• AOC and Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein have been feuding in the last few weeks.
• The congresswoman is hitting Stein where it hurts: Arguing she's not an effective progressive.
• More broadly, progressives remain divided on whether to go negative on Stein.

On a Sunday afternoon at the beginning of this month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted one of her signature Q&A videos on Instagram. The New York progressive was asked how to convince people who supported Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein that they were "wasting their time and effort."

"You are the leader of your party," Ocasio-Cortez said of Stein, who's running for president for the third time this year after mounting bids in 2012 and 2016. "If you run for years, and years, and years, and years, and years in a row, and your party has not grown, and you don't add city council seats, and you don't add down-ballot candidates, and you don't add state electeds, that's bad leadership."

The congresswoman's argument, which has been endlessly litigated back and forth online in the two weeks since she first made it, was somewhat atypical for an elected Democrat. Rather than arguing that Stein's goals were unrealistic, or that she's a mere spoiler, or that she's an unwitting tool of Russia, Ocasio-Cortez made a different charge: That the Green Party candidate is simply bad at politics.

It's a case that Ocasio-Cortez is better positioned to make than other Democrats. After all, her politics largely align with Stein's. The congresswoman played a key role in popularizing the notion of a "Green New Deal," an idea that Stein had previously run on. On the war in Gaza, an issue that has galvanized support for the Green Party this year, both women have opposed military aid to Israel and used the term "genocide" to describe Israel's conduct.

"To me, it's not even about being anti-Green. I think it's really about this moment," Ocasio-Cortez told Business Insider, noting that she's supported local Green Party candidates in the past and remains sympathetic to third parties, even as she's climbed the ranks within the Democratic Party. "If someone legitimately thinks that a Trump administration would be identical to a Democratic one, that, to me, is a position that I think ignores the realities of so many people."

Stein has argued in response that Democrats have sought to suppress her candidacy, pointing to lawsuits that the party has filed to keep Greens off of the ballot in some states. She's also accused Ocasio-Cortez of "supporting genocide," labeled the congresswoman "AOC Pelosi," and accused the congresswoman of taking "marching orders" from the Democratic Party.

"Nobody needs talking points to know Jill Stein hasn't won so much as a bingo game in the last decade," the congresswoman retorted last week.

'The margins are too small for us to be smug'

Stein's candidacy appears to pose a similar threat to Democrats' chances this year as it did in 2016, when the Green Party candidate's vote share exceeded Donald Trump's margin of victory in the crucial swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. There's also the independent left-wing candidate Cornel West, whose name will appear on ballots in Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina.

But not every progressive is on board with going after those candidates directly. Rep. Ro Khanna argued that merely criticizing them would backfire.

"If you have people who are upset at the system, attacking their candidate is probably just reinforcing their concerns about the system," the California congressman said. "I think we have to earn people's votes. I don't think you go negative on third-party candidates."

And Rep. Jamaal Bowman, who said that he's "not very concerned" about the Green Party and mused about the "heat" Ocasio-Cortez had drawn, argued that his party benefits from leftward pressure.

"The Democratic Party has to do a lot more to become more progressive, and if we don't have Green candidates or independent candidates, or the Squad, does the party do that? I would say no," Bowman said. "If the Uncommitted movement isn't doing what it's doing in Chicago, does the VP mention a cease-fire in her acceptance speech? I don't think so."

One key difference between this year and 2016 — the last time the Green Party appeared to pose a significant threat to Democrats' chances at victory — is that there's now a crop of progressive legislators who are sympathetic to the goals of candidates like Stein and fight for them from within the party.

That's put those progressives in a complex position — but one that also gives them more credibility to speak to constituencies that have been drawn to Stein and West's candidacies.

"We have to be persuasive to those that might be leaning toward voting for them," Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota said. "I think the margins are too small for us to be smug about it."

In the eight years since Stein's last campaign, the Democratic Party has seen the ascent of not just the Squad, but a broader array of progressive figures in Congress and offices around the country. President Joe Biden has often sought to cater to the progressive wing of the party, and many of their priorities were reflected in bills like the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act.

But as is the case in any political coalition, it's been a mixed bag. Progressives weren't able to prevent the approval of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, and in recent months, they've largely been stuck defending the administration's slow-moving efforts toward reaching a cease-fire in Gaza. Vice President Kamala Harris has also pivoted toward the right on border security and immigration, much to the chagrin of progressives who've long sought a more compassionate approach toward migrants, while largely continuing Biden's approach on Israel. And the Squad is shrinking: In recent months, two of them — Bowman and Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri — were defeated by AIPAC-backed primary challengers.

If Stein's 2016 campaign was fueled by disaffected supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders — and perhaps some overconfidence about Hillary Clinton's chances — her 2024 campaign has capitalized primarily on Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. A recent poll from the Council on American-Islamic Relations found the Green Party candidate leading Harris among Muslims across three swing states, and Stein has campaigned multiple times in Dearborn, Michigan, the home base of the pro-ceasefire "Uncommitted" movement.

Lawmakers who largely align with much of Stein's progressive platform — particularly those who voted against military aid to Israel in April and support a Green New Deal — haven't yet settled on one answer when it comes to handling progressive third-party candidacies.

In interviews at the Capitol last week, they ranged from conciliatory to critical when the topic of the Green Party arose. Rep. Greg Casar of Texas even confessed that the Green Party "hasn't been something that's crossed my mind a lot."

Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont charged that candidates like Stein and West are "ego driven" and "not reading the room."

"The stakes are too high, and I don't have a lot of patience for it, because it actually doesn't seem focused at all on any kind of coalition building," Balint said. "The way that I comfort myself in those moments when I worry about whether they will swing the election is… I often think the people that vote for them maybe wouldn't have voted for anyone else."

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• A millennial couple moved to South Korea with a less-than-one-year-old child.
• They found a full-time day care option for just over $400 a month.
• Raising children in South Korea can get much more expensive as they age.

About 10 months ago, Chris Oberman and his wife welcomed their first child together. They're learning how to be parents in an unfamiliar environment, but there's one thing that could work in their favor: low childcare costs.

Since 2019, the couple and their two cats have lived in five cities across four countries. Oberman's wife, who preferred her name be excluded for privacy reasons, has a government job that requires them to move every few years.

They started their journey by moving from the Netherlands —Oberman's home country — to Beijing, Shanghai, and Erbil, Iraq. They lived in each place for about two years each. The couple then moved to Seoul, South Korea, about two months ago, where they currently reside.

From a financial perspective, Oberman's early impression of Seoul was that groceries and housing were "quite expensive." He said they expect to pay between $4,500 and $5,000 a month for a three-to-four-bedroom home with an outdoor space — they're living in a hotel in the meantime. However, there's one important cost that appears to be quite affordable: childcare.

The couple found a full-time day care option — five days a week from 9-to-5 — that charges roughly the equivalent of $406 a month for children less than one year old, according to a document provided to Business Insider. That number declines to $357 a month for one-year-olds and $296 for two-year-olds. In the US, the average annual cost of childcare for one child was over $11,000 in 2023 — or about $965 a month — according to the advocacy organization Child Care Aware.

"Full-time day care is really cheap," the 38-year-old told BI via email. He said their son will start day care in October on a part-time basis.

High childcare costs in the US are making it harder for some families to pay the bills, resulting in some women dropping out of the workforce, and are among the reasons some couples have decided to postpone or forego having children. Between 1983 and 2023, US childcare costs rose over 800% compared to a 300% increase for overall inflation, according to a BI analysis published last year.

But not every country's childcare is quite this expensive.

A Bank of America report published in February found that among 30 developed countries analyzed, South Korea had the 5th most affordable childcare costs — the US and the Netherlands came in 29th and 22nd respectively. Bank of America used OECD data to estimate the average childcare costs for a couple with two children in a given country and compared this to the average combined wages for a couple with the same profile.

To be sure, childcare isn't the only cost associated with having children. A report published in February by a Beijing think tank found that when it comes to the total cost of raising children to age 18, China is the only country that is more expensive than South Korea. Pressure to enroll children in expensive programs like music classes and tutoring lessons are among the factors that have pushed up child-rearing costs in cities like Seoul.

These costs are among the reasons many people in South Korea are choosing not to have kids — the country has the lowest birth rate in the world. Over the past two decades, the South Korean government has invested billions of dollars in an effort to entice people to have kids — including a childcare subsidy. However, many people in the country, in part for financial reasons, still aren't having children.

While Oberman's day care costs are "quite cheap" in his estimation, he said South Korea's low birth rate has forced some day care centers to close due to insufficient demand— resulting in some long waitlists for the remaining centers.

"We got pretty lucky that we didn't have to wait too long," he said.

While Oberman has heard that raising children in South Korea gets more expensive as they get older, he said that by the time this happens, there's a good chance his family will have moved to another country.

"We only have to deal with day care," he said.

Have you recently moved to a new country or state and are willing to share your story? Are you struggling with high childcare costs? Reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com.

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• "The Perfect Couple" is a murder mystery that unfolds before a wealthy family throws a wedding.
• The Netflix series is based on the book of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand.
• Here's what we know about whether it will be back for a second season.

Warning, major spoilers ahead for "The Perfect Couple."

Gripping murder mystery " The Perfect Couple" got Netflix subscribers talking with the tale of a wealthy crime writer and her husband throwing a lavish wedding for their son and future daughter-in-law.

On the morning of her nuptials, bride-to-be Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson) is devastated when she finds the body of her maid of honor, Merritt Monaco (Meghann Fahy), on the beach near the Winbury's home on Nantucket Island.

As Amelia tries to uncover who killed her best friend, what she learns makes her realize she doesn't fit in with her future husband, Benji Winbury (Billy Howle), and his family.

It's slowly revealed that Merritt was pregnant with Tag's baby, and Benji's heavily pregnant sister-in-law Abby ( Dakota Fanning) drowned the maid-of-honor so that the family's inheritance wouldn't be diluted by another Winbury sibling.

Although the miniseries features a different ending to the book, it leaves things open in the final episode.

Does that mean Netflix is eyeing up "The Perfect Couple" season two? Here's what to know.

Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber are keen to return for "The Perfect Couple" season two.

Netflix always billed the show as a miniseries, but the cast is seemingly keen to return for a second season.

When speaking to USA Today, Nicole Kidman (Greer Winbury) and Schreiber (Tag) expressed an interest in exploring the couple's dynamic in a new season.

Kidman said: "Wait and see, I think it's ripe," adding: "When you see the final episode and she sort of says, 'Listen, let's just say it like it was,' that was really fun actually, to be able to do that, just rip the Band-Aid off. I think there's still an enormous amount of history and an enormous amount of future."

Schreiber added: "They're taking a break for now, but who knows?"

Meanwhile, showrunner Jenna Lamia told Town & Country: "If all the elements came together and everybody was enthusiastic and the idea was inspiring enough to gather the same group of talented people together again, I think it's something that's possible.

"I would never say it's impossible. There are definitely questions left at the end. The best shows — regardless if they're going to do another season — leave you thinking after you've watched the final one."

The real question is how successful "The Perfect Couple" season two would be without the safety of existing source material to fall back on.

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• The housing market saw a burst of activity in August.
• New home sales rose around 15% last month, the biggest jump since 2022.
• Buyers are coming back to the market as mortgage rates ease.

The housing market is seeing a fresh burst of activity as mortgage rates edge lower.

That's evident from the wave of buyers who are diving into the market for new homes after being sidelined by waning affordability in recent years.

New home sales climbed nearly 15% in August, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. That's the sharpest jump in new home sales since February 2022.

Applications for new home purchases, meanwhile, grew 4.4% year-over-year in August. According to the MBA's latest builder application survey, August was the 19th consecutive month that applications have increased.

"Homebuyers, including a growing share of first-time buyers, continue to favor newly built homes, as declining mortgage rates in August contributed to the uptick in new home sales activity," Joel Kan, MBA's vice president and deputy chief economist, said in a statement.

The decline in mortgage rates has granted buyers some relief and handed them a bit of extra purchasing power. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage inched lower to 6.2% last week, according to Freddie Mac data, nearly a full percentage point lower than the rate at this time last year.

New homes have become more sought after than existing homes, as many existing homeowners cling to lower mortgage rates and opt not to sell. Existing home sales slumped 2% year-over-year in July, marking the slowest pace of sales ever recorded for that month, Redfin found.

Most housing forecasters expect a slow rebound in home sales over the coming years as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate continues to edge lower. Nearly 90% of existing homeowners have a mortgage have an interest rate below 6%, according to a Redfin survey conducted at the start of the year. The real estate firm, meanwhile, anticipates the 30-year fixed rate to remain above 6% by the end of 2024.

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Amazon Prime Day has grown into one of the biggest sales events of the year, with discounts rivaling those of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Because of that, Amazon runs a second huge deal bonanza every year, Prime Big Deal Days, coming in October. Historically, it's an event of similar deal quantity and quality, making it a great midseason shopping event before the holidays hit.

And now, it's official: Amazon Prime Big Deal Days will officially return on October 8 and 9. Once again, the two-day event is a Prime member exclusive, and all of its great discounts will require a subscription to access. We expect to see all of the same great categories on sale that we see every year, including smart home devices, e-readers, viral beauty products, small home appliances, furniture, and more.

When is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2024?

Amazon just announced that Prime Big Deal Days 2024 will land on October 8 and 9. This follows the trend of past years, as it has always been a 48-hour event taking place over a Tuesday and Wednesday.

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is the retailer's annual mega sale and one of the major benefits of Prime membership. It's a two-day sales event, usually during the summer, that features products from every category, from fashion staples to hot new tech.

Though it used to be a deal holiday on a much smaller scale, Prime Day has grown exponentially since the first one in 2015. Now, you can find almost everything on sale for all-time low prices, matching discounts we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

What should I buy during Amazon Prime Day?

Everything is fair game to buy during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. Whether you've been holding out on a pricey new TV or just need to stock up on toiletries, Prime Day is a good time to make your move.

We're seeing incredible prices on tech, including 4K TVs, Fire TV streaming devices, Apple products, Kindle e-readers, PC gaming accessories, Echo smart speakers, and top headphones picks. Prime Day tech deals feature brands like Logitech, Bose, Jabra, Sony, Roku, Samsung, TCL, and more.

If you're looking for style and beauty deals during Prime Day, brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Tatcha, Laneige, Levi's, Carhartt, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Adidas, and Marc Jacobs all feature products at rare low prices. That means skincare, makeup, shoes, men's clothing, women's fashion, and accessories will all be available for less.

Home and kitchen products are also seeing no shortage of Prime Day deals, with big names like Dyson, Shark, iRobot, Philips, KitchenAid, Nespresso, Casper, Leesa, and Coop down to all-time lows for the event. So, whether you need an air fryer, robot vacuum, mattress, or just some sturdy mixing bowls, Prime Day is a good time to buy.

You don't need to be focused on fancy new gadgets or treatments to shop smart during Amazon Prime Day either. We also catch tons of affordable household essentials available for even less every year, like toilet paper, dish soap, doggy bags, and makeup wipes. These deals are sweet since they save you money on stuff you needed to buy anyway.

How long do Prime Day deals last?

How long a Prime Day deal lasts differs between items, but in general, the best discounts start during the event and end before the 48-hour holiday is over. Some will last the whole two days while others will only last one, so it's always wise to act on a good sale when you see it. Lightning deals especially go fast, the most popular of which dwindle away in less than an hour.

I always recommend buying a product you've had your eye on as soon as it's highlighted as a Prime Day deal. Regardless of how long it's set to last, oftentimes, the best sales run out of stock, resulting in shipping dates being pushed out or the deal no longer being offered at all. We'll be providing all of the deal context you need to shop confidently and quickly, so be sure to check our roundups of the best discounts when the event rolls around.

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon Prime Day is locked to Prime members only. It's one of the major benefits of subscribing to the service, in addition to other perks like free two-day shipping and Prime Video streaming.

If you have yet to become a member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to test it out. This should allow you to shop the sale, but it's not a guarantee since sometimes retailers will lock out free members from shopping the best deals.

Do other stores participate in Prime Day?

Although Prime Day is an Amazon-specific event, it's grown so large that other major retailers have started kicking off competing sales to overlap with it. If past years are any indication, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy will be holding competing sales.

These are definitely worth checking out; they often match the best deals on popular items you can find from Prime Day. We'll also be rounding these deals up so you can shop from the retailer that best suits you, whether you're a Target Circle cardholder, My Best Buy Plus member, or Walmart Plus subscriber.

Is Prime Day an international event?

Prime Day occurs in several other countries, but not all of them. Here's a list of countries where Prime Day will be available to shop:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada
• Egypt
• France
• Germany
• India
• Italy
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Turkey
• The United Arab Emirates
• The United States
• The United Kingdom

Want to see what else Amazon has on sale right now? We've spotted some hefty price cuts on electronics, fashion, home, kitchen, laptops, and more on its main deals page.

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• Michael Jordan's mansion may have finally found a buyer after about 12 years on and off the market.
• Jordan listed the property for $29 million in 2012. It was most recently priced at $14.9 million.
• The 56,000-square-foot home, which has custom nods to Jordan throughout, sat abandoned for years.

Michael Jordan's mansion in the suburbs of Chicago has sat abandoned for years.

But the house may soon be lived in once again.

The nine-bedroom home, which has been on the market on and off since 2012, is now listed as "contingent" on Realtor.com. (That designation means Jordan may have accepted an offer, but the sale depends on the prospective buyer meeting certain conditions.)

Fourteen years ago, when the legendary Chicago Bulls shooting guard listed the Highland Park, Illinois, mansion for sale, he asked $29 million. In 2015, he reduced the price to $14,855,000, but the listing had remained active.

The house is full of many nods to Jordan's basketball career, like his number 23 on the front gate of the property, his famous Air Jordan logo on the flag sticks on his putting green, and, not surprisingly, a basketball court with that same logo in the middle.

Even after various gimmicks, like offering a complete set of Air Jordans with purchase, the house sat abandoned after Jordan left Illinois for his home state of North Carolina.

Below, we take a closer look at a house once considered basically unsellable. Most images are from footage provided by Concierge Auctions, which held an unsuccessful auction for the house in 2013. Katherine Malkin of Compass, who is listed as the current seller's agent, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Michael Jordan's 56,000-square-foot, 7-acre compound in Highland Park, Illinois, looks massive even from the air.

Anyone who approaches from the ground can tell right away that this estate belongs to the legendary No. 23, Michael Jordan — and that might be what's kept it from selling for so long.

"It's clearly his home," said Bruce Bowers of Bowers Realty Group, adding: "There's a lot of work that would have to be done to make it your own."

The price of the house has dropped several times.

It was most recently listed for $14.9 million, or about $265 a square foot — a far cry from the original price of $517 a square foot.

The exact listing price was $14,855,000, and the digits in that figure add up to 23 — the number on Jordan's basketball jersey.

The long drive from the gate and the full-grown trees ensure that the house has privacy.

Jordan had the house — and the surrounding property — built from scratch to his personal tastes.

The outdoor amenities are extensive. There's a tennis court ...

... an infinity pool with a grass island in the middle ...

... which lies in the center of a large patio ...

... and down on the lawn, there's a putting green.

The putting green comes complete with Jordan Brand flag sticks.

There's also a pond stocked with fish.

While the outdoor space is sprawling and undoubtedly impressive ...

... the inside is equally grand. When guests first walk in the front door, they are greeted by this view, which includes a piano in the background.

The piano room doubles as one of many sitting rooms in the house.

And here's a look at another sitting area dubbed the "great room."

Jordan's luxurious taste even shows itself in details like doorways. The set of doors seen below are from the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago.

They lead to a game room with a pool table.

Of course, since Michael Jordan designed the home, there is a full-size basketball court.

It's the centerpiece of the house.

The court has the NBA legend's name at both ends ...

... and the Jumpman logo at center court, surrounded by the names of his children — his daughter's name is out of view.

While guests wait for their turn on the court, they can hang out in this sitting area.

Moving along to the dining room, guests were able to eat at this "Baghdad table."

That grid seen on the tabletop is based on the streets of Baghdad.

Elaborate eating areas are found throughout the house. Here, a beautiful skylight is positioned over the kitchen table.

In one of the dining areas just off the kitchen, there is a large aquarium built into the wall.

The house has nine bedrooms ...

... and 19 bathrooms.

There is also a cigar room, which has a patterned ceiling.

Even the railing in the cigar room has flourishes.

The cigar room also has card tables, where we're guessing Jordan played some high-stakes poker games.

He is known for his love of gambling, after all.

The home also features a full gym.

Jordan's Chicago Bulls teammates used to work out there every morning, according to an interview shared by Concierge Auctions.

Source: Concierge Auctions

Another luxurious part of Jordan's estate is the expansive wine cellar.

The library upstairs was said to be MJ's favorite room. It features a drop-down movie screen.

Source: Concierge Auctions

Between the house and its patio is another TV room with a 110-inch screen.

This area used to be an indoor pool.

Jordan renovated it after he moved in and added sliding walls to both sides that can make the space either indoor or outdoor depending on the weather and the host's mood.

There are media rooms throughout the house. Even seemingly random nooks have TVs.

The property also boasts a three-bedroom guest house ...

... which has its own family room and kitchen.

Jordan himself lived in the main house for 19 years.

The house comes fully furnished, although some of the pieces may be a tad dated at this point.

Despite how awesome the house seems, it's been on the market since 2012. Jordan tried to auction the house in 2013, but the minimum bid of $13 million was never met.

Jordan enlisted Concierge Auctions to run the 2013 auction.

Source: Concierge Auctions

MJ's estate has remained unsold since 2012 despite attempts to get creative, including marketing to wealthy people in basketball-crazed China.

Source: Maxim

In 2015, the agent working to sell the house at the time promised that the buyer would also receive every edition of Air Jordans in his or her size — but that didn't work, either.

Source: Maxim

Luxury real-estate agent Adam Rosenfeld told Marketwatch in 2016 that Jordan likely struggled to sell the house because of all of its personalized customizations.

Source: Marketwatch

Rosenfeld said the house also isn't in an area where wealthy celebs often look for houses. Gail Lissner of Integra Realty Resources called homes in the Highland Park area near Chicago "much more modest" than Jordan's property.

Source: Marketwatch, Business Insider

Even though it is widely considered abandoned, the house was at least at points occupied by staff Jordan hired to keep it looking fresh.

Source: The Real Deal

Jordan has had to pay property taxes while the home has been on the market. The annual taxes in 2022 were $148,018, according to the Realtor.com listing.

Jordan may have felt his celebrity status added value to the house. But, according to Stephen Shapiro of the Westside Agency, people do not pay more for a house just because somebody famous owned it.

Source: The Real Deal

"But you know who tends to think a property is worth more because a celebrity lived there?" Shapiro said. "The celebrity trying to sell it."

Source: The Real Deal

Another issue is the location. Most of the homes in this price range in this area are closer to Lake Michigan, a few miles east of Jordan's former house. "Buyers at that level in that area tend to want to be closer to the lake," Missy Jerfita of Berkshire Hathaway Homes Services told The Real Deal.

Source: The Real Deal

Since Jordan put his Chicago home on the market, he has purchased a lakefront house in North Carolina in a golf-course community.

The house is in Cornelius, about a 30-minute drive from the Charlotte Hornets' arena — Jordan bought the franchise for $275 million in 2010 and sold it for $3 billion in 2023.

MJ purchased the house for $2.8 million after it was originally listed for $4 million, according to Fox Sports.

Jordan also reportedly bought a house on a golf course in Jupiter, Florida, for $4.8 million in 2013 and spent $7.6 million on renovations.

Source: Jeff Realty

He also owns a full-floor condo in downtown Charlotte, in the same building as NFL quarterback Cam Newton. Condos there reportedly went for between $1.5 and $3.5 million.

Source: Charlotte Agenda

In 2019, Jordan listed his 10,000-square-foot home in Park City, Utah, for $7.5 million. Agents think it will likely sell faster than the Chicago compound.

Source: Forbes, Business Insider

MJ is estimated to be worth $3.2 billion, according to Forbes, so he could afford to wait for the right buyer to come along for his old Chicago digs. That moment may finally have arrived.

Tony Manfred contributed to this post and it has been updated.

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• Taylor Swift is always bejeweled in expensive outfits and jewelry.
• She kicked off the year at the Golden Globes and wore over $108,000 worth of earrings.
• The musician also attended a friend's wedding in an outfit valued at over $66,000.

Taylor Swift's outfits aren't usually flashy — but they're almost always expensive.

Since the start of this year, the "Midnights" musician has walked red carpets, strutted the streets of New York, and attended Kansas City Chiefs games in pricey pieces.

From massive diamonds to designer dresses, here are some of the most expensive clothes and accessories Swift has worn in 2024 so far.

In January, Taylor Swift wore more than $108,000 worth of diamond earrings on the Golden Globes red carpet.

Swift wore three earrings on each ear, including a $68,500 pair of De Beers Arpeggia three-line danglers inspired by Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."

She also sported a $34,900 pair of the brand's Arpeggia one-line earrings, a $2,000 cuff in the style Dewdrop, and one stud in a classic round shape that ranges in price, starting at $3,350.

Together, her diamond earrings cost at least $108,750.

During a New York City outing that same month, she carried a $2,650 purse from Yves Saint Laurent.

The luxury handbag is made with leather and lined with suede, according to the YSL website. It's also adorned with the fashion house's monogram in bronze brass.

It was the perfect tote to accessorize her pricey outfit, which also included black Gucci boots, a green Stella McCartney dress, and a wool Stella McCartney coat that previously retailed for $2,032.

Still, the most expensive part of her outfit was her Foundrae jewelry, which included an 18-karat yellow-gold chain that cost $2,280 and a larger one that retails for $6,365.

Continuing to mix brown and green pieces, Swift later wore an outfit worth at least $4,645.

She paired more affordable items, like her $75 green velvet minidress from Little Lies, with a $2,120 quilted Vivienne Westwood tote and $2,450 Jimmy Choo x Jean Paul Gaultier boots.

The latter set was made from brown calf leather and decorated with tattoo-style images of snakes, a motif Swift famously used during her "Reputation" era.

Later in January, she showed the trendy side of her style in a pricey dress from The Row.

The Row, a fashion brand created by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, is one of the most popular lines in the high-end market.

And its pieces perfectly fit Swift's casual, girl-next-door but better aesthetic. Just look at the neutral outfit she wore in January.

It included The Row's $3,350 cashmere hooded maxi dress underneath a $1,700 tailored men's coat from Gant. She also wore The Row's $1,290 short Chelsea boots.

One of the smallest bags she's carried this year was one of her most expensive.

While in New York City with Brittany Mahomes, Swift was photographed wearing sheer black tights, a $2,329 Alaia minidress, and Marc Jacobs ankle boots.

But the standout piece of her ensemble was her black Louis Vuitton clutch in the fashion house's Petite Malle style. The small, trunk-style bags can range in price between $5,700 and $10,500.

Swift wore an assortment of rings to the AFC Championship game, including one that cost thousands of dollars.

The ring in question was designed by Jacquie Aiche. It's thick, made from 14-karat yellow gold, and encrusted with diamonds. It features a large marquise stone in the middle of smaller round stones and retails for $6,250.

She wore the ring alongside others, including one designed by a Kansas City boutique to look like Travis Kelce's football jersey.

Her necklaces stood out at the Super Bowl, and rightfully so. Together, they cost over $18,000.

Her most expensive necklace of the night was her diamond tennis choker from Stephanie Gottlieb, which retails for $7,500.

Layered beneath that piece was a $6,800 ruby necklace from Shay Jewelry and a $4,250 varsity-number piece from Stephanie Gottlieb.

The latter necklace featured a diamond charm that displayed Kelce's jersey number, 87.

While visiting London, Swift sported a neutral outfit that likely cost over $10,000.

She was photographed attending a dinner with friends in a black and gray outfit comprising Stella McCartney pieces.

Namely, her $2,200 wool coat with a pinstripe pattern from the designer was worn over a $1,775 strapless bustier and lace pants also made by McCartney.

Swift completed the look with $1,150 slingback pumps and a $3,980 purse from Gucci, as well as a watch-turned-choker necklace from Lorraine Schwartz.

If you were to replicate the outfit Swift wore to the first Kansas City Chiefs game this year, you'd need to spend close to $75,000.

The base of Swift's outfit was a $1,325 denim corset from Versace, $185 mid-rise shorts from Grlfrnd, and $1,650 over-the-knee boots from Giuseppe Zanotti.

But her ensemble didn't stop there. She also carried a $3,950 Louis Vuitton purse and wore more than $67,000 worth of jewelry.

The latter collection included a $590 earring from Three Stories Jewelry, an $850 diamond piece from EF Collection, and a one-of-a-kind Retrouvai puzzle ring valued at $29,100.

Swift also wore a $12,750 vintage coin necklace from For Future Reference, a $13,860 gold bracelet from Lizzie Mandler, a $4,800 ring from Howl, and a custom tennis bracelet from Wove Made, which starts at $5,680.

The musician went all out for a friend's wedding with diamonds and gold accessories.

Swift's pastel outfit that night was chic and expensive. It included a $795 floral dress from Zimmermann, a $544 Vivienne Westwood purse, and $895 Louboutin sandals.

But it was her $64,000 worth of jewelry that stole the show.

The musician wore $5,200 earrings from Larkspur & Hawk, her $850 diamond stud from EF Collection, an $11,550 Jacquie Aiche body chain, a $27,250 Cartier necklace, her $13,860 gold bracelet from Lizzie Mandler, and her custom Wove Made tennis bracelet with a starting value of $5,680.

Медиа: image / jpeg

• 11 people have filed sexual misconduct lawsuits against Sean "Diddy" Combs since November 2023.
• Combs also faces three federal charges after being arrested on Monday.
• Here's a timeline of all the accusations against the hip-hop mogul.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been arrested in New York City following months of accusations of assault, sexual misconduct, and other crimes.

Combs was indicted by a federal grand jury late Monday and was arrested by authorities in Manhattan.

The arrest comes months after Combs' home was raided by federal officials, with multiple reports indicating the search was related to a sex trafficking probe.

Since November 2023, 11 people have also filed civil lawsuits against Combs, damaging Combs' reputation as a hip-hop mogul and leading some companies to cut ties with him.

Combs has denied all allegations.

Here's a timeline of the sexual assault allegations Combs has faced in the last few months.

November 16, 2023: Ventura files the first lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court and reviewed by Business Insider, Ventura accused Combs of years of physical abuse, raping her in their home, and forcing her to engage in sex acts with male sex workers. The pair had an on-again-off-again relationship from 2007 to 2018.

Ventura said in a statement that she was speaking up before the expiration of New York's Adult Survivors Act, a yearlong suspension on the normal time restrictions for sexual assault lawsuits, which ended on November 23, 2023.

"After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships," Ventura said.

Ben Brafman, a lawyer for Combs, denied the allegation in a statement to Business Insider and accused Ventura of trying to "tarnish" Combs' reputation for money.

"For the past six months, Mr. Combs has been subjected to Ms. Ventura's persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail," Brafman said.

BI reported that Douglas Wigdor, Ventura's lawyer, said Combs offered Ventura an eight-figure sum to prevent her from speaking out before the suit was filed.

The next day, the Associated Press reported that Ventura and Combs had settled the suit. The agreement's details were not publicly disclosed.

November 23, 2023: Two more women accuse Combs of sexual abuse.

On the eve of the expiration date for the Adult Survivors Act, two more women accused Combs of sexual abuse in separate lawsuits.

Business Insider reported that Joi Dickerson-Neal, one of the accusers, accused Combs of drugging her, sexually assaulting her, and videotaping the assault after a date in 1991. Dickerson-Neal said the incident caused her to become withdrawn, and that she was diagnosed later with clinical depression and dropped out of college.

The other accuser, who filed the suit without revealing her identity, said that Combs and R&B singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her and a friend after a music industry event in 1990 or 1991, according to AP. The suit said that Combs came to their home a few days later to silence them and choked the woman until she passed out, per AP.

A representative for Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

A spokesperson for Combs told AP that Combs denied both allegations and said the women were exploiting the Adult Survivors Act.

Both cases were pending as of late February, NBC News reported.

November 28, 2023: the allegations have an impact on Combs' business ventures.

Amid the numerous lawsuits, Revolt, a cable television network, announced on Instagram that Combs was stepping down as chairman.

Rolling Stone reported on December 3 that Hulu canceled an upcoming reality show project based on Combs and his family called "Diddy+7." Rolling Stone also said 23 brands severed ties with Combs' marketplace for Black-owned businesses, Empower Global.

December 6, 2023: A woman accuses Combs and 2 other men of raping her when she was 17.

The woman, who also filed the suit anonymously, alleged that Combs, his longtime producing partner Harve Pierre, and an unnamed third man "sex trafficked and gang raped" her in 2003 when she was 17, according to prior reporting by BI.

The lawsuit said Pierre flew the women to Combs' studio in New York, where they gave her drugs and alcohol until she was too inebriated to consent.

"While at the studio, Ms. Doe was gang raped by Mr. Combs, the Third Assailant and Mr. Pierre, in that order," the suit says. The suit also included photos of the accuser, with her face blurred, in the New York studio.

Combs denied the allegation on Instagram and declared he was going to "fight for my name, my family and for the truth."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LOVE (@diddy)

"For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy," he said. "Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday."

Pierre didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

On February 20, 2024, Rolling Stone reported that Combs, Pierre, and Combs' company, Bad Boy Entertainment, filed a response to the lawsuit. Combs' lawyers refuted the allegation and questioned the accuracy of the photographs.

"(Combs) never participated in, witnessed, or was or is presently aware of any misconduct, sexual or otherwise, relating to plaintiff in any circumstance whatsoever," the filing says, per Rolling Stone.

Combs' lawyers also said the suit should be thrown out because they believe an amendment to the Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act, which allowed the unnamed woman to sue Combs, is unconstitutional.

The 2022 amendment removes the statute of limitations for gender-based violence cases for two years, similar to the Adult Survivors Act.

Pierre also denied participating in any sexual assault when he filed his defense. Bad Boy Entertainment motioned to dismiss the suit against them, arguing there is no basis that the Gender-Motivated Violence Act expands to corporate defendants.

December 7, 2023: Tiffany Red defends Ventura in an open letter published in Rolling Stone.

Tiffany Red is a singer-songwriter who became friends with Ventura in 2015 while working together. In December 2023, Red wrote an open letter in Rolling Stone to Combs, saying that she saw Combs verbally abusing Ventura after Ventura's 29th birthday party in August 2015.

Red said the incident occurred outside a private karaoke room that the group went to after the main party. According to Red, Combs pulled Ventura out of the room, cornered her with his security team, and "cursed her out with your hands in her face."

"I felt helpless. She looked afraid and kept looking down at the floor. I didn't know what to do. I was scared," Red said.

In response, Combs' spokesperson referred Rolling Stone to Combs' Instagram statement.

February 26, 2024: Rodney Jones Jr. accuses Combs of sexual assault and drugging.

Jones' suit, filed in late February, lists several allegations against Combs.

The suit says Combs made Jones work in a bathroom while Combs walked around naked and showered. Jones also accused Combs of grabbing his genitals without consent, attempting to "groom" Jones into having sex with another man, and forcing Jones to "solicit sex workers and perform sex acts to the pleasure of Mr. Combs."

Jones alleged in the suit he was not paid for his work on Combs' latest album, according to the New York Times. There is an online crowdfunding campaign with a statement reading "Help Me Sue Sean 'Diddy' Combs," which seems to have been started by Jones earlier this month.

Shawn Holley, an attorney for Combs, accused Jones of lying to get money from Combs.

"Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday," she said in a statement to BI. "His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines."

Tyrone Blackburn, Jones' attorney, did not respond to a request to comment from BI.

March 25, 2024: Combs' Los Angeles and Miami homes were searched by the Department of Homeland Security.

Combs' Los Angeles and Miami homes were searched by Department of Homeland Security officials in late March.

Representatives for DHS told BI that authorities "executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation" but declined to specify a target or reason behind the raids.

The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times, citing law-enforcement sources, reported the search was part of a sex trafficking investigation.

Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Combs, in a statement sent to BI the day after the search, maintained Combs' innocence and said the search conducted on his properties was "a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences."

"There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated," Dyer's statement read. "Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way."

Dyers' statement continued: "This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name."

A few days after the incident, Combs' ex-girlfriend Misa Hylton criticized the raid on Instagram, and shared a video that appeared to be taken from surveillance cameras at the rapper's home.

The video showed federal agents detaining Justin Dior Combs, Combs' 30-year-old son with Hylton, and Christian Combs, the rapper's 26-year-old son with the late Kim Porter, but neither was charged.

"The over zealous and overtly militarized force used against my sons Justin and Christian is deplorable," Hylton wrote in the caption.

The post has since been deleted.

April 5, 2024: Combs is named a co-defendant in lawsuit against his son, Christian Combs.

On April 5, a woman named Grace O'Marcaigh filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court alleging Christian Combs assaulted her on a yacht where she was working, which was chartered by Combs in December 2022. Combs was listed as a co-defendant.

In the lawsuit, seen by BI, O'Marcaigh alleged Christian Combs became "aggressive" during one shift, violently grabbed her arm, and then drugged and sexually assaulted her.

O'Marcaigh said in the suit that her career was derailed due to the "trauma" of the alleged assault.

Aaron Dyer, Combs, and Christian Combs' attorney denied the allegations, and said the lawsuit was "lewd and meritless." Dyer also said they would file "a motion to dismiss this outrageous claim."

April 26, 2024: Combs motions to dismiss parts of Dickerson-Neal's lawsuit.

In late April, People reported that Combs' attorneys motioned to dismiss Dickerson-Neal's allegations of human trafficking and revenge porn, calling the claims "false, offensive, and salacious."

The attorneys said that the allegations "were brought under statutes that did not exist at the time the alleged misconduct occurred." They are referring to the New York State revenge porn law, which was codified in 2019, and the New York Services for Victims of Human Trafficking law, which did not come into effect until 2007.

In the filing, Combs' attorneys also requested that the allegations against the music mogul's companies, Bad Boy Entertainment and Combs Enterprises, which were formed after the incident in 1991, be dismissed. Both companies were listed as defendants in Dickerson-Neal's initial filing.

Following Combs' motion, Michelle Caiola, Dickerson-Neal's attorney, told Business Insider in an email: "We will be filing a response in the coming weeks. We are confident Ms. Dickerson-Neal's allegations against Combs are strong, credible, and legally viable."

May 17, 2024: CNN publishes a video that shows Combs assaulting Ventura.

In surveillance footage from 2016, published by CNN on May 17, Combs can be seen physically assaulting Ventura.

The video shows Combs trailing his then-girlfriend down a hallway. He then grabs Ventura by the back of the neck, throws her down, kicks her twice, and drags her body across the floor. The footage corroborates an allegation in the federal lawsuit Ventura filed (and quickly settled) six months prior.

According to the lawsuit, this particular incident occurred at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. This was confirmed by CNN reporters who reviewed photos of the location.

In her complaint, Ventura said she tried to leave the hotel after Combs had punched her in the face, giving her a black eye. The uncovered footage seems to show the aftermath when Combs chased after Ventura as she ran to the elevator.

Venutra declined to provide a comment to CNN. Her attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, said in a statement: "The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light."

A few hours after the video was published, Ventura's husband Alex Fine also shared a statement on Instagram.

He captioned the post: "Wrote this awhile back but the words ring true not just today but everyday."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Poonie Fine (@alexfine44)

May 19, 2024: Combs apologizes for assaulting Ventura.

On May 19, Combs shared an Instagram video captioned: "I'm truly sorry."

" My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video," Combs said in the video. "I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now."

Combs said that he sought professional help, therapy, and rehab after the incident.

"I had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I'm so sorry. But I'm committed to be a better man each and every day," he added. "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I'm truly sorry."

Combs has since deleted all Instagram posts on his account.

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

Meredith Firetog, Ventura's attorney, told CNN in a statement on Sunday: "Combs' most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt."

Firetog added that Combs' video was "disingenuous."

"That he was only compelled to 'apologize' once his repeated denials were proven false shows his pathetic desperation, and no one will be swayed by his disingenuous words," she said.

May 21, 2024: A former model accuses Combs of sexually assaulting and drugging her.

Per a lawsuit obtained by Business Insider, former model Crystal McKinney said that when she was 22, she met Combs at a 2003 Men's Fashion Week event in Manhattan.

She accused Combs of giving her copious amounts of alcohol and pressuring her to take marijuana she believed was laced, according to the lawsuit.

McKinney said that she was invited to Combs' studio and claims that Combs forced her to perform oral sex on him, according to the lawsuit.

McKinney said that she became unconscious and later woke up in a cab, according to the lawsuit.

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment.

May 23, 2024: Ventura speaks out and another woman files a lawsuit against Combs.

On May 23, Ventura shared a statement on Instagram thanking the public for their support and asking people to believe "victims the first time."

"The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but this is only the beginning," she wrote. "My only ask is that EVERYONE open your heart to believing victims the first time. It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation that you were powerless in."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Casandra Fine (@cassie)

Ventura also offered support to other victims of domestic violence.

"Domestic Violence is THE issue. It broke me down to someone never thought would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past," she wrote.

Ventura added: "I offer my hand to those that are still living in fear. Reach out to your people, don't cut them off. No one should carry this weight alone."

Later on that day, another woman, April Lampros, filed a lawsuit against Combs.

The lawsuit lists several allegations including sexual assault, battery, and assault. Lampros said she met Combs in 1994 while she was a student at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology and he offered to mentor her at the time.

"What Mr. Combs displayed as kind gestures quickly manifested into an aggressive, coercive, and abusive relationship based on sex," the lawsuit said.

Lampros alleged that Combs sexually assaulted her on four occasions between 1995 and 2001, with the last encounter occuring a few years after the former fashion student ended her relationship with him.

Lampros also alleged that in 1996 Combs forced her and his former girlfriend Kim Porter to take ecstasy and have sex with each other while he watched.

Lampros is represented by Tyrone Blackburn, who represented Jones and other women suing Combs.

"I'm confident that justice will prevail and the veil will be removed so no other woman will have to endure what I did," Lampros told CNN in a statement.

May 28, 2024: Rolling Stone drops expose about Combs.

On May 28, Rolling Stone published an investigation into Combs after interviewing his former friends, colleagues, and artists at his label, Bad Boy Records. The report featured new allegations against Combs, but he has not been sued in relation to these alleged incidents.

Three unnamed women who claimed they attended Howard University with Combs said they witnessed him assaulting a woman on campus.

The mother and two close friends of Shakir Stewart, a music executive who died in 2008, told Rolling Stone that Combs broke a chair over Stewart's head in 2000. They said Combs attacked him because Stewart tried to date Combs' ex-girlfriend, Kim Porter.

Kirk Burrowes, the former president of Bad Boy Records, and Felicia Newsome, the first manager of Bad Boy's recording studio, claimed that Combs attacked an unnamed woman inside the label's offices in 1994 and they had to pull the rapper off her.

Another woman, who went by the pseudonym of Anna, told Rolling Stone that Combs tried to solicit her for sex while she was working as a freelance graphic designer for Bad Boy Records in 2001.

Davis, Combs' attorney, told Rolling Stone in a statement that the rapper refused to respond to the new allegations.

"Mr. Combs cannot comment on settled litigation, will not comment on pending litigation, and cannot address every allegation picked up by the press from any source, no matter how unreliable," Davis said. "We are aware that the proper authorities are conducting a thorough investigation and therefore have confidence any important issues will be addressed in the proper forum, where the rules distinguish facts from fiction."

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

May 29, 2024: CNN reports that Combs' case may be brought before a federal grand jury.

Combs' legal issues may escalate to a criminal trial, according to a CNN report published May 29.

CNN reported, citing unnamed sources, that federal investigators aim to bring Combs' accusers to testify in front of a federal grand jury. However, according to the CNN report, the case would be focused on sex trafficking, money laundering, and illegal drugs.

Grand juries, which are comprised of citizens, assess the evidence provided by prosecutors and determine whether there is enough "probable cause" to put an individual on trial.

The jury would determine if there is enough evidence to charge Combs. These hearings are held in secret, and only the prosecutors are present, giving the prosecution an advantage in getting an indictment.

CNN also reported, citing unnamed sources, that federal agents have already interviewed most of the people who have filed lawsuits against Combs and questioned individuals seen in a video filmed inside Combs' house.

Representatives for Combs did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

A representative for the Homeland Security Investigations agency declined to comment.

June 6, 2024: A man who is incarcerated in a Michigan prison accuses Combs of sexual assault and drugging.

Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, who was incarcerated in a Michigan prison after criminal sexual misconduct and kidnapping, sued Combs on June 6th in Lenawee County Circuit Court in Michigan.

The Detroit Metro Times reported in September that Cardello-Smith accused the rapper of drugging and sexually assaulting him at a party in Detroit in 1997. At the time of the alleged assault, Cardello-Smith was a restaurant and hospitality industry employee, the Detroit Metro Times said.

July 3, 2024: Another woman files a lawsuit against Combs.

On July 3, The Los Angeles Times, Fox News, and TMZ reported that Adria English, a pornstar, accused Combs of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sex trafficking in a lawsuit filed in a district court in New York.

The LA Times reported English said she worked for Combs between 2004 and 2009 and accused him of forcing her to have sex with guests at his high-profile "white parties."

The publication reported that English claimed Combs forced her to have sex with guests, including celebrity jeweler Jacob Arabo, while she worked for Combs at his high-profile parties in Miami and New York between 2004 and 2009.

English said Combs threatened to "blackball" her from the entertainment industry if she did not engage in sex work at the parties. English said she went back to California in 2009 to escape Combs.

A representative for Arabo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Jonathan Davis, Combs' attorney, told Business Insider in a statement: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone."

"We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court."

August 7, 2024: Cardello-Smith is awarded a restraining order against Combs.

On August 7, Cardello-Smith participated in a virtual hearing, which was live-streamed on YouTube, in his case against Combs after he filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against the rapper.

Cardello-Smith said he wanted the court to stop Combs from selling any of his assets that could be used to compensate Cardello-Smith for possible damages until after the case was over. Anna Marie Anzalone, the judge, approved this motion.

In the hearing, Cardello-Smith also claimed Combs visited the Earnest C. Brooks correctional facility in Michigan to offer Cardello-Smith $2.3 million to drop the case.

August 26, 2024: Combs files to dismiss Jones' lawsuit.

Combs filed a new motion in Jones' lawsuit against him, requesting the court to dismiss the case.

The motion said that Jones failed to provide enough evidence for multiple allegations.

"Jones' Second Amended Complaint is his third attempt to dress up a run-of-the-mill commercial disagreement as a salacious RICO conspiracy," the motion reads. "Replete with legally meaningless allegations and blatant falsehoods, the SAC's true purpose is to generate media hype and exploit it to extract a settlement."

The motion also alleged that Jones posted a video on X in which he and rapper Uncle Murda joked about the lawsuit. The video no longer exists on Jones' X page, but the motion provides a link to another account that has reshared it.

According to the account @ArtOfDialogue, the video was taken at 50 Cent's Humor & Harmony weekend festival, which took place between August 7 to 11.

Lil Rod, who's currently suing Diddy for $30 million over allegations of sexual assault, sent a message to Diddy, saying he wants his money by Monday, after being spotted by Uncle Murda at 50 Cent's 'Humor & Harmony Weekend. pic.twitter.com/ezL0HAsFcC

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) August 15, 2024

On August 26, Combs' lawyer Erica Wolff told Business Insider in a statement via email: "Mr. Jones's lawsuit is pure fiction — a shameless attempt to create media hype and extract a quick settlement. There was no RICO conspiracy and Mr. Jones was not threatened, groomed, assaulted, or trafficked. We look forward to proving — in a court of law — that all of Mr. Jones's claims are made-up and must be dismissed."

Blackburn, Jones' attorney, responded to Combs' motion in a statement to Business Insider via email on August 28.

"Rodney Jones filed an affidavit under penalty of perjury to the truth of the matter asserted in the filing," Blackburn wrote. "Can Sean Combs do the same?! Sean Combs is a proven liar. He said Cassie was lying, and then, out of the blue, a video popped up of him beating her in the hallway. At the end of the day, Sean Combs word is as reliable as quicksand."

August 27, 2024: Jones tells Rolling Stone that he's been "blackballed" since his lawsuit against Combs.

A day later, Jones spoke to Rolling Stone about working with Combs and why he decided to speak out.

Jones alleged that his first "uncomfortable" experience with Combs was "around Thanksgiving" when Combs asked him to do drugs. Jones didn't specify whether this was 2022 Thanksgiving or 2023 Thanksgiving.

"He's a monster. He'll do whatever is necessary to get exactly what he wants. He doesn't take no for an answer," Jones said of Combs.

Jones said the lawsuit has affected his career and he has found it "very tough" to find work since speaking out.

"Here I am standing up for justice, for what I believe is right for my life, and I'm being punished for that," Jones said. "I've had many nights and weeks and months of suicidal thoughts. It's the music that has kept me living all my life."

Jones also said he has received threats and is paranoid whenever he leaves his house. He said he hired security to protect him, but still had a "couple mental breakdowns" while performing a gig with T-Pain in June.

"My anxiety was out the roof," Jones said of the incident. "I saw different guys backstage I didn't know and got scared. I wondered where the security was. It made me very uncomfortable. It's not a good feeling wondering if someone was there to attack me."

September 9, 2024: Cardello-Smith wins $100 million in a default judgment against Combs.

On September 9, Judge Anzalone awarded Cardello-Smith $100 million in a default judgment after Combs failed to respond to the legal proceedings.

Marc Agnifilo, Combs' attorney, told Business Insider in an emailed statement: "This man is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on 14 counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years.

"His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr. Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit. Mr. Combs looks forward to having this judgment swiftly dismissed."

The Los Angeles Times reported on Sept. 11 that Combs will have to pay Cardello-Smith $10 million a month for 10 months starting from October 1 if he is unable to appeal the judgment.

September 10, 2024: Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard sues Combs for sexual assault.

A day later, Combs was hit with another lawsuit.

Dawn Richard, a former member of the R&B girl group Danity Kane, which was formed by Combs in 2005, accused the rapper of assault, sexual assault and harassment, sexual battery, and false imprisonment.

In her lawsuit, filed in New York's Southern District court, Richard alleged multiple instances in which the rapper groped her and verbally abused her while Danity Kane was signed to Combs' label, Bad Boy Records.

Richard said the harassment continued when she joined Diddy in Dirty Money, a musical trio formed in 2009 featuring Richard, Combs, and singer Kalenna Harper.

Richard also claimed she saw Combs choke and punch Ventura, whom Combs was dating at the time, on multiple occasions.

On Monday, People reported that Harper responded to the lawsuit on her Instagram Story on September 13.

In one of the Story posts, Harper wrote: "It's important to understand that while I was present in some of the same professional settings mentioned, many of the allegations and incidents described in this suit are not representative of my experiences, and some do not align with my own truth."

Harper denied that she and Tony Vick, her husband, were involved in or aware of any abusive or unlawful behavior. In the lawsuit, Richard claimed Harper witnessed Combs abusing Ventura and was also yelled at by Combs. Richard also said Harper once confided in her that Vick was abusive to her.

In an emailed statement to Business Insider on September 17, Combs' attorney Wolff denied the allegations.

"Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit," Wolff said. "In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour."

"If Ms. Richard had such a negative experience with 'Making the Band' and Danity Kane, she would not have chosen to continue working directly with Mr. Combs for Dirty Money, nor would she have returned for the 'Making the Band' reboot in 2020 or agreed to be featured on 'The Love Album' last year."

Wolff added: "It's unfortunate that Ms. Richard has cast their 20-year friendship aside to try and get money from him, but Mr. Combs is confidently standing on truth and looks forward to proving that in court."

September 12, 2024: Combs files an emergency motion against the Cardello-Smith case to reverse judgment.

On Sept. 12, Combs' attorneys filed an emergency motion in the Cardello-Smith case, claiming that Combs was never served the summons for his missed trial.

In the motion, seen by Business Insider, Combs' attorneys asked the court to overturn the judgment and give them time to file a response to the complaint.

Combs' attorneys wrote: "This is a frivolous lawsuit against a prominent businessman, based on obvious fabrications, filed by a convicted rapist and serial litigant with an overactive imagination and a thirst for fame. Defendant, who was never served with this lawsuit, learned about Plaintiff and this action for the first time three days ago, when media outlets reported that this Court had entered a $100 million default judgment against him."

Combs' attorneys also wrote that the statute of limitations on Cardello-Smith's claim had expired before the case was filed.

September 16-17, 2024: Combs is arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury.

A press conference will be held today at 11:30 a.m. to announce the unsealing of an Indictment charging Sean “Diddy” Combs with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/zs4D1C5tvr

— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) September 17, 2024

Late on Sept. 16, Combs was arrested by federal authorities at the Park Hyatt New York Hotel in Manhattan, New York.

The next day, federal prosecutors announced on social media that Combs had been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

In the indictment, seen by Business Insider, federal prosecutors said: "For decades, Sean Combs abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct."

The indictment also said Combs created a "criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."

After Combs was arrested, Combs' attorney Agnifilo told Business Insider via email that the arrest was "an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs."

"He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal," Agnifilo said. "To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."

Correction: May 24, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the date that Cassie Ventura spoke out. It was May 23, 2024, not May 23, 2023.

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• My family of four had dinner at Shula's Steak House, a chain with a location at Disney World.
• The delicious filet mignon, key-lime pie, and creme brulee were highlights of the meal.
• We enjoyed our $330 dinner, which included nonalcoholic drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

On a recent trip to Disney World, my family and I decided we'd try a new restaurant — Shula's Steak House.

The small chain was named one of the 10 best high-end steak-house chains in America by the Daily Meal, and has seven locations in Florida, Chicago, Houston, and Richmond, Virginia.

The steak house, which is owned by Shula's Restaurant Group, is named after former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. The chain aims to carry on Shula's legacy, so each location has a loose football theme.

Here's what our experience at Shula's Steak House was like.

The restaurant was busy when we arrived, but we were seated on time.

Shula's Orlando location is inside the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel.

Our dinner reservation was at 7 p.m. on a Saturday, and Shula's was busy and vibrant without being overly crowded. When we arrived, we checked in at the host stand a few minutes early.

The dining room featured lots of football memorabilia, like black-and-white photos of players and wall art outlining the history of Don Shula's coaching career.

It felt like a traditional steak house, with white tablecloths and dark-wood walls, and reminded me of other places I've been to, like The Capital Grille.

Our meal began with complimentary bread and our choice of knives.

The complimentary bread service included a large loaf of sourdough and a plate of room-temperature butter, perfect for spreading.

In addition to the delicious, tangy sourdough, the meal started with an event that was a steak-house first for us: choosing our knives.

Our server instructed us each to select a utensil from a knife block, which was a fun start to the meal that set the restaurant apart from others we've visited.

We kept our dinner alcohol-free, so I started with a mocktail.

My husband and I are both cutting down on our alcohol consumption, so we stuck with nonalcoholic beverages. My husband and daughter drank water, and my son ordered a soda ($4.50).

I asked our server if the bar could make the restaurant's watermelon-mint mule without alcohol, and the staff accommodated my request. My $5 virgin mule was refreshing, with hints of ginger, watermelon, and mint.

We opted for the wedge salad for our first appetizer.

To start the meal, we ordered Shula's $16 wedge salad, which was made with iceberg lettuce, bacon jam, tomatoes, and a blue-cheese dressing.

We loved the spicy bacon jam, which added an interesting flavor to the salad.

We also ordered a server-recommended appetizer: the thick-cut Nueske's bacon.

Our server suggested we try the Nueske's bacon, so we ordered this dish as another appetizer. It was made with thick-cut bacon from the Nueske's Meats company.

The $22 appetizer was served on cheddar grits and came with a bourbon-honey glaze, cabbage-and-fennel slaw, and tomato jam.

The thick cuts of bacon were fall-apart tender and tasted like roasted pork belly. It paired well with the cheesy grits and crisp slaw and made for an impressive start to our meal.

My daughter ordered the baked Idaho potato and French onion soup, which she enjoyed.

My daughter ordered French onion soup ($15) and a baked potato ($13) for her meal. However, by the time it arrived, she'd filled up on too many appetizers to try both dishes.

The baked potato came with butter, sour cream, shredded cheese, chives, and bacon pieces for topping. It looked like it had been cooked perfectly, and she was eager to have it for lunch the next day.

My daughter loved her French onion soup, which came with melted Gruyere and provolone cheese on top.

My filet mignon was tender and cooked perfectly.

I ordered a 10-ounce filet mignon ($69) cooked to a medium-rare temperature.

The filet arrived warm and red in the center, with tasty, charred grill marks. I also ordered an au poivre sauce, which was an $8 upcharge. However, I didn't notice this extra charge on our final bill.

The sauce was creamy, peppery, and delicious when eaten with a bite of filet mignon.

My husband ordered a cowboy ribeye and added scallops.

My husband ordered the 22-ounce cowboy ribeye ($76) and added two scallops to the dish for an additional $16.

At our server's suggestion, he ordered his ribeye cooked to a medium temperature to allow the fat in the steak to soften and caramelize. He liked his meal and felt adding the buttery scallops was worth it.

My son is a picky eater, so he ordered two cheeseburgers off the kid's menu.

My son orders cheeseburgers nearly everywhere we go, so he asked to see the kid's menu.

Because he had a healthy appetite, he ordered two kid's patties ($9 each) stacked into a double cheeseburger.

He enjoyed the burger so much that he gobbled it down before I could snap a photo.

The crispy potato wedges came with tasty sauces.

We also ordered the crispy potato wedges ($14), which we found to be perfectly cooked.

The real stars of this side were the delicious sauces — we received a garlic aioli and bravas sauce (made with tomato paste and paprika).

We love to order steak-house creamed spinach, and Shula's did not disappoint.

The creamed spinach ($15), which had notes of Parmesan, garlic, and nutmeg, was pretty tasty.

The creamy side dish was the perfect balance of salty and cheesy and was made with savory spinach that tasted fresh.

Shula's key-lime pie was the perfect blend of tart and sweet.

Our server recommended we try Shula's key-lime pie, so we decided to see if it lived up to his hype.

The $15 dessert was incredible — tart, sweet, and so good. We couldn't stop taking bites of it, even though we were full.

Creme brulee is also a must-have for us, so we tried the one at Shula's.

I never shy away from creme brulee, so I had to order my favorite dessert.

The $14 dessert had a crackable sugar crust on top and tasty vanilla and cream flavors.

Our $330 meal at Shula's was really good, and I'd go back again when visiting Disney World.

With tax, our dinner cost $330. It included nonalcoholic drinks, appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and desserts, which we felt was a good value.

Our meal was outstanding, and the atmosphere was relaxing yet elegant. Based on our experience at the Orlando Shula's, we'd return when visiting the park or head to another location if we were nearby.

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• Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested Monday following a grand jury indictment.
• The music mogul was hit with three felony charges, including sex trafficking, according to the unsealed indictment.
• Diddy has been embroiled in months of controversy regarding sexual abuse allegations and a DHS raid.

Sean "Diddy" Combs has been hit with three felony charges, including sex trafficking, according to a newly unsealed federal indictment.

The music mogul was arrested in Manhattan on Monday following a grand jury indictment. He's expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

The indictment charges Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Federal prosecutors allege that for decades Combs "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct."

Combs and his associates "wielded the power and prestige" of the rapper's success to "intimidate, threaten, and lure female victims" into his orbit "often under the pretense of a romantic relationship," prosecutors said in the 14-page indictment.

"Combs relied on the employees, resources, and influence of the multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled — creating a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice," the indictment said.

Prosecutors also allege that Combs "manipulated women to participate in highly orchestrated performances of sexual activity with male commercial sex workers" and assaulted women on numerous occasions by "striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them."

Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a press conference Tuesday that the case represented how prosecutors were unafraid to investigate people at the highest corridors of power.

"A year ago, Sean Combs stood in the middle of Times Square and was handed the key to New York City," Williams said. "Today, he's been indicted and will face justice in the Southern District of New York."

Diddy, for months, has been embroiled in controversy following numerous sexual and physical abuse allegations from his former romantic and creative partners. The music mogul's Los Angeles and Miami mansions were the target of a Department of Homeland Security raid in March.

Combs has denied the allegations against him.

"We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Attorney's Office," Marc Agnifilo, Combs' lawyer, said in a statement to Business Insider on Monday.

Agnifilo said his client "is an imperfect person but he is not a criminal. " He described Combs as "nothing but cooperative with this investigation," having voluntarily relocated to New York last week "in anticipation of these charges."

"Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts,"Agnifilo said. "These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."

Prosecutors allege Combs orchestrated sexual performances called 'Freak Offs'

Combs, according to the indictment, "used force, threats of force, and coercion, to cause victims to engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers." Combs called these sex acts "Freak Offs," prosecutors allege.

Prosecutors describe these "Freak Offs" as "elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded."

During these acts, prosecutors allege, Combs would give out a variety of drugs to the victims in order to keep them "obedient and compliant."

Combs filmed videos of these "Freak Offs" and arranged for IV fluids to be given to victims so they'd "recover from the physical exertion and drug use," prosecutors said.

Prosecutors charged Combs with running a racketeering conspiracy, accusing him of using members of his business empire "to carry out, facilitate, and cover up his abuse and commercial sex." Those employees booked hotel rooms and stocked them with "required" supplies, prosecutors said in the indictment.

In response to a question from BI, Williams said his office may bring charges against people who worked for Combs in a superseding indictment.

"Nothing is off the table," he said.

During the March raids on Combs' Florida and California mansions law enforcement seized "various Freak Off supplies" that included narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, prosecutors said in the indictment.

Law enforcement officials also seized firearms and ammunition, including three AR-15s with defaced serial numbers, as well as a drum magazine, according to the indictment.

"Combs subjected victims to physical, emotional, and verbal abuse to cause the victims to engage in Freak Offs," the indictment said. "Combs maintained control over his victims through, among other things, physical violence, promises of career opportunities, granting and threatening to withhold financial support, and by other coercive means, including tracking their whereabouts, dictating the victims' appearance, monitoring their medical records, controlling their housing, and supplying them with controlled substances."

Allegations by Diddy's ex-girlfriend triggered federal investigation, his lawyer said

Agnifilo, Combs' lawyer, previously told BI that sex-trafficking allegations by Combs' former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, were the spark for the investigation by prosecutors for the Southern District of New York. A source familiar with the investigation confirmed Tuesday that "Victim-1" in the complaint is Ventura.

Ventura first took her allegations public in November of 2023 in a lawsuit, accusing Combs of years of physical abuse, rape, and forcing her to engage in sex acts with male sex workers during their on-again-off-again relationship from 2007 to 2018. The suit was settled for undisclosed terms.

In May, CNN published 2016 video which depicted Combs shoving, dragging, and kicking Ventura at a Los Angeles hotel, prompting further scrutiny. The incident is referenced in the indictment against Combs, with Ventura referred to as a "victim" who was attempting to flee.

Douglas Wigdor, an attorney for Ventura, declined to comment.

The ongoing legal turmoil has taken a toll on Combs' business ventures, with Combs parting ways with the liquor giant Diagio earlier this year and selling his entire stake in Revolt, the media company he founded, in June.

Though the recent accusations about sexual violence have prompted a fresh wave of criticism against the rapper, Combs has been plagued by allegations of violence for decades.

In 1999, Combs pleaded guilty to harassment after he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting Interscope Records executive Steve Stoute.

The same year, he and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were arrested and Combs was charged with criminal possession of a weapon after law enforcement found a gun in his car following a shooting at a club in New York City. He was acquitted of the weapons charges in 2001.

This story has been updated with details from the unsealed indictment and prosecutors' press conference.

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• A new report from alternative data consultancy Neudata says 95% of managers plan to increase or maintain their budget.
• The report notes the average manager only uses 20 datasets out of the more than 3,500 providers in the industry.
• Alternative data spending has become crucial for funds to keep pace with rivals.

The wonky datasets powering multi-strategy funds and quant giants aren't going anywhere.

The alternative data industry, made up of firms selling data collected from cell phone geolocation, credit card receipts, satellite images, and more, is growing steadily, and 2025 is expected to be a strong year for sales, according to a new report from industry consultancy Neudata. Hedge funds and other investors rely on these players to feed them information that gives them a more detailed look at specific companies and sectors or slices of the economy as a whole.

Nearly all buyers (95%) — including hedge funds, venture capital managers, and consultants — surveyed by research firm Neudata expect their 2025 budget to grow or remain the same. Meanwhile, more than 70% of sellers saw a jump in sales this year and expect continued growth next year.

"The mood among alternative data buyers and sellers is one of confidence," the report reads in a section about the expected "budget boom."

And this boom might hurt hedge funds' wallets. Alternative datasets have become increasingly viewed as table stakes, shifting from "nice to have" to "need to have" internally.

Of the 60 buyers surveyed, the average number of vendors they work with was 20, while the average alt data spend in a year is $1.6 million — roughly $80,000 per dataset. But for the biggest funds — the multi-strategy giants who have come to rule the hedge fund game — more than $5 million a year is shelled out on 43 data vendors, on average.

While price points can frustrate investment managers, especially as LPs become more focused on expenses, once funds find providers they like, they're remarkably loyal — and vendors know this. Integrating a new data feed into a fund's systems can be challenging, especially for sophisticated quant funds, and so it takes a lot for a manager to be willing to make a change.

"Most data buyers continued at least 90% of their subscriptions during the past year, indicating that once datasets are purchased, buyers are loyal to their decisions," Neudata's report states.

This stickiness is part of what allows places like MScience, the longtime data vendor owned by Jefferies, to unbundle their products and raise prices for many clients — and still retain a vast majority.

Buyers' loyalty also makes it tough for newcomers to break through.

"Most funds end up subscribing to less than a quarter of the datasets they trial," the Neudata report states, with 17% of buyers stating that they didn't buy any of the data they trialed over the past 12 months.

There's also a surge of interest in using alternative data backlogs to train AI models, giving long-running alternative data vendors another leg up in negotiations.

"Overall, the results of The Future of Alternative Data survey indicate a varied buyer market," Neudata wrote.

"Both buyer and provider responses indicate a growing industry, with forecasted increases in spending and revenue."

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• Many Haitians in the US — including in Springfield, Ohio — are on Temporary Protected Status.
• TPS offers safety from deportation and grants work rights, but is reviewed periodically.
• Biden extended TPS for Haiti, but a Trump win in 2024 would likely end it, immigration experts say.

Around 200,000 Haitians living in the US are on Temporary Protected Status, including many of those living in Springfield, Ohio, who have been targeted by former President Donald Trump and others with baseless claims about eating pets.

Those allegations have led to threats against the Haitian community in Springfield.

Several immigration experts told Business Insider that if Trump wins the 2024 election, he is likely to terminate TPS for Haiti, which could force many Haitians living legally in Springfield and across the US out of the country.

Trump has already called for mass deportations from the town, saying last week: "We're going to start with Springfield and Aurora."

TPS is temporary and discretionary

TPS is not a permanent legal status; rather, it offers protection to migrants already in the US from deportation, while also granting them the right to work legally.

In June, the Biden administration redesignated and extended TPS for Haiti for 18 months, allowing an estimated 309,000 additional Haitians in the US to apply for protection.

Nancy Morawetz, a professor of clinical law at NYU, explained to BI that TPS is reviewed periodically — every few years — to determine whether nationals of a specific country should continue to receive protection.

"Once a country is designated, each individual covered by the designation must apply separately for TPS status," she said, noting that existing TPS holders must also renew their paperwork with each redesignation.

TPS is temporary and discretionary, and an administration may choose to designate or redesignate a country if it is experiencing conflict, environmental catastrophe, or other extraordinary conditions.

According to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the most recent extension and redesignation of TPS for Haiti was based on ongoing violence, insecurity, and frequent natural disasters in the country.

Tom K. Wong, director of the US Immigration Policy Center, told BI in an email that because of its discretionary nature, TPS could also "shrink" or "go away," depending on who the president is.

This means that the outcome of the presidential election in November could be crucial.

Trump would likely refuse to redesignate TPS for Haiti

"I think if Harris wins, I certainly wouldn't take any redesignation off the table," said David Leblang, a professor of politics at the University of Virginia who has published an academic paper on Temporary Protected Status.

However, if Trump wins, Leblang told BI this is far less likely. "TPS will not be redesignated for probably any other country," he predicted.

Lori A. Nessel, a law professor at Seton Hall University School of Law, told BI that another Trump presidency could lead to the mass deportation of "lawful, hardworking members of the community who have been given permission to reside here."

"If he becomes president, I think there is certainly reason to be concerned that we might see another order ending TPS for Haitians and other nations like Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Sudan," she added.

Nessel notes that migrants may qualify for another type of immigration status through their jobs or marriage, or may already be in the US on humanitarian parole, but she predicts that any decision to end TPS for Haitians would be met with fierce resistance.

Indeed, it already was once before when Trump sought to end TPS for certain countries during his last administration.

Legal resistance would probably follow

During Trump's administration, the Department of Homeland Security ordered an end to TPS for nearly 60,000 Haitians.

"The litigation that ensued alleged that the decision to end TPS was unlawful on many grounds," Nessel said, with plaintiffs arguing that it was motivated by racial discrimination, in violation of the Fifth Amendment's guarantee to due process, and in violation of TPS holders' constitutional right to equal protection.

Ultimately, the order was rescinded by the Biden administration.

However, according to Julia Gelatt, associate director of the US Immigration Policy Program, history may guide any future Trump administration's approach to ending TPS.

Gelatt told BI that a second-time Trump administration would likely take a slower, more deliberate approach to ending TPS, potentially using a more cautious rulemaking process to make it "more litigation-proof."

She added: "The announcement could come quickly, but the actual timeline of when Haitian TPS holders would lose their protections, I'm less certain about. It could be a slower process."

During Trump's last term, Gelatt said that uncertainty about TPS caused significant anxiety among Haitian migrants, with many trying to move to Canada to avoid deportation to Haiti.

Many had spent years building a life in the US, away from the insecurity and danger of their homeland.

"I think it's just important context that there's already been a wave of great concern in the Haitian community about the end of TPS," Gelatt said.

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Summer is not quite over yet, and a pair of the best board shorts belong in your warm-weather rotation. These are a highly functional yet stylish piece of swimwear, first designed in 1950s Hawaii to meet the needs of surfers catching waves (and rays). These days, they're still a perfect summer style choice for any time you spend in the ocean, the lake, or the pool — particularly if you surf, but even if you're not the surfing type. There are some key differences between board shorts and the best swim trunks for men, though.

For one, board shorts are often cut with a longer inseam for more coverage in terms of watersports (especially surfing). Beyond that, swim trunks are typically lined, while board shorts aren't lined. Swim trunks are a bit more suited for on-land lounging by the pool or on the beach, but board shorts are designed to perform in the water — and these are the best ones we're adding to our getaway bag now.

Lululemon Current State Board Short

Trade in your Lululemon workout gear for some board shorts that are just as functional and even more stylish. A series of vivid colors nicely complement the summer sun and sand, but it's the water-repellent fabric that turns these into an ocean-ready set of board shorts. Plus, they feature a flat waistband for a secure fit.

Quiksilver Surfsilk Tijuana Boardshorts

Quiksilver has a long surfing heritage that still carries through to today, with upgraded modern technology to boot. That technology arrives by way of its soft-yet-durable Surfsilk fabric, which the brand boasts is soft to the touch yet strong and durable on the exterior.

Mugsy Coastals Stretch Swim Suit

Mugsy is famous for its stretch jeans, and its swimwear retains much of that same stretch and comfort, and in a wide array of colors. They feature a quick-drying water-repellent shell, plus an elastic drawstring waistband for a snug fit. There are also two inseam lengths to choose from – pool party or beach, these should surely fit right in.

Reef 19" Board Shorts

REEF practically has you outfitted from head to toe for your next beach vacation, from its functional, stylish sandals to these board shorts with contrasting side stripe and waistband detailing. The 19" outseam provides maximum coverage for watersports of all kinds, and the 4-way stretch fabric should prove durable yet comfortable.

Hurley One and Only Boardshorts

Hurley uses recycled super-suede fabric for a sustainable touch that should also hold up well through years of surf and sand. The pioneering brand also blends streetwear-esque designs with functional details like a back flap pocket for valuables when on dry land, and that's the sort of utility every swimwear collection needs.

Birdwell Beach Britches 311 Nylon Boardshorts

Birdwell Beach Britches very nearly invented the board short, or at least, they perfected it. The company has hardly changed its classic 311 Boardshorts over the years, which were a favorite among California surfers and lifeguards dating back to the 1960s. They're still sewn in California from the brand's tough yet supple SurfNyl fabric for maximum durability.

Brixton Nylon Water-Repellent Swim Trunks

Channel a touch of throwback cool with nylon swim trunks that also boast a stylish contrasting drawstring. The nylon fabric should stand up well to water and waves, while the longer inseam provides crucial coverage for plenty of days in the water.

RVCA Eastern BoardShorts

Recycled polyester (for a sustainable touch) teams nicely with elastane (for stretch and comfort) via these dependable boardshorts from a legendary surfing brand. A side flap pocket also delivers vital storage space for your everyday carry back on the sandy shores, while RVCA branding offers a touch of stylish appeal.

O'Neill Hyperfreak Heat Block Board Shorts

One of the struggles of catching wave after wave is board rash, which O'Neill has targeted here with its anti-rash hyperthread fiber. That design detail goes hand in hand with a selection of breezy summer colors, while stretchy and water-resistant fabric is as reliable as it gets for long surfing sessions (and day-long beach hangouts).

RVCA Current Stripe Water Repellent Board Shorts

No one likes water-logged trunks that increase the drag on your board during a surfing session, so RVCA designed these board shorts with a helpful 18" inseam and water-repellent fabric. The fabric also dries quickly back on dry land, and a range of stylish striped options and colorways offer helpful style for when it's time to grab a boardwalk beer.

Mack Weldon Swim Board Shorts

The same brand that makes trusty basics – from tees to boxer briefs – is on a mission to take over the rest of your wardrobe with these tech-savvy board shorts. That means they're made with four-way stretch and two seam-sealed pockets (including one on the front thigh for easy access). They've also received more than 300 reviews for an average of nearly five (out of five) stars.

Vuori Cruise Boardshorts

Vuori knows a thing or two about reliable performance in sporting pursuits, as its workout gear proves training session after training session. The brand uses a blend of recycled polyester, plus polyester and elastane, to nail the right fit and stretchy, quick-drying comfort. Plus, the scalloped leg detailing enhances mobility in and out of the water.

Chubbies Hawaii Fives Boardshorts

Chubbies already nails everything from the fit to the fabric and vivid colorways with its regular stretch chino shorts, and they've taken that same approach to these colorful, cool boardshorts. They feature a length more similar to regular swim trunks, but it's the four-way stretch fabric that really seals the deal in terms of performance. Plus, they come with cool added features like a bungee sunglasses loop.

Bonobos Boardwalk Swim Shorts

The same seersucker fabric you love so much in summer suiting gets a seasonal update via some breezy swim trunks in a nylon-spandex blend. As with everything from Bonobos shorts to chinos, the fit is on-point (with two shorts length options), and the colorways practically scream summer days in the sun.

Rhone Point Break Board Shorts

Rhone's workout gear has a rugged, reliable reputation, and the same holds true when you want to catch a few waves (or rays). Unlike other board shorts, these feature a mesh liner for added performance and protection, while the flat waistband is a streamlined, comfortable touch. These are also treated with Goldusion Anti-Odor technology for improved, long-lasting performance.

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Finding out where to watch the Champions League can change quite often depending on where you live, but our guide can help you watch every match from anywhere, with free and paid routes examined.

Paying is the only guaranteed way to see every last Champions League game throughout next season, but it's much cheaper in some countries than others. We can show you how to take advantage of those lower prices via a VPN (virtual private network), which masks your location to get around region blocks and greatly improves your online security and privacy in general.

• See also: Free F1 live stream | How to watch Premier League from anywhere

A VPN will also unlock multiple free Champions League match live streams each week, as numerous markets around Europe feature free games on local channels.

We've extensively tested VPNs and international streaming options and regularly browse dozens of TV guides to ensure we're bringing you the most up-to-date information. And if we present an option to subscribe to a cheaper subscription service that offers every game, it's because we've put our own money down to check that it works.

For example, while the US has the cheapest access to Champions League live streams of every game, you'll struggle to subscribe without a US bank account, even via a VPN. There are no such problems with Stan Sport in Australia, though, and it's much cheaper than TNT Sport in the UK.

Australian streaming service Stan includes a 30-day free trial for the required baseline tier (usually $10-$21 a month), but the Stan Sport add-on is billed at $15 immediately for a month's access.

Upcoming free Champions League live streams

There are some fantastic free Champions League live streams each week round around Europe. You don't usually get every game, especially in the early stages, but there are plenty of options this week. If you're not in the channel's country, you can still watch by using a VPN to prevent the website from detecting your location and blocking you.

The VPN mimics the required country for your viewing device and lets you watch along for free. We've tested this ourselves for lots of live sports, including F1, the Olympics, grand slam tennis, cricket, golf, and much more.

Don't have a VPN? Right now, there's a fantastic offer on the best VPN we've tested and have been using for years for streaming and protecting our online devices. You can save 49% on the usual price of ExpressVPN and get three months for free. If you're unsatisfied, there's a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Still not entirely sure you need a VPN? Take a look at our detailed ExpressVPN review to see why we rate it number 1. Then get stuck in and enjoy these free Champions League live streams.

• September 17: Young Boys vs. Aston Villa on Virgin Media 2 (Ireland)
• September 17: Real Madrid vs. Stuttgart on Virgin Media 2 (Ireland)
• September 18: Sparta Prague vs. Salzburg on Virgin Media 2 (Ireland)
• September 18: Man City vs. Inter Milan on Virgin Media 2 (Ireland)
• September 18: Celtic vs. Slovan Bratislava on RTE2 (Ireland)
• September 19: Feyenoord vs. Leverkusen on Virgin Media 2 (Ireland)
• September 19: Monaco vs. Barcelona on Virgin Media 2 (Ireland)
• September 19: Atalanta vs. Arsenal on RTE2 (Ireland)

How to watch the Champions League with a VPN

• Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
• Install it on the device you're using to watch the game.
• Set location to required overseas streaming service's country.
• Create an account and sign in if required.
• Enjoy the game.

Where to watch Champions League in the UK

TNT Sport is the home of most of the Champions League action in the UK, just like last season under the Discovery+ service. If you've been accessing it as a part of a BT TV subscription, you might have had an email about the change last season, but generally, you should be able to carry on as usual.

If you don't have TNT Sport, you can sign up for Discovery Plus Premium (the cheaper tiers don't include live sport) for GBP30.99 a month. You can also select it as part of a BT broadband bundle.

If the idea of tracking another streaming service grinds your gears, you might prefer the simpler option of adding it to your Amazon Prime membership as an add-on. It's the same GBP30.99 a month, and you can cancel anytime. You might find watching it through Amazon Prime Video means you can enjoy Champions League live streams across more devices, as app support across TVs, consoles, and streaming sticks is much better for Prime Video than Discovery.

The UK version Prime Video is also the exclusive home of a game each Tuesday during Champions League match weeks for some big matches featuring UK clubs. Here's a list of games exclusive to Amazon Prime Video over the coming weeks.

• September 17: AC Milan vs. Liverpool
• October 1: Arsenal vs. PSG
• October 22: Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
• November 5: Liverpool vs. Bayer Leverkusen
• November 26: Man City vs. Feyenoord

Pro tip: If you want a cheaper option than TNT, you might want to try Australia's Stan Sport, as you can subscribe with a UK bank account for less than half what it costs for TNT (we've tested this ourselves). You will need a VPN to access the site and Champions League live streams outside Australia. It still works out cheaper, though. More details below.

Where to watch Champions League in Australia

The Champions League is a Stan Sport exclusive in Australia. So you'll need to sign up for Stan and then add Stan Sport as an add-on. The cheapest setup is $27 a month (for Stan Basic at $12 and Sport at $15). Better yet, it comes with a 30-day free trial first for the baseline tier - you'll still pay $15 for the Sport add-on from the off, though.

Stan Basic only streams in standard definition, but Stan Sport's content will stream in up to 4K, even when paired with this cheapest tier, so you might as well go Basic if you're just getting it for sport. However, if you want to check out the TV shows and movies too, HD is $16 a month/$21 for 4K (then add $15 for Sport). All are on rolling one-month contracts, so there's no long-term commitment.

If you're eying up this option via a VPN as a cheaper alternative to your country's Champions League streaming service, we can confirm it will work. We were able to pay with a UK bank card and have full access to the streaming service. You could also use a travel card like Revolut to pay in local currency so you don't get a foreign transaction fee from your bank.

Where to watch Champions League in the US

This is where 'soccer' being so far down the rankings of the most popular sports in the USA really pays off for viewers who want to enjoy the most prestigious competition in club football.

You'll find every last Champions League game live streaming on Paramount Plus from just $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year (you wouldn't get two months of action for that annual price in the UK!). So yes, you can opt for the cheapest Paramount Plus tier and still get the Champions League despite it not having CBS, as the games will run via separate feeds. If you have CBS already, you'll find it airs some games, but nowhere near as many as Paramount Plus.

Can I access Champions League on Paramount Plus with a VPN?

Yes and no. If you set up Paramount Plus while already living in the US and are traveling abroad, and want to keep watching, you're all set. A VPN will indeed let you tune in like you were still in the US.

If you have a non-US subscription, like in the UK, you won't be able to access the US version's content with those same login credentials via a VPN on the app or the US website, as they're essentially different apps and services in each country. Unlike Netflix, which will allow one login to work anywhere via a VPN.

If you're outside the US and want a US account, Paramount Plus has made it difficult for outsiders to create one recently. That's because you'll need a US form of payment, and we've found international currency cards, like Revolut, don't count.

What about PayPal? You'll need to create a US PayPal account, which must be verified by a US mobile phone number. So, if you can get around all this, you can enjoy the best value Champions League live streams in the world.

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. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

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• GV-backed healthtech startup Fabric just made its fourth acquisition in 18 months.
• The startup bought more virtual care tech, this time from giant physician practice TeamHealth.
• Here's why Fabric is doubling down on its M&A spree as others ditch their telehealth investments.

Healthtech startup Fabric launched out of stealth in March 2023 to help patients get care faster and automate administrative work for providers.

Since then, it's been on a dealmaking spree. In June, Fabric bought Walmart's virtual care business, MeMD, after the retailer announced it would shutter its 51 health clinics.

MeMD was Fabric's third acquisition — the startup previously bought asynchronous virtual care platform Zipnosis from Bright Health, as well as generative AI startup Gyant.

Now, Fabric is pushing even further into telehealth with yet another buy. The startup has acquired TeamHealth VirtualCare, the virtual care business inside giant physician practice group TeamHealth, Business Insider has learned exclusively.

Fabric's four acquisitions have been powered by handfuls of cash from top investors such as Google Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Salesforce Ventures. The startup has raised $80 million to date, including a $60 million Series A round in February led by General Catalyst.

Fabric is leaning into telehealth at a time when many others are leaning out. While virtual care saw a tsunami of VC interest during the pandemic, investors and healthcare companies alike are now pulling back. UnitedHealth Group's Optum also shut down its virtual care business earlier this year, and telehealth companies Amwell and Teladoc have seen their stocks plummet from pandemic highs.

But Fabric's founder and CEO Aniq Rahman is still bullish on virtual care's future.

"There are a lot of people that are a little gun-shy about doubling down on their convictions. For us, virtual care is not going away," Rahman said. "We want to go deeper in virtual care, and there are some amazing teams and technologies we've been able to amass as a result."

Getting care anywhere

While Fabric's M&A-heavy strategy is unusual for an early-stage startup, it isn't unfamiliar to General Catalyst's portfolio.

Commure, the $6 billion startup cofounded by General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja, has made six acquisitions in the four years since its launch and has relied on those acquisitions to drive its growth, a September BI investigation found.

Where Commure has stumbled in developing tech in-house, though, Fabric maintains its buys are building on top of its own products.

Fabric, formerly known as Florence, launched last year with software for emergency rooms to help manage patients before, during, and after their visits. But emergency rooms are frequently overcrowded, including with patients with nonemergent medical conditions who might be better off seeking care elsewhere, Rahman said.

By buying Zipnosis from Bright Health, Fabric could offer telehealth capabilities to those patients.

"That really accelerated our business, and we had such a good experience with the Zipnosis deal that we've just been on an acquisition spree," Rahman said.

Next, Fabric acquired Gyant, a generative AI platform that automates patient scheduling and directs patients to the right type of care.

Rahman said the startup continues to build and improve its products that speed up patient intake in the ER, automatically record health data in the hospital's electronic medical record, and follow up with patients after their visits.

By buying MeMD from Walmart earlier this year, Fabric acquired the retailer's virtual care technology platform and expanded into contracting with payers, employers, and providers.

Now, in combination with the TeamHealth acquisition, Fabric has a 50-state network of clinicians and access to over 100 million lives in managed care contracts with payers.

The startup says it serves 30,000 employers, payers, and healthcare organizations, including large health insurer Highmark and health system Intermountain.

Signs of life in the M&A market

Rahman said Fabric's position as an early-stage startup has been surprisingly beneficial for dealmaking.

"It's allowed us to be very nimble and agile. We've been able to guarantee speed and certainty to the sellers, and we've also been able to construct very creative deals that have allowed us to align interests for the teams and the shareholders," he said.

The strategy is new for Rahman, a long-time entrepreneur and investor at Vast Ventures. The last company he led, an advertising analytics company called Moat, sold to Oracle in 2017 for $850 million.

In the years before the sale, Rahman said Moat "flirted" with the idea of M&A, but it was never a priority for the company.

Now, Fabric is looking at bigger and bigger acquisition targets, Rahman said, across the spectrum of private equity-backed and venture-backed startups as well as public companies. And with the IPO window still closed, many startups looking for liquidity have come knocking.

"A lot of the companies that are struggling to go raise capital right now, or some of these larger businesses that are reevaluating their position in the market, are creating opportunities for us as well," Rahman said. "Pretty much every week, there's inbound coming in from investors that are like, we have assets in our portfolio that may be accretive to what you're doing with Fabric."

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• In American history, four out of 45 US presidents have been assassinated.
• Other presidents, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, escaped attempts on their lives.
• Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts, one in which he was wounded by a shooter.

Four out of 45 US presidents have been assassinated over the course of American history.

Many more chief executives escaped assassination attempts thanks to heroic bystanders, diligent guards, misfiring pistols, and sheer luck.

Most recently, former President Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts in a matter of months. He was wounded during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July after a shooter opened fire from a nearby rooftop. A spokesperson said Trump was "fine" following the incident. The FBI said they are investigating the shooting as an assassination attempt.

Then, in September, a man with a gun was spotted on Trump's golf course in Florida within 500 yards of the former president. The suspect fled after a Secret Service agent shot at him, and he was later arrested and charged with two federal firearm offenses. The FBI said it was investigating "what appears to be an attempted assassination."

Two presidents who were assassinated escaped previous attempts on their lives.

On a hot August night in 1864, a sniper shot Lincoln's hat off his head — missing his skull by inches — as he took a solo ride on his favorite horse "Old Abe," according to " 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History." Lincoln was later shot and killed by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth, just five days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee.

Almost a century later, in 1960, retired postal worker Richard Paul Pavlick crammed his car with dynamite and plotted to ram the vehicle into then-President-Elect John F. Kennedy's limo in Palm Beach, Florida, Smithsonian magazine reported. He was motivated by his intense hatred of Catholics and the Kennedy family, but backed off when he saw that the president was with his wife and young children. Pavlick was later arrested and institutionalized until 1966, three years after Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while visiting Dallas, Texas.

These 13 other presidents all experienced serious assassination threats and ultimately survived, and these are only the most dramatic, most-publicized instances. Undoubtedly, the Secret Service has thwarted many more over the years.

Here are 13 presidents who escaped attempts on their lives.

President Andrew Jackson survived an assassination attempt in 1835 when the shooter's gun misfired.

On a misty January day in 1835, Richard Lawrence, an out-of-work house painter who believed he was the 15th-century English king Richard III, walked into the US Capitol Building.

President Andrew Jackson was leaving the funeral of a House representative when the English national confronted him in the East Portico, brandishing a pistol.

He raised the gun at Andrew Jackson and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.

"Let me alone! Let me alone!" Jackson yelled at Lawrence, Smithsonian magazine reported. "I know where this came from."

Lawrence discarded the weapon, produced a second pistol, and aimed the new gun at Jackson. It also misfired.

According to legend, Jackson subsequently flew at the man and thrashed him with his cane. Whether or not that's true, Lawrence's assassination attempt was unsuccessful. Smithsonian magazine reported that national anthem lyricist Francis Scott Key prosecuted his trial, where he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Lawrence spent the rest of his life institutionalized.

Time reported that the chance that both perfectly functional pistols would misfire was about one in 125,000. Jackson's survival may have depended on the dampness in the air that day.

President Theodore Roosevelt was saved by the length of his speech after an assassin shot him in the chest with a .38-caliber revolver in 1912.

In 1912, Roosevelt was running for the presidency on the Bull and Moose ticket. Saloon-owner John Schrank had begun stalking the former president after having an unusual dream.

According to "Killing the President: Assassinations, Attempts, and Rumored Attempts on U.S. Commanders-in-Chief," Schrank wrote: "In a dream I saw President McKinley sit up in his coffin pointing at a man in a monk's attire in whom I recognized Theodore Roosevelt. The dead President said, 'This is my murderer — avenge my death.'"

Fortunately, Roosevelt had his notes with him when he was shot on October 14 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin — 50 pages of them, folded in his breast pocket next to his metal glasses case. These objects slowed the bullet and saved Roosevelt's life.

The ex-president continued to speak after letting his audience know he'd been shot, according to the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

"I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose," he said in his speech.

He continued: "The bullet is in me now, so that I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best."

He finished the rest of his speech with a bullet in his ribs, where it remained until his death in 1919.

In 1928, President Herbert Hoover was nearly killed while visiting the Andes.

In 1928, President Herbert Hoover was nearly killed while visiting the Andes.

Argentine anarchists attempted to blow up his train, but the would-be assassin was seized before he could plant the bombs on the tracks.

After learning of the thwarted plot, Hoover tore the front page story from the newspaper so his wife Lou Henry Hoover wouldn't worry, according to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. The 31st president is said to have quipped that while he was unconcerned, "it's just as well that Lou shouldn't see it."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt survived a shooting in Miami in 1933.

Seventeen days before Franklin D. Roosevelt's first presidential inauguration, the president-elect disembarked from his yacht and made a short speech in Miami, Florida, on February 15, 1933. The Chicago Tribune reported that Chicago mayor Anton Cermak then approached Roosevelt for a short chat afterwards.

At that moment, anarchist Giuseppe Zangara opened fire. Roosevelt emerged from the attack unscathed, but Cermak was mortally wounded, along with onlooker Mabel Gill.

It's unclear who Zangara intended to assassinate. He was arrested and went to the electric chair after 10 days on death row.

Ten years later, Soviet officials claimed to have uncovered a Nazi plan to murder Roosevelt and other world leaders at the Tehran Conference, according to "Eureka Summit: Agreement in Principle and the Big Three at Tehran, 1943."

President Harry S. Truman evaded two attempts on his life.

Harry Truman's daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel, alleged in her father's biography that a Zionist gang had sent him and several other White House officials mail bombs in 1947, The New York Times reported. The alleged incident was never publicized and apparently ended with the Secret Service defusing the explosives.

The more famous attempt on Truman's life came about on November 1, 1950. Puerto Rican nationalists Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola attempted to storm the Blair House, where Truman lived while the White House was being renovated, according to the Harry S. Truman Library.

Torresola and White House police officer Leslie Coffelt died in the attack. Truman commuted Collazo's death sentence to life, which was then commuted to time served by Jimmy Carter in 1979.

A man targeted President Richard Nixon in 1974 by attempting to crash a plane into the White House.

Arthur Bremer, who ultimately shot and paralyzed Alabama governor George Wallace, first considered targeting President Richard Nixon, The Washington Post reported.

A more high-profile Nixon assassination attempt came about on February 22, 1974. Samuel Byck shot and killed a police officer at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, raced through the security checkpoint, and broke onto a Delta flight to Atlanta, The New York Times reported. Hours earlier, he had mailed a tape to the Washington Post detailing his plan to hijack an airliner and crash it into the White House, in order to kill Nixon.

Once on board the aircraft, he shot both pilots, killing one, after he was told that they could not take off. Police shot Byck through the plane's window, and he killed himself before he could be arrested.

President Gerald Ford survived two back-to-back assassination attempts in California in September 1975.

At a packed park in Sacramento, California, on September 5, 1975, Manson Family member Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme drew a gun after Ford reached into the crowd to shake her hand.

There was no round in the firing chamber, so the gun misfired, NBC News reported. Fromme was grabbed by the Secret Service. After receiving a life sentence, Fromme was released from prison in 2009, 2 1/2 years after Ford's natural death.

Only a few days later, self-proclaimed radical Sara Jane Moore shot a revolver at Ford in San Francisco on September 22. The shot missed thanks to the efforts of ex-Marine and bystander Oliver Sipple, who grabbed Moore's arm, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Moore was paroled in 2007, a year after Ford died.

Police arrested a man who sought to assassinate President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

On May 5, 1979, police arrested drifter Raymond Lee Harvey outside the Civic Center Mall in LA, 10 minutes before Jimmy Carter was scheduled to give a speech there.

Harvey had a starter pistol with several blank rounds, The Atlantic reported. Harvey claimed to be part of a cell that sought to assassinate Carter, but due to his history of mental illness, the men he named as co-conspirators were later released.

John Hinckley Jr., who would later attempt to assassinate Ronald Reagan, also considered shooting Carter in 1980, but backed out, the Dayton Daily News reported.

President Ronald Reagan came close to losing his life in an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981.

The New York Times reported that John Hinckley Jr. opened fire as the president walked to his limousine from the Washington Hilton around 2:30 p.m. on March 30, 1981. Press secretary James Brady suffered brain damage from the attack and eventually succumbed to his injuries years later, and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy and DC police officer Thomas Delahanty were also wounded.

Reagan was shot once in the chest and suffered serious internal bleeding and a punctured lung. He received emergency surgery at George Washington University Hospital, where he remained for several weeks.

After the attack, Reagan famously retained his sense of humor. He's quoted as telling his wife, "Honey, I forgot to duck" and jokingly asking whether the surgeons due to operate on him were Republicans.

Hinckley claimed to have carried out the attack to impress actress Jodie Foster, whom he was stalking. He was institutionalized and released in 2016, after being deemed to no longer pose a threat to others.

President Bill Clinton was the subject of several assassination plots during his stint in the White House.

Three assassination attempts alone occurred in 1994. Ronald Gene Barbour sought to kill Clinton on his daily jog through the National Mall, The New York Times reported.

Later that year, Frank Eugene Corder rammed a red-and-white single-engine airplane onto the White House lawn in an attempt to kill Clinton, The New York Times reported. Corder died in the crash, while the Clintons were unharmed.

A month later in October, Francisco Martin Duran slipped a suicide note into his pocket and fired numerous shots at the north lawn, the Los Angeles Times reported. A group of tourists ultimately tackled Duran and he was arrested.

An assassination attempt later took place abroad during Clinton's visit to Manila in 1996. A bomb was discovered under a bridge that the president's motorcade was scheduled to travel over. The bomb plot was the work of al Qaeda, Reuters reported.

A grenade was thrown near the stage where President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili spoke in 2005.

Robert Pickett, an ex-IRS employee with a history of mental illness, fired several bullets at the White House in February 2001, before a Secret Service agent shot him in the knee, The New York Times reported. President George W. Bush was exercising in the residential area of the White House at the time. Pickett was treated in a Bureau of Prisons psychological institution for two years following the incident.

A few years later, in 2005, Bush had a closer call while traveling abroad.

Bush and then-Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili appeared at a 2006 rally in Tbilisi, Georgia. During the event, Georgian national Vladimir Arutyunian tied a red handkerchief around a live hand grenade and threw it at the presidents and other officials, The Washington Post reported.

However, the explosive didn't detonate. The handkerchief had blocked the grenade's safety lever. Arutyunian escaped from the rally, and later killed a Georgian agent during his arrest. He was sentenced to life in prison for the assassination attempt.

President Barack Obama was the target of several assassination attempts during his presidency.

While Barack Obama was still a presidential candidate in 2008, two white supremacists named Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart conspired to murder 102 African American men — while driving around in a getaway car with the words "Honk if you love Hitler" scrawled on it.

CBS News reported that their conspiracy would culminate with planning the assassination of Obama, but police uncovered the detailed plot and arrested the duo long before they were close to launching their cross-country murder spree.

Later, in 2011, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez opened fire on the White House after claiming that Obama was the anti-Christ, The Washington Post reported. He crashed his car while escaping, and was later arrested and sentenced to 27 1/2 years in jail. The Obamas were not in the White House at the time of the shooting.

In April 2013, a letter addressed to Obama tested positive for ricin, a deadly poison. James Everett Dutschke was sentenced to 25 years in jail for the ricin mailing plot, Politico reported.

Then, in 2015, CNN reported that three men — Abror Habibov, Abdurasul Juraboev, and Akhror Saidakhmetov — had been arrested after plotting to kill Obama and bomb Coney Island in their efforts to join ISIS.

Former President Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts in the span of three months.

Former President Donald Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt when a shooter opened fire during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. He was photographed raising his fist in the air with blood smeared on his face.

Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that he was shot by "a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear." The FBI confirmed that Trump had been struck by a bullet, "whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces." One bystander died and two others were critically injured in the shooting, which is being investigated as an attempted assassination.

Then, on September 15, the Secret Service opened fire at a suspect with a rifle within 300 to 500 yards of where Trump was playing golf at his club in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspect did not fire at Trump, and the former president was evacuated safely. Officials said that the suspect may have hidden on Trump's golf course for 12 hours before he was spotted by authorities, citing phone location data. The FBI is investigating "what appears to be an attempted assassination."

There were earlier attempts on Trump's life, as well. At a 2016 campaign rally in a Las Vegas strip hotel casino, Michael Steven Sandford attempted to grab a police officer's gun. As he was taken into custody, the British national told officers that he was hoping to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Guardian reported that Sandford has a history of mental illness, which Judge James Mahan acknowledged in his hearing, saying that Sandford needed help and wasn't a "hardened criminal" — or even intent on assassinating Trump.

"I know saying sorry is not enough," Sandford told the court, the Guardian reported. "I really do feel awful about what I did. I wish there was some way to make things better. I have cost taxpayers so much money. I feel terrible."

In May 2017, KYT 24 reported that Sandford had been deported to the UK, after being in US custody for about 11 months.

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• Aldi has one of the best grocery selections at a fraction of the price of other stores.
• It's where I get most of my staples, including bread, when I'm on a budget.
• But the chain also has some great generic dupes, beverages, and snacks to pick up.

Aldi's quality products and inexpensive pricing make it one of the best places to shop for food.

It's easily the cheapest chain near me, and it's one of the fastest- growing grocery stores in the US.

Here are my favorite Aldi products that help me stick to my budget.

The Elevation energy bars are a great grab-and-go option.

If you like Clif Bar, Aldi's Elevation brand carries similar, dense energy bars with 9 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.

Each box of six bars costs $5.85, bringing the price per bar down to less than $1.

Aldi has the best deals on basic cereal.

I was a big fan of Life growing up, and Millville's Balance multigrain cereal tastes very similar.

It comes in two flavors (regular and cinnamon) for $2.15 a box.

Aldi's lobster-roll dip is a great end-of-summer treat.

I like to grab a tub of Aldi's lobster-roll dip to have a decadent and fun snack to whip out at parties.

It's the perfect spread for toast and sandwiches, and I also use it as a dip for veggies and crackers.

Each 12-ounce tub is $3.80.

I can get fancy Brie on a budget at Aldi.

Brie is such a great cheese to have on hand. And for just $4, Aldi's prices beat many other fancy wheels.

The creamy cheese pairs well with so many different produce and snacking options. I also love baking it in the oven with jam or jalapeno spread and wrapped in crescent dough.

Kirkwood ground turkey is super affordable.

If you want to incorporate more lean protein into your diet, Kirkwood's frozen ground turkey costs just $2.90.

I fry up the affordable meat for meatloaf, pasta dishes, stuffed peppers, and more.

Aldi stocks a variety of salad kits.

My favorite Little Salad Bar kit from Aldi is the Asian-inspired chopped salad.

It combines fresh greens, cabbage, sesame dressing, wonton strips, and sliced almonds. There are also bags with and without sliced chicken and mandarin oranges to make it more filling.

The simple kits are $3.

Mama Cozzi’s calzones are a go-to when I'm short on time.

I like to keep easy options on hand that don't require prep. Mama Cozzi's calzones are a great, quick-heat meal for just $2.40.

They're available in four varieties: four cheese, pepperoni, Philly cheesesteak, and Buffalo chicken.

Nature’s Nectar aloe-vera drink usually makes it into my cart.

Nature's Nectar's aloe-vera drink is a refreshing beverage I can almost always find at Aldi.

It comes in subtle flavors (my favorite is mango) and has jelly-like slices of aloe floating in it.

The best part is that the bottles are $1.

Clancy’s restaurant-style tortilla chips are huge.

Clancy's makes some phenomenal restaurant-style tortilla chips that are sturdy enough to hold any dip.

They somehow taste homemade, and for $2 a bag, they're pretty phenomenal.

Chef’s Cupboard Hawaiian stuffing mix is a fun twist on the classic dish.

When Aldi stocks the Chef's Cupboard Hawaiian stuffing mix, I always scoop it up.

It takes the classic holiday dish and gives it a light twist, with Hawaiian bread and a subtle pineapple flavor.

Each 6-ounce box is only $1.45.

Happy Farms' strawberry cream cheese is delicious.

If you like a good bagel with schmear in the morning, Aldi carries whipped cream-cheese spreads that rival name brands on the market.

Each tub costs $2, and my favorite year-round flavor is strawberry.

L’oven Fresh's honey-wheat bread is a staple.

I've turned to Aldi for most of my grocery staples, including bread.

L'oven Fresh's honey-wheat loaf is my favorite for sandwiches and costs just $1.85.

Benton’s peanut-butter fudge cookies are a delicious treat.

If you're a fan of Tagalong/Peanut Butter Patties Girl Scout cookies, Benton's cheaper alternative might just be up your alley.

The peanut-butter fudge cookies are just $1.60 a box.

Click to keep reading Aldi diaries like this one.

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• Some top investors prefer high portfolio concentration levels.
• While diversification protects against risks, concentration is a high-risk, high-reward proposition.
• Apple and Occidental Petroleum are among the stocks that some investors have at least 20% of their portfolios in.

Some of the best investors in the world find success through what others may view as a risky strategy: high portfolio concentration levels.

While diversification can help protect against downside risks — which is why many fund managers put guard rails in place for how large their individual holdings can be — concentration is more of a high-risk, high-reward proposition. If those few names perform well, it can pay off in a big way. Late investing great Charlie Munger has been one of the most well-known advocates for the method.

But there are levels to this. For many funds, weighting their holdings above 10% would constitute high concentration levels. Strategists also regularly warn the S&P 500 is too concentrated in Big Tech names. As of September 1, the market's largest company is Apple, making up just under 7% of the index, followed closely by Microsoft and Nvidia.

Some investors, however, make much larger wagers. Using data from GuruFocus.com's list of 145 top investors and funds, Business Insider has compiled a list of 11 stocks on which investing legends are placing massive bets by putting at least 20% of their portfolios into the companies.

The stocks are listed in ascending order of the size of their weight in the investors' respective portfolios.

TWC Enterprises

Ticker: TWC (traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange)

Investor betting on the stock: Francis Chou, manager of the Chou RRSP Fund

Weight in portfolio: 20.4%

Liberty Global

Ticker: LBTYK

Investor betting on the stock: Seth Klarman, CEO of Baupost Group

Weight in portfolio: 21.3%

Mr. Cooper Group

Ticker: COOP

Investor betting on the stock: David Nierenberg, founder of Nierenberg Investment Management Company

Weight in portfolio: 23.3%

Green Brick Partners

Ticker: GRBK

Investor betting on the stock: David Einhorn, founder of Greenlight Capital

Weight in portfolio: 29.3%

Apple

Ticker: AAPL

Investor betting on the stock: Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

Weight in portfolio: 30.1%

Occidental Petroleum

Ticker: OXY

Investor betting on the stock: Prem Watsa, CEO of Fairfax Financial

Weight in portfolio: 32%

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals

Ticker: MDGL

Investor betting on the stock: John Paulson, founder of Paulson & Co.

Weight in portfolio: 38.3%

Loar Holdings

Ticker: LOAR

Investor betting on the stock: David Abrams, founder of Abrams Capital

Weight in portfolio: 40.1%

Microsoft

Ticker: MSFT

Investor betting on the stock: Robert Karr, founder of Joho Capital

Weight in portfolio: 41.2%

Alpha Metallurgical Resources

Ticker: AMR

Investor betting on the stock: Mohnish Pabrai, founder of Pabrai Investment Funds

Weight in portfolio: 54.1%

The St. Joe Co.

Ticker: JOE

Investor betting on the stock: Bruce Berkowitz, founder of Fairholme Capital Management

Weight in portfolio: 84.7%

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• A man with a busy office job made his gym routine more efficient with full body supersets.
• The workouts helped him build muscle and burn fat in four months after years of not seeing results.
• He said the key difference was pushing himself harder and staying consistent to see progress over time.

A busy office worker said he transformed his physique in four months thanks to an efficient workout plan.

Andre Frade works for an investment bank in London, and his schedule doesn't leave much extra time for the gym. He told Business Insider he was frustrated and unmotivated after about a decade of spending money and valuable free time trying different workouts and sports without seeing the results he wanted.

"I wanted to get the magazine cover body," Frade, 30, said. "I thought there must be some secret I don't know."

About four months ago he, started working with Adam Enaz, a personal trainer who champions a well-researched, increasingly popular exercise technique known as a superset.

While there is good evidence that resting 1-3 minutes between sets of exercise is ideal for building muscle, that adds up to a lot of extra minutes (and eventually hours) in the gym.

With supersets, you combine complementary exercises, without taking a break in between. A recent preprint study found this method to be extremely effective for building muscle.

With a little planning, supersets can be a great way to save time in the gym without sacrificing gains, according to Enaz.

After changing up his workouts and slightly adjusting his diet, Frade not only saw more visibly defined muscle, but also increased all of his lifts in the process, without spending long hours exercising.

"We managed to create a very short but very effective workout," he said. "After work I know I have to go to the gym but I'm in and out."

Supersets combine exercises for more gains in less time

Building muscle and strength isn't just about how hard you work — in order for the muscle to grow, you need rest too, Enaz told Business Insider.

"The longer you rest, the more muscle you gain," Enaz said.

To harness the benefits of rest, Enaz uses a specific variation of the technique called an antagonist superset, in which the paired exercises use opposing muscle groups, like chest and back or biceps and triceps. Another type of superset involves pairing unrelated muscle groups, like upper and lower body.

In theory, researchers and trainers say, the combos allow one muscle group to rest while you're working a different muscle group with another exercise, tapping into the benefits of rest without added time.

For Frade, it means spending more of his precious time in the gym making gains.

"It saves time on waiting around for the muscle to be ready for the next set," he said.

Ditching the 'bro split' in favor of full-body workouts

Another benefit of the superset method is that makes it possible to move beyond the so-called " bro split," Enaz told BI.

The "bro split" is a pretty standard approach to a gym routine: crush a specific muscle group at a time, with exercises from every angle.

Using supersets, you can create a full-body plan, and work out harder, because you're not exhausting any one muscle group. Enaz, who is also a clinical dietitian, said that's a benefit if your goal is fat loss, because a full-body workout offers more opportunities for calorie burn.

Frade said the overall evidence-based approach appealed to him "as a data guy," and that doing four sessions a week for no more than an hour each fit his ambitious schedule.

Doing a few sets per muscle group more frequently allowed him to make each set count by adding more weight and pushing himself harder, he said.

To burn fat, Frade also dialed in his diet, maintaining a small calorie deficit to burn fat by being more mindful of how much he consumed.

"I can eat everything, I just compromise on the portions," he said.

Seeing his progress boosted his drive to keep going.

"What I was always lacking was consistency and motivation. I would work hard for two weeks and didn't see changes so I would stop," Frade said.

Sticking to his goal and following through gave him a sense of confidence. "It doesn't mean it's easy, but it's possible. I've taken that to work, too."

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The Champions League starts up this week and the NFL season is officially underway, so it's a perfect time to tap into some of CBS' live offerings, which you can stream on Paramount+. If you haven't picked up a subscription yet, you're in luck since you can get 50% off Paramount+ annual plans for a limited time only.

• Save 50% on subscriptions at Paramount+

Paramount+ is the streaming home for all things CBS, from flagship dramas like Blue Bloods and Criminal Minds to the 100 regular-season NFL games scheduled to air on the network this season. It also has every match of Europe's elite Champions League soccer tournament. Paramount+ offers all of that in one place for those without cable, plus several original shows, Showtime perks, and other live TV options, depending on which plan you choose.

Until September 23, 2024, both tiers of Paramount+ are available for half-off if you sign up for an annual contract and use promo code FALL50. Below, we've outlined the exact savings and highlighted what you'll get with each available Paramount+ plan. And no matter which option you choose, you can try it out for free for one week.

Paramount+ Essential is available for just $30 (compared to the usual $60), while Paramount+ with Showtime is listed for $60 (compared to the usual $120). If you choose either of these plans, you'll pay the fee upfront (after the seven-day free trial is over) and receive Paramount+ for an entire year. Subscriptions will renew at whatever the standard rate is this time next year.

What comes with a Paramount+ Essential plan?

The Paramount+ Essential plan is all about on-demand content. The plan offers the entire catalog of CBS and Paramount+ original shows, and several recently released films from Paramount Pictures. While live streaming CBS is reserved for the next tier, which we dig into below, the Essential plan does allow subscribers to live stream all of CBS' NFL games (as long as they're broadcast on your local CBS station).

This is also the case for live UEFA Champions League matches. You won't be able to watch your favorite CBS dramas and comedies live, but they'll be available to stream on-demand with this plan by the next day. The Essential tier comes with ads for both live and on-demand content.

What comes with a Paramount+ with Showtime plan?

As you might have guessed from the name, the Paramount+ with Showtime tier offers all Showtime original TV series and movies in addition to the full suite of CBS and Paramount+ content. Everything on-demand is available to watch ad-free. However, the biggest game changer for the With Showtime plan is the ability to live stream your local CBS station 24/7. This means you can watch every new episode of NCIS or Big Brother live without having to wait until the next day.

As with the Essential plan, you can watch all of the available NFL on CBS games live through your local CBS affiliate. The With Showtime plan means that this will also be true for other major games held on the network, including March Madness and select weekend WNBA games.

Who is eligible for the deal?

New and former subscribers are eligible for the Paramount+ annual deal. This means that if you've had an account in the past, you can still get the deal if you commit to an annual plan. However, only new subscribers can access the free trial, so former subscribers will be billed immediately after they sign up.

How much are monthly plans?

We've broken down everything you need to know about Paramount+'s annual plans, from the current deal to the usual rates, but the streaming service also offers monthly subscriptions to both plans, which you can cancel at any time. The Paramount+ Essential plan typically costs $8 a month, and the Paramount+ with Showtime tier usually costs $13 a month. Like the annual subscriptions, both options include a one-week free trial for new customers.

Which Champions League matches are available?

Every UEFA Champions League match will be available to live stream on Paramount+. This is the only place in the US where you'll be able to find total Champions League coverage. The first matchday runs from September 17 to 19, and the next one takes place from October 1 to 2. You can expect about two matchdays per month through January 2025.

If you fancy some international soccer options, many of which are free, check out our extensive guide on how to watch Champions League live streams.

For more information and additional terms and conditions, head to the Paramount+ website. And for more TV and movie options, check out our best streaming deals article.

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• Amazon is starting a "bureaucracy mailbox" for workers to report inefficiencies.
• CEO Andy Jassy aims to cut unnecessary processes and improve organizational efficiency.
• Other measures include fewer managers, fewer meetings, and a return to office mandate.

Sometimes, it takes a bit of bureaucracy to trim the bureaucracy.

That's the hope, at least, of Amazon's new "bureaucracy mailbox" where workers can flag what CEO Andy Jassy described as "unnecessary and excessive process or rules."

It's like a suggestion box but with a narrower focus. And it's something more companies — especially big ones — might consider doing.

Carly Holm, the founder and CEO of Humani HR, a consulting firm, told Business Insider that it's important to have ways for employees to share specific feedback.

"Whether it's through surveys or suggestion boxes or employee engagement, it's good to get a pulse check of your employees. And I think that's what he's doing," she said of Jassy.

Jassy announced the mailbox and several other measures on Monday — including having fewer managers and cutting back on meetings. Most notable was a return to the office five days a week starting next year for the retail giant's corporate workers.

In the statement, Jassy pointed out that not all procedures are bad, writing, "To be clear, companies need process to run effectively, and process does not equal bureaucracy."

He added that those things that aren't needed should be "called out and extinguished."

"I will read these emails and action them accordingly," Jassy wrote.

Holm said that it's likely the name "bureaucracy mailbox" is intended to help keep the scope of what flows there focused on inefficiencies within the sprawling organization. Otherwise, there's a risk it could become a catch-all for employee gripes or suggestions that might not pertain to making the organization run more smoothly.

"He's trying to just get that specific feedback about manager layers," she said, adding that it will be interesting to see what kind of responses emerge.

Holm said it can be daunting to manage such a large organization and that focusing on inefficiencies can help detect patterns and problem spots.

"Everyone's talking about department ABC. 'OK, maybe we should really look at department ABC because that one seems inefficient,'" she said.

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• Elon Musk's "America PAC" has spent tens of millions of dollars to help Donald Trump.
• Now, the super PAC is wading into more than a dozen House races across the country.
• It shows that Musk's involvement with the GOP won't stop with Trump.

Elon Musk's super PAC has already spent tens of millions of dollars on electing former President Donald Trump. Now, the tech billionaire's "America PAC" is wading into the fight for control of the House of Representatives.

According to a document filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday night, America PAC is spending more than $2.1 million across 14 competitive House races.

There's likely to be more where that came from. Punchbowl News reported on Monday that the PAC has set aside $10 million for "voter turnout" in House races around the country.

In an interview with the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson in July, Musk said that his PAC was "not meant to be sort of a hyperpartisan PAC" and that the goals were "promoting meritocracy" and promoting "freedom to operate, meaning the least amount of of government intervention possible."

It remains unclear how much Musk, who created the PAC and is reportedly involved deeply in itself operations, has contributed to the PAC himself. The PAC's July report did not include any contributions from Musk, and the group isn't required to disclose further contributions until mid-October. Musk has also denied earlier reports that he planned to spend $45 million per month on the effort.

Neither Musk nor a representative for the PAC immediately responded to a request for comment.

So far, America PAC has spent more than $55 million on the election, the vast majority of which has gone toward supporting Trump and opposing Vice President Kamala Harris.

But the spending indicates that Musk's pivot toward the right isn't limited to Trump, and that he's invested in helping Republicans hold onto control of the House as well.

The races where Musk's PAC is spending

According to the Monday night filing, Musk's PAC is spending heavily on both digital ads and canvassing operations. In each instance, the PAC is spending an equal amount on boosting the GOP candidate and going negative on the Democratic candidate.

Here are the 14 races where America PAC is already spending:

• $296,925 in New York's 17th district, where Republican Rep. Mike Lawler faces former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones.
• $264,825 in California's 41st district, where Republican Rep. Ken Calvert faces Democratic candidate Will Rollins.
• $221,875 in California's 45th district, where Republican Rep. Michelle Steel faces Democratic candidate Derek Tran.
• $212,062 in Ohio's 13th district, where Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes faces Republican candidate Kevin Coughlin.
• $172,537 in California's 22nd district, where Republican Rep. David Valadao faces Democratic candidate Rudy Salas.
• $160,125 Ohio's 13th district, where Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur faces Republican candidate Derrick Merrin.
• $157,500 in Maine's 2nd district, where Democratic Rep. Jared Golden faces Republican candidate Austin Theriault.
• $131,323 in New York's 19th district, where Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro faces Democratic candidate Josh Riley.
• $130,500 in Washington's 3rd district, where Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez faces Republican candidate Joe Kent.
• $109,702 in New Jersey's 7th district, where Republican Rep. Tom Kean faces Democratic candidate Sue Altman.
• $86,997 in New Mexico's 2nd district, where Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez faces former Republican Rep. Yvette Herrell.
• $75,897 in Colorado's 8th district, where Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo faces Republican candidate Gabe Evans.
• $50,903 in Nebraska's 2nd district, where Republican Rep. Don Bacon faces Democratic candidate Tony Vargas.
• $43,853 in Iowa's 3rd district, where Republican Rep. Zach Nunn faces Democratic candidate Lanon Baccam.

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• This year's full harvest moon is also a supermoon, and it's rising early Tuesday evening.
• There will also be the last partial lunar eclipse of the year later, Tuesday evening.
• Here's the best time to see the super harvest moon and catch the partial lunar eclipse.

There are a couple of reasons to check out the upcoming harvest moon. First, it's a supermoon, meaning it will appear slightly bigger and brighter in the night sky than a typical full moon.

Second, it coincides with the last partial lunar eclipse of the year. So, depending on your location, you'll be able to see Earth's shadow sweep across a small part of the harvest moon when it rises Tuesday evening.

The best time to watch the super harvest moon and partial lunar eclipse

The harvest moon is the full moon that occurs nearest to the first day of autumn. It typically rises in the early evening around sunset, which meant farmers could finish harvesting their fall crops by its bright moonlight, hence the name.

This year, the harvest moon will officially be at its fullest on September 17 at 10:35 p.m. ET, according to NASA. But if you miss it on Tuesday, the harvest moon will still appear full through Thursday morning, NASA adds.

The best time to catch any full moon, including the harvest moon, is right around moonrise.

That's because the moon looks larger and adopts a yellow-orangish hue when it's close to the horizon. No one knows why this illusion occurs, according to NASA, but it makes for some spectacular moon gazing and photos.

The moon will rise over the east horizon around 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday for most of the contiguous US, but check TimeandDate for exactly when moonrise is in your area. Here's when the full harvest moon will rise Tuesday in the five largest US cities:

Also happening Tuesday evening is a partial lunar eclipse. The eclipse will start at 8:41 p.m. ET, according to NASA, but you likely won't see anything happen until closer to the eclipse's peak at 10:44 p.m. ET, when the maximum area of the moon's surface will be in shadow.

A partial lunar eclipse is when Earth passes between the sun and moon, casting its shadow across a certain percentage of the lunar surface. The more the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned the greater portion of the moon the Earth eclipses.

For this particular eclipse, about 8.4% of the moon will be immersed in shadow, per NASA. So, at the time of the eclipse's peak, you should be able to notice that a small sliver looks like it's missing from the top of the moon.

"The only impact the eclipse has on seeing the moon is that part of the moon will be dimmer than the part that is outside of the shadow of the Earth," Noah Petro, a research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, told BI over email.

Tuesday's partial eclipse is the last lunar eclipse of the year. The next lunar eclipse will be a total eclipse on March 14, 2025.

Just about everyone worldwide can enjoy the upcoming supermoon but only regions of North America, South America, Europe, and Africa will have a chance to see the lunar eclipse. TimeandDate has a map showing which portions of the globe will get the best eclipse show.

The harvest moon is the second supermoon of 2024

This year's harvest moon is the second in a series of four consecutive supermoons, according to EarthSky.

Supermoons occur when a full (or new) moon coincides with perigee — the point in the moon's orbit when it's closest to Earth.

But that distance isn't always the same value because the moon's orbit is elliptical, not perfectly circular. Therefore, supermoons vary in how much larger and brighter they may look.

In general, though, supermoons appear about 7% larger and 15% brighter than a typical full moon, Larry Wasserman, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona, told Business Insider via email.

This year's harvest moon will be about 222,131 miles from Earth at perigee. To compare, the closest supermoon so far this century, in November 2016, was at a distance of 221,524 miles, according to EarthSky.

The next two full moons, on October 17 and November 15, will also be supermoons. In particular, October's full moon — called the Hunter's moon — will be the largest supermoon of the year.

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• Apple's new iOS 18 is available to download now for iPhone models from the X onward.
• iOS 18 includes a new home screen design, enhanced iMessage features, and a revamped Photos App.
• Other updates include hiker-friendly Apple Maps and a new tapping feature in Apple Wallet.

The new version of Apple's iPhone operating system, iOS 18, is officially here.

If you have an iPhone X or later, it's now available to download. Just head on over to your phone's Settings, then General, and finally click on Software Update.

With iOS 18, Apple is bringing updates to a wide range of apps and features, including Mail, Photos, iMessage, and Apple Wallet. And while iOS 18 will eventually feature Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 lineup, you'll have to wait until October to see those features start rolling out.

But there's plenty to explore in the meantime.

Here are some of the changes we're most excited about iOS 18.

A new home screen design

Apple iOS 18 lets you customize your home screen wallpaper, app icons, and widgets. You can move your widgets to better fit your backgrounds, rather than lining them up from the top and filling each space before creating a new row.

The update also offers a new customization sheet that lets you tint app icons with different colors. It also added Dark Mode wallpapers, which tints apps.

iMessage is becoming more interactive

Tired of the limited emoji reactions in iMessage? You definitely need iOS 18.

Apple's director of internet technologies product marketing, Ronak Shah, said this is a "huge year for Tapbacks." iOS 18 will now allow users to tap back on a message with any emoji or sticker. The update brings it closer to other messaging platforms like Google Chat, Slack, or WhatsApp.

The new update also lets you schedule messages in advance, which is a popular feature on apps like Slack.

You'll also have more ways to express tone over text with the ability to bold, italicize, underline, or strikethrough any text. You can also visually amplify messages with text effects like making them jitter, bloom, or shake. Some words and phrases will automatically suggest a text effect, so you can quickly select it.

You can cut down on time spent searching for photos

Apple exec Craig Federighi called the update to the Photos app in iOS 18 its biggest redesign yet.

The app will now be unified into a single view with a photo grid at the top and your library organized by theme at the bottom.

With the new update, you can declutter your app from things like screenshots by filtering them out. You can also select months or years to quickly jump to specific dates.

Collections organizes your photos into specific topics, such as Recent Days, People and Pets, and Trips. You can also pin specific collections that are most important to you or that you plan to access frequently.

No one has to see that app you have

Apple is offering new ways to improve app privacy with iOS 18, and one of the new features lets you add apps to a locked folder to keep others from seeing them on your phone.

The update also allows you to require Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to access certain apps. Information from inside the app will also be hidden from other places in the system, like search, notifications, or call history.

Tap to exchange Apple Cash

Apple Pay also just gained a leg up on Venmo and Zelle.

The new Tap to Cash update makes transactions more seamless than ever by allowing users to exchange Apple cash with each other without sharing a phone number or email address. All you have to do is hold your iPhone against another to send a payment to it.

Apple Maps is becoming more hiker-friendly

Apple Maps will have topographic maps with detailed trail networks and hiking routes with iOS 18. The new update includes all 63 US national parks. It can be saved to your phone and accessed offline while you're in a remote area. It offers turn-by-turn voice guidance to give you directions along the way.

Added features with the AirPods Pro

AirPods will also gain some new capabilities with the iOS 18, including voice isolation, which will be available on both the original AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2. The feature will be able to cut down ambient noise, such as wind or nearby traffic, and prioritize your voice so that you sound clear during phone calls.

The AirPods Pro 2 will also bring better adaptive audio, including a slider that can adjust between default, less noise, or more noise.

Gamers can also enjoy personalized spatial audio for a more immersive gaming experience. The AirPods Pro 2 will additionally have better voice transmission quality for in-game chat and streaming. iOS 18's new game mode will also put AirPods into low latency mode, which helps reduce the delay between commanding an action and hearing its corresponding sound.

Customizable control center

You can now rearrange your control center to include your most used controls in the front and even set up multiple pages. You can also customize your Action button to access your favorite controls and swap out different controls on your lockscreen or other quick access buttons.

Math just got easier

iOS 18 integrates the Calculator app with the Notes app to bring Math Notes. You can write out equations and have them solved automatically to help with homework, budgeting, planning, and more. You can use variables, graph equations, convert units, and solve functions.

The Notes app will also gain transcribing features and, for Apple Intelligence users, audio recording summarization.

Apple Intelligence is right around the corner

Apple is integrating a much-anticipated generative AI system into iOS 18. Apple says the new technology "harnesses the power of Apple silicon" to "create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks."

The features, which begin rolling out in October, won't all be available at launch. Some are expected next year.

But the eventual updates will give Siri a new look that has an "elegant glowing light" that wraps around the edge of your screen. The tool will have better language understanding capabilities. It will also add systemwide Writing Tools and Image Playground, which lets users create playful images and use them in messages.

Apple has also announced its partnership with OpenAI, which will let users opt into integrating ChatGPT into Apple's software. This will allow users to use ChatGPT through Siri or when completing tasks within apps on their iPhone.

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• The dollar's dominant role in global reserves and trade is safe, JPMorgan said.
• But the main looming threat is mounting US public debt, the firm said.
• Foreign reserves have been increasing exposure to dollar-denominated instruments, JPMorgan noted.

De-dollarization is only a problem to the extent that the US allows it to be one, according to a recent JPMorgan research webinar.

One of the main takeaways was that the biggest threats to dollar dominance are swelling US debt levels and fiscal deficits, which officials in Washington could step up to tackle.

"The biggest challenge to US dollar dominance is the US itself given the mounting public debt levels and elevated fiscal deficits," JPMorgan said, in a note summarizing the webinar.

Offshore demand for US Treasury assets reinforces the greenback's international standing, as foreign investors require the currency to snap up US debt. According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, foreign holders accounted for 29% of publicly held federal debt in December 2023.

But this can shift if federal debt loses its allure, some caution.

Though Treasurys are attractive for their safe-haven repute, several analysts voiced concern that this is at risk. US spending has shot up since the pandemic, and the current deficit amounts to around 6% of GDP — far more than the 50-year average of 3.7%.

Meanwhile, the latest government projections expect debt-to-GDP ratio to rise from last year's 97.3% to 122.4% by 2034. As this ratio rises, it is harder for the US to service its debt. Stretch this trend even further, and experts have warned that Washington could face a default in as little as 20 years.

Former Treasury economist Mark Sobel — who participated in the webinar — has previously warned that the US must address its "mammoth deficits" to keep fiscal policy manageable. In previous commentary, he cited that this threat will grow under a Trump administration.

"While dollar dominance remains entrenched, both the platform and Trump policies would mean less confidence and trust in American leadership, weakened macroeconomic management and enormous burdens on markets to finance a large supply of Treasuries," Sobel, now the US Chair of Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, said.

In recent years, de-dollarization fears have stemmed from the actions of other countries. Although diversification into other currencies is ongoing, the webinar concluded that warnings of a dollar demise are exaggerated; instead, the greenback maintains its global role as both a reserve and international financing tool.

For instance, many alarmists have focused on the dollar's share in foreign reserve holdings, often pointing out that the foreign central banks have piled into gold as an alternative. But this fixation omits the fact that bank deposits, sovereign wealth fund assets, and other dollar instruments have been on the rise among reserve holdings, JPMorgan said.

"In China's case, it has had an explicit target to bring down dollar holdings in FX reserve but has shifted USD holdings to state-owned entities. China could be under-reporting investment balances by as much as $100bn," the note said.

Webinar experts also noted that the trade-weighted dollar is overvalued by virtually every long-term gauge. The US' robust economy, attractive yields, and large capital inflows have propped up a 30% dollar appreciation over the past decade in trade-weighted terms, JPMorgan said.

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• Hundreds of Iran-backed Hezbollah members were hurt when their pagers suddenly exploded.
• Lebanon's Internal Security Forces urged people to stay off the roads for emergency vehicles.
• Some reports suggested Israel was behind the incident, but it has not claimed responsibility.

Hundreds of Hezbollah members in Lebanon were hurt on Tuesday when their pagers suddenly exploded, according to multiple reports.

Lebanon's Internal Security Forces said people were injured after wireless communications devices exploded in several regions across the country. It requested that drivers clear the roads so emergency vehicles could provide first aid and transport the wounded to hospitals.

A security source told Reuters that Hezbollah fighters and medics were injured by the blasts. An official of the Iran-backed militant group described it as their "biggest security breach" of the past year. Lebanon's health minister said the blasts killed eight people and injured more than 2,800.

Some reports suggested that Israel hacked the personal pagers, which Hezbollah uses to communicate, and caused them to explode. The country has not claimed responsibility for doing so.

The incident occurred shortly after Israel's Shin Bet security agency said it foiled Hezbollah's attempt to kill a former high-ranking Israeli official with a remotely detonated explosive device. It is unclear if the events are related.

The detonation of the pagers also came just hours after Israel indicated that it may increase military pressure on Hezbollah so people who have been displaced by fighting between the two sides can return home.

"The Security Cabinet has updated the objectives of the war to include the following: Returning the residents of the north securely to their homes," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement early Tuesday morning local time.

"Israel will continue to act to implement this objective," it added.

Tens of thousands of people in northern Israel and southern Lebanon have been displaced by fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.

The two bitter enemies have traded constant strikes against each other since Hamas staged its brutal October 7 massacre, triggering a wider regional conflict. However, despite fears that the situation would escalate into a full-scale war, Israel and Hezbollah have avoided an all-out confrontation.

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• The federal indictment against Sean 'Diddy' Combs accuses the rapper of arranging 'Freak Offs.'
• They involved 'extended sex acts' between female victims and male commercial sex workers.
• Combs was arrested Monday and charged with felony sex trafficking and racketeering.

An unsealed federal indictment against Sean "Diddy" Combs alleges the music mogul arranged and filmed what he called "Freak Offs": elaborate sex performances between female victims and male commercial sex workers.

The rapper and entrepreneur was arrested Monday, and charged with three felonies: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

In the indictment, prosecutors accuse Combs and his associates of luring female victims "under the pretense of a romantic relationship," and then forcing or coercing them "to engage in extended sex acts with male commercial sex workers."

Combs referred to the performances as "Freak Offs," according to the indictment, which notes he "arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded" the acts.

"Freak Offs occurred regularly, sometimes lasted multiple days, and often involved multiple commercial sex workers," the indictment reads, noting Combs "distributed a variety of controlled substances to victims, in part to keep the victims obedient and compliant."

Victims were sometimes filmed without their knowledge, according to the indictment's allegations.

After the Freak Offs, Combs and his victims "typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use," according to the indictment.

At a press conference Tuesday, US Attorney Damian Williams, who is overseeing the case, said Combs "was violent" when he "didn't get his way" in a "Freak Off."

Williams cited an incident in March of 2016 when one victim was subjected to abuse caught on camera — an apparent reference to Cassie Ventura, a singer who previously filed a now-settled civil lawsuit against Combs.

"Combs kicked, dragged, and threw a vase at a victim in a Los Angeles hotel," Williams said.

Combs has denied the allegations against him.

"We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Attorney's Office," Marc Agnifilo, Combs' lawyer, told Business Insider in a statement on Monday. "Sean "Diddy" Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal."

Agnifilo added that Combs "looks forward to clearing his name in court."

Federal prosecutors allege in the indictment against Combs that for decades, the rapper and businessman "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct," relying on employees and the resources of his business empire.

Members of the Combs' enterprise including high-ranking supervisors, security staff, household staff, and personal assistants helped orchestrate the so-called Freak Offs by booking hotel rooms and stocking them with "required" supplies including drugs, baby oil, and lubricant, prosecutors said in the indictment.

"Combs subjected victims to physical, emotional, and verbal abuse to cause the victims to engage in Freak Offs," the indictment alleges.

Prosecutors allege that the music mogul kept his control over the victims with physical violence, promises of career opportunities, and other coercive tactics that included giving and threatening to withhold financial support.

"During and separate from Freak Offs, Combs, among other things, hit, kicked, threw objects at, and dragged victims, at times, by their hair," the indictment alleges. "These assaults often resulted in injuries that took days or weeks to heal."

Prosecutors accused Combs of threatening victims' careers and livelihoods, including if they resisted taking part in the Freak Offs.

"Victims believed they could not refuse Combs' demands without risking their financial or job security or without repercussions in the form of physical or emotional abuse," the indictment alleges. "Combs also used the sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating recordings that he made during Freak Offs as collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims."

Combs has been accused of sexual and physical abuse by former romantic and creative partners. The Department of Homeland Security raided his Los Angeles and Miami homes in March.

During the raids, the indictment says, law enforcement "seized various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant."

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• Intel was once a giant of Silicon Valley. It's now in the midst of a crisis.
• The chip giant has seen its value drop sharply this year due to several challenges.
• Its CEO, Pat Gelsinger, has announced new measures to turn the company around.

As Intel's leader in the culminating decades of the 20th century, Andrew Grove had a slogan he'd routinely fall back on: "Only the paranoid survive."

During his tenure as CEO, Grove transformed the chip company into a giant of Silicon Valley that, during the 1990s, was as important to the PC market as Microsoft. Intel reached such dizzying heights only after Grove — who joined Intel as its third employee in 1968 —showed a willingness to make changes in the face of fierce new rivals from Japan.

It's a mantra that Intel appears ready to revive after sliding into crisis.

Pat Gelsinger, who has led Intel as CEO since 2021, has enacted a sweeping set of new initiatives to turn the chip company around. Several challenges around production and strategy have left it far short of its historic heights — and those reached by rivals.

While Nvidia has added around $1.6 trillion to its value since January, and TSMC, another rival, has risen almost 60% this year, Intel has gone the other way. It was worth over $210 billion at the start of the year but has now fallen to less than $90 billion.

As quarterly financial earnings this year have shown, it has struggled to capitalize on the generative AI boom. Its Gaudi 3 AI chip, unveiled as a rival to offerings from Nvidia and AMD, is expected to generate just $500 million in sales this year. Revenue last quarter was down from the same period the previous year.

Last month, the company announced more bad news: It would lay off 15,000 people from its workforce, suspend its dividend from the fourth quarter, and cut its capital spending. The changes led to the company's shares falling by over 25%.

It's a low point for a company whose cofounder, Gordon Moore, revolutionized the computing field through industry-defining observations, now formulated in Moore's Law.

However, Gelsinger seems ready to ensure the 56-year-old company can revive its fortunes.

Intel prepares to mount a comeback

After months of seeing Intel's shares tumble, Gelsinger on Monday addressed the elephant in the room by announcing the "next phase of Intel's transformation."

"There has been no shortage of rumors and speculation about the company, including last week's board of directors meeting, so I'm writing today to provide some updates and outline what comes next," Gelsinger wrote in a letter to employees.

One of the headline updates he shared was that Intel is expanding its collaboration with Amazon Web Services through a "multi-year, multibillion-dollar framework" that would see the two companies work together on custom chip designs.

Specifically, Intel Foundry, the division responsible for manufacturing chips instead of designing them, would produce the chip through a new process called Intel 18A that the company has been preparing to roll out in 2025.

For Patrick Moorhead, founder and chief analyst at advisory firm Moor Insights & Strategy, the development is a step in the right direction. Moorhead wrote on X that the Amazon news "can only be looked at as a positive," as it gives Intel "a strategic deal it didn't have before."

Meanwhile, Alvin Nguyen, senior analyst at Forrester, told Business Insider that this is a big public win for Intel. "Producing chips for a hyperscaler utilising their top processes provides publicity, a revenue stream, and validation of their foundry business," he said.

Gelsinger's second headline announcement was that the company is establishing Intel Foundry as a separate subsidiary within Intel, with its own new operating board and independent directors. It's a move that aims to bring about a key financial benefit.

"Importantly, it also gives us future flexibility to evaluate independent sources of funding and optimize the capital structure of each business to maximize growth and shareholder value creation," he said.

The final headline announcement was that the company was set to "pause" on projects to build new plants in Poland and Germany for around two years in a bid to become more capital-efficient.

Critically, Gelsinger told employees that "there are no changes" to Intel's other manufacturing locations as it remains committed to manufacturing investments across locations in the US, such as Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, and Ohio.

For now, investors seem to have taken the shake-up positively. Intel's share price was up over 6% in pre-market trading on Tuesday.

Forrester's Nguyen said the announcements go "a long way to improving their outlook.".

However, he added that challenges remain, "especially with their workforce reduction and concerns about the AI market."

One of the company's biggest problems has been its struggle to capitalize on the generative AI boom. According to a Reuters report last month, the company passed over an opportunity to invest in ChatGPT maker OpenAI seven years ago. That set it well behind rivals once large language models finally arrived in a big way just a few years later.

Analysts have also noted positive aspects of Gelsinger's turnaround plan. A research note from Bernstein, published on Tuesday, said, "the moves suggest Intel is not as desperate for cash as some have feared."

However, the research firm's note added that "nothing announced was really incremental, or changes the current situation."

Perhaps Gelsinger isn't being paranoid enough.

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• Elon Musk seemed to question why no one was trying to assassinate Kamala Harris in a post on X.
• Musk deleted the post, calling it a joke, but still faced swift backlash.
• The post exemplifies advertisers' hesitancy to go on the platform — but that may not matter for him.

X is starting to look a lot more like Truth Social — and it's going to cost the platform.

On Sunday evening, following an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, a user posted asking, "Why they want to kill Donald Trump?" (sic). X owner Elon Musk, who has endorsed Trump, replied, "And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala." The tweet added to his litany of cringe-worthy, at best, dangerous, at worst, posts and came a mere weeks after he shared a Tucker Carlson interview with a Hitler apologist.

The exchange was reminiscent of Trump's Truth Social — a platform where right-wing pundits and conspiracy theorists have the freedom to post with few guardrails.

Hours later, Musk deleted the comment and said that it was a joke, writing, "Well, one lesson I've learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn't mean it's going to be all that hilarious as a post on X."

It's true that many users didn't find the "joke" all that funny; the backlash was swift, with users calling the post "appalling," "dangerous," and "irresponsible." By Monday morning, the hashtag #DeportElonMusk was trending on his own site (Musk is originally from South Africa). Even the Secret Service was made aware.

For many Americans already dealing with a febrile pre-election atmosphere, it was offensive — regardless of political beliefs. For X (formerly Twitter), it's yet another nail in the coffin.

"I don't think this is much more than just confirmation that X is not a place for brands. They sensibly don't want any part of this," Brian Morrissey, the former editor in chief of Digiday who now writes the media newsletter The Rebooting, told Business Insider. "Avoiding X isn't bias, it's common sense. Musk's vision of unfettered free speech utility is simply not workable with an ad model that depends on image-conscious big brand advertisers."

The social app is already proving to be quite pricey for the Tesla CEO; he pays about $1.5 billion in annual interest on the $13 billion he borrowed to purchase the company in 2022 for $44 billion. Meanwhile, his approach is "advertisers be damned" — literally, he told them to F off — and many have expressed concern that it's not a safe space for brands.

"Musk's latest comments only reinforce the narrative of the platform's unpredictability and toxicity," Brendan Gahan, cofounder and CEO of LinkedIn influencer marketing agency Creator Authority, told BI.

In 2023, his first full year owning the social media platform, X's ad revenue reportedly fell to $2.5 billion, from more than $5 billion in 2021. Major advertisers like Disney, Apple, and Walmart suspended their ad spend on the platform.

This year, advertisers slashed their X marketing budgets ahead of major events like the Super Bowl. Quartz reported that advertising revenue was $744 million in the first half of this year, down from $982 million in the first half of 2023.

Of course, this can't all be attributed to Musk.

"The cynic in me can't help but wonder if X were as effective as Meta for advertising, Musk's remarks might be overlooked," Gahan said, noting that, even before Musk, Twitter "was rarely a priority for paid media."

Earlier this summer, Musk seemed to at least try to win advertisers back by playing the game at Cannes, but comments like his recent ones about assassinations don't bode well for the future of X.

Musk himself admitted that an advertising boycott would " kill the company." Money-making efforts like Twitter Blue and an AI chatbot have floundered.

Maybe he just doesn't care anymore?

"I cannot believe he truly believes X is going to attract large brand advertisers," Morrissey said. "Any time a service markets an ad-free as a major benefit of a subscription, it tells me they're not serious about the ad business."

"Musk seemingly has no desire to appease advertisers and rebuild trust. Instead, he's continued to scare advertisers away," Gahan said.

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk's purchase of Twitter is the worst buyout financing deal for banks since the Great Recession. They haven't been able to unload the debt and could stand to lose billions, but banks still want to work with him.

Musk is still the richest person in the world, with a net worth of about $250 billion, per Bloomberg. The $13 billion loan represents just 5% of that.

So X may suffer, but Musk will probably come out alright.

"From a cold, clinical perspective, outrageousness has long been built into Musk's proverbial stock price," Eric Dezenhall, the founder of crisis-management firm Dezenhall Resources, told BI. "His has been a life magnificently free of consequences. For an extraordinary few, what goes around never comes around, not even a little. After the usual kazoo tooting, Musk will be just fine."

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• Analysts are increasingly recommending defensive stocks to blunt the impact of an economic slowdown.
• Among defensive sectors, consumer staples have risen sharply recently.
• The S&P 500's consumer staples sector has risen more than 4% in the last month.

Amid fears of a recession and increased market volatility, analysts have been pointing to defensive stocks as a safe bet to hedge macro risk.

Among defensive sectors — which include things like real estate and financials — investors recently have been pouring into consumer staples in particular.

The S&P 500's consumer staples sector has risen roughly 4.1% in the last month, handily outpacing the S&P 500, which is up just over 1% in that time.

Retailers like Walmart and Target have skyrocketed 9.2% and 5.7% respectively in the last month, while consumer goods producers like Clorox and Coca-Cola are up 11.2% and 4.5%.

"The US consumer is reacting to the softer labor market, exhausted pandemic savings, and high interest rates. Signs of this reaction are visible across many angles, including the degree of outperformance in staples versus discretionary stocks," Bank of America strategists said in a note earlier this month.

Defensive stocks historically do well in times of economic uncertainty, which has led to a growing chorus of analysts recommending investors take positions in more "boring" companies, and resist the allure of high-flying bets on things like artificial intelligence.

"Lately, the market has skewed much more defensively as it has worried more about growth and less about high inflation or rates," Morgan Stanley's chief US equity strategist Mike Wilson said in a Monday note.

"Since the spring, the relative performance of defensives over cyclicals has been the strongest since the last recession ended," he added.

Last week, Wilson said investors should reallocate AI investments toward quality defensive stocks, including staples.

That redirection could broaden a market rally that's been largely driven by tech stocks this year.

The S&P Global Semiconductor Index is down 6.26% for the month, with the tech sector seeing outflows of $2.97 billion in the last two weeks, according to LSEG Lipper data cite by The Financial Times. Consumer staples, meanwhile, have seen $1.43 billion of inflows in the same time period.

This week, Bank of America equity strategy chief Savita Subramanian similarly advocated for defensive stocks.

"I know this is the most boring call of all time, but sometimes boring is good," Subramanian said in a Bloomberg interview on Monday.

With the Federal Reserve likely to finally cut rates at its meeting this week, defensive stocks could be poised for further growth.

"Defensives tend to outperform cyclicals fairly persistently both before and after the cut," Wilson said.

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• I'm an interior designer, and I use affordable tricks to make living rooms look expensive.
• These include incorporating large-scale art and layering lighting to give a room a luxurious feel.
• Simple additions like mirrors and greenery can also elevate a space and make it look high-end.

A living room doesn't have to be expensive to look expensive.

As an interior designer, I've found that small, strategic changes can make a big impact for a low cost.

Here are five budget-friendly tricks I use to elevate my clients' living rooms and give them that luxurious feel.

Incorporate large-scale art into your design.

One of the easiest ways to make a living room look more expensive is to hang large-scale artwork.

A bold, oversized piece can create a stunning focal point, making the room feel more sophisticated and grand.

You don't need to invest in original artwork — I've found websites like Etsy and Society6 offer affordable and stylish options for prints.

You can also DIY. For a personalized touch, consider creating your own artwork with a blank canvas and some paint.

Layer your lighting.

Lighting can make or break the atmosphere in a living room.

I recommend using a layered approach with different types of lighting: ambient (ceiling fixtures), task (table lamps), and accent (wall sconces or picture lights).

This combination adds depth and warmth to the room while also highlighting key areas of it. Swapping out dated fixtures or adding dimmer switches can instantly elevate the space.

Use mirrors to add depth to a space.

Mirrors are a fantastic tool for making a room feel larger and brighter.

When strategically placed, they reflect light and create the illusion of more space, giving the room a more open, expensive feel. Placing a mirror above a mantel, behind a sofa, or across from a window can make a dramatic difference.

Even affordable mirrors from home-goods stores can have a high-end impact.

Adding texture is an easy way to make a room feel rich and layered.

To add visual interest to a space, mix different fabrics and materials, such as velvet pillows, chunky knit throws, or woven baskets.

A simple way to start is by swapping out the pillows on your sofa. Mixing different textures and patterns can transform the look of the room, making it feel more luxurious and curated.

Plants are an affordable way to breathe life into a living room.

Plants not only add a pop of color but also bring in a natural element that can make the space feel more welcoming and refined.

You don't need to splurge on expensive greenery, either. Even a few well-placed houseplants, like a fiddle-leaf fig or snake plant, can make a big impact.

High-quality faux plants are also a great option for those who prefer less maintenance.

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• The West is still taking in billions worth of Russian oil products, a new think tank analysis shows.
• Russia sold $1.3B of oil to Turkey in the first half of the year before it made its way to the West.
• Russia has used other middlemen, like Indian refiners, to evade Western sanctions in the past.

Russia is still passing off billions of dollars worth of oil products to the West — a sign that the West is still struggling to throttle Moscow's war revenue with strict sanctions.

Russia is still exporting its crude to Turkey, where refineries process the oil and later export crude products to the West, according to a new analysis from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

CREA data shows that Russia sold $1.3 billion worth of oil to three Turkish refineries in the first half of the year. G7+ nations, meanwhile, purchased around $2 billion of oil products of Russian origin from Turkish refiners, the think tank estimated.

Western countries have ramped up their purchases from those three Turkish refineries since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the researchers added. The US, for instance, increased imports from those refineries by 335% on a yearly basis in the first half of 2024.

"G7+ countries have displayed little desire or political will to address the refining loophole and stop it since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the loophole goes unchecked, G7+ countries have actually increased their imports from non-sanctioning countries, taking advantage of the situation by simply switching their supplier from Russia to third countries that are essentially functioning as Russian middlemen merchants," the researchers said.

It's not the first time Russia used its trading partners to pass off energy products to the West. Indian refiners, for instance, funneled around 89,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel a day to New York, a 2023 Kpler analysis found.

Asian buyers of Russian oil, though, have pulled back in recent months, with Russia's crude shipments to the continent dropping around 10% since the spring, according to Argus Media data cited by Bloomberg. Turkey is the last-remaining " short-haul market" for Russian oil sent from its western ports, taking in around 210,000 barrels of Russian crude a day the last month, the outlet reported.

Still, Western sanctions have worked to crimp Moscow's war revenue. Trade restrictions, which include a $60 price cap and ban on Russian oil, dented Russia's crude profits by 14% in 2023, a previous CREA analysis found, which has also been aided by Russia's voluntary oil production cuts and falling crude prices.

Russia's crude sales dropped to $1.4 billion at the start of September, the lowest level recorded since January, Bloomberg reported.

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• Oracle stock is surging because of AI.
• That means Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison's net worth is surging.
• That means it's even easier for Ellison to buy Paramount for his son David.

Oracle stock is on a tear. Shares of the business software company shot up 5% on Monday and are up 64% for the year.

The Oracle boom is directly tied to the AI boom. Even though investors are starting to wonder about all the money companies like Google are spending on AI, they are excited about what all that spending means for Oracle's cloud and database revenue.

But those numbers are kind of abstract to most people. And lots of people don't really care about enterprise software or AI bills.

So let's put it in context: The Oracle boom means that Larry Ellison, one of the world's richest men, is now much, much richer. Ellison, who co-founded Oracle, owns 40% of the company. Over the past two years, Ellison's net worth has more than doubled — from $80 billion to $181 billion.

And here's more context for people who care about media, and Hollywood: Ellison, who is financing the purchase of Paramount for his son, David, has already made enough money this week to cover the entire bill.

Larry Ellison, along with private equity firm RedBird Capital, is buying Paramount via a complicated transaction. The cost: $8.4 billion. When the deal closes, Ellison will control 77.5% of the troubled Hollywood studio and TV conglomerate. His total investment will reportedly be around $6 billion.

And on Monday, a 5% jump in Oracle stock raised Ellison's net worth by $7 billion. That's enough to fund the whole deal, plus several hundred million in walking-around money.

One more note: The Oracle boom also helps contextualize Ellison's investment in Elon Musk's version of Twitter, and explains why Ellison doesn't seem to care that the $1 billion he put into Musk's adventure in 2022 is now likely worth much, much less.

And anyway, what's a billion dollars between two longtime pals who happen to be two of the richest men in the world? Musk was staying at Ellison's estate in Hawaii — Ellison owns almost all of the island of Lanai — as he was preparing to buy Twitter a couple of years ago.

And the two men seem to be doing just fine now. Ellison says he recently had dinner with Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang — another one of the world's richest men.

They talked about AI, of course.

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Even if your budget is limited, you can still find an affordable mattress that matches your needs to get the good night's sleep you deserve. Among a sea of low-cost mattresses, I've determined the best cheap mattresses that are comfortable and supportive while offering quality and value — features I seek in my best mattress picks.

I consulted a medical doctor, toured a mattress manufacturing facility, and tested 13 mattresses under $500 for comfort, motion isolation, heat dissipation, and more to find the best budget mattress. The best affordable mattress is The Allswell Hybrid Mattress; its motion isolation and edge support are great for couples, the firmness appeals to stomach and back sleepers, and cold sleepers will like how cozy it stays. If you want something softer, I recommend the Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress. It's similarly priced but caters better to side sleepers and couples.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

Our best cheap mattress recommendations

Best overall, hybrid: The Allswell Mattress - See at Walmart

Best overall, foam: Zinus Green Tea Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress - See at Walmart

Best cooling: Lucid 10 Inch Memory Foam Plush Mattress - See at Amazon

Best for side sleepers: Siena Memory Foam Mattress - See at Siena

Best for edge support: Novilla Bliss 10 Inch Memory Foam Mattress - See at Amazon

Best upgrade: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress - See at Nectar

Best overall, hybrid

Not many hybrid mattresses cost less than $500. I tested five for this guide, and Allswell, a Walmart-exclusive brand, had the best offerings. The Allswell Mattress is the best cheap hybrid mattress I tested because I had the best sleep quality on it. However, it was too firm for side sleeping, my preferred position. So, I mainly slept on my stomach and back. If you're a side sleeper, you may find more comfort with the Allswell Luxe, which also stays well under the $500 threshold. It's thicker, softer, and very comfortable for all sleeping positions. Read our Allswell Luxe Mattress review for more details on how it stacks up.

The 10-inch Allswell mattress I recommend features a series of foam layers: a top layer of high-density CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam for support, gel-infused memory foam to keep you cool and relieve pressure, and comfort foam for added body contouring. The thick layer of individually wrapped coils offers support, durability, and airflow. Thin, high-density foam at the base adds durability to the bed.

The coils provided great edge support in our tests, and the motion isolation was also good, suggesting this is a smart choice for couples.

The Allswell was among the hottest mattresses I tested and didn't dissipate heat well, which makes it great for people who tend to get too cold at night but not ideal for hot sleepers.

Read my full Allswell Mattress review.

Best overall, foam

The medium firmness of the Zinus 12-inch Cooling Green Tea Gel Memory Foam is ideal for different sleep styles and combination sleepers on a budget. I slept comfortably on the Zinus on my side, stomach, and back. In addition to being the best cheap foam mattress, it's our best mattress for couples on a budget. The edge support and motion isolation were impressive. You can feel comfortable laying on the edge when your partner hogs the bed, and their movements at night are less likely to disturb your sleep.

The Zinus Cooling Green Tea mattress features three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam: cooling gel-infused memory foam, soft memory foam for pressure relief, and durable base foam. In my tests, the materials did a good job of keeping the mattress cool.

The Zinus Cooling Green Tea mattress comes in four thicknesses, 6 to 12 inches. I tested the 12-inch mattress, and from my experience, I wouldn't recommend going thinner than 10 inches. Otherwise, you sacrifice support.

While the Zinus is available at both Walmart and Amazon, the trial period at Walmart (90 days) is longer than at Amazon (30 days). However, 30 nights should be long enough to determine whether a bed fits your needs.

Best cooling

To test the best cooling mattresses, I use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature before I sleep on it and compare it to the temp right after I get up. Then, I measure it again two minutes later to assess how well it dissipates heat. Only two mattresses stayed cool and dissipated heat well: the Siena and the Lucid 10-inch Memory Foam Plush Mattress. The Lucid is the best cheap cooling mattress overall.

The $340 Lucid Plush mattress gets its cool feel from the top layer of gel-infused memory foam. Below is a layer of transition foam, then a bamboo charcoal-infused base foam for durability. All foams are CertiPUR-US-certified.

Lucid offers its mattress in three firmness options: firm, medium, and plush. I chose plush because softer mattresses help align my spine when I sleep on my side. Stomach and back sleepers may want to opt for the firmer options.

The Lucid mattress passed my bowling ball test for motion isolation. However, the edge support was awful. The edge sank significantly, and I felt uncomfortable sitting or laying on it like I would fall off.

While the mattress was easy to set up, the initial odor stuck around after I unboxed it.

Best for side sleepers

The Siena Memory Foam Mattress's softer-than-average feel makes it the best cheap mattress for side sleepers. I slept comfortably on my side, though my sleep quality was average. I especially liked that the bed stayed cool and dissipated heat, second only to my best cooling pick.

The $400 Siena has three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam. It has impressive motion isolation, passing my bowling ball test and showing low vibrometer readings. The edge support isn't as remarkable, but still pretty good. The side sank significantly as I sat on it, but I felt supported as I lay on the edge. These factors suggest that Siena would serve couples well.

The setup was effortless, and the initial odor dissipated after a few days.

For more options, check out our guide to the best mattresses for side sleepers.

Best for edge support

Budget mattresses can have a reputation as having weaker edge support, making simple tasks like putting on your shoes while sitting on the side and getting in and out of bed more difficult. The Novilla Bliss Memory Foam Mattress is the best cheap mattress for edge support; its edges sank less than the others, and I didn't feel like I was falling off when lying on the periphery.

With rare exceptions, I've found that 10 inches is the minimum thickness for a supportive mattress. The Novilla meets the bare minimum with 10 inches of CertiPUR-US-certified foam.

The Novilla Bliss is softer than average, making it great for side sleepers. While testing it, my sleep quality was average. I gravitated toward my side but also slept on my stomach a little. However, I wouldn't recommend this mattress for stomach sleepers because it lacks the support to align your spine.

While the Novilla isn't our top pick for couples, it's still an excellent mattress under $500 — it's under $300 — for people who share a bed. It passed my bowling ball test but had a high vibration reading on my vibrometer. These results suggest you won't be jolted awake as your partner moves at night, but you may still feel it.

The setup was effortless. It only took about five minutes, and the initial foam odor dissipated by bedtime.

Best upgrade

Having slept on cheap mattresses for several months, I can tell you that $500 usually isn't enough to buy a mattress that can provide a consistent good night's sleep for most people. If you can spend just $150 more, you can get a much better night's sleep with the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, the best cheap upgrade mattress I've tested.

The Nectar also reigns as one of the best memory foam mattresses and is a top option among the best mattresses for back pain. It provides outstanding pressure relief and has a medium firmness that will appeal to most sleeping styles. I primarily slept on my side while testing it, and my back remained pain-free despite my history of back pain.

The Nectar mattress features three CertiPUR-US-certified foam layers: a cooling top layer of memory foam, a middle transition layer for pressure relief, and a supportive foam base layer. Even when my bedroom was hot, I stayed cool while sleeping on the Nectar. When I got up, the heat dissipated quickly.

The motion isolation was excellent in my tests, and the edge support was good but not great. Still, this is a good choice for couples.

Nectar also offers a yearlong trial and a lifetime warranty — the longest on this list — as well as free shipping and returns.

Read my full Nectar Mattress review.

What to look for in the best cheap mattress

Trial period: Only one mattress I tested was available in showrooms, and I don't recommend it. Since you can't try most cheap mattresses before you buy them, a long, risk-free home trial is crucial. Ensure there aren't any catches in the return policy, such as restocking or shipping fees.

Warranty: Look for a warranty of at least 10 years. Your mattress should remain free from major defects for at least that long. And, if it doesn't, you should be able to replace it free of charge. All mattresses in our guide have warranties of at least 10 years.

Firmness: Side sleepers, petite individuals, and older people prefer softer mattresses. Firm beds are better for stomach sleepers and heavier folks, and back sleepers fall in between. Finding a mattress that keeps your spine neutral while you sleep is key.

Motion isolation and edge support: If you plan on sharing a bed with someone, motion isolation and edge support are necessary. A mattress with good motion isolation will keep you from being disturbed when your partner moves about. Good edge support gives you more space on your bed since you'll feel comfortable and supported even when lying on the periphery.

You won't find a perfect mattress for under $500. You need to be ready to compromise on comfort and quality. This may work for guest rooms and younger folks, but if you are older and suffer from aches and pains, I recommend spending more for a higher-quality mattress if you're able. Fortunately, many brands offer payment plans.

For more detailed buying advice, check out my article on how to choose a mattress.

How we tested the best cheap mattresses

I tested all the mattresses in this guide, sleeping on each for at least 14 nights. I tried the queen, the most popular bed size. Each mattress was subjected to a battery of tests to determine its comfort, motion isolation, edge support, and more.

Here are some of the test results for the main attributes we tested:

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Comfort: I assessed a mattress's firmness based on my experience testing dozens of mattresses. I noticed which positions I was most comfortable in: my side, stomach, or back. Also, I wore a Garmin Forerunner 945 watch to track my sleep quality.

Trial and warranty: Beyond noting the home trial period and warranty length, I combed through the small print to find any catches, such as return shipping and restocking charges. Ideally, you should expect a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty, but most budget mattress trial periods are much short.

Motion Isolation: A mattress with good motion isolation will keep you undisturbed as your partner shifts. I have two tests for this. First, I dropped a bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress, landing one foot from a soda can placed on the mattress. The bed didn't have very good motion isolation if the can fell over. If it stayed upright, the motion dampening was excellent. I also placed a vibrometer across the bed from where the bowling ball landed and compared the intensity of the vibrations. The Siena had the lowest vibration value at 6.8 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. The Sleepy's Basic Innerspring Mattress was the worst at 8.5.

Edge support: I tested this in two ways. First, I sat on the edge of the mattress and measured how much it sank. If it dropped less than 4 inches, the edge support was pretty good. My other test was to lay on the edge and roll until I fell. If my body got beyond a 45-degree angle before falling, then the bed had good edge support.

Setup: In the morning, I timed how long it took to set up the mattresses without help. At bedtime, I checked whether the "new bed smell" had dissipated or lingered. I also moved the mattress around several times and noted how much it flopped around, if it had handles, and other aspects that made it hard or easy to move.

Want to learn more? Check out our article on how we test mattresses.

Cheap Mattress FAQ

Are budget mattresses worth it?

While I've found you get what you pay for with mattresses, if you can only afford a budget mattress, it may be worth it. "There are budget-friendly mattresses that can be supportive and friendly to your wallet," said Tamara Huff, MD, a Georgia-based board-certified orthopedic surgeon. "I recommend looking for a medium to firm mattress with a good warranty."

Are cheap mattresses comfortable?

After seven months of testing, I found some comfortable, cheap mattresses. Yet none offered the zoned support I crave. "Inexpensive mattresses can be comfortable," said Huff. "Ideally, look for a mattress with a return policy in case you notice discomfort one to two months in."

Is it OK to buy a cheap mattress?

Yes. However, cheap mattresses aren't as supportive or comfortable as pricier beds and typically won't last as long either. Sleeping on a budget mattress for a few nights here and there likely won't negatively impact you, especially if you're an average sleeper with no special needs like chronic pain or overheating when you sleep. Yet, if you're going to sleep on a bed every night, consider spending a little more on an option that will give you long-term comfort.

Should I consider a more expensive mattress?

If you can afford one, yes. Unless you're looking for a mattress for a guest room or aren't picky about comfort, you'll be better off with a more expensive mattress. Based on my experience testing over 90 mattresses, you should count on spending at least $1,000 on a mattress you plan on sleeping on every night for the next 10 years.

When is the best time to buy a mattress?

Retailers are always looking for reasons to have mattress sales. Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Prime Day, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday are great times to buy a mattress because manufacturers offer great sales. Since new lines are usually launched in June, spring is a smart time to get good deals on older models.

What mattress types are less expensive than others?

All the mattresses I recommend in this guide are made primarily of foam except one. All-foam mattresses are cheaper than the hybrid, latex, adjustable air, and innerspring models. I found no latex or adjustable air models for under $500. I considered five hybrid or innerspring models; the only ones I recommend are from Allswell: the Allswell and the Allswell Luxe.

Are spring or foam mattresses better?

It depends and comes down to personal preference. Hybrid and spring mattresses are usually more durable, supportive, and breathable with a bit of bounce. Foam mattresses are generally more affordable and do a good job of cradling your body, offering the "sinking in" feeling that some sleepers enjoy.

What is the average price of a mattress?

The median price for the 13 mattresses in my best mattress guide is $1,499, the price for my top pick, the Leesa Sapira Hybrid. Check out our article on how much mattresses cost for more details.

Do cheap mattresses have fiberglass?

Some cheap and pricier mattresses contain fiberglass, typically used as insulation or a fire retardant in mattresses. When directly exposed to the ultra-fine material, if you remove a mattress cover or it rips, it can cause upper respiratory, eye, and skin irritation. Here's the info I could track down for the mattresses in this guide:

• Allswell: According to an email correspondence with a Walmart rep, Allswell mattresses do not contain fiberglass.
• Zinus: Newer versions do not contain fiberglass; instead, they opt for a carbon-rayon sleeve. You can read Zinus' statement regarding its use of fiberglass.
• Novilla: According to a company representative, none of Novilla's mattresses contain fiberglass. The mattresses feature fire-retardant cotton.
• Siena: Siena does not contain fiberglass.
• Lucid: The representative refused to say either way but noted, "All of our mattresses have been tested and do meet or exceed the federal, state, and municipal safety standards."
• Nectar: Nectar uses fiberglass to make its mattresses fire-resistant.

Best overall, hybrid: The Allswell Mattress

There aren't many hybrid mattresses under $500; we tested three for this guide, and this Walmart brand hybrid was the best. I had the best sleep quality on this bed, but it was too firm for side sleeping, my preferred position. So, I mainly slept on my stomach and back. If you're a side sleeper, you may want to check out the 12" Allswell Luxe. We often see it on sale for under $400. It's thicker, softer, and very comfortable for all sleeping positions. Read our Allswell Luxe review for more details on how it stacks up.

The base Allswell we recommend has two layers: a top layer of charcoal and copper gel-infused, CertiPUR-US-certified memory foam to keep you cool and a bottom layer of individually wrapped coils for support, durability, and airflow. The coils provided great edge support in our tests, and the motion isolation was also good, suggesting this is a smart choice for couples.

The Allswell was among the hottest mattresses we tested and didn't dissipate heat well, which makes it great for people who tend to get too cold at night but not ideal for hot sleepers.

Read our full Allswell Mattress review.

Best overall, foam: Zinus 12 Inch Cooling Green Tea Gel Memory Foam Mattress

For an affordable foam mattress, the medium firmness of the Zinus 12-inch Cooling Green Tea Gel Memory Foam is ideal for a broad range of sleepers, making it well-suited to different sleep styles and combination sleepers. It's also our top pick for couples. The main features to evaluate when assessing how well a mattress suits couples are edge support, motion isolation, and firmness. The Zinus checks all the boxes.

While sleeping on it, I was comfortable on my side, stomach, and back. The edge support and motion isolation were among the best mattresses under $500 that we tested, so you can still feel comfortable laying on the edge when your partner hogs the bed, and their movements at night are less likely to disturb your sleep.

The Zinus Cooling Green Tea mattress features three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam: cooling gel-infused memory foam, soft memory foam designed to offer pressure relief, and durable base foam. In my tests, the materials did a good job of keeping the mattress cool.

It comes in four thicknesses, from 6 inches to 12 inches. I tested the 12-inch mattress, and from my experience, I wouldn't recommend going thinner than 10-inches. Otherwise, you sacrifice support.

Best edge support: Novilla Bliss 10 Inch Memory Foam Mattress

At $300, the Novilla Bliss Memory Foam Mattress is the cheapest mattress we recommend. It also has the best edge support. A bed with outstanding edge support offers more space between you and your partner, as you can feel comfortable lying on the edge. It makes putting your shoes on while sitting on the side easier and helps you get in and out of bed. The Novilla's edge sank less than the other models in this guide, and I didn't feel like falling off when lying on the periphery.

With rare exceptions, I've found that 10 inches is the minimum thickness for a supportive bed. The Novilla meets the bare minimum with 10 inches of CertiPUR-US-certified foam.

The Novilla Bliss is softer than average, making it great for side sleepers. While testing it, my sleep quality was average. I gravitated toward my side but also slept on my stomach a little. However, I wouldn't recommend this mattress for stomach sleepers because it lacks the support to keep your spine aligned.

While the Novilla isn't our top pick for couples, it's still an excellent mattress under $500 for people who share a bed. It passed my bowling ball test but had a high vibration reading on my vibrometer. These results suggest you won't be jolted awake as your partner moves at night, but you may still feel it.

The setup was effortless. It only took about five minutes, and the initial foam odor dissipated by bedtime.

Best for side sleepers: Siena Memory Foam Mattress

The softer-than-average feel of the Siena Memory Foam Mattress makes it an ideal mattress under $500 for side sleepers. I slept comfortably on my side, though my sleep quality was average. I especially liked that the bed stayed cool and dissipated heat, second only to our best cooling pick.

The $400 Siena has three layers of CertiPUR-US-certified foam. It had impressive motion isolation, passing my bowling ball test and showing low vibrometer readings. The edge support wasn't as impressive but was still pretty good. The side sank significantly as I sat on it, but I felt supported as I lay on the edge. These factors suggest the Siena would serve couples well.

The setup was effortless, and the initial odor dissipated after a few days.

Best cooling: Lucid 10 Inch Memory Foam Plush Mattress

To test the best cooling mattresses, I use a laser thermometer to measure the surface temperature before I sleep on it and compare it to the temp right after I get up. Then, I measure it again 2 minutes later to assess how well it dissipates heat. Only two mattresses stayed cool and dissipated heat well: the Siena above and the Lucid 10-inch Memory Foam Plush Mattress. The Lucid did the best overall.

The $350 Lucid Plush mattress gets its cool feel from the top layer of gel-infused memory foam. Below is a layer of transition foam, then a bamboo charcoal-infused base foam for durability. All foams are CertiPUR-US-certified.

You can pick from three firmness options: firm, medium, and plush. I chose plush because softer mattresses help align my spine when on my side. Stomach and back sleepers may want to opt for the firmer options.

The Lucid mattress passed my bowling ball test for motion isolation. However, the edge support was awful. The edge sank significantly, and I felt uncomfortable sitting or laying on it like I would fall off.

While the mattress was easy to set up, the initial odor stuck around after I unboxed it. Another negative is the short trial period: only 30 nights.

Best upgrade: Nectar Memory Foam Mattress

Having slept on cheap mattresses for several months, I can tell you $500 usually isn't enough to buy a mattress that can provide a consistent good night's sleep for most people (though experts may disagree.) If you can spend just $200 more, you can get a much better night's sleep with the Nectar Memory Foam Mattress, the best mattress I've tested for under $1,000.

The Nectar is featured in our guides to the best memory foam mattresses and best mattresses for back pain because it provides outstanding pressure relief and has a medium firmness that will appeal to most sleeping styles. I primarily slept on my side while testing it, and my back remained pain-free despite my history of back pain.

The Nectar mattress features three CertiPUR-US-certified foam layers: a cooling top layer of gel memory foam, a middle transition layer for pressure relief, and a supportive foam base layer. Even when my bedroom was hot, I stayed cool while sleeping on the Nectar. When I got up, the heat dissipated quickly.

The motion isolation was excellent in our tests, and the edge support was good but not great. Still, this is a good choice for couples.

Nectar also offers a yearlong trial and a lifetime warranty — the longest of any other mattress on this list — as well as free shipping and returns.

Read our full Nectar Mattress review.

What to look for in an affordable mattress

Trial Period: Only one mattress I tested was available in showrooms, and I don't recommend it. Since you can't try most cheap mattresses before you buy them, a long, risk-free home trial is crucial. Ensure there aren't any catches in the return policy, such as restocking or shipping fees.

Warranty: Look for a warranty of at least 10 years. Your mattress should remain free from major defects for at least that long. And, if it doesn't, you should be able to replace it free of charge. All of the mattresses in our guide have warranties of at least 10 years.

Firmness: Side sleepers, petite individuals, and older people tend to prefer softer mattresses. Firm beds are better for stomach sleepers and heavier folks, and back sleepers fall in between. The key is finding a mattress that keeps your spine neutral while you sleep.

Motion isolation and edge support: If you plan on sharing a bed with someone, motion isolation and edge support are necessary. A mattress with good motion isolation will keep you from being disturbed when your partner moves about. Good edge support gives you more space on your bed since you'll feel comfortable and supported even when lying on the periphery.

You won't find a perfect mattress at the under $500 price point. You need to be ready to compromise on comfort and quality. This may work for guest rooms and younger folks, but if you are older and suffer from aches and pains, we recommend spending more for a higher-quality mattress if you're able. Fortunately, many brands offer payment plans.

For more detailed buying advice, check out our article on how to choose a mattress.

Our affordable mattress testing methodology

I tested all the mattresses in this guide, sleeping on each for at least 14 nights. I tried the queen size of each mattress, the most popular bed size. Each mattress was subjected to a battery of tests to determine its comfort, motion isolation, edge support, and more.

Here are some of the test results for the main attributes we tested:

Attribute	The Allswell	Zinus Cooling Green Tea	Novilla Bliss	Siena	Lucid Plush	Nectar
Firmness (1 softest to 10 firmest)	7	5.5	5	5	4	6
Motion isolation (1 awful to 10 best)	7	6	7	9	8	8
Edge support (1 awful to 10 best	7	6	9	6	1	7
Heat dissipation (1 traps heat to 10 stays cool)	4	7	5	8	9	7
Trial period (nights)	100	100	100	180	30	365
Warranty (years)	10 years	10 years	10 years	10 years	10 years	Lifetime

Here are the main attributes we look for and how we test them:

Comfort: I assessed a mattress's firmness based on my experience testing dozens of mattresses. I paid attention to which positions I was most comfortable in: my side, stomach, or back. Also, I wore a Garmin Forerunner 945 watch to track my sleep quality.

Trial and warranty: Besides noting the home trial period and warranty length, I combed through the small print to find any catches, such as return shipping and restocking charges. Generally, you should expect a 100-night trial period and a 10-year warranty.

Motion Isolation: This aspect is important if you share a bed. A mattress with good motion isolation will keep you undisturbed as your partner shifts at night. I have two tests for this. First, I dropped a bowling ball from 4 feet above the mattress, landing one foot from a soda can placed on the mattress. The bed didn't have very good motion isolation if the can fell over. If it stayed upright, the motion dampening was excellent. I also placed a vibrometer across the bed from where the bowling ball landed and compared the intensity of the vibrations. The Siena had the lowest vibration value at 6.8 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. The Sleepy's Basic Innerspring Mattress was the worst at 8.5.

via GIPHY

Edge support: I tested this in two ways. First, I sat on the edge of the mattress and measured how much it sank. If it sank less than 4 inches, the edge support was pretty good. My other test was to lay on the edge and roll closer to the edge until I fell. If my body got beyond a 45-degree angle before falling, then the bed had good edge support.

Setup: I timed how long it took to set up the mattresses without help in the morning. At bedtime, I checked whether the "new bed smell" had dissipated or lingered. I also moved the mattress around several times and noted how much it flopped about, if it had handles and, other aspects that made it hard or easy to move.

Want to learn more? Check out our article on how we test mattresses.

Cheap mattress FAQs

Are budget mattresses worth it?

While I've found you get what you pay for with mattresses, if you can only afford a budget mattress, it may be worth it. "There are budget-friendly mattresses that can be supportive and friendly to your wallet," said Tamara Huff, MD, a Georgia-based board-certified orthopedic surgeon. "I recommend looking for a medium to firm mattress with a good warranty."

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Are cheap mattresses comfortable?

After 5 months of testing, I found some cheap mattresses that are comfortable. Yet, none offered the zoned support I craved. "Inexpensive mattresses can be comfortable," said Huff. "Ideally, look for a mattress with a return policy in case you notice discomfort 1 to 2 months in."

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Should I consider a more expensive mattress?

If you can, yes. Unless you're looking for a mattress for a guest room or aren't picky about comfort, you'll be better off with a more expensive mattress. Based on my experience testing over 70 mattresses, you should count on spending at least $1,000 on a mattress you plan on sleeping on every night for the next 10 years.

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When is the best time to buy a mattress?

Retailers are always looking for reasons to have mattress sales. Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Prime Day, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday are great times for buying a mattress because manufacturers offer great sales. Since new lines are usually launched in June, spring is a smart time to get good deals on older models.

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What mattress types are less expensive than others?

All the mattresses I recommend in this guide are made primarily of foam except one. All-foam mattresses tend to be cheaper than the hybrid, latex, adjustable air, and innerspring models. I found no latex or adjustable air models for under $500. I tested three hybrid or innerspring models for consideration, and I only recommend one, the Allswell.

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Are spring or foam mattresses better?

It depends and comes down to personal preference. Hybrid and spring mattresses tend to be more durable, supportive, and breathable with a bit of bounce. Foam mattresses are usually more affordable and do a good job of cradling your body, offering the "sinking in" feeling that some sleepers enjoy.

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Hailey Bieber first made headlines for her "glazed donut" skincare routine back in 2022. Frankly, I thought the concept sounded kind of gross. But then the model launched her skincare label, rhode skin by Hailey Bieber, and upon trying it myself, I hereby retract my initial statement.

Rhode's debut collection hit shelves on June 15th, 2022, and included three luxury products - the peptide glazing fluid, barrier restore cream, and peptide lip treatment. Each was designed to leave skin feeling hydrated and looking dewy at an affordable price point, between $16 and $30. Since its initial drop, Rhode has released three more products - a peptide lip tint, pineapple cleanser, and glazing milk essence. On June 20, 2024, it will launch its second color cosmetic, Pocket Blush.

If I were to narrow down my favorite Rhode offering, it would be a tie between the peptide glazing fluid and lip tint. While I love the glow and gloss each product provides, respectively, it's the way they quench my skin's thirst in minutes that really sold me.

A dermatologist's review of Rhode's ingredients

Rhode products are formulated with overlapping ingredients, like peptides and niacinamide. Board-certified dermatologist Rachel Maiman, MD FAAD, tells Insider that peptides are chains of amino acids that, in skincare, help boost collagen and elastin production to firm the skin and reduce fine lines. Niacinamide, she says, is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that helps protect skin against environmental stressors, like UV rays and pollution.

Other highlighted ingredients across Rhode products include marula oil, an antioxidant that Maiman notes is both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial; shea butter to soften the skin; as well as squalane and hyaluronic acid to lock in hydration. Because Rhode products are super hydrating, Maiman agrees they would be amazing for use in winter or for those who have or experience bouts of dry skin. Additionally, Maiman tells Insider these products should be safe to use on sensitive skin as well, as the ingredients "are non-comedogenic, and many have anti-inflammatory and/or antibacterial properties."

I've been using Rhode products for two years. Here's what each product is like to use.

Pineapple Refresh Daily Cleanser

Rhode's Pineapple Refresh Daily Cleanser won't make your skin dewy; rather, prep your complexion so it's a clean and smooth canvas for those glazing items. It's formulated with polyglutamic acid (amino acids linked by peptides, aka a rockstar moisture-retention ingredient), green tea extract (soothes redness and reduces irritation), and pineapple enzyme, which exfoliates and brightens the skin, and unclogs pores.

Similar to moisturizers, the facial cleanser market is saturated. But, unlike Rhode's Barrier Cream, I think the Pineapple Refresh is an exceptional product that stands out among the dozens I've tried. It gently exfoliates without harsh beads, is fragrance-free, and leaves skin impressively soft. It performs like a luxury product but retails for under $30. I'll be restocking once I've finished the tube.

Glazing Milk

There's a learning curve that comes with the Glazing Milk, but luckily, I cracked the code for you. The trick to applying the product so it doesn't feel tacky on the skin is to shake the bottle and warm a few drops of the product between your hands before patting it - not rubbing it - into the skin. Logerfo says this application method is key because the glazing milk contains Beta-glucan, a water-loving polysaccharide high in molecular weight that can feel sticky on the skin.

Peptide Glazing Fluid

Rhode's Peptide Glazing Fluid is an aptly named gel serum. I'd liken applying the lightweight formula to splashing my face with cold water; it made my skin feel hydrated almost instantaneously. This is the product that is going to give users that same delicious, glazed donut dewy finish Bieber covets.

However, if you want that visibly slick complexion, ignore the directions on the bottle that suggest applying one to two pumps. Instead, follow Bieber's lead and apply three to four (maybe even five) pumps for the ultimate glazed effect and some extra hydration. Just be advised that it makes the skin feel a bit tacky before it settles.

Barrier Restore Cream

I wasn't wowed by Rhode's Barrier Restore Cream, but I liked it. It's a lightweight formula that noticeably softened my skin, but it definitely needed to be coupled with the glazing fluid for me to enhance its hydrating effect. The combination visibly brightened and balanced my complexion. Used alone, it makes for a great makeup primer. It's a solid moisturizer if you're on a budget, but there are better options out there if you're willing to splurge.

Peptide Lip Treatment

The Rhode peptide lip treatment comes in four flavors — unscented, salted caramel, watermelon slice, and Rhode vanilla — and is described as a hydrating, plumping solution that can be applied day or night or worn under lip products. It's thick but not goopy and, in my experience, absorbs into the skin within a few hours.

I apply it before lights out and have consistently woken up with softer, hydrated lips. But note: it definitely works best as an overnight salve than a daily lip gloss; I wore it to brunch, and the shine was long gone by the end of the meal.

A note on Rhode's peptide lip treatments' absorbability: Dr. Jodi Logerfo, a nurse practitioner and dermatologist, tells Insider that although a lip balm can "prevent moisture loss and maintain lip integrity and comfort," they're likely to off quickly because lips have poor barrier function and low water-retaining capacity. Hence needing to re-apply again and again.

Peptide Lip Tint

The Peptide Lip Tint was Rhode's segue into color cosmetics and cleverly launched at the height of the lipgloss resurgence of 2023. What I love about this product is its color payoff. The pigments are subtle but stunning and range from ribbon, a sheer pink (my favorite), to espresso, a coffee brown - all of which look beautiful against fair and dark skin tones.

But don't be fooled by this product's wash of color; it's just the peptide lip tint dressed up. It hydrates and softens your pout, but the glossy finish is short-lived and gone within an hour. Still, the tint is so pretty that I don't mind needing to touch it up.

Pocket Blush

Blush is having a moment in the beauty space right now, so Rhode's Pocket Blush launch is aptly timed. It's a cream formula packaged in stick form. There are six color options (piggy, juice box, spicy marg, freckle, sleep girl, and toasted teddy). When you first apply them to the skin, the color appears highly pigmented, but I've found the color payoff gets lighter the more you blend, so I layer it on according to how I like it.

The bottom line

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• Pam Allyn is an educator and parenting researcher.
• She says gentle parenting has become too prescriptive and unrealistic.
• Structured parenting lets kids know what to expect.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Pam Allyn, founder of Dewey, which creates educational learning tools for parents and educators. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Gentle parenting — which I define as an approach that centers kids' social-emotional needs — started off with the best of intentions, I believe. Anything that tells parents to pause and slow down is great.

But lately, I've seen gentle parenting become co-opted by social media. Online, there's a ton of pressure to be a gentle parent — one who never yells or forces their kids to do things, instead opting to have long conversations about how kids are feeling and offering tons of choices.

The problem is that's entirely unrealistic for many parents. For starters, not all kids like to communicate verbally or can articulate their thoughts and needs. And parents need to get things done. They don't always have time for conversations. Like kids, they sometimes prefer non-verbal communication. Because of that, gentle parenting has become very stressful to many parents, who then just blame themselves for that approach's failure.

Structured parenting provides expectations and empathy

In short, I see lots of parents trying to fit themselves into the story they've been told about gentle parenting. I think a lot of them would be better served by another parenting approach, one that educators love: structured parenting.

Structured parenting makes life predictable for kids and parents. It feels good for kids to know what's coming next and where the boundaries are. We all thrive on routine, and structured parenting provides that.

While it's different from so-called gentle parenting, structured parenting is still gentle, kind, and individualized. It allows for lots of autonomy and empathy within the structure that parents create.

Create a structure around eating, reading, and play

Lots of parents probably already have certain routines in place, whether they're for getting out the door in the morning or unwinding before bed. Structured parenting takes those a step further, creating times to connect as a family. Connection times are built around eating, reading, and play — three activities that can bond your whole family.

First, consider meal time. I watch my 2-year-old grandson frequently, so I know how quickly meals can devolve into chaos. Older kids with sports and extracurriculars just intensify that.

So, make a commitment to eat a meal as a family every day. It doesn't have to be dinner. Even if you can take eight minutes to eat breakfast together, you're creating structure and connection. During those few minutes, ask open-ended questions like "What are you wondering about today?" or "What surprised you today?"

The key is to create a sense of intentionally gathering together, a structure that your kids can count on daily.

Shared reading time can set the tone for family time

Next comes reading. You may already read out loud with your kids before bed, but really double down on that. Reading is a way to connect with kids of all ages. If you pull out the simplest, most classic book like "Goodnight Moon," I bet you'll notice even your older children get drawn in.

I love moving the reading part of the day to mornings. On Saturdays, try implementing a read-aloud session. That structure can help set the tone for your weekend as a family. Even on a school day, you could read a five-minute book together.

The final tenant is play. Play shouldn't be relegated to the youngest child in the family. Instead, play together and notice the storylines and structures that your children create. That should tell you more about what's on their minds than any gentle parenting conversation.

Structured parenting means moms and dads don't lose themselves

Parents are more self-critical these days than they ever have been. Adhering to a model like gentle parenting can make that worse. If your day isn't full of conversations or choices for your kids, you may worry you're not being gentle enough.

Many parents feel they lose themselves along the way. Structured parenting lets you deliver love and empathy, not only to your children but to yourself. You're a unique, precious person and your child's biggest advocate.

But it's OK — healthy even — for you to have needs, too. Structured parenting gives you a tool to create a family dynamic that reflects your family's needs and prioritizes everyone's socio-emotional well-being.

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• Stocks pushed higher as positive retail sales surprised investors.
• The data signals continued consumer strength, easing fears of a recession.
• All eyes are on the Federal Reserve's likely interest rate cut on Wednesday.

Stocks moved higher after stronger-than-expected US retail sales boosted confidence in consumer health, as the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting is set to kick off.

Retail sales increased 0.1% last month, compared to consensus estimates of a 0.2% decline. That's welcomed news for investors, who are bracing for what is likely to be the Fed's first interest rate cut at the conclusion of its meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

Although 67% of the market expects a more aggressive 50 basis point cut, according to the CME FedWatch Tool, Wall Street continues to be at odds on how deep the easing should be.

Strong retail sales suggest that the Fed does not necessarily have to hurry with larger cuts, as the consumer economy appears intact for now.

"Retail sales growth has been a little below the long-term average in recent months, but continues to grow at a modest rate," said Scott Helfstein, Head of Investment Strategy at Global X.

"That should translate to modest consumption improvement and help drive reasonable GDP growth this quarter. This is one more sign that the economy remains in a mid-cycle expansion rather than contraction."

Here's where US indexes stood at the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Tuesday:

• S&P 500: 5,653.10, up 0.36%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 41,760.54, up 0.33% (+138.46 points)
• Nasdaq composite: 17,708.68, up 0.68%

Here's what else is going on:

• Stocks are headed for a weekslong rally once the Fed cuts rates, Fundstrat's Tom Lee says.
• Investors should look for safety amid uncertainty as "boring is good," BofA strategy chief says.
• AI's data center buildout will nearly double demand for copper, mining giant says.

In commodities, bonds, and crypto:

• WTI crude increased 0.20% to $70.22 a barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.07% to $72.65 a barrel.
• Gold slid 0.16% to $2,604.8 an ounce.
• The 10-year Treasury yield stayed essentially flat at 3.627%.
• Bitcoin climbed 2.36% to $59,239.

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• Hannaford started as a small produce cart in 1883 and is now Maine's largest grocery chain.
• It has locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.
• Hannaford in Scarborough, Maine, impressed with its vast selection and fresh produce.

As a New Yorker, I'm always surprised when I make the trek out of the city and discover new supermarket chains, many of which are larger and far better stocked than the grocery stores I'm used to in the city.

On a recent trip to Portland, Maine, I stopped off at Hannaford Supermarkets in Scarborough and was blown away by the massive selection of produce, meat, and tasty-looking prepared foods.

Founded in 1883, Hannaford Supermarkets started out as a small produce cart operated by Arthur Hannaford in the coastal city of Portland.

The company was later led by Edward Hannaford, Arthur's brother, and Stewart Taylor took over as president in 1940, according to the chain's website. Under Taylor's leadership, the business expanded rapidly and underwent multiple mergers and acquisitions.

As of 2016, Hannaford has been part of Ahold Delhaize, which also owns Food Lion and Stop & Shop.

Hannaford has since grown into the largest grocery store chain in Maine, with additional locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.

The supermarket chain has 189 stores in those five states and employs more than 26,000 people. Its largest concentration of stores is in Maine, where it has 68 locations.

Although there are 52 locations in New York, none are in New York City, which meant this would be my first time ever shopping at Hannaford.

Here's what it's like to shop at Hannaford Supermarkets.

I visited a Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy in Scarborough, Maine.

During my drive from Connecticut to Portland, I passed locations all over the state.

I found that there was the highest concentration of stores in Maine, which made sense, considering Hannaford is the largest grocery store chain in the state.

Outside, there was a sign advertising Hannaford's grocery pickup program.

The service offers free pickup to Hannaford customers who order over $125 of groceries.

I usually order my groceries through a service like Instacart, but if I lived in the suburbs, I could see myself using a pickup service like this one.

Right when I entered the store, I was greeted by a large produce section.

A podium in front of the store advertised the store's "Farm Stand" fruits and vegetables, which are all grown by local Maine producers.

The prices appeared pretty on par with what I pay for produce in New York, though the quality looked much better.

There was also a wide selection of in-season fruits.

I visited in early August at the height of the peach and blueberry season. I was pleasantly surprised to see these two fruits highlighted next to each other in a display.

I was amazed by the colorful displays.

While the produce selection at my local grocery store in Brooklyn often looks drab and a little out-of-date, this produce selection was bursting with color and variety.

From practically every kind of apple to organic lemons and mangoes, I was impressed by the selection.

There was also a selection of charcuterie plates and vegetable trays with dips.

The large vegetable trays, which included celery sticks, tomatoes, broccoli florets, carrots, and a tub of dip, cost $15.99, while the smaller charcuterie plates, which included two different kinds of grapes and sliced cheese, cost $3.99.

I was also impressed by the store's bakery section.

The store highlighted several local products, such as English muffins and granola, and used signs and labels on the price tags.

The prices for all of these products were pretty on par with what I typically pay at my local grocery store.

The bakery also had a case fully stocked with assorted cakes.

Individually sized tarts, tiramisu, and larger cakes for parties were available. The case was well-stocked, and there were plenty of options to choose from.

There was also a large selection of cheeses.

The cheeses were placed alongside gourmet crackers, wine, and jams to make crafting a charcuterie board easy.

In another section of the store, I found other kinds of cheese, pub cheeses, and dips.

I couldn't possibly imagine a cheese this supermarket didn't sell.

From British and Irish cheddar to multiple different varieties of Brie, the cheese selection at Hannaford was possibly better than any I've seen at any other grocery store.

There were also a lot of options for prepared foods.

Labeled in the case as the chain's "time savers," there was everything from pasta dishes to chicken pot pies and curry dishes that could feed a whole family.

I was particularly drawn to a tray of chicken piccata, which looked very fresh and only cost $9.99.

There were also multiple buffet stations at the store I visited.

There was a Mediterranean antipasto station with different kinds of olives to choose from.

There was also a small selection of hot foods like chicken wings.

This was a slight letdown, and I wished there had been more options for hot prepared foods like I often pick up from Whole Foods for a quick and easy dinner.

There was also a salad bar with a variety of toppings.

The ingredients all looked fresh, though some needed a top-up when I went.

In the deli section, there was a case filled with sandwiches to grab and go.

There was a large variety of sandwiches, from chicken salad sandwiches to Nashville hot chicken wraps.

I was also surprised to see a fresh lobster roll in the case.

I was pleasantly surprised to see this Maine staple available in the sandwich case. It cost $9.99, which I thought was a really good deal — especially compared to other lobster rolls I tried and ranked that weekend.

Another section had grab-and-go sliced deli meats and cheese.

This made it super easy to get what you needed from the deli without having to wait in line. However, when I went at around midday on a Tuesday, the store was pretty empty anyway.

There was also a case filled with live lobsters.

The lobsters were located right in the middle of the sales floor and were impossible to miss. I thought they were well-priced at $8.99 per pound — the price of lobster is $20.99 per pound for a small lobster from Citarella, a grocery store chain that sells lobster in New York.

I was also impressed by the selection of fresh sushi rolls.

I'm a huge fan of grabbing sushi rolls from my local grocery store for an easy and healthy dinner, but the selection at Hannaford was much better than what I'm used to.

It ranged from crunchy California rolls to sashimi sushi combos and mango-topped spicy shrimp rolls. The prices were also pretty reasonable, ranging from $5.99 for a vegan roll to $17.99 for a family pack.

There were also standard grocery-store items like packaged meats.

The price of two pounds of chicken breasts was $13.06, which is about what I typically pay in New York.

There were also large cases of meat and seafood.

I was surprised by the variety of choices, from marbled steak cuts to sausages and marinated steak tips. The seafood counter was also impressive, offering everything from fresh Atlantic salmon to seasoned cod fillets.

The meat aisle extended into a section with burger patties and ribs.

The store had everything you'd need for a late summer cookout. A pack of four burger patties from two different brands cost around $12.

There was also an aisle with hot dogs and more sandwich meat.

I couldn't believe the selection of different hot dog brands.

This Hannaford location also sold beer and wine.

There was an impressive selection of wines sorted by category, from malbec to chardonnay. At the end of the aisle was a small section of Stonewall Kitchen products, a local Maine brand.

There was also a section of "Hannaford selects" wines, recommended by the store.

There was a lot of variety in the wines chosen, both in terms of flavor profiles and price range.

The cheapest "Hannaford selects" wine was an $8.99 bottle of Artie sauvignon blanc, while the most expensive on this particular day was a $17.99 bottle of Decoy chardonnay.

At the edge of the freezer aisle was another section promoting local products.

This section was entirely dedicated to butter and herbal popcorn from Little Lad's, a company based in Corinth, Maine.

Multiple aisles were dedicated to frozen foods.

As a self-proclaimed freezer aficionado, I was impressed by the selection of frozen foods.

However, it was pretty standard for any large grocery store and didn't compete with Trader Joe's more unique frozen foods.

The plant and flower section was small but would come through in a pinch.

While I've personally seen better and more varied floral sections at other grocery stores, this Hannaford had a decent selection of bouquets and houseplants for any occasion, from a last-minute anniversary gift to a housewarming gift.

This store also had a large pharmacy section.

The store had multiple aisles of health and wellness products in addition to an actual pharmacy where customers could order and pick up prescriptions.

The store was really quiet on the afternoon that I visited and there was no shortage of checkout lanes open.

Overall, I could see why Hannaford has grown to become the largest supermarket chain in Maine and has expanded to multiple states since it was founded over 100 years ago.

The biggest things that stuck out to me at Hannaford were the store's incredible selections of fresh meat and fish, the sushi bar, and the emphasis on local produce and products.

I think there's an opportunity for Hannaford Supermarkets to expand to even more states — and I, for one, am eager for a New York City location to one day open.

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• I tried recipes for 10-minute, 1-hour, and 10-hour baked potatoes to see which was worth it.
• I thought the 10-minute microwave recipe was fine but wasn't a fan of the 10-hour slow-cooker one.
• My favorite method was the classic no-foil oven recipe, which was close to how I already made them.

Growing up, it was usually fastest for my mom to throw baked potatoes in the microwave before we piled toppings on them.

When I struck out on my own, I started wrapping them in foil and throwing them in the oven for about an hour — until I discovered baking potatoes uncovered and coating them in salt was much better.

There are so many ways to make a baked potato, so I decided to try a few methods. I tested an easy 10-minute recipe made in the microwave, a one-hour potato baked in the oven, and a 10-hour method using a slow cooker.

Here's how they stacked up.

The first potato was cooked in the microwave.

I'm not against "baking" a potato in the microwave. It's the quickest way, by far, when I really have a craving.

I started by washing the potato and poking plenty of holes in it with a fork.

A recipe I found from the Kitchn said to rub the potato with oil and sprinkle salt and black pepper on the skin, which sounded like delicious additions.

The recipe ended up taking less than 10 minutes.

I placed the potato upright in a microwave-safe container and let it cook for five minutes.

Then I used tongs to carefully flip the potato over and cooked it for another three minutes.

The texture turned out OK.

The finished potato wasn't exactly undercooked, but it had a denser, tougher interior than a standard oven-baked potato.

The flavor of the skin with the oil, salt, and pepper was good, but the flimsy, papery texture wasn't pleasant.

Toppings greatly helped the 10-minute potato.

Fortunately, the texture issues, inside and out, were easy to mask with extra butter and toppings.

This method is great in a pinch when you just can't wait for a baked potato. But as someone who loves to eat the whole potato, skin and all, this isn't my preferred method.

The one-hour potato uses a no-foil method, which is closest to how I usually make them.

The New York Times has a straightforward recipe to make baked potatoes with crispy skin.

I started by washing a large russet potato, drying it thoroughly, and poking it a few times with a fork.

Then, like the microwaved potato, I rubbed oil and salt all over the skin.

I placed the potato in the oven on a tray.

The recipe doesn't call for the potato to be wrapped in foil. Instead, I placed the oiled-up potato on a small tray to bake it.

The recipe says 45 minutes to an hour, but this was a pretty hefty potato, so I let it go for the full hour.

I couldn't get enough of the skin on this potato.

The skin of the oven-baked potato had tons of flavor from the oil and salt, and it was thin and crispy, almost like potato chips.

I knew this recipe was going to be hard to beat.

The result was everything I hoped for.

I was a fan of the oven-baked potato.

The interior was soft, but it wasn't as fluffy as it is in my usual potato method. I typically bake mine slightly longer, score them, and bake them some more.

I expected the slow-cooker potatoes to turn out soft, but the result was quite the opposite.

Making baked potatoes in the slow cooker seems like a great idea if you're feeding a crowd or need space in the oven for other food. For dining solo, though, it doesn't seem practical.

I followed a slow-cooker potato recipe from Taste of Home, which starts with mixing softened butter and freshly minced garlic to coat the skin of the potato.

I wrapped the potato in foil and set it inside my slow cooker.

The recipe said to add 1 cup of water to the slow cooker, but that barely covered the bottom. I ended up adding a few cups until the water reached about one-third of the way up on the foil-covered potato.

My slow cooker tends to run hot, even when it's at a low temperature, so I set it to the lowest setting to prevent overcooking.

I started worrying about the potato's texture in the slow cooker.

The recipe says this process should take eight to 10 hours on low heat.

After a few hours, I noticed the foil became discolored.

Around the halfway point, the potato still felt hard, so I turned the heat up between low and medium. At the eight-hour mark, I was concerned — the potato still felt rock-hard when I squeezed it with tongs.

After 10 hours of waiting on a single baked potato, I finally caved and took it out.

The potato was still incredibly hard.

When I took it out of the slow cooker, the skin was hot, damp, and dark, so the heat was definitely reaching the potato.

The inside was hot, too, but it was so tough that I could barely take a full bite with a fork.

Aside from the horrible texture, the smell was bad. I expected the butter and garlic to smell amazing, but it created a very strange odor I really hope I never have to smell again.

I won't use the slow-cooker recipe again.

I didn't expect the slow cooker to become a go-to method for me, but I at least expected a soft potato from the steaming process.

Unfortunately, I won't be making potatoes like this again.

I'd use the microwaved recipe again if necessary, but the one-hour potato was the best by far.

Microwaving potatoes is quick and convenient, but the texture just pales in comparison with a standard oven-baked potato.

I understand the appeal of making potatoes for a crowd in a slow cooker, but I can't see myself attempting that method again.

The one-hour potato, complete with a delicious and crispy skin, was my favorite of the three. I'd make it again and again as a base for different toppings.

This story was originally published in August 2022 and most recently updated on September 17, 2024.

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• The market has long obsessed over interest rates, and this week, they're firmly in focus.
• It's still unclear whether the Federal Reserve will reduce rates by a quarter- or half-point.
• BMO Capital Markets shared a sector investing playbook as rates begin to fall.

Investors have waited years for interest rates to fall. Tomorrow, their patience will be rewarded, though that's one of the only sure bets.

Markets know that the Federal Reserve will lower rates at its September meeting, but there's an unusual level of uncertainty about how much rates will be lowered. As expected, the Fed has been coy about cuts, leaving markets torn between pricing in a 25- or 50-basis-point reduction.

Doves argue that the bigger cut is needed to support a slowing US economy, while hawks prefer a more conservative approach, reasoning that more than 25 basis points could signal that a downturn is imminent. The dovish side has gained serious momentum, as the odds of two cuts have doubled in the last week to 67%, according to the CME FedWatch tool, though that's still far from bankable.

"Fed funds futures have never been this uncertain about a rate decision as they are, at least since 2015," Bank of America strategists led by Ohsung Kwon wrote in a September 16 note.

In turn, US stocks are stuck in neutral. Markets have tunnel vision about interest rates, and until there's clarity on the Fed's decision, there isn't much logic in making big bullish or bearish bets.

However, history says investors can take solace in the fact that interest rates are declining in the first place, according to top minds at BMO Capital Markets.

BMO's team studied the eight monetary easing cycles since 1982 and found that the S&P 500 gained ground in the 12 months after the first cut 75% of the time, rallying by 11.3% on average. But Brian Belski, BMO's chief investment strategist, noted that the two exceptions were sizable: a 13.5% loss after the dot-com bubble burst, and a nearly 24% slump during the financial crisis.

"In cycles where rate cuts were able to prolong economic expansion and keep corporate earnings on an upward trend, stocks performed quite well," Belski wrote in a mid-September note. "However, in cycles where monetary stimulus was unable to prevent an economic downturn (i.e., 2001 and 2007), stocks recorded significant losses in the following year as earnings growth struggled."

While rate cuts aren't a cure-all, Belski is confident that the economic expansion will continue, which will keep this bull market on firm footing. Although the strategy chief acknowledged that the labor market is softening, he noted that job additions are positive, as are estimates for corporate earnings and GDP growth.

"We believe investor debate about the size and depth of the upcoming easing cycle somewhat misses the point — so long as nothing breaks in the economy, US stocks remain firmly within a bull market," Belski wrote. "But with significantly strong trailing one-year performance headed into this initial rate cut, future gains are likely to be more muted relative to historical norms."

Sectors poised to outperform as the Fed finally cuts rates

After outlining how US stocks broadly have fared following cuts in the last four decades, BMO shared relative sector performance before and after periods of rate declines.

The Montreal-based firm analyzed the historical performance for 10 of the 11 market sectors, with the exception of real estate, which wasn't a distinct group until 2016. Nine of the 10 sectors have been in the green a year after the first cut, and five of those nine were up by double digits.

Those five are listed below, ranked in order of their average performance 12 months after the first cut:

1. Healthcare

Return 12 months after: 21.6%

Return three months after: 3.8%

Return 12 months before: 16.2%

Return in the 12 months before and after: 41.7%

Sector rating: Market-weight

Source: BMO Capital Markets

2. Consumer Staples

Return 12 months after: 19.2%

Return three months after: 5.3%

Return 12 months before: 18.9%

Return in the 12 months before and after: 42.9%

Sector rating: Underweight

Source: BMO Capital Markets

3. Consumer Discretionary

Return 12 months after: 15%

Return three months after: 1.1%

Return 12 months before: 9.9%

Return in the 12 months before and after: 27.6%

Sector rating: Market-weight

Source: BMO Capital Markets

4. Information Technology

Return 12 months after: 10.8%

Return three months after: -0.8%

Return 12 months before: 4.8%

Return in the 12 months before and after: 18%

Sector rating: Overweight

Source: BMO Capital Markets

5. Industrials

Return 12 months after: 10.2%

Return three months after: 1.3%

Return 12 months before: 11.4%

Return in the 12 months before and after: 22.5%

Sector rating: Market-weight

Source: BMO Capital Markets

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• Walmart-owned Sam's Club is raising its starting wage to $16 and offering faster increases to workers.
• The warehouse club has boosted average wages by nearly 30% over the past five years.
• CEO Chris Nicholas said the move is part of an effort to "provide more meaningful jobs" in retail.

Frontline workers at Sam's Club are slated to get a raise ahead of the holidays.

The Walmart-owned warehouse club said Tuesday it is bumping its starting wage from $15 to $16, as well as offering faster pay increases to workers based on their years with the company. The changes take effect on November 2.

"Our new approach is one step in a series of investments we've made in our people over the last several years, all designed to provide more meaningful jobs and build successful teams," CEO Chris Nicholas said in a statement.

In addition to a post on LinkedIn, Nicholas shared the news with club managers at the company's annual holiday meeting, as well as employees tuned into the livestream, a spokesperson told BI. Managers will address more detailed questions when they return to their clubs, the spokesperson added.

While the current general pay increase for hourly workers is 3%, the new plan will introduce a range of 3% to 6% that progresses the longer a worker is employed with the company, a spokesperson told Business Insider.

The new plan would allow employees to reach their maximum pay rate for their role in eight years, versus 12 under the current structure, the company said.

Sam's Club says the changes will bring the average hourly wage to more than $19, up nearly 30% over the past five years.

The company also highlighted other improvements, including more predictable schedules, increases from part-time to full-time hours, as well as stock grants and bonuses.

Even after the increase, the average wage at Sam's Club will still lag behind Costco, where a recent hike brought the starting wage for most hourly positions to $19.50 an hour.

Still, an entry-level job at a wholesale club pays more than one at a Supercenter, where the starting wage is $14, and the average hourly wage is $17.50.

"A stubborn stigma persists around retail work: that it's both temporary and transactional – roles defined by dollar-per-hour rates," Nicholas said in an article on LinkedIn. "It's a tired narrative we're eager to rewrite at Sam's Club."

There is "a clear relationship" between good jobs and business performance, MIT professor and president of The Good Jobs Institute Zeynep Ton said in a statement.

"Sam's Club's strategic investments in employees and their work have already fueled productivity, increased sales, and built record membership rates," she said.

If you are a Sam's Club worker who wants to share your perspective, please contact Dominick via email or text/call/Signal at 646.768.4750. Responses will be kept confidential, and Business Insider strongly recommends using a personal email and a non-work device when reaching out.

Медиа: image / jpeg

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

Hello there! What's it like joining New York City's war against rats? A Business Insider reporter found out by enlisting in the city's 'elite squad of anti-rat activists.'

In today's big story, a tech giant calls its workers back to the office … for good.

What's on deck:

• Markets: Vanguard has advice when rolling over a retirement account that could save you $130,000.
• Tech: Elon Musk is back again with yet another bad tweet.
• Business: Welcome to the everything-is-up-in-the-air economy.

But first, it was fun while it lasted.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

The return of RTO

Remote employees, be warned: Your days working from home are numbered.

That revelation comes after Amazon announced it wants employees back in the office five days a week starting this January. The tech giant's in-office requirements will return to "the way we were before the onset of COVID," according to a memo from CEO Andy Jassy.

We also got our hands on the 22-question document outlining frequently asked questions about the new mandate — along with a leaked FAQ outlining the company's plans to meet its new goal to have fewer managers

Some Amazon employees quickly criticized the RTO plan in internal Slack messages viewed by Business Insider. One employee wrote on Slack, "This is not 'going back' to how it was before. It's just going backwards."

Amazon has fought to get its workers back in the office for almost two years. In February 2023, it announced plans to require most office workers to show up in-person three days a week.

The initial mandate didn't go over well with employees, but Amazon stuck to its guns. It threatened termination against non-compliant workers and cracked down on "coffee badging" employees who stopped briefly in the office just to satisfy the mandate.

Amazon's announcement could be the nail in hybrid work's coffin.

Fully remote jobs are rare, but plenty of employers still offer some in-office flexibility. (Wall Street is one exception, as firms have mostly called their employees back to the office full-time.)

But Amazon's decision will embolden any employer looking to get their people back to their desks for good. It's a lot easier to make the case for in-office work when one of the biggest companies in the world subscribes to it.

And in the hyper competitive world of Big Tech, other tech giants might follow suit rather than risk getting bad-mouthed by rivals to their clients. How can insert Big Tech company really serve you best when its people are home half the time?

That doesn't mean it will go over well. Experts cautioned that the cost of calling workers back to their cubicles five days a week could also be high enough in terms of morale and retention that bosses should tread carefully. Employees will also point to the time lost commuting and say their productivity hasn't dropped when working from home.

Meanwhile, employers will use words like "culture" and "collaborate" as reasons for getting everyone in the office. (Jassy used them 12 and five times, respectively, in his new memo.) And they're probably not pumped about things like "quiet vacations" or "hushed hybrid" taking place under their noses.

The reality is both sides are right. A survey from McKinsey found that companies with workers who stayed in the same spot — be it the office or home — reported lower revenue growth than those with a hybrid setup.

News brief

Top headlines

• United inks deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX to offer free WiFi on flights.
• Citi shakes up leadership after $136 million in fines for data quality issues. A memo to employees breaks down what you need to know.
• Former MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe has pleaded guilty to securities fraud conspiracy.
• Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested following grand jury indictment.

3 things in markets

1. Will he sell or will he hold? The lockup period barring former President Donald Trump from selling his Trump Media stock could end as soon as Friday. Trump recently said he's not selling his stake, which reportedly makes up more than half of his total net worth.
2. The sky's the limit, according to one bullish analyst. Fundstrat's Tom Lee, ever the market optimist, believes the much-anticipated Fed rate cut will be a boon for all stocks for a few weeks.
3. Don't make this $130,000 mistake when rolling over an IRA. Vanguard found that 28% of rolled-over IRAs in 2023 remain uninvested in stocks or bonds. What's worse: Their owners are often unaware that the funds are effectively collecting dust as piles of cash. Do this to avoid a costly fate.

3 things in tech

1. Elon Musk just can't stop making terrible tweets. The billionaire's saga of off-color comments continued this week, as he publicly pondered why there have been no assassination attempts on President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris. He later deleted the post and claimed it was a joke others had misinterpreted.
2. Apple's rumored "super cycle" is not so super, after all. Some analysts predicted the iPhone 16, with its flashy new AI capabilities, would kick-start an upgrade cycle lifting the iPhone out of its sales slump. Those expectations appear sorely disappointed: First weekend sales of the iPhone 16 are down 12.7% compared to last year's model.
3. Meet the 14 power players leading the world's biggest chipmaker. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, plays a key role manufacturing chips for companies like Nvidia and Apple. These are the people steering its growth as the AI wars heat up.

3 things in business

1. TikTok is fighting for its life in US court — and it's on track to lose, a former DOJ official says. Attorneys for the US government and the social media app faced off in court on Monday as TikTok fights a law forcing it to sell or face a nationwide ban. Based on how oral arguments went, things aren't looking good for the app, a legal expert told BI.
2. Is it imposter syndrome, or are you just bad at your job? Former Microsoft VP of HR Chris Williams can help you tell the difference. Self-doubt can be crippling, but there are three ways to determine if it's justified.
3. The economy is mid, and it's making us crazy. We're not in a recession, but prices are still high, the job market is slowing, and the vibes are seriously off. America's so-so economy is marked by uncertainty, and that's making it hard to figure out the right next move.

In other news

• How I went from community college to a Blackstone internship in just 5 years.
• 5 things to know about billionaires, from a personal assistant to the uber-wealthy.

What's happening today

• Federal Open Market Committee meeting commences. Interest rate decisions will be announced tomorrow.
• "Dancing with the Stars" debuts for Season 33. Contestants include Olympic "pommel horse guy" Stephen Nedoroscik and "fake heiress" Anna Delvey.
• A partial lunar eclipse and a "super full moon" are visible across most of North America.
• It's National Voter Registration Day.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

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• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suffered another setback.
• His Liberal Party lost a Parliament seat that it had held for most of the last century.
• It is the second consecutive defeat for Trudeau in less than three months.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suffered a new setback this week after his party lost a Parliament seat it had held for most of the last century.

Trudeau's Liberal Party lost in the Montreal parliamentary constituency of La Salle-Emard-Verdun against the Bloc Quebecois, according to final results released early on Tuesday.

Liberal candidate Laura Palestini lost against Bloc Quebecois' Louis-Philippe Sauve by a 0.8% margin, with 27.2% of the votes against 28% for her opponent. NDP candidate Craig Sauve came in third place.

It was one of the closest three-way contests in recent memory that saw the frontrunners switch positions throughout the count, according to CBC.

It's also Trudeau's party's second consecutive by-election defeat in less than three months, a result that will likely pile pressure on the Prime Minister to step down.

Trudeau already faced calls from his party to step down after losing Toronto-St. Paul — a safe seat in midtown Toronto that Liberals had held since 1993 — to the Conservatives in a byelection in June, per CTV News.

For the past year, the Liberal Party has polled well behind the Conservative Party at the federal level, now standing at 25% against 43% for the Conservatives.

An Ipsos poll conducted between September 5 and 9, 2024, put his approval rating at 33%. Two-thirds of Canadians disapproved of his leadership, citing disappointment with the cost of living and housing crisis.

His Conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, was the favorite pick for prime minister at 45% against 26% for Trudeau.

Last Friday, Trudeau told Montreal radio station CJAD 800 that he would not resign if his party lost the LaSalle-Emard-Verdun election and vowed to stay on as party leader until the next election in October 2025.

Before the election results came out, longtime Liberal supporter and strategist Andrew Perez said another defeat would be "yet another nail in Justin Trudeau's coffin."

"If Trudeau's Liberals can't hold this safe seat, it will spell even bigger trouble for the party's prospects in Quebec and across Canada in a critical election year," he said in an X post on Tuesday.

"It's going to be really hard for them to get around the narrative that the government is basically done," Lori Turnbull, a Canadian political analyst and professor at Dalhousie University, told Politico.

Whether Trudeau's government will stay in power until the next federal election remains unclear.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to put forward a no-confidence motion against Trudeau's government "at the earliest possible opportunity" when Parliament reconvenes in an effort to trigger a federal election, per CBC.

However, Poilievre would require the backing of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Quebecois to trigger an election — and it's unclear whether or not either party will join the motion, per CBC.

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• I recently bought a used car, and I ended up getting gap coverage and an extended warranty.
• If your car is totaled while you're still paying it off, gap coverage can be extremely valuable.
• My extended warranty ensures that any repairs I need will be affordable.

I recently traded in my car for a new-to-me car from CarMax. I normally avoid offers for things like extended warranties, but this time, I decided to get gap insurance. I also got CarMax's extended repair service, MaxCare. I spent over $4,500 for these two add-ons.

I initially went in with a budget of what I wanted to spend on my vehicle purchase — my add-ons put me well over that amount by almost $5,000. However, I don't regret it at all.

Gap insurance is crucial

Gap insurance is a type of car insurance that covers the difference between what you owe on your car loan or lease and the car's actual cash value in the event that your vehicle is totaled or stolen.

Cars tend to depreciate in value quickly after you drive them off the lot. If your car is totaled or stolen, your standard auto insurance policy will pay out the car's ACV, which is the current market value of the vehicle at the time of the incident. This amount can be significantly less than what you originally paid for the car or what you still owe on your loan or lease.

If that's the case, you will be stuck paying the difference out of your own pocket if you still owe money on your car at the time. So, for example, let's say you bought a car for $30,000. The current loan balance is $25,000 when the car gets totaled in an accident, but the actual cash value is only $20,000, which is what insurance agrees to pay. You'd be stuck paying the remaining $5,000 on your own.

This is something that actually happened to a friend of mine when she got into an accident two years ago and totaled her leased car.

She still had to pay the lease amount on a car she no longer had, and her insurance didn't cover the entire amount. Unfortunately, she also had to deal with a lawsuit that the other driver filed because her insurance didn't offer enough to cover their injuries and losses.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of car accidents in my area and on the interstate. So, for me, paying $1,060 extra for gap coverage and also checking to make sure my auto insurance coverage is sufficient is well worth it.

MaxCare seemed worth the cost

The next thing I opted into was MaxCare, an extended service plan offered by CarMax. MaxCare provides coverage for unexpected vehicle repairs after the manufacturer's warranty has expired, protecting you from high out-of-pocket repair costs.

MaxCare covers a wide range of components, including the engine, transmission, drivetrain, electrical systems, and more. It also includes coverage for systems like air conditioning and heating, steering, suspension, and brakes. However, it doesn't cover regular maintenance items, wear-and-tear parts (like brake pads and tires), or cosmetic repairs.

They offered me flexible plan options, and I chose to set it up to cover unexpected repairs and major issues that come up over the next 100,000 miles. This added $3,500 to my loan amount. For coverage to kick in, I just need to pay a $300 deductible.

My husband's car recently needed some electrical work done, which cost us around $800 alone. Any repairs we've gotten done in the past have always totaled more than $300 when you include the cost of labor, parts, and other fees.

Plus, major mechanical issues or engine problems can cost several thousand dollars to repair. When that happens, many people just opt for a whole new car.

I love staying under budget, but I'd rather pay a little now than a lot later if anything unexpected happens with my car. However, I still like that these benefits were optional since everyone's situation and preferences are different.

I hope to keep this car for a long time, but if I'm ever in the market to purchase again, I plan to be mindful of extra costs that go into the price of a loan, as they can quickly add up.

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• Talent firm Dulcedo Group acquired influencer-marketing app Node in July at a $13 million valuation.
• The company bought Node for its technological expertise and micro-influencer relationships.
• The deal shows how central influencer-marketing tech has become in the industry.

The talent-management agency Dulcedo Group acquired the influencer-marketing app Node in a July deal that valued the company at around $13 million, Node's cofounders told Business Insider.

Node is a mobile app that matches small businesses with micro and nano influencers for sponsored content opportunities. The company has worked with around 2,000 businesses across a roster of around 10,000 creators who post promotional content in exchange for gifted products, free in-person experiences, or cash. Cofounders Armin Faraji and Mackenzie Derival launched the app in 2019. Node raised around a million dollars from angel investors and firms like Techstars and startup accelerator Alchemist, Faraji said.

The deal shows how important tech products, including artificial-intelligence tools, have become in the talent and marketing industries. M&A deals in the category have been bustling over the past 12 months as traditional ad agencies like Publicis Groupe and Stagwell have similarly added influencer startups to their company portfolios. Stagwell specifically called out Leaders' AI tech in its announcement around the deal.

Founded in 2008 as an agency for more traditional media talent, Montreal-based Dulcedo Group has recently been on a buying spree, announcing in November it acquired creator talent agency Influence+All and PR firm Sundae Creative.

Node began looking for a buyer in 2023 after it needed cash and ran into a challenging fundraising environment. It shrunk its company headcount to four staffers and hoped that joining a larger agency could help it win deals with bigger brands.

"We realized that agencies are the gatekeepers," Derival said. "We would rather join them and help them with technology and that would help us with monetization and provide value for our investors."

The cofounders ultimately connected with Dulcedo Group, which put in an offer to acquire Node. Dulcedo Group was drawn to the company's technological expertise and roster of micro influencers, Faraji told BI.

"A lot of agencies are actually acquiring technology from a defensive position," Faraji said. "They're doing it because they are either losing customers to an influencer platform that's a tech startup, or their customers are coming to them and saying, 'Hey, do you guys have any technology? The way you're collecting data or the way that you're running these campaigns is inefficient,'" he said. "What drew us towards Dulcedo is that they're actually making acquisitions so that they can be offensive, not defensive. It's not just about protecting market share with them, it's about expanding market share and also addressing new customer segments within the creator economy."

One area of focus for Node post-acquisition is AI. The company said it's developing AI tools to improve social listening and data analysis, and streamlining the process of identifying new talent to work with.

"AI automates the manual labor when it comes to influencer marketing," Faraji said. "At the end of the day, relationships still rule the industry. Agencies will work with creators that they have relationships with, and creators will make compromises to work with agencies and brands that they love."

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• The Secretary of the US Air Force said war with China in the Pacific was not "imminent or inevitable."
• Even so, Frank Kendall said the likelihood of one is growing and will continue to grow.
• He cited China's advanced military drills that were aimed at an invasion and blockade of Taiwan.

A war between the US and China in the Pacific is not "imminent or inevitable," but the threat of one is growing, according to a top US military official.

Frank Kendall, the US Air Force Secretary, made the assessment during a keynote address at an Air & Space Forces Association convention on Monday.

"I am not saying war in the Pacific is imminent or inevitable. It is not," Kendall said. "But I am saying that the likelihood is increasing and will continue to do so."

Kendall cited China's growing capabilities, and pointed to it staging more extensive and advanced military drills that he said were aimed at an invasion and blockade of Taiwan.

He also mentioned China's heavy investments in military organizations, capabilities, and operational concepts, which he said are specially aimed at thwarting the US and its allies' capacity to project power in the Western Pacific.

"I've been closely watching the evolution of [China's] military for 15 years. China is not a future threat; China is a threat today," he said.

One of the main flashpoints between the US and China could be over Taiwan, although there's also growing tension between China and the Philipines, another US ally.

According to daily updates shared by Taiwan's defense ministry, China's aircraft, vessels, and ships now operate around Taiwan almost daily, sometimes crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait and causing Taiwan to scramble its planes.

But experts from the American Enterprise Institute and the Institute for the Study of War said in May that an aggressive Chinese coercion campaign — short of war but still threatening — was more likely than a full-scale invasion, and that the US needed to prepare for such an eventuality.

For decades, the US has adopted " strategic ambiguity" toward Taiwan, positioning itself as the island's most steadfast ally, while declining to explicitly say whether it would come to Taiwan's aid if China attacked.

But the FT reported last week that preparations for a possible China attack had intensified since Phil Davidson, then the US Indo-Pacific commander, said in 2021 that China may invade Taiwan by 2027.

It also reported that Navy SEAL Team 6, an elite military special-missions unit, has spent more than a year planning and training at its Dam Neck base in Virginia Beach for a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

In January, US officials also told Reuters the US is trying to spread its military logistics hubs across the Pacific, including warehouses in Australia.

Kendall said that over the past 15 years, he's seen growing concern and alarm from other countries in the Indo-Pacific region over China's capabilities and intentions.

He also said that "China continues to expand its nuclear forces and its ability to operate in cyberspace," and that "we can expect all these trends to continue."

"To prevent conflict, we must be ready," he said.

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• According to the FT, the EU plans to raise billions to help Ukraine by the end of the year.
• It comes after plans to use profits from Russia's frozen funds to help Ukraine fell short.
• Ukraine faces a $38 billion financial gap and relies on aid from the US and Western allies.

The EU is preparing to provide up to $45 billion in loans to Ukraine within the next four months, according to a report in the Financial Times.

The move comes after a plan to use profits from Russia's frozen funds to help Ukraine ran into roadblocks.

"We will do whatever we can to support Ukraine, regardless of decisions in Washington," Josep Borrell, vice president of the European Commission, told reporters last month. "Ukraine needs to boost their defense capacities — and they need it now."

The International Monetary Fund estimated last year that Ukraine faced a $38 billion gap in its finances in 2025. As such, it relies on help from the US and its Western allies to help fight off Russia's invasion.

In June, the G7 countries agreed to fuel the Ukrainian war effort with $50 billion, using interest from $300 billion worth of frozen Russian assets situated in the EU and surrounding areas.

The FT report said that officials involved in the talks are now worried that Hungary would prove a hindrance to this plan.

The US had said it planned to release the loan by the end of the year, but the idea came with several potential liabilities, including the possibility that the assets could be unfrozen in six months, leaving the allies in a bind regarding the loan repayment.

EU law says it requires unanimous support to extend sanctions every six months, which means that a single country — like the historically pro-Russian Hungary — could derail the G7 plan entirely.

The FT said Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to delay a decision on the loan until after the US election in November, which would be very late for the EU to start moving on a Plan B.

Alternatively, the latest plan involves extending Ukraine's standing support package, a move that will only require majority support instead of unanimity and can bypass a potential Hungarian veto.

The FT said the report aimed to adopt the proposal "before the end of October " so that the loan could be released by the end of the year.

As BI's Sinead Baker previously reported, Hungary has sought to limit Western and NATO support for Ukraine throughout Russia's invasion.

For instance, it doesn't send weapons to Ukraine, and it spent months blocking billions in European Union funds for the country before eventually allowing it to proceed in February.

The current Hungarian ambassador to the US did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

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• Michael Dell is one of the world's wealthiest people, with a net worth of more than $100 billion.
• The Dell Technologies founder made his fortune by democratizing the PC and striking shrewd deals.
• Here's a look at his background, career, and how he spends his fortune.

Michael Dell, the tech entrepreneur who helped bring the personal computer to the masses, ranks among the world's wealthiest people with a net worth of $108 billion, per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

From his early career as one of the youngest CEOs of a Fortune 500 company until now, Dell is used to getting his way. He was only 23 when his company had its IPO in 1988. Dell took the PC maker private in 2013 only to relist it five years later, and has now shifted the company's focus toward serving the artificial intelligence boom.

Dell lives the extravagant life of a successful business figure as well, complete with all of the private planes, summer homes, and sweet rides you'd expect from a billionaire.

Michael Dell was born on Feb. 23, 1965, in Houston, Texas.

Dell was fascinated with gadgets from a young age. When he was 15, he bought one of the first Apple computers and disassembled it to see if he could put it back together.

Source: Academy of Achievement

When Dell was in high school, he got a job selling newspaper subscriptions.

After figuring out how to target an untapped customer base, he made $18,000 in just one year.

Source: Academy of Achievement

Though he was really only interested in computers, Dell entered the University of Texas at Austin as a pre-med student in 1983.

He spent his spare time upgrading PCs and selling them from his dorm room, making $180,000 in his first month of business. Though Dell never came back for his sophomore year, he returned to his dorm for a photo opp in 1999.

Source: Entrepreneur

In 2018, Dell tweeted out the first financial statement from his dorm PC company.

Dell used the statement to convince his parents that he didn't have to go back to college.

He sold nearly $1 million worth of computers and, after paying salaries and expenses, made over $198,000 in gross profit.

He officially launched his company in 1984, under the name PC's Limited.

It soon became one of the fastest-growing companies in the country, raking in more than $6 million in sales in its first year of business.

Source: Entrepreneur

He changed the company's name to Dell Computer Corp. in 1987, and sales continued to soar.

It went public in 1988, raising $30 million. Dell made about $18 million from the deal, and by 1992, the 27-year-old CEO was the youngest person to lead a Fortune 500 company.

Source: Entrepreneur, Academy of Achievement

In 1988, he went on a blind date with Susan Lieberman, a fashion designer from Dallas.

The two had an instant connection. "Most men I dated talked about themselves a lot and tried to impress me," Susan told Texas Monthly. "He was the nicest guy I'd ever met."

They were married in October 1989 and have four children.

In 2001, Susan Dell designed the inaugural ball gowns for Jenna and Barbara Bush.

She operated a successful boutique in Austin and even had two labels of her own before opening a new fashion brand, Phi, in New York City, which she closed in 2009.

Source: Austin Business Journal, Texas Monthly, New York Magazine

His son, Zack Dell, started following in his dad's footsteps.

In 2014, at age 17, Zach cofounded his own dating startup Thread. Thread later became a photo-sharing app but is no longer around.

The family's 33,000-square-foot home outside Austin is called "the Castle" because of its hilltop perch and heavy security presence.

The house boasts eight bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a tennis court, indoor and outdoor pools, and gorgeous views of Lake Austin.

Source: The Independent

Dell also owns a 6,380-square-foot contemporary ranch house in the nearby hills, where the family keeps Arabian horses.

Source: Mother Jones, The Nation

The Dell family has spent vacations at the "Raptor Residence," a seven-bedroom, 18,500-square-foot compound in Kukio, Hawaii.

Source: Business Insider and The Pinnacle List

Dell loved the resort area of Hualalai so much that in 2006, with the help of Walmart heir Rob Walton, he bought the hotel and resort through his investment company, MSD Capital

Dell started MSD Capital in 1998 to manage his family's wealth. The firm has made investments in a number of companies, including IHOP and Applebee's parent company, apparel company Phillips-Van Heusen, and offshore oil drilling company Independence Contract Drilling.

Source: Bloomberg, Pitchbook , SEC filings .

Through MSD Capital, Michael Dell also invested in real estate in Hawaii, Mexico, and California.

The company invests in luxury hotels, commercial and multifamily properties, and land development, and it participates in other real-estate-development funds.

Dell has his fair share of hot wheels as well.

His car collection at one point included a 2004 Porsche Boxster, a Porsche Carrera GT, and a Hummer H2.

Source: MSN

He's also owned private jets including a Gulfstream V.

Private planes come in handy when Michael and Susan Dell travel for their nonprofit.

Since 1999, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has given billions to nonprofits and social enterprises in the US, India, and South Africa.

Dell is friends with other tech billionaires.

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff is a particular buddy. The two of them did a public Fitbit walking challenge in 2014 and Benioff's team won. But Dell is so competitive (and also a fitness fanatic), that Benioff jokingly suspected that Dell put his Fitbit on his dog to help him score more steps.

Source: Fitbit, Business Insider

CEO to chairman and back again

In 2004, Dell left the helm of his PC company and became chairman. But in 2007, with Dell's share of the PC market declining, he shook up management, took the reins as CEO, and never let go again. As the PC market continued to decline, he expanded into new markets through new products and acquisitions.

In 2013, the Texan won a long battle to take Dell private, fighting off legendary activist investor Carl Icahn, who wanted to stop the deal, replace the board, and fire Dell.

Two years after winning that battle, Dell announced plans to buy EMC for $67 billion.

The financing of a deal this huge was complicated, and at first, skeptics thought it would fall apart, citing everything from tax complications to pushback from investors in VMware, a company EMC mostly owned.

Dell didn't lose.

Instead, he catapulted his company into a much bigger one with the purchase of EMC. He became the leader of what was then the largest private company in the tech industry.

After five years as a private company, Dell went public again in late 2018 through a complex arrangement that involved buying back shares in VMware, the software business in which it held an 80% stake.

He received a huge windfall in November 2023, when Broadcom closed its $69 billion takeover of VMware.

The PC tycoon owned nearly 40% of the cloud-computing business before it was sold to the microchip giant. As a result, he received well over $20 billion in Broadcom stock and cash in exchange for his stake, filings show.

Dell stock has surged by over 300% over the past two years, as investors bet it will be a key player in the AI revolution.

Dell shares have soared from below $34 in September 2022 to around $115, valuing the company at about $82 billion.

The stock surge likely reflects the company's pivot to providing a broad suite of AI solutions to corporations, selling everything from servers and data storage to AI PCs, networking, and services.

Dell trumpeted AI's potential in an interview published this September, saying it would "accelerate and advance scientific discovery" and "make humans happier, healthier, and more successful."

"I'm incredibly excited about it," he added. "As with any new thing, there are all sorts of uncertainties and questions, including how's it all going to happen. Nobody knows, and we love being in the middle of it."

Source: McKinsey

Dell's net worth has soared to more than $100 billion.

Dell's surging stock has supercharged its founder's net worth, raising it from about $45 billion two years ago to $108 billion.

Dell is now one of the dozen or so centibillionaires, and ranks 13th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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• The New York Times reported that "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" was nearly not released in theaters.
• The Times reported Warner Bros. wanted to put the film on Max to avoid a box office flop.
• Tim Burton was asked to cut the budget to $100 million, but the film has already made $264 million.

Warner Bros. made director Tim Burton cut the budget for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" by almost $50 million in order for it to get a theatrical release, The New York Times reported.

"Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" has been September's biggest box office hit. It's the latest legacy sequel to resonate with audiences following the success of "Twisters" and "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" in the summer.

However, the Times reported on Sunday that discussions over cost and distribution prevented "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" from being made for over a decade. At one point, Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, wanted to release it on their streaming platform Max instead of in theaters.

Eventually, Warner Bros. co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy reached a deal with Burton that he would cut the budget from $147 million to $100 million so it could be released in theaters. The Times reported that this reduced the risk of the film failing.

Warner Bros. may have been cautious for multiple reasons. While sequels to beloved older films, such as " Top Gun: Maverick," have had great success in theaters, prior to "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," Burton hadn't had a box-office hit for over a decade. Plus, the first "Beetlejuice," released in 1988, only made $74 million.

The Times reported that Burton, some of the "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" producers, and stars Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, and Catherine O'Hara eventually agreed to be paid less upfront in exchange for a larger cut of profits from the film. The film also received tax cuts and other cuts to shooting costs to lower the production budget to $99 million, The Times reported.

But the gamble on movie theaters paid off.

" Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" made $264 million in two weeks since it was released on Sept 6. "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" was a necessary win for Warner Bros. after other would-be blockbusters, such as " Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," failed to hit.

Representatives of Warner Bros, Burton, and the "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" cast did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider.

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