The World Cup continues, and tonight's headliner is another can't-miss match. We've scoured the global watch options to highlight everything you need to know about where to watch Iran vs. New Zealand, including live streaming options for cord-cutters.

If you don't want to scroll anymore, we've got you covered. You can live stream the game on FS1 via a live TV service in the US, SBS On Demand in Australia, and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Fans can access their favorite streaming options from anywhere with a VPN. To learn more about streaming this year's tournament, make sure to bookmark our where to watch the World Cup guide.

Where to watch Iran vs. New Zealand for free

World Cup fans in several countries are in luck this year. There are tons of free options for all of the games, including Iran vs. New Zealand. This match is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer in the UK and SBS On Demand in the UK. US viewers can watch at no immediate cost with a free trial from a live TV service, such as DirecTV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.

How to watch Iran vs. New Zealand from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your streaming service works, don't worry. You can access your free option from anywhere with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are easy-to-use tech apps that help people temporarily alter the location on their electronic devices so their favorite websites work from anywhere in the world. They're especially popular among those looking to keep up with their usual services while traveling abroad or hoping to boost their day-to-day cybersecurity and privacy.

NordVPN consistently ranks among the best VPNs we've tested. It's fast, user-friendly, and offers an impressive selection of global servers. Plus, it includes a 30-day money-back guarantee, so there's no sweat if you find that it's not what you're looking for.

Where to watch Iran vs. New Zealand in the US

Iran vs. New Zealand will air on FS1 in the US. Several other World Cup matches will be available through FS1 in the US, and the rest will air on FOX. If you're a cord-cutter looking for a streaming service to watch the rest of the World Cup, you have several options.

Sling TV is a budget-friendly live TV service with FS1 coverage in both its Select and Blue plans. Select starts at $20 a month and comes with around 10 channels, while Blue starts at $46 a month and offers over 40 channels. FOX is also available in Select and Blue plans, but local channel coverage varies vastly by region, so it's a good idea to double-check what's available in your region before signing up (if local channels are in the mix, plans will be about $5 a month more expensive).

Fubo Sports + News offers FOX, FS1, and around 27 other channels in its lineup. Subscriptions also unlock access to ESPN Unlimited. If you're looking for even more channels, FOX and FS1 are also available in Fubo's pricier Pro and Elite plans. Fubo Sports + News costs $56 a month, but first-time customers can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial.

DirecTV carries FOX in all of its signature packages, along with select cheaper genre packs like MySports and MyNews. For the World Cup, we recommend DirecTV MySports, since it carries FOX, FS1, and around 20 other popular sports channels. MySports also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first two months of service after a five-day free trial.

YouTube TV carries FOX and FS1 in both its main and sports plans. The main plan typically costs $83 a month, but a limited-time deal can bring the first five months down to $68 a month for new customers. Similarly, the sports plan typically costs $65 a month, but new users can get $10 a month off their first 12 months. YouTube TV also typically offers a free trial for first-time customers.

Fans interested in Spanish-language coverage in the US will need to subscribe to Peacock. Sports-friendly plans start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium and unlock access to all 104 World Cup matches.

FOX also has a direct streaming counterpart, FOX One, which costs $20 a month. You can also sign up for the service as an add-on through Prime Video if you don't feel like downloading another app.

Where to watch Iran vs. New Zealand in the UK

BBC and ITV split coverage rights in the UK, but Iran vs. New Zealand will air on BBC One. This means fans will be able to live stream all of the action for free with a BBC iPlayer account. Users just need to create an account if they don't already have one, and then they're all set to start watching.

Where to watch Iran vs. New Zealand in Australia

All World Cup games, including Iran vs. New Zealand, are available to live stream on SBS On Demand in Australia. This is a free streaming service that supports SBS channels and just requires account creation to use.

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.

Whether you're outside on a long run or grinding on a treadmill, a good playlist can make the miles fly by. But the best running headphones do more than just play music. They need to stay put through sweaty jogs, offer controls you can easily use mid-stride, and sound good enough to keep you motivated when your legs start to fade.

To find the best headphones for running, I tested a wide range of options over several months, using them on daily runs totaling around 500 miles. Along the way, I listened to everything from podcasts and audiobooks to high-energy playlists to see which pairs actually held up in real-world use. The Shokz OpenDots 2 stood out as the most versatile earbuds thanks to their secure, comfortable fit, high-quality sound, and natural open transparency. But if you mainly run indoors, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are especially good for blocking out noisy gyms and treadmill distractions.

Below, you'll find all of my picks for the best running headphones, plus a breakdown of how I tested each pair and the key things to keep in mind before you buy your next set of earbuds.

Our top picks for the best headphones for running

Best overall: Shokz OpenDots 2 - See at Amazon

Best for treadmills: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 - See at Amazon

Best for outdoor use: Nothing Ear (Open) - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Shokz OpenDots 2 are the best earbuds for running because they feature an open design that doesn't compromise audio quality while still providing a secure, comfortable fit. Whether you're running indoors on a treadmill or by a busy road, the OpenDots 2 have enough volume to work in most environments while still allowing you to be aware of your surroundings. That's particularly important for road running.

I previously recommended the Soundcore AeroFit 2 as my top pick. Those earbuds are still a great choice for running, especially if you're on a tighter budget, but their over-ear hook design makes them less comfortable when wearing a hat or sunglasses. The OpenDots 2 earbuds alleviate that issue by clipping onto the side of your ear, like a cuff.

The OpenDots 2 don't have physical buttons for media control, which is a potential downside, but since they use a large force-touch area that's easy to find while on the move, the controls are still passable. I also like the included charging case, which is compact enough to travel with and supports wireless charging. With the case, you get a total of 40 hours of battery life.

Of course, a good design and feature set would be moot without high-quality audio. Thankfully, the OpenDots 2 have a big, lively sound that is motivating to run with. Open-ear buds are notorious for lacking depth and bass since they don't create a seal in your ear. But the OpenDots 2 manage to avoid this pitfall. Over the course of more than 75 miles, I could still hear plenty of bass with all the songs I listened to. I thought vocals were clear, too. When I listened to podcasts, voices sounded natural and easy to hear.

The Shokz OpenDots 2 aren't quite perfect, but they're the most versatile running earbuds I've come across after years of testing. If you're looking for headphones to use only on a treadmill or only outside, you can find options tailored slightly better for those uses. But the OpenDots 2 are the best at delivering the complete package runners look for.

Read our full Shokz OpenDots 2 review.

Best for treadmills

Unlike my other picks in this guide, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 use an in-ear design with silicone tips that create a seal in your ear canal. This style of earbud is much better at blocking out ambient noise than open-style headphones.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 even have active noise cancellation (ANC), which makes them ideal for quieting distracting sounds when running inside on a treadmill — whether at a facility or home gym. Even the noise your feet make as they pound on the conveyor belt can get loud and may need to be dampened. These work great for that.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 also deliver robust low-end audio that comes through especially well when using ANC. With ANC on, the buds offer a respectable eight hours of battery life (36 hours total with the wireless charging case).

The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds also have built-in heart rate sensors. This feature works with certain apps across iOS and Android to add another metric to treadmill runners. But be aware that this feature is disabled when you use an Apple Watch with the earbuds, since the watch already has heart-rate tracking.

Beyond their excellent sound quality, I love the earbuds' easy-to-reach volume buttons. The "b" button on each earbud also flexes to provide tactile control for playback or ANC. The fit was stable on my ears and comfortable enough that I nearly forgot I was wearing headphones.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 also have a transparency mode that lets in outside sounds so you can hear your environment when you need to stay aware. This feature works well enough to use out on city streets, but I recommend going with a truly open-ear pair of headphones if you primarily plan to run outdoors. Sadly, there is no adaptive audio mode to block out selective loud noises, but that's less of a concern if you're using these on a treadmill.

Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review.

Best for outdoor use

The Nothing Ear (Open) are terrific earbuds for running outside. The main reason I recommend these for dedicated outdoor runners is their loud volume and full sound. At the same time, their open-ear fit means they hover just outside your ear canal, providing awareness of cars and people. But in this case, the open style doesn't mean you have to sacrifice good music quality.

Compared to other open-ear-style buds, I found the Nothing Ear (Open) to be more audible outside without needing to turn the volume up quite as loud. Any time you can keep from turning up the volume to the max, the better it will be for your hearing in the long run — pun intended.

Even though the over-the-ear hooks don't allow for any adjustments, I still found them comfortable and relatively secure. The rubbery hooks are flexible enough for different-sized ears, and the soft material feels nice.

Regarding media controls, the earbuds use a hybrid system similar to AirPods' pinchable stems. Squeezing the earbuds will play or pause your audio, while a double squeeze will skip songs. There's no physical button, but there's an audible sound to provide feedback.

However, adjusting the volume is a bit cumbersome. You need to squeeze and hold the right side to raise the volume, and do the same on the left side to lower it. I'm not crazy about this gesture in general, but it's even tougher to do while running than while standing. Still, the controls work well enough that I didn't encounter many false positives.

Battery life is solid: eight hours with the buds themselves or 30 with the charging case. But while the case supports USB-C, it's disappointing that it doesn't support wireless charging.

Beyond performance and function, I find the earbuds' unique, clear design to be attractive. Few running headphones are concerned with their appearance, so it's nice to have an option that offers some added style.

What else we considered

The picks listed above are the three best running headphones I recommend, but I also tested a lot of other earbuds that are worth considering. Here are some quick thoughts on other options that didn't quite make the cut as top picks in this guide.

Soundcore AeroFit 2 - See at Amazon
The Soundcore AeroFit 2 were previously my top pick for the best running earbuds because they strike a strong balance between comfort, awareness, and sound. However, I now give the Shokz OpenDots 2 the edge, as I prefer their audio quality and clip-on design.

Bose Ultra Open - See at Amazon
These high-end open-ear buds use a clip-on (ear-cuff) style for a secure, stay-put fit. They never slipped around, even when I reached for the big, clickable button in the back. While these buds are great for running, they can also be used for everyday listening. If you have a compatible Bose soundbar, you can even use the earbuds to simulate rear surround sound speakers while watching movies. But no matter how you slice it, these earbuds are a premium product at $300, and their feature set is hard to justify at that cost if you're primarily just using them for running.

Sony's Linkbuds Open - See at Amazon
This unique pair of earbuds has a physical hole in its design to let in ambient sounds. The first generation was a good start, but this latest model doesn't quite live up to its potential for an active lifestyle. Compared to other options, the Linkbuds Open don't sound full or loud enough while out running on the road.

Read our Sony Linkbuds Open review.

Sony Linkbuds Fit - See at Amazon
These earbuds use digital processing to let in outside noise. The wing tip kept the earbuds secure during my runs while remaining flexible enough not to put pressure on my ears. They're especially great for cyclists, as the design works well with a helmet. But given their $200 price tag, I wish the Linkbuds Fit sounded just a little better, with fuller bass when listening to music.

Shokz Open Fit 2 - See at Amazon
These are good running earbuds in a lot of aspects, but they're not a master of any area. The midrange sound was a bit muffled compared to other earbuds, and the fit was just a little looser than other picks. I did like the media control button. It was easy to press while running and gave good audio feedback in addition to its tactile feel. That alone isn't enough to push it past other options, but they're certainly worth considering if they're on sale.

Soundcore C40i - See at Amazon
This is another solid cuff-style earbud option. In the context of running, they did everything well, and I like that they have a physical media control button. However, they may not fit all ears equally. I also found the button could be hard to press while on the move, and while running outside, I needed to keep the volume level cranked to 100.

SoundPeats PearlClip Pro - See at Amazon
These headphones are a neat, lower-cost option, but I found them just a little too loose for running. They would probably work best for stationary or walking use.

Belkin SoundForm ClearFit - See at Amazon
Belkin's earbuds are lightweight and open. The sound was okay for an entry-level budget model, but I didn't like the touch controls, and the fit may be too loose for some people.

How we test running headphones

To select the best running headphones, I tested several models and evaluated their performance during actual runs. I ran at least 20 miles with each pair of earbuds, though I logged closer to 50 miles with most of them. I listened to music, podcasts, and other audio to get a sense of how the headphones sounded with different types of content. I ran outside in the rain and frigid temperatures, and in the heat when the sun was out.

My daily routine primarily consisted of running outside with the earbuds, but I did occasionally use a treadmill indoors. I made sure to use each pick in both conditions to test versatility.

Since the best running earbuds are designed for active use, I also checked whether sweat affected any of the charging contacts in their cases. Unless you're extremely diligent about wiping all the liquid from the earbuds, I've seen corrosion prevent headphones from charging in their cases. The AeroFit 2 showed some signs of this after a couple of months, but it was easy to wipe away and never interfered with charging. The Soundcore C40i also showed signs of corrosion, but it was harder to reach inside its narrow case, making it trickier to clean.

While I primarily connected the earbuds directly to my Apple Watch with Bluetooth, I also connected them to my iPhone to check out their companion apps.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Tyler Hayes, contributing reporter: I've been writing about consumer tech products since 2013 and reviewing headphones for Business Insider since 2019. In that time, I've tested more pairs of earbuds than I can count. But for this guide, I didn't just sit at my desk and press play — I took every pair out on my own runs, logging 20 to 50 miles in them through heat, cold, and sweat. I also used them inside on a treadmill. I'm a daily runner, which means I'm picky about what actually stays put, sounds good when I'm pushing the pace, and holds up over time. The picks in this guide do just that.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

Running headphones FAQs

What makes headphones good for running?

One of the most critical elements that separates the best running headphones from lesser models is their fit. There's a lot of jostling in the sport, so keeping your earbuds secure is key to a good experience. I've found that even if the earbuds aren't at risk of falling out, feeling loose can be distracting and burdensome. If you aren't sure about fit, I would recommend starting with a pair that hooks over the ears or clips onto the sides.

Beyond the fit, you'll want to be mindful of how easy it is to access media controls and whether the headphones are water- or sweat-resistant.

Though the above guidance is geared toward finding the best headphones for running, many of these factors also apply to other uses. For more recommendations outside of running, check out our other headphone guides:

• The best headphones
• The best budget headphones
• The best earbuds
• The best headphones for working out
• The best noise-canceling headphones
• The best over-ear headphones
• The best Apple AirPods
• The best AirPods alternatives

Do running headphones need to be waterproof?

Different headphones can handle varying degrees of water or sweat. This level of protection is defined by the Ingress Protection (IP) rating system. In this system, the first number refers to debris, and the second refers to water. All of our picks for the best running headphones can at least handle liquid splashed from all directions, which is IPX4 — the "X" referring to no protection from dust and debris. A higher number provides better protection, but not all numbers are applicable to simply protecting against sweat from running.

Can any earbuds be used for running?

Though you can technically use pretty much any pair of earbuds for running, the best running headphones have features built specifically for the sport, including open designs, secure fits, and sweat protection.

Do over-ear headphones work well for running?

Generally speaking, over-ear headphones are not the best fit for running. This design tends to feel bulkier, trap more heat, and can shift around during high-impact movement. Their passive noise isolation also makes it hard to hear your surroundings.

If you run outside and prefer over-ear headphones, look for a lightweight pair with a secure fit and an awareness mode that lets you still hear your surroundings.

Why do many running headphones use an open-ear design?

Open-ear buds sit right outside your ears instead of going farther inside to create a full seal. This design allows you to hear more of your surroundings rather than the passive noise-blocking that can come from plugging your ear canals. Being aware of other people and vehicles is good for safety while running outside, so this style is popular for many of the best running headphones geared toward outdoor use.

Is it safe to use headphones for running?

Running with earbuds can be dangerous in busy environments, especially if the volume is turned up so high that it blocks out the sounds of cars and other people. (Turning the volume up too loud is also dangerous for the health of your hearing.) It's fine to use earbuds while running as long as the volume is moderate and you can still hear your surroundings when outside.

As a longtime Nugget owner, I've seen firsthand how the play couch earned its devoted following. I strongly believe in the power of imaginative, independent playtime. My 4-year-old has spent years building forts, obstacle courses, and imaginative worlds with ours, and we've even unfolded it into an extra sleeping space for when guests come to visit. But despite its versatility, I can't deny that the Nugget takes up a fair amount of space. When we lived in a smaller townhouse, the play couch took up a considerable amount of space in our living room, even when folded up.

That's why I was so excited by the prospect of an imaginative design like the Nugget, just with a smaller footprint. Enter the Nugget Smore, a play chair from the brand that encompasses everything that the original play couch does (comfort, versatility, and brain-exercising design) but at a considerably smaller (and lighter!) size, more comparable to the Chunk ottoman.

Like the original Nugget, it's made from sturdy foam pieces that can be rearranged into different configurations. But unlike most kids' chairs, it's designed to come apart and become part of playtime.

After testing the Nugget Smore at home with my preschooler and baby, I found it succeeded in a way that surprised me. It isn't just a chair, but it isn't trying to replace the original Nugget either. Instead, it occupies a middle ground that may make even more sense for some families.

What is the Nugget Smore?

The Smore is Nugget's newest addition to its modular furniture lineup. Unlike the original Nugget play couch or the Chunk ottoman, the Smore is designed primarily as a chair while still supporting open-ended play.

The Smore chair consists of three separate foam components: a chair base (block), a backrest (elbow piece), and a large U-shaped outer piece (frame). Together they can create a sturdy children's armchair, but each component can also be used independently for building, pretending, and lounging. They can be reconfigured as your child grows, to suit kids from two up to 11. The company describes the Smore as a "playwithable" chair built for independent imaginative play, a throughline with all the Nugget products.

Parents can choose from nine colors and three fabric options: microsuede, double-brushed microsuede, and the brand's new denim upholstery. Personalized embroidery is also available for an additional $19. Like all Nugget products, the fabric is removable and machine washable, so you can wash off any spills or dirt that are bound to come with kids.

First impressions

The Smore arrived in a surprisingly lightweight box, so much so that I was a little worried I was missing something. All three pieces ship compressed in a large oval shape, meaning you’ll need to take them out of the packaging and give it some time to fully take shape. It took surprisingly little time for this to happen, though we left the pieces out overnight to let them fully expand. I noticed no off-gassing odors.

Putting it together is completely straightforward - the largest part serves as the chair's back and arms, with the second-largest part providing additional back support and a seat. The third, smallest piece serves as the final seating, providing more height for small bodies. The sizing was perfect for my four-year-old daughter, who quickly made herself at home on her new throne. Everything feels sturdy, and it does look very much like a nice kid’s chair. Compared to the more traditional kids’ chairs we’ve had in the past, this one doesn’t seem like it will lose its shape or sink in over time.

Perhaps most importantly, my daughter could move it all herself. While she still occasionally needs help carrying pieces of our full-size Nugget, she had no trouble rearranging the Smore independently, quickly disassembling her chair to make it into a tunnel for her stuffies.

What I liked about the Smore

The lightweight design makes independent play possible

To me, one of the biggest advantages over the original Nugget is its weight. While the Nugget play couch isn’t a bag of bricks by any means, it is fairly cumbersome to move from room to room or put into different configurations.

In contrast with the Smore, my daughter was able to move every piece herself, carry them between rooms, and experiment with different setups without needing an adult. That independence made her more likely to actually use it throughout the day.

It works as both furniture and a toy

The "playwithable" claim turned out to be legitimate. While she regularly used the Smore as a reading chair, she spent just as much time incorporating it into imaginative play. Her favorite use was turning the large U-shaped outer piece into a tunnel. She also frequently draped blankets over it to create caves for stuffed animals.

Unlike traditional kids' chairs, which serve one purpose, the Smore regularly became part of whatever game she was inventing.

The covers are practical for real family life

Like the original Nugget, every cover can be removed and machine-washed.

That's a major advantage in a house with young children where spills are inevitable. After years of owning a Nugget, washable covers remain one of my favorite features, and I'm glad Nugget carried that design over to the Smore.

How my kids actually used it

My daughter used the Smore in ways I didn't fully anticipate. She certainly sat in it while reading books and watching shows. But much of its appeal came from what happened when it wasn't functioning as a chair. The large exterior piece became tunnels, caves, and hideouts. The interior cushion became a slide for her stuffies. That versatility is what separates it from a standard children's chair.

My son is still only crawling, but when we let him loose around the chair he was intrigued by it as well. At less than a year, he likes exploring it in its deconstructed form, crawling over the cushions, or underneath the large, exterior part. While his age isn’t the intended one for the design, it’s already clear that it’ll be something he can join in on playing with in the future.

Smore vs. the Nugget vs. Chunk vs. a regular kids’ chair

The original Nugget remains the better option for families interested primarily in fort building, obstacle courses, or large-scale imaginative play.

The Chunk works well as an ottoman, stepping stone, or flexible play piece.

The Smore sits comfortably between those products. It provides actual seating while still encouraging creativity. For smaller homes or families with younger children, it serves as a great entry point into play furniture.

A traditional kids' chair will almost certainly cost less. However, it can't evolve beyond its intended purpose. If you’re looking for it to be something other than a seat, one of the Nugget products may be a better option.

What parents should know before buying

Probably the biggest drawback is price. Starting around $199, the Smore costs significantly more than most children's chairs, which you can find for far less, in the two figures versus three.

Parents who already own a Nugget may also wonder whether the Smore adds enough functionality to justify another purchase. Truthfully, I can’t say whether it’s necessary to have them both, but I do know that when we were in a smaller living space, we probably would’ve preferred the Smore to the original Nugget if it had been available.

What it really comes down to is what your kid enjoys doing, and whether they’re at the right age to use this as more than just a chair. Even two years ago, I’m not sure my daughter would’ve had enough experience with imaginative play to really get the most out of the modular chair (certainly, my younger son isn't there yet). But now, she’s fully in a phase of life where everything is pretending, meaning she can very easily go between using the Smore as a chair or making it into something that adapts to whatever she’s playing.

If your kid is going to use this primarily as a chair, there are far more affordable options out there. But if you think they’ll be able to use it for play as well, I believe it starts to earn back more of its value for the price.

Nugget also offers a 30 day return window on unopened merchandise and a limited one-year warranty that covers manufacturing defects. The Smore must be unboxed within two weeks of delivery, or the warranty is voided (eight weeks for the Nugget), which is a short window of time if you're purchasing as a gift.

The bottom line

The Nugget Smore successfully fills a gap I didn't realize existed.

It's more engaging than a traditional kids chair but less cumbersome than a full Nugget. The lightweight pieces promote imaginative play and independence for kids, making it so the modular design continues serving a purpose long after kids are done sitting in it.

If you have a kid who is very into imaginative play and might prefer something lighter and smaller than the Nugget, the Smore is well worth considering. However, for those who know their kid will just use it as a chair and nothing more, stick to the more traditional options – they’re cheaper and will fulfill everything they need.

Who should buy it

• Families with toddlers and preschoolers
• Parents who already value open-ended play
• Homes with limited space for a full Nugget setup
• Kids who enjoy building forts and imaginative play

Who should skip it

• Families looking for the cheapest seating option
• Older children who have outgrown foam furniture
• Kids who are unlikely to use the modular features

• Rivian is developing autonomous-driving technology for its next-generation vehicles.
• CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is set to release Tesla FSD-like self-driving later this year.
• Autonomous driving is also part of Rivian's plans for a robotaxi launch through Uber.

Rivian's CEO says the company is on track to release a supervised self-driving system similar to Tesla's Full Self-Driving later this year.

During a fireside chat at a Masters of Scale event in Anaheim on Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe said Rivian will release an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) that could enable the company's second-generation cars and the new R2 to drive on their own with supervision from one destination to another — also known as point-to-point driving.

The CEO compared the tech to Tesla FSD.

"Later this year, we'll have full supervised point-to-point, which will be very similar to Tesla's FSD," he said. "And that'll roll out to all of our Gen 2 vehicles and, of course, R2."

The release would be a notable step up from Rivian's current self-driving system, called Universal Hands-Free, if Scaringe's projection is realized.

UHF is an ADAS that can handle steering and speed control on about 3.5 million miles of clearly-marked roads in the US and Canada. It does not navigate turns, traffic lights, or parking lots like Tesla's FSD Supervised.

Scaringe's pronouncement could mean that Rivian has advanced its ADAS to a level of driving similar to FSD within a year of its release to customers.

The CEO did not specify if there would be a limit on the number of miles the self-driving tech could handle upon first release. Rivian did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last December, the company announced a push to develop fully autonomous driving technology for its future vehicle lineup, enabling hands-free, eyes-off driving.

Scaringe said at the event that unsupervised self-driving will be released next year.

Part of Rivian's strategy is to develop autonomous driving for robotaxi fleets. The company inked a $1.25 billion deal with Uber in March, in which the ride-hailing company could buy up to 50,000 R2s for its robotaxi aspirations.

• Aldi launched free "Blind Boxes" featuring mystery grocery items for budget-savvy shoppers.
• From June 22-25, Aldi will release themed boxes featuring protein and fiber products.
• The giveaway taps into consumer trends for budget-friendly and nutritious food options.

Aldi is betting that shoppers' love of mystery boxes extends to the grocery aisle.

The discount grocer, known for its low prices and private-label products, announced Monday that it will give away free "Aldi Blind Boxes" for four days, with a limited number of mystery grocery packages available daily through AldiBlindBox.com.

A different themed box will drop each day from June 22 through June 25 at noon ET, and shoppers can claim one while supplies last.

The giveaway arrives as many Americans remain focused on stretching grocery budgets while also seeking foods that align with popular nutrition trends. Aldi's four themes include protein, fiber, and snack products alongside a Mystery Blind Box, and will include items such as meats and fresh produce, snacks, cheeses, and pantry staples.

The promotion also taps into the popularity of mystery-box shopping, which has fueled demand for surprise collectibles, beauty products, and other limited-time retail drops.

"Our shoppers come to ALDI for value, but they also come for discovery," Bridget Kozlowski, Aldi's director of communications, said in a statement. "People love the thrill of discovering something new here."

To get a box, shoppers must visit AldiBlindBox.com when each day's giveaway opens and submit shipping information, according to the FAQ. Aldi said it will reveal each day's theme on its Instagram account.

The catch: The boxes are first-come, first-served — and once they're gone, they're gone.

Representatives for Aldi did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider about the supply of boxes that would be included in the giveaway or whether the promotion might return later.

When I moved to the California desert, I had to learn to embrace a material I once steered clear of: linen. I wrongly believed I'd only look wrinkled and disheveled.

And while linen does crease easily, its natural flax fibers work better in heat than synthetics. In search of a more affordable way to pad out my closet in linen, I turned to Quince, my preferred brand for affordable basics.

Over the past few years, I've collected a Quince linen dress, jumpsuit, pants, tops, and shorts. I wear them year-round and find them to be of good quality and construction considering their price.

To put it in perspective, the seven pieces I own total $362. From other retailers like Reformation, Madewell, or Everlane, that same sum would have only yielded me two, maybe three pieces total.

Not everything has been the biggest hit (the shorts… fell short), but the gingham Midi Dress and breezy Button Down have served me well for over a year.

Below are reviews of Quince linen clothing. We tested Quince linen bedding in our guide to the best linen sheets and our Quince home review.

How Quince linen compares

According to the brand, Quince linen clothing weighs 160 GSM (grams per square meter). This is a lighter weight linen that's substantial yet airy, and ideal for summer clothing like sundresses and blouses.

I had no sheer slip-ups with Quince linen — the fabric is tightly woven and smooth. That said, I recommend buying Quince linen in gingham or striped colorways if you're concerned about wrinkling or opacity.

Most pieces run for $40 to $50 each. Some are called "Premium Flax Linen," and others "European Linen," but there's no difference in quality between the two. If you want linen pants with more structure, expect to spend more. Opt for a medium-weight like the Eileen Fisher Organic Linen Wide-Leg Pant ($178), or a linen-viscose blend like the Babaton PowerLinen Pant ($148).

I wear a medium and found some variability in Quince's sizing. It offers plus-size linen clothing up to a size 3X, but they come in fewer colorways and cost more than their straight-size counterparts.

The Linen Square Neck Jumpsuit

I love a jumpsuit, as it's a one-and-done outfit. I've worn other Quince jumpsuits, so trying their linen one felt like a natural choice. It's not as soft as other linen I've tried, but still felt lightweight and breathable.

I've worn this Quince Linen Jumpsuit for about two years now. It's held up well without visible signs of wear and tear. I've put it through the washer, and never had an issue with odd creasing or shrinkage. Quince says it can go in the dryer, but I air dry mine for the best results.

The straps are wide enough that they'll conceal most standard bra straps. This one has a flattering square neckline with adjustable shoulder straps, front and back pockets, and a waist tie belt.

It runs a tad large in the bodice. I'm a pretty true-to-size medium. I do find that the back, which has an elastic panel for comfort and stretch, does gape and expose the backside of my bra. I usually try to adjust how the jumpsuit sits to avoid this, and it doesn't keep me from wearing it, but if I were to purchase it in another color, I'd size down to a small.

Would I buy this again? Yes, but I'll play with sizing next time, as it runs a little large.

The Linen Shorts

No one is perfect, right? And out of the seven Quince linen pieces I own, inevitably one had to flop. For me, it’s these Quince Linen Shorts — purely for how instantly and visibly they wrinkle (even for linen).

I tried the "Light Driftwood"color, and the wrinkles are glaringly obvious. If you want to try this style, I’d recommend a darker color, which might make some of those marks less visible. And it could be worth a shot, since they are soft, comfortable, and come with multiple pockets.

Their creases fold and bunch up, which makes these shorts feel even shorter. For me personally, when it comes to linen bottoms, I just prefer something longer like pants so the wrinkles aren’t so all consuming.

Would I buy this again? No. They wrinkle too easily, and there are more comfortable lounge shorts out there.

The Linen Scoop Neck Midi Dress

I've worn this Quince Linen Midi Dress for a little over a year, and it's become one of my favorites. The combination of the scoop neck, fitted bust, and midi length makes it sleek and sophisticated, but not so dressy that I can't wear it casually. Plus, it has pockets.

I really adore this dress because it's lined with 100% cotton, which acts as a barrier to prevent wrinkling. I've noticed fewer markings as a result, and it's still lightweight without added bulk. The gingham print I chose means wrinkles are mostly camouflaged.

Style editor Samantha Crozier tried the white version and found issues with the length of the liner. "Instead of a full-length lining, it stops right at the knees. You can't see this unless you're directly in the sun, but that's exactly what this dress was made for," says Samantha. "It cuts you off in an awkward way and is another example of how Quince gets it almost right, but how cost-saving measures get in the way of producing a truly great piece."

It runs large in the waist, but the fit details make it comfortable for all-day wear. The adjustable straps ensure I'm never tugging or pulling, and a hidden smocked back panel keeps this feeling comfy and light, even while wearing linen — which isn't exactly known for allowing much give on its own. My only drawback? I have to wear a strapless bra with this one, though that's really a "me" problem.

Would I buy this again? Yes. It's really comfortable, and the cotton lining helps give it structure. However, I know not to try the white version.

The Linen Long Sleeve Shirt

I feel effortlessly chic in this Quince Linen Long Sleeve. It looks fantastic paired with white shorts or pants in summer, or thrown over black leggings while I'm running errands around town. You could even wear it as a beach cover up. My favorite way to style it is to roll up the sleeves and button just two in the middle for a relaxed, yet pulled-together approach.

It runs a bit large. A medium fits just fine, but is still just subtly loose. I really appreciate the longer length that extends past my hips.

It gets softer the more you wash it. I have it in a light blue pinstripe color, which obscures most wrinkling. In total, it's available in 14 colors ranging from light neutrals to dark shades and stripes.

As with most Quince linen, it feels light and breathable. Even on scorching hot days, I feel regulated wearing it (though I tend to reach for the short-sleeve version when temps go above 90°, which is a regular occurrence as a desert dweller).

Would I buy this again? Absolutely. It looks great with everything, washes well, and the striped version doesn't show wrinkles easily.

The Linen Camp Shirt

Since the 100% European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt is my runaway Quince linen favorite, it felt like a no-brainer to try short-sleeve version.

This Quince Linen Camp Shirt has a front placket with buttons, a chest pocket, and oversized dolman sleeves that help make it feel airy and light. I wear a size medium, and find the cut to be relaxed and just a little loose. So if you like an oversized look, definitely size up. And likewise, for a more tailored, body-skimming fit, go down a size.

My only one admitted gripe is that even though it has a curved hemline like the long sleeve version, it seemingly doesn't extend as far. I wish the length was a touch longer, like the long sleeve linen shirt, though that's really the only downside I can find, and the difference is pretty minor.

Regardless, I still like that it comes in a nice range of neutral colors, and it's easy to style.

Would I buy this again? Yes, it's lightweight and easy to wear.

The Linen Patch Pocket Wide Leg Pants

I'm quite the fan of Quince clothing outside of linen — namely their jeans, which I find to be soft, super stretchy, and reliably true to size. The Bella Stretch Patch Pocket Wide Leg Jeans are my current favorite, so I was ecstatic to discover Quince has a linen version, too.

They fit high on the waist with a wide leg shape. Their front patch pockets make a nice statement. The linen is soft and light, and there's a pretty shell button atop the zip closure. The back pockets are a nice touch, too.

Like most linen pants, they crease easily around the thighs. I'm usually able to steam the lines out in just a few minutes without much trouble. I also like how effortless these Linen Patch Pocket Wide Leg Pants are to wear and style. I love them with a tank and sandals for casual days, or dressed up with the right accessories for dinner.

The lightweight linen has no stretch and no liner. However, I've never had any issue with anything showing through. If you're between sizes, I'd size up.

Would I buy this again? Yes, they feel nicely loose and wide-legged without swallowing me whole.

The Linen Pleated Trousers

These tailored-style Linen Pleated Trousers feel dressier than regular drawstring linen pants, so they're a great option to wear to the office.

The hidden elastic waistband at the back adds a lot of stretch, which is a pro — but also a con. In my case, it made the pants feel loose and I regret not exchanging them for a smaller size. They're okay, they just look a bit big and bulky (though that second part is because I chose the color white).

The liner means they're not see-through. For this particular style, the white and flax colorways come with a full inside lining that's made from 85% polyester and 15% cotton. That's a good thing, as it avoids any sheer wardrobe mishaps.

However, it does add some substantial bulk that's not present with darker colors. I'm okay with it because I specifically wanted crisp white linen pants for summer. But if you'd prefer a more streamlined style, I'd suggest going with a different shade.

Would I buy this again? Yes, but only if I sized down and chose a darker color.

The bottom line

As a whole, I think the Quince linen line is a fantastic option for anyone who loves wearing the summer staple but doesn't want to spend a ton of money. It's pretty remarkable that the most expensive item I tested is the $84 dress.

Every piece I tested lives up to its promise of being lightweight, breathable, and comfortable to wear. I found some pieces wrinkle easily, but that's the nature of the fabric. You'd encounter this problem anywhere, regardless of the brand or price.

If you're unsatisfied, there's a 365-day return window (just be sure your payment method adheres to the same policy, or else you may only get receive store credit).

• The White House hosted a UFC fight, branded "UFC Freedom 250," on the South Lawn on Sunday.
• The event coincided with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
• Trump cabinet and family members were joined by Mark Zuckerberg, Joe Rogan, and others.

The UFC fight that President Donald Trump had promised would be "the greatest show on Earth" finally took over the White House's South Lawn on Sunday night.

UFC Freedom 250, a seven-bout event, was attended by Trump, who also turned 80 on Sunday, along with members of the Trump family, cabinet officials, tech leaders, business executives, and a handful of celebrities.

JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth were there, as well as other Republican leaders like Mike Johnson and John Thune.

Some business executives and celebrities showed up, too. Among those in attendance was David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance, which owns exclusive streaming rights to UFC, and which was cleared by the US Department of Justice to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery just days before the White House event.

The New York Times reported that New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan was also spotted at the event, less than 24 hours after his franchise won its first NBA championship since 1973.

See other big names in attendance.

Mark Zuckerberg

The Meta CEO was seen speaking with Trump during a break at the event.

In late 2024, Meta donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund, and Zuckerberg later attended the ceremony alongside other tech CEOs and billionaires. Last year, he sat beside Trump at a White House dinner for tech leaders.

Joe Rogan

Rogan, a longtime UFC interviewer and color commentator, was part of the broadcast event.

Rogan interviewed Trump on his podcast ahead of the 2024 election, but has levied criticism against the president as recently as last Friday, speaking of his frustration over the Epstein files and the Iran war, The Hill reported. Rogan previously criticized the idea of an outdoor UFC fight, but has since praised the event.

Ari Emanuel

Emanuel is the CEO of TKO Group Holdings, which owns both the WWE and UFC. Emanuel and Trump have had a longtime professional relationship.

Shane Gillis

The comedian, whose impression of the president is well-known, and Trump previously met at the Super Bowl LIX. The president later said, "I like him," The New York Post reported, citing The Spectator.

Zac Brown

The singer performed the national anthem at the fight, drawing criticism from some fans. Brown said that he sang at the event because of "patriotism, not politics," USA Today reported.

Kris Marszalek

Marszalek co-founded Crypto.com, which is engaged in a "strategic partnership" with Trump Media, per the company. Crypto.com co-sponsored the UFC fight.

Tony Hinchcliffe

Hinchcliffe is perhaps best known for his comedy performance at a 2024 Trump rally in which he called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage," among other racial and ethnic remarks, the BBC reported.

Hinchcliffe later defended his comments, saying his critics had "no sense of humor."

I'm a daily runner, and over the last couple of years, I've tested more than 50 wireless earbuds in my search for the best running headphones. Though a few models have excelled in certain areas, I've finally come across a pair that nails the complete package: the Shokz OpenDots 2.

These open-ear buds deliver just the right balance between fit, performance, and awareness that I look for when running. Their open-ear design lets you naturally hear your surroundings. They don't pool as much sweat in your ears as other models I've used. They also don't slip out or shift around as much because their clip-on attachment is nice and secure.

The problems I've had with other cuff-style earbuds are that very few of them manage to excel across the board. If they fit well, the sound isn't great. Or the sound might be good, but the media controls and fit are lacking. The Shokz OpenDots 2 make the fewest compromises and offer the most well-balanced performance I've found.

To really put the Shokz OpenDots 2 to the test, I used them every day across more than 75 miles of running. I listened to all kinds of audio content in loud and quiet environments. Here's why Shokz's latest wireless earbuds are my favorite running headphones yet.

The OpenDots 2 have an ideal fit and design for running

For me, the most important aspect of a good pair of earbuds is their fit, and the OpenDots 2 are a joy to wear. They use an open-ear design with IP57 sweat resistance and a comfortable clip-on fit that keeps the buds in place just outside your ear, without creating a plugged-in seal.

The buds aren't too big or too small. They don't clip on too tight or too loose. In fact, there have been times I've forgotten I'm wearing them. Though I've tested plenty of comfortable running earbuds, the OpenDots 2 beat them all out for extended use. If you wear glasses or run in sunglasses or a hat, you'll also appreciate that they don't use an over-the-ear hook, which can get in the way with other workout-style headphones.

Interestingly, neither of the OpenDots 2 buds is labeled for left- or right-ear orientation. The buds are interchangeable and auto-detect which side they're on, so left and right are a thing of the past. I mixed them up in my pocket once, and that led to some brief confusion about which side of the charging case they belonged to. Since then, I've loved not having to keep track of them. In all my tests, the correct stereo orientation worked automatically with no issues.

The charging case isn't a make-or-break part of this product, but I appreciate how compact it is. It's small enough that I don't have to think twice about bringing it on a trip. And despite the petite size, the case still charges wirelessly, so it's easy to set it on any Qi charger. The case offers 40 hours of battery life, and you can expect up to 10 hours of playback per charge from the buds.

Audio quality is good, even compared to traditional in-ear buds

There are plenty of decent open-ear buds on the market, but most fall short in audio quality. An open-ear design is great for running, since it lets you hear your surroundings. But the downside is that without a seal in your ear, open-ear headphones often lack bass and fidelity. However, the Shokz OpenDots 2 manage to buck this trend.

Despite their open design, the OpenDots 2 sound full and deliver performance that's more in line with traditional in-ear buds. This is one area where the OpenDots 2 clearly improve upon their predecessor. This is partly due to the company's new "Bassphere 2.0" audio technology, which aims to provide a richer listening experience. It features a redesigned diaphragm for less distortion, and software-melding of each bud's dual drivers to better work as one.

While I was at home, songs sounded robust with plenty of bass and clean mids. But sounding good in a quiet environment isn't too difficult for most earbuds. The real test comes when taking them outside on a run.

The first time I left my house and hit the road, I was immediately impressed with the quality of the music I was listening to. It only took about half a mile before I was convinced that these were something special. Since then, I've used the OpenDots 2 for over 75 miles of running and still feel the same.

Even when outside, songs like Billie Eilish's "Chirio," with its thick, rolling bass, had genuine punch. This is important because earbuds that lack fullness and power aren't motivational to use for running.

On the spoken front, voices also sounded natural. Speech was never distracting or hard to hear. So, if you run with audiobooks or podcasts, that's still a viable option with the OpenDots 2.

When it comes to rivals, the $300 Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are still the best-sounding open-ear buds I've tried. Those have a bit more power and better directional awareness. But the OpenDots 2 aren't too far behind, while costing $100 less and being a little lighter and smaller on the ear.

My only complaints are the touch controls and volume

Although the Shokz OpenDots 2 are my favorite running earbuds yet, they still have some drawbacks. The two main things keeping them from being perfect are their touch controls and max volume.

To control media playback, like skipping tracks or pausing songs, you can either tap the cuff or force-press the bulb on the back, behind your ear. The force-touch area is easy to feel and makes a faux-clicking sound, mimicking a physical button. It's very usable, but it's still not as good as a real, clickable button like you get on some rivals like the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Powerbeats Pro 2.

I only encountered one false positive when the OpenDots 2 thought I tapped the side of the cuff. That's far fewer than I've encountered with similar running earbuds, including Sony's Linkbuds Clip. In the Shokz app, I ended up turning off the side taps. To Shokz's credit, you can heavily customize the gestures and other settings in its mobile app.

The other minor complaint I have is the max volume level. I wouldn't mind a few more decibels to work with in order to cover the busiest, loudest environments I might run in. This is minor because in normal situations, the max volume of the OpenDots 2 is plenty loud. It's just some noisy intersections, with cars honking and construction, that can eclipse certain music.

Should you buy the Shokz OpenDots 2?

After years of testing dozens of wireless earbuds for running, the Shokz OpenDots 2 have instantly moved to the top of my recommended list. The fit is secure, and the sound is big and full. Importantly, the buds don't block my ears, so I can hear all the dangers around me. Whether you run or not, these might be the best open-ear buds available right now.

The OpenDots 2 aren't cheap at $199, but they're polished. They've performed better than nearly every competitor and deliver real value to runners.

• President Donald Trump said the US and Iran have reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Strait will be opened after the deal is signed on Friday, Trump said.
• Major US stock indexes ripped higher, while oil slumped 5%.

Stocks spiked and oil prices slumped after the US and Iran announced they had agreed to an interim deal to end the war.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran had reached a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a possible end to a 15-week conflict that disrupted global oil supplies and stoked fears of economic turmoil.

The secretariat of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said war and military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, would end permanently starting on Monday night, according to a statement carried by state news agency IRNA.

The deal will be signed on Friday, which is also when the Strait will open, Trump said on Truth Social.

Here's where major indexes stood as of the 4 p.m. ET market close:

• S&P 500: 7,554.29, up 1.7%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 51,671.03, up 0.9% (469 points)
• Nasdaq 100: 30,543.92, up 3.1%

A rundown of key commodities:

• Brent crude: $83.47 per barrel, down 4.1%
• WTI crude: $81.34 per barrel, down 4.2%
• Gold: $4,318.50 per ounce, up 2.5%

The positive Iran-war news and resulting decline in oil led investors to pare odds of a rate hike by year-end.

Trump orders immediate removal of US blockade

"The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete," Trump wrote on TruthSocial. "I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade."

Trump did not immediately offer further details about the deal.

The prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, a mediator in the negotiations, said the official signing ceremony would take place on June 19.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said the two sides would use a 60-day ceasefire to negotiate a broader accord that could include sanctions relief for Tehran, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency.

Investors may be cheering the rally, but analysts aren't ready to sound the all-clear.

Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG, said uncertainty over upcoming negotiations could help limit further declines in oil prices.

"Furthermore prices had fallen heavily in recent sessions on renewed expectations of a deal so likely we are seeing some profit taking on shorts ‚ aka 'sell the rumour buy the fact,'" he wrote on X.

"Whilst the deal is very good news for markets, it looks like tough conversations will have to occur in the 60-day window to ensure the peace is sustainable," wrote Jim Reid, the global head of macro and thematic research at Deutsche Bank.

Opening a major oil transit blockade

Iran effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping traffic after the United States and Israel first launched their surprise attacks on February 28. Iran briefly reopened the Strait in April as part of a ceasefire deal with the United States, but closed it again after the US imposed its naval blockade.

Iran's de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows, allowed it to wield immense economic influence during what began as a military conflict.

The Strait's closure, along with damage to major oil hubs in the region, led to a steep spike in oil prices and what the International Energy Agency said in March was the largest disruption to the global oil markets in history.

Oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel on March 8 for the first time in four years, forcing several countries to implement energy-saving strategies to address the costs. The Philippines, for example, ordered a four-day workweek for government employees alongside other measures.

In the US, the national average for a gallon of gasoline exceeded $4 by the end of March. Prices have dropped in the past month, falling for three consecutive weeks, according to AAA, but remain above the psychologically significant $4 mark. As of Monday, the average nationwide gas price is $4.065 per gallon.

Jet fuel prices spiked above $200 a barrel in April, forcing some airlines to cut routes and raise ticket prices to cover costs. The conflict also drove inflation in the United States to a three-year high.

These economic pressures have impacted average Americans just months before the midterm elections.

Some economists warned that any prolonged standoff could severely damage America's economy, including Paul Krugman, who said it could be the "straw that breaks the camel's back."

• United Airlines plans to block some middle seats on Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
• The seats resemble "Eurobusiness" and will likely come at an upcharge.
• Blocking middle seats ensures it staffs the minimum number of flight attendants possible.

United Airlines is testing something new in economy class: blocked middle seats.

A viral Reddit post last week showed a mock-up of the supposed three-seat row, with a tray table as a middle divider, sparking speculation about what looks like a version of European-style business class, aka "Eurobusiness."

United confirmed to Business Insider that the concept is real and will be on its new Airbus A321XLRs, saying "we're always evaluating and testing new ways to further differentiate ourselves within the industry and add even more value to the experience."

These "extra-long-range" narrowbodies will replace United's Boeing 757s on mostly transatlantic routes, like Newark to Edinburgh, or even further to Northern Italy and West Africa. The first A321XLR was delivered in June, and it's expected to enter service later this year.

While United did not disclose its exact strategy for blocking middle seats, the setup appears to kill two birds with one stone: it saves money by keeping flight attendant staffing to a minimum, and it's another way for United to potentially upsell incremental comfort upgrades amid booming premium demand.

Contrary to online theories, the spokesperson said the row will not be on United's new Airbus A321neo "Coastliner" subfleet, which has 161 seats and is set to exclusively operate premium transcontinental routes.

Save on labor and upsell economy

Federal regulations require United's A321XLRs to have one flight attendant per 50 certified seats, plus a fourth due to the complexity of the sliding doors in business class.

Just one extra seat would trigger a fifth and add labor costs. The spokesperson said there would be at least four flight attendants on the A321XLRs.

United also just signed a new labor contract with its flight attendant union in May that hiked pay by 31% and added boarding pay.

The airline may also see the regulatory workaround as an opportunity to further monetize its premium-heavy airplanes.

A fifth of the A321XLR's seats will be either Polaris lie-flat business class suites or premium economy, leaving a large pool of coach passengers that United can still upsell — in this case, for more elbow room.

The idea reflects a broader push by United to expand premium options "nose-to-tail" across the cabin.

The airline recently introduced two-person business-class "Studios" on its new Boeing 787-9s. It's also preparing to launch a "Rest Row" in coach, which is a row of three economy seats with legrests that convert into a bed-like surface.

A version of 'Eurobusiness'

For decades, European airlines like Lufthansa, Finnair, British Airways, and Air France have blocked the middle seat in rows at the front of the plane to create a distinct business class on short-haul flights.

"Eurobusiness" is not a true domestic first-class recliner like United or Delta offers, but the ticket usually includes free luggage, priority check-in and boarding, and lounge access.

European-style business class is not entirely new to US travelers. US airlines broadly adopted blocked middle seats during the pandemic for health and distancing reasons.

Spirit Airlines, before its collapse, experimented with blocked middle seats as part of a broader test of premium-economy-like cabins. Budget carrier Frontier Airlines started blocking middle seats in 2024 through its "UpFront Plus" product.

Frontier's SVP and chief commercial officer, Robert Schroeter, said in a May earnings call that the seat "drives quite a bit of benefit," adding that its revenue contribution for the airline has "increased significantly."

• Dan Ivascyn, CIO of PIMCO, advises against holding cash due to potential Fed rate cuts impacting yields.
• He says 5-year Treasury notes offer higher yields and potential price appreciation during growth shocks.
• PIMCO outlines the tweaks it's made to its bond portfolio in response.

Cash is usually seen as just about the least risky asset in the world of investing.

You put your money into ultra-short-duration fixed income vehicles like money market funds or 3-month Treasurys bills, collect yield, and take on virtually no duration risk.

But Dan Ivascyn, the chief investment officer at PIMCO, which manages $2.2 trillion, says there's heightened risk in holding cash right now — specifically, the risk that the Federal Reserve slashes rates and investors lose out on the more robust returns they could earn going a bit further out on the yield curve.

Instead, the best opportunity in the bond market right now is the 5-year Treasury note, Ivascyn said.

"The risk for a cash investor is that there's some unanticipated growth shock," Ivascyn said during a media roundtable at PIMCO's New York City offices on Thursday.

"You may be stuck over a five-year holding period where I thought I was getting a great four-ish percent cash return, all of a sudden it dropped to 2%, and I earn 2% the rest of the way," he added.

Going to a 5-year duration allows investors to lock in slightly higher yields — the 5-year Treasury currently yields about 4.2% annually — for a longer period, Ivascyn said.

In a growth-shock scenario where rates drop, 5-year Treasury investors would also presumably get the added benefit of their assets appreciating in price, as investors move to safehavens like bonds.

On the opposite side of the risk spectrum, however, is inflation. The further out on the yield curve one goes, the more rates become sensitive to inflation. When inflation rises, as it is now, investors tend to demand higher yields to compensate. That then decreases the value of the bond, making it so investors would have to sell at a loss if they needed the cash.

But Ivascyn said PIMCO's base-case view is that inflation remains in generally check over the next five years, as he expects deescalation in Iran, and disinflationary pressures from AI.

Ivascyn told Business Insider that while PIMCO was overweight the short end of the yield curve as of two or three years ago, the firms has steadily moved up its average duration, adding to their 10-, 20-, and 30-year allocations, while also buying Treasury inflation-protected securities (also known as TIPS) to hedge inflation risk.

• 1.5 million DoD personnel and employees are using the military's enterprise AI program, a senior official shared.
• GenAI.mil launched in December 2025 with roughly 80,000 daily users.
• The Trump administration has aggressively pushed AI tools and capabilities across the federal government.

The number of Department of Defense workers using the military's generative artificial intelligence platform has surged to 1.5 million, according to the Pentagon's chief technology officer.

The system, GenAI.mil, was seeing fewer than 100,000 users just six months ago. The growth in usage suggests more personnel are engaging with the platform to help with monotonous parts of their jobs as Pentagon leadership encourages the widespread use of GenAI.mil and other AI platforms across its workforce.

Emil Michael, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering and the Pentagon's chief technology officer, revealed at a Hudson Institute think tank event last week, that when GenAI.mil was introduced in December 2025, it had only 80,000 out of 3.5 million department workers using it.

"It wasn't really clear where to go for it, what you could use it for, the rules were unclear, so we just blew through that," he said.

The Defense Department then launched Google's Gemini on its unclassified networks, and since then, the number of daily users has skyrocketed, Michael said.

When GenAI.mil was first launched, DoD said that the program would improve efficiency for workers, providing them with analysis and creative tools that would make their jobs easier. The Pentagon more broadly is adopting AI across the department for regular functions and warfighting, including requesting billions of dollars for next-generation AI and computers in the fiscal 2027 budget.

Michael attributed the substantial increase in GenAI.mil users over the past six months to the directives from the Pentagon on what AI can and should be used for, as well as DoD employees being exposed to AI outside of work.

"So we just put it in front of them, and then we do case studies on what are the things people are using it for," he said. "Those things are now proliferated through the department."

The types of tasks that DoD workers are using AI for are similar to those in other sectors. Michael referred to paperwork, explaining that the use of AI gives workers flexibility to focus on other tasks.

"More and more people are like, 'Oh my God, I could write a job description.' I mean, very simple things to more exquisite things," he said. "'I have to report to Congress every year on this thing. Let me load all the papers onto it and have it draft me a congressional report that would otherwise take 200 hours of staffing time and do it in five hours.'"

"It's just a matter of trying to catch up to, in this case, what's basic in the commercial world," he said.

Other officials have pointed to similar potential benefits of AI, believing the technology can reduce the cognitive load on workers, help complete tasks that would typically require more time and manpower, and act as a resource.

DoD is also exploring how AI can be used in and around combat. Officials have assured that the technology has guardrails and humans will remain in the loop while acknowledging that the speed of future warfare may require AI to help process data and make faster decisions.

• Rebecca Yarros announced that she is working on book four of the "Empyrean" series.
• The "Fourth Wing" author published book three, "Onyx Storm," in January 2025.
• The author has offered hints about how Violet Sorrengail's story will continue. Spoilers ahead.

Rebecca Yarros' next "Fourth Wing" novel is finally on its way.

It's been over a year since Yarros released "Onyx Storm," the third installment in her "Empyrean" series. It followed "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame," and tells the story of Violet Sorrengail's journey to become a dragon rider and fight forces of dark magic at Basgiath War College. The series is set to comprise five novels, all published by Entangled's fantasy imprint, Red Tower.

"Onyx Storm" — the fastest-selling adult novel released in 20 years — ended on a cliffhanger, so Yarros' readers have been clamoring to get their hands on the next romantasy novel in the series since the moment they finished book three.

And in a March 2026 Instagram post, Yarros said she's officially writing book four. She's been sharing updates on her progress since then, getting her fans even more excited for what's to come.

The rest of this article has spoilers for the "Empyrean" series.

Yarros started writing the fourth 'Empyrean' novel in March 2026

Yarros released the first three books in the "Empyrean" series in under two years. "Fourth Wing" came out in April 2023, "Iron Flame" was released in October 2023, and "Onyx Storm" hit shelves in January 2025.

Yarros made clear she wouldn't be writing book four at the same pace. Speaking at an engagement in Philadelphia on January 25, 2025, Yarros said she wouldn't commit to a release date, as she was planning to write a contemporary novel and spend time with her family first.

Yarros told Elle that she intended to rest before returning to writing in part because the amount of work she did in recent years wasn't good for her mentally or physically, as she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS.

She kept her word, keeping largely quiet about book four for the rest of 2025. Then, on February 8, 2026, she shared on Instagram that she had started plotting, and on March 19, 2026, she posted a Reel to announce she had officially started writing the next "Empyrean" novel.

In the Reel, Yarros walks up to a board and writes "#4" at the top.

"And now that my latest contemporary novel is off to my editor, I'm back writing in the Empyrean world for the foreseeable future," Yarros captioned the post. "Let's ride."

The author has posted a few updates about her progress since then, most notably on June 13. She shared a short video clip on Instagram of an ocean view and said in her caption that she would be spending the summer writing at the beach.

"Our home is undergoing distractingly noisy work, which gives us the perfect excuse to pack up our kids and spend the summer on Deverelli time while I'm writing book 4," she said. Deverelli is an isle that Violet visits in "Onyx Storm," and it plays a key role in the book's plot.

"I've already got my desk set up here (pink binders and all), and I'll be spending these beautiful days with some riders you may know and their dragons," Yarros continued her caption. "I feel so lucky to have such a breathtaking view for inspiration while I'm writing!"

It will still be a while before the fourth "Empyrean" book hits bookshelves, but fans can rest assured she'll be focused on the novel in the coming months.

The fourth book will hopefully address unanswered questions from 'Onyx Storm'

Many fans are finding it particularly difficult to wait for the next "Empyrean" novel because of the ending of "Onyx Storm."

At the end of the book, Xaden used more of his venin power, giving into the dark side of his transition; another unnamed dragon rider turned venin; Andarna returned to Violet after her time away with the irids; and Violet woke up with a wedding ring and blessing of her marriage to Xaden from the goddess Dunne with no memory of the last 12 hours of her life. In the book's final line, her fellow rider Imogen reveals she used her signet power to wipe Violet's memory of the night — at her request.

Violet's brother, Brennan, also revealed that six dragon eggs and four riders, including Xaden and his best friend, Garrick Tavis, are missing.

Hopefully, the fourth book in the "Empyrean" series will reveal what happened between Violet and Xaden, where Xaden and the other missing riders are, the location of the missing eggs, what Andarna learned from her time with the irids, and how Xaden's additional use of his venin powers harmed his soul.

Likewise, Violet will likely still be searching for a cure to turning venin to bring Xaden back, but as his wife, she also becomes the Duchess of Tyrrendor. She will have new power and responsibility in his absence, and readers will have to wait to see how she balances her new role while developing her signets.

Yarros shared some clues for book four while promoting 'Onyx Storm'

Yarros went on an "Onyx Storm" book tour after the book's January 2025 release, offering some insight into the series' future as she connected with fans.

For instance, at an event in Los Angeles on January 21, 2025, Yarros said, "Someone you love won't make it in book four." That comment isn't that surprising, as beloved characters have died in each installment of the series. However, Yarros got more specific with her hints as her book tour continued.

At an event in St. Louis on January 31, 2025, Yarros shared that readers have more to discover about the isles Violet explores in "Onyx Storm." When host Lexi Ryan asked her why there was no map of the isles included in "Onyx Storm," Yarros said it "was deemed to be too spoilery" by her editorial team, suggesting Violet doesn't know all she will about the isles by the end of book three.

Then, speaking at an event in Denver on February 2, 2025, Yarros shared clues about who Xaden's new venin brother could be.

"I would pay attention to who's missing at the end," she said. "I would pay attention to someone who feels like whatever they have given is not enough, which is always the case when you turn venin."

Fans think Xaden's cousin Bodhi Durran, Garrick, or even Violet's brother Brennan could fit that description at the end of "Onyx Storm."

Yarros also discussed a plot device she uses that may have consequences for the series. After riders bond a dragon at threshing at Basgiath, the rider announces the dragon's name to the Scribes so it can be recorded. However, Yarros pointed out to fans that the dragons never speak their names directly to the Scribes. It's possible some riders don't share their real names or that dragons lie to their riders, which could help the children of rebels bond dragons their relatives previously bonded, giving them second signet powers. The potential for faux dragon identities could also have other ramifications for the series.

Speaking more on signet powers in Denver, Yarros said readers had only seen "like 10%" of Violet's dream-walking abilities, in part because others who developed the power would have been killed, making it difficult for Violet to learn how to use the signet.

"There's probably one person alive that can train her," Yarros said, though she gave no information about who that person is.

She also said Xaden's inntinnsic signet has only reached "like 50%" of its potential, so his abilities will likely grow in book four.

In addition, Yarros revealed at the Los Angeles Festival of Books in April 2025 that she has a title picked out for the fourth book, though she didn't say what it was.

Yarros offered more hints about the next 'Empyrean' novel in late 2025

On October 24, 2025, Yarros appeared at Romantasy Bookcon in Orlando, hosted by Fabled Fantasy Events. She spoke with the hosts of the "Fantasy Fangirls" podcast, Lexi Ayala and Nicole Holleman, about the "Empyrean" series, and Yarros offered hints and sneak peeks at book four.

For instance, Yarros discussed how the dramatic ending of "Onyx Storm" will impact the next book, telling Ayala and Holleman that readers will know what happened to Violet during her 12 missing hours by the novel's end.

Likewise, when the duo asked Yarros about a scene she was excited to write in the next "Empyrean" novel, she said, "I'm really excited to write the moment Violet realizes why Xaden married her. That I am pumped for."

Of course, Xaden loves Violet, but considering he had turned venin and the marriage would give Violet political power as the Duchess of Tyrrendor, there is likely more to their union than meets the eye.

Yarros also warned that readers "should really be prepared in book four to see Xaden enter his villain era," indicating his marriage to Violet won't stop him from going full venin in the next "Empyrean" novel.

The "Fantasy Fangirls" also asked Yarros if Imogen had been wiping Violet's memories at other times in the "Empyrean" series, which many readers had been wondering after the ending of "Onyx Storm." Rather than giving a direct answer, Yarros said, "I think it depends on what you believe of Imogen's character. What has Imogen shown you of her character? What has she told Violet about her signet?"

In the "Empyrean" series, readers only see Imogen wipe memories when Violet or Xaden specifically ask her to do so. However, much of the series is only told from Violet's limited perspective, so there may have been occasions when Imogen wiped people's memories without Violet's knowledge.

Likewise, Yarros addressed some of her readers' concerns surrounding Bodhi, as there is a contingent of "Empyrean" fans who think Xaden's cousin has feelings for Violet, saying, "Bodhi has a thing for what Xaden has. But he doesn't want to."

Her response indicates that Bodhi may be jealous of Xaden rather than in love with Violet. And considering he is one of the potential candidates to have turned venin at the end of "Onyx Storm," Yarros' response is particularly eyebrow-raising.

Yarros also gave some hints about the structure of the next book, telling Ayala and Holleman that she plans to offer multiple points of view in the narration of book four. She even specified that some portion of the book will be told from Sloane Mairi's perspective.

Finally, Yarros told readers to pay attention to the black dragons in the "Empyrean" series, encouraging them to ask themselves why there are so few black dragons in the world, adding that it's "very relevant" that two new baby black dragons hatched in "Iron Flame."

Hopefully, Yarros' clues can tide readers over until book four is published. In the meantime, they can read other romantasy novels to make the wait a bit more bearable.

• Air Force tankers have fallen short of readiness standards from 2019 to 2025, according to a new watchdog report.
• Reported problems include parts shortages, maintenance staffing gaps, and insufficient infrastructure.
• Military demand for aerial refueling has surged during recent major combat operations.

The US Air Force's aerial refueling tanker fleet has fallen short of its readiness goals every year since 2019, a government watchdog found, raising new concerns about a critical part of the US military's airpower.

According to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the Air Force's aging KC-135 Stratotanker and newer KC-46A Pegasus tanker fleets did not meet availability and mission-capable standards from fiscal year 2019 through fiscal year 2025.

Despite having identified "sustainment risks" for the fleet, the Air Force "has not comprehensively assessed these risks or developed a plan to mitigate them," the GAO report said. Those risks included shortages of critical repair parts, a lack of personnel to maintain the aircraft, and "infrastructure limitations."

The report noted that the service has taken some steps to remedy those failures but lacks a comprehensive plan to prevent more breakdowns.

Specific "annual availability" figures and "mission-capable rates" for the tanker aircraft were not included in the report; the Pentagon said those rates were too sensitive for public release.

Tankers effectively serve as flying gas stations for other military aircraft, extending their reach. They refuel planes like fighter jets and bombers, which are sometimes tasked with long missions exceeding the capacity of their own fuel tanks, forcing them to depend on tankers to stay in the air.

The report's findings come as the military has relied extensively on tankers and their skilled crews for last year's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, a major January raid into Venezuela to remove the country's president, and throughout the war in Iran.

Award citations for half a dozen fighter jet pilots who flew in support of the 2025 Midnight Hammer strikes said that they returned home "critically low" on fuel after encountering an "aerial refueling fallout" early on in the mission.

During the later war with Iran, tankers crucially supported intense combat air operations. Refueling aircraft were damaged amid exchanges of fire, and six US service members were killed in March when their KC-135 Air Force tanker crashed while flying over Iraq.

The KC-135 tanker carries more than 212,000 pounds of fuel, while the KC-46A carries slightly less, at 200,000 pounds. They're a critical component of American airpower facing readiness problems compounded by incomplete data, the report said.

The air service tracks aircraft availability and readiness rates, but those metrics aren't detailed enough to specify whether a tanker that can fly can actually conduct its most important job — refueling. Tankers can be counted as "mission capable" as long as the plane can perform at least one assigned mission, and that isn't necessarily refueling another aircraft.

The service's KC-135 fleet is growing old. The aircraft first entered service in the 1950s, and new problems arise as the fleet ages. Meanwhile, the newer KC-46A has been plagued by years of production delays and operational challenges, including problems with its refueling boom, which transfers fuel to receiving aircraft, and its remote vision system, a sort of rear-view camera.

The GAO report authors noted that earlier this year, Air Force officials identified "critical deficiencies" with KC-46A systems and more concerns related to manufacturer Boeing's "quality control procedures," citing problems with "frequently failing electrical components on the boom, sensors that do not perform accurately, airframe cracks, and other structural issues."

Military aircraft experts have previously raised concerns about tanker readiness. The refueling problems described in the fighter jet award citations point to a problem the Air Force is "whistling past the graveyard on," John Venable, a retired Air Force pilot and senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Business Insider last month.

It's unlikely the Air Force could support a major contingency operation based on the current status of its tankers, Venable said. "It's a very complicated situation," he said, but ultimately, "the Air Force does not have enough tankers," or repair parts, "to be ready for a major fight."

"The tanker fleet remains a cornerstone of US power projection, actively delivering vital refueling support around the globe," an Air Force spokesperson said in response to a Business Insider query on the GAO report's findings.

"The Air Force," they said, "concurred with the report's recommendations and is aggressively working to resolve readiness challenges so our tankers can continue to provide critical support to the warfighter."

• First lady Melania Trump has appeared at numerous White House events in recent months.
• The first lady released a documentary, "Melania," in January.
• She continues to promote her Fostering the Future and Presidential AI challenge initiatives.

Melania Trump has been known as an enigmatic first lady since President Donald Trump's first term, but her public appearances and outfit choices can provide a window into her approach to the role.

Ahead of the 2025 inauguration, Melania Trump told Fox News that she planned to divide her time between the White House, Trump Tower in New York City, and Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

This schedule has, at times, made her an infrequent White House presence. However, she has attended numerous events in recent months, such as the premiere of her "Melania" documentary, King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit, and appearances promoting her Fostering the Future and Presidential AI Challenge initiatives.

Melania Trump's muted fashion choices could also indicate a more guarded approach to the role of first lady. At White House events, she has largely appeared wearing suits and neutral basics in black, beige, cream, and gray. It's a departure from the bold outfits she often chose during Donald Trump's first term.

A spokesperson for the Office of the First Lady declined to comment.

Take a look at the first lady's White House activities and appearances thus far.

January 20, 2025: Melania Trump attended the inauguration.

Melania Trump held the Bible as Donald Trump was sworn in for his second non-consecutive term, and the couple danced together at several inaugural balls later that evening.

For the swearing-in ceremony, Melania Trump wore a navy coat and skirt by Adam Lippes, an American designer. She accessorized with a matching wide-brimmed hat by Eric Javits.

Her black-and-white inaugural gown was designed by Hervé Pierre.

January 21, 2025: The president and first lady joined Vice President JD Vance and Usha Vance at the National Day of Prayer Service.

The service, the last of Donald Trump's inaugural events, was held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

January 24, 2025: Melania Trump and Donald Trump visited California and North Carolina to survey damage caused by natural disasters.

Melania Trump joined Donald Trump to visit Los Angeles in the aftermath of multiple wildfires and neighborhoods in North Carolina damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Together, they met with first responders and residents who had lost their homes and businesses. Melania Trump was photographed hugging and shaking hands with those affected by the natural disasters.

February 22, 2025: Donald Trump and Melania Trump hosted the National Governors Association dinner at the White House.

Melania Trump wore a black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, similar to the outfit she chose for her official White House portrait, while posing for photos with governors from across the US.

Donald Trump thanked Melania Trump in his speech, saying that she "made the evening beautiful."

March 3, 2025: She participated in a roundtable discussion on the "TAKE IT DOWN" Act targeting revenge porn.

"TAKE IT DOWN" is an acronym for "Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks."

The act criminalizes the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes, and requires websites to remove them.

"Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm," Melania Trump said in her opening remarks.

She wore a tan three-piece suit by Ralph Lauren with a black tie.

March 4, 2025: Melania Trump attended Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress.

The first lady's guests included the families of Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was fatally shot during an assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and Laken Riley, who was killed by a man who had entered the US illegally.

Melania Trump wore a gray skirt suit by Dior.

April 1, 2025: She attended the International Women of Courage Awards.

Melania Trump, joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, presented awards to several notable women in a ceremony held at the State Department. She wore a leopard-print coat designed by Milly Park.

"These extraordinary women illuminate the transformative power of love in shaping our world," she said in her remarks at the event. "Their journeys remind us that true courage is born from a deep commitment to others, showing that love fuels the call for justice."

April 2, 2025: She spoke at the annual Congressional Club's First Lady's Luncheon.

"Our community flourishes when we unite to uplift our children and equip them to turn dreams into reality," she said in her speech.

April 21, 2025: She appeared alongside Donald Trump at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Melania Trump read the book "Bunny with a Big Heart" to a group of children at the event while wearing a cream Mackage trench coat.

April 25, 2025: Donald Trump and Melania Trump departed the White House together to travel to Pope Francis' funeral.

The president and first lady were among several world leaders who attended the late pope's funeral in Vatican City.

May 8, 2025: She hosted an event for military mothers and unveiled a US postage stamp honoring Barbara Bush at the White House.

"I applaud Mrs. Bush's mark defending our society's vital need for women across all avenues, whether CEO or homemaker," Melania Trump said at the unveiling. "We have, can, and will build better families and run innovative businesses at the same time, ultimately shaping a brighter future."

She wore a white suit jacket paired with a black pencil skirt.

May 19, 2025: Melania Trump spoke at the signing ceremony for the "TAKE IT DOWN" Act in the Rose Garden.

The bill, which was first presented to Congress in 2024 before Donald Trump took office, received widespread bipartisan support.

"Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation: sweet, addictive, and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children," Melania Trump said in her remarks at the signing ceremony.

The first lady wore a gray Prada suit for the event.

May 20, 2025: Melania Trump hosted a Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day event for children in the Kennedy Garden.

The first lady greeted the children of White House staffers as they participated in an arts-and-crafts activity.

"It is always special to see children's creativity and spirit on display, especially here at the White House where so many hardworking men and women support the success of our nation every day," she said in a White House statement.

She wore a white Dolce & Gabbana button-down shirt and a patterned skirt by Michael Kors.

May 21, 2025: She spoke at the Senate Spouses Luncheon held at the National Gallery of Art.

Melania Trump, wearing a white skirt suit, spoke about her Be Best platform, which focuses on children's well-being, and her Fostering the Future initiative, which supports children transitioning out of foster care.

"Together, we will uplift and empower our children, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive," the first lady wrote in a post on X. "Let's continue this vital mission and inspire a brighter future for all!"

June 11, 2025: She accompanied Donald Trump to the opening night of "Les Misérables" at the Kennedy Center.

Melania Trump wore a black midi dress designed by Bottega Veneta, while Donald Trump wore a black tuxedo.

Second lady Usha Vance and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s wife Cheryl Hines wore midi dresses similar to Melania Trump's.

June 12, 2025: She greeted attendees at the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn of the White House.

Melania Trump shook hands and took selfies with members of Congress and their families at the annual White House event. She paired a basic white shirt with vibrant floral pants by Dolce & Gabbana.

June 14, 2025: Melania Trump attended the US Army's 250th anniversary parade alongside Donald Trump.

The military parade featured 150 Army vehicles, 50 aircraft, and around 6,600 troops in uniform making their way down Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, to mark the US Army's historic anniversary. June 14 was also Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

Melania Trump escorted Donald Trump onstage for his remarks at the event, but did not issue any statement of her own. She wore a pinstriped ivory skirt suit by Adam Lippes.

July 3, 2025: She visited Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC, ahead of July Fourth.

After arriving at the hospital carrying toys for children, the first lady chatted with patients, took part in July Fourth-themed crafts, and visited the hospital's healing garden, which features a rose bush from the White House.

July 4, 2025: Melania Trump appeared beside her husband at Fourth of July events at the White House.

The first couple watched the July Fourth fireworks display from the White House. They also hosted a military family picnic on the South Lawn earlier in the day.

Also that day, Donald Trump signed his tax and spending bill, which he dubbed his "Big Beautiful Bill," after it was passed by the House of Representatives on July 3.

She wore a white shirtdress by Thom Browne.

July 11, 2025: The president and first lady visited central Texas towns devastated by flash flooding.

The first couple visited Texas a week after the Guadalupe River in Kerr County rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes as rain battered the region, leaving more than 130 dead. The Trumps met with families of victims, first responders, and local officials.

"It's a horrible thing, it's a horrible thing," Donald Trump told the press as he departed the White House on July 11. "Nobody can even believe it — that much water that fast."

At a press conference in Texas, Melania Trump said, "My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls — deepest sympathy from all of us to the community, to everybody who lost a loved one. We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you."

July 13, 2025: They attended the FIFA Club World Cup final, which Melania Trump watched from behind a striking pair of Dior sunglasses.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump watched Chelsea defeat Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Donald Trump, who received both cheers and boos at the game, called it "a great match."

Melania Trump watched the game from behind her bright-white Dior sunglasses, which resembled the Vuarnet glasses worn by Sam Altman at Sun Valley just days earlier. She wore them with a black-and-white Michael Kors outfit.

September 4, 2025: Melania Trump attended a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education.

The task force was created in April as part of Donald Trump's executive order, "Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education For American Youth."

"Our future is no longer science fiction," Melania Trump said at the meeting. "During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children — empowering, but with watchful guidance."

The first lady wore a gray striped suit with a white shirt and belt.

September 4, 2025: After her task force meeting, she joined Donald Trump for a White House dinner with tech and business leaders.

The guest list included Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, and Tim Cook among over a dozen tech and AI executives. Elon Musk was not in attendance, though he sent a representative to the event.

During the dinner, Altman called Donald Trump a "pro-business, pro-innovation president," and Cook thanked the president for "helping companies around the world" and the first lady for "focusing on education."

Melania Trump changed into a black outfit for the gathering.

September 11, 2025: The president and first lady attended a ceremony at the Pentagon on the 24th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

They observed a moment of silence in memory of those who were killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

September 16, 2025: She joined Donald Trump on a state visit to the UK.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump disembarked from Air Force One at London Stansted Airport and were greeted by British soldiers and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

September 17, 2025: They received a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla.

A horse-drawn carriage ride transported them to Windsor Castle, where troops were assembled in a Guard of Honor. Afterward, they viewed items from the Royal Collection and toured St George's Chapel.

Melania Trump accessorized her Dior skirt suit with a purple hat that matched Donald Trump's tie.

September 17, 2025: Later that evening, Melania Trump wore a yellow Carolina Herrera gown to a state banquet at St George's Hall.

Donald Trump was escorted into dinner by King Charles, and Queen Camilla entered with Melania Trump.

September 18, 2025: Charles and Camilla said farewell to Donald Trump and Melania Trump on the final day of their state visit.

"He's a great gentleman and a great king," Donald Trump said of Charles after their formal goodbye at Windsor Castle.

September 18, 2025: Melania Trump visited Queen Mary's Dolls' House with Queen Camilla and Frogmore Gardens with Kate Middleton.

Melania Trump changed from a tan skirt suit to a tan jacket and cream slacks, which were better suited for playing lawn games with children from the Scouts' Squirrels program at Frogmore Gardens.

September 23, 2025: The first lady launched a new project at the United Nations General Assembly.

Back in the US, Melania Trump launched a global coalition called "Fostering the Future Together" dedicated to "enhancing the well-being of children through the promotion of education, innovation, and technology," the White House said.

October 5, 2025: She joined Donald Trump to mark the Navy's 250th anniversary.

The president and first lady greeted sailors and observed demonstrations during a visit to the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in Norfolk, Virginia.

October 10, 2025: Melania Trump spoke about her connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin that helped reunite displaced children.

Melania Trump wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in August, urging him to end the war in Ukraine to restore the "melodic laughter" of children displaced by the conflict.

In October, she announced that her "open channel of communication" with Putin had helped reunite eight Ukrainian children with their families.

October 30, 2025: The president and first lady handed out candy at the White House for Halloween.

Neither dressed up in a Halloween costume — Donald Trump wore one of his signature red hats, and Melania Trump wore a brown coat with orange trim by Marni.

November 13, 2025: Melania Trump launched a new "Fostering the Future" initiative.

In the East Room of the White House, Trump signed an executive order aimed at strengthening the foster care system as part of Melania Trump's new "Fostering the Future" initiative.

The program, an extension of the first lady's "Be Best" initiative, aims to enhance opportunities for young people in foster care, including connecting them with educational and employment resources.

"This Executive Order, 'Fostering the Future for American Children and Families, ' gives me tremendous pride," Melania Trump wrote on X. "It is both empathetic and strategic. It will certainly be impactful."

November 18, 2025: Melania Trump and the president welcomed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia to a state dinner.

The couple welcomed the prince, who had met with Trump earlier in the day, to a state dinner at the White House.

The first lady wore a floor-length Elie Saab gown in what The New York Times dubbed "Saudi green," noting it was a similar hue to the green of Saudi Arabia's flag.

November 19, 2025: Usha Vance joined her while visiting military families and schools in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Melania Trump and Usha Vance stopped by DeLalio Elementary School on the Marine Corps Air Station New River, part of the Camp Lejeune Community Schools system.

November 24, 2025: Melania Trump welcomed the Official White House Christmas Tree.

The Official White House Christmas tree, an 18-foot concolor fir from Sidney, Michigan, was displayed in the Blue Room as part of the first lady's White House Christmas decorations.

Melania Trump wore a cream Christian Dior coat with red gloves and Manolo Blahnik heels in holiday plaid.

November 25, 2025: The president and first lady pardoned a turkey in the Rose Garden.

Donald Trump pardoned two turkeys named Gobble and Waddle. Melania Trump stood beside him in a brown tweed skirt by Ralph Lauren and a matching bomber jacket by Anine Bing.

November 30, 2025: After spending Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump and Melania Trump returned to the White House.

The first lady arrived on the White House lawn in an olive Burberry coat and sunglasses.

December 1, 2025: Melania Trump and Usha Vance made another joint appearance, this time at an American Red Cross holiday event.

Melania Trump and Usha Vance wrote holiday cards and assembled care packages for deployed US military service members at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The first lady's wool shirt jacket and turtleneck were both by Ralph Lauren. She also wore brown skinny jeans and knee-high boots by Christian Louboutin.

December 4, 2025: Melania Trump and Donald Trump attended the National Christmas Tree lighting on the White House Ellipse.

Melania Trump wore a white Chanel coat as she performed the honors, pressing the button to illuminate the 32-foot-tall red spruce.

December 5, 2025: Melania Trump read the book "How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?" at a Children's National Hospital holiday event.

It was a busy day for the first lady. Later that night, she also welcomed singer Andrea Bocelli to the White House and attended the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

December 7, 2025: The president and first lady walked the red carpet at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.

Melania Trump's black Givenchy gown may have been a nod to LVMH, the conglomerate that owns Givenchy as well as Tiffany, which designed the new Kennedy Center medallions awarded to honorees.

December 8, 2025: She was joined by Santa Claus at a Toys for Tots charity drive at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

The first lady wore a white coat by Proenza Schouler as she greeted military families and supporters of Toys for Tots.

"This Christmas season, you, your friends, and your families should wish for the ultimate gift — love," she said in her remarks at the event. "After all, love travels further than Santa's sleigh and America's Ospreys."

December 11, 2025: Melania Trump spoke at the Congressional Ball held at the White House.

Wearing a Dolce & Gabbana suit with a black lace top, Melania Trump thanked legislators for their "overwhelmingly bipartisan support" for the Take It Down Act.

December 12, 2025: The president and first lady hosted a holiday reception at the White House.

Melania Trump wore a white skirt suit, while Donald Trump wore his signature red tie.

December 24, 2025: On Christmas Eve, Donald and Melania Trump called US service members and spoke to children while participating in the NORAD Santa Tracker.

The president and first lady spent Christmas at Mar-a-Lago, which has often functioned as Donald Trump's "winter White House."

On Christmas Eve, they called US service members to wish them a merry Christmas and fielded calls from children while tracking Santa Claus with the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The first lady wore a black Valentino dress with embroidered sleeves and black Christian Louboutin heels.

December 31, 2025: Melania Trump wore sparkles to Mar-a-Lago's annual New Year's Eve party.

Melania Trump's silver sequined dress was designed by The New Arrivals.

January 28, 2026: Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange while promoting her documentary, "Melania."

"Superior storytelling drives culture, and in turn, moves markets," the first lady said in her remarks. "In the near future, cultural influence will matter as much as economic power."

She wore a black coat dress with a leather belt.

January 29, 2026: After holding a private White House screening, Melania Trump attended the world premiere of her documentary at the Kennedy Center.

She walked the red carpet wearing a black Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit alongside Donald Trump.

February 4, 2026: The first lady met with freed Israeli hostages Aviva Siegel, who appeared in "Melania," and Keith Siegel.

Aviva Siegel was held hostage in Gaza by Hamas for 51 days and freed as part of a temporary ceasefire brokered by the Biden administration. She previously met with Melania Trump while her husband, Keith Siegel, was still held in Gaza, in a scene featured in the "Melania" documentary. Keith Siegel was eventually freed after 484 days, and a title card at the end of the film notes that Melania Trump "played a key role" in securing his release.

When a reporter asked Melania Trump if it was appropriate to promote her documentary at a White House event, she responded that meeting with the Siegels was "not promotion."

"We are here celebrating the release of the hostages, of Aviva and Keith," she said. "They were in Washington, DC, and they called me. They said they would like to come over to thank me and to give hugs, and that's why we are here. It's nothing to do with promotion."

The first lady wore a black suit with a white button-down shirt.

February 11, 2026: Melania Trump participated in Valentine's Day craft projects at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland.

Ahead of Valentine's Day, Melania Trump visited children receiving medical treatment at the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She wore a khaki dress with a red belt.

February 13, 2026: The president and first lady visited troops at an Army base the day before Valentine's Day in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

"Love letters have symbolized the union of patriotism and family devotion among our soldiers for 250 years," Melania Trump said at the event. "The harmony of love of country and love of family is what makes us uniquely American. It is this very balance which strengthens our military and builds our communities."

The first lady wore a tan wool Dolce & Gabbana coat with red leather boots from Vivian.

February 20, 2026: She donated her inaugural gown to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, as is traditional for first ladies.

Melania Trump is the first non-consecutive first lady to donate an inaugural gown to the Smithsonian for a second time.

Her gown was designed by Hervé Pierre and paired with a reproduction of a 1955 diamond brooch by Harry Winston.

"Human nature resides in the discipline of detail," Melania Trump said in her speech at the museum. "Everything is in the detail. It's a testament as to why America's fashion industry can lead the rest of the world."

February 21, 2026: She accompanied Donald Trump at a White House dinner with state governors.

Donald Trump invited only Republican governors to the dinner, which was held in the East Room.

Melania Trump wore a black blouse with metallic pants from Dolce & Gabbana.

February 24, 2026: Melania Trump presented the Medal of Honor to a veteran at the State of the Union.

Captain E. Royce Williams, 100, was part of the longest aerial engagement in the Navy's history during the Korean War, a battle kept classified for decades due to Soviet involvement.

Melania Trump wore a charcoal Dolce & Gabbana pantsuit.

March 2, 2026: Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting.

Melania Trump became the first sitting first lady to preside over the UN Security Council, where she spoke about the importance of children's safety and education around the world.

"Security Council members, I encourage you to pledge to safeguard learning in our communities and promote access to heightened education for all," she said in her remarks. "I implore you to build a future generation of leaders who embrace peace through education."

The first lady wore a gray skirt suit cinched with a black belt.

March 7, 2026: The president and first lady attended the dignified transfer of six US soldiers who were killed in the Middle East.

Melania Trump wore an all-black ensemble as the soldiers' remains were returned to the US at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

March 12, 2026: Melania Trump appeared at a White House Women's History Month event with Donald Trump.

"To all of the young women, entrepreneurs, and future leaders: make time for yourself," Melania Trump said in her speech. "Educate yourself daily and spread your passion. Be courageous and take risks. Advance your profession through inspiration. Be a bold chief executive while keeping your family, if you choose so, at the center of your nation's future."

Melania Trump wore a black crewneck sweater with a leopard-print skirt.

March 24, 2026: She spoke on the first day of the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit.

The event, attended by the spouses of 38 world leaders, focused on children's well-being across education, innovation, and technology.

"This room is filled with extraordinary human capital," Melania Trump said. "Leaders: harness it to elevate your children, to empower your people, and to accelerate your economies."

Melania Trump wore a gray Dolce & Gabbana pantsuit.

March 25, 2026: On the second day of the summit, she held a roundtable at the White House with eight spouses of world leaders.

In attendance were Brigitte Macron of France, Princess Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco, Sheikha Alyazia bint Saif Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, Marta Nawrocka of Poland, Maricel Cohen de Mulino of Panama, Fatima Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Gertrude Mutharika of Malawi, and Prindon Sadriu of Kosovo.

Melania Trump wore a white suit.

March 31, 2026: The president and first lady attended the opening night of "Chicago" at the Kennedy Center.

Melania Trump wore a flapper-inspired white fringe dress designed by Michael Kors.

April 6, 2026: Melania Trump read a book to children at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Melania Trump read "The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown. She wore a navy blazer and white shirt by Ralph Lauren, and white slacks by Dolce & Gabbana.

April 9, 2026: Melania Trump gave a statement dispelling reports of her ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Melania Trump said that Epstein did not introduce her to Donald Trump, that she "never had a relationship" with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, and that she was "not Epstein's victim" and had no knowledge of his abuse.

"The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," she said.

April 13, 2026: Donald Trump and Melania Trump greeted King Willem-Alexander and Queen Màxima of the Netherlands at the White House.

Melania Trump wore a black-and-white Erdem gown to greet the Dutch royals, who visited the White House as part of a three-day trip to the US.

April 15, 2026: Melania Trump spoke at a roundtable discussion about the foster care system with the House Ways and Means Committee.

Melania Trump advocated for legislation related to "housing instability, educational advocacy, financial barriers, transportation, continuity, access to technology, and other related issues" in the foster care system.

She wore a beige pantsuit.

April 23, 2026: She was joined by Usha Vance at the annual First Lady's Luncheon.

The bipartisan event is hosted each year by The Congressional Club Museum and Foundation.

Melania Trump wore an ivory Dior jacket with a black Dolce & Gabbana pencil skirt.

April 25, 2026: Melania Trump appeared alongside Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner before a shooting cut the event short.

The president, first lady, and other high-ranking administration officials were rushed out of the Washington Hilton ballroom by Secret Service members when shots were heard in the lobby during the dinner.

A suspect was charged with attempted assassination of the president in what is the third known attempt on Donald Trump's life.

Melania Trump later reappeared with Donald Trump in the White House Briefing Room, still wearing her black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo dress.

April 27, 2026: Donald Trump and Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House for a state visit.

On the first day of the royal visit, the Trumps shared afternoon tea with the king and queen and showed them the new White House beehive. Melania Trump wore a butter-yellow skirt suit by Adam Lippes.

April 28, 2026: The royal visit continued with a state arrival ceremony at the White House, where Melania Trump and Queen Camilla wore similar looks.

The first lady wore a white Ralph Lauren skirt suit with a straw hat, while Queen Camilla wore a mint-green Fiona Clare coatdress with a wide-brimmed hat and a diamond brooch that belonged to Queen Elizabeth.

April 28, 2026: Later that night, the White House hosted a state dinner in the royals' honor.

Melania Trump's pale-pink Christian Dior gown coordinated with Camilla's fuchsia Fiona Clare dress.

April 20, 2026: Donald Trump and Melania Trump bid farewell to the king and queen at the South Portico of the White House.

Melania Trump wore a charcoal gray suit from Dior, while Donald Trump's blue tie matched Camilla's pleated Anna Valentine dress.

May 6, 2026: Melania Trump introduced Donald Trump's speech at a Mother's Day event for military mothers.

In her remarks, Melania Trump called mothers "the soul of our nation."

"This is a time of military conflict for America," she said. "And whereby we honor our selfless and valiant Service Members regularly, today is the day we hold their mothers in the highest regard."

May 19, 2026: Melania Trump joined her husband at the annual Congressional Picnic.

The first lady wore a pink floral Valentino jumpsuit as she greeted lawmakers on the South Lawn of the White House.

June 9, 2026: Melania Trump hosted the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge National Champion Awards Ceremony.

Melania Trump presented awards to six student teams that placed as finalists of the Presidential AI Challenge. The student groups used AI to develop models, including a "Homework Helper" and a "Friendzone Chatbot Bullying Prevention App."

"Today is about opening doors," she said in her speech. "When new doors open, passions flow, courage blossoms, and dreams are realized. AI inspires."

She wore a Dolce & Gabbana pinstripe suit.

June 11, 2026: She appeared at the US Treasury Department to launch Fostering the Future Accounts.

As part of her Fostering the Future initiative, Melania Trump expanded access to Trump accounts — investment accounts for children supported by the US Treasury with a one-time $1,000 deposit — to support foster youth.

She wore a black Dolce & Gabbana blazer, a white skirt by Adam Lippes, and white Christian Louboutin heels.

June 15, 2026: Melania Trump accompanied Donald Trump to UFC Freedom 250.

Donald Trump held a series of Ultimate Fighting Championship matches at the White House in honor of his 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary. The UFC Freedom 250 event was hosted in a temporary 4,000-seat arena built on the South Lawn of the White House.

Melania Trump attended the event wearing a black leather jacket and a black dress, both from Dolce & Gabbana.

• SpaceX climbed 19% in its stock-trading debut.
• Demand was strong, particularly from retail investors.
• After talking to a handful of institutional and retail traders, BI found a divided investor base.

As I was watching SpaceX's IPO debut, I couldn't help but get some flashbacks to a young LeBron James.

When LeBron entered the NBA at age 18, he was already anointed as the next big thing. This was the player who was going to challenge Michael Jordan as the basketball GOAT. And guess what … it's played out exactly like that. He lived up to — and even exceeded — every last expectation. Any haters were quieted almost immediately.

Fast-forward to SpaceX on Friday. It came in with all the hype in the world, touting far-flung ambitions of colonizing Mars. It wasn't profitable, but it had enough investor interest to help it debut as one of the 10 most valuable companies on earth. There was skepticism too, largely around the company's decision to cut in retail investors to such a large degree, as well as its eye-watering valuation.

Across an admittedly small sample size of one day, SpaceX — like LeBron before it — handily lived up to astronomical expectations. Yes, the indicated open price slid throughout the morning before the stock debuted 11% higher. But over the course of a couple hours, the shares extended gains to an intraday high of 31%. SpaceX ultimately closed with a 19% first-day gain.

Investing in SpaceX — like everything related to Elon Musk — is a polarizing prospect. The passion swings in both directions. Immediately after the first SpaceX trades, the BI markets team went looking for investor reactions, from both retail and institutional perspectives. Here's what we found:

Retail

Positive

• "Despite all odds, I have a feeling this is going to be great trade for those successful in getting IPO allocation because there is every incentive for this to go well." — Noor Al, WallStreetBets moderator
• "I see no downside in investing in a monopoly which SpaceX currently has on rockets … The untapped market of data centers in space, they aint going away anytime soon and I would much rather see them orbiting earth than sucking up resources here on earth." — retail trader Casey Dyer

Negative

• "Honestly, many of us wouldn't touch this with a ten foot pole but we're here to see if this is the Hindenburg we think it'll be." — Reddit user msnrcn
• "The retail play is to hope that the Elon stans have enough dry powder to bail out the original investors and give retail a nice profit while smiling knowing they will make a fortune once data centers in space are operational." — Reddit user Dangerous-Quality-79

Institutional

Positive

• "The IPO signals that markets are ready for equity-funded AI capex, which is important given the upcoming wave of mega-IPOs." — Alexander Lis, CIO of SDV
• "The stock's strong opening reflects genuine market enthusiasm for the company's technological leadership and Starlink's growing recurring revenue." — Mike Alves, fund manager at VIDA Vision Fund, a private investor in SpaceX

Negative

• "At current trading levels, however, the valuation appears stretched relative to near-term profitability." — Mike Alves, continued
• "The AI story has sucked all of the oxygen out of the room and has become the only story, and I think this IPO is capitalizing on that … I don't think this thing just keeps going up and to the right … I think we'll start seeing things start to come back down to earth to some extent." — Scott Bickley, advisory fellow at Info-Tech Research Group

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are set to meet in a key Group H matchup at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the two teams facing off as they look to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage. Uruguay enters the tournament as one of South America's traditional powers, while Saudi Arabia will be aiming to build on its reputation for producing surprise results on the World Cup stage. Read on to learn where to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay live.

To spoil the story, you can watch the countries face off on FS1 through live TV services in the US, ITVX in the UK, and SBS on Demand in Australia. Using a VPN is our recommendation to stream the entire tournament from anywhere in the world. You can keep tabs on the rest of the tournament and learn how to catch your team in our where to watch the World Cup guide, or try your chance at scoring tickets with our guide to buying World Cup tickets.

Where to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay for free

Luckily for fans, there are plenty of ways to catch this match at no cost. In Australia, tune in via SBS On Demand; in the UK, via ITVX. In the US, the best way to see it without incurring a fee is to sign up for a free trial of DirecTV, Fubo, or YouTube TV. Or you can use a VPN, as detailed below, to use one of the other free live streams from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay from anywhere

Found yourself away during the match? Don't sweat the details — you can access the Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay match from anywhere in the world using a VPN (virtual private network). This simple app lets users change their device's location, granting access to their favorite free streaming service from anywhere. It's a helpful tool outside of just streaming the game, especially for avid travelers hoping to access their usual services from abroad and folks interested in cybersecurity.

We recommend NordVPN, one of the top picks in our guide to the best VPNs, for catching the game. Fast, easy to use, and home to a variety of global servers, it'll have you covered for the whole tournament. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Where to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the US

Just like the rest of the World Cup, the Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay game will air on FS1 in the US (some other matches will be available through FOX). To tune into the channel, you'll need cable, an antenna, or a paid streaming subscription. For this game specifically, you can catch it for free by signing up for a free DirecTV, Fubo, or YouTube TV trial.

We also recommend Sling TV, but you'll need to double-check that the service covers FOX in your ZIP code to ensure World Cup coverage. If it does, Sling Select ($25 a month) or Sling Blue ($51 a month) are our suggestions, since both also include FS1. Sling Select plans without local channels start at just $20 a month.

Interested in a streaming service to keep in the long term? You'll be covered for the full World Cup tournament with Fox One ($20 a month), which is also available as an add-on to Prime Video. Alternatively, a live TV package could be the right solution for your home, since it'll offer you more than just Fox — check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services to find your perfect fit.

If you've set your sights on DirecTV, we recommend DirecTV MySports, which carries Fox, FS1, and about 20 other popular sports channels ($65 a month). The package also includes ESPN Unlimited access at no additional cost. All DirecTV plans have a free trial for first-time customers.

Alternatively, Fubo Sports + News ($56 a month) is another great choice, offering Fox, FS1, and about 27 other channels. If you're hoping to find a more inclusive service, Fubo's pricier plans are a good choice with even more channels bundled in. All Fubo plans come with a free trial for new users.

YouTube TV is another solid option. Plans cost $83 a month, but a special deal will knock your first five months down to just $68 a month. Fox and FS1 are also available in YouTube TV's cheaper Sports Plan. All YouTube TV plans come with a free trial for new customers.

Viewers looking for Spanish-language tournament coverage will be best served by Peacock. Plans with sports streaming start at $11 a month.

Where to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in the UK

ITVX and the BBC have split rights for the World Cup. The Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay game will be free to stream via ITVX for UK viewers. You'll just need to create an account.

Where to watch Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay in Australia

Australian viewers can catch the entire World Cup tournament via SBS On Demand. The free service requires account creation, but no payment.

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.

• The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973 on Saturday.
• It's been a long 53 years for long-suffering New Yorkers.
• Here's what the Big Apple was like the last time the Knicks were world champs.

Cue the Frank Sinatra song — New Yorkers are on top of the world this week.

After a 53-year-long drought, the New York Knicks are finally able to bring the Larry O'Brien championship trophy to New York City and celebrate with their loyal fans, who haven't given up in more than half a century.

Here's what life was like in New York City the last time the New York Knickerbockers were world champs.

The last time the New York Knicks won an NBA championship was in 1973. Here's the team celebrating their win at City Hall.

Knicks champs Jerry Lucas, Willis Reed, and Bill Bradley celebrated at the airport, too.

There was no ticker-tape parade because the then-mayor, John V. Lindsay, wanted to cut costs and avoid disruptions, calling for smaller celebrations instead.

It was a big year for New York City. The World Trade Center was officially dedicated in April 1973.

The year 1973 was the Year of the Ox. There were street celebrations, much like today.

Source: Lower East Side History Project

Here's what Coney Island looked like that summer. It remained popular throughout the 1970s, despite the city's financial crises.

Just like they do today, kids flocked to the carnival games, but they cost 50 cents back then, not $3.

The subway was a little worse for wear in 1973, with many cars covered in graffiti.

One ride cost 35 cents. Now, a subway ride is $3.

The Knicks weren't the only sports story out of NYC in '73. Secretariat completed his historic Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes near Queens.

Also in 1973, the New York Mets reached the World Series in October, despite being in last place in August.

The Knicks played at Madison Square Garden, an iconic venue. In July 1973, rock legends Led Zeppelin recorded a concert film there.

John Lennon was also spotted walking around the city, where he lived until his death in 1980.

While a lot has changed in the city, some things remain the same.

One thing that has remained the same in 53 years? New Yorkers love the Knicks.

• Melania Trump's style has been closely watched since she became first lady.
• Her best first lady looks mix her personal style with a professional edge.
• Melania Trump has also worn some controversial outfits over the years.

Melania Trump has been quietly reinventing her style in her second tenure as first lady.

Since she returned to the White House in 2025, she has largely struck a more subdued tone in her attire than when President Donald Trump first took office in 2017, though she still switches it up from time to time.

Since becoming first lady, Melania Trump's style has often drawn attention, with some of her outfits proving controversial.

Take a look at some of the best and worst looks she's worn during Donald Trump's presidency.

Melania Trump paid homage to Jackie Kennedy when she debuted as first lady.

Ralph Lauren Collection designed the knee-length, powder-blue dress Melania wore to Trump's inauguration in 2017, along with the coordinating shrug and gloves.

She accessorized the outfit with pearl earrings and blue, pointed-toe heels.

The full ensemble evoked Jackie Kennedy's style. From the bright color to the nod to one of America's most iconic first ladies, Melania's look was the perfect choice for her husband's first inauguration.

Her custom gown for the 2017 inaugural balls featured standout three-dimensional detailing.

Hervé Pierre custom-designed Melania's off-the-shoulder dress for the inaugural ball.

The cream dress had an A-line silhouette, a thigh-high slit on one side, and three-dimensional fabric that curved across the bodice. A thin red belt cinched at the waist for a pop of color.

The dress felt high-fashion, connecting the first lady to her past as a model as she stepped into a new role.

Melania's outfit for a visit to Texas in August 2017 got attention online.

In August 2017, the Trumps visited Corpus Christi, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey to assess recovery efforts.

The pair wore casual attire, with Melania arriving in a white button-down, black jeans, and sneakers. She also added a black baseball hat to her look that said "FLOTUS," first lady of the United States, on the front.

Melania's outfit quickly became a source of social-media chatter. Some said her hat called attention to her in the wake of the natural disaster, while others praised her casual outfit.

Her suit for a Canadian state visit in October 2017 was more fitting for the occasion.

When greeting Justin and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the White House in October 2017, Melania wore a gray pinstripe suit instead of a dress.

The suit featured high-waisted pants, and she paired it with a white button-down and an untied black tie. The outfit was unexpected for a first lady, offering a fun style moment.

The president and first lady had a rare matching moment in April 2018, wearing coordinating striped looks.

In April 2018, the Trumps hosted Japan's prime minister at the time, Shinzo Abe, and his wife, Akie Abe, at Mar-a-Lago, during which the first lady wore an off-the-shoulder dress from Carolina Herrera.

The dress was covered in black and white stripes, with thicker black stripes on the bodice and the pattern reversed on the midi-length skirt.

She added white heels to her look, and Trump wore a navy-and-white striped tie that matched his wife's. The coordinating outfits were an atypical but welcome choice for the couple.

The same month, Melania stunned in a black minidress and coordinating coat.

Melania greeted President Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, in a black minidress and black pumps at the White House.

The standout feature of her outfit was a Givenchy tuxedo cape, which added a flair of personality to the otherwise simple look.

The semi-sheer dress she wore to a state dinner for the Macrons during the same trip was a little too busy.

The first lady changed into a silver Chanel dress for the dinner.

Most of the form-fitting dress was covered in textured fabric, while the top of the bodice and bottom of the skirt were made of a sheer, black fabric adorned with silver embellishments.

The fabrics didn't blend well, making the dress look too busy. It would have been a better look without the sheer fabric.

In June 2018, Melania received backlash for wearing a jacket that said, "I really don't care, do u?"

In June 2018, Melania visited an immigration facility in McAllen, Texas, where children were living, wearing a green Zara jacket that said "I really don't care, do u?" on the back.

Critics said the jacket was insensitive to wear for the visit, critiquing both the first lady and the president for the fashion faux pas.

Melania's former aide, Stephanie Grisham, wrote in her book "I'll Take Your Questions Now" that the president yelled at Melania for wearing the jacket, though Trump and the first lady both said she wore it to send a message to the left-wing media.

A different bow would have improved her dress for an Independence Day celebration in July 2018.

Melania wore a floor-length wrap dress from Ralph Lauren to celebrate Independence Day 2018.

The blue-and-white gingham dress was fun and festive for the holiday, but the oversize red belt tied at her waist overwhelmed the look.

If the first lady had swapped the bow for a thinner belt, her dress would have been more effective.

Melania's suit for a trip to Egypt in October 2018 also raised some eyebrows.

Melania posed for photos in front of pyramids in Egypt wearing cream trousers, a white blouse, a black tie, and a sand-colored Ralph Lauren blazer. A white-and-black boater hat completed the look.

The outfit may have been innocuously stylish in a different venue, but some social-media users thought the outfit looked similar to one worn by "Raiders of the Lost Ark" villain René Belloq during his visit to the pyramids in the film.

It wasn't the first time Melania faced criticism for one of her outfits on her visit to Africa. During her tour of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, Melania told reporters, "I wish people would focus on what I do, not what I wear," following backlash for wearing a white pith helmet.

"You know what? We just completed an amazing trip," she added. "We went to Ghana, we went to Malawi, we went to Kenya, here we are in Egypt. I want to talk about my trip, not what I wear."

Brown pants weren't a great choice for Melania's evening arrival at the White House in December 2018.

Donald and Melania Trump arrived at the White House on the evening of December 27, holding hands as they walked across the lawn.

While the president was in a suit, Melania wore a green jacket, light-brown pants, and matching shoes.

The pants might have been a better choice for a daytime look, as it was difficult for some to tell if the first lady was even wearing bottoms at first glance in the dark. The addition of sunglasses to her nighttime look was also an odd choice.

Melania's outfit would have worked better during the day or with different pants.

In April 2019, Melania rocked a stylish polka-dot dress.

In April 2019, the first lady was photographed at the White House in a black-and-white polka-dot dress designed by Alessandra Rich.

The high-neck dress was cinched at the waist with a black belt, coordinating with the dots on the dress, and it hit her mid-calf.

Melania wore a cream coat over her shoulders and her signature sunglasses, adding glamour to the feminine look.

Gloves brought an elegant touch to her look for a June 2019 state dinner in the UK.

During a visit to the UK, Melania attended a state dinner with the royal family in a Dior gown.

A layer of semi-sheer fabric covered the gown's scooped neckline, forming points on the top of the bodice before transitioning into white fabric. The dress hugged her figure, then flared slightly at her waist.

Melania wore white, elbow-length gloves with the dress. The look was fitting for dining with royalty.

She appeared to take a page out of Kate Middleton's fashion book when she and the president hosted the royals for dinner during the same trip.

Ahead of a dinner at Winfield House, where the American ambassador to the UK lives, Melania was photographed in a red Givenchy gown.

Melania's floor-length dress was sleeveless and featured a built-in cape, a silhouette Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, often favors.

Melania's yellow and pink outfit in December 2019 was almost too colorful.

During another visit to the UK in December 2019, Melania stepped out in a high-neck, cape coat from Valentino. The coat was mustard yellow, and Melania paired it with a pink dress and coordinating pumps.

The jacket was a big statement in and of itself, so the look would have been more effective if the first lady had worn a more neutral color with it than bright pink.

Melania's black-and-white look for the Daytona 500 in February 2020 was stylish.

Melania's black Dior sundress was fairly simple. The midi-length dress featured a V-neckline and a white, dotted pattern.

The white lace belt from Alaïa and white Christian Louboutin pumps she wore with the dress made the look cohesive, and she also added sunglasses to the outfit.

The look balanced Melania's personal style and traditional first lady attire.

A pink dress Melania wore during the virtual Republican National Convention in August 2020 would have been better without the bow detailing.

Melania appeared alongside Trump in a hot-pink midi-dress from Jason Wu at the 2020 RNC.

The dress featured a boat neckline and a flared skirt, and two black bows sat on the waistline, which appeared to be cinched with elastic. Melania wore black pumps with the dress.

The bows on the dress could have been chic, but they looked a bit crumpled throughout the night, particularly because they sat atop the ruched waistline and contrasted so heavily with the pink fabric. The dress would have been a better fit if there had been just one or no bows on the waistline.

She wore a pleated dress at the 2020 RNC, but the green color felt out of place.

Melania wore a cape dress to close out the RNC, choosing a neon-green piece from Valentino.

The ankle-length, high-neck dress was covered in vertical pleats and featured two swaths of fabric flowing out from her shoulders like a cape. She added a thin pink belt and pink pumps to the outfit.

The silhouette was beautiful, but the green color was an odd choice for the RNC. Vanity Fair reported that it allowed social-media users to easily make memes out of the outfit using green screen technology.

If she had worn the dress in a different color, Melania's look would have been a slam dunk.

In November 2020, Melania wore a gingham coat with a stylish built-in scarf.

Melania oversaw the delivery of the 2020 White House Christmas tree in a gingham coat from Balenciaga.

The loose-fitting coat featured an off-center line of buttons, and the collar formed a scarf that wrapped around one of Melania's shoulders. Quarter-length sleeves showed off the first lady's black gloves, just as the knee-length hem spotlighted her black boots from Alaïa.

The look was effortlessly chic.

Melania's final outfit as first lady in January 2021 offered a full-circle moment.

When Trump left office in January 2021, Melania chose to wear an all-black outfit.

She paired a form-fitting Dolce & Gabbana dress with a cropped Chanel coat, gloves, Christian Louboutin pumps, and dark sunglasses.

The look seemed to nod to Jackie Kennedy, just as her first outfit as first lady did. However, the darker hues spoke to the more somber tone of the day for the Trumps.

Melania also made headlines for changing into a beachy dress before arriving at Mar-a-Lago later in the day.

When she returned to the White House on January 20, Melania set a new tone as first lady.

Rather than wearing another pastel look to mark the beginning of her husband's second term as president, Melania donned navy and white for the 2025 inauguration.

Adam Lippes designed her coat, which she paired with a white scarf, navy pumps, and a custom boater-style hat from Eric Javits. Boater hats are typically worn in summer, but the wool piece Melania wore offered a winter version.

Although the hat got some negative attention online as people compared it to the one the Hamburglar or V in "V For Vendetta" wore, Melania's inaugural outfit was a savvy choice. The look set a serious tone, blending professional style with Melania's personal taste.

Melania also managed to pull attention from Trump with the look, which was a feat considering how many eyes he had on him throughout the day.

And her custom dress for the 2025 inaugural balls had a modern edge.

Melania opted for another custom Hervé Pierre dress for the 2025 inaugural balls, arriving in a black-and-white dress that felt like a continuation of the fashion story she started with the look she wore during the day.

The strapless dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, and a zig-zag of black fabric adorned the bodice before framing a slit on one side of the skirt.

A coordinating choker with a brooch completed the stylish gown.

Melania's trench coat for the 2025 Easter celebration went against tradition.

Traditionally, Easter fashion calls for pastel tones and festive prints like gingham, allowing people to have fun with their outfits.

However, Melania arrived at the 2025 Easter Egg Roll at the White House in a simple cream trench coat from Mackage and Roger Vivier heels.

The subdued look was a shift from Melania's more colorful outfits for previous Easter celebrations at the White House. Likewise, Mackage, a brand founded and headquartered in Canada, was a surprising choice for the first lady, given the trade dispute between the US and its northern neighbor.

Later that month, the first lady wisely chose an outfit made by Italian designers for Pope Francis' funeral.

Melania joined her husband at Pope Francis' funeral at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

She wore a black coatdress designed by Dolce & Gabbana for the occasion, as well as lace gloves and a lace veil from the fashion house.

Wearing an Italian designer was fitting for the occasion since the Catholic Church is based in the country, though Melania also favors Dolce & Gabbana when she isn't in Italy.

Melania wore a pretty yet pricey dress to see "Les Misérables" at the Kennedy Center in June 2025.

Melania chose a $3,900 Bottega Veneta dress for the show.

The dress had an asymmetrical neckline and gold detailing on the shoulder and waist. Melania paired the designer gown with silver and gold Christian Louboutin pumps.

The dress was pretty, but Melania's black-and-white looks for Trump's second term are starting to feel a bit repetitive. A pop of color could have made the dress stand out more.

A few days later, she wore an American designer for the US Army's 250th anniversary parade.

Melania appeared alongside Trump at the US Army's 250th anniversary parade in Washington, DC, wearing another suit from Adam Lippes.

Both her $2,490 jacket and $1,190 skirt were cream-colored, with a subtle navy pinstripe pattern. The double-breasted jacket and pencil skirt had a looser, relaxed fit.

Blue Christian Louboutin heels completed the ensemble.

Melania wore another stylish striped look during a White House meeting in September 2025.

On September 4, Melania attended a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education.

She wore a soft gray linen suit that featured white pinstripes. The jacket was oversized, and the pants were wide-legged. The first lady added structure to the look with a fitted white T-shirt and a white belt.

Stilettos completed the chic menswear look.

The bright yellow dress she wore to a state banquet at Windsor Castle was memorable, but it looked slightly out of place at a dinner with royals.

On September 16, the president and first lady arrived in the UK for a state visit. The following evening, they attended a state banquet with King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family.

Melania wore a bright yellow dress designed by Carolina Herrera to the dinner. The dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, a column skirt, and a slit on the side. She added even more color to the ensemble with a wide, purple belt and bright green, dangly earrings.

It was nice to see Melania add some color to her wardrobe in 2025, but the bright hue and belt made the dress look a bit too casual for the event. The silhouette was pretty, but the first lady may have been better off wearing the gown in a more subdued color.

Later the same month, Melania wore a chic white suit, but a different top could have improved it.

On September 23, Melania accompanied the president on a visit to the UN General Assembly, wearing a white blazer and tailored pants from Dolce & Gabbana.

The suit was a strong choice, as the contrast of the long blazer and cropped pants felt professional and chic, and the cream Christian Louboutin shoes she paired with the look were stylish, too.

However, the camel-colored blouse from Max Mara that she wore with the suit was almost too close to Melania's skin tone. The look would have popped more with a different colored shirt.

Melania could have worn a more festive look for the 2025 Halloween celebration at the White House.

When the president and first lady passed out candy at the White House on Halloween, neither wore a costume. Instead, Melania donned a wool coat from Marni, which nodded to the holiday with orange trim on the collar, pockets, and lining.

She wore the khaki-colored coat buttoned to the collar, and it cinched at her waist with a thick belt — one of her go-to silhouettes. She paired the coat with taupe Manolo Blahnik heels.

While the orange aspects of the look had a subtle Halloween feel, the outfit didn't feel festive enough for the holiday, especially when compared to the plethora of decorations covering the White House for the event. Melania would have made a stronger statement in a full orange coat or a black-and-orange look.

For dinner at the White House in November 2025, Melania chose an elegant green gown.

On November 18, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, dined at the White House during his visit to the US.

Melania donned a $3,350 Elie Saab dress for the occasion. The deep-green dress featured a strapless neckline, and ruching on both the bodice and the skirt added texture. A slit broke up the floor-length skirt, and Melania completed the look with black heels and sparkly earrings.

Every bit of Melania's look seemed designed to welcome Crown Prince Mohammed. The dress was similar in color to Saudi Arabia's national flag, seeming to nod to the nation. Plus, in November 2024, Elie Saab marked 45 years of his brand with "1001 Seasons of Elie Saab," a massive fashion show held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Her sparkly dress for a New Year's Eve celebration in December 2025 was a nice change of pace.

Melania celebrated the end of 2025 at Trump's annual party at Mar-a-Lago wearing a sparkly, silver gown.

Designed by The New Arrivals, the $1,450 dress was sleeveless, with a scooped neckline, hugging Melania's figure as it flowed into a midi-length skirt. She paired the dress with bedazzled Christian Louboutin shoes and loose waves.

The look was festive and fitting for Florida weather, offering a refreshing change from her more subdued style.

Melania's black ensemble for the premiere of her documentary was lackluster.

The first lady attended the premiere of her documentary "Melania" in a Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit.

Black buttons lined the center of the jacket, which was cinched at Melania's waist with a black belt. The column skirt hit her mid-calf, spotlighting her black pumps.

The outfit might have been fine for any number of first lady engagements, but it felt too understated for the premiere of her film.

A black gown with a professional flair may have been more appropriate for the occasion.

Melania looked underdressed for a White House dinner in February 2026.

Trump invited only Republican governors to the National Governors Association dinner, which was held in the East Room of the White House on February 21.

The event seemed to have a formal dress code, as indicated by most attendees' ensembles. The president and other men in attendance wore tuxedos, while women, including Usha Vance, wore gowns. Melania, though, went more casual for the event.

She paired silver, patterned Dolce & Gabbana pants with a black blouse that had tie detailing. Metallic pumps and shiny earrings completed the outfit.

Melania's look may have been a good choice for a girls' night, but it wasn't fancy enough for a formal dinner at the White House. A gown with the same texture as her pants would have been a better choice.

Her dark suit for the 2026 State of the Union address was a solid choice.

After wearing the designer to the dinner at the White House, Melania tapped Dolce & Gabbana again for her State of the Union look.

She wore a deep charcoal suit from the brand, featuring a tailored jacket and wide-legged pants. She kept the look simple, pairing it with a white blouse, black Manolo Blahnik pumps, and stud earrings.

The outfit struck a nice balance between simplicity and luxury.

Melania's leopard-print skirt for a March 2026 Women's History Month event could have been improved with a few tweaks.

The president and first lady hosted a Women's History Month event at the White House in March 2026, with Melania arriving in a black top and a leopard-print skirt designed by Adam Lippes. She paired the look with black heels.

While the printed skirt was fun, it was so high-waisted that it overshadowed the rest of the ensemble. The simple shirt also felt like an afterthought.

The outfit would have been stronger if the skirt had sat slightly lower on Melania's waist and if she had worn a different shirt.

Her dress for a visit from the Dutch royals was pretty but not right for the event.

The Trumps hosted the king and queen of the Netherlands for a White House dinner in April 2026.

The first lady wore a white, midi-length dress from Erdem for the dinner. A large, black flower appliqué was embroidered on the dress from the bodice to the skirt, contrasting with the simple silhouette.

The dress was pretty, but the embroidery was a bit loud for a political dinner. A dress with a similar silhouette and simpler design would have been a better fit for the event.

Melania wore a pretty, colorful suit to welcome the British royals to the White House in April.

When King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House for their state visit, Melania turned to Adam Lippes, one of her go-to designers, for an outfit to welcome them.

The blazer of her pale-yellow suit was double-breasted, while the coordinating skirt fell to her knees. The bright hue was a welcome change of pace for the first lady, contrasting the slew of dark looks she normally wears. It also felt similar to ensembles the royals favor, making it an even better choice for the visit.

She paired the suit with snakeskin Manolo Blahnik pumps for a high-fashion twist.

Melania's soft-pink gown for a state dinner at the White House was stylish and politically savvy.

During the same state visit, the Trumps hosted King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House for a formal state dinner.

Melania wore a pale-pink gown from Christian Dior Haute Couture for the occasion. The strapless gown billowed at the top and featured ruching at the waistline, adding dimension. She accessorized the look with off-white gloves and large earrings.

The dress was stylish and formal enough for the dinner, and even better, it coordinated with Queen Camilla's hot-pink dress. Their complementary looks sent a message of unity, as a style strategist told Business Insider.

The colorful jumpsuit Melania wore to the congressional picnic at the White House in May 2026 wasn't quite right for the event.

Melania attended the congressional picnic in a bubblegum-pink Valentino jumpsuit, which she previously wore in 2024.

Multicolored florals embroidered the quarter-length sleeves and flowy pants of the jumpsuit, and Melania cinched it at her waist with a wide green belt.

The jumpsuit was a fun fashion statement, but it read beachy, not White House lawn chic. A jumpsuit without a pattern may have been a better fit.

Melania's all-black look for the June 2026 UFC Freedom fight at the White House would have stood out more with a few tweaks.

The first lady attended the UFC Freedom fight on the White House lawn in an all-black Dolce & Gabbana look.

She wore a form-fitting dress with a leather blazer draped over her shoulders, as well as pumps and a cross choker. It was definitely an evening look, but the ensemble was almost too understated for a first lady to wear at the White House.

Melania's look may have felt more stately if she had worn the blazer buttoned rather than on her shoulders, or if she had opted for an ankle-length dress.

• The US imposed export controls on Anthropic's newest AI models. In response, Anthropic closed access.
• The restrictions could play directly into Mistral's long-standing AI sovereignty pitch.
• Mistral's CEO has warned for more than a year that Europe risks becoming dependent on US AI firms.

The White House's move to restrict access to Anthropic's newest AI models could hand one of Europe's leading AI startups exactly the opening it has been preparing for.

On Friday, US officials imposed export controls on Anthropic's cybersecurity-focused models, Mythos 5 and Fable 5. They cited national security concerns that safeguards meant to prevent misuse of Fable 5 could be bypassed.

The restrictions block any foreign national from accessing the two models. Anthropic responded by suspending access to the systems altogether, creating uncertainty around who ultimately controls access to frontier AI.

The episode has the hallmarks of a scenario Mistral's CEO, Arthur Mensch, has been warning about for more than a year — and has since made part of his pitch for why people should choose it over models from US firms like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Speaking at London Tech Week in June 2025, Mensch warned about American AI companies "having the keys" for their models, adding that he sees it as European companies "giving leverage to their providers."

"At some point, you need to be able to turn it off or turn it on, and you don't want to leave it to another country," he said.

Sovereign AI

Since then, the French startup has positioned itself around AI sovereignty, the idea that governments and businesses should not become overly dependent on a handful of foreign AI providers.

To do so, it has championed open-weight models that customers can deploy on their own infrastructure and customize using their own data.

"European governments are coming to us because they want to build the technology and they want to serve their citizens," Mensch said on the "Big Technology Podcast" in January.

Mensch doubled down on his position at a hearing on digital sovereignty and AI at France's National Assembly last month, warning that Europe has two years to build its own artificial intelligence infrastructure before becoming permanently dependent on American tech giants.

At Mistral's first-ever summit in Paris that same month, executives, government officials, and enterprise customers repeatedly returned to the same theme: AI sovereignty.

"You need to know where your data is and what happens to your data," Jan van den Bremen, Accenture's technology lead across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, told Business Insider at the event.

While Mistral is widely considered the top AI model provider in Europe, it lags behind the likes of Anthropic in terms of valuation, model capabilities, and user numbers. The French startup was last valued at around $13.6 billion, compared to Anthropic's $965 billion valuation.

But the Anthropic restrictions make Mistral's core argument easier to understand: Most of the time, control of AI ultimately lies with the provider and its government.

• There are so many things to stream. Wouldn't it be great if you could see them all in one place?
• And if you owned the place everyone came to when they wanted to stream, wouldn't that be worth a lot of money?
• That's the logic behind the Fox/Roku deal. Except …

Rupert Murdoch chased the TV Guide of the Future for years. He spent billions trying to build an on-screen map for digital television before giving up.

Now his son Lachlan looks like he's making it happen by buying Roku in a $22 billion deal.

On paper, Lachlan's transaction seems like the thing his dad spent much of the '90s and 2000s trying to put together: Once the deal closes, the Murdochs will own the interface that 100 million households use when they want to stream something.

It's a big deal because it means Fox won't just be a content company, but a distributor as well. Buying Roku gives Fox real estate it can use to promote its own services, like Tubi, its free streamer, and Fox One, its paid streamer. But it can also sell subscriptions to competitors' services and get paid when it does. And it can sell ads on all of the above.

One big catch: Fox is spending $22 billion to own a TV Guide. But it's not the only TV Guide.

Unlike the '90s and 2000s, there are now lots of ways to get something you want to watch onto a screen of your choice. Roku might be your home screen. But you might also use YouTube, or Apple, or Amazon, or Samsung, or Walmart's Vizio. You might still have a cable TV subscription, which would mean your cable TV provider is your home screen. Maybe you never use any of those services, and just turn on Netflix and never spend time anywhere else.

The other big catch: In the internet age, owning a portal that millions of people use to access stuff they like gives you lots of power. But it doesn't give you all the power: The biggest content companies and app makers have their own leverage.

Apple can't sell an iPhone that doesn't let you use Instagram, and Roku can't be a TV portal if it doesn't include YouTube and Netflix, the two biggest names in streaming.

You could see how that gave YouTube and Netflix leverage when Roku went public in 2017: Back then, the company disclosed that Netflix generated about a third of its viewing but immaterial revenue, while YouTube, its most-watched ad-supported app, generated no revenue at all. The details have changed a bit since then — I've asked Roku for the latest — but the lesson hasn't: If you are big enough, you don't pay the same tolls as everyone else.

Let's be clear: Lachlan Murdoch is getting value for his $22 billion. Roku is a massive player in streaming, and it makes $4.7 billion a year by selling ads and subscriptions. Owning it gives Fox a way to diversify its revenue streams: Now Fox can make money from its own shows and services, but it can also get a piece of the business happening around other people's shows and services.

That's a position lots of media companies have wanted to be in for a long time. It doesn't always work out — ask HBO, which keeps getting combined with distribution companies (like Time Warner Cable, AOL, AT&T) and then sold to someone else when that doesn't work.

It also has a built-in tension. Yes, owning a distribution platform means you can give your own stuff a boost — that's why Roku has three different streamers of its own. But if you turn on your Roku TV and want to stream "The White Lotus," you don't want to wade through a bunch of ads for Howdy or the Roku Channel before you get there.

So Roku, like every other distributor, has to balance out the stuff it wants you to see vs. the stuff you want to see.

That kind of tension, by the way, might normally be an issue for regulators to examine. But in 2026, the odds that a Fox-friendly White House is going to stop the Murdochs from getting a deal they want are very low. Just ask Larry and David Ellison, whose Paramount got the go-ahead to buy Warner Bros. Discovery from Trump's Department of Justice on Friday afternoon — and then hosted a UFC fight night on the White House lawn two days later.

All of which makes the Roku deal a big event — but not one that completely remakes streaming. When Rupert Murdoch wanted to own the next-generation TV Guide, he imagined owning the only way to get to TV. But there are lots of TV Guides in 2026.

• "The Social Reckoning" tells the story of Frances Haugen, a Facebook engineer turned whistleblower.
• The movie is written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, and is a companion piece to "The Social Network."
• The movie opens in theaters on October 9.

Sixteen years ago, David Fincher wowed audiences with the dorm-room origin story of Facebook with "The Social Network."

The movie would go on to earn eight Oscar nominations and three wins and make stars out of Jesse Eisenberg as its creator, Mark Zuckerberg, and Andrew Garfield as Zuck's former friend and collaborator, Eduardo Saverin.

Now, Aaron Sorkin, who won an Oscar for penning "The Social Network" script, is taking on the writing and directing duties for the movie's follow-up, "The Social Reckoning."

In this movie, things have changed dramatically for Zuckerberg (this time played by Jeremy Strong), as Facebook has grown into one of the most influential companies on the planet. But the company has some dark secrets.

Oscar winner Mikey Madison plays Facebook engineer Frances Haugen, who has put her trust in Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, played by Jeremy Allen White, to expose the company's internal research and decision-making.

Sorkin based the script on The Wall Street Journal's expansive investigative series The Facebook Files, which delved into the social network's impact on youth mental health, misinformation, and the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

Sony will release the movie on October 9. Here's everything we know.

Aaron Sorkin has wanted to do a "Social Network" follow-up for years.

Sorkin is no stranger to exploring power and the people who wield it. When he wasn't creating shows like "The West Wing" and "The Newsroom," he wrote the scripts for movies like "The American President" and "Steve Jobs."

But he's never been able to let go of Zuckerberg and Facebook. In a 2020 interview for the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, he noted that what fascinated him about a continuation to "The Social Network" was exploring "the dark side of Facebook."

That interest intensified a year later when The Wall Street Journal released The Facebook Files.

By the spring of 2025, Sony announced that Sorkin was attached to write and direct a follow-up movie.

"There isn't a life that Facebook's algorithm hasn't touched, and that influence has reshaped everything," Sorkin told a room full of movie theater owners at their annual convention, CinemaCon, back in April. "It's time to say more."

Sorkin says he spent 3 days trying to convince Jesse Eisenberg to play Mark Zuckerberg again.

When Sorkin took on "The Social Reckoning," one of the first people he sent the script to was Jesse Eisenberg, whose performance as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network" earned him an Oscar nomination.

"I felt like it belonged to him, and he was certainly battle-tested," Sorkin told Vanity Fair about hoping Eisenberg would reprise the role.

Sorkin told Vanity Fair he spent three days trying to convince Eisenberg, but ultimately, the actor declined.

"He simply did not want to be conflated with Mark Zuckerberg anymore, that he has his problems with the guy," Sorkin told Vanity Fair. "He doesn't like kids coming up to him in airports with business cards that say 'I'm CEO, bitch' for him to sign."

Eisenberg told the BBC in February 2025 that he no longer wanted to be "associated with someone like that," referring to Zuckerberg.

This opened the door for Jeremy Strong to take on the role.

Jeremy Strong plays Mark Zuckerberg.

Strong has a track record of taking on challenging roles. He crafted the complex nepo baby Kendall Roy from "Succession" into one of the most memorable characters in modern television. He's since wowed audiences with his performances as Donald Trump's cutthroat lawyer, Roy Cohn, in "The Apprentice," and Bruce Springsteen's loyal producer, Jon Landau, in "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere."

Playing an adult Zuckerberg will be his biggest transformation yet.

Since founding Facebook, Zuckerberg rebranded it as Meta in 2021, focusing on virtual reality and augmented reality technologies.

Soon after Haugen testified at the Senate hearing, Zuckerberg announced on an earnings call that Meta was hiring 40,000 people to work in safety and security because, he said, "we care about getting this right." Facebook has long said it endorses establishing rules for online platforms.

Mikey Madison plays Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

This marks Madison's first role since she won the best actress Oscar for "Anora."

The Facebook Files is based on the thousands of pages of internal documents leaked by Haugen, who was a product manager at Facebook. Once Haugen's identity was revealed as the whistleblower, she did a "60 Minutes" interview and testified at a Senate hearing that Facebook knew it could be harmful to young people.

Jeremy Allen White plays Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz.

White is best known for playing Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto on the hit series "The Bear," which earned him two Emmy wins. White has portrayed a real person before: he played Bruce Springsteen in the 2025 biopic, "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere."

Horwitz is a former technology reporter at The Wall Street Journal who was behind The Facebook Files.

The first 'Social Reckoning' trailer was released in June.

Sony released the first teaser trailer of the movie on June 10.

Meta did not respond for comment about the trailer.

Watch it below:

• Caroline Huber started a nicotine replacement company targeted toward Gen Z.
• She and her best friend had both struggled to quit vaping.
• They make time for their friendship outside working together.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Caroline Huber, cofounder and co-CEO of Jones. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I started smoking very casually, mostly at parties after I'd had a few drinks. I wasn't dependent, and it didn't feel like a problem. I was happy to share a cigarette with friends once in a while.

That changed the first time I tried a vape. When I took my first hit, I experienced the most intense head rush I'd ever had. I couldn't believe how strong it was. At first, it was too much, but after a few minutes, I asked my friend to hit it again. Within a few weeks, I bought my own vape.

At the time, there was a narrative that vaping was healthier than smoking, but I knew almost immediately that wasn't true for me. I was dependent on the vape: I would get a panicky feeling if I didn't know where it was. Some people experience that with their phones, but I'd never had that urgency before, and I didn't like it.

My mom, a doctor, helped me realize how much I was using

Soon, I started noticing physical effects too. Running became more difficult, and my migraines got worse. I was frightened when I realized I was no longer getting a head rush from the vape because I'd become so dependent on the chemicals. I was using it all day, every day. And yet, that felt normal among my friends and colleagues.

After about a year, I wanted to quit. After a few starts and stops, I talked with my mom, who is a family physician. I was embarrassed, but she helped me look at my nicotine use without judgment. She calculated that I was using the same amount of nicotine as a two-pack-a-day smoker. That was pretty shocking to hear.

I didn't need to quit entirely, but I wanted to regain control

My mom helped me create a plan to use nicotine replacement therapy at a high enough dose that it would actually work for me. I also teamed up with my best friend, Hilary. Quitting together helped us succeed.

I was grateful for the nicotine replacement products I was using, but I noticed they were out of date and targeted toward smokers, not young vapers. Hilary and I wanted to create a nicotine replacement therapy paired with holistic, community-based support. That's how Jones was born, in November 2023.

We address physical cravings with nicotine replacement mints, and have an app to help address the psychological side of things. We're also reframing the idea of quitting: for Gen Z, it isn't all-or-nothing. I still smoke occasionally in social situations, but I feel in control of the choice, and I'm happy with that.

We've been intentional about protecting our friendship

Hilary and I have been best friends since we were 8. We heard lots of horror stories about working with a friend, and we didn't want founding a company together to ruin our friendship. We started seeing a couple's therapist occasionally, to help us communicate effectively.

Each week, we have a check-in as co-CEOs and best friends, where we talk about work and personal stressors. That's been fundamental to keeping our relationship healthy over the past few years. We also make time to hang out as friends, without talking about work.

Starting the company together has shifted our friendship dynamic, but not in a bad way. There's so much trust between us, and I've loved having Hilary beside me for the highs and lows. There's no one else I'd rather be doing this with.

I'm proud of how my friend and I have been able to help others

Since launching, Jones has seen some really healthy growth. But the thing I'm most proud of is the impact we've had on other young people. A few weeks ago, a user told me they felt like Jones saved their life: for the first time, they had the tools and support they needed to control their nicotine use.

Being able to have that impact, with my best friend at my side, has been life changing for me.

• Actors Chuck Norris, Patrick Muldoon, Robert Duvall, and James Van Der Beek died in 2026.
• So did "Dilbert" creator Scott Adams, Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, and painter David Hockney.
• Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, mogul Ted Turner, and movie critic Gene Shalit.

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

Scott Adams, 68

Adams based the character in his beloved "Dilbert" comic strip on his coworkers at the telephone company he worked at in the 1980s. By the end of the decade, the character and his satirical office humor began appearing in comic strips.

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

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

Adams died on January 13 following a bout with metastatic prostate cancer.

Brad Arnold, 47

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

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

Arnold died on February 7 after a battle with cancer.

Afrika Bambaataa, 68

Regarded as a pioneer in hip-hop during the 1970s and 1980s, Lance Taylor, known professionally as Afrika Bambaataa, would go on to influence the likes of Queen Latifah and A Tribe Called Quest throughout his career.

First gaining attention as a DJ in the Bronx, Bambaataa signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1981 and released landmark songs like "Jazzy Sensation" and "Planet Rock."

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

Bambaataa denied all claims.

He died on April 9 due to prostate cancer.

Rob Bass, 59

One of the pillars that brought hip-hop to the mainstream, Rob Bass crafted the iconic track "It Takes Two" alongside DJ E-Z Rock.

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

Bass died on May 22 following a battle with cancer.

Nicholas Brendon, 54

Brendon played the beloved character Xander Harris in all seven seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Brendon also starred in other TV shows, including "Criminal Minds" and "Kitchen Confidential."

Brendon died in his sleep on March 20. According to his family's statement, the cause was natural. In 2023, Brendon suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. He also had cauda equina syndrome, which led to several spinal surgeries.

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

Peabo Bryson, 75

Two-time Grammy winner Peabo Bryson is responsible for some classic love ballads.

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

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

Bryson died on June 2. No cause was given.

Kyle Busch, 41

A star on the NASCAR circuit, Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion considered one of the greatest racers of all time.

On May 21, Busch was hospitalized and it was announced he'd miss two upcoming races. Hours later, he was pronounced dead. No cause of death was given.

Robert Carradine, 71

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

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

But for a generation, Robert Carradine will always be known as the king of the nerds, embodying the iconic geek Lewis Skolnick in the 1980s franchise "Revenge of the Nerds."

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

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

Carradine died by suicide on February 23.

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

Bud Cort, 77

Cort's baby-faced looks, combined with his wit and sophisticated persona, led to him becoming the epitome of 1970s counterculture when director Hal Ashby cast him as the lead in the 1971 movie "Harold and Maude."

The dark comedy stars Cort as Harold, a twenty-something who is obsessed with suicide until he meets 79-year-old eccentric Maude (Ruth Gordon). The movie would go on to become a cult classic thanks to Cort and Gordon's unique on-screen chemistry.

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

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

Cort died on Feb. 11 following a long illness.

Eric Dane, 53

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

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

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

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

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

Robert Duvall, 95

Robert Duvall built a career of timeless cinema classics: "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II," "Apocalypse Now," "THX 1138," "The Natural," "Days of Thunder," "The Apostle," and the list goes on.

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

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

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

Mark Fuhrman, 74

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

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

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

Fuhrman died on May 12 of throat cancer.

Valentino Garavani, 93

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

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

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

Garavani died on January 19. No cause was given.

Donald Gibb, 71

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

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

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

Gibb died on May 12 following health complications.

Anthony Head, 72

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

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

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

David Hockney, 88

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

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

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

Jesse Jackson, 84

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jackson died on February 17.

Patrick Muldoon, 57

In the 1990s, you couldn't escape the piercing eyes of Patrick Muldoon.

He played Austin Reed on "Days of Our Lives" for most of the decade, and when he wasn't on the soap, he was over on "Melrose Place" playing the villain role of Richard Hart.

If being on two iconic shows wasn't enough, he also showed up on "Saved by the Bell" and had a role in the cult classic movie "Starship Troopers."

Muldoon died on April 19 after a heart attack.

Tom Noonan, 74

Standing at a towering 6' 5", Tom Noonan was born to play the bad guy. And he did just that, starring as the villain in movies like "Manhunter," "RoboCop 2," and "Last Action Hero."

But this actor had more to show off. He showcased his comedy chops as Rodney Dangerfield's degenerate gambling friend in the 1983 comedy "Easy Money," and set up the heist for Robert De Niro in Michael Mann's 1995 classic "Heat."

His knack for storytelling also translated behind the camera. Noonan wrote, directed, and starred in the drama "What Happened Was," which won the grand prize at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival.

Noonan died on February 14; no cause was given.

Chuck Norris, 86

Few action stars Chuck Norris' credentials.

Before he ever stepped in front of a camera, he was a martial arts champion and a black belt in Karate, judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, and Tang Soo Do.

His talents would become known the world over in 1972, when he faced off against Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon."

Through the 1980s, Norris became one of the biggest action stars in the world thanks to movies like "A Force of One," "The Octagon," and the "Delta Force" and "Missing in Action" franchises.

In the 1990s, he took over the small screen, playing the lead in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" TV show, which aired in over 100 countries during its run from 1993 to 2001.

Norris was hospitalized on March 19 in Hawaii and died the following day, according to his family. No cause was given.

Catherine O'Hara, 71

O'Hara, who was best known for her roles in "Beetlejuice" and "Home Alone," got her start in the Canadian comedy scene, appearing in the now-legendary cast of "SCTV."

It would mark the beginning of a fruitful partnership with fellow actor Eugene Levy, who became her frequent costar and collaborator in memorable appearances in Christopher Guest films like "A Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show" and television series like "Schitt's Creek," which earned her an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in 2020.

O'Hara's representation confirmed her death to Business Insider on January 30. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed in a death certificate viewed by People that O'Hara died of a pulmonary embolism, with rectal cancer listed as an underlying cause.

Valerie Perrine, 82

Perrine found herself cast alongside the biggest stars of the 1970s.

She played the love interest opposite Jeff Bridges in 1973's "The Last American Hero" and Robert Redford in 1979's "The Electric Horseman." She earned an Oscar nomination for starring alongside Dustin Hoffman in 1974's "Lenny."

For most, she'll be remembered best for sharing the screen with Gene Hackman as the secretary to his evil Lex Luthor in 1978's "Superman." She also starred in the sequel. As Ms. Teschmacher, her loyalty to Luthor is questioned when she rescues Superman (Christopher Reeve) after he's chained with Kryptonite.

Perrine died in her home in Beverly Hills on March 23. She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015.

Sonny Rollins, 95

One of the most influential jazz musicians in history, Rollins recorded more than 60 albums over his seven-decade career.

His live album, "A Night at the Village Vanguard," is considered one of the greatest jazz albums ever made.

Rollins died on May 25; no cause was given.

Neil Sedaka, 86

Sedaka is responsible for some of the biggest pop songs of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Brooklyn native wrote over 500 songs, including classic hits like "Laughter in the Rain," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "Bad Blood" and the Captain & Tennille song, "Love Will Keep Us Together."

Sedaka died on February 27; no cause was given.

Gene Shalit, 100

Before there was Rotten Tomatoes or even Siskel & Ebert, movie lovers got their recommendations from Gene Shalit.

The iconic movie critic could be seen sporting his signature look of glasses, bushy hair, and big mustache as a staple on the "Today" show from 1973 to 2010. If he wasn't interviewing the biggest movie stars, he was reviewing movies with incredible puns ("'Ishtar' is Ish-terrible.")

His larger-than-life presence left a mark on pop culture: he was parodied as a Muppet and on countless episodes of "SCTV" and "Saturday Night Live."

Shalit died on June 12; no cause was given.

Kiki Shepard, 74

In her 15-year tenure as a co-host on "Showtime at the Apollo," Kiki Shepard was considered royalty at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater.

Known in the building as "Apollo Queen of Fashion" thanks to her dazzling outfits, Shepherd was a fixture on the show from 1987 to 2002.

Throughout her career, Shepard also appeared on TV shows like "Baywatch," "A Different World," "NYPD Blue," and "Grey's Anatomy."

Shepard died on March 16 after suffering a heart attack.

Béla Tarr, 70

Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr became a legend in the arthouse world for his unflinching work featuring several-minute-long takes.

With movies like "Family Nest" (1979) and "The Turin Horse" (2011), Tarr showcased his slow cinema style while focusing on marginalized characters living bleak lives. Tarr pushed the envelope with his style when he made "Sátántangó" in 1994, which had a run time of 450 minutes.

His work influenced several arthouse filmmakers, including Jim Jarmusch and Gus Van Sant's "Death Trilogy" ("Gerry," "Elephant," and "Last Days").

Tarr died on January 6 following a battle with a "long and serious illness."

James Tolkan, 94

You might not recognize the name, but if you're a movie fan, you know the face.

Tolkan's tough-guy persona made a mark on movie history in films like "Top Gun" and the "Back to the Future" franchise.

In "Top Gun," he played Commander Tom "Stinger" Jardian, who famously gives Tom Cruise's character a tongue lashing, saying, "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash."

In "Back to the Future" and its sequels, he played Principal Strickland, who had zero tolerance for "slackers."

Other credits include "Serpico," "WarGames," "Masters of the Universe," and "Dick Tracy."

Tolkan died on March 26; no cause was given.

Ted Turner, 87

Ted Turner changed the television landscape thanks to his maverick maneuvers to harness the 24-hour news cycle.

After taking over his father's advertising company in the 1960s at the age of 24, Turner embarked on a path to change the media landscape by buying up radio and TV stations around the South. He even bought sports teams including the Atlanta Braves MLB team and the Atlanta Hawks NBA team.

All of that programming would eventually become part of TBS, a "super station" that showed old movies, reruns, and Braves and Hawks games.

Turner then set his sights on the news. He founded CNN, the first 24-hour news channel, in June of 1980.

Over the decades, Turner gained celebrity status, particularly after marrying with Jane Fonda, a union that lasted from 1991 to 2001. In 1991, he was named Time's "Man of the Year." He sold his networks to Time Warner for $7.5 billion in 1996.

Turner died on May 6; no cause was given.

James Van Der Beek, 48

Van Der Beek was beloved all over the world for his role as the titular teen Dawson Leery on the WB series "Dawson's Creek."

The series, which ran from 1998 to 2002, turned Van Der Beek into a star and a teen heartthrob. While "Dawson's Creek" was still airing, he'd cement his stardom playing the lead role of high school quarterback "Mox" Moxon in the 1999 coming-of-age drama "Varsity Blues."

Van Der Beek found steady work the rest of his career in movies like "Texas Rangers" and "The Rules of Attraction, and memorably played a fictional version of himself on the TV series "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," and performed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2019.

Van Der Beek learned he had stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, and publicly announced his diagnosis in late 2024.

Van Der Beek previously told Business Insider that the news came as a shock, given the subtleness of his symptoms and his efforts to stay as healthy as possible.

"I was doing everything," he said. "I was doing sauna, cold plunge, weightlifting, Pilates. I would dance and also do football training."

Van Der Beek died on Feb. 11.

Bob Weir, 78

Weir was one of the founding members of the Grateful Dead.

The singer-songwriter wrote and/or sang on songs like "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," "Truckin,'" "I Need a Miracle," and "The Other One."

After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir went on to form several other bands, including Kingfish, Bobby and the Midnites, RatDog, The Other Ones, and, alongside John Mayer, Dead & Company.

In the summer of 2025, Weir was diagnosed with cancer.

Weir died on January 10.

Frederick Wiseman, 96

For over five decades, Wiseman's brand of non-fiction storytelling put a spotlight on everyday people.

From high schoolers to hospital workers to Air Force cadets training for nuclear war, Wiseman's close to 50-film catalogue is an unvarnished reflection of America over the last half century.

Wiseman died on Februay 16, no cause was given.

• Anthropic is yet again in the Trump administration's crosshairs.
• The White House imposed export controls on the firm's latest AI models. Anthropic took Fable 5 and Mythos 5 offline in response.
• Here's what you need to know about the clash — and the questions that remain unanswered.

Anthropic is at the center of another showdown with the Trump administration — this time over the recent release of the artificial intelligence company's latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5.

For those catching up on the flurry of news over the weekend, here's what you need to know about the clash, what's at stake, and what industry insiders are saying about the dispute.

What's the drama about?

On Friday, the White House imposed strict export controls on the AI models, banning their use by foreign nationals. Anthropic said that ultimately forced Anthropic to pull them offline "to ensure compliance."

In a blog post, Anthropic said the US government cited "national security authorities" in its legal directive, but did not provide specific details about the concern.

The AI firm wrote that the Trump administration appears to believe that Fable 5 — released days earlier — could be bypassed or jailbroken. Anthropic pushed back on this, saying, "the potential jailbreaks that have been disclosed to us are either entirely benign responses or are minor findings that provide no Mythos-specific uplift."

The White House and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment by Business Insider on Monday.

What happened before Anthropic's models were pulled?

In the frantic 24 hours before the crackdown, senior Trump administration officials tried to persuade Anthropic to voluntarily take Fable 5 offline following concerns raised by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Politico reported, citing unnamed administration officials.

That effort unfolded through a series of tense phone calls between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.

Senior Anthropic officials have since traveled to Washington, DC, to meet with White House officials to try to resolve the issue, according to reports.

What's at stake?

The dispute between Anthropic and the government could set a major precedent for the AI industry, offering an early test of how far White House officials are willing to go to block the release of AI systems they perceive to be a national security risk.

Outside the US, it's also raised concerns about the potential risks associated with relying on American AI models.

What does this mean for Anthropic employees?

The government's export controls barred access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 for any foreign national, whether inside or outside the United States, including some of Anthropic's non-US employees, the company said.

The AI firm said access to all other Anthropic models will not be affected.

What are cybersecurity experts saying?

Dozens of AI industry and cybersecurity leaders, including specialists from Nvidia and Adobe, have signed onto an open letter urging the government to lift the export controls on Anthropic's models.

"Anthropic has built multiple protections into the Fable model to prevent its use for cyber offensive uses. These protections were so aggressive as to be the source of humor in the cyber community on launch day," the letter, addressed to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and White House Cyber Director Cairncross read.

It continued: "To pull the best capabilities away from defenders without a good reason when our adversaries are rapidly advancing is dangerous."

Others took a more nuanced view, suggesting that "two things are true at once."

What don't we know yet?

Key questions remain unanswered, including:

• Exactly what evidence led the government to intervene?
• The full extent of what the White House order means for foreign nationals working at Anthropic
• And the big one: Will Anthropic's efforts in DC prove successful? In other words, will Anthropic be permitted to bring Fable 5 and Mythos 5 back online for users?

• I ranked four store-bought barbecue sauces from worst to best.
• They all paired well with chicken nuggets, though some were thicker and more flavorful than others.
• I liked the barbecue sauces from Sweet Baby Ray's the most, including the no-sugar-added variety.

Barbecue season is here, so I set out to find the brand that delivers the tastiest barbecue sauce straight from the bottle.

I tried store-bought barbecue sauces from three different brands to determine which offered the smokiest, tangiest flavor for the best value. I also tried one brand's no-sugar-added version to see if it could measure up to the original.

While barbecue isn't typically my go-to dipping sauce — proud ranch fan, here — I tried each sauce on its own and with chicken nuggets to see which was my favorite.

Here's how I'd rank four store-bought barbecue sauces, from worst to best.

My least favorite barbecue sauce was Kraft's slow-simmered original barbecue sauce.

The sauce is made with ingredients like tomato, molasses, and hickory smoke.

It cost $4.69 for an 18-ounce bottle at my local Key Food supermarket in Brooklyn, New York.

The sauce wasn't as thick as the other brands I tried.

The texture was more watery and ketchup-like compared to the thicker, more molasses-heavy varieties.

The sauce was light and tangy, but I thought it didn't have a strong enough flavor.

Compared to the other brands, I thought this barbecue sauce was lacking. I typically go for a thick, smoky barbecue sauce, and this was much lighter. I think I would struggle to fully coat chicken or ribs in this more viscous sauce, though I did enjoy the flavor.

It was tangy and slightly sweet, with a honey-like flavor, but reminded me more of a sweet-and-sour sauce than a true barbecue sauce.

I also tried KC Masterpiece's American Original barbecue sauce.

The sauce is made from molasses, onions, and spices to deliver an authentic Kansas City-style barbecue sauce.

Aside from any store discounts, this barbecue sauce was the cheapest I tried. An 18-ounce bottle cost $3.29 at my local Key Food supermarket in Brooklyn, New York, making it the cheapest sauce I tried.

KC Masterpiece's was the thickest sauce I tried.

It clung to the chicken nugget and had a dark, buttery, molasses-like consistency.

I thought this sauce was a good balance of smoky and sweet.

The sauce had a robust, smoky flavor and a consistency that easily clung to the chicken nugget, making for a balanced bite that overtook my taste buds.

It was really sweet, with a strong molasses flavor. However, I was missing that slight tangy flavor that would have really taken this sauce over the edge and provided a more dynamic flavor profile.

Up next was the Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce with no added sugar.

Before this taste test, I was already familiar with Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce.

The brand is known for its top-selling barbecue sauce in the US, so this sauce had a lot to live up to, especially since it had no added sugar, which I worried would weaken the flavor.

An 18.5-ounce bottle cost $5.39 at my local Key Food, making it the most expensive sauce I tried.

The sauce had a balanced consistency. It wasn't too thick or too watery.

The sauce easily coated the chicken nugget, without being too thick or gloopy.

I was really impressed by the flavor. It was sweet without being overpowering.

Overall, this sauce nailed it for me. It was tangy but not sickly sweet, and it had a balanced texture. I definitely got the smoky flavor without the overpowering molasses flavor I tasted in the KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce.

It was also the lowest-calorie sauce I tried, with 15 calories per serving.

However, when it came down to value, it was beaten out by the original version.

My favorite barbecue sauce was Sweet Baby Ray's original barbecue sauce.

It's perhaps no surprise that this sauce was my favorite. After all, the brand has won awards at various barbecue competitions for its sauce.

An 18-ounce bottle cost $4.39 at my local Key Food.

The sauce had a rich, red color and a similar consistency to the no-sugar-added version.

It was a touch thinner than the other sauce from Sweet Baby Ray's, but it still coated the chicken nugget easily. In my opinion, this was the best dipping sauce.

Sweet Baby Ray's original barbecue sauce struck the perfect balance for me.

The sauce struck a pleasant balance between sweet and tangy. Its acidic, slightly tart flavor cut through the sweetness, while an earthy smokiness lingered on the palate, reminding me of a backyard barbecue.

It tasted more complex than many bottled barbecue sauces I've tried, making it easy to imagine pairing it with everything from ribs to chicken tenders.

In fact, after tasting it, I found myself thinking about other ways I could use it. The next time I'm firing up the grill or looking for a dipping sauce for nuggets or chicken tenders, this is the barbecue sauce I'll be reaching for.

• Factory CEO Matan Grinberg said he bought 30 employees $3,000 mattress covers so they could be "sharper."
• Grinberg said he bought products from Eight Sleep. The smart covers use liquid tubing to cool and heat a bed.
• "I want to make sure everyone is squeezing out every ounce of brain power they have," he told Business Insider.

How much would you pay to help your employees have a good night sleep?

Last year, the CEO of AI startup Factory took an unusual talent management tactic: buying everyone pricey sleep tech.

Factory has grown rapidly since its 2023 founding. Factory now has 120 employees and raised $150 million in April, backed by Khosla Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Blackstone.

CEO Matan Grinberg shared on "20VC" that he gave every employee a $3,000 Eight Sleep mattress cover when the startup had 30 employees. "The decadence of startups, right?" he said.

Eight Sleep's mattress covers use internal liquid to cool and heat a bed. The system can also split down the middle of a bed, allowing different partners to have different bed temperatures. Newer models include elevation features to lift and lower.

In a follow-up interview with Business Insider, Grinberg compared his employees to professional athletes. Like NBA players, his engineers need rest, he said.

"I want to make sure everyone is squeezing out every ounce of brain power they have," he said. "To do that, you need to get good sleep."

Grinberg said he also limits processed sugar at the office because of his concerns that it isn't good for focus. Instead, he shells out on better, more expensive snacks, like protein chips and canned matcha.

He's not trying to be like Google in the 2010s. Grinberg spoke against the "give everyone a bouncy castle" era. (Those days are long over, as Big Tech pulls back its lavish benefits.) Those perks were "unrelated to work," he said.

But Grinberg also isn't a fan of what he sees in his competitors: "grindslop," or flexing how hard you're working and touting your 996 schedule.

"We're not running a daycare," he said. "I don't need to mandate certain hours."

The pricey mattress covers, he said, were the right style of benefit. He hasn't yet gifted the Eight Sleep products to Factory's new employees, he said, but said he was considering making them a "standard issue" — or at least a comparable health stipend.

Though they typically lack the deep pockets of established tech giants, startups have long embraced decadent benefits to attract talent or make their employees more productive. Series CEO Nathaneo Johnson told Business Insider that he hired a private chef — and that it was more beneficial than a chief of staff.

Other CEOs have also prioritized sleep. The CEO of the wearables company Whoop said in 2024 that he gave employees $100 a month whose "average sleep performance is 85% or more."

In the post-pandemic wellness boom, many have made getting better sleep a priority. Consumers are buying mouth tape and Oura rings to ensure they get the best rest possible. There's a word for this online: "sleepmaxxing."

Grinberg didn't know exactly how much more productive the Eight Sleep products made Factory's employees. He knew that they enjoyed them — and that he didn't want to be "too big brother."

"We joke at the office: Imagine measure, 'Billy didn't sleep well, so don't trust his code today,'" Grinberg said. "We haven't gone that far."

Still, he trusted that good sleep correlated with good work.

"They're going to be better," he said of his employees on the podcast. "They're going to have more of their wits about them. They'll be sharper."

• Mars is shifting toward data-driven, personalized marketing campaigns using AI.
• One example is Snickers' AI-driven soccer campaign that offered a tool to send personalized jokes.
• Rankin Carroll, the chief brand officer of Mars Snacking, says this new strategy will save money.

Rankin Carroll, chief brand officer of Mars Snacking, says the company behind your favorite candies like M&M's, Snickers, Skittles, and Twix is reworking how it advertises to consumers — and the shift could mean people start seeing very different versions of the same candy campaign.

In an interview on Business Insider's upcoming "CMO Insider" podcast, Carroll said Mars is moving away from traditional, broad advertising campaigns built around mass TV reach and toward more personalized marketing powered by consumer data and AI tools.

"We are able to use the data to be much more precise," Carroll said.

The strategy comes as Mars integrates Kellanova brands like Pringles, Pop-Tarts, and Cheez-It into its portfolio following the company's $36 billion acquisition.

Mars says the era of 'hope for the best' advertising is ending

Historically, Mars, like many companies, relied on large-scale advertising campaigns designed to reach broad audiences over several months. It would have been, "one thing, one channel, big reach, and hope for the best," he said.

Now, Mars is increasingly splitting campaigns across multiple audience groups, channels, and formats. "If you're in a different group, that message would be served to you in a different channel, in a different medium, and shaped differently," Carroll said.

He said the company still believes in scale and mass reach, citing marketing research group Ehrenberg-Bass and the importance of "penetration" and broad consumer reach. However, Mars now believes precision targeting can reduce waste in advertising spending.

The shift is tied closely to Mars' recent decision to move its media business to Publicis after a review process involving multiple agency groups. Carroll said one of the main reasons for selecting Publicis was its "Connected ID" system, which he described as a dataset of 2.3 billion consumer IDs globally that helps Mars identify and target specific audience groups across markets and platforms.

"Everything starts from the growth audience," Carroll said.

Snickers' soccer chatbot became an early test case

Carroll said that younger consumers increasingly expect brands to personalize experiences and allow users to participate in campaigns rather than simply watch advertisements.

One example he pointed to was a Snickers campaign tied to the European Championship soccer tournament.

Mars partnered with Meta and WhatsApp to create a tool that allowed users to send personalized jokes and insults to friends using an AI-powered José Mourinho character. Users entered prompts into the system, which generated customized banter in Mourinho's voice.

Carroll said the campaign represented a major internal shift because it involved user-generated prompts and AI moderation concerns. "You can imagine what would go in," Carroll said.

Mars built "eight layers of protection" around the campaign, he said, to prevent misuse and brand-safety problems.

The company later expanded similar campaigns to other countries and brands, including a Twix campaign called the "Twix Harmonizer," which let users send voice notes to friends that would "harmonize the bad news" using AI-generated audio. Carroll described it as another experiment designed to let consumers participate directly in the brand experience.

Mars says AI comes with risks too

Even as Mars expands its use of AI, Carroll said the company is trying to avoid moving too aggressively. "It's exciting, but it's very dangerous," he said of AI. "So we have to be careful."

Carroll added that Mars still believes human creativity remains central to advertising.

"Our creativity starts with human beings and it always will," he said.

He also warned that brands risk alienating consumers if they overuse AI-generated content. Still, he said Mars sees personalization, co-creation, and data-driven advertising as long-term shifts in how brands connect with consumers.

"At the end of the day, it's compelling stories well told in engaging ways that they can participate in," Carroll said.

• Fox is pushing further into free, ad-supported streaming by buying Roku.
• The combined company will own The Roku Channel and Tubi, two of the biggest free streamers.
• Fox has pursued an unorthodox strategy in the streaming wars.

Fox mostly sat out the streaming wars, but is making a huge move by acquiring Roku.

Buying Roku would make Fox the third-largest TV distributor in the US by monthly viewership, according to Nielsen's March data (or fourth-largest if Paramount Skydance secures control of Warner Bros. Discovery).

That would put it behind YouTube and Disney but ahead of Netflix in total US TV viewership.

How did that happen? It mostly comes down to viewership growth in the free streaming business, which both Fox and Roku have focused on.

Fox would have a 10% US TV viewership share across its broadcast network, cable channels like Fox News and Fox Business, and free streamers Tubi and The Roku Channel. Fox also owns paid streamers Fox One and Fox Nation and would gain control of Howdy, Roku's $3-per-month streamer, which launched last August.

"As consumers get more price pinched, free ad-supported streaming is gaining a lot of ground," said Mike Proulx, a media analyst at Forrester, of Fox's Tubi deal.

Proulx said that adding Roku's free streamer will give Fox "a material foothold in one of the fastest-growing segments of streaming."

However, viewership doesn't directly translate into dollars. Netflix gushes cash, with nearly $4 billion in operating income last quarter, and had over 325 million subscribers at the end of 2025. Netflix is also huge across the world, while Nielsen's data only captures US viewership.

That's why Netflix, with its paid subscription model, is valued at over $342 billion.

For reference, Fox is worth nearly $22 billion, which is the same price it's planning to pay for Roku.

Fox's unorthodox streaming strategy

Unlike some rivals, Fox decided not to spend billions of dollars building out a mass-market streamer in hopes of competing with Netflix.

Instead, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch's Fox went the other direction by offloading its studio, its Hulu stake, and its library with shows like "The Simpsons" to Disney for $71 billion in 2019.

Fox doubled down on its big bets of live TV, especially sports and news, while rounding out its broadcast programming with cheaper scripted game shows like "The Masked Singer."

Fox also made a key move by buying the free streamer Tubi for $440 million in 2020. The Gen Z-friendly service has surged in popularity in recent years for its huge catalog of old TV and quirky, offbeat shows. Tubi generates more monthly viewership than paid streamers like Peacock and HBO Max, according to Nielsen.

With Roku, Fox would instantly become a superpower in the free streaming space. The Roku Channel is even bigger than Tubi, with more viewership than any free streamer except market leader YouTube, which is ahead by a mile.

Overall, free streamers have gained ground as their paid counterparts have raised prices. Hollywood giants like Netflix and Disney have been brainstorming ways to improve engagement.

Paid streamers have turned to short-form video and video podcasts to add more value and build habits by getting viewers to open their apps throughout the day.

• Business Insider compared the most recent graduation rates reported by all 50 states.
• Kentucky had the highest graduation rate at 93.60%, while Alaska had the lowest, falling under 80%
• High school diploma requirements can vary by state.

Students' chances of tossing their graduation caps on time can vary widely by the US state where they attend high school.

In Alaska, the rate of students who graduate from high school in four years is 79.87%, compared to Kentucky's 93.60%.

While graduation rates are one way to measure academic achievement and are used by local and state governments to track educational progress, they are complex metrics.

For starters, diploma requirements vary from state to state, meaning students in different states face different course and testing requirements to earn a diploma, influencing the rigor of education demonstrated by a high school degree.

Still, the diploma matters.

Across the nation, higher levels of education are almost always associated with higher earnings, and high school degrees are no different. On average, US adults aged 25 or over with a high school degree earn $8,216 more a year than those without one, according to Census data.

Using data from state education agencies and public data portals across all 50 states, Business Insider compiled a list of the most up-to-date high school graduation rates from each.

The US Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics regularly publishes an official list of all states' high school graduation rates, but because of the adjustment process used for its calculations, the released data often lags by a couple of years. The most recent data, released in 2024, covers the 2021-2022 school year.

The graduation rates we used in our list come from the much more frequently updated state data.

While most percentages reflect the 2024-2025 school year, a handful of states had only 2023-2024 numbers publicly available. Those include: Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Texas.

Most states follow the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate formula, which measures the share of first-time ninth graders who earn a regular high school diploma within four years.

The formula adjusts the cohort of students by adding those who transfer into the school system and removing students who transfer out, emigrate, or die.

To put graduation rates into context, we also listed each state's public school spending per pupil and median household income.

See what percentage of public high school students graduate in four years in every state, and where yours falls in the nationwide ranking.

50. Alaska

Four-year high school graduation rate: 79.87%

Per-pupil education spending: $21,004

Median household income: $95,665

49. Arizona

Four-year high school graduation rate: 80.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,003

Median household income: $81,486

48. New Mexico

Four-year high school graduation rate: 80.63%

Per-pupil education spending: $17,664

Median household income: $67,816

47. Vermont

Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $28,818

Median household income: $82,730

46. Oklahoma

Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.20%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,162

Median household income: $66,148

45. Idaho

Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.50%

Per-pupil education spending: $11,060

Median household income: $81,166

44. Washington

Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.64%

Per-pupil education spending: $18,564

Median household income: $99,389

43. Oregon

Four-year high school graduation rate: 83.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $18,083

Median household income: $85,220

42. Wyoming

Four-year high school graduation rate: 83.10%

Per-pupil education spending: $20,521

Median household income: $75,532

41. North Dakota

Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $17,102

Median household income: $77,871

40. Michigan

Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.01%

Per-pupil education spending: $18,314

Median household income: $72,389

39. Rhode Island

Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.10%

Per-pupil education spending: $22,110

Median household income: $83,504

38. Minnesota

Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.90%

Per-pupil education spending: $17,098

Median household income: $87,117

37. Louisiana

Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,581

Median household income: $60,986

36. Nevada

Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.40%

Per-pupil education spending: $14,812

Median household income: $81,134

35. Montana

Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.41%

Per-pupil education spending: $13,656

Median household income: $75,340

34. New York

Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.50%

Per-pupil education spending: $31,918

Median household income: $85,820

33. Colorado

Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.60%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,908

Median household income: $97,113

31. (tie) Hawaii

Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $23,878

Median household income: $100,745

31. (tie) South Dakota

Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,828

Median household income: $76,881

30. Maryland

Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.40%

Per-pupil education spending: $20,208

Median household income: $102,905

29. South Carolina

Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.70%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,060

Median household income: $72,350

28. Georgia

Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.20%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,833

Median household income: $79,991

26. (tie) California

Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.50%

Per-pupil education spending: $20,791

Median household income: $100,149

26. (tie) North Carolina

Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.50%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,995

Median household income: $73,958

25. New Hampshire

Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.54%

Per-pupil education spending: $22,978

Median household income: $99,782

24. Nebraska

Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.90%

Per-pupil education spending: $16,147

Median household income: $76,376

23. Ohio

Four-year high school graduation rate: 88.30%

Per-pupil education spending: $17,257

Median household income: $72,212

22. Iowa

Four-year high school graduation rate: 88.80%

Per-pupil education spending: $14,369

Median household income: $75,501

21. Connecticut

Four-year high school graduation rate: 88.90%

Per-pupil education spending: $26,316

Median household income: $96,049

20. Illinois

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $21,776

Median household income: $83,211

19. Delaware

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.05%

Per-pupil education spending: $22,201

Median household income: $87,534

18. Maine

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.10%

Per-pupil education spending: $19,962

Median household income: $76,442

17. Pennsylvania

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.11%

Per-pupil education spending: $21,091

Median household income: $77,545

16. Mississippi

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.20%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,324

Median household income: $59,127

15. Massachusetts

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.30%

Per-pupil education spending: $24,429

Median household income: $104,828

14. Kansas

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.50%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,558

Median household income: $75,514

13. Utah

Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.80%

Per-pupil education spending: $11,347

Median household income: $96,658

12. Arkansas

Four-year high school graduation rate: 90.16%

Per-pupil education spending: $13,873

Median household income: $62,106

11. Texas

Four-year high school graduation rate: 90.70%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,895

Median household income: $79,721

10. Missouri

Four-year high school graduation rate: 91.40%

Per-pupil education spending: $14,241

Median household income: $71,589

9. New Jersey

Four-year high school graduation rate: 91.80%

Per-pupil education spending: $27,234

Median household income: $104,294

8. Indiana

Four-year high school graduation rate: 91.83%

Per-pupil education spending: $13,622

Median household income: $71,959

7. Wisconsin

Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.00%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,952

Median household income: $77,488

6. Florida

Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.20%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,693

Median household income: $77,735

5. Tennessee

Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.30%

Per-pupil education spending: $12,882

Median household income: $71,997

4. Virginia

Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.70%

Per-pupil education spending: $17,104

Median household income: $92,090

3. Alabama

Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.77%

Per-pupil education spending: $13,627

Median household income: $66,659

2. West Virginia

Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.80%

Per-pupil education spending: $15,640

Median household income: $60,798

1. Kentucky

Four-year high school graduation rate: 93.60%

Per-pupil education spending: $14,596

Median household income: $64,526

• The Tribeca Film Festival was held in New York City between June 3 and June 14.
• Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau were among the best-dressed on the red carpet.
• Jeremy Strong and Nina Dobrev, however, missed the mark with their outfits.

If you were locked into the NBA Finals over the weekend, you might have missed another big event in New York City.

The Tribeca Film Festival was underway in Manhattan between June 3 and June 14. Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau made their red-carpet couple debut as they arrived, and artists like Alicia Keys performed inside.

There was also plenty of fashion to appreciate — and question — across the red carpet. These are the best and worst looks we saw throughout the event.

Keke Palmer looked chic and whimsical.

She attended Chanel's Tribeca Festival Artists Dinner in a two-piece set from the French fashion house.

Made from silk, her outfit comprised a cropped jacket and a knee-length skirt, both covered in a dog print and lined with white ruffles.

The pieces were designed for Chanel's Métiers d'art 2026 collection, and they looked exceptional on Palmer at the film festival dinner.

Alison Brie should have picked a different dress.

The "Masters of the Universe" star walked the red carpet in a sleeveless design from Khaite's Resort 2025 collection.

Though Brie looked pretty with rosy makeup and a straight hairstyle, her dress didn't complement her usually striking style.

It was too light in color, and its delicate fabric wrinkled easily.

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry looked glamorous as they walked the red carpet side by side.

While the former Canadian prime minister sported a perfectly tailored suit, Perry opted for a dramatic white gown.

The archival Lanvin piece was ruched at the waist and adorned with sphere embellishments, adding a fun edge. Perry wore it with white pointed pumps and an updo hairstyle.

Their outfits suited each other's looks and were the ideal choices for the couple's red-carpet debut.

Nina Dobrev's white dress was underwhelming.

Adam Lippes designed her look, which was sleeveless, made of silk, and featured a neckline just deep enough to reveal a layer of black lace.

Compared to other celebrity outfits at the festival, Dobrev's didn't stand out.

It might have worked better if it had been worn with statement accessories or if her hair had been styled in old-Hollywood waves.

Colman Domingo proved that summer style can be sharp.

The "Michael" actor posed on the Tribeca Film Festival red carpet in a two-piece outfit and memorable accessories.

His look comprised white pants, a striped top he wore mostly unbuttoned, and a black-and-white tie worn as a belt.

Domingo also wore white loafers, a charm necklace, and aviator sunglasses.

Jeremy Strong seemed underdressed for the festival.

He walked the red carpet in brown trousers, a long-sleeved shirt in a lighter shade, a brown baseball cap, and what looked like hiking sneakers.

The outfit was too casual to look appropriate on a red carpet.

Emilia Clarke took a fashion risk, and it worked for her.

She was photographed at the festival wearing a draped, asymmetrical gown in vibrant orange.

The color of Clarke's dress was stunning and stood out on the red carpet. She also completed the look perfectly with white heels and a short bob hairstyle.

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Hosted by Business Insider's Lara O'Reilly, each episode goes inside the minds of the leaders behind some of the world's biggest brands, campaigns, agencies, and platforms. From brand strategy and creativity to leadership, culture, media, technology, and the business of marketing, CMO Insider offers an honest look at what it takes to build, grow, and lead in a fast-changing industry.

In this episode, Lara speaks with Rankin Carroll about Mars Snacking's $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, covering the decisions, challenges, insights that have shaped his career, and his view of where marketing is heading next.

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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Wolfgang Puck, a 76-year-old chef based in Los Angeles. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I've spent more than 60 years building my restaurant business after coming to the US from Europe and opening Spago in West Hollywood in 1982.

I oversee more than 100 fine dining and casual eateries around the world, from Beverly Hills and Las Vegas to London, Singapore, Istanbul, and Shanghai.

Even now, as we work on new projects in places like Abu Dhabi and Malibu, I still spend most nights in my restaurants — tasting food, talking to guests, and paying attention to the smallest details.

Here's a day in my life.

I wake up around 6:30 a.m. each morning

Beyond my wakeup time, no two weeks really look the same. One week, I'm home in LA every day. The next week, I'm flying to New York, London, Istanbul, Budapest, Singapore, or Shanghai.

No matter where I am, though, my mornings usually start with a double espresso.

Then I go for a 45-minute to hourlong walk. If I'm home in LA, my two dogs come with me. After that, I work out with weights, stretching, and the elliptical.

For years, my mornings also included driving my younger children to school. One of my sons started listening to the same music I love — Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, all the old rock bands — and those drives became one of my favorite parts of the day. I miss them now.

I have a light breakfast around 8:30 a.m.

Right now, we have great fruit in LA — peaches, nectarines, cherries, blueberries, and strawberries.

I also love yogurt with olive oil, salt, and pepper with toasted whole-grain or seeded bread from Spago. Sometimes I'll make avocado toast with jalapeño, mustard, and an egg sautéed in olive oil.

Another important part of my mornings is reading the newspaper. I get printed versions of The New York Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and California Post, and I flip through the pages and read the opinion sections with my coffee.

I usually head to my office at the Pacific Design Center around 10 a.m.

Sometimes I stop at the farmers market in Santa Monica or the fish market first because I still enjoy seeing ingredients in person. I always tell my chefs that if I can still go to the fish market, they can, too.

At the office, I spend time reviewing financials. It's not the most exciting part of the restaurant business for me, so I'm having Byron, my son who works with me, handle more of the financial calls these days.

When I made Byron president of the company in June 2025, I knew some people around me probably imagined they might get that role themselves because many of them had worked with me for decades. Over time, though, people saw how seriously he took the work. He works from morning until night, listens well, leads by example, and holds people accountable.

I've learned that if you want great people to stay, you have to share your success with them. I've given longtime chefs and partners stakes in restaurants because I want them to feel ownership, too. To me, we're building something together, not working for one person.

I eat a simple lunch from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Sometimes Byron and I eat together at the office — maybe a sandwich or soup — but I generally eat more in the evening.

I also keep a big bag of Valrhona 80% dark chocolate in my office that gets me through the workday — and coffee, naturally.

My afternoons are usually full of phone calls. I talk with chefs and managers from restaurants around the world about menus, staffing, food quality, and new ideas. I don't enjoy emails very much. I like talking to people directly. I think you understand people better that way.

I finish work at the office by 4 p.m. and visit the restaurants to see what's going on

What frustrates me most is when people stop paying attention to details. In restaurants, the smallest things matter.

I get frustrated when things don't get done properly because it often comes down to laziness. I can't stand when chefs don't taste the food before serving it.

I always tell my teams that you have to taste everything. If you don't taste the pasta before it leaves the kitchen, how do you know if it has enough or too much salt?

I still spend most nights in restaurants

When the kids were younger, we used to have dinner together around 6 p.m., before I headed out to my restaurants. Now, I'll spend an hour or two at home with my wife, Gelila, before stopping by CUT or Spago later in the evening.

Even after 60 years in restaurants, I still love being there at night. The restaurants give me energy. I'll check in with chefs, talk with guests, and sometimes sit down with friends or Byron for a glass of wine and a few small dishes the chefs prepare for us.

Most nights, I'm out until 11 or 11:30 p.m., and then I head home

Travel is constant. Recently, I traveled to Las Vegas, New York, Washington, and Beverly Hills for a series of dinners with Byron alongside Austrian winemakers.

At night, if I'm not tired yet, I'll read before bed and take a melatonin spray. I mostly read nonfiction and biographies because I want to understand what makes people do what they do. It could be books about Elon Musk, Mick Jagger, Abraham Lincoln, or famous French chefs. I'm always curious about how successful people think, build things, and lead others.

I go to sleep around 1 a.m.

Family became more important as I got older

When I was younger, I could spend every night in a restaurant and think only about work. Over time, I realized balance matters much more. I watched people in the restaurant business lose relationships with their families because they never made time for anything outside work.

I still spend plenty of time in restaurants, but I also make time for my family. Every summer, I try to take at least one month off to travel through Europe with them.

Recently, I also started taking painting lessons because I enjoy the creative process and the focus it requires. I never really think about retirement because I never wake up thinking, "I have to go to work."

Being optimistic helps. I've always been an optimist. Even now, when people ask me why I'm still opening restaurants or taking risks in my 70s, I don't spend much time thinking about the downside. New projects and new ideas are what keep me excited.

The Japanese have a word called Kaizen, which means continuous improvement. If you think you've already arrived, then you stop growing. I still want to learn new things and hopefully open more restaurants for many more years.

• Trump's new student-loan borrowing caps are set to take effect on July 1.
• The House GOP advanced an amendment to include advanced nursing programs in the higher borrowing cap.
• Only 11 programs that meet the department's definition of a "professional" program qualify for the $200,000 cap.

The debate over President Donald Trump's student-loan borrowing caps continues.

House Republicans advanced an amendment in their budget bill that would make advanced nursing programs eligible for higher student loan borrowing caps, which Trump is limiting.

Trump's overhaul labels 11 programs as "professional," including for medicine, law, and dentistry , but excludes advanced nursing programs from that designation. This means advanced nursing programs and other graduate programs would have a $100,000 lifetime student-loan borrowing cap, compared to the $200,000 cap professional programs receive.

The new budget amendment counters Trump's limit, saying that funds may not be used "in a manner that does not designate advanced nursing programs as professional degree programs," including certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists.

While the amendment has advanced out of committee, budgets typically don't pass through both chambers of Congress until the fall, meaning that Trump's student-loan changes are still on track to take effect on July 1.

And ongoing lawsuits could still halt the plans. In late May, 25 Democratic-led states sued the Department of Education over the borrowing caps, saying that the department's definition of "professional" is too narrow and could exacerbate the healthcare worker shortage.

Undersecretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a statement responding to the lawsuit that "after decades of unchecked student loan borrowing that gave schools no reason to control costs, these commonsense loan caps — created by Congress — are already incentivizing colleges and universities to lower tuition."

The American Academy of Physician Associates and the PA Education Association followed suit on June 3, saying in its lawsuit that the borrowing caps fall short of tuition costs for PA school.

"I don't believe I have any shot of being a PA at this time," Benjamin Pinckney, who recently graduated with a bachelor's degree and with the goal of enrolling in a physician associate school, said. "It changed what I was looking for, as far as being able to provide care to underserved communities.

Including advanced nursing in the higher borrowing cap is grounds for rare bipartisan agreement, with a bipartisan pair of lawmakers in late May also introducing a bill to address the issue.

Have a story to share about student loans? Contact this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com.

• The US-Iran peace deal has stocks hovering near record highs on Monday.
• The news pushed oil prices lower and prompted a repricing of rate-hike odds.
• Investors are now pricing in less of a chance of a hike, softening a persistent headwind for stocks.

President Trump's announcement of an Iran deal — including a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — was met with excitement from investors.

Part of that was general risk-on sentiment. The conflict in the Middle East has snarled global supply chains for months. Traders are ready for things to go back to normal.

But the rally was also driven by the softening of a major market headwind: the prospect of rate hikes in 2026. FedWatch data is currently showing a 55% implied probability of higher rates this year, down from 70% immediately following the red-hot May jobs report.

"The market's first read is lower oil, lower inflation, and renewed risk appetite," said Mark Malek, CIO at Siebert Financial. "The peace framework is genuinely positive, especially if it helps reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease energy pressure."

A sharp decline in oil prices has also fed into decreased odds of a 2026 rate hike. Brent crude, which tested the $120-per-barrel level at one point during the Iran war, fell to around $83 on Monday.

Considering that energy costs have been one of the biggest inputs for rising US inflation, a moderation in oil prices could lessen that pressure and reduce the need of the Fed to raise rates. This, in turn, is positive for stocks, since higher rates are generally a negative for asset prices.

"Lower energy prices ease pressure on the committee to lean hawkish," stated Kevin Ford, a macro strategist at Convera.

• Two-time World Cup winners Uruguay faced travel delays on the way to the US.
• Paperwork issues meant their airplane lacked permission to enter the US.
• It's only the latest travel issue to beset the World Cup.

One of the World Cup's most notable teams blamed FIFA after their travel to their first game was delayed.

Uruguay, which has won the tournament twice, was left waiting for the right permissions before its players and staff could fly to the US on Sunday.

The squad was training in Cancún, Mexico, ahead of its first game, set for Monday evening in Miami against Saudi Arabia.

However, the airplane scheduled to take them to Florida wasn't authorized to enter the US because of paperwork issues, according to reports in the Uruguayan media.

"Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed," the Uruguayan Football Association, or AUF, said in a statement to several outlets.

An AUF spokesperson also told The Athletic that the delay was FIFA's fault.

FIFA said in a statement that the flight was delayed "due to an airline permitting error in Mexico."

"The airline has apologized for the inconvenience caused," it added. "FIFA remained in close contact with the Uruguay national team throughout their delay and worked alongside airport and operational partners to help expedite the process and minimize disruption to the team's travel arrangements."

The AUF did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside US working hours.

After the Uruguay team arrived in Florida on a different plane, the team's coach downplayed the issue. At a press conference on Sunday night, Marcelo Bielsa told journalists: "No, the flight didn't cause us any complications."

The team's captain, José María Giménez, added: "We had a little mishap, but nothing serious."

"We took advantage of the situation and saw it as a good opportunity to rest at the hotel," he said.

While the World Cup kicked off last Thursday, several travel issues have already been reported.

Omar Artan, a Somalian referee, was turned away after being interrogated at Miami Airport. Iran moved their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, as several members of its delegation were denied US visas. Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey will miss the team's first game after being denied a visa by Canada. He has been charged with seven counts of rape in England and is awaiting trial.

Many fans have also said that their visas were withdrawn shortly before the tournament started.

With 48 teams playing 105 games in 14 host cities across North America over the next five weeks, there could be more travel difficulties to come.

• Citadel Securities sees the era of "tokenomics" shifting the AI trade.
• The firm says that if hyperscalers get more sensitive to high token prices, it could slow AI development.
• Citrini Research recently made a similar argument that tokenomics could cause a reshuffling of AI winners.

Citadel Securities and Citrini Research are in agreement on one thing: The age of tokenomics is here, and spells bad news for the AI trade.

Both firms say the AI trade is being reshaped by tokenomics, the economic framework governing crypto tokens that are often used to pay for AI services. The main issue is the how expensive the use of these tokens will end up being for the hyperscalers driving red-hot demand.

In new research, Citadel Securities macro strategist Frank Flight laid out his worries, saying frontier models will be "expensive to run, constrained by physical bottlenecks, and vulnerable to unrealistic expectations of frictionless deployment cost."

He added: "Adoption is becoming less about what frontier models can do in principle, and more about the price and scarcity of the inputs required to make AI operational at scale."

Flight provided multiple examples of leading tech companies taking steps to address skyrocketing AI costs, including Amazon shutting down its employee-created token leaderboard, and Microsoft planning to phase out its Claude code licenses.

Other companies have experienced similar issues relating to tokenmaxxing costs. Marty Kausas, CEO of the tech firm Pylon, recently said that the era of unchecked, free-wielding token spending is coming to an end.

Citadel Securities adds that while some firms will continue using the most advanced AI models, it will be a smaller number that are well-equipped to shoulder the costs.

If token spending decreases and hyperscalers are forced to slow development efforts, that could challenge the AI trade. Citadel Securities and Citrini say investors could end up focusing more on firm margins and profitability, rather than simply riding momentum around AI.

Ultimately, this could mean fewer AI winners.

"We remain constructive on the terminal outcome of AI as a productivity-enhancing technology," Flight said, "But … the route to that value is likely to be more selective and cost-conscious than markets once assumed, and that may be relevant for asset prices."

The FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, almost four years since Argentina's victory, and Lionel Messi and his crew will attempt to defend their title against a stacked field. We've scoured the viewing options and rounded up everything you need to know about where to watch the World Cup, including free and global streaming options for all 104 matches.

If you don't want to scroll any further, we've got you covered. You can live stream every game on FOX and FS1 via FOX One or a live TV service in the US, for free on SBS On Demand in Australia, and for free across BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK, among many other viewing options around the world (which we'll break down below). You can access your streaming options from anywhere with the help of a VPN. Keep reading to learn more about the tournament, whether you're hoping to watch from home or attend in person.

Where to watch the World Cup for free

Several countries around the world will offer free access to World Cup coverage. In Australia, all matches will be available for free on SBS On Demand. In the UK, all matches will be split across BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Other regions offer select games for free, often focusing on their national team and major late-tournament matches, while the rest are available via a paid service. In Spain, select matches will be available for free on RTVE Play. In Italy, RaiPlay will offer free coverage of select matches. M6 offers some free matches in France. Tubi in the US also carried a couple of free matches, including Mexico vs. South Africa and USA vs. Paraguay.

Want to access some of these free World Cup viewing options from outside the above countries? We'll show you how to get around those geo-restrictions next.

How to watch the World Cup from anywhere

Football fans who are away from the location where their streaming service works during any notable matches can still access their free viewing options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy tech tools that let people temporarily change the virtual location on their electronic devices. They're popular among people looking to upgrade their cybersecurity and keep up with their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad.

NordVPN is our top recommendation and one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, offers a massive selection of global servers, and comes with a helpful 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it's not helping you out.

Where to watch the World Cup in the US

All 104 World Cup games will air on either FOX or Fox Sports 1 (FS1) in the US. FOX offers a direct streaming counterpart, FOX One, for $20 a month with a three-day free trial. You can also sign up for the service as a Prime Video add-on. If you're looking for a service with additional channels or a longer free trial, one of the best live TV streaming services we've tested might be of interest.

DirecTV carries FOX, FS1, and around 20 other sports networks in its MySports genre pack. MySports also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Subscriptions cost $65 a month, but new customers can get $15 a month off their first two months after a five-day free trial.

Fubo offers FOX and FS1 coverage in its Sports + News plan, along with 25+ other key channels. The streaming package also unlocks ESPN Unlimited access. Sports + News costs $56 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month after a five-day free trial. FOX and FS1 are also available in the Pro and Elite plan.

YouTube TV is another live TV service with ample FOX and FS1 coverage. Until June 30, a special deal can help new users get $75 off YouTube TV for five months (that's $15 a month off each month over a five-month period). The sale brings the price of YouTube TV's main plan down from $83 a month to just $68 a month. There's also a sports plan with FOX and FS1, which costs $65 a month, but new users can get $10 a month off their first 12 months. The live TV service typically offers a free trial for new customers.

Sling TV also carries FOX and FS1 across several of its plans, with the cheapest being Sling Select. Sling Select starts at $20 a month for 10 channels (including FS1), but it jumps up to $25 or $30 a month when local channels (like FOX) are involved. However, Sling's local channel coverage varies widely by region, so check what's available in your area before signing up. Sling Blue also carries FS1 and FOX (when available). Plans start at $46 a month, but they go for $51 a month with local channels.

If you're looking for Spanish-language coverage, Telemundo has the broadcast rights in the US, and all 104 matches are available to stream on Peacock with Spanish commentary. Peacock's sports-friendly tiers start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium, but you'll be able to watch the first couple of days of the tournament with a pared-down Select plan as well.

Where to watch the World Cup in the UK

Every match at the World Cup will be available for free in the UK. Coverage is split across the BBC and ITV, meaning fans can live stream all matches via a combination of BBC iPlayer and ITVX. These are free streaming options that only require account creation to watch.

Where to watch the World Cup in Australia

It's good news in Australia. All 104 World Cup matches will be available in one place, through SBS, SBS Viceland, and SBS On Demand. That means that you can live stream all of the games via SBS On Demand, which just requires account creation if you haven't already made a login.

Where to watch the World Cup in Spain

RTVE will carry several World Cup matches in Spain. This means that fans will be able to live stream coverage for free on RTVE Play. You'll just need to create an account, and then you're all set to start watching. Coverage will favor games with Spain's national team, along with other marquee match-ups. Football fans in Spain hoping to watch every single World Cup match will need a paid subscription through DAZN.

Where to watch the World Cup in Italy

Select matches will be shown through RAI in Italy, which means that coverage will be available to stream for free via Rai Play. Italian FIFA fans hoping to watch every single match of the World Cup will need a paid DAZN subscription, which will grant access to all 104 matches.

Where to watch the World Cup in Germany

In Germany, select World Cup coverage will be available for free through ARD and ZDF. For full German coverage of the entire tournament, including all early group stage matches, fans will need a paid subscription to MagentaTV.

Where does the 2026 FIFA World Cup take place?

Typically, the FIFA World Cup is hosted by a single country, but the 2026 tournament will take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. In Canada, Toronto and Vancouver serve as host cities. In Mexico, host cities include Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. US host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Who is favored to win the FIFA World Cup?

Heading into the tournament, Spain is the favorite to win the FIFA World Cup. On DraftKings (prior to the start of the World Cup), Spain led at +450, followed by France (+475), England (+700), Portugal (+800), Brazil (+950), and Argentina (+950).

Previous FIFA World Cup winners

Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, won the 2022 World Cup. Previous winners include France (2018), Germany (2014), Spain (2010), Italy (2006), Brazil (2002), France (1998), Brazil (1994), West Germany (1990), Argentina (1986), Italy (1982), Argentina (1978), West Germany (1974), Brazil (1970), England (1966), Brazil (1962), Brazil (1958), West Germany (1954), Uruguay (1950), Italy (1938), Italy (1934), and Uruguay (1930).

When and where is the next men's World Cup?

The next FIFA Men's World Cup tournament will take place in 2030. Most of the games will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, with one match each taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay. These South American games are in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first FIFA World Cup, which was held in Uruguay in 1930.

When and where is the women's World Cup?

The next FIFA Women's World Cup is scheduled for 2027. Brazil will host the tournament for the first time. Spain is the most recent women's World Cup winner, beating out England 1-0 in the 2023 final. Prior to that, the USA won back-to-back in 2019 and 2015.

How do you get World Cup tickets?

Getting your hands on World Cup tickets has proven to be no easy task. The tournament is incredibly popular, and the initial FIFA ticket release was a bit confusing. Our team has found that some of the best prices and seating variety come from the resale market right now. You can learn more in our World Cup tickets guide.

2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule

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.

• I grew up in San Diego and moved to New York City for college.
• Living in New York was great, but after five years there, I started to feel overwhelmed.
• Now, I live in Providence, Rhode Island, and I don't think I'll ever leave.

Ever since I was a child, I knew I wanted to leave my home in San Diego County behind and pursue a career in theatre on the East Coast.

In my teens, I applied exclusively to New York schools, eventually choosing Hunter College, where I earned my degree in theatre.

Initially, I fell in love with the New York City arts and culture scene, and appreciated how easy it was to get around without a car. After five years, though, living in the big city started to wear me down.

NYC has a lot going on, no matter where you turn: loud noises, tall buildings, and crowds upon crowds. I started to feel claustrophobic and began thinking about settling in a smaller, more laid-back city.

During this point in my life, I was making frequent trips from NYC to Rhode Island to do shows. And soon, it hit me that I may have found my ideal home.

During my trips to Rhode Island, I fell in love with Providence

The first time I stepped off the Megabus in Providence, I was immediately struck by the peaceful scene.

Everywhere I looked, there was art — even some of the houses were painted in bright pastels. I was drawn to the city's sense of whimsy and could tell it seemed slower and more intentional than what I was used to in NYC.

There was just something so charming about Providence — it's a city, of course, the state capital even, but the vibe was so entirely different from anywhere else I'd been.

I even liked the pizza better, which was something I didn't expect. But with neighborhoods like Federal Hill, the Italian side of town, filled with enough pizza and pasta restaurants to last a lifetime, it's hard not to feel that way.

During my shuttling between NYC and Providence, I met my now-husband: a Massachusetts native living in a neighboring town right outside the city.

We moved in together rather quickly, as I needed somewhere to stay since I had made up my mind about leaving New York. And honestly, living in New England has lived up to all my expectations.

Since I don't drive, I appreciate the robust public transportation system here — an amenity I had grown accustomed to during my time in NYC.

My son and I enjoy taking the RIPTA bus through Providence, which is relatively convenient, typically on time, and can easily take us almost anywhere we want to go in the state.

On a more personal level, I love that people here stop to say "good morning" to each other, and neighbors really seem to look out for one another. I've met some truly wonderful people in Providence, including a plethora of mom friends from story time at the library.

Now, New England truly feels like home

When I first visited, Providence seemed like a bit of a fairytale — a safe haven from the hustle and bustle of NYC. Now that I live here, it's just home. Even after almost a decade, I can still see the magic in the city.

Although my husband and I briefly considered moving to San Diego to be closer to my family, we eventually realized that we're New Englanders through and through.

We have the stereotypical "kind but not nice" personality, a straightforward, logic-based sensibility, and a love of iced coffee in 20-degree weather. Despite my upbringing in sunny Southern California, I truly feel I am an East Coast person at heart.

Of course, life here isn't always perfect. One of the main things I've had to get used to is the weather. I'm not a snow person, and I don't know if I ever will be.

At the same time, though, having distinct seasons has been good for my mental health, and I love watching my son play in the snow. Although I have to admit, this year's record-breaking snowstorm made me miss the San Diego beaches just a little.

But overall, I can confidently say New England is my home now. It has treated me well, and it's where I want my son to grow up.

And if that means having to power through some rough winters, so be it.

• As an avid cruiser, I'll splurge on onboard luxuries like fine dining, spa services, or cocktails.
• However, some extras, like balcony rooms and souvenir photos, never feel worth the cost to me.
• I think unlimited drink packages and high-end, duty-free purchases are rarely a good value.

I've been on more than 50 cruises over the years, which has given me a strong sense of what's worth spending my money on and what isn't.

I rarely hesitate to splurge on spa services, (certain) specialty cocktails, and fine-dining restaurants at sea, but there are a few add-ons I just rarely believe are worth it.

Here are a few things you won't see me buying on board or paying extra for on a cruise.

To me, balcony staterooms rarely justify their higher price.

This may be a divisive opinion, but I don't think balcony rooms are worth the extra money. 

I've found that balcony seating is rarely as spacious as the lounge chairs elsewhere on the ship. If your party is larger than two people, you probably won't have enough room for everyone to comfortably enjoy the space together.

However, lack of space is just one of my gripes with balcony staterooms.

A significant amount of light can intrude into your room in the morning, and at times, cigarette smoke and noise from surrounding balconies can feel inescapable. Plus, leaving the balcony door open for a sea breeze can just lead to a wind tunnel in your stateroom.

To me, the higher cost of these accommodations doesn't seem worth it. Save your money and book a stateroom with a sizable porthole instead. This accommodation offers all the sightseeing you need, with a lot more privacy. 

Besides, when a ship has so much to explore, it's best to get out of your room and enjoy everything your cruise has to offer.

Trying to break even on an all-inclusive drink package feels like a Herculean feat.

Many cruise lines offer all-inclusive drink packages that allow passengers to order unlimited beverages throughout their voyage (with a few small caveats). 

These packages vary by cruise line, but they're usually tiered, with the lowest-cost option offering fountain sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages. The most expensive option typically includes these drinks plus other alcoholic concoctions. 

Although I understand the appeal of ordering prepaid beverages throughout your trip, I've done the math, and it turns out it's often harder to break even than I expected.

Some of the lowest sale prices for deluxe beverage packages I've seen are about $73 per person per day, plus gratuities, which are automatically added to this price.

I'd probably need to purchase six expensive alcoholic drinks almost every day on my cruise, including port days, to see a return on my investment.

Although drinking this much isn't an impossible feat, I'll save money and spend less time feeling hungover if I pay for drinks à la carte.

Specialty cups may look cute, but they're impractical and often go unused in everyday life.

Before investing in a branded hurricane glass or paying a few extra bucks for a specialty cup, ask yourself whether you'll actually use it at home or if it'll simply gather dust in the back of a cabinet. For me, it's always the latter. 

After learning the hard way, I've gotten into the habit of asking myself this question before pulling out my wallet for any vacation purchases.

Hydration is essential, but I avoid overpaying for plastic water bottles.

Staying hydrated is important, especially if you've been making the most of your alcoholic drink package during a warm-weather cruise. However, the cost of buying bottled water on the ship can quickly add up. 

Instead, I save money by bringing a reusable bottle to use at filtered-water refill stations throughout the ship. In addition to being a more economical option, it's also more environmentally friendly than drinking out of a plastic bottle.

If you're devoted to disposable bottles, many cruise lines allow passengers to bring a case of water aboard on the first day of their trip, which can save them a lot of hard-earned money. Definitely look into your ship's policy to see if this is allowed.

It doesn't make sense to pay for underwhelming bar food when there are so many all-you-can-eat options.

A smorgasbord of dining options is usually included in the price of a cruise. Between quick-service eateries, buffets, and traditional sit-down restaurants, there's no shortage of food on board most sailings. 

Although I'm willing to pay more for upscale dining at the ships' signature steakhouses and celebrity chef-inspired bistros, you won't find me munching on soggy nachos and tasteless tots that cost a premium at many of the onboard bars.

These types of snacks are generally relatively low in price, which makes it tempting to splurge on them after a few cocktails. However, chances are that you'll find more fulfilling, complimentary options elsewhere on the ship.

Skip the unnecessary extra charges on items you can easily get on land, where you probably don't have access to unlimited, complimentary food.

I don't make any big spur-of-the-moment purchases on the ship.

When you step inside a cruise boutique, you may find luxury items — like pre-owned Rolex watches, gemstones, and vintage Louis Vuitton bags — among other enticing jewelry and accessories. I steer clear of them all.

Unless you're already an expert, it's nearly impossible to assess the quality and value of these luxury items when you're in the middle of the ocean and don't have a strong internet connection.

If buyer's remorse kicks in after your trip, you also can't head back on board to return your items.

So consider saving any big-ticket purchases for a reputable dealer back home, where you can easily research an item's market value — and take your time debating whether it's worth it — before buying.

Duty-free alcohol and perfume are usually not that great a deal to me.

I've been hard-pressed to find any real deals at onboard shops.

Although you can buy some duty-free items, such as perfume, for less than their retail prices, I've usually found similar sales when I'm back on land. 

Unless I snag a rare liquor that's not sold where I live, carrying home an easy-to-break bottle of booze is always more trouble than it's worth.

Many photo packages fail to capture authentic moments with your loved ones.

Photos are the best vacation souvenir. They take up minimal space, are highly personal, and won't end up in a donation bin when you clean out your storage closet. 

Perhaps the best thing about pictures is that they're completely free, which is the reason I never waste my valuable vacation time queued up for the ship photographer. After all, the cruise's staged photos in front of a fake-looking ocean backdrop aren't that special. 

Instead, hire a professional photographer for high-quality family portraits at a port, or use a camera or smartphone to snap your own action shots of your loved ones enjoying time on the ship.

Many onboard internet packages offer slow speeds at hefty prices.

One of the best things about being on a cruise ship is that I'm forced to disconnect, not just because I'm on vacation, but also because there's not much internet connection in the middle of the ocean. 

It can be hard to let go, and it isn't always realistic to be cut off from land for days on end. However, unless I absolutely need WiFi, I'll never fork over my cash for low-grade internet on the ship.

Though this service has been improving on many cruises, I've still found the internet can be rather spotty and expensive.

If you plan to work remotely on a cruise, allow for a lot of flexibility in your schedule and research ports where you can find reliable WiFi.

This story was originally published on November 17, 2022, and most recently updated on June 15, 2026.

• Jake Benoit, who is studying nursing at Duke University, cares for older adults part-time.
• He works for an agency that matches young carers with clients needing care.
• The 26-year-old has bonded with the families who hired him and said it's a win-win situation.

This story is based on an interview with Jake Benoit, 26, of Durham, North Carolina, who is studying for a master's in nursing. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My mom is an occupational therapist, and I spent a lot of time as a kid, age 11 or 12, going to her outpatient clinic after school.

I didn't know it at the time, but her devotion to her clients was to have a lasting impact on me. She would help people with hand mobility issues complete daily tasks such as brushing their teeth, dressing, and cooking.

She got them back up and running, and they'd tell me, "Your mom changed my life." The pride Mom took in her work planted the seeds in me to enter the caregiving profession.

Fourteen years later, I'm in a master's program in nursing at Duke University. And one of the ways I support myself is working for an agency, Careyaya, which employs young volunteers and students like me.

I describe it as a Lyft for families who need eldercare. They go onto the platform, apply for their preferred number of hours of companionship, and are matched with a background-checked carer.

It's an intergenerational win-win

I'm paid between $18 and $26 an hour, but the role means so much more to me than a salary. It's allowed me to find meaningful relationships with older adults whom it's a privilege to know.

One of my first clients was John, an ophthalmologist who retired at 94 two years before I met him in the spring of 2024. He was extremely curious, open, and willing to share his wisdom and experience.

He wanted to talk to me about his life and my life. You could call it an intergenerational win-win, and, despite the age difference, I considered him one of my best friends.

I'm not a religious man, but I'd drive him to church on Sunday, and we'd often get something to eat later.

He had mild dementia, but the conversations we had afterward about the sermon were incredibly nuanced. They were a constant source of inspiration.

We'd play a lot of card games together, like Uno, and chat for hours in between. John had minor agitation sometimes because of his condition. However, Careyaya trains you how to divert people's attention and help them return to a baseline of contentment. Going on Spotify, asking about their favorite music, and playing it are good techniques.

Although he was ambulatory, I would often help him walk to the restroom. I'd make him a snack and organize his pill containers.

My clients mean the world to me

It was nice to know that he enjoyed my company. When he died, his daughter sent me the longest, heartfelt email that made me cry.

I've gone on to care for other clients who mean the world to me. There's an accomplished 85-year-old author who has traveled the world. She has moderate mobility issues, and my job includes keeping her legs elevated and making sure she uses her compression device.

We sit and watch old movies like "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Roman Holiday, " and "Lawrence of Arabia." It's wonderful to hear her interpretation of the film.

I want to become a nurse practitioner

I also care for an 86-year-old former US ambassador to the Middle East who faithfully wrote his memoirs. We'll read through the pages, and I'll ask questions and clarifying points.

You can see how, as the conversation progresses, it becomes easier for him to sustain longer trains of thought, and his memory sharpens.

Working with older adults like them is a huge reason I eventually want to become a nurse practitioner. I've come to love the feeling of knowing someone is grateful for my impact on them as much as I am for theirs on me.

• SpaceX went public in the largest IPO in stock market history on Friday.
• The rocket firm's share price surged on Friday, its first day of trading, gaining over 19%.
• On Monday, the stock was 6% higher in early trade, boosting its market cap over $100 billion.

SpaceX's first couple of trading days as a listed company are off to a roaring start.

On Friday, the company's stock started trading after the biggest IPO in market history, raising $75 billion at a market capitalization of just shy of $2 trillion.

By the time markets closed, the stock had climbed nearly 20% from its offer price of $135, ending the day at $160.95 per share and pushing the company's market cap to $2.1 trillion.

Today, SpaceX, which trades under the ticker SPCX, will have its first full day of trading, and the rally looks poised to continue.

In early trade on Monday, SpaceX's stock was 6% higher, adding nearly $10 to its share price and more than $100 billion to its market capitalization, should it hold onto those gains.

SpaceX announced on Monday that the underwriters for the IPO had exercised a greenshoe option, increasing the amount raised to more than $85 billion.

The initial public offering of Elon Musk's rocket company was one of the most closely watched market debuts ever, minting scores of fresh millionaires among SpaceX staff and turning founder and CEO Elon Musk into the world's first trillionaire.

It was different from most IPOs in that a much greater proportion of shares were allotted to retail investors than usual. This aspect of the IPO was polarizing among the investing community, as Business Insider's Joe Ciolli noted on Monday morning.

Demand for the IPO at brokerages was sky-high. On Monday, UK-based investment firm AJ Bell said it had received more than five times as many requests to buy shares than for any other IPO in the past decade.

"The public relished the opportunity to buy into SpaceX's stock market offer, judging by demand on AJ Bell's DIY platform," Dan Coatsworth, AJ Bell's head of markets, wrote in a morning email.

"Demand for the IPO offer went through the roof compared to what AJ Bell has experienced in the past," Coatsworth added.

• Jeremy Strong is making headlines for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Reckoning."
• The upcoming film is the latest in a new genre of entertainment: the startup biopic.
• Sebastian Stan, Jared Leto, and Amanda Seyfried have all played tech CEOs for TV shows and movies.

We've all heard of musician and actor biopics; now, it's time for the latest innovation in biopics: the tech CEO biopic.

These days, startup founders can be just as famous (or infamous) as any other celebrity, and the dramatic lives they've lived in business or at home make great fodder for TV and movies.

To play these famous figures, some of our best-known actors had to ditch their signature looks to take on the famous turtleneck and wired glasses of Steve Jobs, or the red lipstick and frizzy blowout of Elizabeth Holmes.

Here are 15 celebrities who transformed to play some of Silicon Valley's most prominent figures.

Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg in 'The Social Reckoning'

"Succession" star Jeremy Strong will play the Facebook founder in "The Social Reckoning," a film about the release of Facebook Files, a staggering number of internal documents leaked by whistleblower and employee Frances Haugen and published by The Wall Street Journal in 2021, and the subsequent congressional scrutiny that followed.

The film, set for an October 2026 release, is written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter of "The Social Network," making this something of a sequel to the 2010 classic.

Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in 'The Social Network'

"The Social Reckoning" won't be the first time Zuckerberg has been portrayed on screen — most famously, Eisenberg played the founder in "The Social Network," which chronicled the earliest days of Facebook, back when it still had a "the" in front of it.

It juxtaposes the wild, early days of the website with two lawsuits Zuckerberg settled a few years later: one from cofounder Eduardo Saverin and another from his Harvard classmates, the Winklevoss twins.

Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker in 'The Social Network'

The other famous "disruptor" portrayed in "The Social Network" is Parker, one of the cofounders of Napster, the original music streaming platform. He's played by Timberlake in a career-best performance.

Parker comes in as an early believer and investor in Facebook, which ruffles the feathers of cofounder Eduardo Saverin.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Travis Kalanick in 'Super Pumped'

Gordon-Levitt played Uber cofounder and former CEO Kalanick in "Super Pumped," a 2022 Showtime limited series. It focuses on the rise of Kalanick and his eventual fall from power, culminating in his 2017 resignation from the company.

Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes in 'The Dropout'

Seyfried played Holmes all the way from her time at Stanford in 2003 (where she did the titular dropping out) through to the catastrophic collapse of her company Theranos in 2015, spurred by an exposé published in The Wall Street Journal, in the 2022 Hulu limited series "The Dropout."

Theranos purported to manufacture a device that could do a litany of blood tests from a single finger prick, but, infamously, it never actually worked. In 2022, Holmes was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding investors.

Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs in 'Jobs'

The first mention of Jobs on this list goes to Kutcher, who played the Apple founder in the 2013 biopic "Jobs." It follows his career from the beginning of Apple in 1976 to the introduction of the first iPod in 2001.

Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs in 'Steve Jobs'

Two years after "Jobs," the late founder was portrayed again on screen, this time by Michael Fassbender in "Steve Jobs."

Instead of a standard cradle-to-grave biopic, "Steve Jobs" checks in with the enigmatic figure at three different points in his career: first in 1984, before the introduction of the first Apple Macintosh computer; second, in 1988, when Jobs is the head of a new company, NeXT, and is preparing to launch its first computer; and finally, in 1998, as Jobs gears up to release the iMac.

Noah Wyle as Steve Jobs in 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'

In 1999, the TV movie "Pirates of Silicon Valley" aired, starring Wyle as the Apple founder. It chronicles Jobs' career from the '70s to the '90s, from the founding of Apple to his return as CEO.

Anthony Michael Hall as Bill Gates in 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'

The other half of the "Pirates of Silicon Valley" narrative focuses on Gates, the cofounder of Microsoft. He's played by "Breakfast Club" star Anthony Michael Hall.

The film's climax is based on the real-life falling out Gates and Jobs had in 1985, when Jobs felt that Gates had ripped off Apple.

Jared Leto as Adam Neumann in 'WeCrashed'

Leto really did physically transform to play the WeWork CEO and cofounder in the 2022 Apple TV+ miniseries "WeCrashed." The show chronicled the immense success the coworking start-up experienced in its early days in 2010, all the way through its disastrous attempted IPO in 2019.

Anne Hathaway as Rebekah Paltrow Neumann in 'WeCrashed'

Hathaway costarred in "WeCrashed" as Neumann's wife, Rebekah Paltrow Neumann, who was heavily involved in WeWork, even if she wasn't officially a cofounder. She was, however, "an unpredictable and unmistakable presence" at the company, per Business Insider's reporting.

Jay Baruchel as Mike Lazaridis in 'BlackBerry'

The creation of the BlackBerry, one of the earliest smartphones, was dramatized in "BlackBerry," which starred Baruchel as one of the cofounders of RIM (the brand behind the phone) and one of the cocreators of the BlackBerry itself, Lazaridis.

The film begins with Lazaridis and his partner teaming up with Jim Balsillie (more on him later) to make BlackBerry the most popular smartphone in the world — only for its reign to end with the iPhone.

Glenn Howerton as Jim Balsillie in 'BlackBerry'

RIM really got off the ground when Mike Lazaridis and his cofounder Doug Fregin were approached by Balsillie. According to the movie's telling, Balsillie offered to invest $20,000 for a 50% stake in the company, and was eventually sold a 33% stake for $125,000 and the title of co-CEO.

The less we say about Howerton's performance, the better — it really must be seen to be believed.

Lily James as Whitney Wolfe Herd in 'Swiped'

2025's "Swiped" is the story of the creation of Bumble through the eyes of its founder, Herd. Originally, she was a cofounder of Tinder, but resigned in 2014, and eventually received an out-of-court settlement after suing Tinder for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment, without either Tinder or its parent company, IAC, admitting to wrongdoing.

After leaving Tinder, Herd wanted to create an app that focused on female empowerment, and thus, Bumble, a dating app where women have to make the first move, was born.

Sebastian Stan as Vlad Tenev in 'Dumb Money'

In 2023's "Dumb Money," which is about the "Gamestonk" GameStop short squeeze and subsequent drama that happened in 2021, led by the Reddit community r/WallStreetBets and one user in particular, Keith Gill, aka Roaring Kitty, Stan has a small role.

He plays Robinhood cofounder and CEO, Tenev. During the events of the film, Tenev directs Robinhood, an e-trading platform and investment app, to stop allowing users to buy certain stocks and options (including GameStop), which caused an uproar.

• My roommate and I live in a tiny New York City apartment, but we love to buy bulk items at Costco.
• Our go-tos include the Amylu chicken breakfast sausage links and Spindrift sparkling water.
• We love the Good Foods avocado mash, since it lasts a long time and fits in our small fridge.

I've been an avid Costco shopper since childhood, and fondly remember taking a trip to the warehouse with my mom and grandmother on the weekends.

As a kid, I always looked forward to the free samples and the chance to get a slice of pizza from the café. Now that I'm an adult living in New York City, however, I mostly look forward to buying items in bulk to save money.

The only problem? I live in a tiny apartment.

Despite our limited storage space, my roommate and I love visiting Costco once or twice a month to stock up on all the bulk items we can fit in our apartment.

Although it can be quite the trek to the nearest warehouse — a 15-minute walk, a 20-minute subway ride, and an additional 15-minute walk — the price and quality of the items make the journey worthwhile.

Here are eight staples we buy each time we shop at Costco.

We always find room in our fridge for Sprindrift sparkling water.

Given our small space, my roommate and I buy only one beverage in bulk each time we visit Costco. One of our favorites is Spindrift sparkling water.

This time, we grabbed a 30-count variety pack featuring flavors like lemon limeade, strawberry lemonade, and pink lemonade.

Kirkland Signature organic Greek yogurt is one of my favorite snacks.

I've noticed that it's difficult to find organic Greek yogurt for a good price at my local grocery stores. Luckily, the Kirkland Signature organic Greek yogurt is affordable and tastes incredible.

I like to add it to recipes for additional protein or enjoy it as a quick snack.

Nothing beats a New York City slice, but our favorite at-home option is Milton's cauliflower-crust veggie pizza.

Despite living in a city famous for its pizza, sometimes, I still like to enjoy a frozen alternative from Costco.

Milton's roasted-vegetable cauliflower-crust pizza is the perfect quick dinner in our tiny apartment.

It only takes about 12 to 15 minutes to cook in the oven, and we typically serve it with one of Costco's organic salad kits. We also love to dip each slice in ranch.

Kevin's Natural Foods cilantro-lime chicken is easy to make and delicious.

Kevin's Natural Foods cilantro-lime chicken is my secret to quick weeknight meals.

While the chicken cooks on the stovetop, I like to throw some broccoli in the air fryer and heat up some microwavable rice.

Kevin's Natural Foods also offers several other chicken options, including Hawaiian-style and teriyaki.

Amylu organic chicken burgers make a great protein-packed dinner.

When I go to Costco, I always make sure to pick up the Amylu organic chicken burgers with caramelized onion and aged white cheddar.

The box comes with eight delicious patties, and each serving is packed with 19 grams of protein.

When I need a filling dinner in a flash, I heat up one of these patties and place it inside a toasted bun with a slice of cheese, and sometimes, a little avocado for some extra flavor.

The Good Foods avocado mash always comes home with me.

Instead of wasting half an avocado, I love buying Good Foods organic avocado mash at Costco.

This mash, seasoned with sea salt and black pepper, keeps well in the fridge and is perfect for a single serving of avocado toast.

Each box contains 16 packs of avocado mash, which is an ideal amount for my roommate and me. Plus, it doesn't overcrowd our small fridge.

I could eat the Amylu chicken breakfast sausage links every single morning.

The Amylu chicken breakfast sausage links are a delicious and insanely versatile breakfast item I always grab at Costco.

Not only do these links taste great, but they also have 12 grams of protein in each serving.

I love to eat them with fruit and eggs, or on the side of some overnight oats in the morning.

Skinny Dipped dark-chocolate peanut butter cups are so tasty.

I have a sweet tooth, and even though I try my best to limit my sugar intake, I always love to check out the low-sugar candy options at Costco.

My go-to is the Skinny Dipped dark chocolate peanut butter cups, which only have 3 grams of sugar per serving, are gluten-free, and taste amazing.

• AI is changing what skills employers want from their junior workers.
• A major PwC survey found that employers want junior employees to have "traditionally senior" skills.
• PwC's global jobs barometer analyzed over a billion job listings worldwide and millions in the US.

AI is raising the bar for entry-level jobs, according to a new PwC analysis of global job ads.

Employers in AI-exposed fields are increasingly looking for entry-level workers to have the skills that they previously expected from senior workers, including emotional intelligence, judgment, and leadership.

The findings come from PwC's 2026 AI jobs barometer, released on June 15, which analyzed over 1 billion job advertisements globally.

Analysis of 2.4 million entry-level roles in the US found that AI-exposed roles are seven times more likely to list "traditionally senior" skills than they were in 2019.

The skills now expected of less experienced staff include motivational leadership, team building, people and stakeholder management, process management, mentorship, and data-driven decision-making.

PwC defined a skill as "traditionally senior" if it appeared more than 50 times in experienced, non-entry-level, high AI exposure job postings in 2019, but fewer than five times in entry-level, high AI exposure postings in 2019.

"The good news is that many junior workers will be spared years of drudgery on basic, repetitive tasks. The tough news is that those same workers need to quickly step up to demonstrate skills like leadership and strategic thinking," PwC said in the report.

AI has become increasingly capable of performing repetitive, data-intensive tasks that once made up much of junior white-collar work. That shift has contributed to an overall slowdown in entry-level hiring.

Globally, PwC's AI jobs barometer found that entry-level roles highly exposed to AI have flatlined. PwC itself has reduced hiring for entry-level workers by a third over the next three years in the US, Business Insider reported in August.

In the US job market, the report found that not all AI-exposed junior roles are shrinking: Those with higher skill expectations are thriving.

AI-exposed entry-level jobs that had been "seniorized" — meaning they added more than 10 traditionally senior skills — grew 35% between 2019 and 2025. Comparable AI-exposed entry-level roles that had not been seniorized fell 10%.

The changing nature of the work is also pushing companies to overhaul their training and people programs to help young workers adapt.

PwC US introduced a new workplace training initiative in February and has reduced the number of locations where its entry-level consultants can work from 72 to 13 offices.

The isolation of the COVID years, combined with the way that AI is changing the nature of work, has chipped away at some of PwC's sense of connection around learning and development, especially for younger employees, Yolanda Seals-Coffield, chief people and inclusion officer for PwC US, told Business Insider in February.

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

You made history. Now what?

SpaceX's high-profile IPO lived up to the hype. Elon Musk's rocket company's record-breaking public debut surged as much as 30%. It ended the day roughly 20% above its IPO price, right in the sweet spot for a new public company.

The process included a lot of fanfare, and plenty of people got very rich, including minting the world's first trillionaire. First Trade's Joe Ciolli and I had a fun discussion about it on Friday. You can watch it here.

The debate around SpaceX isn't over. Now it's about whether the stock can maintain its day-one momentum, its impact on a sibling company, and how other IPO giants adjust plans.

Let's break down the three big questions in the post-SpaceX IPO era.

Can SpaceX keep rolling? Performing well on your first day of trading is one thing. Staying there is something else entirely.

Lots of SpaceX critics said it's a company they'd invest in for the long run, but not early on. Some cited the lifting of lock-up periods for shareholders as a reason to wait.

That's a tricky thing to time. There's not a single lock-up cliff. SpaceX is running a staggered release schedule that's pretty spread out. Some shareholders can start selling shares around SpaceX's first earnings report in late summer. Others, like Elon Musk, will need to wait an entire year.

And then there's the question of valuation for a company that's not profitable. As SpaceX's price tag continues to climb — it's already over $2 trillion — will investors get squeamish?

What happens to Tesla? There are big question marks around Musk's other company. When SpaceX cited the possibility of acquisitions in its S-1, minds immediately jumped to Tesla.

Creating a singular Musk conglomerate makes sense. Tesla is already pitching itself as more of an AI company than an EV maker. And SpaceX acquired Musk's AI startup, xAI, earlier this year.

But mashing together a bunch of different companies comes with risks. Investors like a clear vision of what a company is trying to achieve. And SpaceX is already wearing a lot of different hats without adding Tesla into the mix.

A merger of two companies of that size would also certainly draw regulators' attention.

Tesla could face competition for investor dollars from SpaceX. Investors have long treated Tesla as the closest public proxy for betting on Musk. Now they have another option.

What's OpenAI/Anthropic's next move? Two more massive IPOs are waiting in the wings. Anthropic and OpenAI have both confidentially filed the paperwork to go public.

An exact timetable isn't set, but it's fair to expect their arrival in the coming months. SpaceX's early success could expedite that process.

OpenAI and Anthropic are younger companies with less diversified businesses than SpaceX, but investors will view all three similarly: ambitious tech companies promising to reshape industries.

If SpaceX continues to climb, it could reinforce demand. If the stock struggles, it may force future issuers to rethink their timing and valuation expectations.

• I embarked on full-time van life after struggling with the constraints of a more traditional job.
• Now, I run a mobile business, work seasonal roles, and take on gig jobs while on the road.
• Seasonal and gig work can be chaotic, but the lifestyle works well for me.

My first "real" job after college began in 2020, working as a remote program manager for an environmental nonprofit. I thought I had landed the perfect position until the company told us we had to start coming into the office on rotation.

With a two-hour commute and an elderly dog at home, I couldn't help wondering what I was doing there. After the death of my beloved pet, I began to regret all of the hours wasted in traffic or at the office instead of being with her during her last few months of life.

Fully disillusioned, I crossed the country to move back in with my mother.

Grieving, lost, and unable to find a new full-time job, I decided to make a drastic change. I spent the summer of 2024 working for Burning Man, and have been living in a van and "work camping" — or doing seasonal or gig jobs — ever since.

I fell in love with life on the road — and learned that my existing skills and interests could get me work anywhere

With fewer expenses, I discovered that I could make my lifestyle work with just about any job. So, I used my experience with and passion for the environment to start working in conservation.

Now, every summer, I work at state and national parks, teaching young adults how to cut dead trees, dig paths, build rock walls, and otherwise keep our trails enjoyable.

Living van life as a gig worker has also allowed me to explore some of my other passions, especially music. When not working in the woods, I travel to different festivals where I work customer-service positions, such as manning lost-and-found tents or directing cars in parking lots.

Between the kind customers and fun work environment, these are some of the best service gigs I've ever worked. They also get me into music festivals for free, so I can dance and explore in my free time.

Finally, like many nomads, I have my own business. I am a mobile loctician, meaning I meet clients in their homes or elsewhere to do their dreadlocks.

My client base has slowly been growing from one city to multiple states as I learn to navigate having a fully mobile service.

I've learned to balance planning and going with the flow

I am a meticulous planner, and that comes out in full force when scheduling my travel. I accept jobs based on their location and time of year, driving from one gig to another without backtracking.

However, if there's an opportunity I'm particularly passionate about, I will park my van and fly to it. For instance, every year, I find a way to work at Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas. It's my favorite music festival, and it's right after my birthday.

This lifestyle isn't all fun and games, though. Van life encourages living in the moment, but it's easy to lose track of your finances if you aren't planning ahead.

Because the jobs aren't continuous, I'm normally hunting for next summer's position before the current one ends. Networking is also important — every fellow gig worker is not just a friend, but a possible work connection.

Work camping may seem limiting to some: After all, you're still doing in-person jobs that require you to be at a certain place at a certain time. Unlike some other van lifers, I can't just leave the area when I tire of the weather, stay a few extra days at a music festival, or go on a spontaneous trip with friends.

Despite the drawbacks, I wouldn't trade my new set-up for anything — especially not a traditional office job like the one I had before. I appreciate that this on-the-ground work allows me to become a part of the communities I travel to, and I love meeting people who have sought the same freedom.

Every day, I'm excited for my next adventure, which makes any challenge feel worth it.

• Fox announced a deal to acquire Roku, creating a free-TV superpower.
• The $22 billion deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027.
• Fox built its portfolio around sports and news instead of trying to create a mass-market streamer.

Fox is making its biggest bet yet on streaming TV.

The broadcast giant announced a $22 billion agreement to acquire connected TV powerhouse Roku on Monday in a cash-and-stock deal, which it expects to close in the first half of 2027.

This deal combines Fox's sports, news, and entertainment content with Roku's connected TV devices and digital ads business. Roku is the top connected TV platform and reaches over 100 million global streaming households, the companies said in their announcement. It also operates The Roku Channel, which is a leading free streaming service.

A Fox-Roku tie-up would create the third-largest player in US TV by share of viewing, according to Nielsen data. (It would be fourth-largest if Paramount Skydance acquires Warner Bros. Discovery.)

Buying Roku makes Fox an ad-selling machine. The company would own both the Roku Channel and Tubi, Fox's free, ad-supported streaming service. Tubi has become popular with Gen Z for its quirky original shows and a deep library of nostalgic content like "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Looney Tunes."

This deal marks "a defining moment" for Fox, CEO Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement.

"This combination will transform the scope of our company into high-growth verticals and yield a step change in our overall growth profile," Murdoch added.

Nearly half of Roku's revenue comes from advertising, including spots on its coveted home screen. The company also has a healthy subscription business, which accounted for 39% of its $5 billion in revenue over the last 12 months. Roku takes a cut of streaming subscriptions when users sign up through its interface, and it also introduced a $3 a month, ad-free streamer, Howdy, last August.

Investors seemed wary of the deal, as Fox shares fell 12% in premarket trading. Roku's stock was halted earlier, after rising 20% on Friday.

How Fox sidestepped the streaming wars

Instead of going all-out to beat Netflix like other Hollywood giants, Fox sold its studio, its stake in Hulu, and key franchises like Avatar to Disney in a $71 billion blockbuster deal that closed in 2019.

A year later, Fox acquired Tubi for $440 million. Last year, it launched Fox One, its own subscription livestreaming service, on which it is currently broadcasting the World Cup, as well as its news and entertainment programming. It also has Fox Nation, a paid streamer that has conservative-friendly programming.

Fox said in its announcement that it was committed to continuing to operate Roku as "an open partner-friendly platform."

Lightshed Partners media analyst Rich Greenfield said in an interview on CNBC on Monday that Fox was acquiring a "TV gatekeeper."

"Whether it's Netflix, whether it's Paramount+, whether it's Prime Video, anyone who wants to have a streaming service has to play ball with Roku," Greenfield said.

Media analyst Mike Proulx of Forrester said Fox's Roku deal helps the company "close a strategic streaming gap from content supplier to platform owner. "

"It's been the only major broadcast network without a scaled streaming anchor to match Disney+, Peacock, or Paramount+. Roku brings scale, data, and its operating system and Fox brings premium live sports and news, creating a closed-loop connected TV advertising engine," Proulx said.

• I spent three weeks traveling around Europe with my wife, and we completely overpacked.
• Lugging our big bags around was miserable, and we didn't end up needing so much of what we brought.
• We should've followed travel writer Rick Steves' advice and packed lighter, just one bag each.

My wife and I had just arrived in Amsterdam, the first stop on our three-week European trip with about 10 destinations.

As we stepped off the train, we prepared to bask in the "we made it halfway across the world from Reno" feeling as we embarked on a peaceful canalside walk to our hotel.

Instead, we walked straight into SAIL Amsterdam 2025 alongside about 2 million of our closest friends. We had no idea the massive festival was happening.

Navigating all the crowds would've been fine … if we hadn't packed as though Europe might run out of clothes.

I'm a contingency planner by profession, which made things worse. I'd packed two sport coats, four pairs of shoes, two neckties, a London Fog overcoat, and my masterpiece: a clothing steamer. I used the steamer exactly zero times on the whole trip.

Meanwhile, my backpack contained basically my entire work life: two laptops, an iPad Pro, chargers, adapters, and enough cords to wire a small data center. I also brought a "mini studio" for recording keynotes — a tiny tripod, portable mics, and a headset — plus a camera bag with more lenses than any normal person needs.

My wife and I managed to hit 49.9 pounds (just under the 50-pound limit) on both checked bags, which felt like we were winning at travel. Then we tried carrying them — plus two overloaded carry-ons each — and instantly proved ourselves wrong.

The stupid part is that we've been to Europe before, and we do know how to travel. Before leaving, we even swore we'd try seasoned travel writer Rick Steves' method of packing minimally and fitting everything in just one carry-on bag each.

Then we ignored basically every sentence Rick has ever written.

Overpacking weighed us down for the entire trip

The walk from Amsterdam Centraal to our hotel was supposedly short. In practice, it felt never-ending as my suitcase wheels hit cobblestone and immediately staged a protest.

The wheels locked up, and I dragged it along while locals and tourists alike walked by with light backpacks and the calm expression people get when they're watching someone lose an argument with a screaming toddler. To be fair, I felt like I was.

And that became the pattern across city after city. Brussels. Bruges. Ghent. Avignon. Same scene: me hauling a stubborn suitcase over ancient stones and swearing under my breath.

Our itinerary also included Porto, the Douro Valley, Toledo, Sevilla, Madrid, and Segovia. On paper, seeing all these places was awesome.

In reality, packing, moving, and then unpacking so much stuff felt as if we were being evicted every 72 hours.

Porto is where the trip finally put me in my place. Between the hills and the luggage, I started cursing everything, especially stairs and cobblestones.

I set an alarm for sunrise photos, but by then I was so exhausted from lugging my bags around that I slept through it. By Toledo (and then Segovia), we weren't "traveling Europe." We were commuting through it with enough luggage to make me question my life choices.

And then I noticed them: the Rick Steves type of travelers. Calm. Unbothered. Guidebook open. Backpack on the back, smaller one on the front, hands free, and walking like this was normal.

And the worst part? Those backpacks looked like the ones so many lists and guides recommend. The same kind I bought before we left … and returned, because I looked at them and thought, "Nope, these are too small." I couldn't bear not being able to bring all my "what if" clothes.

Meanwhile, my wife and I looked like the American tourists we swore we wouldn't be — overloaded, swapping hands, rearranging straps, and acting like travel is something you just power through.

I wanted to blend in. I wanted to look effortless, like the guy who "just wanders." But nothing blows your cover faster than dragging a 49.9-pound suitcase over centuries-old cobblestones while carrying a camera bag and a strong case of self-doubt.

After that trip, we plan to never travel or pack this way again

I don't regret lugging around my camera because the photos do matter. The rest? Never again.

Don't get me wrong: we enjoyed the trip. We ate well, saw beautiful places, and made memories we'll talk about forever. It just could've been a whole lot more relaxing if we weren't constantly managing our stuff — and our packed schedule — like it was a small business.

Next time, I'm limiting myself to one bag I can lift without giving myself a pre-game pep talk. No specialty gear I don't use at home, and absolutely zero appliances that produce steam. We're also focusing on fewer destinations and longer stays.

And as for the Rick Steves travelers? I plan to join them — lighter, calmer, and finally traveling like I've done this before.

• Ukraine is using new drones and offensive tactics to slow Russia and regain some ground.
• The shift is challenging the static, grinding war that has defined the front.
• Russia still maintains certain advantages, and Ukraine's opening may not last.

Ukraine's new tactics and drone tech have allowed it to build rare momentum against Russia, according to analysts, Ukrainian officials, and Western intelligence.

Russia's invasion has been a brutal, grinding battle with little change to the front lines in recent years.

That may be starting to change.

Ukraine has been slowing Russian advances, striking targets Moscow once treated as safe, and regaining some ground.

New drone types are allowing Ukraine to hit areas Russia once considered safe, including depots, vehicles, air defenses, and supply routes that support Russian troops at the front. The goal is to isolate parts of the battlefield, making it harder for Russia to move troops and supplies where they are needed.

Better planning and new systems mean Ukraine is also getting better at using those weapons strategically rather than simply reacting to Russian assaults, analysts say.

"What we're currently seeing is a new phase of the war," Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russian warfare expert at the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, told Business Insider.

A new phase of the war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that Ukraine is "gradually taking back occupied territory," adding that "in May, Russia achieved almost no meaningful results on the battlefield."

Ukrainian commanders have said Russia is having its worst year since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and ISW's conflict analysts wrote late last month that Ukraine is starting to capture more ground than it's losing for the first time since 2023.

Analysts said Ukraine is successfully "blunting Russian advances and reversing Russian gains in some sectors of the line."

Additionally, they said, "Russian battlefield gains are approaching net zero." Russia's rate of advance has plummeted since last year, and it is "losing more soldiers to make fewer gains," they added.

ISW analysts said Ukraine's actions were "actively challenging" the grinding nature of the war. The drone-dominated skies have prevented both sides from bringing in heavy machinery or massing infantry near the front. Russia has tried to bring this style of warfare back, but has largely failed.

Ukraine, however, is showing some promise, reintroducing some small-scale armored formations able to move and fight dynamically. Neither side can conduct major maneuvers yet, but Ukraine is "setting conditions potentially to break out," ISW said.

New drones for new targets

Ukraine's drones have been playing a critical role in this shift. For much of the war, Ukraine has relied heavily on short-range first-person-view drones to hit troops and equipment near the front, while long-range drones struck oil facilities, airfields, and military targets deep inside Russia.

But now Ukraine has new drones, including the US-made Hornet drone, that can hit targets at medium range, around 20 to 300 kilometers from the front lines.

Hitting these rear area mid-range targets is creating new problems for the Russian military logistically, because it now "takes much more time to deliver armaments to the front lines," and "from a psychological point of view," because "the area which they considered to be safe now is a new kill zone," said Taras Berezovets, head of the military cooperation department of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces.

Ukraine's defense ministry said that in recent months, "destruction of enemy logistics, depots, and other targets has increased fourfold."

"A battlefield runs on logistics," it said. "Ukraine is making sure Russia's does not."

The UK defense ministry observed on Monday that Ukraine's growing ability to disrupt Russia's transportation nodes using drones "has likely been one of the enablers for Ukrainian success."

The battlefield, it added, remains in "context flux," but Ukraine's forces have created a "new threat" by hitting Russian logistics, including along the strategic M-14 highway connecting Russian-occupied Crimea with Russia.

Stepanenko said Ukraine's large long-range drones are a poor fit for these shorter missions. They can be more vulnerable to the dense electronic warfare Russia uses closer to the front, and they are expensive enough that using them to chase lower-value targets like trucks doesn't make sense. And the shorter-range drones lacked the reach.

New mid-range drones are creating chaos in Russian rear areas, and Stepanenko suspects the strike campaign "is likely going to get a lot stronger over the coming weeks and months until Russian forces find a countermeasure."

Ukraine is saying the same.

"Hits at distances of more than 20 kilometers are now twice as high as in March and four times as high as in February. And there will be more," Zelenskyy said last month. "This is a priority area."

Ukraine's defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, said Ukraine is "launching a 'logistics lockdown' for the Russian army," with more progress to come as the country invests over $110 million into these efforts.

Berezovets said use of this mid-range strike technology in large quantities "will change the front lines." And Ukraine now has better planning and systems to take advantage of it.

An opportunity for Ukraine

Ukraine has developed improved battlefield awareness and planning capabilities, allowing it to identify more effective targets and make a greater impact on the overall fight. ISW analysts said that its operational planning is "maturing."

Making the difference are things like Ukraine's new Delta battlefield management system, which combines intelligence and data from satellites, combat units, drone feeds, and other sources to provide a better overall picture of the fight, both enemy and friendly forces, for targeting and coordination.

Delta, which has received praise and consideration from NATO officials, became mandatory for all units in August. Analysts said it is "enabling better awareness, planning capabilities, and thinking about Russian operational weaknesses."

Ukrainian forces, ISW wrote, "are taking time to shape the battlefield and set conditions ahead of better-scoped maneuvers."

Stepanenko said that Ukraine's military planning has evolved and shifted away from simply reacting to assaults in front of them "to actually thinking long-term" in order "to disrupt Russian ability to bring up troops and equipment closer to the battlefield and therefore disrupt Russian preparations for offensive operations.'"

She said another help is the Ukrainian government's new awards program, which rewards soldiers for battlefield kills with points they can use to buy equipment like drones. It can reward pursuing important targets that are harder to reach, helping units focus beyond the immediate targets for strategic effect.

Military reforms are also in play. Jack Watling, a land warfare expert at the Royal United Services Institute, wrote in Foreign Policy that changes to Ukrainian training structures are making soldiers better prepared and sustaining morale.

Ukraine has momentum, not an overwhelming advantage, and Russia still has a large military, the ability to adapt, and the capacity to keep pressure on the front. The momentum, though, is something Ukrainian forces haven't had in a long time.

The war has been a constant cat-and-mouse fight, with new tactics and technology often countered by the other side. That means Ukraine's current opening may not last.

ISW analysts wrote that "Ukraine likely has a unique and time-constrained opportunity to exploit its current initiative while Russian forces remain vulnerable."