• "House of the Dragon" is a "Game of Thrones" prequel that follows a Targaryen civil war.
• Some of the Targaryen kids grew from toddlers to young adults in season one.
• Here's a complete visual guide to the confusing Targaryen family tree.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season three, episode three.

"House of the Dragon" is back for its third and penultimate season, bringing its wildly expansive Targaryen brood back to our screens.

HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel show follows a bloody war of succession, known in Westerosi history as the Dance of the Dragons.

Thanks to the warring factions being related — not to mention the dragonlords' affinity for incest — the Targaryen family tree is tangled and complex.

By season two, all characters were coalescing around two potential rulers: Aegon II, King Viserys' eldest son, and Queen Rhaenyra, his eldest child and chosen heir.

By the time Viserys died and left the Iron Throne unclaimed, both Aegon II and Rhaenyra had several children of their own. Furthermore, some of the lesser-known Targaryen children are finally coming of age, adding more key players to the ongoing war.

We've put together a visual guide to all of the children in the Targaryen family, so you can keep all of those silver-haired (and sometimes brunette) kids straight.

Kim Renfro, Ayomikun Adekaiyero, and Palmer Haasch contributed to a previous version of this story.

Let's start with Rhaenyra's eldest son, Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon.

Jace was born in season one, sometime in the 10-year gap between episodes five and six.

Officially, Jace's father was Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenyra's first husband. However, many people (correctly) suspect that Jace was the bastard son of the late Harwin Strong.

Jace was Rhaenyra's heir until he and his dragon, Vermax, died in the Battle of the Gullet during the season three premiere.

Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon was Rhaenyra's secondborn son and heir to Driftmark.

Luke was Rhaenyra's second child with Harwin, though he was publicly claimed as Laenor's son and the heir to Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon.

Luke was the kid who cut Aemond's eye (we'll get to Aemond and his siblings soon) in season one, episode seven, "Driftmark."

Years later, in the season one finale, the nephew and uncle clashed again while riding their dragons, Vhagar and Arrax. This time around, their confrontation led to Luke and Arrax's accidental deaths.

Joffrey Velaryon is the youngest son from Rhaenyra's first marriage (and affair).

Rhaenyra gave birth to her third son in season one, episode six, "The Princess and the Queen." The baby was named after the man Laenor once loved, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, who was killed by Ser Criston Cole.

In season two, Joffrey was sent as a ward to the Vale, the mountainous region ruled by his mother's cousin, Lady Jeyne Arryn. He was accompanied by his two younger half-brothers and his step-sister, Rhaena.

Joffrey is bonded to the young dragon Tyraxes.

Now on to Alicent's children, all fathered by King Viserys. Their eldest child is Aegon II Targaryen.

King Viserys' first son, Baelon, died shortly after he was born in season one. The king's wife, Aemma, also died in childbirth.

Viserys later married Alicent Hightower. Their first child together, Aegon II (also called Aegon the Elder in George R.R. Martin's book "Fire & Blood"), was named after the original Targaryen king, Aegon the Conqueror.

Despite the celebrated birth of his trueborn son, Viserys upheld Rhaenyra as his chosen heir, breaking with the realm's patriarchal tradition.

However, after Viserys died in season one, episode eight, "The Lord of the Tides," the Hightower-led council usurped Rhaenyra and crowned Aegon II instead.

In season two, the young king rode his dragon Sunfyre into battle at Rook's Rest, where he was attacked and burned. Aegon II was left disabled and nearly unrecognizable, with burn scars covering half his face and body. In the season two finale, he fled King's Landing with his master of whisperers, Larys Strong.

Helaena Targaryen is Alicent's secondborn child and only daughter.

Helaena was the first daughter born to Alicent.

In between episodes, Helaena was married off to her older brother. She became the queen consort when Aegon II was crowned king at the end of season one.

Helaena is bonded to the ancient dragon Dreamfyre, though in the show, it's said she has no taste for dragonriding. Helaena is also a known dragon dreamer, meaning she has magical prophetic visions.

Aegon II and Helaena had two children of their own: twins named Jaehaerys and Jaehaera.

Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, a boy and a girl, are so far the only kids born to Aegon II and Helaena that we've seen onscreen.

In season one, episode nine, "The Green Council," we caught a glimpse of the silver-haired twins playing in Helaena's room.

The twins came back into play in the season two premiere, when Daemon hired a pair of assassins known as Blood and Cheese to kill Aemond as revenge for Luke.

When the assassins were unable to find Aemond, they decided to kill Jaehaerys instead — a son for a son — a move made even crueler by asking Helaena to point out which twin was the boy. While Blood and Cheese decapitated Jaehaerys in his crib, Helaena ran to safety with Jaehaera.

Once Rhaenyra took the Iron Throne in season three, Alicent, Helaena, and Jaehaera were trapped as prisoners in the Red Keep.

Alicent's middle son is Aemond Targaryen, also known as Aemond One-Eye.

Known in "Fire & Blood" as Aemond One-Eye, Alicent's secondborn son was the last of his siblings to claim a dragon.

Although claiming the ancient dragon Vhagar led to a fight that cost Aemond his eye, the risk ultimately paid off: Vhagar is the biggest and fiercest dragon in Westeros, and as Aemond grew up, the duo became the greatest power in the realm.

In season two, Aemond used Vhagar to burn his older brother in the battle at Rook's Rest. While Aegon II was bedridden, Aemond ruled in his stead as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm.

Viserys and Alicent's youngest son, Daeron Targaryen, makes his debut in season three.

In the book, Alicent gave birth to her youngest child, Daeron, around the same time that Rhaenyra gave birth to Jace.

In the show, Daeron is slightly younger — about 16 when he enters the fray.

Daeron was absent throughout seasons one and two of "House of the Dragon." He grew up in Oldtown with House Hightower, rather than in King's Landing with his three older siblings. In the season three premiere, Daeron subtly made his debut as the squire for his mother's cousin, Lord Ormund Hightower.

After Aegon II abdicated and Rhaenyra took the Iron Throne, Ormund was forced to surrender Daeron as a hostage.

However, Ormund tricked the royal family by bleaching a low-born boy's hair and ordering him to masquerade as Daeron — even to die in Daeron's place, if Rhaenyra commanded it. (Luckily, the impostor was safely imprisoned before Rhaenyra discovered the truth.)

Meanwhile, the real Daeron remained with the Hightower army, along with his young dragon Tessarion.

Now on to Daemon's children. Baela Targaryen is the first of his two daughters from his second marriage.

Baela was born to Viserys' younger brother, Prince Daemon Targaryen, and Daemon's second wife, Laena Velaryon, while the couple was living in Essos. (Daemon and his first wife, Lady Rhea Royce, didn't have any children.)

Daemon returned to Westeros with his daughters after Laena died in childbirth.

Following the time jump in season one, it's revealed that Baela was sent to live at Driftmark as a ward, learning the ways of the court from her grandmother, Rhaenys Targaryen.

Baela was betrothed to Jace, her cousin-slash-step-brother, before his death. She is bonded to the dragon Moondancer and has proven useful to Rhaenyra as a scout.

Rhaena Targaryen is Daemon and Laena's younger daughter.

Rhaena was born to Daemon and Laena in Essos. After she returned with her father and sister to Westeros, she was betrothed to Luke as a means of nurturing the Targaryen-Velaryon alliance.

Unlike many of her family members, Rhaena did not bond with a dragon as a child. As a result, she frequently feels overlooked by her father, Daemon, and stepmother, Rhaenyra, in their war efforts.

In season two, Rhaena was tasked with escorting Rhaenyra's three youngest sons to the Vale and then escorting the two youngest back to Essos. Instead, Rhaena abandoned her post and ran away to claim Sheepstealer, a wild dragon.

After Laena's death, Daemon and Rhaenyra got married and had two sons together: Aegon III and Viserys II.

Daemon and Rhaenyra also named their first son after Aegon the Conqueror, making him Aegon III Targaryen. In "Fire & Blood," he's often referred to as Aegon the Younger, to avoid being mixed up with his usurping uncle.

The couple named their second son after Rhaenyra's dad, King Viserys, who was also Daemon's brother. (Yikes!)

In season one, Daemon and Rhaenyra introduced both of their kids to Viserys shortly before the king's death, but Aegon III and Viserys II haven't had much screen time since.

In season two, Rhaenyra decided to send the toddlers to the Vale to protect them from the war. It was later arranged for Aegon III and Viserys II to be sheltered in Essos instead, and they hit the road in the season two finale.

Aegon the Younger is bonded to the baby dragon Stormcloud, while Viserys II has an unhatched dragon egg.

Daemon and Rhaenyra were expecting a third child, but Rhaenyra experienced a stillbirth in the season one finale.

Rhaenyra was pregnant with her and Daemon's third child together at the start of the season one finale. Upon hearing of her father's death and Aegon II's hasty coronation, she went into early labor. Their daughter, Visenya, was delivered stillborn.

In "Fire & Blood," Aegon II and Helaena have a third child.

Aegon II and Helaena have a third child in the book; after the twins, Helaena gives birth to another son named Maelor.

After Jaehaerys is murdered by Blood and Cheese, Maelor becomes Aegon II's heir.

During season two, Martin had some harsh words for "House of the Dragon" writers about Maelor's exclusion from the show. He said the change would cause a butterfly effect and weaken the overall narrative.

In season three, Helaena is healthy and relatively safe in King's Landing, so it's still possible she could give birth again — but since Aegon II is an impotent fugitive now, Maelor would've needed to be conceived before the battle at Rook's Rest.

• In "House of the Dragon," Daeron Targaryen is the youngest son of Alicent and the late King Viserys.
• Daeron grew up with the Hightowers in Oldtown, rather than in King's Landing with his siblings.
• He finally makes his debut in "HOTD" season three. Here's what to know about Daeron in the book.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "House of the Dragon" season three, episode three, and for the book "Fire & Blood."

The elusive Daeron Targaryen is finally joining the fray in "House of the Dragon."

Daeron is the youngest son of Alicent Hightower and the late King Viserys Targaryen — their fourthborn child after Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond. Like his siblings, Daeron is a dragonrider, bonded to a young blue dragon named Tessarion.

Unlike his siblings, however, Daeron left King's Landing as an infant. He was sent as a ward to Oldtown, the seat of House Hightower, and is scarcely known to the royal family. Throughout the first two seasons of the HBO show, Daeron is kept far away from the action.

In "House of the Dragon" season two, Daeron is mentioned as both a potential threat to his half-sister, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, and a promising pawn in Aegon's army — especially once Tessarion has grown big enough to fly into battle. Daeron is also mentioned in a conversation between his mother and uncle, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), who was also raised in Oldtown.

Gwayne tells Alicent that 16-year-old Daeron is hardworking, clever, and kind, setting him apart from his cruel, bloodthirsty brothers.

In season three, Daeron finally makes his onscreen debut, marching with the Hightower army and taking orders from his mother's cousin, Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) — that is, until episode three, when their campaign is interrupted by Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). Now that Rhaenyra has ascended the Iron Throne, the king consort plans to take Daeron hostage as part of the Hightowers' surrender terms.

"It would be rather an oversight to allow one of Prince Aegon's heirs to go prancing about the Reach with his dragon, no less," Daemon tells Ormund. "We will treat him kindly, as we would any son of Viserys. As long as you behave yourself."

By the end of episode three, viewers discover that Ormund has deceived Daemon and Rhaenyra, delivering a faux-blonde imposter to be taken hostage and keeping the real Daeron by his side.

As showrunner Ryan Condal previously confirmed, Daeron will have a role to play in the ongoing civil war — but if you're impatient to learn why Daeron might become important in "House of the Dragon," keep reading to find out what happens to him in the original book, "Fire & Blood."

Daeron, the most well-liked of Alicent's sons, becomes a great threat to Rhaenyra's reign

According to "Fire & Blood," Alicent gives birth to Daeron around the same time that Rhaenyra gives birth to her first child, Jacaerys, and he enters the Dance of the Dragons at age 15.

Daeron is described in the book as "gentle and soft-spoken," the most charming and well-liked of Alicent's sons. His "lovely blue she-dragon," Tessarion, is known as the "Blue Queen."

When Ormund is overwhelmed at the Battle of the Honeywine, Daeron saves him by swooping in with Tessarion. They snatch an unlikely victory, leading Ormund to knight him "Ser Daeron the Daring."

Led by Ormund on foot and Daemon on dragonback, the Hightower army continues to win victories throughout the Reach, mostly by using Tessarion to force surrenders. While they advance on King's Landing, Prince Daeron the Daring comes to be known as the greatest threat to Rhaenyra's reign, "smashing the queen's loyalists" and "forcing every lord who bent the knee to add their strength to his own."

Eventually, Rhaenyra decides to send two of her dragonseeds, Ulf White and Hugh Hammer (bonded to Silverwing and Vermithor, respectively), to end Daeron's campaign. The duo flies to Tumbleton, a town southwest of King's Landing — the last stronghold that lies between the Hightower army and the city — with orders to kill Daeron and Tessarion when they arrive.

Daeron's fate is tied to the Treasons of Tumbleton

Once Daeron arrives in Tumbleton, Ulf and Hugh decide to switch sides.

In what comes to be known as the Treasons of Tumbleton, the bastards-turned-dragonriders betray Rhaenyra and join the Hightower host. The book doesn't give a definitive answer as to why: "It may be that it was the thought of attacking Tessarion that gave them pause," it reads, "though both Vermithor and Silverwing were older and larger than Prince Daeron's dragon, and would therefore have been more likely to prevail in any battle."

"Others suggest it was avarice, not cowardice, that led White and Hammer to betrayal," the book continues. "Honor meant little and less to them; it was wealth and power they lusted for."

Indeed, Ulf and Hugh were knighted after the Battle of the Gullet and the fall of King's Landing, but both had hoped for lordship or castles to call their own. It seems they grew dissatisfied with Rhaenyra's rewards while emboldened by their own powerful dragons. Targaryen history books immortalize them as the Two Betrayers.

Ormund dies in the ensuing battle, slain by the Northern soldier known as Roddy the Ruin, but Daeron survives.

Daeron remains in Tumbleton as the town devolves into violence and chaos. Despite his prowess on dragonback, Daeron is too young and inexperienced to assume Ormund's leadership role, and he fails to stop his soldiers from pillaging.

Eventually, Addam Velaryon (previously Addam of Hull) flies to Tumbleton on his own dragon, Seasmoke, determined to retake the city from the Two Betrayers and "to prove that not all bastards need be turncloaks."

The book says that Daeron is asleep in his tent when the attack begins. Some sources say he died in the flames, while others claim he briefly escaped before he was cut down, either by a sellsword or other unknown man-at-arms. Either way, Daeron dies in the Second Battle of Tumbleton.

Tessarion also fights Seasmoke and Vermithor, and all three dragons die as a result. Addam and Hugh also die in the battle.

Ayomikun Adekaiyero and Palmer Haasch contributed to a previous version of this story.

• After decades in Silicon Valley, Stephen Huang, 55, launched AI chip startup Tranxform.
• Tranxform is trying to build more efficient AI processors and recruit top talent in Taiwan.
• Huang says AI hardware favors deep experience over youthful speed.

Stephen Huang had spent decades building chips in Silicon Valley when ChatGPT's launch convinced him the market was ready for the AI chip company he had long considered building.

By then, Huang had worked on MediaTek's GPUs, Apple's Face ID technology, and at an Amazon AI chip team.

When ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, Huang became convinced the industry had reached a turning point. "I felt the market had arrived," he said.

So at 55, Huang decided to start over.

In 2024, he founded Tranxform AI, a Taiwan-based AI chip startup developing power-efficient processors designed to run AI models outside large data centers.

The company now employs about 40 people and is preparing its first chip, which Huang expects to be ready next year.

The CEO is among a growing number of entrepreneurs chasing opportunities created by the AI boom. Unlike many founders building companies around large language models, however, he spent decades designing chips before launching his own startup.

But Huang never viewed age as a disadvantage.

"Morris Chang started TSMC in his 50s," he said, referring to the founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, who founded the world's largest contract chipmaker at 55.

In fact, Huang believes age may be on his side, arguing that hardware startups often favor experience in ways software startups do not.

Semiconductor design is a long game, he said. Building a system-on-a-chip — the integrated processor that powers devices ranging from smartphones to AI systems — requires balancing countless tradeoffs across hardware and software, a skill that can take decades to develop.

"To build a good SoC, you need experience," Huang said. "Otherwise, you would not know how to balance different operations."

Huang's startup adventure was not an obvious one.

Before founding Tranxform, he had a stable career and a comfortable income in the US. Building the company meant taking a significant risk and spending most of his time in Taiwan, a decision his family initially struggled to accept.

As Tranxform grew and reached key milestones, his family's attitude changed. "Today, they are proud of what we have accomplished," he said.

The timing also helped. Huang's two sons were adults when he founded the company. One works in the technology industry, while the other recently graduated from university.

"Having them become independent has made it easier for me to dedicate the time and energy needed to build Tranxform," he said.

Huang said he believed the risk was worth taking because demand for specialized AI hardware would continue growing as companies looked for faster and more energy-efficient ways to run increasingly complex models.

Huang's optimism comes as investors pour fresh capital into AI hardware.

Venture funding for AI and machine-learning chip startups rose over 70% to $16.2 billion in 2025 from the year before, according to PitchBook. However, the number of deals fell to 232 from 266 in the same period as investors increasingly wrote bigger checks to a smaller cohort of potential breakout companies.

This year, funding stood at $9.9 billion as of June 22, with deal counts at 87, per PitchBook.

Returning home

While AI drew Huang toward entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley's intensifying talent wars made him rethink where to build his company.

His years in Silicon Valley taught him how difficult it was for startups to compete with tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Nvidia for engineering talent.

"We kept training people, and they got poached," he said.

Huang built his company in the Taiwanese chip hub of Hsinchu, where he believed he could assemble a more stable engineering team.

One of those recruits was his college classmate Way-Shing Lee, who joined Tranxform as chief technology officer last year after retiring from the US chip giant Qualcomm.

Now, startup life has replaced the stability of Huang's previous career with fundraising, recruiting, customer meetings, and constant technical problem-solving.

"Starting a company is very hard," Huang said. "You have to find business partners. You have to sell your story. You have to find funding."

Huang said Tranxform is preparing for its next fundraising round, declining to disclose details.

The company is still in the early stages of licensing and generates little revenue, he said.

Still, Huang believes the biggest opportunities in AI remain ahead.

The AI industry is "probably just getting started," he said.

• Sara Wilczynska grew up in Poland and built her career as a software engineer in offices around the world.
• She found the pace at Google in the US unsustainable, so she quit and traveled with her partner for a year.
• A watercolor hobby she picked up on a Thai island turned into a new career, leading her to open an art studio in San Diego.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sara Wilczynska, the founder of Swil Arts Studio. She left her job as a software engineer at Google, spent a year traveling with her partner, and discovered watercolors in Thailand. Her words have been edited for length and clarity.

I was born in Warsaw in the 1980s, when Poland was still a communist country. I remember witnessing the shift into capitalism.

I earned a master's degree in computer science from the University of Warsaw, interning in Barcelona and studying abroad in Edinburgh along the way.

At 25, I moved to London to work as a software engineer at an investment bank. I stayed nearly five years, but even then, there was a quiet voice in the background asking whether this was really what I wanted to do.

I started working at Google in 2015

I joined Google in Zurich, and it felt like a step closer to something more meaningful. After about a year and a half, I got my US visa and was transferred to New York, where I worked on the news section of the search engine.

On paper, my career was everything I had worked toward. Google was flexible, supportive, and full of brilliant people. I had autonomy over my work — from the projects to my physical working location — and the benefits were incredible.

My days included coding, meetings, but also yoga classes, gym sessions, gourmet birthday meals, and even subsidized massages. There was also stability — a good paycheck and stock grant options.

That's also what made it so hard to leave.

Later, as my career progressed — I was promoted twice within Google — there was more high-level work, a lot of stakeholder meetings, and less hands-on coding work.

I started to feel disconnected. A growing sense that the pace wasn't sustainable for me. That constant stimulation — screens, deadlines, notifications, expectations — was pulling me away from myself.

Six years later, during the pandemic, I moved to San Diego with my partner, Valentina.

Something shifted

It was living in San Diego that forced me to slow down. There was nature everywhere — the ocean, the desert, the mountains — and suddenly I had space to pause.

I started noticing small things again. The scent of jasmine on a warm evening. The simple joy of eating a fish taco. That realization made it impossible to ignore the misalignment in my work.

At first, I tried to fix it without leaving. I trained in sound healing and hosted sessions. I took on different projects at Google, including leading diversity and inclusion initiatives. I even reduced my working hours.

None of it fully addressed the core feeling. I remember thinking, "Am I just being too picky? Am I asking for too much?" Because there was nothing objectively wrong with my job. It wasn't toxic. I respected my colleagues.

At some point, I understood that a job can tick every box — it can look perfect on paper — but if something deeper is missing, it's not enough.

Even then, leaving wasn't easy. One of the biggest challenges was not knowing what would come next. I kept thinking I needed a plan. A clear, logical next step.

But eventually, I realized that waiting for certainty was just keeping me stuck.

So my partner and I made a decision that felt radical at the time. I quit my job at the end of 2022 — Valentina's job had been eliminated the previous year — and we decided to travel for a year. We rented out our apartment in San Diego and went traveling.

That year changed everything

We spent most of 2023 in Southeast Asia, with shorter trips to Australia and New Zealand. At first, we moved quickly, but eventually we slowed down. We spent six months in Koh Tao, a small island in Thailand.

Life there felt simple. My partner was working as a dive master, and I had something I hadn't experienced in years: unstructured time.

That's when I picked up watercolors. I had no formal training. I just felt drawn to it. I started taking online classes, sketching scenes from the island: fruit stands, village views, little everyday moments.

I started sharing my work in local Facebook community groups in Koh Tao. I didn't expect much, but people began reaching out on Facebook — not just to compliment the work, but to buy it. They would tell me, "This captures my memory of this place perfectly."

When our year of travel ended, I decided to commit to art. Not because I had everything figured out, but because I didn't want to ignore that pull anymore. We extended our flexible lifestyle — house-sitting across the US to reduce living costs — and I started building my studio, Swil Arts, in San Diego, from the ground up.

Now, that's where I create original watercolor illustrations. Then I reproduce them as illustrated goods, including prints and homeware.

My days are very different now. I spend mornings painting, afternoons on the business side, handling client communications, website content, and business strategy. I earn my income through direct-to-consumer retail, wholesale partnerships with boutiques, and custom art commissions for both individuals and brands.

Although it's not at the level of my previous income, we are still a young company. Success is completely different now. It's not about productivity or output. It's about impact. If one person pauses because of my work — if they feel something, remember something — that's enough.

On a sunny Friday morning, a group of nine people gathered at an exercise corner in one of Singapore's public housing blocks.

Clad in workout wear and sneakers, some rolled their shoulders and stretched their calves. Others stood together in small circles, chatting beneath the morning sun.

Over the next hour and a half, the conversation continued flowing as they hopped across concrete ledges, climbed over whatever stood in their way, and practiced navigating obstacles around the buildings. At one point, they took turns vaulting over a railing, drawing cheers from the rest of the crew with each successful attempt.

There wasn't a teenager in sight. Instead, everyone in this parkour class was in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Finding his footing

The morning session was one of seven classes that Tan Shie Boon, a parkour coach and founder of Movement.sg, teaches each week across Singapore.

Parkour is often associated with young athletes performing daring jumps and flips as they weave through urban landscapes. But over the past several years, Tan has carved out a niche teaching parkour to older adults.

Instead of flashy stunts, Tan wants his students to learn how to navigate obstacles, recover their balance, and most importantly, get up safely if they fall.

It's a skill set he considers essential, given that falls are the leading cause of injury among adults ages 65 and older, according to the CDC.

"It's a problem that is very prevalent," Tan, 34, told Business Insider. "To me, it's almost ridiculous that people overlook this."

Tan's path to this career was long and winding. As a student, he thought he'd pursue computer science, but the plan never felt quite right. At his brother's suggestion, Tan enrolled at a local arts school to study dance.

It was there that his interest in parkour began to take root. A workshop led by visiting practitioners from France gave him his first real exposure to the discipline.

"Something about how they carry themselves kind of aligned with how I wanted to live my life," Tan said. "They're very free-spirited, and they are very dedicated."

At a time when he felt constrained by both society and his dance training, parkour, in contrast, felt powerful and liberating.

"With parkour, I felt like I could be myself," Tan said.

Tan left the arts school and worked odd jobs to pay for his training at the now-defunct ADD Academy Singapore, a parkour school founded by that same French group. He became an instructor in 2015.

Making the leap

Tan's focus on teaching older adults, however, came about by chance.

In 2017, he met a then-64-year-old woman at a food court while waiting in line. She asked him what he did for a living, and became intrigued when he said he was a parkour coach. She had never heard of the discipline.

"I showed her videos, and she asked me if this could help her with her balance. I said, absolutely, because we practice balancing a lot," Tan said. The pair met the following day and began training together.

She told him she couldn't walk without a trolley cart for stability, fearing she would otherwise fall. After several months of training, Tan said, she became increasingly confident moving around unaided.

A local news outlet picked up on her story, and the media attention brought a wave of inquiries from retirees across Singapore.

"That was when I realized that, hey, this could be a thing," Tan said.

Tan isn't the only coach adapting parkour for older adults. Similar programs have emerged in the US, including PK Move's PK Silver program in Northern Virginia and Parkour Generations Boston.

Some of the people who reached out back then are still training with Tan today. Among them is Sarah Wang, 61, a retired preschool teacher. Intrigued by the news coverage, she decided to give it a try in 2018 and has been attending Tan's classes ever since.

Wang said she enjoys that no two sessions are exactly alike. Each location offers a different environment to navigate.

"You can test yourself and challenge yourself," Wang said. Outside of Tan's classes, walking is her primary form of exercise.

About six months after Wang signed up, her friend Ling Ying Ying followed suit.

Ling, who attends classes twice a week, told Business Insider that she has noticed improvements in her strength and mobility.

"When I first started the class, I actually had problems going down the stairs. I had to go down sideways because walking down normally caused pain in my knees," Ling, 66, said. "After I started parkour, my knees became stronger."

There is a growing scientific interest in adapting parkour principles for older adults, Shawn Soh, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology, told Business Insider.

Benefits include "improvements in agility, lower-limb strength, dynamic balance, postural control, coordination, and environmental awareness," said Soh, who is trained in physiotherapy and specializes in ortho-geriatric care.

It can also improve what researchers call falls efficacy — a person's confidence in maintaining balance, recovering from a stumble, and getting up safely after a fall, he added.

However, Soh cautioned that the training carries risks. Older adults, particularly those with osteoporosis or low bone density, may be more susceptible to fractures. He added that sprains, strains, bruising, and falls are all possible, and that higher-intensity movements can place greater demands on the heart and cardiovascular system.

"Older adults should understand their own health status, medical conditions, and physical capabilities before starting any new activity," Soh said.

Tan said his classes are designed with those differences in mind.

While teaching parkour to seniors may sound risky, Tan said he guides participants through movements at their own pace. Exercises can be modified for those who are less confident or have mobility limitations, he added.

Going the distance

Tan now runs the business by himself. Each 90-minute class costs 35 Singapore dollars, or about $26, and most classes draw between four and 12 participants.

The work is enough to sustain him, though he said he earns less than when he previously ran another parkour coaching business with partners.

"I don't live a lifestyle where I spend a lot, so it's enough," Tan said.

"Managing a team is very difficult," he added. "I much prefer my life now."

Tan hopes that, one day, some of his longtime students will become coaches themselves. For now, though, he says the lessons often flow both ways.

"If I grow old, I want to be like them," he said. "They prove to me that they have the never-say-die spirit."

• Some of Waymo's cars struggled to navigate the chaos of July 4 in San Francisco.
• Social media posts showed the company's vehicles stalled in traffic, adding to the gridlock.
• Waymo said "extreme traffic congestion" disrupted its normal operations.

Some of Waymo's robotaxis in San Francisco weren't all that autonomous on Independence Day.

Several San Francisco residents posted footage Saturday night of Waymo vehicles either malfunctioning, stalling, or being towed away during the chaos of Fourth of July celebrations.

"We're being told it could take 3-4 hours to tow the disabled vehicles before traffic can move again," an X user who goes by Marco Gutierrez wrote beneath a video of a Waymo being towed.

Other X users posted footage of stalled cars, traffic jams, and in one instance, a Waymo driving straight through an erupting box of fireworks.

Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli told Business Insider that severe traffic congestion disrupted normal operations for some of the company's cars.

"In coordination with local authorities and emergency services, our roadside assistance team worked quickly to clear our vehicles from the area," Bonelli said. "Our team is always evaluating ways to strengthen Waymo's resilience in major traffic disruptions."

Waymo said northern San Francisco saw major traffic congestion during Saturday's celebrations, as well as unplanned road closures after the Golden Gate Bridge fireworks. The company said some of its vehicles became stuck in gridlock, while others were able to drive away once congestion cleared. Some vehicles ran out of charge while idling and had to be towed.

The company said its roadside assistance team handled towing logistics, no injuries were reported, and the vehicles were operating fully autonomously.

Waymo's autonomous navigation relies on a multi-sensor system — 29 cameras, five lidars, and six radars — to give its AI drivers different ways to perceive an environment. The Alphabet company has so far deployed about 2,500 robotaxis across multiple US cities.

• John Goldstein, a 75-year-old retiree in New Jersey, spends about $150 a week on food for him and his partner.
• Skipping meat and avoiding restaurants helps him balance his budget against rising healthcare costs.
• He says frugality doesn't have to be unenjoyable for those willing to learn new ways to cook at home.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with John Goldstein, a 75-year-old retiree in Newark, New Jersey. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Like the vast majority of retired people in our country, I live on a fixed income.

I live with my partner, who is also retired and on a fixed income, and it's not a choice to think a lot about the cost of food.

And it's not just the cost of food. The costs of housing and healthcare have had a huge impact on us. Paying the Medicare premium eats up whatever cost-of-living adjustment Social Security provides.

I don't think I'm very different in that respect from lots of retired people on a fixed income when prices are going up. People's incomes are not anywhere close to keeping up with inflation.

Food costs are a big part of what we can control

We can't control the cost of healthcare, but with food, a lot of it is discretionary.

I have friends who like hanging out at the bar, and that ends up costing a lot of money. We don't do that anymore.

We used to eat at restaurants four or five times a month. Now it's maybe four or five times a year.

My partner was pescatarian when we met 14 years ago, and giving up meat has saved us a lot of money. If we were still eating meat, we probably would have stopped because the price has gone up so much.

I've also changed how and where I shop for groceries.

The local Portuguese markets, when I moved here to Newark 15 years ago, were the cheapest markets around. They're now like Whole Foods, with prepared foods and expensive products.

I used to go to Whole Foods once in a while, too, and now I go there maybe twice a year, if there's something I can't find anywhere else.

Now I do a weekly trip to ShopRite and am careful to track coupons and deals.

I typically spend about $150 a week, with about a third on fresh produce, a third on dairy products like yogurt and cheese, and a third on pantry staples like nuts, beans, olive oil, and whatever else I might need to cook a meal.

The other day I was shopping because all the kids and grandkids were visiting, and I think my grocery bill was $250, and I had saved almost $100 from coupons.

I've also found smaller ways to save.

We used to eat a lot of fresh fish, but that's gotten really expensive, so I end up buying flash-frozen filets or canned fish.

We also started eating a lot more beans for protein instead of fish. Canned beans were like $1 a can, but the same amount of dried beans is around $0.25, so that's a significant savings.

We don't buy packaged goods like cookies and cereal, and we buy very little processed food.

I'm also growing some tomato plants and some herbs and spices. Instead of buying a bunch of cilantro, parsley, and basil at the store and having most of it spoil before I ever use it, I can pick what I want.

I don't think I'm saving a lot of money with the garden. It mainly gives me the pleasure of having a nice, flavorful homegrown tomato.

We don't spend a lot, but we still eat well

We're frugal, but living well does not require spending a lot of money. We live extremely well. We eat great meals and do it on a very reasonable budget.

I love to cook, which is an important piece of this.

The happy place for me is when I can cook and watch a soccer match at the same time. Life doesn't get much better than that.

If you can accept that changes — in what you're buying, in what you're cooking, or in what you're eating — are not punitive, but that they are choices that you're making, you can find ways to make those choices very desirable.

I'm also well aware that this doesn't work for everybody, but getting over the fear of cooking and things not being perfect in the kitchen is important.

Don't be afraid that you might burn something. You will burn some things.

Don't be afraid that sometimes it's not going to turn out perfectly, because sometimes it won't.

Even if you've eaten the same things for many years, don't be afraid to try something new and look around for inspiration.

When I do have a meal in a restaurant that I think is incredible, I'll say, "I can do that at home. I'll figure it out."

I once went to this restaurant in San Francisco that had trout stuffed with spinach and feta, and it was delicious. Ten years later, I was still thinking about it, so I taught myself how to debone a trout.

It doesn't have to be so complicated, of course, but it's not terribly expensive, and it tastes really great.

Breaking the chains of the food that you're used to eating and branching out can be exciting, it can be fulfilling, and it can also help you think through how to do that in an economical way.

Can Harry Kane help drag England out of the pit of failure once again? As if England didn't have things hard enough by Home Alone-ing their most creative players back home, they'll have to take on rampant co-hosts Mexico, in Mexico City at the brutal Azteca Stadium situated 7,350 feet above sea level, where the air feels particularly thin on unconditioned lungs. Everything you need to know about where to watch Mexico vs. England is below, including multiple options to livestream it free from anywhere in the world.

If you need to find out how to stream FOX in the US, this guide details a few live TV streaming services that have the channel. And we can show you how to tune in to the other free broadcasts from anywhere by bypassing international geo-restrictions with a VPN.

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

• See also: Where to buy World Cup tickets

Where to watch Mexico vs. England for free

There are some great options for a free livestream of Mexico vs. England. Our top English picks include SBS On Demand in Australia and the BBC in the UK.

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

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

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

How to watch Mexico vs. England from anywhere

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

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

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

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

Where to watch Mexico vs. England in the US

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

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

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

Fubo Sports + News is another great choice, with 30 channels and ESPN Unlimited bundled in for $55 for your first month ($65 after), and you can cancel at any time. It also includes a 5-day free trial.

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

Where to watch Mexico vs. England in the UK

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

The BBC has full coverage and a free live stream of Mexico vs. England. You'll need to create a free login to watch online.

Where to watch Mexico vs. England in Australia

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

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

Where to watch Mexico vs. England in Japan

As with every 2026 World Cup match, you can enjoy this match live via DAZN in Japan. Both the 'Standard' and 'Baseball' plans include full World Cup coverage.

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

• I've spent years organizing gatherings for my female friends.
• Friendship requires effort, especially as adults get busier.
• Being the organizer is less glamorous and more important than people realize.

I'm the organizer in my friend group. But I'm not by nature an organizer.

I love to separate the laundry into piles and then shove the clothes, unfolded, into drawers. I'm also not a glamorous, girl boss who makes everyone wear coordinated outfits. And I don't always want to reach out.

Like anyone, I can feel vulnerable and exposed. On some level, I'm worried that the group will RSVP explaining that they would never hang out with me because of my squinty right eye and deep love of puns.

But, I do it anyway.

Organizing does not come naturally to me

In every place I've ever lived, and there have been many, I've been the one who makes plans, sends out that invitation, and brings friends together. Somehow, instinctively, I've known I need female friends, and to have them, someone has to organize.

In movies and television shows, friends are secondary to the big goal: finding romantic love. When female friends do take center stage, like in the Netflix show "Sweet Magnolias" (about three absurdly well-dressed friends, who talk sweetly over gourmet snacks), sanitized, unrealistic representations are another problem, especially since many of us know friendship can be messy. It's too much pressure.

The only alternative is a big swing in the other direction. Women are supposedly competition, and the media delights in stories of related feuding or cracks in high-profile friend groups, including the Spice Girls, Taylor Swift's "squad", and, more recently, the Ashley Tisdale mom group. In shows like "Gossip Girl," with the cut-throat Blair Waldorf, or the movie "Mean Girls," with the ultimate queen bee, Regina George, the organizers appear to be the rotten core, the cancer that spreads via text or a three-way calling attack.

Female friendship is good for us

The messaging confuses the facts. Female friendship is powerful and, in my life, most often positive. Women provide each other information, inspiration, and safety. Supported by friends, women in the past have been able to make their mark in art, politics, and everyday life. Eleanor Roosevelt, for one, became more self-confident and a better leader thanks to friendships with smart women.

There are health benefits, too: scientists describe friendship as an antidote to depression, with the power to lower blood pressure and overall stress. One study suggests that female friendship can also slow down the aging process and help us live longer.

Organizing a friend meetup doesn't need to be complicated

If someone doesn't reach out, we wouldn't see friends and experience these benefits, especially given everybody's busy schedules. But organizing doesn't have to be hard. In my experience, it also doesn't require matching shirts, power plays, or making elaborate plans.

My go-to move is a simple coffee meet-up for whoever can make it. It's at the same time and place each week. At this point, I just send a text reminder and show up. No big-time commitment. No big expense.

I often bring work or a book, just in case there are last-minute conflicts. If that happens, there's no bad feelings. I'm happy to have splurged on a sugary latte while getting some work done.

In the past, I've tried organizing dinner meet-ups, but there were always too many conflicts — both in scheduling and dietary needs. I didn't enjoy the negotiations before or after the bill came. For me, a simpler plan gets the job done without the risk of a headache or an allergic reaction to shellfish.

I'm learning from my mom's example, but doing it my own way

My mother has a similar standing meet-up with her friends, all of whom are retired. They get together weekly in my mom's garden, where they pick flowers, then deliver bouquets to a memory care facility and a women's shelter.

While my mom's inspired group hangout is more than my group can manage at this point, we're already brainstorming about the next phase. With kids who will soon be off to college, we're looking forward to a future walking group or game night. No one seemed interested in my idea of forming an a cappella glee club.

Obviously, we all come to coffee as we are. I try to shower. But there's no obligation. And there's certainly no evidence of our gatherings on social media.

Some people might have a higher tolerance for time-consuming planning. Maybe they enjoy it. Of course, that doesn't mean they're going to be stylish "mean girls" either. That cultural trope does a disservice to women, whether we gravitate towards event coordination or not.

The reality is: Anyone can be the friend group organizer, and it doesn't have to fulfill stereotypes or be complicated. In the end, the effort, any effort, is worth it.

Fleas and ticks are common parasites that can trigger a variety of health issues in dogs, including skin irritation and infections, anemia (particularly in puppies), tapeworms, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Fortunately, the best flea and tick treatments for dogs make prevention and elimination straightforward. Many of these medicines also protect against additional parasites, such as lice, mites, intestinal worms, and life-threatening heartworm infections.

Safe, effective flea and tick medicines come in several forms, including topical spot-on treatments, chewable tablets, shampoos, and collars. While many dog flea medicines require a prescription from your veterinarian, others are available over the counter (OTC) without a vet prescription.

Below, you'll find more information about our picks for topical protection, tablets, prescription heartworm prevention, a flea collar, and shampoo.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Our top picks for the best flea and tick treatments for dogs

How we chose the best flea and tick medicine for dogs

To select the best treatments, we consulted two veterinarians for guidance on preventing and managing fleas and other parasites in puppies and adult dogs. We also conducted research using the Quick Product Reference Guide published by the independent, nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council. This helpful resource lists all FDA- and EPA-approved parasite control products for small animals. The guide includes each product's active ingredients, usage directions, and the parasites they control.

It's important to ask your veterinarian what type of flea and tick medicine is best for your dog. The right product depends on factors like your dog's temperament, lifestyle, and the most prevalent parasites in your area.

Best topical flea and tick prevention

K9 Advantix II is our top pick among the best flea and tick treatments for dogs. It kills fleas and ticks, while also repelling and killing mosquitoes, biting flies, and lice with a single, easy application. Each dose provides 30 days of protection. To apply it, simply squeeze all the liquid in the tube onto two or three spots of your dog's skin on the top of the back from the shoulders to the base of the tail. The liquid spreads across the skin, killing fleas and other parasites on contact.

K9 Advantix II replaces Frontline Plus, our former pick for best topical flea and tick prevention. Many veterinarians say that, based on their experience, Frontline Plus seems less effective than it used to be. K9 Advantix II also kills and repels mosquitoes that might transmit heartworm disease, which makes it a good addition to a dog's heartworm prevention plan. It contains three active ingredients that work together to control parasites: imidacloprid, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen.

Dr. Kelley Lay, a veterinarian in Nashville, Tennessee, prefers K9 Advantix II over Frontline because of K9 Advantix II's broader spectrum of action against mosquitoes, biting flies, and some additional tick species. "I'm in Tennessee, so these things matter big time, especially for those pets who aren't also on heartworm prevention," says Lay, who has worked in a variety of clinic settings over the last decade. "I've had numerous clients come into the clinic with flea-infested pets that have been using Frontline, so it's lost my confidence over the years."

It's important to note that K9 Advantix II is for use on dogs only. The product is extremely toxic to cats, as noted on the product label and insert. It's recommended that cats be kept away from treated dogs for 24 hours.

Best pill

Simparica TRIO is our top pill recommendation for the best flea and tick treatments for dogs. The fast-acting chewable tablet kills more parasites than any other oral product. It begins working within four hours and eliminates 100% of adult fleas on dogs within eight hours.

It may be tough to choose between an oral or topical flea control product because there are pros and cons to each type of product. In certain cases, an oral preventive may be more appropriate. For example, some dogs with sensitive skin cannot tolerate spot-on treatments. "Oral products have the benefit of broad coverage to reach every spot of skin without the chance of the product being washed off," says Dr. Kate Crumley, a veterinarian with Blue Heron Consulting.

Simparica TRIO offers broader protection against parasites than our pick for the best topical flea and heartworm treatment: Advantage Multi. While both protect against adult fleas, heartworm, and intestinal parasites, Simparica TRIO kills five species of ticks and flea larvae, which is coverage that Advantage Multi does not provide.

You can give the liver-flavored tablets with or without food once a month. It contains three active ingredients (sarolaner, moxidectin, pyrantel) to provide an entire month of protection against more parasites than any other oral product. Simparica TRIO is also safe for some of the youngest puppies and smallest dogs. It does require a prescription from your veterinarian and a negative heartworm test. If your dog has a history of neurologic disorders, such as seizures, you should use it with caution.

Best topical flea and heartworm prevention

No flea medicine can protect against every parasite, but Advantage Multi for Dogs comes close. This topical spot-on treatment contains the active ingredients imidacloprid and moxidectin, which prevent flea infestations by killing adult fleas before they can lay eggs. While it doesn't protect against ticks, it prevents heartworm, mange mites, and three different intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms). If your dog already has worms, your vet may recommend treating them with one of the best dewormers for dogs. As with all heartworm preventatives, your dog will need a heartworm test before beginning treatment with Advantage Multi and annually after that.

It's easy to use Advantage Multi. For dogs weighing 20 pounds or more, apply it to their skin in three or four spots from the base of their neck to their upper back every 30 days. For smaller dogs, apply the entire contents of the tube to a single spot of skin between their shoulder blades. The liquid absorbs and dries within hours. You don't need gloves during application. Just wash your hands with soap and water if any product gets on your skin. For the first 30 minutes after application, prevent dogs from licking the application site, either on themselves or other treated dogs. Children should not touch the application site for two hours.

"For clients who are using Advantage Multi, I let them know I applaud the flea, heartworm, and intestinal parasite control, but I do have a conversation about adding tick protection, especially if the pet's lifestyle and exposure put them at higher risk," Lay says.

Some oral products provide broad-spectrum protection against fleas, ticks, heartworm, and other parasites, negating the need to also give Advantage Multi. These treatments include Simparica TRIO, our pick for the best pill, and NexGard Plus. Products like these may be a more economical option for people. "We, of course, adjust depending on the client's needs and preferences, so I do have some that prefer to use a Seresto collar or give Bravecto or another oral flea/tick prevention," Lay says.

Best collar

Editor's note: In March 2021, USA Today and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting published a report that the Seresto flea collar was linked to of adverse incidents involving pets and humans. In response, the EPA conducted a review of the Seresto collar and said that its manufacturer, Elanco, agreed to implement measures to alert veterinarians and pet owners about potential risks, including collar malfunctions that could lead to strangulation. "For all other deaths, EPA did not identify cases with a probable or definite association between collar use and death, often due to other factors impacting the animal, such as an existing medical condition," the release says. The EPA further states that the mortality rate associated with the Seresto collar was similar to that observed with other pet products it has reviewed.

Pet owners should consult their veterinarian for additional safety guidance. When purchasing a Seresto collar, ensure it is from a reputable retailer, either online or in-store, with a guarantee program, or directly from your veterinarian. To verify that the collar is authentic, you can contact Elanco product support at 800-422-9874. If your pet experiences an adverse reaction, immediately remove the collar and contact your vet. Tim Carroll, the EPA's press secretary, also recommends that pet owners report adverse reactions to the National Pesticide Information Center and the EPA.

Flea collars were once the standard approach for controlling fleas, but most collars don't offer the same level of protection as today's topical and oral treatments. However, one noteworthy collar is the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs. It uses sustained-release technology to provide eight months of continuous protection against adult fleas, flea larvae, four species of ticks, chewing lice, and mange mites.

In general, the best flea and tick treatments for dogs are topical spot-on and oral preventatives. Still, the Seresto collar may be a good option in certain situations. Lay says that traditional flea and tick collars are generally not very effective, and she has even seen allergic reactions and other issues with some of them. That said, she considers the Seresto collar both safe and effective and recommends it for dogs who don't tolerate topical or oral flea and tick preventives.

The Seresto collar is nongreasy, odor-free, lightweight, and adjustable to fit dogs of all sizes. Your dog can wear it alongside their regular collar, and it has a safety system to keep them safe if the collar gets caught on something. The collar's active ingredients, imidacloprid and flumethrin, are released in low concentrations across your dog's skin and coat to kill fleas and ticks on contact within 24 hours. It's water-resistant, so you don't need to remove it during swimming or bathing.

Best shampoo

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo is our top pick for the best flea shampoo for dogs. It kills fleas, flea eggs and larvae, ticks, and lice for up to 28 days, while also soothing dry and irritated skin from flea bites and the constant scratching that follows.

The shampoo contains synthetic pesticides commonly used in flea and tick shampoos: pyrethrins and S-methoprene (Precor). An additional ingredient, piperonyl butoxide, enhances the effectiveness of those pesticides. Oatmeal is added to help heal irritated and itchy skin, and the shampoo has a pleasant coconut scent.

Lay says flea shampoos can be safely used alongside prescription flea control medications. However, they shouldn't be relied on as your first or main defense against fleas. The gold standard remains veterinarian-prescribed, year-round prevention. Despite marketing claims, these shampoos offer little flea protection after the bath, leaving your dog vulnerable to repeated infestations. Additionally, some shampoo ingredients may cause skin irritation.

Best for young puppies

If your dog has a heavy flea infestation, especially if they're a young puppy, you want to eliminate fleas as quickly as possible. Available without a prescription, Capstar for Dogs is the only flea control product safe for puppies as young as 4 weeks and weighing at least 2 pounds. With other topical and oral flea control medicines, puppies must be at least 8 weeks old and sometimes older.

The active ingredient in Capstar, nitenpyram, works within 30 minutes and kills more than 90% of adult fleas in as little as four hours. It only protects for 24 hours, but it is safe to give daily if necessary. Daily dosing is helpful for young puppies who might not be old enough for an oral or spot-on treatment that provides long-term protection. Once your puppy is old enough, you should follow up with the best flea treatments for puppies that provides a month or more of protection.

Our top picks for flea and tick treatments compared

What to look for in flea and tick treatments for dogs

While you should always consult your veterinarian before choosing a flea and tick medicine for your dog, there are several things every dog owner should consider.

Safety and efficacy: The best flea and tick medicines for dogs are approved and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You can check the Animal Drugs @ FDA database to see if a medication is FDA-approved. If you don't see a drug listed in the FDA database, check the EPA's Pesticide Product and Label System to see if it's been approved by the EPA, which regulates some flea and tick treatments containing pesticides.

Number of parasites treated: It is convenient to use a product that protects against more than just fleas and ticks. While your veterinarian can advise you on which product is best for your dog, we generally favor products that cover more parasites.

There are some exceptions among our recommendations. For instance, Capstar treats only fleas but is the only medicine available for puppies younger than 6 weeks. OTC products, like K9 Advantix II, protect against additional parasites such as lice but not heartworms. Products that treat heartworm always require a veterinary prescription.

Ease of use: The easier a product is to use, the better. For example, chewable tablets are quick and easy to give your dog, provided they like the flavor. Products that require a person to wear gloves when they apply them or require the treated animal to stay away from children or other pets for a while may be a hassle.

Minimum age and weight: Flea treatments are intended for dogs above a minimum age and weight. Your options for a very young puppy will be more limited until they are older and weigh more.

Prescription vs. over-the-counter: Some flea control products are available over the counter. Others require a prescription from your veterinarian. You can buy prescription medicines from your veterinarian or online pet pharmacies and stores like Chewy, Petco, and PetSmart.

Prescription flea control products typically cost more than OTC options because they protect against more parasites, most importantly, deadly heartworms. Dogs must test negative for heartworms before starting a heartworm preventive.

Types of flea and tick medications: There are several types of treatments, including topical, oral, collars, shampoos, and sprays. Cost, convenience, ease of use, and effectiveness vary among these products. Your vet can help you determine the best type for your dog. We advise against flea sprays because topical spot-ons and oral products are more effective. Remember that some dogs with sensitive skin may not tolerate topical products. Crumley says that frequent bathing or swimming may also reduce the effectiveness of a topical product that remains on the skin's surface.

Natural vs. synthetic: Our experts do not recommend using natural products instead of veterinarian-recommended topical and oral flea control. While natural treatments can deter fleas and ticks, they won't eliminate an infestation. "If you use them, be prepared to apply them at least daily before your pet goes outside for the best chance of keeping the hitchhikers from latching on," Crumley says. If you also have kitties at home, avoid natural flea control products containing essential oils because some can be toxic to cats.

Other pets in your home: Any product labeled for use in only dogs should never be given to a cat. Some ingredients can be toxic to cats. While dog-only flea products can harm felines, cats are especially sensitive to pyrethrins. If you're looking for a safe product for your cat, check out our guide to the best flea and tick treatments for cats.

Dog flea and tick treatments FAQs

Which flea treatments do vets recommend for dogs?

It can take anywhere from several days to a few weeks to get rid of fleas. Veterinarians recommend a multi-pronged approach: eliminate existing fleas, prevent new infestations, and treat both your indoor and outdoor environments. If you have more than one pet, they should all be treated at the same time.

Inside your home, vacuum thoroughly, especially in cracks, crevices, and other spots where flea eggs and larvae tend to collect. Wash all bedding in hot water. Outside, clear any areas where fleas can hide, like leaf piles and tall grass. If this process feels overwhelming, a licensed pest control professional can help.

What is the best flea treatment for dogs?

There isn't a single flea treatment that's best for every dog. Products differ in the parasites they target, their active ingredients, their safety profiles, and how long they offer protection.

The most effective options offer long-lasting protection, kill adult fleas as well as eggs and larvae, and protect against other parasites like heartworms and intestinal worms. Your veterinarian can recommend the treatment that's most appropriate for your dog.

What is the best method of tick prevention for dogs?

The most effective way to prevent ticks is to use a veterinarian-approved preventive product consistently year-round. These products also protect against fleas and sometimes other parasites and come in oral forms (like pills or chewable tablets) or topical treatments (liquid spot-ons that are applied to a dog's skin). When used correctly and consistently, these products prevent flea and tick infestations on both dogs and within the home.

Dr. Colleen Lambo, a relief veterinarian with Roo, generally prefers oral preventives containing isoxazoline compounds, such as Simparica or NexGard. These medications kill ticks quickly after they bite, which greatly reduces the risk of infections such as Lyme disease or Ehrlichiosis, she says.

Lambo says dogs with food allergies or sensitivities might need tailored options, especially for oral products. Additionally, tick prevention isn't one-size-fits-all, so pet guardians should consult their veterinarian to determine the safest, most effective option for their dog's specific needs and environment.

It's important to check your dog for ticks after returning from hikes, walks, or outdoor play in areas where ticks live, such as wooded areas, tall grass or brush, and dog parks. If your dog has thick fur, feel for ticks with your hands. Don't forget to search hidden places ticks love to hide, including between the toes, under the armpits, inside or on the ears, in the groin, and on or under the tail.

Do all dogs need flea and tick medicine?

Yes, fleas and ticks aren't just a nuisance — they can also transmit diseases that make dogs seriously ill. While they might seem like a seasonal issue, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and intestinal parasites are resilient and can survive year-round. For that reason, veterinarians recommend keeping dogs on broad-spectrum parasite prevention throughout the year.

What are the different types of flea and tick medicines?

Flea and tick medicines come in several forms, including oral medications, topical products, collars, and shampoos. Oral treatments are chewable tablets, while topical products are ointments that you apply directly to the skin. Flea collars have fallen out of favor because they tend to be less effective than oral and topical options. Shampoos are also less effective, offering only short-term relief without long-lasting protection. Both of these products can be purchased over the counter or by prescription, depending on their active ingredients used to kill and repel fleas and ticks. 

How do you kill fleas permanently?

Getting rid of fleas completely requires more than killing the adults. You also need to eliminate their eggs and larvae. The most effective treatments target these early stages of the flea life cycle. Ongoing, year-round flea and tick prevention is also key to stopping future infestations. Keep in mind that it may take several weeks for all fleas to be completely gone.

What is the safest flea and tick medicine for dogs?

Flea and tick medications are FDA-approved for safety and effectiveness, but they do come with certain restrictions. Factors like age, weight, and whether a dog is pregnant or nursing can determine which products are safe to use. Some treatments also carry safety warnings for dogs with a history of seizures or other neurologic conditions. Always read the label carefully to make sure a product is safe for your dog before using it, and consult your vet if you're unsure.

What is the difference between prescription and OTC flea medicine?

Some flea control products are available over the counter, while others require a prescription. Prescription medicines typically cost more because they protect against a broader range of parasites, including heartworms. However, OTC flea medicines can still provide effective, long-lasting protection against fleas and other parasites.

Can I get flea and tick medicine without a vet prescription?

Yes, OTC treatments are available without a prescription. However, these products usually don't cover as many parasites as prescription flea and tick prevention.

Do flea collars work?

Flea collars work, but they're generally not as effective as oral or topical treatments. Our top pick, the Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs, stands out because it provides eight months of protection against adult fleas, flea larvae, ticks, and mange mites. Flea collars can be a good option for dogs that can't tolerate topical or oral products, Lay says.

How can I tell if my dog has fleas?

Fleas are tiny and can be hard to spot, so it's important to watch for signs of an infestation. Common symptoms include constant biting, scratching, or licking, along with red, irritated skin. Another telltale sign is flea dirt — a rust-colored mixture of blood meal and dried feces — which shows up in places your dog spends time, like their bed. You can check for flea dirt by running a flea comb against the direction of your dog's fur growth. It's often visible in hard-to-reach areas, such as the base of the tail, the mid-back, and the groin. Other signs of fleas include pale gums (a sign of anemia) and patches of hair loss. 

Do I need to take my dog to the vet after a tick bite?

In most cases, you don't need to take your dog to the vet after a tick bite if you can remove the tick completely with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool. A single tick bite is usually not an emergency. However, you should contact your vet if the tick was attached for more than 24 hours or if your dog shows signs of illness, as they could be having a serious reaction to the tick bite or have contracted a tick-borne disease, says Holly Dutton, medical director and an emergency veterinarian at VEG ER for Pets in Tampa, Florida.

Watch for symptoms such as low energy, loss of appetite, fever, joint stiffness evidenced by limping, pale gums, vomiting, or swelling around the bite site. "If your dog seems weak, disoriented, or is having trouble walking or breathing, that's an emergency and they should be seen by a vet right away," Dutton says. "It's also important to have a vet examine the area if the tick's mouthparts remain embedded or the skin becomes red, painful, or oozing."

Google has released its latest smart speaker, and it's the first designed with the brand's new Gemini digital assistant in mind. The Google Home Speaker is now available for $99, and it comes in four colors.

At that price, I had high hopes for the Google Home Speaker, but it doesn't quite live up to its full potential. On the one hand, Gemini has a lot more conversational prowess than the brand's older Google Assistant, plus it's generally more knowledgeable about its answers. But on the other hand, the Google Home Speaker isn't any speedier at responding to requests than my Nest Hub (2nd Gen), which is five years old. Plus, the Nest Hub has a screen for added functionality and is still available for $99.

It's those quirks and others that give me pause in fully recommending the Google Home Speaker. For example, the speaker's volume lights, which indicate where to press, disappear when not in use. I found myself guessing where to tap the unit more than I would have liked. That got annoying quickly.

To be clear, the Home Speaker is still a solid product and an affordable entry point into Google's smart ecosystem. But it doesn't advance the product category in a meaningful way. Its greatest sin is being average. I've tested all of the best smart speakers over the years, and this latest one from Google is essentially a HomePod Mini with Gemini as the assistant. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not very exciting either.

If you're thinking about investing in Google's newest smart device, here are three key things to know about the $99 Google Home Speaker.

Gemini is smart and skilled, but it's not a magician

The Google Home Speaker's main selling point is its new AI assistant, Gemini, which replaces Google Assistant. When comparing the two, it's almost night and day. Gemini is more articulate and has a lot more skills, like being able to understand multiple commands or questions at once.

However, having access to Gemini on a smart speaker isn't necessarily new. Google actually upgraded a lot of its older Nest speakers and hubs to support Gemini. So, I've been using it for months on my Nest Hub prior to testing the new Home Speaker. I haven't noticed a difference in Gemini performance between my five-year-old Nest Hub and this new device. That surprised me.

Also, it's important to note that while Gemini is skilled, it's not perfect. My family and I still found questions that it couldn't answer. We still found ways to break its illusion of human-level intelligence. For example, I asked Gemini once to switch the music it was playing, and then Gemini asked me what kind of music I wanted to hear. I responded, "Surprise me." It said, "Ok. Playing the album Surprise Me." I couldn't see my own face when this happened, but I'm pretty sure I looked like the deadpan, straight-faced emoji: 😑

In addition to answering standard queries, there's an enhanced conversational mode called Gemini Live that you can toggle on by asking the Google Home Speaker to chat. When this mode is engaged, the speaker stays active longer for an ongoing dialogue without needing to keep using the wake word. This functionality can be useful, but only sometimes.

I still encountered instances when Gemini Live mistakenly turned off when I paused for too long. And I question how many people really need to talk to Gemini for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Be aware that you also need a paid subscription to use Gemini Live.

In terms of AI smarts, the Home Speaker with Gemini is basically comparable to Amazon's Alexa+ on the Echo Dot Max. I've used each on and off for normal smart home stuff and general knowledge, and I find Gemini a touch better, but the difference is mostly negligible. Going through enough questions or put in certain circumstances, you could probably get each of them to seem smarter than the other.

And just so it's clear, Apple's HomePod Mini with Siri shouldn't even be in the conversation about helpful voice assistants — it's that far behind Gemini and Alexa+. If Apple puts its new Siri AI on a HomePod device in the future, then it will be worth revisiting.

The whole point of the Google Home Speaker is to listen, but if you do need a break, then there's a microphone toggle on the bottom to mute the input. It glows orange constantly to let you know it's not listening.

Music sounds good if you temper your expectations

The Google Home Speaker sounds good overall but it's not quite at the level of similar options.

I thought Gemini's voice was clear and audible in various situations. In terms of music, the speaker can get loud enough to fill a living room. At a 50% volume or less, songs sound well-rounded. There's some decent bass and high-end present.

But at higher volumes, music sounds more strained and trebly. Compared to bigger, pricier smart speakers, like the $189 Sonos Era 100 SL, the Home Speaker isn't close in audio quality. Compared to the Amazon Echo Dot Max, the Google Home also falls a bit short, with less bass and richness. To be clear, the Echo Dot Max isn't close to the Sonos speaker either, but it's good for its compact size.

While Apple's HomePod Mini doesn't have a great smart assistant, it is a fine speaker. That said, the Google Home Speaker can get much louder than the HomePod Mini. At modest volumes, the Home Speaker sounds a little better. But at near full volume, the HomePod Mini is more pleasant overall. It's kind of crazy that the HomePod Mini debuted in 2020, six years ago, but it still holds its own in sound.

If you want to go crazy with several Google Home Speakers around the house, then you can group them for music playback. You can even use the speaker in a home theater setting, but there are limitations. For instance, I would have loved to pair the Home Speaker with Amazon's new Artline TV, which has terrible built-in speakers, but it can only connect to Google TV streaming devices.

The Home Speaker doesn't have Apple's AirPlay, but it does support Google Cast, so you can wirelessly stream from apps like Spotify.

You need a subscription for advanced features

Is a subscription needed to use the Google Home Speaker with Gemini? No — but also yes. It's complicated. Buying the speaker gets you access to Gemini's basic functions, media playback, parental controls, and the ability to broadcast messages to other speakers in the home. Most of the basics that you would assume.

But if you want extra features like sound detection, emergency calling, advanced AI functions, and Gemini Live's continuous conversations, then you need a Google Home Premium subscription. That subscription starts at $100 a year, but you need the Advanced $200-per-year plan to unlock every available AI feature, including Home Brief, Ask Home video search, and conversational automation creation.

The whole subscription aspect quickly becomes murky. If you have a Nest video doorbell or Nest cameras, then you might already have a Google Home Premium subscription, which this Home Speaker falls under. You're all set. However, if you don't already have the company's cameras, then I would find it hard to justify subscribing just to unlock this speaker's extra features, especially since Gemini's continuous conversations were only mildly useful in my testing.

Should you buy the Google Home Speaker?

The Google Home Speaker is a fine entry point into Google's Gemini-powered smart home world. For $99, there's nothing offensive about this screenless speaker. Gemini is fully capable of handling most requests. Newcomers will probably be impressed by its conversational chops. It also works adequately for music and audio playback.

However, if you already have a Google speaker with the Gemini upgrade or Alexa+ on an Echo, then you're not getting much that's new. Google's decision to gate some niche, advanced AI features behind a subscription fee is also a bummer. This product is both good and capable, but also boring and safe.

• A healthcare worker is making $330,000 secretly juggling two full-time jobs.
• RTO, layoffs, and employee tracking have forced him to adapt.
• The extra income has brought financial security, but longer hours have also fueled burnout.

Editor's note: In February 2025, Business Insider wrote about a medical professional named "Daniel," who was secretly juggling two full-time remote jobs and on track to earn about $280,000. (Daniel is a pseudonym, but Business Insider has verified his identity and employment.) Read that story here. In a recent interview, Daniel shared how his overemployment situation has evolved.

When Business Insider spoke with Daniel last year, secretly juggling two full-time remote healthcare jobs was relatively straightforward.

Since then, one employer has required him to come into the office a couple of days each month. The other one is now tracking how he spends his time. To make matters worse, Daniel's working longer than ever — going from roughly 40 to 50 hours a week across both jobs to as many as 60.

Yet Daniel is still secretly juggling both jobs. In fact, he's on track to earn roughly $330,000 this year — more than ever before.

"We go to the grocery store, we buy whatever we need, we never tap into credit cards," said Daniel, who's in his 40s and lives in Texas. "So it's kind of surreal to see the struggles around me."

Daniel's experience reflects a broader shift in the overemployment movement. In recent years, secretly juggling multiple jobs has become considerably more difficult amid return-to-office mandates, a tougher job market, layoffs, and new employee-monitoring measures.

Yet changing workplace norms have not stopped workers from juggling multiple full-time jobs. Several of them told Business Insider they have simply had to change how they approach the practice.

Some have embraced AI tools to work more efficiently, while others have adapted in other ways.

For workers like Daniel, the financial rewards remain powerful enough to keep them going.

Adapting to overemployment's new challenges

After one of Daniel's employers began requiring some in-person work, he began bringing his other job's laptop to the office, carefully squeezing in work there when time allowed.

The arrangement is possible in part because his second job has become much less demanding over time. Additionally, Daniel said some coworkers know he has outside work, which has made him less concerned about being discovered. In his experience, they seem more concerned with the quality of his work than the hours he spends on it.

Other challenges have proved harder to solve.

One employer began requiring workers to manually track how they spend their time. Daniel said he's delayed complying for as long as possible, because the policy could force him to stretch the truth.

The same employer also conducted layoffs recently. In response, Daniel said he's worked to maintain a reputation as a strong performer, taking on additional responsibilities and positioning himself for a potential promotion.

This has meant working considerably longer hours in the past year. He said AI-powered medical tools have helped offset some of the added workload, allowing him to complete certain tasks more quickly and prevent his hours from climbing even higher.

The rewards of job juggling — and the tradeoffs

The extra income from job juggling gives Daniel plenty of motivation to persevere through the challenges that arise.

Earlier this year, he purchased a rental property, hoping to eventually have enough passive income to reduce his dependence on full-time work. The additional income has also made it easier to cover his child's college tuition.

"I can't even imagine going back to just a single job," he said. "I've gotten used to the income."

While the financial benefits of job juggling have been substantial, Daniel said it's come with tradeoffs. His desire to perform well, combined with a heavier workload and the demands of juggling two jobs, has left him at times feeling exhausted. Though he remains committed to the arrangement, he said the pace can be difficult to sustain.

"It seems like every day I'm living just to see the next day," he said. "I think I need a vacation or something, but it's doable."

Do you have a story to share? Reach out to this reporter via email at jzinkula@businessinsider.com or via Signal at jzinkula.29.

• West Point is the longest continuously garrisoned military installation in the United States.
• It also houses the highly selective United States Military Academy at West Point.
• Public tours include the Cadet Chapel, Trophy Point, and views of the campus and academic buildings.

I knew I was in the right place when I saw the tank outside the parking lot.

Established by George Washington in 1778, West Point is the longest continuously garrisoned military installation in the United States. It is also home to the United States Military Academy at West Point, an elite, highly selective institution that trains future military leaders.

West Point's storied history is especially resonant as America marks its 250th anniversary in July 2026. Amanda Bundt, tour manager at West Point Tours, told Business Insider that West Point "is one of the reasons we are a country."

"We were here for all four years of the Revolutionary War fighting for our independence, so we have great honor in that aspect," Bundt said.

West Point is an active military post and college, but some parts of the campus are open to the public through guided tours.

I visited West Point in April to learn more about its Revolutionary War history and modern curriculum equipping soldiers for war. Take a look.

West Point, located about 50 miles north of New York City, played a key role in keeping the British at bay during the Revolutionary War.

West Point overlooks the Hudson River, which was the fastest and most reliable way to transport troops, weapons, food, and other crucial supplies during the war. George Washington knew that controlling the river was key to America's survival in the fight against the British. He established his headquarters there, calling West Point "the most important Post in America."

In 1802, Congress authorized the establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Sylvanus Thayer, known as the "Father of the Military Academy," became the school's superintendent in 1817 and established a strict code of conduct, rigorous fitness standards, and a standardized curriculum.

Famous graduates include Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Chief of Staff of the US Army Douglas MacArthur, and former CIA directors David Petraeus and Mike Pompeo.

Tours of the military academy begin at the Frederic V. Malek West Point Visitors Center.

I bought a $22 ticket for the West Point Story tour, which lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes.

While waiting for the tour to begin, I walked through the West Point Experience exhibit that shows what it's like to be a cadet.

The exhibit featured a model of a room in the West Point barracks, as well as details about West Point's history, values, 47-month course of study, and graduation requirements.

To enroll in West Point, cadets must be between the ages of 17 and 23, be unmarried with no legal dependents, pass academic, physical, and medical examinations, and be nominated for admission by a member of Congress or the president or vice president of the United States. The acceptance rate is around 10%. Once admitted, tuition is free.

Graduates are required to serve in the Army for five years of active service and three years in the reserves.

When the tour bus pulled up into the parking lot, a staff member checked our tickets and IDs.

Since West Point is an active military post, everyone who takes a tour must present a government-issued photo ID to undergo a background check.

Our tour guide told us to keep our phones and cameras out of sight until we passed through the security checkpoint.

He also gave a rundown of the rules. Photographing cadets? Permitted. Photographing security gates or military police? Not allowed.

Once we were through the gate, our guide pointed out some of the brick homes where West Point instructors live.

West Point has 500 instructors, 75% of whom are members of the garrison and are posted to West Point. The other 25% are civilians.

With 4,400 cadets, the student-to-instructor ratio is six-to-one.

The bus took us past Michie Stadium, where West Point's football and lacrosse teams play.

The outdoor stadium holds 40,000 people.

The grounds of West Point were full of military statues and monuments like "The American Soldier" by Felix de Weldon.

The sculpture was a gift from the classes of 1935 and 1936, honoring enlisted combat soldiers.

Our first stop off the bus was the Cadet Chapel, a non-denominational Protestant worship space built in 1910.

The Gothic Revival chapel was designed by architect Bertram Goodhue and constructed using granite from a local quarry.

The chapel was decorated with replicas of battle flags donated as class gifts.

The space can hold 1,500 people.

The Bibles and hymnals were lined up in the pews with military precision.

Our tour guide said we were allowed to look through the books as long as we put them back exactly where we found them.

"Indeed, there is somebody with a wooden board who measures the space between them and makes sure it's uniform," the West Point tour guide said.

The Cadet Chapel houses the world's largest pipe organ in a house of worship, with a total of 23,511 pipes.

The pipes range from the size of one's index finger to "thunder pipes" measuring 30 inches in diameter.

A limestone carving of St. Michael, the patron saint of soldiers, was displayed behind the altar.

The carving was donated by the family of West Point alums and former President Ulysses S. Grant.

The Cadet Chapel's 178 stained-glass windows were designed by Willett Studios, a Philadelphia-based company that beat Tiffany & Co. for the contract.

The Sanctuary Window at the front of the chapel features West Point's motto: "Duty, Honor, Country."

A pew at the front of the chapel was reserved for West Point's superintendent.

Every superintendent's signature dating back to the founding of the chapel in 1910 appeared on silver nameplates on the pew.

The current superintendent, Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland, graduated from West Point in 1990 and is married to his West Point classmate, Betsy Gilland.

Outside the chapel, we took in stunning views of West Point's main post, which spans about 3,000 acres.

West Point also features a 13,000-acre military reservation with rugged terrain used for field training exercises, known as Camp Buckner.

Back on the bus, our tour guide pointed out the West Point Jewish Chapel completed in 1984.

West Point has a total of six chapels and one interfaith religious center.

As we disembarked from the bus at our next stop, Trophy Point, we got one of our first looks at some West Point cadets on their way to class.

The grey and black uniform is the cadets' standard weekday uniform known as "As For Class." The camouflage uniform, worn for field exercises, is called the Army Combat Uniform or ACU.

Looking out at the Hudson River, our tour guide explained how West Point was located in a crucial strategic position during the Revolutionary War.

West Point is situated above an "S"-shaped turn in the river, overlooking the narrowest part of the channel where the current is at its swiftest. In other words, it's where British ships would be at their most vulnerable.

"Washington knew if those ships were fighting the ebbing tide, the narrow channel, and the swift current, there would be no better place to shoot at them than from West Point," our tour guide said.

To further fortify the Hudson River, Washington ordered a giant chain strung from one end of its shore to the other as a deterrent.

The chain stretched 1,700 feet, weighed 65 tons, and took 270 men to anchor it in place. It successfully deterred the British from trying to attack West Point.

Instead, the British attempted to take West Point through other means by conspiring with the infamous traitor Benedict Arnold, who was placed in command at West Point in 1780. When Arnold's plot to surrender West Point to the British was exposed, he evaded capture and defected to the British army.

While learning about West Point's Revolutionary War history, two helicopters roared past in a reminder of its contemporary military significance.

The West Point tour guide guessed that the helicopters may have been used for air assault training, where soldiers rappel out of a helicopter while it hovers 50 feet off the ground.

Further along at Trophy Point, our guide pointed out the Trophy Point Amphitheater, where graduating classes receive their class rings.

The tradition of West Point class rings dates back to 1835.

Each year, gold from rings donated by past West Point graduates is melted down and incorporated into the outgoing class' rings.

Sedgwick Monument holds special significance to West Point Cadets.

This statue of Major General John Sedgwick, nicknamed "Lucky John," is said to bring good fortune to cadets who sneak out after curfew in their dress uniforms to spin the spurs on his boots the night before exams.

Across the parade ground, we could see the Jefferson Library, completed in 2008.

The library is named for President Thomas Jefferson, who was president when the United States Military Academy at West Point was founded in 1802.

Washington Hall houses West Point's mess hall, which feeds all 4,400 cadets in under 25 minutes.

In West Point's dining hall, a team of over 200 cooks serves more than 13,000 meals per day.

Mealtimes at West Point feature unique etiquette rules. Cadets line up in formation before the meal and march into the hall. Plebes, or freshmen, are in charge of setting the table and pouring water for the upperclassmen.

On the other side of the parade ground, the superintendent lives at Quarters 100, a home built in 1820.

The historic home spans 16,600 square feet.

Trophy Point also featured a putting green.

West Point features an 18-hole golf course open to the public.

On the bus back to the Visitors Center, we passed Lincoln Hall, which houses classrooms.

Lincoln Hall currently houses the English and Philosophy and Social Sciences departments, the Combating Terrorism Center, and the Office for Economic and Manpower Analysis, but is undergoing renovations.

Cullum Hall is an alumni building with a grand ballroom.

Cullum Hall was designed by architect Stanford White, who designed the Washington Square Arch in New York City, in 1898.

West Point Club, another event venue, featured a semicircular wall of windows overlooking the Hudson River.

Members of the public can also book events at the West Point Club.

When it was built in 1911, Thayer Hall was the world's largest indoor riding arena.

"In 1959, they repurposed it as a classroom building and an office building, but the cadets say on a hot day, they can still smell the horses," our tour guide said.

We caught a brief glimpse of the new Cyber and Engineering Academic Center that is under construction before returning to the Visitors Center.

The building will house the departments of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Systems Engineering.

"Cyber warfare is the latest thing in national defense, so West Point's getting ready," our guide said.

After the tour ended, I stopped at the West Point Museum, where I saw artifacts like President Dwight D. Eisenhower's military uniform.

Eisenhower graduated from West Point in 1915.

The West Point tour offered a combination of US history and contemporary Army education, providing a fascinating look into the past, present, and future of America's military.

Evidence of West Point's distinguished history and unbroken lineage, known as "The Long Gray Line," was visible at every turn.

While admiring a view of the Hudson River and the surrounding mountains, my gaze was drawn up to a particularly striking tree along the sidewalk. Above its enormous trunk, its knarled branches had begun to flower with spring blooms. Then I noticed the plaque. It was a gift from the class of 1888.

• Summer has officially begun.
• Summer vacation these days looks quite different from how it did in the 1920s.
• Kids used to play sports in the streets, explore on bikes, or play on "dangerous" playgrounds. 

Summer vacation used to mean two months of freedom: pools, playgrounds, and hours spent hanging out with your friends.

But for Gen Alpha and the youngest members of Gen Z, summer is starting to look a little different.

Changing technology, safety standards, more cautious parents, and social media have all changed how summer looks. Imagine explaining a unicorn pool float to a Victorian child — it'd send them into a tailspin.

These photos show how summer vacation has changed over the last century.

In the early 1900s, school used to be centered on crops, and summer wasn't a vacation — it was a time for hard work.

Before child labor laws were adopted in the first half of the 20th century, an 1890 United States Census report showed that 20% of kids ages 10 to 15 were workers, or over 1.5 million children. A decade later, that went up to 1.75 million gainfully employed kids, according to The Social Welfare History Project.

Bathing suits used to be a little more elaborate.

Bathing suits have come a long way over the past century.

Kids didn't need any fancy technology; a stick and a hoop used to be more than enough to keep everyone entertained.

Officially, this was called hoop rolling or hoop trundling. It's been around since the 1600s and lives on today in a different fashion: the hula hoop.

Stickball was the sport of choice, especially when there was no grass to be found.

Stickball has been around since the 1800s and is still played now, but many parents are wary of the potential dangers of playing a sport in the middle of the street.

Who doesn't remember sliding down a burning hot metal slide in the dog days of summer?

Playgrounds used to play fast and loose with kids' safety … which was half the fun anyway.

They're considerably safer today, although some anthropologists argue there are developmental benefits to playing on challenging structures, like those of the past.

"Generally, researchers have found that risky play helps children build resilience and confidence, skills that resonate throughout life," said Zane Thayer, an associate professor of anthropology at Dartmouth College, in a 2024 report from the school.

Over time, metal was replaced by wood and wood chips, which still wasn't great. Remember all the splinters?

That's pretty much the only downside of them, though.

Kids used to have to meet up with each other just by biking around the neighborhood and seeing who was available.

It's rare now to see a pack of young kids biking around without a chaperone.

Pool floats were a lot simpler.

In general, most things were simpler. There were no Instagram or TikTok followers to show off for.

Arcades eventually became the entertainment of choice, with games like "Pac-Man" and "Asteroids" taking over.

After "Asteroids" was released in 1979, it reportedly became Atari's best-selling arcade game. "Pac-Man" was also at its peak in the early 1980s, after its US release in 1980.

Now, in 2026, arcades are something of a dying institution — you can play all your favorite video games in the comfort of your own home. The only arcades left are the big chains like Dave and Buster's, or bars like Barcade that are for adults, not kids.

But before '80s kids even had video games, they had comic strips and crosswords.

Kids and adults would crack open the daily newspaper and play the games, whether it was a crossword, a word scramble, or a word search.

And, of course, you can't forget about the comics section — Charlie Brown was just as famous as Bluey or the pups of Paw Patrol.

Sometimes, all you needed for a fun time was a tarp, soap, and a hose — voila! A makeshift slip-and-slide.

Never mind that sticks, rocks, and anything else on the ground could rip the tarp and cut up your arms and legs. That was part of the fun.

And it didn't matter if there was nothing to stop your momentum — sliding into your friends and knocking them over was the whole point.

Ideal summer jobs were lifeguarding or being a camp counselor.

Even though working teenagers are in high demand and could be making good money, the labor force participation of teens is much lower than it used to be.

In 2024, 5.7 million 16-to-19-year-olds worked over the summer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's a five-year high, but nothing compared to the 8.3 million teens who worked during the summer of 1978.

Now, bathing suits look a little different.

Vintage-style bathing suits are coming back, though, like the '80s-era high-cut one-pieces or belted bathing suits of the '70s.

For kids with access to virtual-reality games, the devices mean they don't even have to go outside to get the summer experience.

According to a Florida Atlantic University study in 2024, one in three kids has access to a VR headset. But even if a kid doesn't have access to an Oculus or an Apple Vision Pro, they might have a tablet or some type of video game system.

"In our research, we found that kids were spending a lot less time outside," Ruslan Slutsky, an education professor at the University of Toledo, told Vox. "They were spending a lot less time in traditional forms of play because they were playing with devices."

Playgrounds are so safe that some kids have forsaken them altogether.

A study conducted in 2012 published by Pediatrics Digest found that kids aren't using playgrounds anymore because they're not stimulated enough.

The Atlantic reported that lead researcher Kristen Copeland found that "some participants said that overly strict safety standards made much of the climbing equipment uninteresting, thus reducing children's physical activity."

Per a 2024 report by the World Playground Research Institute, not much has changed in the intervening 12 years. In the UK, 27% of kids reported playing outside regularly.

Teens and tweens make plans via text, and even when they're together, phones still compete for their attention.

In 2018, Common Sense Media found 54% of surveyed teens agreed that social media "often distracts me when I should be paying attention to the people I'm with." When it came to their preferred ways of communicating with friends, texting ranked top at 35%, ahead of in-person communication at 32%.

Now, a pool can't be seen without a gigantic float.

There's an overwhelming amount of pool floats to pick from in 2026.

Sports are well-organized these days and significantly less dangerous.

Though it's probably a good thing that kids aren't allowed to roam the streets without being able to call home, or play sports in the street, or play on potentially dangerous playgrounds, it's just not the same. 

Even slip-and-slides have been commodified into giant events.

Slide the City was a cool event while it lasted — a giant slip-and-slide took over a few blocks of your city — but it was not the same as getting covered in dish soap with your friends.

However, in 2026, there's an emerging trend toward play habits of the past, especially as some families seek to reduce their use of tech.

Some families are attempting to replace devices with more outside play, as well as unstructured play, for their young children.

Surveys, including a Pew Research Center survey released in October 2025, show that many parents are trying to manage their children's screen time through household rules and by offering alternate entertainment. That shift echoes a broader interest among some Gen Z members in seeking out more analog experiences.

• I brought my baby, toddler, and husband with me on a work trip to Palm Springs.
• Balancing parental responsibilities with work obligations was challenging, but not impossible.
• My husband was a huge help, and I'm glad we were able to make new memories as a family.

Being a freelance writer and editor means I have the flexibility to work from wherever, whether that's on a hospital bed getting induced, late at night after the kids go to sleep, or in a nice hotel on a work trip.

It's not always glamorous, but it certainly has its moments, and it's a joy to include my family when possible.

When I went on a three-day work trip to Palm Springs — about a 2½-hour drive from our home in San Diego, but closer to 3½ with all the pit stops — I was happy that the hotel allowed me to bring my 3-month-old, my 2½-year-old toddler, and my husband.

It'd be my first time bringing both kids on a work trip, and our first overnight excursion as a family of four.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was excited to spend time together

The car was packed to the brim with diapers, clothes, carriers, and anything else we could think of for a multi-night stay away from home.

I'd just gotten back from my first-ever work press trip away from the kids the day before, and my husband had returned from a work trip a couple of days before that.

I'd put a lot of work experiences on hold with my first child and couldn't afford to do the same with my second.

Despite feeling overbooked, I said yes to both trips and was glad to take my family along for the second one; I didn't want to be away from them again, at least not in such a rapid succession.

And with my husband and me both traveling, we just want to spend a couple of nights together as a family. I knew I'd be busy, but I didn't know how intense the trip would be.

Navigating work commitments and family was challenging

On day one, I was shuttled around with a couple of other journalists for a three-course lunch and a dessert tasting. During breaks and at night, I rushed back to the hotel to help my husband.

I recall walking into the hotel the first night to him baby-wearing the 3-month-old in a carrier while patting my toddler's back; both were successfully asleep.

That night, we all slept soundly through the whole night, unbothered. The next day was not nearly as streamlined.

Between scheduled events, I returned to the hotel for a quick break to nurse and was out again.

Meanwhile, my husband was behind on work, since he couldn't do virtually anything with the two young kids, other than entertain them and explore the hotel.

That night, I nursed the baby and patted my toddler's back at the same time so my husband could work. I kind of felt like a superhero there for a second.

Once they were finally sleeping soundly, my husband and I hung out in the bathroom since the hotel room was otherwise one big open area, and we didn't want to wake them up.

We whispered next to the shower, eating the cold mashed potatoes I'd brought back from an event. After that, we both attempted to catch up on work on our laptops and ultimately went to sleep exhausted — but our night didn't end there.

The baby woke up more times than we could count, and the toddler roused from all the hubbub, too. We were drained and exhausted, and all I could think of was that I had to be up early for a tour of a date farm at 8 a.m.

Despite all the hubbub, I'd happily do this again

I had fun going out for a few hours at a time and being an adult without having to monitor two kids, but I came back to reality every break and evening at the hotel.

Granted, my husband did the brunt of the work while I was out and about, but it'll remain a family memory and a trip we otherwise would've never had.

Even with the disarray, I still got to share parts of the experience with my children: bringing back restaurant dishes to try together, watching my toddler take in beautiful hotel room views, and enjoying nice hotel breakfasts.

Despite long hours and late nights working, we still fit in small family moments into an otherwise work-focused trip. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

• I've learned what works — and what doesn't — when traveling with teens.
• Flexibility matters more than perfect itineraries.
• A few simple strategies help reduce conflict and increase fun.

When they were really little, we used to call vacationing with the kids "babysitting with palm trees." Now that they're teens, maybe it's more like "traveling with jerks."

I mean, sometimes they're grateful and engaged. But just as often, it can feel like every decision is getting evaluated by the most ruthless, cool-kid jury of tired, bored, entitled judges.

We travel a ton, and I have come to realize there are tricks for making your vacation teen-worthy, while still having the best time yourself. Some are easy, some are annoying. But when the kids are happy, everyone's happy, right?

We spend 30 minutes in museums, max

If you do not have museum kids, still go, but limit your time. (If you do have museum kids,your vacations are clearly very different than mine.) This is really the key.

Even in the NYC area where we live full-time, we visit museums regularly, but we don't stay hours. Yes, you paid all that money for your ticket, but you get to decide how long to spend there. For my kids, 30 to 45 minutes is often more than enough time to see the stars of the show and pick their favorite pieces to talk about over pizza later.

No one gets cranky. No one dreads the visit. As they get older, maybe you can stretch it.

We still do things we can do at home

Yes, we all saw the go-cart place we just passed on the highway. But we are in Barcelona. And why on earth would we waste a precious afternoon in Catalonia doing what we can do 20 minutes from home?

Because somehow, it will be an adventure, different than the place back home in interesting and unexpected ways, and you will all actually have fun. Do it.

We like to explore cities in different ways

Take a city tour of Budapest, but do it riding a three-wheeled Segway. My kids love to look for the weird way to sightsee now, and they actually learn a ton about our locations.

In Marrakesh, we toured the city from the vantage of Soviet-era motorcycle sidecars. Sometimes there are age restrictions that mean you have to skip, but when it works, it's hard to beat.

Know what your kids are into and plan around that

Are they a teen club kid? If so, amazing! When you go on a beach vacation, that means you'll have a lot of options. We've loved Grand Velas in Riviera Maya, Mexico, any Club Med (the new one in Miches, DR is incredible), or Beaches in Turks and Caicos. The best possible outcome is that they make friends and have the best week doing their own thing with their peers. If teen clubs aren't their thing, don't make it a thing. Nothing is worse than having your mom force friends on you.

Take cool classes

We do a cooking class wherever we go now. In Santa Fe this year, we took a super interesting one, making sauces from the region. We learned a ton about the indigenous history while also developing a POV on the ubiquitous local question: "red, green, or Christmas?" In Bogota, we learned how to make delectable smashed plantains that my kids now request whenever they see them on a menu and compare to their memory of what they tasted like in Colombia. In Fez, we made a full 5-course meal from a private home deep inside the medina.

My kids both love to cook (we do too) so this is a destination "souvenir" that we cherish and refer back to again and again.

Screen time is flexible

If only they would put the phone down, they could appreciate the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime view. But spending every minute traveling (and maybe sharing a hotel room) with your parents can be tough.

If they are spending more time than you'd like on their device, but still otherwise engaged, I let it slide. Offer to help by being the photographer and shoot them in 4,567,354 poses for their one IG "post" of the trip. There. Now you've made it a family activity.

Divide and conquer to do what everyone loves

My son loves golf — I couldn't care less. So we build in some divide-and-conquer time when we each do what we love. (And hey, they're teens now, so they don't need me every minute!) I walked the Canyon Road galleries in Sedona, having the best morning of my life, while my son took his dad to play nine holes against the most spectacular, surreal red-rock backdrop. It was his favorite day of the trip.

• Ukraine is offering foreign fighters higher pay and longer contracts for dangerous front-line roles.
• Soldiers told Business Insider that the move could help address a major manpower challenge.
• However, success will depend on whether Kyiv can not only recruit troops, but also retain them.

Ukraine is offering foreign fighters higher pay and longer fixed-term contracts to fill dangerous front-line infantry and assault roles, a move soldiers say could help address one of Kyiv's biggest manpower problems.

However, foreign fighters told Business Insider that the effort's success will depend on whether Ukraine can persuade recruits to stay longer rather than leaving right after hitting the six-month minimum.

"More guys will come for the money, obviously," said Ryan O'Leary, the company commander of Chosen, a volunteer unit in Ukraine. However, he said it won't automatically fix the country's manpower issues because Kyiv still has a "revolving door" of foreigners leaving after short contracts.

Ukraine announced a significant overhaul of its compensation for military personnel last month, with officials laying out an ambitious plan for higher pay, more combat bonuses, and longer fixed-term contracts.

The combat pay plan includes new contracts of six to 14 months for infantry and assault troops, with service members eligible for an average monthly pay of UAH 300,000 (nearly $7,000) and a maximum of UAH 460,000 (over $10,000), depending on the number of days at the front lines.

Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's defense minister, described them as the "highest salaries in the world for infantry," calling these front-line roles the "most difficult and risky job" right now. He said the goal is to fill 30-50% of these positions with foreigners.

These jobs can be some of the deadliest. Front-line positions are often described as kill zones, the threat of drones making it hard not only to survive but even to get there in the first place. Pay can be a strong motivation, though.

"We see now that a large number of foreigners are coming to Ukraine to fight, because today's salary is already attracting them," Fedorov said last month. "If we're talking about an increase, then this will attract even more foreigners, and then they will be able to strengthen our front line."

O'Leary said the higher pay and longer contracts could help if they push foreign fighters to stay for a year or more. The problem, he said, is that many of them have historically treated six months as the endpoint, leaving Ukraine with little return on the time and money spent training and equipping the soldiers.

By the time a recruit finishes basic training and reaches a combat unit, a short six-month contract may have only a few weeks remaining for front-line operations, he said. That makes having longer contract options key, but only if Ukraine can give fighters a compelling enough reason to choose it.

'You need to pay'

Foreign volunteers have flocked to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, with many driven to the fight by ideological or political reasons — a sense of duty to protect a nation attacked by its much larger neighbor — rather than financial incentives.

However, the situation changed as the war dragged on, said Kante, a foreign fighter who asked to be identified by his call sign for security reasons.

He said that there are fewer "motivated foreign fighters," adding that many of these volunteers have been killed in combat or left, and Ukraine must now fill those vacancies. Now, volunteers are increasingly joining for financial reasons.

Ukraine is no longer competing only for idealists; it is also competing in a global market for experienced fighters.

"If you want guys, you need to pay," he said.

Kante, who has served in infantry and assault roles for Ukraine, said that the pay needs to be competitive with what experienced fighters can make in other conflicts, such as a former South American officer familiar with battling rebels weighing a contract in a place like Sudan.

Ukrainian military personnel view the new contracts as a positive for Kyiv. Yuriy, an officer in an electronic warfare unit who could only be identified by his first name, described the push for foreign fighters as "one of the best solutions" to address manpower challenges.

"I think it's just a solution to fill the gaps," said Alex, a sergeant in Ukraine's 412th "Nemesis" Unmanned Systems Brigade. He could only be identified by his first name for security reasons.

Alex said Ukrainians who were "brave enough" had already joined the military earlier in the war and are either exhausted or hurt. Newly mobilized personnel, he said, may not be as willing to risk their lives.

Improving returns on investment

Kyiv's push for foreign fighters comes as its military faces a grinding, attritional manpower problem more than four years into the Russian invasion. Infantry and assault troops are among the most battered forces on the battlefield, and Ukraine has struggled to keep front-line units staffed as the war has dragged on.

The new contracts with a promise of bigger payouts could give Ukraine a way to bring in more foreign fighters and keep them longer. Foreign troops said that the test is whether the higher pay and clearer terms are enough to persuade recruits to choose a longer contract rather than leave after six months.

Despite the push for recruits, foreign fighters said that sustaining the current force should be Ukraine's priority.

O'Leary, the Chosen commander, said many foreign fighters sign a six-month contract and then either return home or move to another unit, leaving Ukraine with little to show for the investment.

He described the revolving door as a "negative for Ukraine" and said the country should prioritize retention alongside recruitment.

Deeper issues often push foreign fighters to leave the war after six months, O'Leary said, including limited access to Ukraine's digital military systems and fewer day-to-day benefits. Fixing those problems, he said, might matter more to retention than higher pay.

"They've already fixed the permanent residency and the citizenship stuff, so I think that's one movement forward," he said, adding that Kyiv now needs "to work on just leveling the playing field for foreigners so it seems like we're on the same page as the Ukrainians."

Ukraine's defense ministry said it isn't currently in a position to comment on these efforts. Overall, foreign fighters said that Ukraine is moving in the right direction with talent retention.

Charlie, a US military veteran and current candidate for Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps, said that the new contracts and payments are "positive steps" from Kyiv toward incentivizing foreign fighters to stay longer. He asked to be identified by his call sign for security reasons.

"I think they're doing a good thing by understanding that they have this foreign demographic from all over the world that's coming into the country and bolstering their military, and they're actually doing things to incentivize people to come — incentivize people to stay — not just to do minimum six months and leave," Charlie said.

He said the longer contracts might be most appealing to foreign fighters who come to Ukraine for combat experience that they won't find on any other battlefield.

"If you look at the world right now," Charlie said, "the best place to get that experience is in Ukraine as a foreigner."

• Quitting my full-time job to go to grad school sent me into major money-saving mode.
• My Gen X and Boomer friends had larger budgets, and I worried when they routinely paid for me.
• After one of my friends said something wise, I was able to slowly release my anxiety.

In August, I quit my steady job as a New York City public high school teacher to start a full-time graduate program in Manhattan. I worried about the choice not only because I loved my work with the kids, but also because I had traded a consistent paycheck and affordable health insurance for tens of thousands of dollars in tuition.

When I was teaching, I prepared for the cost by scrimping to save every cent I could. But my account balance still wouldn't fully cover two years of school and living expenses.

Throughout my savings journey, I learned a lot of lessons, especially from my older friends.

I jumped into major money-saving mode

As a result, I redoubled my frugal efforts. I made a rule that I wouldn't eat out or order takeout unless it was someone's birthday. I asked to meet people in parks rather than restaurants and suggested $5 happy-hour spots from a meticulously crafted list on my phone.

On rare occasions when I dined out, I looked at the prices before deciding what to order and pored over the bill with a calculator.

It worked. While it was still difficult to watch my savings dwindle — buoyed occasionally by small deposits from part-time jobs — I kept my costs (relatively) low for a 20-something in the city. Most friends understood my restrictions or were in similar situations.

I worried when my older friends routinely paid for me

But this approach didn't work as well with my five older friends from my intergenerational writer's group. We'd been meeting weekly on Zoom for several years when we started visiting each other in our home states across the country. As women in their 40s and 60s in dual-income households with established careers, they understandably gravitated toward nicer places where the cheapest cocktail cost $20. My dive bars with weirdly stained walls weren't going to cut it.

When I visited two of these friends in Chicago, I anticipated that we'd go to swanky spots and saved up for weeks, cutting out anything nonessential from my grocery list — chocolate-covered pretzels, bananas, frozen fried rice.

But when I offered to chip in for our multi-course dinners or luxury spa day, they brushed me off.

I was grateful for their generosity, yet overcome with guilt. They had contributed so much to our time together. I didn't want to be a freeloader, the friend who couldn't hold up her end of the deal. How could I pay them back and show my appreciation?

At the end of the trip, my friend Andrea, 46, and I ate lunch in a diner in the Gold Coast. I made one last offer to Zelle her. In response, she said something that stuck with me.

"When I was in my 20s, people helped me," she told me with an easy smile. "When you're 40, just pay it forward by buying a younger woman dinner."

Her wisdom helped me slowly release my anxiety

I mulled over her words on the plane home. I was surprised that her view of the situation differed so much from mine, and relieved she didn't see me as taking advantage of her. Yet it was still hard to fully let go of the weight in my chest — the feeling of being indebted to someone's kindness, of accepting a gift while knowing you can't reciprocate.

Months later, my 64-year-old friend from my writer's group visited from Florida. We went out for coffee, and I thought to myself, Okay, now this I can afford. But when I offered to cover or at least split it, she waved me off, saying, "My treat."

I thought of Andrea's words and told myself, She's being nice. Don't worry about it.

"Thank you," I said, and meant it.

A while later, when another friend visited from Washington, she paid most of our checks at the bars and restaurants we visited. Though I felt a twinge of the usual panic at first, by our second day together, I was able to let it go. As we wandered through the Upper West Side, the tightness in my chest lifted, leaving only gratitude that she was here.

I do plan on paying it forward

Andrea was right, I realized. Helping each other was what friends did, and they clearly weren't bothered by it. Sure, I wasn't paying for lavish things or hosting people, but I shouldn't let my own hangups affect our time together, which always produces some of my favorite memories.

Eventually, I'll be able to do what they've done for me for another woman, who can then help someone else.

Instead of worrying, now I let my friends' kindness bring us together and smile, knowing that every time I pay for a 20-something woman in the future, I'll think of them.

• I make chocolate chip cookies from a recipe I've been tweaking for over 25 years.
• My sons say they're the best cookies ever, and have been asking me to write down the 'real' recipe.
• The cookies are the taste of their childhood, and I understand why they're so connected to them.

According to my two teenage sons, I make the best chocolate chip cookies in the world.

I accept this compliment with the appropriate amount of gratitude and skepticism, because "my" recipe started life as a clipping from a women's magazine at least 25 years ago, which I then taped inside my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook so I wouldn't lose it.

Since then, I've changed enough things — bread flour in place of all-purpose flour, half the amount of salt, a little extra vanilla, no nuts, double the chocolate chips, chilling the dough when the kitchen is hot — that it only vaguely resembles the original.

The problem is that I have never written any of this down. I use the original recipe as a guide and make the adjustments according to memory. So if my kids decided to make cookies using the recipe taped in the cookbook, they'd end up with an entirely different cookie.

My go-to cookie recipe became the only cookies they want

"Mama, you need to write down the real recipe," my youngest son said, again, a couple of months ago, when I was baking a double batch for the student council bake sale.

What's funny is that these cookies have always felt to me like the laziest, most basic cookies in the world. There's nothing fancy about them; I don't even buy an expensive brand of chocolate chips. But they're reliable and quick, and yes, delicious.

Part of the reason they became such a fixture in our family is because they were easy. I'd always enjoyed baking and, before kids, would regularly bake for friends and coworkers. Then I became a mother in my 40s, and I knew I wanted to create the kind of home where homemade cookies occasionally appeared after hard days, before big tests, or because it was raining outside and we had nowhere else to be.

Somewhere along the way, these cookies became part of our family life in a way I didn't plan for. I packed them into school lunches, made them for road trips, beach vacations, sick days, and on request. When someone would ask, "Can you bake cookies?" these were the cookies they meant.

One year, my older son requested a giant chocolate chip cookie for his birthday instead of a cake. I told him I could order one from the grocery store bakery, but he wanted me to use my recipe. So that's what I made.

My kids associate home with the smell of my cookies

Every once in a while, one of my sons will come home after trying an expensive bakery cookie or a friend's mom's cookies and announce, with complete sincerity, that it wasn't as good as mine. This makes me laugh every single time.

There are obviously better cookies in the world than the ones I make in my kitchen with grocery store chocolate chips, but that's not really the comparison they're making. They aren't looking for the objectively best cookie; they're looking for the taste of their own childhood.

As an older mom and a writer, I think about memory more than I used to. I think about what my children will remember when they leave home, and eventually what they'll remember when I'm gone. I've spent years preserving the pieces of my children's lives that seem important. I've saved photographs and school papers, written letters and blog posts, kept journals and datebooks full of ordinary details of our family life.

I realize now that sometimes what lasts are the things that show up over and over again. The inside jokes, the favorite dinners, the holiday traditions — and a cookie recipe made so many times that its smell alone can take you home.

The cookies are a part of our family story

One day, my boys will be in college and live in apartments and homes of their own, and I won't always be there when life gets hard or lonely or overwhelming. But I can put cookies in a box and send them wherever they are. And, if they want to, they can make the cookies themselves.

So yes, I'm finally going to write the recipe down, and I'll make each of them a copy. Maybe they'll pull it out in a dorm kitchen someday. Maybe they'll make them for roommates, partners, or their own children. Maybe one day they'll have changed the recipe so much that it barely resembles mine.

I think I'd like that.

• Michele Ragon first used AI with her 11-year-old son to help with school research.
• She later found him using Copilot to vibecode his own video game based on a book he read in school.
• She said she thinks this is a perfect example of AI not taking away from human creativity.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michele Ragon, a 46-year-old employee communications business partner at LinkedIn, based in the Bay Area. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

My 11-year-old son just finished fifth grade, and earlier this year, he was diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. He has trouble remembering the order of things and organizing his thoughts.

I got him a new computer for Christmas, which he can use to access Copilot. The first time we used AI together was to help research for a school essay on hurricanes.

The two of us were working with Copilot open on the side of his essay notes. Being able to go back and forth with the AI and ask it questions was eye-opening for him. He was able to get much more context from the research he was doing.

Then, a few weeks later, one night, I came up behind him while he was working on his computer. Until I started asking questions, I had no idea he was building his own video game with AI.

I think for him, the simplicity of using AI is what he loves. He doesn't have to be a coder to be creative in this way. This is a perfect example of AI not taking away from humanity or creativity.

It took my son less than 8 hours total to build a video game with Copilot

There's a gaming platform called Steam where my son sometimes browses to play free game demos. He doesn't have a paid account on the site, but he explores the games on it.

In school, he had read a book called "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH," and something about this book caught his attention. It reminded him of a civilization-building game he had seen on Steam that he thought was really cool.

He told me he just started asking Copilot questions like, "Help me build this game. Here's my idea. How could I build this game?" Then the model started walking him through the steps.

When I asked him how long it took to build, he said it was four days of working with Copilot for an hour or two a day until he got a workable version.

He said AI never gets mad at him

One of the best parts of working with AI, he said, is that AI never gets frustrated when he asks a question over again; it just repeats the answer in a different way.

His favorite prompt is asking, "What does this mean?" If he gets an error code he doesn't understand, he'll copy it back into Copilot, and it will walk him through it. If it's still too technical, he'll ask the question again, and it will simplify the response even further. He also uses voice mode to talk to the model when he finds it hard to type out what he wants to ask.

He said the hardest part is that he can get stuck with the same error, and neither he nor the AI can fix it or diagnose the problem. He doesn't have the maturity yet to understand that when that happens, he has to do something different, or prompt it in a different way, or he's going to keep getting the same results.

When somethings not working, if he can, he'll move on or try to work around it. For example, he changed the rats to smiley faces because the game kept crashing.

I have worries about his AI use, but the creative benefits are huge

I think it was a low-risk environment in the specific game that he was building. I wasn't concerned that inappropriate content or responses would come up. Still, I wonder whether he has the ability to spot if something is incorrect, or if AI has given him information that is not right?

I also think about the games he's seeing online on this gaming platform that anyone can post to.

We like to let our kids explore on their own and then show us what they're learning, but as a parent, have I put the proper parental controls on what my son's seeing and what he's able to build online?

However, building a game was entirely my son's idea, executed with the help of AI, and he had no other way to do it because he doesn't know how to code. I think, for him, using AI almost amplified his creative juices because there's a positive reward in actually making something he can use and play with.

I think schools should teach kids how to use AI appropriately

I think schools that aren't teaching students how to use AI are doing a huge disservice. I work for a tech company, but I have conversations with friends who don't work in tech, and they are using AI in so many ways, too.

A friend who was job-hunting told me she had Claude help her practice for interviews, and she used it daily in her job search. Even when Googling something, you get an AI-generated response right away.

AI is coming so fast and furious, and I think it's a disservice that we're not teaching kids how to use it in an appropriate way.

I asked my son if there was anything else that he wanted to build, or anything else he's excited about with AI. His face lit up to talk about the next game idea that he has. As a parent, it's amazing to see your kid get that positive reinforcement.

Do you have a story to share about AI and parenting? If so, please reach out to the reporter at aapplegate@businessinsider.com.

Anand Gopal had never considered working with a stylist.

"I always thought personal stylists were for the elite," the 45-year-old award-winning journalist and author told Business Insider.

Then, he met Zahra Waliji at a party and saw the outfits she'd put together for his friends. He thought she was talented and enlisted her to style him for a friend's birthday party in January.

Gopal, who's based in New York, said he spent a few hundred dollars on the service, less than he expected. "Her model is more like personal styling for the masses, and I'm definitely in that category," he said.

Waliji, who went from being unemployed in 2024 to personal styling nine clients this year, is just one out of an industry that employs more than 263,000 people in the US and is projected to add more than 65,000 new jobs over the next decade.

Many of these stylists dress everyday people for vacations, dates, work, and other day-to-day activities. They help clients do more with less and craft personal brands that go beyond Instagram. Most importantly, stylists are saving their clients two things that are often in short supply: time and energy.

"We all have a million things to do, so to know that my outfits can be taken care of is really good," Gopal said. "Not having to worry about what you're going to wear is a nice luxury."

"[Stylists] are helping reduce cognitive load," he added.

A luxury made accessible

In 2024, Waliji had just resigned from her yearslong job at a New York City hospital before relocating to Tanzania.

Although she was focused on traveling, she was also designing, styling, and tailoring more than 40 outfits for herself and six family members ahead of her brother's three-day wedding in Zanzibar.

Waliji was, to put it simply, inspired. So much so that the now 42-year-old returned to New York City a year later with fresh creativity in her back pocket.

"For the first time in my life, I was having fun styling my own body," she said. "I was feeling more confident and knew I was really good at it. So I wanted to do the same for other people and make styling my job."

In Waliji's case, the career move turned out to be a relatively easy transition. In our world of aesthetic perfection, many people — not just celebrities and billionaires — are seeking styling services. It's one of the various cosmetic enhancement tools that have made their way mainstream, à la Botox, veneers, and GLP-1s.

Searches for "personal styling" have skyrocketed since spring 2025, while breakout queries for the "best personal styling service" have increased 150% over the past five years.

Social media, of course, plays a role. The more we post photos and videos of ourselves, the more we want to look our best.

There's also the fact that, even when we don't necessarily want to be, we're always on camera — work Zoom calls, FaceTimes with friends, and Ring doorbells capture our every move.

Where there's supply, personal stylists are meeting demand.

"My clients are normal people, but they are highly successful and motivated," Maiya Plather, a New York-based stylist, told Business Insider.

That's why she and other personal stylists deliver more than just outfits. It's self-confidence and stress relief that clients are really paying for.

When a stylist dresses an everyday client, the task at hand is not necessarily to create a singular red carpet or social-media moment. It's more personal and long-term. And for many clients, the process begins with their own wardrobes.

"My approach is, first, teaching you how to rewear things in your closet," Waliji said. "We're minimizing having to spend more money."

Every dollar counts, especially since styling can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per service.

While Waliji initially charged thousands of dollars for services like closet cleanouts, following industry standards, she has since lowered her prices to reach more clients.

She now charges $2,000 for in-person capsule wardrobe consultations, $450 per hour for private style consulting, and $250 for virtual closet cleanouts, where she connects with clients over Zoom and helps them decide whether to keep or remove each piece of their wardrobe. Clients may pay extra to purchase new pieces that help stylists fill gaps in clients' wardrobes.

"I have tried to master the skill of buying inexpensive clothes and making them look very high-end," Waliji said. "I'll practice on myself and style a look from head to toe for $75, so I know it's doable."

Where celebrity styling and personal styling merge, though, is in the art of tailoring. It's not always the clothes themselves that make A-listers stand out. It's the fit.

"[Clients] can buy a pair of pants for $25, invest another $30 to get them hemmed or to get the waist taken in, and then the entire look is elevated," Waliji said.

As the industry has expanded to serve more customers, the array of personal styling services has also grown, benefiting both consumers and providers.

On TikTok, for example, there's a subset of stylists who scour thrift shops and dealer archives to find unique secondhand pieces for clients. Typically, these clients and stylists never actually meet; they communicate solely through texts and vision boards.

At the end of their exchanges, though, customers have standout pieces to add to their closets, and stylists have new social-media content they can use to promote their services.

The latter has proven especially beneficial for stylists who take their services online, regardless of their niche.

Kenzie Welch is one of them. She styles everyday people with modern pieces and films their makeovers as part of an ongoing TikTok series. Her videos have gained her 1.3 million followers, more than 28.2 million likes, and a plethora of new clients.

Videos like Welch's often inspire people who never before considered working with stylists. Through social media, they uncover that styling is an option.

Actors, musicians, athletes, and models are often gifted clothes and loaned designer pieces for specific events. Doctors, lawyers, and other everyday professionals who work with stylists don't usually have access to those perks. Still, they're happy to invest in pieces handpicked for them.

It makes sense. Our society loves convenience. When we don't want to cook dinner, we order from DoorDash and let the fees add up. So why not splurge on styling? Someone else can figure out what clothes work for our bodies, purchase them for us, and style them into multiple outfits. And they can do so for any occasion.

It's a bit different from what stores like Aritzia, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's offer through personal styling appointments, which are often limited to one retailer's inventory. Personal stylists can work across brands and build long-term plans for their clients.

Consider vacations. Buying new pieces, turning them into cute outfits, and making sure you don't forget anything when you pack requires time and energy that many people don't have. Stylists can ease that burden.

"I'll have clients say: I have a 10-day vacation, and I need you to style me for daytime and nighttime looks. I don't want to think about it. I want you to help me pack so when I go there, I know exactly what I'm wearing," Waliji said. "I'll do that, and I'll take pictures [of each outfit] so they have a guide."

The ultimate luxury that results from personal styling, though, is confidence.

"I've struggled with body image issues and confidence my entire life," Waliji said, noting that she understands the emotional side of styling. "Working with women and men to make them feel powerful, strong, and empowered every day creates a kind of happiness that nothing else can bring."

One client of Waliji's works as a teacher in New York. Her personal uniform consists of a simple blazer and trousers every day — no accessories, skirts, or fancy hairstyles included. When Waliji styled her for a party, though, she realized she could actually color outside the lines.

"Everyone was talking about my outfit at my party, and I was turning a lot of heads," the teacher told Business Insider. "People who I see every day at work got to see me in a new light. It was a big deal."

Naysayers might argue that there's no need to spend on personal styling when you can get fashion advice for free from a friend, a store salesperson, TikTok, and ChatGPT.

Stylists and their clients disagree.

"I was working with a client, and I picked a Zimmerman dress for her," Waliji said. "When she put it on, she said, 'This is it. I want every dress to make me feel this way.'"

"I made an effort to understand what makes her feel good," she added. "You can't really get that from TikTok."

And you never know. If you can't afford a stylist but you meet one like Waliji, you might get lucky. Styling, she believes, should be accessible.

"I don't want money to get in the way of making you feel good," she said. "I'm a bad businesswoman. I've worked with people for no cost."

The teacher client mentioned above was one of them.

"If I'm being 100% with you, [Waliji] styled me for free as a birthday present," she said. "But for the record, I would pay for her services."

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

Beach reads

Happy Fourth! Hope everyone enjoyed a good backyard barbecue, a trip to the beach, or simply had the chance to slow down and recharge.

With the holiday weekend winding down, that can only mean one thing: summer reading season is in full swing.

Personally, I've been reading Joanna Stern's "I Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything." Joanna is a former colleague and current author of the awesome "New Things" newsletter. She writes the way she speaks. The book is hilarious, timely, and an absolute must-read.

I also asked our editors to share their favorite reads and recommendations. Here's what they said:

Jamie Heller, editor in chief: I'm reading "The Calamity Club" by Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help. The book is slow in spots and at times slightly predictable. But, overall, it's been a can't-put-down read, and those are rare.

Julie Zeveloff, director of editorial product strategy: Money is the ultimate fiction: that's the premise of Jacob Goldstein's "Money: The True Story of a Made-up Thing," one of my favorite history reads of late. This book gave me a new perspective on how we all need to believe in money for it to work. Plus, it's funny!

Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief, Life: I'm reading Mara Brock Akil's debut novel, "The Revelation of Dionne Daphne." You might know Akil from her hit TV shows, "Girlfriends" and Netflix's "Forever," which is in production for its second season. The book is centered on a magazine editor, a messy character that's delicious to read, coming to terms with her past.

Meghan Morris, Singapore bureau chief: Fortesa Latifi's "Like, Follow, Subscribe" wades into the child influencer debate with much-needed nuance — and a smart angle about the big business of family content creators.

Akin Oyedele, deputy editor of newsletters: What do consultants actually do? The book "When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm" answers it, and probably makes you very cynical of the super-secretive industry.

Ryan Kailath, senior editor, economy: My supply chain book club is reading Meg Jacobs' "Panic at the Pump" about how the original "biggest oil shock in modern history" sprang from and spiraled into further political crises and changed the course of global history.

Kate Ortega, director of newsroom operations: My summer reading recommendation: "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond. It explains how the development of societies around the world is deeply rooted in the geographic differences of the places they were formed. I find myself thinking about it off and on, even a decade after I first read it.

Jennifer Beck Goldblatt, senior editor, health and parenting: Bruce Holsinger's "Culpability" has a lot going on: tragedy, family drama, young love, and dark secrets, all set near the sprawling waterfront estate of a billionaire. The writing feels fresh as the suspense is amplified through the lens of modern technology, mainly the morality — or lack thereof — surrounding our use of AI.

Max Adams, deputy editor, markets: "Malazan Book of the Fallen," by Steven Erikson. If you are among the fans waking up to the possibility that George R. R. Martin might not ever finish Game of Thrones, here's a 10-book fantasy series that's already complete. The books are a commitment, but once you're in, it's hard to get out.

What are you reading? Send me your summer reading list at srussolillo@businessinsider.com.

BI may earn a commission if you purchase through our links.

• Lloyd Blankfein grew up poor, made it to Harvard, and went on to become CEO of Goldman Sachs.
• Blankfein's background led to challenges around giving and fitting in, he writes in "Streetwise."
• The former bank chief is happily retired and enjoys being free to trade, read books, and learn.

Lloyd Blankfein went from being a poor kid on a Brooklyn housing project to a Harvard graduate, a corporate tax lawyer, then the CEO of Goldman Sachs.

His titanic change in circumstances required a major shift in mindset, Blankfein explained in "Streetwise," his memoir published this spring.

He wrote that "growing up in public housing, in a family that was just getting by, and attending public schools that were failing, left its mark on me."

When counting every dollar and applying for scholarships was the norm, it was the "furthest thing from your mind to give money away," Blankfein wrote. "It required an adjustment on my part when I started to earn a lot and had to learn to enjoy donating some of it."

Blankfein recalled several times in his life when his hardscrabble upbringing clashed with the affluence around him. At Harvard, he watched his crewmates on the rowing team "ripping towels into shreds" for use as makeshift headbands.

"Where I came from, you used a towel for approximately forty years," he wrote. "Here people didn't husband everything or feel that they always had to defer gratification."

Blankfein also told the story of an awkward dinner at a wealthy girlfriend's house:

"The first course looked like the top of a pineapple, and I picked off leaves and started eating with everyone else. I chewed and chewed and wasn't getting anywhere. Everyone was looking at me. It turns out I was trying to chew and swallow the leaves of an artichoke, which I had never seen before."

His girlfriend's parents kept requesting their guest "do things they knew were outside my comfort zone, like opening a bottle of champagne. When the cork shot out of the bottle, I almost lost an eye, to everyone else's amusement."

Blankfein wrote that after living at both ends of the wealth spectrum, he has mixed feelings about raising affluent children.

"I spend half my time wanting to give stuff to my kids, the other half tormenting them for having stuff I gave them that I didn't have," he wrote.

Retiring in style

Blankfein retired as Goldman's CEO in 2018 after years of weathering crises, battling the press, wrangling with regulators, flying across the world every few weeks, and even surviving cancer.

That last experience made him think hard about how he wanted to spend the rest of his life, and what meaning it would have.

"It couldn't be about one more weekend when I said goodbye to my family on a Saturday afternoon so I could travel for more than twenty hours to arrive in China for a meeting first thing on Monday," he wrote.

Since retiring, Blankfein has been free to spend his days taking courses in physics and linguistics, perusing military histories and biographies, and taking on other intellectual pursuits.

"Being able to pursue my curiosity freely over the last few years has felt like a luxury and a gift," he wrote.

Blankfein also trades his personal account daily because "it's fun for me to make bets on the market," offers advice and punditry, supports nonprofits, and spends more time with his family as well as exercising and traveling for leisure.

He recalled in his memoir that when he made partner at Goldman, he was advised that his goal in life should be that if his obituary runs nine paragraphs, no more than three of them should be about his time at the firm.

"In other words, I was to contribute to the world separately from Goldman and was supposed to have a life after Goldman," he writes.

By the sound of it, Blankfein has taken that advice to heart.

• Fintech firm Revolut recently said early-career workers will have to be in the office at least 3 days a week.
• The decision comes as researchers debate whether remote work and AI are curbing entry-level hiring.
• Regardless of the cause, landing that first job is getting tougher for many grads.

If you're just starting your career, your boss might expect to see you in the office more often than your colleagues.

UK fintech company Revolut recently said that, starting in 2027, interns and participants in a program for recent grads will be expected to work in the office at least three days a week. The company will continue to allow other employees to choose whether to work remotely or in person.

Revolut says the change reflects the value of IRL learning for workers early in their careers.

"You don't just learn from your manager telling you what to do. You actually observe how other people conduct their work," said Queenie Li, the company's head of talent programs.

Researchers broadly agree that early-career employees benefit from in-person mentorship and informal learning.

Yet as firms like Revolut draw distinctions between junior and more experienced workers, labor market observers remain divided over the relative roles that remote work, AI, and other factors might play in employers' willingness to hire entry-level employees in the first place.

It's an important question because, for decades, college graduates in their early to mid-20s typically had a lower unemployment rate than the overall workforce. That's no longer the case. Since late 2018, these workers have often faced a higher jobless rate than the workforce as a whole, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

The remote-work effect

Peter John Lambert, a postdoctoral research fellow at the London School of Economics and the University of Warwick, and a colleague recently concluded that remote work better explains the decline in entry-level hiring than AI.

Lambert and Yannick Schindler of the UK's Ellison Institute of Technology examined hiring and job-listing data across several countries, including the US, before and after the arrival of ChatGPT and the pandemic-driven shift to remote work. They found that the share of entry-level hires fell by as much as 29% in recent years, while hiring for senior positions rose by more than 5%.

One reason it's easy to conflate AI's impact with that of remote work, Lambert said, is that both are associated with desk jobs that can be done from afar.

Lambert said remote work is the more likely reason for the drop in the entry-level share of new hires because the slowdown began before GenAI tools emerged, when the technology was still too limited to meaningfully affect hiring decisions.

"It's only when you compare these things jointly that you start to see a stronger relationship between work-from-home than generative AI," Lambert said.

New York Fed researchers reached a similar conclusion on the effects of remote work. The setup makes it harder for managers to train and mentor new employees, the researchers said. They studied an undisclosed Fortune 500 company and found that when colleagues are separated, "feedback tapers off dramatically."

"The loss in feedback is more pronounced for younger workers, who miss out on constructive comments that spur their development," they wrote.

Not everyone who studies remote work sees it as such a cut-and-dried explanation. Nicholas Bloom, an economics professor at Stanford University, said that remote work, AI, pandemic-era learning losses, and a broader hiring slowdown that's been particularly hard on tech jobs are all plausible explanations for the weak job market for college graduates. Yet, Bloom said, current data can't determine which factors are driving the trend or by how much.

The AI effect

In recent research, Mark Ma, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, found that companies with AI in job titles or job descriptions reduced overall hiring, with the biggest declines in early-career roles.

Ma said that suggests that as firms ramp up spending on AI or hire workers with AI skills, they need fewer entry-level employees.

"They are getting rid of these junior positions because the junior-level work could be more easily replaced by AI," he said.

Ma said that because remote work rates were higher a few years ago than they are now, recent grads should have had a tougher time then than they do today. Yet, he said, "the problem is getting worse now."

At the same time, firms with more remote job postings increased, rather than reduced, hiring for junior positions overall, Ma said.

"Those firms are actually growing faster, so they need to hire more people," he said.

Making learning happen

For those who do get jobs, many welcome at least some in-person work. A 2025 Gallup survey found that only about a quarter of Gen Z workers who could do their jobs remotely wanted to do so full time, compared with about one-third of older generations.

Hybrid setups, where workers spend at least part of the time in the office, can be a "happy medium" and an effective way to ensure early-career workers get the mentorship they need and often say they want, said Brad Hershbein, senior economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, a think tank.

Remote workers — especially those early in their careers — don't necessarily pick up on all the things that will make them as productive unless they're in the office to witness them, he said.

"In some cases, they end up being unhappy because they're just not learning some things," Hershbein said.

Making learning happen was part of what drove the thinking behind Revolut's in-office requirement for interns and some early-career workers, Li said. The firm plans to bring on about 500 interns and graduate-program participants in 2027, up from about 300 this year, she said.

• Uber's insurance and operational fees are among the biggest costs baked into a fare on the app.
• A recent study found they can vary a lot between very similar ride-hailing trips.
• Uber says it collects "overall insurance and operational expenses" instead of determining the cost of individual trips.

Uber charges riders a fee for insurance and operations — and it's harder to predict than the price you'll pay for the overall trip, a new study suggests.

Len Sherman, an executive in residence and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School, analyzed 120 Uber Reserve trips completed by one driver between Ithaca, New York, and an airport in Syracuse over a two-year period.

The trips were similar in several ways, Sherman said. Each was driven by the same driver in the same Tesla Model Y. Each also followed essentially the same route along the freeway, covered nearly identical distances, and began and ended at similar locations.

Across the roughly 60-mile trips, Uber's reported commercial auto insurance and operational charge on each ride ranged from $13.75 to $50 — an interesting result, Sherman said, given how similar the trips were from a risk standpoint.

"When you have identical trips by the same driver, the same car, and the same route in the same distance, there should not be a much higher variation in what you say your commercial insurance costs are," Sherman told Business Insider.

An Uber spokesperson told Business Insider that the fee covers government-mandated insurance for rides.

The fee can vary due to multiple factors, "including the trip's origin city and distance, duration, time of day, and weather, and is included in the price you see in the Uber app before requesting a ride," the spokesperson said.

Insurance accounts for one-fifth of the average ride-hailing fare

Uber has long said that rider prices and driver earnings can change based on demand. The variation in insurance and operational fees in the study, though, was "twice as high as the variance in price, pay," or the share of each fare that Uber keeps, Sherman said.

Uber says it relies on a mix of third-party insurance and self-insurance — setting aside cash to cover potential accidents or other claims — in its ride-hailing business.

Ride-hailing drivers can see how much Uber charges for insurance and operations on each ride by going into the details on a trip and in their weekly earnings roundups.

Uber says in the breakdown that the insurance and operational fee is an estimate and "does not reflect insurance expenses incurred on individual trips but goes toward overall insurance and operational expenses," according to screenshots of such roundups seen by Business Insider. It does not detail what counts as an operational expense.

On average, about 21% of each rider's fare on Uber and Lyft goes toward insurance costs, according to a study released this week by Gridwise, a platform that helps gig workers track their earnings.

About 53% goes to the driver, while 15% goes to the app. Gridwise analyzed data from trips completed during the first quarter of 2026.

Insurance costs for ride-hailing companies are falling in some parts of the US, Gridwise found.

In the Western US, for instance, the amount of a fare that ride-hailing companies set aside for insurance fell nearly 21% between the first quarter of 2025 and the same period in 2026, according to Gridwise. The savings came after California reduced insurance requirements at the start of 2026, Gridwise said.

Over the same period, ride-hailing companies raised platform fees and cut some rider prices, while raising driver pay 1.2% on average, said Brandon Sellers, Gridwise's vice president of marketing.

"Very, very, very little of that went to driver pay," Sellers said.

Do you have a story to share about Uber? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• A corporate attorney says his use of AI at work has made his life so much better.
• Zack Shapiro founded the AI-native law firm Rains and uses the tech to automate grunt work tasks.
• "It's making me dramatically more efficient," Shapiro told Business Insider.

Corporate attorney Zack Shapiro used to spend hours each workday stuck behind his desk drafting legal documents in Microsoft Word.

Now, the founder and managing partner of the boutique AI-native law firm Rains says artificial intelligence has fundamentally changed how he practices law — freeing him from much of the tedious work and even getting him out from behind his desk.

"It's making me dramatically more efficient," Shapiro told Business Insider late last month. "I really automated away basically all of the unpleasant or grunt work that I used to do."

Instead, the Yale Law School alum said he now spends more time doing the types of tasks he trained for: "the strategic thinking, advising my clients on what to do, person-to-person client discussions — the actual meat of being a lawyer."

Shapiro, who said he primarily uses Anthropic's Claude, said that he tends to use the chatbot's voice mode to talk through his legal work while walking around outside.

The New York-based lawyer said during a recent appearance on the livestreamed tech news show MTS, that that's when he does his "most difficult cognitive work."

On walks, Shapiro said, he will "free associate into the microphone for three to four minutes," and by the time he gets back to his desk, he'll have a first draft.

"That's just an awesome way to practice law," he said. "It's made my life so much better."

Shapiro told Business Insider that although his venture capital and M&A deal-focused firm has just three lawyers, it operates like a much bigger one.

"It feels like I have an army of AI agents," said Shapiro. "The real humans are focused on the more human part of the job — the judgment and client advice — and this allows me regularly to compete against much larger firms."

Earlier this year, Shapiro chronicled his AI-driven workflow in an online post titled, "The Claude-Native Law Firm," which garnered millions of views.

Since then, Shapiro said he's been involved in a consulting practice working with some Big Law firms to help them integrate AI into their practices the same way he does at Rains.

"I'm pretty bearish on specific legal tech products like Harvey and Legora," Shapiro said, explaining that he believes the "best way forward" for lawyers is to learn how to use AI tools like Claude directly.

"It's really about the prompts and instructions that lawyers give to the AI," he said.

• Cody Berman achieved financial independence by 26 through strategic investing and side hustles.
• Berman prefers low-cost index funds for passive growth, which he calls "the lazy way" to invest.
• He also invests in real estate, shifting from rentals to syndications.

Cody Berman achieved financial independence by following a simple rule: Keep your expenses below your income and invest the difference.

Between various side hustles and entrepreneurial ventures, he widened the gap between what he earned and what he spent throughout his early 20s. By 2021, shortly before his 26th birthday, Berman said he had about $500,000 invested in the stock market, 13 rental units producing about $3,700 a month in cash flow, and a digital-products business earning more than $10,000 a month.

That was the point when he considered himself financially independent.

Business Insider reviewed screenshots of Berman's Vanguard, Schwab, and Empower accounts showing that his net worth exceeded $1 million as of 2026.

Using the "lazy way" to build a seven-figure net worth

Like many proponents of the FIRE movement, Berman invests much of his money in low-cost index funds.

"It's a lazy way to invest in a good way," the author of "Retire by 30" told BI. "You just set it and forget it."

Index-fund investors don't have to pick individual companies or try to predict which businesses will outperform.

"You're not playing a guessing game. You're not playing the lottery," said Berman. "You're just investing in the economy as a whole."

It's an effective strategy, he added, pointing to Warren Buffett's famous bet against a group of hedge funds, in which the billionaire investor wagered that an S&P 500 index fund would outperform a collection of actively managed funds over a 10-year period: "It's not just me saying, 'Pick the index because it's easy.' It actually works, too."

Berman also referenced a widely circulated Fidelity anecdote suggesting that some of the best-performing investors were those who forgot about their accounts — a reminder that frequent tinkering can hurt returns.

"If you just set it and forget it and leave it in a low-cost index fund, that's probably going to be the right answer for 99.9% of people," he said. "This stuff isn't rocket science. Once you know what index funds to buy, you can kind of set up a system on autopilot."

That approach appealed to him because it eliminated the need for in-the-moment discipline.

"I'm such a systems guy," said Berman, who automatically moves a set amount of money from his bank account into a specific index fund each month. "Systems beat willpower every single time."

Berman said he didn't spend much time contributing to a corporate retirement plan because his stint in a traditional job was brief. Since becoming an entrepreneur, however, he has prioritized tax-advantaged accounts. He said he maxes out an IRA, a solo 401(k), and an HSA each year, while any money left over goes into a taxable brokerage account or real estate.

Real estate investing: From rentals to syndications

After starting with a house hack to eliminate their housing expense, Berman and his wife bought 11 rental units between late 2020 and mid-2021. They put roughly $200,000 toward down payments, he said, and the properties generated enough cash flow to cover much of their lifestyle.

He liked that rentals provided recurring monthly income.

"With the stock market, it's not like I'm selling off investments every month to live. But with real estate, we're actually getting rent in our account."

That said, he has been shifting away from rentals, which can be time-consuming due to maintenance and tenant management, and toward a more passive real-estate strategy: syndications, which allow investors to participate in larger real-estate deals without personally buying or operating the property.

"I still want the real-estate exposure, but I don't want to go out there and just buy a 20-unit apartment building myself and then have to get it tenanted and figure out how to set up all the maintenance stuff," he said.

He described the syndication strategy as "owning rental properties without actually having to own rental properties."

Whether it's index funds or real-estate syndications, Berman is looking for the same thing: investments that can compound in the background while he focuses elsewhere.

• The market's AI trade is in the midst of a transition.
• The trade appears to be splitting, with chip stocks on a tear while capex spenders in the Mag Seven struggle.
• The divergence is stark but sources say the bull market doesn't need the hyperscalers to keep stacking the gains.

There's one big question that seems to be on the market's mind: How much is too much when it comes to AI capex?

The concern is evident in the growing split between the shares of the AI trade's biggest spenders and chipmakers, with chip and other hardware stocks soaring while hyperscalers — which have earmarked billions for AI spend this year — are getting punished by investors.

Despite some selling pressure this week, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index has continued to move up and to the right, recently posting its best-ever quarter. The chips index was up a record 88% in the second quarter, its best quarterly performance ever.

The performance of the Magnificent Seven, by comparison, has been weak. The Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF, which tracks the seven tech giants that have collectively surged on a wave of AI hype in recent years, has tumbled from its peak in May.

Every Magnificent Seven stock have lagged the Nasdaq 100's 16% gain this year, with many down double digits.

The shift appears to have signaled a new chapter for the AI trade, which revolves around one issue in particular: how investors feel about the companies shelling out the big bucks to invest in AI.

"A major trigger for this outperformance has been the spectacular revision in the 2026 plans by hyperscalers," JPMorgan said of the divergence in stocks this week, pointing to how AI capex spending plans among the largest firms are on track to soar 100% year-over-year.

Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft, four of the largest spenders in the AI trade, are on track to spend as much as $725 billion on capex this year alone. By the end of the decade, the four tech giants' AI capex will likely exceed the GDP of major economies like Japan, according to a projection from Goldman Sachs.

There's an "intuitive nature" in how markets often rotate from firms that heavily invest in something new, to firms that supply the hardware, Art Hogan, the chief market strategist at B. Riley Wealth Management, told Business Insider. He pointed to a similar pattern that preceded prior market booms, using the analogy of the gold rush, when wealth flowed heavily to those selling shovels and picks, while the prospectors chasing actual gold in the rivers and hills came up mostly empty handed.

"It's certainly more of an evolution," he said of the market trend.

The end of the bubble?

There are some mixed views on what the divergence actually means among Wall Street prognosticators, with some framing the rotation as a positive, while others have floated it as a possible omen for the AI bubble to soon burst.

Strategists at JPMorgan said the divergence looks "somewhat unsustainable," and floated two possible ways the gap between chip stocks and hyperscalers could narrow.

In the more bullish scenario, hyperscalers see improvement in AI monetization, leading them to "catch up" with chip stocks.

In the bearish scenario, hyperscalers could start to pull back AI capex spending, creating a feedback loop where depressed spending starts to hurt chip stocks.

In a separate note, JPMorgan added that the growing divergence between big spenders and hardware stocks was also seen in markets the months leading up to the dot-com crash.

"The semiconductor trade could come under severe pressure, inducing a more significant and sustained correction in the AI trade," a team led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote on Wednesday, though they added that the bank was leaning toward the more bullish scenario.

Hogan pushed back on the idea that the rotation is an omen for the AI trade, but speculated that more AI firms will likely exit the market in the future as the market narrows its list of true winners in the artificial intelligence race.

"We'll continue to see the evolution of where the spoils are," he said. "Right now, it just happens to be in the cohort of memory players," he added, pointing to blistering rally in memory stocks like Micron Technology and Korea's SK Hynix in recent months.

Bret Kenwell, an investment and options analyst at eToro, also said he is taking a more agnostic stance on the ongoing rotation, rather than declaring it bullish or bearish outright. It's not necessarily good or bad for the long-term health of the AI bull market, since investors don't necessarily need the hyperscalers to keep the trade alive, he told Business Insider.

"Micron just hit a trillion," he said of the chip maker's market cap. "From the perspective of if the trade can keep going without the participation of the Mag Seven, without question, it could keep going."

• A handful of California's estimated 214 billionaires are trying to stop a proposed wealth tax.
• Google cofounder Sergey Brin, who moved assets out of the state, has spent $82 million.
• Here are those joining him, including Peter Thiel, ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and DoorDash CEO Tony Xu.

California's tech billionaires and millionaires are going down spending.

This November, Californians will vote on whether to impose a billionaire tax after a last-minute push for Gov. Gavin Newsom to broker a deal failed to materialize.

With their fortunes (or at least a lengthy court battle) potentially at stake, some of the biggest names in tech have poured in over $120 million to try to outright sink or complicate the chances of a one-time 5% wealth tax on state residents and trusts with assets over $1 billion.

In comparison, SEIU-UHW, a healthcare workers union, the wealth tax's primary backer, has received roughly $31 million thus far.

Here's a look at some of the biggest names that are lined up against the tax

Sergey Brin

Google cofounder Sergey Brin was one of the biggest names to move assets outside California ahead of a key deadline in January.

That hasn't stopped him from being the single largest funder of the opposition to the billionaire tax through a political committee called "Building a Better California."

All told, Brin has donated a staggering $82 million to Building a Better California so far. He cut his most recent check, a $16 million donation, on May 15, just over a month before the deadline for finalizing ballot initiatives.

According to Bloomberg's estimates, Brin is worth $280 billion and is the world's third-richest person.

John Doerr

Kleiner Perkins chairman John Doerr famously wrote the firm's $12.5 million check for a stake in Google.

Doerr has donated $10 million to Building a Better California, making him the group's second-largest donor after Brin, who, alongside cofounder Larry Page, pitched Doerr on Google all those years ago.

Doerr stepped down from the venture capital firm in 2016 but remains chairman. He also serves on Alphabet's board.

According to Bloomberg's estimates, Doerr is worth $15.6 billion.

Chris Larsen

In 2012, Chris Larsen cofounded OpenCoin, which would later be renamed Ripple Labs, a blockchain financial infrastructure company.

Larsen stepped down as Ripple CEO in December 2016, but remains executive chairman. In 2018, Larsen made history as the first person to join Forbes' 400 richest list with a fortune comprised primarily of cryptocurrency.

Larsen has donated $2.5 million to Building a Better California. He has also donated $5 million to Golden State Promise, a group that is outright opposing the tax. Separately, Ripple has also donated $5 million to that effort.

According to Bloomberg's estimates, Larsen is worth $12.4 billion.

Michael Moritz

A former Time Magazine journalist, Michael Moritz, joined Sequoia Capital in the 1980s and remained there until he stepped down in 2023.

Moritz has donated $7.5 million to Building a Better California.

An early investor in Google and PayPal, Moritz became a renowned venture capitalist and helped make Sequoia into one of Silicon Valley's leading firms. In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II knighted the Welsh native.

According to Forbes' estimates, Moritz is worth $8 billion.

Patrick Collison

Patrick Collison cofounded Stripe, a payments company, alongside his brother John.

Patrick Collison has donated $7 million to Building a Better California. As CEO, Collison has made Stripe into a fintech leader.

According to Bloomberg's estimates, Collison is worth $16.3 billion.

Eric Schmidt

Brin isn't the only Googler lining up against the tax.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has donated $3,026,176.51. After Brin, Schmidt was the earliest donor to Building a Better California.

According to Bloomberg's estimates, Schmidt is worth $58.7 billion.

Peter Thiel

PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel backed away from political spending after the 2022 midterms. In January, he made one of his largest donations since then to a group looking to stop the billionaire tax.

In December 2025, Thiel donated $3 million to the political arm of the California Business Roundtable. While Thiel's donation was not to explicitly stop the tax, the longtime industry group is one of many lined up against it.

In the meantime, the Palantir cofounder has gone further than some of California's other billionaires. The New York Times reported in May that Thiel is spending more time in Argentina.

According to Bloomberg's estimates, Thiel is worth $22.1 billion.

Stewart Resnick

Billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick first bought California farmland in 1978 as a hedge against inflation. Now, Wonderful Company estimates that nearly half of all Americans buy products it grows, harvests, bottles, and packages every year.

Stewart Resnick has donated $2.5 million to Building a Better California.

Wonderful Company's brands include Fiji Water, Pom Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, and Wonderful Halos. The company owns roughly 180,000 acres of California farmland.

According to Forbes' estimates, Stewart Resnick is worth $5.4 billion.

Tony Xu

DoorDash CEO Tony Xu cofounded the delivery service alongside three of his Stanford classmates.

Xu has donated $2 million to Building a Better California.

When DoorDash IPOed in 2020, Xu instantly became a billionaire. According to Forbes' estimates, Xu is worth $1.8 billion.

Max Levchin

Affirm CEO Max Levchin cofounded what later became PayPal in 1998 and has since become a leading member of the so-called "PayPal Mafia."

Levchin has donated $1 million to Building a Better California.

In 2014, Levchin started Affirm, a buy-now, pay-later fintech company, which went public in January 2021. Affirm now has a total market cap of roughly $28 billion.

According to Forbes' estimates, Levchin is worth $2.5 billion.

Ron Conway

Angel investor Ron Conway has spent decades working behind the scenes in Silicon Valley.

In March, Conway told Jack Altman, the youngest brother of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, that he was working to get Newsom to kill the proposed tax before it reached the ballot, an effort that proved unsuccessful.

"Our job is to get Gavin to negotiate this so that it doesn't get to the ballot," Conway told Jack Altman during an episode of Altman's "Untapped" podcast.

Conway has donated $100,000 to Stop the Squeeze, a political group that is outright opposing the proposed tax.

Altman publicly thanked Conway for helping aid his return to the AI startup following Altman's brief ouster in 2023.

It's unclear what Conway's net worth is. He was an early investor in Airbnb and GitHub, among other companies.

Daniel Tierny

Daniel Tierny cofounded the Global Electronic Trading Company (GETCO) in the 1990s after cutting his teeth as an options trader in Chicago.

Now, Tierny leads Wicklow Capital, a family office venture firm he founded in 2013 that focuses on investments in "ABCD," AI, blockchain, climate, and democracy.

Tierny has donated $500,000 to Building a Better California. He is one of 10 people to have donated to the group.

It's unclear what Tierny's net worth is.

• In a new study, researchers at Harvard Business School analyzed AI-native startups.
• These are startups that leverage AI to automate work and in the products they build.
• They have fewer workers, more technical talent, and a flatter management structure.

AI, it seems, is for the experts.

In a new working paper, researchers at Harvard Business School and the nonprofit business school, INSEAD, found that AI-native startups are building smaller, flatter teams with fewer entry-level workers than their non-AI peers.

The study, titled "AI-Native Firms," examined Y Combinator startups from 2020 to 2024 and a broader set of US venture-backed startups whose first financing closed during the same period.

The paper defines a new category of "AI-native startups" characterized by two shifts in productivity. The first is the process channel: They use AI inside the company to make employees more productive, such as helping them code, sell, design, or coordinate work faster. The second is the product channel: They embed AI directly into what the company sells, so customers can use the product to perform work that once required human teams.

AI-native startups are 25% smaller, with about 13% more engineers, and their shares of entry-level workers and managers are each roughly 15% lower than non-AI-native startups.

The findings test a broadly accepted premise of the AI boom: AI is reshaping the bottom rungs of the career ladder. Entry-level workers are using it to take on bigger responsibilities sooner and automate routine tasks. This comes as vibecoding has also made it easier for non-engineers to turn ideas into prototypes, blurring the threshold and need for technical talent.

However, the paper found that the AI is creating a greater demand for expert-level talent. The share of senior workers at AI-native startups is 20% higher, and these companies tend to attract a specific type of worker.

"AI-tagged firms employ smaller teams of more talented and technical workers. These workers are especially likely to be graduates from elite institutions, concentrated in Silicon Valley, and male," the authors wrote.

That suggests AI-native startups may not be democratizing access to opportunities so much as concentrating opportunity among already-credentialed, highly technical workers.

The authors' bigger concern is how that will affect demographic gaps.

"If AI tools accelerate learning for those who use them, differential adoption rates may translate into widening performance gaps — both for individual workers within firms and for the entrepreneurs who found them," the researchers wrote.

Andrew Tobias is a New York City millionaire, and he will happily pay more taxes. Just make sure to send him a fruit basket.

The financial writer is part of the Patriotic Millionaires, an advocacy group of high-net-worth Americans who crusade for higher taxes on the wealthy. He said he would not mind paying them in New York City, which he said is a city "worth supporting."

One of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's key campaign promises was to raise taxes on the wealthy to help bridge the city's budget gap and use that money for free buses and universal childcare. In May, state lawmakers passed a pied-à-terre tax, spearheaded by Mamdani, that more than doubled property taxes on second homes valued at over $5 million.

Many wealthy New Yorkers are not on board. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin denounced the new policy after Mamdani filmed a video announcing the tax in front of Griffin's New York City penthouse.

"The tax itself is a tax that discriminates against a narrow group of people," he said in an interview with CNBC.

While Tobias agrees with Mamdani that the ultrawealthy should pay more taxes, he said that these wealthy taxpayers should be celebrated, not vilified.

"The Mayor should send the ultra-wealthy taxpayers a thank-you note and a fruit basket, so to speak," he said. "People who are successful and pay a lot of taxes should, first of all, be celebrated, and respected, and probably thanked."

Tobias is one of several New Yorkers Business Insider interviewed as part of our Cost of the City series, which looks to understand how people across the five boroughs get by in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

How a multimillionaire makes and spends his money in NYC

The 79-year-old writer, who winters in Miami, gained his fortune after publishing his book "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" in 1978 and launching Managing Your Money, a personal finance software application, in 1984. He also benefited from property investments he bought in Miami in the mid-1980s and sold about 20 years later.

Tobias made a living by giving investment and financial advice to people through the written word. He wrote articles and columns for multiple magazines, including Esquire, Time, and Playboy, and published 12 books — three that became New York Times best-sellers. He is also well known for his memoir, "The Best Little Boy in the World," originally published under a pseudonym in 1973, that recounts his experiences growing up gay in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Now, he splits his time in New York between his beach house on Fire Island and his Upper West Side apartment, which he bought in 1977 for $11,000 in cash plus a $30,000 mortgage. Today, he estimates the apartment is worth around $2.5 million. He also owns four apartments in Miami — one for him and the other three for guests.

"I'm one of the very fortunate people who can afford to live in New York," he said. He receives a monthly $3,360 check from Social Security, $6,600 a month from a charitable gift annuity, an annual royalty check, and "takes a few hundred thousand dollars a year" from his IRA. Every other year, he also gets a check from reruns of his appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson: the last one he got was for 38 cents.

He estimates his biggest expense, along with taxes, is charitable and political giving. He said his federal taxes vary a lot year to year, but he paid $350,000 in city and state taxes in 2025. Every year, he donates money to build a school through the international nonprofit buildOn, and donates both to the Success Academy, a network of free public charter schools in New York City, and the Amazon Conservation Team, a nonprofit focused on Amazon conservation and Indigenous rights.

"I like money," he said. "I love being able to give it away."

Paying taxes in NYC hasn't always been smooth sailing

Tobias was born in Lenox Hill Hospital on the Upper East Side. He came from an upper-middle-class family, with a father who worked as an advertising executive and a mother from whom he inherited the "happy gene."

"The one really smart thing I've done in my life is my choice in parents," he said with a smile.

He briefly lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while completing his undergraduate degree in Slavic languages and literatures at Harvard University and later on his MBA at the Harvard Business School.

While Tobias today supports higher taxes on wealthy people like himself, he moved out of the city in the 1980s after a tax dispute with the New York City Department of Finance. The department wanted to charge him unincorporated business taxes for work he had been doing as a writer and speaker outside New York, which Tobias argued was absurd.

"I read all their definition of who's a business — and I wasn't a business," he said.

He said it didn't make sense to pay the unincorporated business tax for "the privilege of doing business in the city of New York" when giving a speech in Utah, for example.

He threatened that if they made him pay the tax, he would permanently move to Miami, spending six months there a year and costing New York City all the taxes he was already paying. In the end, he paid the tax and changed his permanent residence to Miami.

"It was a matter of manhood. Having made that threat, I felt I had to follow through," he said. "I didn't leave because of the money, I left because they made me crazy."

He said he used the extra money he saved from not paying New York City taxes to give away to charitable causes.

"Being able to take that same money and give it away instead to worthy causes that I chose was such a better feeling than having it taken," Tobias said. "Every time I gave that money to whatever cause it was, I would get a wonderful thank you note — which wasn't the reason I gave it — but it just makes you feel great," he said, referring to his fruit basket analogy.

Yet, Miami was no New York. After 25 years, he decided to move back to New York to be close to his loved ones.

"I decided I didn't want to worry about how many days I spent where, I wanted to be close to important people in my life who were dying," he said. "I just started paying New York taxes again nearly 20 years ago. I don't mind: it's a great city."

Although he still spends the winters in Miami, the rest of the year he splits his time between his Manhattan apartment and his beach house on Fire Island, a residence he said had "more happiness per square foot." Although taxes are high, he said he can afford them and would not live anywhere else.

Frugal in some ways, extravagant in others

Tobias considers himself "frugal" in some aspects. He does not own a car, takes public transportation, and refuses to waste food.

"One of my hobbies is eating expired food," he said. "I have some salad dressing that's older than you."

He also never had kids, a therapist, or any big medical bills to add to his regular expenses.

What he likes to spend his money on is unique pieces of documented history, eccentricities, and art. His apartment walls are lined with lithographs, New Yorker comics, and signed historical documents, like the Presidential Pride Proclamation signed by President Bill Clinton.

"It's a crazy person's apartment, but I love it," he said.

Tobias considers himself very lucky. He travels to Europe every May, splurges on dinners with friends, and was able to pay for the wedding of his two closest friends. Still a political activist, he served as the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee from 1999 to 2017, remains involved with the party, and continues to write about politics on his personal website.

"Instead of the enormous expense of raising kids in New York, and hats off to the parents who do," Tobias said. "I get to raise Democrats — and help things like Success Academy and BuildOn and the Amazon Conservation Team. I am a very lucky guy."

• The Stanford grads behind Clair Health built a wearable to track women's hormones.
• They say today's wearables have a blind spot for women.
• Read the pitch deck that helped them raise $11.6 million from Khosla and others.

Two Stanford grads believe the $100 billion wearables market has a major blind spot: women's health.

Investors seem to agree.

Clair Health, a San Francisco startup cofounded by 22-year-old CEO Jenny Duan and 24-year-old CTO Abhinav Agarwal, has raised $11.6 million in seed funding to develop a bracelet that tracks women's hormones.

Competitors like Oura, Whoop, and Fitbit have incorporated women's health features in recent years, including cycle tracking. But Clair says it was built around monitoring hormones, arguing they play a critical role in fertility, menopause, and overall health.

"Historically, we've seen this category as something that's been deemed niche," said Duan. "It's about time that a company really with women's health at its core starts building towards this mission."

"If hormones are the underlying operating system of women's health, then why is there not a better way of tracking them?" Agarwal added.

The funding was led by Khosla Ventures with participation from a16z Speedrun, Brydge Club, Treehub, Cartan Capital, AGI House, Insiders VC, and Anne Wojcicki.

The Clair Health bracelet uses a proprietary math model that maps how the brain and ovaries work together to regulate hormones.

Funds will support further research and accelerate the launch of the device and its companion app in November. Clair has seven full-time employees, and about 14 contract and part-time workers, Agarwal said.

Duan and Agarwal met during a spring break trip organized by Stanford and connected over shared interests. Duan had a background in women's health advocacy and nonprofit work, while Agarwal previously worked on a glucose-monitoring startup.

Clair says its first production run of 5,000 devices has sold out, and more than 25,000 people are on a waitlist. Early orders were priced at $295 and included a free subscription to the app. The device will ultimately retail for $369 with a paid subscription.

Here's a look at the pitch deck Clair Health used to raise its $11.6 million seed. Slides have been redacted so that the deck can be shared publicly.

• I've flown long-haul economy on a dozen airlines while traveling to 50 countries.
• Etihad, Air France, and American Airlines stood out for their food, comfort, and entertainment.
• China Eastern's staff was nice, but the app was hard to navigate, and the amenities were lacking.

I've flown on a dozen major airlines in my trial-and-error quest to find the least painful options for my frequent transoceanic trips abroad.

After four years of exclusively flying economy class and comparing seats, service, entertainment, food, and prices, I've found Etihad Airways, Air France, and American Airlines offer the best value on long-haul treks — while China Eastern Airlines wasn't for me.

When choosing flights, I primarily look for the cheapest seats with the best connections and travel times. I also consider factors like how easily I can preorder a vegetarian meal or how much legroom I'll have at 5-foot-10, especially on red-eyes when I want to sleep.

I don't expect premium-cabin perks in economy, particularly as airlines increasingly move away from coach to invest in the front of the plane.

But my top three long-haul airlines offer reasonable fares and are noticeably more comfortable than others in my experience.

Etihad is my top choice.

I flew round-trip on Etihad from Rome to Kuala Lumpur via Abu Dhabi in December for about $600, and it's now my go-to airline — everything on the UAE-based carrier just feels a bit fancier than any other major airline I've flown.

My aisle seat on the Boeing 787 was well cushioned, and the wide winged headrest, soft blanket, and large plush pillow made rest and sleep significantly easier across the four seven-hour legs.

The seat also had a touchscreen remote and extra seatback pockets, while my partner bought WiFi for $9.99 per flight and found it good enough to work. I also appreciated the extensive selection of movies, with hundreds of recent films in multiple languages.

Because the flight was over six hours, I was given a reusable tote with lotion, lip balm, an eye mask, earplugs, and a dental kit — the first time I've seen that kind of extra in economy.

The food was also a highlight. I easily preordered a vegetarian meal on Etihad's website, and the menu was much larger than expected.

I chose an Indian curry with several sides that was better than some restaurant meals. This was a big plus since good airline vegetarian options are hard to find or preorder in my experience.

I liked the small details on Air France.

I flew on Air France from Porto, Portugal, to Bogotá, Colombia, via Paris in 2022, also on a Boeing 787.

I was surprised to find the more upscale carrier — which was named the best in Western Europe by the airline ranking website Skytrax in 2025 — offering competitive prices. I paid about $550.

Everything seemed new and clean from my aisle seat, and the plane had nice touches like a coat hook and a cup holder on the seatback.

I was particularly impressed by the larger portion sizes on the long-haul leg, and the French pastries were flaky and buttery.

As a freelance writer who often works on the go, the free WiFi and seat space in economy were so good that I worked most of the 10-hour flight. Air France consistently makes long travel days easier.

The route now exclusively uses the Airbus A350, offering about an inch more shoulder room and faster Starlink WiFi than the older satellite system on my flight four years ago.

American offers good value on long-haul flights.

I flew American from Tampa to Seoul via Dallas-Fort Worth in February 2025, and it's now my preferred US-based airline for value on long-haul flights. I paid about $630; the leg to Seoul lasted nearly 15 hours.

From gate to gate, I found the experience easy and comfortable. Boarding the Boeing 777 was smooth, and the food was a step above most other long-haul flights I've been on.

The vegetarian meal, which had chickpeas, veggies, and rice and came with bread and dessert, tasted fresh and was easy to preorder. American also serves bibimbap, a South Korean beef dish, as a main meal option on the Seoul service.

As for the coach seat, I found it well-cushioned, and I had plenty of legroom and arm space in my middle seat, despite the 10-abreast seating layout, which is standard for this plane type. It's one of the few airlines on which I've actually slept well.

American is actively upgrading its long-haul 777 and 787 fleets with enhancements like faster WiFi, Bluetooth audio, and more charging options for coach travelers.

China Eastern wasn't a fit for me.

I flew China Eastern for 13 hours from Osaka, Japan, to Rome via Shanghai in June last year. The flight cost about $500, a few hundred dollars cheaper than most of the comparable options.

The morning flight, which was on an Airbus A350, landed right on time, and I found the cabin crew very kind. My middle seat was fine; it came with linens and a headrest.

However, I was disappointed with the overall flight experience.

The China Eastern website and mobile app appeared to be designed primarily for Mandarin-speaking users, and checking in online took over an hour — the site kept switching between languages and had many broken links.

I also found the WiFi confusing. Basic speeds cost $20, which was too pricey for me. There's a way to get free internet, but it wasn't clear at the time of booking and requires passengers to pre-register for a limited pool of first-come, first-served passes before the flight.

I also didn't like the food or the entertainment.

The broccoli-and-rice dish was overly sweet for my taste, and the veggies in my noodle dish tasted overcooked. It was all very one-note and among my least favorite airplane meals.

Meanwhile, I thought the movie options were lacking, consisting almost exclusively of Chinese films and offering limited subtitle options. I recognize the airline probably serves Chinese customers better, but as an American, it wasn't enjoyable.

It was also a reminder to always bring my own snacks and movies rather than relying on the airline's offerings.

China Eastern did not respond to Business Insider for a request for comment.

• Henry Blodget told Business Insider why he wrote a novel about an AI supervillain.
• "The risks are big," he said of AI, "which, in fiction, gives you a nice canvas to work with."
• Blodget said he edited the book with Claude, but intentionally did not let AI draft it.

Victor Leetum is a tech billionaire with a plan: "Cloning himself with AI so he can live forever and take over the world."

He'll do anything to achieve his goal, from exploiting cops to hiring mercenaries and downing planes. That is, if we're to believe William Swain, the narrator of Business Insider founder Henry Blodget's new page-turner, "The Upgrade."

That might sound familiar. Executives are creating AI twins of themselves. They're seeking the fountain of youth via peptides, plasma infusions, and biohacking. There's also a swirling doomerism around AI, one that shrouds its leaders in conspiracy theories. Don't ask your tinfoil-hat-uncle about Peter Thiel.

Blodget made his name during the dot-com era, when stocks soared and wallets fattened on the internet's growth. "This is incredibly similar, except it basically has another three zeroes at the end," Blodget told me. "The numbers are astounding."

His book is a way of reckoning with all that money and pessimism. While CEOs get rich, they also extol the risks that AI could pose: the wipeout of the workforce, the elimination of truth, the destruction of humanity. Those early equity holders are also the ones warning of a "permanent underclass."

"The risks are big," Blodget said, "which, in fiction, gives you a nice canvas to work with."

Blodget says he wanted to write the book himself — but allowed Claude to give feedback

"The Upgrade" follows Swain, a millionaire ex-CEO who grew up with and later competed against the more deep-pocketed Leetum. He knows Leetum's sinister intentions: to make AI superbeings, himself chief among them, and rule humanity. Swain must stop Leetum's plan and convince the cops he's not the true villain.

Blodget is an analyst and journalist at heart, spending years on Wall Street before founding this publication. Blodget stepped down as CEO of Business Insider in 2023, and left its board in 2024.

He once pursued an MA in fiction at New York University, he said, and published a short story 20 years ago. This moment, Blodget thought, calls for the form. There's a "depth of life" that's difficult to access in tech non-fiction, Blodget said, and life is exactly what writing needs in the AI era.

Early in his writing process, Blodget said a friend called him an "idiot" for not writing the novel with AI.

"I have no doubt that Claude, ChatGPT, and others are going to write really good books at some point," he said. "For me, I actually wanted to write it. The point was to do it."

He still used AI in the editing process. He shortened an early hospital scene after Claude said it was getting boring. He also asked Claude to "fact-check" the book, ensuring that he didn't contradict himself.

Some of Claude's feedback was "suckup-y" or misremembered plot points, he said. Still, Blodget has no shame in his AI use — even while writing about how AI could ruin the world.

"It takes a human seven hours to read a book," Blodget said. "To have it done in 17 seconds is astonishing."

The book's cover is emblazoned with a review from Claude: "Unforgettable."

AI twins and data centers

Some things in "The Upgrade" are purely fictionalized. Blodget added a new element to the periodic table, after all. Others are painstakingly realistic, he said, like long descriptions of data centers or definitions of consciousness.

Then there's the in-between — realistic, but not yet feasible. Swain lost his daughter, Loon, before the book's start. When Leetum produces a hyperrealistic AI version of her, Swain spends much of the novel trying to save his digital daughter from a second death.

"We already have pretty sophisticated AI twins," Blodget said. "No one is thinking, 'Hey, it's a conscious entity,' but that's not a far leap."

Many of us are living in this in-between world. Tech leaders make big promises about a coming AI onslaught, telling us to prepare for the world we haven't yet seen. It's helped cement AI's status as deeply unpopular. Graduates are booing references to AI at their commencement ceremonies, and Americans would rather live near a nuclear reactor than a data center.

"There is a visceral wave of animosity toward AI right now," Blodget said. He finds the job apocalypse claims to be unfounded, but said that the general pessimism was "totally understandable."

So, how should we read a novel about AI supervillains in the age of AI hate? It's not a doomer novel, Blodget said. He pointed to the novel's happy ending and the unexpected connection with Swain's AI daughter.

"There also is a very optimistic piece of AI here," he said.

But there's a reason Blodget released "The Upgrade" first, rather than its prequel, a space-race novel about Swain's origins that's sitting on the shelf. This one speaks to the moment.

"It's both this tremendously, potentially scary and dangerous thing, and something that can be miraculous," Blodget said. "We don't really know yet where we end up on that."

• Ingrid Brown has been a professional trucker for nearly 47 years.
• Brown said that the driver's job has evolved technologically to be safer over the years.
• She's not yet sold on autonomous trucks and wants to see the technology validated first.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ingrid Brown, a professional truck driver and operations manager at Blackjack Express LLC. It has been edited for length and clarity.

When I first started truck driving, I only had a CB radio.

There was no telephone, no communications, and no technology for anybody to know where I parked at night.

Especially as a woman, I thought about things like whether I was parked in a safe place. If I didn't move my truck in the morning, how is somebody going to know whether something's happened to me?

Now, AI and other technology can tell me if there's a deer in front of me. It can tell me if one of my drivers is dozing off or daydreaming. It can remind me to pay attention to the road.

Technology has gotten to a point where I'm accepting of it. It can help prevent what could go wrong next.

Autonomous trucks are different. I'm open to the conversation. But until it can prove to me that there will not be any type of loss of life, I'm going to sit back and watch it.

Truck drivers were their own patrol

I'm from Boone, North Carolina, and started driving trucks in 1979.

My first truck was a '79 Diamond Reo. Once I got a taste of going to different places and experiencing different cultures, I fell in love with 80,000 pounds of iron. My haul has included cows, steel, produce, and dynamite. The last time I counted, I had 5.7 million safe driving miles.

Back then, safety really depended on the person behind the wheel. It depended on how well you did pre-trips or safety inspections before you hit the road. It depended on how well you chose to drive, how well you understood the hours you should be running, and how many hours you actually physically can run to keep everything safe. You were your own patrol. You were your own self-discipline.

Of course, we had rules. For example, we followed designated hours of service. But that was partly on you. You logged your hours on paper. I can tell you that back then, I may have rewritten the life of a day.

We only had each other to rely on. That's how we learned this business. There was no technology to say it.

The phone changed my whole world of safety

The first piece of technology that really changed my job was the phone.

It was a connection to me. I would call to get directions. I would call to see if my appointment time was good.

If something went bad, that phone was there for me to call and say, "Hey, I've got this load on me. I'm in traffic. I'm going to be 30 minutes late." And the time saved was unreal.

I'm all about adapting. I was never a computer girl because I'm a '61 baby, but I wasn't letting myself fall behind.

My first resistance to technology was with Motive, a fleet technology company, back when it was still KeepTruckin. The company provides electronic logs, tracking, maintenance, driver coaching, and AI-powered dashcam systems.

At the time, I didn't want to be monitored. Nobody needs to know when I stopped to go to the bathroom. I didn't want someone telling me how to do my job.

Later on, I found it to be a good helpmate. It took a lot off me. For example, I didn't have to sit up during my breaks to do paperwork.

The camera system also protects drivers when things happen because it tells the true story.

That's the kind of technology I look for. I don't just want to know what went wrong before. I want something that's going to prevent something from going wrong next.

I'm still watching autonomous trucks

I've worked with some autonomous trucking companies because they've come to me as a sounding board to ask questions.

I have some questions too, before I can give my full opinion on autonomous trucks.

I'll say that there's a lot of unpredictability that truck drivers are accustomed to.

I can see a car half a mile or a mile in front of me, and I can watch it and predict what it might do. If he turns left, I'm going to slow down prior to that. If he turns right, I can move left way ahead of time.

I haven't been shown yet that an autonomous truck can do that before a situation is already in motion.

But I want to learn more. My experience with other technology made me realize I need to quit being closed-minded because I could be missing a lot.

In a world where autonomous trucking is validated, I could see them handling local hauls or short-run jobs. As far as the long hauls, I'll gladly stay behind them.

Also, I've been a trucker for almost 47 years. I've got employees who drive the trucks I run, and I still drive myself.

I wouldn't want to see people who have lived their lives and are giving their lives to the trucking industry go without a paycheck because somebody created something they think is bigger and better.

This is where I'm talking about the empathy, the thought, the concern, and the care. Why would you want to take people's jobs away from them?

Truckers don't need to go anywhere. They need the tools and the help, along with what they already have within themselves, to make sure every single person around them is as safe as they are.

When Robin Olsen started applying for communications jobs three months ago, she noticed a shift: The job descriptions had grown longer. One combined communications and marketing, typically two separate roles, into one. Others seemed to have "crazy wish lists," Olsen says. One was so overwhelmingly long that it prompted Olsen to shut it from her browser. "My premise is, if you actually think that one person can do all of that, this isn't the place for me," Olsen says. "No one could ever succeed at having 27 priorities."

Scrolling through LinkedIn, it's easy to find job descriptions that rival CVS receipts, with so many responsibilities they're split under several subheads. A corporate communications lead listing asks applicants to meet nine qualifications, bolstered by another six "preferred qualifications," and cover 22 responsibilities. An AI engineer job has 11 "essential duties and responsibilities," and another 11 skills (including a "positive energetic attitude"). A lead of revenue strategy and operations is expected to perform 13 responsibilities and meet a dozen qualifications split into five categories.

The average length of a job title has jumped from 2.4 words in 2013 to four words last year, according to an analysis of job listings from HR software company BambooHR, which found that lengthy, highly specific, niche roles were driving up the character count. Hiring platform Greenhouse found that the average job description character count has increased 7.4% from 2022 to 2026 — the four years since ChatGPT became widely available. Over the same period, the number of sections in a job listing grew by nearly 14% and skills sections jumped by almost 16%. Indeed found that the number of words in a post grew 14.3% from 2021 to 2025.

What's puffing up the ever-expanding job description? What else: AI. In some, hiring managers have layered new AI proficiency and pedagogy expectations on top of standard job tasks. Other listings, recruiters tell me, have inflated because hiring managers generated them with long-winded LLMs.

"Managers don't have to edit themselves, so they're just dumping the kitchen sink in there," Marc Cenedella, CEO of career site Ladders, says. "They're dumping in nice-to-haves, could-haves, and passing thoughts they had in the shower this morning." The descriptions balloon with input from people without direct oversight over the role, and there's no benefits to applicants or recruiters, he says.

The job hunt is broken. Recruiters say cover letters and résumés have lost their meaning at a time when anyone can customize their applications to roles by running them through ChatGPT. When it comes to job descriptions, AI compounds the problem: Its verbosity leads to long bulleted lists centered on corporate jargon-slop buzzwords, but the technology has also shifted expectations rapidly. Workers are encouraged, and even expected, to take on more with AI at their disposal. Those looking for work must sort through walls of text to discern whether they're qualified, adding another barrier to the convoluted, lengthy job hunt.

"More paragraphs doesn't make for a better hire," says Cenedella. "More bullet points doesn't make for a more on target fit. And so these longer and longer job descriptions are hurting candidates and they're hurting companies."

The signal to the best person for the job might be a concise one.

The earliest known job ad dates back to 1752, placed in a Virginia newspaper by an employer seeking an oysterman. There were only two qualifications, that the applicant be "a sober person, well recommended." For more than 200 years, the ads stayed fairly succinct, as employers paid by line to list them in newspapers. Then online job boards freed them from the confines of the classifieds. Tedious applicant tracking systems and additional application questions or exams have lengthened the process. The jump picked up before generative AI became widely available, and BambooHR data shows that job descriptions increased 17% in character length from 2016 to 2025, with the biggest acceleration coming between 2021 and 2022.

"We've gotten so far away from what the actual intent of a job description is and what it should be," says Trent Cotton, head of talent insights at recruiting software company ICIMS. Companies started adding lines about company culture and seeking to "sell the job," Cotton says, but that kind of culture fit talk better suits a job interview. The listing, he says, should act like a scorecard, where the candidate, recruiter, and hiring manager can evaluate a person's skills and compatibility to the job. "Hiring managers and recruiters are trying to make it so verbose to try and create some type of way to siphon out candidates, but they're going about it the wrong way," he says. "They're just adding a lot of paragraphs but not a lot of substance."

Many companies now prioritize skills-based hiring, weighing practical abilities over prestigious degrees and experience at top-tier companies. This shift has also led the skills sections of job listings to swell. "To match a job to talent or talent to a job, they're putting as much information into that job post as possible" to help AI match the skills listed on a résumé to those in a job post, Tara Marcelle, vice president of recruiting for staffing firm Manpower's US operations, says. "It can really help to rank those candidates."

Some of the rambling job descriptions reflect the major upheaval coming for white collar work. Marketers now vibe code, software engineers review more code, and companies like Meta have promoted a future where one person may do the work once handled by a whole team, as some people are wrangling agents. "There's a lot of unknown here," says Michelle Volberg, founder and CEO of recruiting company Twill. The posts are padded, and become "like an umbrella, where they're just putting in all the possible scenarios that this person will do within the next six to nine months, because they don't know who they're going to need six months from now."

The burgeoning job description isn't just a nuisance. Women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don't meet every stated qualification, and are less likely to apply for jobs with vague language in the listing, because they fear they will be underqualified for a job. Men worry less about having an exact skills match before clicking to apply, research from Harvard Business School shows. This imposter syndrome can perpetuate low numbers of women in leadership positions and in male-dominated fields. A job listing in search of a unicorn could spook qualified applicants from applying.

Applicants have AI in their arsenal, too. They ask large language models to customize their résumés and cover letters to include the buzzwords and skills, and recruiters then have to suss out who can really do the job. Getting a set of applicants who bring an authentic, AI-free application to the table might require standing out amidst the corporate AI slop in other job posts.

Jamie Hodari, the CEO and cofounder of coworking space Industrious, is looking for someone to take his CEO job. The description he wrote isn't brief, but it swaps typical corporate speak for a list of cheeky list of the people the CEO will manage, from members of a book club to two people duking it out over control of the thermostat, and ends with how the job will come with decision making about managing people who may experience difficult personal situations ("the truest description of this job isn't a list of responsibilities, it's a list of people," it reads). Hodari tells me he thought of the description as a note to his successor, the way an outgoing president leaves one to the incoming president-elect. He also says that authentic, less-scripted approach became the "single most effective recruiting-related thing I've ever done in my career," and applicants have met the message with their own deeply personalized applications and responses.

In a job market where AI writes the job descriptions, edits résumés, and evaluates them, recruiters and applicants are growing frustrated, as it seems employers hold the power in the job market. "Once it returns to a demanding market and you're competing for talent, all these things get fixed," Cenedella says.

Just as applicants are encouraged to keep their résumés and cover letters to a page each, those penning job ads may want to do the same.

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

• Dataland, "the world's first museum of AI arts," opened in Los Angeles last month.
• The multi-sensory experience includes wearable devices and interactive AI-generated art.
• The art is generated with an AI model that's trained on data from the natural world.

I descended an elevator into an expansive AI rainforest, where digital images of green and gold, vaguely resembling trees, flickered across every wall, while the floor and ceiling displayed an ever-evolving blue, root-like network that lit up in response to my steps. Sounds of an orchestra rang out, punctuated by the chirping of crickets. I was hit with a familiar scent, herby and spicy, like cutting into a fresh jalapeño.

I had entered Dataland, billed as "the world's first museum of AI arts," which opened last month in downtown Los Angeles.

I was there to see the inaugural exhibit, "Machine Dreams: Rainforest," which features five galleries of multi-sensory art generated by AI trained on data from the natural world.

Dataland was founded by media artist Refik Anadol and his partner, artist Efsun Erkiliç.

Google, a collaborator on Dataland, says the museum uses Google Cloud tools to create generative soundscapes, sense visitors' emotions, adjust scents "algorithmically," and respond to human movements.

In a time when the use of AI in art remains controversial, Dataland is the ultimate embrace of it.

The art was often beautiful and interactive

My weekday afternoon ticket was $59, and after a group of about 20 of us formed, we were let into the first of five galleries.

"You are standing inside a work of art that is still unfolding," a recorded voice said. "Your presence shapes the world you're about to step into."

We were given two wearable devices: a wristband resembling a watch that tracked movement, temperature, and pulse, and a U-shaped device worn around the neck that emitted scents. Rather than fill the rooms with a single scent, each person would be exposed to different scents on their individual devices.

The visuals were often trippy, ranging from abstract — like a wave of colorful balls that resembled Dippin' Dots — to more literal, like fantastical flower shapes or pink and blue birds fluttering across the screen.

Sometimes the images looked more like the inside of a computer than like nature, highlighting the mash-up of tech and the environment on which the whole premise was built.

In one gallery, visitors could make their own AI art on small, interactive screens. I made strokes and watched as the image on the big screen in front of me morphed into an abstract bird-of-paradise flower that vaguely matched the shape of my drawing.

Being tracked through a museum could weird some people out

Visitors interacted with the space, watching their steps and waving their hands to see how the art responded. At one point, the screens went dark, and light circles appeared around each of our feet, displaying our pulse and temperature.

According to the museum, the wristbands track your "skin's electricity" in order to "capture your response to the artwork within." It also tracks your movements through the space, and on one screen, I could see myself, labeled M4 per my assigned wristband, walking along.

One screen showed how each person in the room reacted to the space — I could see the line for me, M4, on graphs that showed changes in my "emotion temperature" and "heartbeat" during my visit.

It was a bit interesting to see my avatar on the screen and realize how long I'd spent in each room, but I wasn't entirely sure what to make of the data, and I wondered if some people might feel a bit weird about being monitored.

I wasn't sure how to feel about it

I spent about 90 minutes wandering through Dataland. I was occasionally delighted by some of the images. I got a spark of curiosity when I was randomly hit with a new scent — "Is that more woodsy or smoky?" — and the sounds often matched the hypnotizing motions of the images in an interesting way.

It was impossible not to think about the fact that the art had been created by AI. I tend to ask myself two questions when I view a piece of art: How does this make me feel? What is the artist trying to say?

Without the feeling that the art was the direct result of a thinking, feeling human being, it was hard for me to connect with much of it.

The most moving part of the experience for me wasn't AI-generated at all — it was a real recording of a now-extinct Hawaiian bird, calling out for a mate and getting no response.

I spent much of my time at Dataland ruminating on a simple question: What is art? And can it really come from AI?

While the images were often dazzling and I enjoyed parts of it more than I expected, I left with a lingering uncertainty about whether I'd seen art, tech, or a strange new combination of both.

NORTH KARELIA, Finland — Bears, wolves and moose still cross the frontier freely, but for the border guards patrolling this stretch of fields and forest, this is where NATO ends.

A line of wooden poles and painted markers cuts through the light green grass, separating Finland from Russia along the alliance's longest border with Moscow — 1,343 kilometers (835 miles) of increasingly militarized territory. The crossing has been closed since 2023, the year after the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On the other side lies land Finland lost to the Soviet Union when it was left to fight largely on its own in the early months of World War II.

Reporters from Axel Springer's Global Reporters Network traveled to three exposed stretches of Europe's eastern frontier — Finland's forested border with Russia, Poland's fortified line with Kaliningrad and Belarus and Lithuania's vulnerable edge near the Suwałki Gap — to see how ready NATO's frontline states are for the possibility that Moscow will attack the alliance.

What we observed was a continent racing to harden its eastern edge against a threat it can no longer assume Washington will handle. As US President Donald Trump questions old security guarantees and looks to reduce America's military footprint in Europe, the countries closest to Russia are building fortifications, expanding reserves, buying tanks and drones and preparing for the possibility that the first days of any conflict may be theirs to fight largely alone.

Since his reelection in 2024, Trump has repeatedly called into question Washington's commitment to NATO's Article 5, the foundational clause under which an attack on one member is treated as an attack on all. The uncertainty only deepened after the war in Iran, when the president and his team threatened to reassess US membership in NATO in response to European allies' refusal to join the conflict.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery shows that Russia has built up its armed presence along its border with Finland and other EU countries, building barracks and staging military vehicles in what the head of Swedish military intelligence has described as preparation for a possible confrontation with NATO.

"Russia is a superpower, and we're a small country," said Col. Matti Pitkäniitty, commander of Finland's North Karelia Border Guard District, while driving to the border. "You have to be careful when you sleep next to a bear."

Finland never forgot the lessons of what it calls its Winter War, when it halted an unprovoked attack in 1939 by the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin but lost roughly a tenth of its territory. While much of the rest of Europe spent the decades after the Cold War cutting armies and cashing in the peace dividend, Helsinki kept conscription, maintained vast reserves and built its defenses around the assumption that Russia might one day come back.

"In the Winter War, Finland felt very alone, with very little help from other countries," said Pitkäniitty.

A dozen Finnish defense officials, military officers, lawmakers and analysts interviewed for this article described their nation as unsurprised by Russia's 2022 assault on Ukraine. And even after Finland joined NATO in 2023, Helsinki has continued to view the alliance as a reinforcement of its own defense, rather than a substitute for it.

"We're happy to be in an alliance, but we still understand that we will take the first blow alone, before NATO's Article 5 is activated," said Jukka Kopra, a Finnish lawmaker who chaired the parliament's defense committee, referring to the mutual defense clause that underpins the alliance.

"We trust the US as our ally, a member of NATO, but we realize they have crucial interests elsewhere," Kopra said.

Finland: 'Total defense'

Over decades, Finland built its preparedness around the concept of "total defense" — a mobilizable population, civil resilience, shelters and a military designed to keep fighting with or without allies. The country can mobilize nearly 870,000 reservists out of a population of 5.6 million, a figure set to reach one million by 2031.

"It's fair to say Finland is more ready to fight alone than other frontline countries. The US wind-down doesn't impact its readiness," said Eoin Micheál McNamara, a postdoctoral fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

Finland spends nearly 3 percent of its GDP on defense and, in line with its commitments to NATO, it intends to raise that figure to 5 percent by 2035. Its air force expects to receive US-made F-35 fighter jets in the coming months. Like most European militaries, the Finnish armed forces are still catching up on drone warfare, but on land they have one of Europe's largest artillery arsenals.

"Stalin called artillery the god of war," said McNamara. "Unlike a lot of Western countries, Russia never forgot about artillery. Finns never forgot either."

One of Finland's greatest military assets is the land itself. An army invading from the east would have to move through a country of few roads, dense forests, deep snow and freezing temperatures, with little light in winter and almost none of the darkness that conceals movement in summer. In the woods, long, slender gray-white trunks stand so close together that it is impossible to see more than 50 meters ahead. In spring, when the leaves turn bright green, visibility drops even further.

Even without the US, it's unlikely Finland would have to fight entirely on its own. Several European countries have an interest in keeping Russia off NATO's northern flank, according to Charly Salonius-Pasternak of the Helsinki-based Nordic West Office think tank, referring specifically to Norway, Sweden and the UK.

Still, Finland would face a Russian army with more manpower and a willingness to use sheer numbers in ways the alliance cannot easily match. "Since the Winter War, the very basics haven't changed," said Pitkäniitty, the border guard commander. "We have to be able to use the terrain, operate the environment better than anyone else — then, we have leverage," he added. "Is the forest a typical Russian battle environment? I would say no. Their lessons are learned in more open environments."

Finland is now trying to teach its NATO allies how to fight on that ground. In May, two multinational exercises in southeastern Finland — Northern Star 26 and Karelian Sword 26 — were designed in part to show troops from countries including France and the United Kingdom how to operate in Northern Europe's forests, lakes and swamps. US soldiers from the Virginia National Guard also took part.

Karelian Sword — conducted in Finland's Vekaranjärvi region — involved some 10,000 soldiers in a simulated invasion of the country. One main takeaway from days of drilling in the woods was that armored vehicles and drones are ill-adapted for Finland's forests. "It's also very hard for commercial drones to find Finnish troops in the forest because of the leaves, unless you have a thermal camera," according to Col. Ari Määttä, the Karelian brigade's deputy commander who commanded the exercise.

The Nordic country is also preparing to add another obstacle. Alongside Poland and the three Baltic states, Helsinki withdrew last year from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, arguing that Russia never joined the treaty and is already using the weapons in Ukraine.

Several Finnish military officers confirmed to the Global Reporters Network that the country's defense forces plan to purchase anti-personnel landmines in the coming months. The mines would not be deployed in peacetime, they said, but would be available if the threat of a Russian invasion became more imminent.

"We have quite a long border with Russia," said First Lt. Terra Tevajärvi, a 33-year-old reservist and trained mechanized infantry officer who works as a filmmaker. Standing in a clearing, with the sounds of gunshots in the distance, he added: "Landmines would help slow [an attacker] down and make our lives easier."

Nuclear gap

There is one domain where geography, conscription and military readiness offer little protection: nuclear weapons. While Finland has practiced for a conventional defense for decades, it is only since it joined NATO three years ago that it has had to incorporate nuclear deterrence into its calculations.

Since joining the alliance, Helsinki has participated in its Nuclear Planning Group, taken part in nuclear exercises and begun rewriting laws that still reflected its long history outside the alliance. In June, Finnish lawmakers lifted restrictions on the transport and storage of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory, a legacy of its non-nuclear posture before NATO membership.

Changing that framework had proven more contentious than the discussion about joining NATO itself. Opposition parties resisted lifting the restrictions, while officials and analysts argued that Finland could not be a full participant in NATO defense planning without understanding how nuclear deterrence works. "Readiness in that regard is being learned," said McNamara. "You hear the phrase: 'Finland needs to upgrade its nuclear IQ as a society.'"

Finland's nuclear debate highlighted an uncomfortable truth. While the country is better positioned than most frontline countries to defend its territory without American ground forces, it's no more able than the rest of Europe to replace Washington's nuclear umbrella.

While the US has not publicly questioned that guarantee, the Trump administration's unpredictability has pushed Helsinki and other European capitals to examine whether Europe can build a stronger deterrent of its own.

After meeting with France's top general in the Finnish capital in June, the country's Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen acknowledged talks with Paris about French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to broaden his country's nuclear deterrent to include other European countries. The French president, who officially proposed the idea in March, has left what he means by it purposefully ambiguous. Paris has floated joint exercises and temporary deployments of nuclear-capable French fighter jets, but not a formal European nuclear guarantee. For Finland, it is still unclear what participation in the scheme would mean.

In the meantime, Helsinki is hoping that hosting troops from two nuclear-armed allies — France and the UK — will add another layer of deterrence, even if the force itself is conventional. Paris and London have expressed interest in participating in a NATO battalion that will be based in Sweden but operate in northern Finland. Designed to strengthen the alliance's presence in the high north, the force will be led by Stockholm, another formerly neutral government that joined the military alliance after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"We'll be on high alert, with high readiness to act," said Col. Daniel Rydberg, who leads Sweden's NATO mission in northern Finland. Along with Finnish border guards, NATO troops would be among the first responders if Russia decided to test Finland, he said in a phone interview the day before the force's inauguration in June. "The message to Russia is deterrence," he said.

Just what that would mean in the case of an attack by the Kremlin will depend on people like Nuutti Kurikka, a 20-year-old conscript whose great-grandfather fought in the Winter War.

Deep in the Finnish forest, Kurikka, a platoon leader, stood in front of a tank. The lesson of that war, he said, is "a mentality that we can overcome very hard things."

Unlike officials in many European capitals, he is not anxious about the Trump administration's ambiguity regarding NATO. "It's not good that the relationship is a bit shaky, but Finland is prepared to defend itself alone if needed," he said. "We did it before in the past."

Poland: 'Eastern Shield'

In November 2024, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the small village of Dąbrówka, near his country's border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, to inspect the first stretch of a new fortification system known as the Eastern Shield. Standing before reinforced concrete anti-tank barriers known as hedgehogs, Tusk delivered a message aimed at both Poles and Moscow. "I don't have to explain to anyone that this border must be guarded exceptionally carefully," he told reporters.

At the time, Polish television reported that the first section had been completed ahead of schedule. And yet, a year and a half later, with the project roughly halfway to its 2028 deadline, the hedgehogs still stand behind Dąbrówka — but only a few hundred meters farther on, the visible fortifications end abruptly. A local resident said the activity around the border surged before Tusk's visit, then disappeared. "Before the prime minister's visit, dozens of trucks, cranes and troops passed through here day after day, week after week," the resident said. "After the visit, complete silence. The operations simply stopped."

If Finland's answer to uncertainty is national readiness, Poland's is concrete barriers, sensors, drones and one of Europe's fastest-growing armies. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Warsaw has recast itself as NATO's frontline state: buying weapons at a pace few allies can match, expanding its army, and pouring billions into new defenses along its borders with Belarus and Kaliningrad.

The message is meant to be unmistakable — to Moscow, to Washington and to Europe — that Poland is preparing not for a distant theoretical threat, but for the possibility that war could come sooner than many Western capitals assume. Yet along parts of the very frontier where that deterrent is supposed to take shape, the gap between Poland's military ambition and the physical reality on the ground remains visible: fortifications appear, then stop; materials sit in warehouses; and local residents say the building frenzy has given way to quiet.

Poland is the largest country on NATO's eastern flank and the alliance's biggest defense spender by share of GDP. Warsaw had already exceeded NATO's 2% target before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine; this year, it is set to spend 4.8% of GDP on defense even as its economy continues to grow.

At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Poland sent more than 300 tanks from its own stocks to Ukraine, then moved to replace and expand its arsenal with off-the-shelf tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, support vehicles and rocket artillery from the United States and South Korea. Its army is NATO's third largest, behind the US and Turkey.

The sheer mass of the Polish military, combined with Warsaw's role as one of the world's largest buyers of US weapons, has earned Warsaw a reputation in Washington as a model ally. Even US President Donald Trump, while berating other European countries over defense, has regularly praised Poland. The US keeps thousands of troops in Poland, the vast majority on a rotational basis, an arrangement the Polish government is keen to keep as a deterrent to any Russian attack.

The country's importance to NATO is not just a matter of spending. Its size and location make it the alliance's central frontline state in any potential confrontation with the Kremlin. During the Cold War, West Germany was NATO's conventional bulwark against the Warsaw Pact. Today, Poland plays a similar role on NATO's eastern edge.

"While Germany has long focused on quality, Poland stands for mass and speed," said Carlo Masala, a professor at the University of the German Federal Armed Forces in Munich and one of Germany's most renowned security experts. "Because Warsaw does not rule out having to fight tomorrow. It is what is called 'fight tonight.'"

Tusk's Eastern Shield project is Warsaw's attempt to reinforce its defenses along its 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier with Belarus, a close ally of Moscow's, and Kaliningrad, the heavily militarized Russian territory wedged between Poland, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea. Designed as a network of obstacles meant to slow an attack, channel Russian forces and buy time for NATO to respond, the system includes anti-tank and infantry trenches, concrete barriers, bunkers, drones, thermal cameras, mines and nearby military units, while also using natural obstacles such as swampy terrain. When completed, it is expected to cost about €10 billion ($11 billion) according to Poland's defense ministry.

Poland's military buildup is part of a large-scale, multi-billion-dollar new deterrence and defense system along NATO's eastern border. Known as the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line, it is planned to stretch from Finland to Romania. Brig. Gen. Thomas Lowin, deputy chief of staff for operations at NATO Land Command in Izmir, says the alliance will build up much larger stockpiles of weapons, ammunition and equipment in border states, while establishing an "automated zone" of sensors and robotized weapons to help halt Russian forces early in any attack.

Cezary Tomczyk, Poland's deputy defense minister and the official overseeing the project, called his country's part of the effort the largest fortification effort in Europe since World War II. "We are building a border that sees further, reacts faster and makes it harder for the enemy to act at every stage," he said. "Russia must know one thing: Every kilometer of potential aggression will cost more time, more equipment and more resources. The Eastern Shield is intended to raise the price of aggression to an unacceptable level."

At the end of the world

So far, however, along parts of the border, the Eastern Shield is still more promise than reality. Polish officials are reluctant to discuss delays, and not every element of the system is meant to be visible. But large sections of the border are not visibly fortified. A military facility near Dąbrówka warehouses large numbers of hedgehog anti-tank barriers, but since Tusk's visit to the village, none have been placed along the border.

Poland's defense ministry told the Global Reporters Network that engineering troops, using pre-positioned material from warehouses, would be able to erect fortifications along the entire border within seven to 14 days. But a logistics expert who has held senior military positions said some elements cannot be moved into place so quickly.

"Laying one kilometer of reinforced concrete hedgehogs takes anywhere from several weeks to several months, depending on terrain conditions," said the logistics expert, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive defense matters. "It took the army three weeks to fortify a relatively short section."

A short distance from Dąbrówka, an agritourism farm named "At the End of the World" welcomes visitors looking for a rural retreat. At the Russian border, less than 100 meters away, the only obvious protection is a simple concertina-wire fence and a scattering of warning signs.

The owner, Wioletta Bornejko, does not want the new fortifications to reach her meadow. "I hope they don't put up those concrete hedgehogs here," she said. "Even barbed wire scares away tourists. A neighbor recently closed down a similar business." Others in the area say the constant talk of war has already hurt local businesses.

The quiet is deceptive. Travel east from Dąbrówka and you'll reach the so-called Suwałki Gap. Ben Hodges, a retired general who served as the commander of US Army Europe, has described this short stretch of Polish and Lithuanian territory separating Kaliningrad from Belarus as NATO's Achilles' heel. The fear is that a Russian attack could try to close the corridor from both sides, cutting Poland and the rest of NATO from the Baltic states to the north.

Farther east, Poland's border with Belarus stretches some 420 kilometers (260 miles). There, the limits of the current defenses are even more evident. "I don't see any other fortifications here," said one soldier from a brigade serving on the border.

Much of the border is protected only by a 4-meter-high (13-feet-high) fence built in 2022. Erected to stop migrants from crossing into Poland, it would offer little protection against tanks. Poland's defense ministry told the Global Reporters Network that it currently "has material resources that allow it to secure border sections with a total length of over 140 kilometres" — less than a third of the length of the frontier.

Drone wall

Tanks and other traditional forces aren't the only thing Poland would have to worry about in case of a Russian attack. Anti-tank measures are of limited use when the weapons of choice fly far overhead and are cheap enough to exhaust conventional air defenses. And so the country is busy developing an anti-drone system it calls SAN.

Its development gained urgency after 19 Russian drones entered Polish airspace last year, forcing NATO aircraft to shoot them down with missiles from F-16 and F-35 jets — a response that cost millions of euros against drones worth a fraction of that. SAN is meant to allow Poland to defend against drones without relying on fighter jets. The system, sometimes described as a "drone wall," could cost up to €4 billion — accounting for about 40% of the entire Eastern Shield. "Russia is watching Ukraine," said Tomczyk, Poland's deputy defense minister. "So are we. We draw our conclusions faster."

Tomczyk said SAN would be Europe's largest and most advanced anti-drone effort. Within 24 months, he said, the Polish army is expected to receive 18 battery modules, including about 700 combat vehicles, radars, sensors and effectors, and roughly 350 systems to detect and counter aerial threats.

"It is not a single system," he said. "It is an entire architecture for drone defense." Construction of SAN began at the start of the year and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027, after which it will be permanently deployed on Poland's eastern border.

For Masala, the security expert, the drone wall and the Eastern Shield are part of the same strategy: to slow a Russian attack long enough for NATO to react. "It is clear that the USA is withdrawing from Europe and that the Europeans currently lack deep-strike capabilities," he said. "So we have to ask ourselves which strategies make sense in the event of conflict."

"One is to aim at delaying the Russians. This is possible with the installations that Poland is building," he added. "The lesson from Ukraine is that not everything always has to be at 150 percent, but that 80% is sometimes enough."

Lithuania: 'The Baltic Defense Line'

In the office of Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Lithuania's chief of defense, a map of the country lies spread across a table. Marked on it are the positions of German and American troops near the Belarusian border — a reminder that, for Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, national defense depends on allies being close enough to quickly join the fight.

Vaikšnoras, who has led Lithuania's armed forces since 2024, does not think a Russian surprise attack is likely. NATO warning systems, he said, make large troop movements difficult to hide. Lithuania watches rail hubs, logistics sites and when Russia and Belarus hold military exercises across the border, its armed forces respond in kind. "We organize exercises with equally strong or even stronger forces," Vaikšnoras said. "We mirror the movements of the other side."

But if Finland is preparing to fight alone if it has to and Poland is building an army capable of doing the same, the Baltic countries do not have that luxury. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are too small, too exposed and too close to Russia and Belarus to trade territory for time. Connected to the rest of NATO by the roughly 65-kilometer-wide (40-mile-wide) Suwałki Gap, they are vulnerable to being cut off by a lightning assault.

Their defense rests on a narrower calculation: make sure that NATO comes to their rescue. That makes them the most vulnerable to the Trump administration's unpredictability. And so the Baltic states have set out to bind their security as tightly as possible to the rest of the continent — through border fortifications, pre-positioned obstacles, allied troops on their soil and, above all, a German brigade meant to ensure that any Russian attack would immediately become a European war.

In any conflict in the region, the Kremlin would enjoy a clear advantage. Russian troops would be fighting virtually on their own doorstep, while NATO reinforcements would have to move across Europe — and in some cases across the Atlantic — before reaching the front. Kaliningrad compounds the problem. One of Europe's most militarized areas, the Russian territory is packed with air-defense systems, missiles and surveillance technology. In wartime, Russian military units based there could threaten NATO supply routes in the Baltic Sea and along the Polish-Lithuanian border.

Lithuania's vulnerability is on display near the village of Lavoriškės, where a red sign warns Lithuanian citizens not to travel across the frontier: "Do not risk your safety — do not travel to Belarus. You may fail to come back." The government closed the crossing in early 2024 on national security grounds. The border is lined with dense coils of razor wire, and rows of triangular concrete blocks — known as dragon's teeth — stand ready to stop enemy tanks.

The fortifications are part of the Baltic Defense Line, a joint defense project by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Along NATO's eastern frontier, the three countries are preparing anti-tank ditches, bunkers, defensive obstacles and — more controversially — minefields. Like Finland, the Baltic countries have moved to leave the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits such weapons.

"These obstacles make it harder for an attacker to simply roll through," said Ralph Thiele, a retired colonel and chairman of the Political-Military Society in Berlin. "They have to stop, bring in combat engineers and clear a path."

If Russian forces break through, they would have "open terrain," Thiele added.

Forward defense

Vaikšnoras, Lithuania's chief of defense, does not pretend his country can defend itself alone. The border fortifications are intended to slow Russians down, channel enemy forces onto predictable axes of advance and buy time for a response.

The defense of the Baltics relies on how long they can hold out — and, crucially, how quickly NATO can reinforce them.

There are already about 3,000 soldiers from other NATO countries in Lithuania, he said in February, including German, Norwegian, Dutch and American troops. Since then, however, the rotational deployment of more than 1,000 US soldiers has ended. Unlike previous rotations, no follow-on force has yet arrived, as Washington reviews its military posture in Europe.

This, again, underscores the role European allies are playing on NATO's eastern flank. The most important addition is the German brigade, due to be permanently stationed in Lithuania by the end of 2027, when it is expected to consist of around 5,000 personnel.

For years, NATO's presence in the Baltic states was largely based on so-called tripwire forces — that is, multinational units whose purpose was to ensure that any attack on the region would automatically draw the entire Alliance into the conflict. Today, NATO relies on forward defence. The aim is to defend every inch of Alliance territory from the outset. Still, the strategy continues to rely on reinforcements. It is unlikely that the troops stationed in Lithuania at present will be able to fight on their own indefinitely. How long they could hold out depends on how quickly additional NATO troops arrive, as well as on the scale and nature of a possible Russian attack.

The German presence is important because the old NATO assumption — that the US would automatically lead any response to a Russian attack — is no longer one Europe can take for granted. "I very clearly feel that we have strong allies by our side," Vaikšnoras said. "The fact that Germany has assumed a leadership role in NATO here is an important signal, including to our own population."

What such a leadership role could mean in practice was revealed by the outcome of a wargame conducted late last year by WELT, part of Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, together with the German Wargaming Center at the Bundeswehr University in Hamburg. The exercise tested how Germany would respond if Russia used a post-Ukraine ceasefire to threaten Lithuania — and if Washington declined to play its traditional role as NATO's leader.

For one day, former senior politicians, military officers, intelligence officials and security experts took on the roles of the German government, its allies and the Kremlin. The scenario began with Russian troops remaining in Belarus after an exercise instead of withdrawing as announced, then concentrating near Lithuania's border.

The result was sobering. While Team Russia moved quickly toward a limited invasion, the German side held crisis meetings and focused on recruiting allies and building political support — rather than preventing Moscow from achieving its military objectives.

The new NATO

In the old NATO, German hesitation would have mattered less. The US would have been expected to take command politically and militarily, moving troops, aircraft and ships while European governments aligned behind it. But as the US reduces its role in Europe, the defense of the eastern flank increasingly depends on a question the alliance has not yet fully answered: Is Europe ready to fight on its own?

Hodges, the former US Army Europe commander, has warned that, in a worst case — if NATO is caught by surprise and Polish troops are unable to provide support — the Baltic countries could have to fight for up to two weeks without additional reinforcements from more distant allies. That is the window of time in which their allies would have to react. German and Lithuanian officials reject the notion that such a scenario would come as a surprise. A Russian attack, they say, would be preceded by visible military preparations, allowing NATO reinforcements early on. Which indicators would trigger such a response is classified. According to that logic, however, reinforcement would require political leaders to act before an attack has actually started.

"What we are witnessing is the dissolution of NATO," Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former NATO secretary-general, has argued. Europe must rethink its defense plans and build the capabilities to act without waiting for Washington. Europe needs "new defense plans and new military capabilities," he said.

That calculation is already shaping defense planning across NATO's eastern flank. Finland is making itself more difficult to invade. Poland is building up its military forces, fortifications and drone defense. And the Baltics are working to ensure they won't be left to fight on their own. Europe may not yet be ready to defend itself alone. But on its eastern frontier, it is already preparing for the day when it may have to start.

In Finland, Col. Ari Määttä, the Karelian brigade's deputy commander, was asked whether, with America's disengagement, NATO needs to become more European. "That's not a concern I have for my brigade," he said. "I focus on military preparedness. Ask the politicians."

Laura Kayali, Senior Defense Correspondent at POLITICO's Paris office, reported from Finland. Marcin Wyrwał, a journalist with Onet, and Philipp Fritz, Warsaw Correspondent for WELT, reported from Poland. Carolina Drüten, International Security Correspondent at WELT, reported from Lithuania.

The Axel Springer Global Reporters Network harnesses the resources of the company's newsrooms to publish ambitious scoops, investigations, interviews, opinion pieces and analysis. It allows journalists — including those from POLITICO, Business Insider, WELT, BILD, Onet and Fakt — to collaborate on major stories for an international audience of hundreds of millions across platforms: online, print, TV and audio.

• Vivienne Yang moved from Taiwan to New York City in 2018 to chase the American dream.
• After she was laid off in 2024, she had to leave her Brooklyn apartment and her two cats behind.
• Now she's found peace in Taiwan, where she no longer has to worry about visas or her personal safety.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Vivienne Yang, a 31-year-old Taiwanese national who lost her job in 2024 and had to exit the US because of her visa status, leaving behind her apartment and two cats. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I started falling for the American dream when I was in third grade.

It was a mix of realizing that the Taiwanese education system wasn't really designed for me and becoming hooked on American pop culture like Taylor Swift, "Twilight," and "America's Next Top Model."

In 2018, at 23, I moved to New York for a master's in applied analytics at Columbia University, then landed a job in Manhattan's ad-tech industry.

Over the next five years, I worked two full-time jobs, one after the other, each paying about $100,000, until I was laid off in 2024.

Getting laid off while on vacation

It was October, and I was on the second day of a 10-day trip to Japan with my partner when I learned I'd been laid off.

I was watching Japanese TV shows in our Airbnb after a day of sightseeing in Osaka, when my colleague called me on Instagram to say he couldn't find my Slack or email and that it looked like my account had been deactivated.

I didn't receive any calls from HR because my US SIM card wasn't working.

I tried to have fun on the trip while struggling with immigration issues. I spent my mornings talking to immigration and labor lawyers and emailing HR.

And then in the afternoons, we would go sightseeing. The emotions came two days after I heard the news, and I cried at a shrine in Kyoto. I was praying that I could go back to the US.

The company agreed to prolong my employment for a few weeks so that I could return to the US.

Leaving my life in New York behind

I had built a life in the US. My entire friend circle and my two cats were there, and I'd spent years saving so I could buy a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn.

During my grace period, I changed from an H-1B to a B-2 tourist visa so I could stay in the US a little longer, and I later renewed my B-2 so I could stay for a full year. My lawyer told me not to mention that I was a homeowner, because it could make it look like I intended to immigrate.

Job searching was difficult. I spent a few months on the hunt, with more than 20 unsuccessful interviews.

Then, in September last year, the Trump administration rolled out the $100,000 fee for new H-1B applicants. Although that wouldn't have applied to me, I feel like it affected employers' willingness to hire foreign workers.

After a few months, I stopped focusing on corporate jobs. I couldn't see myself in corporate America anymore. I'd always loved acting and got accepted into an acting program in New York, and was supposed to start in March this year.

In December 2025, I traveled back to Taiwan to apply for a student visa. I cried the whole way to JFK airport and on the plane. It felt like I was leaving for good.

My gut was right. My student visa was rejected because I demonstrated immigration intent. I asked my American partner to move into my apartment to take care of the cats — Dexter and Deborah — while I figured out how to get back.

I told him not to ship my stuff because I was set on going back.

Then I realized that, given the current political climate and the state of the economy, it doesn't make sense to return to America anytime soon.

Taiwan has helped me escape survival mode

In Taiwan, I don't need to worry about my personal safety all the time.

It's also so weird not having to worry about a visa. Now I can get any random gig without worrying: "Oh, if I want to do this, what kind of visa do I need to get?"

One of my biggest worries over the past year in New York was not having health insurance and not knowing if I could afford to see a doctor.

In Taiwan, especially the northeastern town of Yilan, where I live, I can just pop into a clinic and spend less than $10.

It has been a bit strange getting used to living with my family again.

Now I live in a three-bedroom apartment with my mom, dad, sister, and grandma, and there are rules in this house, like where things should be placed and how many layers to wear during colder months.

I sleep on a portable bed in the storage room without air conditioning, because there's not enough space in the house. It felt like my life got downgraded.

No plans to go back

I don't want to deal with visa issues anytime soon, so I don't have plans to move.

My partner plans to bring the cats in October.

I've been focusing on content creation here, while also teaching public speaking in English. I'm using my savings to pay off the mortgage on my Brooklyn apartment.

Despite all I went through, I don't regret my move to the US.

If I hadn't gone through that, I would still be asking myself, "Oh, what if I had gone?"

Now that I've had that experience, I'm clear about what I want and who I am.

• Trump Accounts officially launched on July 4.
• The investment accounts are for American children under 18.
• Michael Dell said he'll deposit $250 in the accounts of the first 25 million children who sign up.

The Trump administration wants American parents to open federally-backed investment accounts for their children, and billionaire CEO Michael Dell plans to sweeten the deal.

Dell said he and his wife, Susan Dell, will gift $250 to the first 25 million qualifying American children who sign up for Trump Accounts.

"This makes every child a shareholder in the greatest prosperity-creating engine the world has ever known — American capitalism," Dell wrote in an X post.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump Accounts app is outfitted with a "full suite" of capabilities. "You can start funding your child's account, exploring financial education modules, and more," Bessent wrote on X.

To register, parents must sign in to or create an Internal Revenue Service account. They can then submit Form 4547 to elect their child. The form can be submitted in the Trump Accounts app, when filing taxes, or on the IRS website.

Trump Accounts, established under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, are tax-deferred investment savings accounts for US children under 18. Families can contribute up to $5,000 each year to the accounts, which will function like a traditional IRA once a child reaches adulthood, the White House says.

Parents with a child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, who have a valid Social Security number, can also opt in to receive a one-time $1,000 desposit from the US Treasury Department into their child's account.

The initiative has drawn support from over a dozen philanthropists and companies in addition to the Dell family. BlackRock, Chipotle, MasterCard, Block, Robinhood, and Chime were among those on the list.

Trump on Friday urged more American businesses to help fund the accounts.

"The Department of Treasury will now accept philanthropic contributions of readily tradable Publicly Traded Stock to help fund TRUMP ACCOUNTS for eligible American children," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "This opens the door for GREAT American Businesses, Philanthropists, and Job Creators to invest directly in the future of our children, and help build a Generation of Savers, Investors, and Owners."

• Marta Milans is an actor currently starring in Peacock's new series, "M.I.A."
• She gave birth to her first daughter at 42 via IVF.
• Here, she shares what it's like on her journey to baby number two.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Marta Milans. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I got married in 2021. I got pregnant naturally shortly after, but sadly, it was an ectopic pregnancy. My doctors found out I had some uterine problems that needed to be addressed.

I didn't want to waste more time, so I jumped right into an IVF journey.

I went to my native Spain to receive IVF treatments. It was successful, but it was a ride.

My baby was born when I was 42

There's a clinic in Valencia called Equipo Juana Crespo. Dr. Crespo is a legend. She clocked the problem, and I had some surgeries to prep myself. I then did a bunch of IVF cycles back-to-back to try to get a healthy embryo. We put in two and hoped one would stick.

We had my baby daughter when I was 42. She is now 18 months and is perfect, everything I could hope for.

No one prepared me for how lonely the IVF process is, and how hard it is on your body and mind. Everyone reacts differently, but hormones, at least for me, changed what I thought was real. It took me into a darkness, and it was hard for me to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

At one point, I had vertigo, lack of sleep, lost a lot of weight, and had suicidal thoughts. It changed my personality completely. No matter how amazing your partner is, it's on you to share these things with them. They won't understand what your mind is going through.

I called my doctors and said sorry, I don't want to die to become a mother.

We have to do IVF again

I only had two embryos, and we implanted both. That meant that if I wanted to have another child down the road, it would require more IVF.

I lost my grandmother, but before she passed, she told me, "Don't worry, when I get to heaven, I'll send you a baby girl." I decided to have faith that it would work.

I now want baby number two, and we have to go through it all over again. I'm more prepared this time.

Biology is biology, and our ovarian reserves go down, and our eggs get worse. It's harder to become a mother later in life, but it shouldn't be something we don't talk about. We shouldn't have to suffer in silence and pretend like it's not happening.

I want people to know that you can do it all — have a career and have a baby later in life

There's so much stigma around fertility later in life. I chose to have my career, and I shouldn't be punished for that later in life just because I want to become a mother. I booked an amazing job on Peacock's "M.I.A.," but I was three and a half months postpartum when we started filming. I had also just evacuated our home in Malibu from the fires. I had to fly back to LA to test for the job, then move my family to Miami, and began shooting two weeks after we moved.

I was pumping in my trailer and putting milk in the fridge for my 4-month-old baby. Call times were 4:45 a.m. My daughter was waking up once or twice a night. I navigated that with my husband. I'm glad I have my support system of women, friends, my mother, and my grandmother in heaven. I've been very lucky, because I could not have done this alone.

I think once you become a mother, you realize you can do anything. I've birthed a human. I am unstoppable.

• I didn't take piano lessons as a kid, but wanted my kids to learn an instrument.
• My oldest fell in love with the piano, and soon after, I started taking lessons, too.

My grandmother is a pianist. As often happens, the pendulum swung the other way with my mom, who neither had an interest in taking piano lessons nor in making her kids do so. I vowed to throw the pendulum back the other way with my kids, enrolling them in piano lessons even though they showed no interest.

As fate would have it, my eldest fell in love with the instrument. Soon after, I signed up for lessons, too. This fall I'll begin my 10th semester as an adult piano student at our local university's music education program.

Over the years, I've learned to read notes and play chords. I performed an arrangement of Billy Joel's, "Piano Man," and Burgmüller's "L'Harmonie des Anges," for my recitals. The more I advance, the more I realize I am years away from the confident sight-reading necessary to fulfill my original vision of being able to plop down at the piano and play any pop song or carol in front of me. But that doesn't matter to me so much

Sure, there are many reasons I could quit, but I find there are many more to continue. In total, I spent about $6,000 on piano lessons for our family last year, and about $2,400 of that was for me. The investment was worth every penny.

Music is great for my brain

Many parents know and understand the advantages of having our children learn how to play an instrument. No matter what our age, adults can benefit, too. A 2025 study found "playing an instrument was associated with a 35% reduced dementia risk."

I saw the value firsthand when I attended 'Your Brain on Beethoven,' a public concert put on by the Music-in-Medicine Initiative. While the musicians performed the "Archduke Trio," a "Brain-Computer Interface and EEG brain dynamic data visualization" provided real-time feedback on how the music affected the pianist as a performer and the audience as listeners.

Even without a Ph.D. in neuroscience, I can feel the positive impact of music each time I play. Oftentimes, my lessons feel like a literal mental workout.

The concentration required to learn is meditative

As a parent of two, time is difficult to come by, so getting myself to sit down at the piano is the hardest part. That resistance quickly dissipates as soon as my fingers strike the keys, when the concentration required to play each note is so all-encompassing I can only focus on the task at hand.

Stepping away from a lesson, I often feel relaxed. My stress seems to melt away during the 45 dedicated minutes when I do not check my phone or email, or think about what I should do next. I get the same boost when I practice, as long as I take a minute to silence my phone.

Courage begets more courage

Learning something new is daunting. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the more I tried and failed, the more courage I had to do it again. Successes are delightful, but making it through failures while sitting at the piano bench is truly thrilling.

I might not free solo a mountain, but surviving my heart threatening to beat outside my chest while performing a piano recital is a wonderful reminder of aliveness, without any physical risk.

At my last recital, my hands shook so visibly that it was noticeable from the back row. I played through the adrenaline, managing to hit the notes and extract some musicality despite my strong physical reaction.

I gathered with the other adult students after our performance, and we congratulated each other. We all pointed out what went well. Instead of dwelling on mistakes, I took the compliments. Learning as an adult is not about being the best. It's about being the best version of yourself. It's a lesson I both learn and can pass along to my kids.

• Moving abroad made AI a practical tool for navigating daily life.
• My children have watched me use AI to solve problems and answer questions.
• The experience has shaped how I think about raising kids in the AI era.

I was writing the week's menu on the Miele fridge in our Spanish apartment when I noticed the freezer temperature indicator flashing two dotted lines. I had no idea what it meant. So I pulled out my phone, opened Claude, described what I was seeing, and within seconds, I was troubleshooting it. My 7-year-old watched me go from clueless to unstuck in under a minute.

Nine months ago, I moved my family of four from Connecticut to Las Rozas de Madrid. We're all learning Spanish one day at a time. I knew there would be a lot of figuring things out on the fly. But operating daily life in a new language and culture is humbling in ways you can't fully anticipate until you're in it.

So I've turned to AI when life throws something at me that I don't yet have the language or knowledge to handle.

I use Claude all the time

In just the last few weeks, I've used Claude to chat with a doctor via our insurance app when my son came home from school with a hematoma. And then to translate bloodwork results and research the right supplements to order. And again, to understand an audit letter from Agencia Tributaria (Spain's tax authority) about a package our neighbor had sent us months earlier.

What I didn't anticipate was that my kids would be watching. Not passively, but quietly absorbing.

My 7-year-old experiences Claude as a sort of magic answer machine. On the bus to school, when he wants to learn everything there is to know about diamonds, I open it up, and we go deep together. He asks questions, I read him answers, and they spark more questions. He has no idea what the technology is. He just knows he can get answers to all the things he's wondering about. I love that my not knowing doesn't mean he hits a dead end. I learn alongside him.

My 10-year-old knows exactly what Claude is. He's been watching me use it for months — and recently, we used it together for the first time on something important to him.

He wants to write a fantasy novel — he has the whole thing mapped out in his head. But he's a perfectionist, and the gap between big idea and completed 30,000-word book felt impossible to him. He could visualize it, but he couldn't see the steps — and was paralyzed by it. So I told him Claude could help.

We sat down together, and he watched me write a detailed prompt. From that, Claude built a road map — and I watched my son go from stuck to gleeful as he read it. Every phase and milestone was broken down into small steps he could take to turn his dream into reality. For the first time, this thing he wanted so badly to do actually felt doable. I asked Claude to build him a printable workbook to work through character development, plot, setting, and scenes. With a goal of 250 words a day, he can have the first draft done in four months.

While he nodded along to many of Claude's suggestions, he pushed back on others. He disagreed with the editing process. He had a better way. It might take longer, he said, but it would make the final product better.

My kids also use Claude

In that moment, I was so proud. He didn't blindly accept what came out of the tool. He thought critically, took what made sense to him, and discarded what didn't. The road map didn't write his novel. It just cleared the way so he could. Without it, a dream that might have been abandoned entirely became something he could start today.

As a mom, I've thought about whether any of this is good for them. Whether I'm modeling curiosity and resilience, or just handing them an easy button to outsource the hard parts.

Then I think about my older son on that bus. He didn't hand his thinking over. He used a tool to get out of his own way so he could start the thing — and then trusted himself to take it from there.

And I think about my youngest, who's so full of questions all the time. The answers Claude gives don't dim his thinking; they just intensify it.

Here's what I think they're absorbing: that not knowing doesn't have to be a dead end. Sometimes you just need to know the right question to ask.

We're all still learning Spanish — figuring out this new life in Spain. Most of the time, I still don't know what I'm doing. But I open Claude, ask a question, and keep moving forward. My kids are learning to do the same. And honestly, I think that's one of the best things I can teach them. That everything really is figureoutable.

When you think of Independence Day, your first thoughts are probably fireworks, patriotic colors, and the heat of summer. It's more than that for us here on the Reviews Team — it's also another time to save. That's why we've gathered the best 4th of July sales for you to browse below.

The most popular categories currently going on sale are furniture, mattresses, fashion, and beauty. Whether it's a new couch for your living room, a fresh set of summer swimwear, or a skincare restock, you can save big by shopping from stores like Sephora, Vuori, and Pottery Barn.

Keep scrolling to find our roundup of the holiday's best deals. Don't hesitate to buy what you're interested in — most sales end after July 4. For more discounts, check out our roundup of the best 4th of July mattress sales.

4th of July tech deals

Tech isn't the most popular category for Independence Day savings, but there are still solid discounts to be found nonetheless. Headphones are always a popular pick, but check out these deals on TVs, wearables, and more.

4th of July bedding and mattress deals

Mattresses are one of the most popular sale items, no matter the occasion. Even the smallest percentage discount can save you a good chunk of change — don't miss these sales from brands we've tested and loved.

4th of July kitchen deals

Eyeing a new coffee maker or air fryer? Though Prime Day is already over, you don't need a membership to save on these picks.

4th of July home and furniture deals

Definitely one of the most popular categories; tons of retailers are dropping prices for Independence Day. Outdoor furniture, cleaning supplies, and more are all on sale now.

4th of July style and beauty deals

As the weather warms, stores are offering end-of-season sales to make switching your wardrobe a little easier. Makeup and skincare are also deeply discounted for the holiday weekend.

Follow our WhatsApp channel on mobile for more buying guides, deals, and reviews.

The FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, four years since Argentina's victory, and Lionel Messi and his crew are attempting 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 every match.

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 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. Tabii in Turkey has plenty of free live streams in Arabic, too.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Which countries were eliminated in the group stage?

16 teams were eliminated after the group stage, and 32 have advanced to the first round of knockouts. Curaçao, Czechia, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, New Zealand, Panama, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Korea, Tunisia, Türkiye, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan were eliminated in the group stage.

Where does the 2026 FIFA World Cup take place?

Typically, the FIFA World Cup is hosted by a single country (except for Japan and South Korea in 2002), but the 2026 tournament will be held 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.

The final, which is scheduled for July 19, will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Is this a larger World Cup tournament than in past years?

If you've been looking at your TV guide and thinking that there are a lot of matches and teams, you're not alone. 2026 marks FIFA's largest World Cup tournament to date. The tournament was expanded from 32 to 48 teams, nearly doubling the number of matches scheduled to take place. This change increased the number of teams and groups in the group stages and means that knockouts begin with a new Round of 32 before the Round of 16.

Who is favored to win the FIFA World Cup?

Heading into the tournament, Spain was 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

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• Realtor.com ranked the 11 states where you can avoid spending more than 30% of your income on housing.
• The 30% rule is used as a benchmark to help households avoid becoming "house poor."
• The states are mostly located in the US's interior, including Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana.

Most of us have heard the golden rule of housing: Don't spend more than 30% of your income on housing. Known as the 30% rule, it's a benchmark financial experts often cite to help households avoid becoming "house poor" — meaning you have little savings left after paying monthly housing costs.

Unfortunately, for many Americans, that standard works better in theory than in practice. Realtor.com data shows that in most states, households earning the median income cannot comfortably afford a median-priced home without stretching their budgets too thin.

It's a reality shaped by the same persistent strains on housing affordability: high mortgage rates, high home prices, and economic headwinds such as inflation, which continue to drive up the cost of everyday necessities like food and gas.

The good news is that Realtor.com has identified 11 states where homebuyers can still afford homes without overburdening themselves financially. The majority are located in the Midwest, and surprisingly, not a single state in the South — a region often associated with lower living costs — made the cut.

"Midwestern states tend to have stronger labor markets, which keep incomes high relative to home values," said Joel Berner, a senior economist at Realtor.com. They also "have less of a lower tail of household incomes than the Southern states, so more Midwesterners end up able to afford homes."

Here are the 11 states where a household earning the median income can afford a typical home without spending more than 30% of its income, according to Realtor.com.

11. Minnesota

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 29.9%
• Median household income: $88,572
• Median home-list price: $388,212

10. Maryland

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 29.8%
• Median household income: $99,340
• Median home-list price: $434,302

9. Missouri

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 29.5%
• Median household income: $69,725
• Median home-list price: $301,158

8. West Virginia

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 29.4%
• Median household income: $60,185
• Median home-list price: $259,523

7. Pennsylvania

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 28.5%
• Median household income: $74,855
• Median home-list price: $312,487

6. Michigan

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 28.3%
• Median household income: $70,131
• Median home-list price: $290,329

5. Indiana

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 28.3%
• Median household income: $71,469
• Median home-list price: $295,810

4. Kansas

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 27%
• Median household income: $74,030
• Median home-list price: $292,632

3. Ohio

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 27%
• Median household income: $70,196
• Median home-list price: $277,348

2. Illinois

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 26%
• Median household income: $80,648
• Median home-list price: $307,674

1. Iowa

• Share of median income needed to afford a median-priced home: 25.4%
• Median household income: $75,991
• Median home-list price: $282,886

• Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday.
• The AFL-CIO congratulated the couple, both of whom are union members.
• The couple donated $26 million to charities ahead of the ceremony.

It's a union love story, baby.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift officially tied the knot in an exclusive wedding at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday. Fans from across the globe rushed to congratulate the couple on their high-profile nuptials, including the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. The AFL-CIO is the largest federation of unions in the country.

Swift is a member of the American Federation of Musicians and SAG-AFTRA, while Kelce is a member of the NFL Players Association.

"It's better in a union," the AFL-CIO wrote on X. "Congrats to @The_AFM and @sagaftra member @taylorswift13 and @NFLPA member @tkelce on their marriage!"

In a separate X post, the AFL-CIO said Madison Square Garden "is a completely union venue."

Swift has shown support for unions in the past, including in 2023 during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike. While major studios and streamers resisted meeting union demands, Swift worked with SAG-AFTRA to secure an interim agreement for her concert film, "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour."

She's not exactly a stalwart, however. In July of that same year, Unite Here Local 11, which represents 32,000 hospitality workers, urged Swift to cancel her Los Angeles-based concerts in support of their labor strike. She did not.

The high-profile nuptials drew hundreds of celebrities to New York City amid a sweltering heat wave. Paparazzi spotted Jason Sudeikis, Hugh Grant, Benson Boone, Ethan Hawke, Gigi Hadid, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, and more entering the venue.

Adam Sandler, a friend of the couple, officiated the wedding, the AP reported. Austin Swift served as his sister's Man of Honor, and Jason Kelce served as his brother's Best Man. While saying "I do," the couple donned outfits designed by Christian Dior's creative director, Jonathan Anderson, and jewelry from Cartier.

While many of the event's details were kept secret, TMZ reported that more than 1,000 guests were expected to attend, and that the couple paid millions of dollars to rent Madison Square Garden for several days. A City Hall spokesperson told CBS News that a permit was filed to close the streets surrounding the venue from July 2 to July 4.

The couple, who got engaged in August 2025 after two years of dating, donated $26 million to 20 local and national charities ahead of the ceremony. Swift's publicist said the donations were tied to places that have shaped their lives, including Rhode Island and New York City. One of the recipients, Harvesters — The Community Food Network, said Swift and Kelce donated $1 million to its food bank in an Instagram post.

"We'd like to send a heartfelt thank you to @taylorswift and @killatrav for their very generous donation to our food bank just prior to their big wedding day," the nonprofit said. "The two of them have incredibly big hearts and have shown up to support not only us but many charities over the years."

• Vripack's co-creative directors, Marnix Hoekstra and Bart Bouwhuis, design luxury superyachts.
• Over their decades in the business, clients' priorities have shifted.
• From office spaces to gyms, these are what superyacht clients are requesting.

A custom superyacht is among the most expensive assets anyone can own, costing hundreds of millions of dollars and taking years to build. So when it comes to its design, every square meter matters.

For Bart Bouwhuis and Marnix Hoekstra, that often has less to do with the sleek profile or signature silhouettes one can see from a marina, and more to do with everyday practicalities.

The pair are the co-creative directors of Vripack, a naval architecture and interiors firm that has designed superyachts for billionaires and members of the Saudi royal family.

"Ultimately, the object needs to fulfill the requirements of the day, the evening, and the night," Bouwhuis told Business Insider. "It's a puzzle."

Solving that puzzle means understanding how a particular client spends their day on the water.

"The outside you could consider more or less a dress: you can dress up any layout with a modern dress or a classic dress," Bouwhuis said.

Should the yacht prioritize an outdoor cinema or a sprawling beach club? How much space should be devoted to the crew without compromising guest areas?

Other decisions, from stabilizers that reduce seasickness to insulation that dampens engine noise, are less visible, though equally important to a client's experience on board.

While no two superyachts designed by Bouwhuis and Hoekstra are the same, they have noticed changing priorities — or new ways to address age-old ones — in recent years.

No days off

Health and fitness have become vital to the longevity-obsessed superrich, including Vripack's clients.

While they used to be OK with a hotel-style gym — no windows, some free weights — "those days are gone," Hoekstra told Business Insider.

Clients have requested Bikram-style hot yoga studios, kickboxing areas, and even a hyperbaric chamber for oxygen therapy, which antiaging gurus swear by.

"You don't walk a lot on a boat," Hoekstra said. "A treadmill or bike, both of them are very nice pieces of equipment to keep your muscles going."

Constructing a gym on a ship comes with challenges, be it finding a room with a high enough ceiling to accommodate large machines or properly enclosing and climate-controlling the space.

WFY: Work from yacht

The pandemic popularized the phrase "WFH," short for work from home. For the very wealthy, there's also WFY.

"Life is blurring between private and business and between being on the boat and off the boat," Hoekstra said.

Increased workplace flexibility has prompted clients to view their yachts as more than just places to unwind. Plus, as superyacht owners become younger — and less likely to be the stereotypical retiree — they are more likely to be working.

There's also been a shift in what technology can support. Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet company, for example, has made Zoom calls at sea more common.

Comfort at sea

"Since the beginning of mankind, we want to be out at the sea, and we don't want to move," Hoekstra said. "It's a little bit of a paradox."

Superyachts have long had stabilizers to prevent seasickness, and that technology has improved in recent years.

On the design side, computers have become more capable of modeling the motion of various points on the boat. For Bouwhuis and Hoekstra, that means designing for specific sea states — a yacht that will only sail in the Mediterranean, for example, requires specific stabilizing systems. The designers also have to think about where to place the master cabin and bed to minimize seasickness.

Consider the lobster('s habitat)

One of Vripack's most famous works is Project Zero, an all-electric superyacht powered entirely by renewable energy that is set to launch later this year.

While that yacht has a unique sense of purpose, other clients have been interested in adopting some of its advancements.

Hoekstra said the project shifted clients' thinking from avoiding anything related to environmentalism to pursuing the "low-hanging fruit," such as skipping excessive engines.

"Can I get a bigger engine?' That's just so 80s," Hoekstra said. "Why would you pick a heavy four-by-four Jeep to drive to a meeting in Manhattan?"

They've been more intentional about equipping yachts with better insulation and heat reflective paint to reduce the need for energy-sucking air conditioning. Actual AC systems have been made more energy-efficient, for example, by turning off when someone leaves the room.

Teak, once a popular decking material, has been phased out due to the deforestation it causes.

With alternatives available, "it doesn't really make sense not to do it," Hoekstra said.

• The US is celebrating a big birthday this year: the semiquincentennial.
• In other words, America is turning 250.
• While that might seem like a long time, there are plenty of things still in use that predate the US.

Happy birthday, America!

This July Fourth, the USA is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the day when the US formally broke away from England in 1776.

A lot has happened in the last two centuries: inventions, wars, pandemics, space travel, to name a few. But there are plenty of things still around today that predate the United States of America.

If you got in a time machine and went back to 1776, all of these things, in some shape or form, would be waiting for you, like a cold glass of Stella, a hot mug of Twinings, and the latest edition of The Hartford Courant.

Here are 10 things that are older than the USA.

The Methuselah tree

Methuselah, named for the Biblical figure who was said to have lived to be 969 years old, is a Great Basin bristlecone pine tree growing in California's White Mountains. According to the National Park Service, the tree is 4,765 years old.

Technically, Methusaleh is in a "secret location" to protect it, though if you know where to look on the internet, you may be able to figure out where that is.

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo is "one of the oldest living and continuously inhabited communities in the United States," according to its tourism website.

It is the home of a group of Tiwa-speaking Pueblo people, who have been in the area since 900 AD, and the main adobe structures there today were built between 1000 and 1450.

You can visit Taos Pueblo, but not all areas are accessible to visitors, and you are asked to follow a set of rules to help protect the community's culture and traditions.

The Hartford Courant

The Hartford Courant's origins can be traced back to 1764, when it was a weekly paper called the Connecticut Courant. The paper advertises itself as "America's oldest continuously published newspaper," according to the University of Connecticut.

During the colonial period, it kept readers informed about major events, such as the Stamp Act, becoming "the most widely circulated newspaper in the colonies," according to ConnecticutHistory.org.

In July 1776, the newspaper published the Declaration of Independence in full.

Barclays bank

Barclays was founded in London in 1690 by two bankers, John Freame and Thomas Gould, though the bank didn't adopt the Barclays name until 1736, when Freame's son-in-law became a partner. His name? James Barclay.

Now, Barclays is one of the 20 largest banks in the world and the second-largest British bank, behind only HSBC, according to a 2026 S&P Global Market Intelligence report.

Oxford University

In addition to being older than the United States of America, Oxford calls itself the "oldest university in the English-speaking world."

According to its website, there was some form of teaching at Oxford as far back as 1096. After the University of Paris banned English pupils in 1167, Oxford grew quickly.

Before the turn of the 17th century, it is believed that there were around 3,200 undergraduates at the university. Today, there are more than 12,000.

Harvard University

In the US, Harvard University also got its start before the United States of America.

Then known simply as "the colledge," it was founded in Massachusetts in 1636 and moved to its current location (in what was soon to be named Cambridge) the following year, according to the university's timeline. Its first graduates — all nine of them — completed their studies in 1642.

More than a century later, eight of its alumni would sign the Declaration of Independence.

Stella Artois

Stella Artois, the Belgian beer popular in the US and around the world, was founded in Leuven, Belgium, in 1366 — yes, Stella is 660 years old.

It gets its name from the Latin word for "star," as the brewery originally developed it as a Christmas gift for locals.

Centuries later, it was officially introduced to the US market in 1999, during owner Interbrew's global expansion.

The pressure cooker

Of course, the modern pressure cooker today is a bit different than the one invented by French physicist Denis Papin in 1679, but an Instant Pot owes its basic design to Papin's "steam digester."

Both rely on the same principle of trapping steam and raising pressure inside the cooker to achieve a higher boiling point, cooking food faster.

A domestic version was popularized in the US in 1939, after Presto introduced its model at the New York World's Fair.

The Greenland shark

The Greenland shark is estimated to live at least 250 years, and could live for as long as 500 years, per NOAA.

This suggests there are some Greenland sharks in the depths of the North Atlantic that may be older than the US.

It has a reputation as the longest-lived vertebrate and can measure up to 23 feet long, although most don't exceed 13 feet, according to Britannica.

Twinings tea

Twinings has been serving the tea-lovers of London (and later, the world) since Thomas Twining opened Tom's Coffee House in 1706.

Tea's popularity continued to skyrocket in the Western world after that, as did Twinings. In fact, when the Boston Tea Party happened in 1773, a local writer noted that "it was not Twinings tea the Boston rebels tossed into the sea."

• Kansas City and Texas are among the best-known places in the country for barbecue.
• However, great barbecue can be found across the country.
• From roadside shacks to barbecue institutions, here's the most iconic barbecue joint in every state.

Fire up the grill or hit the road — few foods are more synonymous with Fourth of July weekend than barbecue.

We found the most iconic or beloved barbecue joints in every state, from nationally known institutions like Franklin Barbecue in Austin to side-of-the-road smokehouses that have become local legends.

Our list includes barbecue destinations with historical or regional significance and devoted national or local followings. Many of the spots or their pitmasters have won major accolades, and some have appeared on mainstream TV shows. Together, they show that great barbecue can be found in every corner of the country.

Here's the most iconic barbecue restaurant in every state.

ALABAMA: Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa

Famous for its ribs, Dreamland Bar-B-Que has been satisfying folks in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, since 1958.

Even celebrities come to the restaurant to enjoy the food, including actor and singer Reba McEntire and former president George W. Bush, who ordered some of the restaurant's famous ribs to-go to eat aboard Air Force One, The Tuscaloosa News reported.

ALASKA: Big Daddy's Bar-B-Q in Fairbanks

It's not just any place that can get Guy Fieri and his frosted tips up to the northernmost part of the US, but Big Daddy's Bar-B-Q did. The Fairbanks institution was featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" (a fact that's prominently advertised throughout the restaurant) in 2009.

Fieri recommends the Arkansas-style ribs and the smoked turkey.

ARIZONA: Little Miss BBQ in Phoenix

Little Miss BBQ got started when its owner, Scott Holmes, took a trip to Texas and had his mind blown by Texan barbecue. It started him and his wife on a journey that's led to two Little Miss BBQ locations, a dedicated following, and Holmes becoming a James Beard semifinalist this year, per KTAR News.

ARKANSAS: McClard's Bar-B-Q in Hot Springs

McClard's has been part of the Hot Springs community for almost 100 years — it opened in 1928. Four generations later, it's still in the McClard family, and its priceless sauce recipe is locked inside a bank vault for safekeeping.

While many barbecue places have longtime fans, McClard's Bar-B-Q can claim one special person among its dedicated fan base: Bill Clinton. Per The Takeout, the then-president would have McClard's wings flown to DC on Air Force One, and they were even served at Camp David.

CALIFORNIA: Bludso's BBQ in Los Angeles

Bludso's BBQ was founded in 2008 by Kevin Bludso, a James Beard Award winner and frequent judge on the Netflix competition series "Barbecue Showdown."

Fans recommend the brisket and the ribs, along with sides like mac and cheese and collard greens.

COLORADO: Post Oak Barbecue in Denver

Post Oak describes itself as the "most down-to-earth Texas barbecue you'll find anywhere in Colorado," as all the wood it uses for its pits is flown in straight from Austin.

The pulled pork and burnt ends are fan-favorites.

CONNECTICUT: Bear's Smokehouse BBQ in Hartford

Bear's Smokehouse is a Hartford favorite, though the chain has multiple locations throughout the state. Local outlet Hartford Courant named Bear's Smokehouse the best ribs and best food truck in the state. USA Today also named it one of the best restaurants in the country in 2026 (albeit, one of the North Carolina locations).

DELAWARE: Bethany Blues in Bethany Beach

Best of Delaware has regularly shouted out Bethany Blues as the state's best place to grab barbecue, and the fact that it's on the beach only adds to the great summer vibes.

In addition to the tasty brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, dedicated customers recommend checking out the huge list of bourbon.

FLORIDA: Big Lee's Barbecue in Ocala

Another Guy Fieri favorite is Big Lee's in Ocala. The current head pitmaster, Rashad Jones, has popped up on other Food Network shows, including "Beat Bobby Flay" in 2023, when he, in fact, beat Flay.

The burnt ends, the Deacon fries that are topped with pulled pork, and the homemade sweet tea are all notable menu items.

GEORGIA: Southern Soul Barbeque in Saint Simons Island

Southern Living readers named Southern Soul Barbecue the best barbecue in the South in 2026.

The magazine noted the "big St. Louis-style [ribs] slathered in turbinado and brown sugar," the "smoked-kissed half chicken," and the Brunswick stew, a Georgia classic.

HAWAII: Helena's Hawaiian Food in Honolulu

Helena's Hawaiian Food sells, you guessed it, traditional Hawaiian food, which has its own version of barbecue, including short ribs, slow-cooked pig, macaroni salad, and more. It's a staple of the Honolulu food scene.

IDAHO: BBQ4LIFE in Boise

Boise Weekly named BBQ4LIFE the best barbecue in the state, and looking at the menu, we can see why. In addition to its many flavorful meat options, BBQ4LIFE also has vegan options, a rarity in this cuisine.

What we'd be interested in trying, though, is the broodwich: pulled pork, mac and cheese, and barbecue sauce all on French toast with maple syrup and powdered sugar.

ILLINOIS: 17th Street BBQ in Murphysboro

17th Street was well-known throughout the barbecue community, mostly due to its owner and pitmaster, Mike Mills, a pillar of the Illinois barbecue scene. Upon his death in 2020, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker posted his condolences, and his obituary said that Mills was the "only barbecuer with top-security clearance to board Air Force One, where he delivered barbecue to President Bill Clinton, and the only pitmaster in America who's been featured in Vogue magazine four times."

17th Street is still going strong, with his daughter Amy taking over. The baby back ribs are a must, as they're sprinkled with a secret seasoning called "Magic Dust."

INDIANA: Big Hoffa's in Westfield

Big Hoffa's has a cult following in Indiana due to its unique pirate theme, complete with murals, a fake cypress tree draped in "Spanish moss," and shelves of pirate memorabilia.

Oh, and the food is good too, as the barbecue is fused with Caribbean influences.

IOWA: Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack in Iowa City

Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack is a favorite of students at the University of Iowa, which is less than 10 minutes away by car. In addition to the (of course) ribs, the chicken wings are a hugely popular menu item.

KANSAS: Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que in Kansas City

Kansas City is famous for its barbecue, and its iconic spot is Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, which is attached to a gas station.

On Joe's famous menu, the most famous item is the Z-Man sandwich, which traditionally features brisket, provolone, and onion rings on a kaiser roll. But if brisket isn't your deal, Joe's also offers pulled pork, smoked chicken, and portobello mushroom variants.

KENTUCKY: Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn in Owensboro

Moonlite Bar-B-Q is famous for its barbecue mutton, which is unique to Kentucky.

"Kentucky has been known as the mutton capital of all things barbecue," pitmaster and television personality Danielle Bennett told Food and Wine, and Moonlite is the best place to get it.

LOUISIANA: The Joint in New Orleans

New Orleans is one of, if not the most, food-focused cities in the US, so if something rises to the level of institution, you know it's good.

The Joint has been in the Bywater since 2004, and in the 20 years since, locals have come to love the burnt ends, barbecue chicken, pecan pie, and frozen drinks.

MAINE: Wilson County Barbecue in Portland

Maine isn't particularly known for its barbecue offerings, but Mainers swear by Wilson County, which local outlets have praised for its North Carolina-inspired menu, including its whole-hog pulled-pork sandwich.

MARYLAND: Andy Nelson's Southern Pit Barbecue in Cockeysville

Maryland may be famous for its seafood, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its own tasty barbecue. The best-known barbecue spot in this state is Andy Nelson's, named for the Baltimore Colts (before they moved to Indianapolis) safety. His family was a barbecue family, and he used recipes passed down from his father.

The pit beef, pulled pork, ribs, and smoked turkey are not to be missed.

MASSACHUSETTS: BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge

BT's Smokehouse regularly appears on lists of the best barbecue in the Northeast or New England.

"I try to cook my barbecue the way you think barbecue should taste," said founder Brian Treitman.

"When you think about a pork rib, in your mind, it is tender, succulent, ready to fall off the bone with a little smoke and glazed with a flavorful, spiced, sweet sauce. You want to lick your fingers — no need for a napkin," he continued. "That's the way I try to cook."

MICHIGAN: Slows Bar-B-Q in Detroit

Slows has been a staple of the Detroit neighborhood of Corktown for over 20 years, per Eater. It gained such a following that its Yardbird sandwich (smoked chicken, mushrooms, cheddar, bacon, and house honey mustard barbecue sauce) was featured on an episode of "Adam Richman's Best Sandwich in America."

MINNESOTA: Ted Cook's 19th Hole BBQ in Minneapolis

Ted Cook's 19th Hole BBQ has been a Minneapolis institution since 1968. It was run by Cook and his wife until 1986, when the Davis family took over. The Davises then sold it to Moses Quartey in 2001, who is still operating it today.

Rib tips originated in Chicago, but the ones at this Minneapolis joint are not to be missed.

MISSISSIPPI: The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint in Ocean Springs

In addition to its mouthwatering meats, The Shed has gained national exposure from being featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," when Guy Fieri called it "one of the hippest dives" and on other Food Network programs.

Siblings Brad Orrison and Brooke Lewis have made The Shed famous outside the Gulf Coast with their house sauces and huge combo platters.

MISSOURI: Gates BBQ in Kansas City

Gates BBQ in Kansas City, Missouri, opened in 1946 and specializes in pork ribs, barbecue sandwiches, and sides.

The joint's tomato-based secret sauce also helped make the restaurant an institution in Kansas City.

MONTANA: Notorious P.I.G. in Missoula

Notorious P.I.G. has become one of Montana's best-known barbecue spots by bringing Texas-style smoked meats to downtown Missoula.

The lively restaurant is especially known for brisket, burnt ends, and pulled pork, along with its famous mac and cheese, which some say is even better than its barbecue meats.

NEBRASKA: Porky Butts BBQ in Omaha

Porky Butts BBQ was founded in 2019 by championship pitmaster Blane Hunter, whose competition barbecue background helped put the restaurant on the national map.

The Omaha favorite is known for smoked brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, along with award-winning burnt ends and house-made sauces.

NEVADA: John Mull's Meats & Road Kill Grill in Las Vegas

John Mull's Meats & Road Kill Grill started as a family butcher shop in the 1950s before evolving into one of Las Vegas' most beloved barbecue destinations.

The off-the-beaten-path spot is famous for smoked brisket and enormous portions served in a casual backyard setting that regularly draws long lines of locals and tourists.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: KC's Rib Shack in Manchester

KC's Rib Shack has built a loyal following in New Hampshire for its lively roadhouse atmosphere and classic barbecue.

It's best known for smoky St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, and brisket, along with live music and biker-bar energy that sets it apart from traditional New England barbecue joints.

NEW JERSEY: Red White & Que Smokehouse in Green Brook

Red White & Que Smokehouse helped popularize craft barbecue in New Jersey with its low-and-slow approach and Southern-inspired menu.

Among its most beloved offerings are the brisket, smoked wings, and loaded mac and cheese.

NEW MEXICO: Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue in Cloudcroft

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue has become a destination restaurant tucked high in the mountains of southern New Mexico.

The tiny smokehouse routinely sells out of its Texas-style brisket, giant beef ribs, and pulled pork.

NEW YORK: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que began as a concession stand at biker festivals before opening its original Syracuse restaurant in 1988, eventually becoming one of the most famous barbecue brands in the state.

The barbecue restaurant has since expanded to multiple locations across New York and neighboring states, helping introduce generations of Northeastern diners to Southern-style barbecue.

NORTH CAROLINA: Skylight Inn in Ayden

Skylight Inn in Ayden, North Carolina, specializes in Southern barbecue.

Food Network named the eatery one of its "Top 5" barbecue restaurants in the US, and says one of the best menu items is the chopped pork sandwich.

NORTH DAKOTA: Spitfire Bar & Grill in West Fargo

Spitfire Bar & Grill is a longtime local favorite known for hearty barbecue platters and casual comfort food. Its crew competes in Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned competitions; in early May, they beat over 70 other teams to earn the title of best ribs at the Scheels North Dakota Championship Barbecue Competition.

The restaurant, also named by Food Network as the best barbecue in the state, draws crowds for smoked ribs, brisket, and barbecue sandwiches served in a lively sports-bar atmosphere.

OHIO: Cockeye BBQ in Warren

Cockeye BBQ has become a favorite in the state thanks to its competition-style smoked meats and old-school roadside barbecue feel.

The restaurant is especially known for ribs, pulled pork, and loaded barbecue platters, and customers praise its generous portions.

OKLAHOMA: The Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston

The Butcher BBQ Stand was founded by Levi Bouska with help from his father, championship pitmaster and Hall of Fame barbecue competitor David Bouska, just over a decade ago.

The roadside smokehouse has become internationally famous for its smoked brisket, ribs, and Oklahoma-style barbecue, which blends Texas influences with Bouska's own techniques.

OREGON: Podnah's Pit Barbecue in Portland

Podnah's Pit Barbecue helped introduce authentic Texas-style barbecue to Portland when it opened in 2006.

The restaurant is known for its famous pepper-crusted brisket, smoked pork ribs, and classic barbecue sides, all cooked in traditional smokers.

PENNSYLVANIA: Stookey's Famous Bar-B-Que in Nanticoke

Stookey's Famous Bar-B-Que dates back to 1926 and is beloved for its nostalgic roadside barbecue style.

It's especially known for its barbecue sandwiches and tangy house barbecue sauce.

RHODE ISLAND: Smoke House in Newport

Rhode Island isn't traditionally known for its barbecue, but Smoke House in Newport is attempting to change that. The restaurant has become a go-to barbecue destination in the state, bringing Southern-style smoked meats to Rhode Island's coastal dining scene.

The restaurant is known for barbecue favorites such as brisket and baby back ribs, as well as local dishes like classic New England lobster rolls.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Scott's Bar-B-Que in Hemingway

Scott's Bar-B-Que is one of the most revered barbecue restaurants in America and a cornerstone of South Carolina's whole-hog barbecue tradition.

The legendary spot helped launch pitmaster Rodney Scott to national fame, earning him a James Beard Award and a spot on Netflix's "Chef's Table: BBQ."

SOUTH DAKOTA: J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ Pit in Summerset

J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ Pit has earned a strong regional reputation for classic hometown barbecue near Rapid City.

The casual smokehouse is known for brisket, smoked meats, and house-made sauces served in a rustic roadside setting.

TENNESSEE: Central BBQ in Memphis

Central BBQ opened in Memphis in 2002 and quickly became one of the city's most celebrated barbecue institutions by blending traditional slow-smoking techniques with flavor-packed rubs and sauces.

The beloved smokehouse is especially famous for its Memphis-style dry-rub ribs, which draw both locals and tourists seeking an authentic taste of the city's barbecue culture.

TEXAS: Franklin Barbecue in Austin

Established in 2009, Franklin Barbecue has been a staple of the Texas and Austin barbecue scenes for years and has gained a worldwide reputation for its mouthwatering brisket and barbecue sides.

Eater reported that Anthony Bourdain visited the spot for an episode of "No Reservations" in 2012, where he waited in line for over an hour. The barbecue was apparently well worth the wait since he called the brisket "earth-shatteringly good."

Franklin Barbecue owner Aaron Franklin is also one of the top names in barbecue. In 2015, he became the first barbecue chef to be awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef in the Southwest.

UTAH: Pica Rica BBQ in St. George

Pica Rica BBQ has built a devoted following in southern Utah for its Texas-inspired barbecue.

The family-run restaurant is especially known for brisket and smoked turkey, along with house-made sauces and consistently long weekend lines.

VERMONT: Prohibition Pig in Waterbury

Prohibition Pig specializes in classic smoked barbecue meats, but the Food Network says the real star on the menu is the mac and cheese.

The restaurant is also known for brisket, pulled pork, and creative barbecue plates paired with house-brewed beer in a lively gastropub setting.

VIRGINIA: Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que in Williamsburg

Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que has been a Williamsburg go-to for barbecue since 1971 and remains one of Virginia's most famous roadside barbecue joints.

The longtime favorite is best known for chopped pork sandwiches topped with its signature sweet-and-tangy sauce and barbecue plates with hushpuppies, a local favorite.

WASHINGTON: Jack's BBQ in Seattle

Jack's BBQ became a Seattle standout after founder Jack Timmons traveled through Texas, learning traditional barbecue techniques before opening his own restaurant in 2014.

The smokehouse is known for its oak-smoked brisket, beef ribs, and sausages, all cooked in offset smokers imported from Texas to cook everything low and slow.

WEST VIRGINIA: Dee Jay's BBQ Ribs & Grille in Weirton

Dee Jay's BBQ Ribs & Grille has developed a cult following in West Virginia for its famously large rib portions and laid-back, tropical-themed atmosphere.

In addition to barbecue, the restaurant is well known for its burgers and other classic American fare.

WISCONSIN: Double B's BBQ in West Allis

Double B's BBQ has earned praise for bringing authentic Southern-style barbecue to the Milwaukee area, winning local awards and previously being named by Yelp as one of the 100 best barbecue spots in the country.

The smokehouse is known for brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and house-made sauces.

WYOMING: Pokey's BBQ & Smokehouse in Gillette

Pokey's BBQ & Smokehouse, which Food Network recognized as the best barbecue in the state, has become a popular Wyoming stop for smoked meats and hearty Western-style barbecue in a diner-style atmosphere.

The casual smokehouse is known for brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, reflecting the state's ranching culture.