In 2002, Martin Woodtli decided to move his mother, who had Alzheimer's, from Switzerland to Thailand.

He had spent years watching the disease slowly change his family. When his mother was first diagnosed, his father stepped in to care for her.

Woodtli had already quit his job in social services to help as her condition worsened, but the emotional and physical strain became too much for his father to handle. His father eventually fell into depression and later died by suicide, leaving Woodtli — an only child — to shoulder the responsibility alone.

"I had to decide what I was going to do now," Woodtli, now 65, told Business Insider.

He began looking into care facilities across Switzerland, but many of them felt institutional, with a hospital-like atmosphere. They were also expensive.

Woodtli then considered another option: returning to Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand, where he had lived and worked with Doctors Without Borders for four years in the '90s.

During his time in Thailand, he had noticed that respect for older adults is deeply ingrained in the culture. Over time, Woodtli began to see Chiang Mai as a place that could offer his mother a better quality of life.

In 2003, he made the leap.

A risk that changed their lives

Woodtli planned to live in a house in Chiang Mai with his mother, with support from a team of three caregivers — recruited through local hospitals — on rotating shifts.

Woodtli kept an open mind. "If it works, wonderful. If it doesn't work, we'll go back after a two-week holiday," he said.

The change in environment made a noticeable difference for his mother.

"My mother used to be very isolated because she was afraid to say something, especially in a group, because she noticed that she could not express herself that well anymore," said Woodtli, who has a background in social work and psychotherapy.

In a more comfortable setting with familiar faces from her care team, she developed her own communication style.

"She was not shy anymore," he said.

Increasing interest

As he watched his mother, then in her 70s, settle into her new life, Woodtli realized he wanted to help others facing similar challenges.

Within a year, Woodtli started Baan Kamlangchay, a dementia care home in a neighborhood just outside the city center, using money inherited from his late father.

In 2003, a Swiss filmmaker made a documentary about him and his mother's journey. After that, more families from Switzerland and Germany began reaching out.

Chiang Mai was already popular with overseas visitors and retirees, thanks in part to its low cost of living and relative accessibility — its international airport is about an hour's flight from Bangkok.

Thailand's long-stay visa options have also helped the city attract a sizable foreign community. Thai civil registration data recorded 160,958 foreign residents in Chiang Mai in 2025, or about 9% of its roughly 1.8 million people.

Today, Woodtli and his Thai wife continue to run the facility, which now cares for around 10 residents, whom he refers to as guests. All are living with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

Unlike many Western care facilities, Baan Kamlangchay residents don't live in a single building. Instead, they are spread across eight houses in a residential neighborhood shared with local Thai people. Woodtli, too, lives in a house in the village with his family.

The idea was to make daily life feel normal, Woodtli said, allowing guests to see different people and interact with others outside the care home.

"It is a very natural way of living," he said.

Elderly care facilities in Thailand are generally classified based on the services they provide, Kom Vachiravarakarn, a partner at the Bangkok-based law firm Kudun and Partners, told Business Insider.

Facilities providing regulated healthcare services require a medical facility license, he said.

Non-medical elderly or dependent care businesses usually fall under a different license that covers services such as daily living assistance, accommodation, and supportive care, he said.

Baan Kamlangchay operates as a registered company in Thailand and has caregivers but no on-site medical staff. Instead, residents rely on local healthcare providers when needed, Woodtli said.

The cost of care

For many families, the challenge isn't just how to care for a loved one, but how to afford it.

The average cost of nursing home care in the US is around $112,420 a year, or about $9,368 a month, per data from the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Cost of Care Survey in 2024.

Costs are similarly high in Switzerland, where dementia care in a nursing home costs around 89,756 Swiss Francs a year, or roughly $9,400 a month, based on 2019 estimates — the most recent available — from nonprofit Alzheimer Switzerland.

Costs at Baan Kamlangchay start from around $2,900 a month. This includes lodging, around-the-clock care, and meals, Woodtli said.

Caleb Johnston, an associate professor of human geography at the UK's Newcastle University, told Business Insider that he views the migration of people to Thailand for care and palliative support as a "small but meaningfully growing phenomenon."

They're driven by Thailand's lower costs, large caregiver workforce, and growing private care sector serving international clients, he said.

At another facility at the top end of this market in Chiang Mai, comprehensive care costs around $3,500 a month, including accommodation, meals, excursions, therapy, and a one-to-one care worker-to-resident ratio.

"You simply won't find that level or quality of care in any Western country today unless you're prepared to pay a king's ransom," Johnston said.

But cheaper care comes with other costs.

"There are also harder questions about social networks, access to long-standing friendships, and the symbolic weight of dying far from where one has lived," he said.

These aren't trivial trade-offs, but for many, the alternative at home has become so untenable that Thailand feels like the only viable alternative, he added.

A trio of caregivers

At Baan Kamlangchay, each guest has a consistent team of three caregivers who rotate shifts and stay with them throughout the day. At night, one sleeps in the same room, Woodtli said.

"The relationship is so important because it's much more than in a care center, where you just do your duty and move from one person to another," Woodtli said. "Here, the caregivers are very close to each guest."

Woodtli estimates he manages about 50 team members, including caretakers, cooks, and other support staff.

Throughout the day, residents escorted by their caregivers can move between their homes and shared spaces, including a communal dining area and an activity hub with a pool.

Meals are typically European, with dishes like pumpkin soup prepared by a cook who previously worked in a hotel.

Woodtli also runs a small convenience store, open to everyone, where residents can pick up everyday items and interact with local villagers. It helps them maintain a sense of independence, he said.

Anke Blomberg, whose mother Gerda has lived at Baan Kamlangchay for eight years, told Business Insider she appreciated that it doesn't feel like a facility.

When her mother developed dementia, Blomberg first hired a live-in caregiver in Germany, but her mother wasn't comfortable sharing the home she had lived in with her late husband. She then looked into local care facilities, but found them impersonal.

Eventually, she came across Baan Kamlangchay online and, with her husband and mother, traveled to Chiang Mai for a month to see it firsthand.

Over that time, her mother got used to the environment and grew comfortable with the close, hands-on care, Blomberg said, adding that she now visits her about twice a year.

"After so many years now, I'm really convinced I did the right thing for her," Blomberg said.

Woodtli said many guests stay for years, and most remain there until the end of their lives. Woodtli's mother was one of them — she lived there until she died in 2006.

"I think of it, really, as their last holiday," Woodtli said.

Does anyone want to actually win Group G? Iran held Belgium to a draw earlier, meaning no team has taken away all three points in the group yet. As such, a win for either side here will be a huge boost for reaching the next round. Everything you need to know about where to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt is below, including multiple options to livestream it free from anywhere in the world.

The New Zealand vs. Egypt live stream will be shown on FS1 in the US, ITV1 in the UK, SBS in Australia, Tabii in Turkey, and more. All the links you need to access these channels are included below, and we can show you how to tune in to the free broadcasts from anywhere by bypassing international geo-restrictions with a VPN.

For more streaming details and match info for the whole tournament, make sure to check out our official where to watch the World Cup guide.

*Availability for local channels, like FOX, varies by market on Sling TV

• See also: Where to buy World Cup tickets

Where to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt for free

There are some great options for a free livestream of New Zealand vs. Egypt. Our top English picks include SBS On Demand in Australia and ITV1 in the UK.

There's also a Turkish option via Tabii. This channel has a huge number of World Cup games overall and is well worth keeping an eye on throughout the season, as we saw a decent selection of club football on here last season.

You'll need to create a free account and sign in for the above options, but that's it; no credit cards or other ID paperwork required.

If you're outside any of these countries and want to tune in for free as well, we can help you get around geo-restrictions below. We've tested the VPN servers again today for these channels and checked local TV guides to confirm the matches will be shown.

How to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt from anywhere

As you'll find throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, every game will be streaming for free somewhere in the world, as is the case today with the examples mentioned above. You can enjoy these options, even if you're not in one of the free broadcast countries, via the use of a VPN (virtual private network) to bypass geo-restrictions. This will also let you continue using your home streaming services while traveling overseas.

These easy-to-use VPN apps let you temporarily digitally alter the location of your device, like your laptop, phone, or streaming stick, to appear as if you were physically in another country, in addition to helping bolster your online security.

NordVPN is our top recommendation for unlocking international streaming services and for digital privacy, and it ranks as the best VPN I've personally tested - and plenty of other tech writers have ranked it #1, too. Nord's global servers are perfect for streaming the World Cup online from anywhere, and the 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free, affordable spend that you'll have plenty of use for beyond the World Cup.

There are free live streams available for every match of the World Cup. The channels can change game-to-game, but the simplest, most consistent options include SBS in Australia (every game) and BBC or ITV in the UK (every game between them). So it's worth using a VPN to access these streams internationally for the duration of the tournament.

Where to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt in the US

This 2026 World Cup game airs on FS1 in the US (games are shared between FOX and FS1 throughout the tournament). So if you have these channels in your package already, or can access them via an antenna, you're all set.

If this is the jolt you need to finally join the world of cord-cutters to pick up a deal with a wider selection of channels, you'll find that the best live TV streaming services we've tested are a great place to start. Let's break down your specific options, all of which can be canceled at any time, with no contracts required.

YouTube TV is one of the best options right now for FOX and FS1, and we have an exclusive offer for you: save $15 a month for your first five months after your free trial, bringing the monthly price down to $67.99. That's a $75 saving if you keep it for five months, but you're free to cancel at any time.

Fubo Sports + News is another great choice, with 25 other channels and ESPN Unlimited bundled in for $46 for your first month ($56 after), and you can cancel at any time. It also includes a 5-day free trial.

Sling TV is another option, but it's not a good fit for all US World Cup fans, as FOX channels aren't available everywhere. Be sure to check coverage options in your zipcode before joining up. If you get the green light, look for the Sling Select or Sling Blue plans, as they both include FOX and FS1. Sling Select is the cheapest at $25 a month, and Sling Blue is $51, but offers more channels.

If you'd prefer Spanish coverage, there's a great-value deal: you can find it on Peacock Premium for just $11 a month. Peacock covers every match of the tournament. Subtitles are also in Spanish.

Where to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt in the UK

As with any World Cup or Euro tournament, the BBC and ITV continue to share free coverage for football fans in the UK, meaning the BBC iPlayer and ITVX websites/apps are great places to enjoy all the action online.

ITV1 has full coverage and a free live stream of New Zealand vs. Egypt today. You'll need to create a free login to watch online. Don't bother with the ad-free paid tier; the free one is all you need for all of ITV's World Cup matches.

Where to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt in Australia

We love it when viewing options are super simple, and Australia has the most straightforward setup for the entire World Cup, as SBS On Demand will be showing every game. Yes, all 104 of them, including New Zealand vs. Egypt.

You'll need to create a free account and sign in before hitting that play button, though.

Where to watch New Zealand vs. Egypt in Japan

As with every 2026 World Cup match, you can enjoy today's match live via DAZN in Japan. Games featuring Japan are available for free on DAZN, but all other games require a subscription. Both the 'Standard' and 'Baseball' plans include full World Cup coverage.

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

• There's a new Chinese AI model generating a ton of buzz in Silicon Valley.
• It's called GLM-5.2, and it's designed for long-running coding tasks.
• "Genuinely impressed," Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch wrote on X.

A new AI model from China is generating the kind of buzz not seen since DeepSeek's R1 announced China as a serious threat to American chatbot hegemony over a year ago.

Silicon Valley's online echo chamber has been alight with intrigue in recent days over z.AI's new open-source model. Called GLM 5.2, it's a large language model designed for running long coding tasks and agentic workflows.

The company says it operates on a 1 million token context window, which would put it in the same league as Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.8 and OpenAI's GPT 5.5.

"Genuinely impressed, almost shocked, at how good GLM-5.2 by @zai_org is at coding. This changes things," Guillermo Rauch, CEO of Vercel, a cloud-based platform for developers, wrote on X.

Across social media, investors, founders, and tech industry influencers expressed awe at the speed and capability of the new model, which launched last week.

Matt Velloso, a former vice president of Meta, Google DeepMind, and Microsoft, said in an X post that he spent an entire day using GLM-5.2. "First open model that passes the bar as a daily driver," he wrote. "Things are not going to be the same."

Like DeepSeek, GLM-5.2 is open-source, which means anyone can download it and operate it on their own inside their own systems, and make changes to it as they see fit. Most American frontier models, like those from OpenAI and Anthropic, are closed.

In closed models, the consumer is dependent on the provider. This is good for the provider because they can capture more of the value, which is necessary for companies spending billions on AI infrastructure and have investors anxious to see revenue growth.

If an open model is as good or better, however, it could easily capture a larger share of the market.

The US and China have been locked in a contest over AI supremacy in recent years. Washington is trying to preserve its edge through chip restrictions and access controls, while Chinese companies are pushing forward with cheaper, increasingly capable open-source models.

Anthropic recently warned in a report that China is closing in on the US through looser chip controls and "distillation attacks," in which a company uses a more robust AI model to train a smaller "student" model. Anthropic said the US and its allies still have a chance to "lock in a 12-24 month lead in frontier capabilities." It warned, however, that "the window of opportunity to lock in that lead will not necessarily remain open for long."

China first gave Silicon Valley a wake-up call in January last year when DeepSeek released R1, a low-cost reasoning model that rivaled OpenAI's o1. At the time, investors questioned whether Silicon Valley's AI lead was as safe as it appeared.

As GLM-5.2 makes the rounds on the internet, so, too, does that same question.

All eyes will be on Cape Verde's goalkeeper Josimar Dias (aka Vozinha) after helping his side hold World Cup favorites Spain to a 0-0 draw on Monday. His social following has blown up since, and the US even made special arrangements to fly his mother over for today's game. If you only have time for one game today, this is the one. Everything you need to know about where to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde is below, including multiple options to livestream it free from anywhere in the world.

The Uruguay vs. Cape Verde live stream will be shown on FS1 in the US, BBC1 in the UK, SBS in Australia, Das Erste 1 in Germany, Tabii in Turkey, and DAZN in a few European nations, among others. All the links you need to access these channels are included below, and we can show you how to tune in to the free broadcasts from anywhere by bypassing international geo-restrictions with a VPN.

For more streaming details and match info for the whole tournament, make sure to check out our official where to watch the World Cup guide.

*Availability for local channels, like FOX, varies by market on Sling TV

• See also: Where to buy World Cup tickets

Where to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde for free

There are some great options for a free livestream of Uruguay vs. Cape Verde. Our top English picks include SBS On Demand in Australia and BBC1 in the UK.

Free non-English commentary options include Turkey's Tabii and Germany's Das Erste 1.

You'll need to create a free account and sign in for these options, but that's it; no credit cards or other ID paperwork required.

If you're outside any of these countries and want to tune in for free as well, we can help you get around geo-restrictions below. We've tested the VPN servers again today for these channels and checked local TV guides to confirm the matches will be shown.

How to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde from anywhere

As you'll find throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, every game will be streaming for free somewhere in the world, as is the case today with the examples mentioned above. You can enjoy these options, even if you're not in one of the free broadcast countries, via the use of a VPN (virtual private network) to bypass geo-restrictions. This will also let you continue using your home streaming services while traveling overseas.

These easy-to-use VPN apps let you temporarily digitally alter the location of your device, like your laptop, phone, or streaming stick, to appear as if you were physically in another country, in addition to helping bolster your online security.

NordVPN is our top recommendation for unlocking international streaming services and for digital privacy, and it ranks as the best VPN I've personally tested - and plenty of other tech writers have ranked it #1, too. Nord's global servers are perfect for streaming the World Cup online from anywhere, and the 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free, affordable spend that you'll have plenty of use for beyond the World Cup.

There are free live streams available for every match of the World Cup. The channels can change game-to-game, but the simplest, most consistent options include SBS in Australia (every game) and BBC or ITV in the UK (every game between them). So it's worth using a VPN to access these streams internationally for the duration of the tournament.

Where to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde in the US

The next 2026 World Cup game airs on FS1 in the US today (games are shared between FOX and FS1 throughout the tournament). So if you have these channels in your package already, or can access them via an antenna, you're all set.

If this is the jolt you need to finally join the world of cord-cutters to pick up a deal with a wider selection of channels, you'll find that the best live TV streaming services we've tested are a great place to start. Let's break down your specific options, all of which can be canceled at any time, with no contracts required.

YouTube TV is one of the best options right now for FOX and FS1, and we have an exclusive offer for you: save $15 a month for your first five months after your free trial, bringing the monthly price down to $67.99. That's a $75 saving if you keep it for five months, but you're free to cancel at any time.

Fubo Sports + News is another great choice, with 25 other channels and ESPN Unlimited bundled in for $46 for your first month ($56 after), and you can cancel at any time. It also includes a 5-day free trial.

Sling TV is another option, but it's not a good fit for all US World Cup fans, as FOX channels aren't available everywhere. Be sure to check coverage options in your zipcode before joining up. If you get the green light, look for the Sling Select or Sling Blue plans, as they both include FOX and FS1. Sling Select is the cheapest at $25 a month, and Sling Blue is $51, but offers more channels.

If you'd prefer Spanish coverage, there's a great-value deal: you can find it on Peacock Premium for just $11 a month. This covers every match of the tournament. Subtitles are also in Spanish.

Where to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde in the UK

As with any World Cup or Euro tournament, the BBC and ITV continue to share free coverage for football fans in the UK, meaning the BBC iPlayer and ITVX websites/apps are great places to enjoy all the action online.

BBC1 has full coverage and a free livestream of Uruguay vs. Cape Verde today. You'll need to create a free login to watch online.

Where to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde in Australia

We love it when viewing options are super simple, and Australia has the most straightforward setup for the entire World Cup, as SBS On Demand will be showing every game. Yes, all 104 of them, including Uruguay vs. Cape Verde.

You'll need to create a free account and sign in before hitting that play button, though.

Where to watch Uruguay vs. Cape Verde in Japan

As with every 2026 World Cup match, you can enjoy today's match live via DAZN in Japan. Games featuring Japan are available for free on DAZN, but all other games require a subscription. Both the 'Standard' and 'Baseball' plans include full World Cup coverage.

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

• Brandon Webb left the Navy after 13 years to focus on fatherhood.
• He taught his kids to ignore negative talk, including from adults.
• He didn't over-advocate and allowed them to make mistakes, he says.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brandon Webb, author of Puddle Jumpers. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My parents were hippies who gave me a lot of freedom.

I was homeschooled, and we traveled frequently. At 10 or 11, I was making friends in dusty Mexican streets. At 16, in Tahiti, my dad kicked me off the boat during a family sailing trip in the South Pacific (that's another story).

While it wasn't traditional, the way my parents raised me gave me a lot of confidence.

The Navy was my ticket to something different. I joined when I was 18, and four years later, I met Gretchen. Back then, the Navy paid you more once you were married. We were in love, and with the financial incentive, the decision was easy.

I'd already been on deployment to the Middle East with the Navy SEALs, but on September 11, 2001, I knew everything had changed for Gretchen and me. By the time our first child was born in November 2001, I was in Afghanistan.

My ex-wife and I did counseling to become good coparents

Gretchen and I had two more children, and like many military couples, we struggled. I looked around me and realized that the guys who had been in the Navy for 20 or 30 years hardly had any family relationships. Their family was the SEAL team, and I didn't want that. After 13 years, six months, and six days, I left the Navy.

I'd been investing in real estate while enlisted, so we were OK financially. I was also able to work on lucrative defense contracts. Unfortunately, being out of the military didn't solve my relationship issues, and Gretchen asked for a divorce.

We were in couples counseling when that happened, and we continued working with a psychologist so that we could be the best coparents. Gretchen and the kids moved to her parents' ranch, and soon her parents were inviting me to stay at the guest house. Even today, Gretchen and I have a great relationship.

I used visualization in sniper school and Little League

The first time I realized that military principles could apply to parenting, I was coaching Little League. In the SEALs, we use mental management: visualization, mantras, and positive self-talk that can improve performance.

One day on the field, I realized that the same thing that helped my sniper students could now help the 8-year-olds I was coaching. I started implementing it with my kids at home. I helped my oldest visualize a school presentation, over and over again. At the end, he wasn't as nervous — and I had identified an important parenting tool.

I taught my kids to reframe negative talk, even from adults

Part of mental management is noticing negative self-talk: the little things we tell ourselves, like "I'm a klutz," or "I'm bad with numbers." I wanted my kids to identify their own negative self-talk and also recognize when teachers, coaches, or other adults were unintentionally leading them to focus on the negative.

As a sniper trainer, I'd seen that pointing out problems wasn't helpful. If I told a SEAL not to flinch, flinching was all they'd think about. Instead, I'd tell them to take a deep breath and focus on a smooth trigger pull. That was much more productive. I taught my kids to reframe criticism to focus on what they should be doing — now the habits they should leave behind.

I gave my kids lots of independence and MetroCards

I saw what my own upbringing did for me, so I wanted to give my kids plenty of independence to build their confidence. My oldest son and daughter both got New York City MetroCards when they were 16: my son for an internship, and my daughter for a job.

Both looked like deer in headlights when I handed them the card and sent them out into the city. But I could see immediately the impact it had, especially for my daughter. Because my kids knew I trusted them, they stepped confidently into their adult roles.

I let my kids cope with their consequences

Today, parents often want to do everything for their kids. That's a way that even very successful people mess up their kids. It's why I've always focused on not over-advocating for my children.

My youngest made the basketball team as a freshman and was thrilled. A few weeks later, he got kicked off for having a bad attitude. A lot of parents might have spoken to the coach on his behalf, but I didn't.

Instead, I made sure he knew this was an important life lesson: no matter how talented you are, no one wants to work with a jerk. Knowing that will be much more impactful in his life than a missed season of basketball.

• Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5" debuted on Friday.
• "Toy Story 5" has earned an estimated $312 million globally so far.
• Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and other celebrities have reprised their beloved roles.

The toys are back in town.

Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5" has dominated the worldwide box office since its theatrical debut on Friday. The film, directed by Andrew Stanton and Kenna Harris, grossed an estimated $160 million domestically and another $152 million internationally.

The initial domestic box office numbers surpassed Universal Pictures' "Super Mario Galaxy Movie," which earned $131 million when it opened in April. "Toy Story 5" has also topped the franchise, surpassing the $120 million "Toy Story 4" earned during its opening weekend in 2019.

In total, "Toy Story 5" has so far amassed an estimated $312 million globally. Disney said "Toy Story 5" had the second-highest animated opening weekend of all time, behind only "Incredibles 2."

Since the first installment in 1995, "Toy Story" has remained one of Disney and Pixar's most beloved franchises. The films have earned over $1.3 billion at the box office across three decades, in addition to revenue from video games, toys, merchandise, books, apparel, and in-real-life experiences.

"Toy Story 5" may feel like a reunion for lifelong fans. Many of the original cast members have reprised their roles, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, and Joan Cusack as Jessie. John Ratzenberger, Wallace Shawn, and Annie Potts are also making their franchise return.

While the gang has faced off against humans, other toys, and even each other, they encounter a new challenge in "Toy Story 5" — technology.

"Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad, a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same?" a synopsis of the film says.

Greta Lee plays Lilypad, while Keanu Reeves, Bad Bunny, Conan O'Brien, and other actors bring new characters to life.

Disney and Pixar's decision to make technology the crux of "Toy Story 5" will likely resonate with parents raising children in the iPad era. Screen time has become a major discussion as devices like tablets become more accessible and further integrated into everyday life.

A 2024 survey by Common Sense Media found that 4 in 10 children have their own tablet by age 2. By age 4, more than half of children do. "Tablets have the highest proportion of ownership among children compared to any other mobile device," the report said.

Parents often worry about how extended screen time can impact children's development.

"Among parents, 75% to 80% express consistent concerns about screen media, including worries about excessive use, effects on mental health, and the amount of inappropriate content," the report said.

In response, some parents have made a conscious effort to limit their children's screentime, including Business Insider's Conz Preti.

"I want my kids playing with each other and leaning into imagination, creating worlds together, instead of being zombiefied in front of an app," she wrote after seeing "Toy Story 5" last week.

• Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump's second-in-command, is a former Ohio senator.
• JD Vance met his wife, Usha Vance, while they were both students at Yale Law School.
• They wed in Christian and Hindu ceremonies in 2014 and are expecting their fourth child in July.

When Fox News asked Usha Vance in June 2024 how she felt about her husband, JD Vance, being considered as Donald Trump's running mate, she told host Lawrence Jones that she was "not raring to change anything about our lives right now."

But it appears that she came around, holding the Bible at the 2025 inauguration as JD Vance was sworn in as vice president of the United States.

JD Vance, the former junior senator from Ohio and bestselling author of memoirs "Hillbilly Elegy" and "Communion," and Usha Vance, a litigator whose résumé includes a Supreme Court clerkship, met as students at Yale Law School and wed in 2014.

Since becoming vice president and second lady, the Vances have taken several international trips together, including a visit to the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland in March 2025 and the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February 2026.

In January 2026, the Vances announced they are expecting their fourth child, making Usha Vance the first second lady in US history to be pregnant while in office.

Here's a look inside the relationship of the GOP power couple serving as vice president and second lady.

Born in Ohio and raised by his grandparents in Kentucky, JD Vance joined the Marines and graduated from Ohio State University.

JD Vance served as a public affairs Marine in Iraq, liaising between service members and members of the press. After his military service, he majored in political science and philosophy at Ohio State University.

Usha Vance studied history at Yale and taught American history in Guangzhou as a Yale-China Teaching Fellow.

Usha Vance grew up in a suburb of San Diego. Her parents are Indian immigrants.

Usha Vance told Fox News in June 2025 that her parents' Hindu faith was "one of the things that made them such good parents, that make them very good people."

She was a registered Democrat until 2014.

She is also conversant in German.

The couple met while they were students at Yale Law School.

In law school, Usha Vance served as executive development editor of the Yale Law Journal and managing editor of the Yale Journal of Law and Technology, according to a bio on the website of her former employer, Munger, Tolles & Olson, that has since been removed.

She also worked pro bono with the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic, the Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, and the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project.

Usha Vance told NBC News in 2017 that she and JD Vance took all of their classes together and were friends before they started dating. When they were assigned to work on a brief together, Usha Vance said she was impressed by his diligence.

"I've never seen anybody so starstruck," their law school professor, Amy Chua, said of JD Vance in an interview with NBC News. "It was love at first sight."

They wed in 2014 and held both Christian and Hindu ceremonies.

Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019. Usha Vance was raised Hindu.

When asked about their interfaith marriage in a June 2025 interview with Fox News, Usha Vance said: "There are a lot of things that we just agree on, I think, especially when it comes to family life, how to raise our kids. So I think the answer really is that we just talk a lot."

While speaking at a Turning Point USA event in October 2025, JD Vance said that he hoped his wife would someday convert to Christianity.

"Do I hope that eventually she is somehow moved by what I was moved by in church? Yeah, honestly, I do wish that, because I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way," he said. "But if she doesn't, then God says everybody has free will, and so that doesn't cause a problem for me."

In 2016, JD Vance published his best-selling memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," in which he wrote about his relationship with Usha Vance.

JD Vance's memoir details his working-class upbringing and the lives of poor, white Americans. He also wrote about how Chua, his professor, encouraged him to focus on his relationship with Usha Vance as a Yale law student.

When JD Vance asked Chua to recommend him for a federal clerkship, she warned him that it's "the type of thing that destroys relationships."

"Amy's advice stopped me from making a life-altering decision. It prevented me from moving a thousand miles away from the person I eventually married," Vance wrote.

"Most important, it allowed me to accept my place at this unfamiliar institution — it was okay to chart my own path and okay to put a girl above some shortsighted ambition," he continued. "My professor gave me permission to be me."

After law school, JD Vance worked at VC firms while Usha Vance landed prestigious clerkships.

Vance worked at Mithril Capital, a VC firm backed by Peter Thiel, in 2016. One former coworker previously told Business Insider that Vance was often away from the job promoting his book, "Hillbilly Elegy."

Thiel ended up being instrumental in Vance's rise to power in politics, donating $15 million to his Senate campaign and encouraging Trump to choose Vance as his running mate, The New York Times reported.

Vance went on to work at Revolution, a VC firm in Washington, DC, before founding his own firm, Narya Capital, in 2019.

Meanwhile, Usha Vance worked as a litigator at Munger, Tolles & Olson before leaving to clerk for Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the US Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts. Following her clerkships, she returned to Munger, Tolles & Olson, according to a bio on the firm's website that has since been removed.

In his new memoir, "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," JD Vance wrote that Usha Vance told him that she wanted to land a prestigious Supreme Court clerkship not out of ambition, but as an "insurance policy," saying, "It's so prestigious that if I do it and then have kids, it won't ruin my career."

Usha Vance appeared in a political ad and at campaign events when JD Vance ran for Congress in 2022.

In the ad, Usha Vance described her husband as "an incredible father" and "my best friend."

In an interview with Newsmax about the ad, Usha Vance also responded to media reports about Vance's dramatic transformation from a "Never Trumper" to a staunch Trump supporter.

"Sometimes people say that he's changed a lot, but the truth is I've known him now for so many years and he's always been so true to himself," she said.

As Trump vetted JD Vance for the vice presidency, Usha Vance expressed ambivalence about the possibility of him being chosen.

"I'm not raring to change anything about our lives right now, but I really believe in JD and I love him, so we'll see what happens with our lives," she told Fox News in June 2024.

When Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate in July 2024, Usha Vance quit her job as a litigator.

On the first day of the Republican National Convention, when Trump announced JD Vance as his vice presidential pick, a spokesperson for Munger, Tolles & Olsen told ABC News that Usha Vance had left the firm.

"Usha has been an excellent lawyer and colleague, and we thank her for her years of work and wish her the best in her future career," the spokesperson said.

Usha Vance spoke at the Republican National Convention about meeting and falling in love with JD Vance.

Usha Vance said that when they first met, JD Vance approached their differences "with curiosity and enthusiasm."

"Although he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy, he adapted to my vegetarian diet and learned to cook food from my mother, Indian food," Usha Vance said in her speech. "Before I knew it, he'd become an integral part of my family, a person I could not imagine living without."

JD Vance acknowledged racist attacks against his wife from white supremacists.

After white nationalist Nick Fuentes questioned JD Vance's ability to "support white identity" with an Indian wife, he voiced support for his spouse.

"Look, I love my wife so much. I love her because she's who she is," JD Vance said in an interview with Megyn Kelly in July 2024. "Obviously, she's not a white person, and we've been attacked by some white supremacists over that. But I just, I love Usha."

He also hit back against the attacks on ABC News' "This Week," telling host Jonathan Karl in August 2024, "Look, my attitude to these people attacking my wife is, she's beautiful, she's smart. What kind of man marries Usha? A very smart man and a very lucky man, importantly."

He continued, "Don't attack my wife. She's out of your league."

JD Vance thanked his "beautiful wife" in a post on X after he and Trump won the election in November 2024.

Usha Vance appeared alongside her husband and members of the Trump family at the campaign's election night event in Palm Beach, Florida.

"THANK YOU!" Vance wrote on X after the election results came in. "To my beautiful wife for making it possible to do this. To President Donald J. Trump, for giving me such an opportunity to serve our country at this level. And to the American people, for their trust. I will never stop fighting for ALL of you."

At the 2025 inauguration, Usha Vance held the Bible as JD Vance was sworn in as vice president.

JD Vance was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Usha Vance's former boss when she clerked for him in the US Court of Appeals.

They took their first foreign trip together as vice president and second lady in February 2025, visiting France and Germany.

The vice president attended the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris and the Munich Security Conference. He and Usha Vance also visited the Dachau concentration camp in Germany.

They brought their three children along on Air Force Two.

In March 2025, JD Vance joined Usha Vance to visit Pituffik Space Base, the sole US military base in Greenland.

Since winning a second, non-consecutive term in the White House, Trump has doubled down on his intention to acquire Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory that hosts a US military base. The governments of Greenland and Denmark have maintained that it is not for sale, but Trump has said he would not rule out using force.

In March 2025, the White House announced Usha Vance would embark on a solo trip to Greenland to "visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersua, Greenland's national dogsled race." The government of Greenland said it had not invited any delegations to visit, and Greenland's then-prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, called the trip "very aggressive." Trump said that Greenland had asked the US to visit.

Usha Vance's trip was subsequently scaled back to visiting Pituffik Space Base, the US military's northernmost installation in Greenland. In a video, JD Vance announced he would travel with her.

"There was so much excitement around Usha's visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided I didn't want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I'm going to join her," he said.

Taylor Van Kirk, JD Vance's press secretary, told Business Insider that the Vances were "proud" to visit Greenland.

"The security of Greenland is critical in ensuring the security of the rest of the world, and the Vice President looks forward to learning more about the island," Van Kirk said.

In April 2025, JD Vance visited India, where Usha's parents immigrated from, for the first time.

The vice president and second lady visited the Akshardham Temple and the Taj Mahal with their children and met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

"Despite being married to the daughter of Indian immigrants, I had never visited India," JD Vance wrote in "Communion." "This was partially my fault and partially the fault of circumstances — one-year jobs, a Zika outbreak while Usha was pregnant, and COVID."

Usha Vance was seen without her wedding ring in November 2025, sparking scrutiny of their marriage that the second lady's spokesperson dismissed.

During a public appearance at military bases in North Carolina, observers noticed that Usha Vance wasn't wearing her wedding ring.

In a statement to People magazine, the second lady's spokesperson described Usha Vance as "a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes."

JD Vance also addressed the marriage rumors, telling NBC News that "we kind of get a kick out of it" and that their marriage was "as strong as it's ever been."

In January 2026, the couple announced that they are expecting their fourth child.

Their first child, Ewan, was born a month before Usha Vance began her clerkship with Chief Justice Roberts, NBC News reported. They also have another son, Vivek, and a daughter, Mirabel.

Their fourth child, a boy, is due in July.

"We're very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing!" Usha Vance captioned a photo of a joint statement from the Office of the Vice President announcing her pregnancy on social media.

They attended several events at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026.

JD Vance and Usha Vance waved American flags at the opening ceremony and brought their kids along to support Team USA in the stands of figure skating competitions and ice hockey matches.

In March 2026, JD Vance and Usha Vance visited a Michigan factory, where JD Vance spoke about their decision to have another baby.

"I remember when we decided to run for vice president, I said, 'Honey, I really want to have a fourth kid,'" JD Vance said in his speech at a manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. "And she said, 'Well, you can become vice president or you can have a fourth baby. But, ladies and gentlemen, I am persuasive because I got both."

That same month, Usha Vance spoke about her "idiosyncratic" political views in an interview with NBC News.

Usha Vance said that while she and JD Vance don't always share the same political opinions, they remain "open-minded" in their conversations.

"There's no expectation that we are going to see eye to eye on everything," she told NBC News in an interview promoting her "Storytime with the Second Lady" podcast focused on child literacy.

She also addressed her past as a registered Democrat, saying her views don't always fall along party lines.

"Sometimes I have thoughts that fit very comfortably into one side or another. Sometimes I have views that are way more idiosyncratic," she said.

When asked about JD Vance's remarks from their trip to Michigan, in which he said he had persuaded her to have another baby, Usha Vance said she had "never closed the door" on the possibility of a fourth child.

"We have our daughter, who's amazing, and it was great. And so I just wasn't sure. But as time passed, I realized that I was feeling more and more, kind of, excited about that possibility," she said.

JD Vance published a new memoir, "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith," in June 2026 and dedicated the book to his wife.

The book's dedication reads: "For my darling Usha, who taught me to think on those things that are honest, just, pure, and lovely."

He also wrote extensively about their courtship and marriage, saying that he was "drawn to her unlike I had ever been drawn to anyone" when they met in law school, and that he told her he wanted to marry her after a few weeks of dating.

He also wrote that his "traumatic childhood" made him a "lousy boyfriend in many ways," and that she encouraged him to go to therapy.

Toward the end of the book, he recalled how Usha Vance initially wasn't interested in having a fourth child, but changed her mind after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed.

The acknowledgments section concludes with JD Vance thanking his wife.

"There is at least a little irony in the fact that my non-Christian wife helped lead me back to my own Christian faith, and then made it possible for me to discuss the journey on paper," he wrote. "The Lord works in mysterious ways, indeed."

• My teenage son is using AI to help him do math homework, and I didn't know what to do.
• When his school asked parents to join an AI taskforce, I jumped at the opportunity.
• We came up with a system that allows teachers to decide how much AI can be used on each assignment.

Last fall, my children's school district — in a suburb north of San Francisco, in a community connected to leading tech companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google — issued a call to parents.

The district wanted us to join its Artificial Intelligence (AI) task force. The goal was to draft an AI vision statement and develop a framework for AI in the classroom. I signed up without hesitation.

Why? Because my kid was coming home, taking pictures of his math homework, feeding them into an AI engine, and writing a single prompt: Solve.

He's known for taking shortcuts, but this one concerned me. As a rule follower, I thought, yikes, he may get into trouble using AI for his homework.

And then a bigger question gave me pause. Do I even want him to be using AI in this way?

I've realized many parents are also struggling with AI

My parenting generation has had to navigate rules on screen time, cellphones, and social media without a clear road map.

Having to contend with another emerging technology, one that feels even more powerful, has been daunting. I began to worry about what AI might do to a developing mind.

As I spoke with other parents about my concerns, I discovered I wasn't alone. Many saw AI literacy as an important skill, but they also worried about its effects on creativity, attachment, critical thinking, and children's ability to problem-solve on their own.

I joined my son's AI task force

When I joined the Reed Union School District (RUSD) AI task force in November of last year with a group of teachers, administrators, and parent volunteers, I was struck right away by the district's posture.

This wasn't a discussion about whether AI was to be used in the classroom. It was a conversation on how to do it thoughtfully. The general attitude was that this new technology, when used responsibly, could improve learning outcomes and prepare students for a future in which tech skills are increasingly valued.

Over three meetings, we helped form a vision statement for AI integration, a safety and ethics review, and a policy on AI literacy and student use.

The more I listened, the more my own thinking shifted. AI held promise, and there were real risks to consider. Both things are true.

I came into the AI task force with a protective parent instinct, but I came to understand that finding the middle way with this technology was the work I had signed up to do.

We've implemented a new, helpful system

Many students have no idea what the rules are when using AI in their schoolwork, and it's a lot messier than you think.

I have heard it firsthand from my own kid: use AI, maybe get an A, or use AI and risk getting judged by your friends, or punished by teachers. Some kids are risk takers who experiment with these tools. Others won't touch them at all. As a parent watching from both sides, I could see that neither response serves them.

RUSD is guiding students, teachers, and parents out of this gray zone. The district is rolling out a traffic-light model specifying when and how AI is permitted for academic tasks.

For elementary K-5 students, red light means no AI usage, yellow light allows AI as a tutor or support, and green light means AI as a partner.

For middle schoolers, the model becomes a 0 to 4 scale with color bands. Here, 0 indicates no AI involvement, while 4 indicates a task in which AI generates the work and the student must critique and fact-check it.

The traffic light system and numeric framework will be placed on assignment headers, classroom posters, and communications with families. This creates clear signals, helping students understand the rules and the reasons behind them.

This will also help me know what to reinforce at home.

I'm still figuring it out as I go

What I want for my son is not a ban on AI. I want him to use it as a learning partner — to be curious, to be creative, to ask it questions, to read it carefully, and to push back on its answers if they don't sound right.

I don't want him to sit down, hit copy and paste, and walk away. That is the difference between a student who uses AI to outsource thinking and a student who learns to augment his own.

RUSD is trying to build the latter. And so am I.

• I rarely get to connect with my 30-year-old son, so I invited him on a trip with me.
• We planned the trip together and decided to travel to Hawaii.
• While there, we were able to have deeper conversations while still maintaining boundaries.

I live in New York City. My 30-year-old son, Alec, lives across the country in Southern California. When I visit, I respect that he has his own busy, adult life. While I'd like nothing more than to spend every minute with him, I'm proud of his independence and try not to monopolize his time.

Alec has a roommate and no space for an overnight guest. When I'm on his home turf, I stay in a hotel or with a friend.

When he comes to NYC for the holidays, his schedule is packed. Plus, with the entire family under one roof, it can be tough to carve out one-on-one time.

I don't feel shut out of Alec's life, but I do miss spending quality time with him, so I floated the idea of a mother-son vacation.

He set a few ground rules before we started planning

Alec was vocal that for our getaway to work, we'd need to approach it as equals. This may sound deceptively simple, but it took lots of self-control on my part.

Little kids and I pair like milk and cookies. I did my graduate studies in early childhood education and taught preschool for years. Parenting young kids is never easy, but it felt instinctive. It grew harder as my children grew older.

Alec is my firstborn, and my parental grip was tightest around him. When he was a teenager, he told me I didn't understand that teens needed autonomy. At the time, he was correct, but over the years, I've worked hard to pacify my bossy instincts.

This time, I would welcome his voice in planning our vacation.

Alec brought up another rule: that part of being equal should include sharing expenses. I gifted Alec his airline ticket using miles, and we split additional expenses.

Choosing a destination

Alec had four days off work over Memorial Day Weekend. I advocated for a location that wasn't too hot, as I had suffered a bout of heatstroke in Greece last summer. A yoga class nearby would be a bonus.

Alec made a case for Hawaii. He'd never been, but its laidback reputation appealed to him. He said he wanted to destress at a resort and eat poke every day.

Hawaii is special to me. I first visited when I was a kid, spending a summer at my aunt and uncle's home in Waianae on Oahu. The idea of sharing Hawaii with Alec was exciting.

From a practical point of view, Hawaii made sense. There are numerous nonstop flights from LAX, Alec's home airport. I was going to be in Denver for work, so I was already heading in a westerly direction.

Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own flavor. We had lots of options and weren't quite sure how to narrow them down.

Alec is a fan of the television cooking show "Top Chef." During his online research, he learned that former contestant Sheldon Simeon was scheduled to be the visiting chef at the Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay on the island's North Shore on the Saturday night of our trip.

The Hawaiian-born chef would be preparing a multi-course dinner using island-grown ingredients. I'm all about exploring local culture through food, so it seemed like a jackpot for both of us.

After we booked the dinner, we figured it made sense to stay at the Ritz-Carlton.

Balancing time together and separately was key

Another boundary we set for our vacation was balancing time together with time apart.

Each morning, Alec surfed, and I swam laps in the pool. I signed up for a lei-making workshop while he attended a tennis clinic.

In a perfect world, we would have reserved individual rooms; however, we shared a room for economic reasons.

We were still able to maintain boundaries and give each other privacy as our room had a comfortable ocean-view patio, perfect for reading and relaxing.

Meaningful conversations are what stand out

Time together sparked the meaningful conversations and connection I had longed for.

On May 24, I mentioned that it was my beloved dad's heavenly birthday. Alec shared tender memories of his grandpa and told me that my dad had been a father figure for him, too, teaching him lessons that continue to impact his life. It made me teary.

We also had an intelligent discussion on income inequality. Alec overheard a group of vacationing doctors and a group of vacationing teachers chatting in the Jacuzzi. He said the doctors worked very long hours without complaint, while the teachers complained nonstop about their overwhelming workload. This led to a conversation between Alec and me about teachers being underpaid and undervalued.

As a former teacher, I found that my son's thinking about socio-economic issues that hit so close to home really resonated with me.

Our mother-son vacation brought us closer

Our mother-son vacation was a success. Alec ate plenty of poke. I got to practice yoga. Together, we swam in the Pacific, walked trails surrounded by gardenias, and enjoyed a delectable Hawaiian dinner.

As much as I loved our activities, it's the memories of our personal and poignant conversations that are etched in my heart.

I can't wait to travel with Alec again.

• 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary believes AI can do the work of consultants.
• He said that companies he backs are already using AI instead of going to consulting firms.
• The shift "has only been the last 24 months," he said.

Kevin O'Leary thinks that consultants' days are numbered.

The "Shark Tank" investor, who is these days preoccupied with opening a hyperscale AI data center in Utah, said companies he backs are already turning to AI for work they might once have outsourced to consulting firms.

"Even the companies that I invest in that used to use a lot of consultants for very specific vertical situations, like changing retail distribution, or should they keep two tiers of distribution versus three, are first going to AI, which they can do for a lot cheaper," O'Leary said on a recent episode of "The Founder's Mindset Podcast."

These companies, he said, are asking their internal management teams to test those ideas, bypassing the need for traditional consultants altogether.

"This has only been the last 24 months," he said, noting how quickly he's seeing the shift unfold.

Over the past few years, consulting firms have raced to reinvent themselves as AI rapidly advances — developing their own internal tools and piloting them to clients, hiring armies of forward-deployed engineers, and cozying up to AI startups across Silicon Valley.

While AI poses a threat to consulting, many of the largest firms also see considerable opportunity in it.

McKinsey says about 40% of its work now comes from AI-related projects. BCG said 20% of its work was AI-related in 2024. Last year, Accenture — which reported earnings this week — consolidated its strategy, consulting, song, technology, and operations services into a single unit organized around AI called "reinvention services."

These firms are billing clients to help them deploy the technology coming out of Silicon Valley, and are adopting it themselves.

Even if consulting firms survive the AI revolution, though, O'Leary said consulting is a career path that has always had a ceiling. A short stint in the industry has value, he said, especially for young professionals trying to find their footing in the labor market. Anything longer, though, he said, is a red flag.

"One of the things that you could argue is good about consulting is, if you spend less than two years there, and you're going to search all 11 sectors of the economy to find out where you fit, that makes sense to me," he said.

In the long term, however, it can lead to stagnation — or worse, a career of "mediocrity."

"When I see a résumé where someone wants to be a CEO of one of my companies, and has been at a consulting firm for seven years, I just tear that up," he said.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai might disagree, however. He got his start at McKinsey. So did former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg.

• I've gotten freebies for my home and kids in "Buy Nothing " groups. Recently, I got clothes.
• Someone of a similar size was giving away clothes, and I scored a new summer wardrobe.
• I liked how some of the styles pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I saved hundreds of dollars.

Sometimes, being a parent means not treating yourself to a new wardrobe when the seasons change so you can ensure all the kids have new pool slides and shorts to replace the ones they grew out of last year.

But as a mom of five, I've found creative ways to still get new-to-me things when our budget is tight, such as participating in our community's local "Buy Nothing" groups on Facebook.

They're part of the global Buy Nothing Project, where people give away things they no longer want for free. Many neighborhoods and cities have super-local versions of these groups online to make gifting and picking up items easier.

In the past, I've used such groups to score baseball equipment for my sons and small kitchen appliances and to give away baby equipment and clothes, old furniture, and even mattresses.

Most recently, though, my "Buy Nothing" scrolls brought me to one of my best finds yet: a whole new summer wardrobe, just in time for the warm months ahead.

One giveaway post turned into an afternoon of fun spent mixing and matching new styles

While browsing our local group for new posts, a deep-red shirt with a chevron-looking pattern caught my eye.

It's not normally a style I'd pay attention to, but I'd just learned in a color analysis that I look best in jewel tones, like ruby, and I thought it might be great for me.

From there, I checked out the woman's profile to see if she had a similar build and body type.

I'm a large on top and an extra large on the bottom, so it can be hard to find a "size buddy" — someone of a similar build — giving away clothes online.

Fortunately, based on her posts, she seemed like a match.

Even better, my new "size buddy" was giving away more clothes that seemed like they'd fit me, a mix of cute Anthropologie-like pieces and business-professional attire.

I commented "interested" on a few of her posts, and she ended up gifting me much more than what she had shared online.

When I arrived at the pickup spot, the woman had set out multiple bags of clothes for me, including pieces I would've tried on myself in a store.

Since the clothes were already here and free, I pushed myself to step outside my comfort zone and get creative with mixing and matching new pieces with items I already had in my wardrobe.

I was pleasantly surprised. For example, there was a top with flutter sleeves in a gauze-like material that I'd never pick up myself, deeming it too feminine or "extra" for my usual style.

However, when I put it on, I found it flattering, fun, and easy to pair with white shorts I already had for a casual date outfit or with work pants for more professional events.

I'm also always on a mission to find work-from-home clothes that look professional on Zoom calls but are casual enough to pair with sneakers for a mid-workday walk.

Several pieces I was gifted worked well for this, including a silky blue V-neck that looks nice on camera but is still casual enough to pair with lightweight summer joggers.

One of my most-worn finds so far is a pair of comfortable cotton shorts that feel like sweats, but look much nicer. They're slightly longer than I'd typically buy, and for this reason, don't ride up.

A few pieces didn't work for me (turns out my size buddy is slightly smaller on top), but it was easy to just pass them along to someone else in the "Buy Nothing" group.

In the end, another person's generosity saved me hundreds of dollars

Ultimately, I took home five tops and five bottoms, all in excellent condition. A few had brand names I recognized, and several seemed to be from local boutiques.

I'd estimate my new seasonal wardrobe would've cost several hundred dollars if I'd purchased it new.

More importantly, though, the value of getting this wardrobe was that I didn't have to run around town trying clothes on or scrambling to make returns in tight windows when online orders don't work out.

Plus, this experience taught me not to rule a piece out just because it doesn't seem like my style at first glance. There's also a bit of fun and creativity that comes with trying on another person's styles, and figuring out how to make them your own with jewelry or other clothes you already have.

Lastly, this was also a good reminder of how "Buy Nothing" groups can help my family save money. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for new posts from my "size buddy" as the seasons change — and maybe I'll look for clothes for my family next.

• Drones typically used to attack Russian forces are now bringing supplies to Ukraine's front-line soldiers.
• It's part of a growing trend of Ukraine using unmanned systems to take over dangerous missions.
• In the kill zone, logistics operations are particularly deadly, which is why Ukraine is turning to uncrewed systems.

Ukraine is repurposing reconnaissance and attack drones to move supplies to the front lines because sending soldiers on these missions has become increasingly deadly.

Bringing supplies like water and ammunition to soldiers near the front lines is critical for militaries to stay in the fight. But those routes are now so exposed to surveillance and attack drones that Ukraine is increasingly turning to uncrewed systems to do the job instead.

One example is the Linza drone made by Ukrainian arms company Frontline Robotics. The company says it is used by more than 60 Ukrainian units and is now taking on a growing logistics role.

Mykyta Rozhkov, Frontline Robotics' chief business development officer, told Business Insider that this drone was "mainly for attack operations," but now, there's demand "to have it as a logistics drone to provide critical supplies to the advanced troops."

That's "because the logistics are almost shut down on the actual engagement line," he said, referring to the most exposed area near the front, where almost any movement can draw fire.

Now, Linza drones "are responsible for supplying water, supplying ammunition, and supplying medical supplies for the troops that are facing the attacks."

That flexibility means soldiers can choose whether to use the drone to carry basic supplies — "water and cigarettes," Rozhkov said — or as something meant "to stop the target."

Frontline Robotics upgraded the Linza drone this year to its 3.0 model, which can carry 4 kilograms over 15 kilometers, up from the 2 kilograms over 10 kilometers of the previous model.

Rozhkov said that the company's mission is to "provide different robotic solutions to get people outside the danger zone. So just to keep the line with the robots."

The goal, he said, is to keep as many soldiers back away from the front as possible and use humans only when "robots can't handle the situation." Eventually, he said, the aim is to defend areas "without humans" in order to keep soldiers safe.

Other Ukrainian manufacturers are also converting drones into logistic assets to protect soldiers. The heavy bomber "Max" drone was designed to drop explosives on Russian positions but is now increasingly being used for logistics, its manufacturer, Perun, told Business Insider's Jake Epstein at an undisclosed location inside Ukraine.

Ukraine wants to minimize human involvement near the front line because of how dangerous it is. Officials and soldiers describe a "kill zone" as wide as 50 kilometers in some places, where dense networks of surveillance and attack drones put almost anything that moves at risk.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called it a "death zone" where any tank, armored vehicle, or motorcycle that enters it "burns." He said that "everything is destroyed by drones."

Rozhkov said that it was normal at the start of Russia's full-scale invasion for around 1,000 soldiers to be responsible for about 10 kilometers of the front line. Now, he said, his company is part of a big armed forces effort to bring that down to just 150 soldiers, with unmanned systems doing much of the work.

Frontline Robotics also makes a weapons turret that can be mounted on ground robots, allowing them to fire machine guns and grenade launchers while soldiers stay safely out of range. Rozhkov said it's used to stop Russian soldiers advancing, to "keep hostile soldiers out of the way."

The big risk near the front lines is movement. There are troops there, but it's hard for them to move and rotate out, and it's dangerous for anyone who would try to come in and bring them supplies.

It's why Ukraine is betting heavily on uncrewed systems. Ukraine's defense minister said in April that the goal is to hand over 100% of frontline logistics to robotic systems to protect soldiers and vehicles.

Rozhkov said the shift toward more unmanned systems includes one operator being able to control multiple drones. He said soldiers come to him asking for autonomy so multiple drones can be controlled by a single pilot, and that's the kind of feature Frontline Robotics is now adding.

Ukrainian officials have described a battlefield moving further toward machines fighting machines. Zelenskyy in September said that "Now, companies are already working on drones that can shoot down other drones. And it's only a matter of time — not much — before drones are fighting drones, attacking critical infrastructure, and targeting people — all by themselves, fully autonomous, and no human involved — except the few who control AI systems."

Rozhkov said that Frontline is "actively working" toward this future where uncrewed systems fight other uncrewed systems, with the goal of keeping human soldiers safe.

• I had a vision of what motherhood would look like for me, and that all changed with my MS diagnosis.
• I can't go on long hikes or ride roller coasters with my kids, but my husband steps in.
• I'm glad he's doing the things with our kids that I can't.

I always thought I'd be a fun mom; the mom who plans class parties, explores interactive exhibits with her kids at museums, and survives the Tilt-A-Whirl with them at carnivals. When I was young, I imagined myself beside my future children on roller coasters and chaperoning every class trip from kindergarten through 5th grade. My mom went on mine, and I wanted my children to have the same experience.

But my boys are 14 and 11, and I've never been the mom I envisioned. As my youngest finishes his final year of elementary school, sadly, I have never joined either of them on a class trip. The vision of the mother I thought I'd be never got a chance to exist.

My multiple sclerosis diagnosis changed everything

When I was 21, multiple sclerosis seized my nervous system. Before I could even speculate on the ways in which this disease would change the course of my life, it stole the mother I hoped to become.

From the time my older son began walking, I realized the expectations I had for myself were no longer realistic. I could go to museums or amusement parks with my family, but only with my husband present to take over when I had to rest. I wasn't the one beside them as they walked the streets of the Historic District in Philadelphia with their class. I can't withstand the school's packed schedule while also being responsible for a group of children with endless energy.

"Can you go?" I asked my husband when we learned of my older son's first field trip in kindergarten. "I want him to have one of us there," I pleaded. Between wanting to raise my children myself and the relentless weakness, fatigue, and pain slowing me down, I chose to stop working my full-time job when my older son was born.

My husband has worked overtime for the last 15 years to support our lives, and asking him to take time off for a field trip felt unfair. But if I couldn't go, having him present would make my misfortune sting a little less. Perhaps field trips could be their thing? "Please, for me, can you be there with him?"

My husband has done many things with my kids that I had pictured for myself

My husband went on that field trip — and he's gone on every trip since then with both of our children throughout their elementary years. Every moment I'd imagined — from watching them walk through the Heart exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, to strolling around the National Constitution Center, to a 5th-grade "skip day" at Hershey Park, to riding roller coasters at Dorney Park to celebrate the end of elementary school — has happened. But it's been him and not me. I see these occasions through pictures and brief, animated FaceTime calls instead of living them myself.

There's so much I can do that I once thought would be impossible, so remaining bitter about missing out feels petty. It took me 13 years to be diagnosed, and during that time, my body weakened until walking was no longer possible.

I never thought I'd be able to bike on rail trails with my children or take a mile-long flat hike through the Catskill Mountains with them. I wasn't sure I'd ever attend a class party or be able to stand while talking to friends as my kids enjoyed the end-of-year carnival at school. I used to worry about middle and high school Back-to-School Nights and how I'd walk through their daily schedule while my legs threatened to collapse. I once thought I'd miss everything.

Since being diagnosed in 2017, treatment has allowed me to do all of this. So, I've accepted that school trips haven't been on my agenda because so many other activities have been. Knowing that my husband has been there in my place has helped me let go of that loss.

On Father's Day, I want to thank my husband for being the fun parent, the one who takes them hiking up mountains and climbing over rocks. The one who scrambles through the Heart and Brain exhibits at the science museum. The one who endures roller coasters beside them even though his vestibular system has aged. He's the one who keeps the fun going when I'm sitting on a bench in the background or many miles away at home.

He's been everything I can't be, mending my dream of motherhood back into reality.

• A version of this post appears in Cannes Diary, a daily pop-up newsletter covering Cannes Lions.
• Sign up for Business Insider's weekly marketing newsletter, CMO Insider.

Move over, Mad Men. Cannes is a creator town now — at least for the next week.

A legion of influencers will be among the estimated 13,000-plus attendees headed to this year's Cannes Lions advertising festival, which kicks off in France on Monday. Creators are jostling for brand deals, paid speaking gigs, VIP party invites, and plenty of opportunities to shoot content along the glittering Côte d'Azur.

More than 250 creators are expected to attend, according to a list compiled by a coalition of marketing firms. Attendees include "Call Her Daddy" host Alex Cooper; "Feed Me" founder Emily Sundberg; makeup artist and creator Cindy Chen; TikTok stars Josh Richards, Golloria, and Keith Lee; and YouTubers Eleanor Neale, Colin & Samir, and David Dobrik, all of whom are expected to mingle with marketers throughout the week.

"When I was first going to Cannes, if you saw Martin Sorrell walking down the street, that was the big-name celebrity," said UTA's Margot Hauer-King, who was referring to the former WPP CEO and current S4 Capital exec chairman.

Now? "Alix Earle," Hauer-King said, referencing the attention the "get ready with me" influencer drew when she hit Cannes in 2025.

This year, creators are moving from the margins of Cannes to the center stage. That shift reflects an industry reckoning with fundamental changes in how consumers interact with media. As broadcast advertising becomes less effective at reaching fragmented audiences, marketers increasingly view creators as a critical channel for attention and influence.

EMARKETER, a Business Insider sister company, expects 88.7% of established companies in the US will invest in influencer marketing this year, up from less than 40% a decade ago. Brand spending on influencer marketing is forecast to reach $12.42 billion this year.

SharkNinja's chief brand and experience officer, Michelle Crossan-Matos, said that "influencer marketing," as a term, even feels outdated. She prefers "creator commerce," which emphasizes the extent to which creators have become involved in shaping both the products that brands release and how they market them.

Shweta Bhardwaj, a partner at Bain & Company, said creator strategy is now a core part of the marketing playbook.

"Many of the CMOs I talk to say the marketing of yesterday was us talking about our brands," Bhardwaj said. "The marketing of today is consumers talking about our brands, and our role as CMOs is to enable that conversation as authentically as possible."

Creators' Cannes agenda

Star YouTube creator Dhar Mann is returning to Cannes Lions for the second time this year, his calendar jammed with speaking sessions, including an interactive workshop in the Palais where marketing execs will compete for a $200,000 brand integration on his main channel.

Mann said he senses the power dynamic between creators and brands is shifting this time around.

"Creators aren't just showing up to network and learn from brands — now more brands want to know how creators work," Mann said. "Creators get feedback every day from millions of viewers. We know what makes them care and what makes them share."

There's still some work to be done to reduce bottlenecks, Mann added.

"The traditional process of working with traditional advertisers takes months — endless decks, meetings back and forth," Mann said. "Brands are learning that in order to survive this new climate, you have to move at the speed of culture. Who can do that? Creators."

Sundas Khalid, who posts content about AI and data science to her 1 million-plus followers, is heading to Cannes Lions for the first time this year. She's planning to catch up with brands she's already worked with, like OpenAI and Teachable, make new connections with marketers, and pitch up at LinkedIn's space on the Hotel Carlton rooftop to create content and meet other creators. (LinkedIn says there's just one rule: No swimming in the pool.)

"If there's one thing about the content creation space, it can be very lonely — I sit in my basement and record most of my videos there," Khalid said. "I proactively put in time to be in places where other creators are going to be."

The other hot topics: agentic AI, soccer, and M&A

Influencer marketing isn't the sole topic on the agenda at Cannes this year.

The ad industry is attempting to shake off angst about artificial intelligence and its potential to wipe out jobs and further concentrate power in the hands of the tech giants.

"Agentic" will be the central square on every Cannes buzzword bingo card as companies tout AI agents that can automate media buys, conduct research, and shop on consumers' behalf.

Brian Kotlyar, CMO of the marketing platform Hightouch, has two tips for marketers fielding those pitches. First, ask to see the thing in action in a live environment, not a staged one. Second, "When someone says they have an agent, ask them: What can your agent do that Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini cannot?"

This year's festival falls during the final round of World Cup group-stage matches, ensuring that live sports — one of the last remaining mass-reach media vehicles — will again feature heavily in Croisette conversations. The World Advertising Research Centre forecasts the tournament will drive a $10.5 billion surge in worldwide ad spend this year as brands look to capitalize on the event's feel-good factor and global, cross-generational appeal. Plenty of companies at Cannes are hosting watch parties for big games, with the European time zone ensuring the festivities will run late into the evening.

Attendees can also expect a healthy portion of M&A chatter alongside their glasses of rosé. Speculation is rife about whether Publicis' acquisition of LiveRamp and Accenture Song's buying of Whalar could spark copycat deals in the data and creator spaces. Meanwhile, marketers will be quizzing Omnicom execs about how the integration of its $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group will affect its clients, for better or worse.

PepsiCo CMO Jane Wakely hopes "creative effectiveness" — campaigns that can demonstrate their business impact — will be the breakthrough trend once Cannes draws to a close this year. (Wakely is on the jury panel for the Cannes Lions Creative Effectiveness Award.)

Cannes Lions tightened its awards rules for 2026 after several of last year's winners drew scrutiny about whether the big claims made in their case studies could be verified. Wakely welcomed the changes.

"Two or three years ago, a lot of the work that was celebrated was not effective; it was stunts," Wakely said. "I think as an industry we were beginning to lose our way."

• My toddler son started pushing boundaries with us and we needed a solution that would work.
• After researching online, I came across a technique called behavior-specific praise.
• Following this changed the dynamics in our house and how we parent for the better.

Modern parenting advice seems to be to limit how much you praise your child. I disagree.

Nothing really prepares you for parenting a 2-year-old. Toddlers are known for their developing independence and language, as well as their strong emotions. I should know, I have one living with me.

These rapid developments can lead children to push boundaries and have tantrums. For our family, this led to our struggle with managing our son's behavior. One way we improved our son's behavior was through a technique called behavior-specific praise, which is explicitly praising the positive behaviors you see. Sure, it can be hard at times, but it's paying off.

Praise is important

As an associate professor of literacy, I spend my days researching the link between self-regulation, executive function, and academic achievement.

In my own home, I discovered that the type of praise we give needs to be more than just saying, "Good job!" It's saying, "I loved the way you cleaned up after playing. Look at how clear the floor is!"

This approach is something I came across while searching for evidence-based strategies that could help with the issues we were having at home. I knew praise was important, but I needed more guidance on how to use it effectively in my house.

Dr. Alan Kazdin, a child psychologist who used to lead the Yale Parenting Center, believes that delivering praise with lots of excitement and physical touch, such as a hug or high five, can also amplify its impact. For our family, it has really helped. But even without that physical touch, behavior-specific praise has shown promise.

For example, in school settings, behavior-specific praise is an evidence-based strategy supported by extensive research. When teachers, like I used to be, increase this type of praise, we see an increase in students' on-task behaviors. This strategy is now embedded in many different types of parenting programs because of its effectiveness.

While this technique has worked with my young child, it has been shown to work across age ranges. This is because this type of praise builds on children's motivation. They love being noticed for doing something "right", and they want to keep doing that behavior. Children start to feel proud of themselves as they continue to meet these goals, and soon, they will be doing behaviors on their own without any praise. That will build their self-regulation, so in the future, when they are off task, they can self-regulate and get back on task.

Putting the plan into action

One thing that has helped tremendously in implementing this technique in our parenting is that my wife and I focus on one behavior at a time to maximize our efforts.

The first time we implemented behavior-specific praise was to stop our then 2-year-old from jumping on our bed. Almost nightly before bedtime, our son would somehow end up in our room, jumping on our bed. While it was cute at first, it became a bigger issue when he would refuse to go back to his room. Eventually, we would have to pick him up and take him to his room, which would lead to tantrums right before bed.

Once we figured out that behavior was what we wanted to stop, we needed to explain, again, our desire for him not to jump on the bed. After reaffirming the rule to him, we would praise him when he got off the bed when we asked. This praise looked like, "I loved how you stopped jumping on the bed when we asked." When he came into the room and didn't jump on the bed, we would also praise him. The praise would be said in a happy voice, and one of us would give him a big hug and take him to his room. It took some time, but now, as a 3-year-old, this is no longer an issue at all.

Another area of our lives that has improved dramatically is taking medicine, which has historically been a struggle for us. When our 3-year-old is sick and has medicine, we pour it into a drink of his choosing and praise him every time he takes a big sip. When he finishes the drink, we do such an over-the-top praise. We hoist him up and cheer. He absolutely loves it. It has also reduced the stress we have around thinking about how we are going to give him medicine twice a day for ten days. He is so proud of himself each time he finishes his medicine and loves to show it off to us.

We've had some challenges

Of course, this one strategy doesn't work all the time. It's natural and healthy for a 3-year-old not to listen to what we want him to do. That's par for the course for these three-nagers. But what is nice is that when we determine there is a key behavior we need to change, we strategically implement this praise strategy into our day-to-day lives. So far we've used it to help with mealtimes, car rides, and grocery store trips.

I wish we had known about his strategy earlier in our parenting journey, because things might have been easier for us. Lucky for us, our youngest just entered toddlerhood. Parenting is hard, and having the right tools in your toolbox is so critical. These tools make everyone's lives easier, and we just have to figure out which ones to use and when.

Praise is such a part of our parenting style that our son now models praise toward us. Just the other night at dinner, my wife said she was done with her meal, and he replied, "Good job, mama, on finishing your dinner." That gave us so much joy.

• NATO commander says the West can no longer "sit back" with its jets and missiles and confidently face modern air threats.
• Cheap drones are forcing militaries to rethink air defenses.
• The West needs more defenses — and may not be able to protect everything.

The West's long-standing approach to air defense — relying heavily on advanced jets, expensive missiles, and the ability to shoot down just about whatever comes its way — is being strained by a new era of cheap drones and mass air attacks, a top NATO commander warned.

New air threats able to challenge conventional approaches are rapidly emerging, and "the days of thinking that you can sit back and be reactive and engage every threat that comes at you using traditional means like fast jets and some surface-to-air missiles … those days are over," Sir John Stringer, NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told Business Insider.

Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are showing that future conflicts may not resemble the ones Western military forces have grown used to fighting.

The West has long been able to enjoy total or near-total control of the air against weaker adversaries; however, future conflicts could pit NATO against major militaries like Russia or China, while even smaller actors now have access to cheap drones that can be launched in large numbers to overwhelm defenses.

Instead, "we're going to have to deal in the reactive sense of stuff coming at us in a different way," whether it's using new drone types to stop drone attacks or using electronic warfare, Stringer said.

Western militaries still need advanced missiles and aircraft, Stringer said. They're still important. But now the West needs large numbers of cheaper defenses because there are more threats in the air than ever before.

The "threat is now everything from cheap air systems, uncrewed air systems, drones at one end of the spectrum to air-launched ballistic missiles" and hypersonic weapons, at the other, he said.

That spread of threats is forcing NATO to rethink not just what it uses to defend the skies, but how much it needs. Stringer called it one of the "biggest changes" facing Western militaries. They now need defenses at scale.

Western forces need "to play catch-up" in some areas, Stringer said, and the response needs to "be on the right part of what we call the cost curve" — meaning it cannot keep using multimillion-dollar interceptors against far cheaper threats.

He said the "most obvious example of getting that wrong" would be using US-made Patriot air defense missiles against the kind of Shahed-style drones Iran and Russia are fielding. "That's unsustainable."

Iran's Shahed one-way attack drones cost an estimated $20,000 to $50,000 each. Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptors are estimated to cost roughly $3.7 million each, and their stockpiles are strained and take a long time to replenish.

This mismatch has already set off alarm bells within NATO. Officials and military leaders have warned that while these advanced defenses are still necessary, they can no longer be the only type of defense Western militaries rely on.

Ukraine has developed some solutions, including cheap interceptor drones that it can use against drone attacks instead of using expensive missiles, and partner nations are now following that lead. Stringer said the West also needs cheaper sensors like the ones Ukraine uses to detect drones, alongside the more powerful systems NATO is used to fielding.

But Stringer warned that defense alone is not enough.

He argued that the West can't forget what has been key in air power doctrine for around 100 years, that "your defense needs a good offense." The West needs to be able to hit where these weapons are made, the source of an incoming weapon.

"You'll hear people talk about going against the archer, not just the arrow. That's true up to a point," Stringer said, "but I actually want to go after the places where the arrows are made." He said it cannot just be "hoping to deal with everything that comes at you."

NATO members need to scale their industrial bases, not just with defense companies but through broader industry, he said, noting that Ukraine, which is developing and fielding new weaponry at speed, has demonstrated the value of having more companies ready to adapt for war.

If you look at the innovative drone companies in the West, Stringer said, "how many of them were even in existence five years ago, let alone how many of them spawned out the kind of traditional defense background or defense industrial background?"

But even with huge investments in defenses, the growing number of threats in the air means that the West may not be able to protect everything in a serious, large-scale future war, officials and analysts warn. Instead, countries might have to make difficult choices about what to protect, as adversaries could target military sites, cities, and civilian infrastructure.

Stringer also warned that the air threat now means that in a large-scale war, Western countries can no longer count on their homelands remaining safe while their militaries fight overseas. Missiles and drones can threaten places that previously would have been considered safe in the rear.

The challenge is forcing Western militaries to rethink air superiority itself. Officials have warned that full control of the air may not be possible. Gen. David Allvin, when he was the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, warned that Ukraine's fight showed the US that it might not be able to enjoy "ubiquitous air supremacy for days and weeks on end" and that it instead may only be possible in small bursts.

Stringer said securing control of the air still has to be a priority, even if the ways of doing it are different.

"You still need to secure air superiority," he said. "The ways of doing it may change, but it fundamentally provides a foundation on which the entire joint force operates. So if you're not able to secure the access and then the maneuver that your force needs, then you're failing."

Even NATO's approach to overseeing and coordinating its air may need to change amid the growing threats, Stringer said. The West has long used large command centers to coordinate air patrols and air warfare, including directing what its aircraft do, seeing what they observe, and deciding how defenses should be used.

But, Stringer said, "that's going to have to change." Those command centers will need to be more dispersed so they are harder to target, even if that makes air operations more complicated.

Amazon Prime Day is almost here, which means now's the time to get your shopping list in order. If you're hoping to save on a new TV, you'll have plenty of options to choose from. But not every TV deal will be worth considering. I test TVs year-round, so I know exactly which models are worth keeping an eye on and what you're better off avoiding.

I anticipate strong discounts on 2025 TVs as manufacturers aim to clear inventory. These older models are typically much cheaper than their 2026 counterparts but often offer similar performance. With that in mind, I recommend snagging them on sale while you still can. Those who prefer a 2026 TV should also find solid Prime Day deals, but keep in mind that these newer sets usually get lower prices later in the year.

Exact deal pricing won't be known until Prime Day officially kicks off on June 23, but based on past deal trends, I have a good idea of what's worth waiting for. To help you prep for Prime Day TV shopping, I've rounded up a few models you should keep on your short list, along with a few general tips on what to avoid when shopping for TV deals.

Top Prime Day TV deals to wait for

As we head into Prime Day, these are the TVs I recommend keeping a close eye on. Most of these are 2025 models that are likely to be on sale for all-time low prices. I've also included a couple of particularly impressive 2026 TV models that are expected to get their first big discounts. In most cases, I've linked out to the 65-inch size of each model, but you can choose other sizes on each Amazon listing.

Samsung S90F OLED TV

Samsung's S90F OLED is the reigning champ in my guide to the best TVs. What makes it so impressive is its nearly unmatched combination of high contrast, solid brightness, vivid colors, wide viewing angles, and reasonable pricing. The 65-inch model usually goes for around $1,400, and the lowest I've seen it sell for was $1,248. With that in mind, there's a good chance the S90F could dip under $1,200 on Prime Day.

LG C5 OLED TV

The C5 OLED is one of the best LG TVs available. Its contrast and viewing angles are top-notch. And though its color performance isn't quite as good as the Samsung S90F, it's a perfect alternative for people who prefer the LG brand. The 65-inch model was on sale for $1,248 on Black Friday, and I expect Amazon to match or beat that price on Prime Day.

TCL QM6K QLED TV

If you want an affordable TV that doesn't skimp on picture quality, the TCL QM6K QLED is my go-to recommendation. It's the top pick in my guide to the best budget TVs, and it delivers an impressive feature set at a surprisingly low price. It's also available in a range of sizes, from 50 to 98 inches. The 65-inch model was on sale for $498 in November, and I'm hoping it gets a similar discount on Prime Day.

LG G5 OLED TV

LG's G5 OLED sits at the top end of the brand's TV lineup, and its performance helps justify its high price. It delivers exceptional brightness for an OLED alongside precise pixel-level contrast, making it one of the best TVs for picture quality you can buy. The 65-inch model typically hovers around $2,300, though I've seen it fall as low as $1,800. Premium TVs don't always see huge Prime Day discounts, but this is one worth watching in case a new deal surfaces.

Samsung LS03F Frame TV

The Samsung LS03F is the best frame TV for most people, and it's already seen some strong markdowns this year. The 65-inch version has dropped to a low of $998 several times in recent months, making a similar or even better Prime Day deal a real possibility. Its picture performance isn't aimed at enthusiasts, but its unique design is perfect for shoppers who want a style-first TV that looks like a piece of art hanging on the wall.

TCL QM8K QLED TV

TCL's QM8K QLED delivers flagship-level performance for less than comparable models from Samsung, LG, and Sony. It gets exceptionally bright, maintains impressive contrast, and even comes in a huge 98-inch configuration. It's the best TCL TV overall, and the 65-inch model has dropped to $898. Since TCL TVs often see major discounts, Prime Day could bring that price back or push it even lower.

Hisense U8QG QLED TV

The U8QG QLED is one of the brightest TVs on the market and my pick for the best Hisense TV overall. It's not quite as accurate as some rivals, but it delivers impressive pop and rich colors. It's also known to get great discounts. The 65-inch size dropped to $800 in April, which is a steal. It's likely that Amazon will offer similar pricing on Prime Day.

LG C6H OLED TV

LG's C6H OLED is a new submodel in the brand's popular C-Series. This 2026 TV is only available in 77- and 83-inch sizes, but it offers a notable upgrade over the 2025 C5. It uses the same kind of advanced panel that LG usually reserves for its pricier G-Series, so it gets much brighter than most OLEDs. The 77-inch size was $700 off for a couple of weeks in May, but otherwise, it hasn't gotten any major deals. Prime Day will likely be the next chance to snag it at a discount. You can learn more in my full LG C6H TV review.

TCL X11L SQD TV

TCL TVs are known for their incredible value, but the X11L SQD TV takes a slightly different approach. This premium 2026 TV model delivers some of the best color and brightness performance I've seen, but it's also priced accordingly. The 85-inch size retails for a whopping $8,000. However, the X11L has already received some notable discounts. It's been $2,000 off for the last couple of months. Given TCL's track record with big deals, I recommend holding out for Prime Day to see if it hits a record low.

Tips for TV shopping on Prime Day

Keep in mind that a TV's list price is different than its typical price

When browsing Prime Day deals on Amazon, you'll sometimes see a TV's list price crossed out and replaced by a deal price. However, this "list price" is often deceiving. Generally, the list price Amazon uses is the TV's full retail price, but that doesn't mean it's the price the TV has typically been selling for. When I recommend TV deals, I use price trackers to see what the usual selling price has been, so I can ensure the deal is actually worthwhile. You can learn more in our guide to vetting and tracking Prime Day deals.

Get a sense for what type of TV fits your needs

There are several types of TVs on the market, including LED, OLED, QLED, Mini LED, and RGB LED. With so many acronyms to sort through, figuring out which type is best for your needs can get tricky. Here's a quick overview to help you make a smart purchase.

• OLED TVs: OLEDs, including newer QD-OLED and tandem OLED models, typically offer the best picture quality thanks to self-lit pixels that deliver perfect black levels, rich contrast, and wide viewing angles. They're great for movie lovers, though they typically cost more than other TVs (especially in larger sizes), don't get as bright as top QLEDs, and carry a slight burn-in risk with heavy use. You can learn more in our OLED vs. QLED comparison.
• QLED TVs: QLED TVs use LED/LCD panels with quantum dots for vivid colors and high brightness. They're a strong choice for sunny rooms, come in many sizes and price points, and don't pose a burn-in risk. However, they can't match OLED contrast or viewing angles, and picture quality depends heavily on whether they have Mini LED local dimming.
• LED TVs: Basic LED TVs are the cheapest option and are best for shoppers who want an entry-level TV for casual viewing or a big screen at a low price. They lack quantum dots and often lack local dimming and wide color support, so contrast, color, and viewing angles are limited.
• RGB LED TVs: RGB LED TVs, also called Micro RGB, RGB Mini LED, or True RGB TVs, use separate red, green, and blue LEDs in the backlight for purer color than other TV types. But the tech is new, options are limited, and contrast is still behind OLED. You can learn more in our RGB LED vs. Mini LED comparison.

Don't buy a 2026 TV model just because it's newer

Though it can be tempting to grab the latest 2026 model, many 2025 TVs are still the better buy. TV upgrades from one year to the next are usually pretty small, so newer models are rarely worth paying extra for if last year's version is still available at a lower price. Some 2026 TVs do bring more meaningful upgrades, and I'll call those out when they matter. But for most shoppers, a discounted 2025 TV still offers the best value.

A big screen size doesn't automatically equal good picture quality

A large screen can make movies, sports, and games feel more immersive, but size alone doesn't guarantee better image quality. A big, cheap TV will often have weaker contrast, duller colors, poorer viewing angles, and lower brightness than a smaller, higher-end model. When shopping for TV deals, it's important to consider the display type and included features, not just the screen size.

Shopping for more discounts today? Check out our roundup of all of the best Prime Day deals, or browse Amazon's website for the full selection.

• Weight loss always comes with some muscle loss.
• A growing number of drugmakers are trying to stop that, with molecules that preserve lean mass.
• Some drugs mimic exercise, others stop muscle breakdown.

Nearly every pharmaceutical company you can name is chasing this tantalizing idea: hang on to your muscles while you lose weight.

It's a goal that seems to defy the laws of biology — our bodies are wired to lose both fat and at least some muscle during weight loss. Faster weight loss often means more muscle loss, as the body scrambles to quickly find extra energy to burn. This has been one of the glaring problems with GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound: some patients lose a lot of muscle, becoming frail.

A bounty of emerging drug candidates promise to fix this issue. There's bimagrumab, a molecule that promotes fat loss while preserving muscle (made by startup Versanis and acquired by Eli Lilly for $1.9 billion in 2023). SPX-001 is designed to preserve lean mass while taking a GLP-1 (snapped up by AstraZeneca for about $300 million in 2025). Novo Nordisk hopes its next-generation GLP-1, CagriSema, will help patients lose more fat and retain more muscle than their previous blockbuster, Ozempic, did.

On Friday, another startup upped the ante. Cambrian Biotech, a late-stage VC-backed pharmaceutical company based in New York, released early results of the first human study of a drug that mimics exercise. Taking it, the company's CEO said, is like running 5-10k every day, metabolically speaking, but without the sweaty mess. Unlike GLP-1 drugs, which dampen appetite and slow digestion, this drug is designed to simply incinerate more calories every day. The goal, which still needs to be evaluated in larger clinical trials, is to turn up the dial on how the body uses stored fuel.

"We want a different tool that increases your metabolic rate, makes your fat metabolically active, makes your muscles burn more energy," Cambrian CEO James Peyer told Business Insider.

Doctors are relieved to see these drug candidates advancing. GLP-1 drugs are game-changers for metabolic disease, but some physicians hesitate to prescribe them when the inevitable muscle loss that comes with weight loss can be dangerous, leading to frailty and weaker bones. Plus, when you're eating less on a GLP-1, muscle-building — which requires getting enough protein and calories to fuel muscle growth — is an even bigger challenge.

The rise of muscle-preserving drug candidates is also being bolstered by a growing recognition that muscles aren't just about strength; they're metabolism regulators. Keep the muscles strong, and you can help improve all kinds of metabolic disease processes in the body, from diabetes to liver failure, without worrying so much about exactly how much protein you're eating, or how often you're lifting heavy.

"I think everybody is now seeing that maybe we have addressed the magnitude of the weight loss problem," Versanis founder and serial biotech entrepreneur Lloyd Klickstein told Business Insider. "Now, we need to reconfigure our thinking towards addressing the quality of the weight loss."

Yesterday's failed drugs are becoming today's hottest biotech jewels

A lot of the excitement we're seeing in this field is being driven by pharmaceutical companies taking old, failed drugs back off the shelf.

Bimagrumab, the molecule that Eli Lilly acquired from Versanis, is a perfect example of this: it is a failed muscle-wasting drug that was initially tested in older people with age-related muscle loss, called sarcopenia. In a series of large-scale clinical trials conducted by Novartis from 2014 to 2018, it just didn't work.

"We had blinders on with respect to what muscle does," Klickstein said. "Everybody was still thinking about the power function of muscle, and less about the metabolic function of muscle."

Then, investors revisited the drug with a new goal: simply recycling and maintaining muscle, rather than creating more. Suddenly, it looked like a game changer. Eli Lilly's latest trial of bimagrumab, which included over 500 people with obesity, showed that those who added the drug to an Ozempic prescription lost an average of more than 90% of their body fat.

It's worth pointing out how remarkable that is. For as long as scientists have been measuring weight loss, they've seen people typically lose roughly 65-75% fat and about 25-35% lean mass.

In addition to repurposed drugs like bimagrumab, pharmaceutical makers are pursuing new combinations of existing tools. Novo Nordisk's CagriSema, a combination of Ozempic and a new diabetes drug called cagrilintide, netted 67% fat loss in patients with obesity. It may be a little more powerful than Ozempic, but it doesn't appear to break through the tried-and-true weight-loss equation.

Then there are the biotech moonshots: new drugs that promise to completely reimagine how human metabolism works — if they prove successful.

In a small, initial safety trial of 23 adults that Cambrian presented at the American Diabetes Association conference earlier this month, prediabetic patients with obesity taking their once-daily pill increased their resting metabolic rate and lost about 5% of their visceral fat, the dangerous, inflammatory kind that hugs internal organs and is linked to more chronic disease. A midsize trial that will begin to deliver a clear picture of what this drug — ATX-304 — can really do is slated to read out at the end of 2027.

From bodybuilders to older adults, there's a gigantic potential market for these drugs

The concept of body recomposition — losing fat and gaining muscle in tandem — is alluring across demographics.

Think of bodybuilders, post-menopausal women, and aging grandparents who can't work out like they used to; there would be numerous potential use cases for this kind of drug outside of obesity medicine.

But we don't yet know whether any of these drugs will ever clear the required hurdles with the US Food and Drug Administration, or whether their intended use cases will spark interest from key payers like Medicare and private insurers.

In short, whether doctors will ever pull out their pen and pad and write a prescription for this kind of muscle-retaining, metabolism-boosting therapy is still a subject of heated debate in the medical world.

"No one is going to write a prescription for body composition changes," Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist at the University of Toronto, told Business Insider.

Drucker was instrumental in the discovery of the role of the GLP-1 hormone in diabetes, paving the way to the formulation of Ozempic.

He'd like to see drugs come to market targeting sarcopenia directly and successfully, for the "hundreds of millions of older people who are frail and fragile and could really benefit." But he voiced skepticism about the rapidly growing field of muscle-preserving drug candidates, which haven't yet shown they can deliver clinically meaningful results, like preventing more falls, improving strength, or increasing walking speed in older patients.

It's possible that drugmakers will start incorporating some of these therapies into combination drugs. One day, things like Ozempic or Zepbound could be combined with something like bimagrumab or Cambrian's exercise pill, in a single prescription.

"You give me all the benefits of these GLP-1 medicines, plus you tag on something that builds lean mass and ideally muscle strength?" Drucker said. "I see that as a winning strategy."

He thinks about his 98-year-old mother, and the huge value add a drug that preserves muscle could be for her and her friends. "Fewer falls, fewer fractures, fewer emergency room visits," he said. But he knows old people like his mom aren't the only ones who'd be excited about taking this kind of muscle-retaining substance.

"You get your drug approved, and then everybody in the gym is going to buy it," he said.

• I used customer service principles to improve interactions with my father.
• Smiling and positive nonverbal communication helped reduce tension caused by dementia.
• The approach made caregiving easier for both my father and me.

My 91-year-old West-Indian father, a wiry, 5"6' US Army veteran with Alzheimer 's-related dementia, used to be far more cantankerous. He had even taken to frustrated cursing—something I'd never heard him do in the 55 years I'd been his son.

But then I decided to smile at him.

And I learned that he was much more likely to finish his breakfast, take his medication, and allow me to aid him in the bathroom when I did.

I started treating my Dad like a client

The inspiration came from reading a 2011 National Institutes of Health study that said "a recognition bias favoring positive faces and other stimuli in older compared to younger adults." The takeaway resonated with my experience working in retail.

If anyone deserved the same world-class customer service, it was the man who helped create me. So, I began treating my father like a client — albeit a pro bono one.

Whenever I greeted him, I did it with a grin as genuine as I had the capacity for at any given moment. To achieve this, I reached into our shared history to remember the man who tucked me in with nightly bedtime stories; the man whose shoulders I happily rode on during trips to cricket games, the circus, and Walt Disney World; and the man whose words of encouragement over the years helped keep me afloat.

That is the man whose end-of-life-dignity it is now my duty to maintain.

It didn't always work

If I was away from him for longer than a couple of hours, I greeted him anew upon our reunion. Not only did it mentally engage him; it elevated his mood: Sparks of recognition combusted in his bright brown eyes, and for a few brief moments, there he was, my old dad — my captain, my hero — smiling back at me, his firstborn.

While I had remarkable success with improvised smile therapy, I confess it didn't always work. Every so often, he's confused by his surroundings, or sometimes his Wheel of Dementia spins and lands on Lash Out. And that's what he does — whining petulantly, followed by agitated and inflictive tantrums.

This is when I make maximum use of my customer service skills: I summon the best, most professional smile I can muster and grant him the time he needs for his temper to run its course. Due to the long-term damage done to his ever-shrinking attention span, he often forgets what he said or did within minutes.

It helped me not to take it personally

The shift to customer-centric professionalism also kept me from letting his behavior distress me. It also creates a psychic barrier that keeps me from falling victim to his mood shifts. At the beginning, middle, and end of the day, it isn't personal — it's dementia — so I've armed myself with an impenetrable mindset that helped see me through the more challenging moments.

Now that our roles were reversed, it was I who must parent him, making him feel safe and seen. I did this by checking in with him several times an hour — through a series of smiles, affirmative nods, and upward-pointed thumbs. Since he's lost significant use of his lingual abilities, the gestures make it easier for him to express himself.

It also makes it easier for me to care for him. As a disabled queer male, I have significant weightlifting limitations that keep me from being able to assist him in the ways I would prefer to. I can't move, shower, or assist him physically, so my emotional support and improvised smile therapy are really the best I can offer. But it seems to make a difference, so I keep at it — for the love of Dad.

Adapting to change is part of being a caregiver

If I learned anything from this experiment, it was the enduring power of nonverbal communication. Sure, I missed the ease and clarity of our former, more verbose manner of pontificating, but adapting to change is a key part of the caregiving process. Plus, expecting him to be the man he used to be is not only delusional; it's unfair to him and wastes the precious little time we have left together.

When Dad was diagnosed, it was important to me that he, who worked his entire life to provide for his family, be surrounded with as much warmth as possible near the end of his life. So, if wearing a smile — or faking it, when necessary — helped achieve this, then I was all about it, because he's worth it.

• Many tech workers are spending their free time experimenting with AI to avoid falling behind.
• For some workers, the issue isn't access to AI tools on the job — it's finding time to explore them.
• As companies cut jobs and invest in AI, many workers feel pressure to keep up with the technology.

One night after work in Dublin, Maahir Sharma watched an AI agent that he built call hotels in the United States and negotiate room rates on his behalf.

The project wasn't part of his job. It was one of many AI experiments he pursues outside work to stay current in an industry being reshaped by AI.

Sharma, a software engineer at a Big Tech company, says AI has dramatically increased his productivity, helping him complete some tasks in days that once took months. But he also spends about 20 hours a week outside of work experimenting with AI tools like Cursor, a coding assistant he pays for out of pocket.

"I think experimentation with AI is very important," said the 24-year-old. "If you don't have hands-on experience, it could be difficult to survive in the industry."

Sharma is among the tech workers who say AI's rise is creating an unexpected tradeoff. The technology is helping them save time at work, but it's costing them time after work, as they try to keep pace with rapidly evolving tools and skills. An Ernst & Young survey of more than 1,000 US desk workers across six industries conducted last year found that 85% were learning how to use AI outside of work.

For many workers, the after-hours experimentation is fueled as much by interest in the technology as by a desire to remain competitive. Meta and Microsoft have offered multimillion-dollar compensation packages to top AI talent even as both companies have laid off thousands of workers in recent years. Hiring for AI engineers on LinkedIn has surged since 2022, while hiring for many traditional engineering roles has remained flat or declined, according to data shared with Business Insider.

The new AI homework

In early 2025, Tanvi Pisal began to worry that AI could be coming for her job.

Pisal, then a product designer at an AI healthcare startup in San Jose, said a company leadership summit underscored how quickly AI was advancing, raising concerns that some UX and product design tasks could eventually be automated.

She decided to start expanding her AI skills and exploring other opportunities, but last October, she was laid off. An email accompanying the cuts said they were tied to the company's rapid adoption of AI.

Today, Pisal, now a UX design contractor for a Big Tech company, spends 10 to 15 hours a week outside work learning about AI, including experimenting with tools and attending workshops. She has also spent hundreds of dollars on AI tools and workshops, including subscriptions to ChatGPT and Claude.

"If I don't spend a few hours over the weekend catching up on updates, experimenting with tools, or reading about what's new, I start falling behind," said Pisal, who's 29 and lives in San Jose.

While some workers point to gaps in AI training, others said time is the bigger constraint. Despite using AI extensively on the job, many said their day-to-day responsibilities leave limited time to explore the growing number of AI tools and models. The challenge isn't just keeping up with the tools they need at work today, but understanding which ones may matter tomorrow.

Still, not all tech workers feel pressure to learn AI after hours.

Manoj Aggarwal, a lead engineer at a large software company, spends a couple of hours a week outside work experimenting with AI tools and about $60 a month on subscriptions. He said his employer provides access to many of the latest AI tools, allowing him to develop AI skills on the job. Much of his reading and experimentation happens after his young daughter falls asleep.

Udit Mehrotra, a head of product at Amazon, spends roughly five to seven hours a week outside work experimenting with AI. He said that last December, he built 10 apps in about a month, working evenings and weekends with Claude Code as his main assistant. In recent months, however, he's tried to approach the learning in a more sustainable way.

"I've come to think of this less like a sprint and more like a marathon," said Mehrotra, who's in his 30s and lives in Seattle.

An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement that the company provides employees with AI training and learning resources, including an internal hub that helps workers identify AI tools relevant to their work. The spokesperson said Amazon encourages employees to experiment with AI as part of their day-to-day work.

For some, the pace of change in the industry has made something closer to a sprint feel like the best option.

Abhinav Bohra, a senior applied scientist at Amazon based in Seattle, spends roughly eight to 12 hours a week outside work keeping up with AI. He said he spent about $3,000 over the past year on AI tools, conference fees, and professional memberships.

"Continuous learning has quietly become part of the job, even when it happens outside the job," said the 32-year-old.

Much of Bohra's AI learning happens on evenings and weekends because his workday is consumed by meetings and deliverables. The result, he said, is a "learning tax" that blurs the line between professional development and personal time.

"The concern isn't that one AI tool will replace me overnight," he said. "The bigger concern is becoming technically stale in a field where the baseline is constantly moving."

Do you have a story to share about how you're navigating a career crossroads? If so, please reach out to the reporter via email at jzinkula@businessinsider.com, or via Signal at jzinkula.29.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

FIRE's pros and cons

Financial independence doesn't have to come at the expense of enjoying life.

My colleague Kathleen Elkins has for years covered the FIRE lifestyle, short for financial independence, retire early. It's a world traditionally defined by people who aggressively save and invest, building nest eggs large enough to escape the 9-to-5 grind decades ahead of schedule.

Now, she's found that a new wave of young investors is adopting a much more chill alternative to FIRE. Instead of relentless hoarding, they're front-loading their retirement accounts early, then easing off once their portfolios are on track. The logic is to work enough to cover current expenses and let investment gains compound in the background.

Kathleen recently spoke to 30-year-old Cody Berman, whose income quadrupled in three years while his spending stood still. He broke down the two levers and the simple formula he says he used to hit financial independence before his 26th birthday.

There's also the story of a 24-year-old Meta software engineer who makes over $300,000 a year and doesn't own a car, couch, or TV. (He plans to retire around age 30.)

Personally, I find the FIRE movement both fascinating and baffling. It's easy to declare financial independence in a roaring bull market when one's net worth only goes higher.

It's a lot harder to preach that gospel during a brutal bear market, like the 2008 financial crisis, when stocks plummeted and unemployment soared.

Another thing to consider: the potential for loneliness. Most people aren't FIRE fanatics. Being one of the few who retire early and are untethered to a job or income stream can lead to anxiety and a lack of purpose in life.

Count financial influencer Mrs. Dow Jones — whose real name is Haley Sacks — as a FIRE skeptic.

In a recent Live Q&A with Business Insider, she pushed back against the movement, saying extreme frugality does more harm than good and scares everyday people from investing entirely.

"You know, I beef with them," Sacks told my colleague Dan DeFrancesco of the FIRE followers. "I basically look at FIRE as like financial anorexia, where you're being so extreme, it's so much deprivation."

Where do you stand? Is retiring decades earlier than usual a brilliant life hack? I'd love to hear what you think at srussolillo@businessinsider.com.

• Exercise is one of the best longevity tools we have, and most of us don't get enough of it.
• A doctor said doing a few minutes of daily exercises like squats and push-ups can have big benefits.
• He shared his full-body workout routine for a longer life in less than 30 minutes a day.

Dr. Christopher Sciamanna hates to exercise.

That's why he's focused his career on making workouts less "soul-sucking," according to his bio on X, helping people do the least while reaping the most benefits for a long, healthy life.

The minimal effect dose of exercise might be as little as 4 minutes a day to build the strength and resilience we need for better longevity, according to his latest research.

A professor of medicine at Penn State, Sciamanna told Business Insider that every second of activity counts.

"From a health perspective, the real goal is taking people from zero to one, to a little bit," he said. "What we've learned is that people who need exercise the most are not going to consider 45 minutes."

At 59 years old, Sciamanna said the work has also inspired him to simplify his own exercise routine, offering key takeaways on how to make the most gains in the shortest workouts possible.

4-minute workouts, big benefits

You don't need to spend an hour a day in the gym for a longer, healthier life, Sciamanna said.

Two hours a week of strength training is enough to build strength and muscle, experts previously told Business Insider, and to improve longevity, according to recent research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Sciamanna published a study of his own that adds to the trove of evidence supporting short bursts of exercise. He wanted to see whether his patients, aged 65 and older, could get away with even less, doing a daily series of simple at-home exercises for 30 seconds each.

The full workout, totaling 4 minutes, included push-ups, squats, stair-stepping, and resistance-band rows, with 30 seconds of rest between movements. Participants could modify the exercises as needed, doing wall push-ups or chair squats, and gradually working up to more challenging variations.

After 12 weeks, the participants, who had trouble walking at the start of the study, saw significant improvements in their ability to stand up and to balance on one leg.

These factors are known as mediators — metrics that predict people's ability to get around, which in turn, have been strongly linked to healthier aging and lower mortality rates.

The study, the results of which were published in the journal PLOS One, was in part inspired by Sciamanna's parents.

"I had this kind of epiphany that if my parents had done just a set of push-ups and a set of squats every day, they probably would've been able to maintain their mobility and independence," he said.

More research is needed on the long-term and longevity benefits of Sciamanna's quick-results protocol (known as FAST: Functional Activity Strength Training), he said. But previous evidence shows that minute-long sets of strength exercises, such as wall sits, translate into protective benefits, including lower blood pressure.

Crucially, Sciamanna said the short workouts worked because people could stick to them, building confidence over time rather than feeling intimidated and dropping out.

"The specter of failure and how that will feel to you is really demotivating, " he said. We get people to try hard. Psychologically, it works great because humans love the feeling of making progress."

A doctor's longevity workout

While Sciamanna's most recent study focused on people over 65, it offers insights for younger people too: consistently challenging your body with short, challenging exercises can make you stronger and healthier.

He uses the same idea for his own gym sessions: doing one hard set of each exercise so he's in and out in less than half an hour, twice a week.

"One of the most important pieces of this is that one set is all you need. A couple of times a week, a single set and you'll get 80% of the strength," Sciamanna said. "Your first dose is really where you get all the benefit."

There's extensive research to back him up, showing that the majority of benefits in the gym come from the first few sets of exercise. Sure, you'll build more muscle and strength with more sets, but there are diminishing returns — the longer you work out, the less additional benefit you'll gain from each extra set.

The catch is that each set needs to be hard, and you need to increase the challenge over time, a principle known as progressive overload.

To save more time, Sciamanna's go-to exercises are compound movements like chest presses, pull-ups, and farmer carries that work multiple muscle groups at once.

But longevity isn't just about building strength.

Sciamannas said he particularly loves box jumps because they help improve multiple fitness markers for healthy aging, like agility, speed, and balance. As a bonus, they help him stay fit enough to enjoy sports like racquetball, pickleball, and keeping up with his 25-year-old son.

"I think speed is really the next frontier of this work because aging is a loss of speed problem. So move quick," Sciamanna said.

• Americans' swelling household debt is a warning, SocGen says.
• The bank said US consumers are borrowing more but saving less as a result of the wealth effect.
• That means a big chunk of economic activity is vulnerable to swings in the market, strategist Albert Edwards says.

America's swelling debt pile bodes ill for the the US economy, Société Générale said.

In a recent note to clients, the European Bank flagged a concerning trend that's taken hold in the US in recent years: the rise in household debt and the concurrent decline in household savings.

Total liabilities among US households swelled to a record $19.9 trillion at the end of the first quarter, according to Fed data, a sign that Americans are continuing to borrow and fund their spending.

Yet, the personal savings rate is hovering near a record low, shrinking to 2.6% in April, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The trend might be the result of the so-called wealth effect, a phenomenon where Americans spend more because they feel wealthier as the price of assets like stocks and real estate rise, Albert Edwards, a SocGen strategist and famed market permabear, said.

The market has soared amid the unrelenting enthusiasm for AI, with the tech trade making a red-hot comeback after stumbling earlier this year.

The problem is that, if one assumes consumers are shelling out more due to their rising wealth on paper, economic growth is increasingly exposed to the AI trade. Consumer spending makes up around 70% of US GDP, according to one analysis from the Boston Fed last year.

Measures of household income growth, meanwhile, have started to fall. Personal income excluding transfers contracted $16.5 trillion in April, down around $200 billion from its peak in 2025.

"The US consumer currently resembles the Wile E. Coyote character, running off the cliff and suspended in thin air briefly, before collapsing," Edwards said, referring to the potential for consumer spending to see a sharp drop if Americans were motivated to save more, such as if stock prices were to take a beating.

"It doesn't take a Fed PhD economist to tell us that if the US saving ratio (SR) stops falling, consumer spending will grow in line with income, which is falling. And woe betide the economy if the SR actually rises back to more normal levels," he added.

Edwards also pointed to the declining efficiency of debt to boost economic growth. The credit intensity of GDP — a measure of how much debt is needed to boost GDP growth by a set unit — rose to 3.73 last year, the most debt needed to fuel growth in at least the last 70 years, according to an analysis from Bespoke Investment.

"This makes the economy all the more vulnerable should investors doubt the pot of gold at the end of the AI rainbow. Watch this debt-laden space," Edwards added.

• Hany Farid started studying digital forensics in 1999 when the field barely existed.
• Farid said detecting AI has become nearly impossible for ordinary people to identify by sight alone.
• What scares him most is that people are no longer disagreeing over ideas but over what's real.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Hany Farid, a digital forensics expert and former professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Farid also co-founded GetReal, a digital forensics and cybersecurity startup. It has been edited for length and clarity.

The average person on the internet today cannot tell whether an image, video, or audio recording on their feed is real or not.

We've done perceptual studies of this. The human visual and auditory systems are simply not good enough to do this task reliably.

That doesn't mean we can't tell. We have computational and mathematical tools. You give us a piece of content and a little bit of time? Yeah, we'll figure it out.

But there is a big difference between what we do at GetReal, a digital forensics startup I co-founded, and what the average person doomscrolling on social media is capable of.

I started studying digital forensics when the field barely existed

I started my academic career at Dartmouth College in 1999.

It's hard to remember '99. We lived in a largely analog world. We were still taking photographs on film. Digital cameras were emerging. The internet was emerging, but it was barely anything. Social media didn't really exist.

Nobody knew where this was going. I started thinking about digital evidence that is inherently malleable in the courts of law. At the time, nobody thought this was a problem, and they were right. I thought it might become one because the digital revolution was unlikely to stop. So we started this very bespoke, niche, tiny, weird field called digital forensics — just me and a bunch of great grad students at Dartmouth writing papers. Everybody was like, "This is cool, but what does this have to do with anything?"

Then digital took off. Citizen journalists emerged. We started seeing The Associated Press and Reuters say, "Hey, how do we know that this photo that somebody submitted to us is real?"

Over the years, the problem expanded from hearing from media outlets and courts of law once a month and national security once a year to every day.

Suddenly, our whole world is upside down.

In the early days, fake images often left clues behind

At the beginning of my field, I was mostly thinking about photographs. Video was very hard to manipulate. It's 24 to 30 frames a second and has an audio track. Images were easier to manipulate using tools like Photoshop.

The good news was that manipulation still required skill. So you'd find mistakes. You'd find artifacts. Shadows that were misaligned, geometry that was wrong, and sizes were wrong. Sometimes you had metadata that said a photo was edited in Photoshop.

Today, you don't need skill. You don't need time. You don't need anything. You just need a keyboard and an internet connection. You can type, "Do this to this image or audio or video," and AI takes over and can do remarkable things — things that were unimaginable five to 10 years ago.

AI-generated content is becoming visually indistinguishable

With any technology, you don't look at where the puck is. You look at where the puck's going.

We knew we'd reach a point where the content would be visually indistinguishable — not necessarily computationally indistinguishable, but visually.

Images were probably the first to pass through the uncanny valley. Voice was next, with the inflection, the laughing, and the pauses.

Video is moving through the uncanny valley now. If someone gives me a 30-minute HD video, it's probably not AI. But if it's 15 to 30 seconds — the typical video you see online — it's hard to tell from visual cues alone. For now.

AI-generated videos used to be about four seconds. Now, there are some getting to 30 or 40 seconds by stitching them together.

The content will get better. It's going to get cheaper and easier to use. And it's going to become ubiquitous.

We can investigate fakes, but the internet moves faster

Generative AI doesn't know anything about the 3D world. It doesn't know about physics and shadows. I say "know" with air quotes.

AI can generate things that, to the human brain, are quite good. But the physics of it are subtly wrong.

As long as you do something that is physically implausible, we have a signal that we can detect.

Sometimes, finding a fake can be really fast and relatively easy. Once you find something wrong, you're sort of done.

The flip side — authenticating something — is much harder. You run test after test, and you don't find anything wrong. Does that mean it's real? Not really. It means you didn't find anything.

On average, the work can take about an hour. But an hour is a long time on the internet. That's essentially an eternity.

Usually, we'll get a call about something, and there's already a million views on it. We'll work on it, talk to a reporter, and they'll do the report. Now there are 10 million views.

We're a little bit of a postmortem in that regard. The fact checks come after the fact.

What scares me most is that we're losing our shared sense of reality

The stakes and consequences of being wrong are getting higher. You're putting people in jail. You're making geopolitical decisions. You're reporting what is happening in the world to try to inform eight billion people. You've got to get it right.

What scares me most is that we, as a society, are losing our shared sense of reality.

We're not arguing about what the tax rate should be, what the role of government is, what the role of foreign policy is, or other things we can and should disagree about.

We are arguing about whether two plus two is four. I say two plus two is four, and the other person says, "No, it's not. It's applesauce."

That's the tenor of the conversation.

I'm not sure how you can have a stable democracy without a shared sense of reality. We can disagree. That's OK. Disagreement is good. We can't say, "This happened," and have the other say, "No, it didn't."

That can't be how we have a society.

• Rivian's all-important R2 electric SUV launched on June 9.
• BI spoke with early-adopting customers to get a clear picture of the car's expected rollout.
• The SUV could help Rivian transform from a punchy EV startup to a volume-selling car brand.

Rivian's future may ride on a five-seat SUV with animatronic-looking headlights.

The R2 — Rivian's new midsize SUV that launched to customers on June 9 — hits the sweet spot on paper: It (eventually) starts at $44,990, delivers around 300 miles of range across trims, and competes in America's best-selling new-vehicle segment: midsize SUVs.

That makes it super important for Rivian.

If it works, Rivian could join Tesla in the tiny club of modern American automaker startups that have reached sustained profitability. If it doesn't, it risks joining the gigantic graveyard of we-tried-and-burned-through-lots-of-cash EV startups (we're looking at you, Fisker, Canoo, Lordstown, Nikola, Bollinger, et al.).

Business Insider reviewed customer communications and spoke with early R2 buyers to map when customers can place their orders in detail, including trims and drivetrain options, paint colors, interiors, wheels, and future self-driving hardware.

Here's what we found:

You may see these R2s on the road today

The first R2s to reach customers are the $57,990 Performance models with the Launch Package. Several have been spotted on the road (and their pictures subsequently been posted on social media) across the US.

Those vehicles are available to order in six exterior colors: Esker Silver, Glacier White, Midnight, Catalina Cove, Half-Moon Grey, and Launch Green. The 20- and 21-inch wheels are also available.

The only available interior color is Black Crater.

Customers speaking to Business Insider have reported lease prices ranging from $829 to just over $1,000 a month. Delivery estimates have ranged from three to 12 weeks.

And in the future, you can order…

First, a new, differently colored batch of R2 Performance options is expected to become available for order later this year.

Forest Green exterior paint and the Coastal Cloud Signature interior are expected in August 2026, while a purple Borealis exterior paint (shown above) is expected in September 2026.

Then, there will be new trims and powertrain options. The $53,990 Premium trim is expected in late 2026, while the initial Standard trim options are expected in spring of 2027.

Finally, several drivetrain configurations are arriving on different schedules. Rear-wheel-drive Long Range and all-wheel-drive Long Range versions are expected in spring 2027.

The lowest-cost, $44,990 rear-wheel-drive Standard trim is expected in summer 2027.

Rivian also expects to offer a lidar configuration in late 2026, which will help steer its self-driving ambitions, the company said.

Rivian's Model 3 moment

Seth Goldstein, an auto industry analyst at Morningstar, told Business Insider he expects the R2 could be popular enough to help America get out of its EV sales slump.

John Rosevear, a contributing analyst at The Motley Fool, is also bullish on the R2, telling Business Insider that he estimates Rivian could start turning a profit in four to six quarters of R2 sales.

For many analysts, the R2's launch reminds them of Tesla's Model 3 moment. Before the launch of the sub-$50,000 EV sedan in 2017, Elon Musk's startup relied entirely on sales of premium products — the Model X, Model S, and Roadster. The Model 3 bridged the gap between EV tech optimism and reasonable affordability.

Rivian could follow the same trajectory if all goes well. CEO RJ Scaringe has said he understands the stakes.

"The launch of R2 really ignites the business," Scaringe said during a podcast interview in October. "You need a certain level of scale, which R2 brings for us."

• Amazon launched Prime Day to get more shoppers to sign up for its Prime membership.
• Now, almost everyone who wants to be a Prime member already is.
• That's changing the kinds of deals you can expect to see during this year's Prime Day.

Amazon Prime Day has served its purpose well — perhaps a little too well.

Amazon launched Prime Day to get more people to pay for its membership, which includes benefits like free shipping and streaming TV shows.

On the eve of Prime Day 2026, though, it may have almost maxed out the addressable market for Prime, said Sky Canaves, a principal analyst for retail and e-commerce at EMARKETER, a sibling company of Business Insider.

Over 86% of online shoppers are already Prime members, according to EMARKETER. "There just isn't much growth to capture," Canaves said.

The retailer first held the shopping holiday in 2015. The company drew inspiration from Alibaba's November Singles Day sale in China. Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and the CEO at the time, signed off on Prime Day as a strategy "to try to add new members to Prime," according to the book "Amazon Unbound" by Brad Stone.

Back then, about 40 million US consumers had Prime memberships, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. Some 10 years later, that number stood at 200 million.

This year's four-day Prime event will last from June 23 to June 26 — earlier than most other Prime Days, which have taken place in July.

As it approaches peak Prime membership, Amazon appears to be rethinking its Prime Day strategy, Canaves said. Namely, it's trying to get the Prime members it already has to order more.

This year, Amazon is using Prime Day to promote groceries and other essential products. Its preview of Prime Day deals includes hot dogs, Celsius energy drinks, and Korean beauty label Mamonde.

Those items tend to sell for less — and tend to be less profitable for Amazon — than electronics and other more expensive items that dominated Prime Day in its early years. They also function as a loss leader, however, getting customers to visit Amazon more frequently.

"Amazon is trying to capture more grocery sales in order to then sell more to its customers," Canaves said.

It has plenty of competition. Retailers from Target to Lowe's have created rival sales that, like Prime Day, boost sales during an otherwise slow time of year.

Almost 60% of Prime members who plan to shop on Prime Day also said that they plan to check Walmart's rival sale for deals this year, according to a survey of 1,000 consumers in April conducted by marketing agency Tinuiti.

Walmart also has its own paid membership, Walmart+, and has been adding delivery perks spanning restaurant meals and last-minute grocery orders.

Those offerings put it in competition with Amazon on Prime Day.

"A real battleground for them is on the grocery side and the delivery side," Canaves said.

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• For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions.
• This week, a reader wants to quit her job to homeschool her children, but her husband disagrees.
• Our columnist suggests remembering their shared values and making her case while giving him space to do so too.

Dear For Love & Money,

I want to be a stay-at-home mom, but my husband says we can't afford it. I disagree. He makes well into the six figures, and our home and cars are all paid off. I make a fraction of what he makes. He's never come out and said it, but when we've talked about it, he seems like he doesn't think he should have to pay my way for things (e.g., fun money, retirement, etc.)

We have five kids between the ages of seven and 16, so I wouldn't really be offsetting a ton of childcare expenses. My real desire is to homeschool the youngest three. My husband agrees with my reasons for wanting to do this, but as far as the money is concerned, he doesn't see why we should pay for it by having me quit my job when public school is free.

Our values feel like they've diverged so much in recent years. I don't want to leave him, but I also don't want the same life he wants anymore. What do I do?

Sincerely,

Aspiring Homeschool Mom

Dear Aspiring Homeschool Mom,

Between the horror stories on Facebook about what happens in the bathroom of your average public middle school and the linen-clad homeschool mamas on TikTok sharing their kids' creek-side adventures, I get how the thought of schooling your children in the safety of your own home would be far more appealing than putting them on the school bus each morning. And that's especially so when said homeschool mamas are captioning their daily forest explorations with sanctimonious guiltmongering captions like, "Imagine dropping your kids off at school to go work for a company that won't send flowers to your funeral, and missing out on moments like this."

If you carry the average mom's panicked nostalgia over every passing second of your child's fleeting childhood, and you're creative and disciplined enough to know you can do it, it makes total sense that you want to homeschool. I myself think this way at times, and if you knew my story, you'd realize how shocking an admission that is.

You see, I was homeschooled from kindergarten through my senior year in high school. I didn't love it. Even before my future children existed as twinkles in my eye, I was already swearing up and down to anyone who would listen that they would attend public school someday — and that's exactly what I did.

And yet, 15 years into actual motherhood, I sometimes waver. I'll hear the stories of what happened at school, and look at my schedule and think, Could I make this work?

The truth is, though, no, I probably couldn't. And even if I could, homeschooling wouldn't be the perfect solution to the ills of the public school system; I have an entire diploma printed off my mom's Windows 98 to prove it. In the same way, public school hasn't turned out according to my adolescent fantasies.

I don't say this to talk you out of wanting what you want and valuing the things that have interested you in homeschooling; I say it as a reminder that no dream, no solution, no plan, is perfect. While homeschooling would perhaps allow you to sleep in and wrap up the school day whenever you were good and ready, it also requires a parent to be all the things public schools have to offer — not just the teacher, but also the PE coach, the career counselor, and the social coordinator, on top of maintaining all the usual responsibilities that come with raising children.

Then, of course, there's the money piece, which is your husband's argument. This is what makes personal finance such a fascinating, complicated, and sensitive topic — how we spend our money is a direct reflection of our values. For you, that means giving up tens of thousands of dollars a year to give your children what you consider the best possible education. I can imagine the frustration and perhaps even judgment you may feel when your husband says (or implies) that the money should actually go toward allowing him not to carry the financial load alone.

You mentioned not wanting to leave your husband over this, which implies that you've considered it as a possibility. A quick reminder, for whatever it's worth — aside from remarriage, which is too variable to factor into the equation — leaving your husband would prevent you from becoming the homeschool mom you aspire to be.

In my view, though, the dealbreaker you're tacitly referring to seems to have less to do with homeschooling specifically and more to do with what you see as a difference in your values. I want to challenge this idea, however, that your values have diverged.

In your letter, you said that your husband agrees with your reasons for wanting to homeschool. That tells me that you still share that value; you're simply keener to act on it than he is. This means you have plenty of reason to hope and continue talking to your husband about it and making your case.

Dropping an entire income, no matter how small its contribution to your overall net worth, is a big decision. You've been sending your children to pubic school for over a decade, and switching at this late stage is another monumental choice. Your husband is reluctant to take such a significant leap. As frustrating as this may feel, given that you have already made the mental decision yourself, you have to understand your husband's hesitation. At the same time, you also have every right to want what you want for your shared life. So, fight for it.

Talk about it. Do your homework, put together a pitch deck, and break down the finances in a color-coded spreadsheet. In your letter, you mentioned that "he's never come out and said" what meaning your income holds for him, so ask him. Give him space to articulate his reservations and concerns. Maybe he'll have a point, or maybe he'll recognize that you do. The important thing is to talk about it.

You share five kids, one of whom is 16. In just a couple of years, you'll have brought a whole child to graduation. Believe in your ability to do it four more times, together.

Rooting for you,

For Love & Money

Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.

• The stock market is heading for a critical stretch of the year.
• Citadel Securities' top strategist flagged three things for investor to watch.

The final stretch of June is one of the most significant periods of the year for the stock market, Citadel Securities said.

The firm's head of equity and equity derivatives, Scott Rubner, outlined three things to watch during what's set to be a busy time heading heading toward the end of the month: retail trading, technical reset factors, and seasonality.

"Together, these factors reinforce our view that the path of least resistance remains higher as markets transition into the second half of the year," Rubner wrote.

"Markets are entering one of the most technically important periods of the year," the top strategist said.

Here are the three themes Citadel Securities is watching:

Retail trading holds strong

SpaceX's historic IPO showcased retail trading activity is strong and their appetite for stocks shows little sign of waning.

"Retail activity remains one of the strongest sources of demand in today's market," Rubner said, noting that Citadel Securities, which executes about 35% of all US retail-trading volume, has seen the highest level of retail participation on record.

Citadel Securities reported that nine out of the 10 largest retail trading days on its platform happened in the last month. The day of SpaceX's IPO was the largest day of retail buying in the firm's books, passing the previous record by 50%.

Beyond the growing scale, retail trading activity is looking more like institutional holdings.

"Rather than only chasing speculative corners of the market, retail investors are increasingly concentrated in the same companies driving benchmark returns and institutional positioning."

A major technical reset

The end of June marks the end of the month, the second quarter, and the first half of 2026. Citadel Securities said this means it's likely that market mechanics will be fueling moves rather than flows.

"Investors are navigating the largest options expiration in history, major index rebalances, quarter-end pension flows, and the start of a new allocation cycle," the strategist explained. "Taken together, these events represent one of the most significant periods of technical repositioning on the calendar."

This technical reset is especially impactful as increased ETF flows sends capital into passive vehicles based on concentrated index benchmarks.

Quadruple witching

Friday marked a quadruple witching in the largest options expiration event in history with approximately $8.3 trillion in US options exposure expiring

"The event will clear a substantial amount of gamma from the market, resetting positioning and increasing sensitivity to flows as investors rebuild exposures into month-end," Rubner outlined.

Month-end rebalancing

Many pension funds do quarterly rebalancing and the top 100 US pension funds are at their higher funding level since 2001.

This means that funds may be selling stocks and buying fixed income into the end of the month which could fuel temporary equity weakness, Citadel Securities said.

New allocation cycle

July 1 kicks off the start of a new allocation cycle unlocking fresh capital from retirement contributions, target-date funds, passive allocations, mutual fund inflows, and systematic strategies.

"As one of the largest pools of assets in the world resets portfolios for a new quarter and a new half of the year, market leadership can increasingly be driven by the destination of those flows," the strategist wrote.

Seasonal support

The calendar will soon be working in investors' favor. Historically, the first half of July is one of the strongest seasonal periods for stocks.

"Historically, July has been one of the strongest months of the year for US equities, as fresh capital is deployed, positioning is rebuilt, and several of the market's largest sources of demand re-engage," Citadel Securities said.

"The S&P 500 has finished higher in each of the last 11 Julys, while the Nasdaq 100 has advanced in 17 of the last 18 years," Citadel Securities reported.

"The S&P 500 has finished higher in each of the last 11 Julys, while the Nasdaq 100 has advanced in 17 of the last 18 years."

Historic retail investor activity also supports strong stock performance with July being the second most active month for retail traders.

• Michelle Keller was laid off in April 2025 from a company she'd worked at for 20 years.
• She applied to dozens of jobs online with no success until a friend told her that her company was hiring.
• Keller likens looking for a job to the dating market and encourages others to be vocal about their job search.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michelle Keller, a 59-year-old in Georgia who was laid off from her voice engineer job in 2025. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I lost my job after 20 years at the same company. I wouldn't have left if not for being laid off in April 2025.

I wasn't that sad that it was over. My father, who has Alzheimer's, had been living with my family for the past few years, so we saw the job change as a chance for me to slow down and focus on his caregiving.

However, I was still applying to jobs. I tried changing my résumé and removing things to make myself look younger, but I still wasn't getting interviews.

I had my first — and only — job offer as a billing clerk in March, after applying to dozens. It wasn't through any websites or job-search services; it was through the good ol' friends network.

I got the job through a friend

I thought I'd get something within the first month or two after being laid off. Then, when month three came and went, I decided to let my social networks know I was looking for a job.

A few months ago, in February, a friend on my tennis team told me that the small commercial insurance agency she worked at was hiring, so I talked to the HR person.

Despite my friend telling me there was an opening, it didn't boost my confidence. I still went into the interview nervous, but I got the job.

The salary was a little less than half what I was previously making, but I didn't care because at that point, it had been almost a year of not making any money.

I was interested in anything — I just wanted to be useful again and to get out of the house. The toll of being at home and taking care of my father was hard. It's one thing when you're raising your children — you know the value, and you see the learning — but with the thankless job of caring for a parent, it wears on you.

Once I got the new job, I needed a caregiver to help with my dad

It's a hybrid role, so I'm only gone two days a week — Tuesdays and Thursdays. I work from home the rest of the week.

I spent a couple of weeks researching assisted living, so I could get my dad out of the house. With him at home, I can't ever be away for the night. However, those options were too expensive.

My sister posted on Facebook looking for someone to take care of our father, and I did about four or five phone interviews.

Before I started my new role, I did a dry run, so my father would get to know her before I was totally gone. She came in the morning on Tuesdays and Thursdays for just a few hours while I tried out my commute to work or ran some errands.

We think about the cost of the care, but it's hard to put a price on my mental health

My son's and husband's schedules allow them to go home before 5 p.m., so it's usually not more than a seven-hour day. That's a godsend.

The arrangement has been working out. I don't want to give it up, but we have to be careful about keeping that balance between how much care costs versus how much I'm getting paid.

We're going to work on tweaking it; nothing's final or permanent. If this isn't working out, then we'll try something else.

It's hard to put a price on my mental health and my ability to get out of the house two days a week. I get to drive 45 minutes to the office, and the drive is like something out of a Hallmark movie. It's in the downtown area, where you can hear the church bells ring, and sometimes you hear a train. It's pretty magical.

My husband, who was previously working part-time, is working full time again, making the same amount as I do. Together, the two of us are making almost as much as I was making before. That's probably the biggest Band-Aid.

And I'll be 59½ in the fall, so I'll be able to start taking out my 401(k) money without penalty — not that I would want to have to pay my mortgage with it, but it's there.

I would equate finding a job to the dating market

Your best bets are the people you know in your circle. If you're young and just finishing school, get to know your parents' circle because those are the people who have the jobs.

It's kind of like dating; some people use websites, while others go out to bars or networking functions to meet people.

In every facet of your life, you meet people for a reason — whether it's a chess club, a tennis match, a dinner, or a church function.

The more you talk about being unemployed and the more you let people know, the better off your mental stability is. Your friends and family want to support you, but they don't want to ask you every week or every month, and people do sometimes forget.

It's hard after six months or so to continually say, "I still don't have a job," but you have to keep repeating it.

• Former Nvidia leaders are writing their next chapter with EverGreen.
• Spun out of an alumni group, the network of ex-Nvidians advises and invests in AI startups.
• While EverGreen isn't affiliated with Nvidia, it got the green light from top executives.

When Greg Estes retired last year after nearly 16 years at Nvidia to spend more time with his family, walking away from work proved trickier than expected.

"It's really hard to go from a job like that, doing amazing things, and you just stop, and you're unemployed, looking at avocados at Safeway," said Estes, who worked closely with CEO Jensen Huang as vice president of corporate marketing and developer programs.

Now, he's writing his next chapter at EverGreen — a community of former Nvidia employees that advises and invests in AI startups, which formally launched in March.

Estes previously led Nvidia's Inception startup program, which provides more than 40,000 companies with cloud credits and access to Nvidia technology. He said EverGreen enables him to stay tethered to the startup ecosystem he spent so many years cultivating.

The community's founding partners also include former Nvidia product leaders Devang Sachdev and Vishal Lulla, and former general manager Jeff Brown, who left the company years before the AI boom to focus on startup advisory and venture investing. EverGreen comprises a team of strategic advisors and hundreds of active investors, Brown said, and the partners are building it alongside their other professional pursuits.

The network is named for the fact that many former employees are still "bleeding green" long after they leave, Brown said.

EverGreen provides a network for ex-Nvidia employees

EverGreen spun out of a broader Nvidia alumni community that spans LinkedIn groups, email lists, and live events — and has grown to roughly 30,000 members, Brown said.

Similar communities have emerged around other tech giants, including Google's Xoogler Community and the Microsoft Alumni Network.

Within the network, a subset began discussing how they could pay forward their knowledge to the next generation of AI founders.

"It's the ability to give back but also to invest — to put your own money to work," Brown said.

EverGreen focuses on companies that work with Nvidia and are not direct competitors, across sectors such as infrastructure, developer tools, and robotics.

So far, it's invested in security startup Protopia AI, cofounded by former Nvidia researcher Eiman Ebrahimi, and orbital computing company Sophia Space, which got a shoutout during Huang's GTC keynote in March.

Investment is only part of EverGreen's pitch.

"The value of EverGreen is the network. It's not our money," Estes said.

To this end, the group hosts startup showcases and facilitates one-on-one mentorship. And unlike a traditional venture capital fund, EverGreen does not manage a single pool of funds; instead, it evaluates startups on a case-by-case basis and then invites members to invest.

Many Nvidia employees choose to stay

Founders don't have to be Nvidia alums to join, though that was an early goal, Estes said.

"There's not that many of them," he said, adding that Nvidia employees tend not to leave.

He also pushed back against the idea that Nvidia employees are retiring early after striking it rich. Many, including billionaires on the CEO's executive staff, are financially secure enough to retire but stay on because they enjoy the work.

"Jensen is somebody that you can learn from, no matter how many years you have," he said of the CEO.

While EverGreen is not affiliated with Nvidia, Estes said the two have a complementary relationship. And before joining, he said he met with senior leaders at the company and got the green light.

"If you're on the venture side within Nvidia, we're deal flow for you," Estes said of Nvidia's NVentures investment arm, adding that EverGreen also connects startups to the company.

"There was no success model if Nvidia didn't love the fact that we existed," he said.

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• Gerardo Aletti and Sofia Escarra grew from renting out one car on Turo to a fleet of over 60 cars.
• They said a background in transportation and speaking Spanish helped grow their business in Miami.
• The 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Miami have brought a surge in bookings.

Gerardo Aletti and Sofia Escarra, a married couple based in Miami, bought a Nissan Infiniti in 2020 with the plan to rent it out and see how it went.

If it worked out, great, the couple thought. If not, they figured they could sell the car.

Cut to six years later: the car-renting side gig has grown into a full-time, family-run business with 63 cars, earning the Venezuelan immigrants half a million dollars in 2025. They rent their cars exclusively on Turo, a car-sharing app, and have brought in several other family members to run the operation, including their son, daughter, and niece.

"We enjoy the job. We enjoy the interaction with the guests," Aletti told Business Insider.

Their son, Fabrizio Aletti, said he never expected to work with his family but that it's been a "really awesome surprise."

"I had no idea we would grow so much in so few years," he said. "It's been a journey for sure."

They're among the many workers who have turned a side hustle into a full-time career. The couple said their previous experience working in the transportation industry and their ability to serve Spanish-speaking travelers helped them grow the business from an experimental side gig into a full-fledged car rental company.

Before and after immigrating, Aletti worked in transportation and has always been interested in cars and mechanics. Operating in Miami, the couple also leaned on their Spanish to communicate with travelers from Latin America, who they say make up 30% of their business.

Their Spanish has helped them with everything from airport pickup instructions to restaurant recommendations, and it's helped them capitalize on the boost in tourism from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has seven matches in Miami. Aletti said they've seen a surge in bookings in recent weeks related to the games, and that Turo making Spanish available in its app earlier this year has made it easier for travelers to find them.

Renting out a car was low-risk

The couple said they were drawn to the idea of trying Turo because it was relatively low risk. After the first car-rental experience worked out, they bought another, and then another. They had 15 cars by 2023, the same year they first rented a place to park and store the cars, as well as an office. Turo became their primary source of income by 2024.

Aletti said he relied on his industry background to continually evaluate which cars might be in demand in the markets they were targeting, including both the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports. After the luxury Infiniti, he tested smaller, fuel-efficient cars and then sedans and SUVs. When something worked, he'd get another and has consistently reinvested in their fleet.

Each member of the family handles a different aspect of the business, from tracking expenses and buying new cars to marketing and customer service. They leave the demanding logistics of managing their dozens of cars — from keeping track of which are at the airport, at the office, or need maintenance — to the "young people," Escarra said.

Fabrizio Aletti said that while they do some marketing on their own, the vast majority of their business comes from people finding their cars in the Turo app. "If we stopped marketing, we would still probably get a really good amount of business," he said.

Over thousands of trips, the family said they've largely had positive experiences with customers, but occasionally things go wrong. One time, Aletti said, they rented a Nissan Altima to two older men who he estimated were in their 70s or 80s, and when he opened the door afterward, the car reeked of marijuana.

Aletti said they have turned other people they know on to Turo and that he thinks it can be an "extremely profitable" business if done right. He says there are two things needed to succeed: knowing about cars and knowing about people.

"You have to know how to treat people," he said.

Tokenmaxxing became the buzzy AI word du jour this spring; as summer begins the trend is already running on empty. Amazon pulled its AI leaderboard after some employees made useless AI work to game the rankings. Palantir CEO Alex Karp likened tokenmaxxing to a porn addiction, and Duolingo walked back a decision to weigh AI use in employee performance reviews. Meta and AT&T have reportedly started curbing AI use as costs skyrocket.

The pressure to use AI for the sake of using AI has created AI sprawl: Workers employ new agents or vibecode solutions with myriad AI tools that prove difficult for companies to wrap their arms around. That means burning through expensive AI budgets to create duplicate work, while often failing to pass on best tips and tricks to coworkers and wasting time "botsitting," or, giving AI the necessary context and edits to make output usable. In a new survey of 6,000 digital workers in the US, UK, and Australia, from Glean's Work AI Institute, researchers found that 77% of those who use AI engage with multiple programs weekly, a third use four or more tools, and 60% will shuffle the same prompts between multiple tools when they don't find the first output sufficient. Individually, workers using AI say they save an average of 11 hours each week, but only 13% of those surveyed said these savings have "significantly improved" the company's performance.

"The pressure to signal innovation by mere AI awareness, knowledge, appetite, is so strong, and it's leading us astray," says Kate Niederhoffer, head of BetterUp Labs, the behavioral research center at the coaching and workforce development company. Big shifts in the workforce require answering big questions, she says, such as, "Why are we adopting these tools? What are we trying to accomplish here? And how do we communicate that in a really clear and compelling way so that it impacts everybody in a way that they'll use these tools to achieve those goals?" But few companies are answering "the big why" about AI.

Unraveling the imperative to use AI means more than taking down leaderboards or adjusting reviews to focus on tangible worker impact. The rhetoric around adopting AI — that you must maximize and master it or it will replace you, or someone better at using AI will replace you — has reinforced the urgency to pursue individualism. AI has the potential to boost collaboration and decentralize some skills, like coding or editing images. But so far much of the evidence suggests that instead of thriving during a shortened work week, AI maxxers have burned out, lost faith in their coworkers, and marooned themselves, working alone on islands.

Proteinmaxxing, looksmaxxing, Ozempicmaxxing, 9-9-6maxxing — in a post-pandemic era that praises gains at any cost, workers were primed workers to engage with tokenmaxxing. But the lack of a cohesive AI user manual has also led tools to spread willy-nilly across organizations. Individual workers aren't maxxing their way to efficiency. Companies need to tame the AI sprawl while guarding the chance for people to innovate.

Tech updates and new workflows typically come top-down: your company decides to use Zoom over Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 over Gmail. Employees receive logins for a suite of tools. But aside from some enterprise subscriptions to OpenAI or Anthropic, employees' AI use often operates in the shadows. OpenAI took steps this year to unify ChatGPT and Codex. People want to use apps made specifically for their roles, like coding or marketing or human resources; two people working in sales want to use AI differently, and might repeat prompts or tasks, burning through tokens to create near-duplicate reports or decks when they once would have collaborated with a coworker to get the job done.

Lee Senderov, chief transformation officer at Travelport, a retail platform for travel agencies, tells me she's seen AI sprawl take hold as people try to work the technology into their work. One worker burned through 160 times the amount of tokens that the next most prolific AI user did over a four-day period. When employees work in silos, pushed to use AI to do more, they might experiment with it alone, but end up duplicating the same work as a colleague. That's not cheap. "You've got hard costs, you're spending more money on tokens that you don't need to be spending, duplicative costs there," Senderov says. "But you also have duplicative soft costs of just, we're wasting effort and then, who's the expert that should be writing this?"

When people work alone with AI, they can dilute the outcomes, flattening the rewards of collaboration in favor of a quick solution. Herbert Simon, a Nobel prize winning researcher, saw this behavior decades before AI arrived. Individuals will choose the good enough solution instead of interrogating every possible option, which Simon referred to as "satisficing." "On an individual level we do that all the time," says Emily DeJeu, professor in Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. "The purpose of organizations is to bring together all of these people who satisfice and to try and get them to coordinate and work towards shared goals in ways that are, at scale, productive."

Layoffs of thousands of workers and pivots toward AI clash with this theory. Meta, which laid off 8,000 workers last month, plans to boost its spending on AI between 60% and 87% this year, following up on its "year of intensity," in which it began slashing jobs to move its focus. Mark Zuckerberg has said single individuals can now do work that once required entire teams, but that threatens to erode the larger fabric of what makes an institution or company work.

Instead, AI at work is heading for the fate of past innovation: the tragedy of the commons, says Rebecca Hinds, head of Glean's Work AI Institute. The theory goes like this: As individuals benefit from a shared resource, they use it near depletion, or, in AI's case, use it to boost their own stature and credibility at the risk of downgrading a whole team or project. "If we can have a tool that is going to boost our individual productivity, that's what we tend to reach for first," Hinds says. "The problem is this coordination neglect that happens when we don't consider the impact of our actions on the broader collective."

Ill-intentioned AI use can degrade trust. Past research from BetterUp found that when people produced workslop — AI-generated documents and powerpoints that lacked proper oversight — their coworkers began to trust them less. An overreliance on AI can disintegrate the communal aspects of work; people rely increasingly on chatbots to answer their questions and on gen AI to spit out work that previously may have needed a coworker's expertise.

But AI has also democratized innovation: marketers vibe code, agents can act like personal assistants, and startups do more with fewer hires. The trick becomes moving the benefits that individuals have eked out of AI and translating them into larger, team- and company-wide workflows. "How do you go from sprawl, which is unorganized and a little crazy, and how do you start to at least organize it a little bit so that we can get the most out of it?" Senderov says. She says her company is experimenting to try to centralize AI workflows. If they know two people are working on the same thing, they can encourage them to work together, and show the best use cases at the enterprise level. The larger a company is, the harder that centralization might be.

Senderov acknowledges everyone is still experimenting on the best ways to do this. But it's becoming clear there's no tokenmaxxing shortcut to get them there.

Amanda Hoover is a senior correspondent at Business Insider covering the tech industry. She writes about the biggest tech companies and trends.

• Dominic Imwalle said asking the right questions at the end of an interview can change the outcome.
• Imwalle said most job seekers ask generic questions or don't ask any at all.
• Here are two questions that could leave an impression and establish clear goals in an interview.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dominic Imwalle, the founder of DxConsulting, which focuses on one-on-one career coaching with professionals seeking $100K+ roles. Imwalle also runs a newsletter called "Conversations > Applications," which discusses how to create purposeful conversations for job opportunities. Imwalle was formerly a senior consultant at Deloitte.

I work with mid-career professionals, and there are two questions I encourage every job seeker to ask.

A lot of people who are five to 15 years into their careers feel stuck, lost, or trapped in what I call the application loop. They're sending applications into a black hole and hoping something sticks. That's why I'm constantly talking about having real conversations instead of just submitting applications.

One thing I believe strongly is that the questions you ask at the end of an interview can completely change the outcome. Even if you feel like you stumbled during the interview, you still have an opportunity to leave a strong impression. Most candidates either ask generic questions about culture or, worse, they don't ask anything at all.

These are the two questions that could set you apart and help you decide whether the company is the right fit.

Question 1: Ask about the next steps

This sounds simple, but asking about the next step in the recruitment process is one of the most useful questions you can ask.

Ideally, some of this information has already been covered by a recruiter. Even if it has, I encourage candidates to get more specific. Ask when the company is hoping to make a decision. Ask what business need is driving the hire.

Too many people leave an interview and spend days or weeks waiting for an update. If you understand the timeline, you can take action instead of sitting around wondering what happens next.

If the interviewer doesn't have all the answers, they can often give you useful context about where the process stands and what the team is trying to accomplish.

Question 2: Ask about experience gaps

I love this question because it forces an honest conversation.

I'll tell candidates to acknowledge that the company is probably talking to other people and then ask: What's the biggest gap between the experience you're seeing and what you actually need for this role?

It's a valuable question because it gives you information you can use immediately. It also helps reveal whether the company truly understands what it's looking for.

If an interviewer struggles to answer, that's sometimes a sign that the role hasn't been clearly defined, and you get to decide if that structure is right for you. When they do answer, you learn exactly what's most important to them and where you stand.

Very few candidates zoom back out and ask employers what they really need. Most people spend the entire interview talking about themselves. This question shifts the conversation.

And another thing: Don't fixate on Big Tech

One thing I'm seeing over and over again in today's market is that people are targeting a very small group of companies.

Candidates come to me and say they only want to work at companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, Palantir, Stripe, or Snowflake. Those are great companies, but they're also incredibly competitive.

The reality is that many people don't yet have the experience those organizations are looking for.

I encourage people to build a second-tier target list. There are thousands of companies outside the biggest names where you can gain valuable experience and eventually position yourself for those opportunities later.

Sometimes I meet candidates who have submitted thousands of applications without a clear strategy. Other times, I meet people who will only consider a handful of elite companies. The best approach is usually somewhere in the middle.

Sometimes, I tell job seekers to open Google Maps and see what companies are already around them. Practice your interview skills and ask the right questions, and you might find better opportunities — and a better quality of life — at companies that aren't making headlines every day.

• I'm raising young children while helping care for my father with Alzheimer's.
• My children are gaining independence as my father loses his.
• The experience has reshaped how I think about grief, memory, and family relationships.

In December 2018, my mom sent a group text to hop on a call. She was holding the results of my dad's test. He has asked my mom to deliver the news.

My dad, who spent his entire life showing up for other people, couldn't bring himself to deliver the news to his kids. His cognitive test came to 17 out of 30.

By November 2019, the results were official. I was living in Brooklyn, eight months pregnant with my first baby, standing in my kitchen with my husband making dinner, when we got the call. My dad had Alzheimer's.

He was 66 when he was diagnosed

My dad was a quiet man. Deeply humble. A highly respected otolaryngologist who built a free clinic for people without health insurance, traveled to Guatemala to build an orphanage and provide medical care for remote villages, and volunteered at the local homeless shelter. He did it all without fanfare.

He kept his emotions to himself, but he read and wrote constantly. Journals, notes, and margins filled with his thoughts. Writing was his private place to process the world. And exercise was his outlet for mental health. He had a place for everything. Told us we'd never lose something if we always put it back. I hear his voice every time I repeat it as I'm cleaning up with my kids.

He was healthy. And only six years into his early retirement, at age 66, he faced Alzheimer's.

My dad did so many great things quietly. And it wasn't until I sat down at his desk that I realized how much more there was about him I didn't know.

My dad is losing himself

Last Thanksgiving, we went back to my childhood home to clean it out before the sale. I asked my dad if he wanted to go through his desk together. He looked at a few papers and quietly walked away. So I sat down on the floor next to it.

A big white desk, neat the way he always kept everything. A corkboard covered in cards, phrases, and sayings. Trinkets from his hospital office. A whole life, carefully arranged.

I started opening folders. Each one had a very specific title: quotes, book ideas, Bible study, purpose of life, patient thank-yous. I read everything he wrote, underlined, circled, scribbled in the margins. I had become his memory holder, discovering him in a way I couldn't get from our conversations anymore. And there was so much more I wanted to learn about him.

My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when I was pregnant with my first child. Now I'm pregnant again with my third, raising two kids who are discovering themselves, while caring for a dad who is losing himself.

I am parenting in both directions

At dinner, I'm cutting up food for my 3-year-old, reminding him to sit and eat. Then turning to do the same for my dad.

I'm signing my kids up for school and setting up care for my dad.

Making sure everyone is safe, fed, and not left alone. Witnessing development and decline simultaneously. I feel like I need to be in two places at once, because sometimes life actually depends on it.

My dad no longer creates interactions naturally. So I curate them. I put toys on the table. I place Beckett next to Papa with a book. I cling to the five minutes they have together before someone loses interest.

When my dad colors with my 6-year-old, my mind flashes between the respected surgeon he was and the man struggling to stay within the lines. Violet looks up and asks why Papa colors like that. I tell her that's how creativity looks; everyone does it differently. Protecting my dad from shame and interpreting for my daughter.

My kids see his quirks as cute and funny, and I try to see them that way too. But when we are alone, they ask harder questions. Will you get old like Papa? Why does Papa put his knife in his water? I've become the translator of confusing behavior.

I'm stuck between beginnings and endings

Last summer at my childhood lake house, my parents could only stay a short while. When it was time to leave, our whole family stood in the driveway. We watched their car pull away. Just as my kids are starting to make memories there, I don't think my dad will ever come back. And as chapters are opening in my life, I am constantly closing others in his. Stretched between beginnings and endings.

Most days, I wear a facade, mourning privately while performing stability publicly. I don't want my dad to see me always sad. I want my kids to feel the joy of being together. So I hold it.

But one night after my parents left our house, I was putting the kids to bed, crying. Violet asked me why. I told her I was sad about Papa.

She looked at me and said, "Mom, let me tell you something. You have a heart, and Papa is going to look in there."

I hugged her a little tighter and whispered, "You're right."

My dad used to say relationships are everything. I'm making sure my kids know it too.

• I had worked for the same company for 12 years, but wasn't happy.
• I decided to give myself one year and a reasonable budget to take a chance on a new career.
• Today, I can say I successfully launched a new career in the travel industry.

At 38, I gave myself one year and £15,000 (nearly $20,000 USD at the time) to completely change my life. I told myself that if it didn't work, I'd go back to the life I had spent so long trying to leave.

At the time, I was a VP of Sales for a global wholesale business. I had spent the last 12 painstaking years working my way up the ladder, giving up evenings and weekends to pursue the next promotion. On paper, it looked like I was succeeding, but in reality, every rung broke my spirit a little more.

At the same time, my marriage was ending, and everything that once felt stable suddenly didn't. For the first time in years, I felt lost. I was at a crossroads of what I thought I should do and what I wanted to do.

I gave myself a deadline and a financial limit

When my house sold, I made a decision that felt both freeing and terrifying in equal measures. Instead of putting that money toward long-term security, I used part of it to "get my business going," which, if I'm being honest, turned into a travel fund.

I set myself a boundary: £15,000 (nearly $20,000 USD at the time) and 1 year. If my travel blog couldn't sustain me before the money ran out, I would return to the rat race.

At that point, my blog was only bringing in around £50 (around $68 USD) on a good month. Not nearly enough to support me. I remember refreshing my earnings dashboard, knowing the number wouldn't change. It wasn't a business. It was an idea.

The deadline may have given me focus, but it also put pressure on me.

As the money ran out, I prepared to walk away

At first, everything felt exciting. I was traveling across Africa, building something that felt more aligned with who I was, but I was still only creating free content. Excitement and free safari exchanges don't pay the bills.

As the months passed, the gap between what I was building and what actually worked grew harder to ignore. The blog wasn't generating meaningful income, and the money I had set aside was steadily disappearing.

To make matters worse, my blog, which had slowly been gaining traction, crashed quite exceptionally two months before my year was up. Everything I had dreamed of suddenly felt impossible.

I found myself scrolling job listings late at night, saving roles I didn't even want, just to prove to myself that I had a backup plan. Some were jobs I would have been proud of a year or so earlier. Now, they just felt like part of a life I was trying to leave behind.

Things started working when I was about to quit

I seriously considered giving up. I told myself that "at least I had tried." I wasn't ready to throw it all away just yet, though. I just needed a different plan. And so with the last remaining balance from the money I set aside, I invested in a new website.

That money could have allowed me to extend my arbitrary boundary of a year by a few extra months. But instead, I decided to go all in and give my business the leg up it needed if I genuinely wanted people to take me seriously.

The results weren't instant, but things did start to shift gradually. Work I had put in months earlier started to gain traction. My content began reaching the right people, and doors I had never even imagined started to open.

My first breakthrough came in June 2025 when I landed my first paid brand collaboration. It wasn't life-changing money, but it proved there was a market for what I was creating. A few months later, my Tanzania group tour sold out, and as my website traffic climbed, my affiliate income became meaningful rather than occasional.

It didn't feel like success. But it sure did feel like relief.

Over time, that momentum became something sustainable. What started as a blog evolved into a mix of content, tours, and consulting work within the travel industry.

My idea of security has changed

Some may think I was reckless. Sure, I used money that could have gone toward long-term stability without any guarantee it would work. But what I've realized is that the version of security I had before didn't actually feel secure. It was predictable, but it wasn't fulfilling.

Giving myself a defined window and a financial limit forced me to commit fully in a way I never had before.

Sometimes, the bigger risk isn't walking away. It's staying somewhere that no longer fits.

• A few years ago, my family took a wonderful beach vacation to Florida.
• Accommodations, food, and attractions add up quickly for a family of 6, and we spent so much money.
• These days, we opt to stay closer to home and take budget-friendly day trips instead.

Three years ago was the last time my family of six went on a traditional family vacation.

It was a trip to Miramar Beach, Florida, and we made some really lovely memories together. I still remember eating seafood and ice cream, playing putt-putt, and spending our days playing in the ocean. Our accommodation was perfect for our family: close to the beach and easy to swing in for bathroom and snack breaks. We took loads of photos, and we returned home tan from the Florida sun.

Then, it was back to the grind, but with what felt like next-to-nothing in my bank account. This is when we realized we could either go into significant debt to take a yearly or even every-other-year family vacation, or we could choose to stop vacationing far from home. Now, we prioritize day trips.

Vacationing has become too expensive

The cost of that trip to Florida, even with free flights after years of saving up airline points, was astronomical to us.

For starters, my family wants comfortable accommodations, especially while we're vacationing. For us, that means enough bedrooms and bathrooms. Nobody wants to spend their vacation almost on top of each other. For us, a rental home works best.

We also need a rental vehicle that not only seats all of us, but also holds all our luggage, too. That's a tall order.

Then there's the food. Even though we chose to eat most of our meals and snacks in our rental home, the food costs quickly added up. Two of my kids were teens who can eat adult portions. When we ate out, even without ordering appetizers, drinks (besides water), or desserts, every meal was over $100, and usually closer to $150.

Staying local gives us a new appreciation for where we live

We live near St. Louis, where there are plenty of museums, restaurants, sports events, and entertainment venues. Instead of blowing thousands of dollars on a week at Miramar, we schedule multiple/a few mini day-trips for our crew throughout the year/summer

Whether we are trying a new restaurant (especially for brunch, which is the kids' favorite) or strolling through an art museum or the zoo (both of which are free in St. Louis), our family can experience memorable, cultural, and culinary expenses close-to-home.

It's also easy to take local attractions for granted. When you live close to a major city, you simply forget that there are incredible opportunities for family fun right in your backyard.

St. Louis is known for The Hill, an area laden with Italian restaurants. The Botanical Garden is in the heart of an eclectic area of the city with loads of coffee shops and niche, small restaurants. Of course, there's the Arch, Cardinals and Blues games, the National Museum of Transportation, The Magic House children's museum, and so much more.

A day trip is a lot easier to coordinate

Planning any trip is stressful and time-consuming, but those concerns are much less when we're just going within a few hours of where we live.

There's no packing, airplane rides, rental cars, special gear, or dog sitters to coordinate. And anything that can limit the stress in our lives is something I'm game for.

Sometimes we stay overnight, but not for long

When we do crave a few days away, we've opted to keep it low-key. Once, we rented a charming St. Louis storefront that had been renovated into a giant living space, complete with a ballroom (yes, a ballroom), for just a few hundred dollars for three days. While there, we visited local bookstores, enjoyed tacos, browsed the infamous graffiti walls, and went to The City Museum—a mecca of chaos and curiosity for kids of all ages.

We're sticking to the plan for now

Yes, our kids sometimes complain when they know friends are going on "big" vacations. However, we balance the craving for travel with multiple, short day trips. Some of our kids also get to travel with their extracurricular sports, letting them have their own trips without carting the entire family along.

I'm not saying we'll never take a big vacation to a beach or another state again, but for now, this plan works for us and our budget.

• As someone born and raised here, I've traveled all over Scotland.
• I always tell first-time visitors to pack a waterproof, windproof coat, plus comfortable shoes.
• Physical cash is important, too — generally, both Scottish and English bills are accepted here.

Figuring out the best things to pack for Scotland can be a little bit tricky for a couple of reasons.

To start with, it's not one-size-fits-all: A trip to a city like Edinburgh or Glasgow will be a completely different experience from one to the rugged mountains and glens of the Highlands. Plus, it's not uncommon to experience all four seasons in just one day (or even in one hour!).

I was born and raised in Scotland and have traveled the country extensively, so I know exactly which items visitors should pack for different destinations and ever-changing weather.

Here are my recommendations for what to bring on a trip across the country — from physical cash to bug spray.

A waterproof, windproof coat is a necessity.

Scotland's landscapes are so lush in large part thanks to the year-round rain, but it's important to choose your coat wisely so that you can enjoy the beautiful scenery without getting soggy.

Scotland can also be windy — particularly on the coast and in the mountains — so rather than bringing a thin waterproof shell, it's best to opt for a coat that also functions as a windbreaker.

In colder weather, my go-to waterproof coat is one with padded insulation. If the weather forecast looks particularly wet, I'd also suggest bringing a pair of waterproof pants.

During warmer seasons, I usually opt for a lighter waterproof coat, which features a thin lining to help block the wind.

You should prioritize durable shoes — even in cities.

Sandals and heels might be a decent footwear choice for a lot of cities, but in Edinburgh, you'll want something a bit sturdier.

Edinburgh's Old Town is partly paved with cobblestones, and there are hills and staircases across the whole city — all of which warrant a durable walking shoe.

If you're stepping into nature, worn-in hiking shoes or boots are essential. Scotland's peaks, glens, and lochs look gorgeous, but paths are often fairly rugged even in the most popular places — such as Loch Ness and Arthur's Seat.

The frequent rain also means that trails can get muddy quickly, so walking boots are your best bet for staying dry, safe, and comfortable.

It's best to have some physical money on you at all times.

The vast majority of places in Scotland accept credit cards and contactless payments, but if you're exploring somewhere that's a bit more remote — such as small towns in the Highlands and Islands — then you can't always rely on it.

It's best to have a little bit of physical money on you in case you come across a cash-only shop or restaurant, and there isn't a cash machine nearby (some smaller villages don't have one).

Both Scottish and English banknotes, or bills, are generally accepted here.

I always recommend bringing a reusable water bottle.

Scottish tap water is not only completely safe to drink, but also absolutely delicious.

I recommend skipping bottled water and bringing a reusable bottle instead. There are even free "Top Up Taps" throughout the country, making it easy to refill your bottle whenever you need.

You likely won't regret packing a warm hat.

Autumn and winter are the coldest seasons in Scotland, but temperatures can stay surprisingly low well into spring. Even in the warmer months, the wind can sometimes be biting up in the Highlands and down by the sea.

Unless the forecast is very hot for your entire trip, I'd suggest bringing a warm beanie hat. If you're traveling during the winter, I'd also add a scarf and gloves to your packing list, too.

Sunglasses might not seem essential, but Scotland can get gloriously sunny sometimes.

Even though Scotland is famously rainy, the weather is very changeable, and the sun actually comes out fairly often.

To avoid being unprepared on a sunny day, make sure you've got sunglasses and sunscreen at the ready. (Even if the weather does turn out to be overcast for your entire trip, at least sunglasses don't take up much suitcase space!)

If you're going to spend time in nature in the summer, pack bug spray.

Midges can be a nuisance in certain parts of Scotland in summer. The tiny flies aren't dangerous, but their bites are very itchy. They can usually be found around lochs and in forests, and they're most active at dawn and dusk.

Thankfully, there are a couple of ways to keep midges away: long sleeves and bug spray. One of my favorite repellents is Smidge, a powerful spray that was developed here in Scotland.

• Ubisoft Entertainment cofounder Claude Guillemot has died at 69.
• French authorities said Guillemot was involved in a fatal plane crash.
• Ubisoft is behind popular video game franchises like "Assassin's Creed" and "Just Dance."

A cofounder of the video game giant Ubisoft, the publisher behind "Assassin's Creed" and "Just Dance," has died at 69.

A Ubisoft Entertainment spokesperson told Bloomberg in a statement that Claude Guillemot died in a plane accident.

"Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, cofounder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp., in an accident," the statement said. "Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time."

French media reported that a Cessna plane carrying Guillemot and another passenger crashed in a field on Friday evening, ahead of its intended destination in western France.

Guillemot cofounded Ubisoft alongside his four brothers in 1986 to create and sell video games worldwide. In addition to "Assassin's Creed" and "Just Dance," Ubisoft is also behind "Rayman," "Star Wars: Outlaw," "Rainbow Six Siege," and "Far Cry."

The company, now led by CEO Yves Guillemot, one of the founding brothers, became one of the biggest video game publishers over the last four decades and continues to expand. Ubisoft has recently also leaned into TV, film, books, music, and in-real-life experiences with VR systems.

• My dad rarely said "I love you," but showed it through actions and humor.
• Our phrase "like you a lot" became our way of expressing love.
• I now understand how much those words — and his love — meant.

"Pops, I love you!" my 6-year-old giggled as she launched herself into my dad for a bear hug. He hugged her back with a playful eye roll and a slightly exaggerated, "Oh yes, I love you too," before pulling her in for tickles.

I catch myself smiling every time I see him with my girls. It's the same goofy energy he had with me as a kid: hugs, tickles, over-the-top silliness. It's like a glimpse into my own childhood. My dad was always the one to make us laugh. He poked fun at just about anything — or anyone — always lightheartedly reminding us, "Hey, there's no slack in this family."

And maybe that's why we had a slightly different way of saying "I love you." Instead, we said, "Like you a lot."

It was never said with much seriousness, and most of the time followed by a chuckle — a quiet wink. Of course, he loved me, and I never doubted that. The words themselves weren't off-limits, but at some point, we found something just as meaningful — and it stuck.

I grew up with different love languages

Between my mom and dad, my brother and I grew up with two very different love languages. My mom was the more openly affectionate parent, and loved us in a way that most people imagine a mother to be: warm, doting, attentive, and maybe a little overprotective.

But where my mom was cautious, my dad was more laid-back. She wanted to keep us close; he wanted us to venture out. She never held back her emotions; he kept his more subtle. She was the heart; he was the humor.

My dad didn't say "I love you" the way others would expect, but his version showed up in other phrases: "I'm proud of you," "You're the best player out there," or, my personal favorite, "I joined the Avril Lavigne fan club so you can get pre-sale concert tickets."

It showed when I needed help with math homework or rides to practice, and when he made sure I had the newest phone or computer before any of my friends did (a big deal in the early 2000s).

It showed at my wedding, when we danced to Train's "Drops of Jupiter." It wasn't the typical father-daughter dance song, but it was one that always played on the car radio whenever it was just the two of us, making it "ours." Maybe the guests didn't fully understand the meaning, but we did — just like "Like you a lot" was something only the two of us fully understood.

It was silly, yet meaningful — unusual to others, but ordinary to us. And it wasn't until his parents became sick that I truly began to understand why.

My grandma's last words were 'I love you'

My grandparents began battling dementia at the same time. Nana passed first, and as we watched my Papa decline, we braced for what was coming. We made the four-hour drive to visit him at his care facility, determined to make the most of the time we had left.

That night, my dad and I processed the weight of my Papa's final days over a few glasses of red wine. The conversation shifted to his mother, and I could tell a memory stirred something deeper — what I can only describe as pride — as he said, "You know, Nana's last words to me were 'I love you.'"

I smiled. It wasn't the first time he told me that.

Maybe it was the wine poking at buried emotions, but it was more likely the realization that, at the end of her life, she wanted him to hear the words that had rarely been spoken out loud. I could tell how much it meant to him — not just because of how often he brought it up, but because of the quiet sense of relief in his eyes.

It mattered so much more than he let on

My dad's version of "I love you" mirrored the home he grew up in, where the words felt foreign. He often joked about how his mother never said it, and maybe humor was his way of masking the fact that it mattered so much more than he let on.

Now, when my daughters get a playfully hesitant "I love you" or a surprising peck on the cheek, they notice. It amazes me how intuitive they are — how they can sense when his actions are just a bit outside of his comfort zone. But, like me, they never doubt how much he loves them.

"Like you a lot" may not sound like much on the surface, but that's the beauty of something so uniquely meaningful. My dad says "I love you" more now — even to me — but it's "Like you a lot" that will always stick with me.

And he'll always know how much I like him, too.

• HBO's "Game of Thrones" spinoff, "House of the Dragon," returns for its third season on Sunday.
• Season two continued the story of the Targaryen civil war, setting up major moments.
• Here's a recap of the important events to remember before season three. Spoilers ahead.

"The seeds of war are oft planted during times of peace. So has it been in Westeros."

That's according to George R. R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," the fictional history book and source material for "House of the Dragon." When the series premiered in 2022, it embodied this observation. The first season of HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel laid the groundwork for the disastrous Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, by exploring the family's relationships, power struggles, and budding resentments while King Viserys the Peaceful sat on the Iron Throne.

"House of the Dragon" season one was dense and fast-paced, spanning multiple decades of the royal family's lives. Its successor, however, was a slow burn.

Season two, which aired in 2024, featured slow, painstaking plotlines that unfurled over several episodes — sometimes to the audience's chagrin. But those seeds will surely bear fruit as the characters continue to grapple with their demons and hurtle toward their fates.

The series returns for its third and penultimate season on Sunday. If you need a refresher before returning to Westeros, keep reading for a summary of everything important that happened in our recap of "House of the Dragon" season two.

Jace travels north to secure the support of Houses Stark and Arryn

At the end of season one, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) sends her eldest sons to meet with the major houses of Westeros. She needs to reaffirm their support after her father died and her half-brother, Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), took the Iron Throne.

Prince Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), aka Luke, flies to Storm's End to meet with Lord Borros Baratheon — but he's beaten there by his uncle, Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), who ends up killing Luke with his dragon, Vhagar.

Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), aka Jace, flies north to Winterfell. Season two opens with a monologue from Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), telling Jace that he intends to support Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. He pledges 2,000 men to Rhaenyra's cause.

"I have thousands of greybeards who have already seen too many winters. They are well-honed. I can ready them to march at once," he tells Jace. "They will fight hard. Like Northeners."

In season three, viewers will meet Ser Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan), a ferocious knight known as Roddy the Ruin, and his army of Northmen, known as the Winter Wolves.

Jace also brokers the support of Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin), who promises to send 15,000 soldiers in exchange for a dragon to protect the Vale.

Rhaenyra is still mourning her son, Luke

Luke is killed by Vhagar in the final moments of the season one finale. The series picks up immediately in the aftermath of his murder, with Rhaenyra deep in mourning. She goes searching for Luke's body, which prevents her from joining her own war council (and sows discontent among her advisors).

When Rhaenyra returns, she declares that she wants Aemond's head. Meanwhile, her husband, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), plots his own brutal revenge.

Daemon conspires to murder Aemond, but his assassins kill baby Jaehaerys instead

Going behind Rhaenyra's back, Daemon hires two mercenaries to sneak into the Red Keep and assassinate Aemond. One of them is a ratcatcher who knows the layout of the castle.

Aemond tells them his goal is retribution for Luke's murder: "a son for a son."

The two mercenaries, Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart), don't find Aemond. Instead, they find Queen Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) in the nursery with her two toddlers, twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera Targaryen.

Blood and Cheese ask Helaena to point to her son, the king's heir. As they decapitate Jaehaerys in his crib, she carries Jaehaera to safety.

When news of the murder reaches Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is disgusted and denies any involvement. She says that as a mother, she would never order such a monstrous act.

Unfortunately, the damage is done. Aegon's council spreads word that Rhaenyra is a kinslayer, dubbing her Rhaenyra the Cruel, and many commonfolk turn against her.

When Rhaenyra finds out that Daemon hired the mercenaries, they have an explosive fight, and she shuns him. Rhaenyra is devastated that she can't trust her own husband to serve her best interests — and she can sense that he still resents her for being her father's heir. (Rhaenyra's father was Daemon's brother, King Viserys. Yes, that means Rhaenyra's husband is also her uncle. Best not to dwell on it.) Daemon leaves Dragonstone in a fit of rage.

Mysaria is imprisoned by Daemon and brought to Dragonstone, where she bonds with Rhaenyra

Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), a cunning brothel proprietor known as the "White Worm," becomes a more prominent presence in "House of the Dragon" season two.

Mysaria is brought to Dragonstone and questioned by Daemon, her former lover. He promises her freedom in exchange for information: who to hire as an assassin in King's Landing.

But it's not Daemon that Mysaria forms a bond with at Dragonstone. It's Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra agrees to set Mysaria free, but Mysaria responds to this act of mercy with an act of loyalty. She asks for a seat on Rhaenyra's council so that she may advocate for the smallfolk in the coming war. Thanks to her vast network of spies and informants, Mysaria becomes Rhaenyra's unofficial mistress of whisperers.

Rhaenyra and Mysaria grow ever closer during Daemon's self-imposed exile, and later in season two, the women share a kiss.

Aegon fires Otto Hightower and appoints Ser Criston Cole as Hand of the King

Aegon is impressed by Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and his scheme to kill Rhaenyra: send Ser Arryk Cargyll to impersonate his twin brother, Ser Erryk Cargyll, and stage a sneak attack at Dragonstone. (This plan fails, and both brothers die.) Meanwhile, Aegon is frustrated with Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), his inherited Hand of the King, for being overly cautious.

When Otto chastises Aegon for publicly hanging all the Red Keep's ratcatchers as retribution for the Blood and Cheese murder, the young king snaps. Aegon spontaneously fires his grandfather, who has served multiple Targaryen kings, and promotes Cole instead, a soldier with no political experience.

Otto, stripped of his power, decides to leave King's Landing and return to House Hightower's seat in Oldtown.

We don't see Otto for the rest of the season — until a brief shot of him in the finale, apparently in prison. His captor is unclear.

Daemon spends much of season two soul-searching at Harrenhal

After he's shunned by Rhaenyra, Daemon flies on Caraxes to Harrenhal, the largest castle in the Riverlands. He intends to use it as a garrison while he gathers an army.

Daemon enters the castle expecting a fight, but he finds little more than surrender and disrepair. The castle was partially ruined over a century ago by Aegon the Conqueror, who melted its walls with dragonfire. It's said to be haunted.

Still, Daemon remains at Harrenhal because he can't bear to face his shortcomings. As the second son of a king, Daemon has spent his entire life seeking glory and approval — mostly from his older brother — and then stewing in resentment when he doesn't receive it. His insecurities and hangups prevent him from truly accepting Rhaenyra, his brother's chosen heir, as his queen. In private, Daemon plans to betray his wife and seize the Iron Throne for himself.

Deep down, Daemon knows that he's not fit to protect the realm, but he needs to do some serious soul-searching to admit it. He finds that opportunity, however reluctantly, at Harrenhal, which is rich with the magic of the old gods. Daemon begins hallucinating his loved ones like a series of trippy, weirwood-induced therapy sessions: he sees a young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock), his second wife, Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), his mother, Alyssa (Emeline Lambert), and his brother, Viserys (Paddy Considine).

Daemon also befriends Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), a wet nurse at the castle who claims to be a witch. She gives Daemon mysterious potions and urges him to continue his private reckoning.

Daemon's journey at Harrenhal culminates in a fateful vision in the season two finale. When he touches the bark of the weirwood tree, Daemon sees himself drowning. He sees his descendant, Daenerys Targaryen, with her three baby dragons, and he sees the future threat of the White Walkers.

He also sees Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne and his niece, Helaena, who has the gift of prophecy herself. (Many Targaryens are known to have "dragon dreams," abstract visions that almost always come true, but usually not in the way the dreamers expect.)

"It's all a story," Helaena tells Daemon. "And you're but one part in it. You know your part."

The vision helps Daemon come to terms with his role — not as a ruler in his own right, but as Rhaenyra's right-hand man. In his final scenes of season two, he fulfills his promise to rally a host of Rivermen for his queen, and he finally bends the knee.

Rhaenyra still doesn't quite trust Daemon, and she resents that her supporters look to him for strength. But it looks like they're on the path to becoming true partners again.

Rhaenyra arranges a covert meeting with Alicent at the Sept of Baelor — and they uncover a tragic miscommunication

Having grown up with the Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), Rhaenyra believes she can convince her former friend to prevent all-out war. She has Mysaria arrange a secret meeting with Alicent at the Sept of Baelor, where they won't be watched by spies or royal guards.

Rhaenyra tells Alicent she's keen to avoid bloodshed and hopes to "uncover some path toward peace." Alicent refuses, largely because she fears Rhaenyra had a hand in the murder of her grandson. (She didn't.) Alicent also continues to insist that King Viserys changed his mind on his deathbed and chose Aegon to succeed him (instead of his long-standing heir, Rhaenyra).

When Rhaenyra asks to hear the details of that deathbed conversation, Alicent reveals, "He was weary. It was hard, at times, to understand. But he spoke Aegon's name. He said he was the prince that was promised to unite the realm."

In that instant, Rhaenyra realizes Alicent's mix-up. Alicent is not lying; she truly believes that Viserys changed his mind. But Alicent doesn't know about the Azor Ahai prophecy, which is passed down from each Targaryen king to his heir.

The prophecy says a Prince That Was Promised will be reborn under a bleeding star to save the realm from darkness. In "Game of Thrones," it becomes clear that the darkness refers to the White Walkers. The prophesier, Aegon the Conqueror, called his dream the Song of Ice and Fire. He believed a Targaryen would need to be in charge when the darkness came, to unite the kingdoms against a common foe.

Rhaenyra tells Alicent that she misunderstood Viserys' words, that he was referring to Aegon the Conqueror, not her teenage son with the same name. But blood has already been shed, and Alicent isn't ready to admit that she made a mistake. She tells Rhaenyra to leave King's Landing.

Rhaenys and her dragon are killed by Aemond

In episode four, "The Red Dragon and the Gold," Aemond and Cole set a trap by marching on Rook's Rest, a small castle in the Crownlands.

Rook's Rest is controlled by House Staunton, Rhaenyra's loyal supporters, so they expect her to fly to the castle's aid — or send someone else to fly in her stead. Meanwhile, Aemond will wait with Vhagar in the shadows to launch a sneak attack.

Indeed, Rhaenyra's council knows that Cole is daring them to respond. But they want to send a dragon anyway. Rhaenyra offers to meet Cole's army — as does her son, Jace — but Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) insists on riding Meleys to Rook's Rest instead. It makes sense, as Meleys is the largest dragon at Rhaenyra's command and no stranger to battle.

Feeling disempowered by his brother, Aegon drunkenly decides to join the fight on his own dragon. Aegon and Sunfyre are easily overpowered by Rhaenys and Meleys — but not even the dragon known as the "Red Queen" can overpower Vhagar.

Aemond's sneak attack kills Rhaenys and her dragon, crippling Team Rhaenyra's firepower.

Cole parades Meleys' head through the streets of King's Landing

This may seem like an insignificant detail, but the decision to parade a severed dragon head before the commonfolk bodes very ill for the crown (and speaks to Cole's lack of savvy).

House Targaryen's claim to power is predicated on the belief that dragons are gods, and Targaryens are uniquely bonded to dragons. When Cole carts Meleys' decapitated head through the streets of King's Landing, ostensibly to celebrate his victory in battle, he's actually sabotaging his own king. If dragons are no longer sacred and respected, then neither is the Targaryen dynasty — especially in times when the commonfolk are hungry and suffering.

This shift is signaled by the blacksmith Hugh Hammer. As he looks upon the procession, he describes the dragon's head as "meat."

Mysaria also tells Rhaenyra that the commonfolk see the corpse as an "ill omen," not a prize of war. "Do not underestimate your subjects," she advises. "To the discontented, rumors are feed."

The battle at Rook's Rest leaves Aegon scarred and incapacitated

Aemond resents his older brother for being weak and careless, but still becoming king by birthright — much like Daemon long resented Viserys. Aemond didn't arrange the Rook's Rest attack to unseat Aegon, but when he saw an opportunity, he took it.

While attacking Rhaenys with dragonflame, Aemond also burns Aegon. The combined force of both Meleys and Vhagar is too much for Aegon's dragon, Sunfyre, who plummets from the sky and crash-lands in the nearby forest.

Aegon survives the fall, but he's permanently injured. Burn scars cover half his body, and he's bedridden for the rest of the season. He even says the fight made him impotent — ironic, since Aegon's manhood was the entire reason he was installed on the Iron Throne instead of Rhaenyra.

The aftermath of Rook's Rest is "pure rock bottom" for the young king, actor Tom Glynn-Carney told Business Insider.

"Even though his physicality has changed now, I don't particularly think for him, in terms of how unpredictable and how volatile he is — I don't think that's going to change at all," Glynn-Carney said. "If anything, there will be more."

Alicent reminds us that she has another son, Daemon

Alicent seems to know that Aemond had a hand in Aegon's injuries. She's embarrassed by her sons, horrified by what they've become.

When Alicent reunites with her brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), she asks about her third son, Prince Daeron Targaryen. Viewers have yet to meet Daeron because he was sent to Oldtown as a young boy.

Gwayne, who was also raised in Oldtown, tells Alicent that 16-year-old Daeron is reliable, clever, and kind. The revelation brings tears to her eyes. Although she didn't have a hand in his upbringing, it's a relief that perhaps one of her children could still make her proud.

In the season two finale, we see that Daeron and his dragon Tessarion are marching with the Hightower army, led by Alicent's cousin, Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton).

Team Rhaenyra recruits three new dragonriders: Addam, Ulf, and Hugh

In episode five, "Regent," Jace proposes a plan to recruit more dragonriders by mining other noble houses for Targaryen ancestry: "There are those of our line who never ruled, those who married into other noble houses, their children born with other names."

Rhaenyra initially dismisses the idea. House Targaryen is said to be "the blood of the dragon," descended from the dragonlords of Old Valyria. She says their distant relatives won't have enough Valyrian blood, and that dragons will only accept true dragonlords as riders, "so say the histories."

Jace scoffs at this: "Valyrian histories, written to gild us in glory." Perhaps the requirements for claiming a dragon are not nearly as strict as they've been led to believe.

Jace's theory is validated in episode six, "Smallfolk," but not in the way he expects. Addam of Hull is pursued by Laenor Velaryon's former dragon, Seasmoke, who bends his neck to the low-born shipwright.

Addam is revealed to be Laenor's half-brother, the illegitimate son of Lord Corlys Velaryon — not technically of Targaryen descent, but a family descended from Old Valyria.

With Mysaria's encouragement, Rhaenyra decides to widen her search beyond high-born families, seeking the "misbegotten offspring" of past Targaryens. These people are known as "dragonseeds," often fathered in the brothels of King's Landing.

"Let us raise an army of bastards," Rhaenyra declares.

Jace, however, is against the new plan. Since his own parentage has always been questioned (many suspect he was fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, not Rhaenyra's husband at the time, Laenor), Jace fears that elevating bastards to dragonriders may threaten his own claim to the throne — especially since he doesn't have the typical physical qualities of a Targaryen.

"What if one of your baseborn, silver-haired dragonriders decides he wants to rule the Seven Kingdoms?" Jace asks his mother.

Still, Rhaenyra decides to go ahead with the Red Sowing. Two low-born men succeed, both hailing from King's Landing: Ulf the White claims Silverwing, while Hugh Hammer claims Vermithor.

Corlys is named Hand of the Queen and tries to make amends with his illegitimate son

Corlys spends much of season two reeling from two losses: his named heir, Luke, and his beloved wife, Rhaenys.

Team Rhaenyra brings him back into the fold by naming him Hand of the Queen, though it takes a little prodding from his granddaughter, Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia).

When Corlys initially refuses Rhaenyra's offer, Baela scolds him for dishonoring her grandmother's memory. Rhaenys was a Targaryen princess, Baela reminds him, not just a wife — and she wanted to see Rhaenyra ascend the Iron Throne. (Baela herself is engaged to Jace, Rhaenyra's heir, so she has a personal investment in the queen's cause.)

Corlys is impressed by Baela's spirit and offers to name her the heir of Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon. Baela declines: "I am blood and fire," she tells Corlys. "Driftmark must pass to salt and sea."

Corlys had so far been reluctant to acknowledge Addam and Alyn of Hull as his sons, partially out of shame for cheating on Rhaenys. Throughout season two, however, Corlys develops respect and admiration for Alyn. The boys grew up in a shipyard, and Alyn in particular is a talented seafarer; the father-son similarities are hard to ignore. Corlys even appoints Alyn as his first mate.

However, Alyn is even more reluctant to acknowledge Corlys as his father. While Corlys raised his trueborn children in a castle, Addam and Alyn were left to grow up fatherless, penniless, and nameless. Alyn says Corlys only wants to make amends now because Laenor and Laena are dead.

In the season two finale, still on rocky terms, Corlys and Alyn sail toward the Gullet to join the rest of the Velaryon fleet.

Rhaenyra sends her three youngest sons to the Vale, then to Essos, for safekeeping

Rhaenyra sends her thirdborn son, Prince Joffrey Velaryon, to ward with Lady Arryn in the Vale.

She also sends her two toddler sons, Prince Aegon III Targaryen and Prince Viserys II Targaryen, to join him. (Joffrey's father is officially Laenor, while Aegon III and Viserys II were born to Daemon.)

Rhaenyra's aim is to keep her youngest children out of harm's way until the war is over. She entreats Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), who is not yet a dragonrider, to accompany them. "I need you to be the mother to them that I cannot," Rhaenyra tells her niece.

Joffrey and Aegon III both have dragons, but they're too small to ride, which Lady Arryn takes as an insult. She pledged her support to Rhaenyra in exchange for a dragon to protect the Vale — not a hatchling bonded to a toddler. As a result, she refuses to send her army to fight for Rhaenyra's cause.

Eventually, it's arranged to send the children across the narrow sea, to be sheltered in the free city of Pentos. Again, Rhaena is meant to escort them.

Rhaena abandons her duty to find a wild dragon

Rhaena is offended that her aunt-slash-stepmother would send her away to babysit; she feels overlooked by her family members because she has never claimed a dragon.

When Rhaenyra's kids are sent away from the Vale at the end of season two, Rhaena abandons her party and runs into the wilderness. She follows burn marks in the grass until she finds Sheepstealer, a wild dragon without a rider.

Aemond begs Helaena to help him kill Daemon, but she refuses

After Aegon and Sunfyre are burned by Vhagar, the king's army is left with only three dragonriders: Aemond, their younger brother Daeron, and their sister Helaena. Unfortunately, Helaena isn't much of a dragonrider and even less of a warrior. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra has recruited three new dragonriders, dwarfing her enemy's count.

Aemond recognizes that he's outnumbered and begs Helaena for help. Her dragon, Dreamfyre, is large and ancient. They could stand a chance against Rhaenyra and Daemon together. But Helaena refuses. She's had dragon dreams about the war, and she seems to know how it'll end.

"Aegon will be king again. He's yet to see victory. He sits on a wooden throne," she tells her brother. "And you, you'll be dead. You are swallowed up in the God's Eye, and you are never seen again."

The Lannister twins are shoring up support for King Aegon

Tyland Lannister, the master of ships, and Jason Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock (both played by Jefferson Hall), have been dispatched to rally armies for Aegon.

Tyland has traveled to Essos to meet with the Triarchy, a powerful armada from the free cities, led by Admiral Lohar (Abigail Thorn). He hopes to form an alliance with the Triarchy and use their warships to sail against the Velaryon fleet, breaking Rhaenyra's blockade. Lohar agrees to help, but in exchange, she demands control of the Stepstones, a chain of islands in the narrow sea.

In the season two finale, we see Tyland, Lohar, and the rest of the Triarchy sailing toward the Gullet.

Meanwhile, Tyland's twin brother Jason is marching with the armies of the Westerlands to face Daemon's army at Harrenhal.

Alicent offers to surrender to Rhaenyra

After her secret meeting with Rhaenyra at the Sept, Alicent gradually comes to terms with the breadth of her mistake. She previously thought she could steer the kingdom toward peace and justice, but she is disregarded by her sons and their advisors, sidelined for much the same reason they won't accept a queen. By undermining Rhaenyra's claim to the throne, Alicent inadvertently sealed her own fate.

At the same time, it's increasingly clear that neither of Alicent's eldest sons is fit to rule — Aegon is irresponsible, incompetent, and now maimed beyond recognition, while Aemond is violent and cruel — and Alicent's only daughter, Helaena, is miserable since becoming queen.

Alicent eventually decides to double-cross her family and secretly travels to Dragonstone. In the season two finale, she promises to open the gates of King's Landing in three days' time for Rhaenyra to take the throne. She also promises that Aemond will be far away with Vhagar, leaving the castle undefended, and agrees to let Rhaenyra execute Aegon as a usurper. In exchange, Alicent wants to go free with Helaena and Helaena's daughter, Jaehaera, "with no ambition greater than to walk where I please and to breathe the open air."

Their conversation seems to heal some of their grudges, and the old friends come to an understanding. Alicent even tells Rhaenyra they could run away together, but Rhaenyra replies, "My part is here, whether I will or no. It was decided for me long ago."

Aegon escapes the Red Keep with Larys Strong

Rhaenyra seems to trust Alicent, and Alicent seems sincere in her plan for surrender — but in the dowager queen's absence from King's Landing, more secret plans are already in motion.

Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), the master of whisperers, can already sense the winds changing. He arranges to sneak Aegon out of the Red Keep, and the two men escape the city in a merchant cart. It's unclear who Larys is actually loyal to, but he definitely doesn't want to be executed by Rhaenyra as a traitor if she takes the throne.

When and if Rhaenyra returns to King's Landing, she expects to find Aegon easy prey, as Alicent promised. Instead, she'll find no king from whom to seize the throne — and as long as Aegon is alive, her claim will be contested.

• We spoke with stylists and designers to find out which sandal trends are in and out for summer.
• They said suede sandals and pairs with metal accents are popular this season and can elevate a look.
• Meanwhile, chunky espadrille sandals and basic rubber flip-flops are starting to fall out of favor.

Warm weather means sandal season is officially here.

Whether you're looking for an everyday pair or something a little more fashion-forward, some styles are taking off this summer while others aren't worth the closet space.

Business Insider asked stylists and designers to share the sandal trends they're getting on board with this season — and which ones they're ready to ditch.

Here's what they had to say.

Suede is having a moment.

Suede detailing is everywhere right now, according to Molly West Coe, a New York-based fashion stylist and founder of StyledBuy and StyledGuy.

The suede trend started with fall and winter pieces but has carried into summer footwear as well. Whether on flip-flops or strappy sandals, this material can add a more refined touch to casual outfits.

Minimal thong wedges are sliding into summer.

According to Laura Unruh, designer and founder of luxury footwear brand LOU.EARL, thong wedges are gaining traction again.

She credits the trend's resurgence to renewed interest in Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's signature minimalist style. The late icon (and her fashions) were recently featured in the popular FX miniseries "Love Story."

Featuring a simple thong upper and a wedge sole, these sandals often come in neutral colors and clean silhouettes that reflect Kennedy's understated aesthetic.

Unruh said the versatile style pairs particularly well with simple looks — think: vintage denim, white T-shirts, and monochromatic outfits.

Huarache-style woven-leather sandals are a solid pick.

Patrick Kenger, the lead personal stylist and founder of styling and image consulting company Pivot, said huarache-style shoes are among the biggest men's sandal trends he's seeing this season.

Huarache sandals have been around for centuries, with their origins commonly traced to indigenous communities of Mexico. These shoes typically feature an intricately woven leather top and either an open or closed toe.

Woven-leather sandals can be an easy choice for summer because they're durable and breathable. They can also help "dress up " a look, Kenger added.

Hardware accents are making their way onto sandals.

According to Letam "Ley" Duson, founder of Ley All Day Personal Styling, metallic accents are a growing trend in the sandal space.

Instead of plain thong sandals, the stylist said she's seeing styles adorned with gold-tone details, rings, bands, and other decorative hardware that add visual interest to an outfit.

"I would think of it as like jewelry for your feet," Duson told BI.

On the other hand, chunkier gladiators are being replaced by barely-there sandals.

Several of the stylists BI spoke with agreed that chunky gladiator sandals are being replaced by sleeker, less bulky designs.

Unruh said the sandals — especially when they go high up a leg — can feel overly complicated and difficult to style compared to more modern options.

If you want a similar look that's more updated, Coe said, try a pair of barely-there sandals with thin straps.

"The look is kind of as naked as the foot can be," she told BI. "It's a very clean look. It's a very minimalist look."

Traditional rubber flip-flops are falling out of favor.

Kenger told BI that rubber sandals and basic thong-style flip-flops aren't as popular as they once were.

He said that cross-strap sandals are becoming a popular alternative to these, especially among men. These styles feature wider straps across the foot and offer an updated take on warm-weather footwear.

Muted colors are being swapped for brighter shades.

Duson said neutral-toned sandals are taking a back seat to brighter, bolder colors this season.

From neon orange and hot pink to bright blue, these vibrant shades can bring a more playful touch to summer outfits.

"If you're doing a monochrome look and you don't want to do too much with the clothes, then the pop of color for the feet is a good option," Duson told BI.

Espadrille sandals can feel a bit dated.

Known for their chunky raffia-wrapped soles, espadrille sandals have been a summer staple for a long time. However, according to Duson, some of these styles are starting to feel dated.

Instead, the stylist recommends trying leather wedges or platform sandals this summer. These styles can give off a more modern, streamlined look while still providing height and versatility.

She added that platform sandals pair well with so many styles, from maxi dresses to wide-leg jeans and a simple top.

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

New Levels.fyi analyses show how equity grants at frontier tech companies have turned into life-changing sums.

A SpaceX Software Engineer II offer from August 2022 included a $155,000 salary and a $365,000 equity grant that vested over five years. At SpaceX's IPO valuation, that grant is estimated to be worth more than $4 million, assuming it was held.

At Anthropic, engineers who joined in 2023 may now be sitting on equity worth tens of millions of dollars after the AI company's valuation surge.

OpenAI shows a similar pattern, with some 2022 and 2023 equity grants to engineers now valued at over $50 million.

These are not guaranteed windfalls: variables such as vesting, dilution, and lockups mean employees may end up with less. And don't forget those huge tax bills.

Still, these estimates give a real taste of the wealth that Silicon Valley has created — and spread among workers.

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

• Earnings vary widely across the US, and what constitutes the middle class does too.
• Massachusetts has the highest median household income in the US, while Mississippi has the lowest.
• The middle class is considered to earn between two-thirds and double the median income.

You've been hearing about the K-shaped economy and the shrinking middle class, but what does it actually mean to be in the middle class at all in the US today?

For many, the label can describe a suburban, non-excessive way of life, but the actual income it implies can span a wide range.

A recent SmartAsset study calculated the income needed to be considered middle class in every US state.

The study used the US Census Bureau's 2024 one-year American Community Survey median household income estimates for all 50 states. It applied a variation of the Pew Research Center's definition of middle class — households that earn between two-thirds and double the median income — to identify a middle-class salary range.

Rankings were then determined by comparing the upper limit of middle-class income among states and ranking those earnings from highest to lowest.

In five states, households earning over $200,000 can still be considered middle class, while in seven, you can be counted in the category even with household incomes of under $45,000.

In Massachusetts, the highest-ranked state, a household can earn up to $209,656 and still be considered middle class, while in Mississippi, the lowest-ranked, earning more than $118,254 puts you above the threshold.

Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the second-lowest, a household earning $40,532 can be considered middle class, while in New Jersey, the second-highest, it takes an annual income of $69,529 to do so.

See how much money you really need to earn to be in the middle class in every US state.

ALABAMA

Middle-class range: $44,439 to $133,318

Median household income: $66,659

Rank: 44 out of 50

ALASKA

Middle-class range: $63,777 to $191,330

Median household income: $95,665

Rank: 11

ARIZONA

Middle-class range: $54,324 to $162,972

Median household income: $81,486

Rank: 20

ARKANSAS

Middle-class range: $41,404 to $124,212

Median household income: $62,106

Rank: 47

CALIFORNIA

Middle-class range: $66,766 to $200,298

Median household income: $100,149

Rank: 5

COLORADO

Middle-class range: $64,742 to $194,226

Median household income: $97,113

Rank: 8

CONNECTICUT

Middle-class range: $64,033 to $192,098

Median household income: $96,049

Rank: 10

DELAWARE

Middle-class range: $58,356 to $175,068

Median household income: $87,534

Rank: 13

FLORIDA

Middle-class range: $51,823 to $155,470

Median household income: $77,735

Rank: 26

GEORGIA

Middle-class range: $53,327 to $159,982

Median household income: $79,991

Rank: 23

HAWAII

Middle-class range: $67,163 to $201,490

Median household income: $100,745

Rank: 4

IDAHO

Middle-class range: $54,111 to $162,332

Median household income: $81,166

Rank: 21

ILLINOIS

Middle-class range: $55,474 to $166,422

Median household income: $83,211

Rank: 18

INDIANA

Middle-class range: $47,973 to $143,918

Median household income: $71,959

Rank: 41

IOWA

Middle-class range: $50,334 to $151,002

Median household income: $75,501

Rank: 34

KANSAS

Middle-class range: $50,343 to $151,028

Median household income: $75,514

Rank: 33

KENTUCKY

Middle-class range: $43,017 to $129,052

Median household income: $64,526

Rank: 46

LOUISIANA

Middle-class range: $40,657 to $121,972

Median household income: $60,986

Rank: 48

MAINE

Middle-class range: $50,961 to $152,884

Median household income: $76,442

Rank: 30

MARYLAND

Middle-class range: $68,603 to $205,810

Median household income: $102,905

Rank: 3

MASSACHUSETTS

Middle-class range: $69,885 to $209,656

Median household income: $104,828

Rank: 1 (the highest middle-class ceiling in the US)

MICHIGAN

Middle-class range: $48,259 to $144,778

Median household income: $72,389

Rank: 37

MINNESOTA

Middle-class range: $58,078 to $174,234

Median household income: $87,117

Rank: 14

MISSISSIPPI

Middle-class range: $39,418 to $118,254

Median household income: $59,127

Rank: 50 (the lowest middle-class ceiling in the US)

MISSOURI

Middle-class range: $47,726 to $143,178

Median household income: $71,589

Rank: 42

MONTANA

Middle-class range: $50,227 to $150,680

Median household income: $75,340

Rank: 35

NEBRASKA

Middle-class range: $50,917 to $152,752

Median household income: $76,376

Rank: 31

NEVADA

Middle-class range: $54,089 to $162,268

Median household income: $81,134

Rank: 22

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Middle-class range: $66,521 to $199,564

Median household income: $99,782

Rank: 6

NEW JERSEY

Middle-class range: $69,529 to $208,588

Median household income: $104,294

Rank: 2

NEW MEXICO

Middle-class range: $45,211 to $135,632

Median household income: $67,816

Rank: 43

NEW YORK

Middle-class range: $57,213 to $171,640

Median household income: $85,820

Rank: 15

NORTH CAROLINA

Middle-class range: $49,305 to $147,916

Median household income: $73,958

Rank: 36

NORTH DAKOTA

Middle-class range: $51,914 to $155,742

Median household income: $77,871

Rank: 25

OHIO

Middle-class range: $48,141 to $144,424

Median household income: $72,212

Rank: 39

OKLAHOMA

Middle-class range: $44,099 to $132,296

Median household income: $66,148

Rank: 45

OREGON

Middle-class range: $56,813 to $170,440

Median household income: $85,220

Rank: 16

PENNSYLVANIA

Middle-class range: $51,697 to $155,090

Median household income: $77,545

Rank: 27

RHODE ISLAND

Middle-class range: $55,669 to $167,008

Median household income: $83,504

Rank: 17

SOUTH CAROLINA

Middle-class range: $48,233 to $144,700

Median household income: $72,350

Rank: 38

SOUTH DAKOTA

Middle-class range: $51,254 to $153,762

Median household income: $76,881

Rank: 29

TENNESSEE

Middle-class range: $47,998 to $143,994

Median household income: $71,997

Rank: 40

TEXAS

Middle-class range: $53,147 to $159,442

Median household income: $79,721

Rank: 24

UTAH

Middle-class range: $64,439 to $193,316

Median household income: $96,658

Rank: 9

VERMONT

Middle-class range: $55,153 to $165,460

Median household income: $82,730

Rank: 19

VIRGINIA

Middle-class range: $61,393 to $184,180

Median household income: $92,090

Rank: 12

WASHINGTON

Middle-class range: $66,259 to $198,778

Median household income: $99,389

Rank: 7

WEST VIRGINIA

Middle-class range: $40,532 to $121,596

Median household income: $60,798

Rank: 49

WISCONSIN

Middle-class range: $51,659 to $154,976

Median household income: $77,488

Rank: 28

WYOMING

Middle-class range: $50,355 to $151,064

Median household income: $75,532

Rank: 32

• Jacob Bennett used a pitch deck to recruit his brother, Nathan, to his fintech startup.
• Nathan reached out to their grandfather, who is in business with his brother, for advice.
• Their grandfather told them to keep ego out of their business and not talk badly about each other.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nathan Bennett, co-founder of Crux Analytics. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When my brother started asking me more and more questions about the financial technology company he wanted to start, I could see where things were heading.

Jacob's great with big ideas, and he had identified a problem in the market. He needed my engineering expertise to make his solution a reality.

One day, about three years ago, Jacob asked me to read his pitch deck for accuracy. The last slide was the team. There was Jacob, and next to him was my name. Under my bio, it said something along the lines of "Nathan knows he wants to jump ship from his job to work with his brother."

Jacob was right; we'd always had a dream of building something together. But I've always been the more cautious brother. Leaving my well-established career in medical devices felt risky. So, I reached out to our grandfather, Michael, to help me make the decision.

My grandpa is in his 90s and still working with his brother

Michael has been in business with his own brother, Maurice, for more than 70 years. Today they're 91 and 93, and they still work together. Most of their career has been in women's fashion, and more recently in men's shoes.

I told my grandfather to give me the good, the bad, and the ugly of working with your brother. I knew that if a startup didn't work out, I had other career options I could fall back on.

But I worried that being in business together might alter the great sibling dynamic that Jacob and I have.

We each have our own skillset

My grandfather said he and Maurice had different areas of expertise and different strengths, so they were never trying to prove anything to each other. No one had to assert dominance because they each filled different niches.

Like Michael and Maurice, Jacob and I have very different skill sets. Jacob's got the big ideas, and I'm the planner. If we were on a hike, Jacob would just start walking and figure it out, while I would analyze every possible route.

Jacob jokes we're like the Transformer toys that were popular when we were growing up in the 90s. We each have our own superpowers, but when you put us together, we become something even stronger.

We're intentional in how we talk about each other

Our grandfather had another piece of advice. He and our grandfather are very close with Maurice and his wife; they even live within walking distance of each other.

When Michael and Maurice started in business together, our grandfather told our grandmother that the friendship between the couples was always going to come first.

Sometimes, that meant my grandfather didn't tell my grandmother everything that happened during his day. He never wanted a little tiff at work or disagreement to cloud his wife's ideas about Maurice.

That's an example Jacob and I follow. We're very careful about how we talk about each other and the business with other family members.

Business has kept our family close

Being in business with my brother, I know with absolute certainty, all the time, that Jacob has my best interest at heart. There's almost a telepathic connection between us, and a lot that doesn't need to be said.

Partnerships with friends or co-founders might come close, but they don't have that same foundation that we've been building since Jacob was born.

Because our grandfather is in business with his brother, our families have been extremely close. When I called my grandfather that day, he emphasized that above all else, working with his brother has been fun and rewarding.

That's the legacy Jacob and I hope to carry on.

• The White Horse Tavern in Rhode Island is the oldest operating restaurant in the country.
• The restaurant opened in 1673, over a century before the start of the Revolutionary War.
• It's now a fine-dining establishment that pays homage to classic New England fare.

Years before the Revolutionary War and the Salem witch trials — and long before the United States even existed — this iconic Rhode Island restaurant was already serving up classic New England fare.

The White Horse Tavern, housed in a distinctive red colonial building in the quaint seaside city of Newport, dates back to 1673, making it the oldest restaurant in Rhode Island and one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the United States.

It is also widely recognized as the 10th-oldest operating restaurant in the world, drawing international attention and making it a popular destination for visitors.

A witness to America's earliest history

Originally built in 1652 as the home of merchant Francis Brinley, the property later became a tavern where locals, sailors, and other travelers gathered for food, drinks, and conversation.

During a time when public meeting places were scarce and when Newport was one of the busiest ports in the colonies, the tavern operated as a hub for the Colony's General Assembly, Criminal Court, and City Council, according to the restaurant's website.

The tavern also played a small role in the Revolutionary War era, when British troops and loyalists were quartered there during the British occupation of Newport in the late 1770s.

While The White Horse Tavern is often cited as one of the world's oldest restaurants, its run wasn't entirely uninterrupted. The building underwent a major restoration beginning in 1954 and reopened as a restaurant in 1957 after several years of closure.

That distinction separates it from establishments such as Boston's Union Oyster House, which has operated continuously since 1826 and is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the United States.

Today, the White Horse Tavern is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and many of its original historic features remain intact. Thick wooden beams stretch across the ceilings, fireplaces crackle during colder months, and candlelit white-tablecloth dining room tables help transport guests back in time.

An evolving menu

The menu highlights products sourced from Rhode Island and the surrounding region, including local seafood, artisanal cheeses, and honey, as well as classic British dishes like beef Wellington and Scotch eggs.

While some items are on the pricier side — the beef Wellington costs $59 — the menu has received favorable reviews, with guests praising the restaurant's "top-notch" service, traditional New England food, and upscale atmosphere.

For visitors to Newport, a meal at The White Horse Tavern offers more than dinner. It provides a rare opportunity to experience history firsthand, one bite at a time.

The US was once the biggest denim manufacturer in the world. But after decades of competition from cheaper foreign factories, the country that popularized jeans has lost almost every denim mill. We went inside Mount Vernon Mills, one of the oldest factories left in the US, to find out how it has made it this far. We also toured Crescent Bahuman, a high-tech facility in Pakistan, to see what it takes for American companies to compete with mass producers abroad.

• Margaret Burke, who lives in Taiwan, helps manage her mother's remote care in Myrtle Beach.
• Burke's mother lives in a budget-friendly condo that offers meals, activities, and communal events.
• Burke said living away from her mother has worked out well, but she wants to move back to the US.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Margaret Burke, 62, who lives in Taiwan and is caring remotely for her 91-year-old mother in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Burke, who works as a patent attorney, said this arrangement has allowed her mom to age well in a condo while she can live independently and save for her own long-term care. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I have lived in Asia for 18 years, working as a patent attorney. During the tech crash in the early 2000s, I was working for a startup. I wanted to get out, so I got a job in Tokyo. I later moved to Hong Kong, then came back to the US for a few years to deal with family stuff. I got my mom into a retirement community in Virginia, then went back to Hong Kong, where I started a firm. We had a branch office in Taiwan, so I decided to relocate.

Over the years, I have assisted family members with housing. I knew it would be the right thing to help my mother find the best place possible because I owe her so much, as she helped me raise my daughter as a single parent.

My mother moved into a very affordable condo

My mother worked for over 20 years as a paralegal for a town on Long Island. She has a small pension and gets Social Security. She is 91 and, at 85, moved to a condo in Myrtle Beach. She had wanted to move closer to the ocean and get out of the rat race of Northern Virginia, a very congested area.

It's a standard condo that she owns, but it includes a daily meal, mostly dinners, and various other services, like a bus to the supermarket and field trips. It isn't a luxury development, as it features both highly affordable condos, typically $40,000 to $70,000, and affordable monthly fees. These range from a little over $1,000 for a studio to about $2,500 for a two-bedroom, and include meals, all utilities, activities, a pool, and other amenities. There are gardening sessions, exercise classes, Bible study groups, and movie nights.

I paid around $62,000 for her condo and put it in her name. She's paid the monthly fee, which was $1,700 when she moved in and has increased to over $2,000 a month for a bigger unit. It's about 860 square feet for her two-bedroom apartment. The other money she uses for expenses like car insurance, though she's just given up driving. She's lived frugally here, and it hasn't been hard.

She's always on the go, often shopping, going for walks, or taking day trips to museums. Sometimes she crochets with friends. She and I have met many residents' families.

There are very few places like this in the US

There are a few other examples of this condo model across the country in states like Virginia, but we hadn't encountered this before looking. As baby boomers age, they will be needed more and more. They keep prices low because it's not a management company; the condo hires its own management, which hires its own maintenance. A few engineers keep the property running.

Many people here have lived to over 100, including my mother's friend, who died last year at 103. They're a very involved group and have lived fascinating lives. Some require more assistance than others and call in outside caregivers, and some are on Medicaid. A few have tried out assisted living and hated it.

I do own a unit there that I bought for my brother, who was dying of brain tumors and lived there for a year and a half before passing away in December. It was also a blessing for him. I have stayed there for several months while helping my brother. I can attest that many people in their 90s are living healthy, independent lives because of all these services, including the man who moved into my brother's place, a retired pastor who is 93.

So many people, including many of the people living where my mom does, cannot afford assisted living, so if their health declines, their children help or sometimes caregivers. What I've noticed over the years is a consolidation of what were formerly independent living communities, which has significantly increased costs.

I want to spend time with my mom

I will likely be moving back to the US with my mother this summer or fall. She doesn't need the help, but I want to. She's great fun, and I want to spend time with her. I have permanent residency here, so I can move back at any time. I've stayed here as long as I have because I had breast cancer, and Taiwan's medical system is among the highest-rated in the world. It was quite efficient, and from diagnosis to the surgery table, it took 13 days.

It's allowed me to live more comfortably halfway across the globe while knowing my mom has been in good hands. I know I want something like this when I'm her age. I know that my 37-year-old daughter in Manhattan isn't going to give up her life to take care of me.

I know I have only so many years left with her, and I want to enjoy every moment we have. I plan on doing day trips and drives with her while she's still relatively mobile. With computers, I can do what I do from anywhere.

I want other people to have the peace of mind that I've had for the last six years. There is this "third path" between independent living and assisted living that is affordable for most middle-income seniors.

• Every few years, I take each of my three kids on a trip and let them plan it.
• Traveling with them individually helps me get to know them outside our family dynamic.
• It also means they get to make decisions without the input of their siblings.

Every few years, I take each of my three kids on a trip for just the two of us. They pick the destination, and I help plan as much (or as little) as they want. What I love most about these trips is how much I learn about who my kids are outside our family dynamics, away from siblings, routines, and the roles they've settled into at home.

The trips started years ago

The year my third baby was born, my eldest turned 5 and started kindergarten. With a newborn and a 2-year-old also in the house, I wanted to set aside some time just for her, and my husband and I agreed that a weekend trip to Disneyland during fall break would be ideal. She loved rollercoasters and Minnie Mouse, and it was a short flight away from us.

A couple of years later, my middle child asked if he could take a trip like his sister had (the pictures and the stories endured), while my oldest asked to visit her best friend, who had moved to Seattle. Taking a family of five to Seattle on top of another trip to Disney wasn't practical, so I ended up planning two separate solo trips, and a tradition was born.

I learn a lot when it's just two of us traveling together

On a trip to Seattle, with my oldest, I climbed to the top of the Space Needle and rode The Seattle Great Wheel despite a serious fear of heights. At Disneyland, my middle traded a day of roller coasters for character meet-and-greets, and I discovered he always wants a midday rest, a preference that can be hard to accommodate when traveling as a family. On my youngest's recent first solo trip, we swam in the hotel pool right up until the minute we needed to leave for the airport. He hopped out, changed his swim trunks for shorts in the bathroom, and we made our flight, just barely.

When I travel with one child, they get to make every single decision without the noise of sibling input. It's fascinating to see what food, activities, and bedtimes they pick when it's just the two of us. My youngest prefers sticking close to a specific area, especially pools, beaches, and aquatic activities. My middle is a great adventurer. He's led me to national parks, Chinatown for "real Chinese food," and historic sites like Alcatraz. And I've watched my oldest's preferences change as she matures into a teen, from Minnie Mouse and kiddie coasters to going to Portland for brunch and to hit up Powell's bookstore.

On these trips, no one is there to yuck their yum, so they suggest things they'd likely never pitch at home. We can linger as long as they want at whatever captures their attention, change our plans mid-day, and talk about what's happening in their lives back home with no interruptions.

I'll travel with my kids for as long as they'll let me

I'm getting ready for the third adventure with my oldest, and these trips have become my favorite way to get a closer look at who each of my kids actually is right now, rather than who they become through our family shorthand. Maybe the same is true for how they see me.

The best takeaway for me, though, is that trips like this remind me how you can get to know someone better by traveling with them. Even after years of knowing them, even after being their parent all that time. And my hope is that one day, when they are adults and I'm much older, they'll still invite me to explore new corners of the world with them.

• Realtor.com ranked all 50 states and DC based on housing affordability and homebuilding.
• Each state received grades from A to F, with A being the best.
• The best US states for affordability and new-home construction are largely in the Midwest and South.

It's a tough real estate market no matter where you live, but some parts of the US are faring better than others.

Realtor.com released its annual housing report card on Monday, grading all 50 states and Washington, DC, from A to F based on how affordable homes are there and how much new housing is being built.

Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com, told Business Insider that homebuilding is an important indicator of a housing ecosystem because it signals how affordable homes will be over time.

"Without new homes being built, affordability will suffer under constrained home supply," he said.

Once again, the best-performing states — those earning either an A or a B grade — were concentrated mostly in the Midwest and South, regions known for their lower cost of living and abundance of relatively affordable homes.

Indiana ranked No. 1, largely because incomes there are relatively high compared with home prices, giving buyers more affordable options. But Berner said the state's "unremarkable" new-home construction could point to affordability problems in the future.

At the other end of the ranking, states that received grades between C and F were largely concentrated in the West and New England. Berner said building in these states is often slower and more expensive because of zoning rules, permitting delays, and building codes. As a result, they struggle to compete with states in the middle of the country, where land is cheaper, and building is generally easier.

Below are the 10 best and worst states in the US for affordability and homebuilding, according to Realtor.com.

Median listing prices and median household incomes for these states are from Realtor.com. Population data for each state is from the US Census Bureau.

The 10 best states for homebuilding and affordability

10. Oklahoma

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $299,000
• Median Household income: $65,000
• Population: 4,123,288

9. Arkansas

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $300,000
• Median Household income: $61,000
• Population: 3,114,791

8. South Dakota

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $379,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 935,094

7. Delaware

• Grade: B
• Median listing price: $486,000
• Median Household income: $88,000
• Population: 1,059,952

6. Nebraska

• Grade: B+
• Median listing price: $346,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 2,018,006

5. North Carolina

• Grade: B+
• Median listing price: $299,000
• Median Household income: $65,000
• Population: 11,197,968

4. Texas

• Grade: A-
• Median listing price: $300,000
• Median Household income: $61,000
• Population: 31,709,821

3. South Carolina

• Grade: A
• Median listing price: $379,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 5,570,274

2. Iowa

• Grade: A
• Median listing price: $486,000
• Median Household income: $88,000
• Population: 3,238,387

1. Indiana

• Grade: A
• Median listing price: $346,000
• Median Household income: $77,000
• Population: 6,973,333

The 10 worst states for homebuilding and affordability

10. New Hampshire

Grade: D+

Median listing price: $586,123

Median Household income: $96,809

Population: 1,409,032

9. New Jersey

Grade: D

Median listing price: $556,344

Median Household income: $99,357

Population: 9,500,851

8. Montana

Grade: D

Median listing price: $628,387

Median Household income: $72,066

Population: 1,137,233

7. Oregon

Grade: D-

Median listing price: $564,005

Median Household income: $80,356

Population: 4,272,371

6. Connecticut

Grade: F

Median listing price: $518,892

Median Household income: $95,392

Population: 3,675,069

5. California

Grade: F

Median listing price: $742,305

Median Household income: $95,065

Population: 39,431,263

4. Hawaii

Grade: F

Median listing price: $767,360

Median Household income: $94,556

Population: 1,446,146

3. Rhode Island

Grade: F

Median listing price: $563,235

Median Household income: $85,698

Population: 1,112,308

2. Massachusetts

Grade: F

Median listing price: $763,660

Median Household income: $98,170

Population: 7,136,171

1. New York

Grade: F

Median listing price: $668,173

Median Household income: $82,657

Population: 19,867,248

• A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
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Apple has a habit of showing up late to the tech party and still being the best-dressed. It might do it again with the new Siri in iOS 27 this fall.

Right now, Siri is bad — and that's not a harsh take. Ali has ChatGPT pinned to his iPhone's home screen. I have Gemini in a prime spot for quick access to a genuinely useful AI assistant.

These are the habits Apple is up against. But I'm using Gemini less after a few days of test-driving the first iOS 27 beta and years of dunking on Siri. It turns out Siri's new intelligence is based on Gemini models.

One nice update is that Siri AI (as Apple calls it) indexes your phone to capture details from texts, emails, notes, and calendar events. I got answers to queries like "when's my next personal training session?" and "by when do I have to cancel the hotel reservation for a refund?" Siri could fish out the answers to my somewhat vague prompts.

It's convenient to have a dedicated Siri app, too. I find its responses less flattering and more concise than those of other LLMs.

At long last, Siri impressively draws on real-world knowledge. While watching the Knicks parade, I showed Siri a photo and played dumb. It knew exactly what was happening and why. It also gave me helpful commuting tips when I asked, pulling from relevant local news sources.

Siri is not yet excellent. It still sometimes misunderstands my non-American accent (Gemini usually doesn't). And I can't get Siri to answer activity-related questions because it needs access to my Health app (it has access).

This is, of course, a first beta experience. But my hunch is that come this fall, when the masses get access, Siri will be at least better than bad.

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