standout destination in the Midwest despite not being one of my favorite national parks.

Its proximity to Cleveland and Akron means it's easily accessible for city dwellers, which is a plus. However, it doesn't give me the vast wilderness feeling I want when visiting a national park.

56. Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona

I think Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most visually stunning and scientifically interesting parks in the US.

However, despite showcasing extensive deposits of petrified wood and fossilized remnants of ancient trees, there aren't many long hiking trails. In fact, all the park's trails are 2 miles or less.

I recommend making the 28-mile scenic drive through the park and stopping for some short hikes, but I wouldn't plan to stay more than a day.

55. Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska

Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska, located entirely above the Arctic Circle, was the least-visited national park last year.

The park itself is vast and untamed — there are no roads in or out, so visitors primarily arrive by chartered planes.

Although Kobuk Valley is logistically and monetarily challenging for the average visitor to access, landing on the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes is undoubtedly a bucket-list experience.

54. Biscayne National Park in Florida

Florida's Biscayne National Park is about 95% water, making it an excellent place for boating, kayaking, or snorkeling.

The park is less than two hours from Miami, making it pretty accessible. However, because most of the park is underwater, it's hard to appreciate its true beauty.

53. Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado

I've visited Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park several times and always learn something new.

The park preserves the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people and is home to Cliff Palace, the largest-known cliff dwelling in North America.

Although I recommend visiting some of the over 600 dwellings, you can only enter them on a ranger-guided tour, which is offered with a reservation from mid-May to late October.

52. Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota

This stunning North Dakota park is named after President Theodore Roosevelt, who was integral to early conservation movements and created five national parks during his presidency.

This park is more remote than others, meaning there's more solitude and vast, wide-open wilderness. I love taking a scenic drive here, watching the bison herds, and looking for wild horses.

51. Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the highest natural peak in Texas.

With over 80 miles of hiking trails, this less-crowded park is a great place to spend a weekend hiking, backpacking, or stargazing.

50. Great Basin National Park in Nevada

Nevada's Great Basin National Park is extremely diverse, covering over 77,000 acres with ancient forests, high mountain peaks, desert valleys, and caves. The landscape is dramatic, to say the least.

Visitors can also find the Great Basin Bristlecone pines, which are some of the world's oldest trees.

49. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in western Colorado is home to one of North America's steepest and most dramatic gorges.

I love taking a scenic drive or hiking along the canyon's rim during my visits. Just keep in mind that inner-canyon adventures require a permit.

48. Pinnacles National Park in California

Pinnacles was only officially designated a national park in 2013, so it's still a lesser-known spot in the park system.

Named for its towering pinnacles and spires, the park is popular for hiking, caving, rock climbing, and stargazing.

Although this is a beautiful and unique park, there are only about 30 miles of hiking trails. So, for a non-climber and caver like me, there isn't as much to do here as there is in some other California parks.

47. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska

Wrangell-St. Elias doesn't have the same name recognition as many others, but it's actually the largest national park in the country.

Covering a staggering 13.2 million acres, the park contains a diverse landscape, including glaciers and volcanoes.

The only downside to this park is that although some parts are accessible by road, there is minimal infrastructure, and it's very remote.

46. Lassen Volcanic National Park in California

I've found that many people aren't as familiar with Lassen Volcanic National Park as some others in California. Still, it's a showstopper nonetheless.

The park is home to all four types of volcanoes, including its centerpiece, Lassen Peak, which last saw eruptions between 1914 and 1917.

The park also has volcanic features, such as a large geothermal hiking area called Bumpass Hell, which can be visited in the summer and fall.

45. Chiricahua National Park in Arizona

In October 2026, Chiricahua in southeastern Arizona became the country's newest national park.

It's known for its unusual rhyolite spires that jut out of the landscape, creating an almost otherworldly scene. At just over 12,000 acres, it's the fourth-smallest national park, but the dramatic rock formations make it feel much larger.

Although I really enjoyed my visit, it ranks 45th on my list largely because of its remote location and limited exploration opportunities.

Plus, the park has just 17 miles of day-use hiking trails, which pales in comparison to larger parks with hundreds of miles to explore.

44. Haleakalā National Park in Hawaii

Haleakalā National Park, which is located on Maui, is known for its massive volcano of the same name.

The volcano rises 10,023 feet above sea level and is a very popular spot to watch the sunrise and sunset (just keep in mind that you'll need a reservation to enter for sunrise).

This park has unbelievable views and beauty, but it can also get incredibly crowded, which, in my opinion, changes the experience a bit.

43. Saguaro National Park in Arizona

Saguaro National Park, located near Tucson, Arizona, is named after the largest cacti in the US.

The Saguaro cactus is an essential symbol of the American West, and seeing so many up close is a treat.

The park is divided into two districts and offers over 170 miles of hiking trails. It's also a great place to take a scenic drive and view wildlife.

42. Kings Canyon National Park in California

Kings Canyon National Park is located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains.

The park is excellent for hikers and backpackers and is full of natural beauty. I love that Kings Canyon feels grand but doesn't have the same heavy crowds I've experienced at some other California parks.

41. Channel Islands National Park in California

Sometimes referred to as the "Galápagos of North America," Channel Islands National Park consists of five islands off the coast of Southern California. In my opinion, it's home to some of the most unique national park landscapes in the US.

Teeming with biodiversity and opportunities for whale watching, a day trip here is truly an adventure.

The only reason it's not higher on the list is that you have to take a boat to get to the islands, and anecdotally, I've experienced many weather-related cancellations. However, the islands aren't huge, so a lot can be seen on a day trip.

40. Badlands National Park in South Dakota

Visiting Badlands National Park in South Dakota feels like stepping onto another planet. The striking and colorful buttes, spires, and other unique geological formations are unlike anything else you'll see.

I love to drive the 39-mile Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) that takes visitors through the park, with numerous overlooks and trailheads.

That said, Badlands is in a remote location and doesn't have as much surrounding it as other national parks.

39. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia

Shenandoah National Park is home to the gorgeous Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic road that runs the entire length of the park.

The road offers breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and there are many overlooks and pullouts along the way for sightseeing.

With over 500 miles of trails — including a portion of the Appalachian Trail — the park is a popular spot for hiking.

38. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, located on the Big Island of Hawaii, is home to two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

The coastal park features diverse volcanic landscapes, including craters, lava tubes, and active lava flows.

Although it's beautiful and interesting, the park can become extremely crowded, so it is further down on my personal list.

37. Everglades National Park in Florida

Everglades National Park in Southern Florida is massive, with 1.5 million acres of unique and diverse ecosystems. This park is perfect for birdwatching, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, hiking, and airboat touring.

However, the tropical climate is very hot and humid during the summer months, so I recommend making a trip between November and April.

36. White Sands National Park in New Mexico

White Sands in southern New Mexico was designated a national park in 2019.

In my opinion, the landscape is stunning and unlike that of any other US national park. Visitors can hike the dunes, practice photography, go sand sledding, stargaze, or simply marvel at the otherworldly landscape.

35. Canyonlands National Park in Utah

Located outside Moab, Utah, Canyonlands is the largest of the state's "Mighty 5" national parks.

With four distinct districts, this park is massive and perfect for adventurers who want to get off the beaten path.

Mesa Arch is a popular, short, postcard-perfect trail for hikers of all levels. For those with more outdoor experience, backpacking and four-wheel-drive-only backcountry driving opportunities are available.

34. Isle Royale National Park in Michigan

Isle Royale National Park, an island in Lake Superior, is one of the least-visited national parks in the contiguous 48 states.

In my opinion, the park, only accessible by boat or seaplane, offers some of the most remote and pristine scenery in the US. There are plenty of opportunities to hike, canoe, camp, and view wildlife.

33. Arches National Park in Utah

I've visited Utah's Arches National Park, home to over 2,000 documented arches, dozens of times. I love hiking to the iconic Delicate Arch and visiting the Windows Section of the park, which has a high concentration of arches to view.

32. Crater Lake National Park in Oregon

Oregon's Crater Lake National Park is endlessly fascinating. It's centered on its namesake lake, which is the deepest in the US.

The lake is unique in that no rivers flow in or out — it's sustained purely by rain and snow, giving it its famous clear blue color.

I love driving the scenic Rim Drive, stopping at the many overlooks, and hiking some of the 90 miles of hiking trails.

31. Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota

Made up of four large lakes and over 500 islands, you can't really experience Voyageurs National Park without getting out on the water.

I recommend staying at the Kettle Falls Hotel, which is the only lodging available within the park (other than camping and houseboating).

Like most of the park, the historic hotel is only accessible by water, and once you're there, it's an excellent jumping-off point for other activities.

30. The National Park of American Samoa in American Samoa

Visiting the National Park of American Samoa was truly an adventure and one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Despite that, the cost, time, research, and intrepidness needed to visit means it likely won't be at the top of many travelers' lists.

If visiting from the US, there are just two flights each week from Honolulu to the small main island of Tutuila. From there, travelers are swept into a tropical paradise.

However, with very little tourism infrastructure, visitors need to be self-reliant and able to navigate independently. Although this isn't a typical national park, I think it's one of the most stunning, memorable, and unique.

29. Virgin Islands National Park in St. John, US Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands National Park takes up about 60% of the island of St. John.

Here, visitors can relax on one of the white-sand beaches, snorkel in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters, or hike to historic ruins.

28. Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is famous for its unique hoodoos that create a magical and otherworldly landscape.

Hiking the Queens Garden and Navajo Loop trails are must-do experiences.

However, it's important to remember that the weather in the park can vary greatly. Because of the high elevation, Bryce Canyon can receive a lot of snow and become dangerous during lightning storms.

27. Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina

Great Smoky Mountains, located in Tennessee and North Carolina, is the most-visited US national park.

This popular park is a great place to spend a fall weekend among the vibrant foliage or a summer day hiking one of the many scenic trails.

I love driving the 11-mile one-way loop at Cades Cove and hiking to one of the many waterfalls in the park — Laurel Falls and Rainbow Falls are favorites.

26. Katmai National Park in Alaska

I loved my time in Katmai National Park, but getting there can be challenging. The park has no roads in or out, so visitors need to arrive by seaplane or boat.

Many travelers will spend their time at the Brooks Camp portion of the park, which has raised platforms for safe viewing of the roughly 2,200 brown bears.

Seeing so many bears in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the surrounding landscape is pristine.

25. Sequoia National Park in California

I've been to Sequoia National Park in California several times and found it only gets better with each subsequent visit.

The park is known for its giant namesake trees and has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. There truly is something for everyone here.

24. Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

Driving the entrance road to Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado feels completely surreal.

Home to the tallest dunes in North America, visiting this park feels like stepping onto another planet.

Hike the dunes, sandboard down them, or enjoy the seasonal snowmelt-formed Medano Creek, which forms a unique "Colorado beach" landscape at the base of the dunes.

23. Denali National Park in Alaska

Denali National Park in Alaska is home to Mount McKinley, the tallest peak in North America. It's a place that will take your breath away, especially on a clear day.

I recommend taking a narrated bus tour to learn more about the park and spot wildlife along the way.

22. Big Bend National Park in Texas

My favorite thing about Big Bend National Park is its diverse landscapes, which include mountains, rivers, and deserts.

I especially love visiting the dramatic Santa Elena Canyon, a gorge carved by the Rio Grande with impressive limestone walls up to 1,500 feet high.

21. Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska

Since it's accessible by car, Kenai Fjords is easier to get to than some of Alaska's other national parks.

The Harding Icefield, which spans 700 square miles, is a must-see. I also recommend taking a boat tour or kayak trip into the fjords, as most of the park can only be experienced by water.

20. Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska

Alaska's Gates of the Arctic was one of the least-visited national parks last year, with just 11,907 recreational visits.

The gigantic park, covering 8.4 million acres of the Brooks Range, is located entirely north of the Arctic Circle and has no roads or trails in or out.

Despite being logistically challenging — and expensive — to visit, the sheer untouched wilderness is unlike anywhere else in the US. This bucket-list destination is for experienced travelers only, but in my opinion, it is well worth the effort it takes to get there.

19. Joshua Tree National Park in California

In my opinion, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most unique places in the US.

The park, which is made up of nearly 800,000 acres, is known for its namesake Joshua trees. It's perfect for hiking, climbing, camping, and scenic driving.

I love visiting the Cholla Cactus Garden and hiking the easy trail at Hidden Valley.

18. Redwood National and State Park in California

Hiking and driving through the thick forest of some of the tallest trees on Earth can only be described as magical.

Although the redwoods are the star here, many people are surprised to learn that the park is also home to 37 miles of coastline and sandy beaches — making for a perfect California getaway.

Redwood National and State Park is also unique in that it has been co-managed by the National Park Service and California Department of Parks and Recreation since a joint management agreement was signed in 1994.

17. Zion National Park in Utah

Zion National Park in Utah has been increasing in popularity for several years. Last year, it was the second-most-visited park, with over 4.9 million visits.

Although I love the dramatic red canyon walls around the Virgin River, great hiking opportunities, and scenic drives, I don't rank it higher due to crowding.

16. Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida

In my opinion, Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles west of Key West, is one of the most unique parks in the US.

Spanning 100 square miles, Dry Tortugas encompasses seven small islands and the surrounding coral reefs and waters.

Accessible only by ferry, boat, or seaplane, the park offers visitors a chance to experience natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant marine ecosystems.

15. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

Visiting Rocky Mountain National Park is like stepping into a postcard — and I'm lucky it's just up the road from my home in Colorado.

The park is jam-packed with scenic vistas, high mountain peaks, alpine lakes, and lush forests.

I love taking visitors to hike to the Emerald and Dream Lakes, drive Trail Ridge Road, and visit the quieter Wild Basin area of the park.

14. Mount Rainier National Park in Washington

Seeing Mount Rainier up close on a clear day leaves me speechless. The tallest peak in the Cascade Range is unbelievably beautiful.

Known for its vibrant wildflowers in the summer months, anywhere you look in Mount Rainier National Park could be a painting.

I love visiting the popular Paradise area for day hiking, trekking through the Carbon River Rainforest, and driving the park's scenic loop.

13. Death Valley National Park in California

California's Death Valley National Park feels different every time I visit.

The park is known for its scorching (and sometimes unsafe) summer temperatures, remote location, unique geology, and incredible size.

I love driving along Artist Drive, which winds in and out of vibrantly colored eroded hills, visiting the Badwater Basin salt flats, and exploring the expansive Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.

12. Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska is massive. However, no roads lead into the park, so visitors can only visit via boat or plane.

Home to over 1,000 glaciers, taking a tour through the bay is one of the most visually stunning and scientifically interesting things I have ever done.

11. Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

Capitol Reef has always been my favorite park to visit in Utah.

This park is the second largest in the state (behind Canyonlands) and, in my opinion, feels much more remote than Zion, Bryce Canyon, or Arches.

I love to hike, take a scenic drive, and visit the historic Fruita orchards for pick-your-own fruit.

10. North Cascades National Park in Washington

Despite being just a few hours outside Seattle, North Cascades is typically one of the least-visited national parks in the US.

However, it's also one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited, with awe-inspiring and dramatic jagged peaks, glaciers, clear blue lakes, and alpine beauty.

This park is great for hiking, camping, and boating, and is a must-visit in the summer months.

9. Lake Clark National Park in Alaska

Lake Clark is among the least-visited national parks, likely because it's so difficult to get to. There are no roads to the park, meaning travelers must arrive via plane or boat.

In my opinion, though, the extra expense and logistical challenges are worth it to see this stunning landscape.

In fact, the flight into and out of the park allowed me to take in some of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

8. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana

Yellowstone National Park covers an estimated 2.2 million acres in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.

The park is home to about half of the world's geysers, including the iconic Old Faithful.

With abundant wildlife and over 10,000 geothermal features, a trip to this iconic park should be on everyone's bucket list.

7. New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia

New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia might be a surprise entry to the top 10, but it more than deserves its spot.

The park is an unexpected Southern gem with rolling hills, beautiful hiking trails, and famed whitewater rafting.

It's also home to the New River Gorge Bridge, which is the third-highest in the US.

6. Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park is an iconic destination that must be seen to be believed.

Standing at the rim and looking out over the vast canyon is an experience everyone should have at least once. If you're up for a challenge, head into the canyon to hike from a unique vantage point.

5. Olympic National Park in Washington

One of the parks I recommend most to new visitors is Olympic National Park. Located on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, the park is easy to travel to but feels like entering a different world.

What I love most about Olympic is the diversity of its landscapes. The park is home to Hurricane Ridge, a mountain range that sees 30 to 35 feet of snow a year, and the Hoh Rainforest, which some say is the quietest place in the continental US.

With 73 miles of rocky coastline, there is an overwhelming amount of beauty here.

4. Acadia National Park in Maine

Acadia is known for its vibrant fall colors, but this park has plenty to offer year-round. It is the only major national park in New England and, in my opinion, is well worth the trip.

The summit of the park's Cadillac Mountain sees the first sunrise in the continental US from October 7 through March 6. But even if you don't catch the sunrise, there is so much beauty to see here.

I love to hike around Jordan Pond, head out to the quieter Schoodic Peninsula, and lounge on Sand Beach before heading up to the Ocean Path for an easy hike with incredible views.

3. Yosemite National Park in California

Even after nearly a dozen visits, I still get emotional every time I enter Yosemite National Park. The towering granite cliffs in Yosemite Valley are a sight that can't be accurately depicted in any photo or video.

In my opinion, Yosemite is one place where the reality is always better than what you see online. I love to hike around the valley, in the quieter Tuolumne Meadows, and among the towering sequoias of Mariposa Grove.

2. Glacier National Park in Montana

Glacier National Park is unlike any other in terms of pure beauty. Traveling along the Going-to-the-Sun Road is, in my opinion, the most beautiful drive in America.

Visiting this park never gets old, from the glaciers to the clear lakes, challenging hiking trails, historic lodges, and abundant wildlife.

1. Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

Despite having love for every major US national park, I knew one would be at the top of my list from the first time I laid eyes on it.

To me, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is unlike any other park. With the uniquely shaped mountain peaks that tower dramatically above the many blue lakes, hiking trails, and rivers, it feels like stepping into a postcard at every turn.

I love to camp at Colter Bay, swim in Jackson Lake, float on the Snake River, and hike in Cascade Canyon.

This story was originally published on April 8, 2025, and most recently updated on November 9, 2026.

• In my years as an interior designer, I've worked with many wealthy, high-profile clients.
• Their living rooms typically don't have too-small rugs, visible TVs, or a single overhead light.
• It's also rare to find mass-produced artwork, matching furniture sets, and cluttered surfaces.

As an interior designer who's worked with high-profile clients for over a decade, I've learned that a luxurious living room is rarely defined by how much money has been spent putting it together.

Rather, some of the nicest high-end spaces I've worked on are thoughtfully designed and curated for the people living in them.

Although everyone's personal style is different, I've noticed a few common design choices that my wealthier clients tend to avoid.

Here are 10 things that I rarely see in their living rooms.

Matching furniture sets are rarely a part of the design.

When designing a high-end living room, I never purchase an entire matching furniture collection from one place.

Instead, I mix different silhouettes, materials, and eras so the room feels more special, as if the furniture has been carefully collected and put together over time.

After all, a sofa, an accent chair, and a loveseat in the same fabric and style can create a generic feel, as if they were all pulled directly from a furniture showroom.

A rug that's too small can cheapen the entire living room.

When in doubt, it's better to go bigger for rugs. Rugs that are too small can make even the most expensive furniture look cheap and create a space that feels disconnected or incomplete.

In my clients' homes, I typically select oversized rugs that anchor the seating arrangement. At the very least, I want the front legs of all major seating pieces to rest on the rug.

A correctly sized rug makes a room feel more substantial, cohesive, and well-designed.

Generic, mass-produced artwork is usually nowhere to be found.

Artwork is one of the biggest opportunities to give a space personality. So, I rarely see wealthy clients displaying generic, mass-produced canvas prints that could be found in thousands of other homes.

Instead, many invest in original paintings, limited-edition prints, and vintage pieces. Sometimes, the most luxe-looking pieces aren't even wildly expensive; they just feel unique and have a personal connection to the homeowner.

A television is probably not dominating the living room.

Although my clients certainly watch television, I rarely ever design their formal living rooms around a giant screen. I'd rather highlight standout architectural features, such as a fireplace, a built-in bookcase, or a beautiful view.

When a television is essential, I look for ways to integrate it into the design, whether that means concealing it within cabinetry, choosing a television that displays artwork when not in use, or placing it somewhere that doesn't compete with the room's focal point.

You won't often find furniture pushed against every wall.

A common misconception is that pushing all the furniture against the walls will make a room feel larger.

In reality, this can just make a living room feel less intimate while leaving an awkward amount of unused space in the center.

When designing larger homes, I often float furniture away from the walls to create distinct seating arrangements that can work well for hosting and encourage conversation.

Even in smaller spaces, pushing furniture closer together can create a more inviting environment.

A single overhead light is never enough.

In high-end living rooms, you'll rarely see the entire space lit by a single light fixture or just recessed lights.

Instead, you'll find layers of light from several sources, such as decorative table lamps, floor lamps, sculptural overhead fixtures, and wall sconces. This can add depth to a space and make it feel more luxurious.

Ideally, these lights are also warm-toned and dimmable, so a room can feel inviting any time of day.

Poorly fitted curtains can ruin an otherwise stunning room.

In high-end living rooms, curtains usually don't stop awkwardly above the floor, and rods aren't mounted directly above the window (unless the ceiling height necessitates it).

Instead, drapery is often installed as high as possible to create the illusion of taller ceilings or better highlight large windows.

Even affordable curtains can look way more expensive when they're properly sized and correctly installed. However, my wealthier clients do tend to gravitate toward fuller, more substantial fabrics and custom window treatments.

It's rare for all of the pieces to be brand new.

A room that's filled entirely with brand-new furniture can sometimes feel sterile or impersonal, no matter how expensive the pieces are.

Instead, we'll usually blend new pieces with antique and vintage ones, which helps give a space a truly one-of-a-kind, custom look that feels quite luxurious.

By putting a brand-new sofa with antique chairs and a vintage coffee table, you're helping a living room seem as if it were carefully put together over several decades — even if it was designed in just a few weeks.

Cluttered surfaces and excessive decorative accessories aren't ideal.

When it comes to a high-end look, less is usually more.

Instead of covering surfaces in trinkets and decorative objects, my wealthier clients tend to invest in fewer, more meaningful pieces — like a beautiful sculptural vessel, a unique tapestry from their travels, or one large art book.

I also like to leave breathing room around decorative pieces, so each one has a chance to stand out. Thoughtful styling is way more effective than just filling every surface with stuff.

They're rarely sacrificing comfort just to achieve a certain look.

Another big misconception about luxury design is that expensive living rooms are supposed to be pristine and untouchable.

In my experience, even the wealthiest clients want their homes to be just as comfortable as they are beautiful.

This is especially important when it comes to seating — I pay close attention to seat depth, the materials the cushions are upholstered in, and how the couch is constructed.

After all, it doesn't matter how gorgeous your sectional is if no one is sitting on it.

• EvenUp, a quiet giant of the legal tech space, has reached $150 million in contracted revenue.
• The company sells AI software to personal injury law firms.
• It's expanding into new products and reaching new customers as it also faces increased competition.

While Harvey and Legora battle for Big Law, another legal tech startup is carving out a sizable business in Small Law.

EvenUp, a seven-year-old company that sells AI software to plaintiff-side law firms, has grown to $150 million in recurring revenue under contract, Rami Karabibar, EvenUp's cofounder and chief executive, told Business Insider.

The milestone is a reminder that some of the biggest opportunities in legal AI lie beyond the white-shoe firms now adopting it.

For traditional law firms that bill by the hour, AI presents a dilemma. Software that makes lawyers more efficient could also eat into their revenue. But personal injury firms typically work on contingency, taking a cut of what their clients win. The faster they can move cases along, the sooner they get paid.

For much of its existence, EvenUp was something of a one-trick pony.

The company got its start automating demand letters, the detailed documents personal injury lawyers send to insurers making the case for a financial settlement. It's a valuable business, but one that competitors can imitate.

Over the past 18 months, EvenUp has expanded into AI software that helps lawyers manage cases from start to finish. Its newest offering goes a step further, combining AI agents with human case managers to handle much of the work that happens before a lawsuit is filed.

The expansion has transformed EvenUp's business. In early 2025, demand letters accounted for more than 90% of revenue, Karabibar said. Today, revenue is spread more evenly across its products, and demand letters represent less than a quarter of the business.

EvenUp now serves more than 2,000 personal injury firms and supports 20,000 cases each week. Law firms pay a fixed price per case and sign annual contracts committing to a certain volume of cases.

EvenUp may have barely scratched the surface. Most law firms still use only one of its products, Karabibar said. The company sees an opportunity to land customers with one offering, then expand into other parts of their business.

To make that happen, EvenUp has hired Stevie Case, the former chief revenue officer of Vanta, as president of field operations. She will oversee sales, marketing, and customer service as the company looks to win more law firms and sell additional products to existing customers.

Case and her team will still have to convince law firms to choose EvenUp over rivals.

Eve, founded a year after EvenUp, also targets plaintiff-side firms and says it now serves nearly 2,000, up from more than 1,400 in June.

Supio is gaining ground, too. The startup said it more than doubled its customer base in the first half of this year, though it declined to say how many customers it has. It appears the market for plaintiff-side legal tech is still up for grabs.

EvenUp investors, at least, appear to be doubling down.

The company raised $150 million in a Series E round led by existing investor Bessemer Venture Partners last year. Karabibar suggested the company has plenty of financial firepower left for the fight ahead.

"We haven't touched a dollar of that yet," he said.

• Before I relocated abroad, I set up a care plan for my aging mother, who'd be staying in California.
• We spent years securing affordable housing that met her needs, and we planned my visits and calls.
• I also made her a wallet-sized emergency card with her medications and other crucial info.

For a long time, I'd wanted to retire early from my career as a pharmacist in California and move abroad to Mexico.

However, I worried about leaving behind my aging mom, who was in her late 70s. As the child who lived close by, I considered it my responsibility to take care of her.

Determined to find a solution that would let me leave with confidence that my mom would be well cared for, I began building a long-distance care plan before I moved to Mexico at age 50 in 2023.

The plan included three essential parts: secure, affordable housing; a remote caregiving system; and a way to stay connected from abroad.

It took us years to secure affordable housing that fit my mother's needs

I first started researching senior housing options in 2016. My mom wanted to live independently in a rental near public transportation without leaving San Francisco, where her friends lived.

I initially looked at private-pay, independent-living senior apartments, but the monthly costs were well beyond her budget. Depending on the unit size and services provided, these options often started at several thousand dollars a month.

Frustrated, I began looking into income-based senior housing. I researched nonprofit housing providers in the city, scanned affordable housing listings, and helped my mom apply for buildings she was eligible for.

These properties often come with age and income limits and charge rent on an income-based sliding scale. Some offer a first-come, first-served waitlist; others operate on a lottery system.

San Francisco's affordable senior housing waitlists are notoriously long. That is why it was so important for us to apply early and submit applications to every eligible building we found.

In 2021, five years after I started the research, my mom moved into an income-based senior-housing apartment building with a staffed front desk, security cameras, and around-the-clock on-call support. Her rent is set at 30% of her monthly income.

The piece that had worried me most was finally in place.

Around this time, I also began planning and budgeting for care-related costs on my end. This includes round-trip flights home twice a year, a cushion for unexpected expenses, and small purchases that make her daily life easier or safer.

For example, I bought her high-traction rain boots online and had them shipped to her apartment after she told me she'd nearly slipped during a storm.

We also outlined plans to stay meaningfully connected while I'm away

Before my move to Mexico, we talked honestly about why I needed to leave and how I could continue managing her care from afar.

I committed to frequent messages, a weekly call, and twice-yearly visits. This way, she always knows when she'll see or hear from me, and she can contact me any time she needs to.

During our calls, I often ask her about her family history, childhood memories, and the decisions that shaped her life. We take turns sharing recipes and talking about what we are cooking.

These calls have been a good way to preserve her memory and keep us connected. They also help me notice anything concerning she hasn't thought to bring up.

For example, she once mentioned that a stranger had messaged her asking for money. We went over some common phishing schemes and set up simple scam-prevention rules: "Don't click, don't share, and call me first."

When we're on the phone, I'll also remind her of upcoming medical appointments and go over questions for her doctors. Sometimes, I join her appointments by phone when she wants help asking follow-up questions.

Before I left, we prioritized building a strong local caregiving system, too

Because I'd be thousands of miles away in Mexico, I helped her build a list of local contacts she could turn to for help, too. The list includes friends, building staff, and family members who are nearby when I'm not.

Plus, I helped her join a senior activity center in hopes that she'd have even more reasons to go out, move her body, hang out with people she already knows, and make new friends.

I also created a wallet-sized emergency card listing her medications, conditions, allergies, doctors, and emergency contacts. This way, all the important information is in one place, and she can carry it with her at all times.

So far, this arrangement has been working for us

It's been over three years since my mom and I put these systems in place, and I relocated to Mexico. Even though it took significant time and effort to set up this long-distance caregiving plan, we have proven we can make it work.

As a result, I feel like our bond has strengthened despite the physical distance. Through honest conversations, careful planning, and her trust in me, we've found a way to stay close while building separate lives in different countries.

• Nvidia shares dropped sharply on Monday after revelations about CEO Jensen Huang's personal life.
• The chipmaker is investigating whether Huang was the target of a "foreign intelligence effort."
• Nvidia's stock fell 8% at the market open, briefly erasing roughly $360 billion from its valuation.

Nvidia stock dropped sharply on Monday morning as the company began investigating CEO Jensen Huang's extramarital relationship.

The stock dropped 8% at the open Monday, falling to around $171 per share and wiping as much as $360 billion from Friday's closing market capitalization of $4.5 trillion. By just after midday E.T., the stock was trading at $177, a loss of around 5% from Friday's close.

The stock has already fallen 20% over the past month.

Tech stocks have faced a broader sell-off amid investor concerns that AI infrastructure won't be built as quickly as hoped, sparked by neocloud firms' high debt levels and the Democrats' big gains in the midterm elections, which could slow data center construction.

Huang cofounded Nvidia in 1993 and has overseen a meteoric rise, with the company worth trillions since the AI boom supercharged demand for its chips.

As its founder and longtime CEO, Huang is pivotal to Nvidia's ongoing success, and Monday's share price decline likely reflects concerns the scandal could lead to his departure from the chipmaker.

"The so-called 'key-man risk' looms large here, and it's doubtful markets have adequately priced it in," Mohamed El-Erian, the legendary bond investor, wrote in an X post.

"This will not be easy for the board to navigate."

As one of its founders, Huang has a substantial financial stake in Nvidia, which has ballooned in value as the company has grown. As of Friday's market close, he has a net worth of $155 billion, making him the 10th richest person on earth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Huang's Nvidia stake fell in value by as much as $13 billion to around $138 billion on Monday morning, Business Insider calculated based on his most recent ownership disclosure.

Revelations about Huang's personal life

In late October, The New York Times reported that American intelligence agencies discovered that Huang had a close relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen and former executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center company.

US officials suspected her company was steering Nvidia's advanced AI chips to China, and concluded that she was a Chinese intelligence asset, the report said.

At the time, an Nvidia spokesperson told the Times, "Jensen's interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected."

On Sunday, Jensen Huang sent a note to staff acknowledging he had been "unfaithful" to his wife, Lori Huang, to whom he's been married for over 40 years.

Nvidia's board of directors opened an investigation into whether its CEO was the target of a "foreign intelligence effort."

"My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry," he wrote. "I support the investigation and will cooperate fully."

• Nvidia is investigating whether Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort.
• Huang said he had an affair. US officials believe the woman was recruited as a spy by the Chinese government.
• Here's what the Nvidia CEO has said over the years about China, export controls, and the AI race.

Jensen Huang's yearslong push to sell chips to China is now colliding with an affair, board investigation, and crisis at Nvidia.

At the center is Alice Huang, who has been an executive at Nvidia customer Megaspeed, a company that US authorities suspect of helping China access AI chips barred by export controls. Megaspeed has denied wrongdoing.

US officials believe Alice Huang, who has no relation to the Nvidia CEO, was recruited to gather information for Beijing, The New York Times has reported. Nvidia's board is investigating whether Jensen Huang was the target of a "foreign intelligence effort."

The episode turns a personal scandal into a test of one of tech's biggest fights: whether the US should prioritize open markets for chip companies or constrain them in the name of national security.

Over the years, Jensen Huang has been bullish on the Chinese market and has said that excluding Nvidia would strengthen Chinese rivals. The board's investigation now places his dealings with Megaspeed, his advocacy for China, and his role in US AI policy under fresh scrutiny.

Nvidia says it has no reason to believe company secrets or national security were compromised. The company's handling of Jensen Huang's future will signal how seriously it takes the risks surrounding America's most important AI chip executive.

Here's what Jensen Huang has said about China in recent years.

October 2026: 'We made a mistake' on China

In an interview with Bloomberg's Emily Chang for "The Circuit" last month, Huang said he had tried to persuade US policymakers of "the importance of engaging the Chinese market."

"I think we made a mistake, and this mistake is hard to unwind," Huang said in previously unreleased footage, in an apparent reference to US restrictions that have limited Nvidia's ability to sell its most advanced AI chips in China.

Huang also said that, while Nvidia competes with China, "they're not our enemies."

He said that US-China dialogue was necessary on AI safety: "If we care deeply about the safety of the world with respect to artificial intelligence, then of course we must open dialogues.

The same month, at Nvidia's Berlin keynote, Huang said that while the US is ahead in AI, China is "very, very serious competition."

May 2026: The US and China should not build separate AI ecosystems

In an interview with Channel News Asia in May, Huang said it would be "not wise" for the US and China to create two distinct AI ecosystems.

"The more that all the leaders work together, cooperate together to advance this technology in harmony and for good, the better it will be for the future," he said. Huang also said that countries and companies could simultaneously compete and cooperate.

That month, after joining President Donald Trump's China trip, Huang also told Bloomberg Television that he believed China's market would eventually open to US chip suppliers.

He said he had not directly discussed Nvidia's H200 sales with Chinese officials.

April 2026: Nvidia's China market share had fallen to zero

Speaking on the Special Competitive Studies Project's "Memos to the President" podcast in April, Huang said Nvidia's market share in China had fallen to zero.

Nvidia previously said in its annual report in February that being effectively foreclosed from China's data-center computing market had enabled competitors to develop ecosystems that could challenge it internationally.

The point reflected Huang's repeated argument that export restrictions risk strengthening Chinese rivals rather than slowing them.

January 2026: Decoupling is 'naive'

On the "No Priors" podcast in January, Huang called the idea of US-China decoupling "naive" and said it was not based on "any common sense."

China was an adversary, he said, but also "a partner in many ways." Huang said both countries should build more independence while recognizing their deep mutual dependence.

May 2025: Export controls were a 'failure'

One of Huang's clearest critiques came at a press conference at the annual Computex conference in Taipei in May 2025, where he called US AI-chip export controls, first introduced in 2022, a "failure."

He said they had cost US companies billions of dollars while pushing Chinese customers toward local alternatives such as Huawei.

Earlier that month, he told CNBC that China's AI-chip market could reach $50 billion within two to three years and that being unable to address it would be a "tremendous loss" for American companies.

September 2024: A 'balancing' between national security and US technology

In an interview on Bloomberg's "Balance of Power" in September 2024, Huang said Nvidia was doing its best to serve customers in China while complying with US export-control requirements.

"We have to defer all of the policymaking to the administration," Huang said. "They understand the balancing [of] national security versus the prosperity of American technology all over the world."

He added that Nvidia was exporting American technology and that it was "terrific for the United States that the world is built on American standards."

He said the administration would like to see Nvidia succeed and was doing "a wonderful job."

February 2024: Nvidia wanted to compete in China

Huang said on Nvidia's February 2024 earnings call that the company had redesigned products to comply with US export controls and had begun sampling them with Chinese customers.

"The US government would like to see us be as successful in China as possible," Huang said, while acknowledging that Washington also wanted to limit the most advanced Nvidia AI capabilities available there.

He said Nvidia had "reset" its China product offering and would "do our best to compete in that marketplace and succeed in that marketplace within the specifications of the restriction."

Sondre Pettersen lives in one of the most expensive places in the world. At 25, he works as a cybersecurity incident response analyst in Oslo, Norway, earning about $78,000 a year. He recently purchased a $465,000 apartment and carefully manages his expenses, saving around $1,000 a month while prioritizing travel, skiing, and other hobbies.

In this episode of "The Pay Check," Sondre breaks down his cost of living, sharing exactly how he earns, spends, budgets, and invests his money.

• US Army soldiers training in Germany are using relay drones to extend the range of their operations.
• The relays extend the signal between a pilot and their mission drone, allowing them to fly farther.
• It's a tactic that has become increasingly important in Ukraine.

HOHENFELS, Germany — A drone can fly only as far as its pilot can keep the connection. At the US Army's main overseas combat training center, that critical link can disappear on the far side of the rolling hills and thick forests that make the terrain particularly useful for war games.

The Army is looking to the sky for answers to the problem. The service wants to use drones as airborne communications relays that can help pilots maintain control of uncrewed aircraft operating beyond the reach of a direct line-of-sight signal.

Locked in a drone war with Russia, Ukraine has already turned to this approach on the battlefield, using relay drones to extend the connection between a pilot and a mission drone. Similar to how WiFi extenders work, these airborne signal repeaters are typically small quadcopters that can fly higher than ground-based antennas, allowing the mission drone to fly farther.

Roughly 50 Ukrainian soldiers participated in Combined Resolve, a recurring large-scale US Army exercise held last month at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Bavaria, north of Munich.

Business Insider spent two days observing the training exercise, a kind of stress test for the Army as the service integrates drones, electronic warfare, and other emerging technologies into its armor operations to make tanks and infantry fighting vehicles more survivable on modern battlefields.

Army officers said that the US is learning many lessons from Ukraine and from its visiting soldiers, who participated in the exercise alongside the 1st Armored Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (1/1 ABCT) as it fought an opposition force simulating an enemy.

One of these lessons is how to use relay drones for extended range, said Capt. Kevin Rincon, the troop commander of the multifunctional reconnaissance company, 1/1 ABCT's action arm.

Speaking in the dense forest surrounded by armored vehicles, Rincon said fine-tuning the ability to operate relay drones and extend the range of mission drones will greatly improve survivability.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carlos Porres, who oversees drone operations, said the airborne relays let pilots fly mission drones several miles beyond line of sight, an ideal advantage given the unfavorable terrain.

Maintaining a signal isn't the only requirement for longer ranges, though. Army officers said colder temperatures in Europe, especially this time of year, also impact drone battery life and potentially longer-range operations. Soldiers at training sites spanning a range of climates and conditions have found that drones can be negatively affected by heat, humidity, wind, rain, cold, and other environmental factors.

During the exercise, the Army's 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, a unit stationed at Hohenfels that serves as the opposition force during training exercises, also used relay drones to extend its operational range.

In one case, the opposition force used relay drones to extend the range of a ground robot deployed to attack 1/1 ABCT, an officer involved in the mission shared, speaking in a makeshift command post in the basement of a rundown building.

Ukraine's participation in various iterations of Combined Resolve has helped the Army learn better drone tactics, said Brig. Gen. Terry Tillis, the commander of the 7th Army Training Command, which operates under US Army Europe and Africa.

He said that moving forward, the Army intends to continue inviting Ukraine to participate in similar exercises.

The concept of using aircraft as signal repeaters is not exactly new for the US military. For decades, and in conflicts around the world, it has used drones and aircraft to extend the range of communications beyond the line of sight.

However, at a tactical level, relay drones, specifically using drones to allow other drones to fly farther from their operators, are proving increasingly important. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Ukraine, where the battlefield is heavily saturated with drones and electronic jamming technology meant to counter them.

Drone pilots are being pushed back farther from the front lines as the kill zone — a miles-wide area under heavy surveillance where any movement can trigger a deadly strike — continues to expand.

Ukrainian pilots and defense companies told Business Insider that relay drones are essential for extending the range of first-person-view (FPV) quadcopters, which are used to deliver precision strikes on enemy troops, vehicles, and positions.

Omnitech Defense, a Ukrainian firm, said that its relay drones can double the range of standard FPV drones and allow troops to operate beyond line of sight and over hills that might otherwise disrupt radio signals — the same restrictive terrain features that rotating Army brigades face at Hohenfels.

Glib Dreger, the company's international development lead, said at a demonstration in southern England that the relay drones also work under electronic warfare conditions, which many defense firms believe is now a requirement for modern weapons.

Relay drones are "extremely critical, to the point where traditional drone pilot training has now incorporated this system as part of the official doctrine on the use of UAVs," Dreger said.

• Blackletter is the latest startup law firm trying to take clients away from Big Law.
• The Canadian neofirm has raised a $6 million seed round led by Lerer Hippeau.
• The founders think it can avoid Weil's fate by building a system that learns from past work.

Artificial intelligence has forced Big Law to rethink how legal work gets done and how clients pay for it. The collapse of law firm Weil Gotshal shows how quickly the traditional model can come apart.

The founders of a new neofirm called Blackletter say artificial intelligence offers a way to build something sturdier.

Blackletter has raised a $6 million seed round led by Lerer Hippeau, its cofounder and chief executive, Jonathan Rosenbluth, told Business Insider. The firm combines technology and lawyers to offer businesses legal services for flat fees.

The investment marks Lerer Hippeau's first check in legal, a firm spokesperson said. Other Blackletter backers include Seven Stars, Maple VC, Garage Ventures, and Ripple Ventures, as well as Cohere's founders, Aidan Gomez, Nick Frosst, and Ivan Zhang.

Rosenbluth saw Weil as a reminder of the existential risk facing legacy firms. Rainmakers can walk at any time. Clients can follow. And a partnership can collapse with the speed of a bank run.

Blackletter is betting its clients will come back not because of the relationship with one partner, but because Blackletter understands their business and does the work well.

Its lawyers use software built on large language models to draft and negotiate routine corporate contracts and guide transactions from term sheet through diligence and signing. The firm says it has more than 75 clients, including Fanatics, TwelveLabs, and Ada, which has just agreed to merge with fellow customer service agent company Dialpad in a $600 million deal.

The lessons from each matter Blackletter works on are meant to inform the next, Rosenbluth said. Lawyers refine how they use the tools, while engineers adapt the technology to help them get better results.

Rosenbluth spent a summer during law school at Skadden, where he watched associates a decade his senior grind through menial work. He felt drawn to the legal industry, he said, but the experience convinced him that traditional practice was not the career for him.

Before starting Blackletter, he rose through the ranks at Cohere, the fast-growing artificial intelligence model maker, where he led partnerships and product teams. The Canadian government said recently it's taking an equity stake of up to $1.6 billion in the Toronto-based company.

Rosenbluth founded Blackletter with another ex-Cohere executive, David Stewart, who led a team that worked with Cohere's customers and prospective buyers to shape its products around their needs. A third cofounder, Avi Brudner, was previously chief operating officer of Blue J, a tax-data company, and a former attorney at the law firm Fried Frank.

They're now hiring lawyers. The team, spread across the US and Canada, includes former associates at Latham & Watkins, Goodwin, Dentons, and Canadian law firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt.

Blackletter's model is similar to one popularized by the law firm Crosby, which builds software for its own lawyers, and was most recently valued at $400 million. The bet is that in-house legal teams don't want another tool to manage; they want the work done faster.

Just don't call Blackletter an "AI-native law firm." Rosenbluth said the label connotes something "fast and cheap." Rather, he wants to build one of the best and biggest law firms of the 2030s.

"The number one law firm in the world" by then, he said, "is going to have a technical advantage over the other law firms."

Have a tip? Contact the reporter Melia Robinson at mrobinson@businessinsider.com or via Signal or WhatsApp or Signal at +1 (603) 913-3085. Sign up for her newsletter, Legal AI Insider.

• I spent months traveling the country to see friends just as I was turning 40.
• I enjoyed my time alone while traveling, as well as time with friends.
• Even a short visit made me feel closer to friends.

For the last 10 years, I've celebrated my birthday with small family meals, but as I was turning 40, I changed it up. After getting a taste of solo travel last year during the holidays, I wanted more.

My closest friends were spread out across the country, so I decided to visit as many as I could, and spent about six months traveling. What I had imagined as a fun, sweet time became so much more.

I deepened friendships I'd made through writing

I started my travels a few months before my birthday when two fellow journalists invited me to a girls' weekend at one of their homes in Chicago in the middle of winter. There, I fell in love with deep-dish pizza and glazed duck wings, and felt a somewhat professional relationship deepen into true friendship. It only took minutes of hanging out in real life for me to realize how much I trusted these two women — and how easy it would be for me to help them with whatever they needed, whenever they asked.

A few weeks later, we teamed up again with three more friends in New York City to attend a book launch party at our teacher's house. This group is intergenerational — from mid-20s to 60s. We all met in an online writing class two years ago, and we've been meeting weekly on Zoom to talk about our work ever since.

Our NYC trip marked the first chance we'd had to meet in person, and it felt like we'd known each other far longer than we had. We are all from different regions of the country, working day jobs in totally different fields, but we share a profound creative optimism. Online, those vibes helped us become friends. In real life, the energy was electric.

I saw my high school BFF twice

On my actual birthday in March, I met my high school BFF in Sonoma for a long weekend. She came from Florida, and I flew in from my home in Seattle.

Since 2021, we have been meeting in different cities once a year to explore the town, chill, and talk about our lives. Complete with a wine tour, a lot of walks through the quiet streets, and evenings at the hotel hot tub, our trip was a vacation in the truest sense — and a necessary annual recharge of our 25-year friendship.

I saw her again a few weeks later in Central Florida for a long weekend. This time, she picked me up from the airport in a topless Jeep and drove us to the pearly beaches on St. Pete. I got to hang out with her kids and husband, my closest writing pal in undergrad, before I drove up the coast of Florida to my hometown on the panhandle. I left with a stack of amazing book recommendations and a sense that I was still connected to my chosen family, even though we live thousands of miles apart.

I planned a trip that would allow me to see multiple friends

I'd always seen the physical distance between my adult friends and me as an obstacle to overcome. I started to look at it as a map. What if we didn't need chance encounters at the elementary school pick-up line or weekly wine dates to build and maintain a meaningful bond?

Inspired, I planned a "friend tour" of the Northeast. At the beginning of summer, I went back to NYC to meet with a friend who had reached out to me a year before after reading an essay I published. I then drove to Maine to hang with another pal whom I'd interviewed on my podcast. She invited me to her home, where she introduced me to a totally delicious homemade dirty Dr. Pepper.

My road trip ended with a cozy power walk through Washington, DC, where a journalist friend and I brainstormed pitches that all became successful articles in the coming months. I had visited all three women just to spend time with them. I didn't have an outcome in mind, but as I drove alone on the long, winding back roads through Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maryland, I recorded dozens of voice notes, verbally "jotting down" ideas for short stories and essays. Our connections had created an amazing creative energy.

The trip was a perfect blend of time with friends and solo time

These unexpected, delightful creative blooms when I'm in the same room with a person stood out to me on all my trips — but so did the quiet hours alone in airports and on highways, checking maps and itineraries, and planning my day in new places. I had saved money and planned out my trips in advance, but navigating solo, friend to friend, made me feel a sense of agency that I rarely felt in my day-to-day routine back home.

It sounds simple, but in the loving chaos of raising kids and working full time, I rarely think about what I really want to do with the next hour or afternoon. While traveling alone, that was all I thought about. I wanted to spend quiet time with my friends that wasn't contingent on productivity or an outcome, and I found a way to do it. It was the best gift I could possibly give myself.

• PwC is putting 85,000 workers through a critical-thinking certification as AI takes on more work.
• Workers will start with a thinking-style diagnostic, then test their judgment in simulations.
• An AI coach could help employees rehearse difficult conversations or prep for client meetings.

As AI capabilities grow, PwC US is introducing a certification program to help staffers build and demonstrate critical thinking and judgment.

More than 85,000 employees across PwC's US and Mexico offices, plus those in its Acceleration Centers, which support client work and business operations, will participate in the program, said Yolanda Seals-Coffield, chief people and inclusion officer at PwC US.

The program is set to start in December.

It's important to find new ways of developing workers' skills, she said, because AI is helping in areas such as research, writing, and analysis that were once largely done manually.

"As AI takes on more of these foundational tasks, some of the repetition that really helped our people to develop critical thinking and judgment just won't be there," Seals-Coffield said.

Already, she said, first-year associates are doing different work than they did two years ago. A recent PwC analysis of US job listings found that entry-level roles exposed to AI were far more likely to include traditionally senior-level skills, including judgment and leadership, than in 2019.

PwC has identified 15 AI skills and 15 human skills — things like empathy and adaptability — that it says will set employees apart. This certification centers on critical thinking and judgment, which the company considers vital.

In a world where AI does more of the work, Seals-Coffield said PwC's goal is to develop a framework that will help employees evaluate information, establish context, challenge information and assumptions, refine analysis, and communicate recommendations.

Training for critical thinking

The certification, which the company expects employees to complete over roughly six months, will begin with an assessment to identify a person's thinking style and how it might shape their judgment, she said. Are they someone who questions assumptions, reflects on things, or is a pragmatist?

The intent is to help workers identify their natural strengths and the areas where they might need the most focus.

To start, Seals-Coffield said, the company is working with professors and veteran PwC staffers to develop classes to help participants sharpen their thinking skills.

The next step will involve "realistic simulations" that let employees apply the framework to their work, she said. From there, a personalized AI coach will help staffers apply what they learned in the simulations to their daily tasks.

The AI coach, for example, could help employees practice difficult conversations or prepare for client meetings. That might mean uploading a proposal, having the coach review it, and then helping the employee anticipate potential questions. Or it could help identify which team member should take on which role.

Seals-Coffield said the firm views critical thinking and judgment as complementing PwC's focus on instructing employees in areas from responsible use of AI to professional skepticism, and that the content will be customized based on employees' seniority level.

How PwC will assess the skills

The program will roll out in stages, giving staffers time to apply its lessons in their day-to-day work before development leaders evaluate that proficiency as part of the company's performance review process, she said. The goal, Seals-Coffield said, is that participants will complete the certification by the end of the company's fiscal year in June 2027.

"The idea of this certification is not to design a traditional pass/fail exam, but to give people these repeatable skills and then to encourage and create the space for them to be assessed against them at year-end," she said.

Seals-Coffield said the certification program comes as the company has broadened how it thinks about hiring over the past two years. The firm is hiring more engineers and technologists than ever — across its businesses, she said. While it wasn't unusual to find engineers in the company's advisory business, she said, they're now in its tax and assurance divisions, too.

The company continues to recruit on college campuses, Seals-Coffield said, and make offers to the majority of its summer interns. PwC declined to release year-over-year figures on entry-level hiring.

After employees complete the certification, Seals-Coffield said, the AI coach can deliver instructional content to staffers as the company determines updates are needed.

"We will continue to assess our people against their AI and human skills proficiencies throughout the course of their career," she said.

• ChatGPT accounts for more than 81% of traffic to six major AI chatbots, Graphite found.
• Its growth has resumed after a plateau, while Claude and Gemini remain far behind.
• The research analyzed worldwide web and mobile-app traffic using Similarweb data.

Earlier this year, ChatGPT's dominance of the AI market appeared to be slipping as rivals from Google and Anthropic gained momentum. But new research suggests OpenAI's flagship product is making a surprising comeback.

ChatGPT now accounts for more than 81% of worldwide traffic to major AI chatbots, according to a study from Graphite, a research and growth marketing firm. No competitor has managed to capture even 10% of the market.

That's a striking finding given the attention surrounding Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude, which have been widely viewed as increasingly serious threats to OpenAI.

The research also challenges the perception that ChatGPT's explosive growth has stalled.

After surging through the first half of 2025, ChatGPT usage largely plateaued for seven months. But growth resumed this year, with monthly visits climbing nearly 20% to a record 61.35 billion in September, according to Graphite's analysis.

This echoes reporting by my colleague Katie Notopoulos, who reported last week that ChatGPT now has 1.2 billion weekly users.

The data suggests that while OpenAI's rivals are growing rapidly, they haven't come close to dislodging ChatGPT from its commanding position.

Graphite's research, led by CEO Ethan Smith, analyzed web and app traffic to and from major AI services using data from Similarweb.

Claude recorded extraordinary growth over the past year, while Gemini expanded quickly, too. But those gains came from much smaller starting points. And ChatGPT isn't just attracting visitors. It's increasingly sending people to other websites, too.

Worldwide referral traffic from AI services jumped 92% over the past year, with ChatGPT responsible for 60% of those visits, according to Graphite.

The study also highlights how AI is transforming Google's traditional search business. Google's AI Overviews, which provide AI-generated answers directly in search results, now appear in 62% of US searches.

Meanwhile, Google's AI Mode, which lets users have more conversational interactions with Search, is growing rapidly. In August, it attracted 491 million US web visits.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is where all this AI activity is happening.

Despite America's leadership in developing the technology, the US accounts for just 8.8% of worldwide AI traffic, according to Graphite's study. That means more than 90% of usage happens elsewhere, underscoring how global the AI boom has become.

Overall, monthly visits to major AI services reached 76 billion worldwide, up 37% from a year earlier.

The message from the data is clear: The AI market is still expanding rapidly, and ChatGPT remains overwhelmingly dominant.

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

• In Vinod Khosla's view, shopping on Amazon has become a slog.
• The billionaire VC is doubling down on Coframe, a startup that aims to customize websites with AI.
• Coframe was founded in 2023 by Josh Payne, an AI researcher and entrepreneur.

Billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla is betting the days of one-size-fits-all websites are numbered. His latest AI investment, Coframe, wants to remake the web so every visitor sees a page tailored to them.

"The world has changed because AI has enabled extreme customization," Khosla told Business Insider.

The startup, which aims to turn websites into what it calls the "living internet," recently raised a $25 million Series A co-led by Khosla Ventures and Hanabi Capital, bringing its total funding to $35 million. The valuation was not disclosed.

Khosla Ventures also backed Coframe at the seed stage. He is betting that AI can finally make the long-promised idea of a website tailored to every visitor a reality.

In Khosla's view, browsing the web has become a slog. He pointed to Amazon, where he said the shopping experience has "gotten worse and worse and worse" over the past 15 years because the company is pushing what it wants to sell rather than showing each user what is most relevant.

"The alternative is to write code for every page that's presented, but that's too expensive and way too slow," Khosla said. "This idea of a customized page for every user is a really good idea."

Coframe was founded in 2023 by Josh Payne, an AI researcher and entrepreneur who studied mathematics and computer science at Stanford and previously co-founded the Tom Brady-backed sports and entertainment startup Autograph. Payne said Coframe grew out of the manual, labor-intensive work he saw while trying to grow a consumer-facing business. When ChatGPT came out, he saw generative AI could be the solution.

"Websites are static," Payne told Business Insider. "You build them once; they're one size fits all, and then it takes a tremendous amount of effort to improve them over time."

Payne said Coframe's goal is not just to use AI to generate a prettier landing page. Its advantage, he said, will come from learning exactly what drives a particular customer to click and buy something.

"It's very bespoke," he said. "For the consumer, we're giving a more relevant experience, something that is better representing what the business does and the goods and services that they provide."

Coframe says it has generated more than $300 million in incremental revenue for customers including Dropbox, BCG, Block, Backcountry, and Sur La Table. It says conversion rates have risen 158% at Dropbox, 410% at Replit, and 60% at Cash App.

Marketing tech has rarely made venture capitalists swoon. In Payne's view, the market has calcified into a handful of entrenched giants, including Adobe and Salesforce, plus a long list of vendors selling incremental tools for testing, targeting, and measuring campaigns. Optimizely, once a Silicon Valley darling, was acquired for an undisclosed sum in 2021.

Payne is betting AI gives the category a second act.

"The internet is going to have its own sense of life," he said. "The technology is very rapidly catching up to be able to deliver that, so we want to be the ones that help to deliver that."

Sign up for the VC Insider newsletter here.

• The AI trade got hammered, but the damage was uneven.
• The 4 charts below highlight what Wall Street will be watching in the post-election investing landscape.
• Sign up for First Trade, Business Insider's daily markets newsletter.

Ron Burgundy from "Anchorman" said it best: "Well, that escalated quickly." That famous quotable line-turned-meme was a perfect way to describe the stock market last week.

Things started innocently enough. The Nasdaq 100 did briefly enter correction territory on Monday, extending a sell-off from the previous week, before stocks snapped back the next day.

Then the midterm elections happened.

The resounding blue wave wasn't necessarily a surprise. But it reignited fears around the speed, cost, and political viability of the data-center buildout. That anxiety came to a head on Thursday, when the Nasdaq 100 and Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) suffered their worst days in six years.

And then, right on cue, the most beaten-down stocks staged a (partial) comeback on Friday.

So was the episode a nasty but necessary AI-trade reset, or the start of something uglier? The 4 charts below show what went haywire last week, and what Wall Street will be watching in the days ahead.

1. Chips: A dip-buying test

The move: Chip stocks went from the market's AI superstars to its biggest casualties. The SOX index's terrible Thursday dragged it to its worst week since April 2025TK, down TK% over five days. The sell-off showed that any disruption of the current data-center spending timeline will have immediate negative ripple effects across the AI trade.

What's next: A Monday rebound will only be convincing if chipmakers start outperforming the Nasdaq again. If semis keep lagging even when the market steadies, investors may be pricing in a more lasting slowdown in AI-infrastructure demand.

2. The AI builders: Funding concerns are getting real

The move: The companies building AI's next layer of computing capacity got absolutely clocked. Their reliance on debt served as a scarlet letter throughout the sell-off as investors favored firms with more secure finances.

What's next: The performance of this group will offer a critical read on sentiment around the data-center boom. If the stocks can't find a floor — or if CoreWeave's bonds come under renewed pressure — it would suggest AI-financing fears are here to stay.

3. Hyperscalers: Existing capacity becomes a moat

The move: Last week was a great example of how the AI trade is splintering. Hyperscalers are being favored because they already have data centers, and deep pockets to boot. Their operations could get more valuable if future construction becomes more difficult. The shift aligns with investors' recent preference for "quality" companies.

What's next: The market is about to test an increasingly debated question: Can a slower AI buildout actually be a positive for Big Tech in the long run? Those companies' next comments on capex and guidance on cloud growth will matter more than ever.

4. Rotation: The market beyond AI

The move: AI didn't speak for the whole market last week, even if it dominated the conversation. The damage was concentrated in stocks most exposed to a high-speed data-center buildout.

What's next: This is the check on whether widening market breadth is sustainable, or a flash in the pan. If the equal-weight index and non-AI sectors keep holding up, recent volatility could look more like healthy consolidation than a lasting headache.

• Linda Matzigkeit is an executive who spent six months training as an EMT during COVID.
• Working in the emergency department changed the way she communicated with staff.
• Personally, it showed her she can do anything she set her mind to, she says.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Linda Matzigkeit, chief administrative officer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I felt helpless during the pandemic. The hospital where I work was losing front-line clinical staff quickly, as moms pivoted to stay home with their kids during remote schooling. I wanted to do something and realized the best way to make a difference would be to work on the front line.

I've always been interested in healthcare because I'm a people person who enjoys helping. I never wanted to be a nurse or doctor, but thought — for a while — I'd become a pharmacist. During COVID, I started asking a few trusted colleagues what the fastest way to become a contributing member of our clinical staff would be.

The answer was unanimous: become an EMT.

I didn't tell my instructor I was in leadership

My son was away at college, so I was an empty nester. I had time. Still, I was scared I wouldn't actually be able to become an EMT. That fear was well-founded: the course ended up being extremely hard. It was a lot more work than I thought.

I went to EMT school two nights a week, from 5-10 p.m. On weekends, I picked up training shifts on ambulances and in emergency rooms. That lasted for about six months, until I passed my national certification.

While I was training, I didn't mention that I was in hospital leadership. I wanted to be taken seriously. I didn't want my instructor to think I would take this course and never use it.

Still, I think he could tell something was up. Whenever I didn't get an A on an assignment, I'd go talk to him until he finally told me, "There's no valedictorian of the EMT course. You're doing great."

I worked long shifts in our emergency department, but wasn't paid more

Once I was certified, I started working shifts in the emergency department of the hospital where I'm also chief administrative officer. Despite that job title, I still had to do 100 hours of EMT orientation. Getting through that on nights and weekends was tough, but I did it.

Working 8- or 12-hour shifts just affirmed for me how busy our clinical staff is. I would start IVs or catheters, or hold patients during procedures. Sometimes, I was caring for scared parents. Like many moms, I've had the experience of waiting too long in the ED with my child, so I just tried to keep things moving for them.

I'm a salaried employee of the hospital, so my time in the ER wasn't paid additionally. From a financial standpoint, I think of it as volunteering.

I realized my emails were going unread

My biggest takeaway from working in the ED is that, in leadership, we had to change how we communicated. I was used to sending emails and assumed people were reading them. But in the ED, no one is sitting long enough to read their emails.

I started to think about how we could reach staff more effectively. We introduced a new internal communication tool that's similar to social media — staff can get quick updates and notifications on their phones.

I also started providing talking points for the start-of-shift huddles that frontline staff hold. In the fast-paced environment of the emergency department, face-to-face communication is more effective than an email.

The experience is humbling, but I'm proud too

Becoming an EMT and working in the emergency department humbled me. I always want to be faster at placing IVs or catheters, but I'm never going to be as skilled as some of our staff, especially since I don't work as an EMT as much as I'd like. I aim to do a shift once a month, but that doesn't always happen.

Every time I share my story, someone will say, "I've always wanted to be an EMT." I tell them to do it. Becoming an EMT showed me I can do anything I set my mind to. I've been able to make a difference for our clinical staff and our leadership. I've learned that I can dream big and execute on it. If I put something out into the universe, you bet I'm going to accomplish it.

• Bobby Powers helped plan layoffs. Then he found himself on the chopping block.
• How long should laid-off workers get to say goodbye? Every detail became a dilemma.
• Powers says the work was soul-crushing. "You're putting humans in a spreadsheet."

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bobby Powers, 39, a leadership coach in Seattle. While working in HR at a media startup, he helped oversee layoffs and was later laid off himself. Business Insider has verified his prior employment and subsequent layoff. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

One day, my boss called and said, "We're going to have to do a big layoff, and you and I are the ones running it." It was a matter of us coordinating with the exec team to try to get the list of who was going to be in the layoff.

It was a really jarring experience because it involved people you knew pretty closely, and it was a constant, day-to-day question of who was on the list and who wasn't.

We knew we had to do pretty deep cuts. It was all these people who were doing great at their jobs. The goal generally was to cut enough that we wouldn't have to do another layoff. It was kind of a moving target because we were getting updated budget projections. As soon as the revenue projections went down, we realized we had to cut even more.

Part of the back-and-forth was figuring out where we needed people most. It was soul-crushing.

That's the tough thing about the corporate world: Whenever you're dealing with a big layoff or any other big, companywide decision, at the end of the day, you're putting humans in a spreadsheet, which doesn't feel great.

We tried to preserve humanity

For my boss and me, our job was to try to preserve humanity through this whole thing. The majority of our conversations were: "How would we want it done to us? How have we seen and heard about it being done poorly in other companies?"

Discussions included the chronology of when to make a call to the person. Who's on that call? We scripted it out almost down to the minute: Everyone's getting calls at the same time. When are we sending a companywide email? When are we deactivating their Slack and email? Do we let them say goodbye? Do they have each other's cellphone numbers? Are they connected on LinkedIn? Do they have personal emails? How are they going to say goodbye to their friends?

You can't give too long, but if you give zero time and shut off access immediately, that feels really inhumane. There were just 100 or 1,000 questions I had never thought about.

If we didn't have a big security concern, we wanted to try to give at least a little bit of time so that they could message their people and say, "Hey, I'm one of the ones impacted. Thank you for the time we've had together."

The vast majority of these layoffs were video calls because it was a remote company and because we wanted the human touch of having a video, because it feels a little bit better.

We weren't sure what to name the call. I had never thought of that before. What do you do if you can't get ahold of someone, or if they decline the meeting invite because they have a conflict? The logistics ended up being so nuanced.

The layoff calls were some of the hardest conversations I've ever had to have. For some of these people, you know that they've had financial struggles, or just bought a house. Whatever the thing is, you know what is on the other side of the table.

On the chopping block this time

Soon after the layoff, it was business as usual again. I even got a promotion, and I was making more money than I'd ever made. About a month and a half later, I was at a learning and development conference in Las Vegas.

I was taking notes and soaking up all this information when I got a call from my boss. She said, "We're doing another layoff, and rather than us having these conversations with other people, I think we're on the chopping block this time." I was partially floored, and partially it felt normal.

On the morning of the layoffs, I went to see if there had been a blast sent out yet, and I couldn't get into my email. The cord had been pulled. It is weird thinking, "I can't reach out to say goodbye." All of that you feel in that moment.

When I had read about layoffs before, I had always judged the situation, thinking it was probably low performers who were let go. Then, going through the process of laying people off, you realize that's not at all what it is.

Seeing the process now from both sides has given me greater empathy for what people go through — and the judgment that can come with it. Now, when I see layoffs get posted online, I don't jump to the same conclusions I used to.

Do you have a story to share about a lost job? Contact this reporter at tparadis@businessinsider.com.

• AI stocks crumbled this week on fears about election impacts on data centers.
• The Nasdaq 100 is down nearly 14% since October 6.
• Here's where market pros say to park some cash if you're worried the sell-off will deepen.

Things have been rough for the AI trade lately, and there's a chance the sell-off could worsen.

Some analysts and investors think that this week's rout that brought the Nasdaq 100 down by more than 6% could be a taste of more pain to come, even as markets were attempting to recover on Friday.

"The shakeout in AI-related stocks has much further to run," said Phillip Colmar, a global strategist at MRB Partners, in a note on Thursday.

Colmar highlighted the risks still facing AI stocks that inform his bearish view: questions around AI monetization; elevated borrowing costs; public backlash to the data center buildout; shaky financials of AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic; AI agents posing security

"To the extent that these concerns intensify, they will put downward pressure on the valuations of tech companies, make it more difficult for the weakest borrowers to service their debt, and ultimately put the revenue commitments that the various components of the A.I. ecosystem have made to each other at risk of not materializing."

Here's how investing pros are saying to position your portfolio if you are worried that the AI sell-off will get worse.

High-quality stocks

Michael Kantrowitz, the chief US equity strategist at Piper Sandler, said the election results reinforced his view that investors should continue moving up the quality curve.

Quality by Piper Sandler's definition emphasizes high return on equity, high free cash flow yield, return on invested capital, return on assets, and high interest coverage.

The bank's Macro Select model filters for these characteristics. In a client note on Thursday, Kantrowitz shared the highest-rated tech-sector stocks in the model.

If you still want exposure to the tech trade in some way amid the sell-off, Piper's favorite pick include: Gen Digital, Accenture, Manhattan Associates, Adobe, Jabil, F5, Gartner, NetApp, GoDaddy, Salesforce, Fortinet, Hewlett Packard, DocuSign, Workday, Nutanix, Zoom Communications, and SanDisk.

Non-AI value stocks

It's no secret that Bill Smead, founder of Smead Capital Management, is a tech bear. He's a value investor, after all, and his Smead Value Fund holds no direct AI exposure, he says.

His fund has fared well amid all the market chaos lately, up 6.8% since October 8 as investors have rotated out of the AI trade.

With the AI trade likely to unwind further in Smead's view, he said he's leaning into homebuilders like DR Horton, NVR, and Lennar, as their valuations remain cheap and sentiment around homebuilders is poor.

Unglamorous sectors of the market

Eric Teal, chief investment officer of First Horizon Wealth Management, said he sees opportunities in some of the more unglamorous corners of the stock market, like small caps, financials, and energy.

"Today's sharp market pullback underscores the importance of looking beyond large-cap technology stocks and taking a more diversified approach to investing," Teal said in an email.

In a client note on Friday, UBS gave a similar perspective. The bank said its preferred stock sectors right now include healthcare, financials, and industrials.

Load up on bonds

UBS thinks the AI trade is eventually going to bounce back, but if you feel that you need more protection in the event of more near-term volatility, the bank said to consider upping your bond allocation if you're underweight the asset class.

"We see attractive diversification and income potential in fixed income, particularly in high-quality bonds with short- to medium-term maturities and in emerging market bonds," the bank wrote in a note.

• I've never enjoyed cooking. My husband does. For years, we split it evenly anyway. Until we didn't.
• The decision came after I read a book about invisible labor in marriage.
• It's made our household run smoother than ever, especially while navigating a whole new life abroad.

I've never liked cooking. My husband does. For years, we still split the task evenly anyway.

We planned meals for the week, shopped, and prepped together. We traded cooking nights and did our best to split the mental load and keep it fair as best we could.

Even so, it felt like the same mammoth problem showing up every single week. Like I'd never solved it the week before. I tried different systems: assigning meal types by day, planning a month at a time, letting apps plan for us. Nothing ever stuck or made the task feel easier.

One realization changed everything

I don't know where the meal planning overwhelm came from, or why this task has always felt so hard for me. But over time, I came to a realization: maybe this just wasn't a task I should own at all. Maybe we didn't need to split everything evenly. Maybe instead, we needed to each own what we were actually good at.

A few years ago, I read Eve Rodsky's book, "Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution." It changed how I thought about the invisible workload in marriage — not just who does which task, but who's carrying the mental weight of remembering, planning, and making sure it all gets done.

Rodsky's research found something that seemed counterintuitive to me at the time: couples don't feel more satisfied when work is split 50/50. They feel more satisfied when one partner fully owns a task from start to finish. The real weight isn't in the doing. It's in the noticing and planning that happens before anyone lifts a finger.

That explained a lot. And it gave me the words to finally talk to my husband about all of it.

I made a revealing list

I want to be clear about one thing first: my husband is an involved, hands-on partner. The kind who packs lunches, who's a more meticulous cleaner than I am, who I can leave to go on a business trip without an instruction manual to run the household and take care of our kids. He's an incredible partner I'm grateful to have by my side.

Even so, when I sat down and made a list of everything I was responsible for, and everything he was responsible for beside it, my list was four times longer.

I showed it to him. Not to start a fight, but so he could really see it for himself. I still remember the look on his face. Not at all defensive. Just sad. He hadn't realized how much I'd been holding until he saw it laid out in front of him.

Soon after, we bought Rodsky's Fair Play card deck, which helps couples divide household responsibilities by full ownership, task by task. Cooking went to Jeff.

He owns it all

When we moved from Connecticut to Spain a year ago, with only what fit in a few suitcases, we left the deck behind. But we brought the system, and leaned into it harder.

I was suddenly stretched thin in every direction, running our household in a new country, helping two kids adjust, working, and trying to find my own footing. Full ownership wasn't just a "nice-to-have" anymore. It was our saving grace.

Meal planning, shopping, and cooking are entirely in Jeff's court. He decides what we're eating, makes the list, does the shopping, and cooks every night. I don't weigh in.

He never follows a recipe. He just knows how to put a meal together — a credit, I think, to his Italian-American mom, who's incredible in the kitchen.

I don't always love what he makes. Sometimes he picks a type of meat I wouldn't have chosen. But I eat it, gladly. The peace of not owning this task far outweighs the occasional meal that isn't my first pick.

We're not rigid about it either. If he's swamped or out one night, I step in without complaint, shopping and cooking. But that's the exception.

In exchange, I own things outright too. Laundry is mine — daily washing, stain treating, hanging, folding, putting away. I also own event planning and coordinating family activities. We each trust the other to handle our own categories.

We're teaching our kids something important

Most nights, I have no idea what he's making until it's done and he's asking for help serving it. I'm often folding the laundry I washed and hung out to dry that morning, or playing with our youngest. Sometimes he wanders into the kitchen to help, learning small tasks alongside his dad.

He's 7, and he already knows how to cut fruit and veggies with a paring knife, sauté meat, and scramble eggs. I don't know if he'll grow up loving the kitchen the way his dad does. But he'll grow up knowing that whoever's best at something — and actually enjoys it — should own it. Not whoever is expected to.

• David Walker said he once fired two high performers at a company he ran for failing to collaborate well.
• A key test for the Spara CEO: Does an employee boost others or try to push them down?
• "If you don't feel like the dumbest person at your company, you're just bad at hiring," Walker said.

David Walker learned the hard way that company culture starts with who gets hired.

The cofounder and CEO of AI startup Spara, which creates agents for sales teams, had to fire two high-performing employees at a prior company because, he said, they undermined the culture he was trying to build.

There wasn't a single blowup or any misconduct, Walker said. Instead, he said, they tended to try to prove they were smarter than their colleagues rather than collaborate with them. Walker said he offered feedback, and nothing changed.

"The thing that most CEOs get wrong is that they make hiring decisions and then they go try to set their culture," he said.

After he made the call, Walker said, more than a dozen staffers told him it was the right thing to do.

"I could see a marked change in the energy and culture," he said, adding that employees started referring more job candidates. His only regret: that he had sweated over the decision for months before acting.

Walker is drawing on those types of experiences as he builds out Spara, which he cofounded in 2024. The startup has about two dozen employees. Before starting the company, he cofounded and ran a tech-enabled real estate brokerage, which he later sold.

Hire for how people treat colleagues

For Walker, culture isn't defined by whether a company has a ping-pong table or a "corporate-feeling office." It's shaped, he said, by the people a company chooses to bring in and reward.

"Hiring decisions are the bedrock of setting your culture," Walker said.

He said the best piece of advice he's received on this is simple: "If you don't feel like the dumbest person at your company, you're just bad at hiring." Ultimately, Walker said, you want "self-imposed imposter syndrome."

Talent alone isn't the test, however. Walker said the attribute most correlated with the culture he wants is whether someone gains energy by bringing those around them up or pushing them down.

That might look like someone who did 80% of the work taking time in an all-hands to talk up colleagues who did the remainder and saying it wouldn't have been possible without them.

"They're sharing the credit," he said.

Walker said that those who need to "win" interactions might view colleagues' ideas as threats, whereas workers who draw out others' ideas and knowledge are more likely to foster genuine collaboration.

Hire people who will challenge you

That distinction also shapes how he wants employees to interact with him. Walker said it's not enough to hire people with expertise in their areas of the business. They also need to feel comfortable challenging the CEO — and Walker, as CEO, needs to explain how he reached a decision.

Walker said a leader's job is, in part, to define how a company communicates and makes decisions.

Early on in his career, he said, he found it difficult to say no to people on his leadership team who were older or more experienced in their area of the business.

To make it easier, Walker said he followed an employee's suggestion and began explaining why he was making a decision before simply delivering an answer. That gives staffers a chance to understand the reasoning, challenge it, and learn how he weighs trade-offs.

"Great people expect to be told 'no,'" Walker said.

He said he's a believer in the idea of disagree and commit — including for himself.

When he disagrees with a team's approach but defers to its expertise, Walker said, he and the team discuss in advance how they will judge whether it is working and what they will do if it is not.

That might mean reviewing sales call recordings in the first month after a decision to see how customers understand a change. Setting up a plan to evaluate a decision down the line can make it easier to change direction without it feeling like a blunder.

That keeps things moving. "The worst thing you can do building a company is just have decisions that don't get made," he said.

• Many Gen X buyers choose active adult communities while still working full time across the US.
• Active adult communities focus on rightsizing and lifestyle with wellness and social connection.
• Growing 55+ rental options offer flexibility for active adults facing high rates and HOA costs.

This article is based on a Q&A with Todd Warshauer, who leads Active Adult Consultants, which provides consulting services and sales training for 55+ and active adult communities. Warshauer has worked in residential real estate for over 25 years and has visited nearly 1,500 active adult communities nationwide. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Throughout my career in real estate, one of the most important questions I've encouraged companies and teams to help buyers answer isn't simply, "What home should I buy?" It's "How will I live here?"

That's really at the heart of the active adult market. People aren't just buying a house. They're deciding how they want to spend the next chapter of their lives. It's less about what they're leaving behind and more about what they're looking forward to.

More people in their 50s and not retired are moving into adult communities

We're seeing people consider the active adult lifestyle earlier, although that doesn't necessarily mean the average buyer is getting younger across the board. Historically, moving into a 55+ community was often tied to retirement. Today, more buyers in their 50s are considering the move while still working, sometimes with another 10-15 years of their careers ahead of them. Remote work and flexible schedules have certainly helped over the past five to six years.

One thing I've always emphasized with clients and in active adult leadership groups is that buying in an active adult community is typically a discretionary decision. Most buyers don't need to move. They already own a perfectly good home. So what's motivating them? For someone who's 57 and still working, it might simply be realizing they don't want to wait another eight or 10 years to enjoy a different lifestyle. The bigger shift isn't necessarily about retiring earlier. It's about choosing to live differently sooner.

Rightsizing is more important than downsizing

The biggest change I've seen is the evolution from buying a home in a retirement community to buying into a lifestyle. When I started in this business, much of the conversation centered on downsizing, golf, and less maintenance. Those things still matter, but today's buyers have broader expectations around wellness, fitness, social connections, recreation, travel, and experiences.

People's priorities change as they move through life. The first half is often focused on careers, raising families, and accumulating things. The second half becomes more about relationships, experiences, freedom, and how we spend our time. That's why I prefer "rightsizing" over downsizing. I've seen plenty of buyers purchase homes larger than the ones they're leaving. They're looking for a home and community that better fit the life they want to live.

Many residents are not retired

I've never been a big fan of calling these retirement communities. To me, "retirement" suggests the end of something, particularly a career or productive chapter of life. But most buyers I've worked with are more interested in what's next. What do I want to experience? How do I want to spend my time? Who do I want to spend it with?

Many residents are still working, consulting, starting businesses, volunteering, or pursuing interests they didn't have time for earlier. They're not necessarily slowing down. That's why I prefer "active adult community" or "active lifestyle community."

There's also an interesting generational shift. Baby boomers have largely defined this market over the past 10-15 years, often associating the move with retirement. Gen X buyers are approaching it differently, with many still working, raising children, or balancing other financial responsibilities. I don't think Gen X is necessarily less interested in retirement. I think they're less inclined to wait for retirement to make a lifestyle change. Of course, these aren't universal differences, but the mindset shift is important.

Community allows people to focus on themselves after years of parenting or growing a career

In my consulting, I talk a lot about the push and pull factors behind a move. The push factors are what people want to leave behind: home maintenance, unused space, changing family dynamics, or a neighborhood that no longer fits their lifestyle. Pull factors are what they're moving toward: friendships, activities, wellness, convenience, and more time for the things they enjoy.

For someone who's spent 20-25 years raising a family and building a career, an active adult community can offer an opportunity to focus more on themselves while they're still working. Making new friends as an adult isn't always easy, and these communities create opportunities to connect with people who share similar interests. There's also longevity to consider. If you're 55 today, you could be thinking about where and how you want to live for another 25-30 years. Why wait until you're 70 to enjoy it?

One important distinction: Most 55+ communities operate under federal housing rules that require at least 80% of occupied homes to have at least one resident age 55 or older. Individual communities can have stricter policies, so someone under 55 shouldn't assume they're eligible. All-age lifestyle communities can offer similar amenities without those restrictions.

Renting is always an option

I'd start by figuring out what you want your future lifestyle to look like before deciding what real estate to purchase or rent. Where do you want to live? How close to family? What activities and social connections matter? Will the home work for you in 15-20 years? For some people, buying a future home early can make sense, particularly if they can afford to carry two properties or rent one out.

But you also need to consider financing, insurance, taxes, HOA fees, and rental restrictions. Many 55+ communities have specific leasing and occupancy rules.

There's also the growing option of renting in an active adult community rather than purchasing. The 55+ rental market has expanded considerably, offering many of the same lifestyle amenities, activities, and social opportunities found in traditional for-sale communities. For someone still working or unsure where they want to settle long-term, renting provides flexibility without the financial commitment or maintenance responsibilities of ownership.

Today's Gen X buyers also face a financial challenge. Someone with a 3% mortgage may struggle to justify selling and buying a new home at a significantly higher rate, even with substantial equity. Add new construction pricing and HOA fees, and the decision becomes more complicated. That doesn't mean they don't want to move. The financial side may simply not align with the lifestyle they want.

The goal should be making these decisions proactively rather than waiting for a health issue or other circumstance to force the conversation.

• Elon Musk said said the order backlog for the Cybertruck "far exceeds" what Tesla can build.
• The electric truck is being axed next year, and Musk said Tesla will have to return a lot of deposits.
• The Cybertruck has had a bumpy ride, with sales collapsing and owners hit with vandalism and abuse.

Putting money down doesn't guarantee you'll get one of the last Cybertrucks to roll off the line.

Elon Musk said on Monday that the number of Cybertruck orders "far exceeds" Tesla's capacity to build them before the electric pickup is discontinued next year.

"We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people," the Tesla CEO wrote.

Musk added that the Cybertruck was not unprofitable, but said that scaling Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi was more of a priority.

"The opportunity cost of the complexity of Cybertruck is vastly outweighed by the value of incremental Cybercab production," he said.

Musk announced on Friday that Tesla would stop production of the Cybertruck, which debuted in 2023. It is unclear how many Cybertruck orders Tesla has outstanding, and the company still appears to be accepting orders on its website.

The angular electric truck launched with high expectations — Musk predicted Tesla could sell 250,000 a year — but has flopped.

Tesla sold just 20,000 Cybertrucks in the US last year, and has sold around 16,000 so far in 2026. The pickup also became a target for anti-Musk protests and vandalism during the billionaire's stint running DOGE.

The Cybertruck maintains a cult following among Tesla fans, who spent the weekend petitioning Musk on X to give the EV a stay of execution.

However, the billionaire pushed back, writing on Saturday that Tesla's engineers can "only do so many things" and that the Cybercab was more important to the company's future.

"If we have to maintain a complex production line, supply chain and allocate engineering for Cybertruck, we can't use those people or factory space and machinery for scaling Cybercab, which is the vehicle that will PROFOUNDLY transform the world of terrestrial transport!" Musk wrote.

The Cybertruck's cancellation is the latest signal that Tesla is moving away from conventional vehicles. The company also discontinued the Model S and X premium EVs earlier this year to free up factory space for its Optimus humanoid robot.

• Eva Steinwald started climbing mountains in her 60s after her husband died.
• Her goal is to conquer the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent, by age 70.
• Her training routine combines strength and endurance exercise — a good blueprint for longevity.

For most of her life, Eva Steinwald thought Mount Everest may as well have been the moon.

An Idaho-based real estate broker, she was an avid skier, sometimes a jogger, and a black-belt karate instructor, but never considered herself an athlete.

Then her husband Pat died in 2018. After more than two decades of marriage, she told Business Insider she decided to re-envision her life with the biggest challenge she could think of: overcoming a fear of heights to climb literal mountains.

At age 63, she stood at the top of Everest after only a few years of climbing experience and set a record as the oldest American woman to summit the world's highest peak.

Now 64, she works out six days a week to take on the rest of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent.

Steinwald said she learned late in life how to revitalize her fitness. She said the same principles that help her tackle the toughest environments on the planet can help even fitness newbies get in better shape.

"I feel great. I have energy. I'm strong," she said. "People look at me, and they don't think I'm 64. This is just normal for me."

Her four-part exercise plan mirrors longevity advice from top doctors, performance scientists, and elite athletes. Scale it to your fitness level and schedule to build a better workout, whether you want to take on big adventures or extend the healthy years of your life.

Strength training boosts long-term durability

She started with obstacle course races, where she quickly realized she needed to build up some strength and hired trainers to help.

Her current regimen includes three days a week of strength training. Extensive research shows strength is key to both athletic performance and a long, healthy life, alongside mobility.

Steinwald works with a coach from Stretch Lab to prevent injury and protect her muscles and joints. She spends two sessions on lower-body exercises and one on upper-body and core exercises, with a focus on balance and stability movements.

Slow, steady cardio to build a better engine

Steinwald's first major peak was Mount Rainer in Washington State.

She took on the grueling hike, followed by a freezing climb at midnight (when the ice is more stable), after a crash course in using an ice ax, crampons, and other gear.

Reaching the top as sunrise broke over the horizon, Steinwald decided she couldn't get enough.

To build her stamina for bigger adventures, she took on "a lot of boring endurance runs," she said.

Her weekly training includes running at an easy pace for an hour or two at a time.

The idea is that slower Zone 2 cardio sessions allow your body to adapt at a pace you can more easily recover from. For beginners, that can be a fast walk or a light jog for 10-20 minutes, building up.

"You have to take little baby steps," Steinwald said. "Don't be hard on yourself, get back up and do it the next day."

Rucking supports real-world fitness

To prepare for the strain of hauling gear up rugged cliffs, Steinwald spends long hours carrying a weighted pack. Also known as rucking, the exercise has caught on for performance and longevity because it combines strength and cardio at once.

When the weather doesn't cooperate, Steinwald gets it done in the gym. A recent session involved two hours on the stair stepper, then two hours with a heavy pack on the treadmill, while watching movies to pass the time.

She recommends sticking to a similarly rigorous schedule, even if your workouts are shorter.

"Put it on your calendar, and it is non-negotiable. It is your time. It is your health physically and mentally," she said.

Interval training develops resilience

The last ingredient in Steinwald's exercise potion is a sprinkle of high-intensity intervals, like uphill sprints. She started small, with about 30 seconds of sprinting at a time, but has worked up to 10 minutes at a fast pace on an incline — brutal even for an experienced athlete.

The shorter, speedier sessions help raise the body's ability to handle hard effort over time.

Intervals also cultivate psychological grit, teaching you to problem-solve under strain.

Steinwald said it's a key lesson for taking on literal mountains, where you can fail despite your best efforts.

"It's not about the summit. When you climb these mountains, it's really about the journey, discovering yourself and your strengths, your weaknesses," she said.

Steinwald said an unexpected perk of her mountaineering is emotional fortitude and a greater sense of being present in everyday life. It's helped build closer relationships, which is another key factor in longevity.

"After going through all the pain and hard work on a mountain, really digging deep, you realize it's OK. You can thank someone, you can apologize. You can say, 'I love you,'" Steinwald said. "We don't share our emotions enough, and the mountains have really taught me you need to share."

• Gallup survey results showed US employee engagement was the lowest since 2011.
• Employees are also feeling frustrated because it remains tough to get a new job.
• If the job market improves, pent-up frustrations could lead to a big wave of resignations.

Many employees aren't feeling passionate about their work, and a lack of support and clear guidelines are dampening morale.

Gallup found, based on a survey of adults, that employee engagement, defined as "the involvement and enthusiasm of employees in their work and workplace," has dipped to the lowest level since 2011. Engagement steadily rose during the 2010s, peaked in 2020, and dropped to 29% this past third quarter.

Gallup's Jim Harter wrote there were "particularly large declines among hybrid and remote employees in organizations that have adopted AI."

"At the same time, fewer employees report clear expectations or feel that someone at work cares about them," he said. "The pattern suggests that AI adoption may be outpacing the communication and managerial support needed to make it effective."

Data elsewhere points to the difficulties of being a worker, especially if you want to get ahead in your career. Cory Stahle, senior economist at Indeed, told Business Insider that the low-hire, low-fire job market has consequences for people who want to switch jobs or get a raise, as employees aren't able to use offers elsewhere as leverage to push for a pay increase.

"Obviously the low-fire means job security, but at the same time, if you have a secure job, but you feel like your wage is getting eroded and not keeping up the way that prices are increasing, that doesn't feel good," he said.

The quits rate can indicate confidence in getting a job, with a higher rate of workers leaving their current gigs implying feeling good about what's available. The rate ticked up to 2.1% in September, above the previous 12-month average of about 2% but still lower than the Great Resignation a few years back.

Daniel Zhao, chief economist at Glassdoor, told Business Insider that soft hiring affects both unemployed and employed people because those with jobs face fewer opportunities to move up the career ladder or to have leverage over their current employer.

"If you can't credibly quit and find a better job, then there's no pressure on your current employer to give you a raise or a promotion," Zhao said. "That means that workers are stuck in their current situations and they don't have an outlet for their frustration."

The hires rate was 3.4% in September, up for the second straight month, but still comparable to the early 2010s. Zhao said workers may be sitting in jobs that no longer fit them because they are struggling to find a new role, and thus are feeling pent-up frustration.

"Naturally, people outgrow jobs, and in a healthy job market, when you outgrew one job, you would move on to the next one," he said. "But instead, right now we're seeing that workers are stuck in jobs that are no longer a fit for them."

The New York Fed's survey of consumers showed the share of people who are happy with promotion prospects was 42.1% as of July, a slight uptick from March's share but still low in the series dating back to March 2014.

"Even if the current job market is not a great time to find a new job, you can still set yourself up to be ready in the future," Zhao said. "If 2027 is a better job market and there are more opportunities available, then you want to make sure that you are in a position to ride that wave."

Perhaps if the job market improves, another round of the Great Resignation, and a new cycle of furious job-hopping, could occur.

"If the job market does heat up, then that pent-up frustration, that desire for green pastures, is going to very quickly evolve into employee attrition, and it is going to result in people heading for the doors en masse," Zhao said.

• Concert films rose in popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s, raking in millions of dollars.
• Artists like Taylor Swift, BTS, and Billie Eilish have helped revive the genre.
• Business Insider compiled the 20 highest-grossing concert docufilms using Box Office Mojo data.

Concert documentaries can be a win-win for fans: they can relive favorite concerts or experience tours they couldn't see live on the big screen.

The music documentary subgenre rose in popularity between 2008 and 2013, when artists such as Miley Cyrus, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and One Direction released major theatrical concert films to much fanfare at the box office.

Ten of the 20 highest-grossing concert films on this list were released during that period, collectively earning about $318 million at the domestic box office, according to Box Office Mojo data.

This type of docufilm saw a surge in the early 2020s, and in a 2024 Fandango survey, 77% of ticket buyers who had watched a concert film in 2023 said they wanted to see another tour on the silver screen.

In 2023, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour became the highest-grossing concert film of all time, with more than $180 million in domestic ticket sales. That's more than double the No. 2 entry.

The release of concert documentaries has continued, with over a dozen since 2023 from artists including Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, BTS, and more. A Harry Styles tour documentary directed by John Wilson is in the works.

Here are the 20 highest-grossing concert film documentaries at the domestic box office, per Box Office Mojo.

20. Amazing Grace (2018)

Domestic gross: $4,450,456

The documentary captures Aretha Franklin recording her landmark 1972 live gospel album, "Amazing Grace," over two nights at Los Angeles' New Temple Missionary Baptist Church.

The film centers on Franklin's performances with the Southern California Community Choir.

19. Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)

Domestic gross: $4,809,800

The documentary, directed by Park Jun-soo, BTS' primary director, centers on the band's 2018 "Love Yourself" world tour.

It shows behind-the-scenes glances at each band member's life outside of the band, including the emotional and mental weight that has come with their new fame.

18. Shine a Light (2008)

Domestic gross: $5,505,267

Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese films the Rolling Stones over two concerts at New York City's Beacon Theatre in 2006.

The documentary centers on the band's live performance while also including archival footage and guest appearances by Buddy Guy, Christina Aguilera, and Jack White.

17. Justin Bieber's Believe (2013)

Domestic gross: $6,206,566

Directed by Jon M. Chu, who also directed "Never Say Never," the documentary offers a behind-the-scenes and onstage look at Bieber during his 2013 "Believe" tour.

It follows the pop star as he performs for packed arenas while navigating fame and the challenges of his growing career.

16. Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience

Domestic gross: $7,232,818

Directed by award-winning filmmakers Paul Dugdale and Farah Khalid, the theatrical music film follows the K-pop group's sold-out performances at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2025.

It combines concert footage and behind-the-scenes content.

15. BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas (2023)

Domestic gross: $8,481,053

Directed by Oh Yoon-dong, the documentary features footage from the band's October 15, 2022, concert in Busan, South Korea.

The free Busan concert supported the city's bid to host the 2030 World Expo and was BTS's last performance with all seven members before military enlistments began.

14. U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)

Domestic gross: $8,600,823

Director Phil Joanou's documentary follows U2 during its "The Joshua Tree" tour, as the band sought to connect more with American blues, gospel, folk, and rock music.

It includes live performances, studio sessions, and scenes of Bono and his bandmates recording with artists such as B.B. King.

13. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft (2026)

Domestic gross: $9,901,485

Co-directed by Billie Eilish and James Cameron, the 3D concert film captures Eilish's sold-out "Hit Me Hard and Soft" world tour.

It features performances of songs from the album, including "Birds of a Feather" and "Wildflower," alongside backstage footage of Eilish, her brother and collaborator Finneas, her band, and the production team behind the tour.

12. Stop Making Sense (1984)

Domestic gross: $10,306,902

Jonathan Demme's film documents Talking Heads' 1983 concerts at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

The performance begins with David Byrne alone onstage and gradually expands, song by song, as musicians, backing singers, props, and Byrne's famously oversized suit transform the stage into a full production.

11. U2 3D (2008)

Domestic gross: $10,363,341

Directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington, the documentary was filmed during the band's Vertigo Tour in South America.

It uses 3D filming technology to highlight the scale of U2's stadium show, including the massive video screens and the crowd's response.

10. Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011)

Domestic gross: $11,862,398

This documentary, directed by Kevin Tancharoen, captures the cast of "Glee" performing songs from the series during its live concert tour.

9. Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)

Domestic gross: $15,012,935

Alek Keshishian's documentary follows Madonna during her 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, one of the most controversial pop tours of its era due to it blending R-rated choreography with religious symbols.

Color concert footage is set against black-and-white scenes of Madonna rehearsing, traveling, meeting with family, and speaking candidly with her dancers and entourage.

8. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (2009)

Domestic gross: $19,162,740

The Jonas Brothers' 2008 "Burning Up" tour is the focus of this concert film.

Directed by Bruce Hendricks, it was filmed largely at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

7. Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)

Domestic gross: $25,326,071

Directed by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz, the 3D documentary follows Katy Perry during her California Dreams Tour.

6. One Direction: This Is Us (2013)

Domestic gross: $28,873,374

Morgan Spurlock's documentary follows One Direction as it tours stadiums while navigating fame.

The film looks back at how the band was assembled on "The X Factor," while also showing their family lives and life on the road.

5. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé (2023)

Domestic gross: $33,889,684

Written, directed, and produced by Beyoncé, the documentary follows the creation and 2023 run of her Renaissance World Tour.

It combines concert footage from the stadium production with behind-the-scenes scenes of Beyoncé working with her dancers, family, crew, and creative team.

4. Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008)

Domestic gross: $65,281,781

This concert documentary follows Miley Cyrus on her 2007 and 2008 "Best of Both Worlds" tour, when she performed as both herself and her Disney Channel character, Hannah Montana.

Directed by Bruce Hendricks, it includes concert performances, backstage moments, and appearances by the Jonas Brothers.

3. This Is It (2009)

Domestic gross: $72,091,016

Director Kenny Ortega assembled this documentary from rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson's planned "This Is It" residency at London's O2 Arena.

Rather than showing the completed concert, it shows Jackson in the final months of his life rehearsing songs, directing dancers, revising musical arrangements, and planning production.

2. Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (2011)

Domestic gross: $73,013,910

Director Jon M. Chu follows Justin Bieber's path from uploading covers on YouTube to becoming a teenage pop star.

It builds toward his sold-out Madison Square Garden show, while also including interviews with his mother, manager Scooter Braun, Usher, and fans.

1. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (2023)

Domestic gross: $180,756,269

Directed by Sam Wrench, who also directed Billie Eilish's 2023 documentary, the film documents Swift's 2023 Eras Tour concerts at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

It shows the Taylor Swift's career-spanning set list, along with the costumes, choreography, dancers, screens, and stage effects behind each concert.

For many in the tech industry, the midterms landed like a hangover after a two-year bender. In the sober light of day, their flirtations with MAGA and extravagant spending may now seem embarrassing. Yet for Silicon Valley's billionaire class, there's still reason to keep the champagne flowing after the election — because it still pays to be rich.

California voters appear to have rejected prop 40, a landmark initiative to impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires in the state. They also seem to favor a countermeasure, prop 42, that would hamstring any future attempts to tax financial assets —the kind that separate the rich from the really rich. (Votes for both measures are still being tallied.) That people in the most progressive state with the highest wealth inequality in the country made such decisions in the bluest national election in recent history is either a failure of populism, or a victory of free enterprise, depending on who you ask. On X, Mike Solana of Peter Thiel's Founders Fund heralded Prop 40's apparent defeat succinctly: "Eat shit, communists."

More than 200 billionaires live in California. Cumulatively, they hold an estimated $2.3 trillion in wealth, a sum that UC Berkeley economist Gabriel Zucman notes is roughly equivalent to the combined annual income of every single resident in the state. Soon, there could be dozens more, as companies like Anthropic and OpenAI prepare world-historic IPOs. (Anthropic's alone could mint close to a thousand centimillionaires.) Wealth for these people is not a matter of salary, but of assets. Most fortunes in the tech industry remain in company equity, which is untaxed until shares are sold. That has allowed some of the richest people in the state to avoid paying much in income tax: Billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page all famously take $1 salaries.

"The way this system works is they can literally create gigantic fortunes without paying tax," says Tom Steyer, an investor and former gubernatorial candidate, and one of the few billionaires to come out in support of the billionaire tax. "We know where we need to go, which is a fairer tax system."

Prop 40 offered one such alternative. Supporters argued that it would mark a long overdue correction, and still allow billionaires to remain very, very rich. "The poorest billionaire in California will make about $300 million this year. If we pass the CA wealth tax, he will only make $235 million," Saikat Chakrabarti, a former Stripe engineer and political adviser, wrote on X. Critics argued that asking billionaires to pay cash on their paper wealth would ruin the tech economy, forcing them to sell off parts of private companies, and inspiring an exodus from the state. Earlier this year, the investor Balaji Srinivasan noted on X that Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel had already "exited the failed state of California," and Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan warned that should a billionaire tax pass, many startup founders would choose not to come to California at all.

The would-be victims of the billionaire tax feared those outcomes enough to form a coalition, which included prominent names in tech — Brin, Patrick Collison, Eric Schmidt, and John Doerr among them. Together, they spent more than $300 million to defeat the measure (including a reported $148 million ad campaign), the most ever spent by one side on a single ballot initiative. Supporters, by comparison, spent about $2 million on ads. "The disparity in money in this thing was too high," says Cooper Teboe, a political strategist in Silicon Valley. "There was a genuine marketing gap."

Money isn't everything. In Texas, where sometimes trillionaire Elon Musk spent nearly $500 million trying to keep Republicans in office, voters turned around and elected a Democratic governor for the first time since 1991, and a Democratic Senator who made reining in data centers a major part of his message. Both of those campaigns were modeled on the idea of a "top versus bottom" rather than "left versus right" politics — that is, an alignment over class interests above all else.

The zealous interest from both sides of prop 40 — and the fact that some 46% of voters in California favored the tax despite what many saw as significant flaws — are signs that conversations about wealth taxation are just getting started. Most Americans think billionaires don't pay enough in taxes, according to a national survey from last year; one study found that 73% of Americans would favor a "special additional tax on billionaires." In April, a Pew survey found that 60% of people believed that corporations and very wealthy people did not pay "their fair share" in taxes.

That's led some proponents of a wealth tax to shift their gaze nationally. Indeed, some of prop 40's detractors, including Governor Gavin Newsom, made the argument that they would rather tax wealth federally than on the state level. Other opponents, who had grievances with the details of prop 40 — like what its actual fiscal impact would be, how the state would assess wealth, and where all of that hypothetical money would actually go — have come out in support of wealth taxes in general. Steyer, who supports the idea of a federal tax on billionaires, says that if prop 40 is "not the way to skin the cat, don't come back and tell me there's no way to skin the cat."

Having a plan for taxing the ultra rich "becomes almost a prerequisite for whoever ends up as the dominant 2028 candidate," says Teboe. "The war continues."

• I traveled by train from Seattle to Vancouver on Amtrak Cascades in October.
• It was much cheaper than flying or driving, and crossing the US-Canada border was simple.
• My $22 fare cost less than half as much as a rental car and a fraction of a plane ticket.

On a trip to the Pacific Northwest in October, I had initially planned to drive from Seattle to Vancouver and fly back to the US from there.

But I found that some rental car agencies don't allow one-way trips out of the US, and the ones that do often require extra paperwork and charge higher drop fees. I could fly, but plane tickets were hundreds of dollars.

I looked into traveling to Vancouver by train instead, and was surprised by the affordability and abundance of Amtrak tickets. My mind was made up.

While I've taken Amtrak numerous times, I'd never crossed an international border by rail before. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I found the process to be simple and affordable compared to flying or driving.

Here's what the ride was like.

My journey to Vancouver began at Seattle's King Street Station in October.

I booked a four-hour Amtrak Cascades trip from Seattle's King Street Station to Vancouver's Pacific Central Station. My one-way coach seat cost $21.90.

A sign at the station's entrance directed passengers traveling to Canada to check in at the ticket office before boarding their train.

This instruction was also announced several times over the loudspeaker and by Amtrak staff members at the station, just in case anyone missed the sign.

At the ticket office, I showed my passport and received a customs declaration card and an orange boarding pass.

The orange boarding pass signaled that my passport had been validated.

Then, it was time to board.

The train arrived relatively on time — only six minutes late.

The train car was clearly an older model, with fabric seats that showed signs of wear and tear.

Some of the seats were so shredded that it looked like a cat had clawed at them.

My colleague, Business Insider travel reporter Joey Hadden, rode a newer Cascades train between Seattle and Vancouver in 2025, which featured plush leather seats — a more typical Amtrak experience.

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

Still, there was plenty of legroom underneath my seat.

My spouse and I had enough space to store our backpacks and our bag of snacks underneath our seats.

The train car also included configurations of four seats all facing central tables.

Signs at the tables said that these arrangements were reserved for parties of three or more.

Amtrak's WiFi was strong enough to watch the final game of the World Series live with minimal buffering.

I'm from Wisconsin, so the ability to watch the Milwaukee Brewers win the World Series was crucial.

The ocean views were also stunning along the journey.

Our train left a little bit after 6 p.m., so we got to see the sunset glowing over the horizon.

Like most Amtrak trains, the Cascades bathroom was spacious and well-equipped.

There was plenty of room to move around, unlike cramped airplane lavatories.

The café car sold a range of meals, snacks, and beverages, with the prices listed in US dollars.

I bought a ginger ale for $2.50 since I was feeling a bit nauseous from the train's rocking motion.

A sign in both English and French informed passengers that the café car was no longer accepting Canadian coins.

Canadian paper currency was still accepted, along with credit cards.

When the train reached the Canadian border, we were told to stay seated while Canada Border Services Agency members checked passports.

The conductor announced in advance that the restrooms would be closed during the inspection. Since it wasn't a very full train, the passport checks only took about 15 minutes.

The train then proceeded the rest of the way to Vancouver, where we went through customs.

The customs line snaked outside the station in the chilly fall air, which I wasn't expecting, but it moved quickly. Still, I was glad I'd kept my coat on me and not in my suitcase.

Getting to Canada by train was easy and affordable — a fraction of what it would have cost to fly or rent a car.

Flights from Seattle to Vancouver during my trip started at about $350, and the rental car I used during the first half of the trip cost $58 per day.

At about $22, taking the train to Canada, even if it took a few hours longer than driving or flying, was the most cost-effective option — without the hassle of airport security lines or skyrocketing gas prices.

• President Donald Trump said his administration threatened to jail the leader of a major AI company.
• Trump said his team asked the individual if they liked "the color orange."
• Trump did not reveal who the person or the company was, but said it was "one of the big ones."

President Donald Trump said his administration had once threatened the leader of a major AI company with jail time.

Speaking on an episode of "60 Minutes" that aired on Sunday night, Trump said that his team encountered "a situation where somebody was reported to us to be doing something bad with AI."

"We called them very strongly and said, get ready to go to jail. Please give your wife a kiss goodnight," Trump said.

Trump said that he could not reveal who the person or the company was. But when pressed by host Ross Douthat on whether it was "a leader of a major AI company," Trump said the individual was from "one of the big ones."

Representatives for the Trump White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

"We said, 'Do you like the color orange?'" Trump recounted.

"We said, 'Go home right now. See your wife and children. Give them a kiss good night,'" Trump added. "Because tomorrow morning, you're going to jail."

After saying the unnamed executive had "totally changed everything" after the alleged warning, Trump said he did not believe the conduct had been malicious — though he added that it "coulda been malicious."

Trump's comments were part of a broader discussion on "60 Minutes" about whether the US should slow the development of advanced AI.

Douthat asked Trump about public unease over data centers, and warnings from some AI leaders that the technology could pose catastrophic risks. Trump said he supported the technology partly because he viewed it as a contest with China.

And when asked whether he would support AI-safety guardrails, Trump said he did not mind them, but argued that the US could not place itself in "a deep second position" versus China.

"We're leading number one. And China has no guardrails, by the way," Trump said.

Trump added that the US would be at an "unbelievable disadvantage" if it did not continue developing the technology.

Trump has spent much of his second term meeting with AI leaders and extracting commitments from them. In January 2025, he announced the Stargate infrastructure venture alongside OpenAI's Sam Altman, Oracle's Larry Ellison, and SoftBank's Masayoshi Son. In March, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI signed his White House data-center power pledge.

More recently, Trump hosted a September White House gathering with Google's Sundar Pichai, Anthropic's Dario Amodei, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI's Greg Brockman, xAI's Elon Musk, and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. They signed a voluntary safety accord calling for internal controls, outside evaluations, and board oversight. Trump described it as "morally binding."

• Robert Farlow asked OpenAI's Dot agent to help coordinate a move.
• His Dot spammed the movers, building managers, and insurance workers with hundreds of emails.
• He shut the Dot down, though AI is still writing his emails.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Robert Farlow, the 27-year-old founder of the AI startup Plato. He is based in San Francisco. This essay has been edited for length and clarity. OpenAI did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

We just raised a new fundraising round, and we're growing the team a lot. So we're getting a new, bigger office.

It's such a headache. There's so much insurance stuff and coordinating with the movers. The building managers require insurance when the movers come in. We also had to get new insurance to ensure we were in compliance with the new lease.

I use all of the AI agents. Instinct helps me at the gym, and Grok Bot takes snack orders at my company and buys them on Amazon. I would've had to ask Claude or ChatGPT about the move anyway, because I don't know much about insurance.

So, I thought I'd give this task to Dot and let it take it from there.

I had found a contact for insurance. I said: "We're moving to this office. You can read my emails to find out the details. Just get it done." A couple of times it sent me a bunch of texts. I said: "Just please, get it done."

It was taking a few days, and the movers still hadn't been finalized, so I looked at what it was doing.

It was mayhem.

It was sending multiple back-to-back messages to the movers, triple- and quadruple-emailing, giving every tiny update about everything.

They proposed some times and said, "How's 9 a.m.?" It followed up: "Is that Pacific Time?" It needed clarification on every single thing, so it just kept bombarding them with questions.

There were also the insurance people, our current building managers, and our new building managers. In some cases, it was emailing all of them at the same time.

The new building manager had to make a new thread because the existing one was too large.

It was telling them stuff about the other parties, too. It was telling the movers about Brian, our building manager. They don't need to know that. It was giving them way too much information.

To all parties, it probably sent around 300 emails in a few days.

At first, they didn't know it was AI. Clearly, the movers caught on. I think the other parties never found out; they probably just thought it was some annoying guy spamming them with a bunch of other stuff.

I saw the email from the movers and felt so bad. I'm like, "What did I do?" I shut the Dot down right after I saw it. I haven't responded yet, but I want to respond because I put them through a lot.

It didn't work out with those movers anyways, because they didn't have the necessary insurance. I got some other movers, and I didn't use Dot this time. I still use AI to draft, but I review it before sending.

The models will get better at this, and I think you're going to see more of this. For now, unless you're absolutely sure the models will do a good job, you should review everything your Dot does.

But I also think this is a glimpse of what the future will look like. Soon, it'll be another agent, not a person, responding to all this.

• Lori Huang met Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang when they were lab partners at Oregon State University.
• They have two children, Madison and Spencer, who both work at Nvidia.
• Here's what we know about Lori Huang, who leads the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Foundation.

Lori Huang has kept a relatively low public profile during Nvidia's rise into one of the world's most valuable companies.

However, CEO Jensen Huang's note to employees on Sunday put new focus on the woman he has been married to for over 40 years.

Huang, then known as Lori Mills, first met Jensen Huang as his lab partner in an electrical engineering class in college, according to his biography on the OSU College of Engineering website. They married five years later.

She was older than him and one of the "three girls" in his class, Jensen Huang said in a 2024 interview. He said he won her over with an offer to study together every Sunday, along with a promise that he would be a CEO by 30.

Together, they have two children, Madison and Spencer, who both work at Nvidia. According to their Nvidia bios, Madison is a senior director of product and technical marketing for physical AI platforms, while Spencer is a product line manager leading robotics software.

The woman behind Nvidia's CEO

Huang herself is the president of the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Foundation, a philanthropic organization she and her husband established in 2007.

Based in Palo Alto, the foundation reported $9.1 billion in net assets in 2024, per its IRS filing.

OSU said in a 2022 news release that the Huangs had given $50 million to their alma mater to help establish the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex. In the article, Jensen Huang said that meeting his wife "was the most important, single event of OSU, and of my life."

The news release also said that Lori Huang graduated in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

In an October 2023 interview on HP's online show "The Moment," the Nvidia CEO credited his wife and their daughter with dressing him in his signature black leather jacket look.

In a May interview with CNA, a Singapore-based media outlet, Jensen Huang spoke about the role his wife has played throughout his career.

"Lori's been with me for a long time, our whole life," he said. "She's been part of Nvidia every step of the way."

"She's been to every conference, every speech, you know, and every moment of Nvidia, she was there," he added.

• The Villa Vie Odyssey is now anchored in Singapore under a court order.
• The residential cruise abruptly halted operations in Cambodia last month.
• A last-ditch effort by residents to buy the vessel and restart the cruise fell through last week.

The Villa Vie Odyssey, the residential cruise ship that abruptly halted operations in Cambodia in late October, has been held in Singapore under a court order.

The vessel arrived in Singapore on Sunday and is now anchored in the country's port waters, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore told Business Insider in a statement.

"The vessel has been placed under arrest pursuant to a court order," the statement said. "The crew onboard are reported to be well, and arrangements for their welfare and wellbeing are being managed by the vessel's creditors. There are no passengers on board."

In Singapore, ship arrests are civil admiralty proceedings: a court can order the Sheriff to hold a vessel as security for a claimant's legal claim.

The Odyssey is listed on the Singapore Judiciary's list of vessels under Sheriff's arrest, though the listing does not disclose the underlying claim. The arresting solicitor, Helmsman LLC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The court action comes less than two weeks after Villa Vie Residences suspended the ship's operations while it was docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, citing steep increases in fuel costs.

Passengers who spoke to Business Insider said the final months aboard were marked by repeated requests for cash from management, service cutbacks, and continual itinerary changes. When the ship suspended operations, they said they were given only eight hours to disembark.

A group of residents later made a last-ditch effort to buy the Odyssey and keep it operating, but the plan fell through.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in a Sunday note that he had been unfaithful to his wife.
• A woman named Alice Huang is at the center of the resulting scrutiny.
• Here's what we know about Huang, who has been an executive at Megaspeed International.

Jensen Huang's note to staff on Sunday, in which he acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife, came as Nvidia opened an independent investigation into reports that he may have been the target of a "foreign intelligence effort."

At the center is Alice Huang, who has been an executive for Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer.

The New York Times reported in late October that US intelligence officials believe Huang, who developed a close relationship with the Nvidia CEO, was passing information to Beijing.

Huang's role at Megaspeed

Megaspeed first came under scrutiny after the Times reported last year that US authorities were examining whether the company and its Malaysian affiliate were helping Chinese businesses gain access to Nvidia's AI chips despite US export controls.

It is unclear when Huang — who shares a last name with the CEO, but has no relation to him — first met the Nvidia chief.

A 2024 LinkedIn post from the AI company NetThunder, shared during the Computex Taipei trade show, showed the pair at a bar with other technology executives.

In May 2025, news footage from Taiwanese media showed them leaving a Taipei restaurant alongside other executives.

However, beyond those public appearances, little is known about Huang. Singapore corporate filings identify her as Huang Le.

Megaspeed International was incorporated in Singapore in 2015 as 7Road International, before changing its name on March 7, 2023, according to Singapore corporate filings.

A day earlier, Huang, a Chinese national, was appointed as both a director and managing director of the company, alongside another Chinese national, Cang Yang, who joined as a director. She resigned from both roles on November 10, the same day Cang also stepped down.

When Huang assumed the role, corporate filings show that 7Road International HK Limited transferred all shares in the Singapore entity to Huang Le Limited, a British Virgin Islands company.

That November, ownership was transferred again to Swiftdata, a Singapore company incorporated on October 31, 2023. Swiftdata remains Megaspeed’s sole shareholder.

The Times reported that Megaspeed was formed after 7Road, a Chinese online gaming company, split off its Singaporean subsidiary.

Before her time at Megaspeed, Huang worked as an executive director at a Shanghai investment fund that had backed 7Road and was connected to state-backed companies, per the Times.

In an October response to a query from The Wall Street Journal, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said it had not investigated Huang over her alleged ties to Chinese intelligence or her relationship with Jensen Huang. It said, however, that the Singapore Police's investigation into Megaspeed is ongoing, and declined to comment further.

Nvidia CEO's ties to Huang

In response to The Times' initial reporting, Nvidia characterized Jensen Huang's interactions with Huang as routine business dealings.

"Jensen's interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected. Meetings with customers are part of a CEO's job; Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year, John Rizzo, a spokesman for Nvidia, told the Times in late October.

The Nvidia CEO himself made similar comments to Bloomberg last week. "Our relationship, our interactions, have been related to Megaspeed, and it was all completely normal and not unusual," Huang said.

On Sunday, Jensen Huang told Nvidia staff that he had been unfaithful to his wife. His note did not name Huang or address the reported relationship directly.

"Today's news will not slow Nvidia," a company spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement on Sunday. "Jensen is committed to continuing to lead Nvidia as CEO without interruption."