• "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley is out after over three decades at CBS News.
• Pelley reportedly had harsh words for Bari Weiss during a heated staff meeting on Monday.
• Executive producer Nick Bilton said Pelley was fired, citing the journalist's "misconduct."

Longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley is out of the famed news program.

Pelley, who spent over 30 years at CBS News, was fired on Tuesday from the company after a clash with new "60 Minutes" top producer Nick Bilton.

"Your antipathy to the future of the show has come through loud and clear," Bilton wrote in a memo to Pelley that was seen by Business Insider. "I therefore write on behalf of CBS News, Inc. to inform you that your employment with CBS is terminated for cause effective immediately."

A CBS News spokesperson declined to comment.

Pelley's departure follows a testy staff meeting with Bilton on Monday, an audio recording of which was obtained by Status and The New York Times.

During one exchange, Pelley reportedly said CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss "does not love this place," and is "murdering" the "60 Minutes" newsmagazine.

In Bilton's memo, the executive wrote that he had tried to reach out to Pelley but was instead rejected and met with an "ambush."

"Despite yesterday's misconduct, I had hoped that in sitting down with you today we could find a path forward together," Bilton wrote. "You made clear that you are not interested in such a path."

Pelley could not immediately be reached for comment.

"I have been in combat in Afghanistan. I have been in combat in Iraq," Pelley said in an interview with The New York Times shortly after he was fired. "I have been in the war zone in Ukraine multiple times, risking my life and the happiness of my family because of my devotion to the broadcast."

CBS News under Weiss

Weiss has characterized her overhaul of CBS News — including "60 Minutes" — as part of a mission to remake the organization for the digital era.

Her critics say she's trying to make the broadcast network more friendly to President Donald Trump, whose administration is tasked with approving or rejecting CBS-parent Paramount Skydance's plan to buy Warner Bros. Discovery. Weiss has pushed back against criticism and said her actions are not political.

During the Monday staff meeting, Pelley told Bilton he had "slender qualifications" for the top job at "60 Minutes," according to The New York Times. Bilton, formerly a New York Times tech reporter who's also produced documentaries for HBO and Netflix, doesn't have a TV news background.

Pelley also grilled Bilton on the departures of correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi from "60 Minutes" last week.

In an exit memo, Vega said that she and her colleagues battled "efforts to insert political bias into our stories" that she characterized as "censorship, both imposed and self-driven."

Alfonsi referenced "an intense editorial dispute" with Weiss, who delayed her December story about the Trump administration's migrant deportation tactics involving El Salvador's CECOT prison.

This decision by Weiss "was a deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting, and it sends a chilling message to the entire newsroom," Alfonsi wrote.

Weiss told staffers that her decision to delay the story wasn't politically motivated.

• George Santos is under investigation for alleged insider trading on Kalshi.
• The investigation examines whether Santos used nonpublic information to inform his bets on the site.
• Kalshi and similar platforms face scrutiny over the potential for insider trading and market abuse.

Former Rep. George Santos is the subject of investigations by the Justice Department and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission into alleged insider trading on the prediction market platform Kalshi, two people with knowledge of the investigations said Tuesday.

One of the people said Kalshi referred the matter to law enforcement after detecting unusual trades related to Santos' attendance at the State of the Union address in February. NPR was first to report the investigation.

Kalshi and the CFTC declined to comment on the investigation. Representatives for Santos and the DOJ did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

NPR reported that Santos said the investigations were "news to me," and said he was "not saying yes" and "not saying no" when the outlet asked whether he had a Kalshi account.

On the day before the State of the Union, Santos said on X that he planned to attend President Donald Trump's address in person.

However, Santos did not attend and later posted on X that he was watching the speech from an airport. NPR reported that Santos had already placed bets on Kalshi that he would not appear at the event, allowing him to turn a profit of "tens of thousands of dollars."

The probe marks the latest legal challenge for Santos, a former New York congressman who was expelled from the House in 2023 after a series of scandals involving fabricated elements of his biography and allegations of financial misconduct.

In 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a federal fraud case and acknowledged a broader pattern of misconduct that prosecutors said included falsifying campaign finance reports, stealing donors' credit card information, collecting unemployment benefits while employed, and lying about his finances.

Following his guilty plea, Santos surrendered to the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey, in July 2025 to begin an 87-month prison sentence. His sentence was commuted by Trump in October 2025, resulting in his immediate release.

Kalshi, Polymarket, and other prediction-market platforms have faced mounting scrutiny in recent months over whether users can profit from nonpublic information in markets tied to elections, military action, and geopolitics.

Business Insider previously reported that Kalshi fined and suspended three political candidates for betting on their own elections, while Polymarket flagged to authorities trades by a US Army soldier accused of using classified information to make more than $400,000 on markets tied to Venezuela.

Critics have also raised alarms about markets tied to conflict and regime change, including wagers related to Iran, as lawmakers and regulators debate whether the fast-growing industry can police insider trading on its platforms.

The fisherman sandal has ancient origins with a modern appeal. Marked by a strappy, caged toe box and a secure ankle strap, this style was initially worn by mariners who needed quick-draining footwear while on deck.

Today, our favorites are reimagined with sleek leathers, bold colors, and supportive features like cushioned insoles and contoured footbeds. Plus, their ventilated toe box is perfect for those who don't like wearing open-toed shoes, but still want their feet to breathe.

Below are a dozen comfortable pairs of fisherman sandals curated by our style editors, each with their own unique twist that let you stroll in closed-toe comfort.

Bared Footwear Cettia Sandals

I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with sandals. While I can't deny their stylish appeal, many of the pairs I've owned lack comfort and cannot compare to even mildly supportive sneakers. That's why I was intrigued by Bared Footwear's fisherman sandals crafted with a biomechanical footbed, which the brand claims offers unparalleled comfort.

Last summer I tested its Honeyguides — which have since been phased out in favor of the Cettias— and after wearing them on a hectic day of running errands, I can confirm: They're the most comfortable sandals I've ever worn. Exceptional details include soft, cushy leather and a roomy square toe area, despite the shoe's elongated, pointed-toe look. The sandals' slightly elevated heels felt more supportive and less taxing than a fully flat shoe.

It's a tricky balance for a shoe to strike between wearability and aesthetics, but these versatile fisherman sandals nailed it. The thin leather straps, gold hardware, and sleek pointed toe added up to an elevated sandal that paired perfectly with a floral summer dress. Still, they were easily dressed down with stretchy pants and a casual tee. They're true to size and also come in a metallic gold colorway, which I'm seriously considering purchasing as a dance-floor-friendly alternative for a wedding guest sandal.

Learn about another pair of Bared Footwear sandals that we loved in our guide to the best walking sandals for women.

Naturalizer Cleo Flat Sandals

Naturalizer earned the top spot in our guide to the most comfortable heels, so we've learned to trust its affordable leather dress shoes. Its Cleo Flat Sandals have just a half-inch heel to create an elongating effect, which tapers into a square toe cage. They're sleek enough to wear to the office, and the contoured, padded footbed means they'll be comfortable during your commute.

FitFlop GEN-FF Leather Fisherman Sandals

The Gen-FFs are the best fisherman sandal for wide feet you're likely to find anywhere. We've tested FitFlop's ballet flats, clogs, and flip-flops, and they're always generously sized in the toe box.

Fisherman sandals are usually flat, which can be hard on your joints if you're walking all day. Instead,FitFlop's thickly cushioned "Microwobbleboard" midsoles lift your feet out of the flat position so even high arches feel supported.

Margaux The Calypso Fisherman

Margaux's take on the fisherman sandal has an interwoven toe cage, which gives them a unique and sophisticated twist. We've commended the brand for years on its wide-fit offerings, though the length of the footbed usually runs small. Fortunately, these leather sandals come in half sizes in case you measure somewhere between.

They're an investment pair for sure, but the handmade Spanish craftsmanship and 5 millimeter padded insoles help justify the price. You can wear these on dressy summer occasions when both style and comfort are equally important.

Quince Italian Leather Lug Sole Fisherman Sandal

Direct-to-consumer brand Quince charges an average of 50-80% off traditional retail prices because it doesn't have to pay overhead costs. These reasonably priced 100% cow leather lug sole fisherman sandals are an excellent example of a wardrobe staple at a fraction of the expected price tag. The one-and-a-half-inch chunky platform has an EVA outsole for added cushioning.

Read more in our full Quince review.

Rothy's Fisherman Sandal

Of all the Rothy's sandals we've tested, most tend to run large but are all amazingly flexible and lightweight. As long as you can secure the right fit, these are the perfect fisherman sandals to throw in your beach bag or pack in a crammed suitcase. This knit mesh pair is even machine washable.

Camper Dana Sandals

This casual shoe features a supremely comfortable OrthoLite footbed that is both breathable and moisture-wicking. The thick-strap, box-toe design is available in black or white calfskin leather or tan nubuck. It's made to last, and the brand offers a two-year guarantee against any manufacturing defects.

Learn about another pair of Camper shoes we love in our guide to the best loafers for women.

Madewell The Milano Fisherman Sandal

The Milano is a dainty sandal fit for travel. Its flat, padded sole is comfy for walking even on European cobblestone streets, and its LGW-certified leather straps are delicate and stylish. The versatile cage-toe shoe pairs well with both casual and dressier outfits, making it a versatile addition to a summer travel capsule wardrobe.

G.H. Bass Fisherman Sandals

This is the most classic iteration of a fisherman sandal. They're fitted with an adjustable ankle strap, padded footbed, and 100% leather upper. G.H. Bass may be best known for its iconic Weejun loafers, but in the heat of summer, you're better off opting for this grandpa-inspired silhouette.

Melissa Possession

The '80s jelly shoe is a footwear throwback we're here for. With this design, Melissa is presents the nostalgic style in tons of clear and matte colorways. These rubber sandals are conveniently waterproof, so if you're headed to any rocky coastlines this summer, try wearing them as an alternative to mesh water shoes.

Fredo Salvador Sera Fisherman Sandal

These Franco Sarto Sera fisherman sandals are handmade in Spain with studded straps that manage to be both unique and neutral. With more wear, the calf leather and silver plated hardware will age together in flattering contrast.

Sorel ONA Streetworks Fisherman Mid Sandal

Designed for comfort but not lacking in style, this contemporary fisherman sandal features a cushioned two-inch footbed and a full-grain leather upper. The rubber lug sole has all the grip you'd expect from a pair of Sorel performance shoes. It'll come in handy during summer adventures when navigating uneven terrain like rocky shorelines. Meanwhile, the croc embossed, thick, adjustable straps come in four hues including a vibrant, sunny yellow.

See another pair of Sorel sandals we tested in our guide to the best walking sandals for women.

• Mo Gawdat advises job seekers to focus on human skills to thrive in the AI-era job market.
• Gawdat suggests "human-centric jobs" like nursing or counseling.
• Tech leaders have highlighted communication and judgment as vital skills AI struggles to replicate.

An ex-Google executive has tips for surviving the AI era.

Mo Gawdat, the former chief business officer for Google, predicts that 30% of certain job sectors will be gone by 2028, but people can still "double down on human skills" to overcome the turbulence.

"We have an entire generation that is out of college today that will struggle, unfortunately," Gawdat said on an episode of Steven Bartlett's podcast "The Diary Of A CEO" that aired on Sunday. "And my advice to them is learn the tool and focus on human-centric jobs."

"A lot of people can make a living by being a nurse or by being a counselor or by being, you know, anything that connects to humans," Gawdat added.

His comments come as tech leaders increasingly point to communication, relationship-building, and having good judgement as skills that remain difficult to automate.

OpenAI president Greg Brockman recently said that "taste" is "a new core skill." He said that while AI can create things quickly, it takes judgment to decide what to keep.

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn said in a May podcast interview that AI still can't match the work of the company's artists and designers, and that he won't let AI erode the quality of his app.

And Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said in an earnings call in May that while the company's engineering head count has remained "mostly flat" at around 15,000 employees over the past two years, it is still adding workers in the sales department.

"Because, I think we all realize the one thing that we are doing here with you, selling and communicating, the agents are not exactly doing that," Benioff said during the earnings call.

Gawdat also said on "The Diary Of A CEO" that even though AI may bring about uncertainty, AI is not the enemy and can be harnessed to create opportunities.

"By definition, the better you are at using an AI to do your job, the more likely you are to be successful," said Gawdat. "Learn how to interact with AI. Welcome AI into your hybrid world of work."

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.

Our top pick for flea and tick prevention is K9 Advantix II, an OTC topical medicine you apply monthly. It repels and kills fleas and ticks and also protects against mosquitoes, which can transmit heartworms. Below, you'll find more information about this medicine, along with additional recommendations for a tablet, prescription heartworm prevention, 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."

I've been on the Apple TV train since the service launched in 2019, then called Apple TV Plus, intrigued by what a streaming service exclusively devoted to original programming might have to offer. While the streamer existed as a secondary service for a while, the past year has seen Apple TV become an essential player in the streaming game.

Apple TV occupied an interesting space for its first few years of existence, touting big-budget shows with equally big names attached, including "The Morning Show," "For All Mankind," "Dickinson," and "See" at launch. But a limited library without an externally licensed catalog of content is a tough sell, at least when it comes to making a must-have service that viewers feel the need to remain subscribed to month after month.

The added competition of services like Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, and Paramount Plus (launched less than two weeks later in 2019, 2020, 2020, and 2021, respectively) only made things trickier, since all stem from parent companies with enormous film and TV back catalogs, such as Warner Bros. and NBCUniversal.

COVID-era hits like "Ted Lasso" helped bolster the platform's reputation, but in the past couple of years, Apple TV has carved out a definitive niche and identity for itself. The past year, specifically, has made it a real standout among the best streaming services, even dethroning Netflix as my top pick for original series.

Apple TV's library is vast, but its sci-fi series are what stand out

While Apple TV's offerings are pretty wide-ranging in terms of genres (and often occupy a genre-blending space), the streaming service has developed a particularly strong reputation for science fiction. Among all the series it launched with, "For All Mankind" is most representative of the streamer's ethos. The alternative history drama takes place in a world where the Soviet Union beat the United States to becoming the first to put a man on the moon, spurring a more intense, decade-spanning space race that posits what could be possible with global commitment to science and exploration.

The (excellent) series is one of the two shows that Apple TV debuted with that are still ongoing, with a sixth and final season scheduled for next year. "Star City," a "For All Mankind" spinoff focusing on the Soviet Union's perspective rather than NASA's, just premiered.

The streaming service is a boon for science fiction fans, but prestige and sometimes stealthy enough to win over sci-fi skeptics. While shows like "Foundation," "Silo," "Murderbot," "Invasion," "Dark Matter," and later seasons of "For All Mankind" might lean into harder and more traditional sci-fi, some of the service's most popular programming lives in a soft sci-fi and speculative fiction space, with "Severance" and "Pluribus" reaching water-cooler status (Apple TV shared part-way through its first season that the latter, from "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan, became the most-watched show in the streaming service's history).

In "Pluribus," a grieving misanthrope attempts to save the world after an alien virus joins the rest of humanity (minus about a dozen others) in a perpetually peppy hive mind. In "Severance," workers at a mysterious biotech company choose to undergo a procedure that splits their consciousness into two separate pieces: a new consciousness that is their at-work "innie" and their original "outie" selves — both without memories of the other. Many of Apple TV's best shows pit incredibly human emotions and situations up against technological extremes, surveillance, and other invasive species.

Outside of sci-fi, Apple TV also has some winners in the comedy and thriller categories

It's not just sci-fi, though. Apple TV has launched several other prestige series, most recently Season 2 of the Jon Hamm-helmed "Your Friends and Neighbors," the Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer-led "Margo's Got Money Troubles," and the horror-comedy hit "Widow's Bay." "Slow Horses," a British spy series, has become one of the platform's most reliable shows. It's killing it in the traditional comedy scene, too. "Ted Lasso" alone earned the streamer 13 Emmy Awards. "The Studio," Apple TV's Seth Rogen-helmed inside baseball spin on the goings-on of a Hollywood studio, has been cleaning up at the Emmys and Golden Globes recently.

Its TV track record is impressive, mimicking HBO Sunday nights in its heyday. The streamer is leaning into this, going all in on its "Pluribus" FYC campaign and debuting a can't-miss limited series version of "Cape Fear" next week, with a killer trailer that has all the trappings of an old-school paranoia thriller. (In a just world, these shows will help Rhea Seehorn and Amy Adams nab some long-overdue Emmy Awards.)

Perhaps the most common thread among Apple TV shows is that, for the most part, they're just good. They're compelling, well-made, and mostly wholly original (despite the exhausting onslaught of regurgitated IP that has swept the streaming landscape). Adaptations and remakes are tasteful and not the majority of the service's programming.

Even its "meh" shows are still pretty solid (I'm convinced that the twisty "Imperfect Women" would clean up if it were streaming on Hulu, and the canceled "Palm Royale" was an entertaining romp that could've gone on for several more seasons). Apple's original movies are a little more hit-or-miss, blending acclaimed films such as "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "F1" with offerings like "Argylle" and "The Family Plan 2," but the TV selection makes up for this.

While the increasingly large catalog of hit originals has helped define the streaming service, its recent live sports streaming acquisitions have helped make it truly competitive in an increasingly crowded streaming market. Apple already had the global rights to MLS matches, but starting this season, it did away with the extra MLS Season Pass (and its associated fees) and folded all matches into a standard subscription. The streamer has had exclusive rights to MLB games for its Friday Night Baseball MLB offerings since 2022, but it upped its game when it nabbed the US Formula 1 broadcast rights (previously on ESPN) starting this year.

A few other moves have proven Apple TV is truly playing ball, including participating in the time-honored streaming tradition of Black Friday deals this past year, offering a discounted bundling opportunity with Peacock, licensing select stray non-Apple programming, and quietly rebranding from Apple TV Plus to Apple TV.

Streaming services get more expensive every year, but Apple TV remains one of the cheapest

But Apple TV's greatest asset right now may simply be that it's still pretty cheap compared to its ad-free competitors. There's only one tier — ad-free — which goes for $13 a month following a price hike in August 2025 (the streamer's first cost increase since 2023). With Netflix's Premium tier hitting $27 a month, Apple's service is a significant standout in a pricey streaming ecosystem, even if it's missing an expansive catalog.

After years of steadily growing its collection of originals, you now get a lot of (quality) bang for your buck with Apple TV, especially given the recent live sports options and the clip at which the streamer is dropping new hit TV shows. I make a living evaluating and writing about streaming services, and — while the industry is perpetually evolving, profitability is always a question, and a CEO change is on the horizon for Apple, so there's no telling exactly what the streamer's future might hold — Apple TV has been the most impressive option on the market over the past year.

You can learn more about Apple TV in our Apple TV guide or directly on the Apple TV website.

All new bombshells enter the villa in the latest season of Love Island USA. We've rounded up everything you need to know about the eighth season of the hit reality series, including where to watch Love Island USA, cast members, and a look at the trailer.

The series will once again land on Peacock in the US, but the streaming options will look a little bit different in Canada this year. We'll break down all the details and highlight what you need to know about streaming the show in other countries.

Where to watch Love Island USA in the US

New episodes of Love Island USA drop on Peacock in the United States, starting on June 2. For the premiere week, new episodes will air every day except Saturday. After that, new episodes will drop daily except Wednesdays (with Aftersun dropping on Saturdays). Peacock Premium subscriptions cost $11 a month, but you can upgrade to ad-free with Peacock Premium Plus for $17 a month. Peacock only hosts Seasons 4-8, and you'll need a subscription to Paramount Plus (starting at $9 a month) to watch Seasons 1-3.

Where to watch Love Island USA in Canada

Love Island USA used to drop new episodes for free on CTV, but Bell Media has phased out the app, so you'll need a Crave account to watch the latest season. Crave subscriptions start at $12 a month for a Standard with Ads plan.

Where to watch Love Island USA in the UK

ITVX is the streaming home of Love Island USA in the UK, but it usually takes several months for the latest season to land overseas. ITVX, a free streaming service that just requires account creation to use, is the home of the original Love Island series (Love Island UK), which is currently dropping its latest season.

How to watch Love Island USA from anywhere

Fans traveling away from home can still access their usual streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let people temporarily change the virtual location on their electronic devices, so that their favorite websites and apps work just like they would back home. The paid options we've recommended require country-specific methods of payment, so this option will work best for those who are just traveling abroad at the moment.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs we've tested. It's a user-friendly option with a massive selection of servers. Plus, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Love Island USA Season 8 cast

• Aniya Harvey (Tyrone, Georgia), 23
• Beatriz Hatz (San Diego, California), 25
• Bryce Dettloff (Los Angeles, California), 29
• Gabriel Vasconcelos (Miami, Florida), 26
• KC Chandler (Fresno, California), 23
• Kenzie Annis (Kennesaw, Georgia), 24
• Melanie Moreno (Los Angeles, California), 24
• Sean Reifel (Easton, Pennsylvania), 29
• Sincere Rhea (Cape May, New Jersey), 25
• Trinity Tatum (Newport News, Virginia), 22
• Vasana Montgomery (Beaverton, OR), 25
• Zach Georgiou (Birmingham, UK), 26

What time do Love Island USA episodes premiere on Peacock?

New Love Island USA episodes drop on Peacock at 9 p.m. ET, or 6 p.m. PT. New episodes should drop at around the same time on Crave in Canada.

Love Island USA Season 8 trailer

Peacock released an official "Meet the Islanders" video at the end of May, where fans got a first look at the newest contestants to enter the villa. Check out the trailer below:

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.

With the Florida Panthers' three-year stranglehold on NHL Finals spots now cataclysmically over, the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes are set to duke things out in 2026 for the Holy Grail. Below is our full guide on how to watch Stanley Cup Finals live streams from all corners of the Earth.

It's ABC's turn to host the seven-game series in the US, meaning a subscription to ESPN Unlimited or an OTT cable alternative will let you stream all the action online. CBC and Sportsnet are sharing the coverage in Canada, while NHL.TV on DAZN has the rights to show the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals in more than 200 other countries around the world.

This is all familiar territory for the likes of Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore, and Adin Hill, with the core of the Golden Knights' title-winning side from 2023 still producing the goods this postseason. Add the creativity of playoff MVP candidate Mitch Marner and the nous of John Tortorella, who stewarded the Tampa Bay Lightning to glory in 2004, and you can see why the Las Vegas franchise has made it this far. But the Hurricanes have their own fairytale to contend with — the 20th anniversary of their first (and only) Stanley Cup win and Rod Brind'Amour's narrative arc taking him from captain to coach.

With the form of Frederik Andersen and Taylor Hall, is destiny on Carolina's side? Or will the Golden Knights set another stone on their path to franchise dynasty less than a decade since it was formed? You can find out by watching Stanley Cup Finals action — no matter where you are in the world thanks to a VPN — with the help of our dedicated guide.

How to watch Stanley Cup Finals in the US

This year ABC will exclusively carry the main TV feed of the Stanley Cup Finals on TV, while hockey fans will also be able to watch online via the ESPN app. You'll need its comprehensive ESPN Unlimited plan, which includes everything that ABC and the various ESPN channels have to offer (e.g. NFL, NBA, college sports, WWE, La Liga soccer) and costs $30 a month.

Anybody without an antenna or who has cut the cord can get access to ABC through a month-to-month streaming service like DirecTV. Its MySports plan offers local ABC channels, access to ESPN Unlimited, and an array of premium sports channels including FS1/FS2, NBA TV, NFL Network, Golf Channel, USA, and TNT. It costs $65 a month, with a $15 discount off each of your first two months, all after a five-day free trial for first-time customers.

Fubo is another comprehensive cord cutting service. Its Sports + News package is the most reasonable way to get access to Stanley Cup Finals streams, costing $56 a month (with a $10 discount for your first month). Its 25+ channel line-up includes ESPN, CBS, and FOX's sports channels. There's the option to try before you buy with its five-day free trial.

How to watch Stanley Cup Finals in Canada

Sportsnet and CBC will simulcast every game of the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals series on TV in Canada. Although the Stanley Cup Finals will be shown on CBC, the network has confirmed that it will not be broadcasting it for free online through the CBC Gem platform. So to watch on your laptop, smartphone, tablet, or streaming device, you'll need a Sportsnet+ subscription, costing from $30 a month or $250 a year. Right now, there's a discount on its four-month plan, currently down to $90.

How to watch Stanley Cup Finals in the UK

NHL fans in the UK have two choices for where to watch Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes. The first is NHL.TV on DAZN, which is available to stream on a wide variety of streaming devices and currently costs a one-off fee from £15 for the 2026 Stanley Cup Finals. The second option is the more wide-ranging Premier Sports, which includes live NHL streams among its offerings and costs from £13 a month.

How to watch Stanley Cup Finals in other countries

NHL.TV on DAZN will show 2026 Stanley Cup Finals live streams in more than 200 countries around the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. It includes the likes of the UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, India, and Japan — but not, notably, the USA or Canada. You can see the complete list of countries covered here, with prices varying from region to region.

How to watch Stanley Cup Finals from anywhere

If you're overseas when the Stanley Cup Finals are on and try to watch the games through your usual NHL streaming service, you'll find that your stream is blocked. Rights restrictions mean that you can't generally watch the platforms you're used to when out of the country — or, at least, not without a VPN. This clever software fools your streaming devices (e.g. laptops, phones, Fire Stick, etc) into thinking it's back at home, allowing you to stream like normal.

NordVPN is our recommendation of the best VPN you can download right now. It's brilliant at unlocking streaming services that would otherwise be geo-blocked, combining that with rapid speeds, enhanced cybersecurity and user-friendly apps. Plus, you can give it a try without risk thanks to its no-quibble 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stanley Cup Finals schedule

• Game 1: at Carolina on Tuesday, June 2 — 8 p.m. ET
• Game 2: at Carolina on Thursday, June 4 — 8 p.m. ET
• Game 3: at Vegas on Saturday, June 6 — 8 p.m. ET
• Game 4: at Vegas on Tuesday, June 9 — 8 p.m. ET
• *Game 5: at Carolina on Thursday, June 11 — 8 p.m. ET
• *Game 6: at Vegas on Sunday, June 14 — 8 p.m. ET
• *Game 7: at Carolina on Wednesday, June 17 — 8 p.m. ET

*Denotes 'if required'

Who is favored to win the Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes?

The Hurricanes are the favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup according to DraftKings. The sportsbook had Carolina at -155 at the start of the series, with the Vegas Golden Knights at +130.

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

These days, it's hard to find a TV that isn't smart. Nearly every new set comes with built-in streaming apps, voice control, and smart home features. But the best smart TVs do more than check those boxes. The standout models combine great picture quality with software that's reliable to use.

I've been reviewing home entertainment gear for more than 10 years and have spent a lot of time with every major smart TV platform. Based on my team's extensive testing, I've chosen the best smart TVs across today's most popular systems, including Google TV, Roku OS, Samsung's Tizen, Vizio OS, Amazon Fire TV, and LG's webOS. If you're deep in Samsung's ecosystem, the S90F OLED is an impressive Tizen TV with excellent picture quality. Meanwhile, those tied to Google's services should consider the TCL QM8K, which features a bright QLED panel and seamless integration with existing Google accounts.

Below, you'll find all my picks for the best smart TVs, organized by platform so you can jump to the interface you prefer. Each one offers a strong mix of performance, features, and value within its ecosystem.

Top picks for the best smart TVs

Best Google TV: TCL QM8K QLED TV - See at Amazon

Best Tizen model: Samsung S90F OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best Roku TV: Roku Pro Series QLED TV - See at Walmart

Best Fire TV: Amazon Ember Mini LED TV - See at Amazon

Best webOS display: LG C5 OLED TV - See at Amazon

Best Vizio OS set: Vizio Quantum Pro QLED TV - See at Brandsmart

Best Google TV: TCL QM8K

What we love: Google TV delivers seamless integration with an existing Google account, Gemini AI is smart, content recommendations include picks you might actually want to watch, and the QLED panel delivers excellent image quality for the money.

Drawbacks: It's not available in sizes smaller than 65 inches, and it only has two HDMI 2.1 ports rather than four.

The Google TV operating system has steadily become one of my favorite platforms. It's available on TVs from several brands, including TCL, Hisense, and Sony. But when it comes to overall performance for the money, the TCL QM8K is hard to beat.

The QM8K's Google TV homepage features a row of top-pick curations, followed by your favorite apps, a continue-watching section, and additional rows of recommendations across genres. It's not exactly unique, but it's more user-friendly than similar layouts from Amazon, LG, and Samsung. I've also found its content recommendations to be more in line with titles I'd actually want to watch.

As you might expect, the system seamlessly integrates with an existing Google account, so you can set up the TV quickly with an Android phone, sync your photos for screensavers, share your account data with the display, and pair with other Google smart devices. For instance, I can view my Google Nest camera feeds right on the TV's screen.

Navigation is smooth and responsive, and our reviewer didn't run into any bugs or glitches. Voice control works well, whether you use it hands-free or via the remote. The QM8K even supports Gemini AI, which enables more conversational queries and smarter results. The TV's remote is also backlit, which is a nice touch.

When it comes to image quality, the QM8K stands out as the brightest TV on this list. During testing, our reviewer measured a peak of around 3,600 nits. It's important to note that such high luminance is only necessary in certain situations, but it allows the TV to produce bold HDR images with intense highlights and vivid colors. You can also boost the TV's brightness to overcome glare, making the QM8K a great option for watching sports during the day.

And though the TV's viewing angles aren't the best, TCL has improved off-axis viewing compared to older models. The color and contrast shift a bit when viewed from off-center, but not enough to make the image appear washed out. The TV also features one of the best local dimming systems on the market, resulting in fantastic contrast control. Backlight fluctuations, uneven brightness, and blooming are common on many TVs of this type, but the QM8K was virtually free of them.

On the downside, the QM8K isn't available in as many sizes as some of TCL's other Google TVs. If you want a 55-inch Google TV, I recommend opting for the QM7K. That less expensive model can't get as bright, but it still offers great midrange performance for its class.

TCL also sells a 2026 version of this TV, called the QM8L. The new model delivers similar performance but uses TCL's SQD technology to enable an even wider color range. I was impressed with the QM8L during my testing, but the cheaper QM8K remains the better value for most people. You can learn more in my TCL QM8L TV review.

Read our TCL QM8K 4K TV review.

Visit our guide to the best TCL TVs.

Best Tizen model: Samsung S90F

What we love: Samsung lets you choose between Alexa and Bixby, the homepage layout is simple, the dedicated gaming section is packed with apps, and the TV's OLED panel delivers excellent image quality.

Drawbacks: Navigating Tizen's various menus can be a bit clunky, content recommendations aren't always very smart, and the TV's color performance varies depending on the size you buy.

If you're shopping for a Samsung smart TV, the S90F OLED is my top recommendation. While the brand offers brighter, more colorful models, the S90F delivers exceptional picture quality for its price and a strong array of smart features.

Like all Samsung TVs, the S90F runs on the Tizen operating system. Tizen provides access to all major streaming apps, offers smooth integration with other Samsung devices, and includes a few exclusive perks. The home screen's layout is simple and functional: your most recently used app or device appears at the top, followed by favorite apps and rows of content suggestions. It's easy enough to use, but not quite as intuitive as some other platforms, such as Roku OS. I've also found Tizen's content recommendations to be less tailored toward my interests than those on rival systems like Google TV.

From the Tizen sidebar, you'll find pages for search, ambient mode, Samsung Daily Plus (for fitness, productivity, and smart home controls), and a Gaming Hub. The gaming hub is a cool feature that has cloud services such as Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Game Pass. That latter app enables Game Pass members to play games without a console, though performance depends heavily on your internet connection.

For voice control, you can choose between Amazon Alexa or Samsung's Bixby assistant. Though older Tizen TVs occasionally had lag, our reviewer found the S90F noticeably smoother than previous models. That said, the system requires some tweaking before it feels streamlined. By default, the S90F resumes the last-used app after a short period of inactivity, and disabling this means digging through menus.

Input switching is also less convenient than it should be since the remote lacks a dedicated source button, forcing you to navigate through menus to reach connected devices. However, the included remote earns points for its unique SolarCell design that doesn't require batteries. Instead, it charges via sunlight and indoor lights.

But ultimately, the S90F really shines in picture quality. The OLED panel delivers perfect black levels in dark rooms and an infinite contrast ratio. Using quantum dots, it delivers brighter, more vibrant colors than similarly priced LG OLEDs — topping out at about 1,460 nits. The result: eye-catching HDR performance with crisp highlights, a dazzling color range, and wide viewing angles.

Those considering the S90F should also be aware that Samsung offers a 2026 version called the S90H. The new model is similar but uses a less reflective screen, which reduces glare at the cost of lowering contrast. The Tizen interface has also been tweaked with a more streamlined design, though it's not clear if this new UI will also be brought to the S90F via an update. For now, I still recommend the S90F as the better option since it costs less. You can learn more in my Samsung 2026 OLED roundup.

Note: The 42-, 48-, and 83-inch versions of the S90F don't use quantum dots, so their color performance can't match that of the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models.

Read our full Samsung S90F TV review.

Check out our guides to all of the best TVs, best Samsung TVs, and best OLED TVs.

Best Roku TV: Roku Pro Series

What we love: Roku's interface is easy to navigate, the TV's assembly is toolless, and the remote has lots of handy features like a rechargeable battery and backlit keys.

Drawbacks: The homepage's new redesign is a mixed bag, with less emphasis on apps, and Roku doesn't support built-in Alexa or Gemini.

The Roku Pro Series is the brand's best smart TV overall. It offers good midrange performance with premium touches, such as quantum dots and a Mini LED backlight.

Our reviewer tested the 2024 model, but Roku has since replaced it with a slightly refreshed 2025 version. General smart TV performance remains unchanged, but the new edition offers a modest increase in brightness.

The Roku OS has long been one of my favorite smart TV interfaces, thanks to its intuitive design and user-friendly features. Roku's home screen has traditionally put your apps front and center, rather than cluttering the screen with rows of recommendations you may not want. Big icons make navigation straightforward, and our reviewer noted smooth performance with no lag.

However, Roku is now rolling out a revised home screen to all of its TVs and devices. The new homepage places greater emphasis on content recommendations. Users now get access to their eight most frequently used apps toward the top, but the full app library has been shifted farther down the page. I'm a bit torn about this change, and prefer the older design for its app-focused approach. You can see the new homepage in action on the Roku YouTube page.

The Pro Series comes with Roku's Voice Remote Pro 2, and it's another highlight. It uses a rechargeable USB-C battery that lasts around three months per charge and supports both push-to-talk and hands-free voice commands (with a physical mic-mute switch for privacy). Although Roku TVs don't natively integrate Alexa, Gemini, or Siri, they can be paired with compatible smart speakers. The remote's backlit buttons — a rarity even on high-end Samsung and LG sets — make nighttime viewing easier, and the built-in "Lost Remote Finder" helps you track it down with a quick chime. I also love the TV's tool-less assembly, which uses knobs on the TV's left and right feet to attach the stand without screws.

Picture quality is strong for a midrange QLED. The panel can surpass 1,000 nits of brightness, meeting the benchmark for impactful HDR highlights. Explosions and other bright effects have satisfying punch, and while black levels can't compete with OLEDs, the Mini LED backlight and local dimming deliver solid contrast. Our reviewer observed only minor light bleed in dark scenes.

However, the screen reflects light easily, and colors wash out when viewed off-axis. These are typical limitations for QLED TVs in this category, though, and these drawbacks don't outweigh the TV's overall value. Despite a few weaknesses, the Pro Series is one of the best-looking TVs available with Roku's operating system, making it an excellent option for anyone who favors the brand's smart TV experience. This model is available in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch sizes.

Read our Roku Pro Series 4K TV review (2024 model).

Visit our guide to all of the best Roku TVs.

Best Amazon Fire TV: Ember Mini LED

What we love: It supports hands-free Alexa and Alexa+ and delivers solid image quality for this tier.

Drawbacks: The Fire TV interface emphasizes sponsored picks and Amazon content too much.

Amazon began making its own smart TVs in 2021 and initially marketed them as Fire TVs. However, it recently rebranded the lineup as Amazon Ember. The latest flagship offering is called the Ember Mini LED. This model offers better picture quality than the company's more affordable options while still providing an extensive suite of Alexa-powered features.

The Fire TV OS is used across all of the company's smart TVs and streaming devices, including its Fire TV sticks. The interface has received a few welcome refreshes over the years to help alleviate some of the clunkiness of earlier iterations, but it's still one of my least favorite layouts.

My main gripe is that Amazon only displays a handful of app icons at the top, so you have to take extra steps to access all your downloaded services. I also don't love how product ads, sponsored recommendations, and picks geared toward Prime Video are emphasized so heavily on the home screen.

However, those drawbacks aren't dealbreakers. Functionally, the interface operates smoothly and provides all the basic features commonly found on competing systems. Amazon even offers an "Ambient Experience" mode that features screensavers and widgets for time and weather.

One of the Ember Mini LED's main selling points is support for hands-free Alexa or Alexa+ voice control. Alexa+ is an AI-enhanced version of Alexa that can handle more conversational queries and follow-up requests. It's free for Prime members but costs $20 a month to activate if you don't have Prime.

The Ember Mini LED also delivers solid image quality for an upper-midrange TV, with performance that's nearly on par with similar Mini LED models from TCL and Hisense. However, it can't quite match rivals like the TCL QM8K in overall value for your dollar.

Our reviewer measured a peak brightness of about 1,400 nits in HDR, which is respectable and more than double that of the brand's step-down model. Black levels were also solid during testing, but the TV measured slightly under the expected brightness levels for low- to medium-shade gray.

Though the Ember Mini LED is the best smart TV in Amazon's lineup, I don't recommend it if picture quality is your top priority. Viewers who want a Fire TV with truly premium image performance should consider venturing outside Amazon's lineup and checking out one of Panasonic's OLEDs. Panasonic's collection includes the flagship Z95 OLED. Though more expensive than Amazon's Ember Mini LED, Panasonic Fire TVs are the most high-end TVs available with Amazon's interface.

Read our Amazon Ember Mini LED review.

Check out our guide to all the best Amazon Fire TV devices

Best webOS display: LG C5

What we love: It lets you choose between Alexa and ThinQ voice control, you can disable ads from appearing on the homepage, and image quality is fantastic thanks to the TV's OLED screen.

Drawbacks: By default, webOS features too many sponsored picks and shopping recommendations, and the remote's motion controls are divisive.

All of LG's TVs run on the brand's webOS smart platform, and the C5 OLED stands out as the company's best smart TV value. It delivers great picture quality and thoughtful extras, such as Dolby Vision support (which Samsung OLEDs lack) and a motion-control remote. Additionally, it's available in various sizes, ranging from 42 to 83 inches.

LG's webOS interface has undergone significant changes over the years. What started as a simple pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen has evolved into a full-screen homepage that looks and feels more modern, similar to what you'll find on Google TV or Samsung's Tizen. You'll see organized rows of app icons, content suggestions, and dedicated pages for categories like gaming, music, and home office.

Like many smart TV systems, ads appear by default, though you can disable them in the settings menu, which is a nice option. Still, sponsored content and shopping promos are featured a bit too prominently out of the box, forcing you to scroll down for relevant recommendations. Competing systems, such as Google TV, surface personalized picks much more effectively.

That said, navigation is snappy and responsive across LG's latest lineup. Voice control is flexible, as you can choose LG's built-in ThinQ assistant or Amazon Alexa, and both work hands-free or via the remote. The remote itself remains one of LG's signature touches. In addition to standard buttons and a click wheel, it offers motion controls that let you point at the screen to move a cursor (think of it like a Nintendo Wii controller). This is a love-it-or-hate-it feature, but it's there for those who want it. The C5's remote is also a bit more compact and comfortable than older models, though LG oddly removed its dedicated input and mute buttons.

When it comes to picture quality, the C5 OLED is a strong performer. It nearly matches Samsung's S90F, offering wide viewing angles, perfect black levels, and infinite contrast thanks to pixel-level dimming. However, unlike many Samsung OLED TVs, the C5 doesn't use quantum dots, resulting in a slightly narrower color range.

Our reviewer measured a peak brightness of around 1,174 nits, which is solid but lower than the S90F's 1,460 nits. Even so, the C5's HDR performance is excellent, especially when watching Dolby Vision content, which is better at fine-tuning color and contrast based on the TV's capabilities. Dolby Vision's improvements over other HDR formats are subtle, but it's a nice feature to have. Check out our HDR TV guide for more details.

LG also sells a 2026 version of the C5, called the C6. In most cases, the refreshed model is very similar, but this depends on the size you're considering. The 77- and 83-inch C6 actually use a more advanced OLED panel, which delivers a notable brightness upgrade. That said, the C6 costs a lot more. You can learn more in my LG C6H OLED TV review and 2026 LG OLED roundup.

Read our LG C5 4K TV review.

Check out our guide to the best LG TVs.

Best Vizio OS set: Vizio Quantum Pro

What we love: Includes a compact remote with voice control, and the TV has wider viewing angles than most QLED sets, so the image doesn't degrade as much when you sit to the side.

Drawbacks: The TV doesn't have a built-in Alexa or Gemini, the homepage has a lot of random content recommendations, and the panel's contrast is lower than most rivals in this price range.

Like Samsung and LG, Vizio uses its own smart TV system rather than licensing one from Google, Roku, or Amazon. The brand previously used an OS called "SmartCast," but it has since revamped the interface and now simply calls it Vizio OS. The Quantum Pro (VQP65C-84) was one of the first displays to launch with this design.

The Vizio OS layout is most reminiscent of Google TV, with features like a "Trending Now" section and a prominent row for your favorite apps. Navigation speed is responsive and smooth, which isn't always a given on TVs in this class. The interface also features a well-organized layout for various settings that is less cluttered than those of other options, such as Samsung's Tizen OS.

However, our reviewer didn't love the interface's heavy emphasis on Vizio's Watch Free+ TV service. Other brands offer similar ad-supported internet TV apps, but Vizio promotes its content a bit more, and the selection isn't exactly top-tier. One of the homepage's largest on-screen areas is dedicated to recommendations for forgotten movies, such as 2005's "Bewitched" reboot. There's also no "Continue Watching" section on the homepage, which is a convenience that most smart TV interfaces include.

The Quantum Pro does include a voice remote that works well, but, like Roku TVs, it doesn't feature built-in support for Alexa or Google Assistant/Gemini. Thankfully, you can still pair the TV with a separate smart speaker from those brands. The remote itself is compact and ergonomic, with a simplified set of controls that's similar to Roku's design.

With a bright image that peaks at about 1,000 nits, the Quantum Pro offers solid picture performance, especially when watching TV during the day. It has quantum dots to produce a wide range of colors and local dimming to darken specific portions of its screen. That said, the TV's contrast is a bit low compared to many competing QLEDs in this class, resulting in a slightly washed-out appearance in a dark room.

On the plus side, the Quantum Pro excels in one area where many QLEDs struggle: viewing angles. Colors and contrast shift a bit when you sit to the side of the Quantum Pro, but the loss of quality is far less severe than it is on most QLEDs from Roku, Hisense, and TCL. While not the best smart TV for home theaters, the Quantum Pro is a solid option for casual viewing, especially if you have lots of seats to the side of the screen.

Buyers should note that Vizio also offers a cheaper 2026 smart TV, the Mini LED Quantum, which uses a Mini LED backlight and should deliver better contrast than the Quantum Pro. However, the new model has a 60Hz panel rather than a 120Hz one, which is a notable downgrade for gamers.

Read our Vizio Quantum Pro 4K TV review.

Which smart TV system is best?

The best smart TVs all have built-in operating systems, but different brands use different platforms. Here's a breakdown of popular smart TV systems and the brands that use them:

Although app selection and general functionality are similar across each OS, their interface styles, personalization options, digital assistants, and additional features vary. Ultimately, which smart TV system is best for your needs largely comes down to personal preference and whether you're already invested in a specific smart home ecosystem.

For instance, a Google TV or Fire TV will pair more seamlessly with existing Google or Amazon accounts, and they're built to work well with other devices from those brands. Meanwhile, Samsung Tizen and LG webOS TVs can serve as smart home hubs to control other Samsung or LG devices and appliances.

It's difficult to declare one system the definitive best, but if I were asked to ignore picture quality, price, physical design, and other model-specific factors, I'd favor displays with the Google TV OS. It's easy to set up with my existing Google account, has a clean interface, and newer models feature smart Gemini AI integration.

How we test smart TVs

To choose the best smart TVs, our team tested various models from every major brand. We focused on selecting displays that offer the best overall value across the main smart TV platforms. We've been reviewing TVs for over a decade and have used that experience to develop our testing methodology. Our review process involves evaluating key performance areas, including operating system speed, smart features, picture clarity, contrast, brightness, color capabilities, gaming features, and viewing angles.

When reviewing the best smart TVs, we emphasize each display's operating system. Navigation speed is evaluated to determine how long it takes for apps to load and to assess the smoothness and consistency of each interface when adjusting settings and navigating between menus. We note whether any major TV apps are missing and consider additional perks, such as Alexa or Gemini support, ambient modes, smart home integration, cloud gaming, and remote control features.

We use a colorimeter to record a TV's peak brightness and color range. Various test patterns from a generator and the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 4K Blu-ray disc are also used to check other objective metrics.

But grids and color bars can only reveal so much, so we place a big emphasis on real-world content and day-to-day viewing in our testing. We use a curated selection of scenes from movies and TV shows specifically chosen to demonstrate a TV's HDR performance, black levels, color, and fine detail. Demo material includes a mix of native 4K resolution (Ultra HD), high-definition (HD), and standard-definition (SD) programs, available through streaming, Blu-ray disc, and cable. This helps us see how a display's processing handles both high- and low-quality sources. Testing is done in both dark and bright conditions.

Learn more about our tech product review process.

Meet the expert behind this guide:

Steven Cohen, senior tech editor: I've been writing about home theater gear for more than a decade, and every year my team and I review the latest smart TVs from all the major brands. I use calibration meters and benchmark patterns to measure picture quality — things like brightness, color accuracy, and contrast — but with smart TVs, specs are only half the story. I pay just as much attention to the software: how fast the interface loads, how easy it is to jump between apps, how well voice search works, and whether the smart home and streaming features actually make life easier. I live with every TV the same way you would, using it for Netflix streams, live TV, gaming, and casual channel surfing to see how it performs day to day. Though each operating system has its pros and cons, the picks in this guide represent each smart TV interface at its best.

Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.

Smart TV FAQs

Should you buy a 2026 or 2025 smart TV?

Right now, a 2025 TV is usually the better value. Last year's models are getting excellent deals, and many offer picture quality and features very similar to those of their 2026 successors. Certain 2026 TVs may be worth the premium to enthusiasts willing to pay extra for the latest tech, but for most buyers, a discounted 2025 TV delivers the best bang for your buck.

Do any smart TVs use Apple's tvOS interface?

Apple does not license its tvOS interface to display manufacturers. As a result, there are no smart TVs with the Apple interface built in. The only way to get the tvOS interface on your display is to purchase a separate Apple TV streaming device.

Do all smart TVs offer access to the same streaming apps?

Just a few years ago, app selection varied a lot between different smart TV systems. Certain popular services, such as HBO, Peacock, and Apple TV Plus, were only available via select smart TV platforms. However, this is no longer the case. Generally speaking, all smart TVs now offer access to the same core selection of video apps.

For instance, all our picks for the best streaming services are available across all the major TV operating systems, from Roku OS to Samsung Tizen. That said, there are still exceptions for smaller services and niche offerings.

If you're shopping for a new smart TV and you frequently use a specific streaming app, check that service's device support page to ensure that it's available on the model you choose. But thankfully, even if you end up with a smart TV that's missing one of your favorite apps, you're not out of luck. Chances are, the service in question is available on a stand-alone streaming device you can purchase separately.

How do smart TVs compare to stand-alone streaming devices?

The best smart TVs deliver solid streaming performance, and most buyers will be satisfied with their built-in interfaces, app catalogs, and features. However, navigation speed and overall app stability tend to be a bit snappier when using a separate streaming device. Likewise, some people may prefer a different interface or digital assistant than the ones that come built into their TV.

If you're unhappy with your smart TV's navigation speed, service selection, or visual design, check out our guide to the best streaming devices. Picks include set-top boxes and streaming sticks from Amazon, Google, Roku, and Apple. Reliable entry-level options are frequently available for under $20, while flagship models typically cost between $70 and $150.

• The Education Department is streamlining the repayment process for defaulted student-loan borrowers.
• It will transition the debt resolution website into Federal Student Aid's main website.
• It's intended to make the repayment process for millions of defaulted borrowers easier to navigate.

President Donald Trump's administration is preparing to streamline the repayment process for defaulted student-loan borrowers.

The Department of Education is moving the platform for managing defaulted student loans from myeddebt.ed.gov to studentaid.gov, Federal Student Aid's main website, a department spokesperson confirmed.

An internal document reviewed by Business Insider said that the transition is intended to improve the user experience of defaulted student-loan borrowers by housing all student-loan operations under Federal Student Aid's main website. The old platform, MyEdDebt, will remain operational until the transition is complete, the document said.

"ED, in partnership with Treasury, continues to make significant investments to improve borrower experience," the Education Department spokesperson told Business Insider.

While all non-defaulted federal student-loan operations are facilitated through Federal Student Aid's main website — from enrolling in new repayment plans to getting updates on coming changes — defaulted student-loan borrowers are required to go to a separate platform to seek assistance on repayment.

That extra step can be confusing because, even if a borrower has an account with Federal Student Aid, they would have to create a new account with MyEdDebt to resolve their defaulted student loans. Failure to take action could lead to wage garnishment, the seizure of federal benefits and tax refunds, and a hit to their credit score.

This transition comes while student-loan defaults are at a record high. Recent data from the Department of Education said that 7.7 million borrowers were in default by the end of 2025 — which happens after more than 270 days of missed federal payments — with another 3 million borrowers in delinquency.

The Department of Education paused wage garnishments and tax refund seizures in January, which it said was intended to give the administration more time to implement the coming federal student-loan repayment changes, including new repayment plans and borrowing caps, that will go into effect on July 1.

The department is also planning on transferring defaulted student-loan accounts to the Treasury Department, but the timeline for that shift has not yet been announced.

• Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo demonstrated mutual respect and support as Rodrigo rose to fame.
• Their dynamic seemed to shift after Rodrigo gave Swift a retroactive writing credit on "Deja Vu."
• Rodrigo has denied rumors of a feud, and recently said she doesn't have time to dwell on it.

For a while, it appeared there was no bigger Swiftie than Olivia Rodrigo.

Like many singer-songwriters of her generation, Rodrigo grew up admiring Taylor Swift. As she navigated teen stardom in the early stages of her pop career, Rodrigo frequen tly cited Swift as one of her biggest inspirations.

Initially, Swift-Rodrigo relations were peachy. Swift welcomed the up-and-coming star and seemed to take her under her wing, celebrating her early wins as Rodrigo rose to fame. Rodrigo, in turn, was ecstatic to have captured her idol's attention. They finally met — and even took cuddly photos together — at the 2021 Brit Awards.

Their dynamic seemed to shift after the release of "Sour," Rodrigo's debut album, which catapulted Rodrigo to the center of the mainstream pop conversation. Rodrigo started avoiding the topic of Swift in interviews, and, as far as we know, she didn't attend the Eras Tour.

Keep reading for a complete timeline of the twists and turns in Swift and Rodrigo's relationship.

April 2020: Rodrigo covers Swift's song, earning Swift's praise

In the throes of the pandemic, Rodrigo shared a video of herself on Instagram singing Swift's "Cruel Summer" as part of the MTV Alone Together Jam Session. Swift reposted the video on her Instagram Story and wrote, "THE TALENT. Love This!!! Thanks for this beautiful performance @olivia.rodrigo @mtv."

Rodrigo, then 17, gushed about being noticed by her idol on social media, writing in all caps, "TAYLOR SWIFT IS THE REASON I WRITE SONGS" and "I AM GONNA FRAME THIS SCREENSHOT AND HANG IT ABOVE MY FIRSTBORN'S CRIB."

At the time, Rodrigo hadn't released any of her own music yet and was mostly known for starring in the Disney+ series, "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series." Swift had released her sixth album, "Lover," to massive commercial success but mixed critical response, and had to cancel her planned "Lover Fest" tour dates because of the pandemic.

January 2021: Rodrigo celebrates her breakthrough single, and Swift congratulates her

Rodrigo's debut single, "Drivers License," was a surprise overnight sensation, rising to No. 2 on the US iTunes chart, just below Swift at No. 1. Rodrigo shared a now-deleted screenshot on Instagram, captioned, "Next to Taylor on the US iTunes chart. I'm in a puddle of tears."

Swift commented, "I say that's my baby and I'm proud." Fans ate up the mentor-mentee moment, and Swift's comment quickly became an internet meme used to express pride for an artist's achievement.

Rodrigo gushed about the interaction with Swift, telling Apple Music's Zane Lowe that she'd looked up to Swift for a long time and "just about died" when she got a response from her.

"Drivers License" went on to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for eight weeks.

March 2021: Swift gifts Rodrigo a $3,200 ring that doubles as Swiftlore

Rodrigo revealed in an interview with SiriusXM that Swift had sent her a package with a gold ring, similar to the one Swift wore during a photo shoot for her 2012 album "Red."

"She is absolutely the kindest individual in the whole world. Actually, last night — like literally 12 hours ago — I got a package from her with this handwritten note. And she gave me this ring because she said she wore one just like it when she wrote 'Red' and she wanted me to have one like it," Rodrigo said.

At the time, Swift was preparing for the release of "Red (Taylor's Version)," which would drop in November 2021.

April 2021: Rodrigo releases her second hit single, helps Swift promote her new album — and makes a critical PR mistake

Pay attention to this song, because it will become a recurring motif in the Rodrigo-Swift saga.

On April 1, Rodrigo released "Deja Vu," which was praised by critics and became a top-three hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

The same week as the song's release, Rodrigo and her best friend Conan Gray helped promote Swift's first rerecorded album, "Fearless (Taylor's Version)," with a post on X. Swift also posted on X to promote the re-recording, referring to Gray and Rodrigo as her "two kids."

Also that week, Rodrigo told Rolling Stone that she drew inspiration from Swift's song "Cruel Summer" for the bridge of "Deja Vu."

"I love the yell-y vocals in it," Rodrigo said, "so I wanted to do something like that."

May 7, 2021: Rodrigo credits Swift with helping her navigate the music industry

In an interview with The Guardian, Rodrigo revealed that she retained control of her master recordings when she signed her contract with Interscope/Geffen the previous year. She said she was inspired by Swift's public fight to own her music, which kicked off the "Taylor's Version" project.

"I want to be a songwriter," Rodrigo explained. "I don't want to be the biggest pop star that ever lived."

May 11, 2021: Rodrigo and Swift meet for the first time

Swift and Rodrigo finally met backstage at the 2021 Brit Awards, where Swift received the Brits Icon Award, and Rodrigo performed "Drivers License." They posed for photos together, one of which Rodrigo shared on Instagram (captioned "🥺🥺🥺🥺"), but it has since been deleted.

Shortly after their fateful meeting, Rodrigo gushed about Swift to NME.

"I've always looked up to Taylor since I was literally five years old," Rodrigo said. "Obviously, I think she's the best songwriter of all time, but she's so business-savvy, and she really cares about her career in that regard too — that's been really inspiring for me to watch somebody take control of their career and their life like that."

Rodrigo also revealed that her favorite album of Swift's is 2010's "Speak Now," adding that she would love to be featured on the rerecorded version.

Alas, "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" would eventually be released in July 2023, featuring duets with Hayley Williams and Fall Out Boy, but no Rodrigo.

May 21, 2021: Rodrigo releases 'Sour,' with Swift credited as a cowriter on the album's fourth track

Rodrigo originally intended to release an EP called "Sour," but following the positive response to "Drivers License," she was eager to stretch her creative muscles and convinced her label to let her make a full-length album. She told The Guardian that she worked 13-hour days, seven days a week, to finish it.

"Sour," which also included the hit single "Good 4 U," received positive reviews and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Notably, the album's fourth track, an anxious ballad called "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back," interpolates the piano riff from Swift's 2017 song "New Year's Day." Both Swift and her producer, Jack Antonoff, were credited as cowriters alongside Rodrigo and her producer, Dan Nigro.

On the album's remaining 10 songs, only Rodrigo and Nigro were credited upon release. (Casey Smith is also credited as a cowriter on track nine, "Jealousy, Jealousy.")

July 2021: The 'Deja Vu' credits are updated to include Swift as a cowriter

Months after the release of "Sour," the "Deja Vu" production credits were retroactively updated to list Swift, Antonoff, and Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent), who all worked on "Cruel Summer," as cowriters alongside Rodrigo and Nigro.

This means that Rodrigo and Nigro split the song's royalties with the "Cruel Summer" trio.

To be clear: Swift did not sue for credit, as some fans have claimed online. There is no evidence that Swift took legal action against Rodrigo. It's more likely their teams came to an agreement behind the scenes after Rodrigo publicly cited Swift's song as inspiration for "Deja Vu."

The following month, Rodrigo continued sharing the wealth: She gave Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams and ex-guitarist Josh Farro writing credits on "Good 4 U." Sources told Variety the revision was made to reflect an interpolation of the band's 2007 pop-punk hit "Misery Business."

The retroactive credit is an increasingly common move in the music industry, now that plagiarism lawsuits have become commonplace, pricey, and unpredictable. (See: Robin Thicke and Ed Sheeran, who were both sued over comparisons to Marvin Gaye's music. Thicke lost, while Sheeran won.)

Williams, however, seemed to disagree with this tack. She reacted to the news on her Instagram Story, writing, "Our publisher is wildin [right now]" — implying that Paramore's publisher pushed for credit in order to capitalize on Rodrigo's success. Billboard reported that between "Deja Vu" and "Good 4 U," Rodrigo gave up millions in publishing royalties.

"It's not something that I was super involved in," Rodrigo later told Rolling Stone. "It was more team-on-team."

Meanwhile, amid comparisons between Rodrigo's song "Brutal" and Elvis Costello's 1978 hit "Pump It Up," the British rocker praised Rodrigo.

"It's how rock and roll works," Costello wrote on X. "You take the broken pieces of another thrill and make a brand new toy. That's what I did."

August 2023: Rodrigo confirms that she hasn't attended the Eras Tour

Swift's Eras Tour dominated pop culture in 2023, drawing a wide array of celebrity guests, from Shania Twain and Lupita Nyong'o to Flavor Flav and Karlie Kloss. Many were spotted trading friendship bracelets with fans and singing along to Swift's hit songs.

Rodrigo, however, was never spotted in the VIP tent at the Eras Tour, raising eyebrows among fans. She told The New York Times that her schedule was too booked to attend while promoting her sophomore album, "Guts."

"I haven't yet," she said, days before the tour's first US leg ended. "I'm going to Europe this week."

September 2023: Rodrigo addresses speculation that her song 'Vampire' was inspired by Swift, and denies rumors of a feud

During the promo campaign for "Guts," Rodrigo was repeatedly asked about her relationship with Swift.

Amid rumors of a feud, Rodrigo told Rolling Stone, "I don't have beef with anyone."

"I'm very chill. I keep to myself. I have my four friends and my mom, and that's really the only people I talk to, ever. There's nothing to say," she added.

Rodrigo was also asked to address speculation about the "Guts" lead single, "Vampire," whose lyrics seem to condemn a certain "blood sucker, fame-fucker" for taking advantage of her. Some fans interpreted the song as about an ex-boyfriend, namely Zack Bia, while others believed it was inspired by the "Deja Vu" credit dispute.

Rodrigo said she was "very surprised" people thought "Vampire" could be about Swift.

"I mean, I never want to say who any of my songs are about," Rodrigo told The Guardian. "I've never done that before in my career and probably won't. I think it's better to not pigeonhole a song to being about this one thing."

The 10th track on "Guts," titled "The Grudge," also sparked theories that Rodrigo could be singing about Swift: "You built me up to watch me fall," Rodrigo sings in the bridge. "You have everything, and you still want more."

February 2024: Swift gives Rodrigo a standing ovation at the Grammys

During Rodrigo's performance of "Vampire" — yes, the same song that some fans believed to be about Swift — at the 2024 Grammys, Swift was seen singing along from the crowd. She stood during the entire performance, while most of the room remained seated, and gave Rodrigo a standing ovation at the end.

Rodrigo later applauded Swift when she took home the Grammy for best pop vocal album, a category in which Rodrigo was also nominated.

April 2024: Swift releases a song about the music industry pitting women against each other

Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," ends with a track called "Clara Bow." The song's perspective switches between a powerful Hollywood executive and a hopeful ingenue.

Swift told Amazon Music the lyrics were inspired by real conversations she had with label execs as a child.

"They'd say, 'You know, you remind us of,' and then they'd name an artist, and then they'd kind of say something disparaging about her," Swift said. "That's how we teach women to see themselves, as like, 'You could be the new replacement for this woman who's done something great before you.'"

At the end of the song, Swift imagines herself as the woman being replaced by a new artist: "You look like Taylor Swift / In this light / We're loving it / You've got edge / She never did."

Swift has explored this fear before, namely in "Nothing New," a song she wrote in 2012, when she was 22. ("I know someday I'm gonna meet her, it's a fever dream / The kind of radiance you only have at 17 / She'll know the way, and then she'll say she got the map from me / I'll say I'm happy for her, then I'll cry myself to sleep.")

"You learn that like, you're in this machine and they're trying to make you into a woman that they just idealized and then discarded," Swift recently told The New York Times. "The entertainment industry love-bombs women."

Many fans have noted the parallels between Swift's imagined usurper and Rodrigo, a young songwriter and critical darling who studied Swift's craft and business savvy.

May 2026: Rodrigo half-answers a question about her relationship with Swift

While promoting her third album, "You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love," Rodrigo was again asked about the feud rumors.

She told Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli of The New York Times' "Popcast" podcast that she found the online speculation exhausting.

"I really don't read too far into it," Rodrigo said. "I think if I dove into every internet detective sleuth that got things right or wrong about my life or any of my relationships, I think I would just go crazy. There's just not enough time in the day."

When directly asked by Caramanica if there was a "frost" between her and Swift, Rodrigo seemed eager to move on from the whole ordeal.

"I don't know, I think I try to not let it get to me or upset me," Rodrigo said.

"It was so long ago, there's no use in harping on it," she continued. "I just try to make songs that I love and try to be kind and good to other people and supportive of other people. And at the end of the day, I think that's all you can do."

• The Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery deal still needs approval from regulators around the world.
• Which is why it's so striking to read Paramount's chief lawyer say that some opponents of the deal are antisemitic.
• What does he mean by that, and why would he say that?

Lots of people have objected to Paramount's planned purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Some of those people are antisemitic, says Paramount's top lawyer.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Makan Delrahim, Paramount's chief legal officer, said that some opposition to the Paramount/WBD deal is coming from people with "antisemitic views."

"Let's be honest," he told the Times. "There's a lot of fear-mongering, particularly from people in Washington, D.C. They are running a political campaign. Some of these people are trying to inflict harm on this transaction, really because of their own antisemitic views. Regulators and law enforcement officials will see right through that."

What does Delrahim mean by that?

Paramount declined to comment. I've also asked Delrahim to expand on his remarks. In the absence of an explanation, the only plausible answer I can think of is that Paramount owners Larry and David Ellison are active supporters of Israel, and Delrahim is suggesting that some people who are critical of the Ellisons' pro-Israel stance are also antisemitic.

This isn't the first time the issue of Israel has come up since the Ellisons bought Paramount: Last fall, Paramount denounced a campaign, signed by some high-profile actors and filmmakers, not to work with some Israeli film organizations. Paramount said the campaign amounted to "silencing individual creative artists based on their nationality."

Paramount's statement generated a response from a group of anonymous Paramount employees, who said the company was siding with "systems of apartheid, occupation, and … a genocide in Gaza and of the Palestinian people."

Debates over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — and whether criticizing Israel's actions in that conflict equates to antisemitism — are long-standing and highly charged. Which is why it's so striking to see Delrahim, who is meant to shepherd the Paramount/WBD through a thicket of regulators around the world, seemingly connect it to his proposed deal.

Maybe there's some 4-D chess I'm missing here. But it looks like Delrahim — who has spent a lot of time working in Washington, most recently as head of antitrust enforcement at the Department of Justice during Donald Trump's first term — may be making his would-be deal that much harder to get over the line.

Let's say you're a regulator who questions the wisdom of that combination —perhaps you're worried about what it means for the theatrical movie business, or what it might mean for journalism if CBS and CNN are combined. But now Paramount's lawyer is suggesting that your concerns are really a cover for your theoretical antisemitism.

That may not matter when it comes to the Trump administration, which is widely expected to sign off on the transaction. But it's hard to see how this is helpful anywhere else.

The final week of the French Open is underway on the clay courts of Roland Garros, and it's proving to be a tough tournament so far. We've scoured the global streaming options to highlight everything you need to know about where to watch the French Open, including free options.

In the US, coverage is available across TNT and truTV and live streamable in full via HBO Max. TNT Sports coverage via HBO Max is also the go-to option in the UK, although most other European nations will need Eurosport to access live streams. One exception is the host nation, France, which will offer select content for free via France.TV (with some matches on Prime Video). Australia will carry the full tournament on Stan Sport, with select free coverage on 9Now. You can access streaming options from anywhere by using a VPN. Keep reading to learn additional worldwide viewing options and info about the tournament.

The second Grand Slam of the year has been chock-full of surprising upsets. The most shocking early elimination was men's world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, a heavy favorite to win the tournament after 2025 champion Carlos Alcaraz announced he'd miss the event due to a wrist injury. Sinner flamed out in the second round, along with Ben Shelton, followed by a surprising Novak Djokovic elimination in the third round.

Women's reigning champion Coco Gauff was also eliminated fairly early, falling to Anastasia Potapova in the third round. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is still in the competition, but other notable players, including Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Madison Keys, have been defeated.

Where to watch the French Open for free

Certain countries will offer select free coverage of the French Open. In France, free streaming is available through France.TV. In Australia, free streaming options can be found on 9Now. Both services just require account creation if you don't already have one.

How to watch the French Open from anywhere

If you're away from the location where your streaming service works and still want to access your free streaming options, you can do so with a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are handy tools that let people temporarily change the digital location of their devices. They're especially popular among those looking to upgrade their cybersecurity or access their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's fast, easy to use, and offers an impressive selection of global servers. Plus, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so it's no sweat if you find that it's not helping you.

Where to watch the French Open in the US

The French Open is available across TNT and truTV in the US. The best way to live stream every moment of the Roland Garros action is through HBO Max. You'll need one of the ad-free tiers of service to access sports streaming. These plans start at $18.49 a month. You can also get HBO Max in some of the Disney Plus bundles.

If you'd prefer to watch on a service that carries other channels (in addition to TNT and truTV), then one of the best live TV streaming services will be able to help you out. After testing, DirecTV is our best overall pick right now, and you can catch TNT and truTV through one of the budget-friendly genre packs (in addition to all of the signature plans). DirecTV's MySports plan carries around 20 popular sports channels and unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. MySports costs $65 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first two months after a five-day free trial.

Where to watch the French Open in the UK

TNT Sports will carry French Open coverage in the UK. Fans can live stream all coverage on HBO Max, the new home of TNT Sports. Subscriptions for TNT Sports access cost £31 a month, but you can usually find some monthly savings if you commit to a longer contract. If you were previously using Discovery Plus to live stream TNT Sports and haven't yet made the switch, you can log into HBO Max by using your Discovery credentials, and you should be all set to start watching.

Where to watch the French Open in France

France will offer extensive free French Open coverage for the host nation. Live streams will be available on France.TV, a free streaming option that just requires account creation to use. Select French Open coverage will be shown on Prime Video in France. While Prime Video is a paid option, the service usually offers a generous free trial for those who haven't had an account in quite some time or haven't had one at all.

Where to watch the French Open in Australia

Australians will be able to catch French Open action on 9Now and Stan Sport. 9Now is a free streaming option (you'll just need to create a login if you haven't already) with select coverage. If you want to watch every single match, you'll need a paid Stan Sport subscription. Stan costs $12 a month for the base plan, and then an extra $20 a month for the sports add-on. In total, this will run you $32 a month.

Where is the French Open?

The French Open is held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris. Court Philippe-Chatrier is where most of the biggest matches take place.

When is the next Grand Slam?

The French Open will wrap up in early June, and Wimbledon (the third Grand Slam of the year) will kick off at the end of June and run through the first half of July. The Australian Open took place in January (until February 1), where Elena Rybakina and Carlos Alcaraz took home titles. The US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year, will kick off in late August and run until mid-September.

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.

Mint Mobile keeps phone service simple with contract-free plans you pay for monthly, a lot like a streaming service or gym membership. It's powered by T-Mobile, using the larger provider's towers to deliver reliable, trustworthy service to customers. It's one of the most budget-friendly plans you can choose, and with the frequent Mint Mobile deals you can find, it's even more so.

Mint's best offers as of writing include $15 off any three-month plan — a sweet savings for short-term sign-ups. Alternatively, the carrier's incredible Minternet and Unlimited bundle is still available, offering both services for only $45 a month when you pay a year upfront. That's effectively getting Unlimited for $5 a month.

Keep scrolling to learn how to score these Mint Mobile deals. Be sure to check the coverage map to ensure you're eligible for service, too.

Today's best Mint Mobile plans and deals

Mint Mobile is almost always offering a deal, but they're not all created equal. Right now, the best savings shoppers can score features a year of Minternet bundled with a year of Unlimited service for only $45 a month ($540 up front). If you're shopping for both internet and cell service, that effectively locks in an intro offer of Minternet pricing plus $5 Unlimited for 12 months.

Not shopping for internet service? You can also score $15 off any three-month Mint Mobile plan with promo code 15OFF. That brings the most affordable plan to only $10 a month — an absolute steal for budget-minded shoppers.

Still need a phone? The deals above require you to bring your own device, but smartphones are also a frequent inclusion with Mint deals. Right now, the best offer knocks $500 off any Samsung Galaxy S26 when bought with an annual Unlimited plan. You can save an additional $400 with an eligible trade-in, too.

In addition to unlimited talk and text, all Mint plans include free calling to Canada and Mexico, WiFi calling and texting, and free mobile hotspot access to share your phone's data with other devices. Hotspot data is limited to 10GB on the Unlimited plan, though. 

Mint Mobile home internet deals

Mint Mobile's newly added internet plans — called 5G Home Minternet — are an incredible value for shoppers to take advantage of. New signups can get their first three months for only $40 each, matching the price of a one-year commitment without the longer term. Mint Mobile users can save even more, bringing the price down to just $30 a month.

After the initial three-month period, plans renew at $10 extra, costing $40 or $50 a month. To avoid the price hike, you can sign up for a longer term, such as a six-month or annual plan, which won't increase.

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

Mint Mobile sale on phones

Mint's base plans require you to bring your own device, but you can also save big by buying one directly from the provider. Right now, the retailer is holding a holiday sale featuring hundreds off the entire Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 10 lineup when bundled with Unlimited service. It's a great sale, especially if you have an old phone to trade in to save you even more.

Is Mint Mobile good?

Ask most price-savvy wireless service shoppers which company they should consider switching to for the lowest possible monthly phone bill, and Mint Mobile is almost guaranteed to come up. That's for good reason—Mint Mobile offers solid wireless service on the same networks the big names use for a fraction of the cost. Specifically, Mint Mobile runs on T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network and is now owned by that very company.

In our Mint Mobile review, we found that while overall service quality was pretty good, data speeds could be a little slow during peak usage. This affected video call quality enough that you might opt to wait until you're on WiFi for Facetime action. But at only $15 a month, it is still one of the best values in alternative phone service, and signing up is easy with all of the Mint Mobile deals targeting new customers.

How Mint Mobile's family plan works

Mint Mobile's "Modern Family" plan diverges from the traditional family plans often touted by other carriers, which commonly feature discounts for adding additional lines. Instead, Mint charges the same rate for each line as it does for the first.

The real benefit of Mint's family plan lies in its centralized management rather than cost savings. Customers can initiate a family plan with at least two lines, each priced according to its data allowance. For instance, a family could opt for a plan that includes one unlimited data line, a 15GB line, and a 5GB line.

How Mint Mobile's unlimited data plan works

One of the Mint Mobile plans features unlimited data starting at $30 per month (currently discounted to $15), making it one of the more budget-friendly options available. Like many in its league, Mint limits the amount of high-speed data you get after hitting a certain threshold—40GB of usage in this case. After that, your speeds are cut down considerably until your cycle refreshes.

Be sure to take a look at our in-depth Mint Mobile review. See how it stacks up against Verizon's MVNO in our guide to Mint vs. Visible.

We've also compiled a roundup of today's best Visible phone plans if you'd like to check out the competition.

If you're looking to cut your monthly bill, Visible is a straightforward option for cheap cellphone service without contracts or surprise fees. The carrier runs on Verizon's nationwide 5G and 4G LTE network, so you get broad coverage with simple, prepaid-style pricing. For shoppers seeking reliable connectivity at a lower cost, Visible remains one of the most popular budget wireless carriers today.

Visible is currently not offering any seasonal promotions or discounts for shoppers. The most affordable way to sign up is through the carrier's annual plans, which offer marginal savings overall compared to monthly subscriptions.

Are you not sure which Visible plan to choose? You have three to choose from: Visible, Visible Plus, and Visible Pro Plus, all of which are included in this ongoing promotion. All of them offer unlimited data of varying speeds, plus mobile hot spot functionality, select international calling, and more.

Best deals on Visible phone plans

As of writing, Visible isn't holding any sales or seasonal deals for shoppers to take advantage of. The cheapest way to join the service right now is by committing to a slightly more affordable annual plan.

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

Visible mobile FAQs

Does Visible have a free trial?

Visible offers a free 15-day trial to anyone with a compatible and unlocked smartphone. All you have to do is connect to Wifi and download the Visible app. Once there, you can follow the given steps to get a trial phone number with which you can use Visible's unlimited data, talk, text, and hotspot usage for 15 days. 

You do not need to cancel your current carrier's service to sign up for Visible's free trial. In fact, Visible recommends keeping your service to compare against their own during your free trial.

Visible vs. Visible Plus: What's the difference?

The most significant difference between Visible and Visible Plus is that the latter offers access to Verizon's fastest 5G Ultra Wideband (UW) network, which has faster speeds and better reliability in congested areas. Those benefits only come into play if you can even access them. 5G UW is only available in select markets and requires specific phones. You'll also get broader international calling and texting options, and the "Premium Network Experience" guarantees you full speeds up to 50GB, even during peak traffic hours.

No matter which you pick, both plans offer unlimited everything. That includes talk, text, data, and even a mobile hotspot, a rare concoction for MVNO cell phone service.

How good is Visible phone service?

Our Visible Wireless review found that it offers great overall value for money. The cellular network is top-notch, owing to its piggybacking on Verizon's extensive nationwide 5G network. We like the low monthly prices and the ability to get unlimited data, no matter which plan you're on.

The slow network speeds after exceeding thresholds and experiencing network congestion are annoying, but that's a standard practice most MVNOs use to keep costs down. We also thought Visible's customer support could be better (you only get direct help using its online chat) and would have appreciated even a small discount for having multiple lines.

Is Visible owned by Verizon?

Verizon owns Visible. Unlike T-Mobile's purchases of Metro and Mint Mobile and AT&T's purchase of Cricket Wireless, Verizon built Visible from the ground up. The MVNO launched in 2018 and operates independently under Verizon's supervision.

If you'd like to learn more about the network and how it works in the real world, be sure to check out our in-depth Visible Wireless review.

Still shopping around for other providers? Take a look at our roundup of today's best Mint Mobile deals.

• Simone Steele started her beauty clinic by throwing Botox and filler parties in customers' homes.
• Once she grew her clinic, she used her existing customer base to help launch a sunscreen line.
• Great customer service and on-the-ground marketing have been key to making both successful.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Simone Steele, founder of Queen Aesthetics Wellness and Beauty Clinic and inclusive sunscreen company Simply Shady. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I decided to start my own business after getting burned — literally.

I was a board-certified physician's assistant at a plastic surgery office in Houston, and I went to another clinic looking for laser treatment for my own skin concerns. What could've been a confidence-boosting procedure in the right hands left me with burns and pigmentation problems for years. I don't want anybody else to feel like I did.

After that experience, I decided to create my own business in Houston called Queen Aesthetics Wellness and Beauty Clinic. The concept would be more of a haven, where I could take the time to sit down and talk to my clients the way I wanted to, and where I could make sure the practitioners felt confident treating all skin types. It would be a place where I could generally make women feel better about themselves.

I started with grit and on-the-ground growth

I started my business in 2019 by doing in-home Botox and filler parties. I wasn't able to get traditional financing at first, so this allowed me to launch without needing the money to rent a space and helped me test pricing and build customer relationships.

From the start, my biggest growth strategy was making sure we delivered great customer service at parties, so people would go out of their way to see me when we opened a brick-and-mortar in 2021.

Focusing on customer service also increased our word-of-mouth marketing, which is important because people don't always trust online reviews. Building a personal connection with people has been the biggest driver for the business, helping us grow into a six-figure clinic with a 62% rebooking rate.

Our customer service includes a personal follow-up call within the following week, not just texts and emails. I used to make every call, but as we've grown, that hasn't been sustainable. Now, I have an assistant make those same follow-up calls.

We also offer memberships that give customers benefits such as a free facial. These monthly offerings offer us steady revenue, even during an uncertain economic climate.

I used one business to start another

Eventually, I noticed a gap in the market. We always tell our clients to protect their skin, but they told us they were unhappy with the sunscreen options available to them, especially for people of color, who often have to deal with a white cast from sunscreen.

I have a degree in biochemistry, so I started testing some formulations at home to create inclusive, mineral sun care that corrects and protects. I ended up working with a cosmetic chemist to finalize my idea and, in 2024, launched Simply Shady.

Queen Aesthetics was the foundation for Simply Shady because, without it, I wouldn't have had the beta testers I needed: About 200 of our customers tested the products over 45 days and gave feedback.

My customer base allowed me to have a successful product launch and consistent sales from people already coming into the office. We sold over 1,000 units and generated more than $50,000 in revenue within the first year without any outside capital.

Now, we can pair marketing for both businesses. Many of our estheticians recommend the product during treatment. And we have a small store attached to our clinic, which gives us a two-for-one use of our space. A client can walk into our office, see that we added a new product, and we can take them over to the store to try it and do some shade matching. When we attend community events, we can spread the word about the sunscreen, but also offer a paired service, like a facial.

One day, I want Simply Shady to be like Supergoop, where everyone knows us for sunscreen. Right now, I'm still working on the back-end tasks, making sure the formula is really good, and figuring out how to translate our in-person brand experience to e-commerce to get a good conversion.

Sometimes, I feel like I should be further along, but I know I need to make sure the base framework is good to propel the business to the next level.

Living in New York City means walking everywhere. On a typical day, I'll clock one to two miles just from walking my dog, running errands, and commuting to and from the train. For most people here, that kind of mileage automatically means sneakers. For me, it doesn't. I love the added height, elegance, and confidence that a great pair of heels brings — and yes, I firmly believe Carrie Bradshaw would never show up to brunch in running shoes.

That mindset led me to a very specific mission: finding heels that can actually keep up with a walking-heavy lifestyle. I tested dozens upon dozens of pairs across every category, logging miles, enduring blisters, and pushing past sore arches to see which ones truly delivered on comfort. After all that trial and error, I've narrowed it down to the heels that are genuinely wearable — even on city streets.

How I tested for the most comfortable heels

For the research part of my testing, I scoured the internet to find out which brands and styles of shoes people were raving about. I went deep on Reddit threads, asked my coworkers and friends for their recommendations, and talked to shoe experts. This gave me a starting list of over 40 individual pairs, with brands like Naturalizer, Inez, and Vivaia coming up over and over.

Then, I tested the heels for myself. Armed with my phone's step counter, I tried to walk a mile in each of the recommended heels. In some heels, I could scarcely walk down my street without getting pain or blisters. None of those made the list.

But after months of testing, I came up with a list of stellar heels that were comfortable for the entire mile walk and more. Over the past year-and-a-half, I've tested over 80 heels and counting. I'm constantly trying out new brands and new styles that promise comfort.

These are the heels that have past the mile walk test with flying colors.

For more of our rigorously-tested shoe coverage, see our articles on the most comfortable dress shoes and best walking shoes for women.

The comfortable heels matrix

Because "comfortable" can mean different things depending on the occasion, I mapped each heel on two axes: classic to trendy, and everyday easy to event-ready. Every pair here passed my comfort test, but this matrix shows where each one shines.

A: M.Gemi Lizza Due | B: Ally Classic Pumps | C: Reef Sunset Ibiza | D: Naturalizer Joy Dress Sandal | E: Inez Mia | F: Oasis Society Celine | G: Birdies Kiwi Kitten Flower | H: Margaux Ada | I: Naturalizer Elaine Slingback | J: Inez Camilla | K: Elizee Fiorella Sandal | L: Margaux Platform | M: Bared Footwear Towhee | N: Vivianly Clear Heels | O: Dream Paris Low Heel P: Calla Margot | Q: Naturalizer Grace Sandal | R: Naturalizer Tressa Sandal | S: Nomasei Baghera Sandals

A quick look at some of my favorite comfortable heels for summer

Which brands make the most comfortable heels?

From least to most expensive, here's what we would recommend:

• Dream Paris makes budget-friendly heels that are famous on Amazon. They're staggeringly low-priced, with most costing between $25-$40. You get somewhat more than you pay for, because these are much more comfortable than other brands at the same price point — but the quality doesn't compare to any of the other brands on this list.
• Naturalizer makes high-quality, versatile heels that are wearable (think simple block heels, classic pumps, etc.). Most of their shoes cost around $150, but there are tons of sales on seasonal colors. We trust this brand for details like padded arches, stabilizing straps, and walkable silhouettes.
• Vivaia is known for heels that are all made with a stretchy knit fabric that cradles the foot. This makes them great for people with wide feet, since the fabric is more accommodating than materials like leather. Most heels cost about $150, but they also have frequent sales.
• Frankie4 is an Australian-based, podiatrist-founded footwear brand that we keep coming back to. Despite the emphasis on podiatry, the styles are all cute and wearable. Expect to spend about $200 a pair, but you'll be able to feel the attention to comfort details.
• Inez is a luxury pick with careful Spanish craftsmanship to back up its slightly higher prices (at least $250 a pair). The designs are sophisticated with a contemporary flair. I've been wearing shoes from the brand for years, and each pair has held up beautifully in both construction and style.

Best overall: Naturalizer Joy Dress Sandal

What we love: With a heavily padded footbed and a super versatile silhouette, these are the ultimate wedding guest heels. These beloved shoes come in over 40 colors (check multiple links if you're looking for a specific shade), so you can find one to match your outfit perfectly.

Not ideal for: People with narrow feet, since these only come in a regular and wide fit.

First of all, can I just say how impressed I am with Naturalizer? Over a decade ago, I remember following my grandmother into the store while she picked out loafers that you could tell were a podiatrist's dream. But now, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything like those orthopedic loafers on their site.

Instead, they've incorporated all the comfort that they're known for into shoes that are actually cute. So while the inside of the shoe might still be a podiatrist's dream, the outside will be trendy and chic — exemplified by the bestselling Joy Dress Sandal.

You can see how thick the padding is by just looking at it. The insole is contoured to your foot, providing arch support and taking pressure off the balls of your feet. The heel itself is a whopping three-and-a-half inches, but they absolutely do not feel that high when you have them on.

I've recommended these to tons of friends as the perfect wedding guest (or even wedding day!) shoes, and have gotten countless post-event texts about how amazingly painless these are. I've personally danced the night away in these heels at least half a dozen times.

Check out our article on the best bridal shoes for more of our top picks for heels for your big day.

Best budget: Dream Paris Chunky Low-Heel

What we love: These Amazon ultra bestsellers get heaps of praise for their good value. For under $40, they're a great, comfortable block heel that isn't too high.

Drawbacks: Though these are a great budget option, they lack premium comfort features like a padded footbed or contoured construction.

I knew that I needed to test these shoes because they have a whopping twenty-four thousand reviews on Amazon and four-and-a-half stars. People in the reviews rave about wearing these all night, walking miles in them, and how they feel like they cost way more than the under-$40 price tag.  Plus, they have nearly thirty colors available. 

After walking over a mile in the Dream Paris Low Heel Sandals, I understand what the hype is about. The heel is a perfect everyday height and you can't beat the simplicity and versatility of the silhouette. Plus, they are absolutely everything that Amazon reviewers claim them to be — super affordable and very walkable. 

However, if you're committed to the single-strap silhouette and want shoes that will last you through every summer wedding you attend, I would still recommend our best overall pick, the Naturalizer Joy Dress Sandal. It has an almost identical silhouette, but the Naturalizer pair has far more footbed padding. Plus, the padding is brilliantly contoured to your foot. This Dream Paris pair is great for getting pretty comfy heels at a good price, but you might face some issues with the toe strap rubbing and your foot feeling fatigued if you're planning to wear these all the time. 

Best pumps: Ally Classic Pumps

What we love: These are available in four different widths, providing a near-custom fit. They're also perfect for wearing to work.

Drawbacks: Higher price point compared to other options, since these are meant to be an investment piece.

Even if you're a pump enthusiast, you probably haven't felt pumps like these. Ally's shoes feel custom since they're available in four (yes, you heard right, four) different widths. And you can absolutely feel what a difference it makes to have a shoe in your exact size. 

I took Ally's fit finder quiz to nail down which width would fit me best and was blown away when I received the shoes. Inside, there are layers of padding that perfectly cradle the arch of my foot. And there's even toe box contouring to support the balls of your feet. Seriously, these have all the comfort bells and whistles that you could ask for. 

The only drawback of these Ally pumps is that they're a touch expensive, but compared to actual custom shoes, these are a steal.

Best for walking: M. Gemi Lizza Due

What we love: It's a notably comfortable platform heel thanks to its shallow pitch, which keeps your foot from sitting at too steep an angle, and the wide ankle straps make it feel especially stable and secure while walking.

Drawbacks: It has the heft of a platform heel, and the wider straps may feel a bit bulkier than those of a more delicate sandal silhouette.

After testing the Lizza Due, what impressed me most was how much more stable and wearable it felt than a lot of platform heels I have tried. One of the biggest reasons is the fairly shallow pitch (the angle at which your foot sits). That makes a real difference in comfort over time, since the shoe does not have that steep feel that can leave the balls of your feet aching after just an hour or two. I tested the suede version rather than the metallic leather, and in that finish, it felt especially easy to wear — polished and dressy, but a little softer and more versatile than a high-shine party shoe.

The fit also feels especially secure on foot, which adds a lot to the overall walkability. The wide ankle straps help keep your foot stable, so you feel more supported and less wobbly than you might in a strappier or more delicate-looking heel. That combination of a platform sole, shallower pitch, and grounded ankle support makes this a strong option for anyone who wants height without the usual tradeoff in comfort. It still looks elevated and occasion-ready, but what makes it stand out is that it actually feels practical enough to wear for a full event, not just for photos.

Best for summer: Reef Sunset Ibiza

What we love: These shoes have a 3.7 inch heel but are so lightweight and squishy that you won't feel the height at all. Plus, they're under $100.

Drawbacks: The detailing on the outside is not raffia but foam painted to look like fibers. This is actually a plus for me since real raffia would make these heavier, but it won't stand up to up-close inspection.

The Sunset Ibiza heels from Reef just became my new summer go-to sandals. They're super high — nearly four inches! But you don't feel the height at all. You just feel like you're walking on foam.

Despite the stilt-level height, I can't stop wearing these. Since I'm five-foot-two, so many of my pants and maxi dresses drag on the floor without heels. But I slip these on with about as much care as I would slip on a Birkenstock — no worries about eventual foot aches or blisters.

Best for a wedding: Inez Camilla

What we love: These platform heels come in wedding-ready colors like silver, nude and black. They're comfortable enough to dance in and high enough to keep your maxi dress off the floor.

Drawbacks: Unlike many of Inez's shoes, this style only comes in a standard width.

I've worn the Camilla shoes to three different weddings and have danced the night away every time with no issues. The high platform means that these shoes have a relatively shallow vamp, but your foot is still at an elegant, leg-lengthening angle.

They're also almost four full inches high, which is great for me since I'm petite and tend to have an issue with long dresses dragging on the floor. These keep the hem firmly off the ground.

I also appreciate that these are available in formalwear neutrals — like silver and shiny black. Part of the reason I love these so much is that they go with anything, no matter the dress code.

Read more in our full Inez Camilla review.

Best for work: Antonia Saint NY All Occasion Heel

What we love: The brand's SoftSurround System is fantastic. It keeps your foot stable and makes it feel like your foot is surrounded by a foamy cushion.

Drawbacks: Some people report that the shoes run a little larger than expected.

If your office dress code is a little more formal, these pumps will be your new best friend. They pair perfectly with the best suits for women or formal work dresses.

The All Occasion Heels from Antonia Saint New York have an internal cushioning system that surrounds the whole foot rather than just padding the footbed. I love the comfort and, crucially, the support this offers. Instead of sliding around, my foot is firmly braced by the shoe. This is especially helpful for safety since instability can cause ankle injuries.

Usually, I size down a half-size in pumps because the pitch of the heel tends to push my toes deep down into the toe box, leaving extra space at the back. But I opted not to size down in these, and I'm glad I did. The brand's proprietary SoftSurround System keeps my foot enveloped in foamy support so my toes don't slip down.

The shoes are also made from soft, shiny leather that looks great and photographs well. The brand also claims that the heel is made from materials that won't nick. I know I'll be wearing these a ton, so I'll report back if I experience any damage, but so far, so good!

Best strappy: Bared Footwear Towhee

What we love: Walkable summer heel with a shallow pitch, contoured footbeds, and optional gel cushions for those prone to pain in the ball of the foot
Drawbacks: Not ideal for extra-wide feet or long toes

I've seen similar versions of this modern strappy sandal from like Quince, Vagabond, and Marcella — but I highly doubt any are as comfortable as the Bared Footwear Towhees. These come with podiatrist-designed footbeds that are highly cushioned and contoured, with raised arch support and subtle notches to even out the pressure heels put on your metatarsals. This pair feels perfect for special occasions in warm weather that require standing all day.

Their heel cups keep you from sliding forward and help relieve weight from your forefoot. And the smooth, adjustable straps are made of rolled leather, so they don't cut into your skin even if your feet swell. I also love that they don't make much noise when I walk (sometimes I would rather not click-clack with every step), and the rubberized heel caps are softer and grippier than most heels.

The narrow block heels have a wide base to make up for the thin straps, so I wasn't teetering any time I had to pick up the pace. I tested them on a 20-minute walk to break them in ahead of a family wedding. A while in, I had to adjust the straps to keep my toes from sliding forward over the edge, but this was more of a fit preference, not a major discomfort. If you have long toes like mine, a sandal with a platformed toebox like the Inez Camillas may work better. —Gabrielle Chase, senior associate style editor, Business Insider Reviews.

Best for bunions: Calla Shoes Margot Heel

What we love: Made especially for people with bunions, these shoes are built with a wider toe box and a stretch lining to accommodate mild to moderate bunions.

Drawbacks: The ankle strap is a little too thin to offer extra stability.

If you have bunions, you have to check out Calla. The brand makes heels, sneakers, flats, and more designed to accommodate mild to moderate bunions. And for particularly large ones, they even have picks with extra-wide toe boxes.

But these shoes are a far cry from the orthopedic loafers that you might expect from a comfort-focused, bunion-solution shoe brand. Instead, you'll find silhouettes on par with most trendy footwear retailers. Chief among them, in my opinion, are the Margot Heels that look like a stylish platform heel on the outside, but have tons of comfort features on the inside.

To accommodate bunions, these have a stretch lining, a wide toe box, and lots of interior padding. They're incredibly comfortable despite being over four inches tall. Plus, they're built for stability — I would have no issues dancing the night away in these. However, my only minor critique is that the ankle strap is a little thin; I would have preferred a thicker, cushioned strap like the one across the toe box.

Bottom line: these are best for anyone who wants a dressy heel that feels more wearable — especially if you're sensitive in the forefoot, want extra toe room, or prioritize stability over a delicate silhouette. Before you check out, it's worth double-checking the measurement guide if you're between sizes, then taking advantage of the brand's exchange/return options if you need a tweak.

Best slingbacks: Inez Mia

What we love: A sleek standout from one of our favorite comfortable heel brands, these slingbacks are beautifully crafted and come in narrow, standard, and wide widths.

Drawbacks: The elastic is a little flimsy; we would have much preferred a buckle.

Slingbacks are the style of the season and there's no style more comfortable than this pick by Inez. It's available in a bunch of colors — and it comes in narrow, standard, and wide fits.

Inez is one of our favorite brands ever for comfortable heels — which is why you'll find a bunch of their shoes on this list. In our Inez review, we raved about the brand's commitment to only the highest quality of craftsmanship. They are made in Spain and have proprietary plush insoles, which you can absolutely tell make a huge difference. When you slip them on, you can feel immediately how they cradle your foot for maximum stability and comfort.

The Mia slingbacks, especially in the beautiful orchid color, got me tons and tons of compliments. I cannot recommend them enough.

Highest heel: Elizee Fiorella Sandal

What we love: For a heel this high (and a pitch this steep), it's incredible how comfortable these are. I highly recommend them as some of the best bridal heels around.

Drawbacks: At over $600, they're definitely a splurge.

At nearly four inches with a three-inch pitch, the Fiorella Sandals from Italian brand Elizée look a little intimidating — but don't let that fool you. They're super lightweight, with a cushioned insole and a thick strap that wraps around your ankle for stability. 

When I wore them for the first time, I was blown away by the construction. This is a true stiletto heel. And yet, I didn't feel any of the discomfort of basically walking around on my tippy-toes for hours. 

It's a little on the pricier side, but it's a perfect choice for a wedding, whether it be yours or one you're attending as a guest. It has the rare combination of being a classic, formal stiletto while also being a shoe that you can dance in all night. 

Just not that when I first tried this, I had buckled it too loosely around my ankle. It felt much less comfortable because my foot was wiggling around too much. Make sure you fasten these on tightly (even tighter than you think you need to) for the best fit.

Best heeled flip-flop: Naturalizer

What we love: This is the rare heeled flip-flop that actually feels walkable. The cushioned sole, arch support, and sculpted shape help keep your foot in place, so you're not constantly pushing against the sensitive area between your toes. It also has a manageable 2.5-inch covered heel and Naturalizer's Contour+ Comfort Technology, which gives the trendy silhouette more support than most.

Drawbacks: The thong-sandal silhouette can be tricky in general, so this still may not be the best choice if you know you hate any pressure between your first two toes.

The heeled flip-flop is the shoe silhouette of the summer, showing up everywhere from runways to street style. But as effortless as the trend looks, it can be surprisingly hard to wear. I tried tons of heeled thong sandals while testing comfortable heels, and almost all of them put too much pressure between my first two toes.

The Naturalizer 27 Edit Tressa Dress Sandal was the only one I could actually walk a mile in comfortably. It still has the clean, open-toed look of a minimalist thong sandal, but the construction makes it much more wearable than most versions of the trend. The cushioned sole, arch support, and curved floor of the shoe cradle the foot so it stays in place instead of sliding forward with every step.

That extra stability makes a huge difference. Rather than feeling like I had to grip the shoe with my toes or brace against the thong strap, my foot felt supported from underneath. The 2.5-inch covered heel gives it enough lift to feel dressy without pushing it into true high-heel territory, and the slip-on design keeps the whole thing easy and casual.

The Tressa also has a more fashion-forward shape than your average comfort sandal. It gives you the runway-adjacent, street-style look of a heeled flip-flop, but with enough cushioning and support to make the trend feel realistic for actual walking.

Best lightweight: Crocs Brooklyn Heel

What we love: These are hands down my most-worn pair of heels. I slip them on to do errands, walk my dog, and even wear them out to dinner. They're incredibly lightweight and have such a shallow pitch that you barely feel like you're wearing heels at all.

Drawbacks: Though it's small, the Crocs logo does appear on the outside of the shoe. Plus, the white color has some issues with scuffing.

Yes, that's right, these are Crocs. They're made of the same lightweight, foam-like material that made the clogs famous. And if you're wondering if they feel the same; they really do. 

Like the clogs, the Brooklyn Heel footbed is cushioned and has bumps on it that are like little massage beads. At first, I was dubious about this feature, but I like how the little bumps stop my food from sliding around. And they're lightweight like the Crocs clogs, too. 

These chunky heels lean into the '90s vibes and give you a full extra three inches of height. Plus, unlike other chunky heels, these don't feel like you're lugging around rocks on your feet. And they're just cute. I really enjoyed shocking my coworkers by telling them I was wearing Crocs. 

The only issue I foresee with these is scuffing. I got the Brooklyn Heel in white, so it's hard to not get little black marks on them. If I were to do it again, I would probably get the black color to avoid this issue. 

Best heeled ballet flat: Margaux Ada

What we love: With a shorter heel and a slightly square toe, these elegant shoes fit like a glove.

Drawbacks: Finding the correct size and width can be difficult.

We've long admired Margaux's commitment to beautiful leather and chic silhouettes. The Ada looks like an elegant ballet flat, but it has a little heel that adds slightly over an inch of height.

I got it in the color Espresso Crinkle Patent, which is a shiny brown color that feels like the epitome of fall. The leather is supple and molds to your feet for a glove-like fit. Plus, the insole has a memory foam-like padding that cradles your foot.

But sizing is a little tricky to get right. I've always characterized my feet as being on the wider end of typical, but I very rarely find myself having to opt for a wide fit shoe. In almost all situations, a regular width works just fine. But with Margaux shoes, I've learned to always go for the wide.

The shoes come in three widths: narrow, medium, and wide. If you're on the fence about which would work for you, opt for the more generous fit.

Best high vamp: Elaine Slingback Pointed Toe Pump

What we love: These extremely comfortable slingbacks have a high vamp that provides extra stability and a foam footbed that feels great to walk on. The shoe also comes in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide fits.

Drawbacks: Certain colorways are prone to scuffing.

Shoes with a high vamp have been an under-the-radar trend that's slowly seeping into the mainstream. In case you're unfamiliar, the vamp of a shoe refers to the upper section that covers the top of the foot, starting at the toe. Most of the slingbacks on this list give me a little bit of "toe cleavage," but these extend farther up my foot. And while I was initially skeptical about the look and fit of the Elaine Slingback, it took me almost no time to be sold.

The higher vamp actually adds a lot of stability that other slingbacks lack. It keeps your foot from wiggling in the shoe and provides a stable base for walking. Plus, these have the cushioned footbed that I've raved about in other reviews of Naturalizer shoes. The heel on these shoes is almost three inches high, but they feel much lower than that.

I got these in the medium width, but they also come in narrow, wide, and extra wide fits. And these come in a ton of colorways — both basic leather shades and some unexpected seasonal designs like a shiny black pick coverd in silver studs and plaid fabric pattern.

Best velvet: Birdies Kiwi Kitten Flower

What we love: The velvet flower makes these shoes really stand out — and the arch support and padded footbed make them comfortable to stand or dance in.

Drawbacks: The sole of the shoe is completely smooth, so it takes some breaking in to prevent slipping on tile floors. Also, the heel isn't as stable as I would like.

We've reviewed Birdies' loafers, sneakers, and more throughout the years, but heels are somewhat new for the brand. The Kiwi Kitten Flower is a style standout, with a statement rose and a delicate heel.

Comfort-wise, the details that matter are built in. Birdies uses a memory foam comfort insole with full arch support and a contoured footbed for that plush, cushioned feel underfoot. The sole is also designed to flex, with the brand's signature rubber front pod that can help with grip where you actually push off when you walk.

These aren't perfect — I do wish the heel was a little more stable. And when I first tried them, I felt myself sliding around because the sole lacks traction; this got much better once I had worn them a bit and broken them in by walking on concrete.

But they're so cute that some flaws are easy to overlook. I got an overwhelming amount of compliments on these, and it's easy to see why.

Best sculptural: Nomasei Baghera

Pros: These were surprisingly comfortable right out of the box. The leather feels soft and flexible, almost like a second skin, and the memory-foam padding helps prevent the usual ball-of-foot pain that can come from hours in heels. The block heel is also a big plus for weddings — sturdy on grass and wide enough that it won't get stuck between patio slats.

Cons: The V-shaped design is really flattering, but it doesn't give you the same locked-in feel as an ankle strap. They also caused one small heel blister after a full night of wear, so they're not totally immune to break-in pains — just much better than expected for a brand-new pair worn to a six-hour wedding.

The Nomasei Baghera sandals prove that a statement heel doesn't have to come at the expense of comfort. With their sculptural silhouette, soft leather, and sturdy block heel, they're the kind of shoes you can actually stay in for hours.

Gabrielle Chase, a senior associate style editor for Insider Reviews, wore them straight out of the box for a long day and night on her feet — a gamble she doesn't usually take with heels. "I packed six Band-Aids, assuming I'd need them all," Gabrielle said. "Reader, I'm happy to report that I shuffled and slid to my heart's content and only sustained one tiny heel blister the entire night."

The sandals have a flattering V-shaped upper that creates a leg-lengthening effect, along with soft, flexible leather that molds comfortably to the foot. "They're made with a leather that's so soft and flexible that they feel like a second skin," Gabrielle said.

Comfort-wise, the memory-foam padded insoles are a standout feature. Gabrielle said they helped prevent the metatarsal pain she usually gets after spending too much time in heels. The block heel also adds stability, making these easier to walk in than many dressier stilettos.

"These are the kind of heels that look special but don't punish your feet for wearing them," Gabrielle said. She also appreciated how well the block heel handled different surfaces. "When the wedding moved outdoors, their block heels were sturdy enough for grass and too thick to get caught in the slats of the patio," she said.

These are a great choice if you want a fashion-forward sandal that's still comfortable enough for hours of wear. The only caveat is that the V-shaped design doesn't provide the same locked-in feel as a traditional ankle strap, so they may not be ideal if you prefer extra support around the ankle.

And while they're dressy enough for formal occasions, they're versatile enough to style more casually, too. "I loved them so much that next I'm excited to dress them down with some ragg socks and jeans," Chase said.

Best with a bow: Oasis Society Celine

What we love: It combines several comfort-friendly details — a stable block heel, cushioned insole, adjustable ankle strap, and a more manageable 3.75-inch height — that make it easier to walk in.

Drawbacks: The textured woven floral textile and textile-wrapped heel look beautiful, but they may be more delicate and harder to keep pristine than smoother materials. Plus, they run a little narrow.

After testing the Oasis Society Celine in Rose Garden, I was impressed by how comfortable and walkable it felt for such a cute, dressed-up heel. The floral fabric and oversized bow make it feel especially charming and feminine, and it definitely reads as a statement shoe — the kind of pair that can instantly dress up a simple, solid-color outfit and make it feel more styled. Comfort-wise, the padded footbed gives it a softer feel underfoot, while the block heel adds stability that makes it easier to walk in than a lot of similarly decorative occasion heels.

My main caveat is that while the cushioning helps, I wish the padding were wider and extended across the full footbed for more complete support. Even so, it still felt notably comfortable in testing, and the secure ankle strap and grounded heel shape make it feel practical enough for events where you actually plan to be on your feet. It is a great option if you want a heel that feels romantic and standout, but is also genuinely wearable.

Highest pump: Inez Alta

What we love: If you want the highest walkable pump possible, this is it. It's steep, but Inez is great at making steep shoes comfortable.

Drawbacks: These do get uncomfortable after a while of walking.

Another winner from a brand that we love. Here's what I said about these stellar pumps in our Inez Review:

Pumps are difficult to get right. Unlike platforms or other kinds of creatively-designed shoes, there's no way of getting around the steep pitch. In fact, these are particularly steep. Aptly called the Alta, they have a towering heel height of 3.5 inches. You can get the style in a lower-height heel, called the Lola, if this sounds a little too tall for you. But don't be afraid to go with the higher heel. The shoes are far more comfortable than they look.

And while I probably wouldn't recommend these for running around, they are the ultimate secret weapon for feeling authoritative and stylish at work. Paired with one of the best suits for women, the Alta pumps make the ultimate power outfit.

Best kitten heel: Naturalizer 27 Edit Grace Sandal

What we love: This shoe has tons of padding. It's obvious even in the picture above how padded the toe strap is.

Drawbacks: Some people report that the bottom is slippery.

I've already touted the supreme comfort of Naturalizer heels and these are another stellar option. 

Not only is the footbed padded, but the straps are also cushioned. In fact, the toe strap is downright foamy. It makes a huge difference when you're walking since the repetitive motion can make typical straps cut into you. 

I also appreciate the stability of the kitten heel on the 27 Edit Grace Sandal. Sometimes, heels this this make you feel slightly wobbly. But these are secure and I feel sure-footed, even when walking on uneven surfaces.

Best platform: Margaux The Platform Sandal

What we love: These chic sandals are beautifully constructed, and Margaux's signature "X"-shaped toe strap design provides plenty of stability.

Drawbacks: We've had some issues with Margaux's sizing, so we highly recommend ordering the wide width even if you normally order regular width shoes.

Margaux makes an amazing selection of carefully designed comfortable heels. This one is a slightly higher version of their City Sandal — another winner when it comes to construction. But at a full three inches high, The Platform takes the cake for the best heel overall when it comes to combining height with walkability. 

There are lots of features that contribute to the comfort of this fabulous heel. First, it has five millimeters of cushioned padding on the sole that makes it feel like you're putting on a slipper. Plus, the toe straps form Margaux 's signature "X" which adds stability that you wouldn't get from a narrow, single strap. And finally, these shoes are handmade in Spain, meaning that there's a ton of effort focused on the construction of the shoes that you won't find in just any shoe made on an assembly line. 

Overall, I found these to be so walkable that I started using my pair as an everyday shoe — and not just the pair of cute heels that I only pull out for special occasions. In fact, I'm going to pack them for walking around and sightseeing when I'm in Italy, which is a huge testament to this heel's top spot as the most comfortable heel.

Make sure you check out Margaux's other shoes (like The Heel, a pump) for similarly stellar construction. We even reviewed Margaux's Demi Flats and loved those too. 

Though I found it super comfortable on my typical-to-wide feet, some reviewers note that the heel area is a little wide for people with narrow feet. Also, there are reviewers who note that the ankle strap is a little bit loose. If that's an issue for you with these (or any shoe), I suggest getting a leather hole puncher to add extra holes for the buckle. I have one and use it on everything from purses to belts and more!

Best clear heels: Vivianly Transparent Stiletto Heel

What we love: These under-$40 heels make you look like you have legs for days.

Drawbacks: Since they're made of clear plastic with no give, it's not a good idea to wear them for long walks.

If you haven't heard about the miracle of clear heels, allow me to educate you. There are certain features of shoes that make your legs look shorter: an ankle strap cuts your leg off, and platforms don't create the leg-lengthening tippy-toe shape that traditional heels do. But clear heels are the holy grail of making your legs look like they go on for days. 

I've had these clear heels from Amazon for over two years and I take them out whenever I wear a cute minidress. They're comfortable enough that you can dance in them at night, but I wouldn't recommend wearing them for long walks since the repetitive motion can make the plastic cut into your feet. One mile was fine, but anything over that might be a little dicey. 

But for $40 Amazon shoes that I've had for years, they really do the trick. And don't just take my word for it — these shoes have six thousand reviews on Amazon and nearly five stars, with people in the comments amazed at how comfortable they are. 

FAQs

What are the most comfortable types of heels?

The shape of the heel will definitely affect how comfortable it is. Here are a few common types.

• Platforms are typically the most comfortable because they reduce the angle of the pitch (the incline between the heel and the toe). You can even get platforms (often called 'flatforms') that have no pitch at all and are completely flat.
• Block heels are also pretty comfortable because the thick heel offers stability that thinner heels don't. If you want the look of a block heel but the comfort of a platform, look for shoes that have a platform under the toe.
• Kitten heels are thin and typically two inches or lower. Most shoes with kitten heels are aesthetically delicate, so they have a much different look than chunky block heels or platforms.
• Stilettos are the hardest to pull off, comfort-wise. The heels are thin and tall, often tapered to be thinner at the point where the heel hits the ground. If you like the look of a stiletto but find it hard to balance, try looking for "spool" heels, which are flared at the top and bottom to offer more stability.

What heel height is best for all-day comfort?

Here's the secret: It's not about how high the heel is — it's about how steep the pitch is. For example, a five-inch platform with a one-inch pitch will be loads more comfortable than a two-inch kitten heel.

When you're looking for heels, look at the angle of the pitch and prioritize a shallow incline over a lower heel.

What features make a heel comfortable?

In addition to a low pitch, here's what you should look for when shopping for comfortable heels.

Cushioned insoles: Prioritize shoes that have padded insoles. Walking on a surface lined with foam is infinitely better than walking on unlined wood or plastic.

Arch support: Without arch support, your feet will get tired quickly. You want to avoid flat insoles, even if the heel is low.

The right toe box: Wider toe boxes and open-toed shoes will be easier on your feet. Pointed-toe shoes can force your foot into a position where your toes get squished, especially if you're walking all day.

What heels are good for people with wide feet?

If you have wider feet, we highly recommend looking for brands that have specific wide-foot fits, like Naturalizer.

But we also recommend checking out brands that use stretchy material, like Vivaia. Since Vivaia's signature stretchy knit construction gives a lot of wiggle room in terms of width, it's a great choice for people with wide feet.

• I've been a freelancer for nearly 10 years, and my career is stable.
• However, I always feel a low-grade uncertainty.
• I make sure I'm constantly adapting along with my industry and looking for new opportunities.

When I became a freelance writer nearly a decade ago, I assumed the uncertainty would eventually fade. I imagined there would come a point where I'd built enough relationships, landed enough recurring clients, and published enough work that I'd finally feel secure.

But that moment never really came.

Today, I make a stable living as a freelance health and fitness writer. I write for major publications, have long-term editorial relationships, and often have more work than I can realistically take on. On paper, my career looks stable.

And yet, I still approach my work as if I were trying to land my next job.

Part of that is practicality. Freelancing teaches you quickly that stability is often temporary. Editors leave. Budgets shrink. Publications pivot. Consistent work can disappear overnight. I've had stretches where everything felt solid, only to lose multiple clients within weeks through no fault of my own.

Once you experience that a few times, it permanently changes the way you think and approach your work.

The mindset never fully turns off

Even during busy periods, part of my brain is always scanning for what's next. I'm pitching editors, maintaining relationships, updating lists of ideas, and paying attention to industry shifts.

The rise of AI has intensified that feeling over the last few years. As someone who writes for a living, I've had to adapt quickly, learn new tools, and think carefully about what still makes human-driven writing valuable.

From the outside, freelancing can look flexible and relaxed. And in many ways, it is. It allows me to drop off and pick up my kids from school, coach their soccer teams, and handle daily life in a way a traditional job likely wouldn't.

But mentally, I rarely feel fully "off." There's always a low-level awareness that I should be working and that if I stop pushing for too long, opportunities could dry up.

The stress doesn't disappear when things are going well

One of the strangest things about freelancing is that external success doesn't automatically create internal security.

I still feel anxious when I send a pitch email or submit a story draft. I still overanalyze unanswered messages. I still wonder, occasionally, whether the work will eventually dry up despite years of evidence suggesting otherwise. And I still regularly deal with imposter syndrome.

Some of that is probably tied to my personality. But I also think many freelancers quietly carry this same low-grade uncertainty, especially those of us supporting families.

I'm 39 years old now. I have a wife, two kids, a mortgage, and responsibilities that feel very real every month. There's no corporate structure absorbing the risk for me. If work slows down, I feel it directly. That pressure has made me more disciplined, proactive, and resilient. But it's also made it difficult to completely relax professionally, even during good periods.

It's become part of my identity

At this point, I'm not sure I could fully shut off the "feast or famine" mindset even if I wanted to. Freelancing has conditioned me to constantly adapt, reinvent myself, and prepare for change.

In some ways, I think that's kept me sharp. I'm always learning new skills, studying trends, and thinking about how to evolve. One day, I'm interviewing a researcher about blood sugar regulation; the next, I'm writing about fitness trends or trying to understand how AI might reshape media over the next decade. That constant motion can be exhausting. But it can also feel energizing.

The trade-off I've accepted

There are days when I envy people like my wife, who have clearly defined careers, predictable paychecks, and the ability to leave work at work. That kind of work stability sounds incredibly appealing.

But freelancing has also given me things I'm not willing to give up: flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to shape my life around my family instead of structuring my family around work.

The uncertainty is the price I pay for that freedom.

I still approach my career like I'm job hunting because, in some ways, I always am. Not out of desperation, but because freelancing requires you to stay engaged, visible, and adaptable at all times. At some point, I stopped seeing that mindset as a temporary phase and started recognizing it as part of the job itself, which has been both relieving and nerve-racking.

Vivaia has carved out a niche for shoppers who want comfortable shoes without sacrificing style. The brand is best known for its flats, heels, sneakers, and boots made with recycled materials, and its designs have become especially popular among people looking for shoes they can wear all day without regretting it later. If you are shopping for a new pair, a Vivaia promo code can help bring the price down at checkout.

Our team has tested a wide range of Vivaia styles over the years, and the brand consistently stands out for its comfort, support, and versatility. Several pairs have earned spots in our guides to the best flats, most comfortable heels, and best ballet sneakers thanks to their cushioned feel and easy-to-wear designs. They are the kind of shoes that work just as well for commuting and travel as they do for everyday errands.

While Vivaia regularly discounts select styles, the best savings often come from pairing those markdowns with a valid coupon code. Below, we have rounded up the latest Vivaia promo codes and deals to help you save on flats, heels, sneakers, boots, and other customer favorites.

Today's best Vivaia coupon codes

Previous Vivaia coupon codes

Are there any other Vivaia sales currently running?

You can find a full list of current markdowns at any time on Vivaia's "Sale" page. As of the time of writing, the brand is running the following promotions.

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How to use Vivaia coupon codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart, then continue to checkout. On the checkout page, you can apply a coupon by pasting a promo code into the "Input coupon code here" text box and clicking "Apply." Some coupons may already be automatically populated on the checkout page; you can view them by clicking the arrow next to "Coupon." Once the code you want to use is added, continue the checkout process by entering your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Vivaia coupon codes?

Vivaia does not allow coupon codes to be stacked together. Only one code may be applied per order.

Vivaia coupon codes: Frequently asked questions

Does Vivaia offer discounts to students, teachers, and military personnel?

Vivaia does offer a 20% discount to students, teachers, medical professionals, first responders, and military members. Eligible shoppers must verify their status to receive the discount code in their inbox.

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

Does Vivaia offer free shipping?

Vivaia offers free standard shipping on all orders over $99. Orders that don't meet the spending minimum will be charged a standard shipping fee of $9.99.

What is Vivaia's return policy?

Vivaia allows free returns and exchanges for up to 30 days after your original online purchase. The return policy for in-store purchases may vary by location. Learn more about returns and exchanges on Vivaia's website.

Can I reuse a Vivaia coupon code?

Most Vivaia coupon codes are designed for one use only. However, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

Should I join Vivaia's rewards program?

Vivaia's rewards program, V-PLUS, offers perks such as $50 off every $300 spent, a free gift with your first order, early access to sales, member-exclusive deals, and more. It may be worth signing up if you're a frequent Vivaia shopper. However, a $49 fee is required to join, so it may not be worthwhile for everyone.

Looking for more style deals? Check out our roundups of the best Spanx coupons, Madewell coupons, and True Classic coupons.

• Mercor's CEO says the $10 billion startup now spends more on AI tokens than employee pay.
• Before long, he says, the average company could be spending more on AI compute than on salaries.
• Some tech leaders are questioning whether soaring AI costs are producing returns.

What happens when a company spends more on AI than on its workers? Mercor's CEO says his startup is already finding out.

"Right now we're spending more on tokens for our internal agents than we are on employee head count," Foody said during an appearance on the "20VC" podcast on Monday.

When host Harry Stebbings asked if Mercor's token spending on AI agents exceeded salaries, Foody replied: "That's correct. It's pretty incredible."

Mercor — a $10 billion startup that helps companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic train AI models through a network of its human experts — has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the AI ecosystem since its 2023 launch.

As of October 2025, per PitchBook, it had around 300 employees. The company did not respond to a request for comment.

Foody said Mercor uses AI agents across a wide range of functions, including project management, recruiting, accounting, fraud detection, and candidate evaluation. The company has conducted more than 5 million AI-assisted interviews, he said.

The executive believes Mercor's spending patterns foreshadow a broader shift across corporate America.

"I would bet that in five years the average enterprise spends more on compute than headcount," Foody said.

When AI costs more than employees

Foody's comments come amid a broader debate among executives over whether rising AI spending is translating into meaningful business returns.

Uber COO Andrew Macdonald recently said he has yet to see a clear link between rising AI spending and proportional productivity gains.

Foody said that falling costs and rapidly improving model capabilities are driving a Jevons paradox-style effect, where cheaper AI leads to significantly more consumption rather than less.

He said Mercor measures the performance of different AI models for specific business tasks and evaluates whether newer models offer better value.

The result, he said, is a future in which AI becomes a core operating expense for companies, potentially rivaling or surpassing the cost of human labor itself.

"Humans will still play an important role at the things models can't do," he said. "But I expect that cost of inference, cost of compute will exceed that."

• While I was traveling to Greenland, my son unexpectedly became independent.
• He started taking the bus and making his own lunches without me.
• The experience gave both of us more confidence and freedom.

I love to travel, but I rarely take solo trips because it's hard to be away from my family.

I miss my children when we are apart, but the practicalities of packing lunches and shuffling kids to school and soccer practice are a bigger hurdle than homesickness. I like to think that everyone in my family needs me. However, my youngest son, aged 11, is still in elementary school and relies on me to make his lunches and get him to and from school. I am always particularly worried about how he will get by without his Mom when I am away.

Despite my initial hesitation, I recently took a trip to Greenland to mark a milestone birthday. The trip was a dream for me, full of glacier hiking and exploring a remote part of the world that's not yet overrun with tourists. I planned to be away for 10 days, which seemed like an eternity, but I decided to do it anyway.

I planned ahead so things at home would run smoothly

To prepare my family for my absence, I left detailed notes about everyone's daily schedule. I baked lasagnas, created a meal plan, shopped for ingredients, and pre-made a handful of packed lunches. I called in favors to make sure my son had rides to and from school every day, and left my husband the names and phone numbers of the parents who agreed to pitch in to help with childcare and shuttle our son around while I was gone. Just getting everything in order was exhausting and took hours.

It turns out I didn't need to worry.

My son started being more independent while I was away

About midway through my trip, I called my family to check in. "You should probably tell Mom what I've been doing, Dad," I heard my son whisper.

It took some prodding, but I discovered that while I was gone, my husband started sending my 11-year-old to school on the public bus, and that my son had started making his own lunch. Once, when a friend got stuck at work and couldn't pick him up as planned, he took the bus home too.

When I expressed concern about this abrupt change, my son insisted that he was a big boy and could handle it. He hadn't been late to school once, and he hadn't gone hungry. I was unsure about all of these changes, but I wasn't there to stop them.

When I returned, I assumed things would return to normal. My son insisted on taking the bus, although he said he "wouldn't mind" if I kept making his lunch. I agreed to keep packing lunches and even enjoy showing him love in this way, knowing that he is growing up very quickly. Nevertheless, he now often wakes before me and packs his own lunches anyway.

I still worry, and make sure my son can stay in touch when he's out in the big, wide world alone. He has a phone he can use to check the bus schedule and maps, and to text me when he arrives at school or gets on the bus to come home. Although giving my son so much independence so quickly wasn't the plan, he rose to the challenge and is thriving.

My son's newfound independence is better for both of us

Since I'm no longer driving my son to and from school and packing lunches every morning, I've added about an hour and a half to my day. Giving up this time with my son has been bittersweet, but time has shown that we are both ready for the change.

Getting out the door in the morning used to be the most stressful part of my day, and I've enjoyed the slower pace. I use the extra time I have to myself to start exercising more and planning healthier meals. I've managed to see friends more, too, for morning walks or lunch dates. I've been wanting to do all of these things for a while, but I hadn't managed to fit them in between work, household, and childcare responsibilities.

I'm not sure what the next leap in independence will be for my son. However, this experience shows he's been ready for more responsibility before I was ready to give it to him. And I was ready for it, too.

True Classic has made a name for itself with straightforward wardrobe staples designed to fit well and feel comfortable right out of the package. The brand is best known for its fitted T-shirts, polos, outerwear, and everyday basics, along with bundle deals that make stocking up a little more affordable. If you are looking to save even more, a True Classic promo code can help lower the cost of your order.

The brand's focus on fit is what keeps shoppers coming back. Our team has tested a variety of True Classic pieces over the years, and the company consistently stands out for its soft fabrics, flattering cuts, and durable construction. Favorites like the Classic Polo 3-Pack and True Classic Bomber Jacket have earned spots in our buying guides, thanks to their balance of comfort, style, and value.

While True Classic already offers competitive pricing compared to similar basics brands, promo codes and limited-time sales can make the deals even better. Below, we have rounded up the latest True Classic coupons and discounts to help you save on T-shirts, polos, jackets, and more.

Today's best True Classic discount codes

Previous True Classic discount codes

Are there any other True Classic sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of current markdowns on the "Clearance" page of True Classic's website at any time. As of the time of writing, the brand is running the following promotions.

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel on mobile to be the first to know about new deals, buying guides, and reviews

How to use True Classic discount codes

It's easy to apply True Classic discount codes to your order. You start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart, then continue to checkout. On the checkout page, you can add a coupon by pasting the promo code into the "Discount code or gift card" text box and clicking "Apply." The savings will be applied, and the new price will be shown. From there, continue the checkout process by entering your shipping and billing information before placing your order.

Can you stack True Classic discount codes?

True Classic doesn't allow coupons to be stacked together. Only one discount code may be applied per order.

True Classic discount code frequently asked questions

Does True Classic offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

True Classic offers a 20% discount for students, teachers, and military members. True Classic also has special offers for first responders and medical professionals. Eligible customers must verify their status to access the discount.

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

Does True Classic offer free shipping?

True Classic offers free shipping on orders of $109 or more after discounts are applied.

What is True Classic's return policy?

True Classic allows free returns in-store or via mail within 100 days of the original purchase. Items must be unworn and unwashed to be returned. You can start your return or exchange on True Classic's website.

Can I apply a True Classic discount code after placing an order?

If you forgot to add a promo code before placing your order, you can contact True Classic's customer service team with the coupon and order details, and they will be able to apply the code for you.

Can True Classic discount codes stack with other sales?

Most True Classic discount codes cannot be applied to sale or clearance items. There may be exceptions, though, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions for the code you want to use.

Can I reuse a True Classic discount code?

Most True Classic discount codes are designed for one use only. However, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

Check out more men's style deals in our roundups of the best Madewell coupons and Abercrombie promo codes.

• Short-seller Andrew Left was found guilty on Monday of securities fraud.
• Peers and lawyers say the verdict could squeeze an industry that was already struggling.
• Short-sellers have been maligned by billionaires and retail traders, and the case could have a chilling effect.

A short-seller's uphill battle has become even steeper.

Andrew Left, the famed short-seller and founder of Citron Research, was found guilty Monday in a Los Angeles court of 13 counts of securities fraud. The charges were tied to comments he made on social media regarding stocks that included Tesla, Nvidia, and Palantir, and how he traded following his comments.

For an industry already battered by public criticism, regulatory scrutiny, and market pressures, market veterans say the ruling could be a potential turning point for the world of short-sellers.

Arnaud Vagner, founder and director of short-selling firm Iceberg Research, told Business Insider that hostility toward the industry ultimately harms markets.

"In reality, it's bad for everybody," Vagner said of the chilling effect the case could have on short-sellers, who he says serve the function of alerting investors to potential fraud and other abuses, and can help value companies short-sellers are betting against.

John Sutter, a lawyer who works with short activists and whistleblowers, and who often posts commentary on X, said the verdict is likely to be the source of anxiety in the short-seller community.

"I think it's caused more worry than it should among the short activist community, but they are supremely sensitive to risk and there's no question that the verdict increases their risk," he told Business Insider.

Left's case could also be the litmus test that shows prosecutors can win over jurors in cases against short-sellers, Ariel Givner, founder and principal of Givner Law, told Business Insider.

"I don't think this conviction means short selling is dangerous," Givner said. "I think it is now placing a bigger target between public statements and private trading. Prosecutors are going to look at that more carefully, and now we have a jury showing that they're not afraid to convict on it."

The bearish investors often get a bad rap, as they profit when companies struggle. They're also considered important to the healthy functioning of the market.

Sutter said that any rule or ruling that diminishes the presence of short-sellers would be bad for the market.

"I just don't see any way in which a rule which would significantly curtail short activism would do anything but harm investors in the long run."

The colorful world of short-sellers has taken numerous blows since its post-financial crisis peak nearly two decades ago. Since prescient calls on the housing industry from the likes of Michael Burry and Steve Eisman were immortalized and glamorized in "The Big Short," those who bet against stocks and call out what they believe to be fraudulent companies have faced:

• Increasingly aggressive attacks on the industry from the likes of billionaire Elon Musk, who called short sellers "value destroyers" and has targeted traders such as Jim Chanos and David Einhorn.
• A retail-investor-driven short squeeze that put onetime investing star Gabe Plotkin's Melvin Capital out of business
• A blistering bull market rally since the end of 2022 that's made it increasingly difficult to short stocks without getting burned

Left, who faces years in prison when sentenced in August, testified that he never lied to his followers, and said in a post following the verdict that he will keep fighting for "free, honest speech."

Left's arrest in 2024 had already put the industry on notice. Prominent peers, including Carson Block's Muddy Waters, added to their disclosures, saying that after publishing research, they may begin covering their short positions, or cashing out a bet.

Edwin Dorsey, who runs "The Bear Cave" newsletter and who attended some of the hearings in person, said he was "sad and surprised" by the verdict. He told Business Insider that "the government could have made the same case against almost every activist short-seller."

"This verdict further muddies the regulatory landscape for activist short sellers," said Dorsey, who writes about the short-selling world and its targets but does not manage money himself.

"I disagree with the jury; I support Andrew Left, and I hope he wins on appeal."

Givner said that she hopes the verdict leads to clearer disclosures, not fewer investors willing to challenge companies.

"I hope that we see a beef-up of legal disclaimers, and I hope that we do see a compliance shift across the industry—clearer disclosures, documented holding rationales, maybe even more lawyers getting involved in reviewing reports," she said. "I hope that that's the effect, rather than a dramatic spike in indictments."

For Vagner's part, he said Iceberg doesn't plan to change how he shares information online, including new short reports and bets his firm is making against companies.

"Everybody has different practices, but I think it's a job where everybody has to be very careful," Vagner said. "I don't think it's going to change anything about the way we work at Iceberg Research."

• Satya Nadella defended Microsoft's AI data center plans amid community backlash at Build keynote.
• Microsoft's AI infrastructure aims to address environmental and economic community concerns.
• Microsoft is spending heavily on data center expansion.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella used a conference keynote on Tuesday to defend against one of the biggest challenges to the company's massive AI datacenter buildout: Community backlash.

AI data centers have become such a political flashpoint that more people in a recent Gallup poll said they'd rather live near a nuclear reactor. The data center boom has received criticism over growing power costs, environmental concerns, and the potential impact of AI on jobs.

Microsoft in January released a plan to build what the company called "community-first" AI infrastructure, making promises including that its data centers won't raise electricity rates for residents.

"How do we ensure that the DCs do not increase electricity prices, making sure that we are replenishing all our water use, creating jobs in the local communities for the local residents, adding to the tax base, making sure we're strengthening the communities by investing in local training and the nonprofits in the area?" Nadella said at Microsoft's Build conference.

"Only when we live up to these principles, do the hard work around it, is when we earn the permission to go ahead and innovate and build," he added.

During Tuesday's keynote, Nadella said the company's Azure cloud business spans more than 500 data centers in 80 regions, which he described as the "most expansive hyperscaler footprint out there." Microsoft has added more data center capacity in the last 18 months than in the first decade of Azure, the CEO also noted.

Building these facilities, and packing them with AI chips, networking equipment and other gear, is hugely expensive. The biggest cloud providers are on course to spend hundreds of billions of dollars this year on data centers. Meeting Microsoft's recent pledges could add to this cost.

During his talk on Tuesday, Nadella said Microsoft is using a cooling loop for its data centers that is filled once, which helps the facilities operate with almost zero water consumption.

"In fact, the daily water usage over the course of an entire year is roughly equivalent to what a single restaurant would use," Nadella said.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at astewart@businessinsider.com or Signal at +1-425-344-8242. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Dunkin' gave away free tote bags this week. I coveted one. And got one.
• Dunkin' has done cheeky and ironic merch drops like track suits and wedding ring boxes.
• People have an affinity for the brand with Northeastern roots in a way they don't for Starbucks.

On Monday, I called a few of my local Dunkin' locations to ask if they still had the free tote bags available with the purchase of a half or full dozen donuts. One location was very confused by the call, one didn't answer, and one said that yes, they had just one in stock. I raced over, and to my relief, I secured the bag.

The free tote was a limited-time promotion. Locations only got 20 bags each. It's not the first Dunkin' merchandise promotion, and certainly not even the most exciting. A branded tote bag is one of those things that you accumulate in life — not necessarily something you seek out.

But there was just something about the Dunkin' tote that called to me. As far as totes go, it's handsome. It came in pink or orange straps against white, an L.L. Bean-influenced style. I felt something deep in my bones, my soul, that I had to have it.

What was it about this tote back that activated something in me? Stanning a brand is cringe (see: Disney adults), and I live in fear of being cringe. So what made this different for me?

I have a few ideas.

Dunkin's merch strategy works on Gen Z

The marketing for Dunkin' has leaned into viral moments and Gen Z appeal in the last few years. In 2020, Dunkin' got TikTok star Charli D'Amelio to act as spokesperson and sold viral donut-scented candles. Its menu is full of sweet iced drinks that chase trendy flavors like matcha and ube. Dunkin' recently jumped on the "dirty soda" trend, combining Pepsi and coffee milk. (I tried it, along with some of its other newest drinks, and found it fairly disgusting.)

Part of this push to Gen Z is with limited merch drops over the last few years (young people love a "drop"). This winter, Dunkin' gave away a single pink mitten to keep your hand warm while holding an iced coffee, a playful nod to the Northeast tradition of consuming iced coffee even in winter. (While this may have once been a New England thing, the rise of iced beverages is nationwide, and since 2021, iced drinks have outsold hot ones at Starbucks, even in winter months.)

Earlier this spring, Dunkin' gave away a pink wedding ring box (with purchase of 25 or more Munchkins) as part of its "I Dough" collaboration with Vera Wang. The collection, available online, was bridal-themed, including a white silk robe and pajama set with little cups of iced coffee on the sleeves.

A spokesperson for Dunkin' told me the brand leans into the playful aspect of its personality and believes its fans appreciate being in on the joke.

New England runs on Dunkin' merch

Regional pride is certainly a factor here. Dunkin' started in the Boston suburbs in the 1950s, and now has more than 14,000 locations worldwide, but the Northeast US still has the highest concentration of stores. Although its headquarters are still in Massachusetts, Dunkin' is owned by the conglomerate Inspire Brands, which also owns Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John's, and Arby's. In May, Inspire Brands confidentially filed for an initial public offering.

I'm not immune to all this, having grown up in New England, where Munchkins and a Box O' Joe were a simple part of the fabric of life. Even so, I didn't really think of Dunkin' as being so aligned with Boston and New England until the last decade or so, when there seemed to be a shift in the public consciousness about Dunkin' being part of the Masshole identity. Whether this shift was organic or pushed by Dunkin's own marketing, it's hard to say.

In 2024, Dunkin' sold limited editions of the "Dunkings" tracksuit worn by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Tom Brady in a Super Bowl ad. The suits sold out in minutes. The Massachusetts governor wore the tracksuit to an event. Affleck and Damon, who have lived in Los Angeles for nearly their entire adult lives, appeared in more Super Bowl spots for the chain in 2025 and 2026.

The ironic love of Dunkin': It's kind of bad

There's something about Dunkin' that engenders love and a fandom unlike, say, Starbucks. People love Starbucks, sure. But they don't typically wear Starbucks tracksuits or bucket hats. (Starbucks is the US's No. 2 restaurant chain — behind McDonald's — with more than $29 billion in consumer spending in 2025, which was up 2% from the previous year, according to a report from EMARKETER, Business Insider's sister company. Dunkin' is No. 5, with nearly $13.5 billion in spending, up 5% from the prior year.)

There's also a layer of irony in the love of Dunkin' that's different from loving a "good" coffee shop.

Dunkin' is, and I say this with great affection, kind of crummy. Dunkin' does not aspire for that high-end coffee shop experience that Starbucks is going for. The interiors often leave a little to be desired, the food's consistency is questionable, and the coffee is love-it-or-hate-it.

That lower pretension and lower price point are part of its appeal. I would go so far as to say that its humble reputation holds particular sway among its New England fan base, where there are deep cultural taboos against displays of flashiness or luxury. There are, of course, status symbols that denote New England class striations, but these are often subtle and hard for outsiders to parse. Something as overt as loudly announcing your love of expensive coffee (expensive coffee certainly exists there!) would violate local norms.

This is my first piece of Dunkin' merch, even after decades of happy Munchkin consumption. My colleague Juliana Kaplan owns a Dunkin'-inspired T-shirt. A Dunkin'-loving friend who grew up in Massachusetts was given one of the pink "D" door handles from an actual Dunkin' location as a housewarming gift when she bought an apartment in Queens. There's just something whimsical and silly about Dunkin' merch that people love.

I am already using my Dunkin' bag (I like to think of it as a Dunkin' Birkin, or what I call … a Dunkin) and have already received compliments on it.

A day later, totes are selling for $30 to $50 on eBay, and other limited Dunkin' drops are selling for even more. I've seen the single mitten for $75 on Facebook Marketplace, and a hat that was given out at Fenway Park with the Red Sox's "B" logo on an iced coffee is going for $75-plus.

But me? I'll never sell.

If you haven't shopped Abercrombie in a while, the brand looks a lot different than it did a decade ago. Today, it is known for elevated basics, trend-forward denim, office-ready pieces, and versatile wardrobe staples, making it a favorite among shoppers seeking polished everyday style. The quality has improved, but so have the prices, which is why an Abercrombie promo code can come in handy when it is time to check out.

Abercrombie is especially popular for its denim lineup, offering everything from straight-leg and flare jeans to relaxed and high-rise styles. Our style team has tested a wide range of the brand's jeans over the years, and Abercrombie continues to earn spots in our guide to jeans for tall women thanks to its comfortable fits, inclusive sizing, and modern silhouettes. Whether you are shopping for workwear, weekend basics, or a closet refresh, the retailer has become a reliable destination for pieces that feel both current and easy to wear. Learn more in our Abercrombie jeans review.

While Abercrombie runs sales year-round, promo codes can be harder to find. That is where we come in. Below, we have rounded up the latest Abercrombie coupons, promo codes, and deals to help you save on your next order.

Today's best Abercrombie promo codes

Previous Abercrombie discount codes

Are there any other Abercrombie sales running at the moment?

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

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

How to use Abercrombie discount codes

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

Can you stack Abercrombie promo codes?

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

Abercrombie discount code frequently asked questions

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

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

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

Can Abercrombie promo codes be used in-store?

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

Does Abercrombie offer free shipping?

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

What is Abercrombie's return policy?

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

Can I reuse an Abercrombie promo code?

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

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

• Some cities around the world have tens of millions of residents.
• In cities like Mumbai, India, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, people deal with extreme traffic and crowds.
• Some cities have experienced population changes due to refugees and conflict.

Jakarta, Indonesia, was named the most populous city in the world in the United Nations' World Urbanization Prospects report last year.

But population doesn't directly translate into how crowded the cities actually are — the 42 million residents of the Jakarta metro area, for instance, are spread over more than 2,500 square miles.

Residents of other cities, like Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Mumbai, India, have a bit less room, making them some of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Rankings of the most densely populated cities vary across different sources due to different population frameworks. Some sources limit their estimates to city limits, while others include the entire population of a greater metro area.

The UN's World Urbanization Prospects report, however, highlights a broader societal move to city living. In 1950, per the report, 20% of the world's population lived in cities. Today, that number has risen to 45%. Additionally, the number of megacities — defined by the report as having 10 million residents or more — jumped from eight in 1975 to 33 in 2025.

Business Insider compiled photos of densely populated cities around the world, based on the UN report and other sources. Residents of these cities deal with extensive traffic, crowded streets, housing shortages, and other issues associated with high population density.

See what life is like in the most densely populated cities in the world.

While not the most populous city in India, Mumbai is the country's most densely populated city.

Mumbai is home to over 20 million residents, per the UN report.

The city is second in population to Delhi, which has over 30 million residents. The Indian news outlet WION reported that Greater Mumbai has roughly 27,000 people per square kilometer, or about 69,900 people per square mile.

That compares to just 11,320 people per square kilometer in Delhi, or about 29,300 people per square mile.

The city is in the middle of a housing crisis.

The average home price in Mumbai is 34 times more than residents' average annual income, according to one estimate cited by NDTV in December 2025.

This exceeds New York's ratio of nine times residents' income and Hong Kong's ratio of 21 times residents' income.

Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has become increasingly crowded due to conflict.

In the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conflict between militant groups and Congolese security forces has escalated, the Council on Foreign Relations reported.

As a result, the populations of cities in eastern regions like Beni have grown rapidly due to mass displacement. Beni's exact population is unknown, but it is believed to have more than doubled in the last decade due to displaced people.

As a result, many residents live in difficult conditions as the city grapples with a humanitarian crisis.

On the western end of the country, Kinshasa is the Democratic Republic of the Congo's most populous city.

The UN report estimated Kinshasa's population at about 11 million residents, though it could be higher.

Violence is common in parts of the city, and NGOs work to educate and provide care for former homeless children there, according to Africa News.

In Karachi, Pakistan, residents grapple with extreme heat.

The UN report lists Karachi's population at about 21 million and predicts the city will become one of the world's top 10 most populous cities by 2030.

Pictured above, residents drink sugarcane juice to stay cool amid the extreme heat, per Xinhua News Agency. In recent months, temperatures in the city have crossed 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit), The Guardian reported.

Surat, India, is the world's biggest exporter of diamonds.

Surat is home to about 6.9 million residents, per the UN report.

The city has about 14,000 people per square kilometer, or about 36,300 people per square mile, per WION.

Surat cuts and polishes 80% of the world's diamonds, according to the AP. In 2020, the industry employed more than 800,000 workers in the city, according to the National Council of Applied Economic Research.

Textiles are the city's second-largest industry.

NHK World Japan reported that the industry has been deeply affected by the liquefied petroleum gas shortage from the Iran war. In April, 200 of the city's roughly 400 factories ceased operations.

Mogadishu, Somalia, is one of the biggest port cities on Africa's eastern coast.

Mogadishu is Somalia's capital and the country's most populous city. The African Cities Research Consortium estimates its population at anywhere from 1.7 million to 2.9 million residents.

The city has often been the site of conflict in the ongoing Somali Civil War.

Manila, Philippines, is the most densely populated city in Metro Manila.

The city of Manila consists of roughly 2 million residents, although the broader metro area is much larger. Depending on which areas are included, the metro area has roughly 25 million residents, according to the UN report.

The larger area is known as the National Capital Region — or Metro Manila — and includes cities such as Quezon City, Makati City, and Pateros.

The city of Manila itself had 73,920 people per square kilometer, or about 191,000 people per square mile, in 2020, per the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Cultural and religious events draw large crowds in the city.

The Catholic tradition known as The Traslación, or The Feast of the Black Nazarene, takes place in Manila. In the tradition, crowds carry a 17th-century statue of Jesus in a procession through the city.

More than 8.12 million people participated in the event in 2025, The Inquirer reported.

Baghdad is Iraq's most populous city and one of the most populous in the Middle East.

The city's metro area has a population of roughly 6.4 million residents, according to the UN report.

Millions of vehicles per day generate significant traffic in the city, according to Shafaq News.

Dhaka, Bangladesh, like much of the country, is afflicted by flooding.

The greater metro area has a population of 36.5 million, according to the UN report. The city of Dhaka has over 10 million residents living in an area of less than 150 square miles.

Due to its climate and proximity to rivers, Dhaka is prone to extreme flooding. The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery labeled it "among the most climate-vulnerable megacities in the world."

The city is seeking to expand its public transit system to support its population.

Dhaka has a metro system with one fully operational line and others in planning or construction. According to an Asian Transport Observatory report from 2024, 29% of the city's population has convenient access to public transportation.

Residents also use rickshaws to get around.

There are about 80,000 of these bicycle passenger vehicles registered in Dhaka, with hundreds of thousands more unregistered, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Rickshaws in Bangladesh are often painted with custom designs and are recognized by UNESCO for their cultural heritage.

While many people have fled Port-au-Prince, Haiti, it still remains densely populated.

Population estimates for Port-au-Prince vary heavily.

Per the UN, gang violence and crime are common in Port-au-Prince, and UN officials have estimated that gangs control about 90% of the city. This has caused a mass number of refugees, with roughly 30,000 residents fleeing the city in recent weeks after a new wave of attacks.

The displacement in the city represents the broader trend in the country, in which 1.4 million people have fled their homes due to violence.

• An NYC bar is offering a free drink promotion during Game One of the NBA Finals.
• If the Knicks win, patrons get free drinks — and the bar wins its Kalshi bet.
• Kalshi says it's the first recorded time a small business has used its products to hedge event risk.

The New York Knicks are (finally) in the NBA Finals again, and New York City is losing its mind.

It has been 27 years since the team has run this deep into the playoffs, and fans are embracing the moment. Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a lighthearted executive order abolishing bedtimes for kids during the championship series. Officials are painting subway stops orange and blue. And tickets to the Knicks' first home game at Madison Square Garden are going for $4,481 to $104,679 on Stubhub.

Now, an Upper East Side beer garden is joining in on the Knicks mania.

The Jeffrey, a neighborhood bar on the Upper East Side, is taking the basketball fever dream to its logical conclusion: free drinks if the Knicks win Game One of the series — and a $5,000 Kalshi trade to soften the blow if they do.

Andy Freedman, The Jeffrey's owner and a co-managing partner at Olshan Frome Wolosky, told Business Insider he placed a $5,000 "YES" trade on Kalshi, the prediction-market platform, backing the Knicks to win. If they do win, he said, the trade would pay out around $13,500.

The payout money would help offset the cost of comping a room full of euphoric Knicks fans, he said.

If the Knicks lose, Freedman loses the $5,000. But he's betting the promotion will still pack the bar enough to make the night worthwhile.

It's at least the second bet The Jeffrey has placed on the basketball team this playoffs. In an Instagram post, the bar said it offered "1% off their tabs for every point the Knicks won by," during Game Four of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Knicks won by 37 points, costing the bar nearly $4,000 in revenue.

Kalshi — a business hedge?

Kalshi, which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is pitching the promotion as the first documented instance of a small or medium-sized business hedging event risk through a prediction market. The trading platform pitched The Jeffrey's owners on the deal, according to Semafor, and didn't respond to Business Insider's questions about its involvement in the bar's promotion.

In a press release, the trading platform called the bet "small business insurance."

The logic behind the hedge is simple enough: businesses are exposed to weird, specific risks all the time. A restaurant might lose traffic because of rain, or a hotel might raise prices if the playoff series extends to seven games.

Kalshi said its products can ensure payouts if something unforeseen harms its business.

"Traditional insurance is expensive," Nicolas Hull, a company spokesperson, wrote in a press release. "Kalshi changes the equation: liquid, transparent markets that let any business take an offsetting position on the risks that affect their bottom line."

Federal regulators have long treated hedging as a legitimate use of commodities markets, such as when American farmers hedge their investments against potential poor yields. The CFTC declined to comment.

There is, of course, a very New York wrinkle here: The Jeffrey is not hedging against a drought, a supply-chain shock, or a rainy weekend.

It is hedging against the Knicks.

For a city that has spent nearly three decades waiting for another Finals run, that may be the most natural business risk in town.

Kalshi has the Knicks' probability of winning Game One at 37%.

• I did an in-person quality check of Quince furniture and home goods at an LA media showcase.
• The brand's furniture and home goods collection compares to brands like West Elm and Pottery Barn.
• I walked away from the event's popup shop with a $222 haul of home fragrances and a cashmere throw.

Quince built its reputation on affordable cashmere sweaters, washable silk, and carry-on luggage that looks far more expensive than it is. After getting an in-person look at the brand's expanding home collection at Los Angeles' iconic Sunset Tower Hotel, it's clear Quince has big ambitions.

The setting couldn't have been more fitting. Inside one of Hollywood's most glamorous hotels, editors and influencers wandered through rooms styled with cozy sectionals, solid oak storage pieces, luxe accent chairs, and a full dining table setup. At first glance, it looked like a showcase from a luxury retailer where a single sofa could easily cost $5,000 or more.

Then I looked at the price tags, and it became clear why Quince is becoming one of the most interesting brands in home decor. The company has already earned a loyal following for offering direct-to-consumer alternatives to viral wardrobe staples, and now it's applying the same formula to furniture and home accessories.

I've tested and written about affordable luxury products for years, and a few pieces immediately stood out.

The furniture that stopped me in my tracks

Teddy Bouclé Petite Wingback Accent Chair

Teddy Bouclé Petite Wingback Accent Chair

Quince price: $525

Comparable retail estimate: $899

The verdict: In person, the Teddy bouclé wingback felt supportive and cozy without looking bulky or eating up floor space.

Bouclé isn't going anywhere. The texture-first fabric trend has survived long enough to prove it's more than a passing Instagram obsession, and this chair shows why.

"Petite" refers to the chair's minimal footprint, which makes it especially appealing for apartments, reading nooks, or bedrooms where a full-size accent chair can overwhelm the room. The texture gives it that designer look shoppers spend hours trying to recreate on Pinterest. This was the piece I kept circling back to.

Performance Velvet Sofas and Chairs

Performance Velvet Sofas and Chairs

Quince price: Starting at $550

The verdict: The pieces upholstered in performance velvet absolutely blew me away. They had a rich, matte texture that felt substantial, heavy, and incredibly soft. No slick, shiny, cheap velvet knockoffs here.

For me, the clear standout at the preview was the brand's push into upholstered seating. Quince is bringing the exact relaxed, deep-seated silhouettes that are currently dominating luxury living room design — oversized cushions and clean lines that feel modern without looking TikTok trendy — into an accessible price bracket.

I sat down expecting a standard showroom couch and got something that felt genuinely lounge-worthy. What impressed me most was how closely the fabric and construction resembled high-end pieces I've tested from West Elm and Pottery Barn. Though I'd need to log several weeks on the Quince couches to give a full verdict, something that's this close to a luxury aesthetic for thousands less is worth a closer look.

Related: Quince has done it again: I tried a velvet sofa that's a near exact dupe of an RH couch I almost spent $5,000 on

Rustic Oak Sideboard

Rustic Oak Sideboard

Quince price: $1,600

The verdict: Photos don't always tell you whether furniture feels substantial. This piece does.

The Rustic Oak Sideboard features the kind of craftsmanship details that immediately elevate a room. The oak finish looks natural, not overly-processed, which is rare with a piece that's this affordable. It felt like something you'd find at a boutique store, not a value-focused retailer.

Curved Solid Teak Outdoor Sofa

Curved Solid Teak Outdoor Sofa

Quince price: $1,698

Comparable retail estimate: $3,960

The verdict: Beautiful, warm wood tones built with substantial, weather resistant solid teak.

Outdoor furniture is where sticker shock can hit the hardest. Solid teak pieces regularly command luxury prices, because the material naturally withstands weather, moisture, and years of outdoor use.

The curved teak sofa looked straight out of a five-star hotel pool deck. Its sculptural shape and hefty construction made it one of the most expensive-looking pieces at the preview, but the price tag was dramatically lower than I expected. If you're furnishing a patio from scratch or need a new outdoor set, start here.

After eyeing the furniture, I locked down a $222 haul of accent pieces

While the show-stopping sofas and sideboards inside the Sunset Tower provided an incredible look at the quality of Quince's online catalog, a physical popup shop was curated for immediate gratification. Guests could purchase and take home the brand's premium bedding, fragrances, and accent pillows.

Here's everything I grabbed to bring some Quince touches to my home.

Ribbed Knit Cashmere Throw

Ribbed Knit Cashmere Throw

Quince price: $172

Comparable retail estimate: $299

The verdict: Unbelievably soft with a premium, substantial weight that instantly elevates any sofa or bed.

The BI reviews team has tested enough Quince cashmere — ranging from their popular women's options to their ultra-cozy menswear collection — to know that their knits are a smart investment.

This throw has the exact same hand-feel that made the brand famous in the first place. The ribbed knit adds gorgeous visual texture, while the weight strikes a nice balance between cozy and breathable. It's the kind of blanket that instantly makes a room look more expensive. And unlike many purely decorative throws, you'll actually use this one. (I already have.)

Home fragrances

Bois de Santal Reed Diffuser

Quince price: $30

Comparable retail estimate: $112

The verdict: A rich, warm fragrance that creates a luxury hotel lobby vibe.

Scent is a crucial part of interior design. Since I unboxed it, the Quince Bois de Santal reed diffuser has been filling my living room with warm sandalwood notes that feel complex without being overwhelming or perfume-y. And at $30, you could buy three for less than you'd pay for one from a comparable brand.

Bois de Santal Room Spray

Quince price: $20

Comparable retail estimate: $84

The verdict: The ultimate "sleeper hit" for a fast, effortless atmospheric upgrade.

A quick spritz of this grounding scent is one of those sensory upgrades guests notice. For twenty bucks, it's easily one of the fastest ways to generate expensive-home smell on demand.

What I'd skip

One thing I always look for at events like this isn't just what I'd buy, it's what I'd leave behind.

The glassware

This may be the first time I looked at a Quince product and thought, "Wait, is this actually a deal?" The glassware is perfectly nice. The silhouettes are clean, the styling is elegant, and I wouldn't be upset to receive a set as a housewarming gift. But when I looked at the assortment of glassware on the brand's website and started mentally comparing prices, it didn't give me that Quince feeling of scoring a luxury lookalike for less.

Not that the glasses are expensive, they just don't stand out in the way Quince's cashmere, furniture or bedding does. If I had $100 to spend (again) at Quince right now, I'd put it towards a set of linen sheets or another home fragrance.

The flatware

The Quince flatware is a slightly different story. It's exactly the kind of understated, modern flatware I'd normally gravitate towards. The sets look beautiful, both in person and online, but what I really want to know is how it holds up after six months of weeknight dinners and dishwasher cycles.

Does it maintain its finish? Will it start showing wear and tear faster than expected? Right now, I don't have those answers, since the BI Reviews team hasn't put Quince's flatware or kitchen tools through the kind of long-term testing we'd typically perform before making a recommendation.

Furniture, bedding, home fragrances? Those are easy yeses for me. The flatware drawer can wait a little longer.

The bottom line: Is the Quince home collection actually worth it?

After seeing the collection in person, my answer is yes — with the same caveat I'd give when recommending any furniture brand.

Buying furniture online always requires you to do your homework. You still need to pay attention to dimensions, delivery timelines, and assembly requirements before placing an order.

Fortunately, the BI Reviews team has already spent years putting the brand's textiles to the test, and our long-term Quince home review has already proven how well their core essentials hold up to daily wear and tear.

Seeing these large-scale furniture pieces in person simply confirmed that the same high standards apply across the board. If you're not shopping for furniture, you can still upgrade your living space with the brand's sublimely affordable home décor pieces.

If the furniture line performs as well over time as everything from the brand's bestselling travel gear to their internet-famous silk slip dress, Quince may become one of the biggest disruptors in home retail.

• Scores of Instagram users said their accounts were hacked over the weekend.
• The attack stemmed from a flaw in Meta's AI-powered account recovery system.
• One cybersecurity expert likened Meta's AI assistant to "an inexperienced employee."

Hackers say they tricked Meta's AI chatbot into giving them access to other people's Instagram accounts — and all they had to do was ask.

Over the weekend, people said they hijacked multiple Instagram accounts by asking Meta's support chatbot to link a target's Instagram account to a new email address, according to videos and screenshots of the interactions circulating online. The demonstrations show the chatbot saying it had sent a verification code to the new email. After the person entered the code, the chatbot displayed an option to reset the account's password.

The accounts of Barack Obama's White House account, the beauty retailer Sephora, and the US Space Force chief master sergeant, John Bentivegna, appear to have been compromised in the hack, according to screenshots of their pages and reporting from 404 media. None of the representatives for the affected accounts responded to requests from Business Insider. As of Tuesday afternoon, all three accounts appear to be restored.

It's unclear how many accounts were affected in total. Business Insider was not able to independently verify the hackers' methods.

"This issue has been resolved and we are securing impacted accounts," wrote Meta's vice president, Andy Stone, in a Monday X post. The company did not respond to Business Insider's questions.

Meta chatbot is like an 'inexperienced' human

Cybersecurity professionals told Business Insider the Meta chatbot exploit is a reminder of the risks of outsourcing critical functions to AI.

"Unfortunately, social media platforms have focused on AI innovation before toughening up their users' account security, meaning criminals and hackers will inevitably, and continually, take advantage of it," said Jake Moore, global cybersecurity specialist at ESET.

Tom Van de Wiele, founder of security firm Hacker Minded, said it was an example of a "move fast and break things" mentality backfiring.

"Meta deployed an AI agent to handle customer support globally, but failed to implement hard constraints on what that AI could actually access and change," he said.

In March, Meta launched its AI support assistant, which it said would provide "24/7 help for account issues like updating your password and settings for your profile."

Tomas Stamulis, the chief security officer at the cybersecurity company Surfshark, compared Meta's AI assistant to "an inexperienced employee." While a human might eventually notice something isn't right, he said, AI doesn't stop the conversation.

As more companies embrace AI to become more efficient, it's also creating headaches for some cybersecurity professionals. Hackers are increasingly using AI to turbocharge cyberattacks, and, in cases like Meta's AI assistant, using AI as the way in.

"The primary lesson is that AI should never be the final arbiter of identity," said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, adding that users should use tools like multi-factor authentication to help secure their accounts.

One of the scores of people posting on X or on Reddit that their Instagram account was compromised is Jane Wong, a San Francisco-based security researcher. She told Business Insider that she received text messages from WhatsApp for her Instagram login code on Saturday evening, sent by Instagram's official account. She said she didn't request them.

Wong later found out that her Instagram password had been changed without her knowledge. She managed to access her account via the "forgot password" option, but kept receiving login code messages over the weekend.

"While cyberattacks are not unusual to me, I would have appreciated it if Meta could provide more clarity about this security incident earlier," she said.

Meta has gone all in on AI. The tech giant has reorganized some teams to become "AI-native," moved thousands of staff onto AI projects, and is embedding AI into its products and services.

Last month, Meta laid off about 8,000 staff. Business Insider reported that affected staff included those on Meta's Integrity and cybersecurity teams, which are responsible for protecting the company's platforms.

• Christopher Nolan's follow-up to "Oppenheimer" is based on the famed ancient Greek poem by Homer.
• "The Odyssey" stars Matt Damon as the hero Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway.
• Here's everything we know about the film.

After "Oppenheimer" was a critical and commercial hit, Christopher Nolan is adapting Homer's Greek epic poem "The Odyssey" for his next film.

Universal Pictures announced the movie in late 2024, saying it would be shot using "brand new IMAX film technology" and that it would arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026.

Here's everything we know about the film so far.

Ayomikun Adekaiyero and Eve Crosbie previously contributed to this post.

"The Odyssey" is one of the foundational stories of Western literature.

Homer is the attributed author of two ancient Greek poems that were composed in the 8th or 7th century BC, both of which tell the story of the Trojan War.

"The Iliad" narrates the end of the war, while "The Odyssey" tells of Odysseus' 10-year struggle to return to his island home of Ithaca.

During the journey, Odysseus and his crew fight against a man-eating cyclops, powerful giants, and sirens. They defeat witches and sea monsters, and anger the gods Zeus and Poseidon. But Odysseus has one god, Athena, on his side, trying to help him get home.

Meanwhile, a band of suitors are trying to take over Odysseus' kingdom in Ithaca, supplanting his son Telemachus and convincing Penelope to marry one of them.

In a dramatic conclusion, Odysseus disguises himself as a beggar and sneaks back onto the island, where he observes the actions of the suitors before reclaiming his family and kingdom.

This will be Nolan's first film about Greek mythology, breaking away from his regular sci-fi and war films. Nolan also wrote the script.

Matt Damon will lead a star-studded cast in "The Odyssey."

Nolan has a reputation for drawing ensemble casts of A-listers, but "The Odyssey" may be his biggest project yet.

Matt Damon will play the film's lead hero, Odysseus; Anne Hathaway will play his wife, Penelope; and Tom Holland will play their son, Telemachus. Other stars with confirmed roles in the cast include Charlize Theron (Circe), Zendaya (Athena), Robert Pattinson (Antinous), Mia Goth (Melantho), Benny Safdie (Agamemnon), Jon Bernthal (Menelaus), John Leguizamo (Eumaeus), Himesh Patel (Eurylochus), and Jimmy Gonzales (Cepheus).

There are also a host of actors in the cast whose parts have not yet been revealed, including Lupita Nyong'o, Bill Irwin, Elliot Page, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Samantha Morton, Corey Hawkins, Nick Tarabay, Maurice Compte, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, and Ryan Hurst.

Damon, Hathaway, Pattinson, Patel, Safdie, Irwin, and Page have all previously worked with Nolan.

Shooting started in the spring of 2025 and took place in Sicily, Morocco, and the UK.

Nolan's "The Odyssey" was partially filmed on the island of Favignana near Sicily, Variety reported.

Known in ancient times as Aegusa, or "goat island," it's thought to be the inspiration for the fantastical island where Odysseus lands with his crew and stops to rest, barbecue goats, and drink wine before his run-in with the Cyclops.

Per Variety, the scenes shot in Sicily are said to take up the bulk of the mythical action in the movie, while locations in the UK and Morocco are also being used.

Production wrapped in early August 2025.

The movie's first trailer had over 120 million views in the first 24 hours of going live.

The movie's first trailer was unveiled in late December 2025. It had 121.4 million views in its first 24 hours online, according to Forbes.

That's double the views the "Oppenheimer" trailer did in its first day online.

"The Odyssey" is the first movie to film entirely on IMAX cameras.

That feat had previously been impossible because the cameras are extremely noisy.

Nolan, who has always loved shooting on IMAX, challenged the company to come up with a quieter camera. Damon told the "New Heights" podcast in January what it was like working with the new camera.

"IMAX cameras are really loud. It sounds like a blender, like a Cuisinart in your face when the camera's close to you," Damon told hosts Jason and Travis Kelce. So there's never been these dialogue [scenes in IMAX]. We couldn't have this conversation with a normal IMAX camera because you wouldn't be able to hear us."

"They built this giant thing around the IMAX for those dialogue scenes and a system of mirrors so your eye line would be close to the camera and you could talk to the other actor," Damon continued. "The amount of work that went into figuring out how to do [that], because he wanted to do 100 percent IMAX, and he did it!"

Travis Scott has a surprise role in the movie.

In a TV ad for the movie that ran during the NFL playoffs in late January, Travis Scott made an appearance as a character telling a group the story of the Trojan War.

Scott was not previously listed as part of the cast.

The Grammy-nominated rapper is no stranger to Nolan. For his 2020 movie "Tenet," Scott wrote and performed its theme song, "The Plan."

Robert Pattinson took inspiration from James Woods' sleazy character in "Casino" to play Antinous.

Pattinson has a brief but important role in "The Odyssey" playing Antinous, who seeks to take the hand of Penelope (Anne Hathaway) while Odysseus is away from Ithaca.

In GQ story about the movie, Pattinson revealed the Martin Scorsese character he modeled his performance after.

"My character's a little like James Woods in 'Casino.' That was my inspiration for it," Pattinson said, referring to Woods' pimp conman Lester Diamond. "I thought it'd be quite nice to see it in Ithaca. And he's like a little sleazy. I kept saying at my costume fitting, I was like, 'I really want to have leopard underpants.' I want to have it just coming out of my skirt, a little sparkly fur."

Nolan defended the authenticity of the costumes.

In a Time magazine cover story published in May 2026, Nolan defended the armor Benny Safdie's Agamemnon wears in the trailer.

The imposing black look was critiqued online by viewers who claimed the costume looked more like something Batman would wear than a commander during the Trojan War. But Nolan told the magazine the look is authentic to the time.

"There are Mycenaean daggers that are blackened bronze," he said. "The theory is they probably could have blackened bronze in those days. You take bronze, you add more gold and silver to it and then use sulfur."

"With Agamemnon, Ellen [Mirojnick], our costume designer, is trying to communicate how elevated he is relative to everyone else. You do that through materials that would be very expensive," he said. 

Update: We've scoured the internet for discount codes and have found no active REI coupons at the time of writing. We'll keep an eye out for new deals and continue updating this page as we find them, so check back for more info. In the meantime, if you're still interested in shopping at REI today, you can explore the retailer's ongoing deals below or head back to your cart.

REI is one of the top shopping destinations for outdoor adventure, thanks to its impressive selection of apparel, accessories, and gear from popular brands. The REI Co-op already offers major savings opportunities, but one of the top ways to ensure you're getting the deepest discounts on your next purchase is by applying one of the best REI coupon and promo codes we've tested at checkout.

While the retailer carries basics like backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags, REI's inventory extends far beyond that. The brand carries gear for all seasons, ranging from snowboards to paddleboards, along with a massive selection of durable, performance-driven apparel and footwear. Our style team is especially fond of the Take Your Time 7/8 Leggings, which offer breathable compression and buttery-soft comfort that rivals far more expensive options we've tested. Another great option is the REI Outlet, where past-season favorites are often marked down significantly. There, savvy shoppers will find lots to love from top brands like Patagonia, The North Face, and Arc'teryx, among others.

We've gathered the best REI deals below so you can get the most savings on your next order. The offers include general sales, coupon codes, and volume discounts, so there's a decent chance that something you want might be available at a discount. Make sure to scroll through all of the promos below before you head out on your next trip.

Today's best REI coupons and promo codes

Previous REI coupons

Are there any other REI sales running at the moment?

REI usually has some form of sale running on the website at any given time, often across a variety of items. Sometimes this is a general offer on several products, and other times it's a special promo if you buy a certain number of products or bundle purchases together. You can check the "Deals" page of REI's website at any moment to see a full list of their current deals and markdowns. At the time of writing, REI is running the following promotions:

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

How to use REI discount codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. From the "Shopping Cart" page, continue to checkout by logging into your co-op account or continuing as a guest. Once you've entered your contact and shipping information, you can apply a discount code by clicking the "Apply a coupon" dropdown, pasting a code into the "Enter code" text box, and clicking "Apply." From there, enter your payment information and submit your order.

Can you stack REI promo codes?

REI does not allow coupons to be stacked together. Only one discount code may be applied per order.

REI coupon frequently asked questions

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

At the time of writing, REI doesn't offer any special discounts for teachers, students, or members of the military. This means that your best way to save is to take advantage of promo codes and other ongoing deals.

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You don't have to be a member of the co-op to shop at REI. However, co-op members enjoy a lot of perks, like free shipping on all orders, special discounts, and more, so joining may be worth it if you're a frequent shopper. Co-op membership requires a one-off fee of $30 for lifetime access, with no annual renewal costs. Learn more about the co-op on REI's website.

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REI offers free standard shipping on all orders for co-op members, with no minimum spending required. Non-members can get free standard shipping on orders over $60. Learn more about shipping terms and exclusions on REI's website.

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REI has generous return policies for both co-op members and non-members, but the return period differs depending on whether you're a member. In most cases, co-op members have a full 365-day period after the original purchase to return all eligible items. Non-members have a 90-day return window for all eligible items. Outdoor electronic returns must be done within 90 days for both co-op members and non-members. Certain items have different return windows, so be sure to check the terms and conditions on REI's website.

Can I use an REI promo code in-store?

For the most part, REI coupon and promo codes are only valid for online orders. That said, there would be exceptions, so it's worth reading the terms and conditions on any code you're planning to use.

Looking for more deals? Check out our roundup of the best Athleta coupons.

• President Donald Trump signed a watered-down AI executive order.
• Under the order, tech companies could voluntarily submit AI models for review 30 days in advance.
• It comes after Anthropic's Claude Mythos spooked many with its cybersecurity capabilities.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday privately signed a scaled-back executive order that would give AI and tech companies a brief window to let the federal government voluntarily review AI models.

The order comes after the federal government has had repeated conversations with leading AI companies, including Anthropic, about cybersecurity. The startup said in April that it was limiting the release of Claude Mythos due to concerns that the AI model was too adept at finding software and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Anthropic, which has confidentially filed for an initial public offering, said last week that it would soon release Mythos-level models to its customers.

A spokesperson for Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under the scaled-back executive order, frontier AI model makers and tech companies would be able to voluntarily provide the federal government with access to AI models with advanced cyber capabilities up to 30 days before a public release. A previous version of the executive order, published by Politico, called for a review period of up to 90 days.

The new executive order stresses that none of the reviews are mandatory.

Trump previously told reporters that he had delayed signing the order over concerns that it could endanger US companies' lead over China in the AI race.

"We're leading China. We're leading everybody," Trump told reporters on May 21. "And I don't want to do anything that's going to get in the way of that lead."

Read the full executive order:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. The United States continues to lead the world in Artificial Intelligence (AI) because of the enormous talent and innovation of our AI industry, and because we refuse to stifle this innovation with overly burdensome regulation. My Administration has unleashed tremendous technological growth and economic investment in AI by slashing the bureaucratic constraints that the prior administration placed on America's AI developers and researchers, and by instead encouraging AI innovation and accelerating responsible AI adoption across government and industry.

Advanced AI capabilities make our Nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action across executive departments and agencies (agencies), and components. As these capabilities evolve, my Administration will continue to work closely with industry to ensure that the best and most secure technology is deployed rapidly to confront any and all threats to our country. We will continue to lead an America First cybersecurity effort that enhances both our national security and our global AI dominance.

It is the policy of the United States to promote AI innovation and security by working collaboratively with the private sector to modernize government and private sector information systems and harden them against external threats; to protect American ingenuity and intellectual property from exploitation and theft by adversaries; and to cultivate America's advanced AI-enabled capabilities.

Sec. 2. Upgrading American Systems for Advanced AI. (a) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Committee on National Security Systems shall prioritize the cyber defense of National Security Systems, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3552(b)(6)(A), by taking appropriate and expeditious action consistent with the purpose of this order.

(b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of War shall prioritize the cyber defense of Department of War information systems by taking appropriate and expeditious action consistent with the purpose of this order.

(c) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and the National Cyber Director, shall release Binding Operational Directives and other guidance as appropriate to:

(i) expedite and prioritize the cyber defense of civilian Federal Government information systems in order to protect our Nation's vital functions;

(ii) establish or expand Federal programs and cybersecurity services that enhance AI-enabled defensive tools; and

(iii) facilitate access to cybersecurity tools and services including, where appropriate, covered frontier models for agencies, State and local authorities, and operators of critical infrastructure such as rural hospitals, community banks, and local utilities.

(d) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the National Cyber Director, the Secretary of War, through the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of CISA, shall form an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse, in voluntary collaboration with the AI industry and operators of critical infrastructure, that coordinates and deconflicts scanning for software vulnerabilities, discovers and validates such vulnerabilities, and coordinates and prioritizes remediation and distribution of vulnerability patches.

(e) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Director of OMB, in coordination with the National Cyber Director and the Director of CISA, shall determine whether any Federal grant programs have available and relevant funding that can be directed toward applicants developing advanced AI vulnerability detection.

(f) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall expand the United States Tech Force Information Cybersecurity Specialist hiring and placement pathways.

Sec. 3. Secure Frontier Model Deployment. Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, through the Director of NSA, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of CISA, in consultation with the White House Chief of Staff, through the National Cyber Director, the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST), and the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and in coordination with other agencies, as appropriate, shall:

(a) develop and maintain a classified benchmarking process to assess the advanced cyber capabilities of AI models and determine the threshold at which an AI model should be designated a "covered frontier model" for the purposes of this order, sharing such assessments with AI developers and researchers as appropriate. Such a determination shall be made by the Director of NSA, in consultation with the National Cyber Director, the APST, the Director of CISA, and other representatives of the Department of War, as appropriate.

(b) design a voluntary framework with AI developers through which developers would be able to:

(i) engage the Federal Government to determine whether model(s) under development meet the designation of "covered frontier model";

(ii) provide the Federal Government with access to covered frontier models, subject to appropriate confidentiality, cybersecurity, insider-risk, and intellectual-property protection, use, and nondisclosure requirements, for a period of up to 30 days before they plan to release such models to other trusted partners; and

(iii) collaborate with the Federal Government to select trusted partners that will have early access to covered frontier models to promote secure innovation and strengthen the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the creation of a mandatory governmental licensing, preclearance, or permitting requirement for the development, publication, release, or distribution of new AI models, including frontier models.

Sec. 4. Protection Against Criminal Actors. The Attorney General shall prioritize the enforcement of 18 U.S.C. 1028, 18 U.S.C. 1030, 18 U.S.C. 1343, and all other applicable Federal criminal laws against anyone who utilizes AI to illegally access or damage a computer without authorization, or who utilizes AI while engaged in such illegal access to further any other crime. This includes breaching any public or private information technology system, or employing AI agents to unlawfully access data or information that is subsequently used for a criminal or unlawful purpose.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,

June 2, 2026.

• The S&P 500 gained 16% through April and May.
• That kind of two-month gain has only been seen four times since 1945, Deutsche Bank said.
• The blistering rally looks disconnected from the reality of what markets are facing, the bank said.

Stocks just did something that's only been seen four times since World War II, and it's both an achievement and a warning about what might be next for markets.

Analysts at Deutsche Bank said the rally in the S&P 500 in April and May has been historic. In those two months alone, the index surged 16%. Such a gain in that span is exceedingly rare, happening four times since 1945.

But that could also be an omen for investors. In three of those instances — which include the stock rallies that followed the COVID-19 shock, the Great Financial Crisis, and the first oil shock of the 1970s — the US was coming out of a recession, meaning much of the increase was fueled by the recovery and a renewal of animal spirits in the market.

The fourth instance, however, was January and February 1987, which preceded the Black Monday crash that took the S&P 500 down more than 20% in a single day.

"Given today's rally hasn't followed a recession, it's pretty striking that the only non-recession example since WWII of the S&P 500 rising this fast was a few months before a historic market crash," the bank's Henry Allen wrote on Tuesday.

Talk of a stock correction has been rising as the rally has picked up momentum. Deutsche flagged it as one of big "dislocations" it's seeing in markets right now, as stocks keep rising against a tide of bearish geopolitical and economic news as the Iran war drags on.

Besides the S&P 500 rally, Deutsche said it sees other dislocations. Allen pointed to the risk that the Fed will lean more hawkish as inflation becomes a bigger concern.

"That's a striking feature too, given that Fed hawkishness has been correlated with several multi-asset selloffs of recent years, including 2015-16, late-2018, and 2022," he added.

The bank also pointed to signs of stress in the US Treasury market, as well as the fact that oil prices looked "remarkably contained" despite the Strait of Hormuz being closed for longer than investors had initially anticipated.

• The rise of AI has been a popular boogyman for the problems facing entry level job seekers.
• But according to the New York Fed, remote work might be Gen Z's biggest job market problem.
• Economists at the Fed say companies are less likely to want to train young workers remotely.

AI gets a lot of flack for making life hard for young workers, but the New York Fed says it's not be the cause of Gen Z's job problems.

A June 1 post from Liberty Street Economics, the New York Fed's blog, said that since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, remote work has become the most significant barrier for entry level and early career workers.

"We estimate that remote work can explain 64 percent of the recent increase in unemployment among young college graduates," wrote Fed research economist Natalia Emanuel. "Further, the timing of this surge suggests that remote work—not generative AI—explains the bulk of the rise in youth unemployment."

This comes at a time when much of the focus from labor market economists is on the impact of AI, often cited as a reason for layoffs and the low employment rates among new job seekers. Gen Z's backlash against the technology has been growing as pundits continue to blame it for the tighter job market

The post, co-authored by economics professors Emma Harrington and Amanda Pallais, noted that the desire to work remotely may be standing in the way of Gen-Zers getting hired even more than anything to do with AI.

"We document that one factor contributing to youth unemployment is the four-fold rise in remote work since the pandemic," the authors stated. "Employers may not want to hire fresh graduates onto distributed teams because it is more difficult to teach them the requisite skills from afar."

This also feeds into a narrative that of the "Gen Z career squeeze." As middle managers are increasingly stretched, they are compelled to prioritize experienced hires who require less training over newer, less experienced applicants.

The post's authors said that while AI replacing young workers has been a popular narrative, the increase in youth unemployment began before the diffusion of AI through the workplace in recent years.

"The aggregate increase in the unemployment rate for young college graduates can be traced to remotable occupations, where young people's unemployment rate increased by almost 1 percentage point between 2017-19 and 2022-24," the authors added. "By contrast, the unemployment rate of older workers in remotable sectors marginally declined over that period."

Other commentators have recently hit back against the idea that AI is replacing workers, even as many CEOs cite AI as a reason for layoffs this year. Apollo Global Management's top economist, Torsten Sløk, recently wrote that there's "zero evidence" of AI-driven job losses. On Tuesday, he also credited AI with boosting business formation in the US.

Peter John Lambert of the London School of Economics, and Yannick Schindler of the Ellison Institute of Technology, also recently analyzed extensive hiring data from the US, UK and Australia for roughly the same period.

"Our findings point strongly towards WFH exposure as a better predictor of the decline in relative early-career hiring," they noted.

Mital Gandhi remembers watching the 2024 NBA Finals on TV at his home in Ashburn, Virginia, when he realized something wasn't right.

Instead of hearing the ball bouncing or the intermittent squeaks from shoes on the hardwood, his ears could only focus on a constant hum. That hum, he said, came from one of the four data centers less than 2,000 feet away from his property.

"You can see them from my front porch. You can hear them sometimes from my pool," Gandhi, 47, told Business Insider. "It's not appealing to me to hear them or to be surrounded by them."

To say Gandhi's development, The Regency, is surrounded by data centers would be an understatement. The 143-home neighborhood in Loudoun County, Virginia, is in the area's famed "Data Center Alley," which hosts about 200 data centers — the highest concentration in the world.

Living in a community where your neighbors also include massive servers powering the artificial intelligence boom wasn't part of the plan when Gandhi moved from Washington, DC, to the suburbs with his wife and son in 2013 after growing tired of pushing a stroller in one of the busiest downtown neighborhoods. As artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm, the country is racing to build infrastructure to keep up — and in places like Northern Virginia, some residents say it's dramatically encroaching on their lives.

The change in communities like Gandhi's — not to mention data centers' impact on the power grids, water supply, and public health — is a stark reminder of how technology is changing our lives in real time. It's also a deeply unpopular change: A new Gallup survey found that 71% of Americans don't want a data center built where they live, while 53% of respondents said they would oppose the construction of a nearby nuclear power plant.

After years of constant noise and disappearing greenery, Gandhi had an idea: If the data center invasion is inevitable, why not find a way to capitalize on it?

As the former Regency HOA president and a real estate developer, Gandhi came up with a unique proposal: get the entire community to agree to sell their properties to a data center developer for $4.4 million per acre — about four times the price of an average property in the development — in a deal worth over $500 million. If they couldn't beat the data centers, perhaps The Regency could join them.

Convincing 143 families to unanimously agree to sell their homes to a data center company has been an uphill battle since Gandhi first pitched the deal in 2024. Regardless of the outcome, Gandhi sees his efforts as heroic.

"This is the best possible scenario for our lives at this point," he said. "To give 143 families an opportunity — potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — is probably one of the best things I've ever done in my life."

'Either you're going to love me, or you're not'

Gandhi is no stranger to making big bets under pressure.

Before he turned 30, Gandhi faced adversity that changed his philosophy on life: He had kidney failure.

He recalled sitting in the dialysis chair, realizing how short his life could have been.

"I could die without this dialysis machine," he said. "It gave me a real sense of purpose for living."

It also gave him a business idea. "When I was in that dialysis chair, I told my nephrologist, I said, 'Hey doc, I'm going to make you a million dollars.'" One day, Gandhi said, he'd open a dialysis center to help save the lives of more patients like him.

A self-described "corporate guy," Gandhi had worked in fundraising as a major gifts officer for his alma mater, American University, and for Live Nation Entertainment as a national sales manager. He was ready to take the leap into real estate; he just needed more time — something his doctor granted him when he successfully underwent kidney transplant surgery in 2009 at age 30.

"At the end of the day, one thing I learned from having a kidney transplant is that I don't like the bullshit," Gandhi said. "I'm very direct. Either you're going to love me, or you're not, and that's OK."

Inspired by his father, who owned properties in his home state of New Jersey, Gandhi shifted his focus to real estate development, becoming managing partner of Merit Development, a firm based in New Jersey and Washington, in 2012. By the end of 2013, he'd bought a dialysis center with his doctor for $1.9 million in Millburn, New Jersey.

"There are a lot of people who talk a big game, and there are very few who deliver it," Gandhi said. "When I tell you I'm going to do something, you have nothing else to worry about."

A not-so-simple plan

When Walt Purnell first heard about Gandhi's plan, he wasn't convinced. Purnell, a Regency resident since 1999 and former HOA president himself, lives across the street from Gandhi.

"He calls me one day, he says, 'My wife thinks I'm crazy, but instead of putting up with all these complaints from all the neighbors incessantly, why don't we sell the whole development?'" Purnell, 80, told Business Insider. "And I said, 'Mital, I agree with your wife. You're crazy. We're never going to get 143 homeowners to agree to do that.' And he says, 'Well, that may well be, but I'd like to be able to put a deal on the table and let them decide.'"

Using his real-estate connections, Gandhi formulated a ballpark sale price based on other data center deals in the area. In the neighboring county of Prince William, for example, Microsoft purchased 124 acres of vacant land for $465.5 million — or about $3.75 million per acre.

Gandhi figured he could get his neighbors a little more.

"I made sure it was a justified number — it wasn't out of the air," he said. "It was more of a, 'Huh, we could potentially do it.' The biggest task here is to get 143 people on the same page."

Longtime Regency resident Rick Myers, 62, has lived in the neighborhood since 1998 and has seen it transform over the last two decades.

Back in the '90s, when Ashburn was an up-and-coming city, the area around The Regency was wooded and undeveloped, with a small forest of trees standing no taller than a one-story building.

"You really didn't see anything but greenery everywhere," Myers said.

While there are still a few trees on the half-acre lot behind Myers' home keeping the data centers at bay, during the colder months, the bare trees reveal the windowless data centers looming behind them.

"The trend now is to make them four, five, six stories tall, so that you're going to see them no matter how tall the trees are," Myers said.

When Gandhi sent out a mass email to residents outlining the potential deal, Myers was immediately on board. There was not much for him and his wife, who are both retired, to consider. He estimates his home is worth $1.3 million, so the payout would be well worth it in his eyes; it would allow them to sell and move somewhere out of state. He thinks about 60% of his neighbors are in favor of selling.

Purnell, too, was on board. He and his neighbors had grown annoyed over the years as more and more data centers broke ground.

"The construction noise, the construction traffic, the running of their emergency generators in the middle of the night… Some of them didn't have proper baffling on their air conditioners, so there was this massive humming all the time," Purnell said. "Everybody was complaining."

When Gandhi and Purnell polled their neighbors on the initial proposal, 138 out of 143 households said they'd accept the deal if the price was right. Once they saw a detailed offer sheet, however, Purnell said support began to waver.

"Everybody decided there's something they didn't like about it, and so we're sort of stalemated," he said.

Gandhi said one of the biggest issues Regency residents have with the deal is the timeline. Because the deal would require zoning changes and the addition of electrical infrastructure, he estimates the transaction could take about seven years to complete.

One Regency resident who works in finance and has lived in the neighborhood for a decade said that while the deal looks great if it means he could sell his house tomorrow for more than triple the value, the reality is a bit more complicated.

"The value of a house generally — especially in our market — will appreciate, assuming you keep it maintained, by doing nothing," the resident told Business Insider.

"How much risk is someone willing to take," he added, "if the answer is you cannot monetize one of your largest assets for some period of time? Then the compensation to offset that risk needs to be appropriate, and the purchase price needs to be appropriate."

The complexities of the deal have also left some parents wondering how it would fit into their family's plans.

"There are people who have kids in the school system, where they want to extend the closing even further because they want little Johnny to graduate from high school or middle school or whatever it may be," Gandhi said. "The only term that everyone can agree to is money."

A bittersweet solution

Gandhi wouldn't be the first Northern Virginia resident to attempt to strike a deal with data center developers.

In 2025, Chuck Kuhn, a businessman in Leesburg, Virginia, a town 15 minutes away from Ashburn, sold 97 parcels of land to a global data center investor for $615 million. According to the Washington Business Journal, the property is approved for five new data centers.

In Prince William County, one county south of Loudoun, landowner Mary Ann Ghadban and her neighbors agreed to sell an assemblage of land to data center developer QTS in 2021 — although the deal is still mired in legal troubles.

The potential buyer of The Regency is a data center developer who would lease the property to a cloud provider like Amazon Web Services or Google. The identities of both parties are being kept under wraps via NDAs, but the data center publication Data Center Dynamics reported that both are already major players in Loudoun County.

That doesn't narrow it down much: About 6 miles up the road from The Regency, Amazon Data Services paid $427 ‌million for George Washington University's Virginia Science and Technology Campus. Aligned Data Centers is directly east of The Regency, Digital Realty is already the southern neighbor of The Regency, and DataBank and Sabey — both located on Red Rum Drive — are the data centers Gandhi can see from his front porch.

Local officials are aware of Gandhi's bid and, in some cases, want to stop the construction of more data centers. Sylvia Glass, district supervisor of Broad Run, where The Regency is located, said in a statement that Loudoun County would prefer the land be used for "housing, commercial, and civic uses."

"I am aware that The Regency has received outreach from data center developers and I have spoken several times with residents," Glass said. "However, I am not involved in any negotiations the community may be having and no rezoning application has been submitted to Loudoun County."

While Gandhi and current Regency HOA President Kevin McCaughey said the deal is still on the table, other residents aren't optimistic.

Ashburn resident Karen Nilsen Brown, a local real estate agent who lives about 3 miles from The Regency, hopes it doesn't go through for the community's sake.

"We're losing beautiful trees and greenery," Brown, 54, told Business Insider. "The landscape that was once allowed in the county is now being replaced by, basically, these cement panels."

Gandhi believes it's already too late. He never imagined he'd be surrounded by data centers when he moved to Ashburn, and neither did most of his neighbors. The best option now, he said, is to help them find greener, less concrete-filled pastures.

"Do I think it's the right thing for the community? Do I think it's the right thing for the region? Yes," he said. "To put all the pieces together as a dealmaker, that's exciting for me."

"I do believe AI is the future, and I do believe AI is going to take jobs," Gandhi added. "It's nice to be a part of the boom instead of being left behind."

Still, the idea of ceding the neighborhood to data centers is bittersweet. Gandhi fell in love with his neighbors and with Ashburn when he moved from the city to the suburbs over a decade ago. He's been an active member of the community, becoming the HOA president and the PTO president at his sons' elementary school. He never thought he'd be willing to sell the home that his two sons can always come back to, and now he's leading the charge to flee.

"We love Ashburn, it's a fantastic area," Gandhi said. "Unfortunately, we didn't know 13 years ago that it was going to be Data Center Alley."

• Ambient AI scribes can reduce busywork and improve doctor-patient interactions.
• Cleveland Clinic's AI pilot led to widespread use, with 4,000 clinicians adopting the technology.
• AI scribes help reduce physician workload, but require careful oversight to ensure accuracy.

If you haven't encountered the technology at your most recent doctor's appointment, you've perhaps learned about it through a medical drama like "The Pitt": ambient AI scribes.

These AI-powered systems record, transcribe, and summarize patient-physician conversations. A 2025 NPJ Digital Medicine paper found that about 30% of physician practices in the United States use AI scribes to document patient encounters.

"For providers, it's great because you get an excellent draft with little effort," said Rohit Chandra, executive vice president and chief digital officer at the Cleveland Clinic. "For patients, it's good because you get a high-quality note after your visit, and you have a much better encounter because the provider isn't typing the whole time."

At the Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit healthcare system, some physicians are using ambient AI as part of a push to reduce administrative burden and improve patient experience. The technology is intended to support physicians, not replace them, by allowing clinicians to spend more time focused on support and care.

An AI-pilot program led to eager adoption

In 2024, the Cleveland Clinic initiated a pilot project in which 250 physicians were divided into smaller groups and asked to evaluate five ambient listening products on accuracy, user experience, and helpfulness.

Dr. Eric Boose is a family physician and associate chief medical information officer at the Cleveland Clinic. He was the physician lead on the yearlong pilot project and, as part of the program, Boose tested the technology during appointments with his own patients.

"Oftentimes, with technology, people aren't ready for change," Boose told Business Insider. "In this case, we actually had people who were not part of the pilot program asking if they could have it."

At the end of the pilot, the Cleveland Clinic selected Ambience's AI platform based on its performance. After this selection, in the spring of 2025, the software was disseminated to the Cleveland Clinic's US-based clinicians, who were offered training sessions but told they were not required to use the AI tool. Within the first 15 weeks, 4,000 clinicians were actively using it.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, by August 2025, providers will have used the AI scribe to document and summarize 1 million patient encounters. Physicians who use the tool use it for about 76% of their scheduled office visits.

"I think that because we built enough understanding and enthusiasm during the pilot, we excelled at adoption," Chandra said.

How the AI scribe works

Ambience's AI scribe records the patient-physician conversation through a phone app. At the start, the physician enters their specialty into the app. Depending on the specialty, the AI will focus on specific aspects of the conversation when preparing its reports.

For example, if the appointment concerns sleep medicine, the AI might focus on retrieving details such as an individual's bedtime habits.

"It's a very flexible tool in that it can adapt to what your specialty is," Boose said.

At the Cleveland Clinic, physicians review and approve the AI-generated content before it's entered into the electronic health record.

Patients must also provide verbal consent before the software is used. Overall, Boose said that most patients have been open to its use and seem to appreciate that it allows more face-to-face time during the appointment, compared to having a doctor take notes while also being present.

"I think I've had maybe two or three patients decline over the past two years I've been using it," he added.

The AI software generates a comprehensive, structured report in Epic, along with a patient after-visit summary. These are reviewed by the physician, who can edit for clarity and accuracy. It also provides patient instructions based on the discussion during the appointment.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the Ambience AI scribe reduced the time spent reviewing and writing notes by two minutes per appointment and 14 minutes per day.

Feedback from physicians suggests the AI scribe has brought some "joy back to caregiving," Chandra added. "They didn't become doctors to be drowning in paperwork."

AI healthcare barriers and opportunities

A clinic spokesperson told Business Insider that an estimated 5,000 providers across the healthcare system are using an AI scribe.

Despite its benefits, AI scribes aren't perfect products yet, Boose said. He added that it's a showcase of artificial intelligence, not intelligence. This is why it's especially important for physicians to review the AI-generated work.

Boosed said that patient concerns have primarily focused on what happens to the recordings. These are held for about 30 days, then de-identified and unretrievable. "We want people to feel comfortable that their data is not living somewhere in perpetuity," he said. If at any point during the appointment, a patient is uncomfortable, the physician can pause the AI recording.

While some physicians were eager to use the product at the start, others at the Cleveland Clinic had doubts about its effectiveness, Boose said. They were also nervous about AI hallucinations and emissions — factors that Chandra told Business Insider everyone has to be "very careful about."

Ultimately, at the Cleveland Clinic, as "physicians were using it more and more, they were kind of blown away," Boose said.

Looking ahead, Cleveland Clinic is interested in evaluating additional AI use cases, such as AI agents that can query patient concerns before appointments and provide actionable post-appointment steps.

"AI is going to make us more and more efficient, but it will never replace physicians," Boose said. "But it is a very exciting time for efficiency in healthcare — we haven't had this big of a game changer in a long time that can make things smoother for physicians and patients."

• I enrolled my daughter in a Japanese public school, and it changed how I think about raising an independent child.
• In Japan, kids walk to school, serve lunch, and clean classrooms daily.
• I've learned independence is about contributing to the community.

When we arrived in Japan in 2023, we bypassed the expensive international schools and enrolled our daughter directly into the local public system, essentially tossing her into the deep end of cultural immersion.

It's been a joy to watch her flourish and find a sense of belonging in a second language, but the experience has completely challenged my idea of what it means to raise an independent child.

Most kids walk to school in Japan

Since the vast majority of elementary students in Japan walk to school, I had to trade my "safety-first" instincts for community trust. Even though we lived just five minutes from the school gates, my mind immediately raced toward worst-case scenarios like the fear of child abduction.

What I didn't yet understand was that this routine was a great way to scaffold independence. Rather than shield children from risks, they are taught how to navigate them safely.

Students here walk to and from school in groups along predetermined routes, supported by a network of PTA volunteers and neighbors. For added security, the school sends app alerts for everything from thunderstorms to "suspicious individuals" in the area, as well as the occasional monkey sighting. Every child also carries a high-decibel alarm attached to their school bag in case of an emergency.

Last week, my daughter stopped on her way home to play at the nearby stream. Although I was present, I watched from a distance as three groups of adults stopped to check in on her. They didn't hover; they simply verified she was safe and moved on. It was clear that her safety was a shared responsibility.

Lunch time is a lesson in social responsibility

In most Japanese elementary schools, students don't just eat the meals; they help run them.

Known as kyuushoku, the program turns the classroom into a mini-restaurant where the children are the staff. Students rotate through serving duties, eat together in the classroom, and handle the entire cleanup themselves with guidance from their teacher.

Initially, my main takeaway from this routine was the pure relief of no longer having to pack a daily lunch box. But over time, I realized kyuushoku was another daily practice designed to foster autonomy.

These lunchtime duties also provided my daughter with a vital social bridge. It was a shortcut to belonging that enabled her to transcend the language barrier and become an active member of her classroom.

Her growing independence has carried into our home life, turning constant reminders into something she now does automatically. By learning to be an active participant in her classroom, she has instinctively brought that same accountability home.

These lessons in responsibility don't end with lunch, either. Once the plates are cleared and their outdoor play time finishes, another daily routine begins, involving manual labor that would make most Western school boards recoil.

My child is expected to clean her school every day

Yes, the rumors are true. Japanese school children really do clean their own schools.

From desks and windows to floors and even bathrooms, students from first to sixth grade participate in a daily 20-minute cleaning period called souji. There are no janitorial staff, and I realized just how seriously this is taken when my daughter's school stationery list included two cleaning cloths. It was the first time I had ever seen cleaning supplies listed alongside pencils and notebooks.

I didn't expect my daughter to enjoy cleaning at school. She still resists tidying her room at home, but she embraced the school routine quickly and even went through a phase of loving the classroom vacuum.

This daily practice teaches the children how to work within a group, an integral part of Japanese society. When children are responsible for their own spaces, they treat them with more care and are far more likely to take an active role in maintaining them.

Living in Japan forced me to rethink what it means to raise an independent child

I always thought independence meant "I can think for myself" and is largely internal. In Japan, it's more external, defined by the ability to manage oneself responsibly within the collective, even when no one is watching.

Living here has forced me to recalibrate my understanding of raising independent children. I've always been a protective parent, but when my daughter asked why she couldn't walk to the local shop alone like her classmates, the mirror was held up to me. I was raising an independent thinker, but I was also stifling her autonomy and confidence.

Balancing my instinct to protect with her need to grow is still a work in progress. But she's learning something I'm still catching up to: independence isn't about doing everything alone, it's about showing up for your community with confidence in your ability to contribute.

Watching her navigate this new world has shown me that Japan's schools don't treat "growing up" as a distant goal, but as something children are already trusted to do.

• Bumble is launching a group-dating feature called "Plans," Business Insider has learned.
• Users will pay a fee to join a small group event. The feature will roll out in New York in a pilot test this week.
• Other dating apps are betting on group features, like Tinder's "Double Date" and "Events" tab.

Bumble has "Plans" for you.

The dating app is set to launch a new group-dating feature called "Plans" this week, Business Insider has learned. The pilot, which launches in New York and costs money to participate in, will bring together small gatherings of Bumble users to meet in-person.

Users must pay a flat fee to RSVP to a "Plan." After signing up, Bumble users can also invite a plus-one to tag along to the "Plan." That friend must also pay the RSVP fee. Daters will see the meet-up location after payment.

After attending the "Plan," Bumble will ask users about their experience and whether they liked any specific attendees. Then, users can match with those crushes and continue messaging on the app.

Bumble's latest feature joins a slew of other dating apps embracing in-person experiences, as worries of "swipe fatigue" grow. It also represents a new potential revenue stream for the company, which has faced declining revenue. The company's full-year total revenue decreased by 9.9% between 2025 and 2024, and was down 14.1% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026.

In a Slack message sent to employees this week, Bumble announced the launch of the "Plans" social handle, @plansbybumble. The account is still private, though its profile logo matches images Business Insider viewed.

While this "Plans" launch is limited to New York, Bumble plans to roll out the feature nationally, based on performance.

The move echoes two recent launches from Tinder, one of Bumble's primary competitors. Tinder launched "Double Date" in June, a social dating feature that lets users swipe (and meet up) with their friends.

In March, Tinder announced a new "Events" tab, which connected users to in-person dating experiences. The feature is still testing in Los Angeles, across the country from Bumble's "Plans" pilot.

"Events are fun, they're low-pressure, they're social, they're safe," Tinder CEO Spencer Rascoff told Business Insider in March. "They're bringing Tinder into the physical world in a way that is consistent with our users' lifestyles."

Like much of the dating app category, Bumble's stock has suffered recently. The stock is down around 45% year over year.

Bumble has tried similar in-person dating experiences. In 2022, the company launched Bumble IRL, a series of local events to "meet cool people in your city." The company is also hosting a handful of bar events in New York this summer.

Meanwhile, a variety of new dating app startups promise to get users more face-to-face connections, like Court IRL, First Round's on Me, and 222.

• Unframe has raised $50 million to help companies deploy AI.
• The startup crossed $100 million in total contract value within a year.
• Its customers span industries including financial services, healthcare, and retail.

Roughly three years into the generative AI boom, companies are allocating big budgets for AI tools but struggling to put them to work.

The two-year-old startup Unframe has raised $50 million in Series B funding to bridge this gap. The latest round brings total funds to $100 million. The company also said it crossed $100 million in total contract value within a year.

As businesses move from AI experimentation to deployment, COO Larissa Schneider said "identifying the right use case" remains a central challenge.

Unframe has built a library of different AI tools that it uses to assemble custom systems. These work with different AI models and integrate with a company's internal systems and data.

Unframe has been used by commercial real estate firms to analyze lease documents, by retailers to plan promotions, and by airlines to streamline crew schedules, Schneider said.

The Series B was led by Highland Europe, and featured participation from existing investors Bessemer, Craft, TLV, Third Point, Cerca, and Vintage.

Unframe's customers span industries including financial services, healthcare, and retail, and include commercial real estate firms Cushman & Wakefield and Avison Young, cybersecurity company Armis, and the Swiss publisher NZZ.

Customers can test Unframe's AI solutions for free, and pay an annual subscription once they're deployed. Many start with one project before expanding, Schneider said, which is helping to drive a 400% net revenue retention rate — or how much existing customers have increased their spend over time.

Unframe has roughly 150 employees, and Schneider said it will use the new funding to expand its product, customer support, and sales teams, and enter new markets. The company is headquartered in Cupertino, with offices in Tel Aviv and Berlin.

Companies take various approaches to AI adoption. Unframe competes with prebuilt AI services, consulting firms like Accenture, and companies that choose to develop their own AI systems in-house

Unframe's cofounders include Schneider, CEO Shay Levi, and VP of research and development Adi Azarya. The three are veterans of cybersecurity company Noname, which was acquired by Akamai in 2024 for roughly $450 million.

Here's a look at the pitch deck Unframe used to raise its $50 million Series B. Slides have been redacted so that the deck can be shared publicly.

• If you're planning on getting a buzz on during your next flight, it might be time to think again.
• The UK government is weighing creating a blacklist of passengers who cause trouble while intoxicated.
• Drunk travelers are a "real challenge," the CEO of Europe's biggest airline said last month.

A hangover might not be the worst consequence of having one too many beers on your next flight.

The British government is considering creating a database of disruptive travelers as the airline industry seeks to crack down on drunk, unruly passengers.

A UK government official with knowledge of the plans told Business Insider that, if implemented, airlines would be able to notify authorities of disorderly passengers, so that if they later check in for another flight, other airlines would be alerted.

Airlines would then be able to use their own judgment in deciding what to do about the passenger.

Passengers behaving badly are a major issue for many airlines, with executives and industry bodies calling for action to stamp out the problem, particularly in Europe.

In April, a Jet2 flight from Turkey to London U-turned and diverted to Bulgaria after a pair of passengers began misbehaving. The airline, known for its catchy jingle and affordable vacation packages, said it banned them for life.

"We are lobbying for the creation of a national database so that as well as being banned from flying with us, disruptive passengers will also be banned from flying with other UK airlines," Jet2 said in a statement at the time.

While it isn't clear whether the people in this case were intoxicated, airline bosses have said alcohol is often to blame.

'A real challenge for all airlines'

"It's becoming a real challenge for all airlines," Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told The Times of London in an interview last month. "We have been calling for many years for a limit of two drinks per person per airport," O'Leary added.

"I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at 5 or 6 o'clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?"

In many countries, it is illegal to be drunk on board an aircraft, and offenders face fines or prison time.

Jet2 and Ryanair have also said they will pursue misbehaving passengers for the costs associated with flight diversions — including fuel, compensation, and, in some cases, overnight accommodation.

In 2025, Ryanair sued a passenger it said had forced a flight to divert, claiming over $15,000 in damages. Later that year, it also asked a Spanish court to fine or potentially imprison another disruptive passenger, who tried to take a seat that wasn't his and caused the flight to take off late.

As well as being a costly nuisance, drunk passengers can also land airlines in hot water with regulators.

Last Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it was proposing a $165,000 penalty against Alaska Airlines, saying the airline let intoxicated people board 11 flights between February 2024 and February 2025.

Alaska Airlines told Reuters that it has "made meaningful changes" to comply with the FAA, including enhanced training for flight attendants and customer service agents.

The British government source told Business Insider that, while there are already laws in place to deal with offenses on flights, it wants to crack down on people who "persistently cause disruption."

"Anti-social behavior on flights is totally unacceptable, as it threatens the safety of passengers and crew and disrupts hard-earned holidays," they added.

• Anthropic filed confidentially to go public this week, growing the pipeline of mega-IPOs.
• With investors loaded up on stocks, giant offerings prompt the question: "Where will the money come from?"
• Liquidity risk and concentration risk will rise as companies worth up to $5 trillion make their debut.

The mega-IPOs that have investors so excited this year are coming at an interesting and potentially messy time for markets.

SpaceX was the first to file publicly, joined this week by Anthropic, which confidentially submitted its S-1. Waiting in the wings now is OpenAI. Sam Altman said the ChatGPT maker won't be influenced by what its competitors are doing, but it's thought to be prepping to file very soon.

Primary markets—i.e. the market for newly issued stocks or bonds—are in an awkward place. SpaceX is expected to raise up to $75 billion in its IPO, which would make it the biggest offering ever. But that money is going to have to come from some other part of the market where investors have already parked their cash.

That's because cash on the sidelines is near historic lows, with investors piling into already red-hot AI trades. Bank of America data shows that fund managers' cash holdings have fallen below 4% for the first time since February 2024. The inverse of cash at historic lows can be seen in stocks, which are at record highs. In other words, investors are already close to fully invested.

The sound you hear when SpaceX goes public next month could be the massive liquidity drain from one part of the market to another, which will likely continue with the other mega-deals expected later this year from OpenAI and Anthropic. The trio of IPOs will result in a US stock market that derives a full 50% of its value from AI-linked stocks. Concentration risk will rise as cash gets reshuffled on a potentially massive scale.

The timing of the IPOs might also amount to a literal race. SpaceX will go first, leaving Anthropic and OpenAI to duke it out for a potentially smaller pie of investor money once they've piled into share of Elon Musk's rocket company. And while the stocks will all eventually be added to major indexes and the funds that track them, individual investors might questions whether they need more than one pure-play foundational AI stock in their portfolios.

The three big IPOs this year, if they achieve the valuations being talked about, will dwarf the combined IPO wave of 1995 to 2000. And importantly, given changes to index rules, you're probably going to own these stocks whether you want to or not.

"Passive funds will be forced buyers once these names join the indexes, which will happen much faster than usual, given recent index rule changes. That means mechanical selling pressure on whatever many funds currently own, which is mostly the same large-cap tech stocks everyone else owns," veteran investor and market commentator Paul Kedrosky wrote in a blog post earlier this month.

The potential for just a few IPOs to spark waves of volatility is unprecedented, and speaks to the sheer scale of the offerings. The trading of Anthropic shares in the secondary market value the Claude maker at over $1 trillion, up 40% in less than a month.

Speaking with Business Insider's Will Edwards this month, Bob Doll, the CEO of Crossmark Global Investments and the former equities chief at BlackRock, said that investors' endless appetite for tech means they could sell stocks in other areas to make room for SpaceX, Anthropic, or OpenAI when they debut. "These tech owners, they just want to own more, so maybe they do sell their Procter & Gamble."

The rush for these stocks before they even IPO can be seen in the retail-focused funds that hold private shares. The Destiny Tech 100 fund, which counts Anthropic, SpaceX, and OpenAI as its top holdings, is up 90% in a month.

Kedrosky sees the reshuffling of investor money only accelerating as excitement for the mega-deals picks up.

"This will only get more dramatic in the coming weeks and months. Money will increasingly flood out of a host of financial nooks and crannies, and into anything with any connection to what's coming. The money has to come from somewhere, the appetite is immense," Kedrosky said in a follow-up post, adding that the combined market value of the trio of colossal companies about to IPO is probably closer to $5 trillion.

"At the higher end we are approaching the inflation-adjusted market cap of all IPOS since WWII, including dot-com."

• My family has moved countries twice and has learned what starting over really means.
• Making new friends wasn't as difficult as I anticipated once I reevaluated my priorities.
• Navigating healthcare and housing systems has been the most challenging part of our relocations.

I've moved my family across three countries, from Australia to Switzerland to the United States, and before each move, I romanticized what starting over would look like.

I imagined charming cafés, weekend adventures, and eventually finding a like-minded new community.

What I didn't anticipate was that making friends would be one of the easier parts of our moves. Instead, the real challenges were the invisible ones, like navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems, securing suitable housing, and carrying the mental load of rebuilding everyday life from scratch.

Each move taught our family something different about what it really means to start over.

Trying too hard to make friends often backfires

Before moving to Switzerland, I thought making friends would be the hardest part of relocating. I worried about loneliness, fitting in, and whether my children would find their place.

So when we arrived, I tried too hard to make connections.

I said yes to everything, introduced myself to everyone, and pushed to form friendships quickly. It felt awkward because I was trying to create closeness before it had a chance to grow naturally.

Eventually, I stepped back — and that's when the magic happened. Instead of focusing on finding friends, I focused on building a life. I joined writing groups, took classes, found work, and met people through hobbies and interests.

Those friendships lasted because they were built on common ground, kindness, and shared experiences. Although we now live in different time zones, some of those people are still close friends today.

The hidden stress of rebuilding everyday life abroad is housing

In both Switzerland and the United States, navigating housing and healthcare became unexpectedly stressful parts of settling in.

When we moved to Switzerland, finding an apartment initially seemed manageable. We relied heavily on Google Translate to understand listings and create applications.

First, we had to think about which neighborhoods would feel most comfortable for English speakers. And once we started looking more closely, we realized how many small cultural details we hadn't considered.

For example, we discovered that it's common for rental apartments in Switzerland not to include light fixtures, so we'd need to purchase and install our own.

In-unit washing machines were harder to find than we expected, which became a major consideration for our family because we had two children playing ice hockey (which meant endless amounts of laundry).

When we later moved to the United States, our housing search looked different but carried similar emotional weight. Instead of seeking out English-speaking communities, we were looking for a town that aligned with our values.

We wanted strong schools that supported both academics and the arts, as well as access to competitive sports programs for our children.

We eventually found a community that checked those boxes, but it took time. We rented for two years before feeling confident enough to buy a home.

Navigating healthcare was equally challenging in different ways

In Switzerland, the language barrier complicated even straightforward medical appointments.

Although we found an excellent pediatrician, my husband and I often avoided scheduling appointments unless absolutely necessary because we worried about misunderstandings. We initially struggled to understand how the insurance and billing systems worked.

In the United States, the challenge was almost the opposite. There was an overwhelming amount of information available online about doctors and healthcare networks.

Every physician seemed to have hundreds of reviews, rankings, and conflicting opinions attached to them. Instead of making decisions easier, the abundance of information often made us feel more uncertain.

Ultimately, the most valuable recommendations came through word of mouth. Conversations with other parents and local families helped us far more than online review platforms ever did.

Relocation taught our family patience

Looking back, the biggest lesson relocation taught us was not to rush anything.

It was OK to choose a doctor and later realize they weren't the right fit, or to rent in a town that didn't ultimately suit our family. It was OK for some friends to remain acquaintances while other relationships slowly deepened over time.

We learned to give ourselves grace during the adjustment period instead of expecting immediate certainty.

Living abroad also forced us to communicate more openly as a family. When everything around you feels unfamiliar, even small frustrations can feel magnified.

There were moments when homesickness and exhaustion clouded our perspective, making every challenge seem larger than it really was. Over time, we became better at grounding each other and focusing on what was working rather than what felt wrong.

Once we stopped trying to recreate our old lives perfectly, we became more open to appreciating where we were.

We've now discovered that the ingredients to a successful relocation are patience, humor, flexibility, and teamwork. With those, it's possible to create a sense of belonging almost anywhere.

• We asked bartenders and mixologists which cocktails they expect to be popular this summer.
• Classic beverages like palomas and spritzes are here to stay.
• We'll also see gimlets, passion-fruit margaritas, and lychee martinis surge in popularity.

Summer's right around the corner, which means it's almost time for beachside cocktails and rooftop happy hours.

To help you decide what to order, Business Insider asked bartenders and mixologists which drinks they expect to be everywhere this summer. Here's what they said.

Gimlets will be a popular choice this summer.

Sanwar Mal Khokhar — mixologist and beverage program leader at Sanjh Restaurant and Bar in Texas — expects to see the classic gimlet everywhere this season.

Made with just a few simple ingredients like gin, lime juice, and simple syrup, these cocktails are refreshing and easy to make at home.

"We'll see cucumber gimlets, especially, since cucumbers are in season during the summer months," he told BI.

Passion-fruit margaritas are the perfect warm-weather drink.

Carlos Hugo Meza, beverage director at Denver-based restaurant BearLeek, said the "light and sessionable" passion-fruit margarita will likely be a popular cocktail this summer.

"A passion-fruit margarita is one of those drinks that people can enjoy year-round, but especially on a hot day," he told BI.

Palomas will remain a summertime favorite.

Khokhar predicts palomas will continue to be trendy this season, particularly among those who crave a light and refreshing cocktail.

Made with tequila, grapefruit soda, and lime juice, palomas are a great alternative for those who find margaritas too sweet.

Spritzes of all kinds are here to stay.

Linda Douglas, a bartender at Donna's in Los Angeles and a contributor to Phillips Distilling Co.'s cocktail trend report, "Cocktailmanac," told BI that spritzes will continue to dominate this summer.

She said some bartenders call spritzes the "supermodels" of the cocktail world because as soon as someone sees one, they want one, especially in the summer months.

"The Hugo Spritz, in particular, looks light, refreshing, and effervescent. It's a great profile to introduce new flavors, like elderflower, or local herbs, to people, too," she said.

The lychee martini is ideal for warm weather.

A lychee martini has a sweet, floral, and subtly tropical taste. It's made by combining vodka or gin, lychee juice or liqueur, and fresh lemon or lime juice.

Douglas expects these cocktails to become bar favorites as more people look to recreate tropical, vacation-like vibes without hopping on a plane or going on a full-blown vacation.

A Diet Coke with a shot will be the budget-friendly drink of the summer.

Douglas expects to see a crisp Diet Coke with a shot of vanilla vodka or reposado surge in popularity this year as an accessible, affordable summer drink.

"Die-hard Diet Coke drinkers love this one because any bar or restaurant can make this cocktail, and it's comfortable and foolproof. It's universal and reliable," she told BI.

This summer, we'll see a twist on the popular vodka-lemonade.

Vodka lemonades are refreshing bar staples, especially during peak summer months when it's hot outside.

With strawberries in season as we head into the summer, Meza expects to see fun twists on this classic drink soar in popularity.

"With kitchens already utilizing strawberries, it's easy to take those ingredients and put together a simple, cost-effective vodka strawberry lemonade for a light and refreshing option this summer," he told BI.

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

Anthropic has entered the IPO chat.

One of the hottest AI startups in the world is taking its talents to the public markets. Anthropic announced it confidentially filed its S-1 draft with regulators, setting the stage for an IPO as early as this fall.

The news comes after Anthropic's massive $65 billion funding round, valuing it at $965 billion. It also follows reports about Anthropic's biggest rival, OpenAI, racing to go public.

Although OpenAI hasn't officially filed its IPO paperwork yet, it could still beat Anthropic to the public market. If not, a later IPO also comes with benefits. More on that race here.

Both companies would almost certainly enter the public market with valuations above $1 trillion. And don't forget fellow AI giant SpaceX, which already published its paperwork for what could be a record-breaking IPO.

BI's Zak Jason previously wrote that AI reached a tipping point a few weeks ago, akin to the COVID shutdown moment in March 2020. Anthropic's IPO filing drives that point home even more — and market leaders say a lot rides on the seismic event.

Meanwhile, AI's go-public moment is coinciding with a noticeable change in tone.

Executives like OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei have gone from AI doomers to AI boomers, writes BI's Amanda Hoover.

After spending a lot of time talking about the chaos AI will cause in the job market, AI gurus are backing off their apocalypse rhetoric. Now, it turns out, the tech is more friend than foe.

The shift isn't happening in a vacuum. When AI mentions in commencement speeches draw automatic boos and the literal Pope is raising concerns, you probably realize the narrative needs a makeover.

So what's the real story of AI's impact? We'll get a fuller picture in the coming weeks. The IPO process lays bare not only a company's financials but also its perceived biggest risks.

Three companies likely worth more than $1 trillion going public in quick succession is bound to have a significant short-term impact on the market. A string of high-profile IPOs can be a warning sign for investors.

TS Lombard, the economics research and forecasting firm, said the IPO wave could signal that the top of the AI trade is near. The firm flagged how IPO booms often precede market pullbacks.

• The eighth season of "Love Island USA" debuts on June 2 on Peacock.
• Although it's a dating show, only nine couples who met through it are still together.
• Three couples from season seven are dating now.

Buckle up, bombshells: A hot new season of "Love Island" is about to take over the villa.

The eighth season of "Love Island USA" kicks off on June 2 on Peacock. And, following the announcement of the new "Aftersun" hosts — Ciara Miller of "Summer House" fame and influencer Tefi Pessoa — and the second-ever "Love Island USA" engagement, we thought it was the perfect time to check in with every couple who's met through the hit reality show.

Of the seven "winning" couples, only two are still together, with the other relationships either forming off-screen or not capturing enough votes to take home the big prize. Over the last two years, fans have been able to continue watching these relationships grow with the spinoff show "Beyond the Villa."

Here's every couple from the "Love Island USA" universe who are still together.

Hannah Wright and Marco Donatelli

Wright and Donatelli met on season five of "Love Island" and eventually won the entire season in summer 2023.

In May 2025, they became the first couple from the American version of "Love Island" to get engaged, with a wedding date set for December 2026, according to their Instagram posts.

Carsten Bergersen and Taylor Smith

Bergersen, affectionately known as "Bergie," and Smith also met during season five of "Love Island" in 2023. They came in third place.

After three years of dating (and a stint on "The Traitors" for Bergersen), they got engaged in May 2026.

Serena Page and Kordell Beckham

Beckham and Page had a rocky time during season six of "Love Island" in 2024, but they worked through their Casa Amor drama and ended up winning the season.

Fans got to see their relationship grow during the first season of "Beyond the Villa," and the two are still together now.

Leah Kateb and Miguel Harichi

Kateb and Harichi were another one of season six's power couples, with Kateb being the biggest breakout star from "Love Island USA" ever. After a dramatic breakup with Rob Rausch, Kateb met Harichi, and the two have been inseparable since. They were ruled the season's runners-up.

Like Page and Beckham, Kateb and Harichi were cast members on the first season of "Beyond the Villa," and fans watched as Harichi navigated a move to Los Angeles from London.

Nic Vansteenberghe and Olandria Carthen

"Nicolandria," as they're known, were a slow burn on season seven of "Love Island" in 2025, but fans were rabid about a potential friends-to-lovers connection — and after Vansteenberghe's former partner, Cierra Ortega, was removed from the show, the path was clear for Vansteenberghe and Carthen to make it romantic.

They came in second during their season and are still going strong nearly a year later.

Vansteenberghe, who is based in Florida, spoke about being in a long-distance relationship during a brief cameo in the second season of "Beyond the Villa." Carthen lives in Houston.

"Honestly, our schedules have been aligning up pretty nicely," he said. "She coincidentally was in LA yesterday, so we got dinner, chilled, kicked it. Just pray that it aligns."

Taylor Williams and Clarke Carraway

Williams was originally paired up with Carthen during season seven, but a Casa Amor connection (and a "kid feeling") with Carraway was enough for him to change his mind and join a new couple. They were eventually eliminated by viewers together toward the end of the season.

They're still together and were both main cast members on season two of "Beyond the Villa," and viewers got to see a new side of their relationship.

Iris Kendall and TJ Palma

Kendall and Palma started off season seven together, but Palma was eventually dumped from the villa after not receiving enough votes from his fellow islanders, and Kendall elected to stay. She recoupled with Pepe Garcia, and they made it all the way to the finale, placing fourth.

However, soon after the show ended, Kendall and Garcia broke up, and she reconnected with Palma. Fans got to see the aftermath of his drama on "Beyond the Villa," but through it all, Palma and Kendall have remained together.

Kat Gibson and Bryce Fins

Fins and Gibson appeared on season four in 2022 (the first season to air on Peacock), but were never together romantically on the show — Fins was paired up with Courtney Boerner twice before getting eliminated, and Gibson was single for most of her time before choosing to leave the villa of her own accord.

Sleuths on Reddit have suspected since at least February 2024 that the two were dating, and the couple hard-launched in 2025.

Cormac Murphy and Johnnie Garcia

These two weren't even on the same season, but the "Love Island" universe is very connected.

Murphy was on the first season of the American "Love Island" in 2019 — he didn't last long — and Garcia was on season five in 2023. She made it all the way to the episode before the finale before getting dumped.

The two revealed their relationship in 2024 on Instagram, and they still regularly post together. Garcia shared that "Love Island" producers asked if Murphy would be a bombshell last season, even though the two are dating.

• Hewlett-Packard shares surged 35% on Tuesday after a stellar, AI-driven earnings report.
• The legacy computing giant saw its revenue increase 40% year-over-year.
• The results add to a string of huge post-earnings stock moves for companies in recent weeks.

The move: Hewlett-Packard Enterprise became the latest member in a club of companies that have seen huge stock rallies after earnings.

Shares of HPE soared on Tuesday as traders took in the computing giant's stellar first-quarter earnings report. The stock surged 35% at the open to trade at 64.21.

Why: The company posted its biggest earnings beat in about eight years. Earnings per share came in at $0.79 for the first quarter, smashing expectations of $0.53.

Revenue surged 40% year over year to $10.68 billion, nearly $8 billion of which was driven by cloud and AI revenue.

HPE lifted full-year earnings guidance, and told investors it's currently two years ahead of its long-term financial goals.

What it means: The computer giant is adding to a string of earnings beats across the tech sector that have sparked enormous stock gains. The moves signal the intense resurgence of AI hype after the trade took a breather in the first quarter.

HPE's results are also adding to brewing fear in the market of an earnings-fueled bubble that could deflated once earnings season winds down.

ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Dell are among some of the tech giants that have also wowed investors on earnings lately, posting gains of up to 40% the day after reporting results.

AI has driven a resurgence of legacy, dot-com era tech stocks, including Dell, Cisco, and Intel. It's also helped revive the market's software sector, which was crushed during the first quarter amid a panic about the impact of AI on the sector.

The iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF, one prominent gauge for how brutal the software sell-off has been, has climbed out of its bear market and is up 5% year-to-date.

• I tried barbecue burgers from Burger King, Shake Shack, and Smashburger.
• Burger King had the most classic barbecue burger with lettuce, tomato, and bacon.
• I liked Shake Shack's burger topped with fried onions the most.

Tart, crunchy pickles, fried onions, and a hearty slathering of tangy, smoky barbecue sauce: that's what the best barbecue burgers are made of.

For many people, barbecue sauce is a summer staple. The flavor profile is everywhere, from backyard cookouts to sit-down restaurants. Barbecue burgers are also a seasonal staple at many fast-food chains, but not all are created equal.

To find out which one deserves your money, I tried different barbecue burgers from Burger King, Shake Shack, and Smashburger and ranked them based on taste, quality, and value.

Here's how three fast-food barbecue burgers ranked, from worst to best.

My least favorite of the three burgers I tried came from Smashburger.

Smashburger, a Colorado-based chain now found across 27 states and Washington, DC, sells a barbecue bacon smash burger for $10.86, excluding tax and fees, at my nearest location in Brooklyn, New York. It was the cheapest of the three burgers I tried.

The burger came topped with pieces of crispy onions.

The burger came topped with cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon, crispy fried onions, and barbecue sauce.

Beneath a pile of crispy onion bits, I could clearly see the barbecue sauce, although overall, the burger looked and felt a little dry when I picked it up.

I loved the bacon on this burger, but the burger was let down by an overcooked patty and the onions.

The crispy onions seemed to soak up a lot of the moisture from the beef patty and the sauce in my mouth, leaving a dry bite.

The burger patty was also dry and well-done.

I understand that how a burger is cooked is a matter of personal preference. However, I'm not a fan of any burger cooked past medium, so this well-done patty simply wasn't doing it for me.

The cheese on the burger I was served also wasn't melted enough to provide enough moisture to counteract the dryness of the burger.

However, the bacon on this burger blew me away. It was smoky and perfectly cooked.

The barbecue burger from Burger King landed in the middle of my ranking.

I ordered the BBQ bacon Whopper Jr. and added cheese. It cost $5.92, excluding tax and fees.

The burger had classic toppings like lettuce, tomato, and onion.

The burger was served on a sesame seed bun and topped with barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, pickles, and strips of crispy bacon.

The condiments, cheese, and juicy tomato added a lot of moisture to this burger, but it wasn't soggy.

A generous amount of every topping created a balanced bite.

I would order this burger again, but it didn't blow me away.

The bacon was crispy, though not as flavorful as the bacon from the other two burgers I tried. However, I thought this was a great classic cheeseburger. The onions, lettuce, and tomato were fresh, and the beef was juicy while still retaining a smoky, chargrilled flavor.

However, it tasted similar to a classic Whopper, and I didn't get a strong barbecue flavor, which is what I was looking for.

Still, for just under $6, it was a good value.

My favorite burger came from Shake Shack.

Shake Shack, which has US locations in 36 states and territories, offers the Smoky Classic barbecue burger.

I ordered the classic version, which is topped with fried onions and bacon. It cost $13.29, excluding tax and fees, making it the most expensive burger of the bunch.

The burger came piled high with toppings and a hearty slathering of tangy barbecue sauce.

The barbecue sauce was generously spread across the soft bun and layered throughout the burger. I was especially impressed by the thick pickle slices and the generous helping of crispy onions and bacon.

The cheese was perfectly melted, and the onions were crispy and mouthwatering.

The cheese was evenly coated over every inch of the thin, crispy patty, and the bun held everything together while still remaining soft.

This Shake Shack burger blew me away. It tasted restaurant-quality.

Though thin and crispy, the burger was still perfectly cooked at medium, and the onions, though crispy, weren't hard, crunchy, or dry like the ones on the Smashburger cheeseburger I tried.

Rather than bits of cut-up onions that didn't have much flavor, these onions were more like onion rings, instantly transporting me back to summer carnivals and roadside stands.

The pickles added a tart, crunchy flavor, and this was the only burger where I really tasted the barbecue sauce. It was smoky yet light, with a slight vinegar note that balanced the richer flavors of the cheese, beef, and bacon.

Though it was the most expensive burger, I thought it was well worth the slightly higher price.

• After graduating, my friends found jobs in London, and I always saw myself joining them.
• Instead, I found work on a remote island where I met my partner and fell in love with the lifestyle.
• There were parts of island life I had to adjust to, but I am so grateful to live here.

When I finished university, people would always ask me what I wanted to do. I saw myself eventually moving to London, building a career, and settling down there. A lot of my friends had already done just that, and I thought I'd do the same.

I was living with my parents while I tried to work out what I wanted to do with my life. Despite my British hometown's relatively large size, I felt extremely isolated. It felt like there was nothing for me here. I had a job in healthcare administration, but I had no direction.

That's when my mom showed me a job opening on Lundy, an approximately 3-mile-long island in the Bristol Channel. I'd gone on a family trip there once before, and loved the landscape, history, and nature.

I applied right away and, within a month, I had quit my job, packed up my belongings, and hopped on a ferry toward Lundy, my life on the mainland behind me.

While on Lundy, I met my partner, who was volunteering there. He had lived on other remote islands — Skokholm and Fair Isle — and told me all about them.

There was a whole world out there of remote islands, and now I wanted to experience them all, these far-flung reaches of the UK now within my grasp. When he left Lundy to take a job in Fair Isle, I decided to follow him, applying for a job as a housekeeper at the island's Bird Observatory.

So, a year and a half after graduating, I moved to the most remote inhabited island in the UK.

There is more community on this remote island than I ever had at home

Fair Isle is only accessible by boat or by plane. My flight was canceled due to poor weather, so I spent the ferry journey from Shetland to Fair Isle racked with anticipation, my excitement and fear mounting with each wave the ferry bumped over.

I didn't know a lot about my new home, just that the population would be under 60 and I'd be about 300 miles from the nearest major city.

What struck me as soon as I arrived, though, was how welcoming everybody was. People smiled, said hello, and introduced themselves immediately.

I quickly learned that this was the norm here. Each time the ferry comes in, the community gathers at the harbor, ready to help bring supplies off the boat. Just about everybody helps, even if they aren't expecting anything for themselves.

Driving around the island, people always smile and wave — now, I have to remind myself not to do this whenever I go back to my hometown, where this kind of casual friendliness feels less common.

Everyone I've met has also been so generous in sharing their knowledge of the island and its history. One islander has taught me how to machine-knit and hand-finish traditional Fair Isle knitwear, and I've participated in the community "Hill Caa," herding the wild sheep and helping shear them, something I never thought I'd get to do.

I've found the community I lacked at home, and I'm the most sociable I've ever been. The Bird Observatory's bar is the island's social hub, hosting music nights, parties, knitting meet-ups, and more.

Most evenings, I can be found there with a cup of tea, chatting with colleagues and guests, and looking over the sea as the sun sets.

It took me a while to adjust to parts of island life, but I love it

My time on Lundy had given me a bit of familiarity with island life, but the remoteness of Fair Isle still surprised me.

Occasionally, when the fog descends or when the wind rages, the planes and boats are unable to come, meaning there's no way of leaving. The weather changes quickly here, too: The sun gives way to storms at the drop of a hat, and plans change with it.

At first, all of this was stressful for me. I was so used to next-day delivery and being able to get whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Here, mail is often delayed, and visitors can get stuck.

I've gradually grown more comfortable with the unpredictability, though. After all, it's never the end of the world if supplies come a bit late. Occasionally, we run out of fresh fruit or milk, but we make do with what we have.

The head chef at the Bird Observatory is incredibly resourceful, and no food is ever wasted — we keep a stockpile of food in the pantry, saved for the weeks when no boat can come, and no leftovers are wasted.

I feel happier than I have in years

Never did I imagine that I would be housekeeping on a remote island after university, but I'm so glad my life has turned out this way.

My job covers my accommodations, food, and utilities, so I've been able to save money. I'm also surrounded by nature, and I feel so much happier having access to such a beautiful landscape.

I'm also lucky to be surrounded by people who are so passionate about wildlife. Pods of whales often swim by the island, and running up the hill to see them so close to shore is unlike anything else.

Life on a remote island can be unpredictable, and there are some things I miss about living on the mainland, but the benefits of living here — the experiences, opportunities, and people I've met — completely outweigh any negatives.

• I've traveled to Calabria, the southernmost region of mainland Italy, regularly since I was a kid.
• The underrated area has diverse landscapes and is relatively unscathed by tourists.
• Whether I visit Calabria's popular beach towns or small villages, I'm astounded by its beauty.

Calabria, the southernmost region of mainland Italy, feels untouched by mass tourism — especially compared to major cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice.

Some even refer to it as Italy's best-kept secret.

A 15,000-square-kilometer collection of beach towns, hilltop villages, and mountainous inland areas right at the toe of "The Boot," Calabria has diverse landscapes, a slow pace, and a distinctly local feel.

My father was born and raised in the region, which separates the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, so I've visited it more than eight times.

Whether I'm exploring one of Calabria's coasts, mountain ranges, or quaint villages, I'm always struck by how natural, raw, and authentic the area feels. I firmly believe it's one of Italy's most underrated regions.

Getting to this part of Italy requires a bit of planning if you're traveling from the US

Like so many places in Italy, Calabria gets most of its visitors in the summer months. But late spring and early fall, particularly in May and September, are ideal times to travel there, as the weather is warm and there aren't many summertime crowds.

That said, Calabria feels relatively low-key year-round compared to other parts of Italy. Even at the height of summer, it doesn't feel saturated with tourists.

In popular spots like a cliffside town called Tropea, I've encountered fellow travelers, but I've also been to several villages in Calabria where I only come across locals.

Be warned: Getting there from the US can require some planning.

Calabria's main airport is called the Lamezia Terme International Airport, but most long-haul flights, including ones from the US, arrive in Rome, Milan, or Naples. From these hubs, travelers can take a short domestic flight or train to Calabria.

I always recommend renting a car in Calabria if possible, as public transportation between towns can be limited and time-consuming to navigate.

The beaches are one of the region's main draws

Calabria has about 740 kilometers of coastline, but a few beaches stand out.

Tropea is the most recognizable beach on the Tyrrhenian side, with dramatic cliffs dropping into clear turquoise water and wide stretches of pale sand. With a historic town perched above the shoreline, it's one of the region's most striking spots.

A 20-minute drive away is Capo Vaticano, where there are coves and viewpoints overlooking water that shifts between deep blue and bright aquamarine depending on the light. Briatico is another nearby beach that feels quiet and residential.

On the Ionian side of Calabria, Pietragrande is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling with rocky formations and clear water. A 20-minute drive north, Catanzaro Lido has a long shoreline with beach clubs, restaurants, and a promenade bustling with locals and tourists.

Local shops and restaurants give the region its character

Calabria is home to countless small gelaterias, local businesses, and family-run restaurants serving recipes passed down through generations.

In Tropea, spots like Vecchio Granaio make simple regional staples, like fileja pasta with spicy 'nduja, which is spreadable pork sausage. For a more elevated meal in Tropea, Deodato Lounge Bistrot is a sit-down restaurant with a scenic view of the Tyrrhenian Sea that is especially gorgeous at sunset.

On the Ionian side, in Catanzaro Lido, locals gather at Lido De Fazio, a beach club known locally as Mastro Ciccio, that serves simple, reasonably priced dishes.

Calabria has plenty of history and culture, too

Alongside its natural beauty, Calabria also has a rich culture and history. The region has plenty of churches, castles, and archaeological sites worth exploring.

I always recommend visiting the Riace Bronzes, two 5th-century Greek bronze statues discovered in the Ionian Sea in 1972. Now, they're available to view at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria.

Each arrival in Calabria feels like a homecoming

I don't consider Calabria a substitute for hot spots like the Amalfi Coast or Florence, as the region offers its own distinct experience. To really get a sense for Calabria, I recommend staying at least a week, as it allows visitors to properly explore the coastline and inland towns.

Some of my favorite memories are roaming the breathtaking beaches, eating spicy 'nduja and fresh seafood, and spending time with family members who still live in Vibo Valentia, a city in western part of the region.

Above all else, it's the Calabrian people that keep me coming back. They're some of the warmest and most generous individuals I've met. No matter where life takes me, I'll always be called back to this part of Italy. Each time I arrive, it feels like returning home.